postcards and pretties

{happy friday}

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Boy, am I'm excited to see this week come to an end. I'm still not feeling 100% from last week so I'm planning on sleeping in, vegging out in front of the TV and eating cake! Happy Weekend!

How to tie a bowtie
I'm smitten with vintage autumn wedding
These mini crepe flowers are darling
I want to make a bunch of these wallpaper lanterns
This wedding is pretty much perfect

{p.s.} Don't forget to enter the big Photography Giveaway!

{photo} veil & bow via southern weddings

{engagement} madeline + brian

2012-01-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

Madeline & Brian's love affair with water runs deep, so it was a no-brainer to do their engagement session at the beautiful St Croix river near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Brian is a professional fisherman, and although Madeline isn't naturally the outdoorsy type, over their nearly decade long courtship, Brian has taught her to love to great outdoors. The couple got engaged at the beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota, which is a 1+ million acre nature reserve, free of any motorized vehicles or boats. They spent a romantic few days canoeing and camping, surrounding by nothing but nature, before Brian popped the question. They couldn't even call anyone to tell them the news, being as there is no cell reception in this rural area! Because they got engaged on their canoe, it only made sense to incorporate it into their engagement session.

{Photography} Laura Ivanova Photography

{Cupcakes} Cocoa and Fig

{Shoes} Fendi pumps

{real wedding} amy + kyle

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's weddings like this one that has me craving from the upcoming warmer months. Amy + Kyle wedding was held in Melbourne Beach, Florida where Kyle is a pro surfer. The quaint ceremony in Melbourne Beach Community Chapel and the reception decor was Asian inspired. Amy crafted all of the adorable DIY details that made their day unique.

What was your favorite part of the day?

The best part of the day wasdefinitely our reception. It was great to see all of our friends and familyhaving a good time together. It made all the hard work worthwhile.

Any advice you would share with other brides?

Staring working on all the wedding logistics as soon as possible if you don’t hire a wedding planner. I never thought about the small details, like who will take home the stuff from the church after the ceremony, and who will bring the wedding signs, etc for pictures.

Whatinspired during your wedding planning?

I ended up changing my theme/inspirations several times. Itwasn’t until the wedding venue was picked that I settled on the theme. I reallytrusted my florist, Thallo. They were wonderful, and really helpedto pull together the details. My style is more traditional, while my husbandhas more modern tastes. The church was very traditional and the reception venuewas very modern, the florist did an excellent job, pulling the two together.

{Photography} Vitalic Photo

{Flowers} Thallo

{Ceremony} MelbourneBeach Community Chapel

{Reception} ChameleonFusion Restaurant

{pretty palette} raspberry + chocolate

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Such a pretty color palette to slowly allow us to transition from winter to spring.

{colors} raspberry, carnation, scabiosa, chocolate

{photos} hot chocolate and boutonniere {martha stewart weddings} socks {alexandra grablewski} table setting {mark davidson via the sweetest occasion}

{sponsor pretties} january

2012-01-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a little shout out to some of my amazing sponsors who come from all corners of the world and help support Postcards & Pretties. If you’re interested in becoming a Postcards & Pretties sponsor, email me for more information.

{Branco Prata} is run by two talents, Sofia and Andre. They work side by side in bringing you the best in design, stationery, flowers, photography.

{Belletristics} is a design studio specializing in printable wedding stationery for the do-it-yourself bride. You can choose their custom design services, ready made designs or mix and match different fonts and graphics to create your very own unique stationery.

{Ruby & Willow Design & Press} is an intimate design boutique run by Kate Holland, a paper obsessed gal who loves creating beautiful stationery for couples around the world.

{couples} danielle + jesse

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

What happens when you there isn't enough time on your wedding day to take as many intimate photos of you and your spouse? You have a mini shoot, of course! From the bride, Danielle... "While we got some gorgeous photos on our wedding day, we wanted to see if we could get even more creative shots without having to worry about ruining our wedding day attire or taking too much time away from our guests. Another reason is because you spend all that money on a dress or suit and you only get to wear it once? Where's the fun in that?! We also wanted to use the photos for personalized thank you cards for our guests. This was our third photo session together with Amanda, so the feel was a little more relaxed than the other two and I think our comfort with each other in front of the camera really shows in this shoot. It was a rainy/foggy New England day and we absolutely loved the photos in the fields of green grass."

{Photography} Boro Photos

{weekly recap}

2012-01-22T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hi there...sorry for being MIA the last couple of days but I was hit with worse migraine ever. Just thinking of turning on the computer on made it unbearable. Luckily, I'm feeling a bit better to leave you with this week's recaps. See you all on Monday!

Amy + Jarod's sweet book engagement session
{#188} Elegant Buttercream inspiration board
Kristin + Matt's Cape Cod Wedding
{Style} Beautiful Backs

{photo} elizabeth messina

{style} beautiful back

2012-01-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

Most of us focus our attention to the front of the dress- the pretty neckline, strapless or not but my attention always seems to go to the back. I love a beautiful back. I wasn't all the convinced with Bella's wedding dress in Breaking Dawn until I saw the back. Let's not forget when you are up there exchanging vows, your back is facing your guests so why not show them some lovely lace, blooming bud or pretty applique?

{photos} sergio mottola, whitney deal, sean flanigan, branco prata, anna campbell, elizabeth fillmore bridal, brea photography

{real wedding} kristin + matt's cape cod wedding

2012-01-18T04:30:00.000-05:00

You know what they say "Love overcomes all obstacles" especially hurricanes. After months and months of planning Kristin + Matt found their sweet Cape Cod wedding in Hurricane Irene's path. The couple along with their friends and family didn't let heavy winds and flooding stop them from exchanging vows.

Kristen + Matt even ran outside after their ceremony in the heavy winds to celebrate.

I love all the darling details in the wedding...

{Photography} Smitten Photography

{#188} elegant buttercream

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I was a bit obsessed with bright cheerful yellow weddings and don't get me wrong, I still love them but I see a softer more buttery yellow being seen in 2012 weddings.

{colors} buttercream, charcoal and linen

{photos} bouquet and cocktail {martha stewart weddings} couch {trouvais} yellow dress, flower girls {martha stewart weddings} vintage car {elizabeth messina} boutonniere {martha stewart weddings} cake {i am baker} napkins {martha stewart weddings}

{engagement} amy + jared

2012-01-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

There is something so sweet about today's engagement session from {Blest Photography}. For the first

time in P&P history we have the groom-to-be share how they met. "To summarize: when Amy andI first met on the plane down to Mexico City, she was reading my favorite bookof all time, Les Misérables. More or less, what went through my mindat that point was, "In a world of Twilight and Nick Sparks, it is extremely unusualand refreshing to see such a pretty girl reading such a stellar book." Andthe plane rides to and from Mexico City were the beginning of a buddingfriendship over the following months."

