Y’all know that we’re crazy for a celebration ’round these parts. (Marissa wasn’t lying about those exclamation marks in her emails to Emily!) Mardi Gras is no exception, and if you can imagine it, makes us even more giddy for weddings inspired by the event. That’s why this morning, Emily put together a softer twist on the traditional Mardi Gras colors with her inspiration board and Marissa gathered a ton of fun images to teach us about all the Mardi Gras traditions.

I’ve pulled together some of my favorite green, purple and gold finds to get those Mardi Gras wheels turning. Sparkly and sophisticated is the way to go for these Southern-inspired products. Just throw in a some masks and feathers and find a brass band to provide the tunes — you’ll be all set.

A. Put something sparkly to jingle-jangle on your arms! You know you’ll be waving your hands in celebration! I love this amethyst bracelet paired with some other gold bangles.

B. Who else loves this dress like I do? Flirty in gorgeous shade of purple — I think it’s lovely for your bridesmaids! Of course, I won’t blame you if you decide to rock it at the rehearsal dinner. We like this sparkly number, too.

C. So you want to don something a little more sophisticated than those shiny plastic beads? How about this stunner: the Trompe L’oeil necklace from J.Crew. J’adore!

D. There’s never been a better time to break out the feathered accessories than during Mardi Gras! I love this delicate hairpiece from Twigs and Honey.

E. This beauty’s definitely a splurge! But it’s glittering exterior and easy-to-hold size makes it a contender for our hearts. Bonus? It’s called the Bountiful Bliss clutch! Perfect for a wedding, no?

F. We know that with the abundance of King’s Cake and sweets at your celebration, there will be many opportunities to use these cute dessert flags.

G. Oh y’all. How sweet are these bow-adorned purple pumps? We think they’ll look smashing with a short getaway dress, too! We’re crazy for this option by Nina, too.

H. Confetti and sparkles looks just as good on china as it does when it falls from the sky. We like these from Kate Spade.

I. These purple, green and gold macarons will be a hit! French treat with some colorful charm can’t go wrong on your dessert bar. Pair them with King’s Cake for a true NOLA feast!

J. Turn a Southern favorite into a themed refreshment! This blackberry mint julep recipe has us licking our lips! Want another option? We love that this cocktail is named the French Quarter!

K. One of my favorite things to see in a wedding is a set of gold Chiavari chairs. We think it’s a great way to incorporate some of that gold into the scenery without overwhelming the eyes. You can rent them from companies like Classic Party Rentals.

L. Don’t forget the small details! A bright green cake server that’s not too delicate won’t just look festive on your cake table, it’ll bring back fun memories when you reuse it around the house.

M. With all the feasting that’s to be done, you’ll need to give guests a play-by-play. This swirling green menu from Minted will fit in splendidly!

What do you think of our picks? What items would you include in a Mardi Gras wedding?

With Mardi Gras festivities gearing up in Southern locales like New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, we figured it was the perfect time to bring y’all some fabulous Carnival inspiration! As I’m sure y’all know, Mardi Gras is one of the biggest cultural celebrations in the South. Though Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is typically host to the biggest parties and feasting, the Carnival celebrations stretch all the way from Epiphany to the beginning of Lent. That’s a lot of King Cake, y’all! To celebrate, we’re taking the day to offer up three posts chock-full of Mardi Gras hootenanny. Yes, hootenanny.

I’m up first, and I’ve got an inspiration board to share with you! I wanted to do offer a softer twist on the traditional purple, green, and gold color scheme while still reflecting the fun and celebration of Mardi Gras.

The Details:

A sparkly gold bolero adds instant pizzazz to any wedding day ensemble (photo by Shannon Nicole Smith via Southern Weddings). Dress your ‘maids in shades of shiny plum and mulberry for a dazzling effect (photo by Elizabeth Messina). A gorgeous feather fascinator picks up on the notes of Mardi Gras costumes without going overboard (photo by Veil and Bow via Southern Weddings).

The Blackberry Smash, with its purple hue and pop of green mint, would make a perfectly color-coordinated signature drink! (Photo by Andrew Purcell via Design*Sponge) We love this cascading centerpiece by Flowers by Fancy (photo by Kate Preftakes). The gold beads adorning the back of this chair remind you a bit of really classy Mardi Gras beads, don’t they? (Photo by Aaron Delesie via Once Wed.)

A classic carriage is the perfect transport to — or getaway from — your ceremony (photo by Bryan Johnson). Last but not least, no Mardi Gras inspired wedding would be complete without a King Cake. We love this one from our friends at Sucre.

Check back in later today, as Marissa will be sharing Mardi Gras traditions and inspiration from real weddings, and Nicole will be rounding up some French Quarter finds!

Friends, have you ever lost your umbrella? I lost both of mine a couple of weeks ago and ever since, my days have been spent constantly checking the weather on my phone or running from rain clouds. The skies have been a bit gloomy in the Carolinas lately, so I finally resigned to the fact that I wasn’t going to find my umbrella and got a new one yesterday. Let’s hope that Emily’s lemon squeeze inspiration board paired with my color palette finds puts Mother Nature in a better mood for tomorrow. Be prepared for sunshine, y’all!

I love how these yellow and green picks play off the colors of citrus groves throughout the South! These items will add some Southern sunshine to any wedding. Want more finds? Stay tuned because later today, Marissa is sharing her favorite yellow dress picks in her Southern Style column!

A. We love the idea of using chalkboards to identify signature drinks and menu items, especially when it comes in a bright frame like this one!

