Saturday, 7th August 2010

IKEA IDEAS

I’m loving these IKEA images… lots of inspiration for our wedding party and our house!

I am a big IKEA fan, I will be so dangerous when our house is built and I am let loose in there, so you can imagine my delight when I cam across some of these images on Bride & Joy. The really stunning styling, by Lo Bjurulf of Agent Bauer, shows IKEA in a whole new light…

I especially love IKEA decor mixed with vintage or antique pieces for a more personal, eclectic look, swoon!

Author: pamela | 2 Comments »

Labels: Design + Interiors, Farrell & Chase Loves..., Our House, Our Wedding, Wedding, Wedding Style + Trends

Friday, 6th August 2010

MAKING WHOOPIE!

Apparently the best bakes since cupcakes. Whoopie Pies! They look so delicious, like giant cake versions of Oreo Cookies, yummm, I can wait to try one…

The traditional whoopie pie consist of delicious white frosting or cream sandwiched between two chocolate cakes, just enough for one person to indulge in. They originate from New England where Amish women would bake them and put them in farmers’ lunchboxes. When farmers would find these yummy treats, they would shout “Whoopie!”

I think they’d be great for a sweet/cake table at a wedding! Huge in the US it’s only a matter of time before they hit the Irish market.

As they haven’t hit Irish shores yet and I’m not going to America any time soon I think I’ll have to get baking if I want to try them. If you fancy trying them too here’s a recipe I have found, let me know how you get on…

TRADITIONAL WHOOPIE PIES

Recipe makes 12 pies, Cooking time 12 min

Cookie Dough Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 large egg

Marshmallow Creme Filling Ingredients: 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, slightly softened, 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 jar (7- to 7 1/2-ounce) marshmallow creme, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets.

Prepare Cookie Dough: In large bowl, with spoon, mix all dough ingredients until smooth. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart, on each prepared cookie sheet. (There will be 12 rounds per sheet.) Bake 12 to 14 minutes, rotating sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking, until puffy and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. With wide spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Prepare Marshmallow Creme Filling: In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter until smooth. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Beat in marshmallow creme and vanilla until smooth.

Spread 1 rounded tablespoon filling on flat side of 12 cookies. Top with remaining cookies. And enjoy!

Recipe from www.delish.com

Author: pamela | 2 Comments »

Labels: Farrell & Chase Loves..., Food + Drink, Wedding, Wedding Style + Trends

Thursday, 5th August 2010

CUSTOM STATIONERY - LINDA & KENNY

I recently designed and printed Linda & Kenny’s wedding stationery for their wedding this month in Castle Durrow. They chose our Chantilly wedding suite which we customised by tailor mixing a beautifully vibrant coral pink ink to match a swatch which they supplied. The coral ink was coupled with pewter ink and printed onto our pillowy 100% cotton card, the stationery was complete with matching ivory envelopes.

Author: pamela | Add your Comment »

Labels: Letterpress Stationery, Testimonials, Wedding, Wedding Stationery

Thursday, 5th August 2010

WEDDING STATIONERY TRENDS 2010/2011

There is something very special about receiving beautiful stationery in the post, a very rare occurrence in a world of instant communication, the tactile beauty gives instant recognition that this is something you can really enjoy opening.

Enhancing your wedding style, your wedding stationery should be an extension of your personality and should set a mood for your wedding day. The design, style and colour selected for your stationery will all contribute significantly to this and should be considered carefully…

WEDDING INVITATION BOOKS - Invitation books are a lovely thoughtful way of inviting your guests to your special day. They are like a guidebook, itinerary and invitation all in one. The formal invitation is generally on the front cover or on the first inside page followed by all the information that your guests could possibly need to join you on your wedding day; wedding itinerary, extra celebrations, travel, accommodation, information about the destination, sights, attractions etc. They can be designed to compliment any style. A wonderful invitation solution for any destination wedding!

VINTAGE FLAIR - Antique lace, damask prints, fleur de lis and feminine flowers are increasingly popular and will only become more popular in wedding stationery over the next year. Following fashion trends and interior trends vintage is most definitely in vogue! Choose dusty pinks, sage green, duck egg blue and antique gold to compliment soft white or cream card to truly achieve the vintage look.