"During those months, wetalked a lot about books we liked. It is rare to find someone who will admit toa love of reading, and I really enjoyed talking with Amy about books, becausewhile we shared some favorites (like Les Mis), she also really expanded myreading palate. To be quite honest, I started borrowing books from her just soI'd have extra excuses to come see her at her apartment in Boone. In fact, theday I asked her out I was returning The BFG, by Roald Dahl. (On a sidenote, she had just woken up from a nap when I returned the book to her place,and I judged it to be unwise to ask her out while she was only mildly coherent.I called her later.)"

"So, in a nutshell, readingand books have been and continue to be a fun and integral part of ourrelationship. You'll find on that website some detail about the book I made herto execute "the Proposal." (Click HERE for more onthe proposal.)"

{Photography} Blest Photography

{weekly recap}

2012-01-15T10:22:00.003-05:00

in case you missed it...

Ana + Miguel's sweet love shoot
{In the studio with} Azulsahara
{Pretty Palette} Tangerine + Gold
Melinda + Matthew's wedding
13:13 Photography Giveaway ~ Engaged Couples enter HERE

{photo} Amelia Lyon Photography via 100 layer cake

happy friday

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! This week has been a good one. I feel like I've been floating on cloud 9. It's funny how sometimes everything falls in the right places. There's a huge photography giveaway happening now and I can't forget to mention that P&P was named Bride Tide's Top 100 Wedding Blogs.
Wishing you a great weekend!! xo

Love this stop motion lego engagement video
Glamorous bridal shower
Adore this music inspired wedding
A cute and quick diy to update a plain white button down shirt
This NZ engagement is so sweet

{photo} Jill Thomas Photography

{giveaway} free photography package from 13:13 photography

2012-01-12T05:30:00.000-05:00

I cannot express how excited I am about today's giveaway. Yesterday, we got a chance to see last year's winners of this amazing photography giveaway and today, Ashley + Philip of {13:13 Photography} are back to offer it once again.

{The photography giveaway package includes}

Full wedding day coverage by both Ashley + Phillip (up to 12 hours)
Option to include Sarah (13:13's super crafty, DIY specialist and event designer) also our associate photographer (3 photographers total)
Engagement or day after session (if travel is necessary for the engagement session, fees must be covered by winning couple)
Unlimited images
Editing and color correcting
Online proofing and ordering gallery
Fauxto-booth
DVD of high resolution images from wedding day and engagements session or day after session

{How to Enter}

Email your names and contact information with the subject {13:13 Photography Giveaway} to postcardsandpretties@gmail.com and CC ashley@1313photography.com by Wednesday, February 1, 2012 5 pm EST.
Provide your wedding date & location
Send a photo of yourselves
Share your unique, DIY vision for your wedding that your budget may not allow to have it captured {images would be helpful}

All images are courtesy of {13:13 photography}

p.s {fine print} Sponsored by 13:13 Photography • Copyright of images will belong to 13:13 Photography • Wedding must take place within 1 year of contest deadline (Wednesday, February 1, 2012 5 pm EST) • Winners must be willing to be featured on Postcards & Pretties as well as 13:13's website and may be required to become involved in future publicity • Prize is conditional that 13:13 is available on the date • Transportation and lodgings fees for the wedding (and engagement) must be covered by the winning couple • Postcards & Pretties and 13:13 Photography will select 3 finalists • The finalists’ entries will be posted on Postcards & Pretties and voted by the readers in an online poll posted on the blog • The finalist with the most votes will be the winner of the giveaway

"** open to international readers **"

{real wedding} melinda + matthew

2012-01-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

True story, I've been waiting to see this wedding for almost a year! You might remember Melinda + Matthew as the winning couple from last year's huge photography's giveaway. They won us over with their choice to support their creative friends and local small businesses. Let's revisit Melinda + Matthew's vision "The ideas are still germinating, but we envision friends playing music on a rustic stage, a fire in the fireplace, tables decorated with wheat grass and bamboo plates, and a small selection of delicious food. Instead of do-it-YOURself, we’re gravitating toward do-it-OURselves, choosing options that support our creative friends and local small businesses, such as: renting the historic Gild Hall in the artist community of Arden, Delaware; brainstorming a low-cost, handmade wedding dress with a seamstress friend; providing locally brewed beer from Dock Street Brewery; ordering carrot cake from the West Philly “Carrot Cake Man,” who hawks his amazing $1 cupcakes on street corners; setting up a registry with a potter to add to our collection of unique, handmade dishes; and maybe (maybe!), if the budget allows, hiring a rapidly rising Mexi-Americana folk band that we’ve followed since we first saw them at a friend’s house concert. I want to hand-print each invitation with old metal typeface and string up excessive amounts of garland made from upcycled sheet music. He wants to build unusual wooden planters for the tables and find inexpensive ways to beautify every corner."

"When we made our initial list of “must-haves” for our wedding, I immediately said “amazing photography!” envisioning artistic compositions that would create a vivid memory of the day’s details. But the reality of planning a $12,000 wedding means that we have to trim every possible expense and it looks more and more like hiring a top-notch photographer won’t make the cut. So here’s to photography give-aways and the glimmer of hope that all things might be possible."

What wasyour favorite part of the day?

"Oh my, it's hard to pick a favorite part. Everything waswonderful and we had so much fun we were ready to do it all over again the nextweekend. I guess if we had to pick, we both feel like the ceremony stands out.We were standing next to each other holding hands, listening to meaningfulwords and beautiful music from special people in our lives, looking out andseeing all of our family and friends supporting us. It was really a powerfulmoment and a wonderful way to transition into this new stage of ourrelationship."

Any advice you would share with other couples?

"The best advice we got, which we would absolutely pass along, is to designate someone else to manage logistics on the wedding day itself. Even if you're doing all of the planning yourself, regardless of how low-key your plans or limited your budget, pick one person you trust and give them the to-do list for the wedding day. We were so grateful to be able to relax and just enjoy ourselves.

The next advice we would give is to fill the day with people and things you care about. It doesn't need to be extravagant or turn out exactly as you'd imagined -- just involve the people you love and the things that are meaningful to you in your planning and it will be perfect.

Also, from one perfectionist bride to another, don't try to do it alone! I loved planning the wedding with Matthew: he was particularly good at brainstorming fantastic ideas, while I worked a lot on logistics and little details. We made the most of our respective strengths, had fun laughing at the especially ridiculous ideas, and ended up feeling like the day truly reflected who we are together -- which is, after all, the point. "

What inspired your wedding planning?

"Matthew proposed. :) Ok, seriously... We decided very early on in our planning that since even a low-budget wedding required spending a significant amount of money, we wanted to put our money where our hearts are. And since we are both artists and musicians, we decided to support the many creative people we know. My dress was made by a seamstress friend; the flowers were designed by a woman who used to work in my grandfather's flower shop; another friend created a registry of handmade pottery; our venue was a non-profit performance space in an artist community; our cake and beer came from vendors in our own neighborhood; we had friends perform music during the ceremony; we hired the band we first saw together to play our reception. So everything ended up reflecting our personalities and interests rather than conforming to any particular tradition. And it was FUN. Having so many great people involved meant every step of the process was fun."

