Line the Cakes with Stripes

Inspired by stripes? Have your cakes decorated in the theme a well.

Photo credits: All of the above photos via Martha Stewart Weddings

Fun with Stripes

Patterns and stripes can be dramatic when decorated in black and white. If that is too overwhelming and you prefer something a little less intense, dots paired with stripes will work wonderfully. When done in black and white, the combination is formal, but playful. Striped table runners and polka dotted napkins, polka dot ring pillow with striped ribbons, there are so many ways to incorporate this look into your decor.Have more fun with this combination by using a range of colours instead, it will look ultra cheerful and vibrant.

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Table setting via Style Me Pretty, Ring Pillow via Style Me Pretty, Colourful Striped Table Runner via Martha Stewart Weddings, Vibrant centerpiece via Style Me Pretty, Ceremony decor via Style Me Pretty, Centerpiece via Style Me Pretty, (Center) Chair decor via Style Me Pretty

Being Glamorous with Stripes

Decorating with mishmash of patterns can be challenging, espceially when it's so easy to fall into the error of messiness. But when done in moderation, can create a very interesting palette. Damask patterns paired with stripes, and coloured with black and white, can look very sophisticated, just be sure not to go overboard. Bring damask patterns onto favor boxes and table runners, and have stripes on napkins and tableware, all in black and white. To add that burst of colour into the decor, introduce flowers in either fuchsia or cornflower blue.

Photo credits: (Top row left to right) Wedding Invites via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, Blue Bouquet via Martha Stewart Weddings, Table setting via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, (Center Row) Table setting via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, (Bottom row left to right) Food display, Ring pillow, Table setting all via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog

Fluttery Blooms

Blooms of peonies, ranunculus, garden roses and fringed tulips create a soft and romantic vibe, and pack such a big visual punch. Big blooms are perfect for creating a feel of lightness when paired with organza. Lace and flower appliques provides added details to the decor.

Photo Credit (clockwise from top left): Vera Wang Helena Gown via Vera Wang, Centerpiece arrangement via Martha Stewart Weddings, Venue setup via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, bouquet via Martha Stewart Weddings, Flower girl hair accessory via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, Flower and Lace Cake via My Sweet and Saucy

A Case for Beauty

Fumbling through a soft pouch looking for cosmetics is quite a hassle, so having a solid cosmetics or beauty case is a wonderful addition to your travel essentials. You may prefer to have one that fits into your tote for everyday use, or go over-the-top with one that can carry even your beauty products. Either way, you will have a full view of your make-up stash once you open up the case. A cosmetic case will make a great gift for your bridemaids, or even better, a perk-me-up gift for yourself to bring along for the honeymoon. This is indeed something to cheer about.

Photo credit:

(1) Fossil Vintage Re-Issue Frame Cosmetic Case via Fossil

(2) Bobbi Brown Peony & Python Beauty Case via Bobbi Brown

(3) Royce Leather Cosmetics Case via Kohl's

(4) Trish McEvoy Ultimate Beauty Organiser via Trish McEvoy

(5) Rebecca Minkoff Alison Cosmetics Case via Shopbop.com

And now for Desserts

Desserts are the perfect way to end the wedding reception. With so many types of sweet treats out there, we are really spoilt for choice. Think of all the souffles, cakes and pastries available in cafes and restaurants, all looking too good to be eaten. The presentation of the desserts are just as important as the food itself, setting the mood for the first bite into the sweetness. Having the desserts portioned into glasses and cups and shallow dishes make for an interesting look. Here are some pretty ideas to whet your appetite.

Photo Credit: All photos from Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog ( Desserts in a Dish)

If having western desserts seem too much a diversion from a classic Chinese dinner reception, it's a great idea to have the Chinese dessert presented in individual servings. Think a shot glass filled with layered yam and pumpkin paste topped with a drizzle of coconut cream, a small jar loaded with glutinuous rice balls topped with red bean cream and a sprinkle of gingko nuts, or a whisky glass packed with deconstructed egg tart topped with birds' nest or fruits compote.

