Confidential!

As much as I enjoy my readers, I was very hesitant to post today. I wanted to share a favorite wedding from the Brides website. However, the wedding took place on Sanibel Island, Florida, and my family and I do not really like to share this wonderful location with many people! This island is right off the coast of Fort Meyers, Florida. I have been going there as long as I can remember, ending up with the Sanibel Stoop at a very early age! This island is well cared for by its residents - there isn't even a McDonald's on the island - they just won't allow it. Emily and Carter's wedding took place at the Sundial Resort, the the vibrant green color palette is fresh and chic.

Green and Gold

Jeannie and I have been swapping emails back and forth with ideas for her wedding. I love being a part of her brainstorming. First I heard blue and gold, but now she is leaning more towards green and gold (with an autumn feel). I started the green trend with a monogram for the newly engaged couple on Friday, and now here is a board with a few decor/floral/attire ideas. I added a touch of brown/bronze too because I just love green and brown together.

Top {Knottie CaliCayman; Headband Jennifer Behr; Cake - Papillon Cake via Blush}
Bottom {Bride - Susan Stripling Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs, Ring - J.Crew, Cake - Vanilla Bake Shop, White Bouquet - Bella Flora, Remaining Pictures - The Knot}

Please Vote for a Beach Inspired Wedding!

Jason Angelini Photography is hosting an inspiration board contest. If you have a moment and the inclination, PLEASE VOTE for my board (#1). This board is my vision for a wedding if my husband and I were to do it all over again in Florida - my home away from home. The best part is that $50 will go to the charity of the winner's choosing!

It is Official

My good friend Jeannie, who was part of my wedding ceremony, will be ordained this October. She and I are working on invitations and announcements for her ceremony. I will make sure to post pictures when we are done. Congrats Jean!!

Florida Pink

As I stated previously, I love to look at real weddings and photographer's websites for inspiration. Life with Caroline is a wonderful blog filled with beautiful pictures. A wedding in particular that captured my attention was one that took place at the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach. St. Petersburg, Florida is my old stomping grounds and my home away from home. After attending Eckerd College, I lived in St. Pete for another 4 years. My roommates from college are still there, so I have lots of reasons to visit.

The pink palace is a bride's dream. Everywhere you turn - PINK!

I had to make an inspiration board to go with some of Caroline's beautiful pictures.

{Top:Cake - Martha Stewart, Cocktails - Pink Lemonade Granitas - The Knot, Rehearsal Dinner Dress - Pink Mascara, Favors. Bottom: Seashells - Pacific Weddings, Shoes - Christian Louboutin, Flowers - The Knot}

Hurricane Dean

After a hurricane season of Charley, Frances, Jean, and more, I was not sad to leave St. Petersburg, Florida. That is one negative about living in the Sunshine State - waiting until the end of hurricane season.

(Counter from Weather.com)

It is strange to have your name on TV all the time as well!

(Names from Weather.com)

We are thinking about all those effected by Hurricane Dean, and hope the outcome is for the best.

Baby Announcement

My best friend in Florida and I have been working on her announcements, and here is the final product!

Sun and Surf

It is officially summer now, and my husband and I are headed to the beach soon. Although I lived in Florida for 7 years, I now appreciate the beach and the ocean more than ever! My mom and I have always loved the beach, in particular Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel is one of the best shelling beaches in the world. Most of our vacations when I was young were to Sanibel, so I haven't seen much of the east coast. Now, thanks to my new family, my husband and I have traveled to North Carolina, Maine, and next month we will travel to Maryland. I love everything about the beach; the smell, sound, feel of it and especially love the look, the look of a vintage sign or glass bottles. I am planning on choosing a straw bag for my essentials. As always, please check out Lucky Designs, for your beach themed save the date designs (see below)!

Another recommendation I would like to make is for a blog, Toast and Tables, for a great beach/nautical theme for your table. Thanks Sarah!

Welcome Baby Lily!

On Sunday, May 27th, my best friend welcomed her daughter Lilian Noelle. Unfortunately, I missed her by about a week, but it was great to see Chrissy barefoot and pregnant. Lily is one beautiful baby. She has already made my job of designing announcements easy!

Congratulations Chrissy and Dan!

Florida in the Fall Continued....

The bride-to-be recently expressed to me that red and orange were probably the first choice for colors, so I wanted to create another idea board.

The top row includes dresses from Monique Lhuillier (Seraphina left, middle & Nadia right). Again, sticking with the mermaid silhouette, both have a gorgeous red satin ribbon accent, that would tie in nicely with a fall wedding. The wedding may take place in a lush, Florida garden, so the cake (The Knot gallery) and square plate (Crate and Barrel) seem like perfect accents. The paper, from Paper Source, is a flat, Italian print. Fun, festival martini glass from CB2 would make a statement on the bar. Nashville Wraps is a great source for favor boxes, wrapping paper, and gable boxes for out of town guests. Also, a "must take" picture (courtesy of The Knot) featuring the bride and groom's rings with a paper from Florida.

Lastly, a few beautiful dresses for the bridal party.

Bridesmaid dresses from Bill Levkoff, Dessy, and Watters. (Pictures courtesy of bestbridalprices.com and houseofbrides.com)

Happy Planning Tami!

Florida in the Fall

I recently got back from St. Petersburg, Florida. I was hoping to meet the new baby of one of my best friends. She was due to make an appearance on the 18th. I left on the 21st, and still no signs of a baby.

I did, however, get to talk wedding plans with another best friend. She and her fiance are planning for November 2008. The first color scheme she mentioned was red and orange - beautiful for fall. Her second - orange and sage green. Such an unusual color combination, but great for Florida in the autumn.

Other ideas included a mermaid, sheath dress, pumpkins, autumn bouquets, and Martha Stewart inspired boutonnieres. Here are some inspirational pictures that remind me of Tami!

Florida Here I Come!

Lucky Designs will be closed beginning May 16 through May 22. I will be heading down to St. Petersburg, Florida to welcome my best friend's baby. My college roommates all still live in Florida, where I resided for about seven years. I am happy to visit, especially in May when the weather is beautiful! I am hoping to catch some photographs of the baby, so I can create her custom announcements.

Please be patient, while I catch up on business next week. I will email customers as soon as possible in the order in which I received them.
Thank you!