wedding season hiatus

Hello lovelies!

It’s been a while but we’re in the midst of our busy 2014 wedding season, so we’re taking a blogging hiatus. We’ll be back as soon as we can with more inspiration and love! Have a great summer!

xoxo,

B & C

LD styled shoot: published!

It happens to be my birthday today (32, welp!) and we received such a lovely gift from WellWed magazine this week! You might remember that we did a beautiful farm-to-table themed styled shoot over the summer (inspiration for it here) with some of our favorite industry friends. It was a hot summer day in Madison, CT but the gorgeous images from Eric Foley photography made it completely worth it! After staring at them for days, we submitted them over the summer for editorial consideration and recently got the great news we were being published.

Fast forward 6 months and the issue is on newsstands! Best. Birthday gift. Ever! We’re so thrilled to see our hard work and the incredible creativity of our friends – Eric Foley Photography, A Little Something White Bridal Couture, Happily Ever Borrowed, Coral Pheasant Stationery, New England Country Rentals, Stems Flower Design and Simply Gorgeous by Erin – come to life in print. A huge check off the old bucket list 😉

Grab your own issue #9 of WellWed Magazine Cape Cod & The Islands today – but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of our feature…!

Thanks again to our lovely models Alexa & Jennifer and our uber-talented vendor team! I’m off to celebrate with some birthday bubbly.

xo,

B

signature drink: mulled wine

Baby, it’s cold outside! I woke up to ice-covered-everything and the trek to my car (super grateful for a garage!) was treacherous in my ankle cowgirl booties. Temperatures sticking to the 30’s this week and snow on the forecast has me dreaming of cozy wintry nights at home with a fire (on-demand for us), glowing Christmas tree and holiday tunes on the radio. Add in a hot drink to warm my belly and I could stay in that scene for days. I’mmm dreaming of a whiiiiiite Christmas…

Ok, ok. The holidays will be here before we know it, I know. Which got me thinking about all of the fun additions to holiday nuptials around this time of year. Vintage or family heirloom furs to complement snow-white gowns, dark ruby lips, and Lady Mary-style gloves, oh my! There are so many ways to make a holiday wedding festive without including the obligatory red or green, and a simple place to start is with this yummy signature cocktail! Mulled wine is delicious and smells even better, and can be easily dressed up with a cinnamon stick or floating cranberries like in the recipe below. It’s the perfect way to warm up guests and set the tone for a cozy evening filled with festive flair.

Mulled wine with Cranberries
recipe via Real Simple Magazine

• 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 pieces star anise
• 3 cups dry red wine (such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries

1. In a large saucepan, combine the cranberry juice cocktail, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Stir in the wine and cranberries and bring back to a simmer. Serve warm.

xoxo,

B

harvest table: happy thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Somehow my favorite holiday completely snuck up on me (finishing up our 2013 weddings and doing some Lovely Day 2014 planning may have gotten in the way…) but I can’t wait to dive head first into stuffing and cranberry sauce at my in-laws house tomorrow. As a somewhat-newlywed, I am still getting used to missing my family during holidays (we switch family’s every other year) but I’m blessed to have a food-loving group in CT to fill the void. And this year, we have so much to be thankful for.

Better late than never, I designed an inspiration board to fill a harvest table. Close your eyes and imagine yards of burlap runner on a farm table, DIY gold sprayed mini pumpkins at each place setting and rustic wooden accents in a handmade charger and serving spoons. I simply adore the idea of a pomegranate centerpiece to add rosey warmth to the table in lieu of flower arrangements. Gold taper candles in mercury glass add a glow and stamped muslin favor bags send family home with sweet (pecan pie bar) treats (recipe link below!).

I can feel the warm fire on my face, and we don’t even have a fireplace. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

1. Fill a vintage silver server with rich, dark fruits, including pretty pomegrantes

2. Spray mini pumpkins gold for each place setting with metallic gold spray paint

3. Cozy up to the fire with this gorgeous geometric cotton throw from Terrain

4. Make your own rustic table runner with yards of burlap, available through Uline

5. We love these Martha Stewart mercury glass candlesticks and would pair them with elegant gold taper candles for a metallic contrast

6. Your family will love you for serving these absolutely divine pecan pie bars. Make them immediately!

7. Leftovers are a big part of Thanksgiving. Pretty them up by stamping muslin bags with your favorite message

8. Our friends over at Design House of Moira created these darling (free!) place card downloads. Print them on card stock to lean against the gold mini pumpkins at each place setting

