the petaled detail.

photo cred : {irving penn via doowop}

a bit of advice.

I don’t often lend a lot of “wedding/event focused” advice on my blog, which seems a little absurd since I consider myself an event designer and this blog is in a little way a wedding related blog, but I thought I’d take a second today to lend a bit of advice, so here it goes…

Over the past year or so I’ve seen the trend of the photobooth gaining lots and lots of momentum. And guess what? I’m SUPER excited about it!

When it comes to weddings, I not only believe that the celebration is all about the love of the couple, but I also believe it’s about giving your guests something to get excited about. In steps : mr. photobooth. I’m telling you – this little contraption whether it be a camera on a tripod set up by your photographer, a fantabulous Smilebooth, or a full blown old school photobooth beauty like my friends over at 321 Foto will absolutely, hands-down make your event! I mean who doesn’t want to get a pile of photos back from their event showcasing all of their guest ones goofy faces and photo mishaps? Um – I do!

The top 10 reasons I think photobooths kick some serious bootay:

1. They bring out the kid in everyone. Even grumpy Grandpa Joe or ‘too cool for school’ cousin Amy.

2. Guests get really excited at just the sight of a photobooth. I promise.

3. Pictures last a lifetime. Yep – that means you have a lifetime’s worth of blackmailing material to use against your friends and family.

4. They can be as fancy or simple as you want them to be. Rent one from a company locally or ask your photographer if they have the service available.

5. Backdrops & Props oh my! Cause who doesn’t want to wear a chef’s hat and clown glasses while standing in front of a wall of confetti garland?

6. Where the most outstanding Facebook & Twitter profile pics are made.

7. They are a helpful reminder of what’s most important when it comes to an event or party. HAVE FUN!

8. It gives those guests who hate to boogy something to get involved in.

9. Don’t like how you looked in the picture? Take another, and another and another and another. Perfect for the picture perfectionist in all of us!

10. No one REALLY likes boring formal portraits do they?

10.1. They are perfect for every event : graduation parties, baby showers, anniversaries, art shows, company holiday parties (remember #3?), birthdays, reunions…etc. etc.

Long story short : get yourself a photobooth at your next event. You’ll thank me for it later!

*The fab pics in this post?! Just a few of the hilariously awesome photobooth snapshots from my friend Jules color-blocking birthday party last month – more pics on her fab blog here – go on over and get inspired! Oh and super bonus! That rad little geometric pinyada? Check out my buddy Sara’s new pinyada biz : pinyadayada. Genius!

photo cred: {julie harmsen photography}

bow tie wednesday / 41.

How pretty are these images by Elle Moss? There is something so special about capturing the details in life and Elle does it with a charm and sincerity that’s palpable. I’m so in love with her work and that simple feminine bow tie? So pretty! Happy Wednesday friends!

photo cred: {elle moss via society 6}

a new profile.

It’s been over a year since I launched BT&B/Scout. and I have never really taken the time to get professional profile shots taken. Like most of us, I absolutely dread having my picture taken for these sorts of things, as I always feel like I look kinda weird! It’s also quite intimidating to have a camera pointed straight at you with all hopes riding on a decent shot.

My dear buddy Julie was kind enough to snap some pics of me a couple weeks ago for biz purposes. I was so relieved to actually get my picture taken when I wasn’t a hot sweaty mess after an event/wedding/shoot etc. etc. She also captured me in one of my favorite vintage finds…isn’t that blue sequined top just fab?! Thanks Jules!

photo cred: {julie harmsen photography}

pic me a palette : an engagement float.

how serene is this engagement photo? holy moly. totally dreamy and killer photography skills by rowell photography.

photo cred: {rowell photography via junebug weddings}

friday find : lonngren/widell.

When I stumbled across these amazingly gorgeous interior photographs by Lonngren/Widell I couldn’t help but wish I could climb right into them and relish in all the vintage/rustic/eclectic loveliness. I’m always on the hunt for super special pieces to add to my scout. vintage rental company collection and these pictures made me want to hunt that much harder. A unique & inviting room can brighten even the dreariest day and these pics certaintly did this trick of this gloomy friday morning!

Do you have a favorite room in your home? What inspires you with regards to your interior decor?

Happy weekend friends!

*JB

{photo cred: lonngren/widell photography}

a year gone by.

I cried when I realized it this morning.

I cried from exhaustion. Joy. Remorse. Excitement. Relief. Complete astonishment.

