poppies & posies

swiss cottage designs

2012-01-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

on tuesday night we headed over to city winery along with some of our besties for a beautiful networking event. one of the best parts of the evenings was having the chance to meet the lovely courtney of swiss cottage designs. i don't know how we've never crossed paths before since she's based right here in brooklyn, but i think it will be a match made in heaven. her wedding designs are all beautiful, unique, and clearly a labor of love. we can't wait to have the chance to work with her soon. check out her work here.

bowery hotel wedding

2012-01-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

we were so thrilled when brooke from brookelyn photography sent over a few shots from a wedding we worked on together at the bowery hotel. jessica & jay tied the knot on halloween weekend and if you remember we had a freak snow storm here in nyc that day. the bowery was the perfect, cozy spot to celebrate a wedding and how amazing are those gorgeous masks they passed out to their guests?! not going to lie i wish i was a guest at this one.

more to come soon...

instagram

2012-01-25T08:42:00.001-08:00

juliet is still gone this week in south africa visiting family, so i've been holding down the fort around here. you shouldn't feel badly for me because in another week i'll be jetting off to costa rica and she'll be doing the same for me. whoohoo!

i got to thinking this week that there are so many social media networks to belong to these days that it's beginning to make my head spin. it also seems to be a bit repetitive to update everything from facebook, twitter, and instagram on a daily basis. not to mention i'm feeling a bit bored with twitter and facebook lately. my new crack is instagram. instagram is sort of a visual diary for your life with the only difference from your other diary is that everyone can view this one. most of the photos posted are gorgeous, which makes it even more addicting and you can easily see what your friends thought to be a pretty post or an interesting tidbit making the fun endless.

i thought this morning i'd share a few of my recent posts from the past two days. yesterday i woke up at 6am to deliver flowers to the james hotel for an event, which may sound horrid to most people but it was actually a fun little adventure. i had no idea that their view from the penthouse was so breathtaking and they have a pool to go along with the high rises! occasionally some of the flowers make it back to my apartment after an event, so naturally i woke up this morning and began rearranging them all just for the hell of it. i thought this second photo was a lovely moment captured of some gorgeous blooms hanging out together this morning. moving right along my boyfriend's catering company, michael stuart ny, catered the event yesterday, which means the leftovers come to me. i whipped up a bowl full of their homemade baked oatmeal (kind of like soft granola) paired with fresh fruit and a little bit of soy milk.

if you're interested check out my diary here.

dior

2012-01-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

i'm not going to lie, high fashion tends to go over my head. i appreciate the craft and the elaborate runway shows, but often have a hard time picturing anyone actually wearing the pieces. christian dior's 2012 spring collection really stuck with me this time around. how amazing would these dresses be for a daring bride or perhaps a very festive rehearsal dinner?! that chevron print waist is simply amazing!

{images via elle.com}

poppies

2012-01-23T12:40:00.000-08:00

after a short hiatus from our studio, i ventured down to the flower market this morning and picked up some gorgeous winter blooms for an event tomorrow. today reminded me why we included poppies in our company name to begin with. they are some of the prettiest flowers out there and i especially adore their tissue paper-esque petals. i must also give a shout out to the ranunculus, which were as big as garden roses and the most beautiful blush color i ever did see. mother nature you never cease to amaze me and i don't think i'll ever be able to stop the giddiness that i feel at first sight. it seriously took over most of my morning, but somehow i eventually managed to stop gaucking at the flowers and posting photos of them to instagram for long enough for a special guest to stop by our studio. it took me a minute to get over her striking resemblance to natalie portman in garden state, but once i did we had a great chat about her working with our team this upcoming year and she stayed long enough to make a very pretty arrangement herself. she rocked it out and did a great job!

i'm off to snuggle up to emails, proposal writing, and a call with a texan bride to boot.

cool hunting

2012-01-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

check out juliet's new oyster adventure and interview on cool hunting today!

isn't she adorable?!

our plants

2012-01-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

in the middle of wedding madness last october my boyfriend, our dog, and i moved to a brand new spankin apartment. at the time we were sour about the move, because we were being forced out due to flooding at our old house. once it was all said and done it turned out to be a blessing in disguise and it didn't take long for us to realize that. my favorite part about our new home are the huge windows and amount of direct sunlight we receive daily.

since thursday is our mandated water the plants day, i thought i'd share a few snaps from our dining room. this is the first time since i moved to nyc in 2002 i've been able to keep my plants happy and alive thanks to a lack of sunlight in most city apartments. some are even sprouting new growth, which makes me overly giddy on a daily basis.

it's the little things in life and i try to remember that!

i can't wait to share more of our humble abode here in brooklyn as we piece it together little by little.

butter + love

2012-01-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

a few weeks ago we received an email from allison who is a super sweet chica who had helped us out in the past. she was announcing that she had launched a bakery here in nyc and was hoping we'd want to try some of her goodies. she sent some samples along for us to try and we were blown away! our favorites were marionberry rosemary sea salt sandwich cookies and her salted honey lavender shortbread. the shortbread was seriously like crack and i'd love to order more but i fear i would becoming addicted because it tastes so good. butter + love

jen huang workshops

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

we're coming back to cali and couldn't be more excited! jen huang photography's workshop is hitting the LA area in april and we'd all love to see you there. the last workshop we were a part of this past november brought in some amazing photographers, so we thought we'd share a few photos that we thought were just perfect by megan christine. come join us in april for more styled shoots and amazing guest speakers!

beach vacay essentials

2012-01-16T13:50:00.000-08:00

nyc has been a whopping 20 degrees on average lately, leaving me cuddled up on the couch. somehow among the frigid temps and layers of clothing i can still imagine a warm sunny beach and day dream about our upcoming costa rican trip. i think it may actually be making me feel warmer.

i've come up with some essentials to a successful sunbathing adventure and thought i'd share them with you . sunnies are a must, vibrant string bikini, tribal print towel, bright nail polish, and a one piece for night time swimming. ok maybe the last one is a bit overboard, but i can't pass up the chartreuse.

1. chloe sunnies, 2. natori-sahanatowel_300.com, 3. calypso, 4. clambake nail polish by essie, 5. anthropologie

Liz & Dave

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Liz & David's super 8 film highlights: The Foundry, NYC from Hello Super 8 on Vimeo.

This past season we were so lucky to work with Liz & Dave on their wedding at the Foundry. Our friend, Tammy Golson, was their planner and shared this fabulous video of their big day with us. The work of Megan Hill, of Hello Super 8 film, this wedding video was filmed on vintage cameras which I think makes it all the more unique and romantic. Congratulations Liz & Dave!

