Write something worth reading...

For some unique inspiration, here are some clever substitutes for the traditional guest book:

(from www.marthastewartweddings.com)

presenting guests with thought-provoking questions about
the couple's future while they are enjoying dinner


for a vintage-themed occasion, allow guests to really
take their time thinking of a good message


writing thoughtful notes on doves: symbols of love, happiness and harmony


mail your good wishes away!


tied with ribbon - very regal, indeed

The Meaning of Flowers

"Some flowers spoke with strong and powerful voices, which proclaimed in accents trumpet-tongued, 'I am beautiful, and I rule.' Others murmured in tones scarcely audible, but exquisitely soft and sweet, 'I am little, and I am beloved.'" ~George Sand (Armandine A.L. Dupin) 1804-76

Flowers are a very important aspect of a wedding. They bring great sentiment and often require a great deal of planning. Here is some interesting history about the meaning of flowers to help create even more meaning for your special day, based from the book
Wedding Flowers by Wendy Thomson & Joanne Hornsby.

Spring Weddings: symbolism of rebirth and new beginnings

examples of spring flowers:
- carnation: unrequited love
- lilac: first emotions of love
- mimosa: secret love
- poppy: consolation

~lilac bouquet~
www.lilacsbloom.com






Summer Weddings: abundance of joy

examples of summer flowers:
- bluebell: constancy
- lily-of-the-valley: return of happiness
- sunflower: splendid

- tuberose: dangerous pleasures

~tuberose bouquet~
www.weddings.theknot.com




Fall Weddings: warmth and strength

examples of fall flowers:
- dahlia: pomp
- gardenia: refined
- chrysanthemum: "remember me"
- belladonna: pride, silence

~gardenia bouquet~
www.bouquetweddingflowers.com

Winter Weddings: passion, intensity

examples of winter flowers:

- amaryllis: splendid beauty

- heather: good luck
- tulip: declaration of hopeless love
- ivy: fidelity

~tulips bouquet~
www.flower-arrangement-advisor.com

Now, that's clever!

Over the holiday weekend, I picked up a book entitled
Instant Weddings: From "Will You?" to "I Do!" in Four Months or Less
by Jennifer L. Shawne

After reading through it, some interesting tips stood out to me...ideas I might not have thought of, but ideas that make so much sense. Here are some budget saving tips and extra-creative additions to enhance the greatness of your day:

*don't use the "wicked W word" when shopping for items for your big day:
By using catchphrases such as "I'm looking for a fabulous dress." or "I'm hoping to book a place for a private party," money can be saved from vendors who automatically increase prices for weddings before they even get to hear about what a couple is looking for.

*switch up the typical concept of bar refreshments:
Offer "his & her" cocktails, sangria or mimosas.
Furthermore, shopping at big liquor stores ensures a bigger back stock and
possibly better deals when buying in bulk.

*include more than the "need-to-know" information on a wedding website:
If a couple is expecting several guests from out of town, it may be fun to include a section on their website with recommended locations, such as a restaurant, park or other date area that has an important meaning. If guests are coming into town early, it could be a special chance to share in the story of your lives together.

*stretching out your budget for flower arrangements:
In the event that a wedding venue has more than one event in a day, why not call and discuss the notion of sharing flowers? A small, but possibly significant way to reduce the price of decorating.

*"kill two birds":
There is a lot of stress involved in planning a wedding, but it is important to not let stress get in the way of the big day. Try multitasking: have dinner at a location you are considering for your rehearsal dinner or spend an afternoon wine tasting with friends for your reception. Too many times couples get caught up in separating wedding planning from their daily lives. Times are tough, so make life easier on yourself.


www.pocketculture.com

Lobster Boil - Labor Day

Although I typically post about weddings, I have to show you this great party my family went to this afternoon.  A lobster boil!  It was so much fun!

We were bummed about the impending rain, but everyone had a great time anyway!

complete with instructions and all...

