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The White Elephant is a small, luxurious bed and breakfast on Nantucket, and that’s where I picture this wedding taking place – there, or on the back lawn of that rose-covered cottage up there on the left. Wouldn’t it be amazing to rent a huge old house with family and friends and then celebrate your wedding on its grounds at the end of the week?

I think the combination of pale blue and pink is so sweet and vintage-looking, with just enough prep to give the celebration some zip. Think men in blue-and-white seersucker (with bowties!), the bride in organza polka dots, and tables decked in milk glass vases, ruffly garden roses and peonies, and heirloom, hand-me-down china plates collected from relatives and friends. A vintage pink typewriter {ohhh how I want one!} standing in for a guest book is a fabulous detail that guests will talk about all night.

{The real White Elephant; photo from their website}

The Details
First row, left to right: rose-covered cottage from Architectural Digest; love knot straws from Martha Stewart Weddings; seersucker suit photo by Jenny Ebert

Second row: cookie favor bags, garden bouquet, and tulip cake all from MSW

Third row: garden path photo by Kathryn Kleinman; pink typewriter via Classic Bride

Fourth row: favor box photo by Lara Ferroni; guest book notes from MSW; milk glass centerpieces via Oh Joy!

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This last board I put together for Amber and Mark is for a summer seaside wedding at a romantic old mansion in Connecticut. I took Amber’s purple palette and added to it all of the colors you see in hydrangeas, from light pink, to deep pink, sky blue, and teal. I was also inspired by the deep, rich berry tones of summer, of raspberries and blueberries and blackberries – I think they would make adorable favors set out in vintage crates. Large square tables set out under old oaks dripping with chandeliers, vintage silverware and linens mismatched at each place setting, and mini chalkboards with the evening’s menu written on them complete the look.

One last thing to consider: each of these palettes could work, more or less, for each of the three locations Amber and Mark are considering. So tell me: which one is your favorite? Which one would you pick, if you were making the decision?

The Details
First row, left to right: table settings from Napa Valley Celebrations; berry crates photo by Corbin Gurkin from {Duet Weddings}; shoe photo from the Weddingbee Galleries

Second row: chandelier table photo from Domino Magazine; vintage silverware photo by Corbin Gurkin from {Duet Weddings}; chalkboard centerpiece photo by Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty

Third row: macarons in cut glass photo by Corbin Gurkin from {Duet Weddings}; wine photo via Style Me Pretty; hydrangea bouquet photo by Sugar Love via Classic Bride; confetti getaway from Martha Stewart Weddings

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This is the board I put together for a summer wedding on Martha’s Vineyard. I wanted to keep things light, clean, classic, and crisp, with a little bit of prep and a whole lot of hydrangeas thrown in for good measure. Amber and I talked about one venue she and Mark were considering, a historical home, and so I ran with that. I also added in a subtle lavender theme, with lavender bundles serving as favors at place settings and escort cards nestled in lavender seeds at the entryway to the reception. A cake buffet, milk glass centerpieces, a short dress (ooo la la!), and a vintage car getaway complete the picture in my head.

The Details
First row, left to right: gate photo by Vue Photography via Southern Weddings; bridesmaid photo via PDX Bride; lantern porch from Martha Stewart Weddings

Second row: cake buffet photo by Our Labor of Love via Once Wed; historic home from Martha Stewart Weddings; lace favors from Livia Cetti

Third row: hydrangea pails lining church aisles from Martha Stewart Weddings; vintage car getaway photo from Martha Stewart Weddings; shoe photo by Jonathan Canlas

Fourth row: lavender place setting photo by Leigh Miller; lavender escort card bed photo by Laurie Arons via Snippet & Ink; lavender escort cards from Martha Stewart Weddings

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Amber is my lovely cousin who’s marrying Mark next summer. They’re deciding between a destination wedding in the Caribbean, a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard, and a wedding at a mansion in Connecticut {tough choice, right?}. She asked me to put together three separate boards to try and help the two of them sort out their options.

This is the board I put together for the Caribbean. The good and bad part of a destination wedding is that you are pretty much forced to be laid-back about the details. You can only transport so many extras down in your suitcases, and you can only visit the site or talk to the coordinators so many times. With that said, I tried to keep things light and easy. Lilac lanterns are lightweight and easily packable. Asking for a simple buttercream cake will ensure that your sketches aren’t misinterpreted by the baker. Gray suits for the groom and his men and different dresses in a range of shades for the ladies would be easy to coordinate from afar. And parasols are a perfect island touch.

The Details
First row, left to right: tropical destination photo by Photo Phil via Weddingbee; lanterns photo by Justin & Mary Marantz via the Little Black Book Blog; votives from Brides

Second row: mismatched maids photo by Sugar Love via Classic Bride; cake from Country Living; lavender invitation suite by Bird and Banner

Third row: sandals photo by Our Labor of Love; favor boxes from With This Ring (she even includes the DIY instructions!); gray suit portrait by Jonathan Canlas

Fourth row: tulip bouquet from Blue Sky Weddings; groomsmen attire photo by Photo Phil via Weddingbee; parasol portrait by Photo Phil via Weddingbee