Charming Vintage Farm Wedding Theme - Red, Aqua and Pink

I hadn't built an inspiration board for a very long time. When it got down to doing all of the work to plan my own wedding, I just didn't have the time. After the wedding, although I still love all of the "details", I just hadn't found the time and inspiration to get back to it. Recently I received a sweet note from one of my blog readers, Traci. I think she was facing something that most of us brides run into during wedding planning -- feeling overwhelmed by all of the possibilities! She gave me some of the details for her 2012 summer wedding. She and her husband-to-be live on a farm, and that's where they plan to have their wedding celebration. I asked her to give me some words to describe the general feeling of the wedding she's imagined. The words she came up with included:

• country


• vintage


• a bit playful


• cozy


• relaxed

Their plan includes using hay bales for seating, and a BBQ summer feast. She also mentioned possibly using some red gingham as part of the theme.

I hope that some of my ideas here will help to inspire them with their future wedding planning!

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(I would definitely recommend enlarging this one, because there is a lot of detail that is hard to see in this smaller version.)

The DIY Pie in a Jar wedding favors came from Green Wedding Shoes. Nothing says charming vintage farm life like homemade pies!

The beautifully simple dahlia bouquet is from Heather Bayles Photography.

The little girl on the top row in the red gingham dress is from PrimadonnaBride.co.za.

The Vintage Gingham Blue Red and White Flower Bunting in the top right corner is from vintagegreenlimited on Etsy.

The Butterfly Mornings Flag Bunting (with the aqua polka dots, pink gingham and red floral fabrics) is a great exmaple of the color combination I had in mind. It's also shown in the larger picture with the little cutie holding a book. It's from LeilaLou on Etsy.

The bright fuschia colored peonies in blue mason jars are from Shell's Shabby Shack.

Vintage hankies are one of the things that immediately inspired me with this board. The photo of a beautiful assortment of vintage hankies is from JacquieG on Flickr.

I especially love the bunting on the left. It's the best of both worlds -- it's an adorable bunting, and it reminds me so much of vintage handkerchiefs! It's called Photography Prop 9Ft Long Fabric Flag from StarlitNestGifts on Etsy.

The red ranunculus flowers in the blue mason jar on the bottom left corner is from The Bride's Cafe.

The down-home feast is from this wedding on Green Wedding Shoes. I know Traci is a fan of sunflowers, so that ranch wedding might also give her some fun ideas.

The galvanized metal pedestal plate, simple flowers, and those vintage handkerchiefs (this time being used as napkins) come from Flower Mag.

The aqua and red plaid bowtie is from General Knot & Co. The company specializes in ties made in the USA from vintage fabrics.

The red gingham baking cups are from one of my favorite kitschy stores to buy baking supplies from, Layer Cake Shop.

I am currently obsessed with paper straws. I want those vintage looking stripey delights in every color. The red striped paper straws were used here as an adorable little Valentine's Day project that you can download for free from Papermash. If you want paper straws in gorgeous colors and designs, make sure to check Etsy!

Okay, the last thing for me to explain is the mason jar picture in the center of the board. I saved these for last because I think this is so cool -- you can download these for free! You can customize the entire set of mason jar wedding invitation suite, including your save-the-dates, invitations, and RSVP card all for FREE! How cool is that?!

Here is a sample that I made for Traci and Ronnie. I filled in the blanks with generic information, but I loved being able to see a customized sample!


They also have this bunting design that I love! (I just thought the mason jar one went with the theme a little better.) You can also customize and download this invitation suite for free, too!

I couldn't resist, here's the customized one for Traci and Ronnie in that design, too.

To see the other adorable designs available to download and print FOR FREE, please visit The Wedding Chicks!

Okay, so some of my other thoughts on cool farm wedding details:

For wedding favors: little jars of jam or honey, seed packets that can double as place cards, or the individual pie in a jar favors I showed above. This example is from My Eco Wedding.



For flowers: Dahlias and peonies are both great for the most bang for your buck summer flowers. I put an ad on Craigslist a few years ago for a friend's wedding and found multiple local farmers that were willing to sell huge gorgeous flowers for a dollar or less per stem. Sunflowers are always bright and fun if you want to add a little more yellow to the color palette. One of my personal favorites are ranunculus -- they come in perfect shades of reds and pinks for this palette, and I just love how romantic and ruffled they look. Either way, I think there definitely need at least a few of those old pale blue mason jars!

