Remember those adorable wood wedding invites from Night Owl Paper Goods that I featured in the Non-Paper Wedding Invitations entry a few days ago? Well guess what, Night Owl’s project coordinator Megan got in touch with me to say that you, dear Poptastic Bride reader, are entitled to FREE SHIPPING on all wedding orders placed before the end of July! Simply enter the coupon code “ecowedding” at check-out. Isn’t that just lovely of them???

If you’ve always been intrigued by the idea of sending out invitations made of material other than paper, let me point you to Night Owl’s collection of wood wedding suites . I’ve been a fan of their eco-friendly, sustainably-harvested wood invites for months – not just because of the environmental benefits but also because of the darling critter, flower, and pattern illustrations on them.

And in case you’ve been wondering about what their wood invites are like in real life, I was pleasantly surprised myself to find out that they are actually made of very thin pieces of wood that are flexible and splinter-free. Check out the photo below and blog review of Night Owl’s “Fotter’s Day card” posted by Bonggamom Finds.

Image courtesy of Bonggamom Finds

If you’d like to learn more about Night Owl Paper Goods, visit their website and follow their updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Purple Periwinkle Lavendar Floral Statement Bib Necklace, $74 from Rosy Posy Designs

If you’re a longtime Poptastic Bride reader, you already know that I applaud all things handmade – especially if they can easily replace wedding elements that are otherwise impractical and *gasp* expensive, like using non-flower bouquets instead of fresh blooms, for instance. The “green” benefit of having upcycled wedding paraphernalia is of course an added bonus.

This is why I am thrilled to present to you today’s featured vendor, Rosy Posy Designs and their pretty, one-of-a-kind handmade fabric floral fashion accessories. Rosy Posy’s Kristen Lee who was a funky bride herself (see her wedding pic below!) was kind enough to answer a few questions about her creative venture.

Please tell us more about the beginnings of Rosy Posy Designs. How did you get the idea of making fabric floral accessories?
KL: I tend to focus on one little thing, and go big from there, My own wedding was completely envisioned based on a single photograph I had seen in an old French style book of a woman from the 1920’s. I fell in love with the whole vibe in that one photo…the mood, the dress, and the most fabulous hat I had ever seen. A designer friend recreated the dress for me, in red silk (“claret” red to be exact , and I had a milliner recreate that fabulous hat.

Kristen’s Wedding Photo

KL: Rosy Posy Designs had a similar beginning. It all started from one small button box I had inherited from my grandmother. I spent so much time looking at all of the gorgeous, sparkly treasures this box held…buttons from the 1920’s, antique brooches, pieces of lost jewels. They just needed to be resurrected and put onto something new and beautiful so they could be admired again. I have always loved embellished millinery design, and looked to French flower making for inspiration. I started to play around with fabrics, jewels and buttons I had. I love how the textiles, vintage buttons and jewelry suprise me in their transformations as I work with them.

Colorful Summer Garden Floral Pearl Headband, $30

Can you tell us more about your custom bridal work process?
KL: I am new to working with brides, having just recently been contacted by several women via my new Etsy shop. I have no finished pieces to show as of yet, but most ideas have come from something they have seen in my shop, and a desire to do something similar in their colors or themes. Although the pieces in my shop are one of a kind, I can make something similar for them based on something they see in my shop that sparks an idea.  Wish I had some great wedding shots for you to post. I have attached photos of some of my favorite pieces.

Beachy Blues Seafoam Greens Floral Statement Necklace, $74

Colorful Floral Butterfly Corsage Brooch Pin, $35

Ivory Lace Rhinestone Button Floral French Barrette (SOLD)

KL: I absolutely love collaborating with couples on their visions for their wedding day. They are so creative and have wonderful stories and “out of the box” ideas. One bride has asked if I could incorporate a beautiful small brooch that had been her grandmother’s, to be the centerpiece bloom in a floral statement style necklace. Another bride has been in touch with me to design Rosy Posy necklaces for all of her bridesmaids, and another would like me to make corsage pins for her bridesmaids dresses. I have just started to make smaller statement style floral necklaces that are perfect for younger bridesmaids and flower girls. My customers have expressed that they love how my accessories are an everlasting gift…something to always keep, and wear again, as a memory of the special day. They have all been interested in wonderful displays of color…as I say in my descriptions of my designs…who says a bride has to be dressed head to toe in white!!!

