postcards and pretties

{#191} sweet valentine

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Is everyone feeling extra lovely and bubbly today? I just love this sweet color palette of red and lavender. It's totally unexpected but works perfectly together.

{colors} red and lavender

{photos} place setting {jose villa} dress {monique lhuillier} arrows {design sponge} program fan {anushe low photography} couple {laura leslie photography} cocktails {martha stewart weddings} invitation suite {martha stewart weddings} girl {elizabeth messina} shortbread cookies {martha stewart weddings} lips and centerpieces {martha stewart weddings}

photography giveaway winner!

2012-02-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

The votes have been counted and this year's 13:13 Photography Giveaway winning couple is the animal loving, Meghan + Jeremy!! Congrats!!!

{weekly recap}

2012-02-12T12:59:00.004-05:00

Hi friends! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I'm sorry for being MIA the last couple of days but I'm still trying to get things together after returning from my business trip. Ok! Who am I kidding... I'm totally swamped with work. Check back tomorrow to see who the 13:13 Photography giveaway winner is and if all runs well,posts should be up and running by Tuesday! xo

in case you missed it...

{#190} Bee Mine Inspiration Board
Fly away with me shoot
Louise + Brad's Parisian engagement shoot
Printable Valentine's Day cards

{photo} easy dreamer photography via green wedding shoes

{diy} printable valentine's day cards

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

I received the sweetest email from Amy from Thank you cards shop who wanted me to share these super cute and free Valentine's Day printable cards. There are 18 different designs to choose from.

Visit Amy's blog here.

{engagement} louise + brad's parisian love

2012-02-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hands down, we can all agree that Paris is the most romantic city in the world. It's pure magic and here's Louise, the adorable bride to be sharing her story with us..."Four days before our 2 year anniversary, I was helping my friend move into her new apartment. After a few hours of work, we decided to take a break by going for a drink. During the car ride, my friends blindfolded me, turned up the music, and drove around for a while so I wouldn’t know where we were going. They finally parked and led me out of the car blindfolded to the spot where Brad was waiting. He had spent hours setting up a tent with lights, flowers, and candles in the park where we went on our first date. It was beautiful! Our song, 'Then' by Brad Paisley, was playing as I walked up and removed the blindfold. Brad got down on one knee, said some really sweet things that made me cry, and I said yes!

Before the proposal, we had planned a trip to Paris in December so Brad could meet my French grandparents and see where I spent my summers growing up. My grandparents live in a suburb of Paris. Once we got engaged, I had the idea that we should have our engagement pictures taken while we are in Paris. It would be so unique and romantic! I searched for engagement photographers in Paris and found Juliane Berry, an American wedding & engagement photographer living in Paris. I loved her style and we quickly arranged to meet in Paris for an engagement session. It was a great way for Brad to see the city for the first time because we went all over Paris during our session. We shot at Place Vendome, Place de la Concorde, Le Jardin des Tuileries, Le Louvre, Pont des Arts, Ile de la Cité, La Seine, Notre Dame and an outdoor café on the Ile Saint Louis.

I got the idea to leave a lovelock on the Pont des Arts from Pinterest and Juliane’s blog. I kept seeing it everywhere and I knew we HAD to do it! Once you fasten your lock to the bridge, you toss the keys into the Seine River below, symbolizing your eternal love. So romantic!

Not only was Juliane a wonderful photographer who made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera, she was an excellent tour guide. She recommended a restaurant, Chez Julien, where we had an amazing meal after our engagement session. I love how Juliane captured our personalities in the pictures. We don’t look posed or too serious.

I love that I was able to show Brad where I spent so much of my childhood and teenage years. I was able to share a different part of myself with him. I used to go with my family, so it was nice that I got to experience the romantic side of Paris with him. I also liked seeing my grand-père, who doesn’t speak English, and Brad, who doesn’t speak French, communicate with each other using hand gestures and the few English and French words they did know. I like that they made an effort to communicate and get to know each other despite the language barrier."

{Photography} Juliane Berry Photography

{shoot} fly away with me

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Loveis definitely in the air with today’s adorable shoot sent by Lottie of CoutureEvents. This sweet and staged proposal took place at the 6^th annualCelina Balloon Festival in Texas.Here’s what Lottie had to say about the shoot. “The day began with a picnicstyle setting of sweets. The table evoked happiness with bright flowers inturquoise mason jars, a beautiful turquoise vintage radio and yummy lollipops.This is where Tommy popped the question to his love, Cerly. From picnicbaskets, globes and streamers, the shoot lacked nothing in sweetness and charm.Stationary details included letterpress cupcake toppers, bottle tags and “Fly Awaywith Me” banner. Once the couple finished up there, they headed to see the hotair balloon sights. They watched the sun set and cuddled as darkness fell.”

{Photography} Jonathan Ivy Photography

{Design & Concept} Couture Events by Lottie

{Vendor Coordination} After Yes

{Stationery Design} Elefant Press

{Sweet treats} SugarBee Sweets

{Vintege Rentals} Rent My Dust

{Hair & Makeup} Lashes & Curls by Cerly

{Calligraphy} The Left Handed Calligrapher

{Floral} Nest Floral Studio

{#190} bee mine

2012-02-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

I created this board last year for Megan of {Forget me Knot Weddings} and it still is one of favorites. I wanted to create something that still remained true to Valentine's Day but with a little twist. Love its clean and modern color palette of yellow, cream and taupe. These bright and cheerful colors also reminds me that Spring is just around the corner.

{colors} honey, cream, taupe

{photos} felt hearts {sewn natural} bridesmaids {union photography} heart cake toppers {sweet as candy} honey jar favor {creature comforts} button escorts {style guide} flower girl {martha stewart weddings} white dresser {decor 8} ribbon boutonniere {martha stewart weddings} marzipan bumblebee {martha stewart weddings}

meet the finalists...

2012-02-03T07:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends!! Hooray for the weekend!! I'm heading out of town next week for work and I need to pick up some last minute stuff for my trip. Don't worry, I have some great posts scheduled but enough about me let's get to the good stuff. I know that these three lucky couples are super excited today because they are this year's finalist for 13:13 Photography Giveaway. Ashley, Philip and I had a great time reading all the entries and now it's your turn to vote for your fave. The poll will open until Friday, February 10, 2012 at 5:00 pm. Good luck to the finalists!!

