Before the end of the month, I wanted to share photos from a September 2006 rehearsal dinner at the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation – this gets me ready and excited for the Fall!

The Cotton Dock is an old wooden structure with a tin roof, wooden exposed beams, oyster tabby floor, and a large stone fireplace as the centerpiece. The back dock over looking the creek is a perfect gathering spot.. This was such a simple but lovely event with such uenexpected colors used throughout the entire weekend- black, sky blue, and white. We used tons of candlelight, white river rocks (to play off of the oyster tabby), and chinese lanterns with a few blue light bulbs here and there- NO flowers at all!

And, one of our other favorite brides from September that year is expecting next month! Congrats, Tripp and Lainey.

A Charleston Garden..

Last week I gave you a cake retrospective from Jim Smeal, but this week wanted to reveal their other talent- Gardening… These are photos from the lush tropical garden surrounding their James Island abode. Working in the garden as much as they do on their time off from baking cakes is what keeps them sane. I’m amazed by it every time I see it.

Tara’s Tidbits

I was thrilled to attend Darcy Miller’s recent event at Partners and Spade recently in New York. The event was to celebrate Darcy’s passion and talent for her Illustrations. Some of the other guests I got to mingle with were Bernard Maisner, Mark Ingram, John Dolan, Cheree Berry, and one of our favorite New York friends, Anthony Lucia (Darcy’s assistant at the magazine).

Some of the uber cute snippets from the invite:

Read more about Darcy’s “Family Affair” here...

A conversation with Tara is also featured on Darcy’s blog today… Please check out the post here.

Flavor of the Month…

I like to think that I’m very versed in the world of cocktails, however, I’ve been stuck in a summertime white wine conundrum for the past 5 mos. Needless to say, I was more than excited when at the cake tasting with our Bride, Darcy Shankland, having just returned from a visit to her hometown of Santa Barbara, CA and cocktails at the San Ysidro Ranch, shared with me her new favorite sip sip- made from champagne (my soul mate) and St. Germain Elderflower Liqeur. I also LOVE the graphics of their brand. CHEERS!

Keys to my heart…

I have been fawning after the key collection at Tiffany’s right now, but it’s so popular they are often sold out… I am inspired though and would love to design an entire wedding around vintage keys.

Some inspiration…

From top: Jayson Home and Garden; anthropologie; Jayson Home and Garden; Design Sponge

I’m having a sweet tooth lately, so wanted to share some of my favorite past cake shots… All from Jim Smeal.

Tara’s Tidbits

We are lucky enough to travel all over doing weddings, but I want to do our next wedding here!

from the January 2009 issue of Town and Country

This church is in the historic, Colonial town of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Oaxaca Hotel Group has several hotels ranging from boutique inns to beachfront resorts… A perfect spot for unique small destination weddings, or quiet low key honeymoons. I’d like to stay here:

the Casa Oaxaca

Or Here…

The Camino Real Oaxaca

Fresh off the letterpress

The TLO’s Cannon Collection…This was inspired by one of Soiree’s Real Wedding invitations!

2009 Emmy Awards

Last nights award show was full of many upsets and disappointments… But, one of my favorite film actresses, Toni Collette, won Best Leading Actress for her role on “The United States of Tara” (no pun intended) and she also happened to have my favorite dress of the evening…

Congrats to the cast of 30 Rock! This show makes me laugh every single episode!

This year’s broadcast had a very comedic centric air about it (some with success, a lot didn’t work) with Neil Patrick Harris as the host- and unfortunately one of the upsets of the night.  His character, Barney Stinson, from “How I Met Your Mother” is one of the best characters on TV, and he was up for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series but lost to Jon Cryer for “Two and a Half Men”. To me, the funniest part of the evening was when Jimmy Fallon presented his award- his song and dance definitely had me chuckling..

These can pass for the something new AND something blue…

oh, that red sole!

…and the sixpence in the shoe.

all the bridesmaids sign the sole, and the first name to wear off will be the next to get married.

Liz Banfield suggested that we provide a retrospective of some of our favorite wedding shoes over the past few years… I can never get enough of great shoes, and kudos to the brides who dare to wear something different other than the traditional off white satin pumps (insert blah face here).

A Yankee Foxtrots..

Jim Rutenburg, a writer for the New York Times provided me (a local) with an insightful article of two of well know landmarks- Drayton Hall Plantation and Magnolia Plantation, which are even frequent event venues. Read his article here.

Chris Bickford for The New York Times

Tara’s Tidbits

To celebrate New York’s Fashion Week, I’ve complied a few dresses to get excited about.

I love the ribbon over the chest with all of the texture in the paisley applique…Then, how fabulous would those sleeves be on any dress? I took the last picture with 1995 in a window of a boutique in Paris. I wanted it for my own wedding dress and to this day I still think about it and am a little disappointed I didn’t just get it.

The Wedding University

We are so excited to be asked to participate in the Wedding University event taking place at the St. Regis in San Francisco next March. We look forward to seeing Jubliee Lau (one of the event gurus putting together this fabulous event), and Nancy Liu Chin (flower goddess) again!

Introducing…

The Ashley Collection from The Lettered Olive. The femininity of this one is definitely my fave.