Show me a Sign :)

So an online friend of mine is helping me with some signage for the rest of our reception & ceremony signage. I think I am about 100% on signage details. Now all I have to do is print it! I am going to have the images sent over to Kinkos this weekend, & then I will work on framing or matting the prints early next week. Here are a few of my faves:

Something Polka Dot & Whimsical For the Kids' Table-



Something Sleek & Simple For the Sparklers-

And Something Romantic For the Favors-



I LOVE, love, love how the peach is subtle, but it really stands out. This is what I wanted for the signage so that it draws attention to each main area of detail. I didn't really want everything to blend in with the next element, so mission accomplished!

If you ever need a great deal on wedding graphic & paper stuff, contact Shayne at http://www.printablebride.com/

More to Come

So, we are planning to have sparklers at the wedding, & I am in the process of getting the fixins! I have this damask trifle bowl:



I plan to get some tiffany blue or mermaid colored sand & fill the trifle bowl, to secure the sparklers. Here's the sand image:


And I will display the sparklers like so


I'm not so sure if I'll be putting little tags on the sparklers, but they do add a pretty little pop of color, & it's a pretty easy project to do. Also, I just got my matches in!! Yay! They are in a tiffany blue & peach damask print! I ordered them from Two Yellow Shoes on Etsy. They are similar to this, but in the mentioned colors:


I also ordered a template from the same seller for drink stirrers! They look just like the matchbooks in tiffany & peach. Something like this:



I will be posting my actual items in their colors soon! My blackberry isn't transferring photos to my email, so I'm stuck for now. Oh, I had mentioned a bit of a teaser recently. Well, the beautiful teaser is actually gift tags for recipients at our Rehearsal Dinner. Jujubee at Etsy did a beautiful job! The tags are large...I wanted them big & I will be adorning each gift box with the tags & ribbon. Here's a better pic of the tags:

Wedding FYI's

In case you've ever wondered why certain things are almost always done at weddings, the answers are here (well, at least most of the ones I've wondered about). For example, why the bride carries a bouquet or wears a veil? Or why guests throw rice or rose petals over the newlyweds? Below are the origin and symbolism of some of the most popular Wedding Traditions.

This comprehensive list of wedding traditions comes from a delightful little book entitled The Romance of the Wedding Ceremony by Rev. Richleigh Hale Powers, Ph.D. This book has helped many couples personalize their wedding ceremony in a format that is both enjoyable and easy to use.

THE BRIDE'S BOUQUET
Bridal bouquets have evolved through the ages. Saracen brides carried bouquets of orange blossoms to symbolize fertility, and Roman brides carried sheaves of wheat to symbolize prosperity for their husbands. In the eighteenth century, the practice of carrying a bouquet of flowers or herbs became a popular tradition, which symbolized fragility, purity and new life. Bouquets of dill were among the most popular herb carried. After the ceremony, the dill was eaten to "provoke lust." Today, bridal bouquets are tossed to assembled single women to symbolize new life and to pass on the bride's good fortune.

THE SPECIAL MEANING OF THE BRIDE'S VEIL
The veil represents modesty and respect. It symbolizes the sanctity and exclusiveness of the marriage covenant and reminds the couple and the witnesses that the physical relationship is to be entered into only after the vows are completed.

RICE AND PETALS
In the Middle Ages, handfuls of wheat were thrown over married couples to symbolize the hope for fertility. In modern times, rice is thrown instead of wheat to symbolize fertility. In recent years, flower petals have become another alternative, symbolizing beauty, happiness and prosperity.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE
Old and new items jointly symbolize the passage from the old unmarried state t that of the new married union. The wearing of a borrowed belonging demonstrates community participation in and approval of the wedding. Blue is worn because it is the color that signifies purity, love, and fidelity.

WHITE AISLE RUNNER
A white aisle runner symbolizes walking on holy ground. A marriage covenant is not made merely between two people and their witnesses. It is made in the presence of God and He is actively involved in the agreement. The white aisle runner symbolizes God's holiness.

SPECIAL SEATING FOR THE PARENTS
The parents of the bride and groom are part of the marriage covenant. The commitments they make during the ceremony are just as binding as the vows of the couple. The final responsibility of parents for their children is to determine with them God's will for a life partner. Thereafter, they serve in a chain of counsel for them and their children. Parents enter in the line of authority and leave in the line of counsel.

THE GROOM ENTERING FIRST
By this action, the groom signifies that he is the covenant initiator. This is important because whoever initiates the covenant assumes great responsibility for seeing it fulfilled.

THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE
This action has two meanings. By doing so, the father is saying to the bride, "I am endorsing this young man as God's very best choice of a husband for you, and I am now bringing you to him." In addition, the father is saying to the young man, "I am presenting to you a daughter who I have earnestly endeavored to raise as a pure bride."

THE BRIDE AND GROOM TAKING EACH OTHER'S RIGHT HAND DURING THE CEREMONY
The open right hand offered by each party symbolizes their strength, resources and purpose. By clasping each other's right hand, they pledge these qualities to each other so that each partner can depend on all the resources that the other brings into the covenant relationship. The handclasp goes far beyond sealing the contract. It symbolizes the cleaving together of lives which is to be accomplished in the marriage covenant.

THE GROOM MAKING THE FIRST MARRIAGE VOW
The groom must be the leader and assume greater responsibility for fulfilling the marriage covenant. As covenant initiator, he must commit himself to the purposes of marriage which God established in the beginning, and these must be reflected in his vows.

THE SYMBOLISM OF THE WEDDING RINGS
The wedding rings symbolize the promises binding two people together in marriage. The unbroken circle of the wedding band represents the continuity of undying love. Greek theory believed the fourth finger of the left hand to be connected to the heart, making this the appropriate finger to be "bound" in romantic attachment.

KISSING THE BRIDE
During the Roman Empire, the kiss between a couple symbolized a legal bond. Continued use of the kiss to seal the marriage bond is based on the deeply rooted idea of the kiss as a vehicle for transference of power and souls.

THE COUPLE BEING PRONOUNCED "HUSBAND AND WIFE"
This establishes their change of names and a definite point in time for the beginning of the marriage. These words are to remove any doubt in the minds of the couple or the witnesses concerning the validity of the marriage.

SIGNING THE WEDDING PAPERS
The newlywed couple signs the wedding papers to establish a public document and a continuing public record of the covenant.

SIGNING THE GUEST BOOK
Wedding guests are official witnesses to the covenant. By signing the guest book, they are saying, "I have witnessed the vows, and I will testify to the reality of this marriage." Because of this significance, the guest book should be signed after the wedding rather than before it.

THE PURPOSE OF THE RECEIVING LINE
The receiving line is for guests to give their blessings to the couple and their parents.

THE MEANING OF SERVING FOOD AT THE RECEPTION
Food is part of the covenant celebration. It further symbolizes the unity of the couple. Entering into a meal itself is a form of covenant.

THE BRIDE AND GROOM FEEDING WEDDING CAKE TO EACH OTHER
This represents the sharing of their body to become one. A New Testament illustration of this symbolism is The Lord's Supper.

Where My Dawgs At..

So I know alot of you guys will be handing out candy tonight, or maybe getting some for yourself, but I have to tell you that friends don't let friends do this to their pets...


I laughed out loud at these cute little costumes. I mean, just look at his face, lol...


If pets ever come back as owners, watch out.

P.S. These adorable costumes are from Etsy Seller: Sew Sweet Finery :)

Sneak Peek!

More Coming Soon...

Thank You Kindly!

Special Thanks to Ebonee Monique over at Becoming His Mrs. Blogspot, & a big fat thanks to the cutest little bride, over at BP Wedding Blogspot for both thinking so highly of my blog as to award me this nifty little number:



Some bloggers may take it lightly, but I REALLY love receiving and giving these awards out, because I am totally flattered by the positive traffic I receive here. I really haven't been up on my blogging lately, as I've been uber busy with so many requests for custom gift boxes & helping out on lots of decor events at church. It's all in love though, & soon I will post pics of LOTS that I've been up to on the wedding aspect. Hopefully it will prove me worthy of my award :)

So, I'm supposed to tell yall 7 things about myself & then pass it on to 7 other Kreativ bloggers. Here's 3 Winners for now, 4 more to go! Cheers!

867-53oh9
Wedding Caberet
Weddzilla Blog

1.) I love neatly manicured, pink fingernails. Mainly a fresh, baby pink. It can be in the form of a French or American Manicure, or simply polished with a great clear top coat. I just really appreciate a clean set of fingernails! My preference is to wear them just to where you see a bit of a tip, enough to file. Okay, okay on to better things..

2.) I LOVE to hear Mr. Bridal Bliss laugh! To appreciate his laugh is to know him. He is sooo silly, but alot of people don't know it, because he often looks so stern & serious. Last week, we went to see 'Couples Retreat' (with Vince Vaughn) & Mr. Bridal Bliss laughed so loud that I about had to slump down in my seat. I like his laugh, but dude....really?

3.) I could eat Chinese & Filipino Cuisine every day. Oh man ::shaking head:: I just LOVE. IT.

4.) I broke my nose when I was 3 years old. It's the only "bone" I've ever broken. I was wild & reckless in those days, & decided I wanted to jump from couch to couch in my parents' den. These couches were facing each other, with a coffee table in the middle. Well, I jumped one time too many & lost my footing. Yep, ouch. I don't remember, & my nose shows no Owen Wilson resemblance, but hey.



5.) I'm quick to forgive. My mom often calls me "Mercy". Of course, I don't like when people do things that are mean, callous or disrespectful, but I guess I just always felt that we're all flawed to some degree, we all have made some not-so-smart choices, & we've probably all offended someone in some way or another, even without realizing. So who am I to hold the grudge? Last time I checked, I wasn't the one who hung on the cross for everyone, so I daily humble myself & always find a way to forgive. I don't always find it easy to go high-five the "meanie", so I step away & let God be God. He always has a better way to lay out justice (and vengeance, lol).

6.) My thighs are total blubber these days. Ive always been a thickum, & not afraid to shake what my momma gave me, but since this 25 year engagement (I kid), I have probably added a good 15 lbs of love :) I am trying to find ways to get back into the swing of things, but believe it or not, my best rememedy of shedding a little weight is rest, distilled water (lots of it) & low sodium.

7.) I could use a new hairstyle. I'm really a lover of the bob. It always works for me, & I'm not much of a curl person, unless it's loose, wavy curls, sorta romantic & vintage like. Here's pretty much what I've been rockin for-ev-errr, but it's easy for me, lol!