{ Meghan + Jeremy's story }

My fiancé and I grew up as next door neighbors…literally. His grandparents lived one house up from the house my family moved into! My parents moved a couple streets down, but growing up we were randomly a part of each others lives, in middle school he dated my friend and he, his friend and the two of us spent the summer riding (the boys were on bikes, my friend and I on horses). In high school ran with two VERY different crowds and didn't have much to do with each other. His mom married one of my high school best friends dads and he became her step-brother but still, we would only see each other randomly and weren't interested in each other. Fast forward a couple years (and a few broken hearts) later and we managed to reconnect while he was home from boot camp. When he left again we wrote to each other every day, when he got home we were inseparable, and the rest is history. We were hoping to wait until I was out of school and we had saved some money before getting married, but a few months ago after losing his grandma decided to push the wedding forward…way forward to this July. Everyday I spend the afternoon with his grandpa, he means so much to both of us, we want his grandpa to be able to enjoy and be a part of our wedding. We’re having our intimate, vintage, rustic wedding in Jeremy’s grandparents garden on Bainbridge Island, with our closest friends and family. I’m very fortunate to have some awesomely crafty bridesmaids, and an extremely talented mom to help make our day beautiful and special despite our $2000 budget. Besides promising to be together forever, photography is the most important part of the wedding to us. I absolutely ADORE Ashley and Phillips work. (Plus, we will do ANYTHING to get a great shot...whatever it takes!) To have 13:13 Photography be there to enjoy the most important day of our lives with us would mean the world to us! We are both bleeding heart animal lovers, if I could take in every dog, cat, horse, or other animal that needed a loving home I would. Since that is not an option for us we often donate food, supplies, and sponsor adoptions fees for our local humane society and do everything we can to help find homes for animals. Although we will register at a few places, we are asking our wedding guests to make donations to either the ASPCA or to our local animals shelter instead of buying us wedding gifts, every little bit helps!

{ DIY vision }

Pretty much everything about our wedding is going to be DIY due to our budget, but what makes our wedding unique is that we will be asking guests to donate to our local humane society instead of purchasing us wedding gifts.

{ Caroline + Tom's story }

Caroline and Tom met as neighbors attending UCSB and were friends for many years. It wasn't until Caroline graduated and began working at the State Assemblymember's office and Tom returned to get his Masters in Santa Barbara that they began dating. They did long distance for years as Tom moved to find work. He chose a job in San Francisco near where Caroline grew up. She followed him FINALLY and they have lived together for 2.5 years and are finally ready to tie the knot. His proposal was a complete surprise - he rented out a winery they love and proposed in a redwood grove with a ring he had designed secretly for months with her two best friends (complete with an orange sapphire hidden inside the band) then had Caroline's parents arrive for a picnic lunch. During this past year the couple has gone through a lot - Tom lost his father and his cousin (Erin was 30, Tom and Erin grew up as brother/sister) - so the wedding is even more important for the families to come together in joy and celebration.

{ DIY vision }

I purchased my dress at Priscilla's of Boston's going out of business sale for 70% off. It was the first time I had ever tried on dresses and I walked out with a dress! It is a strapless silk charmeuse gown (pic attached). Old St Hillarys is a beautiful historic landmark on the hill looking down on Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge and the city. It's beauty is in it's simplicity so we want to keep with that and let the setting speak for itself. The reception will be outside in the middle of hills at the base of Mt Tamalpais in a green valley. My favorite color is orange so I want that color to "pop"! I am thinking navy for the bridesmaid dresses and I would like to give the girls the options for different styles. We want the food to be simple, farmers market staples that are seasonal and for August and our area - thinking lots of stone fruit, fresh corn, tomato salad, etc. The veranda has a labyrinth that will serve as our dance floor. We traveled to Europe for Thanksgiving this year and we LOVE the white light strands that line the streets. We would like to recreate that lighting outside as night falls. Orange lights would be fun too! We are wine club members and love Santa Barbara and Sonoma County wine so will be purchasing wine for the next year. Another fun element I would like to incorporate would be - bears. Tom has grown a beard and as a joke we call each other Papa and Mama Bear - could be bear toppers on the cupcake tower (instead of traditional cake) or maybe a dancing bear at the ceremony!? We have many photos of the past 7 years and our childhood and would like to creatively display them at the reception as well. My big DIY project will be the escort cards that we want to write on flat stones that guests can take home and display in their gardens or window sills!

{ Megan + Tyler's story }

We work in Marketing and Advertising and we both obsess over details. We love well thought out design and want our wedding to be a reflection of our creative personalities. A few months back, we were asked to "model" as a bride and groom for an inspirational photo shoot. So, we have had practice being "bride and groom" once before, but this time it's for real! You can view photos of us and the shoot here. {Photography} Erica Ann Photography

{ DIY vision }

My fiance and I plan to get married in Portland, OR in the fall of 2012, we're looking at October 20th to be exact, but we're still narrowing down our venue options. We're looking for a venue that is a little offbeat (like us) we'd like a lofty space maybe with exposed brick and details that set it apart. My vision is a little nontraditional as well. I would like a neutral color palette wedding that has an organic, yet vintage feel to it. I'm thinking a lot of creams, rustic browns and some green succulents to break it up. Since we don't have a color per say, I want to focus on a "tweed theme" The men will wear tweed attire and the girls will have tweed accents that help pull it all together. Maybe we can even brand it as "tweed do".

The winning couple will be announced on Monday, February 13, 2012.

{shoot} fun & quirky love

2012-02-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

You are going to love this quickly love shoot. It's super fun and colorful. Magdalena, the lovely that styled this shoot shared her thoughts with us. "I love vespas and the whole 50’s to 60’sarea..... Therefore I collaborated with Joseph K Muscat Photography on creatingjust that.... a fun and quirky shoot. Wefound Scott whose passion is to restore oldvespas and he provided us with one of his beauties. From there I used some of my own vintagesuitcases and cameras to incorporate that feeling and era. I picked a funky pink paisley print fabricthat was used in the bow tie, headband and in the sweater pin. As well as somenew “vintage” frames. All the clothing are modern but have that feelingof quirky and vintage feeling.

For the picnic we used a “cake” of donuts with a bunting from the same fabric and some pink soda sipped thru straws. I love the fact that one of the donuts middle was shaped like a heart it was a great addition to the shoot."

{Photography} Joseph K. Muscat Photography

{Styling and prop styling} Oh So Chic Celebrations

{Vespa} Kewl Scooters

{Eye glasses} Boo Eyewear

{Bowtie, head band and the rosett pins} Sonia Kalcic

{Straws} Billiant Bash

{#189} valentine confetti

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I first shared this board on Branco Prata's blog but since it's one of my favorite Valentine boards, I just had to repost it here on P&P. I'm the first to admit I'm not the biggest lover of red but there's no escaping it this time of year. I wanted to keep everything pretty light and airy and only showcase the ruby red in details. How much do you love that bird's eye view of that table? Pretty awesome right? I love that black confetti!

{colors} ruby red, pale pink, light gray, confetti

{photos} red peony {kiss the groom} champagne glasses {simply bloom photography} shoe clips {ban.do} desserts buffet {rebecca thuss} table scape {lonny magazine} cake {the knot} sugar cubes {cox & cox} wine {martha stewart weddings} bridal party {our labor of love}

{pretty details} sugared fruit

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

sugared seckel pears {martha stewart weddings} sugared lemons {martha stewart weddings}

{ben dearnley}

chocolate chestnut wedding cake {martha stewart weddings}

{nate henderson via style me pretty}

I can't believe I totally forgot about this post. My intention was to post it back in December but it ended up getting lost in one of my computer files until now. I love this simple method from prettying up fruit for you wedding cake or centerpieces. With some beaten egg whites and sugar can transform the look of these sweet fruits.