"We feelvery (VERY!) grateful to Postcards & Pretties and to 13:13 Photography forsponsoring the photography contest. For starters, it made us and everyone weknow really excited about our wedding months ahead of time. But it also turnedout that Ashley, Philip and Sarah were absolutely wonderful to work with. Wecouldn't have imagined a better photography experience and feel honored to haveshared our day with them. So thank you!"

{Photography} 13:13 Photography

{pretty palette} tangerine + gold

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today's pretty palette was inspired by this year's pantone color pick, tangerine tango. It's fun, bright and I can't wait to see it make its way in 2012 weddings.

{colors} tangerine, coral, taupe, gold

{photos} pom pom stirrers {martha stewart weddings} necklace {reasons to breath} metallic backdrop {oh happy day} heels {jose villa}

{in the studio with} azulsahara

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

Name/Company:

Cristina Pennefather of Azulsahara

Location:

Madrid, Spain

How did you get started?

I am a photographer and designer. Three years ago a close friend of mine got married and she asked me to design her wedding invitations. I found the task challenging and fascinating! The invitations were a great success and family and friends encouraged me to start designing wedding invitations and stationery professionally. In 2008 our studio, Azulsahara, was launched. Since then the number of clients has gradually increased, with orders from all over the world!

Where do you go for inspiration?

I am fascinated by art, textures, materials and colors. I like combining them to come up with creative and original designs. I travel a lot and get lots of ideas from other cultures, then I work on these ideas to create Azulsahara´s unique style.

What is your signature style?

Original, unique and creative wedding invitations. Elegant designs which go from the more classic and vintage to the more chic and trendy, and exotic! We combine modern designs with traditional handcrafted techniques.

What is your favourite spot in your studio?

Our showroom, which is where we display all the work we produce in cozy and cute ways, like wooden boxes, crystal jars, baskets..... surrounded by vases with flowers. It also has a lot of light and opens onto a lovely garden with a terrace!

Do you have a current favorite color palette or wedding trend?

At the moment I am designing wedding invitations which are a fusion between a classic style and the influence of Asian art.

Where do you see your business in five years?

We hope to go on designing unique and beautiful wedding stationery that makes couple's weddings a very special day all around the world. I also see myself working with other professionals such as wedding planners, as it is challenging and gratifying to design wedding stationary with specific themes, colours etc that match couples personalities and fulfill their idea of their dream wedding.

Finish the sentence

I can´t live without a large cup of coffee at 7am, my Mac , delicious food, and a long walk in the countryside with my dog!

{couples} ana + miguel

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

I love the determination of some couples. Ana + Miguel had their heart set on having Andre from {Branco Prata} as their wedding photographer but unfortunately he was already booked. A few months later, they headed up to Porto with their wedding props in hand and decided on a dreamy love shoot instead.

{Photography} Branco Prata

{weekly recap}

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

Vintage 1930s engagement
Sweet beach elopement
{#187} Pretty Glam inspiration board

photo {photography by anjuli}

{happy friday} + giveaway winner

2012-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! Was everyone's week slow and dragging like mine was? I really hate going back to the grind after the holidays. Don't you? I unfortunately have to work this weekend so taking down my Christmas tree will have to wait. Any exciting plans for this weekend?

favorite links of the week...

You saw the elopement here but did you see the part 1?
A kiss is just a kiss.
It's official, 2012 is going to be full of color.
So special and sentimental.

{p.s.} The winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway is Courtney and Phil who said "I'd wear this dress...EVERYWHERE!!! It's adorable :)" Congrats! Please email me with you information

{p.s.s} Stay tuned next week for a huge giveaway.

photo {jen lauren grant}

{#187} pretty glam

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

With all the engagements going on this holiday season, I wanted to create a board that would work perfectly for a rehearsal dinner or wedding. This has to be my favorite palette- a barely there blush with smokey gray. and hints of sparkle and glam.

{colors} blush, silver, white
{photos} dress {planet blue} table {kt merry} cake {martha stewart weddings} couple and drink stirrer {martha stewart weddings} chalkboard, cake platters {rinne allen} shell salt cellar {martha stewart weddings} sandals {9to5 chic}

{real wedding} magalie + mike's beach elopement

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today real wedding is pretty special to me. It's from a fellow blogger and friend, Magalie from The Demoiselle. I was so excited that she was willing to share her wedding with us on P&P.

Take it away, Magalie... ?A big hello to all you Postcard & Pretties readers out there. I'm thrilled to be sharing one of the best moments of my life with a friend and blogger who keeps me inspired on a daily basis. It was February 16th when we learned the Empire State Building Observatory only holds weddings for 14 couples once annually on the 14th of February. There went the only site in NYC we could picture ourselves getting hitched. Onward to Plan B...

For Christmas he had surprised me with a mid-winter escape to Casa Laguna in Laguna Beach and we were scheduled to fly out the following week on the February 24th. In eight days I found a stunningly sweet site overlooking the ocean, an Officiant, a driver, the best Laguna Beach florist ever and my wardrobe. Did I mention I also designed my own ring? It's astounding what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it.

For me, eloping was a no-brainer because it meant no worries about the guest list or the bouquet

toss or anything other than the two of us. For him, the instant gratification and adventure of it all

was impossible to resist. At the heart of the decision was a focus on the life journey we’re beginning

together."

Our wedding day was momentous but it also felt like happenstance. It was kismet...simply meant to be.

In that moment and every day since, we fit.

A special thanks to Jen Lauren Grant who’s incredible energy and photographic talent was indispensible on the big day.

{Photography} Jen Lauren Grant

Don’t miss Part I of The Demoiselle’s beautiful wedding!

{giveaway} shabby apple

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

I can't tell you how excited I am to kick off 2012 with a giveaway. Today is the day to enter to win this adorable Shabby Apple dress. Just got engaged for the holiday? This dress would be perfect for your engagement shoot or rehearsal dinner. Shabby Apple is an online boutique that sells dresses and apparel for all types of women. They have so many cute and affordable women’s dresses that are perfect for any occasion. Good luck!

{How to enter}

~ Leave a comment on the blog where you'd wear the "Aurelia" dress if you won.

For additional entries: leave a separate comment for each additional entry {already follow or like, let us know}

~ follow Postcards & Pretties on Twitter
~like Shabby Apple on Facebook

~tweet this giveaway “ I ♥ #giveaways!! I just entered to win the "Aurelia" dress from @shabbyapple on @postcrdsprettie http://ow.ly/8gZIX "

Giveaway ends ~~January 5, 2012 at 5 pm EST.~~ Giveaway has ended!

Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Giveaway is open to us readers only.

~*~

Shabby Apple is also offering 10% off discount to all P&P readers until February 2, 2012.

Use promo code: PostcardsandPretties10off

{engagement} amber + johnny

2012-01-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012!! There is no denying that today's couple is completely in love with each other. Amber + Johnny's vintage 1930s inspired engagement shoot had me smitten from the moment I first opened my inbox. I can't get enough of the couple's style, gorgeous locations and that vintage 1939 Buick.

The shoot started off in Exiley’s nursery in Sewell, NJ to Penn Treaty park in Philadelphia and topped off the night with some cocktails at the Ranstead Room.