I've gone shorter & longer, but I always have my swoop.

Okay, so That's All Folks! Happy Posting!!

Picture Sale!

If you haven't seen Sky + Carla's work, you MUST check them out!
http://www.sky-carla.com/ They are wonderful a wonderful husband & wife team in the Atlanta area. I received an email from them about an awesome Portrait Sale promotion they are running for a few weeks only! They are booking up fast, so I was able to get locked in for the end of December. I am having Sky + Carla take my Bridal Portraits, but they offer professional family, couples, maternity, engagement or individual photos. http://sky-carla.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned for Bridal Portraits!

Peachy Keen

Wine Bottle Labels..

I am in the process of finishing up our sparkling cider labels, aka wine bottle labels, for the toast. I made some already from a Jody Prouse template (free), which I may still use a couple of the images that I've already printed, but in the meantime I found Le Ink Coquette. Let me tell you....this shop is just delicious times two. I LOVE the shop! I could go on and on, but seriously, it's awesome.

Here is one of the labels that Le Ink Coquette made for me:



A bottle will be setup on each table, something like this:



And of course, you know I love a taste of sparkles, so Zgallerie has these bling coasters that I would love to hold each bottle:


Only problem is that I'm just not willing to pay $19.95 for one wine coaster or 10-13 tables. So...I will be getting them at half the price for a similar look at Hobby Lobby. And even still, it may only be for the head table :)

So, back to the peachiness of things, I fell in love with the colors against our black and white photo! So much that I am now deeply considering incorporating a subtle bit of peach into our reception! I didn't think I would ever add another color, and although Ive loved deep reds & pinks with tiffany blue, it's not often that you see shades of peach with the gorgeous blue. I LOVE it!! I think its modern and romantic at the same time, and it's an easy merge. I am going to work on blending touches of peach into our centerpiece florals (still with the ivory peonies), some signage, and possibly a peach hued signature drink! I am so excited. It won't be over-the-top peach, because I don't want to take away from what has been planned thus far, but it will be a gorgeous accent, and I think that peach and gray are a beautiful combo, with the tiffany blue :)

Stay tuned for more updates, & in the meantime, be sure to check out and swoon over the beautiul Etsy shop... www.leinkcoquette.etsy.com

Gift Cards, Bridal Bliss Style

So, we are still checking off the gift list for our wedding participants, and rather than opting for cookie cutter gifts for every person, we are trying to give what we know each person would really be able to make use of and appreciate. Who dosen't like money? However, these Visa gift cards will be given to only a select few people. We've made great progress in very inexpensive gifts for everyone, without skimming on the quality. We will a personalized card to our Soloist, Scripture Reader, & Photographer. Our Photographer is a very good friend of mine who has not given a specific dollar amount for her time and services, so I am hoping that a generous amount on one of these personalized cards will suffice.

I uploaded our monogram & photo on this site: www.giftcardlab.com There is a $5.95 fee for each card. You can load anywhere from $10 to $250.

Got Pets?

How CA-YUTE is this! It makes me laugh out loud. I mean check out the pearl necklace! A fellow bride blogger (fabulous) on Wedding By Color makes & sells these. Check out her post here:
http://www.weddingbycolor.com/rodrhonda4ever/milestones/87074

I know it looks like Gi-Gi (the dog) has an attitude, but when you're that cute, you can look how you wanna look, lol.

Parasols

If you happen to be using Tiffany Blue in your wedding, & want a parasol, I highly recommend www.save-on-crafts.com! I have had my parasol for awhile now & haven't posted it, but I ordered the "peppermint green" & it's a match! If you're a Tiffany Blue Bride, you understand how tricky it can be finding that right shade of blue that isn't turquoise, and not sky blue. It has a hint of green in it, & printing this color is the hardest!! They retail at Save on Crafts for $7.99, but a sale has been running for $5.99. Anyhow, here's a pic of the parasol (from the site).




Now, the parasols do come with a little flap of Kermit the Frog green marterial at the center point, but it's easy to remove. I am still contemplating how or if I want to decorate/embellish my parasol. I will post pics of my updated parasol when I make up my mind :)

You Never Know

Who is thinking of you!

Today was a pretty long day for me. It started off early...grocery shopping & running errands for my parents. Then, picking up laminated name tags for students at my Afterschool Program. And, of course, off to work. I've had 4 students in and out of the Program due to illness. In some cases, as extreme as pneumonia and strept throat. Poor babies. After hitting the interstate to make my commute back home (30 mile commute, one way), I checked my voicemail to find my mom kindly requesting more items from the store. So, off I went. You can imagine my joy and sighs of relief as I finally got home.

Well, I noticed a box waiting for me, and I was super happy because I knew my bouts would be in the box when I saw they were from Glam It Up Toppers on Etsy. I threw my huge tote box from work down on the floor, & slung my pocketbook on the couch. I opened the package up, & my bouts looked even better than the picture! I noticed a white, flat box inside. I figured it was just there to fill the package so that the bouts wouldn't be tossed around too much. I went ahead and opened it, and found....a Birdcage Veil! A gift for me!! Yep, the waterworks began. I found a note attached from Shyra & Heather (sellers), and to sum it up without going into the preserved details, they actually considered my desire of having a bird cage veil along with my mantilla. How humbling to know that they cared enough to touch my life with a request that I did not have room in my attire budget for. Yall know I tried the veil on! Nappy hair and all, lol. I am sorry that I don't have a pic for you, but my Blackberry isn't emailing right now. I promise to share with you all once hair is somewhat tamed & Blackberry is acting right.

So, I said all that to say....you truly do not know how God will allow someone to just touch your life, and you never know how He may use you to do the same. Shyra & Heather, if you read this, thank you again from the bottom of my heart for thinking of me, and for sowing this fabulous gift into my wedding day. I will cherish it!

Here's a pic from Glam It Up Topper's Shop. This veil is like mine:




They were also kind enough to mention that the veil may just be used for photo ops, since I already have a veil, and the fact that they sent it knowing this, goes to show lots about their character.

Here is a pic (again) of my bouts. Smoochieface will wear the magnolia with russian white netting, & white feathers, while all the other gentlemen (including Ushers, Dads, etc) will wear the guinea feathers with their flowers:

Cute Finds

For our Flower Girl & Banner Bearers, courtesy of Etsy:)






I will have to post the boys' gifts after they're ordered. I am getting them personalized sports themed items.

Addition to Reception

Highboy Tables dressed in Damask, with a Tiffany Blue Sash, & the above Tiffany Blue Centerpieces (only on these tables). We will probably only have about 4 of these tables.


If you think that tiffany blue centerpiece is awesome, you MUST check out the seller's shop!!! OMG, she is so awesome! Cre8tiveDesigns4u

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7912491

Bloggy Award!! Woo Hooooo!

So, the Fabulously Sweet Taryn, over at http://mrjones-and-me.blogspot.com/ gifted me with the Splash Award!! The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs. When you receive this award, you must:

Put the logo on your blog/post.
Nominate & link up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress, or inspire you.
Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
Remember to link to the person from whom you received your Splash Award.
I pass this award on to:

Kisha @ http://hoppinthebroom.blogspot.com/
Ebonee Monique @ http://becominghismrs.blogspot.com/
Jeana @ http://mydreamring.blogspot.com/
Tishia @ http://justmythoughts-tishia.blogspot.com/
http://thehostesschick.blogspot.com/
http://bridegroomandbroom.blogspot.com/

I have so many favorite blogs, but I am honored to share these few with you!!!

All About Us-Survey

Thanks to the ever-so-sweet Taryn over at Mr.JonesandMe Blogspot, I have a fun Survey to share with you all.



http://mrjones-and-me.blogspot.com/2009/08/all-about-us-love-survey.html

♥ What are your middle names?

Me - Renee'
Him - James


♥ How long have you been together?
July marked 6 years! Engaged for almost 2, come December.


♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met the first time back around 2000. Then we met again at our workplace in 2001...so I guess around 3 years..

♥ Who asked whom out?
He asked & stalked me, lol! Really, he indirectly asked several times through friends, then would try to be smooth & get me to come to lunch outings at work. I was NOT attracted to him being indirect. I thought he was the manliest wuss I ever met, lol! But then, we became great friends, & love got in the way, haahaa! Our first real date though, he did ask me. And he manned up by then :)

♥ How old are each of you?
Me - early 30ish
Him - mid 30ish


♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most?
MINE!!! My sister & her husband live in the city where we are at, so naturally we see them more. His siblings are in other cities, so I haven't seen them in about 2 years. But he sees them yearly.

♥ Do you have any children together?
Nope - not that I know of ;)

♥ What about pets?
Not yet

♥ Did you go to the same school?
No. He is 7 years older than me (I guess that dosen't mean we couldn't go to the same school, duh). We grew up in different States, but he did go to college in the current State in which we live now (NC).

♥ Are you from the same home town?
Heck no! I'm from Knoxville, He's from Jersey.

♥ Who is the smartest?
He would say him. I'd say me. It depends on the topic. He is very book smart, & has this thing with numbers that I just will never adopt. I think I have more common sense.

♥ Who is more sensitive?
Oh wow. Definitely Moi! He is sensitive to the craziest things though, & will shy away until he gets it resolved!

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
It's always a toss up for us between Pizza or Chinese Food. I'm an Asian Cuisine girl. Give me sushi (the cooked kind), or Thai Food or Chinese ALL WEEK LONG. Him? He is a northern guy all the way & LOVES NY style pizza. We compromise.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Ocala Florida

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
HIM!!! Hands down. His ex wrote a juvenile letter to me in CRAYON to my old workplace! She was practically stalking me! I never had an issue like that. I gave him the option to handle it, or let ME handle it. Needless to say, I have not had any problems since then. That was when we first started dating.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
I am more laid back & peacable. He angers quicker, but dosen't stay mad long. He's pretty easy.

♥ Who does the cooking?
That would be me. I love to cook, bake, find recipes. Everything. He cooks really good spaghetti, lasagna & hamburgers, and anything on the grill. But, he has told me time & time again that his cooking days are over now that he has me. I don't know whether to be happy or concerned, lol.

♥ Who is more social?
Probably me. I'm more open with people & love to see others happy. He is more reserved & private. He chooses his friends very carefully, & is extremely loyal and true to those blessed to be his friend.

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
HIM!!!! Uggh. Can we say Monk?! He is organized to a tee, & has always had that standard. I have to say he is my ying to the yang, because I am messy!! I'm a clean messy though. I love bleaching things down & keeping the foundation clean, but I tend to keep lots of things going at once.