Rainbow Floral Bouquet Bib Statement Necklace, $74

Please show us three of your favorite Rosy Posy products.
KL: Rosy Posy pins are so versatile. My customers have given great feedback on creative ways they have displayed and worn them. You can pin them on  on favorite hat, and a pretty pashmina, jazz up a favorite purse; pin it on headbands and hats. Dress up a belt or sash or a piece of jewelry. Some of our buyers have pinned their Rosy Posy pins on a funky lampshade, or on a cozy pillow and even used them as curtain tie backs.

Lavender Silk Flower Corsage Pin (SOLD)

Black and Yellow Floral Pin Corsage Brooch, $35

KL: The floral bib statement necklaces are my favorite to make. I have the opportunity to put a lot of texture, patterns and jewels in them. They are also very versatile…perfect for a dressy occassion, but also look really fun with a simple, casual outfit.

Yellow, Taupe and Green Floral Bib Statement Necklace, $74

Sweet Rosy Pink Floral Bib Statement Necklace, $52

KL: I am excited to add to my collection of accessories. I have been working on funky headbands, French barettes, and coming soon…more hair accessories, cuff bracelets, and floral belts and sashes.

Light Pink Flower Garden French Barrette Large, $28

Golden Yellow Flower Hair Fascinator Headband, $30

Funky headband by Rosy Posy

Thank you so much Kristen for giving us an in-depth look at your collection and work process!

If you want to see more of Kristen’s lovely designs, head on over to the Rosy Posy Design’s shop on Etsy and stay tuned to her and daughter Tasha’s product updates on the Rosy Posy blog.

Summer’s here and because I know that a lot of you are having your engagement photo sessions this season, I’ve gathered a number of cute Bohemian style dresses and blouse & skirt ensembles from my favorite online boutique of the mo’, TRACY PORTER, for your visual entertainment.  These are perfect for wearing to your summer e-session (or even your honeymoon!)

Alice Halter Dress, $198 and Bon Vivant Tapestry Jersey Duster, $188

Floral Delicacies Seaside Dress, on sale – $178.20, Millicent Tapestry Tote, $138, and French-Blossom Necklace, $128

Lulu Sleeveless Top, $61.20 and Sweet Constellations Skirt, $70.20

Fly Away Summer Skirt, $168 and Henna Embroidered Sleeveless Shirt, $188

Nightingale Hooded Dress, $158

Primrose Hill Vintage Dress, $228, Charmed, I’m Sure Necklace, $348 and Dancing Queen Cocktail Ring, $52

Fiona Jersey Dress, on sale – $151.20, Golden Pomegranate Necklace, $498, and Sweet Angels Cocktail Ring, $275

Calypso Sleeveless Dress, on sale – $129.60

Enigma Jersey Dress, on sale – $149.40, Peruvian Revival Necklace, $39.60, and Sweet Angels Cocktail Ring, $275

To Have And To Hold Jersey Dress, $151.20 and Paisley Parade Corduroy Tote, $98

Aren’t they just darling? Well there’s good news, there’s a discount coupon for you dear readers – TRACY PORTER 10% Off Site-Wide!: Use coupon code gypsy10 at checkout

All photos on this entry are published with the permission of Steep Street

One thing I love about running a wedding blog is that I get to meet and discover some really amazing people who are positively brimming with creativity, whether they’re couturiers, accessory crafters, videographers, photographers, graphic designers, and even fellow bloggers. One such incredibly talented person is Kelty Luber of Portland, Oregon-based Steep Street who takes enchanting engagement and wedding photos…

…and then transforms them into stunning printed works of art.

Detail from a custom designed mix CD favor

Bookmark favors

Page from a wedding album

Kelty says she has been taking pictures all her life but realized recently that it’s too much fun to not do every day. She offers creative services that skirts the norm, including “a diorama of your life, a quirky pop-up invitation, a throw pillow of your cat, an underwater photo shoot, a mixed-media website, a stop motion movie, or take pictures of all of the shoes in your closet for your personal stationery”.

Mailable cards from Steep Street’s Etsy store. You can hire Kelty to make your stationery something personal, with photos of you or your things.

