simply modern weddings

happy mardi gras lovelies!! it’s been a while since we’ve posted, but i do have some inspired goodness to share with you. also be sure to check out our feature on green wedding shoes today!

when krista mason and i dreamed up the concept for this photoshoot, we were intrigued by the sexy romance of vintage burlesque. what better space for this vibe than the brand new the loft on pine in long beach. it’s raw industrial space, with romantic curves of iron, rich wood, and exposed brick..you can’t get better than that!

as the ideas formulated more, i kept coming back to the idea of marrying the burlseque with a fun mardi gras vibe…but with a twist on colors by using black, gold, and radiant orchid. being creole, new orleans and mardi gras is in my blood…so i ran with this dark, rich, burlesque, edgy spin on classic southern traditions. the re-occurring theme we kept coming back to was feathers, lace, and masquerade. i love the mystery of burlesque feather fans and we were lucky to have fancy feather create beautiful black ostrich feather fans for us to use at the altar area. these could also be a great alternative to a bridesmaid bouquet. i wanted to keep the look straightforward and clean for ceremony, so my team created a backdrop of suspending gold dipped feathers behind our couple, and also did a mix of gold dipped feathers and reflux black roses from krista jon down the aisle. archive rentals created a “chapel meets home” ceremony setup by using a mix of wooden pews and plush tufted armchairs that looked so beautiful in the space.

the invitations were black lace wrapped with hints of gold peeking through. i love lupa & pepi for adding an edgy touch by printing black on slate paper, was so rich and luxurious! all the other paper goods had a 3 dimensional curve to them, just to make it feel a bit more romantic and less like a typical wedding day stationery. i loved how those curves looks so beautiful set against the place setting, or even mimicked the curl of the ribbons on the masquerade escort display!

when i think sexy & black when it comes to bridal fashion, i immediately think of vera wang! with it’s black lace, this gown was actually a main piece of our inspiration and it, along with the luxe jewelry pieces were from erin cole bridal. the romantic soft tulle bridesmaid dress is from bhldn, and i loved how it could be tied 15 different ways. it all paired so beautifully with these bespoke masquerade pretties from petal & thorn. we had 1011 makeup create a soft vintage hair for the girls, and natural makeup look on the bridesmaid with a little subtle drama on the bride…even her lips were a soft touch of the radiant orchid color. the stunning bouquet was a romantically wild mix of color and textures, to soften up the look.

urban palate urban palate customized an hors d’oeuvres menu with a new orleans twist…crab beignets, maple bacon biscuits, muffaletta pizza, and banana foster tartlet. it was all simply amazing!! we even had pharmacie serving up a hullabaloo spicy gin drink, and a sweet chocolatey spin on the classic mint julep. archive set antique gates behind the bar cart, i wanted the dark feel of old cemetery gates mixed with soft floral vines climbing up. dont you just love how this cake designed by sweet and saucy shop pulled together the entire inspiration?

the deep walnut dining table was draped with black lace piano shawls as a slight runner. then krista jon filled the table with an electic mix of brass pieces overflowing with gorgeous floral in various tones of fuchsia, radiant orchid, plum, and even pops of apricot colors. all the dinnerware and glassware pieces from archive (even the raw lace tied napkins) gave everything such a feel of soft romance! was so perfect for the space!

much thanks to jen with green wedding shoes for sharing our little bit of madri gras delight. now…laissez les bons temps rouler!!!

the team that made it all happen…
- venue: the loft on pine
- photography: krista mason photography
- planning/design/styling: us
- bridesmaid dress: bhldn
- burlesque fans: fancy feather
- cake: sweet and saucy shop
- catering: urban palate urban palate
- cocktails: pharmacie
- floral: krista jon
- gown & jewelry: erin cole bridal
- hair & makeup: 1011 makeup
- masks: petal & thorn
- cloud parade vendors: cufflinks and confetti
-onsite babysitting: la wedding sitter
- paper goods: lupa & pepi
- rentals: archive rentals

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in celebration of fathers day this weekend i thought it would be fitting to dedicate a post to all the amazing fathers out there!!

the father daughter dance is one of the most touching moments during a wedding and choosing that perfect song is key, so i’ve listed a few good ones to take a look at. some are typical favorites, and some are ones you maybe haven’t thought of. but hopefully this helps in choosing something for that very special moment with you and your father…

sweet child o’ mine by guns & roses
isn’t she lovely by stevie wonder
to sir with love by lulu
what a wonderful world by iz
daughter by loudon wainwright
it’s for my dad by nancy sinatra
tupelo honey by van morrison
walk with you by edwin mccain
she’s a rainbow by the rolling stones
butterfly kisses by bob carlisle (my personal favorite)
daddy by beyonce (christina’s personal favorite)

xoxo,
kerisa

this beautiful father/daughter dance sequence was shot by three nails photography

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a year ago i came across a book on vintage california orange box labels, and have seriously been obsessed ever since!!!

this inspiration board is a little peek into a recent shoot we designed that was inspired by that book. i just can’t WAIT to share more about the shoot with you, so stay tuned…

(credit: bouquet-100layer cake; place setting-ruffled; centerpiece-style me pretty; vintage orange grove-all posters; circle graphic-betsy white; gift box-snippet and ink; drinks-santa barbara chic; chandelier-martha stewart; orange label-flickr)

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happy earth day everyone! as strange as it may seem earth day is one of my favorite days out of the year. so in celebration of a day that promotes environmental protection i was inspired by everything and anything green.

lately i’ve been loving a new thing called “green graffiti.” it’s a way to creates words and images on a wall using moss. it’s so unique, fun, and environmentally friendly!!

so for anyone else out there wondering how to do some moss tagging of your own i listed some instructions below from a wonderful blog called greener green grass:

- crumble three handfuls of moss into a blender
- add 2 cups of lukewarm water or beer
- add 2 cups of buttermilk or plain yogurt
- pulse the blender until the mixture combines into a gel
- pour the finished product into a bucket
- use a paintbrush to apply the moss gel to your chosen surface
- mist the moss every week and watch your words or designs grow into a masterpiece

and if you are thinking about different ways to add some environmentally friendly elements to your big day favors are a great way to do so. one of our sweetest and most adorable couples, jessica and ian, had some lovely mini boxes filled with paper hearts made of seeds. all the guests have to do is sprinkle the hearts on some soil, occasionally add water, and voila a flower or herb will soon be sprouting in that very spot. it’s a perfect way to make a lasting memory in your loved ones very own backyard!

xoxo,
kerisa

(credit: bride-jose villa; moss lightbulbs-etsy; moss table-art beauty life; moss graffiti-greener green grass)

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