Valley & Co. Contributor: Ruby & Willow

We are so very excited to announce our dear friend Kate from New Zealand stationery design studio Ruby & Willow {and the wonderful blog Magnolia Rouge} as our monthly Valley & Co. color palette and stationery contributor! You have likely seen Kate's amazing inspiration boards on her blog; stop on by and say hello monthly for gorgeous color palettes and accompanying stationery suites!

Without further ado...please meet Kate and bask in her gorgeous, fresh spring inspiration!

Kate created this lovely Spring Green board and designed a striking spring-inspired stationery suite for At Home with Valley & Co.: Spring. Isn't she amazing?

Photos from top left; Daisy Bouquet | Justin & Mary Marantz, Green bottle | Austin Gros , White still life | unknown source, Placesetting | Steve Steinhardt

2nd row; Fruit | Cannelle et Vanille, Bouquet | Barnaby Draper Studios via Green Wedding Shoes, Dress | Stacy Sodolak via Grey Likes Weddings, Tablesetting | Rebecca Hansen via Twig & Thistle 3rd row; Daisies | Bello Photography, Flowers | via Snippet & Ink, Bridesmaids | Stephanie Williams

That darling inspiration board turned into once superb stationery suite just in time for spring. From the dainty polka dots to the green kitchen twine and the sweet clothespins, we adore Kate's spin on refreshing spring loveliness.

What is your favorite element from Kate's design?

We hope you enjoyed Kate's first contribution and welcome her with open arms!

At Home with Valley & Co.: Our Spring Magazine

We are beyond thrilled to announce the launch of At Home with Valley & Co. - Spring. Our second magazine issue features contributions some of our favorite All-Star industry pals: from Ceci New York to The Loveliest Day, Housewife Bliss, Just Wenderful, Lauren Elise Crafted, and so many more, this issue is brimming with innovative and fresh ideas. We do hope you'll pop on over here and read it an will become inspired for your own home entertaining, living, or wedding. Cheers!

Valley & Co. Planning Tips: Enjoy Each Other

One of the most important bits of advice we tell our couples on their wedding day is to sneak off for a moment together, just the two of you. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the celebration it is quite easy to get swept away by family members, dancing, dining, and taking it all in. Truly enjoy the reason everyone has come together and take time out to enjoy each other and bask in the joy that just occurred. Our three simple tips to make sure you have some alone time:

1. See each other before the ceremony. This can save so much time especially if you have a large wedding party or a short time frame in between your ceremony and reception. While definitely a personal preference, we saw each other prior and both agree that it made for such a carefree, lovely ceremony. It also allowed for us to really enjoy our guests, the amazing bar, and gourmet bites during cocktail hour.

2. Ask for your caterer to create an hors d' oeuvre plate for the two of you to share before dinner. Give your guests time to enjoy the lovely environment you created and take twenty minutes to enjoy.

3. Sneak off for photos. We certainly don't want you to miss a thing, but stealing off with your photographer for an intimate session is lighthearted and quite fun.

Photo by Nick Abadilla Photography for Valley & Co.

Real Wedding: Historic Garden Charm in Virginia

We love weddings at historic venues and today's real wedding from Jan Michele Photography and Events in the City has us oh-so happy. Amanda and Jonathan's summer nuptials were thoughtfully designed and each detail from the menu cards to the bouquets, glassware, and the ceremony tied together so beautifully. Not to mention, their venue tops our list for one of the most historic venues we've seen.

From Jan Michele Photography: Once part of George Washington's property {River Farm} is now the home of the American Horticultural Society. So, the grounds and gardens are always beautiful. It was such a hot day that the ceremony took place under the Osage Orange tree. It's the largest of it's type in Virginia and believed to be a gift from Thomas Jefferson.

 The couple's pooches are too cute!

What elements do you love from this wedding?

Photographer: jan michele photography

Event Planner: Events In The City

Floral Designer: BrookHill

Reception Venue: American Horticultural Society

Cinema and Video: Thomas Bowen Films

Other: Rudy's Friends

Cake Designer: Alexandria Pastry Shop and Catering Comp

Ceremony Location: Say I Do Your Way

Calligrapher: Arney Walker Calligraphy

Makeup Artist: Bridal Artistry

At Home with Aleah: Champagne and Cheese, Please

To me there's not much better than a really good, strong, smelly cheese paired with a rustic baguette and a good champagne. This weekend take it easy and create an impromptu dinner and create your own easy, yet oh-so-delicious spread by picking up a variety of hearty blues, creamy French cheeses {Rouge et Noir Triple Cream Brie is amazing}, and lighter goat cheeses.

