It’s crisp, bold and graphical with a bit of an edge. A bit more preppy than stripes, it doesn’t go as far as argyle or harlequin. Chevron is popping up literally everywhere these days and weddings are no exception.

I love chevron for its combination of properties. Although an entire chair apolstered in it is on my wish list, I think that in the context of weddings, it’s best in small quantities. I’d stay away from a line-up of bridesmaids in chevron patterned dresses, but think that bowties or clutches are a fun, unique way to incorporate it. It would also be fitting for a ring bearer pillow or napkin rings. A table cloth in chevron over the desert bar table would certainly draw attention and set that space apart.

We seet it most often as one color and white in combos like a grassy green or navy or raspberry or, in grey and cream or white.  Chevron in a gradiation of similar colors creates an almost ombre feel adds a beautiful casualness more fitting to an Colorado wedding. While chevron in light grey, charcoal, white and black would make an interesting backdrop for a splash of real color like lemon yellow.

If you love chevron as much as I and would like to incorporate it into your wedding day, I’d say it’s probably most suited toward indoor, traditional venues. Chevron and the farm or ranch mix if the lines are blurred and the colors are varied, but the contrast of colors and geometric feel will feel rigid set against Mother Nature’s breeze.

It’s also important to consider the direction of the lines. Much like stripes, the direction can make something seem taller or wider–a good thing for a dessert table filled with beautiful and delicious goodies!

photos: Pinterest, Wiley Valentine, Black Ruffle Brigade and doodlelove

According to Wikipedia “Faux bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains.” Considering that Colorado is the home of such famous trees as Aspens and Colorado Spruce, incorporating it in your Colorado wedding design makes perfect sense.

There’s no clear beginning and end to this organic pattern making it a top choice for tone on tone texture. Differently than chevron, faux bois seems best suited to tonal colors–cream and tan, two shades of one color or metallic on a natural color. If you’re looking for crisp and clean, it’s probably not your choice. But, if you’d like to incorporate a touch of Colorado’s outdoors without getting too casual or rustic, this is an amazing option.

One of the most common uses is as a texture on an otherwise simple cake. I’ve also seen a number of wedding invitations incorporating the pattern. My favorite, however, may be the faux bois candles that Martha Stewart created. The metallic paint shows off the texture without overwhelming and over-glamourizing the entire look while still keeping it sophisticated and elegant–it’s not bedazzled, but has a hint of glamour.

Faux bois would be a wonderful design thread for a winter wedding in Colorado, but when lightened up a bit, it’s also a great choice for summer or fall.

What to you think? Is it a new, fresh take on incorporating trees and foliage into your Colorado wedding design?

photo credits : Magpie Paper Suite, Martha Stewart, Sophie Momo, Martha Stewart Weddings, Kate Blocher

I love patterns. Like colors they evoke a feeling, create a look, set a stage. Think of how different the madras plaids of summer are from the classic holiday plaid that emerges every winter. Both the same pattern, but very different takes. Patterns have the potential to take a wedding design from plain teal to peacock feather fabulousness.

This week, I’ll be posting a series of entries on patterns. If I’m honest, I could post about the topic for the next month, but I’ll stick to a week for now. Today, let’s start at the beginning, a refresher in pattern loveliness.

Amy Atlas is the queen of the dessert bar. Actually, that’s not fair, she’s the queen of a lot more; most recently of this fabulous board of a variety of popular patterns. It’s a one-stop shop to put a name to that pattern you saw and like or, to find a new option for you’re wedding design. Thanks Amy!

Infusing weddings with a couple’s interests, passions, hobbies, and in general, the things they like and who they are is what I do. You might be able to argue it’s my favorite part of what I do. I believe there are all kinds of options and touch-points for achieving this.

For the couple that loves wine or local microbew or even their own home brew, these labels from Pinhole Press are perfect.  I also think they’d be fun on a bottle of homemade bath gel, real maple syrup from the bride or groom’s home in the Northeast, apple cider from a local farm, olive oil from Northern California. There are a ton of options! What would you do with them?

all from Pinhole Press

I’ve had these photos from Miles of Light in a “pretty things to share” file for a while now. I love them. I think they’re beautifully stark and modern, but still accessible and welcoming.

I’ve thought about how they can be transferred to wedding design and think that it would be fun to name tables with them. Each table would have the appropriate number of rocks, twigs or feathers to represent the table number. I think it would be easiest and most clear to guests if one type was used throughout–just rocks, twigs or feathers. The correlating escort cards would then be mini versions of these cards.

They’re at once casual and so Colorado and still stylish, interesting and modern.

photos from Miles of Light

Candlelight is synonymous with weddings, especially those that involve evening receptions in the early to mid-fall or winter. Many wedding venues in Colorado allow candles provided the wick and thus the flame are covered in some way. Votives are allowed but pillar candles are not.

Clear glass votives are a great touch, but glass votives that are decorated in some way are even better. Clients have included votives wrapped in lace, twine, even paper, but these little beauties are a new take on decorated votives. Although these are decorated in pastel colors, I think they’d be great in all white, a neutral palette of tan and grey, black and white, or a wild array of bright colors.

What do you think? Do you love them too?

via Once Wed

Whether signage is purely practical or an added touch, I might argue that it can always be pretty and fun and creative. That being said, if you’re like me and you can’t for the life of you write on a large-scale and the thought of working with wood brings back horrendous memories of shop class in high school, you should take a look at Chocolate Butterbean. Southern Belle, Joni, creates customized signs to point guests in the right direction, welcome guests, and menus of the day’s delights in a beautiful way.

Take a look and tell her I sent you!

photos: Chocolate Butterbean

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

Cake stands are all the range for weddings…and new homes. If you’re considering utilizing a stand to give your cake some height (from a design perspective, this can be a really good thing), you should check out Sarah’s Stands. They’re certainly wedding-worthy, but will also be a fun new addition to your new home!

 all from Sarah’s Stands via The Inspired Bride

Tsilli Pines is an Israeli-American graphic designer and artist who lives and works in Portland, Oregon and is the owner of New Ketubah. She creates beautiful, modern, unique ketubot. Each features an illustration like the ones below and your choice of wording options.

One may be the perfect touch to your Jewish wedding!

both from New Ketubah