Vintage Victorian Wedding Inspiration

Think burgundy and vintage rose, antique metals and time worn blue. This palette and texture combination is so irreverently autumn, without the typical abundance of orange and yellow that's in most fall weddings. I'm so inclined to muse about grandma's old cameo, an antique velvet and celluloid photo album, and pee gee hydrangeas at the end of September.

{from top left: inspiration board, Rebecca Thuss; girl with roses, Corrie Bond; bedroom, Anders Gramer; 2nd row: dress, Martha Stewart; shoes, Ben Blood; bride, groom, vintage car, Elizabeth Messina; 3rd row: bride, Segerius Bruce; dress, Chenin Boutwell; table arrangements, Ariella Chezar.}

Vintage Postcard Save the Dates

I love vintage ephemera. There is something about the craftsmanship involved in old printmaking that makes me swoon. So naturally, I adore the idea of using old postcards for save the dates.

Ideally you want to use blank cards that are specific to the region you plan to marry. However, not all of us are lucky enough to fall under that umbrella, so for the rest, there are beautiful generic images that will work just fine. Here are examples of some of my faves:

Vintage inspired save the dates from Oh So Beautiful Paper.


Destination wedding postcard via Style Me Pretty.


Via Get Married.



Assorted Niagara Falls postcards via Vintage Glam.

If truly vintage isn't practical, how about printing your own? Flickr has a large community of members (like Suzie Que) who post images from vintage postcards (and other types of ephemera) which may be reprinted for personal use. So eco friendly (no envelopes needed!) and fun. Cold weather is just around the corner so easy peasy diy projects are a good thing to get lined up.

Table Numbers

Some people don't have time or aren't inclined to be crafty. For them, DIY is picking something out on their own. This post is for those people. Custom table numbers may seem frivolous, but they are part of your table decor and should be treated like a centerpiece would.

Tile house numbers from Anthropologie. I love the colors!

Bird Counting wall cards from The Land of Nod. So vintage botanical and sweet!

Also look for tarot cards (above) and jumbo playing cards with pretty designs.

Real Wedding: Amanda & Teil, by Kella MacPhee

I can't even tell you how happy I am to feature Kella MacPhee's work. Aside from being a phenomenal photographer, I am lucky enough to have her office only a few miles from my house. Seriously folks, I can't wait to discuss my own wedding with her.

Today's feature is Amanda and Teil's wedding in Newton, PA at the Rosebank Winery. Beautiful scenery abounds, but to me, the star of the show was Amanda's dress. She was a short dress bride; fabulous, tea length, vintage-looking short dress. To top it off, her shoes had a cute orange flower on each of them. The dress, the shoes, and Amanda's smile makes her one of the sweetest brides I've seen.





How rad is this yellow El Camino, which belonged to one of the groomsmen?







Guests took home these fantastic heirloom tomatoes and peppers in little burlap sacks. Love it!



Thanks Kella for sharing this beautiful, outdoor, vintage looking wedding with me! Be sure to check out Kella's awesome blog here for more fabulousness.

Inspiration: Shades of Purple

Growing up, purple was my favorite color. I loved everything from eggplant to lilac, orchid to lavender. Even though I am too indecisive to have a color preference these days, purple has a special place in my heart.

{from top left: duet weddings; fdiy french soap; the image is found; country living.

2nd row: etsy; country living; etsy; flickr.

3rd row: ariella chezar; etsy; martha stewart; elizabeth milay.

Wedding in the Woods: {Kristen & Todd}

I don't unusually buy wedding magazines, but the current issue of Modern Bride is essential to every girl who loves vintage style. Elizabeth Messina captured these phenomenal images from Kristen and Todd's wedding at Nestledown in Northern California. It is a combination of Louis Icart, woodland fairies, and Midsummer Night's dream whimsy, with an edge.









The fabulous shrug was made from family heirloom lace by the talented Holly Stalder. And the fascinator? Custom made for the bride by Leah C. Couture. Sasha Souza is the amazing planner who put this fete together. What a fantastic collaboration of talent! Absolutely breathtaking and one-of-a-kind! To see more photos, pick up a copy of Modern Bride or visit Elizabeth Messina's blog, Kiss the Groom.

In Love With...

