wedding inspiration: the coolest quirky ceremony backdrops

It's round-up time!  I love when I see weddings around the web with creative backdrops for the ceremony and portraits.  We've all seen couples tie the knot in front of a giant candelabra, in front of a mantel, and under a floral arch.  Here are a few couples whose creative and unique ceremony backdrops really stand out.  Disclaimer:  If you'd like to add any of these images to Pinterest, please click on the link underneath the photo and pin from the source so that the creators and owners get credit!  Please DO NOT pin from this post.

Stone Crandall Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

This chalk art floral arch backdrop on a concrete wall is so creative and modern while also being a nod to traditional wedding decor.  This would be an easy idea to adapt for a birthday party, class reunion, or other celebration where picture-taking is essential in an industrial or urban space!  This couple used chalk throughout their wedding decor, along with other fun details like sparkly chevron table runners.

Nine Photography via Ruffled

Aren't these orange and yellow pinwheels delightful?  This is another idea that would be just as pretty at a birthday party or family event, and a great spot to snap individual or group portraits!  The couple who created these pinwheels filled their Dallas wedding with meaningful and artistic DIY details.  Plus, the bride uses the phrase "newly hubs" - I may have to steal that one.

Dev Khalsa Photography via Limn and Lovely

This neon take on the oft-used driftwood arch is so much fun.  This backyard wedding is full of similarly colorful details, from the button-and-ribbon wrapped bouquets to the dahlia cupcakes.

Derek Martinez Photography via Wedding Chicks

Many people are familiar with the idea that paper cranes symbolize good luck, and I love this whimsical paper crane arch.  This absolutely lovely wedding was held at Historic Cedarwood in Tennessee.  If anyone is planning a wedding there and would like to have an extra blogger/amateur photographer in attendance, I AM SO IN.

Our Labor of Love via Snippet and Ink

Suitcases make a fantastic, unexpected backdrop for a vintage-inspired wedding in a nontraditional space.  This couple had their pick of cool antiques from the Metropolitan Building in Queens, New York to use on their wedding day - I am a little jealous.

Which one of these unexpected backdrops is your favorite?

style: what's in the beach bag? [pantone poppy red and monaco blue]

This week, I'm daydreaming about a beach vacation... I've fallen in love with Vera Bradley's "Marina Paisley" summer print and put together some essential picks in shades of poppy red and monaco blue.

View this board on Polyvore

1. GAP bandana scarf  2. Orla Kiely sunglasses  3. Bracelet from The Limited
4. Old Navy poppy red bathing suit  5. Vera Bradley tablet cover
6. Essie nail polish from Target  7. Vera Bradley makeup case
8. C.O. Bigelow salve from Bath and Body Works  9. Merona tote from Target
10. BareTraps sandals from Belk  11. Paradise fragrance spray from Bath and Body Works
12. Neutrogena sunscreen  13. Target ikat beach towel (similar from JC Penney)

What's your ideal vacation spot?

clicks of note: we can take our time...

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• If you're looking for some funk to start your day, here's "Steady Pace" from Richmond's Matthew E. White.  Serious 70's vibes, in the best way.  I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Evan G. Cooper

• Evan G. Cooper's nautical styled wedding shoot is full of quirky details like a paddle guestbook.
• Crafty Pie lets planning brides know just what to include on invitations and RSVP cards.
• This rustic Austin engagement session featured on Inspired by This made me smile (cute dogs!).
• Style Me Pretty features a Denver wedding that exemplifies pure elegance.

SMILE.

• Alana Jones-Mann has created the cutest cactus cupcakes.  Er mah gerd.
• Anthropologie shares honeymoon/travel wardrobe ideas.
• StyleBistro features the future Mrs. Adam Levine's best looks.
• Lollapalooza is this weekend in Chicago.  Rock on!

FLASHBACK.

• Two years ago, I shared my thoughts on what makes a wedding fun and inspiration for traditional, modern, eclectic, and rustic weddings with a gray and yellow color palette.  Last year, I got to see President Obama speak in Roanoke, my friend Grace's Coptic wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty, and I shared summer and fall wardrobe inspiration in shades of gray.

sunday social: FOOD!

I couldn't resist linking up with Ashley and Neely this week since Sunday Social is all about FOOD!

1. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Probably pizza - I'm trying to be practical and think about how I can get my whole grains, protein, and veggies and pizza is the answer :)

2. What’s your guilty pleasure/comfort food?  Hamburger Helper - I know that the boxed version is no good for me, but the combination of noodles, cheese, and ground beef is so addictive.  My mom used to make Hamburger Helper on "special occasions" when I was a kid because she didn't like making a lot of prepared foods.

3. What’s the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?  When I was in college I was blessed to have friends from around the world so I got to try a lot of international foods.  I think the strangest thing I've ever tasted is a moon cake, which is a dessert with a bean paste filling.

4. What foods do you avoid at all costs?  Anything with parsley or cilantro on it - I believe I have a mild intolerance to these spices and they taste like soap to me.

5. What meal reminds you of your childhood?  Salad, toasted french bread with butter and garlic, and spaghetti with meat sauce - my mom's go-to home cooked meal.

6. Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.  The first time I cooked dinner for Mr. Q (while I was in college) I made pasta with shrimp, tomatoes and basil from Real Simple magazine.  He didn't have the heart to tell me that he's not a huge fan of pasta until much later.

sunday simplicity: falling in love

Cassidy Carson Photography

"A successful marriage requires 

falling in love many times,

 always with the same person."

- Mignon Mclaughlin, Atlantic (July 1965)

entertaining: breeze's shower! [how to plan a rustic bridal shower: games & gifts]

As much as I love entertaining, party games are not really my forte.  Luckily, I wasn't alone in planning Breeze's shower.  Mandi and I decided on a few games that are easy to play and fun for party guests without making anyone feel awkward.

The Clothespin Game

I used the same washi tape I decorated Breeze's recipe card dividers with to decorate clothespins for a classic shower game.  I got the yellow tape from The Washi Shop on Etsy and the gingham tape from WashiWishes on Etsy.  For the clothespins, I did have to trim the sides of the tape with scissors, but it was one of the easiest crafts ever!  Our rule for the clothespin game was that guests could not say the word "wedding."  If you heard a fellow guest say "wedding," you got to take her clothespin.  Whoever had the most at the end of the party would be declared the winner.  It's fun to hear people get creative with their conversations - like the bride's sister asking her friend, "what time are you getting there on the 14th?"

Breeze's grandmother was our clothespin game winner, and she was very sneaky about getting people to say the "W-word" - now we know where Breeze and Mandi get their competitive streak.

entertaining: breeze's shower! [how to plan a rustic bridal shower: food & drinks]

Because we had a lot of helpers and a lot of "yes" R.S.V.P.s, we also had a LOT of food at Breeze's bridal shower.  We tried to stick to a country, comfort-food theme and to serve most of Breeze's favorite party treats.

In addition to lemonade and sweet tea, we served sangria and fruit punch.

White Peach Sangria

Ingredients:

• Peach Schnapps
• Riesling
• Lemon Lime Soda
• Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapes

Luscious Slush Punch (from Allrecipes.com)

Serves 25

Ingredients:

•  2 1/2 cups white sugar
•  6 cups water
•  2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored Jell-O® mix
•  1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
•  2/3 cup lemon juice
•  1 quart orange juice
• 1 bottle lemon lime soda

Directions:

Bring the sugar, water, and strawberry flavored Jell-o® to a boil in a large saucepan; boil for three minutes. In a large bowl, stir together the pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice and slowly add the gelatin liquid. Divide the mixture into 2 separate containers and freeze.

Combine the contents of 1 container with 1/2 bottle of the lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage in a punch bowl; stir until slushy. Repeat with remaining portions as needed.

Sausage Balls

Makes 40

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground pork sausage (mild)
• 2 cups biscuit/pancake baking mix
• 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sage

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large bowl, add cheddar to baking mix and toss to coat.  Add sausage.  Mix until well combined using hands, adding spices while mixing.  Roll mixture into 1-inch balls.  Place balls 1/2 inch apart on a greased baking sheet.  Bake until balls are starting to brown, about 20 minutes.  Serve warm.

entertaining: breeze's shower! [how to plan a rustic bridal shower: invites & decor]

One of the bridesmaid "duties" I was most excited about when Breeze got engaged was getting to help plan her bridal shower.  When Mr. Q and I got married, she and Coordinator C put together an adorable party for me.  I wanted to do the same for my best friend, taking inspiration from her wedding's rustic theme and yellow and navy color palette.

I was fairly proud of the final invitation suite Coordinator C and I put together - it was my first time using computer software to design stationery.  Coordinator C had found a tea-stained mason jar template from Shoregirl's Creations and I had found mason jar themed recipe cards from Paper Crave.  I downloaded a font similar to the one on the recipe card and designed the invitation using GimpShop.  We printed both the invitations and recipe cards on ivory cardstock.  Then we used an Exacto knife to cut two small slits in the invitation and add a yellow ribbon.  The vintage seed packet stamps that the postal service introduced this spring were the perfect finishing touch.

For the shower decorations, we decided to add pink to the wedding's yellow and navy color palette because it's Breeze's favorite color.  Her sister Mandi covered the kitchen island and tables with ivory tablecloths and burlap runners tied with twine - Breeze will be decorating her wedding tables in a similar way.  We borrowed the cool plate/napkin/utensil caddy from Breeze's aunt, I found the cute gingham print cocktail napkins at Marshall's, and Mandi made the tissue paper poms.  I decoupaged a cardboard letter "S" with gingham scrapbook paper and a lot of Mod Podge.

Mandi put some of Breeze and the Cowboy's engagement pictures in a collage frame and it looked perfect on the gift table.

Here's the recipe card box - I found a plain wooden box with a cool metal screen lid at Michael's and stained it with a very light coat of Gunstock wood stain.  The dividers are cardstock trimmed to size, decorated with two strips of washi tape, and stamped with an alphabet set I have.  I thought the finished product had a nice rustic look.  A few ladies brought recipe cards from their boxes at home, which I thought was a really sweet personal touch.

My favorite shower detail were the mason jars and striped paper straws!  I was determined to have drinks served in mason jars since that was a big part of our theme, but dreaded having to wash 30 jars after the party.  The solution?  We told guests to take their glasses home!  Instant party favor.  Breeze loved the striped straws; I'd ordered them from PuppyCatCrafts on Etsy.