Posts from — October 2009

Gold can do so much for decor, bringing excitement and shimmer to what’s otherwise a bore.  (Hehe.)  Here, we’ve compiled a whole bunch of photos with a single common theme: gold leaf.  Some are barely touched by the mesmerizing foil, others engulfed by its rich, delicate shimmer.  I think it looks SPECTACULAR on EVERYTHING!

What do you think?

Careful: don’t gold leaf everything… you don’t want your guests walking around with golden behinds.  Gold leaf should accent your decor, not be your decor.

We begin with some rocks with gold leaf designs on them.  We think this is a great substitute for place cards.  Your guests will be super impressed with your fine motor skills!  (What do I mean?  Take a look at these directions and you’ll see: how to make them.

What you’ll need for this project: in addition to the smooth rock and gold leaf foil, you’ll need a brush, a really precise and slim pair of scissors (or x-acto knife), and some Double Tack Mounting Film.

Here are some more pretty pictures to encourage you…

And now for more things made brilliant with gold leaf!  How about ON YOUR STRAWBERRIES?

This image is from The Carriage House Restaurant in the UK… a gold leaf framed mirror is ALWAYS a stunner.  It adds luxury to almost anything.

Now this, THIS IS GOLD LEAFING, courtesy of European Paint and Textures.  Un.be.liev.able.  Don’t you just love staring at this? I can’t take my eyes off of it.  If I were invited to dinner at this residence (I wish), I think I’d come off a bit rude to the hosts, as I’d be straining my neck to oggle their shimmering ceiling.  To do this for your wedding, all you’ll need is a ladd … no I’m just kidding, this is BEYOND.  If you can do this to your ceiling and it fits with your motif, more power to you.

Not enough gold leaf for you?  Then feast your eyes on this:

And now, for our finale piece… you know them, you love them… the masters inspiration board makers…Snippet & Ink!  Take a page from this board if you’re looking for subtle, fantastic ways to infuse gold into your wedding day color scheme.

{Snippet & Ink photo credits:} Top row from left: gold leaf hair wreath by Ban.do, gold-foil pear place card via 100 Layer Cake, blue trailer photo by Elizabeth Messina, Edgardo Bonilla dress on gold sofa from D Magazine
Row 2: escort cards in gold ribbon and branches from Martha Stewart Weddings, pale blue strapless dress by Samuelle Couture, gold banded wedding cake from Rebecca Thuss, gold pear still life by Matthew Mead Style
Row 3: tissue rosettes by A.Hana Design, lily bouquet with gold and blue ribbons by Ariella Chezar, gold and pale blue invitation suite from Martha Stewart Weddings

Ok, LOVING this board from the Style Circle over at Style Me Pretty.  If you’re unfamiliar with the name Cheree Berry, I suggest you click on her name and take a look at what I think are some of the most beautiful, colorful and exquisite wedding invitations I’ve had the pleasure of beholding.  Wow, that was a super-size plug and a half on the house. 

{Style Me Pretty Photo Credits:} Martha Stewart (2), Google Images (2), Martha Stewart Weddings (2), Flowergirls (2), Flower Girls Hawaii: Jennifer & Vincent, Millie Holloman, The Nichols – Amy & Greg, Karen Wise Photography (2), Karen Wise, Karen Wise – Catherine & Ken, Martha Stewart Weddings (2)

Designed by the brilliant Brancoprata of the Style Circle world over at Style Me Pretty.  Need I say more?  No, but I’m gonna.

Those CUPCAKES, they make me happy, just looking at them.  They actually bring me joy, without taking a bite.  That’s a photo, kids.  And look at those hydrangeas!  I don’t typically love soft green hydrangeas… I strongly prefer the flower in shades of violet and blue… but, here, it’s perfect.  It’s randomly atop what appears to be a crystal ice cream bowl, clearly a presentation posed for the photo, but I don’t even care.  Because it’s beautiful!