Tata Harper

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a bit of an obsession with skincare products. I can't help it; I'm an addict. My new love is Tata Harper's line. Fresh from her farm in Vermont, the line is totally natural and mostly organic. Unlike so many of its counterparts, it's got nothing harmful to your being in it. Tata's holistic approach to skincare (and stress relief... her aromatherapy oils are amazing) is just the ticket. I have to say my skin is looking particularly glowy despite all of the dry weather and over heated buildings in our fair city. My favorite product, though it's hard to choose, is her Hydrating Floral Essence. It's light enough to use as a toner in between washing and moisturizing in the winter, and moisturizing enough to use on it's own in the summer. Magic! Oh and I am totally a sucker for her gorgeous packaging .
Thank you Tata!

yes, please!

2012-01-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

there are many reasons people tend to argue that the west side is the best side. for one the weather in the LA/southern cali area is pretty much sublime, there are a ton of super creative people living and working out there and well the attitudes towards life tend to be a bit more laid back. while i love new york city with all my heart and really can't imagine moving anywhere else in the near future, casa de perrin from a design perspective gives me the itch to pack up and move to sunnier lands. their boutique approach to rentals for weddings, photo shoots, and private parties is unlike any other. their collection consists of feminine, antique chinas, vintage persian rugs, unique flatware, glassware beyond belief and so much more.

plus the owners/couple have a very cute story to boot.

maria & oliver

2012-01-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

maria & oliver were one stylish couple and when i say they have good taste in vendors that is an understatement! check out the full feature on ruffled blog today.

treat yourself well in 2012

2012-01-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

winter is in full effect here in nyc and with the holidays past us it's important to find some fun new items to make each day a bit more exciting. since juliet and i are both on healthy kicks right now, i've been going to yoga a bunch of drinking lots of fresh juice. i used this yoga mat at a studio in nh over the holidays and loved it. i'd also like to acquire a pair of these awesome boots to show off my soon to be toned yoga legs (hopefully).

{1.rei, 2.juiceland, 3.rifle paper co, 4.j.crew, 5.no6store}

Monday with Matt: Paper

2012-01-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about paper recently, and how with a bit of thought there is no end to the amount of pretty decorations one can make. I've noticed quite a few window displays featuring cut out snow flakes and paper garlands in shops all over town, and they really do look quite charming.
I found a whole bunch of paper flower crafts over on Martha Stewart, but I was especially taken with the dahlias.

Wouldn't that be pretty for a baby or wedding shower? All those lovely paper dahlias with bursts of them hanging from the ceiling?
Then these thoughts of paper and flowers and romance reminded me (this is how my mind works) of the Isabella Rosselini shorts on the Sundance Channel. Green Porno and Seduce Me... they really are much better than the titles suggest. Her production team has done some wildly imaginative design with mostly paper. The resulting videos are quirky and informative, but also strangely pretty.

I love the paper finger!

The Water

2012-01-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

I came across this song, from Johnny Flynn & Laura Marling, yesterday and had to share. I think it is so sweet and enchanting. It reminds me of the old Ian & Sylvia records my dad used to play when I was little. Enjoy & have a wonderful weekend!

bridesmaids & gardens 2012

2012-01-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

whitney deal is moving at the pace of lightning and i urge you not to blink because before you know it she's going to be at the top. her new line of bridesmaids and garden dresses for 2012 are sweet, airy, and totally desirable. i'd love to have the first one for my trip to warmer lands next month! stop by her shop and pick your favorite.

congrats to our lovely, amazing, talented friend!

jen huang photography's workshop

2012-01-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

we have been waiting anxiously for the day when we could share these photos with everyone. you may remember last november we traveled to santa ynez, ca with jen huang photography, paperfinger, and michael stuarty ny for jen's workshop. overall it was one of the best trips we've taken in a long time and creatively it was completely inspiring and fulfilling. we had the chance to meet some amazing people while we were out there like jose villa, joel serrato, summer watkins, jen campbell, enjoy cupcakes, and donna small to name a few.

when it came time to get down to business, we found ourselves in one of the prettiest landscapes we've ever seen surrounded by beautiful things. these are hands down some of our favorite shots of our work that we've ever seen. a huge thanks to donna small from the source and the eye for allowing us to hang out with her in her gorgeous home, cut from her rose bushes, and play with all of her vintage props! also, if you have your eye on her dress it's from saja and you're bound to love the rest of her line. if you're getting married in ca this is the place to go! pop over to green wedding shoes to see the full feature.

martha stewart whole living mag

2012-01-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

we're beyond proud and thrilled to share juliet's nook and entertaining ideas in february's issue of martha stewart's whole living magazine! isn't she adorable?! make sure to grab yourself a copy because there are also some much needed tips on how to eat and feel healthy in 2012.

Monday with Matt: R&R

2012-01-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

Today was spent rather lazily in bed rewatching the first season of Downton Abbey, so I can be ready for the second season which debuts next week. So addictive... I was only going to watch one episode, and now I've watched all but one and the day is lost.

My day in bed did get me thinking about new sheets though. Doesn't this duvet cover seem like such an optimistic way to start a new day and new year?

thank you!

2012-01-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

{gorgeous photo by jen huang photography in santa barbra, ca during her workshop.

check out the full feature on green wedding shoes this month!}

happy new year! we have taken some much needed rest over here for the holidays and apologize for the radio silence, but some r&r was exactly what the doctor called for. the good news is were back and super excited to see what 2012 has in store for us. there are so many fun projects already on the docket including more weddings in the new england area and a brand new website and blog hitting early this year!!

before we get too lost in the new year, we wanted to take a moment this morning to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported us, chosen to work with us, and been a part of our team in the past year. you've all made it a truly rewarding and memorable year for everyone at p&p. a few of the highlights from 2011 we're designing weddings in maine & nh, moving into a much larger space and giving us the ability to be more productive, traveling to santa ynez, ca with jen huang photography, paperfinger, and michael stuart ny for jen's workshop, designing weddings for the most amazing brides at the foundry, blue hill at stone barns, bowery hotel, frankies and so many others, having the opportunity to work on the james beard awards with bowen & co, and last but not least having the chance to meet and work with the fabulous annette babich on a friend's wedding at the plaza hotel this past august!

ah there are so so many more great memories from 2011, but we'd be here all day so i'll spare you all. thank you thank you to everyone whose worked with us this past year, supported p&p's endeavors, read our blog, and recommended us to an amazing group of clients!

we wish you all a happy new year!

