Archive | May, 2012

Inspiration: Shower of Stars

25 May

I’ve been mapping out the summer and have been dreaming of one wonderful summer night of star gazing at the Perseid meteor shower.  It was a warm night, breezy, clear.  I saw showers and showers and showers of stars.  A night of a million wishes.  As my nostalgia crashed over me, I realized that if you have an early August wedding that a sprinkle of stars might be just the thing to make the night sparkle. Want more ideas?  Check out our Pinterest board for more star filled ideas…

Retail Therapy: Bridesmaid dresses from eShakti

18 May

There are as many ways to dress your bridesmaids as there are bridesmaids.  And do you go matchey?  Mismatched colors? Mismatched shapes?  One way to do any of those things is to check out the offerings of eShakti.com.  They have cute dresses with so many different cuts and shapes, many of which are customizable.  So if you have one bridesmaid who wants strapless and another who needs a longer skirt and capped sleeves, you can do that!  If you have a size range from Zero to 26, they can accommodate it.  They tend toward the casual, but for a sweet afternoon wedding, they might be just the ticket.  And these really are dresses you could wear again.  Plus, the prices are GREAT for the bridesmaids who are getting started in their careers.  Cute, practical AND friendly to everyone?  Certainly an option to check out!

Trendspotting: Wheat Stalks

17 May

I can think of all kinds of stodgy, stuffy, formal things to write about wheat.  I can think of a million very dull ways to say that wheat symbolizes so much of what weddings are about–hope for the future, a life of abundance, the gifts of hard work. I can think of very formal ways to describe the joys of wheat.

Really, though?  It just looks amazing!

That beautiful golden color looks great with almost anything.  Depending on how you cut and display it, it can look wild and untamed or manicured and modern.  It’s sunny and lovely and everything people think of when they think “fall.”  From using it in place of flowers, to a couple of terrific wreaths to that gold necklace (that I’m already dreaming about saving my pennies for), it’s versatile and unusual.  Paired with white, it looks even more golden.  It has that wonderful quality of baby’s breath where it looks even better in huge bunches.  I’m kind of in love with this whole wedding.  Check out some more ideas of what to do with wheat stalks, from the tame to the insane, on our Pinterest Board–you can find sources for all these pics, too!

Pinboard: Remember Always

11 May

It’s not often that I find myself dissolving in tears as I pin, but today I did.  With Mother’s Day coming, I wanted to do a post about remembering Mothers and Grandmothers and other loved ones who passed.  And what I found was example after example of  great ways to pay tribute to generations past.  Lovely ways to hold their place in your day as well as in your heart–an empty chair with a framed photo, a collection of your grandparents wedding rings worn on a chain for your ‘something borrowed’, centerpieces made of their wedding memories.  There are so many small ways to remember them.  Here I featured a sweet locket pin on the bouquet, and the brooch.  It seems that most weddings I’ve been to lately have had a collection of wedding photos from the grandparents, though I love them on the wall with ribbons as in the picture below.  The votives featured below are really pretty simple DIY and a great way to integrate old photos throughout the wedding.

No matter how you choose, remembering loved ones is something that has a timelessness beyond timelessness.  May all of you have a happy and memorable Mother’s Day honoring the women who helped make you who you are.

Sources for the photos above can be found through our Remember Always Pinterest board.

Inspiration: Flea Market Finds

7 May

It’s getting to be the season when flea markets are in full swing.  There are so many amazing finds out there, just waiting for a new home.  Vintage is a great way to go for setting up your new home.  Not only are things well constructed, but they are unique (and often really, really affordable!)  I love the idea of using vintage finds in your wedding.  They then just become part of your household, each one made more special by the memory of your happy day.

It’s best to have a love for the unmatched and a clear color scheme in mind.  If you can sort of keep an eye on era, that can help the look seem more cohesive.  Look for teacups, plates, bottles and bowls.  Seek out great linens or scarves to help top the tables.  If you can’t find enough, add in some burlap.  Use classic florals like the roses and baby’s breath.  The look is sweet and soft in this collection.  Breezy and sophisticated.  Perfect for the woman who likes to go antiquing with mom or who likes to pick up this and that as she spots it.  A great collection for a special day.

For sources for these items and lots of other great Flea Market ideas, check out our Pinterest Board!

For Your Groomsmen: Kentucky’s Finest

4 May

In the world of weddings, you’re always looking forward.  Sure, there are times we work on the fly, but usually we’re in some of the earlier stages of wedding planning.  Which means that on Derby weekend, we’re not writing about the Derby (we did one of my favorite boards earlier), but I couldn’t let one of my favorite sporting events pass without a nod.

It got me thinking about Kentucky and how there is one aspect of Kentucky that is appropriate any time of year.  Bourbon.  Ah yes.  And what a great jumping off point for some Groomsmen gift ideas!  There are a million cool flasks out there (including these).  A lovely bottle of Blanton’s is welcome in any bachelor’s bar. It’s the good stuff.  The really good stuff. And the bottle with the horse on it is super cool.  Those nifty gray ice cubes are Whiskey stones–put them in the freezer and chill your drink without watering it down–genius!  And, if you want to go around smelling a bit like the Soup of the Day, that Demeter fragrance would be perfect. (I have smelled it and it does smell like bourbon, but not like a bar room.  Just a little whiff of the Angel’s Share.)  Finally, check out that super cool DIY suitcase bar!  Any of them would make great gifts that celebrate one of America’s greatest gifts to the world.  Links to all these goodies can be found on our Pinterest Boards.