♥ Who is more stubborn?
HIM! When he means something, he means it!

♥ Who hogs the bed?
We don't live together, but I'm certain that its me. :)

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Mmmm, him now that he's back to work. On an average day it just depends. But I think he would still be first. I'm more of a night owl & late riser when I have a choice.

♥ Where was your first date?
Flying Saucer. A restaurant & Pub in our University Area.

♥ Who has the bigger family?
Gotta be him. For one while I was thinking he must be related to everyone in the world, & was scared that maybe we were related too! Thank God that isn't the case.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
No. Occasionally, but not often.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Right now, we usually spend them here. Usually for Thanksgiving or Christmas we go to his parents. Once we're married we will try to get on a better system that will be fair to both sides. But, we really haven't had the extra travel money.

♥ Who is more jealous?
We're pretty cool in this area, but I get upset sometimes during those "moments" when a girl may cross the line. He keeps his composure though & we trust each other.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
It was very quick. I developed the feelings that he had for me all along within days. We were inseperable & still get butterflies.



♥ Who eats more?
In one sitting, it's usually him. But during the course of the day, I THROW DOWN. I probably have him beat!

♥ Who does/did the laundry?
Both of us

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Me. But he's great at music on the computer & making cds...

♥ Who drives when you are together?
98% of the time it's him, lol! I just love riding in his SUV! Sometimes he just runs to my passenger side so that I'll drive. I'm so spoiled in that area that I really feel out of place driving with him in the car.

What Not To Wear

I am not solely responsible for selecting my Fiance's wedding day attire, but I really, really want to "steer" him in the right direction, lol! I definitely feel like he's entitled to pick out exactly what he wants to wear, but I feel like I need to add my 2cents for balance. Mainly because I know exactly what my dress looks like, I know what the wedding decor looks like, & I really want a flow. He has an idea of what the wedding decor looks like, but has no clue what my dress or veil look like. So, for that reason alone, I feel like I need to at least throw out some ideas to him so that he'll know what will compliment our day smoothly.

With that being said, I am totally clueless. I really thought this would be my easiest decision, & who knew my own dress would be the easiest to me. I need you guys' help. Here are the elements so that you can create a visual (other than everything else on my blog):

My dress is very, very simple. It's white, with little beading detail at the bust. A-line. Strapless, & sleeveless. I will be wearing a lace bolero during the ceremony.

My veil is a Mantilla. Elbow length. (Pic inspiration in blog, I have not taken pic of my actual veil. Too lazy).

My shoes: I have none yet. I will most likely wear a low pump, tiffany bluesque colored shoe with a rhinestone, or feather brooch on them.

My hair will be pulled up on one side. Wearing an organza/feather fascinator. (Pics in blog)

My Maid os Honor's dress is an ankle length, chiffon, Grecian style dress. It is "Mermaid" in color from David's Bridal. Not extremely formal. (Pic in blog)

Our wedding is considered "semi-formal". Remember, this is a less than $7k budget here.

Reception is heavy hors doeurves.

Oh & colors are Tiffany Blue (not themed), Iridescent White, Steel Gray & Black and White Damask with Chandelier accents.

I prefer Mr. Bridal Bliss not to wear all white. I love it in other weddings, but I don't see him in all white. I LOVE striped neckties. I'd really like to find a tiffany blue & white or gray striped necktie. Here are some of the tux's/suits in the running (I am okay with a suit or tux):




And here are the fabulous boutonnieres that My baby & his dudes will be wearing. We do not have that many Groomsmen (there are 2), but I had to get enough for our dads, ushers, soloist, etc...



The bouts are magnolias, with guinea feathers. They are adorned with crystals. I LURVE them!! I got them from Glam It Up Toppers on Etsy (the same awesome crew who made my fascinator).

So, here's the thing. I am cool with a Gray suit/tux, all Black, or White Jacket & Black pants. I like the sorta "James Bond" look. I just don't know. And I guess we really wont know until he tries them all on, but PLEASE take a stab here & just tell me which look YOU think would be awesome.

Thanks in ADVANCE!!!

Bridal Hoodie

I am thinking of having my future last name embroidered for cheap at the mall, or just adding rhinestones to the back myself. I LOVE this color hoodie. It's online at Old Navy for $12.50. Total DIY. There are lots of sites that give tutorials on how to make your own personalized bridal hoodie. Here's a post from Project Wedding:
http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/diy-bridal-hoodie-how-to

Prayers Answered

I am one who believes that if I pray for it, my prayer has been heard & answered, but the timing of the full manifestation is in God's hands. It may be a "yes" or a "no", but either way, it WILL be answered. Eight months ago, my fiance was laid off. "They" showed up to his department & told the Analysts that it was their last day. No heads up. But, that's how life is at times. We don't always have the time to collect our thoughts, so I try to prepare for the unexpected. I must say, I wasn't really mentally prepared to have to man up & accept the fact that our June'09 wedding would have to be postponed. Not so much due to wedding costs, but mainly because we wanted to be in a better position once we married.

Well, I could go on & on about this, but the main thing I want to convey is that God is so faithful. Even during our storms & disappointments, never does He leave us. I came across this scripture a few weeks ago, & began to rejoice for what was ahead:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Yesterday my Fiance went to work! YES he did!! I am overjoyed & do not take it lightly. The job market is tight, & I am still looking myself, but I know that my stength has been renewed & it is all taken care of!

I really didn't mean to have church on yall, but if I can use my blog to mention when I'm at a loss, surely I can share with you guys my gains. So whatever any of you are going through, please be encouraged that you may have to wait a little while to see things happen, but in due season you shall reap if you faint not!

Photo Sharing Take II

I posted a Photo Sharing Card several months ago, but never got the cards printed because the upload kept turning out blurry for some reason, & I also wanted to see a revision.

The whole point of the Photo Sharing Cards is sortof like an alternative to having disposable cameras on each table. It is for guests who have digital cameras, camera phones, etc. So imagine if just 20 people take pictures at the wedding. They get great shots. They upload them to a photo host site. All of the guests & guests of honor can view these faulous photos, but of course, they must have the account password information from yours truly. Everyone with access can order their fave shots in the comfort of their home, plus if there are any loved ones who couldn't mak it to the wedding, they can simply go to the site & take a peek as if they were there.

Here's what we'll be giving our guests. The front of the card:



And the back of the card:




I am uploading these to Vista Print and taking advantage of their 100 FREE postcards offer. Of course, I pay shipping, but that's less than $10. Best thing about these cards is that a fellow bride did them for me for FREE!!!

Oh, & as far as photo card distributing...I will place one in the out of town boxes, & also have them placed around the reception. I thought about putting them in Thank You cards for those who attended, so we'll see. I'm still playing with the options.

I Appreciate You!

I always notice when someone takes the time to become a friend of mine on my blog, or even simply pass through just to take some peeks. Either way, I just wanted to say thank you!! I really do not take it lightly. There are a gazillion other blogs out there, & you choose to stop here, & I absolutely LOVE the company, & I am grateful for the friend adds. I tend to get wrapped up in projects (wedding & non-wedding alike), & I'm trying to balance my time a little better without waring myself out. So, you may not see me posting super frequently, but I will still post regularly.

Thanks again for calling my blog worthy enough of so many of your kind comments, & just feedback in general! It's awesome to know your thoughts.

Reserved Seating Signs- Part II

I've had these signs for a little while now, but hadn't shared with you guys because my camera was so moody. Also, I had posted before a mock reserved sign that I really liked, BUT the scrapbook store that I went to didn't have the same type of scroll paper that I needed as the overlay, so I went to the awesome Mrsgroves7 @ Etsy to make these for the chairs at the ceremony!


The seller is a girl after my own heart, because I LOVE the shape. And she embelished each card with mucho rhinestones. I have 8 total, so the first 4 rows on both sides of Sanctuary will be marked for our immediate family. Parents & grands on front rows. The ribbon appears to be white, but it's actually a grayish-silver.

In Memory

For those we've lost in the natural, but know are joining us in the spirit on our wedding day, we will be having lit candles in honor of our love for them. In addition to votives, there will be these vellum wrapped cylinder vases:



The text reads:

In Loving Memory

We thought of you with love today
But that is nothing new
We thought of you yesterday
And days before that too
We think of you in silence
We often speak your names
Those we love don't go away
They're with us everyday
Unseen, Unheard, but always there
Although it seems unfair
Your memory is our keepsake
With which we'll never part
God has you in His keeping
You're forever in our hearts

I received these thoughtful wraps from the amazing Domestic Divas Fancy shop on Etsy.

I May Not Be Etsy

But I sure had fun making a wrist corsage into a Fascinator for my neice Tayler, aka Flower Girl!


Hahaa! Excuse her hair! She's just rockin' the do.

No, that's not a Christmas tree up in the background. I love clear lights in my home & I have the on one of my huge topiary trees :)

So, the pics are sorta hard to see clearly, & I realize that the flower looks a litte larger than life, but it really looks so cute in person, especially when Tayler's hair is combed, lol. It all started out by me playing around with wrist corsage ideas attached to tiffany blue bands, & I changed my mind and decided to use brooches for my Coordinator & Director instead of the wrist corsage. I saw Tayler, & wrapped it around her head & tied a bow (at the nape of her neck), & was surprised & excited at what a chic litte head piece it made! I am going to do a litte trimming, but my sister & I decided it's a keeper, & it's perfect since she's the FLOWER girl :)

Also, here's one of the two bouts I made for our banner bearers, Avery & Austin:



I made their's totally flowerless, just ribbon & guinea feathers pretty much. Sorry about that big old corsage pin sticking out the side. I shoulda moved that before taking the pic. The sparkle of the crystal brooch is so pretty in person on their bouts. I can't wait to have these pinned on them!

Up Next

I've been wanting to make fluffy flower initials since the beginning of our engagement (Mr. Bridal Bliss proposed to me on Christmas Eve 2007). I think they are so pretty, & that they will be the perfect touch outside our ceremony doors.

I'm thinking I'll go with carnations. They're usually less expensive, plus they're a nice fluffy bloom. I seriously think that the carnation is highy underated, but that's a whole nother post! I'm going to give this a try if I can find our letters. Everywhere I look there's his initial, & not mine or vice versa. I may have to make them out of foam board. I will post soon!

I Got An STD...

And PROUD of it!


So, the beautiful Ebonee over at Becoming His Mrs. Blogspot sent me a Save the Date last week, & I was truly geeked about it! They are large magnets, & look absolutely awesome!! I totally attacked the pretty envelope once I saw it was from Ebonee, so so I ripped it open ....I get excited about STDS, hahaa! Okay, okay..I'm kidding ;)


Please excuse my extra bendy, long looking fingers! I don't know why they didn't photography friendly.