I had the pleasure of asking Kelty a few questions about her experience working on weddings so far.

You excel in both photography and design. Which came first and when did you start offering both to wedding clients?

KL: I’ve been doing both photography and art/design for as long as I remember… they’re connected in a lot of ways for me and I’m not sure I could ever just do one! I only began shooting weddings and designing for brides and grooms last September, so everything is still pretty new…

Tell us more about your work process. How long does it usually take from conception to delivery of the final product?
KL: A project can take anywhere from a day to a month depending on the complexity or scope of the project. I like to chat with my client first about what they’re expecting, their style, and their inspirations. That way I get a good sense of what they’re expecting and can design in a personal way. I do the custom work, throw them a comp, and we go from there if there needs to be edits or tweaks!

Please share with us three of your favorite projects.
KL: My three favorite projects are as follows:

a. with my sister and her husband- I did their bach party invite and also love the work I did for their cd wedding favor collages! I used photos of them that I took and also scanned in elements like my painting, tearouts fro magazines, textures and other photographs.

b. with my friends Jeff and Stacey– we did an underwater shoot and then I turned the photos into an accordion invite!

c. with my sister hannah’s in-laws for their 40th wedding anniversary party. I’m going to post them next week, but they’re all kinds of vintage deliciousness… we used a photo from their wedding day and created a little travel-inspired scene from their photo albums and other props for the cover. (Tune in to Kelty’s blog to see this project when she posts about it next week!)

After seeing all that yummy eye candy, you must be wondering about what drives her to come up with such arresting visuals. Thankfully she readily shares her inspiration on Meet Kelty:  ”Old movies, rummage sales, barcelona, genuine people, jasmine and jade plants, sunshine naps, creative collaboration, beer at the movies, mossy things, mystery novels, my twin sister, open water, patchwork quilts, languages and accents, my incredibly silly family, tomato plants, reading aloud, real mail, your story, your life, and your crazy ideas.”

If you would like for Steep Street to photograph and design funky custom wedding paraphernalia for you, go say hey.

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous work with Poptastic Bride, Kelty! Keep being an inspiration to many of us.

Have you all been to BridePOP? It’s a forward-thinking wedding blog written by a community of brides and brides-to-be in all stages of planning so it’s certainly one of the more interesting sources of wedding related information out there. I for one have certainly found a lot of fresh wedding ideas and inspiration on there which is why it’s been sitting in my Link Love page for a while now.

Anyway, Michael of Team BridePOP has informed me that they’ve just launched a fully manageable Vendor Guide and that you, dear Poptastic Bride readers, are invited to list your blog/shop/wedding service website at 25% off the regular sign up price! Just key in this special code: PPTSTK25 when you submit your listing. Please note that this code will expire on the 15th of July so make sure to sign up as soon as you can to increase your chances of being seen by the over 100,000 brides who visit their site every month.

Here’s how:

1) Go to BridePOP’s Vendor Guide registration page.
2) Register and then you’ll be able to select a category for your business. (You can see mine under blogs.)
3) Enter your profile information and remember to key in the special discount code PPTSTK25 when you register to get 25% off. (Again, please note that the code will expire in two weeks).

Go and get your wedding-related website listed now!

My photographer friend Gracci (of Poptastic Bride regulars Pelaez Photography) alerted me sometime ago to Net-a-Porter’s Wedding Boutique and their selection of unusual and alternative wedding dress styles. It’s a perfect resource for modern, fashion forward brides who want to wear a striking outfit that will be talked about for days — even weeks — after the wedding. Feast your eyes on these beauties.

Matthew Williamson’s ivory silk-chiffon waterfall gown withpale-gold beading

Lanvin’s pale-gray silk-mousseline wedding gown

Temperley London’s white crepe-silk wedding gown with a cutout silver sequin and transparent crystal embellishment

Lanvin Blanche’s straplessivory silk-gazar dress with tiered layered ruffles and an internal boned corset

Temperley London’s beautiful white silk-organza strapless bustier gown

One Vintage’s cream high-neck wedding dress (made from rare three-dimensional Victorian Irish lace)

Halston’s silver asymmetric jersey gown

Lanvin Blanche’s ivory washed linen asymmetric dress

Lanvin Blanche’s cream cotton ruffle sleeve T-shirt

Find more unusual wedding styles at Net-a-Porter.

