Ceremony Venue: Old St. Mary’s Church | Reception Venue: The Ritz-Carlton | Photography: Faith West Photography | Videography: Stoner Media | Hair and Makeup: Salon L’Etoile | Florals: Magnifique Decor | Band: Grand Central | Soft Pretzels: Philly Pretzel Factory | Transportation: King Limo | Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton and DoubleTree Philadelphia | Rehearsal Dinner: Estia
Wedding Film by Stoner Media
Images via Faith West Photography
We met paper floral installation artist Malinda Swain at Love is in the Air a few months ago and were blown away by her beautiful work! Her paper floral backdrops are perfect for entryways, ceremonies, photo booths, anywhere really! Read on to learn more about this amazing Australian artist.
1. How did you get into paper florals?
When I was in art school, back home in Australia, I had a job as a scenic artist and props maker. A company contacted me to see if I could create a white paper backdrop for a fashion shoot. Having a deep love of paper, I said “yes!” immediately and began experimenting with various cutting and folding techniques. My starting point was the origami I had learned as a child and from there I began creating my own designs based on flowers in my garden. I loved it. That first job sparked a lot of interest and eventually led to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society commissioning me to do some large-scale entrance pieces for the Philadelphia Flower Show. Since then I’ve been busy with public displays and private events of all kinds. A dream job!
2. How would you describe yourself and your work? Any fun facts?
Well, my work and I often seem entirely different! I am very low-key and minimalist, whereas my work is often described as elaborate, lavish, and ornate. It’s my alter ego. However fancy the work though, I do like to keep my materials very simple. So far, all of my work has been created with recycled copy paper. It’s an eco-friendly option and there is something so lovely about taking an ordinary, overlooked medium and creating something crazy and fun.
3. How much are your installations?
My prices start at $1,000. It depends on the intricacy and size of the works. I’m always happy to quote and find ways to work within a couple’s budget.
4. What are some ways you’ve incorporated paper florals at weddings?
I’ve been lucky to work on some beautiful weddings. From clusters of oversized flowers around entrances to wedding arches, chuppahs, canopies, and backdrops. I am currently working on a large scale, hanging, chandelier-style archway created out of paper-cut white paper vines, feathers, and leaves. So floaty and pretty!
5. Any design advice for couples?
Everyone says this but it’s so important – have fun! Let go as much as you possibly can. Forget perfection. Choose things you love, have your partner choose things they love. Combine them in crazy ways. Have the wedding be a reflection of the two of you. It can quickly become overwhelming when you are trying to get everything “right.” There is no “right,” just a lot of fun decisions to make with your sweetheart.
images via malinda swain
We shared some of the top wedding food trends with the Philadelphia Inquirer! You can read the article by Samantha Melamed here or below.
“When it comes to food at weddings, there’s a long-held tradition of mediocrity. But as more foodies walk down the aisle, things are starting to get interesting. Couples are finding creative ways to add personalized extras – from their cocktail hours to the moment you say good night. Here are 10 wedding-food trends worth sampling.
Treats to go. More couples are sending guests off with snacks to sustain them on the way home.
For some, that means simply packing up slices of wedding cake in customized to-go boxes complete with little wooden forks. (Check party-supply vendors and Etsy for containers made for this exact purpose.) Susan Norcross, wedding director at the Philadelphia wedding planning and styling firm Style Bride, said that at a recent wedding she organized, guests could grab milk cartons and bags of cookies for the road.
Other midnight snacks are more elaborate. Jaclyn Fisher of Two Little Birds is arranging a cart outside a June wedding to hand out soft pretzels and bottles of water to go.
Spot Burgers made cheesesteaks for a recent Franklin Institute wedding Fisher handled. There also are taco trucks (Jose Garces’ Distrito truck is a popular choice), pizza (the wood-burning Pitruco truck, or Nomad Pizza’s mobile arm), grilled cheese (Cheese E Wagon), fried cheese curds (the Cow and the Curd), and just about anything else you might have a craving for. Book through Roaminghunger.com, or visit Phillymobilefoodassociation.com to research vendors.