$1 for this big bloom? Heck yeah!


$10 to $15 for a stunning bouquet or centerpiece like this? Sign me up!


I know Traci likes sunflowers, so I chose a few of my favorite sunny bouquets to share. I like sunflower bouquets to look a little wild and loose. My favorite is the one on the bottom right. I like the wheat, the color choices, and look -- vintage hanky!



For guests: Things to help protect your guests from the sun! You can make fans do double duty by having your programs printed as fans. A thoughtful touch that I really like is to have a tray or small table set up with a couple of bottles of sunblock, paper fans (if you aren't doing the program fans), and maybe a few inexpensive paper parasols for extra delicate guests. You can buy those pretty cheaply online at places like Oriental Trading Company. You may also try to find some of those pretty vintage hankies I can't shut up about to give to your bridesmaids or closest female relatives to dry their tears of joy!

I don't love the style of these, but they did kind of use the same colors as my palette, so I'm including these fan programs from Beau-Coup.



I DO love this fan template by Martha Stewart.


I would also highly recommend having at least some ice water available to guests prior to the ceremony to help keep everyone cool. Lemonade would be a hit, too.




For the wedding party: I think it would be really fun to let the bridesmaids (or at least the junior bridesmaids / flower girls) wear patterned dresses. I showed little girls in red gingham dresses, but I also really like something like this dress that I found at Nordstrom.



A couple of summers ago, I wrote about how cool it would be to have someone like Fresher Than Fresh Snowcones at your wedding reception to serve gourmet snowcones to your guests. Traci and Ronnie are in luck, because Fresher Than Fresh is actually located near them!

If you're looking for some more farm wedding inspiration, Green Wedding Shoes had several that I thought were really nicely done.

This one on a goat farm uses a lot of cute touches, including the buntings I can't get enough of, doilies, and hay bale seating.

This one is at a strawberry farm. It's one of the most colorfully fun and whimsical weddings I've ever seen. I love the details, including the rainbow selection of bottled soda pop. My favorite detail are the fruit and vegetable place cards and markers. That is one of the most adorable party details ever, and someday I might try something like that for a garden party. Doesn't that wedding just look fun though? I want to be friends with those people!

This is a page from The Natural Wedding Company about hay bale seating. I think hay bale seating can be a great element, but I definitely think you need some sort of fabric on top to protect your guests. I was thinking about it and I wondered about maybe just watching for some cheap linen sales and using a flat twin or full sized sheet to cover each bale? I've bought flat twin sized sheets for about $4 each, so that wouldn't be too bad. You could also check thrift shops to find a variety of floral patterned sheets for that purpose, too.

This farm wedding from Elizabeth Anne Designs has some good ideas. I especially like the idea of having some games and activities for your guests to do, like playing horseshoes, bocce ball, or a beanbag toss game. They also have some cool hay bale seating ideas, like this one:



Lastly, I had to throw this in for Ronnie. I know he's a John Deere fan, so I thought maybe he could do something like this tractor get-away car, also from Elizabeth Anne Designs:



I hope that my ideas help Traci and any of the other brides that come here searching for inspiration! Thank you for the notes and the kind comments!

Oh!

P.S. These adorable "My Favorite Dresses" notecards from alittlesweetness on Etsy would be sooo cute as bridal shower invitations!



P.P.S. If you liked this inspiration board, you might also like some of these other summery themes:

Light Blue and Red Palette

Aqua, Orange and Yellow Palette

Aqua, Orange and Brown Palette

Melon Inspired Summer Reception

Cherry and Berry Reds

Citrus Punch Backyard BBQ Wedding Theme

Hot Pink and Green Palette

Apple, Pumpkin and Cinnamon Spice Autumn Wedding Theme

Autumn has always been one of my favorite seasons, so I'm excited that it's officially here!

Part of the reason we chose October for our wedding is because we both love this time of year. There is something so homey and comforting about the crisp weather balanced with the coziness that we create inside.

While we might not want to use this particular color palette, we are hoping to serve this style of food! YUM! Autumn foods are our favorites, especially the warm spicy flavors like cinnamon and allspice. I have an insanely delicious recipe that mixes sweet potatoes and apples with butter, brown sugar and those spices. As soon as the weather starts to change, Dylan starts begging me to make it every year. (We're having it tonight!)