"I wanna put on my boogie shoes!"

A wedding doesn't have to take place on the beach to be comfortable - it's a guarantee that any female will want to remove her heels at some point in the evening so she can really get her groove on! Providing baskets of an alternative to stilettos will be very appreciated!

www.signaturestylebydesign.com
simple and inexpensive

www.weddingwire.com


www.diy.weddingbee.com
guests can shop for the perfect fit!


www.weddingbellebridal.com
monogrammed sandals could also be a great souvenir for bridesmaids

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt..."

The moment the bride and groom jointly cut the wedding cake is always a crowd pleaser. Once the photographer captures the moment, everyone knows the beautiful display of dessert will be taken away and then sliced for everyone to enjoy. Everyone loves sweets, so this tradition can never be a bad thing.

But what about adding to this tradition and expanding the menu a little bit? As someone who has quite a sweet tooth, I think the new found trend of serving candy alongside, or as a substitute for cake is a great idea. Kids will certainly grasp the concept, and placing goody bags alongside the treats will allow your guests to take a little something with them. Furthermore, all of the creativity couples put into the design of their cake can still be utilized in a table scape to display other dessert items.

Life is sweet, indeed.

www.ourweddingplus.com

www.thedior.net
This couple chose a carnival-like, old-fashioned style - I can see this at an outdoor wedding too.

kaitlynjames.blog
Labels help guests get their hands on the yummy goodies even faster!

www.smartbrideboutique.com

www.beau-coup.com
goody bags for the car ride home

Hello Readers!

Hello everyone! My name is Meredith Downes and I am in interning at JPB Designs this fall! Not only will I be posting ideas and trends related to the wedding world, I will also be an assistant to Jenny at scheduled weddings throughout this fall. Throughout high school and college I was involved in event planning organizations, and what girl doesn't love to talk and dream about weddings? I am excited to get started...enjoy reading! :)

Decor Applies to Ceilings, Too!

As silly as it sounds, yes, we are even giving due attention to the ceilings of wedding venues.  Think about it -- how many different weddings have you been to where the venue is decorated with big, Chinese lanterns?  Fun.  Sometimes elegant.  And definitely have a presence..... but, are they overdone?  

In thinking about this, I decided to check out some alternatives to those big paper lanterns.  Here are some different options I found.  Do you have any other ideas that you've seen done well?

http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/gallery/4766

http://thingsrbetterwithaparrott.typepad.com/homegrown_wedding/page/9/

http://www.stylemepretty.com/

http://www.rocknrollbride.com/page/4/

http://postcardsandpretties.blogspot.com/2011/07/real-wedding-dawn-rennie-urban-wedding.html

http://www.100layercake.com/blog/

http://www.snippetandink.com/

Wendy

No, I'm not talking about those great little hamburgers.  :)  

Instead, I want to introduce you to Wendy Hickok from Wendy Hickok Photography.

 I had the pleasure of meeting her a few weeks ago while we both met with Christina and Rob, who will be married this Saturday at the Londontown and Gardens in Annapolis.  Christina was so right when she told me I had to meet Wendy, a great photographer and such a funny person!  The four of us had a great time when we met up for drinks to work out the nitty gritty details for the big wedding day.  Please take the time to check out Wendy's blog.  The latest one specifically features a wedding at Londontown and Gardens, where we'll be with Christina and Rob this weekend.  

Check it out:  Wendy's blog

Operation: Wedding Cake

If you haven't seen this already, you have to check out this video.  Truly -- this is about love!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53-6dPB1hkg

Pink & Gray Inspiration

After meeting the lovely Amanda & Jimmy today, I was inspired to put together a pink and gray inspiration wedding board.  They are all set to marry in July of next year at the American Visionary Art Museum.  Congrats, Amanda & Jimmy!  

 

(All picture references can be found on www.pinterest.com:  jpbdeisgns - Follow us!)

