Category Archives: Inspiration Board

Inspiration Board Wedding Decor

Dress Up Your Chairs: Fabric + Ribbons.

We all know how obsessed some brides are when it comes to wedding decor so let us not forget about details such as the important chairs that guests sit on. Often, the ones found in Hong Kong venues are covered with gaudy material that makes me want to scream. You don’t need to be a DIY queen or spend hours trawling through Etsy to find the perfect chair back sign or garland; it’s as simple as buying some fabric to tie into a bow (avoid organza on top of an existing fabric chair cover because that just cheapens the look) for an elegant touch or decorate with ribbons to add a bit of whimsy to your big day. And if you’re the lucky few to get some interesting chairs such as the chiavari, then you’ve got even more room to play with. Having an outdoor wedding? Drape a pashmina over the chair to dress it up and double up as a wedding favour for the ladies. Too many guests? Then just decorate the Mr. & Mrs.’ chairs.

 

p.s. If you’re having a wedding banquet style reception where there’s a lot of manoeuvring, make sure the fabric doesn’t touch the floor. You don’t want the guests or yourselves to trip!

 

Chair Decor - Fabric + Ribbons

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Aaron Delesie Photography via Snippet and Ink, Dec Wedding, Tiny Water Photography via Somewhere Splendid, Lauren Brooks Photography via Style Me Pretty, Archetype Studio via Style Me Pretty

Inspiration Board

Wedding’s a Beach.

We all love a good bit of sun (who doesn’t?) and boy do we need it badly. Many dream of being whisked off to an exotic location where sun, sea and sand are in abundance which makes exchanging of vows even more memorable. Let’s face it, not everyone can afford this luxury or some couples really do have lots of family and friends which makes a destination wedding not viable. So, if you’re a beach junkie but stuck with having an indoor wedding, here are some ways to give it some beachy boost. Ahhhh, bring on Summer.

 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Jessica Monnich Photography, Thank You SummerKatrina Louise, Martha Stewart Weddings, Jessica Wright Photography via 2 Hearts Weddings, Hello Studio via Ruffled BlogKT Merry Photography via Brides.com, Judith Sargent Photography via Brides.com


Coral/Seashells
The world is your oyster. Turn nature into decor; seashell bouquet, coral candle-holders, seashell vase or for a no-brainer, scatter the coral and seashells across the table for an au naturel look. 

Sand
No, I’m not telling you to fill the reception room with sand (but by all means do so if you’d like to treat your guests to an indoor beach party) but incorporate it into the decor; fill your vases with sand instead of water or have it inside a tray or even a ginormous shell to act as your escort card stand.

Burlap
Use the material sparingly or you’ll risk turning your theme into a rustic do instead of that beachy feel you’ve been craving for; tie the bride and groom chair backs with burlap or print table numbers with a nautical font on the material for a 2-in-1 runner.

Inspiration Board Wedding Stationery

Wedding Invitations: The Month to Do Good.

If you’ve been looking for oh-so-gorgeous letterpress invitations that’ll add the extra wow factor to your wedding but a tad put off by the high price that comes with this style of printing, then Bella Figura’s April giveaway may be your answer. All you need to do is do a good deed before the end of the month, document it through a photo or video and pin it to Bella Figura’s ‘Do Good: 2013′ board to get an extra 25 invitation sets with an order of 50 or more. That’ll save you quite a bit of moolah and all done for a good cause. You even stand a chance to enter their US$1000 giveaway! Go on, start spreading the love.

N.B. For rules and details of the promotion, visit Bella Figura’s page.

 

Photo credit: Bella Figura

Inspiration Board Wedding Cake

Single Tier Wedding Cakes.

Boy do I like a good-looking and finger lickin’ cake. So when it comes to weddings, I give a high five to those who have spent the time and effort to design one that’s truly their own – none of that fake mockup cake that the hotel venues give you to fake cut. How unromantic. It’s one of the many ‘rituals’ in Hong Kong weddings that I will never ever understand.

It’s true that many typical Hong Kong guests don’t have a sweet tooth (especially amongst the older uncles and aunties) and some couples just aren’t big cake fans, thus the reluctance to get a customised wedding cake that may only be eaten by a few. Instead of a multi-tiered wedding cake, why not go for a simple single-tier that’s easy on the wallet and one that won’t go to waste? Dress it up with cake toppers, fresh fruit or flowers to give it more life. Remember, the whole point of the cake cutting ceremony (if you’re having one) is to symbolise your new life as Mr. & Mrs.; not to start it off with pretence.

 

A piece of history: Traditionally, the multi-tiers were only done by Royalty and the top tier usually kept for the couples’ first baby’s christening or their first anniversary. 

 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Sweet & Saucy Shop, Paper Pony, Kurt Boomer Photography via 100 Layer CakeEliza Claire Photography via Love My Dress, Call Me CupcakePobke Photography via Style Me Pretty

Inspiration Board

Oscar Blues.

Boy was this year’s Oscars blue. Not only was the entire ceremony dull, sexist, racist and full of crude jokes but the frocks were utterly uninspiring. Where did all the Hollywood glamour go? However, one trend we did see on the red carpet as well as the after parties, were the abundance of blue hues ranging from midnight blue a la Isla Fischer (complemented her red locks) to Helen Hunt’s H&M number (two thumbs up for shunning the big designer brands) and ending with Naomi Campbell’s elegantly demure navy. Now, would you wear any of these at your wedding?

 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Rex Features via Vogue UK, Rex Features via Vogue UK, Getty Images via MTV, Rex Features via Vogue UKGetty Images via Huffington Post, Wire Image via Huffington PostGlamour.com, Glamour.comRex Features via Vogue UK

Inspiration Board Wedding Food

Cotton Candy Crush.