9. We’re completely obsessed with these vintage wood chargers from Pottery Barn (and they are on sale!). We paired them with Vera Wang’s gilded leaf gold dinner plates to add a touch of sophistication to the table

10. These Crate & Barrel farmhouse serving spoons are perfect for scooping mashed potatoes and serving gravy

xoxo,

B

real LD wedding: amy & adam

This wedding was one word. OK, two. COMPLETELY GORGEOUS. Amy and Adam got married on a perfect early fall day in September at the Waveny House. The sun was bright in New Canaan but there was a chill in the evening air that helped guests dance on the patio all night long. The mansion was the perfect venue for their classic New England affair, and they were married in the beautiful rose garden on the property.

Amy is an event planner by trade and thought of every detail for her wedding. The day oozed elegance and class from the fashion (we adored Amy’s LulaKate one-strap gown!) to the coordinating bow tie for their pup. Their friend Chef Marc Weber designed a custom – and ridiculously delicious – menu, complete with fresh late night doughnuts that filled the air with a sugar cloud.

One of our favorite moments of the night was sneaking Amy and Adam upstairs for a quiet moment after the ceremony – such a sweet couple filled with so much love! Enjoy Nicole Taylor Photography‘s gorgeous pics from their day!

We had an absolute blast at this wedding and loved working alongside such an incredible vendor team and our on-site coordinator Aliza. Many thanks to Amy and Adam for including us in their big day! We love you guys!

xo,

B & C

{Vendor Credits: Bridal Gown by LulaKate; Photography by Nicole Taylor Photography; Catering by OnTheMarc Events; Florals by Dirt Floral; Band via ETA Music; Bagpiper Tom Kirk; Cake by Great Cakes Westport}

divine details

Not everyone has a million dollar wedding budget, but everyone does want their big day to be as special as can be. Our clients often ask us what sweet details they can include to make their day stand out among the rest – here are our favorite 5 affordable options sure to impress:

1. Chair Embellishments

Whether you opt for cascading ribbons, luxe chair covers or custom Mr + Mrs signs, adding some bling to your reception chairs almost rivals the King and Queen thrones you envisioned as a girl. We adore the simplicity and sophistication of these rustic, calligraphed signs – available for under $25!

2. Signature Drink Stirrer

So you’ve decided on a Manhattan for him (he loves whiskey) and a Key Lime Martini for her (it reminds you of your bachelorette party in Key West) as your signature cocktails – adorable! Your guests will love them dressed up with a chic stirrer to mark their beverage choice. We love these by Etsy’s TheBelovedShop and would customize them with the monogram from your invitation suite.

3. Place Card Love Notes

If your guest count is under 100, this is a sweet way to make your guests feel the love! Write short “love notes” to each guest on the back of their place card, telling them how much you appreciate them celebrating your day. Split the list with your hubby-to-be and give yourself a month to write them – that’s only 2 cards per day! Make them even more special with custom calligraphy like these gorgeous handwritten cards by Brown Fox Calligraphy.

4. A Killer Welcome Bag

All it takes is a little planning to create a fabulous welcome bag for any guests spending the night. Think about the things you love – what embodies the season, what your wedding town is known for – and do some brainstorming. A bag filled with apple cider donuts from the farmers market at the edge of town and your favorite gas station candy might be all you need (who doesn’t love a Snickers at 1am after the wedding??)! Grab some lunch bags, colorful ribbon and a decorative hole punch and you’ve got yourself a picture-perfect welcome bag.

5. Decorative Votives

Your florist or your venue may have some standard votive candles available to add a soft glow to your tablescape. Definitely use theirs, but sprinkle in 2 or 3 special containers per table to add some sparkle and dimension. We love mercury glass, milk glass or any other vintage finds (Grandma’s house is great for these!).

We hope this inspires! You don’t need to break the bank to add special details to your day, and these thoughtful items only accentuate your wedding design.

xo,

B

real LD wedding: savannah + tony

We are absolutely over-the-moon-THRILLED to share our first summer 2013 Lovely Day wedding with you! We had the incredible pleasure of working with Savannah and Tony to plan their DIY wedding in New Milford, CT.  After meeting them in February we were in love – and when Tony asked for a to-go container for the doughnuts we’d ordered, we knew we were a good match!

A little about the day: S & T are actors in NYC and chose to tie the knot at Savannah’s father’s theater school in New Milford. Savannah grew up in New Orleans so the day had nods to her childhood – including southern comfort food for dinner (BBQ pulled pork and artery-cloggingly-delicious mac & cheese) and a sweet tea-powered dance train at the end of the evening led by her southern Mamma!

