Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
We want interesting invitations. I mean, who doesn’t? I kind of feel that since Mr. P and I are into arty stuff, have artsy friends, and love cool paper and texture… we should find something novel. The criteria are that we: 1) don’t want to pay an arm and a leg, and b) would like something handmade (on some level). I would like a bit of TEXTURE. I looove texture. And ORIGINAL ARTWORK. Read more…
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
I’m so inspired by good food… and pretty pictures. Especially pretty pictures of good food. I stumbled upon this gorgeous foodie blog today. The author made strawberry and vanilla bean macarons.
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
… six dozen of which would be favors at the wedding.
Is it cliche to love Paris–that city of baguettes, bicycles, and berets; that city of the most iconic of all radio towers… of gauzy dreams of strolls in le parc? Do people who make the pronouncement of lurving it remind you of that lonely middle-aged woman in the 14th arrondissement-story of Paris, Je T’aime? Maybe? Just a little?
Having said that (and at the risk of sounding totally banal) I secretly love certain Parisian experiences… shhhhh. Read more…
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
I love the feel of the photographs below. It’s a vintage look that appeals to me because it reminds me of old Polaroids (that were so popular when I was growing up)!! And, by the way, if you haven’t heard, Polaroid is discontinuing its instant film. So these facts make the look all the more rare, nostalgic and attractive (to me, anyway!).
Polaroid (”instamatic”) cameras created a different look by the very nature of their use: for snapshots. Easy, fun, and spur of the moment. And that style, recreated with a digital or regular film camera with a little Photoshop is magic to me.
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
I love Art Deco. It’s that intersection between classic and modern… and the perfect inspiration for a modern vintage wedding! So I feel very fortunate to acquire from Mr. P’s mother (an antiques dealer) the most GORGEOUS and unusual pair of authentic Art Deco (c. late 1920s) silver and marcasite earrings. They’re huge (almost three inches long), yet still understated. I love them so much because they’re so one-of-a-kind. I’ll reveal them at the wedding. But here is a similar pair (mine does not have rubies, though, and are more spade-like… in fact, they’re not all that similar, but you get the picture):
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
We had planned a trip to the Homestead resort last year to, ostensibly, have a bit of a mini-vacation. Approximately 3 hours from our home in downtown Washington, DC, it’s close enough to drive and far enough to feel like a real getaway, so we visit quite often. However, this was the weekend after the proposal, and turned out to be no ordinary visit. And so it was… yet another surprise! Mr. P had actually planned it to be a wedding venue scouting trip!
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
Early on in the engagement, I purchased four wedding magazines. I still, eight months later, have only four wedding magazines. I’ve found various photographers’, designers’, and real-brides-to-be wedding blogs to be much more creative and inspirational.
I found the blog of photographer, Todd Pellowe, that captured this stunningly simple and very stylish vintage-styled wedding. The bride actually found a 1930s wedding dress. It’s absolutely stunning in its understatement and uniqueness. She has super cool vintage style. It’s so one-of-a-kind, and nothing seems cookie cutter!
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
No. Obama isn’t marrying us. (We should be so lucky!)
But related, early this (suuuuuper cold) morning, eight months and four days after Mr. P proposed, we went back to The National Portrait Gallery for the first time… to the beautiful (warm, enclosed) Kogod Courtyard where the big event happened. This time, it was for another big event: the unveiling of the now iconic Shepard Fairey painting of Obama. Prominent DC art collectors, Heather and Tony Podesta, presented a gift of their Fairey Obama painting to the museum, and the accompanying brunch and unveiling was a great event.
(All images by Miss P, unless otherwise specified.)
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
The National Portrait Gallery Atrium: A fine example of modern and vintage. The circa 1867 building underwent extensive renovation that was completed in 2006. The museum now boasts a blending of this ultra modern undulating glass roof with an historically relevant copper skin along with the historic Greek Revival architecture. Photo credit: David S. Holloway.
Mr. P’s proposal was extremely well-planned, thoughtful, and full of meaning (not to mention a few challenges)! I had planned on taking a girlfriend, Abby, to a very special 30th birthday dinner that Tuesday. Panicked after hearing our phone conversation a week earlier, Mr. P had to step in, as he had plans of his own! Somehow he convinced Abby to cancel the dinner (apparently calling and emailing her for almost a week). So, Abby reluctantly wrote me a last minute email saying that she couldn’t make it (for vaguely work-related reasons).
That evening Mr. P surprised me by picking me up from work, citing that he wanted to walk me home that balmy evening. Read more…
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
Bonjour hive!! Wow! Really? I get to be part of this?! All of this?! I’m truly honored and really excited to join such a super creative and fun group, and to share my experiences, thoughts, and ideas (however good or not so good)! ( I feel like skipping through Paris, eating macaroons, riding an old bike, hanging off a bunch of balloons, all to the sounds of Brigitte Bardot singing “Moi, Je Joue”! La, la, la, la!!!)
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
Image credit: Jessica Johnson
Unique Wedding Favors
