Kirsten and Adam’s wedding was beautifully sweet and sincere and simple.

Early in conversations with her she said something to the effect that she didn’t really like color. She liked the idea of a colorless wedding. She felt, rightly so, that the natural beauty of a Beaver Creek and Vail area were enough beauty. I’d add that the love, friendship and fun they share and that surrounds them in their relationships with their family and friends only accentuated that beauty.

Photography: Tyson Trish Photography
Ceremony Venue: Beaver Creek Chapel, Beaver Creek, Colorado
Reception Venue: Donovan Pavilion, Vail, Colorado
Floral Design: Cori Cook Floral Design
Wedding Design & Planning: Talia Events

I was honored to be a part of Substance again this past weekend. If you’re not familiar with it, Substance is a workshop put on my Jenna Walker and Katie Thurmes from Jenna Walker Photography for fellow photographers to come and learn more about the craft, gain a bit of inspiration and being a female entrepreneur.

This is the second workshop and the second chance I’ve had to be a part of designing a Styled Shoot for the participants to “play” with and experience what it takes to capture a wedding. I can’t wait to share the professionals’ takes of the day, but for now, just had to share this picture of the centerpiece created by Cori Cook at Cori Cook Floral Design. It’s a glimpse, albeit an amateur one taken with my phone (I know, gasp!), a little snippet into the overall design…with more to come.

Clustering a number of small vases or vessels together is a popular centerpiece idea right now. I’ve worked with clients to create clusters set upon slices of wood, napkins, table runners and in all colors, shapes and sizes. One of the things that I think is most important when considering clusters of vases or bottles is if there’s a need for something to sit underneath them to “ground” them. Sometimes it’s appropriate and, at others, more of a visual distraction.

These painted bottles provide a self-enclosed visual groundness in an uber-pretty way! What do you think, like them too?

learn how to create your own at A Subltle Revelry

I received an email the other day from an excited bride. She was curious about if there are times when it’s not appropriate or just flat out won’t look good to use one flower throughout the wedding, in bouquets and ceremony decor and centerpieces and elsewhere.

It’s personal taste, but I think there are times when the only way to use a flower is alone and by itself. Baby’s breath is one such flower. When mixed with any others it harkens to the luckily long lost look of a dozen roses surrounded by it. But, when it’s clustered by itself, it’s fresh, modern, airy and uniquely feminely without being flirty or frilly.

Gerbera Daises also seem to look best when they’re used by themselves and clustered together in bouquets or topiary-like centerpieces.

In general, trust your florist or Wedding Designer’s advice on whether to mix and match your favorite bloom. And, as always, if you need some help, please get in touch. Talia Events offers a range of Wedding Design options.

For an unexpected, funky twist on traditional table floral arrangements, think about putting your flowers in an unconventional vase. We love this light bulb vase from GroCycle on Etsy. Its simple, short design holds just a handful of flowers—perfect for keeping a table arrangement clean and modern. We think it would be especially fitting for couples who want a ‘green’ wedding, because the artist reuses functioning light bulbs to create her work.

“Thank you so much for everything, it was so much freaking fun!” That was the initial response from Caki when I wrote her to make sure she was ok with me posting their wedding photos. She captured it perfectly, their wedding was a ton of fun. It was, like all my favorites, perfectly the two of them.

They incorporated her father’s collection of glass lamps on the mantel of the fireplace at the front of the ceremony, Caki put her incredible graphic design skills to use and made all kinds of little cute paper touches and signs, they played off his last name, Cook, and their love of food and gave each guest a small tin of rub for meat, they brought in a rockin’ gospel choir for their first dance and they laughed and played and were so much fun. It was truly a pleasure!

Photography: Adam & Imthiaz Photography
Venue: University Club, Denver 
Lighting: Decor ‘N More, Inc.
Floral Design: Cori Cook Floral Design
Mini Desserts:  Happy Cakes
Wedding Day Coordination: Talia Events

As I said last week, I was honored to be a part of Substance, a workshop put on by Jenna Walker and Katie Thumes from Jenna Walker Photographers. They gathered 15 budding women photographers to talk craft, art, work and so much more.

I put together a Styled Shoot for the girls to play with and test out their newly refined skills. But, like all projects, I was not alone. Crystal Oleskevich created floral beauties. Liana from makeup by janine did the make up. Frisk Jewelry from Boulder loaned us a few of their pieces–this is just a small glimpse into all the fun pieces they make and sell out of their store on The Hill in Boulder. Friends at Chair Covers and Linens and All Events offered their linens, glasses, flatware and so much more.  And, finally, the gracious Paulette loaned us her car for the afternoon.