Bridelicious is back from a much needed break; feeling rejuvenated and brimming with lots of ideas and inspirations that’ll make your 2013 wedding one to remember. Given that this is the first post of the year, I wanted to kick it off with one that’s especially sweet. Remember those carnivals and fair grounds you used to go to when you were a kid and just about everyone had a smile on their face with a cotton candy (sometimes two if they’re greedy) in hand? Well, why not revive those childhood memories by incorporating the light and fluffy cotton candy to your big day, be it through a cotton candy dessert bar or for an adult spin, serve some delectable cotton candy martinis? And if the cloudy gooeyness wasn’t enough, give them out as wedding favours for your guests to munch on their way home from your oh so sweet celebrations.

 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Chris Bishow via Delightfully Engaged, Defalco Photo via Vintage Sugar Cube, Imijination Photography via BizBash, That’s Just It, Cotton Candy MachineKaren Mordechai via Amy Atlas Events

Inspiration Board

Save the Best for Last.

If in fact today is the end of the world, let it be one that we can celebrate with a bang. I’ve rounded up my top picks from this year’s posts in the event that I don’t survive. At least you’ll have my final memories.

Thank you to all you lovely readers for your exceptional support!

 

Top Real Wedding:
Jasmine & Alan’s Bali bash which was brimming with personal touches with my all-time favourite being the DIY invitation itself.

Photo credit: KC @ www.chankichun.com

Top Tip:
10 Simple Ways to Save on Your Wedding because we all know how easy it is to go way over budget, leaving little to spend on the honeymoon or setting up your new home.

Photo credit: Sarah Der Photography 

 

Top DIY Project:
DIY Wedding Cupcakes. Might as well eat yourself happy with beautifully decorated cupcakes that you can make right in the comfort of your own home.

Photo credit: Jada Poon Photography

Top Wedding Theme:
50 Shades of Purple for adopting a colour theme is the easiest way to personalise your big day.

Photo credit: Maggie Austin Cake

Top Proposal:
50 Years from Now….should the world not have ended by then.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/23462420]

Top Bridal Dress Trend:
One Dress Two Looks so you can look demure and romantic when you walk down the aisle and then transform into a flirty number for all that dancing you’ll be doing.

Photo credit: Quail Bridal via Green Wedding Shoes

Top Floral:
Baby’s Breath for it’s simplicity, low costs and can turn your wedding into a starry occasion.

Photo credit: Clayton Austin Love Stories

Top Way to Make Your Man Look Dapper:
The Bow Tie Effect because most men don’t normally wear bow-ties, so your wedding day is the only excuse you have to make him wear one.
Photo credit: Erin Hearts Court
Colour theme Inspiration Board

2013 Pantone Colour of the Year: Emerald Green.

It is the sacred stone of the goddess of Venus to bring good luck and love, and the Middleton sisters have worn it so it’s only a matter of time for Pantone to name emerald green as the colour of the year for 2013. Classy and elegant for its associations with the emerald diamond, whilst embracing eco-chic as it’s in the green spectrum, the emerald green is hot on its own or paired with a variety of colours – white, grey, gold or violet. You can even turn those empty Carlsberg or Heineken beer bottles into vases for an even greener wedding. You’ll be the trendiest of them all.

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Daily Street Images via Polka Dot Bride, KT Merry via Style Me Pretty, Ellen Zilla Photography via The Party Dress, Adorn You – Etsy, Elena Bulay via Oh So Beautiful Paper, The Knot Australia, Tim Coulson Photography, Elie Saab via Million Looks, Belle Blooms – Etsy, Brunch at Saks

Inspiration Board Wedding Decor

A Touch of Chinese: Ginger Jars.

Wedding inspirations can come from all walks of life, be it a certain culture, a festival, an event, art or even home decor. Today’s originated in ancient China, most likely from the Qing Dynasty. The porcelain ginger jars were traditionally used to hold spices, often holding ginger when exported to the West. The blue and white jars were given as wedding gifts, hence the word ‘hei’ meaning happiness and prosperity, was painted on. To add a sense of history to your big day, why not round up some ginger jars for use as vases or simply scatter them around as decor. Next time you walk past a shop selling knick knacks or antiques, go on in there and you’ll be surprised what treasures you can find.

 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Estate Eclectic – Etsy, Kika Reichert, Veranda House, Triangle Honeymoon, Design Darling, Sharyn Blond Linens, Absolutely Beautiful Things

Colour theme Inspiration Board Wedding Decor Wedding Food

Christmas Cheer: Red + White Striped Wedding.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas with only 20 days to go. The tree is up and I’ve had my first Christmas lunch; turkey, Christmas pudding and the lot. If you’re having your wedding during the Christmas season, incorporate some of the festive spirit into your big day. How about some red and white striped fun that everyone, from the young to the old love? And by that, I’m referring to candy canes, not the American flag. Think candy cane wrapped around cranberry scented candles, a hot cocoa bar with candy cane stirrers, red and white striped nails and even a candy cane bouquet. Christmas is for everyone so spread the love.

 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Favors Plus, Drew B Photography via Hostess With the Mostess, Rise and Shine Catering, Ampersand Photography via The Sweetest Occasion, Laurey W. Glenn via Southern Living, Party Papers – Etsy, Lilac and Grey 

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Jenny Cookies, Sweetapolita via Inspired By This, Cake & Allie, Jessica Cakes, Safeway, Annie Eats, Jen Huang Photo via Brides.com

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Adg La Mode, She Knows, My Wedding, Handmade by Emy – Etsy, Wedding Bells, Amanda Jo Handmade – Etsy