{engagement} kara + rick

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thereis nothing I love more than couples who celebrate their love. Today’s engagement session was just Kara +Rick, beautiful scenery and their first piece of furniture they purchasedtogether. These stunning photos weretaken by David Lapham Photography. Here’s Kara with herstory on their engagement “Our engagement has been such an amazing time andwe really wanted pictures to capture this. So we contacted Dave Laphamwho was going to be in town a few months later and we ended up takingthese pictures in the town where the church was that we met at and closeto the house he proposed in. I did not know how beautiful this town wasuntil we reached this spot up on a hill. We were rushing to get it donebefore the sun went down but we certainly got the shots that Rick and Iwas hoping for. I begged Rick to bring the chair even though it wasabove 90 degree weather. This is our first piece of furniture that wepurchased to begin our life together. The pictures turned out incredibleand Dave did an amazing job. We are both so grateful that we are able tocapture the most beautiful moment in our lives thus far. Our wedding will be May 20, 2012 in Lakeland, FL.”

{Photography} David Lapham Photography

{weekly recap}

2012-01-29T10:45:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

Danielle + Jesse's sweet day after love shoot
January sponsors!
{Pretty Palette} Raspberry + Chocolate
Amy + Kyle's beach wedding
Madeline + Brian's lakeside engagement

{photo} Kat Braman Photography

{happy friday}

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Boy, am I'm excited to see this week come to an end. I'm still not feeling 100% from last week so I'm planning on sleeping in, vegging out in front of the TV and eating cake! Happy Weekend!

How to tie a bowtie
I'm smitten with vintage autumn wedding
These mini crepe flowers are darling
I want to make a bunch of these wallpaper lanterns
This wedding is pretty much perfect

{p.s.} Don't forget to enter the big Photography Giveaway!

{photo} veil & bow via southern weddings

{engagement} madeline + brian

2012-01-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

Madeline & Brian's love affair with water runs deep, so it was a no-brainer to do their engagement session at the beautiful St Croix river near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Brian is a professional fisherman, and although Madeline isn't naturally the outdoorsy type, over their nearly decade long courtship, Brian has taught her to love to great outdoors. The couple got engaged at the beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota, which is a 1+ million acre nature reserve, free of any motorized vehicles or boats. They spent a romantic few days canoeing and camping, surrounding by nothing but nature, before Brian popped the question. They couldn't even call anyone to tell them the news, being as there is no cell reception in this rural area! Because they got engaged on their canoe, it only made sense to incorporate it into their engagement session.

{Photography} Laura Ivanova Photography

{Cupcakes} Cocoa and Fig

{Shoes} Fendi pumps

{real wedding} amy + kyle

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's weddings like this one that has me craving from the upcoming warmer months. Amy + Kyle wedding was held in Melbourne Beach, Florida where Kyle is a pro surfer. The quaint ceremony in Melbourne Beach Community Chapel and the reception decor was Asian inspired. Amy crafted all of the adorable DIY details that made their day unique.

What was your favorite part of the day?

The best part of the day wasdefinitely our reception. It was great to see all of our friends and familyhaving a good time together. It made all the hard work worthwhile.

Any advice you would share with other brides?

Staring working on all the wedding logistics as soon as possible if you don’t hire a wedding planner. I never thought about the small details, like who will take home the stuff from the church after the ceremony, and who will bring the wedding signs, etc for pictures.

Whatinspired during your wedding planning?

I ended up changing my theme/inspirations several times. Itwasn’t until the wedding venue was picked that I settled on the theme. I reallytrusted my florist, Thallo. They were wonderful, and really helpedto pull together the details. My style is more traditional, while my husbandhas more modern tastes. The church was very traditional and the reception venuewas very modern, the florist did an excellent job, pulling the two together.

{Photography} Vitalic Photo

{Flowers} Thallo

{Ceremony} MelbourneBeach Community Chapel

{Reception} ChameleonFusion Restaurant

{pretty palette} raspberry + chocolate

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Such a pretty color palette to slowly allow us to transition from winter to spring.

{colors} raspberry, carnation, scabiosa, chocolate

{photos} hot chocolate and boutonniere {martha stewart weddings} socks {alexandra grablewski} table setting {mark davidson via the sweetest occasion}

{sponsor pretties} january

2012-01-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a little shout out to some of my amazing sponsors who come from all corners of the world and help support Postcards & Pretties. If you’re interested in becoming a Postcards & Pretties sponsor, email me for more information.

{Branco Prata} is run by two talents, Sofia and Andre. They work side by side in bringing you the best in design, stationery, flowers, photography.

{Belletristics} is a design studio specializing in printable wedding stationery for the do-it-yourself bride. You can choose their custom design services, ready made designs or mix and match different fonts and graphics to create your very own unique stationery.

{Ruby & Willow Design & Press} is an intimate design boutique run by Kate Holland, a paper obsessed gal who loves creating beautiful stationery for couples around the world.

{couples} danielle + jesse

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

What happens when you there isn't enough time on your wedding day to take as many intimate photos of you and your spouse? You have a mini shoot, of course! From the bride, Danielle... "While we got some gorgeous photos on our wedding day, we wanted to see if we could get even more creative shots without having to worry about ruining our wedding day attire or taking too much time away from our guests. Another reason is because you spend all that money on a dress or suit and you only get to wear it once? Where's the fun in that?! We also wanted to use the photos for personalized thank you cards for our guests. This was our third photo session together with Amanda, so the feel was a little more relaxed than the other two and I think our comfort with each other in front of the camera really shows in this shoot. It was a rainy/foggy New England day and we absolutely loved the photos in the fields of green grass."

{Photography} Boro Photos

{weekly recap}

2012-01-22T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hi there...sorry for being MIA the last couple of days but I was hit with worse migraine ever. Just thinking of turning on the computer on made it unbearable. Luckily, I'm feeling a bit better to leave you with this week's recaps. See you all on Monday!

Amy + Jarod's sweet book engagement session
{#188} Elegant Buttercream inspiration board
Kristin + Matt's Cape Cod Wedding
{Style} Beautiful Backs

{photo} elizabeth messina

{style} beautiful back

2012-01-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

Most of us focus our attention to the front of the dress- the pretty neckline, strapless or not but my attention always seems to go to the back. I love a beautiful back. I wasn't all the convinced with Bella's wedding dress in Breaking Dawn until I saw the back. Let's not forget when you are up there exchanging vows, your back is facing your guests so why not show them some lovely lace, blooming bud or pretty applique?

{photos} sergio mottola, whitney deal, sean flanigan, branco prata, anna campbell, elizabeth fillmore bridal, brea photography

{real wedding} kristin + matt's cape cod wedding

2012-01-18T04:30:00.000-05:00

You know what they say "Love overcomes all obstacles" especially hurricanes. After months and months of planning Kristin + Matt found their sweet Cape Cod wedding in Hurricane Irene's path. The couple along with their friends and family didn't let heavy winds and flooding stop them from exchanging vows.

Kristen + Matt even ran outside after their ceremony in the heavy winds to celebrate.

I love all the darling details in the wedding...