I have had so much inspiration this week, and here are a few reasons why. These things make my heart pitter patter, my eyes sparkle, and my mouth smile.

Gorgeous dresses from Calypso. You must check out their website. This set is on sale now! Perfect for mismatched bridesmaid dresses in vintage art nouveau colors.

From Calypso's new collection. Ridiculously beautiful.


I still love ballet flats. If you're going to be on your feet all day, be comfortable! White ruffled flats by Jeffrey Campbell; blue velvet flats from Miu Miu.


I discovered Michelle Rago's blog by chance and fell for her pretty papery and how she chronicles her personal creative process. The lovely seahorse and coral letterpress invitations and escort cards are a wonderful deviation from the typical seashore theme.


Krista Raak's accessories are a to die for combination of vintage charm and elegant opulence. I imagine Daisy Buchanan carried a bag or wore a choker very similar to the ones Krista designs.


I can think of dozens of uses for this sash from J Crew. I think giving one of these to each of your bridesmaids would be an excellent way to make the Calypso dresses (above) coordinate, and/or make a sweet gift. I'm ordering mine today!

Leave a little love! I heart comments~.

Rain Drops on Roses

I love vintage rosey pink and sky blue together. The palette is seasonless, versatile and romantic. When I saw the photo of the suitcase, I knew I had to do an inspiration board around it.

Vintage Inspiration Thursday

Love Etsy. Seriously, in a time when we are all taking our environmental duties more seriously, but corporate giants like Walmart are making everything in our lives so generic, Etsy is a sunny patch of lawn that I want to sit in all day.

Here are some of my favorite finds this week:

I've featured this dress before, but it deserves another nod. From TimesVixenVintage.

Killer vintage leather gloves; and only $14.50! From Prairie Antiques.

Pretty Art Nouveau brooch (could be your 'something blue'). From Purple Daisy Jewelry.

This fascinator isn't vintage (it's handmade) but it sure does look it! From Portobello.

Another handmade item! Who doesn't think this bow tie is rad? From MrEatCi9.

Fab cuff links. From U791688.

Back in the day, men wouldn't leave the house without a fedora (which has been usurped by the baseball hat...ugh). From Crafty Crow Vintage.

Old biscuit and tea tins make wonderful vases for flower arrangements. Look for ones from Holland~they have the prettiest patterns.

If you're planning a small get together, think about purchasing your dinnerware as opposed to renting it. Depression glass comes in gorgeous colors and patterns. Scour tag sales and flea markets for bulk lots, too.

I'm hanky-obsessed. Honestly, I have about 35 different uses for them rolling around in my head. They are great for napkins, wrapped around bouquets (have monogram sewn on the ones for yourself and bridesmaids), passed to female guests before the ceremony, tied around the ring pillow, etc. From Sunn Fox.

Be a rock star. Be kind to mother earth. Check out Etsy.

Real Wedding Wednesday: Our Labor of Love by Heidi

You abso-freakin-lutely have to check the rest of these photos out on Our Labor of Love immediately. Eye orgasm! It is ridiculously adorable, like, I want to name my first born after it. Amy Osaba is the brilliant mind behind the gorgeous flowers, which I heart very much.









Too flippin' cute! For more of Our Labor of Love's work, click here, and prepare yourself by grabbing a drool cloth NOW.

Real Wedding Wednesday: Lisa Rigby Photography

Today's real wedding comes from Lisa Rigby of Boston, Massachusetts. I love the composition and saturation of Lisa's photos, and her ability to capture the subject's feeling in each picture.

Danielle and Mina were married at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Natick, MA followed by a reception at the Herreshoff Museum. In the time between the ceremony and reception, Lisa took the beautiful couple to Coggeshall Farms in Bristol, Rhode Island for formal portraits and captured some glorious images. Enjoy!










I love Danielle's dress! Lisa hit the nail on the head with the location; the fabric of the gown seemed to be part of the natural surroundings. The first photo just takes my breath away. There is a vintage, verdigris quality to it.

The couple had an Egyptian Coptic ceremony, hence the crowns. I mean, every bride should get to rock a crown on her wedding day. Yay to tradition!

To see more photos from this gorgeous wedding, visit here. Thanks for sharing Lisa and congrats to Danielle and Mina!