Seriously, this tablescape is simply amazing to say the least. It speaks volume to the bride who wants to make a statement but wants to keep it clean, simple, scrumptious and luxurious. What do you think about this table? Can you picture your wedding with this kind of décor? You know I would love to hear your thoughts.

Inspired by The Wedding Library,

Violaine Diogene

 I love the very simple, white orchids on the clear acrylic table and chair. There’s something so stunning about the contrast between the color arrangements. Notice the several different lengths of glasses on the table which adds simple drama.

Seeing the whole table from a few feet away really allows you to take in how truly beautiful it is.

 I love the brown chargers under the crisp white entrée plate with the dark cream salad plate. The colors are simply stunning. Did you notice that the only linen on the table is the white napkin? I love that.

 I simply adore how all the very simple details were attended to. Instead of a traditional napkin ring, they used this very modern, crisp platinum sea seashell to keep the napkin in place.

This simple little statuette of the sea horse simply finalizes this tablescape.

So, I’m completely smitten by this SmittenXOXO for being so incredibly creative, exotic and unique. According to the studio, all Smitten products are made with utmost care, and highest quality materials. Everything is hand-made with the highest degree of craftsmanship. And I’m all for that. Below are my favorite items from the site but I had to start by posting my very first favorite piece which is this stunning oversized flower named Dos Gardenias Para Ti. Isn’t it lovely? I’m thinking this piece would be perfect for an outdoor garden wedding or any other ceremony for that matter; if you don’t plan on wearing a veil. And yes, you certainly can wear this if you’ve a guest who just wants to make your statement!

My second favorite this very daring and bold piece name The Murderess! Yeah, I know; I smiled when I saw the name and I must confess that I think I like it even more because of its name. But look at it. I’m in love with the bold, dark velvet red eggplant color and the pale red feathers are simply striking.

As a bride, do you think you can pull your look by wearing The Murderess? I think you can! Let me know your thoughts on this post.

Smitten by SmittenXOXO,

Violaine Diogene

Mauritius is isolated in the Indian Ocean, 1,243 miles east of mainland Africa, Mauritius may be tiny, but there’s never a shortage of things to do. With a coastline ringed by coral reefs, and calm, clear, shallow lagoon waters, the island is ideal for all sorts of water sports; the unspoiled interior offers sights of spectacular natural beauty as well. Tourism on Mauritius is a relatively new phenomenon, however, and so far it’s definitely geared toward the higher-end traveler. Mauritius today is an amalgam of Creole, Indian, Chinese, and French peoples (there was never an indigenous population), with Creole and French the dominant flavors. Its most famous resident, however, may have been the flightless dodo bird, a rare species discovered here by the first Dutch visitors and soon driven to extinction by the settlers’ wild pigs and macaques.

The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In the central part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the East and the South.

Visa & entry
A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of two weeks to one month upon arrival, to almost all holders of a valid passport, with one or two exceptions. Visitors are strongly recommended to contact the Passport and Immigration Office in Mauritius or the nearest Mauritian Embassy or Consulate. The visa can be extended upon request at the Passport and Immigration Office, Sterling House, 11-19 Lislet Geoffroy Street, Port-Louis, Tel : (230) 210-9312 to 210-9317 Fax (230)210-9322.

Ok, now you have the major requirements of getting into the Island. Where do you stay? Well, you know that’s the best part. Le Telfair Golf & Spa is one of the many places to stay but I’m going to make it THE place to stay and the pictures will tell you why.
Can you picture yourself enjoying this amazing property in such plush, sensual setting? I can! I see myself just spending the day under one of the lovely umbrellas with a Pina Colada (extra rum please) with my favorite book. Well, you know the rules on this blog; let me know your thoughts. How do you see yourself enjoying this property?