{Photography} Smitten Photography

{#188} elegant buttercream

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I was a bit obsessed with bright cheerful yellow weddings and don't get me wrong, I still love them but I see a softer more buttery yellow being seen in 2012 weddings.

{colors} buttercream, charcoal and linen

{photos} bouquet and cocktail {martha stewart weddings} couch {trouvais} yellow dress, flower girls {martha stewart weddings} vintage car {elizabeth messina} boutonniere {martha stewart weddings} cake {i am baker} napkins {martha stewart weddings}

{engagement} amy + jared

2012-01-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

There is something so sweet about today's engagement session from {Blest Photography}. For the first

time in P&P history we have the groom-to-be share how they met. "To summarize: when Amy andI first met on the plane down to Mexico City, she was reading my favorite bookof all time, Les Misérables. More or less, what went through my mindat that point was, "In a world of Twilight and Nick Sparks, it is extremely unusualand refreshing to see such a pretty girl reading such a stellar book." Andthe plane rides to and from Mexico City were the beginning of a buddingfriendship over the following months."

"During those months, wetalked a lot about books we liked. It is rare to find someone who will admit toa love of reading, and I really enjoyed talking with Amy about books, becausewhile we shared some favorites (like Les Mis), she also really expanded myreading palate. To be quite honest, I started borrowing books from her just soI'd have extra excuses to come see her at her apartment in Boone. In fact, theday I asked her out I was returning The BFG, by Roald Dahl. (On a sidenote, she had just woken up from a nap when I returned the book to her place,and I judged it to be unwise to ask her out while she was only mildly coherent.I called her later.)"

"So, in a nutshell, readingand books have been and continue to be a fun and integral part of ourrelationship. You'll find on that website some detail about the book I made herto execute "the Proposal." (Click HERE for more onthe proposal.)"

{Photography} Blest Photography

{weekly recap}

2012-01-15T10:22:00.003-05:00

in case you missed it...

Ana + Miguel's sweet love shoot
{In the studio with} Azulsahara
{Pretty Palette} Tangerine + Gold
Melinda + Matthew's wedding
13:13 Photography Giveaway ~ Engaged Couples enter HERE

{photo} Amelia Lyon Photography via 100 layer cake

happy friday

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! This week has been a good one. I feel like I've been floating on cloud 9. It's funny how sometimes everything falls in the right places. There's a huge photography giveaway happening now and I can't forget to mention that P&P was named Bride Tide's Top 100 Wedding Blogs.
Wishing you a great weekend!! xo

Love this stop motion lego engagement video
Glamorous bridal shower
Adore this music inspired wedding
A cute and quick diy to update a plain white button down shirt
This NZ engagement is so sweet

{photo} Jill Thomas Photography

{giveaway} free photography package from 13:13 photography

2012-01-12T05:30:00.000-05:00

I cannot express how excited I am about today's giveaway. Yesterday, we got a chance to see last year's winners of this amazing photography giveaway and today, Ashley + Philip of {13:13 Photography} are back to offer it once again.

{The photography giveaway package includes}

Full wedding day coverage by both Ashley + Phillip (up to 12 hours)
Option to include Sarah (13:13's super crafty, DIY specialist and event designer) also our associate photographer (3 photographers total)
Engagement or day after session (if travel is necessary for the engagement session, fees must be covered by winning couple)
Unlimited images
Editing and color correcting
Online proofing and ordering gallery
Fauxto-booth
DVD of high resolution images from wedding day and engagements session or day after session

{How to Enter}

Email your names and contact information with the subject {13:13 Photography Giveaway} to postcardsandpretties@gmail.com and CC ashley@1313photography.com by Wednesday, February 1, 2012 5 pm EST.
Provide your wedding date & location
Send a photo of yourselves
Share your unique, DIY vision for your wedding that your budget may not allow to have it captured {images would be helpful}

All images are courtesy of {13:13 photography}

p.s {fine print} Sponsored by 13:13 Photography • Copyright of images will belong to 13:13 Photography • Wedding must take place within 1 year of contest deadline (Wednesday, February 1, 2012 5 pm EST) • Winners must be willing to be featured on Postcards & Pretties as well as 13:13's website and may be required to become involved in future publicity • Prize is conditional that 13:13 is available on the date • Transportation and lodgings fees for the wedding (and engagement) must be covered by the winning couple • Postcards & Pretties and 13:13 Photography will select 3 finalists • The finalists’ entries will be posted on Postcards & Pretties and voted by the readers in an online poll posted on the blog • The finalist with the most votes will be the winner of the giveaway

"** open to international readers **"

{real wedding} melinda + matthew

2012-01-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

True story, I've been waiting to see this wedding for almost a year! You might remember Melinda + Matthew as the winning couple from last year's huge photography's giveaway. They won us over with their choice to support their creative friends and local small businesses. Let's revisit Melinda + Matthew's vision "The ideas are still germinating, but we envision friends playing music on a rustic stage, a fire in the fireplace, tables decorated with wheat grass and bamboo plates, and a small selection of delicious food. Instead of do-it-YOURself, we’re gravitating toward do-it-OURselves, choosing options that support our creative friends and local small businesses, such as: renting the historic Gild Hall in the artist community of Arden, Delaware; brainstorming a low-cost, handmade wedding dress with a seamstress friend; providing locally brewed beer from Dock Street Brewery; ordering carrot cake from the West Philly “Carrot Cake Man,” who hawks his amazing $1 cupcakes on street corners; setting up a registry with a potter to add to our collection of unique, handmade dishes; and maybe (maybe!), if the budget allows, hiring a rapidly rising Mexi-Americana folk band that we’ve followed since we first saw them at a friend’s house concert. I want to hand-print each invitation with old metal typeface and string up excessive amounts of garland made from upcycled sheet music. He wants to build unusual wooden planters for the tables and find inexpensive ways to beautify every corner."

"When we made our initial list of “must-haves” for our wedding, I immediately said “amazing photography!” envisioning artistic compositions that would create a vivid memory of the day’s details. But the reality of planning a $12,000 wedding means that we have to trim every possible expense and it looks more and more like hiring a top-notch photographer won’t make the cut. So here’s to photography give-aways and the glimmer of hope that all things might be possible."

What wasyour favorite part of the day?

"Oh my, it's hard to pick a favorite part. Everything waswonderful and we had so much fun we were ready to do it all over again the nextweekend. I guess if we had to pick, we both feel like the ceremony stands out.We were standing next to each other holding hands, listening to meaningfulwords and beautiful music from special people in our lives, looking out andseeing all of our family and friends supporting us. It was really a powerfulmoment and a wonderful way to transition into this new stage of ourrelationship."

Any advice you would share with other couples?

"The best advice we got, which we would absolutely pass along, is to designate someone else to manage logistics on the wedding day itself. Even if you're doing all of the planning yourself, regardless of how low-key your plans or limited your budget, pick one person you trust and give them the to-do list for the wedding day. We were so grateful to be able to relax and just enjoy ourselves.

The next advice we would give is to fill the day with people and things you care about. It doesn't need to be extravagant or turn out exactly as you'd imagined -- just involve the people you love and the things that are meaningful to you in your planning and it will be perfect.