If you haven't checked out her fabbo blog, check it out!

http://becominghismrs.blogspot.com/

Corsages!

I was going to have wrist brooches for our moms & grandmas, but I changed my mind for them, and decided to go more traditional, with a touch of Bridal Bliss :) I will be giving my friends who are serving as DOC (Day of Coordinator), Director, & Hostess, wrist brooches..will post later. I will DIY.

They look like boutonierres, but they're actually double the size. I love them & can't wait to see them on my girls! I cannot take credit for this project, as they are from Etsy.

On The Lookout...

Do you know where I can find one of these?


I'm referring to the tulle table cover. I LOVE it! I never found myself as a big fan of tulle, but it's something about this ballerina-esque table cover that I think would be so pretty for our cake table. I have a damask table cloth that I was going to use for the cake table, but I really think it will be damask overkill with the damask cupcake stand.

So, I'm looking for this fluffy number in White. Please do tell if you've seen it anywhere. I don't sew, but I would totally make it if I could.

Seriously...How Cute!

This isn't my work, but I've been eyeing this display for awhile over at Wedding By Color. The bride is Kokoberry, & her blog just always pulls me in!

Really though, I love how fun the sign is & yet its formal in a way, placed inside the pretty urn. I saw some on sale the other day at Michaels. Nows not the time for me to go buy, but I have bookmarked the idea to do for the Kids' table at the reception. I love the thought of them being entertained, or at least as pleased as I am in doing little things for them! I will come back later in the month with my version of the Kids' sign. I will probably fill the urn with wrapped candy or something.

I DO

I, _____, take you ______, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.


These are our letters that we'll probably place on the cake table. I know they're fun and all to look at, but the meaning goes much further than that, at least to me it does. I purchased my letters from a fellow "Blue" bride on Wedding By Color.

The Sample Vows were found at:
http://bible.org/article/sample-wedding-vows

Matchbook Mints

I never even heard of a "matchbook mint" until I started browsing the bridal blogs. And, to tell you the truth, I really could have cared less. But then, I got to thinking how everyone can pretty much use a mint after dinner, and a mint + Damask = this....


Above Mints are from ExQuisite InVitations on Etsy.

So then, I remembered that I have Damask Packing tape at home, & a couple of sheets of Tiffany Blue paper. Could I possibly attempt this, especially without a template?

Sure I can! Yes, they're a little shabby and all, but I haven't inserted the mint or the brad yet. I am just in the trimming phase, & I need more cardstock for the project. I've only made like 15 matchbooks! I plan to make around 75 for a guestlist of 110.

I will post pics of my final (and cleaned up) version!

Wedding Signage

Chandelier Style




I haven't decided yet whether I will keep or remove the feather. What do you think? Each sign will be on an easel on the appropriate table.

I had to have our chair signs redone because my old ones were faded & starting to lift (I didn't properly store them). The new version is complimenting to the other signs above. They will be tied onto our chairs with lace.

Wedding Party

We have a group of friends/family who have committed to help on the day of the wedding (and night before setup). Their duties range from Ushers/Hostess', to Kids Zone, to Director. I call them "Team Hearts to Serve".

A couple of them have been a little incognito, but I am still in the process of getting each of them a small token of thanks from my FH & I. The women will be getting a fun, personalized tote, a card (pictured above), and a mystery item. Mystery as in I just don't know what to get them. I want something practical, & inexpensive, but dosen't look cheap. I thought about Victorias Secret Shower Gel, lotion, etc., but some people have skin issues, or don't like the fragrance. I am sorta leaning towards a pretty picture frame (Hobby Lobby always has 50% off), or some cute slippers/bedroom shoes, or a cute little spa wrap. I am open to your suggestions!!! I know this sounds cheap, but I don't want to go over $5, because I already have their bags, & buying multiple gifts truly adds us! Anyhoo, here's their uber chic bags from EBAY! Seller Trotter06.





The black definitely pops!


The first time I ordered from this seller, I watched for the sales, & got 4 bags for less than $18, including shipping, PLUS embroidery! Score. The light gray bags are for my friends serving as Day of Coordinator & Director. The third gray bag is for a Hostess, but I ordered gray by mistake. I threw the teal & white damask tissue paper in just for fun, & to show you guys how large these bags are.

Today, I placed another order for 5 bags for a little over $20, including shipping! I must say, I am VERY pleased with the quality of these bags, & the fast turnaround time! I definitely recommend this seller for your Bridesmaids bags or like me, Wedding Party bags.

Pew Cones

I made one pew cone last week to see how hard it could be, & truly it wasn't too bad! Just time consuming.

I used cardstock from Michael's in a Tiffany Blue color, & then a "lace" cardstock in a sortof turquoise to go over it. I also used a lace as the "strap/handle", & a mini styrofoam ball to insert ivory roses. Oh, & I embellished it with a crystal strand from AC Moore.




For some reason, the pics don't look as "cone-ish", lol. But, they really are ;)

Kid's Goodie Boxes

Back in the earlier stages of planning, my heart was set on polka dot paint can favors for the kiddies at our reception. But after doing a mock up at around $4 without the fillers, I knew I'd have to go to a plan B.

I was really blessed to come across a fellow bride to be who had just ordered some polka dot gable boxes from Paper Mart, & she had to order in bulk, but it was too many for her project, so she posted sale. There I was to the rescue! I bought 25 off her hands, & we were both happy! Here's the box with white ribbon.



I attached white ribbon, & a fabulous little Thank you tag from Two Yellow Shoes on Etsy.com (this seller had an amazing wedding featured on Style Me Pretty).






The tag says "Thank you for coming to Sonya & Win's Wedding" We call my FH "Win". Plus, it's easier for most people to read, lol.

So, I'm off in the morning to go pick up 25 packs of el cheapo packs of crayons from Wal Mart, since they're like .20c for back to school. I have some personalized coloring books almost assembled, & stickers for the jumbo lollipops. They will look sorta like this, except the lollipop will be blue & white:



Here's our label...


I can't post the final look just yet. I don't want to order the lollipops until closer to the wedding date. Check out Candy Warehouse if you need aqua & white jumbo lollipops :)

Also, I will probably get some stickers & a couple of small items from Oriental Trading just to fill the boxes. Maybe a mini bag of Skittles. The parents will thank me for all the sweets ;)

I can hardley wait

To get my bouquet!

I had it made at Etsy, & I am super pleased! It is a mix of full bloom roses & peonies, feathers & rhinestones. It's hard to see, but the seller actually hand paints shimmer on several of the blooms for a beautiful sparkle in person. It's Tiffanylicious at it's finest!



If it seems like there's extra ribbon, you're right. I asked Seller to extend the length of the ribbon for an effect like so:


That pic has always held my attention. It's something about the tranquility and pop of the tiffany blue against the white. I also have one more small adornment(I know alot seems to be going on with this bouquet, lol), like this:
\

Also, I'm almost finished with my MOH's bouquet. I had started DIY awhile back, & intended to keep it for myself, but I am giving it to her now that I had this one made. I will show you guys the pics soon :)

Glam Bam Thank You Ma'am!

Thanks to Glam It Up Toppers {Etsy}, I will have a lovely fascinator on my wedding day. I think I might have changed my mind about wearing a my mantilla (for the ceremony), then a bird cage veil (for the reception). Although the birdcage veil isn't that expensive (at least not the one I want), reality is that I already have my Mantilla, & I don't have extra money for having two of one thing that isn't really needed.

I have to be honest though, I already had a fascinator from David's Bridal, but it wasn't really what I felt settled on, so I searched for reasonably priced, beautiful fascinators (with style), and found the kind people over at Glam It Up! Here's what Shyra made for me!

No, that's not me. Heeee heeee!

I love the veil netting that she included for me, & rather than just having a rhinestone center, there are pearls surrounding it.
www.glamituptoppers.etsy.com

BTW, I did keep my word & made some of the items that I committed to completing by last weekend. Only problem is that I can't upload my pics! My blackberry isnt sending pics, & I can't get the battery out to reset it! Plus, my "real" camera is broken. It's all a mess, but I promise to get pics of lots of projects posted soon!

How Cute Is This

"Peek A Boo Kitty" Hello Kitty Fascinator!



I could totally see this for a Chic Bridesmaid, or a Flower Girl! It would be so glam on a Flower Girl's basket, or even incorporated into her pomander somehow.
I found this beauty at Divabridal Couture's Shop on Etsy. The clip is $23.95.


So, it got me to lookin' at MORE Hello Kitty madness on Etsy! Here's some cute stuff that you may consider for gifts, or for yourself :)







And More....







I absolutely adore Hello Kitty! I really just get cute little pens, pencils & stationary items for myself. I never splurge on the jewelry, although it is sooo cute, & Etsy seems to have a great selection at fairly modest prices. If I hadn't already purchased my neices' gifts, I would get them one of the above items for the wedding, but they are already WELL taken care of. I already got my Flower Girl's jewelry last year. It's simple pearl studs from Lia Sophia. I got them for FREE when I held a party, so that worked out well :)

What to Get??

I am all over the place yall. I am getting a few projects complete, as well as finalizing the Music for our wedding & reception. I am giving myself thru Sunday to do it all, because truly....I've had enough time;) In addition to those things, I have had our Groomsmen gifts on the mind all day, but I am sorta blank in this area.

I have asked Mr. Bridal Bliss for his input, but he is like a mute in the wedding details department, & hasn't offered much of anything. He's just ready for the "after party", ie marriage, lol. I did ask him if the guys would like flasks, & he says yes. However, without complicating matters, I want to consider maybe 2-3 other gifts that may be more "them". They (groomsmen) both drink, but I want to leave options open for a gift that they not only can use, but also appreciate. Our budget for both groomsmen is between $25-$40.

Please share with me what you are doing, or have done for your guys. If we have the character space room, we will have the following put on their selected gift: "Love you like a brother, treat you loke a friend". If no room on the gift, we can always put it on their card. For now, here is what I have come up with:

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

6.)

If you like one of the gift suggestions that I've posted, please let me know which you like the best! I am leaning more towards the dog tag items. I love them. :)

All of the gift options posted were found on Etsy.com & Savvigifts.com

Gifts for Grandmas

I keep going back to Heirloom Hankies for our moms. Now, I've been drawn to them yet again for both my grandmas (FH's grandparents are all deceased). You can visit this page for the post on the first set of hankies I found on Etsy: http://queencitybride.blogspot.com/search/label/%7BGifts%20for%20Moms%7D

We will be giving hankies to our moms & grandmothers, but I found these at The Garter Lady on Etsy, & it seems to bring the gift all together.

