Have you read Martha Weddings today?

 {flashback...courtesy Red Ruby Rose}

Did you happen to read this great feature on Martha Weddings called Our Favorite Etsy Sellers? It's great and showcases some stunners. But let me just tell you how squealed out loud when I saw that they featured Red Ruby Rose --  AND they used the exact photo in a post I did last year. Out of all the gajillions of stuff on Etsy, they found exactly the same seller and photo. Way to finally catch up to me, Martha. SHAZAM!

And big kudos to all the amazing Etsians who made the feature (esp. you, Rowena, who really nailed it with that peacock feather clutch!) You are all truly amazing. GO ETSY GO!

To Top it Off

{Charlotte Geary}

How I love this photo! Englishmen make for darling bridegrooms, don't they? There just isn't anything more charming than a top hat and a cutaway tuxedo. Even my amazing future father-in-law wore a top hat on his wedding day (and soon, I'll get a hold of some photos. They sure made a stunning pair, let me tell you what.) My mister isn't wearing a top hat to ours, but he is, in fact, wearing a cutaway jacket. I get all squishy inside when I think of how dapper the gents will look. They may even upstage the bride herself! Or...at least they can try :)

{Charlie's Design Diary}

{Nothing But Bonfires}

The Ohio Statehouse

We had a little bit of stress about where to have our wedding photos taken. The sun will be setting around 5:15pm. Our ceremony starts at 5:30pm. We're traditional and didn't want to do a reveal prior to the walk down the aisle. (Actually, it was one of the few things D. was very set upon. He didn't want to see me until I was walking down the aisle. Sounds good to me!)

So that brings me back to the picture pickle we found ourselves in...where can we go that will provide enough light AND work with our aesthetic preferences? We asked friends, message boards, our photographer and colleagues. We came up with a few really good ideas and some decent backup plans, but it wasn't until Dan made a particular suggestion that everything felt right...And that suggestion was the Ohio Statehouse. Who knew for $50 and an application, you can get specially-granted access for your wedding photos at this stunning, historical site? I AM SO EXCITED I COULD BURST!

Snow Schmo. Rain? No tears here. No sunlight? No problem. We've got the beautiful Statehouse as our backdrop. Seriously... gorgeous. At nearly 150 years old, I can't think of a more appropriate place. Thank you, my love, and thank you, Ohio!

{1 courtesy: discover ohio}

{2 & 3 courtesy: Ohiochannel.org}

{Must Have} LeSportsac Garment Bag

{courtesy: amazon}

My best friend/bridesmaid is going to Mexico, as her sister-in-law is getting married and they've opted for a destination wedding. Isn't that exciting? This is also the first time my friends have flown with their 18-month-old son. I am praying they don't become the people I most hate on any given flight...the parents of the crying child. Terrible, aren't I? But the volume on my iPod only goes so high, folks. It is only worse when it's a toddler pulling on my hair from the seat behind me...but enough of that...let's move onto the good stuff!

All this talk of packing and sunshine and international flights has me thinking of our honeymoon. Again. December cannot come soon enough! I did buy the most darling "crushable" pseudo straw floppy sun hat in white at Target for $3 clearance. Yippee! Aside from wanting to pick up a few extra frilly things for the HM, I think I'm all set! Granted, I'd love to buy the 25" upright luggage to match my DVF rolling carry-on, wouldn't it be even better to only have to check one luggage between the both of us because I didn't over pack?! That's my mission. Wish me luck :)

Besides...I'll have the best travel item ever -- the garment bag. I got my LeSportsac garment bag on clearance at Filene's Basement last fall for $20, right before I went on a cruise down Baja Mexico way. WOW. Did it make travel easy or what?! My dresses...something like 8 of them, doubled up on hangers, didn't wrinkle a bit, the bag itself is lightweight so it didn't add to the bulk of the garments contained within and it counted as my 2nd carry-on item. Love that! All of the bag's pockets held accessories, like bangle bracelets, scarves and wraps, too, giving me a bit more room in my luggage. It will most definitely make an appearance on the honeymoon trip...it can hold our dressier items, like a sport jacket for D. and my more formal dresses, for the more special dinners together.