Monday with Matt: Boxing Day

2011-12-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

To me, the day after Christmas has the same kind of melancholy feeling as a Sunday, or the last day of summer, or one of those peanuts that only has one nut in the shell. But in England and Canada and Australia and Scotland, and other places too I'm sure, it's called Boxing Day and you give gifts and food and money to people you employ or have performed a service for you over the last year (and small greedy children).
I remember being little and one of the only things that took my mind off of the sad fact that Christmas was exactly 364 days away was receiving another small set of gifts from a mysterious man named Mr. X who was never seen and only referred to as a "your grandfather's business associate". Essentially it was just a small stocking with some music, and a chocolate orange, and card trick, or a puzzle. I'm sure my grandpa got just as much pleasure at the chance of getting out of the house and away from the family for an hour or two to assemble the gifts as he did from the actual gift giving, but it's a nice tradition and a fun excuse to give and receive.
Next year why not start your own tradition? Don't feel that you have relegate it to service industries, but it's always nice to let the people that take care of you all year to know just how much you appreciate them.
Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!
XO Matt

Holiday Gift Guide: What to get...

2011-12-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

1.Because who hasn't dreamt of being the next Sam Adams?
2.Looks stylish on a desk... amuses during boring conference calls.
3. Just in case he needs to jam right now with his bros.
4. Because he's afraid whittling is a dying art
5.What could be more manly than whiskey scented toiletries?

Holiday Gift Guide: What to buy for your....

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

1.The most gorgeous tea I've ever seen.
Not only is it absolutely delish, but the packaging is to die for
2. Earrings you hope she'll lend to you once in awhile
3. A cozy throw for her favorite reading chair
4.Who doesn't need golden playing cards?
Perhaps you'll actually beat her at gin rummy someday
5. Lovely handcream with amazing Portugese packaging.
Staying moisturized and stylish all at once!

holiday hair

2011-12-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

{found here}

i just got my hair cut yesterday, so i'm feeling inspired to try some new hairdos over the holidays. i've been trying especially hard to complete a fish tail braid (harder than they say for us hairdo inept folk)

Monday with Matt: vintage dressing for holiday parties

2011-12-19T13:35:00.001-08:00

What nobody tells you is that the real reason for the season is having an awesome outfit at all of the holiday parties one is invited. Why not go vintage? You'll surely stand out from the masses of sequins and tartans. I found some really pretty and functional frocks at Screaming Mimi's.

Such pretty draping.

I admit this one isn't for everyone, but the velvet screams "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"

The leather skirt is so cool girl, paired with a white shirt it takes you from work to dinner to your office holiday party!
Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday! And I'll see you on Boxing Day!

Holiday Gift Guide: What to buy for your....

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

1.Compact From Bobbi Brown
2. These adorable teacups with a surprise inside
(Reminds me of the ones we had as kids) by Imm living
3.Amazing chevron earrings from Virginie Millefiore
4. Kate Spade bib necklace (that would look amazing with this dress)
5. iphone case from jcrew

allison & chris

2011-12-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

allison & chris's full wedding is featured over on style me pretty right now. make sure to check it out for some really pretty photos! here are a few of our favorites from the day.

photos by jen huang photography

happy friday!

I can't help it...

2011-12-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

As an event designer, I am constantly on the lookout for inspiration and fun ideas. When I see something that would be perfect at the hypothetical wedding of one of my friends, I log it. Well here's one for my sister, the avid puzzle solver. When I came across these puzzle alternatives to a traditional guestbook I couldn't help but think... that'd be perfect for her! I'm sorry sis; I can't help it!

2011-12-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

beautiful shots of our buckets of flowers in santa ynez. we found an entire bucket of cut rose bush and those breath taking tree peonies at the LA market.

{jen huang photography}

gala 2012

2011-12-15T03:22:00.000-08:00

in case you haven't heard, poppies & posies is extremely happy to announce that we now travel to new england for weddings! please let us know if you're getting married in maine, new hampshire, massachusetts or rhode island and we'd love to be a part of your event. you'll also want to check out the latest issue of gala weddings. we may just have a few photos in there to help inspire.

Brooklyn Night Bazaar

2011-12-14T08:13:00.000-08:00

Check out the Brooklyn Night Bazaar this weekend in Williamsburg. Some of our favorite NYC businesses will be representing, including Brooklyn Heavy Metal and Luke's Lobsters!

Monday with Matt: a common sense gift guide

2011-12-12T15:17:00.001-08:00

Giving gifts can be a difficult task. Finding the right object for the right person that expresses the right sentiment is truly daunting. So I thought I'd put together a list of simple things that most everyone will enjoy and one might overlook when racking their brains for the perfect something special.

1. CHOCOLATES! I think the only people that don't enjoy chocolate are the people allergic to chocolate. My favorites are from Jacques Torres and Vosges.

2. Cashmere sweaters from Uniqlo. Who doesn't love/want/need cashmere sweaters? These average at $99, which is such a steal, and come in every color imaginable. I don't think they're available on the website, but I think they're worth a run to the brick and mortar location.

3. Books and Music. I know, I know... but if you limit yourself to the albums and novels you enjoyed over the past year you've got yourself a really thoughtful gift. I mean this is why my dad now loves Rah Rah Riot and Vampire Weekend.

4. Make it yourself. Or give your loved one something to make it themselves. I would like receiving some lovely yarn from purl soho almost as much as receiving a hand knit scarf or hat, maybe more.

5. A Gift Certificate. I can hear those groans. But isn't their something great about receiving money and not being able to spend it on something sensible? Just be sure that you choose the right shop to buy a certificate at. I remember one year I received a GAP card with an obscene amount on it. In the end I was set up with underwear and socks for a rather long time.

6. Gift of the Month Club. There is a "gift" of the month for everything you can think of! I'm kind of obsessed with the Bowtie of the Month Club right now.

Laure de Sagazan

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

With dresses like this, need I say more? Gorgeous!
See these styles and more here.

know thy farmer

2011-12-08T07:44:00.001-08:00

it's here and just in time for the holidays! blue hill stone barns has launched on online shop where you can buy the most adorable and perfect gifts. i'm digging their aprons and i always have a soft spot for pickles.

Donna Hay is my hero

2011-12-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

I have been a long time fan of Australian homemaker, cook, all around renaissance woman Donna Hay and her fabulous cookbooks & magazine. I have subscribed for many years and must say that anytime I'm in a jam looking for the perfect recipe she never fails to come through for me. So, when I started planning my holiday party this year and her 10th anniversary magazine arrived I new she would, once again, have the perfect menu just waiting for me inside its pages. Here are a few of the recipes that I think I'm going to give a whirl this year. I'll be sure to document the outcome for all of you!