Also, from one perfectionist bride to another, don't try to do it alone! I loved planning the wedding with Matthew: he was particularly good at brainstorming fantastic ideas, while I worked a lot on logistics and little details. We made the most of our respective strengths, had fun laughing at the especially ridiculous ideas, and ended up feeling like the day truly reflected who we are together -- which is, after all, the point. "

What inspired your wedding planning?

"Matthew proposed. :) Ok, seriously... We decided very early on in our planning that since even a low-budget wedding required spending a significant amount of money, we wanted to put our money where our hearts are. And since we are both artists and musicians, we decided to support the many creative people we know. My dress was made by a seamstress friend; the flowers were designed by a woman who used to work in my grandfather's flower shop; another friend created a registry of handmade pottery; our venue was a non-profit performance space in an artist community; our cake and beer came from vendors in our own neighborhood; we had friends perform music during the ceremony; we hired the band we first saw together to play our reception. So everything ended up reflecting our personalities and interests rather than conforming to any particular tradition. And it was FUN. Having so many great people involved meant every step of the process was fun."

"We feelvery (VERY!) grateful to Postcards & Pretties and to 13:13 Photography forsponsoring the photography contest. For starters, it made us and everyone weknow really excited about our wedding months ahead of time. But it also turnedout that Ashley, Philip and Sarah were absolutely wonderful to work with. Wecouldn't have imagined a better photography experience and feel honored to haveshared our day with them. So thank you!"

{Photography} 13:13 Photography

{pretty palette} tangerine + gold

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today's pretty palette was inspired by this year's pantone color pick, tangerine tango. It's fun, bright and I can't wait to see it make its way in 2012 weddings.

{colors} tangerine, coral, taupe, gold

{photos} pom pom stirrers {martha stewart weddings} necklace {reasons to breath} metallic backdrop {oh happy day} heels {jose villa}

{in the studio with} azulsahara

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

Name/Company:

Cristina Pennefather of Azulsahara

Location:

Madrid, Spain

How did you get started?

I am a photographer and designer. Three years ago a close friend of mine got married and she asked me to design her wedding invitations. I found the task challenging and fascinating! The invitations were a great success and family and friends encouraged me to start designing wedding invitations and stationery professionally. In 2008 our studio, Azulsahara, was launched. Since then the number of clients has gradually increased, with orders from all over the world!

Where do you go for inspiration?

I am fascinated by art, textures, materials and colors. I like combining them to come up with creative and original designs. I travel a lot and get lots of ideas from other cultures, then I work on these ideas to create Azulsahara´s unique style.

What is your signature style?

Original, unique and creative wedding invitations. Elegant designs which go from the more classic and vintage to the more chic and trendy, and exotic! We combine modern designs with traditional handcrafted techniques.

What is your favourite spot in your studio?

Our showroom, which is where we display all the work we produce in cozy and cute ways, like wooden boxes, crystal jars, baskets..... surrounded by vases with flowers. It also has a lot of light and opens onto a lovely garden with a terrace!

Do you have a current favorite color palette or wedding trend?

At the moment I am designing wedding invitations which are a fusion between a classic style and the influence of Asian art.

Where do you see your business in five years?

We hope to go on designing unique and beautiful wedding stationery that makes couple's weddings a very special day all around the world. I also see myself working with other professionals such as wedding planners, as it is challenging and gratifying to design wedding stationary with specific themes, colours etc that match couples personalities and fulfill their idea of their dream wedding.

Finish the sentence

I can´t live without a large cup of coffee at 7am, my Mac , delicious food, and a long walk in the countryside with my dog!

{couples} ana + miguel

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

I love the determination of some couples. Ana + Miguel had their heart set on having Andre from {Branco Prata} as their wedding photographer but unfortunately he was already booked. A few months later, they headed up to Porto with their wedding props in hand and decided on a dreamy love shoot instead.

{Photography} Branco Prata

{weekly recap}

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

Vintage 1930s engagement
Sweet beach elopement
{#187} Pretty Glam inspiration board

photo {photography by anjuli}

{happy friday} + giveaway winner

2012-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! Was everyone's week slow and dragging like mine was? I really hate going back to the grind after the holidays. Don't you? I unfortunately have to work this weekend so taking down my Christmas tree will have to wait. Any exciting plans for this weekend?

favorite links of the week...

You saw the elopement here but did you see the part 1?
A kiss is just a kiss.
It's official, 2012 is going to be full of color.
So special and sentimental.

{p.s.} The winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway is Courtney and Phil who said "I'd wear this dress...EVERYWHERE!!! It's adorable :)" Congrats! Please email me with you information

{p.s.s} Stay tuned next week for a huge giveaway.

photo {jen lauren grant}

{#187} pretty glam

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

With all the engagements going on this holiday season, I wanted to create a board that would work perfectly for a rehearsal dinner or wedding. This has to be my favorite palette- a barely there blush with smokey gray. and hints of sparkle and glam.

{colors} blush, silver, white
{photos} dress {planet blue} table {kt merry} cake {martha stewart weddings} couple and drink stirrer {martha stewart weddings} chalkboard, cake platters {rinne allen} shell salt cellar {martha stewart weddings} sandals {9to5 chic}

{real wedding} magalie + mike's beach elopement

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today real wedding is pretty special to me. It's from a fellow blogger and friend, Magalie from The Demoiselle. I was so excited that she was willing to share her wedding with us on P&P.

Take it away, Magalie... ?A big hello to all you Postcard & Pretties readers out there. I'm thrilled to be sharing one of the best moments of my life with a friend and blogger who keeps me inspired on a daily basis. It was February 16th when we learned the Empire State Building Observatory only holds weddings for 14 couples once annually on the 14th of February. There went the only site in NYC we could picture ourselves getting hitched. Onward to Plan B...

For Christmas he had surprised me with a mid-winter escape to Casa Laguna in Laguna Beach and we were scheduled to fly out the following week on the February 24th. In eight days I found a stunningly sweet site overlooking the ocean, an Officiant, a driver, the best Laguna Beach florist ever and my wardrobe. Did I mention I also designed my own ring? It's astounding what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it.

For me, eloping was a no-brainer because it meant no worries about the guest list or the bouquet

toss or anything other than the two of us. For him, the instant gratification and adventure of it all

was impossible to resist. At the heart of the decision was a focus on the life journey we’re beginning

together."

Our wedding day was momentous but it also felt like happenstance. It was kismet...simply meant to be.

In that moment and every day since, we fit.

A special thanks to Jen Lauren Grant who’s incredible energy and photographic talent was indispensible on the big day.

{Photography} Jen Lauren Grant

Don’t miss Part I of The Demoiselle’s beautiful wedding!

{giveaway} shabby apple

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

I can't tell you how excited I am to kick off 2012 with a giveaway. Today is the day to enter to win this adorable Shabby Apple dress. Just got engaged for the holiday? This dress would be perfect for your engagement shoot or rehearsal dinner. Shabby Apple is an online boutique that sells dresses and apparel for all types of women. They have so many cute and affordable women’s dresses that are perfect for any occasion. Good luck!

