orange + teal = a fresh modern wedding palette

you probably know by now that i am in love with the color orange. one of my favorite things about it is its flawless ability to pair beautifully with almost any other color — rich chocolate brown, crisp lime green, and of course, moody teal blue.

while i adore orange and aquamarine (that's worthy of another post), there is something almost magical about pairing vibrant orange with this deeper, darker teal.

these vanda orchids absolutely pop against crisp white containers and a base of dark blue linens. i just love it.

these colors, in fact, were a major inspiration for the custom invitations featured here, which paired bright tangerine with an elegant, almost inky teal. they're modern and sophisticated, like the overall palette. the overall effect is unique — and doesn't every bride want to stand out from the crowd?

design & photo credits

first row — {custom wedding invitations} • paper olive; {clementine dessert favors} • photo by rodney bailey photography, flowers by enchanted florist, place settings & linens by dc rental

second row — {cocktails} • photo by rodney bailey photography, flowers by enchanted florist, place settings & linens by dc rental; {boutonniere & tie} • photo by amanda herzberger, suit by men's wearhouse, via the knot

third row — {orchid tablescape} • jules bianchi photography; {satin shoes} • photo by hillary mayberry, via the knot

vintage wedding chic

i've been heavily involved in the wedding planning of my dear friend jessica, who is set on a modern vintage affair with lots of rustic touches, antique elements, and rich colors. naturally, i'm now obsessed with all things vintage, and had to share some of our best inspirations.

there's something very personal about an eclectic vintage aesthetic — from the dress, to desserts, to mismatched pillows and antique birdcages, each style choice speaks volumes about the couple. and of course, the look never goes out of style.

favorites? the amazing birdcages handing in the trees and above the tables, lit with candles and bedecked with flowers. and the vintage tins bursting with colorful bouquets are stunning.

its the cleverness of vintage decor that is probably its biggest charm. an old watering can on a distressed wooden chair is suddenly chic when it becomes an unexpected vase. how can you not fall in love?

design & photo credits

first row — {watering can with flowers} • via the knot, kimberly brooke photography and jocelyn filley; {couture wedding gown} • natalia misslin designs; {vintage wooden bird cages} • styled by duet weddings, photo by corbin gurkin

second row — {hanging bird cages} • bonnie tsang via ruffled blog; {vintage chalkboard} • mclellan style via nashville garden weddings; {vintage desserts} • rosie parsons

third row — {vintage flower tins} • martha stewart weddings; {vintage shoes} • haberdashery boutique; {cake on distressed table} • cake by montecito confections, photo by elizabeth messina, styled by carissa jones of jl designs

birds of a feather

i am loving this dreamy, rustic, vintage-esque trend of including birds and branches in weddings this season. it's fresh and airy and organically delicate.

i'm seeing the design trend in gowns, like this feathery confection from the 2011 pronovias "dreams" collection, called fidji. i'm also seeing it in decor, like these chic birds and branches centerpieces from martha stewart.

probably my fave, though, is applying the theme directly on the wedding cake, like this tuscan birds and berries stunner from superfine bakery. there's something so familiar and yet so unique about it.

now, you know this means a birds and branches invitation design from paper olive is not far behind. :o)

spring color + easter chic = a hip holiday wedding

just in time for easter, i thought i'd share some of my favorite finds and color obsessions for this wonderful spring holiday.

honestly, pastels and bunnies can be too cutesy for a sophisticated wedding. however, blending several rustic vintage elements with delicate florals creates fabulous texture. mix in pale pinks with bolder spring colors like teal and you have an elegant formal event that has the perfect hint of holiday whimsy.

favorites in this bunch? that gown. oooh, lela rose. so lush, soooo romantic. i just love it.

another fave is the brooch bouquet by fantasy floral. i can't get over that these are not flowers, but rather, an eclectic bunch of vintage brooches gathered in lieu of flowers, creating a stunning bouquet that can be kept as a unique keepsake far beyond the wedding day. it's too clever, don't you think?

design & photo credits

first row — egg cup arrangements • dreamhouse; chocolate egg favors • country living; tiered tea buffet • the ritz carlton via fête à fête

second row — wedding gown • lela rose; brooch bouquet • fantasy floral

third row — tablescape • bbj linen

purple splendor at the four seasons

we are delighted to share one of our favorite recent events — the january wedding of lisa & andrew at the four seasons hotel in los angeles.

with fabulous design by cobalt events and lush, sophisticated arrangements by the hidden garden floral studio, the amethyst and periwinkle palette was bold, romantic and utterly chic. we looove the use of creamy white flowers against bright plum vases and wisteria linens. it's a perfect balance of soft and vibrant color.

for our part, custom stationery was designed in hues of rich purple and delicate periwinkle to match the overall aesthetic. custom menus, table numbers, escort cards and programs varied in color to coordinate both with the couple's wedding invitations, and to complement the surrounding decor. we loved being a part of it.

