How to make it yours.

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Photo: Laura Wehde

I'm honored that a bride as sassy and sensible as Brianne chose my Oysters & Pearls dress for her Iowa wedding. She wittily details the ups and downs of planning her wedding on A Practical Wedding. Great advice for brides-to-be who want to create a personal celebration while navigating the murky waters of tradition and family expectations. Cheers, Brianne!

Palmer Weiss I Like You

Well hello there Palmer Weiss. What a lovely design vision you have. Kinda Palm Springs, kinda 1960's and a whole lot of pizzaz. I have been perusing your site for half an hour now when I should be doing other things. Whoops!

Source: Palmer Weiss

Hacienda San Rafael

I do always love driving through Spain and today was no exception, although I have to say in August I would rather be on the beach! 

I was intrigued as I have two weddings booked at the Hacienda San Rafael in the next 2 weeks so it goes without saying I had to make the trip up to visit this charming venue, firstly to make sure we knew where we were going on the actual day and secondly to check out the decoration plans! 

I had done my homework and realised, I think, the reason for this sudden popularity of this venue might have been based on the fact it was featured in a UK bridal magazine last year, I cannot remember which one, but I had read the article and when we were booked for this sudden flurry of weddings there, I put two and two together:)

It is a two hour journey to this venue from Marbella, along to Los Barrios and then heading up past some fabulous lake settings and then into what I can only describe as a War of the Worlds slightly eerie setting with the absolutely enormous wind turbines blotting the landscape.  I kept expecting them to start moving and along with what seemed to be a huge amount of eagles buzzing around waiting for goodness knows what on this very arid, dry land, I was relieved to finally get up to Jerez.  From here I headed out towards Seville and finally managed to find this venue after a phone call and having quickly dodged some traffic and done a sort of spanish style dog leg across a main road!

I was greeted with a freshly made lemonade, a fabulous venue bursting with pink bougainvilla along with a very charming Anthony who showed me around and nothing was too much of a problem as we discussed our forthcoming weddings.

My only concern is having been sweating the whole time whilst there, I was told that it was pleasant there today with a gentle breeze and this weekend the temperatures are set to rise again well into the 40's?!    If I survive this coming weekend there, I have no doubt will be some fabulous photos of these weddings :)  A definite party venue for sure with a fantastic host!

Great Party Lighting Idea

Here's an idea for you: Take one string of fairy lights. Wrap with your run of the mill doilies and voila! You have the most darling party lighting idea.

Source: RP Scissors

Give me 5

Today you are 5. You still fill my life with music and laughter and now the occasional random facts about dinosaurs. You still dress up as a knight and fight dragons while rescuing your sister the princess and you still plan on marrying Tinkerbell. You still love bean and cheese burritos. You say you were cooked on them because I ate so many while you were in my belly. You still come in to snuggle with me when you have a bad dream and you still hold my hand. I hope you'll hold it forever. Today I told you I loved you and you told me you knew that already. I told you I didn't want you to ever forget. You said you'd never forget even when you got big because you would always take visits to me and all the people you love. I thought for a moment how that was a long way off and then I remembered that....

You'll be heading off to kindergarten next week. It has come so quickly. so so quickly. BUT...I think you are ready. This year has been one of great milestones:

You have cut your sister's hair this year...I mean really cut it! You have learned to operate the tv remote control all by your self and purchase Spanish pay per view movies...all by yourself. You have graduated from pre-school and flooded grandpa's house. You have your first backpack and your first pair of glasses which you love and look incredibly handsome in. You have learned to read a little bit and make the perfect smoothie. You learned how to snowboard and formed your first band. You can buckle your seat belt all by yourself and tie your shoe with care and a little patience.

I am so amazed by you everyday and feel so incredibly lucky to be your mommy. I love you my birthday boy! I can't wait to see what this next year holds.

Finn with his best friends and band mates, Noah and Carson.

Cortijo de la Perdiz Villa Wedding

We were delighted to decorate Natalie and Simon's fabulous wedding at the Cortijo de la Perdiz at the end of July.  Natalie's day began at the elegant Villa Padierna hotel and then onto the Cortijo for a night of celebrating and fun.

Beautifully organised by Heather at Fiestasol and Alex, as always, coming up trumps with his fabulous food and amazing team effort.  Even though I work on many weddings with Fiestasol I am always astounded by their professionalism time and time again :)

Natalie and Simon's theme was white and lime green and we used our white birdcages decorated with lots of butterflies and a lime green candle in each one for the table centrepieces. 

Natalie's wedding bouquet was to die for with white roses and white freesia, by far one of our most favourite bouquets this year.

Our thanks to Becky Sharpe photography for these fabulous images, we love them, and by the way Becky we did go there the next day and saw the pants, they were Calvin Klein and the owner had not showed up to reclaim them!  A truly horrible sight so you did not miss anything :)!

An Inside Peak at a Wedding Stylist's Atelier

Click your heels together and count to three. We've arrived at divine Maria Lucia Hohan faaaaablulous atelier. Doesn't it just look like a treasure trove????? Oh Lordy!

Source: The Cherry Blossom Girl