French Provincial Charm

My favourite of all styles in weddings and interior design is by far the French Provinical look. I love the take Australia has on it, so fresh and clean. Home Beautiful magazine did a stunning story on it for their December issue, and as I poured over the pages, immersed in all those neutral coloured images of linens and worn wood, I thought to myself what a wonderful wedding this would make. In particular the table settings would be divine, with linen napkins and chair covers tied down the side with ribbons and chunky ceramic plates with curvy lines and quirky touches. You could mix this look with lots of vintage pieces for a more ornate look. Also have a look at yesterdays post on Lavender to see some more ideas suitable for a french provincial theme. More to come soon on this look including venues (lavender farms!) and DIY as well as a Wedding Pattern so you can source decor items and suitable style elements.

COLOUR WHEEL

INSPIRATION

(Image Credits: Elizabeth Messina and Thayer Allison Gowdy.)

Lovely Lavender

Lavender has long been associated with luck and was once thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Today it is known for it's relaxing properties. It is a herb, but why not use lavender flowers in your wedding if only for their beautiful colour and relaxing scent? It can be used for anything, from the bridal or bridesmaids bouquets to favours. You could even use it in the desserts, a lavender infused custard is actually quite delicious. I've included a recipe for it below. Alternatively you could use sugared lavender heads as decoration (would suit an all white dessert perfectly).

(Image Credits: First: Southern Weddings; All others: Lisa Vorce by Elisabeth Messina.)

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Lavender Infused Custard Recipe


Both the leaves and flowers of this plant can be used in moderation in your culinary creations. Place the lavender in a tea ball to make it easy to remove after it has been infused in the milk.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons lavender flowers
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
½ cup granulated sugar
5 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Place the lavender flowers and milk into a small sauce pan.
Place the pan on the stove and simmer over medium low heat for 30 minutes.
Strain out and discard the lavender.
In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water then whisk into the pan of lavender infused milk.
Whisk in the sugar until it is thoroughly dissolved.
Turn the heat down to low and whisk the egg yolks in one at a time.
Slowly turn the heat up to medium while whisking continuously.
Cook for approximately 5 minutes until the custard begins to boil and has thickened.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
Pour the custard into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let it cool in the refrigerator until well chilled.
Garnish with fresh lavender flowers before serving if desired.



(Recipe courtesy of Pies, Cookies and Squares.)

Beach to Bush Aussie Wedding

(Image Credits: Top Row: Cedar Creek Winery, Project Wedding, Boomerang Farm, Flickr; Bottom Row: Project Wedding x 2; Clarissa Grace; Beth Helmstetter.)

Australian Beach Wedding

(Image Credits: 1. Alex Perry Gown; 2. Collette Dinnigan Dress; 3. Bridal Bouquet with roses and freesia from Divine Flowers; 4. Love Heart Placecard Cookie Favours from Polka Dot Cookies and Cakes; 5. Main beach courtesy of Queensland Brides; 6. Qualia Rattan Placemat $14.95 to buy, $5.50 to hire (min 12) from Imbue Weddings by Albi; 7. Paper Parasol from Pink Frosting; 8. Paper Lantern 40cm $9.95 to buy, $3.50 to hire (min 12) from Imbue Weddings by Albi; 9. Clear Rim Wine Glass in Olive $11.95 to buy, $4.50 to hire (min 8) from Imbue Weddings by Albi; 10. Cordova Tumbler in Amber $9.95 to buy, $3.50 to hire (min 8) from Imbue Weddings by Albi; 11. The Knot )

Collette Dinnigan 2009

For the following week to embrace Australia Day on Monday 26th, I'll be featuring dresses from Australian designers. Perfect for a trendy casual bride or for bridesmaids who will adore the fact they get a dress they will wear again and again. The good thing about sourcing your bridesmaids dresses from a designers collection is the fact that they often use the same fabric in a couple of different styles, so bridesmaids can look similar whilst wearing a style that suits each of their personalities and body shape. I started already with a hint of Wayne Cooper in a post a couple of days ago. Now up... Collette Dinnigan.

Perfect for outdoor or beach weddings, Collette Dinnigan has a distinctive style which translates nicely into bridesmaids dresses especially for light and bright Queensland weddings. You'll find lot's of options for printed bridesmaids dresses, a trend thats fast becoming popular for Australian brides. The stunning metallic dresses would be ideal for a cocktail wedding at night.

(Image Credits: Vogue)

Unexpectedly Delightful Ranunculus

The name might be a bit of a mouthful to say but ranunculus are one of the most stunning flowers in a bridal bouquet. Similar to David Austen roses and peonies they can be used as a substitute or compliment to both. The lovely tissue like petals and soft swirling heads come in a variety of pinks, in white, orange and yellow. The victorian language of flowers attributed the phrase "I am dazzled by your charms" to the ranunculus. In season throughout winter.

