(#41) Just a glimpse...

Oh hello there, Most Fantastic Cake I've Ever Seen! 

Via One Love Photo's lovely new blog.  If they are in your reader, as they should be, be sure to move with them!  Always romantic, always beautiful, with a deliciously vintage feel.

Real Weddings: Danielle + Greg, part II

A few more of Susie Hamidi's beautiful images of Danielle and Greg's pretty summer day. I loved working on this one! The flowers just felt luscious...pure romance and joy.

Real Weddings: Danielle + Greg, part I

Pretty summer images today...thank you SO much to the talented and uber generous Susie Hamidi for sharing her gorgeous work.  She takes some of the best photos out there!  Plus, if you wanna hang out with a genuine, warm person on your wedding day, she's your gal. 

Danielle and Greg were married at Willows Lodge last summer, accompanied by sunshine, pastel garden roses and ranunculus, her grandmother's rosary, and the beautiful gardens at the lodge.  Enjoy!

Financial advising with Fiore Blossoms

Stocks.  Gold.  Coffee can in the back yard.  Real estate.  Forever stamps!

I've done a financial analysis for you, so that you can spend your time doing summer things.  Since all of the other methods have proved not-so-lucrative in recent years, I propose that we all sell our 401Ks and invest everything in the gorgeous new "Garden of Love" forever stamps by Jose Ortega.  I mean, think of their value, when postage rates have increased to $1.25 one-ounce rate!  And in the mean time, much prettier to look at than bond certificates.

Ortega says, "Garden of Love depicts the abundance of life, its generosity, whose spirit is to be shared by all its creatures. Love's definition is broader than romantic love. Love is that colorful, full feeling you get when you enjoy being a part of and sharing in the generosity of life."  Almost as beautiful as his summery, fanciful art work, don't you think?

Emerging from the forest...

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE living in my dark little forest, which feels slightly enchanted, and slightly like it's going to eat me in weeds and vines at any given moment.  But since summer's arrival seems to be waiting on just the perfect spell, prayer, wish, tribal dance or combination of the previous, I love this light-filled airy abode.  Until some sun arrives for longer than an hour, I'm going to dream about sun-bleached floors, a sloped glass ceiling, and floating high above the trees in the loft of my dreams.

Images from elle interiors, via the diversion project.  Styling by Nana Lagerman.

Real Weddings: Katie + Casey

A few of my bad snaps before I get professional pics back...I just got home from the best weekend--San Juan Island, the beautiful old Roche Harbor Resort, a great partner (Katy of Unveiled Events), a super bride and groom (I could just kill myself for not getting a single shot of Katie and Casey!  Or the dress!  More to come, I promise), a beautiful crystal chandelier we hung, burlap and twine everywhere, the debut of my copperplate calligraphy I've been learning (still a long way to go, but I think the escort cards turned out pretty!), turquoise glass and lace covered hurricanes, and the most fragrant, creamy white peonies ever.  Enjoy!

(#40) Just a glimpse...

Love this eclectic, vintage table number idea.  Designsgirl used a sweet vintage candlestick, along with little snippets of ribbon and greenery (oh, and a bit of her lovely calligraphy too!) to make this pretty, pretty table number.  Spring is the perfect time to scour the weekend yard sales that pop up everywhere for sweet little candlesticks. 

The Royal Blooms!

A great video describing the process, origin, and design of the pretty, pretty royal wedding flowers!  I love this modern couple.  Besides the fact that Kate chose to have her dress made by one of my two very favorite designers (the AMAZING Sarah Burton who had the near impossible task of carrying on the Alexander McQueen label after his untimely death last year...and who is miraculously performing the task to perfection), they sourced ALL of their flowers from the various royal properties.  Nothing was imported.  The resulting designs reflected their heritage, kingdom, natural beauty, and commitment to sustainable practices. The video is gorgeous...tons of lily-of-the-valley, white lilac, and euphorbia.  I would have given almost anything just to be part of the giant floral team that pulled this off.  It would have been fascinating just to be their water girl or floor sweeper and watch the process! 

Kate's bouquet?  Petite and elegant, very tasteful and traditional.  The bouquet almost echoed the French lace overlay on her dress, being composed of a collection of meaningful but tiny blooms.  Love how the small scale of each bloom produced the overall lace effect.

I highly doubt that the meaning behind the floral varieties in the bouquet escaped the detailed princess.  Together, the meanings seem to really sum up what we know about William and Kate:

• Myrtle:  love, joy
• Lily-of-the-valley:  purity, sweetness
• Sweet William (awww!):  gallantry
• Hyacinth:  games and sport

The mastermind behind all of it was Shane Connolly, "Supplier of Flowers for Events, by Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales".   Report over for now...off to drink a boatload of coffee after my middle of the night wedding vigil.  Happy weekend!

a personalized Welcome! for tired traveling guests

My fancy espresso machine that is one of my most prized possessions is on week four at the repair shop...which means I've been spending a lot of time thinking about coffee.  Ok, I always spend a lot of time thinking about coffee, but I just appreciate a steaming pick-me-up more than ever right now, since it's a little harder to get. But I've been thinking this morning, as I'm drinking some Starbucks VIA--which is actually surprisingly good!--how much I love my favorite mug.

It's a mug with a beautiful swirly "A" that one of my favorite brides gave me after her wedding.  It's fun to have a personalized mug with your initial, and there are several great ones out there!  I think they'd be a great gift to tuck into welcome bags with some local coffee.  They show that you really thought about each guest individually, and they'll think about your event for years to come whenever they are having a cup of something cozy.  

 1.  My favorite!  I use mine everyday.  2. Pretty, casual colors  3.  Bold initial  4.  DIY...so charming, and looks like it would be easy  5.  One more   6.  The pretty Missus mug

If you are in Seattle, some of my very favorite coffees are from Caffe Fiore (and not just for their awesome name!), Zoka, and Stumptown.  Stumptown is really from Portland, but is so delicious that I'd consider bending the local rules a little and using it since they have opened a store here now. 

Real Weddings: Kristin + Trevor II

A few more details from Kristin and Trevor's beautiful October wedding at the Rainier Club.  Thanks La Vie for the beautiful photography!  And a huge thank you to Kristin and Trevor for the opportunity to be part of your day.  You were a joy to work with!