Trending | Banana Leaf and Palm Print

I'm admittedly a pattern girl. Give me a pile of fabric with complimentary (yet contrasting) patterns, I'm smitten. But as patterns, prints and trends come and go, there are a few that have continually stood the test of time, and one of those happen to be the ever lovely palm leaf (or banana leaf) print. It's one of those elements that can morph itself into any design inspiration- from natural, to glam (Hollywood Regency, anyone?), to boho- this leafy maven has us covered.  Laurel and Wolf, the iconic online interior design firm, inspired me to share my thoughts on how to introduce the print into whatever you happen to be styling.

Interiors + Living Space

I tend to lean toward the philosophy of grounding with neutrals and adding patterns, color, or unexpected elements in smaller doses (or in specified areas) for a beautifully layered effect.

Right: via  | Left via My Domaine

Via Elements of Style

Each of these spaces have mostly white, tan, gold and black accents, layered with the leafy pattern. 

Via Project Nursery

However, the print is also amazing at grounding a busier space, too, like this crazy adorable nursery. 

Weddings + Parties

Using the palm leaf as part of your wedding design and/or party decor is less about becoming tropical and more about adding a fresh + modern accent to your event. And while the leaf definitely lives in harmony with a Hawaiian vibe, it can also be super stylish with even the most romantic or playful design. 

Right via Camille Styles | Left via Laurel and Wolf

I love turning traditional things into unexpected surprises, like penning a menu on a large palm leaf (or insert any object de nature, here), and a wedding lounge would be so sophisticated and on point with a pairing of graphic patterns, complimentary colors, and the palm print. 

Left via The Sweetest Occasion | Right via We are Scout

And of course, for the more fun-loving social parties, this print is perfect on decorations or as a live centerpiece to your table. 

All in all, this print is one of those you just can't go wrong with. All of this inspiration has me rethinking our outdoor lounge at home, too- just might need to pick up some of these banana leaf pillows for a little touch of sophisticated nature to our backyard. Would love to know- what are your favorite inspirations or ways to use the print? 

Don't forget to check out Laurel + Wolf for even more inspo on all things style and decorating, via their website, blog, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Xo,

Brandi

Styling a Coffee Table with Chairish

When it comes to styling my home, I tend to be a bit of a minimalist- in both color (neutral always wins it for me) and accessories. And when I do buy trinkets and decor, it has to be something I really love to look at. But I do love putting together areas of my living space that pop a little more, and give the entire room a nice balance of visual interest. One of the places I love to do this is with a coffee table, so when Chairish approached me about my take on styling one of their gorgeous vintage coffee tables, I was all in. 

Chairish is an online resource, and basically a design lovers solution to buying and selling vintage furniture across the country. The company features beautifully curated pieces, and includes everything from art to decor to rugs and lighting too. I was asked to share my tips on styling, using one of the gorgeous vintage coffee tables available in their shop right now. My heart jumped a little when I saw this four drawer black lacquer lovely, and it was so fun to put together a collection of accessories and must-haves that would make this gem shine. 

I started with the necessities: the items that would ground the entire look, while also keeping everything together. This white hexagon tray is dainty and functional, and I thought it provided a nice juxtaposition to the masculine lines of the table. 

My next go-to is books. I love switching out really great coffee table books periodically because they are constant conversation starters, and tend to be lovely to look at too. I have both of these books- Erin Gates’ Elements of Style and Coco Chanel by Lisa Chaney- and both of their black and white covers are the perfect amount of neutral yet stylish for this table. I also love mixing in other trade style books, whether they be for entertaining or even just photo books. My biggest requirement for a really great coffee table design is that it’s both functional and beautiful. 

From there I will always have a candle and flowers. I love finding soft, floral scents that aren’t too strong for the room, and it’s always a bonus for pretty containers too. This Cucumber Pop candle would be a great way for a subtle addition of color in the mix, and I love how the rim is in gold, pulling it together with the neutrals too. 

Finally, we can’t forget ‘les objets’- the accessories that really speak to your personality and finish off the entire look. I loved this lacquer box (perfect for the functional purpose of concealing anything from remotes to the small items that have no place to go) and this vintage brass wishbone for style and luck. 

It was so fun to find pieces to style this beautiful table; Be sure to check out their entire collection of coffee tables here. 