Each hanky has a touch of something "Tiffany Blue" stiched inside.


Although the tag says "Bride", the seller has informed me that she will gladly change the tags for each recipient. Due to the detail & fabric, the hanky is $24, but it has more meaning than anything else. I could probably go to Hobby Lobby & grab some material & trim & do all 4 for $24! So, if I can figure out how to, I will DEFINITELY be posting it, lol.

I would get one for myself, but I'm good with old school Kleenex. My ugly man cry will destroy something this pretty!!

I will make a card of some sort for each mom, & grandma. I will include the beautiful poem that is included on my other hankie post (see link above). The great thing about the gifts are that we set a $50 budget for each of our parents. In addition to hankies, we will be giving our parents personalized coffee table photo books. I'm checking for great deals with Blurb, Kodak, Shutterfly, etc.. So, this leaves us about $40 under budget for our parents! YES!!!

Congratulations to My Cyber Sis!

I "met" Porsche online at Wedding By Color. Around the "block" of Wedding By Color, she's known as Sweetp! We instantly clicked (haha), & shared tips, inspirations, & emails. Closer to Porsche's wedding date (July 18th), we drifted a little due to the busy-ness & everything. But, how touched I was that she thought of me when she received a few non-pro pictures from a relative. This is only a teaser of how stunning she was on her absolutely gorgeous wedding day!


Porsche is incredibly SWEET, & quite the diva.

The colors are amazing in the pictures, so I can only imagine what it all looked like in person.


Congratulations Porsche!!! I am so happy for you & your husband! xoxo

My Splurge

As if I really have room to splurge!

This bridal hanger was made specially for me. It has very subtle white damask detailing in the fabric. The seller is adding some fluffy white eyelash trim along with the crystal beading, per request. Although this is not one of those wedding requirements, I have wanted one for a very long time, & it is a sortof treat for me, just because.



I also think if it as more of an investment. I plan to hand it down to one of my neices when they wed, or maybe my own daughter (hope to someday have a little Bridal Bliss). Either way, it is very rich in meaning to me for all the reasons "I Do" to my FH.

New Addition

Peacock Feathers!

\

Maybe the bleached....


I recently realized how pretty another variation of blue could be in our wedding, & immediately, I thought of peacock feathers in just a couple of places to do the trick. They honestly used to scare me (I think the big eye thingy in the middle), but as of late, I think they are truly a chic addition to weddings. The bleached feathers are so unique, & I don't think will compete with any other white feathers that will be present in my bouquet.

I am only considering having them in corsages for our moms & grandmothers. And possibly one in each peony/damask centerpiece that I've made up for the reception. Just a single feather. Nothing extreme. I also really like having a blue fascinator, or a slight touch of blue for the wedding. So, I may see if I can play around with adding something to the fascinator that I already have.

Oh, & the first corsage pictured will be given to our moms & grandmas (I mentioned that just a second ago). All the black & darker feathers will be replaced with white, & the stem will be wrapped in an Aqua Blue ribbon. Pics to come next month after completion:)

Both Feather pieces are from Etsy.

UPDATE: My sister now has me all freakish about the Peacock feathers. I asked for her opinion, & she told me that the "eyes" on the feathers look wicked! And, I'm not talkin' good wicked! I got all scardey cat & went online to find meanings & symbols of the feathers, so I found this link:
http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_designs_symbols_peacock.htm

Well, I found this:

"Justifiably proud as the Peacock is of its prismatic beauty, an accidental glance at its own extremely ugly feet sends this angel of a bird shrieking like a devil!" Hmmm, I don't like the devil.

And I also found this:

"In the ancient myths of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, the Peacock feather was a symbol of the ‘evil eye’, and even today the Peacock feather is viewed with suspicion and kept out of the house in some parts of Europe." I mean, come on! Why oh why did I have to get my sis' opinion!??


On a good note, the source further reads:
"In early Christian times, Peacock flesh was believed to be incorruptible. This, together with its eyes symbolizing the all-seeing Church, elevated the Peacock to sacred emblem status, representing resurrection, immortality, and the pure soul." Yeah, that's better...

In most of my researching, the whole "proud" title popped up in reference to the peacock. You know the saying, "proud as a peacock". They are considered to be vain, prideful & arrogant. I now feel myself backing away from the purty little feathers now! HOWEVER, I still think that the peacock feathers are lovely. I mainly adore the ones where the eyes aren't as pronounced. Like the bleached or white ones. I guess I'll stick with all peonies & roses, lol. Oh, & I am doing ostrich & some guinea feathers. I will NOT be researching those feathers, lol! I am not even trying to think about anything else scary!!

For now, I will just continue admiring other peacock weddings :)

It's Official...

That I am a 2 veil Bride!

I know that the going trend for alot of brides is to have a 2nd dress for their reception, but I am not jumping on the bandwagon. I did, however, finally make up my mind about changing up my look a little, without spending much to do so. And...that's with a switcharoo of the veil. So, for the ceremony, I will still be wearing my scalloped edge mantilla. Something like this:





I know I have blogged about mantillas before, but I have always loved them, & they have such an old-world feel. Very romantic, and Grace Kelly-like....


BUT...I've always had this "inner relationship" with the Bird Cage veil! They are classy, edgy, vintage. I just think they're hot. I have a cage crush, lol. So, I am either going to make my own, or get a very inexpensive veil & wear it with my fascinator for the reception. I plan to wear just a bang length, or eye length to cover one eye.



Bridal Shots with Mantilla are from Project Wedding, MissQnomore. Bird Cage veil is from Etsy seller Velvet Owl. Other images are from Google.

To Do

So, I've been quite the slacker in the wide world of Wedding Planning lately, but I really have been in a sort of slump. I have all these ideas running thru my mind, & the funds just don't match it right now. My Medical Assignments have come to a hault until September, & I don't get back to teaching until August, so there ya go. It's a very, very dry season.

BUT....I did mention recently that I'd be sharing some DIY stuff with you guys soon, & I am a girl of her word, so please be patient with me. Sometime this week (for real this time), I will be completing the following:

Pew Cones
Lacey Lanterns (paper)
Banner Bearers' Boutonierres
Signage for Ceremony & Reception

A couple of my projects are already done, or near completion. However, I am still needing to get my camera fixed, & now my crazy phone isn't transferring photos to my email! So, please bare with me.

Lastly, I am in the middle of completing our Wedding Party gifts, & I got awesome deals on totes from Ebay. I can't wait to share with you guys. :)

Kid's Gifts, Phase I

This month I am finalizing gifts for two of my favorite girls, Zoe & Zaria. They are my two oldest neices, by my only brother. They are truly the best!! Here's a little history before I get to their gifts.

Zoe is 12 & Zaria is 10. Zaria "found herself" at the ripe old age of 7, & decidedthat she no longer liked her name, so she preferred to go by her middle name: Noelle. It was hilarious to me at first, but then I realized she was serious, so the family has tried to respect her wishes & call her by her middle name now. Except my mom, who is never good with names anyway. Mom has "special permission" to continue calling Noelle-Zaria.


{From Left to Right: Austin, Zoe, Avery & Noelle. Austin & Avery are twins. They are carrying the banners in the Ceremony. Picture was taken almost 3 years ago}

Moving along (stay with me)....Zoe & Noelle have each been in several weddings as Flower Girls. Literally. I knew I didn't really want to have Junior Brides, & I figured they may feel too "grown up" to be Flower Girls again, so my heart always desired my youngest neice Tayler. It was an easy decision, & a first time for Tayler.
{You guys remember Tayler!?! Everyone say "Hi Tay Tay"...}


Okay, so I asked my Zoe & Noelle if they would want to be included in any way in our wedding, because a sense of guilt started to follow me. They admitted that they were cool with not being a Flower Girl, & they didn't care to be a Junior Bride unless I wanted them to be, but what they really wanted was to be with me while I get ready for the Big Day. It was the sweetest thing, & it was better than them dressing up for one day. They have my heart, & it was so touching that they just simply wanted to be near me as I prepare for the rest of my life with the man I love. So there you have it. All my neices will be included, & everyone is happy.

So, after all of that rambling, I really couldn't make up my mind on a gift for Zoe & Noelle until I came across a Bride's Survival Kit. I know it really has no relation to a child, but my neices love "stuff". Lip gloss, scented lotions, pretty paper...you know, stuff. A fellow Bride from Wedding By Color now has an Etsy Shop, & here's what was created for both my girls:





There's all kinds of stuff in their cases!! Things like damask ink pens, damask bubble wands, deoderant (yep....they need it), fruity Tic Tacs, vanilla scented cupcake candles, Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer, a bling picture frame & the Seller is ordering some Hello Kitty Notepads to go inside, plus much more! You guys just don't understand how excited about I am about this, lol! I feel like Tom Hanks in that movie, 'Big'. Here's another layout:


And those deliciously fragranced cupcakes!



More suitcase colors:


I thought about putting a CD or DVD in each of their cases, but decided to spend less on a simple gift card from Target so they can pick out what they want.

Amanda at Etsy customized the little note in the words I provided. Just click on the pic to better see the short & sweet message. Also, I had my suitcases customized for my budget, rather than paying what was listed. The seller was extremely accomodating in allowing me to build an a la carte suitcase!! Check her out at http://mandyloveboutique.etsy.com/

P.S. I have gifts in the works for Tayler, Avery & Austin, plus our Wedding Party. All that will come around next month!

Rethinking

So, I have been pretty determined to have Escort Cards at our wedding reception since the beginning of planning, but now I am starting to really, REALLY love the ease & simplicity of having a seating chart. I'm also not mad at the fact that it can save money by designing the layout (or having someone else design it), print out into a poster size, & frame it or mount on foam board.


I read somewhere that although Escort and Placecards can be beautiful, they're only pretty for a few moments while untouched, because soon after being picked apart, it leaves a messy table. I agree & disagree on that point. I think that there are SO many fabulous cards, candles, treats & other creative ways to display, and it's lovely no matter who touches it! I think that goes for every element that is added into wedding decor.

But again, going back to the seating chart, it just seams seamless. Pop it on an easel, in a frame, on a board or what have you, and voila...your guests have a gorgeous & easy to read navigational tool!



I also love this chic little display that still has the elements of placecards, with the placement of a seating chart. I could totally DIY this, & it's gorgeous!