LETTERPRESS STATIONERY - Letterpress wedding stationery is hugely popular in the US and is desired by many Irish brides. It ticks all the boxes in wedding stationery trends, printed on a vintage press on 100% cotton paper it follows both the vintage trend and eco trend for the coming years. The cotton paper is handfed through a vintage press impressing the artwork into the soft pillowy paper, one colour at a time resulting in stationery of incredible tactile beauty. Letterpress wedding stationery can be completely customized to compliment your wedding style. Merging old world printing techniques with original creative design the possibilities are endless, and truly beautiful.

OUTDOOR CHIC - A big trend this year is nature-inspired, ethereal feel wedding stationery. Garden party and marquee weddings are becoming ever more popular. Reflect the outdoor location in your wedding stationery by personalising the stationery with florals, birds, butterflies or tree motifs. These accents coupled with vibrant colours will create a beautifully whimsical style which can be continued through all aspects of your wedding.

PURPLE - Purple has been popular for many seasons but it has never been as stylish as it is in the coming year. Purple gives a sense of romance and magic, from grape and aubergine to violet and berry, purple will capture the imagination of guests. For spring and summer wedding choose vibrant purples coupled with sage green or dusty pink for a fresh garden feel. For autumn and winter weddings choose deep purple coupled with antique gold for a very luxurious look.

SEASONAL STYLE - From Ice flakes and bauble in winter and warm tones and falling leaves in the autumn to vibrant floral’s and butterflies in the spring and summer, seasonal wedding stationery is the perfect starting point to begin using the time of year as a theme to style your wedding.

ART DECO - Art Deco trends are on the verge of exploding in the wedding industry! Taking lead from popular bridal gown styling, inspired by 1920’s and 1930’s Hollywood glamour. Art Deco wedding stationery should feature metallics, black or sapphire blues for real elegance. Designs should be classic and chic, featuring silhouettes or geometric patterns.

The day you drop all those beautiful envelopes into the postbox you will be sending your guests the first impression they will get of you special day. Your wedding stationery should create a real sense of anticipation and excitement for your wedding day!

Author: pamela | Add your Comment »

Labels: Letterpress, Wedding, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Style + Trends

Tuesday, 3rd August 2010

ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

I’ve started thinking about our engagement shoot, myself and Alan are going to Rome in September, to celebrate my 30th birthday and to organise our wedding, I can’t wait! We have arranged to meet our photographer while we’re there to talk through all the arrangements for our wedding and to shoot our engagement photos around the amazing sites of Rome!

I’ve been looking at many beautiful engagement shoots for some inspiration, do we want a formal or informal shoot, something quirky and fun or romantic and classic? There are so many possibilities, but whatever we decide, hopefully we’ll have some fun and a giggle.

On my search for inspiration I came across Rina & Bram’s engagement shoot on Jennifer Skog’s website. The pictures are really stunning and caught my attention straight away. They are so romantic and really capture the mood of Rome, hopefully our pictures will be as nice…

Author: pamela | Add your Comment »

Labels: Farrell & Chase Loves..., Photography, Real Weddings, Wedding, Wedding Style + Trends

Wednesday, 28th July 2010

SANTA BARBARA WEDDING

The instant I saw the images from this Santa Barbara wedding on Style Me Pretty I swooned! The style is so romantic, with a beautiful vintage 1920’s feel. What can I say I have total wedding envy…These Images are taken from a Real Wedding featured on www.stylemepretty.com one of my favourite blogs for wedding inspiration and the beautiful photography is by Aaron Delesie

Author: pamela | 2 Comments »

Labels: Farrell & Chase Loves..., Photography, Real Weddings, Wedding, Wedding Style + Trends

Tuesday, 8th June 2010

ELLIE BALFE MAKEUP ARTIST

I met Ellie Balfe at The D4 Berkeley Wedding Fair a few weeks ago. She is a very talented make up artist and was making up the models for the show. I was chatting to her about makeup, the show and how amazing the weather was, the beautiful weather we were missing out on! She mentioned that she had a blog so the week after the show out of curiosity and a love of blogs I had a little read through her posts, it has quickly become a weekley must read for me.

Ellie gives amazing make up tips on her blog, tries out new products for her readers and of course posts about all of her favourite things including her beautiful little girl Lulu. I have to say I have loved reading her makeup tips and have picked her brain over makeup for my wedding next year. As you know I’m getting married in Rome next summer so I have been looking for a nice makeup that has no SPF (for photography reasons), that looks natural, isn’t drying on my skin and will last all day, demanding you say? Well yes I am.