Spirit’s in Le Telfair Golf & Spa,

Violaine Diogene

In black and white this photo just highlights the sweet, enormous moments between fiancé and fiancé before they become husband and wife. I simply adore the crinkled wrapping paper which makes you imagine the bride opening her gift with an amazing glow on her face. I love how the groom put his thoughts on a ripped piece paper and even though the note is somewhat blurry, you can still see the part where he reminds her that he loves her. And this amazingly beautiful clutch just makes you think about the time and effort he put into this simple gesture. As Grace put it, this photograph exudes romance, nostalgia and alludes to a bygone era. And I simply could not agree more!

Yes, I would love to hear your thoughts on this photo. When was the last time you saw a picture that truly moved you?

Always inspired by Grace Ormonde,

Violaine Diogene

I’m loving this idea and what a way to make you’re a statement and to keep your guest guessing about what you’ll do next? So, her idea is to get married in a formal wedding gown, she’ll be introduced in that gown and just after the first course is served she will go into the bridal room and change her entire look! After the cake is cut and a mere hour later she’ll once again change her entire look and will emerge in her last dance gown. Yes, I know it’s brilliant!

Below are the gowns she and I are looking into. Now, you know I LOVE Oscar de la Renta and when one of my brides decides to wear his gowns, believe me when I tell you I’m over the moon.

Well, what do you think of this idea? Do you see yourself changing three times or twice? You know just how much I love to hear from you.

With three gowns in mind,

Violaine Diogene

Christine of Perfect Petals is one of those people who you’ll automatically feel drawn to with her warm and sincere smile. Regardless of how many weddings we do together (and believe me, we’ve done quite a few) I get very excited when a bride calls to notify me that they’ve chosen Perfect Petals to do their decor and flowers. And it is because of this reason I’m so thrilled to be working with her on this amazing event that I’m so honored to invite you to.

I’m also very excited because I’m going to have a chance to speak on a panel with other amazing wedding vendors about translating your Wedding Style! Did I tell you I’m excited? Well, I’m hoping to see you there and I certainly hope that you’ll find inspiration while attending this event. Below is the Itinerary for the weekend.

Hoping to see you this weekend,

Violaine Diogene

Phipps Plaza Bridal Weekend

Saturday, February 27th
12:00 p.m. – Couples Workshop, presented by LoveKnots
1:00 p.m. – Tasting Menu presentation from Rosebud
2:15 p.m. – Photography Workshop with LaCour & The Decisive Moment
3:30 p.m. – Wedding Vendor Q&A Panel, led by The Atlantan Brides Editor-in-Chief, Phebe Wahl, featuring top event professionals in the city
5:00 p.m. – Beauty Demo by Raney O’Keefe

Sunday, February 28th
12:00 – Translating your Wedding Style
1:00 p.m. – Bridal Fashion presentation
2:00 p.m. – Meet the author and pick up your signed copy of Weddings by Tara Guerard
3:00 p.m. – Mens Fashion presentation
4:00 p.m. – Live Giveaway Announcement
4:30 p.m. – Wedding and Event Fashion presentation

Kelsie (a destination wedding in Boston this summer) is as quite as they come, as simple and un-elaborate as a bride can be! This week while going through magazines and photos of reception décor, she came across a website and fell in love with these daring centerpieces and called me up screaming “V, I MUST have one of these centerpieces”! Well, if she MUST have them, then she will have them and in the next few weeks I’m heading to Boston to meet with the vendor to finalize the décor.

I’m sharing this with you because I want to remind you that this is your wedding and you’re able and allowed to do whatever it is that you want. If’ you’re a bride like Kelsie and you want to just shock your guests upon their arrival at the reception, by all means make it happen. There is no rule to what and how you should do your own wedding decor. Well, you know what I mean. I don’t want you to go crazy with your colors or anything but I just want you to keep an open mind about what’s available to you. Be creative, step out of the box and surprise the most important guest of all; you!

Below are some of the most amazing centerpieces I’ve ever come across. I love, love and love the very first one as it just took my breath away.  This actually more than a centerpiece as every other table were graced with handmade canopies of birch and vines which featured dripping votives. While mossy pots overflowed with garden flowers  with wooden lanterns and votives to punctuate each lush table. Do you hear that? That’s your guests gasping in amazement as they step foot in your reception!

