Inspired by: Lace

Innocent, playful, sexy, luxurious and above all beautiful – lace has been a cornerstone of fashion for centuries. Fragments of lace, aptly named “mummy lace”, have been discovered in the tombs of Pharoahs in Ancient Egypt and the ancient Greeks and Romans would ornament their togas with colored or gold woven threads. The origins of lace weaving can be traced to a more everyday use: a new garment would have simple hems, but as the edges became worn and frayed the threads had to be twisted and stitched together. Lace is derived from the twisting techniques used in decoration of the fringe ends of woven fabric.

The Church in Italy and Europe adopted of this luxury fabric for church furnishings and ceremonial robes. By the 16^th Century, lace making had spread beyond its origins in Flanders and Italy. As demand grew beyond the Catholic Church, the art of lace making was established in virtually every European nation. Lace was desperately craved by the nobility during the Renaissance as a way to showcase their immense wealth, appreciation for beauty, and their sense of style.

Photo: The Lace Center

The romantic and traditional qualities of lace have become an indispensable part of fashion design as well as art and interior design. We are seeing lace not just in wedding veils and dresses, but also incorporated into table design, dessert details, stationary and flower accents. As Coco Chanel wrote: “unlike many other precious objects which, owing to industrial progress, have lost much of their luxurious quality, lace, adapting itself to the economic and industrial requirements of our age, has kept its main characteristics: precious elegance, lightness and luxury”.

We love how lace adds airiness and texture at the same time. Here are some of our favorite lace-inspired photographs:

Photo Credits: Etsy / Alice W /Vintage Wedding Style / Oh My! Creative / Etsy / Martha Stewart Weddings /
Martha Stewart Weddings / Style Me Pretty / Outstanding Occasions / Girls In Heels / Southern Charm /
Belle the Magazine / Pintereset / Pinterest/ Tuula Vintage

Inspired by: Rainbows

Fleeting and ephemeral, rainbows have inspired awe in humans since the beginning of time and exist in the earliest recordings of history. Throughout ancient mythology and all major religions they have been a powerful symbol. Appearing after storms when light from the emerging sunshine is refracted while entering the droplets of mist, the rainbow pattern is created starting with red on the outside and moving through orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo to violet on the inside.

Rainbows have been used as symbols for as bridges, messengers, an archer’s bow, or a serpent. According to Genesis, after Noah saved the animals from the Great Flood, a rainbow appeared representing God’s promise never to send another flood to destroy all of the earth. For Buddhists, the rainbow is “the highest state achievable before attaining Nirvana, where individual desire and consciousness are extinguished.”

For romantic purposes, a rainbow is a bridge between two people, a beauty created in the stillness after the turbulence of life’s storms that touchs earth and reaches towards heaven. Containing all colors, they represent diversity and unity at once. Rainbows are also a is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements in use since the 1970s. The colours reflect the diversity of the LGBT community.

We love how rainbows create a visual surprise by tying colors together in harmony. Here are some of our favorite photos of rainbow-inspired design – a real pot of gold!

Photo credits: Wed Loft / Weddingish / My Harusi / Next Tote Bag / Bridal Guide / Live the MMA / Etsy / Incredible Things / Chickabug / Green Wedding Shoes / Brides / Offbeat Bride / We Heart It / Fast Company Design

What’s your favorite way to incorporate rainbows? We’d love to hear from you!

Inspired by: Wedding Wreaths

The unending circle of a wreath is a beautiful symbol of eternal love, and a wonderful way to welcome a new life into the world. From a design point of view, wedding wreaths are a terrific tool for adding ambiance or accenting a particular area. They offer a myriad of possibilities: luxe, simple, shabby chic, elegant or modern they will reflect your personality depending on the style and materials you choose. There are many DIY and and budget friendly options if you want to design your own. Flowers are eye-catching in a wreath and we are also seeing lots of greens, grasses, paper, feathers and ribbon!  Incorporating the bride and groom’s initials and hanging the wreaths on the back of their reception chairs adds a beautiful, personal touch.

We love how they to welcome guests into the church when hung on church doors and pews. A wreath is a great way to draw attention to a guest book or dessert table. They are the perfect way add a little love to trees, walls, gates, chairs, windows and doors. Here are some of our favorite wreath designs!

Credits: It’s a Bride’s Life / konfetti / Polka Dot Bride / Ruffled/ Pinterest

What’s your favorite Wedding Wreath style? We’d love to hear from you!

Inspired by: Needlepoint

We are seeing needlepoint accents in fashion, home design and of course, event design! What was once the province of Victorian ladies sitting around a fire has had a hip makeover. Weddings can feature needlepoint details in bridal necklaces, table settings, dresses, belts, dessert design and decor for a personal touch that can be funky or traditional. What I love most about this trend is that needlepoint items will last beyond the wedding day to become a sweet heirloom for the bride and groom.