Obviously this palette would be perfect for an autumn wedding, but it could just as easily be inspiration for hosting an autumn feast or Thanksgiving.

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The autumn assortment of boutonnieres, the place setting, the caramel apples, the wood veneer place cards, the dark red bouquet, and the leaf favor boxes are all from Martha Stewart.

The autumn bouquet (below the pumpkin pie) was photographed by Theresa Valls Photographic.

The pumpkin cauliflower casserole, the pumpkin chicken chowder (bottom left corner), the pumpkin pie with autumn leaves, and the pumpkin spice cakes (top right corner) are all from Country Living.

The pumpkin martini is from Thoughtfully Simple.

The roasted sweet potatoes (bottom right corner) were photographed by Victoria Pearson.

The pumpkin whoopie pies are from Williams-Sonoma. (When Dylan saw this board, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Why don't we have little pumpkin cakes like that?")

The spiced apple cider (top left corner) is from Cooking Light.

The pumpkin votives and table decorations are from Good Housekeeping.

Can I also just tell you how much I love these fall forest pie cutters from Williams-Sonoma? They make me want to be a better pie maker. They had me when I saw they had an acorn and an oak leaf!

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.)

Kitschy Woodland Wedding Theme

I keep seeing all these cute kitschy woodland wedding details lately that I finally had to put it together into an inspiration board. Even if this theme isn't your style (and I know it won't be for everyone), today is a GREAT day of wonderful wedding finds. Make sure to check out some of the artists and shops I'm featuring today, because they're really exceptional.

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I really wanted to showcase Rifle Design today. They are responsible for the custom stationery designs featured in the center of the inspiration board, and the thank you cards above. I just really like their artwork. It has a sweet folk art and almost campy feel to it, but in a really good way. I love flora and fauna, and the idea of using custom artwork for wedding invitations. They were a big part of the inspiration for today's board.

Martha Stewart Weddings magazine this month featured a really whimsical wedding that included the fantastic butterfly bouquet, the dainty butterfly placecards, the brightly colored dessert buffet, and the perfectly coordinated groom. I love how free-spirited and playful all of their details are.

The lush berry patch photos with invitations and coordinated badges or buttons were taken by the very talented Tec Petaja. This is a silly example of his photography skills, but his work is gorgeous. If he gives me the thumbs up, I'll have to highlight some of his work in a future post. Lately I've been researching for local photographers and I'm having a hell of a time. I'm dying to find someone like Tec Petaja, Jose Villa, or Stephanie Williams in Washington state. If you know a fantastic fine art style wedding photographer, send me an email!

The perfect little toadstool boutonniere is a Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonniere. They have some of the BEST non-floral boutonnieres I've ever seen. They really customize them for each guy's personality, and they are incredibly detailed.

The ornate and delicate butterfly cupcake wrap is by Paper Orchid Stationery.

The daniblack Wanda Slide Sandal with the red and white polka dots just reminded me of the cute toadstool details.

I love to bake (even though I haven't had much time to do it lately) and I went bonkers when I visited the newly opened Layer Cake Shop. Dylan and I are both huge animal lovers, we want to include acorns in our theme, and I am the squirrel queen. It's a long story. But regardless, all of those things combined made my heart go pitter-patter when I saw all of the adorable cookie cutters and fun cake decorations on their site. I'm waiting for them to get back to me about some acorn possibilities, because I'm all over that. They even have a July special for free shipping with a $50 purchase. Another really cool thing they carry are really inexpensive and cute labels like the ones below. Wouldn't those be great to label some home baked goodness, especially if you're giving away edible wedding favors?

Bottle Green and Dark Cherry Red

I've been brainstorming for this theme for a while, but it took a little extra time because I decided I needed to make two inspiration boards to really get the idea across the way I was hoping.

If you're planning an early July wedding, it's the perfect time to use fresh cherries. There are several delicious varieties of cherries available, but I looked for bing cherries for this palette. On the other hand, this color palette could be made really versatile for almost any season.

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Martha Stewart is responsible for the majority of luscious cherry desserts I used in this style board. The bing cherry mojitos look especially terrific!

The heart and star shaped pocket pies are actually from Williams-Sonoma. If you've got a knack for baking, what a cute DIY idea!