Favorite Fall Wedding Ideas

If I had to choose one favorite wedding season, it would be fall. It might have something to do with the crisp cool temperatures, aromas (pumpkin spice anyone??), or my slight obsession with textures (and the pairing of them):

Pillows: West Elm | Stool: World Market | Pink Stone Coasters: West Elm | Hammered Metal Decanter: Bed Bath and Beyond | Pretty Macaroons: L'extravagance | Fall Wedding Centerpiece: Jacin Fitzgerald

Colors: My go-to colors that are inspiring me right now are jewel tones with a touch of neutral + light pink. I think it keeps it ethereal while still adding the right amount of bold elements. 

Textures: Fall is your ticket to using all sorts of textures and patterns without anything looking or feeling too busy. Along with the more expected (warm) textiles like fur, I love the idea of incorporating other elements like stone or crystal to mix it up and keep it interesting. 

Gold: Need I say more? Gold goes with everything. Use it. 

Comfort Food: The fastest way to your guests' hearts is through their tummies. Take advantage of the cooler weather and serve both sweet and savory comfort food. Now is the time to get a little decadent and experiment with a menu that touches all of their taste buds. {And hot toddies are never a bad idea either}

Flowers + Foliage: Whimsical, natural, and textural. This amazing centerpiece by my friend Jacin Fitzgerald says it all. 

Beaded Wrap: Bhldn | Peaked Lapel Tuxedo: The Black Tux | Gold + Pearl Cufflinks: The Black Tux | Rockstud Ivory Pumps: Valentino

A fall wedding is also the opportunity to get jazzy with your look for the day. Statement pieces and bold accessories are such a beautiful addition. 

For her: Boleros and caplets are all great additions (both for style and comfort), but how about this stunning beaded wrap? And imagine, some killer shoes and a classic, ethereal gown. 

For Him: Who can go wrong with a black tux? This classic look is both dramatic and stunning at the same time. While suits became the norm of summer weddings, I'm looking forward to seeing more of this iconic look this fall season. Pair it with some eye-catching cuff links and I'd say this couple is camera-ready. I recently came across The Black Tux, an online tuxedo rental company, and was so excited to see quality, well-fitted tux, suit, and accessory rentals available to men wherever they're located. If you haven't discovered it yet, take a peek- you'll be glad you did! 

What are your current favorite trends or ideas for fall weddings? 

Xo,

Brandi

October Insta-Favorites

October was a big month for the Soirettes- we had a myriad of projects and weddings to tend to- who ever said wedding season ended in September?? Looking back through all of the photos, a few things became obvious to me: 1) I really need to be posting on Instagram more. Seriously, 4 posts in October? Not good. 2) Kim is much better at posting on Instagram than I am, and therefore most of these photos are from her account (good job Kimmy!) 3) October was a busy month, and no wonder I'm tired. Here are a few photos from our adventures in October-and now that I've admitted to the world that I'm not so great at publicly documenting things, please check my Instagram for what will be a crazy amount of posts this month!

We started this month off with the sweetest private ranch wedding, ever. Dubbed the "fancy farm wedding", our bride wore a gorgeous pink dress, and lots of gold and sparkle made way into the farm setting. It was also one of the most torrential wind storms ever, too- back up plan in the barn worked well in a split second change of weather!

Baby Hudson is a star. 

Our most favorite project to date- an amazing collaboration with so many great vendors. Our "Come Away With Me" photo shoot introduced a brand new venue in McCall and had so much fall and winter inspiration included- can't wait to share more of this one! And no, those were not Moscow Mules in our cups, but rather warm coffee as we were freezing!

The three musketeers at our last wedding in October

And bonus: this one is actually not on Instagram (surprise), but on my iphone, so I included it anyways. A snapshot of the fall-inspired table we designed for Paperie and Pen's grand opening at the Village at Meridian....it was actually quite a challenge to take the ideas of one design and change it up a bit. Fun nonetheless, and hope you've been able to stop by their amazing new store! 

Happy Wednesday! 

Xo,

Brandi

Office Inspiration

We've been in our office space for a little over a year now (same building since about 2011, but last September we moved into the basement level), and once the whirlwind of wedding season came to a close this year for us, we realized that we haven't done one thing with our office since our holiday party last December. As creatives, that's sad. When we moved downstairs, we were originally faced with two main problems: 1) the lime green and orange walls (thanks, Ampersand Girls! Muah!)  and 2) the added space and the fact that we had exactly one desk, 2 ottomans, and a conference table. The space we moved from was in the ballpark of about 200 sq ft (gotta start somewhere!), and our studio is now likely more in the 1000 sq ft range. We had a lot of ground to cover. So between September and early December of last year, we went on a buying spree to purchase as much as we realistically could (thank you, slow season) to at least make it look less like a 25,000 sq ft warehouse and more like a stylish wedding planning office.

