DIY - A Memorable Gift

“We do not remember days; we remember moments.”
~Cesare Pavese

And that is definitely true with all things weddings.  The memories you make on your wedding day are going to last a lifetime.  And how great is this memory that two Bridesmaids created for their Bride?

Leigh & Ryan got married in December and the morning of their wedding, her two Maids of Honor surprised her with an amazing, memorable gift.  In Leigh’s own words:

Ashley and Kristen stayed with me in my hotel room on Friday night before the wedding and woke me up Saturday morning with a surprise gift.  I'm not usually a crier - I actually didn't shed another tear the entire wedding day because I was just so overwhelmingly happy!  But, seeing the lace from their wedding dresses and our three new monograms on the handkerchief had me just sobbing. :)  I thought it was so thoughtful and unique!

Ashley and Kristen, the MOH’s, gave Leigh a handkerchief with a sweet poem, their monograms and a small piece of lace from their own wedding dresses.  The poem was in light blue thread giving Leigh a little something blue to carry down the aisle.  They left a place on the handkerchief for Leigh to add lace from her dress later on, post wedding.

To do this yourself, simply cut a small piece of lace from your wedding dress (you may be able to get some during alterations or at the bottom where it won’t be noticeable).  On a plain, white handkerchief stitch a short poem & your monograms.  Add the pieces of lace from your dress and the brides.  If you don’t have any experience with stitching, you can easily have a seamstress do this for you. 

I just love the thoughtfulness of this gesture and the memories they gave Leigh for her wedding day!

Photos courtesy Altmix Photography

A Cause for the Heart ♥

I recently got an email from a friend about the Metro Atlanta American Heart Association and a good cause they have coming up related to weddings.

via Junk Wild

Text from the AHA email:
Atlanta-based Bridals by Lori, the largest couture bridal boutique in the southeast, has partnered with some of the biggest names in bridal design (Lazaro, Rivini, etc.) to create a collection of one-of-a-kind, heart-inspired wedding gowns. These unique dresses will be sold at auction in 2011 to raise money for the cause. In connection with this project, we’re in search of brides-to-be that meet the following criteria: must be getting married between summer of 2011 and summer of 2012; must have a personal or family connection to heart disease; must be from Atlanta (preferable) or the Southeast; due to sizing restrictions, must wear a size 6 or smaller.

If you know of a bride that meets the above description, we’d love to consider her for a special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity related to the wedding gown auction/fundraiser. Please submit her story by posting a video to our Facebook wall, posting a narrative to our "Heart Brides To Be" Facebook discussion board or sending an email to sherelle.waters@heart.org.

So, if you know anyone who fits the description, submit her story!  This is such a great cause!

To Top it Off

When deciding what to add to the top of your wedding cake, there are tons of different options.  Do you want something simple & classic, something fun, something unique?  Maybe you don't want a topper at all!

You can go traditional with a bride & groom topper

via Martha Stewart

Or classic with a monogram topper

via White Crush Wedding

Or go with a romantic feel and have flowers on the top of your cake

via Wedding Cake

Or be simple and don't have a wedding cake topper at all

via Sweet Sensations 

*A local Georgia bakery!

Whatever you decide to go with, make sure it reflects you and your partner's taste and doesn't overwhelm your cake!

Which is your favorite?

Lakefront Inspiration

I've always said that I want to get married outside at the lake.  Although I'm not getting married anytime soon, after spending the weekend at the lake I got some inspiration.

Pretty view off our deck at Lake Oconee

I love the simplicity and relaxing feeling of being at the lake.  A wedding by the lake should have that same feel.  I think this wedding theme calls for rustic, simple details with a few pops of color.  

Don't you just love the S'more favors for guests?!

See the link below for how to DIY.

Collage Pictures via:

1. Brides Love

2. Bridal Wedding Dresses

3. Bridal Buds

4. Eat Drink Chic - DIY bird seed send-off

5. Wedding Bee

6. Wedding Decorations

7. Green-Wedding

8. Lovely Clusters

9. Twig & Thistle - DIY s'more favors

Paperless Post

My cousin, Hannah, and I are currently planning a baby shower for her sister.  We put together all the details and decided that we would send the invites using Paperless Post. 

If you haven't heard of this site or checked it out yet, you're missing out!  They have great invitations for any occasion and the way they are sent out is just too cute.

Invitees will receive and email with the an envelope (which you can customize!) saying 'Click to open'

When they click the envelope, it opens and the card comes out.

Invitees will then be able to RSVP right there online.  How great is that? 

They have all kinds of designs, colors, wording, etc. to help you out with creating your invites.  And the best part is you start with 25 free stamps and each additional stamp is only $ .16 or cheaper as you buy more. 