Dill and Salt-Cured Salmon

- 1 ½ cup (450g) rock salt+
- 2 tablespoons caster (superfine) sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon white peppercorns
- 1.5kg side salmon, trimmed and pin-boned++
- 1 bunch dill, chopped
brandy dressing
- ⅓ cup (80ml) brandy
- 1 teaspoon caster (superfine) sugar
- sea salt and cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon store-bought grated horseradish
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
Process the salt, sugar, water and peppercorns in short bursts in a food processor until just combined. Place the salmon on a tray, rub with the dill, then the salt mixture. Cover with plastic wrap, place a tray on top of the salmon, weigh down with a heavy object and refrigerate for 24 hours.

To make the brandy dressing, place the brandy, sugar, salt and pepper in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 minutes or until reduced by half. Stir through the horseradish and vinegar and cool slightly. Thinly slice the salmon, spoon over the dressing and serve with chunks of dark rye bread. Serves 12.
+ The type of salt used for curing is important. You should use rock salt rather than a finer salt because its coarseness cures the meat without imparting too much saltiness.
++ Ask your fishmonger to pin-bone the fish for you. Alternatively, run your fingers along the fish and remove any protruding bones with a set of tweezers.
+++ The salmon will keep, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Bleu Cheese & Caramelized Onion Brioche

1 x small (260g) loaf brioche, cut into rectangles
⅓ cup (90g) caramelised onion relish
1 small Granny Smith (green) apple, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
20g butter
200g blue cheese, crumbled
chervil leaves and cracked black pepper, to serve

Spread the brioche with the caramelised onion and top with apple slices. Heat the oil and butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the brioche, apple-side down, and cook for 1–2 minutes each side or until golden. Top with the blue cheese, chervil and pepper to serve.
Makes 16.

Chili & Lemongrass Chicken

2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 stalks lemongrass, very finely chopped
2 large mild red chillies, seeds removed and chopped
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
500g chicken mince
3 tablespoons lime juice
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar
¼ cup shredded mint leaves
16 witlof (Belgian endive) or baby cos (romaine) leaves

Heat a frying pan over high heat. Add the oil, lemongrass, chilli and ginger and cook for 1 minute. Add the mince and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir through the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and mint. Spoon the lemongrass chicken into the witlof and serve. Makes 16.

Check out these recipes and more at Donna Hay

(& I seriously recommend subscribing to her mag. It's seriously the best!)

jessica & chris

2011-12-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

our beautiful bride from recently photographed by bright bird photography. those tree peonies in her bouquet were to die for along with the ranunculus, anenome, thistle, andromeda, scabiosa, and maidenhair fern.

Monday with Matt: wrapping paper

2011-12-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

In an effort to keep with the season I thought I'd post about the fantastic Emma Bridgewater wrapping paper I recently got. I've wrapped two gifts in this paper, one for a baby boy and one for an grown woman and it was wonderfully appropriate for both.

"A Nice Present", I mean you can't go wrong with that. With the right ribbon (thick black yarn for the bambino and a pretty cream grosgrain for my lady friend) it's perfect to wrap any gift! You can find a great selection at Joanne Hudson. Emma Bridgewater also has great line of ceramics! I drink my coffee every morning out of her Robin mug

man gift

2011-12-02T09:05:00.001-08:00

with two brothers, a boyfriend, and a dad i am always racking my brain for good man gifts. it's harder than some may think! i thought this tobacco & sandalwood candle that can be used as a drinking glass for their manly bourbon afterward is just genius.

{sydney hale company}

sweet & savory with michael stuart ny

2011-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

{home made glazed donuts}

{mini sausage & pepper hero}

{truffled steak & eggs}

{prosciutto dusted bay scallops}

{cheddar apple tarts}

the holiday season always means we're going to eat a lot of yummy food, which is fine by me. i like to refer to it as my winter weight and i work really hard at it. i got especially excited when i saw these recent food photos from one of our weddings with michael stuart ny. when it comes to savory they can certainly compete with the best of them. from their truffled steak & eggs hors douvres to their prosciutto dusted bay scallops my mouth is already watering.

in this spread though it's not the savory that has really captured my attention. it's the sweet! mostly the home made, glazed donuts. yes, please!

photography by tory williams

bowery hotel wedding

2011-11-29T06:52:00.000-08:00

alexandra and david got married at one of our favorite venues in the city, the bowery hotel. the venue itself is cozy, rich with history, and very romantic. both alexandra and david are big foodies, so they knew they wanted unique centerpieces that incorporated their favorite seasonal vegetables. we were really excited about the concept from the beginning and we went totally crazy when it came time to source all of the produce. we literally scoured every fruit stand, farmers market, and grocery store in manhattan and brooklyn to find what we were looking for and enough of them to complete each table. the best finds were mini eggplants, which have a specific name that i can't remember at this point and the peachy colored currants. the other elements included mini artichokes, tomatillos, cabbage, rutabaga, potatoes and i'm sure there are a few other little things hiding in there. i hope some of the guests took home the produce at the end of the night to cook up a feast the next day!

photography by robert sukrachand

Monday with Matt: Meet Edith

2011-11-28T11:46:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone will check out this profile from The New York Times if the haven't already of the lovely Edith Susskind of Staten Island. Doesn't she look like she's a hoot?! There's an article and a slide show, she's got some really cool stuff! She owns a gift shop in Staten Island, that I have a feeling would totally be worth a ferry ride.

maefield and co

2011-11-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

looking for unique, darling, heirloom children's gifts this holiday season? look no further! maefield and co has hit the market and it just doesn't get cuter than this! check it out here!

Twigs & Honey

2011-11-26T09:55:00.001-08:00

Matt's post last week about old wedding photos left me feeling really inspired by the 20's trend of wearing the veil low on the forehead. Then, I came across Twigs & Honey's new 2011 collection and was blown away! It doesn't get much more romantic than this...

I am also loving this more 50's inspired short veil.
It would look amazing with a tea length dress...

Check out these styles and more at Twigs & Honey

Anything But Turkey...

2011-11-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

Every year, part of my Thanksgiving tradition is attending a party thrown in my town called the 'Anything But Turkey Party' or as we all call it the 'ABT.' As you can probably tell from the name it is a potluck type shindig where anything but turkey can be served up. This year we're bringing one of my family's favorite hors devours and I thought I'd share the recipe with you. Warning, they are addictive and a bit naughty to say the least.