Trust me. If you are traveling, for a destination wedding, a cruise, a honeymoon, for business or pleasure, invest in a garment bag. You'll be so happy you did. I can't recommend the LeSportsac's garment bags enough. They come in a variety of cute, bright and more demure colors and patterns. If you can get one on sale, like me, it's even that much better!

Keeping It Together

Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
{Translucent Expanding File Carrier, The Container Store}

With a little over a month to go, we are certainly nearing the wedding finish line. With a solid year of planning, scheming, organizing and collecting inspiration behind me, there is one thing I couldn't have lived without. That, my friends, is my accordion file folder. Well, technically, both of my accordion file folders.

Once we were engaged, it was one of the first things I bought. A cute pink-edged heavy-duty plastic expanding file with designated tabs for dresses, flowers, cake, entertainment, ceremony, favors...you name it, it has a tab. After the initial planning stages, when contracts came in and final plans and ideas came to fruition, I cleaned out the file and removed all of the ideas not worth hanging onto and made room for the important things - copies of paid checks, contracts, vendor contact information and so on. This thing came with me to every meeting with every vendor and it made getting (and staying) organized a snap.

So, for all you brides currently planning -- or for you hopeful gals out there who are not yet engaged -- a bit of advice. If you don't have something to help you keep it together from now until the big day, invest in a binder or expanding folder! You'll be so happy you did. Oh...and one more thing. Make it something cute, that you love to look at and carry with you. After all, it is your wedding it's holding!

If money is no object.
{Audrey Expanding Five-file Tote, Russell+Hazel}

Make work fun again.
{Expandable file, Amy Butler}

Put together nicely.
{Semikolon Accordion File, See Jane Work}

Haute Halloween Wedding

I came across this posh Halloween wedding shot by Janae Shields in San Francisco and had to share because, not only does it feature one of my favorite holidays, it is simply stunning. Monique & Mark most definitely knew how to put together a fun, quirky and classy themed wedding, don't you think? The cake itself is to die for!

These are just a few of my favorite shots. Click here to see many more. Enjoy :)

{all images courtesy Janae Shields Photography}

Going to the Probate Court and...

Gonna get a marriage license! (queue The Dixie Cups backing track.)

Today's a big day for wedding-related happiness. We are venturing off to Probate Court with documents in-hand to get our official marriage license. One huge ginormous check off of The List. Then, later this afternoon, we get to meet with our minister to go over the ceremony, vows and details. *squee!*

Oh yeah...and did I mention that yesterday, I had both my hair and makeup trials? Both HUGE, MAJOR successes? My. veil. is. perfect. Want to post photos so badly it hurts, but I just can't ruin the surprise. Soon, very soon! /happydance

There is only one teensy problem with the make-up. Hello, M·A·C. Why on Earth do you cost so much? It caused physical pain when I saw how much my dream face was going to cost me, but we axed all but the essentials. I'm going to take an assessment of my brushes and see if I can make do. I think when it's all said and done, it will be about $200 spent on makeup and a couple brushes. Right then, I'm fairly certain I threw up in my mouth a little. I'm thrifty. I have never in my life bought a face-full of high-quality make-up, as I generally opt for the "make do with makeup on the cheap" philosophy. Let's just say that cheap beauty products are not always kind to a 30-year-old face. And into my life walks M·A·C Cosmetics...

Ladies. OH MY WORD. I don't care what I have to do to get this M·A·C makeup. Fo riz. I wore it all night. Over night. Just to "test". The eyeshadow smudged a little. That's it. As featherlight as the foundation/powder combo was (with amazing coverage), I had to scrub to get it all off. Skin never looked better. Not a single blemish and I have crazy oily skin. Let me just mention the sales rep/makeup genius Angela was completely fantastic. She deserves a Starbucks on me for the magic she worked, I'm telling you what. I'm 100% sold.

M·A·C was recommended to me highly from an old colleague of mine who was married over the summer. She had gone to the M·A·C counter, was all dolled up for free and bought everything they used, taught her how to put it on and everything. My bridesmaid/future cousin-in-law swears by it, too, and has my FMIL send it to her in England. That says something, people!