Tons of DIY elements made the wedding uniquely theirs, with yards and yards of bunting sewn by the bride and a bridal gown designed by a friend. It was a HOT day in August but it was wonderfully whimsical, super sweet and just plain fun. I mean, LOOK at these two!

Photo credit: Laura Marie Duncan Photography

S & T wanted more of a “really fun party” than a traditional wedding, and their guests had an amazing time witnessing their sweet love surrounded by homemade accents and sparkle lights.

Photo credit: Laura Marie Duncan Photography

The color palette for decor was pastels (blue, yellow and peach) and the bride made each paper flower centerpiece. Yards of colored tulle floated on the tables and lacey-votives (amazing and from Ikea!) made the room glow. There was even a carnival popcorn machine – YUM…

Photo credit: Laura Marie Duncan Photography

…and a bouncy castle!!!!!!…

Photo credit: Laura Marie Duncan Photography

…aaaand a pile of fresh Krispy Kreme’s for dessert. Instead of cutting a cake, S & T tore a doughnut! Don’t you want to be friends with these guys?!

Photo credit: Laura Marie Duncan Photography

We’re so honored to have been part of their big day and we wish them so many years of happiness! Thank you for being absolutely amazing clients – we love you!

XO,

B&C

{Vendor Credits: Photography by Laura Marie Duncan Photography; Catering by Jeff’s BBQ & Catering; Doughnut display by Krispy Kreme; Rentals by Party Rentals Ltd.; Lighting by Vivid Events; DJ Daniel Mulvihill; Videography by Brian Straub}

2013 emmy’s fashion roundup

People watch TV for lots of reasons. I have “my shows” that usually clog our DVR because I don’t have time to watch them (Homeland, Scandal, Orphan Black, Downton Abbey and The Good Wife to name a few) but TV has such a smaller presence in my life now than it did years ago. I simply have about a million other things I could/should be doing at home (laundry, packing client gifts, taking the dog to the park, going for a run so that I don’t collapse during my half-marathon in November) instead of sitting on the couch glued to the tube. My husband is the opposite. He uses TV as his downtime and there’s no place he’d rather be on a fall Sunday than horizontal on the couch watching football. I relax by running around and “housekeeping.” He relaxes with pretzel M&M’s and Pardon the Interruption. These are the things you learn in your first year of marriage.

What we can both agree on is watching award shows – but for different reasons. I crave the pre-show red carpet glamour and he watches to actually see who wins the awards. While I’ve never heard of House of Cards and haven’t seen an episode of Breaking Bad, it’s worth watching to catch a glimpse of my favorite starlets in stunning couture – and this year there were more than a handful of gowns that took cues from the bridal runways.

Check out some of our favorite looks from the red carpet:

Kerry Washington stunned in this Marchesa dream. Greek-inspired accents and flower appliques = perfection. Claire Danes looked healthy and glowing in this shimmery Armani Prive gown with a plunging neckline. LOVED her short blonde bob and bold red lip! And Malin Akerman (known to me as the ex-girlfriend of super-hottie Andrew in The Proposal), looked classic in this frothy light grey Marchesa gown with a long train. Simple and pretty!

Blush tones continue to fill the red carpet and I hope to see more brides in blush in 2014! I absolutely love the structured  ruffle at the bottom of this Zac Posen gown worn by Julie Bowen. January Jones is so fair that the neckline of this Givenchy strapless gown almost blends with her skintone, but the clean lines, gorgeous lace and banded bottom make for a soft style. And Carrie Preston – amazing as Arlene on True Blood and Eslbeth on The Good Wife – totally rocks this pale pink  Romona Keveza gown! The black trim detail adds modern sophistication and her side-swept red locks complete the look perfectly. Love her look? The Plumed Serpent in Westport carries Romona’s bridal line.

A few other red carpet trends to note: natural make up and sturdy clutches – particularly Edie Parker handmade bags!

xo,

B

fall: in love!

Fall! Around here, Autumn is one of our favorite times of year. Apple picking, pumpkin carving, apple-cider-donut eating wrapped in scarves and stylish trenchcoats? We absolutely love it. When we aren’t jumping in fallen leaves or burning a pumpkin spice candle, we’re cooking up fall wedding decor ideas for one of our 2014 brides.

Here are some of our favorite finds from Pinterest:

We adore these Bride and Groom chair decorations that celebrate the harvest season and the textured metallic linen adds a gorgeous fine detail. The simple dried wheat bouquets tied with white ribbon add a subtle touch and chic white linen curtains frame a barn door and block the chill!

