For the Love of Absinthe

I've been a fan of Absinthe ever since Dade and I first picked up a bottle traveling through Europe 7 or 8 years ago. If you've never seen it or tried it, it's a beautiful anise flavored green drink invented in Switzerland around the turn of the 19th century. Although it was made popular by the French, it is considered by many to have been the most popular drink of late 19th century Europe and was enjoyed by such notables as: Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemmingway, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Edgar Allen Poe.

Contrary to popular belief, you won't go crazy if you drink it. Yes, it's usually 100-144 proof, but so are a number of horrible liquors I tried my freshman year of college. Maybe if you sit around pounding glass after glass for a long period of time it's going to catch up with you, but I can assure you that it has not been responsible for my insanity.

The reason for the post... I often get asked where I find the images we use on our invitations. Some are simply stock images from books (I know... not very romantic) others are drawn from scratch, and many have been found by doing things like staring at an Absinthe bottle for a little too long. Ever noticed the imagery on bottle labels? Any of these would be fantastic on the right invite.

I also loooooove the logo from the Absinthe Museum in New Orleans. They, along with their store La Maison d'Absinthe are a great resource for absinthe and all of the fun accessories. We have started collecting spoons, coasters and glasses which always get pulled out at parties. If you're using green for a color at your wedding, an absinthe fountain could be a very unique and attention getting set up at your reception. Additionally, absinthe sugars with coffee, lollipops and candies would be fun and colorful details.

Decorating ... again

I'm not sure why, but it always seems our bedroom comes last on our "to do" list. In our old house, I went for years lovingly decorating every other room and shoving the furniture I'd never really loved into our bedroom. I even ignored the lack of any good lighting in there which for me is insane. I have a self admitted obsession with vintage chandeliers.

When we moved last May it was our guest room that was dealt with first, however I vowed to make our room a priority. Well, now I'm officially on a mission and am in the process of turning our bedroom into a romantic, lush love den. Dade has let me off the leash and has allowed me to go feminine. I mean, we live in a Victorian house ... screw it! So, here is my inspiration.

Not shockingly, I immediately started looking at scenes from Maria Antoinette. I wish I had a "before" photo of the room handy, but the walls have gone from green wallpaper circa 1970-something, to a painted pale grey. My bow window has been draped with these grey-blue silk curtains, and I am eyeballing the ship chandelier daily. I know it's over the top, but doesn't everyone need a little bit of that in their life? I just want to wake up under something sparkly.

I'm also loving this mirrored and flocked wallpaper from Brocade Home. I may use it within a couple of frames as mirrors. For the bed, I'm trading in my old wrought iron frame for something plush and upholstered (the one request Dade had.)

The sofa above (called the "Antoinette fainting chaise" I've had for a few years, so that was another starting point for me. It's available online from Urban Outfitters. Mine is a little more of a smoky blue than the one in this photo.

So the only thing left for me to pick out now is the bedding, and it's giving me some trouble because the set I'm in love with is on back order at Anthropologie until late April. So.... to wait, or not to wait. That is the question. Here are my options.

Anthropologie

West Elm

West Elm

As soon as it's all put together I'll upload a photo to see how close I've come to the original idea. So why am I even writing about this on a wedding blog? Well, I've always loved these colors. Greys and blues + sparkle = perfect to me. They just feel vintage and elegant. They've also inspired a new invitation design which will be unveiled later this week. Stay tuned...

New Designs for 2009

I've been knee deep in website updates over the last few weeks. We've added a new line of invitation paper that is a shimmering linen metallic, and have made a lot of changes to the ordering process for invites which hopefully in the end will make things a lot easier for clients. On the very near horizon we'll also be adding thermography and engraving as printing options, so basically we should have everything covered from DIY to blow the budget luxury. Here are a few photos from a couple of the new designs we're getting on the website in the next couple of days.

The Bride's Cafe

I just wanted to give a plug to Janie over at The Bride's Cafe. If you haven't checked out her new site, swing by. It's overflowing with gorgeous images, and interviews with some of the industry's most innovative leaders. Janie is a ridiculously talented floral designer with a great eye for fresh ideas, and by the way a wonderful person. Giant congrats to her on the new site!

source via The Bride's Cafe

The Globes

I know it's been talked about to death on half the blogs you probably read, but facts are the Golden Globes were this weekend and that means we all become little self-made fashion critics right? There were hits and misses, but above all else I fell in love! Did anyone else want to rob Freida Pinto for her jewelry? She's the lovely young actress from Slumdog Millionaire. The earrings .... the cuff .... I know I could never afford them, but where are they from? Who made them? Why did Ryan Seacrest not ask the only question I needed an answer for? Anyhow, here is my jewelry porn...

source

Colorful Creations = Cheap, Sparkly Shoes

Was I the last to know? Recently I was browsing the new In Style Weddings, and I stumbled on these ... and the listed price is $70! Huh??? For something sparkly to wear on your wedding day at a reasonable price, these can't be beat.

The Best of the Best

I just received an email from Junebug Weddings and thought I'd share. They have put together their "Best from the Best" photo gallery for 2008. It's overflowing with brilliant images from beautiful events and certain to inspire...

My personal favorite would have to be this one.