***
As luck would have it, an update from fashion label Marchesa announcing their Resort 2011 Collection came in on Twitter as I was publishing this entry. Marchesa is known for eclectic and high fashion evening wear so you can expect to find gorgeous, edgy dresses in any collection of theirs. Here now are some great finds that I believe can work as alternative bridal wear too:

View the entire Marchesa Resort 2011 collection.

If you’re looking for something fun and different to wear on your wedding day, here’s a store worth checking out.  Coo-koo-ri-koo sells creative accessories such as vintage repurposed rings & brooches and yoyo fabric necklaces, earrings, barrettes, fascinators and more!

Looking for that perfect “something blue”? Check these out:

Plumage Yo-yo and Lace Fascinator – one of a kind, $20

Swimming Pool Ring, $15

Star Stuff Yo-Yo necklace, $37

Aurora Borealis Silk Yo-yo Earrings, $20

Coo-koo-ri-koo is run by the talented and crafty Shanalee Hampton who, incidentally, was a funky bride herself. She got married in a blue wedding dress ten years ago, way back when offbeat weddings weren’t commonplace, and so of course it caused quite a ruckus. Flash forward to the future, she is now making accessories for you funky brides who are reading this feature.

Shanalee was kind enough to answer some questions:

What got you into creating funky accessories?
I started making accessories as gifts for friends and it just kind of spiraled from there. They would wear them, get compliments and orders started coming in… it was all kind of a happy accident.

Do you do custom work for wedding parties?
This season I’d done mini-fascinators & barrettes for entire bridal parties, brooches for bridesmaids ribbon sashes, a few veiled headpieces for brides and coordinating yoyo necklace… I’m waiting for pictures from most since the weddings were this spring or are upcoming. I’ve also had a number of brides or their friends buy blue rings to use as their “something blue.”  Here’s my favorite picture.

Name three of your favorite or most sellable items.
This is my most popular necklace. I’ve sold hundreds and I did variations on it for three bridesmaids in April. The bride’s colors were grey and yellow.

Partly Sunny Yo-yo Necklace, $34

I’ve also sold a number of these to brides although most were just wearing it for their reception and not to the actual ceremony. I can make it in a number of other colors.

Mrs. Peacock Silk Yo-yo and Feather Fascinator, $65

I also sell tons of these for bridesmaids!

Lily Silk Yo-yo Barrette, $18

Thanks again Shanalee for sharing your creations with us!

Visit Coo-koo-ri-koo to see more.

This cake is topped with a Custom Wooden Star House Tree with Personalized Plus Heart Topper, $42.00 from Star House

Since you’re reading Poptastic Bride, it’s a given that those generic ceramic wedding cake toppers just won’t do for you, am I right? This is why I scoured various online sources for whimsical handmade and unique wedding cake toppers, all of which can be customized to suit your themed wedding. (And nope, there are none of those ubiquitous Precious Moments, or *gasp* Bobblehead toppers, on this list).

Because of the love and craftsmanship that go into these works of art, I believe they will truly make beautiful and meaningful keepsakes of your wedding day. Enjoy looking through my selection below because I sure did have fun sourcing them out!

(Not Your Traditional) Bride and Groom Cake Toppers

Star House has adorable, lovingly-crafted wooden toppers that would make lovely decorative elements for your future home. There are of course options to customise the toppers to look like the bride and groom.

Custom Wooden Star House Wedding Toppers, $125.00 from Star House

Custom Wooden Star House Wedding Toppers with Pets, $175.00 from Star House

I also absolutely love these cake toppers by Lace Rubbish. Their dolls exude a cool indie vibe that I’m pretty sure stylish hipster couples will identify with.

Custom Garden of Love Wedding Cake Topper, $115 from Lace Rubbish

Custom Love in the Library Wedding Cake Topper, $95 from Lace Rubbish

These cute wooden Kokeshi doll-style wooden toppers by Lollipop Workshop also caught my eye. I like that the faces, skin color, hair and other features of the toppers can be customized in a pleasant, cartoony fashion to resemble the bride and groom.

