Ruffles and delicate blooms

Just taking a quick break for our Etsy collections to bring you something we all enjoy...

CAKE.

Right on trend at the moment are these beautiful ruffle cakes by Blooms by Bethan, a Sydney-based company that specialise in both cake decorating and floral arrangements. The beauty of this is that working with just one company, you ensure a continuing theme for your wedding day. Blooms by Bethan's offer complimentary consultations, after which a gorgeous cake and/or floral concept is to suit your colour scheme, theme and tastes.

Also worth mentioning is that gluten-free cakes are available for those with allergies. These cakes are surely a feast for (almost) all the senses, and the colours used are divine.

 

 

Visit the full cake gallery here, and also check out the splendid flower arrangements and bouquets below!

 

 

 

 

 Please check out Blooms by Bethan's website to see the wonderful work being done.

 Until next time xx

All photographs belong to Blooms by Bethan's unless stated otherwise.

A Bit o' This and That... Part 2

Last time we brought you some beautiful wedding dresses as part of our "A Bit o' This & That" - highlighting (what we think to be) the finest items from one of the largest vintage and hand made marketplaces on the Internet, Etsy!

Today we bring you the pinnacle item when it comes to weddings: the wedding ring (and today's post comes with a bonus brief history lesson) No longer just for the bride, the wedding ring is said to have its ancient beginnings in North Africa, in Egypt to be precise. The first wedding rings were fashioned from the plants growing along the fertile and lush river Nile, woven from rushes, reeds and the papyrus plant into a ring, or a bracelet for wrists.

It is a common belief that the ring symbolizes eternity, for it is never-ending. The Sun and the Moon were worshiped for this shape, which was also connected to time. Even the hole in the center of the ring came to symbolize a gateway, from one path of life to the next. And did you know that the ring-finger was chosen due to the belief that a vein connected it to the heart? You can thank the Greeks for that: they name it vena amoris or "vein of love."

Metal became the material of choice as time passed, due to the fact that reeds and other such materials decayed within a year or so. For example, iron was used in Rome to signify the strength of a man's love for his bride, whilst Italy popularized silver for its malleable qualities. However, the Irish believed that your wedding ring was bad luck if made from anything but gold.

Want to know more? This is a brief summary of an article by Matt Jacks, found here.

History aside, let us celebrate the craftsmanship of the rings below - both engagement and wedding.

Psst, never bought a ring online before? Check out this buying guide.

Engagement Rings...

Camila 14kt Rose Gold ring | $1,765 by RosadosBox

Clean and subtle elegance, this ring can be made in different sizes to suit one's budget, and a full set is also available so that the band and ring match perfectly.

White Gold, Pear Cut 14kt bridal set | $1,650 by samnsue
This gorgeous and very feminine pear-cut morganite includes a matching wedding band. The soft peachy-pink colour of the stone is very similar to a natural pink diamond, and just beautiful.

Moissanite wedding band | $328 by HelenesDreams
This moissanite ring is made of recycled silver and secured in a 14k gold bezel, and can even be made in a custom size with wording stamped into the silver. The ring on display features the words "Ti Amo", which means "I love you" in Italian. Quite unique!

Vintage diamond engagement ring | $299 by PeacockVintageBijoux This sweet little ring is crafted from 14k gold and dated to have been made some time between the 1930s and 1940s; it definitely has an appropriate art deco feel to it. 

Art deco diamond ring | $2,350 by SwankMetalsmithing
Continuing with our art deco theme, this ring is a stunner. It is made of palladium white gold, which according to the smith, is an alternative white gold metal that gives a grey tint to the ring. Fixed with a brown diamond, this ring is just that little bit different and divine.

Wild Blueberry Branch & Bud diamond engagement ring | $625 by ManiDesigns
"Branch" rings are trending at the moment, and are interesting and eye-catching. This little piece is just one of many across Etsy, with an option to be cast in several different metals.

The Anne wedding ring | $1,270 by BandScapes

This rustic-looking ring set is hand-made in either white, yellow or rose gold, and looks fabulous when paired with its matching band. What was thought at first to be a diamond is actually a white sapphire, but nevertheless this ring loses none of its beauty.

 

B.Taylor 14k rose gold engagement ring | $850 by RosadosBox

Another ring by Shirley at RosadosBox, this ring is set with a morganite stone (these seem to be growing quite popular) in a light peach-pink colour, and is sophisticated and quite timeless. Very pretty!

And don't worry - we've got the gents covered, too!

Brushed silver band | $82 by Epheriell 

If gold isn't your thing, this silver wedding band has an awesome brushed finish for a sleek, contemporary look.

Stainless steel and knurled copper wedding ring | $349 by spexton

Another alternative to gold, stainless steel of course doesn't rust, and this ring has a unique pattern that really makes the copper pop. 

Men's metiorite and wood inlay ring | $467 by jewelrybyjohan
The natural elements of this ring are wonderful, and paired with the meteorite, make for a pretty impressive ring.

