The Fete Blog

image via theiapolis media

Oh, come on– you know we had to! As obsessed as we are with the book (and film) The Great Gatsby, we thought it only right to theme a May dinner party after this great American novel (minus the car crashes, affairs, and crushed dreams, of course).

[ tablescape | string lights | flapper dress
roast chicken | cake pop | mint julep ]

While we can’t all throw parties as grand as Gatsby, we can throw a fabulous soiree of our own this summer– taking cues from Gatsby’s “roaring twenties” style. First things first– you need to have an inner and outer party space. If you can, snag some cheap, but beautiful, sheer curtains to drape your interior space with (a la Daisy Buchanan’s house); place cozy and comfy furniture (all the couches and armchairs you have) to allow your guests to lounge luxuriously. Dinner should be at a long table filled with candles and your glitziest tablewear– spray paint cheap silverwear gold for some extra flair!

Outside, hang white or colored string lights around your yard– EVERYWHERE. We don’t all have a pool, but if you do, make use of it! Play jazz standards (or Jay-Z, if you want to emulate the Baz Luhrmann Gatsby), dress in your best modern-day-flapper dress (something embellished and knee-length– and don’t forget a fabulous headpiece!) and ask your man to don a linen suit (or just something swanky). Grab a bunch of sparklers for the end of the night– a low-key version of Gatsby’s firework sendoffs.

Pass “tea cakes” (elaborately sprinkled or decorated cake pops could be a fun, modern version!) and dainty nibbles; delicious roast chicken must be your main course (yes, I’m grabbing at any reference to food I can find in the book). Oh– and mint juleps. Always!

Menu:
Cocktail | Mint Julep

Canape | Deviled eggs

Canape | Goat cheese crostini with blood orange and black pepper marmalade (ps. see more passed canape recipes here!)

Main | Buttermilk roast chicken

Side | Waldorf salad

Side | Peas and carrots

Dessert | Cake pops

There are so many ways to style your wedding bouquet!

Some women love something small and humble with understated colors and blooms. Others gravitate towards the lush, sensual garden bouquet style– a full bouquet with lavish colors, ribbons, keepsakes tied to the stem. And then there’s me– the kind of bride who craves a bouquet so large, it must be cradled like a baby; a bouquet so full, you must go to the gym for months prior to your wedding; a bouquet that is completely over-the-top, ridiculous, and a mix between avant garde floral design and basic, boho, from-the-earth styling.

A note to brides loving this oversized bouquet look as well– make sure the front of your dress isn’t overly intricate or screaming for some spotlight time: a bouquet this size will definitely overwhelm the front of your gown! This bouquet works well with a short dress, a tulle skirt, long, flowy waves, a vintage family heirloom gown– or, if you’re really daring, a colored dress!

from top left: Family & Farm | Home | Pretty Dresses in the Laundry | Grey Likes Weddings | Fashion Freax

If you know me at all, you know of my obsession with fresh flower crowns– not only are they the most delightful way to add a hint of bohemia to your look, they’re the perfect accompaniment to wedding fashion. Don’t worry– flower crowns can fit into any look or aesthetic! Whether you’re a rustic, married-in-a-barn girl, a glamorous urbanite getting married on a rooftop, or a sweetly sophisticated married-in-a-chapel bride, a flower crown can be designed to fit your look. If you want to incorporate fresh blooms into your hair, but have a neutral color scheme, look to soft white buds and baby’s breath for your crown. But if, like me, you’re a wild, over-the-top, statement-piece-wearing bride with a bright color palette, anything goes.