for more details about this wedding, visit the secret life of flowers — the official blog of the hidden garden. their work {and blog} is synonymous with elegance, so you're sure to pick up a few great ideas.

photo courtesy of the hidden garden.

all about orange

i'm crazy about the color orange, especially for big events.  it was the focal point of my wedding, and recently the same hue has been popping up with several new brides, which makes me positively giddy.

since vibrant color is a paper olive signature, i thought it would be fun to offer three unique examples of how bold color can absolutely transform an event from common to couture.

classic roses

in the first photo, courtesy of wedding style magazine, orange roses and white lacquered manzanita branches are set on an all white feasting table at the johnathan beach club.  orange is truly the star here, expertly arranged by r. jack balthazar.  wedding by kelly michelle, linens by bbj linen, chair covers by covered affairs, table setting by unique tabletop rentals.

california chic

orange gets an edgy, even more modern twist in this fruit-centric design by modaflora, which comes courtesy of brides.com.

using the actual fruit is not only organic and elegant, but unexpected here, and the juxtaposition of the round fruit and square plates is a wonderful mix.

the best part?  citrus greens and delicate branches give the bountiful fruit an artistic aesthetic that is light, windswept, and truly uncommon.  it's pure sophistication.

tropical breeze

of the three photos, possibly my favorite concept is this one designed by yvonne chapman, shot at the loulu palm estate by chrissy lambert, courtesy of pacific weddings.  the fresh, cheerful hues of orange and peach are simply magical here.  it's a celebration of color, delicate and bold at once.  i am in love with it.

which one is your favorite? let us know!

a winter wedding wonderland

today los angeles was hit with a chill that shoved me prematurely into winter...which i didn't really mind, given all the gorgeous wedding design concepts that winter brings with it.

from fur-lined boots to crystal-accented invites to fire & ice martinis, winter is one of my favorite event seasons. i mean, all-white candy displays are just pretty. below are just a few of the many sophisticated possibilities for all you wintry brides.

forget snowflakes and pinecones — this season is a chance to be truly original. think aspen, think light and feathery florals, think crystalline landscapes. after all, winter gives white an extra dash of dazzle that no other season can match. you simply can't overdo sparkle right now.

and anytime you can add fur to your wedding ensemble, i'm all for it!

design & photo credits

first row — winter bouquet • martha stewart; candy display • the knot, photo by mary ellen bartley; winter wedding photo • david barss

second row — winter wedding invitations • paper olive; fur-lined booties • salvatore ferragamo; winter tablescape • tampa wedding rentals

third row — white wedding cake • the cake girls; fire & ice martini • the knot

autumn and thanksgiving weddings

the leaves are turning color and there's a chill in the air...perfect timing for some warm apple cider, a thanksgiving feast, and a wedding celebration.

autumn and the holidays are a great choice for your event not merely because of the rich orange and red color palettes, rustic backdrops and festive mood. thanksgiving weddings are fabulous in a very practical sense — guests are already traveling, and are often eager to spend the holiday in a new, unexpected way.

these are just a few of the lush design options for fall or thanksgiving. we love the bountiful joy of an apple motif, which is the star of this design collage.

from the unique, incredibly realistic apple candles by candle bay, to our own delicious apple-themed custom menu, the tone is bright, warm and inviting. mini-caramel apple favors by jody perlberger for perl continue the motif and match beautifully with earthy bouquets, also by jody.

round out the look with a simple, elegant table setting with rich golds and browns — including an all-brown chocolate & fruit wedding cake like this one by cheryl kleinman. you're sure to have an unforgettable wedding and a very happy thanksgiving!

real weddings • rika and jeff • a safari wedding

in fall 2008, i was contacted by rika and jeff, an amazing couple seeking custom, highly personal, eco-luxe safari wedding invitations for a destination wedding in africa. i was delighted to work with them, and had a blast crafting a design that met their original, earthy-yet-elegant vision.

i was even more delighted when i saw recent photos of their exceptional event, which took place at the tuningi safari lodge on the madikwe game reserve in south africa. it's no surprise that the imagery of the backdrop, the decor, and the intimate details were as unique and impressive as this happy couple, who got engaged at the lodge over a year ago. congratulations to them both!

the wedding photos featured here are courtesy of the august issue of the tuningi lodge newsletter.

a wedding in black and yellow

i have always thought black & white pairs beautifully with almost any pop of color, but there's something about the mix of sunny modern yellow with classic black that creates something fresh, unexpected, and crisply stunning.

inspired by our black tie silk boxed wedding invitation, this black & yellow design collage is, quite simply, the essence of chic.

our favorite elements? those amaaaazing christian louboutin shoes. you can build a whole wedding around those alone. and we adore the personalized blumebox floral favors, along with that incredibly unique curl cake. really, there's nothing we don't love in this fabulous collage.