From Amber "We knew that we did not want typical engagement photos and were looking for a photographer to help us create something theatrical. We knew that Maria was the photographer for us when her eyes lit up to this idea. She had the vision of the shoot and what she was looking for before we even left her office from our first meeting! Maria suggested the 1920's/1930's time period and we fell in love with the idea. Because she is so creative, we let her take control and followed her lead from the costumes to the car to the locations... it was all amazing! Our favorite photos and part of the shoot was towards the very end when we were in the restaurant, The Ranstead Room. We love the photos of us in the booth and in the street outside of the restaurant. We looked and felt so glamorous... like movie stars! We had so much fun the day of the shoot and were sad when it was over... we wanted to wake up and do it all over again the next day! We have been obsessed with the photos since we saw them and are so happy with Maria's vision!"

{Photography} Maria Mack Photography

{Stylist} Rob Paluso

{Prop Styling} Maria Mack

{Hair/Make Up} B. Wilson

{Custom head piece} Cori Hutcherson

happy 2012

2012-01-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

{Top 10 of 2011}

photo: This is Glamorous

{happy friday}

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! I've been playing hookie this week with the blog. I gave myself a last minute mini vacation from P&P to enjoy the holidays and the last days 2011. Hopefully you enjoyed the Top 10 lists this week and once again I want to give a big virtual hug to each and every single on of you.

Happy New Years! See you all next year. xo

photo {frog prince paperie}

{top 10 of 2011} inspiration boards

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of sad that this is the last official post of 2011. It's been quite a journey and I've had a great time. Thank you for your comments, encouragements and friendship.

Did your favorite inspiration board make the list?

{ No. 1 } White Washed Autumn

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{ No. 2 } Love in the Garden

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{ No. 3 } Paris & Pistachio

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{ No. 4 } Spring Picnic

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{ No. 5 } Cinnamon & Coral

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{ No. 6 } Mexican Margarita

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{ No. 7 } Amber + Lace

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{ No. 8 } Summer Brights

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{ No. 9 } Island Lovin'

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{ No. 10 } Cappuccino Bella

{top 10 of 2011} real weddings

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

There have been some amazing real weddings featured on P&P this year and today we're going to revisit your Top 10. Thank you to all the incredible vendors for sharing your work with us.

{ No. 1 } Kelley + Ira's DIY wedding blew us away with their antique finds and quilt backdrop by EE Photography.

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{ No. 2 } We loved Elizabeth & David's destination Mardi Gras wedding by 13:13 Photography.

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{ No. 4 } Sara Christian + Patrick's shabby chic garden wedding had us smitten by Annabella Charles.

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{ No. 5 } Anali + George's wedding prove to us that a gorgeous wedding can be planned in six months by Brooke Courtney Photography.

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{ No. 6 } Patricia + Hugo inspired us with their classic wedding by Branco Prata.

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{ No. 6 } We couldn't get enough of Vanessa + Atiq's picnic wedding by Fresh in Love Photography.

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{ No. 7 } Dawn + Renni's candlelit ceremony made us swoon by Brooke Courtney Photography.

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{ No. 8 } Kathlyn + Dan's intimate beach side wedding by Dreambox Photography.

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{ No. 9 } We loved Kristen + Andrew's elegant barn wedding by Jon Morton Seniors.

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{ No. 10 } Joana + Mario's palace wedding truly felt like a fairy tale by arc | fotografia.

{top 10 of 2011} inspiration shoots

2011-12-27T04:30:00.000-05:00

So did your favorite engagement shoot make the cut yesterday? Today is all about the Top 10 Inspired shoots. They were influenced by classic novels, a favorite era or from their home town but regardless of where the inspirations came from these gorgeous shoots has all of us swooning in 2011.

{No. 1} Southern Vintage shoot by {Gideon Photography}

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{No. 2} Bride of Green Gables shoot {Nbarrett Photography}

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{No. 3} Love in the Afternoon shoot by {ARC | Fotografia}

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{No. 4} Vintage Romance in the Woods Shoot by {Ashlee Raubach Photography}

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{No. 5} Intimate Farm Wedding shoot by {Jen Lynne Photography}

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{No. 6} Sun Filled Picnic for Two shoot by {Branco Prata}

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{No. 7} Roaring Twenties shoot by {Nbarrett Photography}

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{No. 8} Time Traveler's Wife shoot by {Sarah Bray Photography}

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{No. 9} From Portland with Love shoot by {Swoon Imagery}

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{No. 10} Monarch Butterfly Shoot shoot by {Easy Dreamer Photography}

{top 10 of 2011} engagement

2011-12-26T04:30:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday. Today I'm count downing the Top 10 Engagement shoots featured on Postcards & Pretties this year. The shoots were determined by reader's comments and page views. Thank you, to all the amazing talents for sharing your work here on P&P.

{No. 1} You can tell that Elise + Tommy had so much fun with their engagement shoot by {Andria Lindquist}.

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{No. 2} Vintage WWII inspired engagement shoot by {Bellezza Photography}

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{No. 3} You guys loved this saucy red riding hood inspired engagement shoot by {Kelly is Nice Photography}

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{No. 4} Nikki + Nick's super adorable picnic engagement by {Jenny Haas Photography}

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{No. 5} Can anything be cuter than carnival engagement shoot? {Caroline Prietz Photography}

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{No. 6} Katie + Taylor's had a relaxing backyard session by {Haley Sierra Weddings}

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{No. 7} Sarah + Flor's engagement party was full of DIY details by {Closer to Love Photography & Design}

•••••

{No. 8} For Erica + Joel's engagement, they recreated the movie UP which they saw on their first date. by {Jeff Wallace Photography}

•••••

{No. 9} Kary + Josh's Vintage Inspired Engagement by {Jessica Velarde}.

•••••

{No. 10} Anita + Eric's Time Travel engagement shoot had us smitten. by {Adrienne Gunde Photography}

Stay tuned for tomorrow's Top 10 Inspiration Shoots.

{happy friday}

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! Why does Christmas always creeps up on me? I'm not ready!! I have a ton of things to finish before Saturday night. In my family, we have a huge Christmas Eve dinner, open presents at midnight and then eat some more. Ha!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas. xo

favorite links of the week...

Sweet love shoot
Love this adorable snowflake garland
These shoes are fierce!
This wedding is pure magical

photo {Alison Conkilin}

{#186} black + white

2011-12-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

I can't believe that this is the last inspiration board for 2011. Last year, I create a champagne & gold one but this year I wanted to go a little low key but still fun and festive. You can never go wrong with black and white. It's modern, sophisticated and is the perfect palette to ring in 2012!

{colors} black, white, silver
{photos} caviar {sunday suppers} anemone bouquet {paul johnson photography} balloons {martha stewart weddings} bouquet {martha stewart weddings} tights {katie's pencil box} oreo cookie cake {party start me} bride's attire {a gift wrapped life} garland {poppytalk} martini {martha stewart weddings} lounge {rue magazine}

{pretty table} cozy winter

2011-12-21T04:30:00.000-05:00

I came across this cozy winter tablescape from {Sweet Something Designs} and I instantly fell in love with those gorgeous oversize hurricane vases standing tall on wood slices and the snugly throw laid across the table.