Custom Wedding Cake Topper with Arch, $150 from Lollipop Workshop

Custom Beach Wedding Cake Topper, $125 from Lollipop Workshop

Etsy store Together Forever also sells Kokeshi doll-style wooden toppers that can be customized to resemble the bride and groom. I love the details they incorporate into the dolls (check out the bride’s dress below). Their designs also have a very retro look about them which makes them perfectly suited for vintage weddings.

Handmade Keepsake Wedding Topper, $180 from Together Forever

Handmade Keepsake Wedding Topper with Fall Tree Backdrop, $180 from Together Forever

These toppers by Weddings and Wire demonstrate the creative use of silver wire and enamel and the result is a work of art you can keep for years beyond your wedding day.

Dragonfly Wedding Cake Topper, $160 from Weddings and Wire

Lifted by Balloons, Pulled by Doves, Fully Customized Wedding Cake Topper, $350 from Weddings and Wire

An Assortment of Cute Animal Themed Toppers

If bride and groom toppers aren’t your thing, here are cute little creatures you can decorate your cake with.

Custom Wooden Star House Rainbow with Sweetheart and Tweet Pair, $68.00 from Star House

Love Owls With Tree, $160 from Kikuike

Custom Wooden Star House Personalized Sweetheart Tree and Love Bird Pair, $60.00 from Star House

Bride and Groom Giraffes, $75 from Bunny with a Tool Belt

Love Lobsters Cake Topper, $120 from Kikuike

Bride and Groom Bunny Toppers, $75 from Bunny with a Tool Belt

Hand-sculpted Love Birds Tree with Nest, $170 from Red Light Studio

Robots, Monsters and other Creatures

Themed cakes or toppers can provide a nice finishing touch to theme weddings so whether you’re planning a steampunk wedding or a sci-fi / fantasy celebration, here are toppers to choose from.

Elegant Robot Couple Wedding Cake Topper, $159 from Builders Studio

Mr. and Mrs. Roboto, $85 from Bunny with a Tool Belt

Bride and Groom Monsters, $75 from Bunny with a Tool Belt

Hipsters Get Hitched, $75 from Bunny with a Tool Belt

That’s all for now. If I find more, I will make sure to share them with you!

Designer Lisa Merton of Sydney-based Culture Bridal Couture (she designed the modern Japanese-inspired wedding gowns that you all loved so much!) gave me a heads up about the CBC team’s latest collection: Vintage Glamour theme wedding gowns inspired by the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Take a look at the gorgeous pieces below:

From the Culture Bridal Couture blog:

We were inspired by sleek & truly beautiful 1930′s evening wear, updated for the modern-day bride of course, with slinky liquid silk satins, gorgeous French Chantilly laces, embellished with delicate hand-beading and lots of intricate details & immaculate grooming.

Here are more photos from the second session, a 1940s and 1950s vintage glamor-themed photo shoot.

Here is a 3-minute video clip so you can hear about what inspired the creation of the gowns from Lisa herself and also get an insider look at how this photo shoot was styled and directed:

Visit Culture Bridal Couture to see more of Lisa Merton and her team’s awesome work!

Photography (stills) by Dario Gardiman at www.dvgphoto.com
Videography by Alex Zar at www.radiantbride.com.au
Gowns by Culture Bridal Couture www.culturebridal.com.au
Make-up by Simone Cozens at www.simonecozens.com
Hair Styling by Peta Pelligrini EMAIL peta.pelligrini@gmail.com
Jewellery & Hair Accessories by Tessarella House, Stephanie Browne and bespoke pieces supplied by Culture Bridal Couture.
Bridal Shoes by Deseo in Paddington www.deseo.com.au
Boronia House, Mosman (wedding venue) www.boroniahouse.com.au

This is a bit late but last week’s Wedding Charette by TreeSpace Studio features theatrical seeded invitations with a Southern flavor.

From TreeSpace designer Amy:

Andi, an actress and non profit organizer, and Drew, a public defender and musician are both steeped in the performance arts but have a steadfast fondness for the South, where Andi is from and where their wedding will be. Andi shared with me their love for old Southern trees, wildflowers, the Appalachians and bluegrass music and how difficult it was to find invitations that really reflected who they are.

Intrigued? See Amy’s brilliant solution for this invitation design challenge on her blog.

Submit for Illustrated Friday’s Wedding Charette.