With a ceremony in the sculpture barn, I think they can make the brick and atmosphere feel very inviting, warm, and romantic with adding drapery to the entrance and lighting candles along the center aisle.  

I'd love to see the cocktail hour, dinner, and an after party in three separate locations.  The venue has plenty of room for this, so it is do-able.  A cocktail hour is a great place for a photobooth.  I love the dangling picture frames.  How cute!  

Then, I'd love to see the loft space upstairs invite guests to a dinner with long, rectangle tables.  I can envision these adorned with beautiful pink centerpieces as pictured above.  

After dinner, I see the drapes opening to a lounge, well-equipped with a fully-staffed bar, dance floor, and a band.  To end the evening, each guest would get a milkshake and fries to take for the ride back to the hotel.  

But -- the bride and groom would first whisk away in a vintage, pink car.  

I'd love to see the elements here combined to create a romantic and fun evening for this young, fun, lively couple and their guests!  

What other ideas do you have for a classy, fun pink and gray themed wedding?

Chris & Cherie's Wedding Photos

Earlier, I gave you a bit of a sneak peek at Chris and Cherie's wedding, but here you have it -- more pictures from Toni Skotcher.  The pictures are a great representation of the actual couple and wedding day:  laid back, simple, and sweet.

Thank you, Cherie and Chris!  We are sure those smiles will last forever!  

Vendors

Venue:  Historic Oakland

Caterer:  Absolutely Perfect Catering

Florist:  Wessels

Photographer:  Toni Skotcher Photography

Marissa & Pat's wedding

I'm not even sure how to start describing and blogging about Marissa and Pat's wedding.  Early on in the wedding planning process, I learned that Marissa is strong but laid back, trendy but unique... and I learned Pat is a stand up comic.  (You can sense their great vibe in the pictures below.)  Their wedding and reception were a perfect blend of the two of them.  And, I, someone who absolutely loves putting tons of details into wedding and receptions, loved all of the small, thoughtful details Marissa and Pat incorporated into their wedding.  

Photo props can really be so much fun! 

Marissa and Pat, thank you so much for inviting jpb designs to be a part of your special day!  

Clearly, you have found true love! 

Vendors

Ceremony & Reception:  American Visionary Art Museum

Caterer:  Azafran

Flowers:  Crimson & Clover

Photographer:  Balance Photography

Baker:  Patisserie Poupon

Transportation:  ZBest

Photobooth:  Five Star Amusements

Lighting:  Perkins Productions

Bridal Hair & Makeup:  Up Dos for I Dos

Pop of color? I think so

Color schemes for the Summer can often be thought of as repetitive. Couples lean towards bright colors or blue hues, but if too many bright colors are used it could end up looking like a kids party rather then a wedding. Think sophistication and pops of brights instead of combining too many bright colors at once! A trend this Summer is a more rustic, earthy look. For example, ivory or white linens, and a gold or bamboo plate with a green napkin gives an earthy feel to the reception. For the pop of color, red and white flowers would be a great touch as shown below. Matching your maids in the same red, and a cute accent like a red tea cup shows that you put a lot of thought into the decorations, but it does not look too organized!

Adriana

Chris & Cherie's Wedding!

Chris & Cherie's Memorial Day weekend wedding was super fun and simple. It was extremely stress-free for the wedding party, the guests, and us! They incorporated different shades of pink and gray throughout the venue as well as on some of their own personal touches.

One detail I really enjoyed was their table numbers. They used different numbers of days in their relationship that were significant to them.  For example, one table number represented the number of days Chris is older than Cherie!  :)  It really made guests feel like they understood part of the couple's history. Also, their bunny cake toppers were adorable.  (You'll have to see them when we can post more pictures.)

Check out a "sneak preview" of their wedding photo's on Toni Skotcher's blog. She did an awesome job!

http://toniskotcher.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/chris-cherie-sneak-peek/

Check back later for more pictures of Chris and Cherie's wedding day.