Inspiration Board {Seersucker Summer}

Nothing says summer quite like seersucker; along with linen, it is a quintessential fabric of the season, worn to help battle the heat and humidity of the warmest days. For a summer wedding, a color palette of blue, white, and yellow paired with seersucker elements is perfectly suited for staying cool in the hot, hot sun.

Row 1: L to R- Michael Norwood Photography, Carrie Patterson, Martha Stewart Weddings. Row 2: Whittaker Photography via Style Me Pretty, Anna Kuperberg, Adeline & Grace Photography via Style Me Pretty. Row 3: Custom Event Group via Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart Weddings, Katie & Steven- Kate Murphy Photography via Once Wed. Row 4: Whitebox Weddings, A Charleston Bride via Style Me Pretty, Emma Mitchell.

A Room Reveals A Wedding {A Relaxed Elegance}

This is the first post of "A Room Reveals A Wedding," a new segment that will be featured on Under A Paper Moon. I enjoyed Cassandra's Inspiration Board Contest so entirely that I wanted to be able to showcase this concept on a regular basis.

Inspiration for weddings can come in many forms, and one such source can be a room, which speaks to a person's style and taste. In "A Room Reveals A Wedding," a room's mood and design will be interpreted into an event inspiration board.

This first inspiration room is an elegant, yet relaxed bath featured in Homes & Gardens. I love the tranquility in this space; it's very easy to imagine unwinding in this bath after a long day. Through the use of warm-hued whites, accents of tan, brown, and green, and varying textures, the bathroom feels quite inviting.

The Inspiration RoomHomes & Gardens

The wedding based on this room would exude the same warmth and relaxed elegance.

The Inspiration Board

Row 1: L to R- Homes and Gardens, Our Labor of Love photography, West Elm
Row 2: Kelley & Nate- Photogen, Inc., Carrie Patterson Wedding Photography, Tulips via flickr kmjdepalma
Row 3: snowberry bouquet- Martha Stewart, Whitebox Weddings, Rebecca Cole Design
Row 4: Leigh Miller Photography, Programs- Dasha Wright photographer via Brides.com, candy buffet- Martha Stewart

We may not win every game...

In the center of The University of Mississippi's campus lies the Grove, a beautiful park full of trees. On any given day, you may find students sitting at tables and lying on blankets, reading, studying, and socializing. A stream of people pass through the Grove during the day, as they walk between buildings on campus, but, despite the traffic, the park retains an air of peace and calm. While the Square is the heart of Oxford, the Grove, especially on a home football game day, is the heart of Ole Miss.

This is the Grove

Photo from flickr flannel.gary

This is the Grove on Game Day!

Photo from hottytoddyblog.blogspot.com

A favorite saying among Ole Miss fans is, "We may not win every game, but we've never lost a party." The Grove is where those parties take place on days of home football games, and the trees seem almost hidden by the tents that stretch as far as the eye can see (no cars allowed!) Shouts of "Hotty Toddy," the cheer and greeting used between Rebel fans, are heard frequently on football Saturdays.

Ole Miss fans have escalated tailgating to an art in the Grove. With elaborate food spreads in every tent, silver platters hold enough fare to serve the hosts and any guests who might stop to visit. Flower arrangements adorn tables covered with fine cloths, while candelabra and chandeliers provide lighting. None of this seems out of place against the backdrop, until you remember this is tailgating for a football game.

When I arrived at school as a freshman, I was unaccustomed to Game Day traditions. The unspoken requirements of game day attire baffled me completely; women wore heels and dresses, while men sported khakis and collared shirts. Dressing up for a football game? It sounded completely absurd.

On the day of the first home game that year, I found myself standing in a familiar place, yet staring at a scene that was completely foreign. The area I knew to be so peaceful and calm was suddenly overwhelming. I stared at the vast sea of tents dotting the horizon, and it felt as though the space had multiplied endlessly; finding a specific tent seemed a near impossible feat. I fumbled my way through that first hot Saturday, all the while cursing the blisters on my high-heeled feet.

After a few games, I realized that it no longer felt overwhelming to head to the Grove. Finding specific tents still proved difficult at times, but it was easier done with friends, and while I made my way through the maze of poles, I found myself taking in the beauty and unique atmosphere surrounding me.

I grew to love the fashion of game day; by the end of college, wearing jeans and sweatshirts to a game seemed as preposterous as the notion of wearing dresses and heels once had. The blisters? Those never seemed to get better. In all four years, no matter how comfortable the heels seemed, inevitably the end of a day spent "Groving" was met with searing pain in my feet. But I loved every minute of it.

"Hotty Toddy"

Row 1: L to R- Two images from Myrtle and Marjoram Photography, photo from flickr matt house, wired chandelier from Wisteria Summer '08
Row 2: Photo from flickr lowemasterpro, photo from Brides.com, photo from flickr matrianklw, photo from Brides.com
Row 3: Nicole Miller dress from edressme Summer '08, photo from Holland Photo Arts via Brides.com, photo from flickr CatchYaL8RG8R
Row 4: Photo from flickr Miss Bria, photo from JCrew, photo from flickr pellet13

Three Elements

When one of my best friends from home, Abby, became engaged this past spring, I, of course, couldn't wait to hear about her planning; I LOVE talking about weddings! I may have driven her crazy with my questions trying to establish the look and feel she wanted for her wedding, and, I decided sending her some inspiration boards might help clarify for me, and perhaps her, what she hoped to see.