Today marks a year. 365 days ago today I said goodbye to the only career I had ever known. I spent 6 years in school to become a registered nurse and a year ago today I walked away. The decision has not been an easy one, and there isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not really scared and frightened by that decision. I left stability. Colleagues. Security. A routine. But for a really really long time I knew that nursing, although incredibly rewarding, was just not where I wanted to exist. Was I happy? Kind of. Was I satisfied on more days than not. Sure. Was I comfortable. Pretty much. But was I the real, true me? Absolutely not. And THAT didn’t sit well with me.

On the day I left nursing I honestly had no idea what the future held for me. I knew I needed something different, but I didn’t really know what that might look like. I knew that my creative ambitions were screaming from my insides but translating that into something successful and just as rewarding seemed like the impossible. 2 weeks after I made the decision to not settle until I found that certain something that fed my soul in an honest and truthful way I took a trip. I packed up a crazy large backpack, said goodbye to my husband and puppy dog and left for 7 weeks. At the time the decision felt really selfish, greedy…maybe even wrong. But my intention was simple: find me. Find what really makes me happy. Find out why for so many years I’d felt hopeless, sad and lost. I set out to open my ears and my eyes to all the things my heart had been saying for so long, to really listen. To really see. And this I felt was a selfless decision, because in my gut I knew it would make me a better person not only for myself but for those who loved me.

I slept in. I watched French music videos to the point of verbal and choreographic memorization. I ate an amazing amount of pastries. I stared at art. I walked and walked and walked. I teared up at the beauty that is Europe. I sang. I grocery shopped. I rode trains. I drank yummy wine. I explored. I laughed with friends and family who visited me. I spent money. I wrote a travel blog. I practiced my French. But mostly I took pictures and wrote. I used my camera to open my eyes to all the things that really inspired me. The things that made me feel alive. And I wrote to hear what my own voice had to say.

Writing and photography never were as important as they were during those 7 weeks. I honestly and miraculously found myself while looking through my camera lens and while writing til’ the wee hours of the morning. I had found the answer I’d always been searching for for so long, and although it scared the crap out of me, I came home and pursued that answer. I started my own business and leapt into the craziness of being an entrepreneur. For the first time in my ENTIRE life, I listened to what MY heart was telling me. Not what anyone or anything else was telling me. And today, I celebrate that. I celebrate being me and for the first time really living.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, pushed, and loved me during this past year. Thank you for not calling me crazy to my face, or telling me to run back to a career that seemed a lot more logical. Thank you for loving me enough to wish the very best for me and for my future. Thank you for cheering me on and for hugging me during those moments when I was really scared. Thank you for being proud of me – this life alteration would not have happened without your support. Thanks for celebrating with me today!

P.S. How crazy fitting is it to have Vanessa & Tony’s wedding featured on SMP today to mark the occasion?!?! So proud of where this past year has led me!

P.S.S. If you’re interested in following the travels the helped me find my way start by clicking here.

year gone by photo captions:

september: moonlighting with paper. realizing that i was suffocating without a creative outlet. jb papier was born.

october: my trip to europe began. i snapped pictures of everything i could. big ben was one of my fav shots.

november: being alive in paris.

december: when i really started carving out my new business. took the leap of faith and admitted that i was ready to start a new journey.

january: bow tie & bustle was born. participated in my very first styled shoot. bun in the oven concept.

february: gathered an amazing team of wedding creatives for montmartre shoot i dreamed up while in france.

march: very first big time feature for my lil’ business on green wedding shoes.

april: vanessa & tony’s wedding in cabo san lucas. my first BIG design and first international destination wedding all wrapped in one.

may: drove a farm table from denver to seattle. started thinking about launching a vintage rental company. scout. was officially launched on august 6th.

june: headed to beverly hills to get my learn on at coordinator confab.

july: felt like a full fledged blogger after attending blogshop in the bay area.

august: one of MANY projects in august: ann & jon’s wedding day.

photo cred: {personal pics and mo hines photography}

sneak peek: lions, tigers & bears.

lions, tigers and bears & cute party details oh my!

back in august i had the total pleasure of designing and hosting my sister sarah’s baby shower along with my mom and little sis coli. it was such a thrill to be back home in colorado, but to also have the opportunity to share in one of the most exciting times in my sister’s life was such a gift. i’m so proud of all her accomplishments, but i think i’m most proud to see her step into motherhood…she’s gonna be amazing at it! and her baby bump??! too darn adorable.

here’s a little sneak peek of the details from her zoo animal themed baby shower….more to come later this week!

photo cred: {jenn elliott blake}

friday substitute.

