In The Mood - Peach Inspiration

To me, there's something very summery about peaches. I just love them but only at this time of year - call me totally weird (and I'm sure some of you do!) but I just can't eat them in the winter. You have to eat peaches on a warm day - either biting them like uber juicy apples or, in yummy salads with mozzarella, parma ham and rocket. Yum yum yum...

OK, get me back from thoughts of food and onto weddings again and inevitably, today's feature is all inspired by peaches with their soft shades of beautiful colours and their oh-so tactile skins. Peaches are a beautifully delicate source of inspiration for weddings and I hope that these images give you some new ideas (or at least cravings for peaches for your lunch!)

Above - gorgeous peach coloured bridesmaids here and I love that bridal gown and prettily coloured shoes too. Perfect and those gowns give everyone's skin a beautifully funkadelic tone. Image - April Smith Photography

Above - a peach inspired dessert table. I love the bunting hung behind - the random shapes stop it from looking too perfectly cutsie and you could use either papers for fabrics to achieve this effect. Image - Avery House

Above - regular readers will know my love of using fruit in decorations and I love the peaches piled around the bottoms of these centrepieces. Such a simple idea that just brings colour to table tops and pulls the whole theme together perfectly. Image - Justin & Mary Marantz

Above - peach champagne and peach sorbet, what a gorgeously pitch perfect part of your meal. I do love sorbets and peach sorbet is just so refreshing. Bringing your theme into your menu is a really fab idea. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - more gorgeous centrepiece ideas and these 'just picked' pails of pretty peaches are wonderful. Don't fill the whole bucket with peaches though because those at the bottom will just get crushed anyway. Fill to the  brim with floral oasis and then pile up your peaches. If you want to hold them in place, poke wire into the peach and then through into the oasis and everything will stay just as you want. Images - Martha Stewart

Above - such a pretty peachy bouquet, I love the contrasts of colours, textures and shapes in this bouquet and those big fluffy peachy roses are just so so delicious. Image - Rinne Allen

Above - proof that all things peachy don't need to be soft, these bold invitations with peach stripes are really rather special. Image - Sandstone Wedding Invitations

Above - again, another image that I just love. The rustic basket, the hessian/burlap wrap around the stem of the bouquet is so so fabulous and that bouquet is wonderfully natural and really rather perfect. Image - Simply Bloom

Above - ooooh, another pretty pretty image (I'm using the word 'pretty' a lot in this feature which probably tells you a lot about the them I have to say!). I do so like wooden cake stands and the few peaches scattered around the base with those simple little bottles of flowers add to the overall look without detracted from that beautifully simple cake. Image - Simply Bloom

In The Mood - Cherry Inspiration

I just love cherries, their shiny redness, their juicy goodness and the way they give you scarlet stained fingers when you cook with them. My Mum has cherry trees in her garden and every year we seem to the fighting a losing battle to pick bowfuls of  ripe cherries before they're devoured by birds. I am totally sure that the health & safety powers that be would be in utter shock watching my precarious ascents of ladders and branches (and anyone who knows me and my rather uncanny ability to always fall/slip/trip over anything would probably also be watching with their head in their hands.

So today's post is in honour of the beautiful, tasty and totally gorgeous cherry...

Above - two beautifully simple details here, made more fabulous by the addition of those cherries. I love those plain bottle table centres with heaps of cherries piled around the base and the cake with the cherry decorations and vivid red bands looks wonderfully. Love the red and white striped cloth on the cake table too, just great. Image - Jose Villa

Above - I couldn't resist this image, the red cherries against the gown and the shiny rings against the red fruit is rather mouthwatering. Image - Lauren & Abby Ross

Above - hmmmm, cherry pie! These 'sweetie pies' are boxed and tied with gorgeously stripy butcher's twine as take home favours for guests. I have visions of lots of cars parked by the roadside just around the corner from the venue with guests sat inside eating these because they couldn't wait until they got home! Image - Martha Stewart

Above - love this rather glam cake with the frosted cherries. These are easy to make yourself - just brush a thin coating of egg white over the cherry and roll in sugar! Image - Martha Stewart

Above - how tasty do these cheery cherry cupcakes look? I'm now dreaming of cherry chocolate gorgeousness! These would also look great sat at each place setting as a place marker or even as seating cards with little flags poking from them like those in my edible place markers feature. Image - My Wedding

Above - the simplicity of this seating card is so appealing and really, can you think of something easier? Bowls of cherries with a little flag poking from the top - it's effective, it's easy and rows of these lined on a table or filling a bookcase or similar would just look great. Image - Project Wedding

Above - healthy and delicious, these are wedding favours that are perfect for summer weddings. I love the presentation here of the scarlet cherries against the kraft brown boxes, just great. I also know love the idea of a kind of 'pick your own' dessert table with lots of fruits and goodies where guests pop their choices into farm style punnets. Hmmmm, I like that... Image - via Wedding Style Guide

Above - paper cherry favour pouches! These would be absolutely great for kids to get them into the theme as well. Simply pop the goodies onto sheets of red crepe paper, twist closed and wrap green crepe paper around a wire to create a stalk (you may want to omit the wire if you are giving these to kids!) and add two paper leaves. You could write names on the leaves and use these as sweet place markers. Image - Martha Stewart

In The Mood - Vintage French Inspiration

I have a real soft spot for France. I've had lovely holidays staying with my Aunt in the Loire Valley, I've wandered along the Seine with my Mum, I've skied in the French Alps, I've sat outside cafes in the Pas de Calais, I've walked through vineyards, bought baguettes, lost wonderfully at boules to locals, eaten my bodyweight in cheese and I've wandered along the sea front at Cannes whilst pregnant with my son (who was quite close to arriving on the Eurostar!). Some of my favourite books and films are set in France and there's just something magical about the whole French vibe for me.