Mama T's Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

*One Bottle Soy Sauce
*1/4 box Brown Sugar
*3-4 cans Water Chestnuts (whole)
*Bacon (2-3 packages should do)
*Mango Chutney (mom suggests using Major Greys) or alternatively peach chutney works very well

Here's a pic of them in production.

Preheat the oven to 350 F
Line a sheet pan with non stick foil
Mix soy sauce (I prefer Kikoman) and brown sugar together in a large mixing bowl.
Drain and rinse the water chestnuts.
Put them in the soy/sugar mixture and let soak for a few hours (2-3 should do it)
Cut bacon into thirds
Wrap each water chestnut in a piece of bacon
Dip back into the soy mixture to coat (you'll be glad you did this; it'll give the bite a nice glaze later)
Place bacon wrapped chestnuts on sheet pan place in oven
Bake until they are brown and crispy
Serve with chutney
Enjoy!
P.S. Try not to eat them all before guests arrive!

shop paperfinger!

2011-11-22T08:26:00.000-08:00

holiday wrapping stamp set?! yes, please!

midwinter wishes stamp

custom, cotton ribbon!

big, big, exciting news today! our amazingly talented friend bryn from paperfinger, who we mentioned in our last post, launched her new and improved online store today! she has lots of new goodies to choose from, including some custom items to die for. i want it all!

maria & oliver

2011-11-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

this wedding was extra fun for us, because we had an amazing line up of vendors beside us all day. it took place at the foundry, michaelstuart-ny catered the affair, loli events was the amazing planner behind it all, paperfinger did all of the gorgeous calligraphy, and weddings by two took all of these great photographs for us to remember it by. whoo it doesn't get much better than that!

the flowers were designed with sarah garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias, fig, mentha, queen annes lace, succulents, crab apples, and PORCELAIN VINE (our favorite).

Monday with Matt: Old Wedding Photos

2011-11-21T16:34:00.000-08:00

I was surfing the interwebs a few nights ago and I found the greatest flickr gallery. Its a bunch of vintage wedding photos, and they are so fascinating.

I love the length of her dress.

Her headpiece is so over the top, but I do really love the 20's trend of wearing your veil across the forehead.

It would look really modern with a bias cut gown that skimmed the body. So thank you truity1967 for curating this really inspiring gallery.

sweet paul

2011-11-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

with the holiday season officially upon us i know i'll be doing lot's of entertaining and hope you will be too! we'll be hosting thanksgiving at our new apartment on thursday for the first time ever. whoohoo! michael's family is coming over and we have a killer menu planned out. the only thing that could make it any better is if my family was coming too, but we'll see them soon enough for a cozy week in new hampshire next month.

around the holidays i am always tempted to try new dishes and bake something i've never tried before (which is pretty much everything because i never bake). somehow unknown to me, i stumbled upon this amazing online magazine that is jammed packed with gorgeous photographs of fall food dishes & amazing recipes. i'm sure this is proababy the most popular magazine around and i am behind once again, but if you haven't heard of it you will definitely want to pop by and check it out. thank you sweet paul mag! click here for the full magazine and holiday recipes.

california dreamin

2011-11-18T05:28:00.000-08:00

dreamin of cali with our ladies jen & bryn. happy friday!

xoxo

tammy & ron at angel orensanz

2011-11-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

tammy & ron wed at angel orensanz on september 10, 2011. big thanks to heather waraksa photography for sharing these gorgeous shots with us!

Heidi Merrick

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

I recently came across L.A. designer, Heidi Merrick's, gorgeous threads. Heidi, daughter of famed surfboard shaper, Al Merrick, was raised with a belief in the importance of beautiful craftsmanship. This attention to detail and quality is certainly evident in each of her gorgeous pieces. Here are a few of my favorites...

I think some of her styles would make amazing bridesmaids dresses or even wedding dresses for the more adventurous of brides. This plaid 'Henry' skirt would be particularly charming as a bridesmaid's look for some seriously stylish fall nuptials.

See these styles and more at Heidi Merrick

p&p and town&country

2011-11-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

there has been so much exciting news around here lately. from the knot to ny wedding magazine to this most recent publication. it has always been a dream of mine and juliet's to be a part of town & country, so when they contacted us earlier this year we were seriously giddy. it is even better seeing it come out in print. pick one up soon because its an all around amazing magazine with lots of goodies from some great contributors! thanks t&c!

liz & dave

2011-11-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

liz and dave were one of the absolute sweetest couples we had the chance to work with this year. they gave us a sense of their style, sensibility, and color palette but left the rest up to us. we had a blast designing their flowers and just adore this little one wearing her hair wreath!

{venue: the foundry photography: robert sukrachand}

Monday with Matt: off... white

2011-11-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted some evening gowns, and suggested that a bride might think about wearing scarlet or chartreuse... I know that sounds a bit off base, but they were rather pretty dresses... and brides are wearing considerably more color these days. While the aforementioned shades (red is the traditional color for Indian brides) could be a stretch for some, hardly any wedding gowns are pure white anymore; most dresses are ivory, parchment, cream, soft pink, gold, silver, gray, or some combination of the above.
Vera Wang showed not a single white dress for FW2012, her collection consisted of the romantic princess shapes that you expect, but in layers of black and nude tulle.

The whole collection was inspired by witches and although everything will be available in white, I think the colored versions, especially the nude, are lovely.
On the other hand, Sarah Jessica Parker has recently revealed in interviews that she regrets wearing black. So what do you think? Wearing color on your wedding, yay or nay?

poppies & posies in the knot

2011-11-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

we're beyond excited to share a recent write up we were a part of in the latest issue of the knot. collaborating with the editorial team there is always a blast and i think this is one of their best articles yet. it's 9 pages jammed packed with tips about choosing your wedding flowers, music, food (by michael stuart ny), cake, dress, and even stationary. make sure to grab a copy for the full read and let the planning begin!

west coast adventure part 1

2011-11-11T10:20:00.001-08:00

{juliet in the LA flower market)

{fresh fruit stand at the LA flower market)

{mountains of santa ynez)

{figueroa mountain house in santa ynez)

last sunday we hopped on a plane with jen huang photography, bryn from paperfinger, and michael stuart ny to sunny california. monday morning juliet and i headed to the LA flower market at the wee hour of 5am to stock up on as many pretty flowers as we could find. we scoured that market hard and came out with some amazing finds. among them were tree peonies, dahlias, andromeda, an entire cut garden rose bush for only $25 and so much more.

we packed the rental car as tight as we could and headed towards santa ynez to meet up with the rest of the gang. the drive was absolutely beautiful and after many winding roads we ended up 10 miles from civilization in the middle of the santa ynez mountains. on the property there were wild horses, goats, ostriches, and birds!

we were so lucky and stayed for 3 nights to help style an industry dinner party and jen's photography workshop. we were so excited to meet jen from green wedding shoes, summer from grey likes weddings, and one of our favorite photographers jose villa throughout the week. we can't wait to share more from this amazing adventure and of course some of jen's photos of our flowers once there ready. happy weekend!