Bonus breakfast. Some couples are opting to treat guests to a late-night breakfast. That can range from a full breakfast station with omelets, pancakes, and French toast to a food truck – think Foolish Waffles, hot doughnuts, and coffee from Undrgrnd Donuts, or bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwiches from the Sunflower Cafe truck. Norcross also had one cereal-obsessed client offer guests a cereal bar where they could mix their favorites and take them home along with bottles of milk.
S’mores. If you have an outdoor venue, make the most of it. Some, like Fernbrook Farms in Bordentown and Terrain at Styers in Glen Mills, already have outdoor fireplaces ready for your marshmallow-roasting needs. Others may allow the couple to bring their own firepit or tabletop burners.
Personalize the menu. Caterers’ menus may be fixed, but couples with specific tastes are negotiating ways to integrate their favorite foods into the meal and dessert. Some opt for an array of cakes and pies from their favorite bakeries. One of Norcross’ clients, a couple getting married at the Please Touch Museum, is known for their love of hot wings. “During the salad course, they have hot wings coming to the table, and the servers are passing hot towels afterward. Everyone knows it’s their thing.”
Say cheese. If you’ve been saving your milk money, you may want to splurge on a selection of cheeses, particularly those from local dairies. The introduction of “cheese sommeliers,” who select cheeses and pair them with complementary nuts, jams, and honeys, is one way lactose-lovers are doubling down on their favorite food. Negotiate this with a local cheese shop. Di Bruno Bros. offers a “cheese monger” when it caters your entire event.
BYO beer garden. For fans of the growing local beer scene (and the corresponding boom in beer gardens), bringing in favorite brews is worth the effort. Norcross is working on a summer wedding at the Franklin Institute that will feature a small beer garden in the lobby area, with Adirondack chairs, strings of lights, and a selection of beers from breweries like Yards and Philadelphia Brewing Co. Victory Brewing also has a “brewpub on wheels” for those looking to bring more taps in for an outdoor event.
Spirits tastings. For those going beyond the signature cocktail, consider a bar where guests can sample tastings of your favorite spirit – think a curated array of tequilas or whiskeys. Norcross recently did a bourbon bar for a wedding at Terrain, offering honey-infused bourbon, rye, and other variations.
Third-wave coffee. Philly’s coffee scene is just too good to let your guests sip substandard brews. Top Hat Espresso Catering brings a full-service espresso and coffee bar to your event. Or look to ReAnimator, which can offer pour-overs or batch brews of its popular blends and single-origin coffees. Hubbub Coffee, which started as a truck, will have tricycles with cold-brew coffee on tap starting in July for your warm-weather caffeine needs.
Doubling down on dessert. Christiane Lehman of Truly You Events in Philadelphia recalls putting together a winter wedding that wrapped up with a hot-chocolate bar, where guests could top a cup of cocoa with whipped cream, marshmallows, and chocolate shavings, and take it in a to-go cup with a customized sleeve and a mini-bottle of Baileys Irish Cream.
Other options: Get mobile sweetness in the form of trucks like Sugar Philly (macaroons) or Sweet Box (cupcakes), or a Little Baby’s ice cream tricycle. Little Baby’s can even whip up a custom ice cream flavor just for your event.”