{How to enter}

~ Leave a comment on the blog where you'd wear the "Aurelia" dress if you won.

For additional entries: leave a separate comment for each additional entry {already follow or like, let us know}

~ follow Postcards & Pretties on Twitter
~like Shabby Apple on Facebook

~tweet this giveaway “ I ♥ #giveaways!! I just entered to win the "Aurelia" dress from @shabbyapple on @postcrdsprettie http://ow.ly/8gZIX "

Giveaway ends ~~January 5, 2012 at 5 pm EST.~~ Giveaway has ended!

Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Giveaway is open to us readers only.

~*~

Shabby Apple is also offering 10% off discount to all P&P readers until February 2, 2012.

Use promo code: PostcardsandPretties10off

{engagement} amber + johnny

2012-01-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012!! There is no denying that today's couple is completely in love with each other. Amber + Johnny's vintage 1930s inspired engagement shoot had me smitten from the moment I first opened my inbox. I can't get enough of the couple's style, gorgeous locations and that vintage 1939 Buick.

The shoot started off in Exiley’s nursery in Sewell, NJ to Penn Treaty park in Philadelphia and topped off the night with some cocktails at the Ranstead Room.

From Amber "We knew that we did not want typical engagement photos and were looking for a photographer to help us create something theatrical. We knew that Maria was the photographer for us when her eyes lit up to this idea. She had the vision of the shoot and what she was looking for before we even left her office from our first meeting! Maria suggested the 1920's/1930's time period and we fell in love with the idea. Because she is so creative, we let her take control and followed her lead from the costumes to the car to the locations... it was all amazing! Our favorite photos and part of the shoot was towards the very end when we were in the restaurant, The Ranstead Room. We love the photos of us in the booth and in the street outside of the restaurant. We looked and felt so glamorous... like movie stars! We had so much fun the day of the shoot and were sad when it was over... we wanted to wake up and do it all over again the next day! We have been obsessed with the photos since we saw them and are so happy with Maria's vision!"

{Photography} Maria Mack Photography

{Stylist} Rob Paluso

{Prop Styling} Maria Mack

{Hair/Make Up} B. Wilson

{Custom head piece} Cori Hutcherson

happy 2012

2012-01-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

{Top 10 of 2011}

photo: This is Glamorous

{happy friday}

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! I've been playing hookie this week with the blog. I gave myself a last minute mini vacation from P&P to enjoy the holidays and the last days 2011. Hopefully you enjoyed the Top 10 lists this week and once again I want to give a big virtual hug to each and every single on of you.

Happy New Years! See you all next year. xo

photo {frog prince paperie}

{top 10 of 2011} inspiration boards

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of sad that this is the last official post of 2011. It's been quite a journey and I've had a great time. Thank you for your comments, encouragements and friendship.

Did your favorite inspiration board make the list?

{ No. 1 } White Washed Autumn

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{ No. 2 } Love in the Garden

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{ No. 3 } Paris & Pistachio

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{ No. 4 } Spring Picnic

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{ No. 5 } Cinnamon & Coral

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{ No. 6 } Mexican Margarita

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{ No. 7 } Amber + Lace

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{ No. 8 } Summer Brights

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{ No. 9 } Island Lovin'

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{ No. 10 } Cappuccino Bella

{top 10 of 2011} real weddings

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

There have been some amazing real weddings featured on P&P this year and today we're going to revisit your Top 10. Thank you to all the incredible vendors for sharing your work with us.

{ No. 1 } Kelley + Ira's DIY wedding blew us away with their antique finds and quilt backdrop by EE Photography.

•••••

{ No. 2 } We loved Elizabeth & David's destination Mardi Gras wedding by 13:13 Photography.

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{ No. 4 } Sara Christian + Patrick's shabby chic garden wedding had us smitten by Annabella Charles.

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{ No. 5 } Anali + George's wedding prove to us that a gorgeous wedding can be planned in six months by Brooke Courtney Photography.

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{ No. 6 } Patricia + Hugo inspired us with their classic wedding by Branco Prata.

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{ No. 6 } We couldn't get enough of Vanessa + Atiq's picnic wedding by Fresh in Love Photography.

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{ No. 7 } Dawn + Renni's candlelit ceremony made us swoon by Brooke Courtney Photography.

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{ No. 8 } Kathlyn + Dan's intimate beach side wedding by Dreambox Photography.

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{ No. 9 } We loved Kristen + Andrew's elegant barn wedding by Jon Morton Seniors.

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{ No. 10 } Joana + Mario's palace wedding truly felt like a fairy tale by arc | fotografia.

{top 10 of 2011} inspiration shoots

2011-12-27T04:30:00.000-05:00

So did your favorite engagement shoot make the cut yesterday? Today is all about the Top 10 Inspired shoots. They were influenced by classic novels, a favorite era or from their home town but regardless of where the inspirations came from these gorgeous shoots has all of us swooning in 2011.

{No. 1} Southern Vintage shoot by {Gideon Photography}

•••••

{No. 2} Bride of Green Gables shoot {Nbarrett Photography}

•••••

{No. 3} Love in the Afternoon shoot by {ARC | Fotografia}

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{No. 4} Vintage Romance in the Woods Shoot by {Ashlee Raubach Photography}

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{No. 5} Intimate Farm Wedding shoot by {Jen Lynne Photography}

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{No. 6} Sun Filled Picnic for Two shoot by {Branco Prata}

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{No. 7} Roaring Twenties shoot by {Nbarrett Photography}

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{No. 8} Time Traveler's Wife shoot by {Sarah Bray Photography}

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{No. 9} From Portland with Love shoot by {Swoon Imagery}

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{No. 10} Monarch Butterfly Shoot shoot by {Easy Dreamer Photography}

{top 10 of 2011} engagement

2011-12-26T04:30:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday. Today I'm count downing the Top 10 Engagement shoots featured on Postcards & Pretties this year. The shoots were determined by reader's comments and page views. Thank you, to all the amazing talents for sharing your work here on P&P.

{No. 1} You can tell that Elise + Tommy had so much fun with their engagement shoot by {Andria Lindquist}.

•••••

{No. 2} Vintage WWII inspired engagement shoot by {Bellezza Photography}

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{No. 3} You guys loved this saucy red riding hood inspired engagement shoot by {Kelly is Nice Photography}

•••••

{No. 4} Nikki + Nick's super adorable picnic engagement by {Jenny Haas Photography}

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{No. 5} Can anything be cuter than carnival engagement shoot? {Caroline Prietz Photography}

•••••

{No. 6} Katie + Taylor's had a relaxing backyard session by {Haley Sierra Weddings}

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{No. 7} Sarah + Flor's engagement party was full of DIY details by {Closer to Love Photography & Design}

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{No. 8} For Erica + Joel's engagement, they recreated the movie UP which they saw on their first date. by {Jeff Wallace Photography}

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{No. 9} Kary + Josh's Vintage Inspired Engagement by {Jessica Velarde}.

