The Mayflower Renaissance's Grand Ballroom can hold up to 800 guests. Photograph courtesy of the Mayflower Renaissance

Last week, we paid a visit to the Mayflower Renaissance hotel to view some of their newest décor and menu ideas. The Mayflower’s ballroom (pictured above) is a huge, luxurious space with high ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and balconies that have a vintage-theatre feel.

Order two of these sweet plates for an engaged couple to use at their wedding. Photograph courtesy of Paloma's Nest

If you’re a wedding décor buff like us, you’re probably familiar with Paloma’s Nest. The designer’s sweet and simple ceramic ring bowls hit the scene a few years ago. Now, Paloma’s Nest’s designer, Caroline Colóm Vásquez, has expanded her business to create cufflinks, boutonniere tiles, picture frames, ornaments­—and, just last week, these gorgeous cake plates.

The plates can be customized with a couple’s names and wedding date, and a bird or heart design, if you’d like. We’re definitely thinking of these for a lovely bridal shower or wedding gift. Each plate is $64, and are available on Paloma’s Nest’s Etsy site.

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This brooch bouquet is comprised of vintage enamel pins. Photograph courtesy of Blooming Brooch Bouquets

Earlier this week, we showed you where to find brooch bouquets both locally and on the Web. Another version just crossed our desks, and we had to show you. This “You Are my Sunshine” bouquet, by Blooming Brooch Bouquets, features cheerful yellow flowers and is finished with satin ribbon and crystal pins. It would be ideal for a summer wedding with vintage touches. This arrangement costs $850; visit Blooming Brooch Bouquets’ Etsy site to order.

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Hunt has also created save-the-date maps for weddings in Florida, New York, Indiana, and California. Cartoon courtesy of Jim Hunt.

We’ve all seen those gorgeous, calligraphed save-the-date maps by Laura Hooper and Stephannie Barba, but here’s a different spin on the trend. Annapolis cartoonist Jim Hunt, who draws editorial cartoons for the Charlotte Post and has done work for MAD Magazine, creates whimsical save-the-date that are more comical than classic. The maps can be as detailed as you’d like and can also include sweet personal touches (check out one couple’s dogs, sketched here on a save-the-date for a wedding at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.). It’s a nontraditional and slightly cheeky, but will surely bring a smile to your guests’ faces. And, Hunt tells me that he’s never done a save-the-date map of DC—so yours could be the first! Visit Hunt’s website for more details.

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Baby's breath also make striking bridal bouquets and tall centerpieces. Photograph courtesy of Holly Heider Chapple.

Most people think of baby’s breath as a humble “filler” flower, but Lucketts, Virginia florist Holly Heider Chapple proves that it really can be the star of the show. For a recent event at the Halcyon House in DC, Chapple planned to create an outdoor party with a “Southern, charming, and quaint” vibe. Because of the heat, the event was moved indoors to the Halcyon’s contemporary studio, and Chapple was faced with a dilemma: creating a homespun feel in a modern space. “We had buckets of baby’s breath from an event a few weeks ago, and I thought that hanging it from the ceiling, as though it was drying in a barn, would soften the space and give it more of that ‘country’ feel,” says Chapple. “It worked like a charm.” We recommend using hanging arrangements in a “blank canvas”-type venue—it would be particularly lovely at a tented reception.

Looking for a great florist for your wedding? Check out our Wedding Vendor Finder to start planning your wedding.

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A brooch bouquet works beautifully in a wedding with DIY, vintage décor. Photograph by Kate Headley

We’ve seen brooch bouquets on the national wedding blog scene for a while now, but they’ve only recently become a major trend in DC. We love how they last forever, creating an instant family heirloom, and particularly fell for the gold-flecked version spotted at Annie and Brendan’s DC wedding, photographed by Kate Headley. The bride made this bouquet herself, but we found several ways you can get the look for your own wedding day.

Photobooths have been a popular wedding reception activity for a while now, and Savage stationery designer Carla David has found a way to liven them up even more. Her new company, Say Cheese Paper Props, features an array of whimsical paper mustaches, lips, "I Love You" signs, even bowties (perfect for those preppy Eastern Shore celebrations).

Another sweet Say Cheese product: paper banners. We particularly like the “thank you” style—great as a prop for a couple’s portrait; the resulting photo can be used to adorn a thank-you card later on.

The props start at $18 for a group of four, and are available in a variety of colors. David can even create custom styles to fit your theme. Visit Say Cheese Paper Props’s Web site for more information or to order.

Looking for a great photobooth company? Snapshot Studio, started by the photographers at Love Life Images, is a local favorite.