Well fast forward to the end of October 2014 and I've decided it's time to start really personalizing this space. It was such a roller coaster season that styling the office was just the last thing on the list. In fact, I don't think it even made the list. So as I've gotten more in the office planning mood, I've already seen so many inspiring images that maybe one day our studio will grow into, and here are some favorites so far. Happy Monday!

xo,

Brandi

Via Cedarhillfarmhouse.com and Pinterest

Loving the reclaimed or vintage doors hung barn-style. Would love to do something like this to our extra-wide doorway leading into the main room of our office. 

Via Domaine

Let's talk about all the beauty oozing out of Lauren Conrad's newest Paper Crown office make over. It's the perfect marriage of eclectic and sophistication- this is exactly what we are aiming for in our office. Bring on the personality and style! 

via breakfastattoast.com and Style Me Pretty

With our great room being so expansive, and well, great, we are doing a little space planning on how to lay it out better. Considering moving all of our work stations into the great room with shared desk spaces to make better use of the area. And the chalkboard from designer Erin Gate's studio? That was totally the inspiration for our giant gold-framed chalkboard. We need to use it now, though...it's so pretty we never want to mark it up! 

via Praise Wedding

Definitely loving the mix of textures and patterns in this one! 

I'll be on a pinning spree over the next few months- feel free to check more inspiration out on our pinterest pages too! 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I've been on a quest for more "me" in my life...and all of these things just spoke to me this week. Here are five of my favorites...what new finds or loves do you have this week? Happy weekend!

Xo,

Brandi

1. Julep Wedding Nails. Loving these shades for a big day | 2. Just feeling a little smitten with this gold pattern by Saffron Avenue | 3. These monogram cups are perfect for the cup of joe in the morning...Soirette Stephanie actually bought me one last year for my baby shower and it has become my favorite cup since | 4. Loving the newest patterns and palettes from Plum Pretty Sugar for BHLDN | These candles from Anthropologie are equal parts cheery and chic.

An August Soiree

{Sometimes, in the midst of planning weddings and parties, we find a spare moment to dream up our own perfect iconic wedding. Here is a look for an August bride I'd love to see....}

The August Soirette.....

• Is elegant and cool in a form-fitting back-see gown perfect for the garden
• Loves a succulent over a peony any day
• Sips on a Watermelon Sangria
• Isn't afraid to show her soft and daring side with a mix of gold and diamonds....and a little blue for hue
• Knows that gold heels can be worn after the wedding, too

What are your current favorites for August? 

Succulent Bouquet | Iris Gown by Claire Pettibone | Crystal Venus Flytrap Necklace | Olive Leaf Bracelet | Pave Link Bracelet | Gold Nudist Heel

A Beauty Concierge Program By Soiree

In over 8 years of planning weddings, four of which have been primarily focused on full planning with our clients, a few things have popped up that either scream "it's working", or "this is not working". One of the areas in planning that has always seemed just off to me- both to the client and to us as planners- has been hair and makeup services. In fact, if I've ever seen a bride cry or become frustrated, it's over this- and looking back over the years, managing hair and makeup has been one of the more frustrating areas for us too. After analyzing wedding after wedding, I realized the process tends to breakdown at the point of communication and vision through the beauty team. Most hair and makeup artists are freelancers, so they each have their own process, rates, style and preferred ways of communication. Brides hiring their own beauty pros either rely on referrals or use someone they know- even if they are not necessarily experienced in the unique timeline of a wedding day or managing a large bridal party. On our end, we found we were sometimes working with someone new near every wedding, and it was often like reinventing the wheel every time. It was only when we were working with artists we know and love that the process became seamless and the experience was at its highest for the bride. So we decided we were on to something.

I met with Camilla from Deco Hair and Makeup Design to go over this new idea, and over our many cocktails and conversations, the idea evolved first into creating a network of hand-selected artists, then into an actual concierge program offering a full experience to be pampered as a bride. We wanted a bride to be able to trust immediately that she was in expert hands and most of all we wanted her to be pampered and to be able to create some really great memories on her wedding day. Part of making this happen was ensuring that the process would be painless..no more interviewing several artists, but rather being paired up with the artist that best fit their needs and look for the day. No more comparing rates because each bride would be offered a customized day-rate package that would include her beauty team, travel, and any additional services requested as an easy to understand bundle. And best of all, our brides could rest easy knowing they were working with the best of the best for their day.