•••••

{No. 10} Anita + Eric's Time Travel engagement shoot had us smitten. by {Adrienne Gunde Photography}

Stay tuned for tomorrow's Top 10 Inspiration Shoots.

{happy friday}

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! Why does Christmas always creeps up on me? I'm not ready!! I have a ton of things to finish before Saturday night. In my family, we have a huge Christmas Eve dinner, open presents at midnight and then eat some more. Ha!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas. xo

favorite links of the week...

Sweet love shoot
Love this adorable snowflake garland
These shoes are fierce!
This wedding is pure magical

photo {Alison Conkilin}

{#186} black + white

2011-12-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

I can't believe that this is the last inspiration board for 2011. Last year, I create a champagne & gold one but this year I wanted to go a little low key but still fun and festive. You can never go wrong with black and white. It's modern, sophisticated and is the perfect palette to ring in 2012!

{colors} black, white, silver
{photos} caviar {sunday suppers} anemone bouquet {paul johnson photography} balloons {martha stewart weddings} bouquet {martha stewart weddings} tights {katie's pencil box} oreo cookie cake {party start me} bride's attire {a gift wrapped life} garland {poppytalk} martini {martha stewart weddings} lounge {rue magazine}

{pretty table} cozy winter

2011-12-21T04:30:00.000-05:00

I came across this cozy winter tablescape from {Sweet Something Designs} and I instantly fell in love with those gorgeous oversize hurricane vases standing tall on wood slices and the snugly throw laid across the table.

Get the look with these...

1. garland 2. flatware 3. cake stand 4. candles 5. vase 6. bells 7. plaid throw

{sponsor pretties} belletristics + free printable

2011-12-20T04:30:00.000-05:00

Our featured sponsor for today is {Belletristics}. {Belletristics} is a design studio specializing in printable wedding stationery for the do-it-yourself bride. They offer three ways to shop! You can choose their custom design services, ready made designs or mix and match different fonts and graphics to create your very own unique stationery.

Visit {Belletristics} on Facebook and Twitter too!

{ Freebie }

Sarah was kind enough to create this free "Love is Sweet" printable to decorate your dessert table. Enjoy!

"Love is Sweet" sign in blue

"Love is Sweet" sign in pink

"Love is Sweet" sign in yellow

Belletristics is a postcards & pretties sponsor

{#185} winter red

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Wow I can't believe that Christmas is almost here. Is it me or did time fly really fast this year? I'm not the biggest fan of red {unless we're talking about my favorite soccer team} but when it comes to my wardrobe or decor, to me a little red goes a long way. Sprinkle in some hints on rich emerald green and you have yourself one festive winter wedding.

{colors} ruby, emerald, white

{photos} bride sitting on red chair {jessica janae photography} caramel roasted pears {white on rice couple} emerald dress {j. crew} geranium boutonniere {chelsea fuss via once wed} nice & naughty favor bags {martha stewart weddings} cherry mojito {martha stewart weddings} letterpress {eight hour day} heels {jose villa} place setting {cynthia warren design}

{sponsor post} wedding-etc.com

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend. Have you heard of Wedding-etc.com yet? They will help youplan the ins, outs and etc’s of your special day!

Get inspired by their vastselection of one of a kind wedding cake designs, flavors, toppers andaccessories, sure to leave your guests with a mouthful of compliments, and mostimportantly, great tasting cake!

Wedding-etc.com must-read wedding flower & decor idea experts showcase thetrendiest centerpieces, bouquets and inspirational wedding themes that willmake your wedding ceremony & reception a unique and memorable occasion.

Wedding-etc is a must-read for every bride to be, weddingenthusiast and planner! They understand the importance of this special day andthat’s why their experts strive to keep you up to date with all the latest inbridal dresses, wedding cakes, flower bouquets and décor ideas, helping youplan your ultimate dream wedding!

Wedding-etc.com currently has a contestgoing on. All you have to do is sign up for their FREE weeklynewsletter and be entered into a draw to wina one year subscription to Brides Magazine!

{weekly recap}

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it...

{#184} Shimmer + Snow Inspiration Board
Metallic Cakes + Desserts
Ethereal Bridal Shoot
{Style} Shimmer, sparkle & shine

photo {unknown}

{happy friday} let it sparkle

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! How did you enjoy this week's sparkly theme? I'm so excited that it's starting to feel like Christmas. Finally! This week I got half of my Christmas shopping done. What?! How did that happen? The last couple of years, I've been such a procrastinator. I still need to by gifts for my parents? Any suggestions?

If you couldn't get enough of the sparkly pretties seen this week. Check out these links...

Glittery lemon sandwich cookies
Sparkly votive cups
Glitter gift wrap
Gold dipped stemware
Glitter gift bags
Glittered flatware
Glittery paper lantern
Glitzy napkin rings
Sparkly tablescape

{p.s.} Don't forget to enter {MAG}rouge's giveaway. Enter to win a ring bear bowl from Paloma's Nest.

photos {tinsel swizzle sticks} {washi tape ornaments} from Odessa May Society

{style} shimmer, sparkle and shine

2011-12-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

Since this week I'm celebrating everythingthat shimmer, sparkles and shines I had to create few looks that would work forthe upcoming New Years festivities.

Which look would you wear when the balldrops?

{ Look 1 } dress, earrings, glasses, clutch, shoes

{ Look 2 } dress, earrings, clutch, shoes

{ Look 3} dress, shrug, earrings, bracelets, shoes

{ Look 4} blazer, skirt, cami, earrings, ring, shoes

{ Look 5} dress, earrings, clutch, shoes

{ Look 6} dress, earrings, necklace, clutch, shoes

{shoot} ethereal bridal shoot

2011-12-14T04:30:00.001-05:00

How are enjoyingthis week's theme of shimmer, sparkle and shine? What do you get when youcombine a vintage dress purchased in Ebay with a dreamy location and a dash ofglitter? Today’s gorgeous ethereal bridal shoot, that is.

{Photography} Skai Photography

{cakes} metallic desserts

2011-12-13T05:00:00.000-05:00

Once again Pinterest fuels my obsession with these lustrous wedding cakes and desserts. Pewter, gold or copper, it really doesn't matter to me because I'm completely smitten with them.

{yummy cupcakes & cake} {bake until scrumptious}

{martha stewart weddings} {sweet & saucy shop}

{missy photography via style me pretty}

{wedding style guide} {martha stewart weddings}

Remember what they say "you always eat with your eyes first".

{#184} shimmer + snow

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's all about shimmer, sparkle and shine this week. Let's kick things off with today's inspiration board. There is something about the holidays that makes me continuously think of shimmery metallics and there is nothing that I love more than seeing a wedding shimmer and shine. The palette is light which helps the shiny copper take center stage.

{colors} eggnog, copper, lace

{photos} couple {carly mitchell photography} snowflake cookies {alexandra grablewski} pinwheel package {grey likes weddings} hydrangeas in copper vase {docuvitae} vivienne westwood heels, eggnog {martha stewart} angel wings {country living} bouquet {emici bridal} soda {sunday suppers} lace gift {sweet paul} bhldn wedding dress {mike larson photography}

{weekly recap}

2011-12-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

I'm kicking off another theme week tomorrow. Any guesses?

in case you missed it...