Get the look with these...

1. garland 2. flatware 3. cake stand 4. candles 5. vase 6. bells 7. plaid throw

{sponsor pretties} belletristics + free printable

2011-12-20T04:30:00.000-05:00

Our featured sponsor for today is {Belletristics}. {Belletristics} is a design studio specializing in printable wedding stationery for the do-it-yourself bride. They offer three ways to shop! You can choose their custom design services, ready made designs or mix and match different fonts and graphics to create your very own unique stationery.

Visit {Belletristics} on Facebook and Twitter too!

{ Freebie }

Sarah was kind enough to create this free "Love is Sweet" printable to decorate your dessert table. Enjoy!

"Love is Sweet" sign in blue

"Love is Sweet" sign in pink

"Love is Sweet" sign in yellow

Belletristics is a postcards & pretties sponsor

{#185} winter red

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Wow I can't believe that Christmas is almost here. Is it me or did time fly really fast this year? I'm not the biggest fan of red {unless we're talking about my favorite soccer team} but when it comes to my wardrobe or decor, to me a little red goes a long way. Sprinkle in some hints on rich emerald green and you have yourself one festive winter wedding.

{colors} ruby, emerald, white

{photos} bride sitting on red chair {jessica janae photography} caramel roasted pears {white on rice couple} emerald dress {j. crew} geranium boutonniere {chelsea fuss via once wed} nice & naughty favor bags {martha stewart weddings} cherry mojito {martha stewart weddings} letterpress {eight hour day} heels {jose villa} place setting {cynthia warren design}

{sponsor post} wedding-etc.com

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend. Have you heard of Wedding-etc.com yet? They will help youplan the ins, outs and etc’s of your special day!

Get inspired by their vastselection of one of a kind wedding cake designs, flavors, toppers andaccessories, sure to leave your guests with a mouthful of compliments, and mostimportantly, great tasting cake!

Wedding-etc.com must-read wedding flower & decor idea experts showcase thetrendiest centerpieces, bouquets and inspirational wedding themes that willmake your wedding ceremony & reception a unique and memorable occasion.

Wedding-etc is a must-read for every bride to be, weddingenthusiast and planner! They understand the importance of this special day andthat’s why their experts strive to keep you up to date with all the latest inbridal dresses, wedding cakes, flower bouquets and décor ideas, helping youplan your ultimate dream wedding!

Wedding-etc.com currently has a contestgoing on. All you have to do is sign up for their FREE weeklynewsletter and be entered into a draw to wina one year subscription to Brides Magazine!

{weekly recap}

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

{#184} Shimmer + Snow Inspiration Board
Metallic Cakes + Desserts
Ethereal Bridal Shoot
{Style} Shimmer, sparkle & shine

photo {unknown}

{happy friday} let it sparkle

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! How did you enjoy this week's sparkly theme? I'm so excited that it's starting to feel like Christmas. Finally! This week I got half of my Christmas shopping done. What?! How did that happen? The last couple of years, I've been such a procrastinator. I still need to by gifts for my parents? Any suggestions?

If you couldn't get enough of the sparkly pretties seen this week. Check out these links...

Glittery lemon sandwich cookies
Sparkly votive cups
Glitter gift wrap
Gold dipped stemware
Glitter gift bags
Glittered flatware
Glittery paper lantern
Glitzy napkin rings
Sparkly tablescape

{p.s.} Don't forget to enter {MAG}rouge's giveaway. Enter to win a ring bear bowl from Paloma's Nest.

photos {tinsel swizzle sticks} {washi tape ornaments} from Odessa May Society

{style} shimmer, sparkle and shine

2011-12-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

Since this week I'm celebrating everythingthat shimmer, sparkles and shines I had to create few looks that would work forthe upcoming New Years festivities.

Which look would you wear when the balldrops?

{ Look 1 } dress, earrings, glasses, clutch, shoes

{ Look 2 } dress, earrings, clutch, shoes

{ Look 3} dress, shrug, earrings, bracelets, shoes

{ Look 4} blazer, skirt, cami, earrings, ring, shoes

{ Look 5} dress, earrings, clutch, shoes

{ Look 6} dress, earrings, necklace, clutch, shoes

{shoot} ethereal bridal shoot

2011-12-14T04:30:00.001-05:00

How are enjoyingthis week's theme of shimmer, sparkle and shine? What do you get when youcombine a vintage dress purchased in Ebay with a dreamy location and a dash ofglitter? Today’s gorgeous ethereal bridal shoot, that is.

{Photography} Skai Photography

{cakes} metallic desserts

2011-12-13T05:00:00.000-05:00

Once again Pinterest fuels my obsession with these lustrous wedding cakes and desserts. Pewter, gold or copper, it really doesn't matter to me because I'm completely smitten with them.

{yummy cupcakes & cake} {bake until scrumptious}

{martha stewart weddings} {sweet & saucy shop}

{missy photography via style me pretty}

{wedding style guide} {martha stewart weddings}

Remember what they say "you always eat with your eyes first".

{#184} shimmer + snow

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's all about shimmer, sparkle and shine this week. Let's kick things off with today's inspiration board. There is something about the holidays that makes me continuously think of shimmery metallics and there is nothing that I love more than seeing a wedding shimmer and shine. The palette is light which helps the shiny copper take center stage.

{colors} eggnog, copper, lace

{photos} couple {carly mitchell photography} snowflake cookies {alexandra grablewski} pinwheel package {grey likes weddings} hydrangeas in copper vase {docuvitae} vivienne westwood heels, eggnog {martha stewart} angel wings {country living} bouquet {emici bridal} soda {sunday suppers} lace gift {sweet paul} bhldn wedding dress {mike larson photography}

{weekly recap}

2011-12-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

I'm kicking off another theme week tomorrow. Any guesses?

in case you missed it...

December {Sponsor Pretties}
{#183} Blue Noel inspiration board
{Pretty Details} Party Crackers
{Real Wedding} Joana + Mario's Palace wedding
Introducing {MAG}rouge

photo {Elizabeth Messina}

{happy friday} holiday must haves

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! On Monday, I had the pleasure to guest blog over at {Valley & Co.} and shared my Holiday Must Haves. If you missed it check out the post here. Last week I mentioned that I was contemplating whether or not I should put up my tree because I was waiting on my painters. Well that plan went to hell. Early Saturday morning, I received a call from them telling me that they will be here bright and early Monday morning. Thanks for the heads up! I spent my whole weekend packing my stuff and moving/covering furniture. Needless to say that my tree is still MIA and I'm not a happy camper. So this weekend I'm going to put EVERYTHING back in it's place and hopefully have time to finally deck the halls.

favorite links of the week...