So now that we have been talking about this new program, releasing little sneak peeks here and there (we even hinted about it all the way back at our holiday party in December!), we are finally ready (and so thrilled) to officially launch it and offer it to our brides. The artists have been interviewed and selected, and include some of Boise's best such as Deco Hair and Makeup Design, Jamie Verner (Blush By Jamie Rose), and Gabby Marcantonio for Bobbi Brown. As the program progresses we intend to offer other types of services to even further enhance the wedding day or weekend experience, such as spa and nail services.

Currently the beauty concierge program is offered exclusively to Soiree brides as an add-on to your services, and is included in our full planning levels. While these amazing artists are already on our referral list, the program offers an entire wedding day experience with next to no planning on your part (and if all goes well, we may begin offering it as a stand-alone service too..stay tuned!). And we can't wait to hear how you like it! So many thanks to Tana Photography for spending the day with us to snap photos of these beauty pros in action. For more information please contact Soiree at contact@weddingsbysoiree.com.

Xo,

Brandi

Happy Weekend

Hello Lovelies, happy Friday! Isn't it funny how much we all look forward to a Friday each week. For me Fridays are my favorite day because I usually get the most done, ironically. It's a day that most of my vendor team is out on weddings or other jobs, my clients are focused on closing out their week, and it leaves the inbox gleefully silent and the phone quiet. So Fridays tend to be project and design days for us. My girls come in, we get prepared for the upcoming week, blast Pandora, and we typically work the afternoon away in our own projects. Oh, and can't forget Whole Foods sushi and cakelets (walk in on us and you might find us indulging in mid-afternoon dessert, what can we say?). All  in all, Fridays are the best. Here's to a relaxing weekend, and hopefully filled with sun, wherever you are. I'll leave you with one of our favorite spring bouquets of all time, from our friends at Boise At Its Best and photo by the lovely Tana Photography. Colorful and filled with some of my most coveted bridal flowers like anenomes, freesia, and hydrangea.  Happy weekend!

Xo,

Inspiring Photo No. 74

Via The Designer Says

The truth, isn't it? Happy Monday!

Xo,

Inspired Party | A Birthday Celebration

With spring comes sunshine, warmer weather, brighter colors, and around here, birthdays (including yours truly!) So of course I have party planning on the mind. I pulled together some inspiration for my dream birthday celebration, check it out!

1. Vintage bottles of any sort are a unique statement piece, and I love the idea of painting them and filling them with an assortment of flowers, if you know me it's too hard to pick just one! This is perfect, and a totally doable project!

2. Of course chevron print, and obviously gold everywhere! Gorgeous gilded table runner, turning a simple birthday get together, into a golden celebration! (I wouldn't mind a pretty present wrapped in this paper!)

3. A little noise never hurt anyone, and how cute are these? I would have to have these gold polka dot noise blowers, and I think it's safe to say, the colors are some of my favorites!

4. Over sized balloons with ribbon, silver and more gold? I'm all about it.

5. My favorite drink, a greyhound, better yet? A rosemary greyhound. Looks yummy!

6. It wouldn't be a party without the party shoes. These polka dot Keds for Kate Spade just screamed CELEBRATION! And did I mention... gold?

Six easy finds to help pull together a swanky event? I'm officially inspired for the entire season by these golden designs, mix and match patterns, and bright color palettes. It's fun and festive! Enjoy!


Happy day,

Inspiring Photo No. 73 | Style.

Happy Monday! 

Xo,

Table Faves | Thanksgiving II

Here are some of my favorite ideas for this years Thanksgiving table scape! My ideal setting is casual and simple yet stunning. Spending time with my family is what I am thankful for and what better way to show your appreciation than to host a beautiful holiday event that will create everlasting memories and will bring joy to those you love!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Happy Holidays!

Table Faves | Thanksgiving

It's about time to get planning that Thanksgiving dinner, however you choose to celebrate, I'd have to say decorating is one of the best parts! Here are a few of my favorite items for the table this year.

