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There is a certain gracefulness to the peony.  The blooms become so heavy with soft abundant ruffles that they bow toward the earth with the weight of it all.  At the same time, they possess an ethereal delicate element.  You know that they could explode in a shower of petals at any second, but they still have substance and weight.  So beautiful and in a range of lovely colors from pure white to bold pink to the blush we show here.

Peonies inspire our Peony Invitation.  It’s our biggest seller and with good reason.  The botanical design can go with just about any theme, tailor made for your wedding with choices of inks and envelopes. And we’ve got even more ways to check out our products! Not only should you see our full range of products on our Paperwhites website, but we’ve set up shop on etsy as well!  It’s a great way to check out samples or to place your orders.  We’re always around to answer questions and help y’all out if you need it!

Check out the sources for all these goodies, plus some of our own, on our Pinterest Boards!

Spring is in the air!  At my local discount mega big box store, I was checking out the Easter displays and thinking about how you could utilize some of the sweet pastels or grasses in a wedding theme without it screaming “straight outta the Easter basket.”  The pastels are pretty easy, they are very on-trend right now, though a little more muted than the ones on the plastic eggs.  But the grass idea was intriguing.  Not the green plastic crinkly stuff, but real grass.  Once I got home and started looking, I was surprised to find some great examples, but not too many.  What does that mean for you?  It means that grass is a fresh, interesting, pretty option for decorating your wedding.

Here’s a collection of simple ways to utilize grass in a simple and sweet way, but if you check out our Pinterest Board we have links to the sources as well as a lot of other ways to use it.  In a sleek and elegant container it looks very modern.  With bright lollypop like flowers in it it looks very cutesy-kitschy. Either way it’s fresh and bright and a good dose of  spring and summer. What a great way to bring in a pop of green to your wedding!

Psst! Have you seen our new Etsy shop?  It’s another great way to check out our products!

I have been on a mint tea kick lately.  I was given these wonderful little gold rimmed tea glasses in jewel bright colors.  I use them for super sweet, super strong, super fresh mint tea.  Drinking out of them feels exotic and glamorous and special.  They look lovely on the shelf, they look lovely in the sunlight or candle light, they look lovely on the table.  And that got me thinking…

All those elements make them perfect for a jewelry-like bit of bling to add to the tablescapes at your reception.  Simple, like shown here with a single bloom (Oh how I wish I could find the artist for this shot–anyone know?  I’d love to credit more than just Pinterest!).  Or maybe flowers in some, tea lights in others?  Maybe on a low tiered runner going down the middle of a long table ?  Maybe just used for a tasting dessert or two?  Or maybe,  just maybe, for tea? The rich colors, the bits of gold, the delicate shapes combine to make them a really beautiful grace note.   I’ve got lots more examples of designs and ideas, as well as some great resources on our Pinterest board.  Come over, brew some mint tea, and check them out!

There are days I dream of sailing away.  It’s usually the days when I have a million things to do and only about 5 spots on my to do list, but still… There is something calm and serene about the sea.  Uncharted depths, getting away from it all, the smell of the salty air.  Add in the symbolism of “tying the knot” and the idea of starting a journey together and you have a perfect theme for a wedding.

My biggest problem with this board was selecting just which elements I would include to go with our Sailboat Invitation.  The deep blue echoes in everything from the bridesmaid dress to the cake to the lining of the envelope.  Paired with the crisp white it looks very sharp, with a twist of preppy.  The sweet touch of rope in the boutonniere, the anchors and sailboats throughout, and our invitation all make a wedding day that’s filled with attention to detail.  I can almost hear the waves brushing against the rocks.

Check out the sources for these great ideas, plus all the ones I didn’t include!, on our Pinterest Board!

Some brides dream of candy colored weddings, some dream of small ceremonies in beautiful gardens, and some dream of an evening of elegance and drama.  This pinboard is for the last group.  It’s for anyone who has ever dreamed of a traditional evening wedding with a little bit of extra shimmer.

Imagine these elegance in a dimly lit ballroom, candlelight flickering and shimmering,  reflecting off the bits of silver in the centerpieces.  You can almost hear those adorable silver bells chiming for a kiss. There is a very classic aura to this collection.  It’s formal, but not stuffy.  Beautiful, subdued, and sophisticated–the perfect compliment to our Rachel Invitation Suite, especially with the Lustre Shimmer layering paper.  You’re guests will be wowed by your exceptional taste and style.  You’ll be blessed with a collection of timeless pictures that will always look spectacular on your wall.

For the sources for these images, check out our Pinterest Board!

We’ve talked a lot about sense of place–those little touches that really make you feel like you really ARE somewhere.  It could be touches of pattern that remind you of the ironwork in Charleston, or images of Sea Oats to remind you of the Outer Banks.  The icons for a place can work to achieve this feeling, but what about a picture of that place?  Ok, not like a collection of postcards (oooh, that is a good idea, though!  I’m going to start thinking about that!), but how about a map?

Maps are really lovely–soft watery blues, graphic lines, bits of pattern, names of places you adore.  They are abundant, inexpensive and easy to turn into something even more beautiful.  If you’re feeling crafty we have links to a number of tutorials, but vendors on etsy have some sweet offerings too.  Just a touch in the centerpiece, in your invitation, in the bridesmaid’s bobby pins, the groom’s cufflinks, and suddenly you have a very cohesive theme that is all about where you’re from, where you met…or all the places you hope to go together.