image via ethan yang photography
Brides often want that sun-kissed glow on their wedding day, but we all know the dangers of tanning beds and nobody wants to look like Anne Hathaway’s character in Bride Wars. So we checked in with lifestyle expert and friend Maya of My Life as Maya to get the skinny on the best self tanners out there…
For the Bod: Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tan
Fake Bake is my ultimate favorite sunless tanner. I have tried EVERYTHING out there: Clarin’s, St. Tropez, Tan Towels, you name it, I’ve used it, and Fake Bake blows everything else out of the water, especially for those super pale ladies like myself. Even with the advances that have been made in the self-tanner world, I still ended up looking orangey or even sort of greenish (what the hell, right?) with all other products because of how fair I am. With Fake Bake however, I got a gorgeous, natural looking bronze. Since discovering Fake Bake about two years ago, I have never used anything else. Fake Bake is also really well-priced at around $20; I have tried other tanning products that were $50 or more, and those can’t even come close to comparing. The other thing that I simply adore about Fake Bake is how easy it is to apply. The bottle comes with a tanning mitt and gloves, and the mitt allows for a smooth, even, and streak-free application. The color is immediately visible, which also works as a color guide so you can see if you are missing any areas. Another bonus, Fake Bake smells surprisingly good, and washes out of clothing if you happen to get it on your stuff. Try it, and I promise you will be hooked for life-and incredibly tan. Win!
For Blending: Xen Tan Blending Balm
I can not stress how important it is to have a good blending balm. Have you ever tried self tanner and ended up with dark, patchy knees, elbows, and ankles? That’s because you didn’t have Xen Blending Balm in your life. This yummy coconut scented balm is applied pre-tan to your dry areas, and can be used again after the tan application to blend problem areas like wrists, knuckles, etc. Seriously, Xen Blending Balm combined with Fake Bake is the most amazing power team, the super heroes of sunless tanning. Plus, Xen runs around $15 and lasts FOREVER.
For the Face: St. Tropez Face Tanner
While I tend to think that a lot of products marketed specifically for the face are just a ploy to get consumers to spend more money on the same product they are buying for their body, St. Tropez’s Face tanning lotion really is amazing. I have super sensitive skin, and St. Tropez doesn’t dry me out or clog my pores. The color is pretty and not too orangey, and it smells light and clean. A little bit pricer than the Fake Bake or Xen considering the size of the tube, but absolutely worth it in the quest for the perfect faux tan.
I hope that this helps! Remember that skin care is incredibly important, always wear an SPF to protect your skin (and prevent future wrinkles and sunspots!). Your body will thank you.
images via bride wars, amazon, xen-tan, and sephora
Music is more than background noise; it can set the mood and evoke great memories for years to come. So what better way to shake off the pre-wedding jitters than getting all dolled up with your bridesmaids to the top wedding hits? Between perfecting every curl to the last mimosa toast before heading out to say your I Do’s, count on this pre-wedding playlist from PopSugar to bring out the dancing queen in all of you! Click here to check out The Ultimate Pre-Wedding Playlist on Spotify!
“Happy,” Pharrell Williams
“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas
“I Do,” Colbie Caillat
“Dancing in the Moonlight,” Toploader
“Rude,” Magic!
“Boom Clap,” Charli XCX
“All My Life,” K-Ci & JoJo
“Drunk in Love,” Beyoncé and Jay Z
“Dreams,” The Cranberries
“(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You,” *NSYNC
“I Love It,” Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX
“What a Feeling,” Peter Lus featuring Dominico
“Just You and I,” Ricky Blaze
“We Found Love,” Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
“Everybody in Love,” JSL
“Stuck Like Glue,” Sugarland
“Teenage Dream,” Katy Perry
“Mine,” Taylor Swift
“Walking on Sunshine,” Katrina & The Waves
“Feel So Close,” Calvin Harris
“Best Day of My Life,” American Authors
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” Whitney Houston
“River Deep Mountain High,” Ike & Tina Turner
“All of Me,” John Legend
“Love and Marriage,” Frank Sinatra
“Everything,” Michael Bublé
“(You Drive Me) Crazy,” Britney Spears
“The Time (Dirty Bit),” The Black Eyed Peas
“I’m Only Me When I’m With You,” Taylor Swift
“Kiss Me,” Sixpence None the Richer
“Lucky,” Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat
“Wishin’ & Hopin’,” Dusty Springfield
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” Elton John
“Home,” Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
“Kiss You,” One Direction
“I Could Not Ask For More,” Edwin McCain
“More Than Anyone,” Gavin DeGraw
“Friday I’m in Love,” The Cure
“Ten Feet Tall,” Afrojack
“Chapel of Love,” The Dixie Cups
“Marry You,” Bruno Mars
Venue: Talamore Country Club | Photography: Becka Pillmore of Lauren Fair Photography | Videography: Willow Tree Films | Stationery: Groom’s Mother, Pat Neuman | Bride’s Dress: Bijou Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew | Hair and Makeup: Daneen Jenson & Associates | Florals: Oleander Florals | Furniture Rentals: Lovebirds Vintage Rentals | Ceremony Musicians: Elegance String Quartet | Ceremony Vocalist and Guitarist: Jason Houck | Lighting: Sound Sensation | DJ: DJ Charlie Carbin | Cake: The Master’s Baker | Dessert: Capogiro | Photo Booth: Lovebirds Photo Booth | Transportation: Krapf’s Coaches and Bucks County Trolley Company | Hotel: Joseph Ambler Inn | Rehearsal Dinner: Joseph Ambler Inn
Featured on Style Me Pretty
Images via Becka Pillmore of Lauren Fair Photography
Overwhelmed by the task of putting together your wedding registry? Stress no more! We have found the perfect solution. Meet Blueprint Registry. 