Brooklyn Heavy Metal

2011-11-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

These brilliant baubles from Brooklyn Heavy Metal have me swooning! Super talented designer, Abbi Stern, is a friend from high school and when I saw her amazing work I was absolutely blown away. I love how cheeky some of the pieces are; like this amazing cast chickpea necklace.

And this fabulous caviar 'monocle'...

These tentacle bangles are definitely going on my Christmas wish list this year

Check out all these styles and more at Brooklyn Heavy Metal

jen & elihu

2011-11-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

we are feeling so so lucky this week. we're in santa ynez with jen huang photography, michael stuart ny, and paperfinger for jen's photography workshop. last night we threw a fabulous dinner party at figueroa mountain house for some of our favorite west coast people and today marks the beginning of a series of photo shoots that jen is leading her class through. we'll make sure to share some of the photos that jen has been taking because this place is unbelievable.

above the photos are from a central park shoot with jonathan canlas photography. jen asked us to design a bouquet and boutonniere for her and her lovely boyfriend.

Monday with Matt: online window shopping

2011-11-07T05:46:00.000-08:00

On Saturday night, Juliet and I spent the evening in watching terrible movies (surprise, surprise) and "helping" her sister, Ellen, get inspired with a dress for an upcoming black tie event. We found a lot of really pretty gowns, so I thought I'd share some here.

This Marchesa gown was one of Juliet's choices. So pretty and the design was inspired by Miss Havisham, so it doesn't get much better than that.

I love the logo print on this Lanvin dress, and the cut is covered up and lady like.

Juliet picked out this red Valentino. With such a dramatic shape, I could see a really daring bride in this one...

I'm a little bit obsessed with this Roksanda Ilincic gown, the acid green color and the Jackie O shape are so unexpected and elegant. All of the above gowns can be found at Net-A-Porter

I found this last dress at J. Crew where it's listed as a wedding dress, but I could totally see it in the context of a formal event.

It's so pretty, I love how modest it is. Leave it plain for a wedding, but add a bib necklace and you're ready for any event.

happy weekend!

2011-11-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

remember those arrangements i hauled home and snapped pics of earlier this week because i couldn't let go?! well here is a much better photo snapped by jen huang at the event.

etsy love

2011-11-03T14:50:00.001-07:00

we're really looking forward to thanksgiving and i've begun a hunt for some beautiful platters to serve our dinner on. these delicate, white ones may be just the thing. see more here!

hello fall

2011-11-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

there are some events where i just can't bear to leave the flowers behind after all the guests have left. i couldn't help myself last night, so i rescued a few and brought them home. these are composed of dahlias, ranunculus, anenome, choclate cosmo, persimmons, andromeda, acorns, scabiosa pods, fresh mint, and fresh oregano.

save bristol bay!

2011-11-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

my brother is in town this week with his organization, trout unlimited, spreading the word about a very important campaign he's been working on. it's the save bristol bay campaign in alaska working to stop a mine from destroying the world's most productive wild sockeye salmon fishery. check out more here!

tonight we'll be a part of their vip event to benefit the save bristol bay campaign here in nyc. they have a fantastic line up of well known chefs who are going to be preparing their favorite salmon dishes at the foundry for guests to enjoy. michael stuart ny catering will be passing some delicious bites and we'll be spreading a bit of beauty through the space. we urge you to check out their campaign and get involved!

Monday with Matt: Off the Registry

2011-10-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was a guest at the wedding off a friend and co-worker and his lovely partner of 19 years. It was a such a fun and funny ceremony and a lovely reception. I however, have not yet gotten around to getting them a gift. They were registered, but as is always the case by the time I got around to checking it everything good was already taken. So I've been thinking (rationalizing) that maybe they might like something off the registry... do they really need a another set of forks? I mean, they've been together for 19 years... they're not exactly putting together their household. Don't you think they'd prefer this absurdly amazing mirror?

Available at moss, it's a handcrafted Day of the Dead mirror... I know it's a bit loud, but it's so awesome.
On a quieter and perhaps more useful note, I also love these hooks

...from The Future Perfect. I love that all the objects depicted are so murder-weapony, and the blood red color is great.
So I know going off the registry is not always the best advice... but sometimes for the right couple a really expressive gift can be perfect.

succulent & air plant wall art

2011-10-27T09:20:00.001-07:00

one of our favorite corporate clients, Timberland, recently asked us to come up with some fun ideas for a mailer, so we put our thinking caps on. the result was a succulent/air plant wall art piece that recipients could either place on their desk or hang beside it. we used shredded newspaper and boxes made out of recycled paper to pack them. janelle sing made these gorgeous hand calligraphy name tags that were the perfect finishing touch.

A Belated Monday with Matt: Two Grooms

2011-10-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Last week I saw (I'm sure everyone saw) the Cathy Horyn piece in the New York Times styling gay men for their wedding day. The clothes ran the gamut from totally traditional to fashion forward and really got me to thinking. While I'm not sure that I love all of the outfits, I do the unmatchiness of the styling and the contrasting color stories. The article also made me think of these suits that I saved on my phone from the Style.com iPhone app. I admired them so much that I don't remember who designed them or what season they were from. I gave a valiant search, but to no avail.

Anywho. So charming. I know they skew a bit casual, but I think these suits would be super dapper paired together for a wedding.

pretty things

2011-10-25T05:59:00.000-07:00

how can one place so far away have so many pretty things?! click here for more.

adam & eleni sneak peek

2011-10-24T06:50:00.001-07:00

adam & eleni tied the knot recently at the foundry. we're loving these sweet photos by tory williams. click here for more!

happy friday!

2011-10-21T16:54:00.001-07:00

image via jen huang photography

Pendleton

2011-10-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Pendleton has long been known for their fabulous woolen products. I am a huge fan of all their throws and blankets. I am particularly fond of this J.Capp & Sons Tribute Blanket's fantastic print!

