a bridal shower - 'Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only with what you are expecting to give — which is everything'. — Katherine Hepburn

 — Katherine Hepburn

Oh dear! We totally forgot to publish our Monday Blogpost :( It has been a little bit crazy the last few days - pulling together a design and shoot for BASH Magazine and filming for RTE. *oooh very exciting* Sadly we have to wait till next January to reveal it all.....

So here it is...

We love designing and styling bridal showers, this one had a beautiful colour palette of tones of cerise & apricot, which even made little appearances in the interior accessories in the dining room at Borris House.

{ Did you know? } Bridal Showers have a really rich history dating back to the sixteenth century when a dowry had to be provided for the future bride to be. In the cases where a father refused to provide the dowry because he did not approve of the marriage, friends would gather to bring gifts to compensate for the lack of a dowry. The word shower is traced back to a time when gifts were placed in a parasol, that when opened, "showered" the recipient with gifts.

Bridal showers can really kickstart the design for the Big Day and set the tone for the event that you are planning.

Much Love Pearl & Sheena xxo

 

Credits;

Photography: Christina Brosnan

Stationery for Pearl & Godiva: Pretty as a Picture

“One day, for no reason, a star grew tired, fainted, and fell from the sky.” ― E. B. Ybarra, Hearts of Gold

{ PHOTOGRAPY BY CHRISTINA BROSNAN }

If gold is a holy and heavenly colour then this Pearl & Godiva wedding is most definitely 'Out of this World'. The design for our clients, Caroline & Brian, was indulgent and sumptuous but always remained timeless and classic. Everything, from the trailing gold sequined trims on the bridal bouquet, to the glitter champagne bottles which served as Escort Cards for the guests, to the gold sequined chair covers, was quite literally 'divine'. The beautiful floral design using eucalyptus, succulents { home grown in West Cork } and peonies, was one of our favourites of this year - so far. We even created personalised backdrops - beautiful bespoke calligraphy on canvas with a gold leaf finish.

A special shout out to Pat at Castle Oliver who was just magic! Don't forget to leave us a comment below!

As always XXO PEARL AND SHEENA

 

 

Event Design & Styling & Stationery : Pearl & Godiva

Floristry by In House Florist : Hanako

Photography: Christina Brosnan

Wedding Planning: White Sage

Location: Castle Oliver 

Make up : Kathryn O'Neill

Hair Styling : Pat O'Neill

Married to the Sea - iphone Sneak Peek......

{ iphone snaps by the the lovely Alexander James and Pearl & Godiva } 

At Pearl & Godiva we find our inspiration in all sorts of nooks & crannies that the world around us has to offer, sometimes the most unexpected places are by far the most exciting for inspirational finds. We absolutely relish the creative journey the creation of a photoshoot brings us on - from Concept Stage - all the ways to the final Production, the only part I dislike is waiting for the film to come back from the lab! ~Patience is a virtue apparently so.

Our most recent shoot last week was inspired by Declan O'Rourke's beautiful piece "Married to the Sea", on which Sheena happened to stumble upon. We literally listened to it on repeat whilst we dreamt up the creative direction and styling for this shoot. That this shoot exists is a miracle in itself - it was fully produced in just three days. We got creating as soon as we got a notion of the heat wave coming to the Emerald Isle. Any excuse to do a days work on the beach. We are pretty excited about getting the film scans back very soon! Watch this Space!

Pearl & Sheena XO

Well I stood before the ocean in the middle of the night
And because I loved her so I asked her then if she would be my wife.
And then I closed my eyes and waited, and listened for an answer
Until she kissed my feet and whispered, ‘I could not give you my hand sir.’

Then as she walked me up and down along the shore
She said, “You’re far too young to marry me,
For I am old as old can be.
And I’ve been wed with many men,
But for all my love I’ve far outlived them all.”

So I went to her the next night all a-merried up with wine
And I asked her for her long blue hand, for to hold hers there in mine.
And then once again I waited and I listened for a while.
Until I heard her voice come crashing in the waves
That broke all round for miles and miles.

She said, “How could I place my trust in thee,
For I am bound and you are free?
See so many men have took my hand,
And so many of them left me for the land.
There were fishermen, whalers, seamen and sailors,
But for all it’s just me and the moon.
And for each star above me, ten more have loved me.
How could it be different with you?”

So when it was quiet on the third night, I said, “My life is in your hands.
You can keep me for the time I have, Or I’ll lie here on the sand.”
And it was quiet on the third night as I took off my shoes,
But as I walked into her arms she said,
“Sure what have I to lose.”

 Here is Declan's "Married to the Sea".

We can't wait to share the rest of this shoot with you all, and a big big thank you to all the creatives involved. 

Production, Creative Styling & Styling: Pearl & Godiva

Photography: Alexander James

MUA: Kathryn O'Neill

Hair: Ikon Hair Studio

Gown: Dirty Fabulous

Printed Veil: Pearl & Godiva

Stationery: Pretty as a Picture

Props: Pearl & Godiva

Location: Inchydoney Beach

with many thanks to Inchydoney Island Hotel & Spa

Where do you get your inspiration from? What inspires you?

Crafting your Signature Style is truly an art

{ shot by the stupendously talented Debs Ivelja } 

I got wonderfully excited when I first heard about my client's Josie and Jeff's looming wedding on Valentia Island (Oilean Dairbhre – “Island of the Oaks”). It's Europe’s westernmost inhabited location, approximately 11 km long by 3 km wide, lying just off the northwestern tip of County Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula. What a wonderful location for saying I do! Josie's unique signature style absolutely pre empted this blogpost! We meet so many brides who are agonising, and harrowing, to find their signature style. What is personal style and how on earth do you find it? Trust me, you know it when you see it, but here is some guiding light!

