real weddings • lindsey and dave • catalina island diy wedding

this past weekend, i had the pleasure of attending a friend's super-chic wedding on catalina island. not only did i have a fabulous time at this gorgeous, uber-relaxing beach locale, i was blown away by the bride and groom's extraordinary vision for their special day.

loaded with personal touches and chic diy creations, this wedding was one of the most inspiring examples of a couple who truly put their heart, soul, and personality into their design.

the wedding featured a sleek black & white color palette accented with blue and lime green. from the bridal party's attire — crisp white shirts with a funky black design for the guys, and flirty black & white floral dresses for the girls — to the spanish-inspired lace gown and black accessories on the bride, i was in heaven watching it all come down the aisle.

handmade place cards in mini-sandboxes directed guests to their tables, while a fabulous memory board with a photo essay of the couple brought smiles to the crowd.

friends and family helped lindsey and dave assemble the leaf-wrapped floral arrangements, which were set atop black & white table runners also handmade by the bride.

possibly my favorite idea from the entire wedding was the custom-made cupcake display, which featured a delicious assortment of mini-cupcakes in place of a traditional wedding cake.

the couple enlisted the help of vanilla bake shop for the chocolate and passion fruit cupcakes, as well as the construction of the coordinating cake stand, made from fabric lindsey used for the table runners. it survived the boat ride from los angeles beautifully!

for those of you daunted by the idea of tackling major elements of design on your own, consider how these personal touches added warmth and an air of storytelling that were not only creative, but dramatically unique. i loved them all.

congratulations dave and lindsey — job well done!

inspiration blackberries • a black & white garden wedding

picture it — an airy, chic, contemporary garden wedding...in black and white. is it possible? yes.

while this color combo is bold, dramatic, and often used for formal wedding motifs, i am wild about the idea of mixing black and white in playful ways also, as it is so unique and unexpected. our new blackberries letterpress design is a perfect example of how to bring whimsy to this striking color palette. and why shouldn't you have fun with it?

play up the contemporary tone — forgo a cake in lieu of white frosted cupcakes on a solid black pedestal. so different, so couture. a white floral bouquet full of privet berries and wide textured ribbon celebrates the crisp black and white theme while maintaining the casual, bountiful garden feel. absolutely splendid.

finally, a table setting with lush fresh blackberries, olives and artisan cheeses adds a rustic note. i think we'd all want to be at this wedding, no doubt.

design & photo credits — letterpress save the date • paper olive; berry table setting and cupcake pedestal • rebecca thuss; privet berry bouquet • martha stewart weddings.

black and white weddings

at paper olive, we love color. but there is nothing more exquisitely chic than a contemporary black and white wedding. if i were to get married all over again, that is probably exactly how i would have it.

the best thing? one simple pop of color — impossibly red roses or lime green trim — turn the volume up effortlesly. it's my new favorite thing, so plan to see a a lot of black and white in my upcoming designs!

design credits — custom linens • bbj linen (photo by walt beazley photography, event design by arin zinke robinson); wedding gown • avíne peruccí by st. pucchi; wedding cake • pink cake box; custom invitations • paper olive.