I'm not sure which I'll be going with. What are you using? I will post final decision closer to the wedding, but for now I know that whichever display is selected, it will have a chandelier on it, lol. And maybe a damask background, & our monogram :)

Note: All images were collected without saving names. If any of these belong to you, please leave me a note so that I can give proper credit. The first image with the chandelier is from Etsy seller GEDesigns.

A Little Fun

I found this fun little game over at http://lovehim18.blogspot.com/ Check out her fab blog.

My Letter is "S"!

Rules: It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real . . . nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have Fun!!

1. What is your name?: Sonya

2. A four Letter Word: (a clean one?): Soap

3. A boy's Name: Shawn

4. A girl's Name: Sophie

5. An occupation: Seamstress
6. A color: Steel Gray

7. Something you wear: Spanx ;)
9. A food: Seafood Pasta

10. Something found in the bathroom: Shower

11. A place: Soviet Union
12. A reason for being late: Sick Child

13. Something you shout: Shoot!
14. A movie title: Sleeping With The Enemy

15. Something you drink: Sweet Tea

16. A musical group: Snoop Dogg (Okay, maybe not a group)

17. An animal: Seal

18. A street name: South Street
19. A type of car: Saturn
20. The title of a song: Say,say,say

Do You Know What Today Is

It's Our Anniversary! Anniversary.. (As Tony Toni Tone would sing)


Yes, today my best friend & I share 5 years of Bliss together! Technically, neither of us really know when "the day" was that we officially became a couple, but after days of goo goo eyes, & referring to each other as "mine", we pretty much adopted July 10th as "our day". We've been friends for almost a decade, & I really don't know where the time went!

As for right now, I am in the house deep cleaning, but we will probably go out to dinner {yall know I'm a total foodie, & I THANK GOD that He sent me a man who respects my appetite, lol} & just hang out, like we normally do. Every day is special to us, so we really don't trade gifts on particular days, just as the heart leads..

Anyhoo, I hope each of you have a wonderful weekend, & I'll be posting some projects soon!


xoxo

A New Addition

To my Matron of Honor's Closet....



So, although this happens to be one of those details that truly have no real purpose in making a wedding come together, I still am a lover of details, & since I plan to get a monogrammed bridal hanger for myself, I wanted to provide something on a smaller scale for my MOH. This beautiful damask hanger is one of my favorite purchases! The seller even attached this cute little personalized tag:


{please have mercy on the picture quality. it was taken with my blackberry for pete's sake, lol!}

And, yes...this is my MOH's dress! She's had it for several months, but I just never posted it (sorry guys). It's really so lovely in person. The color is amazing, & it has this simple, yet Greek Goddess flow on my beautiful sister (MOH).



If you'd like one for yourself, or someone in your own Bridal Party, check out Kim GrantInk's Shop on Etsy! She's terrific!!

Where There's A Will, There's A...

Big Fat Beautiful Arch!



With me taking a stab at this myself, it will be on a much smaller, less expensive scale. Honestly, I hardley know where to begin with this, but I would love to have something like this at our ceremony. Wish me luck!

P.S. I'm open to any suggestions & ways to create this look! I figure if I start out with a pinch of Manzanita (or maybe even curly willow) branches, & stir in some flowers...and a cup full of crystals!

Invite 101

I was skipping around Betsy White's Stationery Boutique tonight, & found a very useful tool in staying in formatting guidlines, when it comes to proper wording protocal & etiquette. You can find wording samples, tips & rules. Just go to this link:
http://www.betsywhite.com/Wording-Guide-W2.aspx

The prices of the stationery are a little high end, but hopefully some of you can find the information helpful for your own paper projects. :)

Blood, Sweat & Tears...

I'm stuck in a Wedding Workshop!


Well, I admit that's a tad dramatic, but I have been thinking about projects over the past few days, & I'm about to start on (and complete) a few this week. Pics to come soon!

Aisle Me Pretty...

If I didn't already have an aisle runner, I would totally go for this beautiful runner! I love the material & the design.

I'm A Major Fan..

I've been eyeing a couple of details that I'd really love to incorporate into my upcoming Bridal Portraits, one of which being a vintage lace fan. Although I haven't blended any other fabulous Marie Antionette elements into our planning, I just can't take my eyes off of these fans as final contenders for "Portrait Candy":




The Colors & Details Are Perfect...


I know that I could totally do this myself with a standard lace fan, ribbon, & some other embellishments. It could really be fun. The price is only $12.99-$13.99 at Teacup Design for every bit of yumminess featured. I will keep you guys updated on whether I buy it, or DIY!

Bridal Signs

For a Tiffany's touch....


Or for that Damask appeal...


I love these signs that you can hang outside your door, whether it be in a Hotel Room/Suite, or at home or church {or another location}. They add a lovely touch, & also serve as a nice informational tool for those who aren't up to speed with which room the girls are getting ready in.

They are a total DIY, but if you're like me & just want to leave some things to the pros, check out Pink Avenue Bride's Blogspot. She is responsible for these beautiful signs. I personally purchased my Bridal Suite & Groom Chamber signs from Jujubee on Etsy...

My Prayers Go Out...

To His Family, especially the kids...


And to Her Family, especially her imprisoned son....



And I don't want to take away from another name loved by many. I mean, I was a Star Search junkie as a kid!



We will always remember you..

Wow Factor

I know that bling has been big in wedding decor this season, & I admit that I have jumped on the bling bandwagon, but I am trying to keep it in subtle places like:

Table Decor at the Reception {along with LOTS of candles}
Incorporated in Bouquets
Maybe a single rhinestone on our programs {depending on design we choose}
Cupcake Tier {rhinestone trim}
My Wedding Day earrings

But now....I have reason to go all out! Look at these sexee dogs...


The Project Wedding Bride even took it a step further & added "I Do" to the front of her shoes, rather than the bottom...



I've heard that you should have a wow factor where you go crazy with one main element at your wedding, like an area of beautiful branches, or candles galore on tables, and now bling on shoes! I really wasn't that keen on this idea at first, but I am really thinking this will be so lovely, because it's still somewhat covered by my gown, but people will still see that sparkle. They would also make some awesome pics for the budoir ladies!

I don't have my shoes yet for the wedding, but I PROMISE to post my bling update, but I probably won't do the "I Do" on the front. Although it's super cute, I think I will do one or the other...

For Nidia's {Bride} full instructions, check out this link: http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/putting-on-the-bling

Just One More...

So, I was doing my usual lurking around the big "E", aka Etsy, & fell in love with a few monograms from Go Against The Grain's shop. I tried to close the page, but the $2 Victorian monogram lured me in, & so here we are!

I must say though, I have had my eye on about 8 different monograms as of late, & I although it is not priority, I just LOVE monograms! You can do SO much with them, & they are not all limited to just wedding projects. I wanted something softer, more vintage, & I love this. On top of it all, the seller was super DUPER quick in her reply to me. In fact, she changed the color & position for me a few times, & in all of her repositioning, she had my monogram to me in less than an hour. She is an incredibly sweet seller.

Tayler's Dress is Here :)

And it was worth the wait! Sweet Plume sent a new dress for my Flower Girl, & it arrived yesterday.


Her dress is the first one pictured, so rather than a gold satin belt, she is wearing a Tiffany Blue satin belt. I can't believe I was able to find Tiffany Blue Damask! I tried it on Tayler last night, & she wore it for 2 hours, & cried when my sister made her take it off, lol! It's perfect, & I ordered it a couple of sizes too big since we haven't reset the date just yet. I will add a white flower to her sash.

Wedding Wands

How cute are these?!


I came across these wands on Melissa Smitten's Blog, & I adore them! I'm considering replacing the sparkler idea that I had in mind with these. Or, in addition to the sparklers, have these at the reception so that our guests can welcome us in! They make beautiful pictures, plus its an inexpensive project because all I need is wooden dowels, ribbon & my hot glue gun (and probably a jar to put them in). They make beautiful pics.

Our Cardbox

Is ready.....



And I Love it!


The details especially around the chandeliers are beyond picture recognition. I decided to mix up the traditional damask motif, & go with more of a flourish, in our original hue of steel gray with tiffany blue. It was made especially for us by Shea Chic Designs on Etsy. One of the greatest compliments in this is that Amanda of Shea Chic Designs told me that this project was "fun & inspiring" & that she has "decided to make another similar to it as an example in her studio or even in her home". I am so excited!

Oh, & here is the sign that will be displayed next to the box. I didn't want to attach a small sign directly on the box because it would be too busy.

Lovely

I absolutely adore this vintage Robin's Egg Blue dress from 13bees on Etsy. It is "The Blue Dahlia Dress"


I think it would be so lovely for our rehearsal dinner.


It's not a bad price at $114, but it still is not in my budget. Just thought I'd share:)

Which is Your Fave?

Can you guys please help me out {again}!?!?

Programs are definitely one of those elements of a wedding that need a few things. They need a date, a location, & the people in which your wedding party consist of. Those are just a few key factors that come to the top of my head. I have 2 out of 3! The only thing missing (it's kinda a big deal too) is the date.

But, as you guys can see, I am not one to let that stop or hinder my planning. There is still work to be done. Where I need your help is narrowing down which Program style to go with! If you've followed my blog for awhile, you may remember that I've been set on the scallop fan program. It's still in the running if I have the design set by someone else, then I do the assembly, because they are a little out of the budget, but CAN be done.

So, please imagine the following with possibly a chandelier motif somewhere, Or tiffany blue ribbon somewhere else, or our initials with the classic font beautifully monogrammed. Which # is your fave?

#1





#2



#3





#4




#5



#6





#7



#8


#9


If this is your program, please advise so that I may give you proper credit! I have so many great ideas in my files that I can't keep up with where I got them from.

All but #8 & #9 are from Etsy Seller 2bSquared. Their prices are actually fairly reasonable when it comes to online programs already printed & assembled. I love the classic fonts that they use, & the ornate motifs! I also really love the damask paddle fans, & I wasn't a huge fan of that style before, but I am now. Even if we have a fall wedding, I will still consider fan programs! People still get hot! Aylee Designs has free templates for fan programs, so that's an option (they don't have the scallop fan though). I am considering making this a DIY project. Most of these seem pretty simple.

Okay, so please help me out & cast your vote. Which style is your favorite???

I HEART These!

Anemones....