How do you envision your reception décor? Like to contact the florist responsible for such amazing work? Davinci Florist and  Stone Blossom  would love to speak with you. Let me know your thoughts on these daring centerpieces.

Daring you to be daring,

Violaine Diogene

I was reading about this from Brides.com and I came accross this wonderful aritcle and I thought I would share with you. Let me know if you found it useful and if there’s any questions I can asnwer for you.

Always thinking of you,

Violaine Diogene

A top wine expert offers her insider tips for choosing your wedding-day drinks

There’s no doubt about it: Choosing wine can be one of the most enjoyable parts of wedding planning. And selecting your big-day libations doesn’t have to be stuffy or pretentious. Anu Karwa, who holds an Advanced Certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, founded trendy wine tasting event organizer Swirl Events to share her passion for approaching wine in a fresh, fun way. Here, she shares her best advice for picking the wine for your wedding.

How should a couple pick wines for their wedding? What should they order?

When picking wine for a wedding, you want to pick one white wine and one red wine. Make sure they’re food friendly and that they’ll please a wide spectrum of palates. Don’t pick extreme or non-food friendly wines, e.g. a sweet white wine, a big Barolo, red Zinfandel, etc. Plus you need a sparkling wine for the toasts. My picks for wedding whites include: a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (especially the Marlborough region), a dry Riesling from Washington State or Alsace or an unoaked Chardonnay (known as White Burgundy in France.) For reds, I would pick a Pinot Noir (known as Red Burgundy in France.) Great choices come out of the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the classic region of Burgundy. They’re very food friendly or perfect on their own and easily please a wide taste range.

How many glasses of wine should a couple budget per person?

Assess your crowd. Some crowds are more likely to consume wine, beer and cocktails. The ratio is up to you, but assume people drinking wine consume one glass per hour.

Champagne’s expensive but necessary for a Champagne toast. What can a couple do to save money without losing this special touch?

My favorite wine tip for weddings involves Champagne. Champagne is a major wedding expense (since people usually budget two glasses per guest.) Instead, pick a Prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy, or a Cava, a sparkling wine from Spain. Both are equally elegant and you can find fantastic bottles for about $12!

How can oenophiles incorporate wine into their wedding?

Pick wines that are special to you and indicate the meaning behind the choice to guests via small tent cards. Place the tent cards in front of the wine or near the bar. This gives guests a little insight into you as a couple.

Not sure which wines to pick? Here are a few questions to get your imagination going:

• Do either the bride or groom come from a wine-friendly area? Pick a wine from their home state or country.
• Have you vacationed in wine country?
• Are you especially environmentally conscious and planning a “green” wedding? Pick all organic or biodynamic wines.
• Have you picked a wine to be your new “home” wine?
• Do you have a special restaurant: Where you shared your first date, where he proposed, etc…? Pick a wine off their menu.
• Are you going to a honeymoon spot known for its wine: Napa, Australia, France, Italy, Egypt, even India?

Cocktail hours all seem the same. How can a couple make it more fun?

Have a wine tasting! If Swirl doesn’t cover your area (NY, NJ, CT), do it yourself. Set up stations, each with one wine and a sommelier or bartender pouring and discussing the wine. Pair an appetizer or cheese with each wine being tasted and keep it at the station. Get score cards printed with the names of the wines and the station number. Hand these to guests so they can vote for their favorite or write notes. This keeps guests occupied and encourages mingling between guests who might not know each other.

— Kathryn Papanek

Because I don’t know much about flowers, I’m thinking it’s a great idea to for us to educate ourselves about these wonderful, simple pleasures of life. On Brides.com there’s this amazing Flower Finder and it’s a great place to get all the flower facts your little heart can handle. I’m thinking in the next few weeks, I’ll feature 10 flowers per week for us to get to know.

You know the deal, let me know your thoughts on this post and if you find it useful.

Happy flower learning,

Violaine Diogene

Muscari
These delicate, tightly clustered flowers, also called grape hyacinth, burst from bulbs in spring; small-headed, with supple stems, they’re easily wired into head wreaths for flower girls.