"Insist on yourself, never imitate." - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"Personal Style is accepting who you are" - Diane von Furstenberg

It is an effortless confidence in being yourself, it is a way of putting yourself together according to your mood and what you want to project. Personal style appears to come naturally for some, but for others it can take a while to find it!  * extracted from I love your Style by Amanda Brooks.

Light upon Your Colours

I’ve know that having a signature color scheme is a trademark of all truly stylish women - I adore an organic colour palette, charcoal, slate, taupe, ash grey, cocoa, and all shades of white, the colour of purity, totally tickle my fancy! Where as Sheena loves colours, and happily admits to graviate to pinky coral tones and fresh aqua. What is your colour palette? A little trick to uncover what color palette would suit your tones & style - is to hold a piece of gold fabric and a piece of silver fabric to your skin in a setting with lots of natural lighting. If the gold looks better, then you have warm undertones.  If the silver looks better than most, than you have cool undertones.

Believe in the Goodness and Realness of Your Shape

Stylish dressing is all about that nethermost layer of confidence, and if you are too critical of the realness of your shape you will undermine this confidence we all require to ooze effortless style. Don't tell yourself that you have a not so perfect tummy - instead remind yourself that you have a tiny waist, or beautiful legs, stunning eyes, a beauutiful bossom or flawless skin etc. Bring to light your beauty, and you you will be radiant, sparkling and insouciant. { in-soo-see-uhnt; French an-soo-syahn}.

Create an Inspirational & Individual Lookbook

If you need a little help honing in your style, create a personal lookbook of your most coveted styles and your personal style history. Triumphs and Flaws! By documenting your style on a daily basis, whether on a style blog, in a moleskine, or just collaging photos on Pinterest, you start to get a sense for which outfits you like the most and which pieces flatter your shape and tones. Plus it is exciting to document your look as it evolves. When you go shopping, bridal or not, take your stylebook to remind yourself what you like, what you are looking for, and how you want to dress. 

Predestine your Signature Style Trademark

A style trademark is something that you either wear every day or simply an aesthetic that you are known for. Usually, a signature item or style chooses you, because it’s just something that you love so much you have to wear it all the time. But it helps to think about what you value, what you find aesthetically pleasing, and what you love to wear most. Personally, my signatures are my neutral colour palette, natural fabrics - wool, cotton, linen & silks, and my Alexander Mc Queen Glasses. Sheena's signature is definitely her beachy hair topped off with a side swept pompadour. What’s your signature trademark?

Mix it Up: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed

To personalize your style and move away from mainstream, mass produced clothing, try inspiring your style with antique, or vintage items  { the link leads you to an utterly mesmerizing and perfect example } or pieces that have been passed down from your mom or grandma { something old }, seek out some unique designer pieces { something new }, and finish with thrifted pieces or even borrow from your friend’s wardrobe { something borrowed }. Finding a balance between these three things can make your look uniquely yours!

Thoughts, Contemplations and Musings welcome....

What do you do to explore & conceive your signature style? What is your signature trademark? What do you do to make your style uniquely your own? 

Leave us a comment! 

Credits :

Photography by - Debs Ivelja

Day Co ordination - Aislinn Events 

Headpiece by - Emily Baxendale

Dress by - Suzannah

BEFORE EVERY AFTER - {a moment in the life of two unique designers & stylists}

'There was an emptiness more profound than the void between the stars, for which there was no here or there and before or after, and yet out of that void the entire plenum of existence sprang forth'. Heinz Pagel

'Life inevitably throws us curve balls, unexpected circumstances that remind us to expect the unexpected. I've come to understand these curve balls are the beautiful unfolding of both karma and current'.

Our creativity for this design came from looking for the unexpected and stepping outside our own experience walking around the grounds, and out buildings here. Before we start transforming a space, we view it from every angle, gouge out every obliquity of the building itself, and sense its opportunity. We stand and close our eyes and see the evolution. We create depth and layers, interest points, consider possible floor and wall treatment, and slowly build up a foundation. We keep an eye on the way the natural light falls into the room, or where the walls could do with an interest point. We keep a notebook where we jot down a list of things and notes on what we experience. We always start with a natural colour palette, and slowly build colour up thereafter. Fabrics are rich with possibilities, we play with scale, different heights and shapes. Then we forage and scout, find and keep and in the end curate it all for our clients. Beauty really can be found in the simplest of things....

Yes, it is possible to have an event in Ireland in a barn and that in the month of April - We break boundaries, and explore beautiful new realms and create 'Out Of this World' experiences for our event design & styling clients. Like all our themes, Before every After, is not just about a design, but about the telling of a story - in this case the story of Audrey & Mike. { and this isn't even the wedding yet ONLY the Rehearsal Dinner, I can't wait to share the wedding with you all } 

We have so many stories to tell ....

Pearl & Sheena xo

PS - Do leave us a comment - we would love to hear from you!

Credits:

Event Design & Styling www.pearlandgodiva.com  

Photography: My stupendously talented friend Christina Brosnan { obviously she didn't take the first few images - that was all me }

Pearl & Godiva In House Floristry by : www.hanako.ie  

Stationery created for Pearl & Godiva by: www.prettyasapicture.ie

Catering: www.eunicepower.com