The addition of their leather carrier to any of their throws makes it the chicest way to tailgate or have a picnic. As far as I'm concerned it's this fall's must have accessory. While your browsing, don't forget to check out all their other gorgeous wares. I am partial to this tote and fun, camp blanket print mug.

Check all these and more at Pendleton

sneak peek. ari & erin

2011-10-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

ari & erin tied the knot in aug at an amazing historical venue in nh. this is just a peek and can't wait to share more. photography by oh darling photography.

Monday with Matt: Rodarte for Opening Ceremony

2011-10-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

Are these shoes not the most gorgeous?

They're Rodarte for Opening Ceremony. The print reminds me of Laura Ashley in the early 90's. I think they would make a super cheeky shoe for your wedding day. With the right dress... something cream and lacy and perhaps tea length, these would be IT!

spring bouquet

2011-10-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

not sure if this has ever seen the light of day on our blog. spring bouquet at the metropolitan building. photo by gary ashley c/o the wedding artists collective.

Monday with Matt: Maison Premiere

2011-10-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

By now you all know that everyone here at P&P loves a good oyster. One of my favorite places to get them in the city is Maison Premiere, in Williamsburg. It might be the prettiest bar I've ever seen, everything is worn in the most graceful way. The tarnished Tiffany Blue that covers the walls, website and business cards too lovely for words. And the old timey toilets are kind of amazing with their lever flushes.

Most of the inside space is taken up with a great rounded bar tended by bartenders with a vaguely vintage feel.

Maison Premiere would be a super charming event space for a wedding reception or engagement party, especially if you coerced to your guests to dress along with the vintage theme.
Hope you all enjoy these last remnants of summer!
Cheers - Matt

vintage crawl brooklyn

2011-10-10T05:01:00.000-07:00

october 16 12-6 join in on the vintage crawl through williamsburg for tons of deals and specials all over. i know i am personally in the market for a chic bar and willing to crawl through brooklyn to find it. click here for more info.

margeaux & blair featured on style me pretty

2011-10-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

we've been so lucky to work with some of the most amazing couples this year, but margeaux & blair definitely stand out as one of the loveliest couple's we've come across. they are also one of the smartest because they not only tied the knot at frankie's 457 spuntino, they chose some of our absolute favorite vendors. robert sukrachand shot the wedding and rifle paper co did their invitations. check out the full feature on style me pretty today!

interiors

2011-10-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

juliet and i have been on a crazy home decor kick lately. probably because i just moved into a new apt and i've been on a continuous shopping binge ever since. last night i bit the bullet and purchased this adorable lilly pulitzer bed skirt. this is getting me over a missed opportunity to buy two dark mustard hued, vintage upholstered chairs. still feeling a bit heart broken about that one. i've also got my eye on this jonathan nadler lamp.

Bookends

2011-10-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

You can never have enough bookends! Here are some faves....

The Jonathan Adler Whales are to die for! I also love these vintage bookends and find that chic ones are pretty easy to track down. Try etsy and local antique shops. They really do add a little something special to any shelf. Enjoy!
xo

Mondays with Matt

2011-10-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

So this has nothing to do with weddings, or floral design really, but I was so intrigued I couldn't resist posting. I remember once my Grandma telling me about Walter Potter, this strange taxidermist who made nursery rhyme inflected dioramas involving bunnies at school, kittens getting married... you know, that sort of thing.

They are super spooky but still oddly cute. I don't remember how I surfed across him on the web but as I looked at the photos, the story of my Grandma taking my mother and aunt and uncle to his museum came rushing back to me. Their trip apparently ended in tears and they didn't make it all the way through.

suckers for succulents

2011-10-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

one of our favorite brides of all time passed this along to us and we thought it was just too adorable not to share with everyone. check out poke acupuncture and how to make these here!

fall color

2011-09-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

loving these new fall colors from essie.

Monday with Matt: Procrastination

2011-09-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

So I had planned on posting yesterday about how to work the sixties vibe that is so well done on Mad Men (and so copied on The Playboy Club and Pan Am) into your wedding... but procrastinated all weekend and Monday because I couldn't figure out an angle. Today, still procrastinating, I decided to take a walk. It must have been fate, because I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this sofa...

... in the window of The Future Perfect. Thank you procrastination. It's kind of official, this is my new favorite sofa to obsess about. I love the classic Chesterfield shape paired with the bold ethnic weave. Designer Donna Wilson's things are all so lovely. I especially love her fox pillow as well.

Having a registry at The Future Perfect would be too dreamy, I would have to choose everything.
X-M

johnny miller photography

2011-09-23T09:52:00.001-07:00

we we're beyond thrilled and honored to work with the fantastic team from martha stewart's whole living magazine this week. it was one of the most inspiring days we've had in a very long time and really made us both want to spend more time styling and prop sourcing. ah a girl can dream, right? in any case, keep your eye out for their winter edition and juliet's beautiful face!

it made me absolutely giddy to have johnny miller photographing our flowers, so i thought i'd share some of his work with you today. for those of you who don't know, johnny miller is their staff photographer and one of the most talented people around. his portfolio ranges from commercial to food to interiors and much much more. here are a few of our favorite photos we grabbed from his site, but make sure to check it out for yourself because it is a very fun place to surf around.

nicole & james

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

nicole & james got married in brooklyn a few weeks ago at ici. the whole day was vibrant, fun and adorable.

photos by matt mcdonough

Monday with Matt: Coed Wedding Parties

2011-09-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

The day of your wedding is something you'll want to share with your besties, whether they be ladies or gentlemen. There's been a marked increase in the past couple years with the number of coed wedding parties; bridesmen and best women are really not that surprising these days. A good friend of mine, Chelsey, who got married last summer had a creative solution when assigning wedding party roles to her best gays. Wanting to have balanced numbers between her bridesmaids and the groomsmen and not having any children in her family available to be pageboy and ringbearer, she asked her friends Jonathan and Paul to fill in.

Dressing the "boys" in vintage sailor suits was a cheeky way to include friends and further her fabulous and kitschy nautical theme. Also fabulous and kitschy? Chelsey's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" pose.

Hope everyone is enjoying this gorgeous fall weather as much as I am!