It's something about their whimsical, clean, fresh look that I just adore. I think that they will go well with the other flowers we are using, which are peonies, carnations & full bloom roses, all in shades of white & ivory. All of the flowers I am using are silk, so that the arrangements/projects can be completed way in advance. Plus,it saves money. Here's more flower porn:






I think that with the rich, deep center, they will coordinate beautifully with the damask being incorporated. I don't think these will be on the tables with the centerpieces, but maybe in random places, like the guest sign in table, or our photo table, etc...I will not have lots of anemones, but I am thinking of using mint julep cups. Like such:



Since I don't intend to spend much on centerpieces & florals, I will probably use what I have to make this work. I already have small, glass vases from The Dollar Store. I can spray paint them with silver mercury glass paint. Look here for a very helpful tutorial:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4600986/mercuryglass1_Full.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ehow.com/how_4600986_glass-jars-inexpensive-home-decor.html&usg=__aZ1wgcOcgnfXf2dptG5AfyGtiNM=&h=598&w=272&sz=22&hl=en&start=18&sig2=L-pZeh_iXnj2CIWUXEuWog&um=1&tbnid=6a_9HJug-Ep2WM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=61&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsilver%2Bmetallic%2Bspray%2Bpaint%2Bfor%2Bglass%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS326%26um%3D1&ei=wXU2St-LMMelmQfTvaj8CQ

Chic Chandeliers

I have gotten away from our incorporation of chandeliers in the wedding (it's on our invites, and prob the programs, and we also have a large chandelier from Ebay for the cake table), but my love is still there! I just love the modern romance that they lend to wedding decor. You can imagine my excitement when I saw these at Zgallerie.com:



They are not full chandeliers, but tealight holders! Coming from Zgallerie, the tealight size better fits my budget. Each chandelier is $12.95. As a matter of fact, if you visit the site & take interest in their "Bling" line, you can find most items in a similar replica at Hobby Lobby, at a fraction of the cost. Especially during those half off sales that they have.

I am thinking of getting just a few of these tealight holders for our Head Table to elegantly stagger in between the damask centerpieces & other candles. The dimensions for the holders are 4.5"x7". If I go this route, I will show you guys my finished Head Table mockup & get your input!

It is Better To Give.....

These little Damask mirrors are absolutely fab! They're $5 each at Flirtbutton's Shop on Etsy. I am putting this on my list to add to my Matron of Honor's beautiful bag. I will probably also purchase one for a few of our Wedding Party Attendants.

I also found these perfect little satin jewelry pouches to have perfectly embroidered with monograms & special messages. Being that I have a very small Bridal Party, I can invest a little more time into finding the perfect, sentimental gifts. I plan to buy my Matron of Honor a Coach tote from the outlet (less than $50 & fill with a few personal items). My MOH, as well as our friend serving as Day of Coordinator will receive these lovlies:



I will have an inside joke, scripture, or special message inside. Like this:




I can even put jewelry, or a pretty keychain inside of one of the bag's 8 dividers (sewn inside). I'm also thinking this would be a pretty little bag for our moms. I could put their embroidered handkerchief inside. Our moms would eat this up! They both have beautiful jewelry that could later be put inside of these pouches.


Our bags will be in Tiffany Blue with Damask interior. Seller will sew a solid patch of material inside so that the message shows up clearly. Each pouch is $27, which is within budget for our mom's personal gifts. I think they will love their gifts. Each of the ladies have been such a tremendous part of the planning process & just a major part of Mr.Bridal Bliss & my life in general, that it is such an honor to have these made just for them! I can't wait to see the end results! I will update you guys as soon as they're finished:)

Tayler's Dress Revisited!

So, I bought Tayler (my Flower Girl/Neice) a lovely dress from Sweet Plume's Shop on Etsy. When it arrived, it wasn't really what I thought it would be. Because I typically use my Blog to rave on sellers, I limit any negativity so that each purchaser can judge for themselves.

Fortunately, the seller was incredibly kind in sending money to my Paypal to pay for shipping to send the dress back, and she has given me liberty in her shop to either choose a different style dress, or simply correct the dress that was originally cutomized for Tayler. See the first dress here:
http://queencitybride.blogspot.com/search/label/%7BFlower%20Girl

I picked this Tiffany Blue Damask dress. The style is similar to the old, but the tulle will be generous for a more ballerina style, & the sash will be ivory (seller dosen't offer white) satin with sheen.




I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this dress. Seller is very thorough, & aims to please, so I have no doubts. I'm just amazed that I could actually find something in Damask AND our wedding colors for Tayler! I will post pics of her finished dress!

Dear Wedding Fairy Godmother........

I sure could use a few things for the wedding I'm so fortunate to be planning. Like...

A stinkin' date! I don't ask for much. God already answered my prayers and gave me Smoochieface, but when planning a wedding, a date is sorta helpful.

A new reception site. Because without a date, we lost the old one. Can't have one without the other, ya know?

That's all. Really, I'm easy (please don't say that out loud, lol). As much as I love details, I can do without them all. I just want my day.

Signed,

Feeling Restless

Double Whammy!

Thanks to the fabulous Porcelain at http://sapphyreswedding.blogspot.com.html, I have been re-crowned with a Lovely Blog Award! I never ever grow tired of receiving recognition, because I am totaly flattered & humbled that people (other than myself) really do take the time to visit my blog here.


The last time I received this award, I left messages for "new" blogs that I had recently found. Well, only one participant responded, lol (shoutout to Purr-fection). So, this time, I dedicate this award to everyone who lays eyes on it! If it weren't for people like you I wouldn't have the award, so Thank You!!!

Special Touches for Wedding Party

I am making progress!

Coming soon, will be photos of completed bouquets, boutonnieres & brooch inspired wrist corsages. About a month ago, I posted some pics of my own attempts at bouquets & wrist corsages, & they actually didn't turn out too shabby, but everything still needed some tightening up, so that's what I'm working on. I have decided to let the bouquet that I made for myself be the toss bouquet. The boutonnieres pictured will be for the Ushers. I am scaling down a little for my Groom & his men. Same for my Matron of Honor too. In the meantime, here are a few hints for their arrangements:

1.) They are flowerless
2.) Feathers are involved
3.) They are from Etsy
4.) They are so lovely-licious :)

Okay, so I stop there. Not even a picture! I'm just really excited about it all. I have to wait on my bouquet though. I don't mind being last, but I can only pay for a few things at a time. And still, I may end up making/keeping my own, so we'll see. The best about it all is that I am still under our budget :)

Stay tuned!!

More Shower Stuff!

The Doors to the Banquet Room where the Shower was held.





Thanks to one of my beautiful bloggy visitors, 'Chic 'n Cheap', I will dwell a little more on the Shower I recently had, but emphasize on the food & gifts! The good stuff! I tend to have frequent "duh" moments, so thank goodness for Chic 'n Cheap for the gentle reminder to get some more details! And truthfully, as much as I eat, I am surprised that I didn't mention my lunch first!

So, the menu consisted of the following:

Chicken or Shrimp Caesar Salad, Classic Burger, Teriyaki Chicken Burger, Prime Rib Dip, Shrimp Pita, Cheese Torrellini & Turkey with sun dried tomatoes, and choice sides of fresh fruit, crisp veggies, soup or housemade chips.

For dessert, there were white cupcakes. We all pretty much had sweet tea and/or water.

I ate the Caesar salad, but me being me, had both meats! I had chicken & shrimp. Lemme tell yall. It was GOOOOOOD! Forgive me for the lack of pics, but I don't have any taken of the food :(

Now to the gifts! I was totally blown away by the generosity & attention to detail everyone had for me & my Smoochieface. We received beautiful items for our new home (we are working towards a house after the wedding), including shets, towels, cookware, fondue pots! My fiance & I already have alot of basics, plus furniture, but we are at a point of updating alot of what we have and starting new, so it was so much fun to see all the new shiny items! We also got lots of giftcards to our respective registries (Target & Pottery Barn). We also received a couple's massage gift certificate, checks, cash, & I received a gift certificate to a Spa for a pedicure! Score!! Here are a few of the "paper gifts" scattered out.


And the rest are being put in my handy dandy Damask accordian file. Courtesy of The Dollar Tree.




My Maid of Honor was the sweetest, & had these wrapped favors on each place setting for our guests.



Each favor was a sweetly scented Yankee Candle!

Here is one of my guests winning her prize of Bath & Body Works products, after getting the most answers correct on "How Well Do You Know the Bride?" game.



All of the guests were sure to sign the guest platter before leaving....




And after all the Thank You Card hoopla, I went old school & picked some pretty ones up at "Tarjay", aka Target. I decided to make them more personal for now & hand write my thanks to each guest, because there was just so much I wanted to say to each of them. I loved so many styles there at Target, but I chose these two:






I chose the retro crown style card because I totally felt like a Queen at my Shower, & I chose the traditional gown card with the little textured bow, because it is a pretty & detailed card. I love the little things. Here's a few more pics (please keep in mind that all of these Shower pics have been from my phone. My sis-in-law...she is actually my sister's husband's sister) is puting a cd together of photos she took. Not one of us were asked to pose or say cheese, so I'm a little worried. Anyhoo, here's some more pics:

At the Spa


The refreshment bar. Consisted of herbal/green teas, iced water with orange slices.



Yes, I thought about my blog family, & decided to take a picture of the room where I would later get my Swedish Massage. What you can't see though, is the jacuzzi behind me, & the waterfall (on the wall) to my right. The lights were perfectly dimmed, the room smelled so good, & I could easily move in there, lol.



And here's my sister (MOH), my good friend (in the middle), and my beautiful mom. They decided to form a human Oreo just for the picture, lol.


Okay, that's about all I have ladies! My phone did it's purpose, but I promise to post the real pics as soon as they come available. All I can advise to you beautiful brides about to embark upon your Shower Days, is to just enjoy every minute. Please don't be consumed with who flakes out at the last minute, or who isn't there. Focus on who IS there, & be mindful that this is a celebration for the blessing in which you & your Future Husband are sharing. For those of us fortunate enough to have a Shower, please get rest when you can, & just HAVE FUN! It is such an honor to be celebrated as such & to enjoy your sisterhood with fellow friends & family. Take a deep breath, & take it ALLLLLL in! Don't forget to let each person know how much you appreciate them. Keep in mind that they do have a choice whether or not to spend that time with you! When you are in the midst of it all though, everything just becomes very real. Surreal almost. The Shower to me, was like the 'seal' or prelude to my wedding day.

Bridal Portraits

This July, I am taking my Bridal Pics! I am overjoyed about this oppurtunity. April, of Evoke Photography will be taking my pics. She is awesome. Here's the link to April's site:
http://www.evokenc.com/

Showered With Love

All I can say is WOW. I am totally in awe of how my Bridal Shower went this afternoon. I have to tell you now that I really don't have "real" pictures, other than the few I managed to snap with my Blackberry. As it turned out, my Maid of Honor (sister) left her camera at home, but her sister-in-law brought hers & snapped a few pics. I have to wait for her to send the pics over. That could be awhile...