Stuctured Minis

I absolutely love short cocktail dresses. They are fun to wear, yet glamorous enough for special occasions. Defy the tradition of wearing a long gown for your ceremony, and go with a cocktail dress. You'll be ready for a night of dancing and mingling without worrying about the weight and length of your dress. This bustier with wave-like layered skirt is perfect for a intimate ceremony. To complete the look, add a punch with a pair of bright hue pumps.

Photo credit: Rafael Cennamo "Spring Blossom" Dress via Martha Stewart Weddings

Let it Shine

I'm totally loving the rustic and warm ambience of this Chicago store named Salvage One. No major wedding decorations needed; just dress up the tables with lovely seasonal flowers, hang some pompoms or paper lanterns from the ceiling, and let the beauty of the room shine through.

Photo credit: Salvage One featured in Retro Chicago Wedding via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog

Globetrotter

Sipped coffee along the streets of Paris? Scaled the slopes of Mount Fuji? Awed by the city lights of New York? Rode a camel to the pyramids? If travelling the world is a staple in your yearly calendar, and you love taking in the varied sights and sounds each city has to offer, a travel themed wedding is the perfect way to share your passion for exploring the world with your guests.


Mini luggages filled with beautiful blooms, a vintage map as a backdrop for the escort cards, invites printed in the style of passports and boarding passes, and luggage tag favors add wonderful character to your wedding.

Photo Credit: All photos via Weddings Unveiled Blog

Photo Credit: All photos via Style Me Pretty

A Garden Party

Rustic wooden boxes make lovely vases, and even better centerpieces when filled with beautiful peonies, garden roses and hydrangeas. Vintage teacups also filled wth pretty flowers make wonderful favors. This is one garden party I wouldn't want to miss.

Photo credit: All photos via Style Me Pretty (Orange County Garden Wedding by Erin Hearts Court Photography)



A day out on the beach

The cool breeze, palm trees swaying in the wind, the sound of waves gently lapping onto the beach....I love everything about chilling out by the sea. The beach makes for a wonderful location for an intimate and rustic wedding. Use soft drapings to decorate the ceremony, benches for guests to rest and flowers in soft pastel colours to complement the colour of the sand and sea. You do not need to spend a fortune on decoration, just let the beautiful surrounding shine.

Photo credit: All photos via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog

In Love with Midnight Blue

I love the deep and rich hue of midnight blue, it's both majestic and mysterious. When paired with bright and cheery orange, the colour combination is simply breathtaking. Place orange-coloured centerpieces on rustic wooden long tables, set the tables with midnight blue table runners, and complete with orange-coloured napkins and midnight blue favor boxes. Add some shimmer to the decorations with gold accents: gold dusted desserts and cakes and gold ribbons tied round favor boxes.

Photo credits: (1st row left to right) Orange bouquet, Cake and Boutonniere via The Knot, (2nd row) Ceremony decor via Style Me Pretty, (3rd row left to right) Brass compass favors, Program and Orange chairback decor via The Knot

For the little girls

It's probably every little girls' dream to be a flower girl, being able to dress up in pretty frocks and accessorise with delicate corsages and hairbands. Dress your flower girl in a simple white dress, and play up the attire with colourful hairbands, glittery hairclips, soft pastel ribbons and corsages, and bold-coloured shoes.

Photo credit (left to right): Silk Taffeta Avery Dress via jcrew, Jazz-Ma-Tazz Shoe via Monsoon, Silk Millinery Poppy via MaryNotMartha (on Etsy), Large Satin Bow Hairband via Monsoon, Cream Dress with Silver Jacquard detail via Mothercare, Multi Rose Cluster Ballerina Pumps via Monsoon



Wedding Coasters

Coasters printed with your wedding motif or theme make for a perfect wedding favor. These are also lovely additions to the table setup.

Photo credit: Customised Letterpress Wedding Coasters via Bella Figura



Floral Inspiration

Flowers are almost a must-have for every wedding celebration, from the table centerpieces to the hand bouquet, they give each wedding a romantic fairytale vibe. Bridal designers, inspired by flowers, have added exquisite detailing to their gowns, giving each a soft silhouette that will capture the hearts of every bride-to-be.