(Image Credits: Flourish Designs; Petals Edge; The Knot; Inspired to Flower; June Bug Weddings; The Knot.)

Imbue's Picks for 2009 - the trends to watch out for in weddings

Striped Detailing on Bridal Gowns
Designers across the globe have embraced white on white striping on dresses through pin-tucking, layers of ribbons or even structuring the entire gown in panels of fabric to create a striped effect. The look is elegant and modern; striking in simplicity with a different edge to it that creates interest.

Printed or Multi-coloured Bridesmaid's Dresses
For garden weddings especially this year should see a surge of printed fabrics and multi coloured, even two pieces, bridesmaids’ dresses. Towards the end of 2008 this trend was already taking off; expect it to only become more popular as 2009 wears on.

The Photo Booth
The modern photo booth is both trendy and fun, a fresh update on the traditional. It creates an event for guests to participate in not only throughout the night but in that cocktail hour before the bride and groom arrive from their photo shoot. You could either hire an electronic booth or make one your self by hanging some colourful, patterned wall paper or fabric and alloting time for the photographer to take photos ala School Prom '58.

Smooth Cakes
Cakes are getting smoother and much more sleek, a look that Libby at Polka Dot Cookies and Cakes perfects. With monograms and motifs as detailing along with flowers kept mostly the tops, this year Imbue sees cakes being as perfect in their structures as to almost look like they were sculpted. Mostly in two tier other features include stripes, monochromatic damasks and stencil like patterning.

(Image Credits: Oscar De La Renta; SugarLove Weddings; CVI Photography ;Polka Dot Cookies and Cakes.)

Wedding Trends for 2009

Bright colours continue to be popular but there is also a come back of the traditional all white wedding. Instead of being the over done look of the past however this year will see a definite relaxed and “no frills” approach. Expect to see white weddings which though traditional are also sleek and modern with touches of leaf green or black and taupe.

Floral trends look to be simple, elegant and refined with an element of individuality rather than being traditional or fussy. Colours of flowers are bolder and brides are choosing to have bouquets of one type of flower or a combination of very unusual ones such as orange blossom, freesias, peonies and succulents and even feathers. Pastel colours and filler flowers are out unless you try something unusual like using a flower traditionally only used as a filler and give it the spotlight by creating a bouquet just of that flower.

The green approach continues to be big following from last year with brides choosing to either offset carbon emissions by purchasing through a specialized company or doing so in inventive ways. Charitable donations as favours are becoming very popular. Couples like the natural earthy appeal of a “green” wedding and are combining this theme with a minimalist, modern style, creating a look which is completely fresh.

Personal interests and hobbies are being used as inspiration for the overall theme as well as for quirky touches. Have you included personal touches in your planning? We'd love to hear some individual ideas.

See our post later in the day for Imbue's Fav Picks for this year.

(Image Credits: The Knot; Divine Flowers; The Knot; The Knot.)

2009 Colour Series - Spotlight on Turquoise 2

This weeks feature on turquoise weddings ...

Wedding Escort Cards

This is a great idea! Guests were invited to find their escort card in the mailboxes which were arranged by the initial of the guests last name.

(Image Credits: The Knot.)

Divine inspiration from Divine Flowers

Flowers are a huge part of any wedding. From the bridal bouquet to the table centrepieces they can either make or break an event. If done right the effect can be breathtaking. And Divine Flowers always get it right. They manage to capture the whole feeling of the wedding and tie everything together through the flowers. How they do this is just magical. They are no means limited to one look or style but they do vintage, pretty and feminine so well that I have selected only those images to showcase here. Go to their website for more eye candy!

(Image Credits; Courtesy of Divine Flowers, taken by photographer Clare Sophia.)

Bride Wars

"If I was your wedding I'd be sleeping with one eye open."

The much anticipated movie Bride Wars with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway opens today in cinemas across Australia. Not only does it look like a great comedy that could entertain and lighten up even the most stressed bride to be, it's filled to the brim with images of inspiration. The gowns alone are stunning not to mention the glimpses of Tiffany and Wedgewood. If only all brides could have a celebrity like budget for their weddings... but don't be disheartened. A similar effect can be achieved with some smart budgeting and lots of styling and planning tricks.

In the meantime enjoy the movie and take from it a lesson or too in what not to do when planning your wedding. The bridezilla sneaks up on all unsuspecting brides, so don't forget to breathe, take everything in your stride and try not to get caught up on things that don't matter when you compare them to the actual significance of the day.

For ideas on how to save money on styling your big day in 2009, please keep checking back as I will be posting advice articles throughout the month.

(Image Credits: The Official Bride Wars Website.)