The flower crowns I’m attracted to are the ones with a ton of texture– different types of flowers and greenery, a lot of depth, and interesting shapes are a must-have for my dream flower crowns. You can go as avant-garde as your head can handle (but if you’re sporting a large and dominant crown, I’d recommend going low-key with your hair– loose waves, a pulled-back braid, or a soft chignon); you can have the majority of your flowers at the front of the crown, with a ribbon tying it all together in the back; or you can go extremely delicate with twigs, vines, and small blooms twisting together to create your headpiece. Be sure to take an array of images with you when you meet with both your florist and your hair stylist– you don’t want either vendor to show up on your wedding day confused about the final look!

from top left: Wedding Wire | Green Wedding Shoes | The Knot | 100 Layer Cake | Style Me Pretty | Pinterest

image via Martha Stewart Weddings

Spring wedding season is here and I am so excited to see an influx of bright colors, lush florals, and vibrant decor as we finally head into sunnier days! This tablescape from Martha is exactly how I picture a spring wedding: sun shining, outdoor tented reception, bluegrass band playing during cocktail hour, delicious fresh fruit awaiting your guests.

Breaking this scene down is fairly easy: the first place to start is your table. In Charlottesville, there are now a plethora of farm tables– Beehive Events, Stonegate Event Rentals, Southern Blooms, and Skyline Tent Company all offer farm tables to rent. Mix up your seating with some benches, some vintage wooden chairs, and some fun chairs from Festive Fare for an eclectic reception look!

The rented plates and utensils are basic enough– Festive Fare has you covered with textured white plates and silver flatware that won’t break the bank.

Fun linen napkins can be sourced (again, Festive), or purchased individually (Etsy has a few potential options), but that could get pricy; this could be an area where you DIY. Find a few brightly patterned linens that correspond with your wedding colors and use a basic tutorial (sewing or non-sewing) to bring some personalized pieces to your tables!

My favorite part about this table is the fresh fruit; if it’s not quite peach season for your wedding, consider a bunch of grapes (especially if your wedding is at a vineyard), a small bowl of fresh berries, strawberries, or oranges. This is also the perfect way to include place settings– attach to said piece of fruit and voila!

The bloom with the fruit is also changeable according to the season; cherry blossom season is nearly upon us, which would be lovely with a bowl of strawberries; this is bougainvillea, which makes the place setting look a bit spicier and more exotic.

images, from top left: Stonegate Event Rentals | Call Me Cupcake | Festive Fare | Kirtsy

I’m in the mood for some DIY projects (cough, procrastinating on my wedding thank yous…), but this inspiration board doesn’t have a super specific theme beyond that. Some days, it’s good to step outside the box of your specific wedding theme or design inspiration and just look at pretty things. These projects are all super do-able, not overly time consuming, and completely customizable– adding any of these sweet details to your wedding day will make it oh-so-you!

1. Who doesn’t love confetti? (Answer: your venue manager who has to clean it all up.) These fabulous confetti throwers are perfect for right after you kiss “I do” or as you exit your reception! via Oh Happy Day  |  2. This project is for ombre pinwheels, but if gradient color isn’t your thing, make it all one color! This would be the prettiest display for your dessert table, photobooth backdrop, headtable, or ceremony space (if you’re super ambitious). via Wedding Chicks  |  3. You don’t have to gift tea to your guests to create pretty tea-stained gift boxes! via Style Me Pretty  |  4. I personally LOVE bunting– and while some brides want to send out a simple Save the Date, what a fun way to introduce your guests to your personality and get them fired up for what’s to come! via Project Wedding  |  5. See– I love bunting. This fabric cake topper is absolutely divine– if you’re having one cake or a spread of sweet treats, creating a few of these is a fun way to sass up your desserts! via A Subtle Revelry

image via Lopez Jenny Lopez & Foam Magazine

I finally had a chance to dig through the Jan/Feb issue of Foam Magazine (one of my new favorites!) and fell in love with the Miami home of blogger and model Jenny Lopez– it’s elegant, it’s eclectic, it feels cozy and lived in, and, best of all, it’s bright. Basically, if I could move in, I would in a heartbeat. I love this particular mix of bright decor details, sophisticated lines, and clean, crisp whites– it has a luxurious, bohemian feel!

