Tuesday Thought: Breakfast by the Barn

Cock-a-doodle-doooooooooooooooooo darlings ;-)  It's time to rise and shine!  Now that's a way to start the day, no?  Hehe.

I know, usually my Tuesday Shoesday post comes first on Tuesdays and not my Tuesday Thought...however, with a title like Breakfast by the Barn I figured this one just had to come first...no question about it like the whole chicken or the egg debate!

Anyhoo, how I would love to eat breakfast here every morning...

Such a simple and sweet breakfast table.  I adore the place mats, and the eggs.  Did you see how they used twine tied in loose knots to hold the eggs?  Fabulous idea!  And all this inspiration got me thinking...and not about a breakfast reception ;-)

So here is your Tuesday Thought for today:  Host a morning after breakfast for your guests!  I know not an original thought - but one definitely worth repeating ;-)  When I got married 11 years ago, we did this for our guests since just about every single person came from out of town.  (It was mentioned in the Elegant Bride spread posted yestereday.) It doesn't have to be anything elaborate - bagels, muffins, donuts, fruit, coffee, etc... 

But let me tell you - it was so FABULOUS spending time with our guests after the wedding.  I got to hear all about the events that I missed...like at the cigar and cognac bar...were every guy and girl just about was smoking a cigar!  Where was I? Or the fact that our caterer ran out of beer...I warned her about this...and having to make a late night run to the grocery store...in our town of 9,000, she was lucky the grocery store was still open!  And lots and lots of other stories. 

Granted, we had all the guests back to the house after the reception (I know call me crazy)...I had beer bottles along every single inch of my wrap around porch to prove it ;-)...but we were too busy still celebrating to talk about all the happenings of the day and night.  It wasn't until the next morning when we actually got to hear all the stories, and were able to relax with our guests.  The breakfast was one of the best decisions I made!  I wouldn't have wanted it any other way ;-)  And neither will you!

Just an early morning thought for you darlings.  Now...who wants a mimosa?

~ Ciao

...images via design sponge

Happy Long Weekend

Yippe it's Friday!  And not just any Friday, but the Friday that kicks off Memorial Day weekend and the weekend festivities.  To me, Memorial Day weekend is the start of Summer!  And I LOVE Summer.  However, this weekends temperatures are definitely not warm and summery that's for sure.  But I'll take the 69 and sunny for the next 3 days...I'll just be wearing an extra layer to stay warm.

This weekend I plan on doing a bit of wandering!  Yes, wandering.  Wandering down a new path(s)...for not only Luna and Chloe Weddings and Over The Moon Vintage Rentals...but life in general.  I have made a handful of changes since the beginning of the year...starting with deciding to launch OTMVR and a website and blog, as well as getting LCW a new spruced up look too...but I have also made some big decisions in my personal life as well.  And with being so busy lately, I am looking forward to this weekend just to wander.  To see where life might take me next, to be inspired, to make some final decisions on a couple of pending questions, and to make sure that I see all that is around me.  I am hoping for a long path that leads me to new places...

Where I can sit back, relax and enjoy the view...

Or maybe go for a little ride, and feel the wind on my face...

Sounds like a weekend of pure bliss to me!  I plan on moving at a snails pace all weekend...no schedule, no alarms, and with an I'll get there when I get there attitude (which is sooooo not me, and I know I will struggle with it but I'm gonna try!).  And I think I just might have already started with getting this post up sooo late!  See changes ;-)

Whatever it is you decide to do this holiday weekend - be safe, and ENJOY!  I wish you an OVER THE MOON holiday weekend!!!

I won't be back until Tuesday loves, as I am taking a mini blog vacay ;-)  So I will see you on Tuesday with lots of lovely!

~ Ciao

...photography by jen huang and jose villa via style me pretty

~ who says ~

...you can't see stars from inside a tent?

I think these are spectacular, don't you?  Add to that the two chandeliers, and I am in love! 

~ Ciao

...photography bonnie tsang

~ out on a limb ~

So I know I am going out on a limb here (no pun intended), but just take a look at this...

I am becoming obsessed with swings (as you can see here the one I posted last Friday).  But this isn't so much a swing...more like a bed suspended from a branch...but you get the idea.  And I am over the moon about this one! 

I also adore day after shoots, and Megan over at forget.me.knot.weddings posted a lovely day after session yesterday.  Which got me thinking...this is one prop I would love to have at a day after shoot!  Can't you just see how adorable the pictures would be?  And as I continued to think...why not use it as your photobooth area at your reception?  Oh so fun and dreamy don't you think? 

Have a swinging weekend my dears!  See you on Monday.