This pinboard is so full of ideas!  There are even more, as well as links to sources on our Pinterest Board.  For more place inspired invitation ideas, check out our Signature Collection at Paperwhites.

Best part of my job? I never *actually* have to choose what kind of wedding to go with.  One day I can be all about the whispery pinks and cloudy blues, the next I can focus on the black wedding dress and dramatic black and white flowers.  Today I have a need for a burst of energy to get me going into a busy week.  A no-fail aromatherapy helper for me is always a whiff of citrus.  I love the jolt of energy that lemon or grapefruit can give you.  That sunny smell can bring a bit of brightness to even the cloudiest (Mon)day.

Here I bring you a palette of sunny oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits to add some zest (ha!) to your week.  The inspiration can be literal, like with that fantastic cake with whole fruits or in that centerpiece with the fruit slices accenting the vases.  Or the inspiration can be just taking the aspect of color, like those fantastic Tux and Tulle ties or that amazing ModCloth Dress (sadly, not available, but a good seamstress should be able to help you out if you love it!).  It reminds me of the unlikely combination of candy, Saturday morning cereal, Lily Pulitzer, and fun.  What do you think?  Is this the tone you’d go with for your sweet day?

More sunny and sweet ideas, as well as sources for these images, can be found on our Pinterest Board.

It’s a quiet weekend around here, so I’m thinking of a million projects I want to tackle.  The one bad thing about Pinterest is that I end up with more crafty stuff to do than there is time in a hundred lifetimes.  I can only choose one for this weekend, though. And I think it’s going to be turning something into a chalkboard.  It’s crazy easy to do–we’ve got a link to a tutorial on our Pinterest Board–and you can make it in any color.  I think I’ll go with the standard black/slate for an ever changing art piece in my living room

Chalkboards like these are popping up everywhere!  They’re easy to find in shops, they’re easy to make with a little bit of time and a well ventilated area.  Regardless of how you track them down, they add a little bit of fun and whimsy to your party (and answer the eternal question of “Is that my drink?”)  They offer endless options for personal expression or art work.  How about one in a photo booth?  Or a cake shaped chalkboard centerpiece? How would you use one?

Sources for these ideas and lots of other great DIY projects, check out our Pinterest Board!

While roaming around Pinterest playing “Fantasy Wedding,” I stumbled upon instructions for how to easily peel hard boiled eggs.  I cannot state the following strongly enough:

This is REVOLUTIONARY INFORMATION in my life.

My skills in peeling hard boiled eggs are rudimentary at best.  I always end up with very unpretty, pockmarked eggs that are suitable for egg salad, but not for deviled eggs.  It’s a shame, too, because they’re always a hit at parties, lunches, brunches, Bunco, game night, tailgating, weddings, weddings, weddings…

They have that coveted retroish-yet-elegant-yet-comfort-food-yet-light-yet-substantial-yet-modern-yet-retroish vibe that make them perfect for any occasion depending on how you dress them up.  And there are SO many ways to dress them up!    Our Deviled Egg Variations Pinterest Board has a couple dozen variations (including a link to the Cadbury Creme Deviled Egg!!), but here are some links to some interesting options that might be a  welcome addition to your upcoming Super Bowl Bash or Oscar Night Shindig or your engagement party/shower/wedding celebration.  They aren’t too hard, so they will make you look very kitchen capable, even if you’re just getting past boiling water in your culinary skills.   I’m trying the Caesar Salad Eggs recipe this weekend, but I’m so intrigued by the Pimento Chesse version that I may give those a go.  Southern to the core.

Row 1: Creamy Deviled Eggs from Martha Stewart, Dirty Deviled Eggs from Martha Stewart
Row 2: Caesar Salad Deviled Eggs from Smitten Kitchen, Avocado Deviled Eggs from Eating Well, Living Thin
Row 3: Anchovy Deviled Eggs from Bon Appetit, Sriracha and Wasabi Deviled Eggs from Food and Wine
Row 4: PIMENTO CHEESE DEVILED EGGS!! from Brandy Boils Over, Pickled Beet Deviled Eggs from Epicurious, Caviar Topped Deviled Quail’s Eggs from Fine Cooking

How beautiful is kale?  How stunning is broccoli?  I had never thought of it before, but my eyes have been opened!

Vegetables of all kinds are perfect for wedding decorations and inspirations.  Here I focus on the kale and broccoli, but carrots, artichokes and eggplant all work brilliantly, too.  The word “harvest” often equates with rich autumn colors, but here I look at some of the spring garden colors.  These colors are all natural, yet stunning and vibrant.  The shapes are interesting and bold, especially that spiky, fractal looking broccoli Romanesco.  Vegetables are organic symbols of abundance, the results of hard work and good fortune. I’ll admit that it’s an unusual theme, but your guests will notice the beauty first and then do the double take.

“Is that…kale?  I had no idea it was so beautiful!”

More veggie wedding ideas to celebrate the riches of our world are on our Earth’s Bounty Pinterest Board.  I’m thinking the eggplant earrings need to be harvested for my jewelry box.