I had been toying with the idea of airbrush makeup, which was recommended on my local board on The Knot. I checked out the top recommended airbrush makeup artist in my area and her services cost $120 for bride day-of-wedding makeup application. That's just silly to me. Sure, wedding=markup, but if you charge $50 for the bridal party makeup application, how do you justify the bride's face costing 140% more? Nonsense. Justifying spending so much on makeup at all is hard enough for me...but if I'm dropping serious cash, I'd at least like to have it for my honeymoon and the holidays! Merry early Christmas. This year, I'm giving myself the gift of beauty and confidence. Who knew it would only cost $200?

Sorry my "happy marriage license day" post morphed into "blab about makeup" post, but I'm telling you. M·A·C Cosmetics must be that good to trump my marriage license! Ha! With that said, I'm going to get in my Shred for the day, make a hazelnut iced coffee, get cleaned up and get started on our day. If I don't pop in later, enjoy your weekend :)

Is it Any Less Personal Because it's Traditional?

So I'm going to give the closest thing to a rant that I've ever done thus far on this blog.

Perhaps it's just me being sensitive, but I'm starting to wonder...when did the non-traditional wedding become the standard to which all weddings should be measured and judged? Am I alone here in thinking there is something sacred with being married in a church, something awe-inspiring about brides in white, crispy linens on the tables, sit-down dinners and dancing the night away to your favorite songs? The question begs to be asked: At what point, exactly, did traditional become cliché? Is a wedding any less personal when it's traditional?

Stay with me for a second...because I'm confused and would like to work this out.

It seems to me that more often than not, wedding-related sites and blogs out there are giving the impression that they celebrate the individuality and personality behind the wedding, cheering on the "non-conformists" for making some kind of stand against the WIC via their wedding and, by doing so, have found the new formula to a happy wedding. Well, sorry, but I think that's a bunch of B.S.

This really should go without saying, but I feel like I need to give a kind reminder that it isn't the tchotchkes on the tables, wedding fashion choices, invitation selection, flowers, venue, music, cake or any of that other stuff (or lack thereof) that makes a wedding personal. That stuff doesn't define you; it merely reflects your personal taste. It didn't make your wedding special. Perhaps it made it memorable, but not special. There's no magic in stuff. The part that made your heart sing, your guests cry and onlookers wonder with delight came from the non-tangibles -- the unadulterated bliss in seeing your love at the other end of the aisle, the sadness in hugging your parents, a baby crying through the vows, tripping on your dress's train, dropping the rings, giggling during the blessing, eating well and drinking enough to dance on a chair (sorry, Mary!) -- these things are it. These very real things make the magic of a wedding and make it a fiercely personal experience. The practicality lies in your perspective, knowing that the stuff doesn't ever make or break you.

I'd hope that everyone getting married wants to celebrate in a personal way, in a way that reflects who they are, what they represent as a couple and what makes them truly happy. Otherwise, maybe they shouldn't be getting married in the first place...but that's another post entirely. My point is this: who are we to judge the wedding-related choices that another couple makes based on our own personal preferences? Should we look down upon a bride who dreams of a black-tie wedding at St. Patrick's and reception at the Ritz, wearing a white Monique Lhuillier gown and sipping champagne on the arm of her handsome bridegroom, listening to the sounds of an 18-piece band? Do we somehow feel that the antagonist bride & groom have a better chance at a successful, loving marriage because they opted for being married in an art gallery, with her in a bright yellow dress and he in Chucks, with a doughnut and PBR reception, complete with local underground DJ and an after party? Is their version that much more "real"? Are we guilty of privately (or publicly) shaming those people who spend exorbitant amounts of money on their (stress: THEIR) dream wedding or those who let go all preconceived notions of a wedding and got married in the back yard? Are we jealous, maybe? Jealous of the money spent on one side of the coin and freedom spent on the other? Perhaps we will always think the grass is always greener? Maybe we're completely insatiable creatures. Who knows.