So today's post is all about taking a little bit of vintage French inspiration for your wedding. I have to say that I totally adore this look and I've fallen a little bit more in love with France right here...

Above - ooooh, how totally gorgeous is this dessert buffet? Macarons, meringues, delicate pies topped with creme Chantilly and the sweetest little bon bons. The platters have a gorgeous French lace look and French lace has been used to decorate the cake name cards. Image - Andrew Arthur

Above - another great look, this time with a real rustic feel. This burlap table runner has been printed with French details (in an appropriate font) and it also doubles up as a table number too. Love this. Image - Art Essen

Above - such beautiful vintage inspired stationery. I totally adore the fonts, the colours and the whole vibe of these gorgeous invitations. Fab attention to detail creates a really striking look. Image - Bird & Banner

Above - lavender sachets with a distinctly French feel for favours, all tied with beautiful cafe au lait coloured ribbon and the Eiffel Tower print on the bags is a cute touch too. Image - Feminine Living

Above - love these vintage French postcards table numbers. The great thing about these is that you buy the digital file and so can print & use them as you wish for your wedding (smaller versions for seating cards for example) Image - KF Collection on Etsy

Above - I really like this simple but oh-so effective look. Gorgeously rouge red flowers, French bread in vintage tins and pretty glass and flatware. Everything comes together absolutely perfectly but it's so simple, totally fabulous. Image - Meg Perotti

Above - let's be honest, if you're having a French theme, you can't avoid serving some deliciously oozing and gloriously gooey cheese! The rustic, natural look of this table is just great. Love the bread, the chutney and the fruit - this would be perfect during the evening. Image - Michael & Anna Costa

Above - another heavenly dessert buffet and here, it's the colours that just really appeal - the pinks, the shabby whites and blues with the metal pitcher full of fabulous flowers. Another tres chic look. Image - via Pacific Weddings

Above - ooooh, sooooo pretty! I just love this printed invitation - the design, the colours, it's really beautiful and more than a little oh la la! Image - Sweet Cookie on Etsy

Above - oui, oui, oui! As someone who can't function without her tea in the morning, this really appeals. Love the idea of an 'heure du the' - so elegant and unexpected. J'adore... Image - via Ruffled

In The Mood - Wimbledon Inspiration

Anyone for tennis? Wimbledon starts today and we're set for two weeks of sporting (and social!) action down in SW19. So, whilst I'm not the biggest tennis fan in the world, I thought I should dedicate today's feature to all things tennis - it's a bit tongue in cheek and it's a bit of fun so it's a bit perfect for a Monday. 

I am feeling an almost overwhelming temptation to serve up some some ace cliches so before I crash out in the first round, let's get on with the first set of images...

Above - love this cute little tennis dessert table. Those floral 'balls' and the rackets hanging behind are the perfect quirky backdrop too. Such lovely colours here too and lots of round ball inspired shapes. Image - Jackie Wonders

Above - such a fab wedding portrait, the view through the racket is so sweet and it fits the backdrop perfectly. If you're a couple known for your love of tennis, this is lots of fun. Image - Kelly Braman

Above - if you're a tennis fan (particularly if you're a British tennis fan!), you'll be well used to having to stop play when the heavens open. You'll need an umbrella and frankly, the caption on that brolly is really rather apt! Image - via Snippet & Ink

Above - again, another sweet shoot if you're tennis lovers (and lovers who don't want to be caught/court smooching on camera!) Image - Steeves Photography

Above - I just had to include this! Image - The Written Runway

Above - strawberries & cream are essential for tennis so how about a s&c cupcake? Image - via Wellsphere

Above - and to drink, of course it has to be Pimms... Image - Albert Palmer

Above - love this tennis racket mirror and I'm sure you could use rackets in lots of other ways too - how about as canape trays? Image - via Etsy

Above - sweet little favour boxes decorated with a sporty stripe and a tennis motif. This would be an easy and subtle way to bring a touch of tennis into your day if you didn't want to totally dedicate your day to the game! Image - Favor Craver

Above - now this is how to have some fun on your wedding day (especially if you've got a bit of a competitive streak, a court at your venue and a need to work of some of the calories consumed in strawberries, cream, Pimms and cake!) Image - Glenn Allsop

Delicious Details - Bookcases & Desks

I'm sure you all know by now my feelings about creased table linen (yukity yuk yuk) and I also have the same itchy-skin feelings about table legs - metal 'conferencey' table legs poking out from underneath too-short table cloths are not a good look for me but then I'm not a fan of box pleat cloths, or worse, those frilly clip on table cloth 'curtain's, either. That's why I really really love a bit of 'proper' furniture at weddings.

