Sunflowers in Southern California

According to FTD, the sunflower’s name comes from its tendency to reposition itself to face the sun. The ancient Greek myth of Apollo and Clytie is one explanation of why these flowers routinely turn towards the sun. In the story, Clytie was a nymph who adored Apollo. At first, he loved her back, but soon he fell in love with Leucothoe. Because of her jealousy, Clytie told Leucothoe’s father of the relationship and he punished her by burying her alive. Out of anger, Apollo turned her into a flower, but even in her new flower form, she still loved him and would spend her days watching him as he moved the sun across the sky.

We just love sunflowers! No matter where their name comes from, they are a symbol of warmth, happiness and vitality. I was lucky enough to be a part of this styled bridal shoot that took place at The Stonehurst in Los Angeles which featured gorgeous sunflowers and a myriad of other happy, yellow flowers! Event Planner Holly Gray @anythingbutgrayevents took the helm and planned a stunning wedding shoot which featured a diverse group of wedding professionals. She literally is the Queen of Diversity and all things Color! The wedding bridal photographer was Aurelia D’Amore @damorewedo Her phenomenal and oh-so creative eye captured that bold and dramatic color! What I love most about this shoot, is the strong color story it conveys!

I designed this wedding invitation suite using a vintage botanical sunflower illustration. The typography and flourish details evoke a late 1800's aesthetic which really lends itself to the wonderful boho and cottage core trend happening right now. The cottage core vibe reminds of us a simpler, more agrarian and sustainable time... just what we need right now!

And what about horses? As a long-time equestrian, I can't say enough of how much horses can bring to a shoot. The horse featured here was a Palomino Quarter Horse. Did you know that long ago, Queen Isabella of Spain owned over 100 Palomino horses and forbade any commoners from owning them?Luckily, she withdrew her monopoly on these lovely golden horses and sent them all over the world to populate other areas, like here in North America.

A strong color story really makes a statement. All photos by Aurelia D’Amore

Venue: @thestonehurst / Photographer: @damorewedo / Planner: @anythingbutgrayevents

Paper Goods: @gildedswanpaperie / Gown: @lorienbridal / Veil: @julieharrisdesigns

Florals: @flowersbyladybuggs / Rentals: @papillonrentals / Beauty: @beautybybonbon

Models: @trishesmusic / Horses: @darkhorseranchsunvalley

#vintagewedding #weddingstyle #horsewedding #vintageweddinginvitations #botanical #weddingvowbook #yellowwedding #llamawedding #gatsbywedding #sunflower #artnouveau #artnouveauwedding #vintageweddinginvitations #greenerywedding #vintageweddingstationery #vintageweddings

Celestial Wedding Mood Board

I always think that the stars and moon above are what unites us all together. It's such a perfect theme for a wedding. A celestial celebration brings smiles, love and shimmery hope on our wedding day.

So just what do you need to start your celestial-themed wedding besides a little stardust and glittering moon? Your Save the Date is the very first inkling to your guests that your theme will be stellar! Your Save the Date invitations must be in the mail between 8 and 12 months ahead of your wedding date. My biggest sellers this year are my self-mailable postcards accented in gold, silver or rose gold metallic printing. Traditional colors may be navy and gold, or navy and silver, but you could even do a little black and rose gold for a twist. And of course, you can carry that theme on to your wedding suite too.

One could go wild adding sparkles, glitter, stars and moons to the ceremony. I don't think there is such a thing as too much sparkle! If you are looking for a jaw-dropping center piece at your wedding, look up my favorite vendor, Paper Moon Shoppe. They meticulously transform your space into a spectacular celestial showpiece! They off a fast printing station, unlimited souvenir prints, online albums and vintage props. They even offer old-fashioned souvenir flipbooks that you can order for your guests. Although based in Southern California, they can ship their moons out of state.

So glitter it up and go wild! Throw on some Frank Sinatra records and fly to the moon!

Paper Moon booth by the Paper Moon Shoppe

Photos 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10 by @peterson.design.photo

#vintagewedding #weddingstyle #weddingreception #vintageweddinginvitations #botanical #weddingvowbook #weddingvowbooklets #artdecowedding #gatsbywedding #greatgatsby #artnouveau #artnouveauwedding #vintageweddinginvitations #greenerywedding #vintageweddingstationery

A Bride, a Groom, and Two Llamas, oh My!

Add a lot of color, a bit of vintage flair and two furry llamas and you get one amazing wedding day! Jenny and Tommy celebrated their wedding day at the gorgeous Chapel Hill Carriage House. The carriage house sits on acres and acres of farmland, ponds and trails. It's an actual working farm and depending on the season, one can buy flowers, seeds, vegetables and herbs. It's such a lovely and inspiring setting!

Jenny and Tommy hired me to design their colorful Art Nouveau-inspired wedding stationery and I could not be more pleased with the results! The imagery in their design echos back to those lovely William Morris tapestries and wallpapers from the 1800', as well as the Art Nouveau floral motifs at the turn-of-the-century. I love those in-between periods... where one style is merging into the next. To me, those are the most beautiful aesthetics! It has not yet reached it's epoch and nearing almost cliche, rather, the mix of designs represents something unique in the design journey.

The moody and dramatic photography was done by Something Blue Photography. Owners Matt and Crystal offer a wonderful blend of traditional and photojournalistic styles when they shoot.

A colorful vintage-inspired wedding shot by Crystal and Matt marsh at Something Blue Photo & Portraits

Photography: @somethingbluenc Venue: @chapelhillcarriagehouse

#vintagewedding #weddingstyle #weddingreception #vintageweddinginvitations #botanical #weddingvowbook #weddingvowbooklets #llamawedding #gatsbywedding #greatgatsby #artnouveau #artnouveauwedding #vintageweddinginvitations #greenerywedding #vintageweddingstationery #vintageweddings