I need this under my tree.
This DRESS is insanely gorgeous
Perfect non-floral bouquet for winter brides.
I'm going to start this tradition this year.
The stationery in this wedding is gorgeous.
Dapper boys

introducing {MAG}rouge

2011-12-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Names:

Judit Meron of {Artisan Cakes}, Kate Holland of {Ruby & Willow Design Studio}, Hannah Sutherland and Jasmine Kovach of {Sutherland Kovach Studio}

Company:

{MAG}rouge - online wedding inspiration magazine

How many years have you been in the wedding industry?

On average the founder members have been in the industry for 6 years

What is {MAG} rouge about?

Color and love... with style: {MAG}rouge is a fresh and cutting edge, inspirational online wedding magazine, an offshoot of Magnolia Rouge, a premier wedding blog of chic brides and colour aficionados everywhere.

Why did you start {MAG} rouge?

After getting together for numerous styled shoots the team has decided to create an outlet for all the
creative inspirations bursting in them. After the blog revolution and the ever so fast changes on the online media landscape an e-glossy seemed a nice platform.

What is your favorite feature/shoot in {MAG} rouge and why?

The Simply Bloom "Queen of the road" as it is so dreamy and creative

What's your signature style?

Fresh, fun, lighthearted with strong color and design aesthetic.

Finish this sentence “I can’t live without… Judit's macarons, Japanese food, Green tea, colour, our cameras and iphones."

{Photography} Sutherland Kovach Studio, Simply Bloom Photography, The Amazing Travelling Photobooth

{giveaway} hammered leaf crystal earrings

2011-12-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since we had a giveaway here on P&P...don't you think? So today our sponsor, Pree Brulée is giving away these Hammered Leaf Crystal earrings to one lucky P&P reader. These earrings are so unique and I'm completely smitten with the hammered matte gold paired with crystals.

{How to enter}

• Like Pree Brulée on Facebook and leave a comment on their page telling them where you would wear these earrings if you won. Make sure to tell them Postcards & Pretties sent you for the entry to count.

Giveaway ends December 10, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Giveaway is open to U.S. readers only
*Comments on P&P will be closed to avoid confusion.

Pree Brulée is a postcards & pretties sponsor

{real wedding} joana + mário's palace wedding

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Can anything be more romantic than getting married in a palace? I was completely floored when I came across Joana + Mário’s fairy tale wedding. Inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” the couple created a unique and beautiful garden wedding.

From Joana "we were looking for a venue that was timeless, that we knew would still be standing in 100 year’s time, filled with history, meaning and symbolism. We opted for a garden ceremony, with my bridesmaids leading the way, all wearing flower crowns (they looked stunning!!!). I walked to the altar to the sound of "For the Love of a Princess from Baveheart". It was magical!"

"Followingthe ceremony, we served a cocktail dinatoire on the palace´s terrace. Thisturned out to be a great idea, as it was all very dynamic and a lot of fun!"

{Photography} arc | fotografia

{Venue} The Marquis of Fronteira Palace, Lisbon

{Make Up/Hair} Creative Academy

{Caterer/Cake} Casa da Comida

{Music/Lighting} Digital Rent

{Bridal Dress} Rosa Clara

{Shoes} Christian Louboutin

{Hair Accessories} Family Jewels

{Floral Crowns/Bouquets} D. Flores

{Décor} Festas e Sonhos

{Groom’s Attire} Hugo Boss

{Jewelry} Oro Vivo

{Stationery} The Love Lab

{pretty details} party crackers

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

My current obsession are super cute party crackers. They're not only pretty to look at but are quite versatile. They make for great place cards and can double up as favors filled with assorted wrapped candies, but my favorite has to be stacked high on cake plate for a sweet looking centerpiece.

lace party crackers {martha stewart weddings} numbered party crackers {hgtv}

diy candy crackers {posh paperie & jackie wonders via style me pretty}

fancy candy crackers {martha stewart weddings} monogrammed party crackers {rebecca thuss}

{#183} blue noel

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

Paris is on my top 5 places to visit and I think everyone can agree that it is gorgeous anytime of the year but there is something special about stroll along the Seine during the winter time.

{colors} navy, light blue blush, gold

{photos} bouquet {veilandbow} package {this is glamorous} miniature champagne bottles {dreamsicle day} window front, assorted cheeses {martha stewart weddings} blue dress {the glitter guide} croquembouche {martha stewart weddings} couple {kirk mastin} you are loved decal {shanna murray}

{sponsor pretties} december

2011-12-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

{13:13 Photography} is a boutique photography studio ran by a husband & wife team Ashley & Philip. They're all about capturing the natural and unscripted moments and details that make your love story uniquely your own.

{Pree Brulée} This a sweet online boutique is filled with an array of fashion forward jewelry and accessories.

{AzulSahara} carrys an array of different styles from vintage, classic and trendy wedding stationery in a rainbow of color choices.

{weekly recap}

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

{happy friday} oh christmas tree

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! Every year, I always put up my Christmas tree the first weekend of December but this year I was considering putting it off until I got my place painted. Since I can't ignore traditions like that, I'm decorating anyway. Let's see how that turns out. Are you decorating this weekend too or are your decorations up already?

favorite links of the week...

I think I found my macaron recipe
These mini wreath cards are adorable
Can't believe this bouquet is a DIY
I'm adding an embossing gun to my gift list after seeing this easy tutorial
This dress is beyond gorgeous

photo A Simple Photograph

{pretty palette} chartreuse + gray

2011-12-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

Last month I came across my very first journal that I kept with idea before I began P&P. I actually thought I tossed it but there it was scribbled up with inspiration board ideas and different color palette combinations that I loved. So I decided to bring {Pretty Palettes} to life and make it a new series {technically not new because I did ONE back in September 2009 and never went forward with it until now}. I know...bad blogger!! I hope they can help you decide on a color scheme for your wedding, party or even home decor.

{colors} chartreuse, gray, teal & smoke

{photos} wrapped gifts {bhg} chartreuse skirt {boden} ornaments {cox & cox} centerpieces {martha stewart weddings}

{real wedding} anali + george

2011-11-30T04:30:00.000-05:00

Anali + George's wedding is proof that you can create a gorgeous wedding in just six months. Anali did like most brides and began her search online for her must have wedding location. She was also incredibly kind to share her wedding details with us ...take it away Anali "When we went to check out the Audubon we were stunned by how much better it looked in person! It had everything we needed for a beautiful rustic wedding. Among these things was a gorgeous historic stone house perched on the top of a hill overlooking a lovely creek, an old-wood barn and a rustic wooden and tin pavilion complete with a stone fireplace. Oh! And the best part was that everything surrounded by beautiful nature and of course the birds of the Audubon Center. We made a decision on the spot and were able to book our date for a Friday at the beginning of September - the perfect time for an outdoor wedding."

"I would say that my favorite piece of handmade decoration was the “Welcome Amigos” sign. Kudos go to my amazing husband, my father-in-law and my sister who worked on it as a team and delivered this beautiful piece that was placed at the entrance of the Audubon."

