happy thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving one day early! I’m signing off for the rest of the week, but must tell all of you how thankful I am for your support over the last three years. This blog has been such a blessing in so many ways, but it wouldn’t be what it is without you! I hope you have a very special holiday and look forward to seeing you back here on Monday.
{photo by kellan studios, flowers by janie medley for our story, a stitch in time, featured last year on once wed}
thanksgiving inspiration from ritzy bee
I’m over the moon for my friend Maria’s pretty table featured this month in Southern Living. Such a striking combination of colors and textures. The paper goods were designed by Suann at Simplesong Design. Flowers by Sidra Forman. Photography by Jennifer Davick.
richmond wedding wednesdays: tuckahoe plantation
I’ve always thought it would be so much fun to plan a small wedding or engagement party at Tuckahoe Plantation’s stable. Before the thought of hosting a party in a stable turns you completely off, rest assured the stable is no longer a working stable. It has beautiful wide plank wooden beam floors, a large lawn in front (perfect for oyster roasts or s’mores), and plenty of rustic charm.
{images: stag invite by Chocolate Butterbean; stag horn flatware via Neiman Marcus; bride photographed by Lisa Pyden via Island Weddings; mint juleps via Matters of Style; bouquet from Brides via Snippet & Ink}
This might be the best time of year…
{fig cake from Martha Stewart Weddings via Homegrown Wedding; place setting by Eddie Ross; flowers by Saipua}
fall wedding inspiration
I think fall might be my favorite time of year, and nothing is better than autumn in Charlottesville, Virginia, where we shot this table last year.
{Photography by Elizabeth Messina; Rentals provided by Festive Fare; Paper goods by Momental Designs; Flowers by Janie Medley Flora Design; Cake by k.rose cakes; Location – Veritas Vineyards; Styling by merriment}
fall wedding inspriation
For the afternoon crowd…a lovely centerpiece from the wedding of Jenny to Marty last fall at Patrick Henry Inn, coordinated by Merriment. Jenny owns Sweetest Thing Bakery. She’s an amazing lady and can bake a mean cake! I just adore her flowers, which were designed by Flower Girls in Richmond.
{photography courtesy Chris Lacroix}
Bride and Bloom
Be sure to stop by next week to see more of the pretty table we designed for the current issue of Bride and Bloom magazine.
A Stitch in Time
A Stitch in Time {which appeared yesterday on Once Wed} was inspired by the true story of an engagement. We took the real life story and ran with it, breathing more and more inspiration and texture into the shoot everyday as we concepted.
I usually start projects with an inspiration board. Not every designer works that way, but they help me to narrow and focus. I also wrote a story that gave us a narrative to concept around. Then we got to work.
Kimberly at Chez Sucre Chez and Jen at Miss Pickles Press were the first people I called. I knew they’d be perfect for this project.
We found an amazing venue outside of Richmond called Amber Grove Inn. Amber Grove is a wedding venue operated by John McDermott. The barn {pictured above} was a dairy barn in a former life; now it hosts ceremonies and small receptions. There’s also a house on the property that John rents for events and a large tented area perfect for larger receptions.
Need Supply hooked us up with the coziest sweater for Jill to wear over her pink ruffle dress (found at H + M) and a pair of killer booties. We outfitted Chris with an assortment of things found, borrowed and purchased. His handsome bowtie came from Halcyon — an amazing vintage store in Richmond.
Check out that headband. It was designed by Lyndzee Ellsworth at Lady Vintique. All of Lyndzee’s pieces are one of a kind.
Janie made the prettiest bouquets full of red dahlias, and Miss Pickles Press hand stamped muslin bags. Each bag contained a special memory our fictitious groom scribed for his bride-to- be, which she found on her way to him at the end of the string of yarn, where he was waiting to “propose.”
Miss Pickles Press made signs that read, “will you marry me” and “she said yes” printed on wood veneer. Rumor has it that Jen will be adding signs to her shop soon!
Vintage spools of thread {found on etsy} along a fence at Amber Grove…
Drawer pulls collected at Anthropologie…wouldn’t this be a lovely way to display escort cards or pictures at a reception?
The talented people who brought this shoot to life are truly amazing. Big thanks to…
Jen at Miss Pickles Press
Ryan and Kelly at Kellan Studios
Janie Medley at The Brides Cafe
Need Supply Company
The Yarn Lounge
Erika Nixon at Makeup on Demand (contact Erika at makeupondemand@comcast.net)
Kimberly at Chez Sucre Chez
John at Amber Grove Inn
Moore and Giles (who loaned us the leather chairs)
and our models, my dear friends, Chris + Jill
A Stitch in Time
Be sure to visit Once Wed later today to see more from a photo shoot we styled a few weeks ago. Big thanks to our amazing team…Janie Medley of The Brides Cafe, Kelly + Ryan of Kellan Studios, Jen of Miss Pickles Press, Kimberly of Chez Sucre Chez, Erika of Makeup on Demand and John of Amber Grove Inn.
sneak peek!
It was a busy, busy weekend for Merriment. It all started on Thursday with the Ghouls Night Out event at the shops at 5807 to benefit the Massey breast cancer research program, then we were off to Jenny’s wedding (she’s a fabulous baker who owns Sweetest Thing Bakery in Richmond), and ended with an event last night at Anthropologie. Although none of the professional images are in just yet, I thought I’d share a little sneak peek of some of the pictures I grabbed really quickly this weekend. Full posts coming soon!
Joie of Flower Girls made the most amazing arrangements for Jenny’s wedding that she nestled in vintage tins (Jenny collects them). The dahlias were just so vibrant and beautiful.
Jenny, bride and baker extraordinaire, made dozens and dozens of cookies that we displayed on vintage stands.
For the Anthro event last night, Janie Medley made the most gorgeous arrangement of tulips that we displayed on a vintage wooden stand.
We displayed cupcakes by Two Sweet on vintage drawers. They were delish! The event was a lot of fun and a great success. I can’t wait to share Tammy Keefer’s pictures of the event with you!
