nature

Inspiration Board | Accessories

Oh how I love accessories. There are so many ways to dress up a room/space/yard/estate. One of my favorite roles as an event planner is working with my clients to find their vision and design the colors and theme, while implementing accessories to boost the personality of the event. Here are a few of my latest finds: Simple Whimsical Elements

Implementing nature is a very popular theme today. It is especially great for those on a tight budget. Why? Because there are many things you can collect in the forest, on the beach, in your backyard, etc. that are free. They just require a little crafty DIY!

This inspiration board is made up of fresh accessories that elude an organic feel. The place cards wrapped around a wooden post and held in place with clothes pins is such a simple, yet decorative display; the wooden lantern is used to collect gift cards and decorated with river rocks; a collection of recycled paper hand tied with raffia is used as a unique guest book; potted plants and popsicle sticks create a very whimsical means for seating guests; a beautifully decorated belly belt is used to hold the napkin in place while adding a punch of color to the table; and rustic lanterns hang from tree branches over hay stacks, which are covered with colorful blankets. Each of these images are pretty simple, yet so prominent.

Creative Twist on the Traditional Wedding

Traditionally, weddings were pretty straight forward and the decorations minimal at best. The focus of the wedding was mainly on the ceremonial matters and gathering loved ones together. While these two fundamentals are still huge in today's wedding world, the decorations, theme, and design of the wedding have become almost just as important. You want your wedding to stand out and be memorable - what other way to do so than in your accessories. Thanks to the abundance of magazines, websites, and creative minds there is an infinite amount of ideas at one's disposal. Simple things like signs created out of a plank of wood or chalk boards to direct guests are incredibly trendy at the moment. But, the creative part is not copying a picture, it is implementing this picture and twisting it to reflect your theme, personality, and design. This is the inspiration behind this board. Each item is very simple and somewhat traditional, but they are almost reorganized to produce a fun and different image.

Skis for a Guest Book

I recently attended a friend's wedding at the Clair Tabban Lodge in Truckee. The setting was a very old, rustic lodge designed to accommodate 70+ avid skiers. The lodge is set in Truckee near Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. Not much but the mountains surrounds this little outdoor enthusiast haven. Our friends booked the lodge over Thanksgiving week, celebrated thanksgiving with their family, and then through in a little wedding celebration. It was, warm, cozy, and very much a reflection of the bride and groom. As guests arrived, they walked into the ancient lodge and were greeted by a delicious cheese platter, bluegrass cd's (wedding favor), and the first chubby skis every made! The skis took the place of a guestbook. The night continued to entertain and surprise with dinner served on picnic benches, a local band (The Truckee Tribe) performing bluegrass music, and family musicians playing a few tunes on their instruments. Personality boomed from the floor boards all night long.

Although not the skis from our friend's wedding, this is a similar look!