Here are some of our favorite wedding shower & bridal party invites they have:

Great for any bridal shower

Love how fun & bright these are!

Perfect for a Lingerie Shower

They even have designs for Thank You Notes.  Think of all the time you'll save!

These invites and cards won't cost you much at all and allow you to be creative with as much help from the site as you need!

It's All About the Dress

"A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes."

-Vera Wang

About a week or so ago, Vera Wang launched a line of wedding dresses and accessories (White by Vera Wang) at David's Bridal.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but after looking through all the dresses I was in love.  A woman should definitely be comfortable and feel beautiful on her wedding day and I think these dresses are a great choice!

This one is my favorite!  So romantic.

These dresses truly stick to Vera Wang's wedding dress style but are affordable (prices range from $600-$1400).  For all of us that have lusted after her amazing dresses but knew we couldn't afford them, we now can. 



Which is your favorite?

Pictures via David's Birdal

The Royal Invites

The invites to Kate & William's wedding have started to go out to their guests (all 1,900 of them).

via People



The invite include gold writing and an insignia of Queen Elizabeth whose name the invitation is sent in.  It also requests the guest dressed in military unifrom, morning coat or lounge suit.  Can't wait to see the formal attire guests show up in!

Sunrise Inspiration

Driving home from the gym the other morning, I got to see this beautiful sunrise:

A little motivation to get up early every morning!

I was in awe of the amazing, vibrant colors and got inspired for a spring or summer wedding theme.  Doesn’t it just make an ideal color palette?

This just shows inspiration can come from anywhere!  What’s something that’s inspired you while planning a wedding?

Collage Pictures:
1. David's Bridal
2. A Delightful Day
3. Wedding by Color
4. Day Wedding
5. Wedding by Color
6. mywedding.com
7. Dessy.com
8. Silk Flower Wedding
9. Heels.com
10. Sweetest Occasion
11. mywedding.com

Love Through the Ages

"All you need is love."

~John Lennon & Paul McCartney

In Glamour's most recent issue they have a section with love tips from 9 year olds and 99 year olds.  I just love the little pieces of advice and the glimpses into love throughout the ages!

via Deviant Art

via Brown Button



To read the article on Glamour.com, click here.  It just goes to show, love comes in all shapes & sizes.

Making Memories

"A good snapshot stops a moment from running away." 

~Eudora Welty

Lately I've seen photo booths at a lot of weddings and I think it is such a great idea!  People tend to let loose and have fun with these pictures.  You wind up with great photos and memories from your wedding that will have a different feel than what the photographer captures during the reception. 

via Red Cheese

Most photo booth companies will also supply an album to include the pictures and comments from guests which you can use in place of a guest book.

via Red Eye Booths

If you like the feel of these photos but don't want to hire another vendor for your wedding, just ask your photographer if they can create a similar feel.  Most photographers will set up an area with a white sheet and camera for people to pose.  You'll still get the great 'photo booth' style pictures without having to hire another vendor!

Another tip, bring props!  You'll get some great pictures (see below) especially as people loosen up throughout the night :)

via Photobucket

If you're looking for a photo booth company in Atlanta, check these companies out:

Red Eye

Wow Photo Booth

Extreme Event Design

Love is in the Air!

At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet...

-- Plato

Love is definitely in the air today.  All around the office, at lunch and even on Twitter / Facebook you can definitely feel the buzz! 

With all this love & joy going around, we just had to put together some inspiration for a Valentine's Day wedding.  Don't you just love those red heels?   

Note the heart shaped stirrers in picture #7 - too cute!

And if you haven't yet, make sure you tell those special people in your life (not just your significant others!) that you love them.  A simple 'I love you' text can turn around someone's day!  

Photos via:

1. MyWedding.com

2. The Cake List - I love this!!

3. Mattie Reid

4. Style Hive

5., 9., & 10. Dessy.com

6. Slightly Obsessive Bride

7. Elegant Weddings Plus

8. joheckett on Etsy

11. Shoeper Woman

Will You...?

In keeping with the theme of it being Valentine's Day, check out these cute, real proposals:

And then click here for a montage of the top 10 movie proposals, because hey who doesn't enjoy a good love story.

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day!

via mgc puzzles

Guest Post - Whimsical China

via Country Living

As a single young lady, I try not to think too much about my wedding, flowers, dress, and shoes as I don’t want to jinx anything. BUT, at the age of 25 and without a boyfriend, I am 100% decided on my china pattern. 