December {Sponsor Pretties}
{#183} Blue Noel inspiration board
{Pretty Details} Party Crackers
{Real Wedding} Joana + Mario's Palace wedding
Introducing {MAG}rouge

photo {Elizabeth Messina}

{happy friday} holiday must haves

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! On Monday, I had the pleasure to guest blog over at {Valley & Co.} and shared my Holiday Must Haves. If you missed it check out the post here. Last week I mentioned that I was contemplating whether or not I should put up my tree because I was waiting on my painters. Well that plan went to hell. Early Saturday morning, I received a call from them telling me that they will be here bright and early Monday morning. Thanks for the heads up! I spent my whole weekend packing my stuff and moving/covering furniture. Needless to say that my tree is still MIA and I'm not a happy camper. So this weekend I'm going to put EVERYTHING back in it's place and hopefully have time to finally deck the halls.

favorite links of the week...

I need this under my tree.
This DRESS is insanely gorgeous
Perfect non-floral bouquet for winter brides.
I'm going to start this tradition this year.
The stationery in this wedding is gorgeous.
Dapper boys

introducing {MAG}rouge

2011-12-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Names:

Judit Meron of {Artisan Cakes}, Kate Holland of {Ruby & Willow Design Studio}, Hannah Sutherland and Jasmine Kovach of {Sutherland Kovach Studio}

Company:

{MAG}rouge - online wedding inspiration magazine

How many years have you been in the wedding industry?

On average the founder members have been in the industry for 6 years

What is {MAG} rouge about?

Color and love... with style: {MAG}rouge is a fresh and cutting edge, inspirational online wedding magazine, an offshoot of Magnolia Rouge, a premier wedding blog of chic brides and colour aficionados everywhere.

Why did you start {MAG} rouge?

After getting together for numerous styled shoots the team has decided to create an outlet for all the
creative inspirations bursting in them. After the blog revolution and the ever so fast changes on the online media landscape an e-glossy seemed a nice platform.

What is your favorite feature/shoot in {MAG} rouge and why?

The Simply Bloom "Queen of the road" as it is so dreamy and creative

What's your signature style?

Fresh, fun, lighthearted with strong color and design aesthetic.

Finish this sentence “I can’t live without… Judit's macarons, Japanese food, Green tea, colour, our cameras and iphones."

{Photography} Sutherland Kovach Studio, Simply Bloom Photography, The Amazing Travelling Photobooth

{giveaway} hammered leaf crystal earrings

2011-12-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since we had a giveaway here on P&P...don't you think? So today our sponsor, Pree Brulée is giving away these Hammered Leaf Crystal earrings to one lucky P&P reader. These earrings are so unique and I'm completely smitten with the hammered matte gold paired with crystals.

{How to enter}

• Like Pree Brulée on Facebook and leave a comment on their page telling them where you would wear these earrings if you won. Make sure to tell them Postcards & Pretties sent you for the entry to count.

Giveaway ends December 10, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Giveaway is open to U.S. readers only
*Comments on P&P will be closed to avoid confusion.

Pree Brulée is a postcards & pretties sponsor

{real wedding} joana + mário's palace wedding

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Can anything be more romantic than getting married in a palace? I was completely floored when I came across Joana + Mário’s fairy tale wedding. Inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” the couple created a unique and beautiful garden wedding.

From Joana "we were looking for a venue that was timeless, that we knew would still be standing in 100 year’s time, filled with history, meaning and symbolism. We opted for a garden ceremony, with my bridesmaids leading the way, all wearing flower crowns (they looked stunning!!!). I walked to the altar to the sound of "For the Love of a Princess from Baveheart". It was magical!"

"Followingthe ceremony, we served a cocktail dinatoire on the palace´s terrace. Thisturned out to be a great idea, as it was all very dynamic and a lot of fun!"

{Photography} arc | fotografia

{Venue} The Marquis of Fronteira Palace, Lisbon

{Make Up/Hair} Creative Academy

{Caterer/Cake} Casa da Comida

{Music/Lighting} Digital Rent

{Bridal Dress} Rosa Clara

{Shoes} Christian Louboutin

{Hair Accessories} Family Jewels

{Floral Crowns/Bouquets} D. Flores

{Décor} Festas e Sonhos

{Groom’s Attire} Hugo Boss

{Jewelry} Oro Vivo

{Stationery} The Love Lab

{pretty details} party crackers

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

My current obsession are super cute party crackers. They're not only pretty to look at but are quite versatile. They make for great place cards and can double up as favors filled with assorted wrapped candies, but my favorite has to be stacked high on cake plate for a sweet looking centerpiece.

lace party crackers {martha stewart weddings} numbered party crackers {hgtv}

diy candy crackers {posh paperie & jackie wonders via style me pretty}

fancy candy crackers {martha stewart weddings} monogrammed party crackers {rebecca thuss}

{#183} blue noel

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

Paris is on my top 5 places to visit and I think everyone can agree that it is gorgeous anytime of the year but there is something special about stroll along the Seine during the winter time.

{colors} navy, light blue blush, gold

{photos} bouquet {veilandbow} package {this is glamorous} miniature champagne bottles {dreamsicle day} window front, assorted cheeses {martha stewart weddings} blue dress {the glitter guide} croquembouche {martha stewart weddings} couple {kirk mastin} you are loved decal {shanna murray}

{sponsor pretties} december

2011-12-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

{13:13 Photography} is a boutique photography studio ran by a husband & wife team Ashley & Philip. They're all about capturing the natural and unscripted moments and details that make your love story uniquely your own.

{Pree Brulée} This a sweet online boutique is filled with an array of fashion forward jewelry and accessories.

{AzulSahara} carrys an array of different styles from vintage, classic and trendy wedding stationery in a rainbow of color choices.

{weekly recap}

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

{happy friday} oh christmas tree

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! Every year, I always put up my Christmas tree the first weekend of December but this year I was considering putting it off until I got my place painted. Since I can't ignore traditions like that, I'm decorating anyway. Let's see how that turns out. Are you decorating this weekend too or are your decorations up already?

favorite links of the week...

I think I found my macaron recipe
These mini wreath cards are adorable
Can't believe this bouquet is a DIY
I'm adding an embossing gun to my gift list after seeing this easy tutorial
This dress is beyond gorgeous

photo A Simple Photograph

{pretty palette} chartreuse + gray

2011-12-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

Last month I came across my very first journal that I kept with idea before I began P&P. I actually thought I tossed it but there it was scribbled up with inspiration board ideas and different color palette combinations that I loved. So I decided to bring {Pretty Palettes} to life and make it a new series {technically not new because I did ONE back in September 2009 and never went forward with it until now}. I know...bad blogger!! I hope they can help you decide on a color scheme for your wedding, party or even home decor.

{colors} chartreuse, gray, teal & smoke

{photos} wrapped gifts {bhg} chartreuse skirt {boden} ornaments {cox & cox} centerpieces {martha stewart weddings}