Blueprint Registry is the convenient and innovative way to build a custom registry. Couples can start the process by registering for a free profile on the site. This is where you can create your dream home, room by room. Next, shop around with top retailers, as well as specialty boutique stores. Some popular names include West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and Williams-Sonoma. Can’t seem to find a retailer or piece within the Blueprint online catalog? Simply locate it online and pull the item into your registry through the ‘Add to Blueprint’ button.
Brides and grooms can further customize their registry by adding group gift functions or highlight favorites that they absolutely love. Blueprint offers more than just gifts for the home. You can also include cash gifts through the Experience Room. This gives you the ability to register for a honeymoon fund, date nights, or even your charity of choice.
Blueprint doesn’t stop once the gifts are purchased. Two weeks after your wedding, Blueprint will send you a gift summary and return guide; helping to make thank you cards just a little easier.
images via blueprint registry
Venue: Lambertville Station | Photography: Love Me Do Photography | Videography: Wellspun Weddings | Stationery: Minted | Bride’s Dress: Bijou Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jim Hjelm, Bari Jay, and Dessy from Country Way Bridal | Hair and Makeup: Beautiful Brides Philly | Florals: Dandelions Florist | DJ: Lovesick Inc. | Cake: Ciao Bella Cakes | Rehearsal Dinner: Inn at Phillips Mill
Wedding Film by Wellspun Weddings
Featured on Carats and Cake
Images via Love Me Do Photography
Venue: Horticulture Center | Caterer: Constellation Culinary | Photography: 217 Photography | Videography: First Floor Films | Hair and Makeup: Nancy Caroline | Florals: Beautiful Blooms | Furniture Rentals: AFR Rentals | Band: EBE Paris | Cake: Night Kitchen Bakery | Transportation: Philadelphia Trolley Works and Park Avenue Limousine | Valet: Alber-Haff | Hotel: Hilton City Line | Rehearsal Dinner: Bala Golf Club
Images via 217 Photography
We had so much fun spending time with Ivy Kaplin at her beautiful bridal shop, Lovely Bride Philly. Being surrounded by so many gorgeous things is inspiring, and I dare you to leave without a smile on your face. You can find Lovely Bride in the heart of Old City at 237 Market Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets). The wedding gowns from designers including Anna Campbell, Carol Hannah, Claire La Faye, Elizabeth Dye, Ivy & Aster, Katie May, Lea-Ann Belter, Leanne Marshall, Nicole Miller, Rosa Clara Soft, Sarah Seven, The Lovely One, Theia, and Watters range in price from $1,000 – $5,000, with 15 dresses under $1,500! They also have a ton of pretty bridal accessories including beaded belts, earrings, necklaces, hair pieces, and veils.
While there, we asked Ivy for some wedding gown shopping tips, and here’s what she wanted to share with brides to be…
images via jaclyn’s iphone
two little birds planning 