Photo credits (left to right): Vera Wang Ghillian Gown (Fall 2011 Collection) via Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier Iris Dress (Fall 2011 Collection) via Monique Lhuillier



Boarding Pass - Save-the-Date Cards

A quick glance at this Save-the-Date card will bring excitment to your heart. What can be better than being part of a wonderful wedding celebration and getting to travel at the same time! This Save-the-Date card designed in the style of a boarding pass is a great way to psych your guests for a getaway to your wedding destination.

Photo credit: Boarding Pass Save-the-Date via Cheree Berry Paper

Sweet Treats

There is a huge array of wedding favors available in the market when you are deciding what your guests should recieve, some are keepsakes while some are edibles for your guests to enjoy after the reception. If you are inclined to have your guests enjoy some sweet treats, why not think of what both of you enjoy?

Share your love for local kaya spread, mini jars of the fragrant and heartwarming spread will make perfect favors. For a personal touch, print a simple recipe, like french toast with kaya, onto cardstock and paste it onto the jar.

If fruity jams are the reason both of you look forward to breakfast every morning, assemble a small basket filled with mini jars of your favourite preserves and a few vanilla or corn muffins for each of your guests. They will be delighted to have breakfast already planned out for the morning after your reception.

Photo credit: Bite-sized Breakfast Basket via Martha Stewart Weddings





Vintage-styled compact mirrors for the girls

These compact mirrors make such pretty favors for the girls. The vintage-styled pictures on the compacts look both glamorous and fun.

Photo credit (left to right): Skirts Ahoy Compact Mirror via Koffin Kitten on Etsy, 1940's Style Vintage Pin-up Girl Compact Mirror via Pandoras Choice

Whimsical Fun

Inspired by the pretty picks in my previous post, here's a mood board with some very pretty ideas for a whimsical and fun wedding. Be bold, and go all out with bright rich colourssuch as fuschia, orange, yellow, purple and blue.The splash of colours bring so much vibrancy to both an indoor or outdoor wedding reception.

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): (first row) Scalloped Garden Fan, Crinkled wheel set, Mini garland, Papered Poms, Polka-dot Garland all via BHLDN, beautiful DIY backdrop (A beautiful mess wedding) via Style Me Pretty, Colourful bouquet (An Up-inspired wedding) via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, Table centerpieces (A colourful greenhouse wedding) via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog

Garden Party Decorative Picks

Photo credit: Best in Show Decorative Picks from BHLDN

These delightful picks are perfect for an afternoon garden reception.

Inspired by Art-Deco

Art-deco style is very much rooted in the twenties, and carries with it such opulence and vintage charm. Muted colours like white, ivory, pale blue, orange and pink are well suited for the style. However, black and white teamed with a jewel tone will bring out the style just as beautifully. Set an intimate wedding reception in the premises of an art museum or gallery, have tables laid with patterned linen with clean lines, nestled springs of dusty miller and hydrangeas in small glass bottles or silver julep cups, and arrangements of peonies, anemonies and ranunculus in white or black vases. Highlight your attire with an interesting birdcage veil or hat.

Photo credits (Clockwise from top left): Wedding hat via Suzanne Millinery, Table centerpieces via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog, Wedding dress and gown via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog

Dresses for the gals

Looking for the perfect bridesmaid dress for your bridal party can be as much a daunting task as searching for the perfect bridal gown. Instead of the usual dresses that you can find from the bridal boutiques, try looking for unconventional styles that the girls can wear even after your wedding. Here's a look at some styles that the girls will adore.