For me, the magic behind any happy wedding (and marriage) is the love, respect and friendship people share, with their dearest people encouraging and supporting those same feelings. It has very little to do with the stuff. The trick in planning YOUR perfect wedding is to not give a hoot what other people think about the choices you're making, but be unwavering in your choices made together. Don't let anything distract you from what works best for your budget (whether it's $500, $5,000 or $50,000), what is a natural choice for you as a couple (because that's where the magic really starts) and what you'll be happy remembering forever (because it really should be forever.)

So. With that said, I'm going to say this: though maybe the wedding we've planned for ourselves may appear too traditional for some, it's what works for us. Every choice we made was thoughtful and deeply personal. Nothing went unnoticed, nothing made arbitrary. It will be a complete celebration of who we are and what we're all about. This is OUR wedding and our version, like many others, involves a church, a white dress, black tuxes, a sit-down dinner and a band. It also involves a fourteen-year friendship, an eleven year relationship, our shared values, our memories together and separate, our creativity, what we love and who we love -- best friends and family who came from all over the globe to witness and be in the presence of our joy.

And it is that, my friends, is what it's all about. For us, anyway.

I heart Meg (AKA Go go Team Practical)

Now there are some pretty sassy, amazing, lovely, fantastic people out there in the world, but I can't lie. As far as complete strangers who I would befriend in a heartbeat go, Meg is at the top of the list. She is really effing cool. Not only is her blog A Practical Wedding completely and utterly all about what it's really all about (and I *highly* recommend every bride-to-be to go over there for a healthy dose of reality), Meg likes really cool stuff. Like. Really. Cool. Stuff.

Like an old school hip hop beat? Can you get down to some 80s pop dance tunage? Yeah. Me, too. Read her post from yesterday. It's FTW.

Turn up the sound and get you're groove on. It IS Friday, after all!


{Practical My Ass! from Michael Antonia on Vimeo}

Redefining Tradition

In the earliest stages of wedding planning, the question I was most asked is "What kind of wedding will you have?"

With a decade of memories, trends and friends behind us, Mr. and I sat down and put our heads together about what we pictured for ourselves. It was important to me that decisions be mutual and not "bride exclusive" for what is to be our special day (though I did have to rein myself in when it came to flowers, cake design and DIY details a few times. I forget that gentlemen, generally, aren't so bothered. Sorry, darling.)

In my designer's mind over the years, I had planned several altogether different styles of weddings for us, from a nautical theme on Lake Erie to eloping to Europe. Europe only narrowly lost. But those variations didn't answer the question for me. "What kind of wedding will we have?" A happy yet serious one, surrounded by our very closest people . That was our priority. I couldn't stop picturing in my mind's eye -- walking down the church aisle to my love, my best friend. There was just one small problem. We didn't belong to a church and I wasn't interested in borrowing a church for the day. That just seemed strange; that we could enter this holy bond but never go back to the church for the other celebrations life has to offer? So we began what I snarkily refer to as" church shopping".

I know, I know. It sounds terrible, but really. You're going to try one more than one pair of shoes before you buy them, to make sure they're the right fit, right? Well, Mr. and I have varying degrees of faith and our beliefs come from different foundations, so it made it trickier finding a place we both felt was a church home. Can you imagine that we found it after 3 Sunday service visits? First Community Church. Amazing people. I love them. I feel happy when I'm there. I feel light of spirit after a service there. I feel community there. Becoming a member of a church, having never been such previously, was a big step for us both, but one of the best decisions I personally have ever made. After a little time, I knew in my heart that the dress, flowers, and all that other wedding stuff didn't truly matter. I was coming down that aisle in whatever I had and we were getting married in a happy place no matter what. Talk about feeling liberated from the Wedding Industrial Complex!

Once we knew where and how we'd be married, that's when the research began. Though the details of our wedding wouldn't effect our marriage, details are my thing. I'm a fussy britches designer; I simply can't help myself! Wedding blogs and magazines were a great help in keeping my creativity keyed up, but that was about it. To me, the most important thing was that our wedding be a reflection of who we are and that wasn't going to be found in any magazine. The idea that floated around me was how we would go about redefining tradition, learning from the past to create our personal version of holy matrimony. Classic. Honest. Elegant. A modern take on a vintage wedding, chock full o' love, laughter, food and memories. Yep. THAT is the kind of wedding we would have.

