Snippet & Ink

Another relaxed summer wedding inspiration board for you, with a touch of red, white and blue to continue this week's color motif. And what's more summery and Fourth-of-July than a picnic? Print save-the-dates or invites on brown paper lunch bags to give guests the idea of what's to come. Set up a swing and some lawn games, and maybe decorate with some paper lanterns hung in the trees. And again, if this idea seems too informal for a wedding, it would be perfect for a welcome party or rehearsal picnic luncheon. Mood: breezy summer picnic Palette: brown, green, red, pale blue {click image to enlarge} Top row from left: picnic baskets and pies (via Dress Design Decor ) both from Martha Stewart , "games" wooden sign photo by Jose Villa Row 2: swing photo from Martha Stewart Weddings , photo of sandwiches wrapped in paper by France Ruffenach via Santa Barbara Chic Row 3: brown paper bag picnic save-the-date by Sesame Letterpress , tea towel wrapped bottles from Marth...

Betsywhite strives to offer stylish wedding invitations that are actually affordable. All of their designs are under $500 (for 100 invitation + response sets), and designs from the Simple Solutions collection are only $250 (for 100 invitation + response sets). And as you'll see, they're stylish, too! Betsywhite also has a line of customizable wedding logos , which are perfect for personalizing every last detail of your wedding, from favors to cocktail napkins. You can purchase wedding logo stickers , napkins , and other stationery from Betsywhite, or you can download the logo to use however you like on your DIY projects. (Check out this Vermont wedding I featured awhile back - they used a Betsywhite logo for just about every element in their wedding!) See lots more over at the Betsywhite website, and check their lovely blog, Flights of Fancy , for wedding ideas as well as store updates (I subscribe to the blog, and it's always full of beautiful inspiration).

Yesterday was a perfect day here, and we enjoyed it by cooking out with some friends - I hope we'll have lots more days like that this summer! This week, I thought I'd post some red, white and blue inspiration boards, and I'm starting with this laid back lobster boil wedding. Get your guests in the spirit with lobster bib save-the-dates. How to make things both relaxed and lovely? For table numbers, tie tags around galvanized buckets filled with flowers, and for place cards, write guests' names on smooth stones. Serve up ice cream in paper cups with wooden spoons, and drinks with striped straws. Send guests home with lobster-shaped lollipops. And if this seems too casual for a wedding, how about a rehearsal dinner? Mood: relaxed, preppy Palette: driftwood, pale blue, lobster red {click image to enlarge} Top row from left: bride and groom with balloons via Nibs , ice cream with paper+cup wooden spoons via Martha Stewart Weddings , Cape Cod photo from Maverick ...

by Jeremy Cavness

Check it out! The fabulous Jordan Ferney invited me to join the first monthly Craft Night at her studio in San Francisco, 7/8. I can't wait! See more details at Jordan's blog .

Discounts From now until 7/31, Snippet & Ink readers can get 20% off all orders placed at Paloma's Nest * (wonderful modern-day wedding heirlooms!). Coupon code: Besos Sara's Gracious Goodies is offering Snippet & Ink readers 10% off all hotel packages and party favors, and has lowered the minimum purchase to 15, until 8/15. Coupon code: SGGSI10 Get 20% off all bridal jewelry purchases from Orange & Blossom until 6/30. Get 20% off all orders of Doie Designs kimono-style robes when you enter Brides20 at checkout. Get 30% off when you buy 5 or more (bridesmaid gifts!). David Newkirk is offering Snippet & Ink readers 15% off all wedding photo packages . Just shoot him an email and mention Snippet & Ink. Giveaways 100 Layer Cake is giving away a wedding photo package and engagement session with Jen Rau. See details here . Brenda's Wedding Blog is giving away a handcrafted wedding veil . See details here . Souris Mariage is giving away a br...

Today's charming Midwestern wedding feels like summer, with a rustic, woodsy camp vibe that I love. Laura (an event planner out of Minnesota) and Colin chose this private lodge in northern Wisconsin for their Friday wedding not just because of it's beautiful location, but also because the bride's family has rented it out every summer for 50 years. Photos by Jennifer Cress . Laura tied vintage floral fabric on the wedding programs. Colin is a professional brewer (beer maker, not baseball player), so he made his own beer to serve on-tap and in bottles for guests to take home. Both the bride's bouquet and the groom's boutonniere incorporated barley hops, a nod to the groom's profession. Laura's dress was a cocktail dress purchased off the rack and lined with an ivory slip. A hand-drawn map directed guests to lawn games (like horseshoes), canoe rides, a cigar cabin, and firepit. Venue: private lodge in Brule River, Wisconsin Bride's dress / shoes: Off 5th ...

The beginning of a season is one of my favorite things - it always feels as though that season is the one I love most of all. Right now (of course) it's summer. I love the sunshine and how nice it is to be outside all day long. I love that cherries and berries are actually affordable and delicious. That dinner is always as simple as it gets, and rarely requires cooking that doesn't happen on a grill. And that it's light out until bedtime. So it's really no surprise that today's inspiration board is easy going and totally simple. Iced tea and honey jars, sun dresses and a picnic basket. Sounds like a delightful way to spend the day, whether or not you're getting married in the summer months. Mood: sweetness and light Palette: sunshine, honey, wheat {click image to enlarge} Top row from left: yellow gingham honey jar favor via Creature Comforts , iced tea and sweet tea cocktails from Martha Stewart Weddings , photo in a field from Real Weddings , vintage yellow di...

What could possibly be more summery than strawberries? Maybe seersucker? Though there aren't actually any seersucker photos in this inspiration board, the idea is there; I can just imagine the groom and his attendants wearing seersucker suits with white bucks. Strawberry red, pale pink, and cream make for a wedding color palette that's at once preppy and romantic, and totally appropriate for sunny summer afternoon. And for dessert? Wedding cake inspired by strawberry shortcake, of course! Mood: romantic, preppy, sweet summer Palette: strawberry red, pink lemonade {click image to enlarge} Top row from left: three-tiered strawberry wedding cake from Martha Stewart Weddings , birdcage veil photo by Our Labor of Love (thank you Emily!), dahlias in mason jar from Wedding Style Guide Row 2: DIY lemonade favors by Jordan Ferney , ribbon necklaces styled by Shana Faust Row 3: red and white flag ties, tent from Big Sky Tents , photo of red lipstick and curly hair from Locher's , cu...

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Amanda Bevington shared this fun and sunny wedding with me, and it seemed like the perfect way to brighten up a Monday. Michele and Dave invited around 100 guests to join them at their April wedding at the beautiful Stone Manor in Malibu. The day was full of vintage and rustic elements, with a modern and playful twist. Dave owns a t-shirt company, Detroit Sprinkles , and they designed graphics for custom out-of-town guest bags, and screen printed them on canvas totes from American Apparel . Michele and Dave chose Beatles songs for their ceremony: "Here, There and Everywhere," "In My Life," and "Here Comes the Sun." Vintage salt and pepper shakers make for a darling "love bird" cake topper! Their cake was from SusieCakes (just a side note: they make one of my very favorite cakes of all time, a marble layer cake with chocolate chips and two types of buttercream frosting...). To create a flea market vintage look for the wedding, Michele collected ...