B. I am gaga for this ribbon. I see it wrapped around a lush bouquet or tied in the flower girl’s hair. What do you think it’s perfect for?

C. Balance out the sour of those lemons with some sweet rock candy. We think these would look adorable on a candy buffet!

D. We just love the idea of using mini citrus trees as part of the decor! You can buy meyer lemon trees and more online here.

E. No need to get too fancy with drinks, this lemon prosecco is tasty and only needs three ingredients (four if you count the mint garnish).

F. We know a Southern girl never skimps her guests on sweets or on cute presentation. Try these pleated cupcake liners if you’re baking for the wedding yourself!

G. Guests will have a ball guessing what’s inside these bright striped treat bags. Another option? Let guests fill the bags themselves with treats from the dessert bar. Provide custom stickers to keep goodies from falling out.

H. For tying treats, invitations, napkins and more, this “Lemondrop” twine is a go-to. We’ll never tire of seeing it!

I. For your bridesmaids who need a place for their lipstick and camera, this yellow cornflower clutch is the perfect summery accessory.

J. Draw eyes upward with an epic yellow chandelier. Whether it’s hanging over a lounge area or the dance floor, it’s sure to make a statement.

K. Can’t you picture these adorable lemon souffles sitting at each place setting during dessert? I love how they’re presented in the lemon rind!

L. Complete your outfit by accessorizing with this adorable green “Rana” cocktail ring in mint.

M. For a little snack before the nuptials, pack up lemonade, some fruit and cheese and crackers in a picnic basket for two. Or, fill it with some late night snacks to take with you after the reception!

N. For changing into when heels are too painful for the dance floor or for gifting to your ‘maids, these bright cap-toe flats are comfy but cute enough to don all night!

Did these picks bring some sunshine to your life? What other details would you include in a citrus-inspired wedding?

Past Color Palette Finds:
Bright Winter Beach
Southern Gothic
Merlot + Champagne Vineyard
Soft Peach and Blue
Tex Mex Fiesta
Lemonade Summer

The other day, my sister pinned DIY instructions on how to build your own farm table. I immediate repinned it! Y’all know I love big, heavy farm tables. There’s so much character in the wood grain, the little nicks and often, the back story. The best farm tables are built from hand and passed down through the generations.

I love that for Camille + Mark (here and here), who hosted an intimate gathering of only 19 guests, many of our favorite components were built just for them (no rentals here! Those three farm tables were specially made) or come straight from their homes.

For the same reason, I love that some of the finds we rounded up below are ways to personalize an already beautiful wedding. I hope you enjoy!

A. A hot pink dress will look marvelous against a streamer-decked ceremony arch. We love this one from BCBG.

B. Remember the little flags from Camille + Mark’s dessert table? Easily make your own by combining a few inches of Cute Tape with skewers. Use the leftover tape for favors bags and the like.

C. From tying invitations to hanging chair back signs, twine is always versatile. We love the raw look it has while still dressing up pretty paper details. Combine it with some scalloped kraft tags for even more fun.

D. We love the idea of a ring bearer bowl that you can customize with a sweet saying. Find one at Paloma’s Nest.

E. Y’all saw how much I raved about Camille + Mark’s invitations! One of my favorite parts was the custom handkerchiefs included. We love the options provided by Benign Objects. Perfect for catching tears of joy.

F. Xoelle bow ties are a favorite of ours. The colors in this little number would adorable on a ring bearer.

G. The curtain of ribbons at Camille + Mark’s ceremony was epic and beautiful. You could use multiple spools of ribbon like these from Joann’s or you could do what C + M did and buy a few yards of fabric. Tear the fabric instead of cutting to get a raw edge.

H. I love the meaning behind Camille + Mark’s unity sand ceremony. Use mini apothecary bottles with a cork top to keep the sands separate until the ceremony. You can find them on sites like Save on Crafts and Amazon.com. We got these here.

I. For an added vintage flair, a pop of color and to make those treats look even sweeter, use a bright cake stand.

J. A can of gold spray paint can go a long way! We love the gold pomegranates that sat the the table settings. Achieve a similar look with just a few spritzes.

K. Colorful glass vases can make a table topped with flowers look even more full and fabulous. We love the options at Luna Bazaar.

L. Who else saw the lawn games at Camille + Mark’s wedding and had to have them? This bowling set from Pottery Barn is a great alternative if you can’t find a vintage alternative.

What are some ways you would personalize your wedding?

Take a look at past “Get the Look” features from V4:
Romantic Plantation Wedding

What’s better than a blast of citrus to beat the winter blues? Florida gals, this inspiration board is especially for you. We love the idea of planning a ceremony or reception in a blooming lemon grove, and hope this board might inspire one of you to do just that!

The Details:

First row: lemon grove tablescape via Inspired By This; lemon loaf from The Twinery blog; lemon-lined aisle photo by Jose Villa via Once Wed

Second row: tall glasses of lemonade photo by Kurt Boomer via Green Wedding Shoes; lemon still life photo by A Creative Mint via decor8; yellow evening gown photo by Åsa Tällgård via Oh Joy!

Third row: yellow bridesmaid dress photo by Robyn Van Dyke; lemon placecards photo by Punam Bean via Green Wedding Shoes; lemon and geranium leaf centerpiece photo by Jose Villa via Once Wed (arrangement by Adornments Flowers)

Be sure to check back next week, as Nicole will be sharing her color palette finds based off of this inspiration board! Also, if you love this board, take a trip to our yellow Pinterest board for more sunny inspiration!

Robyn Van Dyke is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!