Color
purple, blue

Style
beach casual, classic, romantic

Cost
$$ = medium price

Season
spring

Size of Bloom
small

Hyacinths

This winter-to-late-spring bloom has a strong scent and a fresh-from-the-garden appeal; use the stems in small centerpieces or planters, or pluck a couple of individual flowers for a boutonniere.

Meaning: constancy

Style
beach casual, classic, romantic, modern

Color
red, blue, yellow, pink, orange, white

Size of Bloom
large

Cost
$$ = medium price

Season
winter through spring

Alliums

Like fluffy lollipops perched on tall sticks, these perfect globes of tiny petals create eye-popping displays, but don’t put them directly on your buffet-they smell a bit like onions.

Meaning: unity, humility, patience

Color

purple, blue, white, lavender, violet

Size of Bloom

large

Season

summer

Cost

$$$ = expensive

Hydrangea

Gardens burst into life with these poufs in late summer and fall; in shades from pink to lavender to green, they look modern when massed in bouquets and large arrangements.

Meaning: devotion

Style

beach casual, glamorous, classic, romantic, modern

Season

year round

Size of Bloom

large, medium

Color

blue, pink, green, white

Cost

$$$ = expensive

Sweet Peas

Skinny stems mean you can gather these frilly favorites in a bouquet, and it will still be featherlight. More good news: While it looks delicate, this early spring bloomer is deceptively hardy.

Meaning: delicate pleasures

Color

purple, red, lavender, pink, white

Style

glamorous, classic, romantic

Season

fall through late summer

Size of Bloom

small

Cost

$$$ = expensive

Peonies

This voluptuous, ultrafragrant flower has a fleeting season—late spring to early summer. Bunches of these chubby, old-fashioned favorites are beautiful placed in pretty pitchers.

Meaning: bashful

Style

beach casual, glamorous, classic, romantic

Color

red, burgundy, pink, white

Size of Bloom

large, medium

Season

late spring

Cost

$$$ = expensive

Roses

These are the classic long-stemmed roses that you see in the florist’s shop every Valentine’s Day. A perennial wedding choice, their petals can be plucked to carpet the ceremony aisle.

Meaning: love and passion

Color

red, yellow, pink

Style

glamorous, classic, romantic

Season

year round

Size of Bloom

medium

Cost

$$ = medium price

Lenten Roses

When is a rose not a rose? When it’s this five-petaled flower—more accurately called helleborus—that blooms in the Lenten season; it adds a springy bounce to bouquets.

Color

purple, pink, green, white

Season

early winter through spring

Style

beach casual, glamorous, bohemian, romantic

Size of Bloom

small

Cost

$$$ = expensive

Gardenias

With a scent to swoon for, this stem less flower can be floated in water or wired into a bouquet; though edges turn brown when handled roughly, it’s a stunningly retro-glam hair ornament.

Meaning: joy

Style

glamorous, classic, romantic

Size of Bloom

large, medium

Season

spring, summer

Cost

$$$ = expensive

Color

white, ivory

Eremurus Foxtail Lillies

Each stalk of this long-stemmed spring flower can have hundreds of star like florets; it can last for up to three weeks in a vase, so it’s great for make-ahead arrangements.

Style

beach casual, glamorous, bohemian, modern

Size of Bloom

medium

Cost

$$ = medium price

Season

spring, summer

color

yellow, pink

Valentino has been whispering my name for a while now and I’m about to answer his call with the very first pair of shoes below. Yes, I know, I LOVE that amazing pair of shoes and it screams Violaine all over! But besides the amazing shoes, Valentino is a designer whom  provides  ample inspiration for the lady seeking a one-of-a-kind gown, and this particular Valentino collection simply took my breath away! This collection delivers exquisite and timeless couture gowns.

Which of these designs whispers your name? Which designer whispers your name? I know some of the suits below are white and I would love to hear your thoughs on where you would wear the white suit to! I would love to hear your thoughts…..

Inspired by Valentino,

Violaine Diogene