Color Day: Lime and Tangerine

Welcome back, dolls!  We know you missed us yesterday, but here we are with our usual  Color Day post.



Oh, the hues of citrus fruits that give us such an energizing lift!  We can't help but be drawn to exciting, refreshing shades like those of tangerine and lime and so here is an inspiration board that sets a lively and fun tone for any event.  We also think these hues would be great to use to decorate your outdoor space for all those fabulous barbeques you'll be having.

Images from: Porter House Designs,Flickr, Wedding Bee, David's Bridal, Carousel Designs, The Lace Store, Jennifer Lindberg Weddings via TheKnot, Nordstrom, Tina Rowden Photography via TheKnot



Any color combos you guys are interested in seeing? If so, feel free to comment or send us an email with your special request and we'll whip one right up for you. 

XOXO,

Jen & Saira   

Color Day: Turquoise & Red

Different colors evoke different emotions and selecting the appropriate colors for your space or event are often difficult. There are cool tones, warm tones, & neutrals and you usually pair colors together according to their color families. It is typical for people to select like colors and play it safe... but the rare few that are daring enough to go for complimentary colors are the ones that are sure to make the biggest impact! We love those that are bold enough to go for color combos that are opposites on the color wheel, like these shades of blue and red! The pairing of cool turquoise and warm, bright red is a bold choice for the ultra modern home, wedding, or wardrobe.

Images from: Wedding Times, Wedding Chicks, TheCakeBlog, ElizabethAnneDesigns, ProjectWedding, TheKnot, Life.Love.Lipstick, BridalPartyTees, SparklePower, RocketDog, DecadentDesigns, PartyInnovations, GraciousPaper, Rachel Jasper Design 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Engagement Photo Session

When you're in love, you want to share it with the world! That's why many couples like to announce their pending nuptials through an engagement photo shoot!  We browsed theknot.com for some unique photo shoot inspirations, and here are our favorite picks:

We love this cute beach motif captured by Leigh Miller Photography. The grainy pictures and vintage styling give this a wonderful retro feel that really reflects the couple's personal style.  Plus the matching outfits are too cute!

These photos by Caroline Tran are sweet and whimsical, with a great use of color.  We love that the couple is dressed simply in white, causing the vibrant red balloons to really pop! 

Engagement photos can be used to tell a story, like recreate how the happy couple first met and fell in love! We love this approach, as photographed by Jesse Leak Photography, because it recreates a real life fairytale, complete with eating pizza and walking into the sunset. 

Don't be afraid to play dress up! This photo shoot by Punam Bean Photography creates an eclectic look, pairing vintage fashion with the gorgeous Redwood Forest. We love the couple's unique style and their fun poses, plus they look so happy together!

Strike a pose, dolls!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Aqua & Lime

Here is a playful, modern color palette for a spring or summertime wedding.  The bright lime green with the shade of aqua is an eye catching combination that is youthful, fresh, and of course, bold.  These vibrant hues scream fun and excitement and will be sure to energize your party, wedding, or lifestyle.

Aqua & Lime Inspiration Board Images:  Polka Dots Stationary, Coco and Kelley, JMNPottery, BeachHouseLinens, InviteCottage, Prima Donna Bride, Zazzle, Gracious Paper, MeandMatilda, Trendy Treasure, AbbeyandIzzieDesigns 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Spring Flowers: Tulips

Here is our first of many floral inspirations.  One of the most common flowers that come to mind when you think of spring is the tulip. They are a beautiful spring flower and come in a variety of bright, fun colors as well as the traditional white. With long stems and simple blossoms they are the perfect flower for any modern springtime fete. Here are some great bouquets and centerpiece that feature tulips:

This centerpiece from www.weddingbycolor.com is a beautiful and elegant display of this spring flower.  These tulips have their stems cut short to create a low centerpiece and are loosely placed in the vase to give them that "just picked from the garden" look. The off-white tulip is a classic, clean and romantic choice for a modern, formal affair.

Here we have a modern spring bouquet featuring white tulips. The long stems and single flower design make this very modern and minimalistic and the flowers themselves have a look that is very clean and bright! Plus, we love the contrast of the black ribbon!

We are in love with these gorgeous purple tulips (and the cute favor box!).  This is another great choice for the modern spring wedding.  First of all, the shades of purple and glowing candles are beautiful and the centerpiece looks great with the contrast of the bright green stems!  But, what we are really enjoying is the height of these flowers and the square vase they are placed in - it creates great drama!  This is one wedding we would have loved to attend!!

Looking for something a little more on the frilly, girly-girl, traditional side?  Then we would suggest something like this pale pink bouquet of parrot tulip. Parrot tulips have kind of ruffly looking petals, as opposed to the very smooth petals of regular tulips, which is what gives this bouquet its light and feathery look.

This vibrant bouquet of tulips paired with cala lilies would be perfect for a fun and unique spring wedding.  The long stems are beautiful and elegant, but this bouquet is a bit more casual as it has that loose stems and casually tied bow.  The bright pop of the cheery yellow and bold orange is sure to be a show stopper!



XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Wedding Style: The Guest Book

Wedding guests books are a keepsake of your wedding, something that you traditionally would take out and look at on your anniversary and then tuck it back inside it's storage box until next year.  It's always nice to look back at the words of advise and well wishes of those who where there to witness your special day.  But, just because a guest book is a lovely tradition does not mean that yours needs to be traditional!  Nowadays people are turning their guests books into decorative, meaningful items that can be enjoyed year round.  Put that boring old book aside and take a look at some of our favorite fun and fresh guest book ideas:

A wish tree is a unique alternative to a guest book.  Have your guests sign little paper pieces and hang them on manzanita branches for a decorative look. Color coordinate it to your wedding colors for a totally put together look, add crystals for extra sparkle, and be sure to leave out instructions so your guests know what to do! 

This is a similar idea to a wish tree, but instead, guests sign small cards that get placed into an envelope and into a decorative glass jar.  During the wedding it will serve as a modern, decorative piece and afterward you and the hubby can have fun opening all of your little notes to see what people wrote you!

 

Signing a vase is another great alterntative.  Place your bouquet in the vase after the ceremony and have guests sign the vase instead of a book.  We love how practical this is!  Also, think about how nice it will be when your hubs gets your flowers for your anniversary and you can put them in this vase that was used for your wedding day! So romantic!

The Platter is probably one of the most popular guest book alternatives.  One issue with platters is that they are nice for decorative purposes, but would you ever want to actually use it and risk ruining such a beautiful memento?  With this platter, there is no need to worry!!  They come with special pens so the guests sign it, you bake it in the over for some amount of time, and the ink actually bakes into the platter itself so you can enjoy it, permanently.

This typewriter idea is just simply adorable.  Typewriters are mostly a thing of the past, but we have to say they bring a very charming, retro, and fun feel to the usual boring guest book table.  Here were see a cute old fashion type writer with pieces of paper for guests to type onto. This is a very unique alternative that guests will find interesting...or at the very least, they'll be entertained trying to figure out how in the world to use a typewriter.

The Coffee Table Book is for the couple that wants easy access to their memories and is not looking to have a guest book that sits in a box it's whole life.  Take your favorite coffee table book, something that is important to you or that you both enjoy and have your guests sign that.  Here they have chosen Calvin and Hobbes, which we think was a brilliant choice! You can keep it on your table all year, every year, to remind you of your loved ones and your special day!

This is by far our favorite idea for a wedding keepsake as it has serious family heirloom potential.  Have your guests sign small pieces of fabric (coordinating with your wedding colors, of course!!!) in lieu of a book.  Then, hire a professional or friend who is good with a sewing machine to stitch the pieces together for you and create a cozy quilt that you can cherish for a lifetime! 



XOXO,

Jen and Saira

Color Day: Lilac, Rose, & Gray

"Here comes Peter Cotton-Tail, hopping down the bunny trail..."

Our color theme this week is based upon the spring pastels that typically show up this time of year right around the Easter holiday. Rosie pinks and the lovely lilac shade of purple are two ultra feminine colors that go nicely together for a soft and girly look. Pair them up with a cool gray to give it a little drama and you'll be all set for your Spring soiree!

PetereneDesign, Jenmenkaus, TogetherForever, HusbandDesigns, Orchardandbrown, Dashingetc, Bedding, Martha Stewart, Dress, Roses, Gray Favor Boxes, OPI, Shoes, China, Lavender Place Cards

XOXO,

Jen and Saira

Real Wedding: Jen & Tom

We think one of the best ways to capture the beauty and romance of weddings is to share the pictures of our friends and readers. To kick off our blog, it seemed most fitting to share the pictures of our very own Doll, Jen!

 

Jen and Tom met our freshman year of college, and it was pretty much picture perfect from the start. They were best friends, a few months later they fell in love, and the rest is history. Their wedding style reflected their personalities: fun, energetic, quirky, and sweet. Set at the Morris Arboretum, a historic carriage house and garden just outside of Philly, the wedding was a nice mix of traditional and whimsical. The officiant was the groom's roommate, there were assorted pies and a candy bar in lieu of wedding cake, mini cheese steaks and a french fry bar for hors-oeuvres, a DIY photo booth, and a wish tree as an interesting twist on a guest book. A perfect beginning for a perfect couple, here's a glance at Jen &Tom's wedding:

Details about Jen & Tom's Wedding after the break!  If you'd like to share pictures from your special day, please send us an email at paperdollromance@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you and possibly feature your wedding in a future post!



 

Venue: The Morris Arboretum

Dress: Maggie Sottero - Elaine - Purchased from The Bridal Suite in Hamilton, NJ. Our friend & shop owner, Kim, is wonderful. NJ &PA Brides/Bridesmaids/etc. please check them out and tell them we sent you ;)

Groom's Suit: BCBG

Bridesmaids: Jasmine Bridals

Groomsmen: Suits from Men's Warehouse

Photography: David Difuntorum

Flowers: Whole Foods

Food: Catering by Bruno's

Hair and Makeup: Daneene Jensen

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira