Fair Game: The Oh-So-Uhmazing Locale of the Engage Sesh

I teased you with engagement sessions in meaningful, special places, like cooking classes, fishing holes and the garden plots.  And I mentioned that I almost threw our big idea into the can after seeing the super, super  amazing camping shots.

Your probably thinking: OK, Sweet Cream! What's this big idea anyway??

Well, hive... I might have mentioned me & the Mister's history that started in grade school, so we decided to take it back there... yes, way back there.

Ever since the beginning of time (OK. Maybe I am exaggerating just a little.  It was 1956 to be exact), our little Catholic Parish held the biggest fair in town.  People would get super excited to go ride the rides, eat cotton candy until they were ready to get sick & hang out with their pals.  The summers of the late 1990s, me & Mr. Sweets were no exception to this rule.  We just loved our town's fair.

Via Picable / Photographer: Lindsay Dean

So that is where we decided to have it: The Fair.

And apparently, many couples have oh-so-lovely shots from their town fairs.  Just look!!

 

Via The Wedding Chicks / Photographer: Asian Bees Photography

Midsouth Delta Fair in Memphis, Tennessee

Source: Silly Baby Blogging Girl / Photographer: Christa Kimble

Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio

Via Kim Le Photography Blog / Photographer: Kim Le Photography

Orange County Fair in Orange County, California

Via Shannon Nicole Smith Blog / Photographer: Shannon Nicole Smith

Orlando, Florida

Via Hanle Productions Blog / Photographer: Hanle Productions

Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis, Wisconsin

Via Love & Lavender / Photographer: Britney Smith Photography

What can beat balloons, slides, cotton candy, snow cones, and cuddly kisses on ferris wheels?

So I know that it's going to be crowded.  And perhaps a little hot.  But the pictures we could get with the excitement, bold colors, delish super sugary treats & our sweet little walk down memory lane is totally worth it.  And I just know our uhmazing photographer, Brett Martelli will deliver.

So hive, any tips for the engagement sesh for me?   

Props? No props? 1 outfit or 2?  Bold print? Solid color? A stop-bein-so-darn-nervous sip of a little somethin' somethin'? 

Help me, puuhhhlleeeze!!  I'm dying to know what you know.

Love Story: Scenes from the Silver Screen

Fiction sometimes has a way of weaving into reality.  Culturally speaking,  the fake world of movies have kick started major trends in the real world.  A young Sweet Cream vaguely remembers what Flashdance did to the 80s.  After Alecia Silverstone jumped off that cliff with her navel pierced, she had girls everywhere running to get a pair of knee highs and holding up their fingers telling their parents, "whatever!" after Clueless hit the big screen.  Sex & The City.  I realize that the small screen version was first (& better?) -- but starting trends?  Inspiration? Need I say more?

I have always been a sucker for romance, fashion and the gorgeous cinematic enjoyment of the silver screen.  And while not being a girl who dreamt of her big day since she was a little girl -- for one reason or another, before there was a ring on my finger, there were some big screen brides who made my non-wedding-swooner self, well... swoon.

 Their Scottish vows: I will love you my whole life. You and no other. 

Short. Sweet. So So Perfect.

Source / Home Videos  (via Braveheart)

Probably the least glitzy bride known to the big screen, Braveheart's Murron is a breathtaking one at that.  When she & William get married in a secret ceremony with only one witness, I DIE.  There she is in all her bridal beauty with nobody to enjoy her beauty but her true love. And it is absolute perfection.

Reese seriously rocks this birdcage... before the birdcage even 

flew into the scene to make such a strong comeback!

Source / Perfect Postage (via Sweet Home Alabama)

When Melanie Smooter comes down the aisle to marry the man who later became known as the hottest doctor on prime time TV, I couldn't believe my eyes.  That veil! It was love at first sight! Again, I was not a girl to plan her wedding, but this high school senior knew she had to have one on her big day...

(Top) Source / Bridal Dresses Photos (via Bride Wars) 

(Middle) Source / Coral's Bridal Blog (via MamaMia!)

(Bottom) Source / Soon to b Mrs. P (via 27 Dresses)

All of these dresses caught my eye during the whatever romantic comedy I was watching with the female friends (I couldn't drag Mr. Sweet Cream to see Bride Wars!) & made me want borrow it from the leading lady on my wedding day.  I especially loved the dress that Amanda wore in MamaMia!  Bees - do you know that this dress doesn't even exist in the real world!?  That breaks my bridal heart just a bit, I have to admit.

While nothing in our wedding so far is inspired by the big screen, some brides have movies serve as stunning inspiration.  Big Fish, Marie Antoinette & Eat, Love, Pray are spectacular examples of sources for beautiful scenes, props, costumes & stories.

(via Green Wedding Shoes) {Credits: tree photo / Trekearth, daffodils / DesignSponge, j mendel dress / J. Mendel, popcorn / Eringuon, Lights / Gabriel Ryan Photography, Big Fish movie, Keys / Brandon Kidd Photography, Invite / Royal Steamline (via Flickr)}

 (via Daily Wed Share) {Credits: Top Row: Reception Tables by Wedding By Color, Cake by MagnoliasMarriageandManhattan Blog, Chandelier by Flickr Second Row: Teapot with Cupcakes by Wedding By Color, Bride in Duchess Satin Ball Gown by JLMCouture.com, Triple Dipped Pretzels In Caramel, White Chocolate and Framboise Marshmallows by Babushka Bakery at Flickr Third Row: Apples Dipped in Caramel, Ganache, Crushed Peanuts, Pistachios, Framboise Marshmallows, Drizzled with Tinted Chocolate by Babushka Bakery at Flickr, French Strawberry Macaroons by Catherine Moore’s Blog, Petit-Four Cakes Wedding By Color, Black and White Floor by Flickr, Desserts by Flickr Fourth Row: Chair with Bouquet by Wedding By Color, Bridesmaids by Flickr, Pink Shoes by La Vie En Rose Blog}

Via Wedding Nouveau {CREDITS: Couple at table photo by Max Wanger; Eat Pray Love bookby Onada Photography; Woman in hanging Balinese Chair via Style Files; Wild flower table centerpiece photo by Jose Villa; Invitation by Betsy White; Pillows; Heart-shaped page photo by Sarah Moldovan; Aromatherapy candles; Bride via Vogue India (Dress – YSL; Setting-Menezes Braganza House); Shelves & flowers photo by Jose Villa; Bed photo by Pia Ulin via Agent Bauer}

Sigh! All that gorgeous big screen inspiration has me all weak in the knees.

Even though we didn't go this way, I think that inspiration from beautiful cinematic settings it is such an amazing place to start.

Did you see any bridal beauty from a flick that you flipped over?  Is your dress inspiration taken from a certain motion picture?  Are you having a wedding inspired from a movie that you just wish you could have been an extra in?

You're My Inspiration

Every bride needs an inspiration board to help inspire her bridal brain.  Or apperhently the blogosphere says that we do.

While envisioning the big day I had dreams of soothing colors -- perhaps pastels or some smooth shade of pink.  Grey was a definite.  I don't know what it is with me that that pigment.  I didn't even realize it until me & Mr. Sweet Cream bought our mid-century home and salvaged furniture that could make Betty Draper weak in her knees.  Whatever the question that had the word "color" in it -- my answer would remain the same: Grey.

Grey is a hue that has a strange way of tying everything together.

Case in point:

Isn't this peach & grey color scheme just o so lovely?

Eggplant, Taupe & Grey.  Yes! Oh, yes!

Look at these beauties.  Grey, Green, and certainly romantic.

Grey can go from black tie to "down home."

And while I had ideas of putting together inspiration boards and matching colors to find just the right ensamble to make the theme sing, I stumbled across this in my bedroom.

My Own Pic

That is fabric that Mama Sweet Cream surprised me with 3 years ago when I couldn't stop pining away for it at the fabric store but kept putting it back because of the price.  That gift sat in my fabric bin until just the right project came along -- something so gorgeous couldn't be wasted on a jacket I might grow tired of over the years.  So when me and Mr. Sweet Cream purchased a 1920s bedroom set with fabric that had be reupholstered -- I decided that this was just the right project for that precious pattern.  

Here it is -- up close and personal. Sigh... :

(self pic)

A year after it existing in our abode adorning our antique furniture, it began to weave itself into the wedding... when I photocopied it and made the envelope liners for the save the dates (of course the same plan for the wedding invites).

Gorgeous fabric makes gorgeous paper!!

(Self pic)

It will also grace itself with its presence for our table numbers (more on that later).

Whoever sits at Table 5 gets to feast their eyes on this pretty piece!

(Self pic)

Another cherished treasured that snuck its way into my inspiration board unbeknownst itself is this piece of wood that Mr. Sweet Cream wood burned for me many Valentine's Days ago.  He got it from a part of the tree (it was a dead branch -- don't worry!) where we always hung out when we were younger... and he later proposed there.  

My Own Pic

Let's just say I've since I realized that I wanted this weaved in, I immediately borrowed Mama Sweet Cream's wood burner and have been going to town on some little wooden hearts that may just grace our invites. I also have plans to incorporate Mr. Sweet's genuine heartfelt idea into little signs throughout our wedding.  Oh, yea -- and it is certainly involved in the inspiration behind our invites too!  

I'm so happy that this fabric that caught my eye years ago that was so beautiful to me that I couldn't bring a pair of shears near it has a super special spot now.

What inspired your color palate??  Did you find inspiration in the most random of places?

Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens...

After we were engaged, but before we even discussed the wedding, I bought these:

Source / Etsy Seller HeyYoYo

It was maybe a couple days after we were engaged.  Very embarrassing. 

I don't know what drove me to the impulsive of purchasing 150+ paper grey straws.  Maybe it's what Etsy does to you? Perhaps it was knowing that I love vintage paper straws that I see in antique shops that I never buy? 

The nostalgic idea of paper straws with beautiful swirled color reminds me of ice cream floats and brings a wildly childlike simplistic joy into my heart.  If I were Maria Rainer trying to calm the von Trapp children on a rainy day I would definitely add paper straws to my list of favorite things. 

Maybe it was inspiration that might have lingered it my mind like this:

I seriously want to jump in that picture and crack open a bag of
Double Stuffed Oreos
(source)

And once yellow was decided as a color I immediately bought this:

Source / Etsy Seller SewDeerlyLoved

-- another impulse buy that I hadn't a plan for.  But I knew that it was a must.  I was zombie-like and giddy as I clicked enter on the keyboard, sending an exciting package of yellow twine my way. Crazy impulsive, no?

I have since figured things out a little for my first two purchases and have luckily curbed my impulse wedding buying (I swear to you that I am not normally like this!).  The straws inspired me to do a vintage soda bar during cocktail hour, good for minors and adults alike. 

Source / Project Wedding

I'll be using the twine for for the seating cards & the invitations -- something like this:

Source / 100 Layer Cake



What are a few of your favorite things? Was there something that you just knew you had to have that you acted on it almost immediately after the question was popped?