 

1. Rosemary Wreath Place Cards | I love this take on a simple place card by "spicing" it up a bit.

2. Golden Harvest Candle | Because everyone needs a little gold fruit on their table. Festive huh?

3. Wheat Stalks | I'm loving the look of natural wheat as a centerpiece this season.

4. Table Runner | Subtle, great color choices, and I love all the flatware silhouettes. How fun is this? 

5. Candle Holders | Simple yet bold, and I'm loving the wood and glass combination.

What will your table look like on this fine holiday? 

Cheers!

Guesterly | A True Guest Experience

A couple of months ago I awoke to an email headed "Boise-fast coffee or beer chat"? I thought to myself, someone really knows how to get my attention! Fast forward about a week and I sat over a cup of really good coffee sharing a Dulce de Leche macaroon with Rachel Hofstetter of Guesterly. 

We met at A Tavola in Boise to chat about her brainchild, a get-to-know-you magazine for wedding guests. After chatting for a bit about her former life as a food editor (at the likes of O, The Oprah Magazine no less), we got down to the nitty gritty of how Guesterly was born and how it works. 

While planning her own wedding to her husband, Lorne, they dreamt of finding a way to introducing and making their guests (from all over the country) feel as though they already knew each other. They wanted a way to create an experience for their guests so that everyone came to their wedding weekend relaxed, having fun, and making lasting memories. After a bit of walking down memory lane via Lorne's Princeton Herald they came up with the idea to create their own Herald-like booklet with heartfelt bios of each of their wedding guests. Rachel put her magazine editor skills to work to write those tidbits and fun facts about each of their guests, including interviewing Lorne's entire side of the guest list. Then Lorne put his skills to the test to design the book to showcase every single guest in attendance. A week before the wedding the books were mailed out and soon the phone calls and emails came pouring in- their guests loved every bit of it. 

Rachel and Lorne at their wedding | A few snapshots of actual Guesterly's 

Before they knew it, friends of the couple began asking for the booklet for their weddings. One thing led to another, and soon they knew it was time to set out to create Guesterly 2.0 so they could offer that lasting experience to everyone. 

"Find your tablemates", "Meet her globetrotting grandparents"...just a few of the sneak peek snippets to welcome your guests

So how does it work? Like magic really. Lorne and Rachel have thought of everything, including a specially designed software that pulls photos of your guests through Facebook. Photos are enhanced via a photo editor to make your guests shine, and are dropped into a custom layout (including colors, typography, and more) created by Guesterly's graphic designers. A few weeks before the wedding Guesterly's writers set up a fun interview with the couple to help create the bios for your guests, then send a proof check for you to look over. When all is approved, the booklet is sent to their printing partners (many of which print some of the most popular magazines on newsstands now- thanks to Rachel's insider connections!) and the finished product is mailed out to your guests a week before the wedding. In short, they've made the process so easy peasy, and your guests are guaranteed to throw a fit about it (in a good way!).

What's more is you get to customize your Guesterly however you want- think table assignments, directions, maps, to-do activities and more. No matter what, the booklet will become a cherished keepsake from your wedding- for you and your guests, and we can't stop talking about it.

Be sure to take a peek at the website for more information, photos, and even a free sample! You can also stay up to date by following on Twitter and Facebook.

Happy Planning,

Inspiration | Fall Table Design

My favorite part of this season has got to be all of the festivities! I love getting friends and family together... Good food, pretty colors, and great company. I've been inspired to do a little fall decorating, and what's better than a gorgeous tablescape. I'm ready to put on a little fall themed dinner party, just to try these fun designs!

Sources  1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Enjoy those fall festivities!

A Wedding Ready Body

With the plethora of diets and eating plans out there to choose from it's no wonder getting and staying on track to a healthy weight is hard, and when there's an added time frame (like a wedding), even more pressure arises to make it happen (and it often leads to failure and frustration). As a former yo yo and on-trend dieter myself, it was like a true miracle when the day came that it clicked in my head that even a subtle lifestyle shift was the winning ticket to losing and maintaining the physique I wanted. So when Sharon Taylor emailed me about her new book for brides, I was so excited to share. Sharon gave me a sneak peek into the content, and what I love most about the book is the easy-to-read and follow format. No tricky formulas, just helpful shifts in mindset (and pantry) that will help the pounds come off.

In honor of her book going live on Amazon, she is offering you the chance to have it for free (regularly $2.99) until this Sunday, Sept. 8th. Just follow the link here to download, and what do you have to lose?

If you have some time this weekend do leave us a comment letting us know your thoughts, too!

Happy Thursday!

Xo,