X Matt

design sponge smilebooth

2011-09-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

we're still in love with flavor paper for supplying this amazing wallpaper for our backdrop design and smile every time we look back at the photos from last week's design sponge book launch party. good times!

a quick pic with goil of tug studio (serious. fun.)

sierra & the totten sisters

amy azzarito & grace bonney of design sponge aka the coolest ladies in town

no idea who these lovely people are, but it's just a great pic.

sierra with the lovely ladies from you + me styling

Amanda & Keyur

2011-09-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

We were so honored to be a part of Amanda & Keyur's beautiful June nuptials. The couple started the morning with a traditional Hindu ceremony (Keyur rode in on a horse) followed by a traditional Catholic one. Amanda & Keyur's fabulous photographer's, Turn Loose the Art, captured some amazing moments from the day. Enjoy!

Have a wonderful weekend!
xo P&P

smilebooth in the making

2011-09-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

we are beyond thrilled for grace and the rest of the design sponge team! last night was their nyc design sponge at home book signing event at west elm and it could not have been better. there was a line around the corner of eager fans to get inside, michael stuart ny served some delicious bites and cocktails, and a hand full of amazing nyc based artists designed various items for a silent auction.

we we're so honored to be asked to design the backdrop for the smile booth at the event and wanted to share some of the first photos we snapped with our iphone. check out the amazing wallpaper care of flavor paper.

sneak peek: jameson & tommy

2011-09-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

jamie & tommy tied the knot in the beginning of august at a gorgeous church on 5th ave & then partied the night away at the plaza hotel. these two did it right and we can't wait to share all of the details with you.

jamie was hands down one of the most beautiful brides we've ever worked with. her veil was a family heirloom and looked simply stunning on her. this one was also especially near and dear to my (sierra's) heart, because jamie is a good friend of mine from high school. can't wait to share more photos with everyone. congratulations to an amazing couple!!

Monday with Matt: Backyard Weddings

2011-09-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Julie and I recently watched "Jumping the Broom", (yeah it was pretty good...) but it got me thinking about backyard weddings. The first wedding that I remember going to was in a backyard; my aunt's wedding in my grandparent's garden. Even if you get marquee and a caterer and a florist, there's something really sweet and let's-put-on-a-showish and about having the ceremony and/or reception at home.

If you have the space for the desired amount of guests, and the patience to welcome that same amount into your home... then why not?

You might not recognize the backyard, but I'm sure you'll remember the facade of this home as the setting to one the most hilarious backyard weddings...

The "Father of the Bride" house! Pretty much the ultimate backyard wedding. Even the most ridiculous of decorations (swans) are leveled out by the classic Americana that this house just oozes.

And what about us city dwellers? "Backyard" would be a gorgeous and kitschy theme for a wedding held in a modern New York loft. A chuppah fashioned after a porch, LOTS of paper lanterns, flowers like they were picked from a garden, picnic tables and outside furniture, BBQ for dinner, decorations of potted plants, maybe even some jars of filled with fireflies.

Imagine them sitting on windowsills or placed amongst flower arrangements... I wonder where you can buy fireflies.

X - Matt

drum role please...

2011-09-12T05:39:00.000-07:00

my (sierra) brother got married a few weekends ago and i was lucky enough to be able to choose any dress i wanted. there are so many options, but i knew i immediately wanted our lovely friend whitney deal to make me a dress from her new line. she and i chose the style, fabric and buttons together, which was a really fun process. it came out just perfect and i can't wait to show off the photos that were also snapped by her and her hubby! gosh, it must hurt to be so talented.

the best news for you, is she has officially launched her website and everything on it is utterly sweet and beautiful. from bridesmaid's dresses to wedding and garden party attire she has some amazing options. we stole some screenshots to share with you today, but make sure to check it out here and place your orders. this is gonna be big!

two brides are always better than one!

2011-09-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

a big congrats to naomi & rachel, one of the sweetest couples we've ever met! check out their full engagement shoot featured on 100 layer cake today!

all photos by jen huang photography.

whitney deal

2011-09-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

the anticipation is brewing for the official launch of whitney deal's bridal and bridesmaid's dress line. coming next week...yay!

labor day weekend adventures

2011-09-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

while most of you were hopefully relaxing and bbq this past weekend, we embarked on a couple memorable wedding adventures. first up was a small, intimate wedding at ici in brooklyn. the setting was adorable and complete with a lovely backyard for the couple to exchange vows in. the flowers were vibrant, summery, and fun. we used succulents, dahlias, ranunculus, rosehips, garden roses, zinnia, porcelain vine, and purple basil. the best part was decorating the upstairs area with cut paper streamers, fans, and balls to create a festive dance party setting.

big congrats to nicole & james!

next up was a romantic, rustic wedding in the catskills on sunday. we woke up at the crack of dawn to drive 3.5 hours through hurricane irene's devastation to roxbury, ny. it was well worth the drive when we saw the old, refinished barn where the reception took place and the darling walking bridge that led guests over a stream and to the grove where the ceremony took place. the arrangements were composed of cafe au lait dahlias, juliet garden roses, astilbe, seeded eucalyptus, ranunculus, scabiosa, pears, mini apples, and clematis vine.

the dahlias were extraordinary this past weekend. as you can see they were almost bigger than shel's face. congrats to jessica & mark!

Monday... with Matt: Cake Toppers

2011-09-05T09:05:00.001-07:00

Honestly speaking, wedding cake toppers are a bit tacky... but that's also a large part of their charm. Finding a topper with the right amount of taste and/or irony is a tough job, and one that is only compounded for gay couples. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of choices out there... but a lot of them feel really twee or cheesy.
I know Juliet has blogged about Megan Bogonovich's cake toppers before, but I couldn't resist revisting because her same sex options are both tongue in cheek and sweet in turn.

Hope everyone is enjoying the first day of Fall!

X Matt

New Hampshire Wedding

2011-09-01T10:25:00.001-07:00

we are so thrilled to start working in new england since both juliet and i are from there. this past weekend we were in new hampshire for a destination wedding in portsmouth. we miraculously missed the hurricane and got through an amazing ceremony in the garden. here is a sneak peek of the bridal bouquet. can't wait to share the photos from oh darling!

happy weekend!

blue hill at stone barns

2011-08-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

stephanie & ben are such a sweet couple and we were thrilled to be a part of their vow renewal at blue hill stone barns recently. robert sukrachand captured the day for them perfectly.

check out all of the photos featured on martha stewart weddings today!

peaches & cream

2011-08-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

i love peach and coral hues, so i was pretty excited when we were asked to jump on a shoot about a peach and cream palette for martha stewart. it featured emily lael's cakes, which are hands down the most unique and creative creations we ever set our eyes on. jen huang photography snapped the pics in a perfectly soft and feminine light. check out more photos in martha stewart weddings.