Abby was unsure if she wanted something traditional or a little more whimsical. She thought she might like a color scheme of black and white with either a combination of bright summer colors (magenta, orange, lime, etc.) or one specific color.

Original Color Considerations
all colors from COLOURlovers

Colors here, here, here, here, and here

We started with three inspiration boards, and, after viewing them, Abby decided a combination of all three spoke to what she wanted. Abby, then, selected a country club as the venue for her reception and wondered if she should still use bright, bold colors or just a pink that was softer in hue.

We established that she wanted to find a way to carry black onto the tables other than through the linens. She also thought she'd like to include a monogram throughout the wedding and possibly wanted to use a black and white stripe envelope lining.

Two more inspiration boards followed based on those changes to her visions for the day. I chose three elements that met the criteria she thought she wanted and showed how they could work in two very different feeling weddings.

The three images below are those three elements.

Utilizing Black Containers- Escort Card Display
Wedding: Sabrina and Conrad; photo: Laura Novak via Brides.com

Thin Black and White Stripe for Envelope Liner
Image from here

Inspiration for Incorporating Monogram
Save the date from Wedding Paper Divas

The first board incorporates a slightly softer look with black, white and pink. It is an updated take on a traditional country club wedding.

Country Club Modern

First row: L to R- La Sposa gown- Brides.com, Anemone bouquet- marthastewart.com, Champagne-freedigitalphotos.net, black and white stripe- fabricsandpapers.com

Second Row: Save the Date- Wedding Paper Divas, Reception-Wedding of Stacey & Kyle- Photo: Marisu Wehrenberg via Brides.com, Max & Cleo Dress- Nordstrom.com, Goat Cheese Collection- Williams-Sonoma

Third Row: Photo- Brooke Schwab Photography blog, flower girl- Stella Alesi Photography, Boutonniere photo- Jennifer Skog Photography blog, bouquet: Ariella Chezar Design via Brides.com

Fourth Row: Escort Card Display- Wedding of Sabrina & Conrad- Photo: Laura Novak via Brides.com, Wedding of Maggie & Jeff- Photo: Anna Kuperberg's Kuperblog, Black and White Cookie via OaklandMagazine.com

The second board includes the bright summer colors that Abby was drawn to originally. It features the same starting three elements as found in the board above.

Black and Bright

First Row: L to R- Centerpiece- Wedding of Namrita & Roman- Photo: Elizabeth Messina via The Bride's Cafe, Diane von Furstenberg Dress from Nordstrom.com June 2008, Buckwheat Belinis- Epicurious.com, black and white stripe- fabricsandpapers.com

Second Row: Save the Date- Wedding Paper Divas, Bouquet- Wedding of Sarah & Sean- Flowers: Yvonne Floral Design & Photo: Stefanie Riedel of Absolutely Loved via The Bride's Cafe, Matchbox Ring Shot- Wedding of Kathy & Mark- Photo: Our Labor of Love blog

Third Row: Centerpiece photo- Stella Alesi Photography via The Knot, Peaches Melba- Epicurious.com, Escort Card Display- Wedding of Sabrina & Conrad- Photo: Laura Novak via Bride's.com
Fourth Row: Pronovias gown- Brides.com, Shoes- Wedding of Sarah & J.W. via Our Labor of Love blog, Laduree Macaroons via Southern Weddings

These two inspiration boards illustrate that you can personalize your wedding to create a feel that is unique to your day, even when starting with the same elements at the beginning.

After looking at these boards, Abby decided she was still inclined to choose the bright colors she'd originally imagined. I know with my wedding, my color choices ended up changing further along in the planning process; as Abby's wedding is this upcoming summer, I'll be excited to see the end result and what evolution may occur in the design plans!

coco + kelley Inspiration Board Contest

I was extremely honored and excited to be named the winner of coco + kelley's Inspiration Board Contest. There were truly so many amazing boards, I have no idea how Cassandra and her "bridesmaids" were able to chose the Top 12 Finalists, let alone narrow those down to one.

This was such a great challenge, as all 35 room choices were completely inspired (when I first looked at the selections, I wanted to do a board for every room!) While her "Wedding Week" has ended, you should still check out all the beautiful boards entered on this flickr set, and, if you haven't, check out coco + kelley as it is always chock-full of inspiring images.

Meet Me by the Sea (I love the name Cassandra gave it!)

I loved this room when I saw it on Martha Stewart.com, so when I saw it as one of the room choices, I knew I would have to do a board for it. It is such a great color combination, and I could just imagine what a fun and vibrant couple would draw wedding inspiration from this room.

My other two boards from the contest

Crystal Elegance

I loved the simple, yet dramatic look of this bedroom and knew it would translate into an interesting wedding.

Warmth in Winter

This room had a drama and warmth that instantly drew me to it; I felt that it would translate to a chic, winter wedding that felt warm and toasty in contrast to the bluster outside.

*Credits from all above images listed on flickr- here, here and here

Some of my favorites boards from the finalists (but, really, where do you even begin?!)

Marie from Baltimore- Red, Black, & White
The images are so captivating and unique.

Janet from Flint, Mi- Golden Twenties
A beautiful interpretation with a vintage twist.

Elizabeth from Portland
This board is full of details that would make a wedding feel unique and memorable.

EZ from Creature Comforts- A Handmade Wedding in Moss & Ivory
A great interpretation of the room into wedding details!