Back to the more than ten years we've spent together up to this point. You can imagine what many folks said when we announced our engagement to marry. "It's about time!" was a resounding anthem last year, but it was the very last thing I ever wanted to hear. We did what many people don't before they marry. We grew up. We just happened to grow up together. We gave ourselves time to figure it all out. Turns out, we kinda like one another! I don't want our wedding to be a countdown, something everyone has been waiting around for...those "it's about time" folks. I want it to be a celebration of our time together, our love for one another and dedication to one another. I want to focus on what it means to us to do this because marriage is pretty serious stuff, isn't it? It's all about the real. That's my new motto.

Now that the invitations are out and all those fun details are coming along beautifully (having the luck and grace of finding brilliant vendors certainly helps), we're approaching the 2-month mark with more excitement than we can contain. My darling Mister keeps wishing time would hurry up. Last month, I was nervous about getting projects done. Now? Who really needs them?! I wouldn't mind if time hurried up just a little bit myself.

Perhaps someone gave you words of wisdom that worked well for you or you've come upon learning something yourself...To all brides, old and new, what is the best piece of marital advice you would be kind enough to share?

Inspiration: Little Old Rhode Island Inspired Wedding

{Clockwise: Mission Happy, The Chanler at Cliff Walk, Pegeen, Dauphine Press,
Gail Watson via Brides.com, Elizabeth Anne Designs, Amsale via Bluefly,
Brides.com, The Knot (top & bottom), Amsale via Brides.com}

Little Old Rhode Island | Peterman's Eye

Shared via AddThis

Yesterday on Peterman's Eye, they featured interesting facts about one heck of a little state and a hip little ditty, too. Always fun to learn something new about one of our oldest states!

And, of course, it got my mind aflutter with the great weddings one could have there...like a New England-inspired homestead soiree inspired by the area's natural, nautical beauty.

{Wedding Details} Take a Seat, Part II

So when it comes to wedding details, I'm all about it. The pew reservation cards, the escort cards, the menus, table numbers, guest book...to me, they are the tiny details that finish off the wedding the way jewelry does an outfit. Of course, they don't make the wedding, but when you've worked hard to create a certain kind of ambiance to your celebration, isn't it nice when everything fits together well?

Here are more great escort and place/seating card ideas I found while searching for inspiration:

Different paper or fabric selections could indicate menu selection, too.
{Martha via VintageGlam}

Aren't these mini notebooks great? Practical favors meet place card.
{ShopBirdDroppings}

Mini clothes pins are too cute for words. These could work for a casual, rustic wedding or a baby shower.
{Real Simple}

Stunning. And I'm only a little partial since they showed it with my name on the sample :)
{TimelessPaper via A Touch of Bliss}

What did you do for escort and place cards? Something traditional or avant garde? If you had to indicate menu selections, how did or would you go about it?

I absolutely love this photo.

{f8 Studio}

I love the kind of photography that not only tells a story, as you see in so many photojournalistic-styled wedding albums today, but really manage to capture those very real and very rare moments. Like this one by f8 Studio. I don't know how we could manage a photo like this for our wedding, but I'd sure like to try to bribe Christa into staying late to take one.

A Pink and Green Garden Wedding! - Project Wedding

A Pink and Green Garden Wedding! - Project Wedding

Chelsea over at {frolic!} is a girl after my own heart! Pink+ green are just happy colors, don't you think? Her tablescape reads as clean, classic and feminine without any pretension or stuffiness.

If you find yourself hosting an upcoming event, whether it be a birthday party, baby or bridal shower or a ladies' luncheon, consider this perfect palette. It's almost impossible for it not to look beautiful. Go go complimentary colors! Munsell would be proud.

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Custom Embosser...Cheaper Than Letterpress

Truth be told, I put crazy amounts of thought into our wedding invitations suite (but c'mon...would you expect anything less from me?) I think we managed to work out exactly what we wanted for a very reasonable price, but in order to get there, we had to compromise on a few things to make that happen. That means that letterpress envelopes was completely out of the question (Hello, extra $100!) Given that my FMIL has promised to work her calligraphy mojo on the envelopes, I couldn't mess up the look with a return address label!