Here are some of our favorite needlepoint details:

Credits: The Crafted Sparrow / Love My Dress / Onewed / Lovely Wedding Day / Nordstrom / Etsy / Bridesmaid Trade / Julia Usher/ Etsy

Inspired by: Stripes

We love stripes, and it’s so easy to incorporate them into your celebrations style. Subtle, muted tones work great with traditional themes. Brights and neon colors are eye-popping and fun for adventurous types. For a big stripey statement include them in your overall design – invitations, linens, drapes, cakes and dresses or use them to create surprising details in a bow-tie, socks, favors and shoes. I think my favorite thing about stripes is how they can inject some playfulness into menswear which can be so serious – like the photograph of socks below! However you decide to get your stripe on, they are sure to add variety and fun to your special event. Here are some of our favorite striped details:

What’s your favorite striped detail? We’d love to hear from you!

Credits: Kelly in the City / White Azalea / Poptastic Bride / Onewed / The Caketress / Envelopments / One to Wed /  Poptastic Bride / My Modern Met

Happy Valentine’s Day from Something Fabulous!

We had the pleasure of hosting a pre-Valentine’s Day cupcake date at our favorite little bake shop in downtown Oxford, Michigan.  Sweet and Savory Bakeshop does incredible cake design and deliciousness for so many of our clients’ life celebrations.  We decided to do a little celebrating of our own.

Debbie Meyers and Scott Eschelbach, co-owners of Sweet and Savory, opened their shop in the fall of 2002, choosing the Village of Oxford in Northern Oakland County for it’s small-town friendly feel. They each bring twenty-plus years of experience to their business and continue to be trend setters and style-makers of their craft.  We asked “Deb” to give us her three best tips for making Valentine’s Day extra sweet.   Her reply…

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate

We think that’s the easiest 1 – 2 – 3 ever.  And, of course… we totally agree!

Enjoy a little something yummy with someone you love this February 14th.

A Chocolate Love Story

A garden variety chocolate bar may be fine for everyday, but for those couture cocoa occasions, especially Valentine’s day, an anniversary, special gift or party you’ll want something special – and hopefully you have a shop nearby like Lucky Chocolates (you can also order online here).

This Chocolateria, located in Saugerties, New York, features chocolates handmade in small batches with organic and fair trade ingredients.  The fair trade chocolate is made from cocoa beans bought from growers co-ops so the money goes directly to farmers. This allows workers to be paid a living wage and avoids slave and child labor.  What’s not to love about that?

With artisan chocolates like these you can taste the difference. You’ll find one of a kind flavors mingling with eye catching colors. Choosing is a delightful dilemma: there’s dark chocolate raspberry bark, truffles with flavors like creme brulee or pistachio cardamon, sea salt shell chocolate turtles, chocolate buddhas and french bulldogs as well as a selection of old fashioned penny candy for kids. They also have vegan treats and take custom orders.

The heavenly aroma in the shop is to make me swoon!  Whether it’s a box of truffles for your sweetheart,  a dessert table or goody bags for your wedding these delectable treats are sure to please. Here are some photos from my most recent visit!

Do you have a favorite local chocolatier? We’d love to hear from you!

Bridal Inspiration from Vogue Knitting Live

Knitting has come a long way. Attending Vogue Knitting Live event at the Marriott Marquis in the heart of New York City’s Times Square made me feel like a fiber-loving rock star! Not a New Yorker? Don’t worry, this event is coming to Chicago and Seattle in 2013 as well.  While I was fondling balls of yarn I kept my eyes peeled for wedding-inspired knits to share with our Something Fabulous blog readers and came home with some great finds!

I also wanted to mention that this year is Vogue Knitting Magazine’s 30th Anniversary. Whether you’re a knitter or not, Vogue Knitting Magazine is full of gorgeous photos of trendy, fashion forward clothing and accessories.

The theme for their big anniversary is pearls, and I thought the photos from this issue with its emphasis on luxurious and exotic fibers combined with elegant pearls were really inspiring for bridal wear.

Vogue Knitting Live is like a big conference for knitters and features classes, book signings, lectures, a marketplace and fashion show.

At the fashion show I fell in love with this gown – the announcer mentioned that the designer’s daughter wore it for her wedding! The knitted and felted flowers on display were part of contest going on with Nicky Epstein’s beautiful Knitted Flowers book. They would make lovely and thoughtful handmade details that could easily be incorporated into your wedding design.

How sweet would this knitted dress be for flower girls?

Sophisticated jewelery from Cara Romano is handmade using silver and felt. These colorful pieces would make fantastic bridesmaids gifts. A felted ring would make a great alternative to a traditional diamond engagement ring.

When I visited the booth for Our Back 40, which produces and sells fine alpaca yarns and fibers produced in the U.S. (if you’ve never felt it, alpaca is soft like cashmere) I noticed this shawl right away. This original pattern was designed by Tanis Gray and is called the Lady Slipper Shawl. This graceful and luxurious shawl is the perfect accompaniment to a wedding dress and will be an heirloom-quality treasure. The pattern and yarn are available as a kit and I was even told that the shawl on display is being worn by the designer’s cousin in her upcoming wedding!

I hope you enjoyed my photos from the Vogue Knitting Live event. Do you plan to use hand-knit items in your wedding? We’d love to hear from you!

