Inspired By Plaid and Houndstooth - Our Favorite Prints for Fall!

The air is crisp, boots have been dusted off and the smell of pumpkin spice is everywhere.  Its fall and we are thoroughly enjoying all this season has to offer.  We are busy working on a fall inspired event and enjoying mixing warm colors, textures and patterns.  We've decided to incorporate plaid into this project and it has made us realize how much we are loving plaid at the moment!  We can't say too much yet, but we thought we'd share the inspiration board with you.  The concept is "Rich Fall Meets Warm Boho".  Our vision is rustic, elegant, bohemian, warm, cozy and indulgent.  This unexpected color palette (mustard... where have you been all our lives?!?) is stunning and so very "fall"!

We love plaid because it comes in so many colors and sizes and if done right can be oh so chic!  Another one of our favorite fall patterns is houndstooth.  Although it is classic and has been around for quite some time, it seems to be making a big comeback this fall.  It is everywhere - and for good reason!  It is simple yet bold, classic yet modern and equally appropriate on both men and women.  These two prints are the perfect addition to your holiday entertaining designs.  You can incorporate them in a big way or subtly - whatever suits your fancy.  Below are a few of our favorite ways to use plaid and houndstooth in both decor and at events.

We love these place settings.  The top setting's houndstooth napkin is the perfect touch and looks fantastic agains the tribal linen.  The lower setting's plaid placemat is holiday festive but in an understated elegant way.  We love it!

Photos courtesy of Glitter (houndstooth and tribal print) Everything Fabulous (plaid)

Plaid bridesmaid dresses are not common, but we think they are super cool.  We especially love the large plaid because it is so unexpected.  Consider wearing something like this to a holiday party this season.

Photos courtesy of Bride Power (single model) and Elizabeth Anne Designs (bride with bridesmaids)

We love the simplicity of the blue plaid napkin tied with an orange bow on the place setting.  Blue gingham is featured in the photo on the right.  Gingham is plaids adorable cousin.  Although typically more appropriate during spring and summer months.  We do however, feel the blue gingham paired with the orange cocktail makes for a very "fall" appropriate combination.

Photos courtesy of Ruffled (place setting) and (drink)

Oh houndstooth.  Isn't it lovely?!  The bow tie shown below is perfection and the favor bags couldn't be cuter.

Photos courtesy of Wedding Chicks (bow tie) and Ruffled (escort cards)

These invitations are so striking and unexpected.  Whether used for a wedding, holiday party or any other celebration, we'd love to get something like this in the mail!

Photo courtesy of Hey Wedding Lady (houndstooth) and Rustic Wedding Chic (plaid)

Lastly, we wanted to share with you a few chic ways to incorporate plaid and houndstooth in your own home holiday decor.  These would make great gifts as well!

Photos courtesy of William Sonoma (plaid plates) and Joss & Main (houndstooth pillows)

xoxo,

The Sterling Team

Inspired by All White Weddings & Events!

Spring is in full force for Sterling Engagements and we have been busy bee's prepping for all our amazing Spring and Summer weddings.  But with all the chaos, I still find myself more inspired then ever even by just seeing a window display or reading a magazine.  It's incredible how inspiration just magically appears in the most unconventional of ways and I always challenge myself with what I want to do with it.

Today, I had to share one of my favorite looks with you as we have several designs inspired by this coming up that are very white!!!!  There's something so pure and serene about all white.  It could be simply designed or extraordinarily over the top, either direction always ends in one result, truly stunning!

Whether it's an all white wedding or event, everything white always excites my mind and with that being said... I have to share a few of my favorite images that I've been lusting after lately.

I love the lighting installations on this one.  Notice how on the actual tabletop it's more simple and understated but adding that extra design element from above just takes it to a whole new level!

Photo courtesy of  Bridal Banter

Again, simple but elegant with a more understated ceiling installation.  When you are designing with an all white palette it doesn't always have to be or need to be over the top and this image shows us that...  Yet view how beautiful it is!


 

Photo courtesy of Damon Tucci Photography

Then of course we go over the top and look how amazing that can be!  It's whimsical, romantic and oh so angelic.  I just adore this ceremony setup.
  

Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

So classic, so timeless, so garden romantic!


Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

 I just love how the fabric draping begins from the very top of the ceiling.  It makes such a difference to the eye... I also love the potted arrangements flanking the sides while they still have a more simple tie back in combination with it.  So beautiful!

 Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

This image just makes me want to drift away right now to Palm Springs where the event actually took place!  It's stunning, modern, elegant and sexy!  Both the acrylic columns and the covered ones add such great dimension to this look.  Dimension and texture are always a favorite of mine...

 Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

 I just adore this period!  There's obviously a lot going on between the candles and the lighting plus the florals with the textured linens... but events like this whisk you away to a far away place, a happy place.  A place where guests are just enamored with their surroundings and that's an incredible experience to provide.

 Photo courtesy of Once Wed

I love the balance of this cake.  How it's a heavier base with roses and as you go further up it gets lighter and more simple.  Yet it still has just the right amount of detail to wow you.

Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

Again the most simple of tabletops with all the action above eye level to blow you away!  Just extraordinary!

 Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

I love everything mirror, so of course this one's in my top 3 of the bunch!  From floor to ceiling it's just incredible!

Photo courtesy of  Unique Bridal Dresses

I love all the different white textures going on here.  Controlling the lighting with blue and even purple hues when doing an all white palette is always breathtaking as you can see below!
 

Photo courtesy of Shawna Yamamoto Event Design

Today I'd like to try something different.  I'm going to end this post with a challenge.  I challenge you to get inspired this week over something unconventional.  Let something out of the ordinary or that you find in a unique way inspire you and be creative with it!  Creativity for myself is just there.  It's very apparent everywhere I look, design, touch and feel.  For some, they relate, for others it's more of a challenge than that.  Push yourself to be inspired and be creative with it this week.  Let us know what you find and what you do by commenting below.  I'd love to see you push outside your comfort zone whether it's for your wedding or event, professionally or even personally and do something amazing with it.  I can't wait to check back and hear what you've done... =)

Inspired by Lavender!

Aloha from Hawaii!  After an incredibly successful Spring and Summer season, the bulk of our busy season has calmed this week allowing me to take a quick breather in Maui.  So grateful for a little much needed rest and relaxation and of course beautiful inspiration too!

Earlier this week, very early in the morning we traveled to the Haleakala National Park to watch the sunrise and then headed to an amazing breakfast at Kula Lodge.  If you plan to travel to Maui anytime soon, I highly suggest this experience... it was incredible!  You can also bike down the park which I've heard from others is pretty epic as well.

Anyway, following our delicious breakfast I begged for a detour to the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm and it was just stunning.  I felt ever so inspired by this magical place so today's post is dedicated to all things Lavender!

I had to start with this beautiful photo of the actual farm we visited.  I was thrilled to learn that they can accommodate intimate weddings onsite under the gazebo seen in this photo. Wouldn't this be the perfect destination for your Maui wedding followed by a fun reception at the beach...

Photo courtesy of Hawaii FYI

Love this shot.  How sweet is the draped tulle with the mini pots of lavender?  I'm also swooning over this bicycle!  What a perfect backdrop for a bride and groom or even a couple flower girls with ring bearers. 

 Photo courtesy of Pinterest

I also love this place vintage place setting!  The lace placemat over the lilac colored linen with that country plate and the lavender sprigs just take it over the top for me.  Not to mention the super sweet paper flower with the personalized copper name!

Photo courtesy of Heart Love Weddings

Not to mention this blush peach signature cocktail with the lavender sprigs!  I adore the texture the sprigs add and the way these colors compliment each other.

 Photo courtesy of Indulgy

 These bouquets must have the most relaxing and delicious scent.  I bet you'd like to have the aisle seat as these maids walk down it! 

  Photo courtesy of All Things Lavender

The perfect quaint country wedding couldn't be complimented without something extra sweet too right?  How about this lovely lavender inspired Croquembouche?  Pretty sweet right!

Photo courtesy of Swoon

Love this look for a lounge grouping, long belly bar cocktail table or even kings tables as part of a cluster that sweeps down the middle of the table.  The lavender and wheat grass combo is so natural and graceful.   

Photo courtesy of She's Not The Marrying Kind

Very tiny but lovely escort cards with a little goodness tied in.  Love these little ones and I'm sure they smell amazing too!