She recommended MAC Face & Body, so I went into Mac and asked for a sample, which I tried out at my friends hen party last weekend. And… I am a total convert, I love love love it. I have quite dry sensitive skin so allot of makeups dry out my skin and look patchy but my skin is very clear so I only need a light to medium coverage. This foundation was perfect. You can layer it to your liking, it looks so natural and it really did last all night.

“It is a professional product so is only sold in their pro stores as opposed to smaller counters or airports, but do try to get your hand on it at some stage on your makeup odyssey!”

Ellie did recommend setting it with a MAC Select Sheer Powder in warmer weather which I will try out in Barcelona this July when we are at a friends wedding. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Among her other recommenations are Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow, which I use daily.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara, this is on my shopping list, I tried it out and it’s great, no eye irritation and it wears well with no smudging.

Lancome Effercernes Long Lasting Concealer, I have bought this already, it’s brilliant for dark circles!

And who knew I have been wearing MAC’s best selling eye shadow shade Satin Taupe for the past few years, as recommended by Ellie.

Ellie specialises in Bridal Make Up and also runs makeup classes at Boylan Balfe.

Author: pamela | Add your Comment »

Labels: Farrell & Chase Loves..., Fashion + Beauty, Wedding, Wedding Suppliers

Tuesday, 8th June 2010

I HAVE MY WEDDING DRESS!!!

I am very excited to tell you all that I have chosen and have in my house my wedding dress! I know it’s just over a year to our wedding but it was the one and I couldn’t not buy it.

I bought my dress from a supplier I met at The D4 Berkeley Wedding Fair. It is a stunning dress that I had been looking at on the designers website, my mother called it, when she saw it she instantly knew it would be the one. It isn’t exactly what I had in my head, it’s so much nicer, but it does have the vintage hollywood glamour feel to it that I have been so drawn to.

It was the first dress I tried on, such a cliche. I tried on a few more to make sure, the silk gowns I loved so much on the bridal websites were terrible on me, I’m far to curvy for them. I also tried on a mermaid shape dress which made my figure look amazing, but I couldn’t walk or sit down in it, I know wedding dresses shouldn’t be practical but this was a whole other level. I also tried on a beautiful flowing chiffon gown which I did really like but it was very similar to a dress I already have. Compared to any other dress I tried on, the first, the one, was just wow. I got that feeling that I never thought I would get, butterflies in my tummy, I really didn’t want to take it off! It is perfect on me too, no alterations needed.

I did try it on a couple of times with my mother when I got it home but it’s packed away now, but it might have to come out again for one last look and to show my bridesmaids.

I’ll let you all in on a little secret, it is a Jenny Packham gown, but I will reveal no more. Alan has said he wants it to be a total surprise when I’m walking up the isle.

I can’t wait to wear it. Roll on July 15th 2011!

Author: pamela | 3 Comments »

Labels: Farrell & Chase Loves..., Fashion + Beauty, Our Wedding, Wedding

Monday, 17th May 2010

LIFE’S A BEACH

‘Life’s A Beach’ inspiration photo shoot in Confetti Magazine featuring our  Fly Away Wedding Stationery Suite.

Author: pamela | Add your Comment »

Labels: Letterpress Stationery, Press, Wedding, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Style + Trends

Thursday, 29th April 2010

CUSTOM STATIONERY - CARLEEN & JULIAN

I recently completed Carleen and Julian’s wedding stationery. I was delighted to design and print it for them, they were a joy to work with. Carleen and Julian are having a small intimate wedding in Dublin city in June followed by a wedding party at home the following evening. Carleen and Julian chose our Secret Garden wedding suite which we customise by adding fluttering butterflies to the design, a very nice whimsical detail. We designed both wedding and party invitations, RSVP cards and mass booklet covers all of which continue the elegant butterfly summer garden theme.

Carleen chose a dusty pink ink colour to match her sisters bridemaid dress which is complimented with sage green, creating a lovely dusty summery feel. Carleen chose silver envelopes which really compliment the invitations adding more depth to the colour scheme. We blind embossed a butterfly onto the envelope flap, a lovely hint of  what’s to come for guests receiving the invitations and also letterpress printed the RSVP envelopes with the return address.

We can customise any of our wedding stationery designs to compliment your wedding style with a choice of ink colours, envelope colours and personalised wording.

Author: pamela | 2 Comments »

Labels: Letterpress Stationery, Testimonials, Wedding, Wedding Stationery