As for the inspiration, I have been collecting (much to mother’s uncertainty of their worth) state plates for a few years now. They are just so kitschy and so, well, wrong, that I think they’re fabulous. When Jenna and I started talking about the overall design, I offered a couple ideas in the Style File–state plate vintage-esque or spring bulb beauties. I wanted to be sure there was a more traditional, more standard pretty option for her to choose. I would be lying to say that I wasn’t thrilled when she chose the state plates and I finally had the chance to create the table that had been building alongside my collection.

It was designed to be a new take on the travel theme–rather than pastel colored maps and European backpacker inspired details, it’s highway, interstate or Route 66 kitsch! With old license plates tied to the backs of the chairs, brightly colored glassware, a vintage VW Bug with a Coca-Cola box tied on top and bottles of Bubble Up thrown in, it’s pure Americana!

photos by Jenna Walker Photographers

As I mentioned, I was honored to be a part of Substance, a workshop put on my Jenna Walker and Katie Thumes of Jenna Walker Photographers. I received a disc of images from the Styled Shoot today and can’t wait to share them next week. For now, just a lil bit…

photos from Jenna Walker Photographers

I had a great time putting together the ModYarn styled shoot with some of Denver’s incredible wedding vendors earlier this spring and am equally as thrilled to have it published today on the popular wedding blog, Style Me Pretty. Take a look!

photo by Keri Doolittle Photography

I was often asked if I was planning my own wedding. I did and as you can imagine, loved the process. But, practicing as I preach, Chelsey came in to coordinate the day. She was, as always, incredible! I know I’m biased, but I can’t tell you how nice it was to sit back and just enjoy the day and not worry if everything was in order and flowing correctly. Again, I’m biased, but hire a Wedding Planner!

Now, for the day’s details…

Flowers

As I mentioned on Monday, I was really excited about our wedding flowers. I have always found myself drawn to the fillers and “stuff” more than any particular flower. In talking with Cori Cook, a dear friend and our Floral Designer, I found myself saying that I just knew I wanted lots of stuff over and over again.

And stuff she delivered! Our bouquets were a mix of cabbage/garden roses, tuberose, heather and lots of interesting, textural stuff tied with simple velvet ribbons. If I’m honest, I didn’t want to put mine down I loved it so much!

As you saw yesterday, the centerpieces followed suit with a mix of flowers and textural fillers. The pew decorations were clusters of heather and green wheat embraced by burlap and trails of printed cotton fabrics and at the end of the aisle two large barrels were topped with silver vases filled with a mix of flowers.

Each flower girl carried a wreath of significant flowers or herbs down the aisle. There was rosemary for remembrance, wheat for friendliness, heather for wishes to come true and stock for a happy life. For the littlest of the bunch, it proved to be a great toy during the ceremony!

Dessert

Sal and I decided to indulge our guests in a few of our favorite and a few traditional desserts. I love French Macarons and Paula at Teacup Shop created some fabulous fall-flavored treats. They were salted carmel, tiramisu (in reference to Sal’s Italian heritage), and chocolate mole. Additionally, she baked a number of pear and apple tarts and a mix of fall-flavored cakes. My mother baked a traditional Norwegian cake called a kransakake as homage to my Norwegian heritage. Sal’s mother created bundles of Jordan almonds Italians call “confetti” and give out at celebrations.

Little things

Our ring bearer bowl was actually an antique drinking bowl from my grandfather’s family in Norway. One of our ring bearers carried and the other, his sippy cup—ah, the agenda of a two year-old! He stole our hearts!

Our guest book was a wooden bench that will sit on our porch for years to come.

Hay bales, luminaries and the bridesmaids’ bouquets decorated the building’s stage.

I wore a charm bracelet of photos of our grandparents and loved ones who had either passed or weren’t able to join us for the day. It was our way to bring them close in spirit.

My mother made several strings of pennant flags to indicate the path for our guests.

It was a day of details, all of which were in some way important to the two of us, even the sippy cup!

photography: Tyler Jones Photography

cinematography: Rising Moon Video Productions

flowers: Cori Cook Floral Design

location: Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO

catering: Greens Point Catering

cake and desserts: Teacup Shop

makeup: makeup by janine

hair: Girls and Curls

bride’s dress: Jenny Yoo from Anna Be Bridal Boutique

wedding design and planning: Talia Events