Wedding "Logo"

There's a reason marketing departments in companies everywhere spend millions on branding - in the mind of consumers and customers, it's VERY closely associated with who and what you're about. Logos are critical visual components of a brand. They are carefully designed and then used in as many places as possible to reinforce the brand.

So what does that have to do with a wedding? Well, not much really. But it DOES have to do with creating a memorable experience. It's also another excuse to make something beautiful and creative. Yay!

This bride, featured on Green Wedding Shoes, talks about having a friend that designed their "logo" that they used on everything from bags to flags, and I even noticed they recreated it on their chalkboard sign :)

This one on 100 Layer Cake is adorable and you can definitely see how they reused their "icons" in lots of creative ways. It was clear from their photos that he is the beaker and she is the cupcake - so cute!:

This other one on 100 Layer Cake uses a familiar image (on the left), but tweaked for the couple. It basically leverages the Toulouse-Lautrec image already in your memory bank, which is very clever:

This one from Ruffled is a sweetly simple logo stamp. Thanks to M's tip from her wedding, you could look into having a custom stamp made at Paperwink:

Almost as soon as we set a date, I sat down and designed a small, 2"x2" linocut that I could use on various decorations. I didn't really occur to me until later that I had just created the logo for our wedding:

Filling up a box with seed favors featuring our "logo" print

What symbols or creatures could represent you or the style of wedding you are having? What kind of aesthetic communicates your style: modern and graphic, cute and cartoon-y, ornately vintage?

Also, if there's anything you want to see "crafted", leave a comment and I'll see what I can do!

Look at this bedroom!

I love the different blues (even in the carpet). I used to make fun of a friend who always dressed all in various shades of one color at a time, but I am increasingly loving it both for fashion and home.

via Ashe + Leandro

Can I justify spending $112 on leggings?

Probably not, but these are so so awesome!

Happy Friday!

Ugh, first week back after a holiday is always tough! Here'a little pretty EPA for you (I like the post office there). What do I wear out dancing with the ladies? I haven't done it in a while?

Let it All Hang Out

My friend Angela recently moved to Hong Kong to persue an amazing job opportunity. Unfortuantely, however, HK real estate is ridiculously expensive and she will inevitably be living in cramped quarters. She asked for a few tips on how she might maximize her space, and I naturally turned to Apartment Therapy to see what sorts of solutions are out there. But there was just so much there that I wanted to break it down into a couple of posts. So in this late Friday hour I just wanted to showcase some clothing storage options, well one, and that is not stornig your clothing at all.

I think most Americans are pretty spoiled when it comes to closet size, but a lot of countries with more historic buildings just don't have built in closets. No problem though, if you have beautiful clothing (and I know Angela does) why not display it for everyone to admire. Or even better, display your shoes.

And then of course, there's this.

Via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Coming Home

Are there spaces you just keep coming back to? We are getting a new hanging lamp for our living/dining (when you're in a 700 ft. apartment does it matter what room you call it?) and it had me suddenly questioning what I'm actually aiming for.* But thank god for this house from M design, it reminds of the final look I'd love to achieve (maybe on a slightly less over the top scale).
What do you think? What helps keep you on track?

*this happens to me a lot, it's a problem when you love everything.

Wednesday = Halfway

Last week's travel delays also delayed me posting a few of my favorite images from our Christmas weekend. We were super brave this year and flew with Grizz to both of our parents homes, but I'm so glad we did because it was great to really experience being part of two wonderful families (awwwww). In Kansas City, we went to the Kemper museum of modern art and ate effing delicious pastrami sandwiches at their Cafe Sebastienne. But beyond that, we mostly hung out at home eating delicious peanut butter balls and watching Grizz play with his cousin Gracie (who he has missed desperately since we returned). And isn't PB's Mom's table beautiful?

In San Francisco, we had ridiculously rich seafood stew for Christmas eve with iceberg wedges and blue cheese. And isn't our tree beautiful? My parents call their trees Uma Thurman trees (tall, skinny, and graceful). Before we left, I invited all my "hometown" friends over to make pizzas and drink wine in the kitchen. It is definitely a repeat event.

This weekend I'm looking forward to having a girl's night out on Friday, a visit from my sister on Saturday, and on Sunday we're having friends over for a French-Vietnamese dinner party. What are you looking forward to?

All Neon Like

It all started when I saw Jonathan Saunders Spring 2011 collection and fell head over heels for the bright colors and clean styling. By the time I fell in love with this Marc Jacobs bag, it was claer to me I was going to need some pops (and I do mean pops--I don't want to be head to toe early 90s) of neon for spring.

All Neon Like by matrioshkaDC featuring tory burch handbags

Via Style.com, and Polyvore.

Vintage cars at weddings

Are you planning on having a fancy car at your wedding? PB and I just had your traditional-type limo, but we are definitely not the car person that GB's husband is. Read more below!

This is one I really can't take credit for: I haven't owned a car since high school, but my husband owns a couple and they are all at least 20 years old. While I don't think I'll ever share his level of enthusiasm (or knowledge), his love of vintage cars has rubbed off on me. I'm even printing a series on them. But can you blame me? They have so much style - I don't think of them functional devices, but creations from another time, with personality. So, there was DEFINITELY going to be a car element at our wedding. And TD took that job (well, he assigned it in the first place, really) without hesitation!

But looking around, vintage cars pop up in a lot of great-looking weddings. Whether it's shiny and restored or old and weathered, that style and personality really adds something. Here's a couple that stand out:

Colorful and classic for an outdoor wedding on Ruffled

Rusted and rustic for a rural wedding on Snippet & Ink

Sporty and European for an urban wedding on Green Wedding Shoes.

The Bride's ride for this city hall wedding on Snippet & Ink.

Ridiculously cute micro-car for this European wedding on 100 Layer Cake.

Of course, TD wasn't satisfied with anything less than a 1955 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. We parked it right in the reception area, where it became a photo magnet and talking point for guests.

Photo credit: Beckie W

Photo credit: Sara V

Where have you been, Hotel Boca Chica?

There I am just a browsing through Aubrey Road the other day when what? Is that a Mexican/Mid-Century modern styled hotel? In Cancun? why yes it is, Hotel Boca Chica. You see, I am way into the Mexican thing (hello sculls and bright colors) and I have a hard time balancing that look with my love for vintage/midcentury looks. But I love love love the way they've done it here. So clean and bright with just a pop of color. Another completely different way to mix midcentury modern and Spanish/latin themes here.

via Aubrey Road, photography by Jim Franco.