Photo credits:

(top row, left to right)

1. Sarah Seven Tulip dress via Sarah Seven

2. Sarah Seven Pink Lady dress via Sarah Seven

3. Miss Selfridge Nude Embellished Dress via Miss Selfridge

4. Lanvin Asymmetric Silk-satin Wrap Gown via Net-A-Porter

(bottom row, left to right)

5. Miss Selfridge Maxi Belted Dress via Miss Selfridge

6. Asos One Shoulder Dress in Rainbow Smudge Print via Asos

7. Elizabeth and James Anita belted kimono maxi dress via Net-A-Porter

8. Aqua Scuba One Shoulder Frill Dress via Asos



Ocean Cool

When temperatures soar, thoughts of lazing onthe beach, watching the waves rolling onto shore brings such cool relief. The colours of the ocean are perfect for a relaxed beach wedding. Tinted glass plates and goblets, centerpiece arrangement of flowers in glass vases all laid on light aqua tablecloth, seashells and beach glass reflect the refreshing feel of the sea.

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): table setting via Martha Stewart Weddings, golf buggy via Brides, aqua-coloured jewellery via Martha Stewart Weddings, flower arrangements via Brides, ceremony decor via Brides

Pretty teacup topiary

This lovely teacup topiary works wonderfully as centerpieces for a garden wedding. Place a few teacup topiaries of varying heights, and let your guests know that they are welcomed to bring the topiaries home. 

Designed by Annabelle Keller

Photo credit: save-on-crafts

Spa at Home

After a long day juggling work and wedding planning, the absolute best thing to do at the end of the day is to unwind with an array of beautifully scented and luxurious bath and body goods.

(1) Eau Dynamisante from Clarins

(2) Eternal Grace Perfumed Firming Body Emulsion from Philosophy

(3) Superbly Restorative Argan Skin Salve from Kiehl's

(4) Easy Glistening Dry Oil Body Gloss from Soap & Glory

(5) High Definition Body Lift from Clarins

(6) Peony Shower Cream, Rose 4 Reines Bath & Shower Gel, Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel from L'occitane

(7) The Scrub of Your Life Smoothing Body Buffer from Soap & Glory

(8) Creme de Pistache, Almond Coconut and Fresh Fig Honey Bath from Laura Mercier

Chinois Chic

Chinese themed wedding is full of interesting traditions and festive reds. A modern take on the theme is full of vibrant orange, fuchsia and yellow. Peonies which are symbols of riches are used in the centerpieces and bouquet. Coloured paper lanterns light up the venue and bring warmth.

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Paper parasols via beau coup, pink peony bouquet via the knot, paper lanterns via behind the ceremony, paddle fans via beau coup, peony centerpiece via martha stewart weddings, orange and fuchsia table setting via behind the ceremony.

Summer Pop

Bursts of yellow, orange, fuschia and purple work wonderfully as wedding colour palette. The colour palette energises the soul and refreshes the mind. Bridesmaids dressed in fuchsia dresses, wedding venue is dotted with large coloured paper lanterns, small centerpieces dotting each table. Take a moment and soak in the fun.

Photo credits: (clockwise from top left): Flower girl basket via brides.com, escort cards via brides.com, yellow ranunculus chairback via brides.com, Fuchsia bridesmaid dress (Style PB401) from Priscilla of Boston, purple placecards via brides.com, favor box decor via Martha Stewart weddings, pink peony bouquet via Martha Stewart weddings, bouquets via Martha Stewart weddings.

Quirky name for a wonderful cream

I've just discovered Heel Genius by Soap & Glory, and am absolutely loving it. True to it's description, it is an amazing foot cream and can do some serious moisturising and repair to dry and cracked heels. The best thing is that it smells wonderful.

Enthralled by this fabulous foot cream, I looked up the Soap & Glory products. It is such a joy, just going through the quirky names given to each of their products. Their wide range of creams and gels and lotions was enough to make me dizzy with excitement. Sephora carries the Soap & Glory products, but I'm not sure that they have the whole works. I'm now trying to decide which of their products to try next.

Charming ring pillows

A pretty handmade ring pillow will add a delightful splash of colour and fun to your wedding ceremony, and it will look great on the dressing table after!
Get it here, have it customised to your wedding theme or colour. Drop me a mail (musics@singnet.com.sg) to find out more.