Even the newest of foodies knows that al dente  means “to the tooth” in Italian and is generally used to describe when pasta is perfectly done: mostly soft but a bit firm and chewy on the inside. I cannot think of a more perfect escort card or place setting, especially for a foodie couple, than one make from forks.

Images from: Get Organized Blog | Ruffled Blog via The Indecisive Bride

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How to use styled shoot ideas

Styled shoots can be confusing. Typically they are very small, highly curated photo shoots with lots of details that would be difficult to replicate on a grand scale, say for two to three hundred of your beloved wedding guests. There’s been a bit of criticism flying around for years about styled shoots. Back in 2009 the Eastside Bride  claimed, Your Wedding is Not a Photoshoot, and went on to criticize styled shoots saying:

Here’s my advice from the other side: unpretentious, real wedding photos will always be cooler than the slick facsimiles. Don’t let those stylists give you a complex…And don’t let em overstyle your wedding. What if it were the other way round and someone mistook your wedding for a magazine shoot? Barf.

OK, duly noted. But still, if you’re like me, and you like nifty details that say something about you, your partner, your family, and your life, then styled shoots can be useful for generating ideas. The trick is to understand that they are not for replicating, they are for inspiring.

So here are a few ideas to get you going from this Little Red Riding Hood woodland style shoot I spotted over on Cake Ink. Take a look and scroll down for ideas.

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Cascade Mountains: Wedding Dresses from Oregon, Washington and B.C and Northern California

I don’t know about you, but the combination of mountains and ocean always takes my breath away. From the sea to sky highway in B.C. to the laid back mountain vibe in California, the Cascade mountains are gorgeous and definitely a place to spend more time!

As a bonus, when it comes to weddings in the Cascades, the combination of water and mountains lets you show off almost any style. Our friends over at SmartBrideBoutique.com have chosen some of their favourite wedding dresses from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. So whether you’re looking for a glamorous ball gown style, you love the luxury of lace or want a timeless, classic option, you’ve got options. (more…)

Last week I wrote in defense of mason jars in response to a bride who was rethinking her entire wedding decor based on the recent debate about what bloggers choose to publish. This week, I thought I’d continue my defense of mason jars with the following proclamation:

From Style Me Pretty (tag: “Mason Jar”)

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OK! I heard you loud and clear. Many of you think inspiration shoots are pointless at best and misleading at worst. I disagree. This is what’s called a styled shoot. It’s a small, highly curated photo shoot typically styled by wedding pros (planner/stylist, baker, bridal boutique, hair/makeup artist, photographer, etc.) to highlight their creativity and skills. This is not a real bride, nor is it a real wedding. It is meant for inspiration, and I promise you, you can glean so many fabulous ideas from such shoots. You don;t have to copy it; just take ideas that make sense to you.

However, if your thinking of copying this style shoot exactly:

• Limit your guest list. This look is easiest to achieved with fewer than 50 guests.
• Do this for a bridal shower instead of a wedding.
• Invite your bridesmaids over for a tea party to ask them to stand up for you

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