The fresh cherry topped wedding cake was from a real wedding on The Knot.

The individual boxes of cherries for wedding favors are by Intimate Weddings. I've just started exploring that page, but I'm definitely going to spend more time there. MS had a similar idea, but her cherry favors are in scalloped paper bags.

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I decided to call this color bottle green, but I would also consider it a tourmaline green. Tourmaline is one of my favorite stones, so that's what I searched for on Etsy to find some beautiful accessories.

Etsy finds (from left to right):

• Royal Ann Pearl Earrings by The Peach Tree (these are perfect for this theme!)
• Green Tourmaline White Gold Ring by mastergoldcraft (they use conflict-free diamonds!)
• Tessa Earrings with Green Quartz and Rock Crystal by L'atelier des Bijoux (I love the little green quartz rondelle beads!)
• Sterling Silver and Pearl Bauble Ring by TZTUDIO (you can custom order this ring in a ton of gorgeous color combos -- these would be great bridesmaid gifts!)

The Green Tourmaline Raw Circle Solitaire Ring pictured on the top and bottom of the center row is by singleBbeautiful. Her rings are gorgeous, and many of them are stackable. I love that they're simple, handcrafted and lovely. She also uses recycled metals and gives the option of conflict-free diamonds.

The gorgeous green dress, the burgundy satin halter dress, and the longer burgundy lace halter dress are from Amazon. They're all less than $100! The dress on the model is scarlet tissue taffeta by Lazaro.

And last but not least, the shoes are all from Endless.

From top to bottom:

Mia Mabel T-Strap Pumps in Hunter Green

Nine West Hearts Mary Janes in Dark Red

Seychelles Silver Spoon Leather Wedge in Green

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!

Cherry and Berry Reds!

Today’s inspiration board offers a delightful taste of summer with cherry and berry reds!

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Since I was largely inspired by summer fruits, I looked at a lot of delicious dessert recipes and pictures to use with this board. Of course I searched the queen of the kitchen, Martha Stewart. These are some of the things I found from her that I included on the board:

• Cherries with Kirsch over lemon sorbet


• Cherry Bombs made with grenadine, lemon-lime soda, and plenty of maraschino cherries!


• Sour Cherry Pistachio Crisp


• Chocolate strawberry thumbprint cookies


• Summer shortcake with strawberries and blueberries looks like a perfect summer dessert.


• Berry boutonnieres

The other beverage pictures are champagne pomegranate cocktails and fresh raspberries floating in champagne, but I can't remember where I found those pictures -- please email me if you know, so I can give the proper credit!

The red peonies are pictures that I took of some Letterpress ImPress invitations that I found for less than $20 per box -- they include 50 invitations with envelopes, and 50 response cards with envelopes. I love a great deal!

Speaking of great deals...

I found the cute, airy red tiered ruffle chiffon dress for less than $80 on Amazon.
I love the Miss Me Vernice-29 Ankle Strap Pump in Wine – they have a very va-va-voom vintage pin-up girl style, especially if you paired them with some bold red lips. Plus, they’re less than $50!

The Miz Mooz Jillian Wedge in Red are another fun option. They have a more organic and hipster quality to them. I think they’re cute as a button.

I also think these daniblack Wanda slides would be adorable with this theme.

Dark Red and Mocha Brown

Today's inspiration board is all about classic romance. I'm helping a friend plan her wedding right now, and I made this board after asking her the way she imagined her wedding. She described red roses combined with rich fabrics and textures. I love the red floral kissing balls with the candles for an instantly romantic atmosphere.

Her fiance is the head chef at one of my favorite restaurants. His specialty is French cuisine, so I thought the wedding cake made by Florian Bellanger called "the charlotte" would be a perfect wedding cake for them. Besides being an impressive French pastry, it's gorgeous!

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The sexy red peep-toe shoes are from Ann Taylor. The red patent leather shoes are from BCBG. The bridesmaid dress on the lower left is by Jasmine Bridal. The other two dresses are by Thread.

Hot Pink, Red, and Navy Blue

The feminine patterns of toile and lace meet strong, bold colors for an unexpectedly fun combination! This board balances the spicy colors of passion with classy and cool navy blue.

Emphasis:

• vibrant
• rich
• passionate
• sultry

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