~ Ciao

...image via garden rooms

~ who says ~

...you can't put your living room furniture out on the lawn?

I absolutely adore when furniture from inside is used outside!  This is something I do quite often...and I always love the result.

For more ideas and inspiration on using furniture outside you must check out the lakeside wedding shoot that the lovely and extremely talented Erin of Dandelion and Grey put together that was posted on Style Me Pretty yesterday.  I just loved it...I'm sure you will too!

~ Ciao


...image via style me pretty

~ supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ~

Pretty much says it all for this...

And what's inside?

Love notes!  Love, love, love this!

~ Ciao

...photography john schnack

~ on the table: hydrangeas + candles ~

This is such a simple tabletop design, but it is quite stunning...

Casual elegance done with just a couple elements - small vases filled with white flowers, candles and paper lanterns to hang from above...tabletop decor that can be done on a budget!  And once the sun goes down, the tables are all a glow...

Don't you just love candlelight? 


~ Ciao

...images wedding style guide

~ in the orchard ~

Wouldn't it be lovely to have your reception dinner amid the tress of an apple orchard?

A wonderful locale indeed!  And while this table might not be in an orchard, the casual tabletop decor was definitely inspired by one.   I love the simpleness of this tabletop...crisp white linens with runners made of old-fashioned kitchen linens, the basket full of a variety of apples as the centerpiece, the clean lines of the patterned napkins and the favors of apple butter in little jars topped with a bit of fabric and twine.  And to top it all off -  bunting attached from tree-to-tree, and big white ballons tied with twine.

Just think how spectacular everything would look at twilight...a lighted path to lead the way to the table, lights twinkling in the trees and strung from tree to tree over the tables and candles everywhere!  Dreamy.

It would also be fun to hold a bridemaids luncheon/picnic here too, or a day after the wedding picnic, or for a photoshoot...sorry, I just can't help myself!  And I am quite inspired...as my brothers best friend owns a very large apple orchard...just might have to see what I can come up with...

~ Ciao

...tabletop by frolic for once wed

~ my turn ~

Oh, tell me you wouldn't want a turn too!  And how amazing would the pictures be? 

~ Ciao

...image via dress design decor

~ all a glow ~

Candles in jars hanging from a ribbon in a tree...breathtaking!

What a statement this makes!  Wouldn't you just love to kiss your Mr. (or Mrs.) under this tree?

~ Ciao

...photography bonnie tsang

~ you are seated at... ~

I am sure a lot of you have seen this before...but it's just so great that I had to post anyway.  Now this is the out of the box thinking that I love!  A whimsical way to seat your guests...

I love the originality here - the way the names are listed on the board with different fonts.

And what a great way to assign tables - no numbers here!  Just dragonflies...

Goldfish...

Frogs...

Unicorns...

And lions, rabbits, butterflies - oh my!  What table would you wish to be seated at?  Me...any would be great...but I really love the stately lion and the frog.

~ Ciao

...photography by gia canali

~ location, location ~

My perfect spot to exchange vows?  Outside, under a tree...

With benches, a fabulous mirror and lanterns hanging overhead, yes please!  Of course, I would need some flowers and a couple of other details, but in terms of location - perfection!  Where is your perfect spot to exchange vows?

~ Ciao

...image via charleston weddings magazine

On the Table: Moss & Grass

I have to be totally honest here: I L-O-V-E moss! Well, this kind of moss at least. And as I am sitting here thinking of Spring, I couldn't help but state my love for it. You are probably thinking I am totally off my rocker. Anyway, can't you just see these little pots lined up on your reception tables.  My initial thought is that they are perfect for an outdoor reception, or in a barn...but in the garden or on a terrace would be fabulous too.  It's the pop of green, and a reminder of Spring that I love so much.

And if the moss really doesn't do it for you...how about grass?

Both are great ideas for the table.  All that is needed is a couple other little items on the table and your done.  A great cost effective, do it yourself alternative to flowers.

~ Ciao

...image via molly wood garden design

Going Green

So here is a simple, casual tabletop style that I think is just fabulous.  Rice steamers as centerpieces?  Yes, and I am loving it! 

And in doing some research they would be quite affordable to purchase (depending on the size of your wedding).  Here is a closeup pic of one I found...

So you are probably thinking what the heck would I do with all of them after the wedding?  I would give them away as a gifts at the wedding to one lucky person at each table (depending on the type of table and the number of steamers on each table, you could give away multiple ones at each table).  Tape a cute little "You are the Winner" ticket under the chair...whoever sits there gets to take home the steamer.  Oh what fun!

~ Ciao

...image via scott horne and sur la table