I wanted to take a moment to clue y’all in to one of the recently added links in my sidebar, John Takes a Hike. It’s the new blog of my better half — a hiking aficionado and an excellent writer and photographer — and its purpose is to record our adventures. I’m sure he’d love for you all to stop by and check things out. Bonus! There may or may not be a few photos of me in embarrassing outfits. Maybe.

Click here!

Above: a few snaps from our trip to Cumberland Island.

{Click to enlarge!}

This board is for my friend Cassie, who’s getting married on the Connecticut shore in October. She’s using a variety of greens and browns, and as I looked at the pictures she provided me (the cake, the bouquet, the bridesmaid dress, the bracelet), I couldn’t help but imagine tossing in a bit of yellowed-green, almost the color long grass turns in the fall. Some of her bridesmaids will be wearing one of my FAVORITE J. Crew dresses, and its sharp lines and classic, stylish details seemed representative of many of Cassie’s choices.

White compotes filled with hydrangea, ivy, Queen Anne’s lace, ranunculus, and roses would make lovely centerpieces, and the trailing ivy would make the centerpiece live larger than the size of its container would lead you to believe (meaning fewer centerpieces are needed — score!). A tone-on-tone striped tablecloth, if not possible for all tables, might be a nice splash of color for the cake or escort card table. A lemonade and mojito bar would be a welcome reminder of summer. And a few custom chalkboards will keep things from feeling too stuffy.

I hope this helps, Cassie!

The Details
First row, left to right: bouquet from The Knot; tie photo by Sylvie Gil via Style Me Pretty; flower centerpiece from Martha Stewart Weddings

Second row: church photo by Kate Webber via SMP; balloon portrait from Brides; cake from The Knot

Third row: dress from J. Crew; lemonade bar photo by Kristen Grinnel via Style Me Pretty; pearl bracelet from J. Crew

This wee ring is too cute! And at just $88, it would make quite the darling — and reasonably priced — wedding ring, no? Pick one up here!

Aren’t the hand-drawn flowers on this card darling? Made by a staple name in the blogosphere, Rifle Paper Co, and one can be yours for $4 (or 8 can be yours for $16!).