A good friend once mentioned that the super fashionable in New York City don’t register for just a single china pattern, but instead they select various antique and new patterns with different colors and shapes.  From this thought, an idea blossomed and thus began my china registry without my wedding date or (some might say the most important part) a fiancé.  

As I like to describe my style as whimsical, light, and full of color, I love the idea of having a mismatching (yet matching in their own way) china collection.  The idea of creating a dinner party with beautiful patterns splaying various colors and shapes align not only to my style but also to my personality. 

SO how do you create your whimsical mismatched china collection?  It depends on how far you want to go with it. 

You can still go with the more traditional route and piece together a brand.  Kate Spade china patterns tend to blend well together and are for sale at Macys making registering easy.  

via Macys.com

As for my china, I would love to register at Replacements.com.  Replacements.com is an online store specializing in new and old china, silver, and crystal.  A typical client for Replacements consists of our mom or grandmothers replacing a broken plate or cup, but clients are also able to buy complete sets.

For my patterns today, I went with gold as my base and incorporated purple and turquoise.  The bottom two pieces are “louder” than the others where as the top two pieces are more subtle allowing for a “quieter” dining experience.  Using the four patterns together therefore would create a balance amongst the patterns and colors making this collection, truly me. 

via Replacements.com

What would be your mixed china pattern?

Dollars & Sense

Driving to the office earlier this week, I heard the Regular Guys on 100.5 FM discussing joint checking accounts.  They definitely had some valid points on both sides of the arguement, but it got me thinking... Is it better to keep your seperate accounts or bring it all together to one account when you get married?

Via the Guardian

Here are some pros & cons for both:

Joint Checking Account:

Seperate Accounts:

As you can see there are ups & downs to both options.  Each marriage and partnership is unique, so your needs in the financial aspect of your relationship will vary from everyone else.  The biggest thing to remember is that you need to discuss your finances and make a plan together as partners.  Communication is key to making sure you're both on the same page! 

Which do you think is the best way to go?

Sources: Motley Fool & ehow

Vintage Love ♥

via Slater Sparke



On Valentine's Day (yes, it's next Monday for those who forgot...), Anthroplogie is launching their new wedding collection!  I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what they have to offer! 

I can only assume they'll stick with their overall vintage look for the wedding dresses and unveil some gorgeous lace and classic looks.  Plus who can resist the perfect timing of a release on the day of love?!

Here's what I imagine as a perfect theme for a wedding inspired by Anthropologie:

These cake stands add the perfect touch of fun for a vintage inspired wedding!

To sign up for Anthropologie's wedding collection mailing list prior to the launch, go here: http://www.bhldn.com/

Pictures:

1. Dress 2 Sale

2. Slater Sparke

3. High Society Bridal

4. Headpiece Heaven

5. Wedding Flowers

6. Free Foto

7. Twig & Thistle

 

All That Glitters is Gold

Rue magazine came out with its first issue in September last year.  Recently I was flipping through it (so to speak as it's an online publication) and got some inspiration from their 'Champagne & Sparkles' article!

I love the playfulness and romanticism of the sparkles and gold.  I think this color theme would make a great palette for a wedding!  Add in a few more accents and voilà, you have the perfect inspiration for a wedding.



Collage photos via:

Dessy

Sunshine Queen

Green's Flowers

Shoeper Woman

Perfect Wedding

Blog Lovin'

Follow my blog with bloglovin

via taltopia



Rain, Rain Go Away?

The first reaction most brides have when they wake up to a rainy wedding day is 'Oh no!  My wedding day is ruined!'.

Of course the rain may put a damper on a few things (i.e. outdoor ceremony/reception needs to moved indoors).  But that's what wedding coordinators are for, we'll take care of making sure the day goes perfectly rain or shine!

The one thing you don't have to worry about is if the pictures will turn out okay or not.  Some of my favorite wedding pictures are on rainy days.  The lighting is muted and beautiful plus the umbrellas add a fun touch!

Keali & Andrew in Atlanta, GA

One of my favorites!  The lighting is perfect.

Laura & Dylan in Piedmont Park

I love the playfulness of this picture!

We had some fun with the umbrella and matched it to the wedding colors.  

You may also worry that rain will ruin your engagement photos, but check out these photos of Ashley & Hunter who stuck it out in the rain and wound up with some great pictures!

Ashley & Hunter in Piedmont Park

A perfect catch of the light as the sun started to poke through the clouds.

So, don't fret if there is a little rain on your wedding day.  Instead have some fun and you'll wind up with some wonderful memories.  

And besides, don't they always say rain on your wedding day is good luck?

~Keali & Andrew's pictures by Monica White

~Laura & Dylan's pictures by Robin Gaucher

~Ashley & Hunter's pictures by Liana