{Style Me Pretty Photo Credits:} Jose Villa Photography (2), Jose Villa, Jose Villa – Marissa & Pat, Silvana Difranco, Silvana Difranco, Q Weddings (2), Q Weddings, Q Weddings – Jenifer & Scott, Sunday Suppers (2), Sunday Suppers (2), Lisa Lefkowitz (2), Lisa Lefkowitz, Lisa Lefkowitz – Editorial Shoot Backyard Chic, Martha Stewart (2)

So, apparently I am a dying breed.  Am I alone in this?  I had not an inkling that my sweetheart was about to do what he went ahead and did that wonderful evening in Mexico.  And, to me, that’s what made it so special.  My thoughts and feelings the moment he began to kneel were none I had ever experienced before.  A mix of exuberance, shock, extreme shock, fright, happiness, nervous anxiety, indescribable joy and more came rushing into my body, all at once mind you, which can UNDERSTANDABLY result in what was for him, deeply uncomfortable silence.  But at least it was genuine, due to the pure surprise of it all, and down to the less than ladylike expletives that can pour from the mouth that will often come in a moment of utter shock and extreme joy.  All good for me, but for him, it was a slightly different story, which I came to learn soon after… and which I’ll recount in full for you sometime soon.

Anyway, sometime after the proposal, we discussed the ring, which was the world renowned classic – “Tiffany Setting” – yes, the very one that Charlotte York’s character wore in “Sex and the City.”

The ring was too large for my finger, and so at the very least it had to be re-sized.  This was unavoidable, and understood by both of us that, once we returned stateside, we’d need to make some changes.  He then asked me what I thought of the ring itself, the design.  I told him I thought it was a beautiful ring and I loved it.  He then asked me if I wanted to keep it that design, or if I’d like to do some research and redesign it completely (essentially the only constant would be the diamond itself).  I chose this option.

… To me, it was on this topic that he said one of the most peculiar things he has ever said in all of the years that I have known him – and boys say pretty peculiar things, so that’s saying a lot.  It was about my engagement ring, and it was essentially a complaint.

FH:  “Well you didn’t exactly give me any hints about what kind of ring you wanted.  Girls give hints!  You never gave me ONE hint!!!”

Huh?

‘Girls give hints’?  … to the men they are dating, and about the design and carat size of the engagement ring with which they have not yet been presented?  I know a lot of things, but I didn’t know this one.

Of all the things I predicted my FH would get upset over throughout our lives — my inherent and persistent lateness; my inability to open and close my Kiehl’s Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer tube without making a ‘snap’ sound and jolting him awake –  the fact that I never once hinted at exactly what I wanted out of his marriage proposal to me was not one of them. It had never occurred to me to hint.

Anyway, the article below — which I stumbled upon earlier while searching for something entirely not on this topic — piqued my interest; enough so that I felt inclined to bring it back here to you.

Study Shows Most Brides Take Part in Engagement Ring Selection By B. Earth

Tracking an upward trend, wedding website The Knot recently surveyed 9,000 newlywed couples and found that 67 percent of the brides were involved in the selection and/or purchase of their engagement rings. The results reflect an increase of 5 percent from just a few years ago. The website also tracked shopping habits in cases where the bride was involved in the ring-purchase process. It found that couples spent an average of $5,800 on an engagement ring.

In generations past, brides were most often surprised with rings chosen by their fiancés, but these days it is increasingly popular for a bride to participate in her ring selection. After all, not only will she be wearing the ring for the rest of her life, but there is also now a much wider selection of rings styles, diamond shapes and cuts, and ethically sourced materials available. And while round brilliant and princess shaped diamonds remain the most popular, with so many choices grooms are now grateful to have the bride’s help with selecting or designing the perfect ring!

Brilliant Earth carries hundreds of different ring styles, diamond cuts, setting materials and side stones that allow you to customize your perfect engagement ring, whether it be traditional, modern or romantic. Our step-by-step ring design process explains and helps you to select from all of the available choices and makes putting together a beautifully designed ring an exciting and smooth process. Plus, as always, our conflict-free diamonds and recycled gold and platinum are socially and environmentally responsible, so that you can feel good about your choices.

Take a look at our Create Your Own Engagement Ring guide for ring inspiration.