 Pair your assortment with a good champagne, an Italian prosecco, or light Spanish cava and top with raspberries for a sweet treat and lovely compliment to your cheese board.

Photos by Llanes Weddings for Valley & Co.

What are your plans for this weekend? Will champagne and cheese be on your menu this weekend?

Enjoy!

Engaged! Love in the Park

Hooray for sunny spring engagement sessions! 'Tis the season for getting out there and enjoying the fresh air and Mother Nature. Today's engagement session from Lauren Piper Photography {styled by the bride!} has us giddy with spring excitement. Check out the sweetness for yourself:

From Lauren Piper: Chelsea and Gabe are actual high school sweethearts. After being best friends for almost a full year, Gabe's childhood, playground flirting methods of picking on Chelsea eventually led to their becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. After six-and-a-half years of dating, Gabe popped the big question on the day of Chelsea's college graduation (with a megaphone!) using the same ring her father used to propose to her mother.

When it came to their engagement shoot, they wanted to do something fun and a little out of the ordinary, so they took their indoor, vintage-esque pieces, outside! Chelsea made a pennant banner and bought three foot balloons for some extra little touches. 

How sweet?

While their engagement shoot used very subdued colors and elements, their wedding will be an entirely different story; tons of bright colors, a DIY photo booth, noisemakers, and funny props are just a few of their main elements.

Photography: Lauren Piper

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Wedding Wishes to Claire!

We are so excited to send warm wishes and some sweet recipes to our lovely friend Claire who is tying the knot this weekend!

Annie from Marry You Me had these charming recipe cards designed and some of us came together to send Claire into wedded bliss in a sweet way.

Be sure to stop by these lovely blogs to hear what the ladies have to say:

 Paper Garland | Sparkle and Hay | Marry You Me |

 Lovely Little Details | The Charity Wedding

Spring Showers: Umbrella Love

Spring has arrived and with it raindrops have followed here in Southern California! What better way to make rain fashionable than by carrying one of these delicious creations from Seattle's Bella Umbrella? We love this shop and they have vintage, custom, and new umbrellas both for sale and for rent.

 Black and White Umbrella | Pink Ruffled Umbrella

Fun and spunky bridesmaids carrying some lovely umbrellas makes for the perfect photo opportunity! What a great wedding day accessory for the bride!

Image from Azzura Photography

Green Umbrella | Navy Umbrella

Has it been raining and pouring in your neck of the woods? Which of these would you use to shield your carefully styled tresses on your big day?

Inspiration: Sweet Spring Elements

Everything is coming up roses {and rosemary, and lavender, and lisianthus!} now that spring has shown its pretty face. We can't get enough of the seasons that allow for us to create and design to our hearts' content using fresh and natural elements. Here are some of our personal favorite {simple} springtime elements our clients have used.

We hope you enjoy.

You know we're big on adorning a place setting to truly welcome your guests to an enjoyable dining experience. For our client's 60th birthday celebration we snipped fresh sprigs of rosemary and lavender from his yard to greet guests at their place. More often than not keeping it simple says so much without saying too much.

Images by La Luz Photography for Valley & Co.

 These charming garden tones remind us of what spring is all about: fresh palettes, natural elements, and striking colors that have been in hibernation all winter long. Sliced limes remind us that summer is not too far off, either!

Images by La Luz Photography for Valley & Co.

 One of our favorite combinations, the green hypericum berries in the groom's boutonnière coordinate so well with blackberries, fresh hydrangea blooms, and delightful white calla lilies in Erica's bouquet.

Photos by Kate McElwee for Valley & Co.

What are your favorite spring elements or combinations?

Real Wedding: Woodsy Enchantment

Hooray for spring! We are so happy to welcome a new, fresh season and what better way to do so than with an enchanting spring-inspired wedding from Two Ring Studios and Shay Brown Events? Abby and Jacob's North Carolina nuptials are so magical and lush. Each detail is brushed with green tones: from Kelly green to chartreuse and moss, the palette is impeccable.

 Lake Eden was both the ceremony and reception location and something about it is just so perfect. The breathtaking backdrop paints a delightful picture for a wedding.

 The chocolate tea-length dresses Abby chose for her bridesmaids add to the woodsy feeling and they're quite fresh!

 As Abby and Jacob are both musicians, sheet music was incorporated into their flower arrangements. How sweet!

We can't get enough of woodland weddings. What is your favorite elements from this enchanting wedding?

Photography: Two Ring Studios

Planner/Designer: Shay Brown Events

Flowers: Flora Designs

Reception Venue: Lake Eden

Cake: Tiffany's Baking Co.