A teensy attempt to recreate this aesthetic–> from top left: A bright cabinet stands out against a crisp white wall (although I would, of course, replace these knobs with something more artsy and less girly), via The Market on East Monroe | Assorted and eccentric throw pillows pop against white furniture, via Anthropologie | A bright rug makes this space complete! via Anthropologie | Jenny doesn’t have a chandelier in her bedroom, but a cluster of pretty lights would look divine. via West Elm | This tufted bench adds a touch of romance to such a diverse space. via Pottery Barn | Covetable: Jenny’s bed is covered with a vintage crocheted bedspread– find your own on Etsy! via Fitzroy and Cole

Now,  I’ve never been a ballerina (except for a short stint around age 6), but I’ve always dreamed of living that ballet aesthetic. Soft, floaty, ethereal– sounds like the perfect textural palette for a wedding! With bridesmaids sporting soft, clingy dresses in pale pink or cream, lace-inspired details from the paper suite to the cake decor, a mix of greens, neutrals, and peaches for the florals, and a bride dressed in tulle– heavenly!

From top left: 1. Dress your maids in an assortment of short, soft, and beautiful dresses. image via Samm Blake | 2. Brides & tulles are the perfect match! image via My Pink Haven | 3. Detailing on the cake to match a lace detailing on a bodice. image via Style Me Pretty | 4. Ornate hair jewels make a statement while providing a fashion “wow” factor. image via Cult of Pretty | 5. A bouquet of dainty and delicate, strong and bold, creams and neutrals is the perfect accompaniment for a ballet bride. image via Wedding Wire | 6. A ballet-inspired updo– braid crowns! image via Pretty Stuff | 7. And of course– pointe shoes for a ballerina bride. image via Style Me Pretty

I moved into a new house recently. The dining room is a big space with high ceilings– and one wall in particular is just begging for a large piece of art. Unfortunately, my decorating budget is not scaled to match. Solution: Make my own art. I’ve been browsing the internet for inspiration and thought I’d share a few favorites. I have a good amount of traditional furniture– think oriental rugs and dark brown leather couch– and I like the idea of mixing it up with art that has a more contemporary feel. I have a feeling I’m going to end up with more than one creation when this all said and done. Good thing I have more than one wall. –kim

1. Paint by number meets song lyric via A Beautiful Mess.
2. Abstract from Dans le Townhouse. I think this would look awesome on a large scale painting. This is currently my lead pick for my dining room wall using white and a dark inky blue.
3. More song lyric loveliness from A Beautiful Mess. I’m a big music lover and will definitely be doing some kind of song lyric art in the future.
4. The bright colors and bold lettering in this DIY art post from Hits and Fits caught my eye.
5. I’m not sure I could do this and make it look good but it’s still inspiring, as are all Oh Happy Day! projects. Seriously, that blog has more talent in its “.com” than I do in my entire body.
6. Beautiful modern piece from The New Domestic. This is another top choice for my oversized canvas. I love the pop of color with the low key bits of gray. And the clean lines sing a siren song to my engineer brain.
7. From Lydia Lauer, fantastic personal art made with mad printing skills and the names of favorite cities, parks, and restaurants.
8. Rothko-inspired abstracts from Dans le Townhouse. I like the color combinations she used. Google “Rothko” for more ideas. This could easily be adapted for a bigger canvas.

Sneak peek– some of Kim’s own art projects! Cannot wait to see how she continues decorating her new home!

Stay tuned– Kim will be sharing more projects and inspiration!

Today, I’m craving sorbet (just a lesson– sorbet is like Italian ice, no dairy in it at all; sherbert has a tiny percentage of dairy in it).

How can we bring delicious citrusy sweetness into our everyday life– take a look at your home decor. Where can you add in bits and bobs of sorbet color into your interior design?

