San Francisco trunk show!

I've collaborated with Duchess on many a wedding (including this one), and I'm thrilled to announce we are taking our his + hers wedding apparel show on the road. The smashing sisters of Hello! Lucky will graciously host us for a San Francisco weekend event featuring my dresses for the ladies, Duchess suits for the gentlemen (or ladies, as the case may be), and copious amounts of prosecco for all. If you're looking to dress up for a wedding in the Bay Area and would like to attend, just email for more details!

IVOIRE - Evening Dresses

IVOIRE Range - Bridesmaid Dresses

Stylist Stalking :)

Inspiration Board by Selina Lake

One of my favourite stylists is Selina Lake, I was first introduced to her work via my sister, who works for Ryland Peters and Small. My sister brings me the most beautiful books when she visits, for me to study and do lots of oohs and ahhs :) One of my favourite recent books was one styled by Selina called Bazaar style.

My coveted books are studied from page to page for me personally to use as decoration ideas for my own home and of course inspirations for our weddings.

I love this inspiration board, it is filled with divine colours, I know my two older daughters love this style as their bedrooms are decorated in these colours. LIttle Twinks is still lurid pink and princesses at the moment but we are working on her!

Again we are moving away from the very pale washed out tones of the vintage that has been so popular and moving to slightly bolder sorbet colours to brighten everything up slightly just in time for the Spring weddings.

I am just dying to know where that last photo of the pastel coloured fairground ride came from, in fact I am desperate to do a fairground themed wedding after seeing the fabulously glorious one on Preston Bailey's website, you must go and check this amazing wedding out, it is jaw dropping!

I was toying with feria ideas last week for events and weddings here :) A seed was sown which is always dangerous!

Alternative Guest Book Ideas for Weddings

As a Wedding and Event Stylist, I am always looking for different ideas and love this one sent to me of a fingerprint wedding tree :) What a fabulous alternative idea to a guest book and rather than put it in a cupboard after your wedding, you can frame it and proudly hang this on your wall as a piece of wall art.

These trees are made by Love from the Thumb on Etsy, they are the unique idea of Ricky and Ashely after they created one for their own wedding and you can order your own personalised tree and some really cute sets of inkpads for your guests to personalise your tree.

What I also like about this idea, again if you are planning a destination wedding, is that this is easily transportable back home.

Almond Blossoms in Andalucia

After a dismal winter last year with months of rain, the Costa del Sol is living up to its name this spring with fabulously sunny days and we are being truly spoilt at the moment.

I am in love with Andalucia, I decided I was going to live here as a small child when my parents first bought me here, I have been in love with Spain from year dot and moved here permanently 10 years ago and my parents live next door.

Spring here is beautiful and I wanted to share these gorgeous photos with you from Anna Gazda of the almond blossoms that are springing up all over the countryside in this sunny weather, they are beautiful and everytime I see them my heart leaps with joy as it signifies the summer is coming!

Last year we were involved in the decoration of the Haiti Fundraiser night and used the almond blossoms to decorate this event, it was a fabulous evening that raised a huge amount of money for this disaster and we were thrilled to be involved.

Looking For A Way To Propose?

Men take note: A sweet ass way to propose to your love. From Etsy seller Lenny Mud

What I Got The Big A For Valentines

Valentines last year I got the Big A this goodness: 12 things I love about you.... a cute little 'fill it out yourself' book from Etsy goodness seller Cori Kindred

Source: Babble via Frolic

Did you get Hitched?

Photo: Erin Hearts Court

My dresses made an appearance in the fashion show at Hitched, a super-cool wedding event at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs last month. The show was styled by the gifted Catherine Sheppard of The Life Styled. She was kind enough to share these photos. I had hot plans to attend personally, when a vicious winter flu knocked me sideways at the last minute--still a bit bitter about the poolside lounging I missed. But what a gorgeous show! Thanks, Catherine.

 

 

 

Keepsake lace gown. Photo: Amelia Lyon

 

 

Engaging: Alicia + Aaron

We can't tell you how excited we were when Alicia + Aaron shared their engagements with us this past week-- it was a wonderful Valentine's surprise!! We are in love with every shot that Trever Hoehne captured of the two. We just want to jump right in them and bathe in all of that glorious sunlight!

Look how sweet these two are!! We've had such a ball planning their upcoming April wedding! We absolutely love that they decided to take their engagements at the Crystal Cove Cottages- what a fun idea!

Did you notice all of the lovely shades of blue? Expect to see a whole lot more of 'em at the Leo Carrillo wedding!

Absolutely adore this last picture! Alicia looks so darn gorgeous and Aaron looks awfully sweet himself! Stay tuned to see the inspiration for their upcoming Spring wedding!

Hilarious and helpful book giveaway!!

I'm in the middle of finishing up my Oscar ballot and hoping to sweep my fellow party-goers, but wanted to share a contest that you lovely readers have a chance to win!!

HOW I PLANNED YOUR WEDDING

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs and her daughter collaborate on a funny, charming, and poignant all-true story about surviving the happiest day of their lives! Combining the laugh out loud banter of two gifted writers with invaluable practical advice, this book is both an entertaining read and a must-have resource for any mother or daughter in the throes of wedding planning.

In the middle of planning a wedding yourself? About to start the process or just returned from the honeymoon?Regardless you will devour this book cover to cover! If you're looking to score this hilarious and helpful read please add a comment describing why you & your mom make a great team! One lucky reader with the best answer will win the following prize:

- a $25 Sephora gift card
- a copy of the new book HOW I PLANNED YOUR WEDDING!
- a copy of Susan Wiggs recent novel MARRYING DAISY BELLAMY (this fiction book is 8 in The Lakeshore Chronicles, and has garnered thousands of fans and sold over 2.5 million copies)

Please submit all comments by Sunday, March 6. We're looking forward to reading about you & your mom!!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.HowIPlannedYourWedding.com

Snowed Under

My lovely friends, I wanted to apologise for my sporatic postings of late. My wedding is 2.5 weeks away and counting and let me tell you it is BUSY! I'm getting so excited I can't even begin to tell you. Bear with me, its going to be a little patchy for a while longer but I'll be back soon.

Source: Frolic

Real Simple loves Beatrix

Soft Romantic Inspiration Board

I realised tonight I had lots of lovely photos hoarded in my blog file here which were all soft romantic images, so I have just made up a quick mood board of them all to share with you.

I will have to add the credits in the morning for all the talented people I have been stalking but slightly tired now and off to bed :)!

Tulip Love

You must head over to one of my favourite blogs, The Wedding Chicks, to see this gorgeous, yet very simple, photo shoot.

Often it is the simplest ideas that are the best, and this is rather cute but the reason I love it, is I love tulips, they are one of my favourite flowers.

Sorbet colours are definitely the way forward this year, I dashed past Mango earlier, one of my favourite clothes shops here, I was in a hurry and did not have time to pop in, but it did not go unnoticed that pale teals and mango colours were leaping out from the clothes rails ;)!