A little known fact – sunflowers bloom through November and their earthy hue fill a bridal bouquet with a beautiful pop of color. And, light suits for the groomsmen make the bridesmaids pop in “wild beet” colored silk chiffon from J.Crew. Floor length gowns mean your girls will be toasty from “I do” to the after party!

Calligraphy makes any wedding decor luxurious, even dried leaves! We can’t get enough of these escort cards and think they’d be the perfect addition to a fall table scape – don’t bag leaves this fall, collect them! When we need custom stationary, Coral Pheasant is one of our first stops, and these natural garden party-inspired invitations are divine. We love the detail of printing the inside of the envelope – chic and fall fresh!

We want to hear about your favorite fall things! Take a break from sipping apple cider and leave us a comment – Cheers!

xo,

B

guest blogger: erin of simply gorgeous by erin

With a new season (yay for Harvest!) approaching, there’s no better time to update your makeup bag so we’ve enlisted the oh-so-amazing Erin Infantino of Simply Gorgeous by Erin to share her must-haves and give us a look into the kit of a professional makeup artist. Enjoy! xo, B & C

I still remember some of the first makeup products I purchased with my own money.  First there was Barbie’s compact to give your skin an even glow, also known as, “Oopma Loompa” glow. Then there was the time when I decided in 7^th grade I was grown up and it was about time I had my own eyeliner in electric teal to match my pink and teal braces. We’ve all gone through some awesome makeup faux pas like these but some of you out there may still be guilty of some less than flattering faux pas as adults. Let me guide you!

First let it be said that not one favorite makeup artist product works for everyone. Every year magazines rate the “must have” “one size fits all” cosmetics and believe me, many of these don’t do the job for me or many others despite the awards they win. So I will simply list some of my top products I have had in my makeup arsenal for years and just can’t part with.

#1 My obsession with lashes is no secret to those who know me. Mascara would be my item I would take to a deserted island with me. I have many that I have tried and loved and then got sick of or swear they changed the formula on me. My current favorite high-end mascara is Smashbox Full Exposure. They give me insanely long and full lashes without the appearance of spider legs. For a drugstore brand I like CoverGirl LashBlast; it doesn’t provide as much volume as Smashbox but it’s a great one for half the price. Get either in black. Always choose black.

#2 Concealer, or “sleep in a bottle,” is a must in my routine if I want to look half awake. Don’t go too light so you get raccoon eyes and don’t go too dark so that you look even more tired. Pick a shade close to the shade of your face’s natural skin tone. For high-end I LOVE Clé de Peau Beauté. It has a velvet finish and doesn’t crease easily like many others tend to. It’s rather absurdly priced but it lasts me about a year per tube. For an inexpensive alternative I love Cinema Secrets Foundation palettes. It says foundation but I use it for concealer on all my clients. Nothing beats it for coverage.

#3 I love eyeliner. You can do a crisp, winged line or a sultry smudged line. Bobbi Brown Gel Liners are the way to go. Once this goes on it’s not going anywhere until you wash your face, and they come in an incredible assortment of colors. I prefer to apply it with Bobbi’s eyeliner brush to get a laser-precise line when I need to and I also “tight line” my top lash line with her black or denim (a deep navy hue to make the whites of your eyes pop).

#4 Shadow primer is a fantastic product that is like concealer for your eyelids. It helps the true color of eyeshadows show up and stay all day and night. I prefer primers over concealers because of the consistency being not as emollient as a traditional concealer and therefore less likely to crease on the lid. I like Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden and I also like MAC Paint Pots in Soft Ochre. You’ll be amazed at the difference these make in how your eye makeup looks.

#5 Aquaphor. Yes, Aquaphor that you find in the baby aisle. I apply this to my lips all the live-long day. You will never have chapped lips again while using this product. I discovered it while my nephew was an infant and had eczema. We would apply Aquaphor to his affected areas and I was constantly kissing him and realized I loved this stuff for my lips. Win!

So there you have it; some fantastical products that you will always see in my makeup kit. Don’t be afraid to try new products. I always tell my clients during makeup lessons that makeup is not a tattoo. If you hate it you can wash it off. Thank God for that otherwise I would be living with electric teal eyeliner on my eyes.

Feel free to contact me at erin@simplygorgeousbyerin.com or on Facebook with any questions or if you want some more tips…I do makeup lessons in CT as well!

xo,
Erin