Light Blue and Red -- Cute and Crafty Theme!

I just asked Dylan what color I should call this shade of blue and he said, "Chartreuse?" I laughed and had to tell him that was actually a shade of green. Then he tried, "Um... light blue?" so at least he was getting closer.

Initially I wanted to do an aqua and red wedding palette, but as I sorted through photos I decided that the cute crafty stuff that I liked best was closer to a sky blue, pool blue, or yes, even just light blue.

I love the spunky combination of textures and patterns. I decided to use fewer pictures for this board because I didn't want to overwhelm the eye with too many details.

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The stitched flower cake by The Caketress (Lori Hutchinson Designs) inspired this board -- I just thought it was cute as a button!

The program pockets on the white chairs are from Martha Stewart.

The candy cones are from Brides.com (photo by Dasha Wright).

The rest are my crafty Etsy finds:

The button blossoms on the top right and bottom left corners are Retro Red and Aqua Plaid Pair by ButtonTails.

The cute little hair clips that go perfectly with that great cake are called Red White and Blue Trio by NinjaBowTique.

I love the button accents on the cake, so I also thought the Fresh Summer Red and Blue Button Charm Bracelet by MrsGibson was a great addition, too.

The Red Poppies Enclosure Cards with Aqua Envelopes are by Michelle Brusegaard.

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I started imagining more details of how a theme like this could be used for a wedding, and I started thinking about some wedding pictures I'd seen recently of a light-hearted, informal wedding where the groom was wearing a western style shirt untucked. This would be a cool theme for a couple with a rockabilly style, but it makes me imagine a wedding in the middle of a meadow somewhere like Montana or Wyoming. It's just relaxed and cool, with a whole lot of personality and spunk.

Here are some examples of some shirts that could be paired up with today's theme. These are all from Nordstrom:

(I think I'd like this one better if it were long sleeved, but the colors and pattern are good.)

(Is it just me, or does this guy want to be Robert Pattinson's less appealing brother? Still, it is a pretty color of sky blue. Especially if you have a blue eyed groom.)

(The colors aren't as good on this shirt, but this is more the style and fit I was looking for.)

Patriotic Theme for 4th of July!

Today is the perfect day for an outdoor picnic or BBQ. I decided to make a 4th of July inspiration board that can be used for an informal wedding, or just a weekend party!

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I think getting married on the 4th of July does have some unique appeal -- just imagine your outdoor wedding reception with a spectacular fireworks display over head! Plus, if you or your fiance are in the military, it might be an especially meaningful date to celebrate.

The Patriotic Jels are from Keepsake Favors. They're even fun flavors. The red is strawberry, the white is champagne, and the blue is blueberry. Cute and tasty!

Most of the patriotic decorations on this board are from Oriental Trading Company. Patriotic paper lanterns, paper plates, candleholders, and even an inflatable beverage cooler. They really have a ton of inexpensive decorations.

The bow-tie is from JPress. If your groom isn't wearing his dress blues, I think a lightweight tan suit and this bow-tie could be really cute and simple.

The firework / sparkler wedding invitations are by Wedding Paper Divas.

The luscious berry desserts and the layered sand candle centerpieces are from Martha Stewart.

And don't forget to try that peach, mozzarella and basil salad this weekend. I served it at a dinner party this week and it was a definite hit!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!