Diamond Titanium wedding ring | $1,235 by Hawaiititanium
If you want something quite special, this titanium (like the song!), fire koa wood and diamond ring comes in several different colours depending on the wood used - even purple. Swish.

Hammered gold wedding ring | $750 by someplaceelsewhere
If you are a fan of gold weddings bands but want some additional texture in place of a smooth band, this style of ring by Melanie Garton of Some Place Elsewhere might be right up your alley.

Admittedly, that was an exhausting list to put together - but so much fun. I quite enjoy sparkly things...

Next time we'll cover some bridal accessories: other bits of jewelry, hair accessories, veils, garters, shoes, gloves and lingerie. Oh dear. So must to post, so little time.

xoxo

A Bit o' This & That... Part 1

Decor, bridal accessories, dresses, rings...the prettiest things from independent sellers and artists on the worldwide marketplace, Etsy! And as this marketplace is SO large, I have decided to split this collection across a few posts, the first being dresses.

Vera Dress | $950 by TingBridal

This A-line, empire gown can be made in several colours and features pretty beading a chiffon detailing across the bust. Available as a custom order, it can be made to fit you nicely and can be dressed up lovely as well.

Champagne beaded tulle gown | $319 by Entre Nous Bridal

As I was writing this post in order to feature another gown by Entre Nous Bridal, it sold! It is so easy to see why... 

Tea-length organza dress | $175 by Lemandyweddingdress

If you prefer your frocks to be a little shorter, this lacey piece is just so sweet and harks back to the 1950s; pair it with some gloves for a little touch of grace.

Emily Dress | $650 by TingBridal

Another beauty from Ting Bridal. This is certainly one of those wedding dresses that you could wear not only on your special day but also for other occasions. Again, this dress is available in a custom size, so if you would perhaps like to make it a little longer, it can be done! This is definitely a personal favourite.

Rachel Dress | $280 by Foldedroses

Soft and feminine, this dress is very light and looks absolutely comfortable. Because you don't need to be uncomfortable all day! The cute little flowers are a sweet and quirky touch, and 100% hand-made.

Victorian wedding dress | $2,300 by LaBelle Fairy

If you would love for an alternative and historic twist on your wedding, one should never look past the Victorians: they inspired the trend of the corset, which although were known to be very uncomfortable in the past, modern dressmakers have been able to create much more comfortable pieces. This dress is dramatic and its layered skirt will suit any figure. 

Mathilde Dress & Alice Dress | $1,275 & $1,795 both by Leanne Marshall

Leanne Marshall's dresses are simply divine. Hand made to order, they are elegant no matter the length, and she has created varying styles to suit many tastes - lace, tule, chiffon, embroidery, it's all there! I would highly recommend having a browse of all of her fabulous dresses.

 

Tea-dyed two piece dress | $995 by Maggie Evans Designs

"Gone are the days of buying a dress you are only going to wear once! The corset can be worn again with a great pair of jeans or a colorful skirt. And the skirt can be worn again even in the cold months with a sweater and boots." This offbeat and simple but still very pretty dress is hand-dyed using tea (my favourite) and looks fabulous paired with bright colours!

I do hope you liked this little collection. Join us next time for some gorgeous wedding rings...cannot wait! 

xoxo

50s inspired wedding

This wedding at Audley Weir (Royal National Park, NSW) makes me smile. The pinwheels on the cake are just the best...

                                                 Shot by a talented friend Angelica Peady

Lavender ruffle cake

Everything about this cake is perfect to me. The delicate ruffles the violet ombre hues, the whimsical cake topper 

= love. Spotted here.

Adoration for Silk Truffle Photography

Happy weekend everybody!

It has been some time since our last feature on the Peppermint Press blog, has it not? Back in early August, I brought to you the eclectic and charming homewares of Emerald + Ella, and previous to that, the delightful "soda buffet" available from The Soda Stand. Doubtless that there is so much talent out there that finding an individual or a company often ends with somebody at Peppermint Press trawling the Internet until such a shameful hour that even the cat wonders why she is awake.

Now, when it comes to weddings, I think many can agree that one of the prime sources of fuss and worry are the photographs. Yes, there are hundreds, thousands even, of photographers who will produce fine work for you, something nice for certain, but who really wants just "nice"? You want people to scramble for a book of synonyms simply so that they can describe how special your wedding photos are. Now let us see how many replacements for the word "beautiful" I can put to use when scribbling this feature on the work of Jessica Ruisan of Silk Truffle Photography.

Peppermint Press has worked with Jessica in the past (she worked on our Laced and Graced shoot back in January) to create whimsical portraits and capture the small details of a big day - the lace upon the bride's gown, the woven hair of the bridesmaids, and the sweet frills upon the cake. Here, I've chosen some of Silk Truffle's loveliest shots (wedding or otherwise) that I do declare need further adoration!

(Psst! Clickity-click for larger images!)

And just because the "Laced & Graced" shoot was so pretty...

Please visit Silk Truffle Photography to see the rest of Jessica's splendid work!

Until next time

xo gemma