what's your favorite black & yellow concept?

design & photo credits

first row — candy display • amy atlas; ring pillow • allofyou via etsy; wedding cake • the cake girls

second row — yellow parasol • hollye schumacher photography; personalized favors • blumebox containers, flowers by the spiraled stem, photo by sarah k. chen; heels • christian louboutin

third row — custom wedding invitations • paper olive; tablescape • bliss events

fabulous feathers • a golden glam peacock wedding

i've long been obsessed with peacock feathers. there's something utterly royal about them — the green-golds. the pop of teal & purple. the rich black eye that demands attention.

recently, i've come across a ton of original, super-chic style & design elements created by artists who clearly love this divine plume as much as i do. i had a total blast putting together this golden glam peacock-inspired wedding board. what could be more fabulous?

design & photo credits
first row — wedding cake • konditor meister, photo by allegro photography; necklace • croska via etsy; rose & peacock feather floral design • the velvet garden

second row — couture wedding gown • monique lhuillier; peacock wedding invitation • paper olive; peacock place setting • z gallerie

third row — beaded clutch • judith leiber; hand-painted decanter & glasses • marywibis via etsy

bottom row — peacock bouquet • the knot, photo by adam barnes photography; gold & blue matchstick favors • photo courtesy of gamboa photography; boutonniere • jo gartin via instyle magazine, photo by pornchai mittongtare

bountiful citrus centerpieces & fruitful design ideas

one of the freshest, easiest, most unique ways to add color to your wedding is to use fruit — it's bountiful, vibrant, inviting, and what's more? it's affordable.

think about it. a full vase of orchids can run you hundreds, but a bag of oranges is what, a few dollars? i adore the organic, rustic effect of adding fruit to wedding decor, and the fact that florists can often do magic with it without relying solely on expensive florals is just a huge bonus.

bouquets of apples and roses are shabby chic yet always elegant, and the eclectic tablescape above left, with its crisp green granny smiths, Brussels sprouts, hydrangeas and kale is so earthy and lovely it's hard to believe how simple it must have been to arrange.

the cake, above right, is absolutely charming with its citrus accents and colors, and would go beautifully with equally simple centerpieces consisting of nothing but fresh fruit and a gorgeous glass vase, like the one shown here.

above, spiny fruits, bowls of kumquats, suspended vases of citrus and exotic flowers set against bright linens beckon guests to a tropical feast. it's simple chic at its best.

for my own wedding, i had wanted dramatic columns of color at the head of the aisle, but had run out of ideas in terms of flower choices. i had already done massive displays of orchids, parrot tulips, and peonies...so what to do?

my florist — the ever fabulous shelby nolan of green leaf designs — came up with towers of fresh oranges with accents of rosemary for my tuscan-themed wedding, and i was sold. fruit is just delicious, no matter how you look at it, isn't it?

design & photo credits
apple centerpiece • ehow; citrus wedding cake • photo courtesy of getmarried.com, cake by maisiefantasie; greens tablescape and citrus centerpiece • the knot; tropical fruit tablescape • photo and linens courtesy of bbj linen; orange colums • photo by benjamin james

design inspiration • pink polka dots meet lime & chocolate

i am in loooove with this look — a polka dot wedding in the fresh, unexpected color palette of pink, lime green and chocolate. so modern!

the combo of hues, textures and colors keep this look from seeming too precious. on the contrary, the deep pinks and chocolates mixed with vibrant lime is wholly refined, yet whimsical. in fact, our new whimsy letterpress invitation was our inspiration for this collage.

i love the idea of varying hues, like the mix of baby pink and strawberry dots in a ring pillow hand-sewn by the bride. this would look fabulous against the deep pink linens by party mosaic, which are softened by a unique moss tablescape and more whimsical dot runners.

on that same note, i love that the cake here is chocolate brown, only accented with pink roses and green cymbidium orchids. it's sophisticated, coordinating rather than matching. so chic.

photo and design credits
first row — ring pillow • 'jennie' via flickr; polka dot wedding cake • perfect wedding day; second row — custom wedding invitations • paper olive; bottom row — tablescape linens • party mosaic.

image of the week • beachy, breezy tablescape

i came across this image while working on another post, and it literally stopped me in my tracks. immediately i wanted to hop a flight to fiji or costa rica and order ceviche and a cocktail.

i mean, it's breathless. my favorite things about it are the simple but colorful linens and the soft, tropical, remarkably original horizontal centerpiece. never seen anything like it.

orchids. tied to bamboo. so unique. can't you just see this as the fresh, intimate sweetheart table for the bride and groom at an elegant beach wedding?

love the view, love the vibe, love the whole thing. had to share.

photo and linens courtesy of bbj linen.