"The bridesmaids were given a piece of fabric of a pale/nude pink color, and asked to pick their own dresses. I also asked them to stick more to a romantic dress style to keep the theme of the wedding. The groomsmen wore classic black suits supported by suspenders. Their bow ties I made myself with plaid style fabric. I wanted my dress to be classic and simple and George wanted a tux with a traditional look, similar to the groomsmen, but a bit more modern and slender. I made my veil from scratch and attached a bow to it for a more girly touch. Because the dress was very simple, I decided I wanted to wear a big and bold necklace."

"We wanted a simple and rustic wedding. We decided to stick to neutral and hearty colors in order to not take away from the natural beauty of the Audubon but to emphasize it. We incorporated burlap as table runners, candles, wooden barrels, lanterns, etc, to go with the theme of the wedding. I am originally from Paraguay and I wanted to include a few things from my country. The most mentionable item was an authentic hand woven Paraguayan hammock imported from the country-side. Additionally from Paraguay I brought in handmade doilies and little jars with dulce de leche that doubled as place holders and party favors."

"I also took on the assignment of making the flower arrangements and bouquets. This was pretty easy, but a bit stressful because I could only work on the flowers just before the wedding. I wanted mostly white wild flowers and was able to buy them in bulk at a wholesaler. Last minute, I ended up adding white roses and some handpicked flowers from a local farm field."

"The day of the wedding was a sunny and warm end of summer day. Our guests arrived to the sounds of acoustic Brazilian jazz and we danced the night away to a mix of classic and new Latin and American songs. Our DJ did the best job we have ever seen, especially considering the challenge of multi age groups and multi cultural backgrounds."

"During the week it had actually rained for the 4 days previous the wedding day, and though we were blessed with a sunny day, the humidity was very high and our predicted cool September evening ended up being an extremely energetic albeit sticky summer night. This was a blessing in disguise and gave way to the highlight of the night: two weeks earlier I thought about having an ice cream truck pull up during the dance party. Well, given the warm night and the amazing dance floor, there could not have been any better of an offering to our guests than the delicious homemade soft serve ice cream to a crowd of sweaty, warm and happy dancers."

"As I look back and think of all details that were incorporated into this wedding I realize that what really made this occasion an unforgettable one wasn’t all the hard work we put into it but the presence of our family and friends that were able to join us and helped us organize and celebrate one of the best days of our lives!"

{Photography} Brooke Courtney Photography

{Venue} John James Audubon Center, Eagleville, PA

{Church} Holy Saviour Church, Norristown, PA

{Catering} Jeffrey Mills Catering

{Band} Chance of Rain

{DJ} East Coast Events- DJ Johnny V

{Flowers} FiftyFlowers.com

{Transportation} Bucks County Trolley Company, Hagey Coach and Tours

{Ice Cream Truck} Big Chill Ice Cream

{Dress} Almata, Rivini

{Necklace} Dannijo, Ismene Bib Necklace

Brooke Courtney Photography is a postcards & pretties sponsor

{shop the inspiration} winter shimmer

2011-11-29T04:30:00.000-05:00

There is something about this time of year that I want every single item to shimmer & shine. Inspired by yesterday's inspiration board, Winter Shimmer I gathered a few pretties that will make you and your decor sparkle.

feather hair fascinator {loboheme} gold velvet pillow {pier 1} ring {pree brulee} flats {dsw}

metallic leaf garland {crate & barrel} nail polish "shifting power" {essie} ornamants {macy's}

Pree Brulee is a postcards & pretties sponsor

{#182} winter shimmer

2011-11-28T04:30:00.000-05:00

Back in January I guest blogged for Melissa over at {The Loveliest Day} and featured this Winter Shimmer board with her lovely readers. I never got a chance to share here on P&P until today. Everything looks prettier when it sparkles…don’t ya think? Whodoesn’t love a festive and glamorous winter wedding. You don’t typicallyassociate rich delicious brown as a winter color but when combined with bronze,gold and hints of silver can convince any winter bride to consider thispalette for her own wedding. Ornaments can be your bestfriend when it comes to decorating for your winter wedding. By scattering metallicand glass ornaments around the tables {or staircase} will instantly add color and interest to your event.

{colors} bronze, gold, chocolate, ivory

{photos} just married sign {martha stewart weddings} dress {utterly engaged} snowflake cookies {alexandra grablewski} dessert table {martha stewart weddings} feather wrap, centerpiece {martha stewart weddings} stairs filled with ornaments {vintage rose garden} plate setting {better home and gardens} bouquet {martha stewart weddings}

{weekly recap}

2011-11-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

in case you missed any of this week's posts...

{#181} Love & Gratitude inspiration board
Light & airy autumn tablescapes
{Good Eats} Pies
Bridget + Mike's intimate autumn wedding
Three amazing gift guides

photo {three nails photography}

{happy friday} + shopping

2011-11-25T03:30:00.000-05:00

Guess who just got home from the Target Black Friday sale. This girl right here!! This being my third year of BFS {black Friday shopping}, I gotta tell you I maneuvered that red shopping cart like a boss. Due to my nocturnal shopping spree, the weekend links are missing but I'm leaving you with some amazing gift guides.

Have a great weekend...I'll be back on Monday!

{IHOD Holiday Gift Guide}

{Gifted Magazine}

{The Holiday Guide by Emily Henderson}

{happy thanksgiving}

2011-11-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Pies are baked, turkey is in the oven and I can't wait to change into my comfy pants ;) I just wanted to stop in and say that I'm so thankful for each and everyone of you that take time to visit P&P. To my incredible sponsors, thank you for you constant support!

You all are the absolute best!

photo Jose Villa

{real wedding} bridget + mike's intimate wedding

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

This elegant and intimate wedding was captured by Sarah of {Sarah Vaughan Photography}. Bridget was kind enough to let us in on her wedding day. "We took the inspiration for our design from the things we love to do when we travel: visiting art galleries and seeing live music! Friends and family helped us scan tickets stubs from concerts and post cards of art we’d seen and mixed in crystals and mirrors and hung them with ribbon and silver wire to create a lovely, whimsical backdrop of color … in terms of the dress , I knew I loved a vintage feel with a modern twist and I think our designer created the perfect mix! Lastly, our honeymoon planned for France and Italy inspired touches in our décor from toile and ‘Paris of the 20’s’ with our peacock feathers!"

The decorations were made from postcards taken from the various art galleries the couple visited; the place cards for the dinner reception featured various musical concert stubs the couple attended over the years.

Their favorite part of the day (aside from the yes’s!) was the steady stream of smiles and laughs with their guests. It felt like a charmed day and was so very gratifying for us both.

Any advice? "The advice Mike and I would give would be to develop a bit of a goal for the day and stick to it. Our goal: “The wedding and celebration will be simple and elegant”. Whenever a new choice came along or something we hadn’t considered fell into our laps, we’d asked ourselves “are we making this too complex?” if the answer was “yes”, we took it off our list. It instantly relived our stress and we could proceed with the next set of activities. The details we spent extra time on: the vows / ceremony plan, the song list and the seating plans."