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Such a perfect bouquet for that rustic wedding at a winery or just outdoors period.  I can see this in the garden, in a field, even at the right destination like Santa Barbara.  So beautiful and so soothing by scent if you can imagine...  

Photo courtesy of Bouquet Bridal

Isn't this just the sweetest of bouts?  I love how delicate it looks but at the same time somewhat complex in texture and neutral with color.  

Photo courtesy of Snippet and Ink

By far one of my favorite photos in the bunch.  Not just for my love for bows but also the texture, the color and again the beautiful aroma this would welcome your guests with!

 Photo courtesy of Etsy

Lavender is also one of the "it" flavors currently in the dessert world.  You'll find it paired with vanilla or a butter cake, with blueberries, honey and even some with chocolate! 

Photo courtesy of Wedding Decor 

I love this!  It can be just the perfect reminder of your inspired by lavender wedding day by giving them a sweet satchel to remember it by.  

Photo courtesy of GCDSpa

Hope these lovely images and ideas inspire you like the fields did for me in lovely Maui.  It's paradise out there but weaving a little lavender in your day is something you can do locally or for your destination wedding anywhere around the world. 

Star's Favorite Things: Perfect Peonies

The Peony is without a doubt my favorite flower!  With their full and fluffy rounded bloom, peonies ooze romance.  They are sweet, elegant, sophisticated, and oh so versatile.  Peonies are the perfect flower for a intimate garden wedding, yet are equally as lovely showcased at a large glitzy affair.  According to The Flower Expert, peonies symbolize "a happy life, happy marriage, good health and prosperity."  That being said, I can't think of a more perfect wedding flower!  I prefer the gorgeous simplicity of peonies bunched together; however, they also look beautiful when combined with other flowers.  

Drew Barrymore recently used a variety of colorful peonies in her bridal bouquet for her June wedding in Montecito. 

Photo courtesy of People Magazine

Here are some other bridal bouquets bursting with perfect peonies

Photo courtesy of Plants World

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Anne Designs

Photo courtesy of LI Weddings

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Photo courtesy of Wedding Bee

Photo courtesy of One Wed

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo courtesy of Arabia Weddings

And for the Groom...

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

I love these centerpieces showcasing gorgeous peonies too!

Photo courtesy of The Posh Event

Photo courtesy of Glendalough Manor Bride

Photo courtesy of Bridge Water Gardens

Photo courtesy of Fiance 2 Wife

I love the simplicity of a single peony adorning this wedding cake, it is just gorgeous.  I also love the ribbon background... I love ribbons in general.  Check out my previous blog post "Smitten with Ribbons" for more ribbon love!

Photo courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes  

As you can see, I'm in peony love and am thrilled they are more accessible than ever.  They seem to be everywhere from grocery stores, to farmer's markets, to road side flower stands so you can enjoy them not just at your wedding or special event but also in your kitchen window.  I love every color, but if I had to choose, I think light pink peonies would have to be my favorite!  Check out the beautiful bunch I just picked up from my local grocer.  Simply perfect!

Always,

Star

Inspired by Keep Calm And....

Last May we had the pleasure of planning Brandie + Ede's big day at The Parker in Palm Springs and one of her most favorite wedding elements was a Keep Calm Party On Banner.  So today more than ever, I've noticed an increasingly large amount of Keep Calm Banners, Posters and Fun that continue to pop up.  Here are a few of my favorites!

 

  Photo courtesy of Zank You

 

Reach for the starts and follow your dreams too!  Love the background of this one.... Makes me want to finger paint a little...

 

 

All photos above courtesy of Pinterest

Love this one too!  How cute would it be to have this on your big day?  So sweet for a rustic wedding too!  I love wood signs as you know.  I'm sure we could have our favorite sign maker Nana of Family Attic Shoppe make something like this up...   

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Of course a personal favorite one, for those of you that don't know about my deep seeded love for coffee and making coffee all the time... 

 

 Photo courtesy of Lord Noel and Lady Jacqueline

 Photo courtesy of Memoranda

Photo courtesy of Tux and Tales Photography 

   Photo courtesy of Dog Art Today

And of course... just for fun and not to be taken seriously.... Had to include this one in the mix!

 Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Hope you enjoyed some of these fun and sassy images as much as I enjoyed picking out my favorites to share... If you were to create one, what would your Keep Calm and.... say?  Feel free to comment and let us know!