bridal fashion week • couture to die for

oh, these gowns.

if you follow my blog you already know i have a mad obsession with wedding dresses. and the way ateliers are pushing the envelope with couture this year it makes we wish wedding finery were acceptable as everyday wear.

this breath-of-spring gown is fresh from the runway by atelier aimée. the lavender floral design over silk organza is out of this world. ethereal. modern. feminine.

the detail is exquisite, and the overall effect — so unexpected. the color, handled by a lesser designer, could go horribly wrong, but here it is effortlessly chic.

and the back. a waterfall of silk organza gathered with a fabric wisteria branch. it's a one-of-a-kind gown that will drop jaws coming down the aisle.

i find great inspiration for invitation design on the runway, and this season will be no exception. i am loving this color for spring, and already have a couple of designs in this palette.

stay tuned for more...and enjoy fashion week, everyone.

photo credits: dan lecca / brides.com

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.

destination africa — a safari wedding

"your wedding ceremony takes place beneath ancient african ebony trees in a lovely area overlooking the sand river where crocodile swim by and hippo can often be heard grunting their territorial calls..."

such is a wedding described by into seychelles, a luxury travel service that specializes in arranging spectacular destination weddings within the indian ocean islands of seychelles.

for the adventurous couple who is daring of spirit yet still desires luxury as they explore the indescribable wilds of africa, into seychelles offers a wonder of choice.

wildlife is abundant, and the decor of the singita game reserves — a key partner of into seychelles and a supplier of luxe african honeymoon accommodations — certainly pays homage to the unforgettable african landscape.

so in love are we with the idea of an african safari wedding that we've designed luxury invitations to make the idea even more unique.

our safari invitation suite features all of the natural elements and color palettes one would expect from a seychelles honeymoon and game safari wedding, but with all of the elegant details a bride and groom of distinction would still expect.

it's original, it's unexpected, the entire concept is out of this world. married in africa. what are you waiting for?

olive press • letterpress wedding invitations

paper olive is absolutely over the moon about our latest line of invitation designs — we proudly introduce the olive press collection.

olive press is our twist on the classic art of letterpress, something we have been obsessed with since we first laid eyes on the craft. letterpress invitations are known and loved for their fine quality and unique tactile finish — the ink is literally pressed into the paper to gorgeous effect.

because the old world process of letterpress is what makes it so lush and beautiful, invitations using this printing method are often simple, needing little more than elegant lines and good paper to stand out.

olive press follows this idea and takes it a step further, using clean, crisp designs and uncommon modern color palettes to make the whole effect even more dramatic.

from posh and retro, to classic pink, to exotic peacock feathers, our new line of letterpress wedding invitations and letterpress stationery is both a throwback to a favorite tradition and an update with our own contemporary twists.

it has taken a lot of time and dedication, but we are thrilled to offer this new artform to our clients. we truly hope you'll love letterpress as much as we do!

my new obsession: san patrick wedding gowns

if i could get married all over again (to the same man, of course), i would get married in one of the latest confections by san patrick — a couture bridal house based out of barcelona, spain.

i just can't pick a favorite from their 2009 collection, but i'm absolutely WILD about the skirt on their paradiso design — i want to fall into the waterfall of layers here. ah, spanish lace. their use of it is unmatched, in my opinion.

I am currently working on a line of white lace invitations insired by the modern delicacy of these gowns. after all, white lace can be HOT — and san patrick knows how to use it with ethereal beauty.

take a look at parabola, below. no doubt inspired by the spanish word for parable, this gown definitely tells a story of grace and elegance, perfectly blended with modern luxury.

i never wore a veil at my wedding, but if i had had this baby, it would have been a very different story for me.

is it wrong to want to enter the madness of wedding planning again? if i get to wear one of these gowns, it might be worth it.