{Photography} Sarah Vaughan Photography

{Flowers} Devine Creations

{Bride’s Dress} Michelle Baynes of Emogene Couture

{Bride’s Shoes} John Fluevog

{Groom’s Suit} Brooks Brothers

{Caterer} Janice Beaton Fine Cheese

{Event Rentals} Special Event Rentals - Calgary

{Hair} Roberto's Hair Studio

{Marriage Commissioner} Abby Charchun

{Jewelry} De Beers San Francisco

{good eats} pies

2011-11-22T22:30:00.000-05:00

{megan w}

{katie stoops} {tara guegard}

I'm craving some good ol' fashion pie. Who's with me? You know the ones with the nice flaky crust and gooey filling...yeah those! And there is nothing I heart more than to see make an appearance in autumn weddings {or on my Thanksgiving table}. Perfectly presented in tiers or simply tied with bakers twine for the perfect take home snack for guests.

What's your favorite pie flavor? Will you be serving pie at your wedding?

{table pretties} light & airy autumn decor

2011-11-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

With Thanksgiving just two days away, all I can think about is how I should decorate the table. This year I'm in charge and I'm still trying to figure out what to do. I'm considering a light and airy autumn table that uses organic and vintage elements. I found these three different tables ideas that I think will come quite handy for me on Thursday.

{Favorite detail} Vintage Postcards

{Frech Larkspur}

{Favorite detail} European linens

{dreamy whites}

{Favorite detail} Yarn

{jose villa via green wedding shoes}

{#181} love and gratitude

2011-11-21T04:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! It's going to be one busy week for me and posting is going to be on the light side because of Thanksgiving. I wanted to create a board to celebrate the season. The board needed to be comfortable and casual but refined. Hints of wheat in the decor and boutonnieres make it extra special.

{colors} wheat, burlap, linen

{photos} champagne {michael & anna costa} burlap programs {katelyn james} wheat crown and gold utensils {jose villa} cornucopia {martha stewart} wheat boutonniere {instyle weddings} rose cake {i am baker} apple galette {country living} bouquet {aaron delesie} veil {emilliner bride} thank you {louisa marion photography}

{weekly recap}

2011-11-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

in case you missed any of this week's posts...

Chic brides wear blazers!
{#180} Autumn Tweed inspiration board
Autumn Love wedding shoot
Two different Twilight inspired wedding shoots

photo {Gia Canali Photography}

{happy friday} macaron madness

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned last week I headed out to NYC and I finally tried Laduree macarons for the first time. As we approached the shop, I noticed a massive group of people ahead. I began thinking to myself "Please don't let that be the line" but of course it was. Dammit! So we quickly walked to the end of the line because we spotted a large group approaching it. Ha! beat ya! Slowly we inched toward the door and after an hour I could finally see the store front and quickly forgot about how the meter time was quickly going to run out or how we still had to catch the 8 o'clock show. I had to catch myself from pressing my face against the window to take it all in. The shop was breathtaking! Now I was really excited!! The greeter finally let us in and I was trying to take a mental picture of everything, the macarons, the boxed teas, the candles! I wanted it all! Luckily {or unluckily depending how you see it} we still had to wait in line for 15 to actually order. It was difficult decided which flavors to choose but in the end I went with two chocolate, two cafe, two lemon, one raspberry and one vanilla {the only disappointing one}. At the checkout I quickly remembered about Jordan's post saying how pretty their napkins were and I asked for one too!

So the macarons are long gone but not forgotten and I'm going to attempt to make them at home to give as gifts to girls for Christmas. I know they aren't going to be a amazing as Laduree but it will be a sweet little reminder of our trip together. Does anyone know of a good macaron recipe? Please share! Have a great weekend, friends!

favorite links of the week...

I'm obsessed with this DRESS!
Never read/watch Harry Potter but this inspiration shoot is super cute.
Beautiful pink farm wedding
Cute relaxed retro engagement
This has to be the prettiest autumn palette

photo: Laduree {Greige Interiors} Bag {iphone pic}

twilight wedding inspiration

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

The time has finallycome...Twilight's Breaking Dawn ishere!! Whoohoo! Anyone else excited? Ithink you are but just won’t admit it. In a few hours I’ll be seating in the theater with all the young teenagers, their mothers, grandmothers {true story- at the New Moon midnight show, a group of five elderly ladies hooted and hollered when good ol' Jacob came to Bella's rescue and removed his shirt.} at midnight show. Last year with the release of Eclipse, I featured thisgorgeous shoot. So this year I couldn’t pass up sharing these two differentTwilight inspired wedding shoots that I found on Pinterest {of course!} with you. One is Victorian and elegant and theother is Art Deco with vintage accents but both are equally romantic.

{Victorian Elegance}

{Segerius Bruce via Want that Wedding}

{Vintage Art Deco}

{Brienne Michelle Photography via Green Wedding Shoes}

Which one do you like best?

{shoot} autumn love

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

You might remember {Piteira Photography} duo from this adorable Lisbon engagement session and now they're back with this adorable shoot taken in the south-central part of Portugal called Alentejo. Kerry was kind enough to share some details about that day. "This shoot was styled and photographed for the second issue of S Magazine, an online wedding inspiration magazine published by the innovative (and gorgeous!) Portuguese wedding blog Simplemente Branco. The theme was "Color" and since it was published in the fall, we wanted to bring that feeling across in the production. Portugal is a stunningly beautiful country with an abundance of gorgeous and varied landscapes, we wanted to showcase the natural beauty of this place by styling a wedding in the great outdoors... a celebration of nature, sunshine, simple pleasures, and above all, love!"

"Using a colour palette of reds, oranges and yellows, the design team put together a simple yet stylish altar by the side of the lake and set up a rustic table with olive branches and wild flowers arranged in mismatched glass bottles. The emphasis was on a rustic and easy to achieve aesthetic, to show potential brides that you don't need to spend heaps of money to create beautiful wedding decor. We also made a point of using as many recycled items as possible, the glass bottles and jars on the table and in the trees were collected by us all in the months leading up to this session, the olive branches were cut from the garden on the morning of the shoot... the altar was built on site with colourful ribbons and several bamboo branches... anything is possible with a bit of imagination!"

{Photography} by Kerry and Luis at Piteira Photography

{Stationary and graphic design} Eter Wedding

{Concept and Styling} Eter Wedding and Anabela Teixeira as well as Design Events

{Location} Barragem do Tourega near Evora, Portugal

{Models} Helena and Carlos, a real couple who entered a competition for the chance to take part in this shoot

Originally produced for S Magazine #2 (published in both English and Portuguese)

{#180} autumn tweed

2011-11-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted a board with a green palette. You might find this hard to believe but I first started it back in August. Gah! I often create a board inspired by the next season in anticipation for all the pretties that it brings. So I guess you can say that today's board honors all my favorite autumn things - caramel {duh} tweed, twine and champagne {ok so that's for every season}.

{colors} pear, brown tweed, ivory

{photos} bride {elizabeth messina} bouquet {our labor of love} champagne {aaron delesie} thank you pencils {organic weddings} centerpieces {martha stewart weddings} skirt {inspired design} caramel pears {fresh} plates & napkins {country living} flower girl {melanie jade photography} tweed blazers {lovelyness} twine wrapped menu {sunday suppers}