Desks and bookcases work really well - they can double up as guest, drinks or seating card tables. They look fabulous with displays of photos or other props and they're way more interesting than a trestle table with a cloth of it. Again, if you can find something cheap, a coat or two of paint can make anything look better and you've got something you can use after the day at home and always have a fab reminder of your day.

So dust off your paint brush, go hunting for some 'junk' furniture and say goodbye to the dull creased cloth covered tables...

Above - I just love this pretty desk set up. Everything about it is rather gorgeous - the colour of the desk, the simple 'just married' sign, the photos, books and the the placement of the whole caboodle outside with hte pretty natural backdrop. Ahhhh, I just need to sit and look at this for a while but you should feel free to move on... Image - Clayton Austin

Above - such a sweet cake table and again, waaaaaay more interesting than just a cake on a little round table all on its own. I love the cake stand suitcase and the pretty glass bowls and flowers around it just add to the impact. The pretty white bureau is the ideal resting place. Image - Elizabeth Anne Designs

Above - a teacher's desk for of apples for the teacher - I really like the idea of making things personal so this is a great nod to the careers of the bride or grooms. The apples all have the guests's names and seating assignments pinned to them so this makes a really quirky display that's bound to get everyone smiling. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - this card index case is full of seating cards with a simple retro cake topper for decoration and height.  What I like about this is that it's interactive - guests have to 'do' something together and rummaging around will be lots of fun. Image - The Sweetest Occasion

Above - now here's a really great floral idea - lots of simple little bottles and vases grouped on an old desk just filled with one or two stems each. This is a large scale floral display that's just about as easy as anything to put together yourself. Image - via The Little Branch

Above - gorgeous candy buffet on an old desk with the sweets spilling out of drawers and that old till just looks great. The bags for the goodies are in another drawer and the setting is just fabulous. Image - Wedding Bee

Above - love love LOVE this display. Each book in the bookcase has a guest's name and seating details on the spine as a great table plan! I love the haphazard arrangement of the books, not too 'perfect'. I also love the addition of the apples (I loves apples at weddings, I don't know why - think it's the colours and freshness of them!) and one simple vase of 'just picked' flowers is the perfect finishing touch. Image - Wedding By Color

I Love... Vintage Keys

A few years ago, when I moved house, I made 'new address' cards to send out, all adorned with a little vintage key. I'd picked up a pack of them for a song on eBay and ever since, I've found old keys really rather amazing. I wonder what they open, who they belonged to and how they were lost! There's something so tactile about them and the colours and shapes of them are often beautiful.

So today's post is all about vintage keys - how to include them in your wedding and detailing and there are lots of options. Keys would work as a motif with any backdrop colour so if you're sure on a colour scheme but would like to use a detail to run through the wedding, keys could possible be perfect for you. Then, add in the potential symbolism of keys an you're onto a winner!

Above - love this quirky seating plan that encourages guests to find 'the key to your seat'. The vintage keys are all attached to tags showing each guest's name & seating details and they're then 'framed' and displayed. That frame is wonderfully opulent and after the wedding, how about a bit of up-cycling - use it to hold one of your favourite wedding images? Image - Cedarwood Weddings

Above - here the key is integrated into the ribbon wrap around the stem of this bouquet for a sweet piece of detailing. The key in question could be a meaningful one - from your childhood home maybe? - or just something you've picked up specially. Image - Chicago Illinois Wedding Photography

Above - gorgeous cross-keys wedding stationery. This is such a great motif for a wedding - a little unexpected but still very beautiful - and it's easy to use throughout the day with lots of key-filled touches. Image - Oh Lovely Day

Above - more fabulous stationery, this time with a very different look - out goes letterpress and in comes printed stationery with a great vintage key wrapped right up in the invitation pack. I really like the layout of the stationery here, the kraft-brown reply card, the bold font & design and of course, the vintage style save-the-date with key attached. Image - Olivia Leigh Photographie

Above - ooooh, I so love this set-up (I've got it bad for burlap cloths & runners right now!) And the blue touches just pop so sweetly against the muted browns. Those key place markers are just great - so simple but so effective and they really add to that tablescape. Do think about adding some unusual items, they look so interesting and with some thought, they don't have to cost the earth. Image - Oncewed

Above - now you know how I love chair decorations and you probably also know about my love of white or brown wood chairs so this image so works with me! So simple with the lavender and key tied on to the chairback but it looks fab! Image - via Pinterest

Above - another great key based table plan. Here, each table is listed on a different sheet with a key attached for extra interest. I really like that each table's sheet is of a different sized which just stops everything looking too regimented and contrived. Love that table too and I think I want that gorgeously coloured telephone... Image - via Ruffled

Above - this is a great way to bring the key motif into the wider wedding 'look' - here the key in question is attached to a buttonhole and it looks really fabulous against they green and beige. This idea would work with any little item, not just keys, so it's worth keeping in mind whatever your theme. Image - Simply Elegance