Today we are taking a glimpse into the life of Cyd, founder of The Sweetest Occasion blog and Sweet Occasions Studio, a wedding planning and design company. Her love of color, patterns and textures, have given her the inspiration she needs to create some fabulous wedding decor.
Her blog is equally inspiring as she loves those less trendy and totally classic colors and designs. Follow Cyd on Twitter and make sure to take a look at her fabulous blog, The Sweetest Occasion.
First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it, and your background.
Howdy, fellow COLOURlovers! I'm Cyd Converse, founder and creative director of The Sweetest Occasion, a lifestyle and design blog that has been delivering fresh ideas and inspiration for weddings, parties and living a life full of celebration since 2008. We're all about adding a little sparkle to everyday life. I'm also an event designer and stylist, having launched Sweet Occasions Studio in 2008.
What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?
My formal training is an architecture so I have a classic design background. I have a lifelong passion for color, pattern, materiality and space planning which ultimately led me to the exciting and beautiful world of weddings. Plus, my grandmother was the ultimate entertainer and I inherited that passion from her. Even if it was just a group of us grandkids around the house for a weekend sleepover, she never served dinner without putting on her favorite earrings.
What colors and color trends do you think we will see a lot of in wedding in 2012?
All shades of coral, peach and papaya were really big in 2011 and they're going to live on this year. They're just so pretty! And this isn't your grandmother's peach from the 1980s we're talking about either. I think rich, saturated jewel tones like magenta, pumpkin and emerald will be really popular in addition to neons. It's all about really fun, vibrant color this year! On the flip side, I think neutrals are going to take on a new life. Think shades of ivory, cream, linen, and butter paired with metallics like rose gold, silver, bronze and copper.
Source
What patterns and trends do you think will be big in 2012?
Chevron, stripes and ikat have been all the rage over the last year or so. I think we're going to see a lot more chevron this year and stripes will continue to be hot, too. I think other classic, graphic patterns like houndstooth, plaid, argyle, polka dots and geometrics will see play this year.
Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about seeing?
I think we're going to see a huge return to classic romanticism this year in weddings, inspired in part by last year's royal wedding. I'm looking forward to lots of lace, wedding dresses with simple silhouettes but the most luxurious fabrics, gorgeous headpieces and fascinators and color palettes that embrace romance.
Source
What are your top three color palettes you love to see in a wedding? What colors do you not often see together a lot, but would like to see more of?
I am obsessed with green at the moment. I think it's often a forgotten color, but it can be so chic. I love emerald green paired with jade and shades of gray.
Source
I also think really rich, sophisticated shades of purple can't be beat. It's gorgeous paired with gray or with shimmery champagne gold.
Source
In all honesty, I am also totally crushing on pink right now. I'm talking everything from bold, bright hot pink that borders on neon to the softest whisper of blush pink. I just can't get enough of it, especially when paired with metallic gold.
Source
All of my latest color palette inspirations can be found here under Color Inspirations.
How important do you think patterns are to a wedding design? What are your favorites?
I love a good dose of pattern in wedding design. It's such an easy way to make a design feel cohesive. You can feature it on your wedding invitation envelope liners and then carry it through the day on table linens, favor tags and more. Personally, I'm all about stripes. I was organizing my closet as part of my New Year's resolution and counted no fewer than 20 striped sweaters or shirts. Apparently I have a problem. I also love vintage-inspired floral patterns. If it looks like your grandmother's old curtains, I'm in love.
Source
What's the best design-related advice you've ever received?
I think the best design advice I've ever received is to only produce work that you love and can stand behind. Don't do something because it's trendy or popular, do something because you love it and are passionate about what you're putting out into the world. Draw inspiration from the things you love and then make them your own.
When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?
I love drawing event design inspiration from shelter magazines like Elle Decor. I love seeing a beautiful room and translating it into a really lovely design for a party or wedding. In general, my inspiration comes from quiet time spent lakeside and whatever random things I stumble upon in my travels. Vintage packaging, good typography, and the colors of nature.
For someone that is just beginning to plan and design their wedding, what resources or advice would you give to them?
Step one is to take a little time to think about what you really want your celebration to feel like. Do you want it to be small and intimate? Or lavish and elegant? Focusing on that is the perfect jumping off point and then you can draw inspiration from your shared loves and interests. Maybe you're avid sailors so a navy and white wedding with nautical touches is perfect. Or maybe you're both artists so designing all of your own stationery and reception decor is the perfect fit. My biggest tip is to just say no to doing things because you think you're "supposed to" or because it has always been done that way. At the end of the day, it's your party and it should look and feel like you and the unique love you share.
]]>
Photo by: 
