Homegrown Wedding

Carrot Wedding Cake

{Images via Martha Stewart Weddings & Martha Stewart}

I remember going to my cousin's wedding, it must have been nearly twenty years ago {which seems crazy!}, but he & his wife had a multi-tiered, cream-cheese frosting-covered, carrot cake.  I was somewhere between of the age of eight - ten & remember thinking, "Carrots in cake?  Cream cheese what? Hmm..." But, I also remember thinking what a really unique wedding cake idea {again, this was almost twenty years ago}.  I took one bite & the rest was history.  I have been an avid carrot cake lover since.  Rich, also an avid fan, & I decided we wanted to have a small carrot cake for us to cut. 

I wanted a small, tiered cake with open layers, & topped with fruit.  Last fall I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful couple from NYC on their wedding invitations, & the wedding is now featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.  They had a stunning array of cakes on display & I fell in love with their carrot cake.  It was just as I had imagined ours.  I then came across the carrot cake topped with golden apples, which would be appropriate for fall as well.  I love the dripping caramel.  This is making me wish I had a big slice o' cake waiting for me when I get home...
 

Wedding Desserts - Whoopie Pies

 {Images: Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake, Love & Lavendar, & Williams Sonoma}

What is a homegrown, Maine wedding without whoopie pies?  No doubt many do not know what a whoopie pie is.  But as a true Mainer, I l-o-o-o-v-e whoopie pies & was spoiled by this chocolate- cake-like, definitely-not-a-pie, dessert sandwich filled with fluffy sweet cream.  When I sat down with my sister to discuss our dessert buffet {which I am fairly certain will be larger than our actual dinner buffet!}, we talked about the croquembouche, the grooms cake, the small cake we will actually cut {more on that soon}, mini-cupcakes, & various other desserts. 

This is going to sound crazy, but first let me say I am allergic to red dye {see where I am going with this?}.  I have never had a red velvet cupcake, cake, whoopie pie, ice cream, & whatever else they are making red velvet now.  I have no idea what it tastes like, nor do I want to try.  I get why they are so popular, but I had no interest in having any kind of red velvet anything on our dessert buffet.  I want to be able to eat everything {which I will!}.  This, of course, did not fly with Rich, a die-hard red velvet lover.  So, we decided on a red velvet grooms cake.  "No red velvet cupcakes?" he asks.  Umm...."How about red velvet whoopie pies??" says my sister to the rescue.  Okay.  I can live that, & they are so pretty {see bottom left photo}.  I won't be able to eat them, but there will be plenty of options!

So, mini-red velvet whoopie pies will add a pop of color to our dessert buffet.  A little twist on an old Maine tradition, that seems to be spreading nation-wide! 

Decor Inspiration

 {Images via Merci New York}

Recently I have been feeling really overwhelmed with too many inspiring ideas, but no decisions on what I truly want to do for certain aspects of our wedding reception decor.  This, along with what to use to decorate the ceiling, are my last two big decisions & I could not make them! 

I stopped looking at photos & put that decision on the back burner, choosing to {finally!} focus on our wedding invitations.  After I pushed through the design decisions, our invitations are currently in the hands of my very talented future-sister-in-law, Deb, who is working on various custom illustrations.  Phew!  Let's give that task a semi-check mark.

Back to the reception decor.  Whilst perusing Merci New York I came across the New York Magazine Weddings Event recap & saw these two photos & was like, "That's it!  I'm done.  There it is!"  The top photo's tablescape was done by Hatch Creative Studio & was just the inspiration I needed for our escort card display/table.  The bottom photos's display was by Jillian Events & Lovely Bridal.   So gorgeous!  It got my wheels turning for the dessert table display as well! 

To see more of the New York Magazine Weddings Event, check out Sofia Negron's extensive post with tons of photos!

Liorla Dresses

 {Images by Liorla via Paper n Stitch}

How gorgeous are these dresses by Liorla?  Each dress is custom made by hand in a beautiful color palette.  I think they would make perfect bridesmaids dresses, don't you?

Clockwise from the top: Secret Garden Dress, Fiorello Top, Spring Dress with Secret Garden Belt, & English Rose Ruffle Dress.

Calligraphy by Fat Orange Cat Studio

{Photos by Fat Orange Cat Studio}

Introducing Fat Orange Cat Studio Calligraphy!  FOC Studio, you say?  Didn't she photograph your puppy?  And your engagement photos?  Why, yes.  Yes she did!  Li Ward, the photographer behind FOC Studio, is also an incredibly talented, self-taught calligrapher.  Li's whimsical style is full of lovely flourishes & surprising touches {love the heart in the name of the second photo!}.  Her calligraphy is perfect for any wedding  from a laid-back celebration on the farm to a elegant soiree in the city.  Lucky for us, she is now offering her calligraphy services to couples which includes everything from envelope addressing to escort cards, menus to dinner & desert labels. 

Contact Li to get the scoop!  I have a feeling she is going to get very, very popular!

p.s.  Apologies if you read my other blog as well...little cross-posting today.  How could I not?