Kate + Cormac + I + the rest of my family have made some wedding planning progress. We’ve decided on a preliminary budget, discussed the guest list, and done some preliminary caterer and photographer investigation. We’ve also almost decided on a reception venue (the ceremony spot was pretty much set from the beginning).

We’re not quite on to the fun part yet (colors! decor! custom lemonade bar!), but that hasn’t stopped us from being on the lookout for great ideas. And recently? We’ve both been a leeeetle obsessed with pinwheels. They’ve popped up on a few different blogs lately, in many different permutations, and we’re loving them all. See for yourself:

As seen on Style Me Pretty. LOVE the rosettes on the chair backs as well as the mini rosettes as napkin rings. Photography by Sean Walker.

As seen on Southern Weddings here and here. I love how these rosettes are just casually placed as part of the centerpieces. Photography by Jessica Claire.

As seen on Once Wed here and here. I think I squealed when I saw this wedding: the pinwheel-covered C! The pinwheel clusters lining the ceremony aisles! So fun and so do-able. Photography by Kate Murphy.

Best of all, there are plenty more ideas out there. Martha has a rosette boutonniere that fits the theme, and she has cupcake toppers that mesh well. She also has rosette instructions, as does Style Me Pretty.

I can’t wait until I can start showing you inspiration board options! Can you tell I’m excited?

[Update! More pinwheels on Once Wed here.]

{Photo c/o Gia Canali}

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy. This might be the coolest bouquet I have EVER seen in my life. Srsly. It’s made out of — wait for it — balsa wood and coral. Balsa wood and coral! Isn’t it beautiful?

See more of this wedding here and check out the florist’s site here.

{via Black*Eiffel}

I want to live here. Seriously. Amazing. It might just be that it’s fall, and it might just be that I miss New England… but then again this just might be my dream house. Don’t you just want to curl up in that quilted nook?

See more at the New York Times here.

Our menu was as follows:

Chocolate raspberry muffins (Recipe here. These are amazing! Make them tonight if you can.)
Banana bread (Recipe here via That Wife.)
Sharp cheddar + Triscuits
Deviled eggs (I put lots of brown spicy mustard in them.)
Crudite
Sausage stars (Recipe below. Kind of a weird name but they are delicious!)
Red grapes
Cream cheese sugar cookies (Recipe here via inchmark.)
Raspberry lemonade with fresh mint
Orange juice

Sausage stars
1 pound cooked crumbled sausage
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack
2 ounces chopped black olives
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup ranch dressing
wonton wrappers

Preheat oven to 350 F. Squeeze sausage dry. Combine sausage with all ingredients except wonton wrappers. Grease muffin tins. Place wrappers in tins; bake for 4 minutes. Remove from tins and fill. Bake on cookie sheet 4-6 minutes or until bubbly.