Considering a Destination Wedding? Check out the Berkshires!

Bridal season is upon us and if you are considering a destination wedding, we have the inside track on a fabulous choice: the Berkshires. Kimberly and I were delighted to attend the Lenox Wedding Tour in November of 2012 and our trip left a lasting impression. This western Massachusetts haven is 2 hours from New York City and Boston and is a hugely popular destination during the summer; insiders know that a fall or winter wedding here is the ultimate choice for charm and privacy.

We learned a lot about the history of the town and surrounding areas:

Slow to be settled, Lenox held its first town meeting in 1767 and was populated by farmers, traders, merchants and innkeepers. In the mid 1800s train travel made the area much more accessible and suddenly Lenox was “discovered” by famous and wealthy residents of Boston and New York who were reminded of the beauty of Switzerland by the views, fields and forests of the Berkshire Hills. The rustic setting is seeped in history and culture, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote “The House of Seven Gables” while living in a little red cottage just outside of town and The Mount, a 1902 cottage, was built by novelist Edith Wharton. Fabulous mansions from the gilded age that have been magnificently restored are available for tours, and the musical riches of Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home, make the Berkshires a much loved and popular destination.

Best of all Kimberly and I experienced firsthand what makes the town of Lenox so special. During the wedding tour we stayed at the wonderful Kemble Inn and were swept away by the romance of fireplaces in the bedrooms and charming details like homemade oatmeal cookies and tea waiting for us when we came in from the cold.

The lovely grounds of the Kemble Inn are perfect for an outdoor reception overlooking the Berkshire Mountains.

Kimberly and I met some wonderful new colleagues on the tour.

The Kimble Inn’s personal hospitality made us feel like we were honored guests in someone’s beautiful home, and we enjoyed this inviting hospitality during the entire tour.  There were so many great options to choose from – we met with over 45 vendors and toured several gorgeous venues – this really is the perfect destination with something for everyone in every price point.

Here are some of our favorite photos, we’ll let them speak for themselves! Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions, we’d be happy to make a recommendation!

What’s a quaint town without a lovely old church? We loved The Church on the Hill in Lenox.

At Lenox Shakespeare & Company, not only is the theater available for rentals, but the costumes and props are as well! This company, which is in its 34th year of producing world-class Shakespeare, boasts three different theaters on its sprawling property. Imagine having your wedding on a stage imbued with so much gorgeous prose!

Photo by Jason Houston

After touring Stoneover Farm we could envision magical weddings on the estate of this fully restored, 110 year old cottage on 10 acres just minutes from Tanglewood. With The Barn as a dramatic backdrop, luxury suites onsite, a spring-fed duck pond and the owner’s contemporary art collection this is a truly unique treasure.

Photographed by Annie Leibovitz

Literature lovers, prepare to be inspired. The Mount is a turn-of-the-century home that Edith Wharton designed and built based on the precepts outlined in her 1897 book The Decoration of Houses, co-authored with architect Ogden Codman, Jr. The classical revival mansion and its formal gardens are a breathtaking example of American Renaissance and are available for an unforgettably romantic wedding. During private events the entire estate is closed to the visiting public so guests can meander freely about.

We had a blast at the Lenox Wedding Tour’s tabletop challenge hosted by the luxurious Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club. We were so inspired by the rural splendor of this Tudor-style mansion with its extraordinary views of the Berkshires. Constructed during the Gilded Age the Cranwell embodies the opulent period between 1880 and 1920 that is known as the Gilded Age.

Here are some of the detail pieces that Something Fabulous created for this exciting event:
Invitation designed by The Pink Orange, photographs by Sarah Edwards Photography.

Thank you for joining us on this recap of the Lenox Wedding Tour, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Do you have a favorite spot in the Berkshires? We’d love to hear from you!

Inspired By: Moulin Rouge

Welcome to our new Inspired By series! When we design events, we ask our clients what inspires them. Often they turn to memories and we’ll ask them to bring us tangible pieces of their lives; perhaps an old photograph, a piece of cloth, a song or movie will embody the feelings they’d like to share on their special day.

For our Inspired By series we will be asking Something Fabulous team members as well as friends, clients and colleagues to choose something close to the heart, and drawing on that theme share some of the elements we would use to create an event based on their inspiration.

From Elena Batt, our Brand Content Manager:

With the holidays over, and Valentine’s day still a ways off, the winter doldrums have caught up with me big time. What’s my cure for cabin fever? Art + love = Moulin Rouge! When I need a party, this movie provides it and then some. It has everything I need: Great music, the glamor and grittiness of Paris, lush costumes and colors -  it never fails to get my juices pumping. If I could throw a cabin fever party, it would look a little something like this:

LOVE sign, $380 / Satin Button Bouquet, $465 / Crystal-embellished PVC and satin slingbacks, $1,195 /
Candle, $36 / Cassisviolette Macaron, $31 per dozen /  Star-shaped Sugars, $21 / Lipstick, $19

What gets you feeling french and fancy? We’d love to hear from you!