I considered a custom return address stamper (and how cool is this one?)
But a custom embosser won out for a few reasons -- it will give that same tactile letterpress look, it doesn't run out of ink, mess-free, I will use it a million times and it will last (big fan of things not to end up in landfills.)

Custom embossing+square flap envelopes=sexy

I went with a Three Designing Women design #3431 from Simple & Sassy. They had the best price I could find (less than $60 WITH shipping) and quick turn-around. It arrived this week and I got to work embossing every bit of paper I could find. Trick is to stand up when you depress the lever...but wow. I am impressed (har!).

Clearly not us, but you get the idea.

This one's for the guys.

Check out this guest post over at Brooklyn Bride from a few days ago...Your Groom is a Modern Groom. It's by Mike at Groom Groove. They throw out a hefty life line to bridegrooms who are still trying to figure out what weddings (and the part they play specifically within them) are all about.

The first dance, gift giving, speeches, rehearsal dinners, formal wear..oh yeah, they've got you covered.

The Wal-Mart of Weddings: One company, David’s Bridal, outfits one-third of America’s brides—on the cheap. | The Big Money

{source}

I came across an interesting article on David's Bridal that I thought I'd share with all of those soon-to-be-weds out there:

The Wal-Mart of Weddings: One company, David’s Bridal, outfits one-third of America’s brides—on the cheap. | The Big Money

{via ShareThis}

What I find most fascinating about the (almost outlandish) level of success DB has had recently is that some portion has to belong to brides-to-be who won't consider an alternative (and perhaps more creative) source for gowns. Certainly we must have more than the two obvious options presented to us (aka: the overpriced specialty bridal shop or DB.) Take, for instance, trunk shows, consignment stores, online boutiques, Etsy creations, wearing vintage -- or better yet, wear a special relative's gown -- and online sources like PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, which help you buy and/or sell your dream dress at a fraction of the original cost.

{source}

It's true that some things work for some and not for others, but I also don't think that the collective "we" need not to continue to buy into what the wedding machine has convinced us is "normal" or even necessary. I'm so thankful that I found my dress at the local Filene's Wedding Dress event. Sure, it was weirdly fantastic to be able to shoe shop whilst trying on ludicrous amounts of gowns stripped down to my skivvies in the middle of a store, but it worked for me because not only did I pay less than I would've anywhere else, it is one seriously effing fantastic gown that there's no way in h-e-double-hockysticks I could have afforded otherwise. I had a really unique experience in finding it and, at that point, I could immediately stop thinking I needed to spend my flower budget on a dress that I'd wear less than one day. Srsly.

Freebie: Thank You Label Love

{Courtesy: Betsy White}

Are these not the cutest little favor bags? Sarah over at Classic Bride had featured them a few months ago, but I had missed it the first time -- sure glad I was reading her DIY posts and found it! What a great idea (AND DIY tutorial & template) from Betsy White. With a bit of ingenuity, you could make the cutest labels for kids' lunches using the same DIY principles. Now what a special treat from home that would be!

Eat, Drink & Remarry!

{Courtesy Flickr}

To the two pairs of friends I have who both happen to be getting (re)married today, I wish you joy. Here's to good memories and happy futures.

To my Aunt & Uncle, happy anniversary!

To everyone else, happy June 13th!

See? 13 really is a lucky number :)

5 months and counting 'til we join the ranks...

Eye Candy: Newby Hall + A Real Vintage Wedding

While dreaming out loud with my English cousin-to-be of lush manor gardens and quaint farm cottages, I learned of Newby Hall in North Yorkshire. Oh to be as lucky as she who can visit whenever needing a bit of a Pride & Prejudice inspiration! On my next jaunt over the pond, a visit is at the top of my list.

And look at what else I've come across, but these lovely wedding photos of Betty Doxford, of the Newby Wiske Hall to Lieut Gibson, a "gt-gt-nephew of the poet Wordsworth" circa 1928. I love her bridal cloche hat and her stunning cascade bouquet. {P.S. ladies...Newby Hall is available for weddings! Now THAT would be one amazing destination wedding!}

{All images courtesy Flickr}