tulip love

{flower garden}

Tulips are my most current obsession and reason to smile while I bounce around town. They are popping up everywhere now that it's getting warmer and I couldn't be more thrilled. I know they won't last long, so I'm soaking up their prettiness while I can.

Hoping you're finding inspiration somewhere.

Looking forward to getting back on track with blogging. Have great posts lined up for the week! Stay tuned, folks!

farm style wedding

I teamed up with the fabulous Meghan McSweeney again to create a rustic, farm-inspired wedding complete with a distressed horse barn, a serene lake and a tire swing. Tarnished pitchers were filled with wildflowers and vintage napkin linens and china lined the burlap runner.

We are so excited that the gorgeous Grey Likes Weddings featured our farm style shoot too! Pop over to her fabulous blog and take a look at more eye candy.





The incredible vendors that participated:

Photos: Meghan McSweeney
Style: LK Events & Design
Dress/Accessories: Pleiades Bridal Design Studio
Flowers: Carolyn Young
Cake: The Buttercream Bee
Hair/Makeup: Josh Henderson, Mango Salon
Models: Shera, James

wildflowers

There is something so natural and organic about wildflower bouquets and arrangements. Something so relaxed and carefree, unpretentious and whimsical--like you walked into a field, gathered some flowers and tied ribbon around them. Here are some hand-picked bouquets that are inspiring me:

{photos 1 & 2, Bob Schnell; Studio Castillero via Ruffled Blog; photos 4 & 5 Hugh Forte Photography via Wedding Chicks; Jennifer Hughes}

mint juleps: cocktails and decor

Complete with Southern Belles, wonderful weather and mint juleps, my weekend was the perfect way to kick off Spring.

Inspiring this post, the mint julep is classically served in silver julep cups and made up of only four ingrediants: mint, bourbon, sugar, ice. Known for being the traditional cocktail of the Kentucky Derby, it should only be held by the bottom or top edges of the cup allowing frost to form. Because these cups are just so darling [even without the cocktail inside!], why not use them as vases? Add a Southern flair by exchanging clear vases for these silver or pewter julep cups and fill them with gorgeous spring flowers. Engrave your initials as an extra personal touch. And once the wedding festivities are over, reuse the julep cups for toothbrush holders, candles or a gorgeous additional to your new china cabinet.

{photos: Southern Living, Christian Oth via Inspired by This, My Stylish Wedding, Soiree Planning}

A Traditional Mint Julep

• 2 fluid ounces Kentucky Bourbon
  
• granulated sugar (to taste)
  
• Mint leaves
  
• Crushed ice

Muddle mint leaves and sugar in the bottom of a julep cup.
Fill cup with crushed or shaved ice and add bourbon.
Garnish with mint leaves.

vase alternatives

I love unusual, unexpected vases. Think about it. When you sit at a wedding reception table, how often do you notice what the beautiful flowers are held in? Scour the thrift stores and supermarkets for adorable, alternative vases for your flowers.

{Jennifer Hughes Photography, Duet Weddings, last two Martha Stewart}