You don’t need to be bohemian, live in South Florida, or have a home bursting with color to rock some bright details. A burst of pink (as soft or loud as you’d like), splashes of orange, and hints of yellow work with nearly any color scheme– grays, blues, black, white, greens. Look around your favorite room: where can you slip in some color?

Think small: pillows and throws are easy to add in; larger pieces like chairs, desks, tables, cabinets are more of a commitment, but can transform a room in one go. Go even smaller– lamp(shades), florals, coffee table books, candles, vases. Take a risk when shopping for your next batch of decor details and bring some spring color into your home!

counterclockwise, from top left: “Hermes orange” cabinet fronts via Canadian House & Home | Details– like these sweet pillows– and a patterned arm chair via Rue Magazine Jan/Feb 2011 | Sorbet florals can make a room pop! via Rue Magazine Holiday 2011 | Look around your home and color coordinate your tomes– you’ll be surprised at how many brightly colored books you own! via Rue Magazine June 2012 | Bam! Sorbet explosion! via Riches For Rags | See? Orange works with any color scheme. via I Do, I Don’t Design | A final push for sorbet decor– something seemingly bright and bold is tempered and softened in a neutral room. Love it! via lespri

I grew my hair out for our wedding. My hair grows fairly quickly, so when September rolled around, it was probably the longest it had ever been in my life. I loved my long hair and, for the most part, it made me feel ultra-feminine and luxurious. Other times, though, it fell flat, it was too poufy, it was too thick, it was a mess that I couldn’t do anything with. I craved a return to short hair (I sported a punky short cut my first two years of college, my form of rebellion) and I plotted my long-hair escape: after our honeymoon, I would chop it all off. I didn’t think too hard about it– I just did it.

chopped! by jen fariello

The first cut was so freeing; then it started to grow out. Because we were being super hip (and cheap), John trimmed it up for me. When it started growing out again, I had to make a choice: start prepping it for a return to length, or take the plunge and go even shorter. I gathered a few inspirational images, headed to a men’s stylist, and faced the buzzers. Whether you’re contemplating a massive style change, not at all interested in going short, or are just looking for some pixie cut inspiration, enjoy this eye candy; here are a few of the beautiful cuts I’d love to sport–>

I love Anne’s short hair styling in the latest Glamour cover shoot– it’s disheveled and punky, but she makes it graceful and girly! image via Just Jared

A classic– Mia Farrow, shot by Richard Avedon for Vogue in 1966. I remember watching Rosemary’s Baby and wanting to steal her entire look. Clean and neatly cropped. image via Pinterest

Such a pretty look– swept over and long (for a pixie). Boyish, but not in a “tomboy” way! image via lou, boos, and shoes

Oh! Emma Watson, I bow down to your hair styling. This look is so androgynous, yet completely glamorous. The slicked back look is very vintage, Old Hollywood chic– but I can envision it fitting in perfectly with a modern cool kid art crowd. image via imgur

Very, very punk. I guarantee you I will summon the courage to rock this look in the next few months… image via hairdresser-models.eu

I dub this the “rock star pixie”– perfectly tousled, yet prim. Lovely for an everyday creative while also wild and fearless enough for the on-the-town It Girl. image via Pinterest

This has got to be the most beautiful image of Emma Watson– ever. This hair style is completely gorgeous– a more punk version of the Mia Farrow look; fresh, spunky, sexy. I’m so in love with it! image by Martin Schoeller

This is one of the inspiration images I took to my stylist yesterday. I love Katie Armour (editor of Matchbook Magazine) and her hair style is both daring and darling. Taking a risk and going under the buzzers– badass. Katie makes it dainty and feminine– I’m crossing my fingers I can wear it half as elegantly as she does! image via Instagram

… and– here’s a tiny peek at my latest pixie cut!

I love it. Maybe I’ll throw in some highlights or scheme up something else more reckless to do with it; maybe I’ll start growing it out after this; or maybe this look will stick around for awhile… {photo by John!}