Sooooo long story short it has been an intense week of work, work and more work, but I’ve loved every second of the design process for today’s wedding (Dinah’s staple gun is officially my new BFF!) and I’m so excited to share what I’ve been working on….!!!yipeeeee!!! BUT since this week has consisted of lots of work and no play I figured my usual “week in pins” post would be PUUUURITEEEE boring. AND although I have new vintage finds to share I have not had even a brief moment to snap a picture…so sadly no “friday find” either (I know…BAD BLOGGER!).

So instead I thought I’d leave you with a Friday substitute. And since I don’t remember substitutes being all that bad (nicer than usual teacher, fun, refreshing and usually let you leave class early for the weekend) I thought you wouldn’t mind a sub this week.

Kirstin and Jordan’s wedding last weekend on Orcas Island was epic. Absolutely stunning backdrops….an amazingly GORGEOUS chapel…lots of laughter…a dance floor full ALL night long and a happy bride and groom at the end of the night. What more could you ask for? Here’s a few snapshots of the beautiful Victorian Valley Chapel (ummmm if anyone is thinking of getting married in the San Juans THIS place should be it…S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G! Oh and Jordan’s parents run the chapel and are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met in my life…bonus!!!). Seriously, check this place out! Gorgeous right?!

Happy weekend friends!

*JB

photo cred: {moi iPhone}

drumroll please…

scout. vintage rental company is here!

After many long weeks, countless sleepless nights, an extensive and super fun photo shoot (minus the two gals who tried to get us kicked out of discovery park), multiple trips to fleas, antique shops and corner yard sales my dream vintage rental company is finally here! Last week, with an incredible amount of love, support and encouragement from friends & family, I launched my second business: scout. vintage rental company. scout. is now sister to bow tie & bustle and they are planning to take Seattle by storm : )

scout. was derived from the belief that vintage details offer a certain “something, something” to our lives and each unique piece has a story of its own to tell. My intention is to provide local photographers, event designers/planners, stylists, couples and individuals a seamless way to incorporate vintage details, props and decor into their special events and photo shoots. I’ve wanted to share my love of antiques and vintage pieces with the event and design world for sometime now, and I am so thrilled to finally open my doors. scout. was a TOTAL labor of love and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for my boutique rental company.

Sooooooo what are you waiting for?! Check out scout. here! Oh, and thank you to everyone for your generous comments and words of encouragement since scout’s launch last week. I’ve most certainly felt the love!

photo cred: {mo hines photography and my personal inventory pictures}

love sesh with sarah rhoads.

A couple weeks ago, there I was.

It was 1 am and I was drowning out the eery silence of late night work with another glorious episode of the Real Housewives of New York City. I took a break from a current design to tweet about some random thought fluttering around in my sleepy head. I quickly scrolled through recent tweets on my iPhone and stopped dead in my tracks. NO friggin’ way. No way. NO way!

Sarah Rhoads needs a couple? In Seattle? Next Monday? Um…yes PLEASE!

For those of you who don’t know who Sarah Rhoads is – you should. No really. Stop what you are doing right now and go check her out. She and her husband Chris are only one of the most fantabulous husband and wife duos out there. I’ve been a “super fan” for quite sometime now, constantly flabbergasted by their ability to capture the most intimate and candid moments of their subjects with an ease and emotional pull that glides like a well oiled machine. They are quite simply: totally rad.

So of course, the geeky, photography obsessed side of me burst off the couch nearly pulling a hammy in order to send Sarah an email. The opportunity to spend an afternoon getting our picture taken in a love sesh by Sarah and Chris Rhoads was something you just don’t pass up.

After clicking send and crossing my fingers, I went to bed that night imagining all of the most amazing things I would say to Sarah if I ever got the chance to actually meet her. I would tell her how much I adored her Rue shoot, how much she inspires me as a fellow entrepreneur, how her blog is one of my favorite out there and I would charm her with my amazing wit.

Well none of that actually happened (I was too nervous to say any of those things…I mean I was in the presence of a photography superstar for crying out loud!) but I did get the most amazing opportunity to meet Sarah. She picked us for her mentor session  with Greg Hoskins and made my birthday wish come true.

Sarah and Chris, thank you so much for sharing your talent and humor with Adam and I. It was a total thrill and a half to meet you, and I will cherish these photographs for many, MANY years to come.

photo cred: {Sarah Rhoads Photography}