Bridal Inspiration Board #31 ~ Under The Sea…

Morning! Well, almost! You didn't think I'd forgotten to feature a beautiful bridal inspiration board today did you? Today's board is right up there with my favourites {there is something about the sea…} and is produced by regular Love My Dress contributor, Michelle Kelly of Pocketful of Dreams. Enjoy…

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Hello again everyone and Happy 2012.

It's great to be back here on the pages of Love My Dress delivering lots of new bridal inspiration for all you planning brides out there. If you are newly engaged and a new reader then hello and congratulations **big waves**, for all of you who already know me **more waves**

I absolutely love dreaming up new design concepts and translating them into delectable mood boards. As a creative event designer this is the part of wedding planning projects that I love the most. The very start of the process when I really get to know my couples and their own personal styles, before throwing myself into researching and developing a concept for them that is full of personality and character. One that hopefully reflects everything they hoped and dreamed their day would be like, with that little added burst of Pocketful of Dreams style of course.

For me a design concept should tell a story, with the mood boards providing that story in visual form, one that is arrestingly beautiful, rich and captivating, leaving you infused with inspiration. I do hope that's how my mood boards make you feel and I would love to hear how you are getting on with this aspect of your planning.

If you're struggling knowing where to even begin defining your own wedding style then pop along to my blog today for the start of a new series of posts where I will be sharing a few insights into how I go about designing a wedding. And don't forget, I offer a range of services too, from helping you to come up with a design concept, providing you with delicious mood boards like these, right through to full blown wedding design and planning.

So on with the inspiration….

Under-the-sea
Image credits: 1. Antonio Berardi dress via Vogue 2. via 79 ideas  3. by Jessica Janae Photography via Bridal Musings 4. via Les Choses 5. Ruche Lookbook via kittenhood 6. Gisele for Versace via Fashiongonerogue 7. Sea image via Famously Beautiful 8. Mermaid wood sign SlippinSouthern Etsy 9. Jellyfish airplant installation kit PetitBeast on Etsy

I thought as we are in cold and wintry January (although how mild has it been?), you may need a visual burst of pretty to blow away those winter blues. What better way than with a little nod to the beautiful ocean, with it's calming qualities and feelings of peace and tranquility?.

The concept Under The Sea was actually influenced by the Spring/Summer 2012 catwalks where designers showcased mermaid-esque collections in pearlised palettes and watery shades of the sea from sea foam green to turquoise and pale blue.

I do love this colour palette, mixing the blues and greens with the delicate blush, sand and pearly shades. The sheer organza and delicate embellishment of the Antonio Berardi dress in the first picture is just heavenly, she is my mermaid muse for this concept.

I also have a thing for airplants and think the last image is actually the most genius idea I have stumbled across in quite a while. Airplants  masquerading as jellyfish, they are simply planted into sea urchin shells ready to make your own air plant art installation.

Under-the-sea_Lookbook 

Image Credits: The Willow Gown by  Jenny PackhamElie Tahari dress via Yoox, Cuff by artisans on EtsySergio Rossi Sandals via Yoox, Suit D&G at Yoox.

For the bridal look I have chosen the delightful Willow gown from Jenny Packham's Spring Summer 2012 collection which has just the right amount of delicate embellishment mixed with soft flowing tulle. Such a stunning gown which I am pairing with these turquoise snakeskin print sandals by Sergio Rossi and this brushed silver cuff adorned with a beautiful sea-glass pebble, a real statement piece and a nice contrast to the delicate beading of the dress. All this bride needs to complete her seas-inspired look is a long and loose fishtail braid in her hair.

I love this abstract print Elie Tahari silk dress and think it perfectly evokes the feeling of swirling water and all things oceanic. Perfect for bridesmaids.

For the groom a pale suit would be best, like this one from D&G with it's satin lapel for that added element of style.

Under-the-sea_Details

Here I have sourced a few delicate details that would work perfectly with the concept, either pieces of decor or stationery, and rather than just showing you images I am hoping to introduce you to a few fabulous suppliers of creative products, all of which are available to buy now. So if you do see something you like it should be easy enough to get your hands on them.

  First of all we have the By The Sea wedding invitation by Love Vs Design, you can order these onl  ine and they have matching save-the-dates as well as response cards, and although prices are listed in $ they do ship to the UK too.

  The pale blue and green bottles are by my latest discovery House Doctor, a danish interiors company, who have some amazing products. There are a number of UK stockists which can be found here. I see these being filled with various sizes of single-stemmed florals to create quite loose, organic arrangements.

  These ceramic nesting scallop bowls are inspired by seashells with a translucent blue glazed interior, they are perfectly reflective of the seaside concept without being too 'themed'. By elementclaystudio on Etsy

  And finally these wooden alphabet candlesticks would make such a quirky display, either on your cake or dessert table or top table. Spelling out your initials or a word. They arrive in a natural finish and can be painted to match any colour scheme, by the letteroom on Not on The High Street

So I do hope you have enjoyed my first foray into bridal mood boards for 2012, there will be lots more coming your way throughout the year. Have a wonderful day, mine will be spent dreaming of being on a boat in the middle of the ocean with just a great book for company.

Michelle xx 

 

 

 

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

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