The colors were tiffany blue & red. Here are the eating tables in the banquet room (shower was held at The Embassy Suites. We then stayed on site for Spa Services).

My beautiful Etsy photo cardbox in action along with the mini mailboxes personalized for me & my groom, by a fellow blogger (see older post):



I resulted to desperate measures, & went to the bathroom (in my spa robe) to take a pic of myself with my bling necklace! It was a hit, & believe me, it wasn't too overpowering. I know the pendant seems gigantic in the pic from the older post, but it is absolutely stunning in person. Everyone seemed like they wanted to touch it, lol. It was made by Etsy seller Maylui. She is incredibly sweet, & she worked super fast just to get the necklace to me in time for the Shower, without charging extra fees. Oh, & you guys remember I was having the wardrobe dilemma? Well, I found the perfect white dress with a low cut, victorian style collar & wore that. It was 30 bucks!





And, to top it all off (for now), here is my infamous toe shot, instead of the ring shot, lol. I only got a few feet here, but lemme tell ya...those feet were the bomb diggity!



Okay, so more pics to come later from the shower!

Just Give Me A Sign...

I am considering purchasing one of these chic custom signs to display at our reception. Not only will people know where they are, lol, but they will do so in style.

The signs sell for $36 at Wedding Chick's shop on Etsy.com.

***Edit*** I just re-visited page, & signs are now $44 plus shipping

On The Prowl!

For these ziploc sandwich bags:



I plan to make little "Survival Kits" for my Maid of Honor, as well as my mom, fiance's mom and my two girlfriends who are serving as DOC's. Here's what they will look like:



I plan on using a black & white tab attached to the damask sandwich bag. If not, I can always go for the free bags that I already have in my cabinet, lol.

I will put the following in these bags:

Tylenol
Bandaids
Tic Tacs
Sugar Free Gum
Deodorant
Tampons (except our moms)
Kleenex


Everything will be from The Dollar Store, or Target's $1 section. I received the images from http://www.weddingbycolor.com/amcs76. You can also download free templates there for the kit toppers! Here's another site for free templates:
http://www.yourweddingwardrobe.com.au/blog/?p=1016

You can also put the items in clear cellophane bags. The options are endless!

Reserved Seating Signs

It's still a work in progress. I was trying to get away from the traditional dimensions, & do more of a 'panoramic' style card. I used some cardstock & scroll scrapbook paper that I had on hand here, but I only had enough for one sign, lol, so I only have my dad's posted tonight. I am going to play around with embossing & some other styles next week, so I will post as I complete. Overall, I'm pretty pleased. I don't want damask or chandelier overkill, so I am happy about the texture of this style.

Oh, & yes I am the one who tied that bow. No, I did not get a monkey to do it. Yes, I am struggling with that bow. Carry on. There's nothing more to see here.

A Lovely Parasol!

This Posy Parasol was found on Martha Stewart's website, with a diy link here: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2009Q2/msw_spr09_parasolpetaltemplate.pdf


I can't wait to make this! I just need a 28inch parasol, crepe paper & the above template for the flower. I think this will make beautiful pictures, & better yet, my Flower Girl can enjoy it afterwards!

I Need Help!

Okay, so..I really don't want to spend an arm & a leg on something to wear for my Bridal Shower, but it's like I have nothing to wear! I look in my closet, & it's just screaming "BORING" to me! I can't complain...I do have nice clothes, but I just can't find anything that seems Shower worthy :)

I am feeling extra thick & bloated this week, so I'm trying to cut the salt, sugar & soft drinks that I sometimes hang out with, lol. That will help me to feel better about whatever I decide to wear. I've been looking online for some outfit inspiration, and could really use your help. For starters, I need a low, v-neck or scoop neckline, because I will be wearing this baby for my necklace (not the earrings):




It's by Maylui Designs on Etsy! I heart this necklace, & although the pendant looks the size of a baby seal, it is actually 50 mm long, which translates to about 2 inches :) Since this is a pretty sized chunk, my earrings will be simple, & so will my attire.

And, I was checking out White House Black Market for a nice dress, because I love their clean lines.

Should I go Black?


Or White?



Or Both?


The dresses are great at White House Black Market, but are really more than what I'd prefer to spend for one day. The dresses I chose are over the $100 mark, but I can't justify spending more on a dress for my Shower than I did for my own wedding dress! Yep...I like nice things, but I try to cut where I can. I know I will get more use out of anything I buy there, but the pics above are inspiration, so please let me know which is your fave! I'm thinking I can find a similar style at Ross or TJ Maxx for less. Any suggestions? I'm open!

Monogram Repost

My FH & I have a total of 6 monograms, 4 from Delovely Designs Blogspot & 2 from Jessica's Designshop. About 4 of them had our wedding date on them, but as you know, we are waiting to secure our true date. With that being said, Charlotte of Delovely Designs & Jessica of her self-named Designshop revised our monograms to be dateless. This is the safe way for me to continue planning & printing things going forth! And quite honestly. I just love monograms. If I didn't have so many other things to take care of, I would order 10 more monograms! If you haven't seen the all of my project eye candy, here they are:


This lovely thang adorns our Out of Town boxes. I simply love it.


This pretty number graces our aisle runner...


No home for this little piggy yet....


Or this one....


I'm thinking of incorporating this into our Program design or something...


Any suggestions for this design?



Or this one? I'm thinking maybe for the matchboxes. This monogram is from Etsy. Seller is Wedding Monograms.

We already have water bottle labels for the out of town boxes, & I haven't planned on doing any more, but it's always a possibility closer to the wedding. I would use the extra water bottles for our reception. Maybe 1 of the designs for our Sparkling Cider bottles (for the toast)..

Also, one of the designs will be printed onto our Welcome Booklets (going into the OOT boxes).

I probably won't use any of the monograms for our paper napkins. I already have a simple chandelier motif selected from www.foryourparty.com (where I am ordering napkins).

I won't need any monograms for our favors. That's done.

Any other suggestions?

An Award....For Me?!

I have to say thanks to www.Zimchic.wordpress.com!!! She was kind enough to gift this award to me for having a 'Lovely Bridal Blog'. So exciting!

The Rules:

1) Accept the award and post it on your blog along with the name of the person who gave you the award and a link to their blog.

2) Pass the award along to 15 lovely blogs you’ve recently discovered, remembering to let them know they’ve won by leaving them a comment! Man.....15 is a lot of blogs to come up with!

The Lovely Winners:

1.) Fabulous Planning & Consultation Blog- http://www.heidzillas.com
2.) Detailed Wedding Info- http://weddingcabaret.blogspot.com/
3.) Local Photography Blog- http://www.jeremyigo.com/blog/ (uber fabulous)
4.)Fashion Blog-http://iamfashion.blogspot.com/
5.) Baking Blog- http://sweettreatsbakingblog.blogspot.com/ (because yall know I love to eat)
6.)Southern Food Blog- http://sweetbytesblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/serving-up-sunshine-sweet-potato.html (because again, yall know I love to eat, lol)
7.) Hair Care- http://mynewhairattitude.wordpress.com/ (she is the total business)
8.) Do Your Own Invitations Blog- http://www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com/do-it-yourself-invitations-blog.html
9.) All things Paper- http://designsbytine.blogspot.com

My other recommendations are coming soon! For now, I'm off to work!

Centerpiece Partial Trial- Phase I

Well, I decided it's about time to narrow down exactly what I want for my centerpieces. I pretty much know the elements that I want, but not the specific visual. Some things that I will include are:

Diamond Confetti, some type of table square or runner, lots of candles, a vase with a floral arrangement resting on top. Here's a few pics of the vases I made...





The pics are very plain. I dont have the plates pictured, & I am not sure if I'm keeping the tiffany blue ribbon/band in the same place on the vase. I am also considering adding feathers to the base of the peony pomander (a few feathers are added in one of the pics). Also, I bought some aqua blue rhinestone trim to hot glue onto my votive vases in a sortof zigzag fashion.




For the base, I used a cylinder vase from the Dollar Store, double sided tape & flocked Damask scrapbook paper.

::Sigh::

I really, really want one of these stunning hair combs for my Bridal Shower (and beyond). The prices start in the low $60's and go up from there.






I just can't afford any of them. I already need to find something to wear, & with all the little things I've been trying to tackle this month, it's just not in the budget. If you'd like to visit the shoppe, check out Belle Nouvelle Designs' wonderful place on Etsy. :)

Giving Thanks

Above Image from Curlygomes on Etsy

If you've been hanging out with me & my blog lately, you'll be familiar with the Bridal Shower festivities that are a mere 14 days away!!

So, with that being said, I want to be prepared with a personalized thank you card to give within the first few days of receiving gifts. I plan to go thru Vista Print for printing services, since they're affordable & I can get postcards for free right now. I haven't played around with many designs, but here are a few that I am considering:








Just a sidenote: The colors for the Shower will be Tiffany Blue with Red accents, but for the thank you card, I just am being very open. I like so many elements, & I really don't care to be matchy-matchy, but prefer to be fun & classy.

If you guys have any suggestions or fondness of any particular design(s), please let me know! I am trying to hurry up & get something decided next week. :)

I can't Wait!

To stand with my FH, & light our beautiful crystal embellished Unity Candle.


Handmade by the awesome Domestic Divas Fancy, on Etsy.com.


Ashley, with Domestic Divas Fancy worked up a couple of designs for me & even after I ok'd the first design, she hesitated sending the candle out to me right away, because she knew my taste even better, and ended up presenting me with my current Chandelier Chic candle! You just can't ask for anything more than a Seller who is actually out for quality work, rather than making a buck. To ensure that I was pleased, and talk to me in the weeee hours of the morning in securing my vision is astounding! Also, it's a little hard to read in the pic, but I Corinthians 13:13 scripture is at the bottom of the candle. It reads: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Of course, the Unity Candle isn't all about it's looks. The meaning is everything to me. To become one with my FH and his family means the world to me, so get ready for the ugly cry photos during the lighting, lol...

Be sure to visit her shop & convo her even if an item you're searching for isn't there. She can do most anything that is requested! And on top of that, she'll make sure you're pleased!

Guest "Book" Revision

To update my previous post about my Bridal Shower Guest Book, I am now using a platter for my guests to sign. I love it, as I can display it later. I STILL love the custom guestbooks, but the platter was a gift, and well.....more money in my pockets is always a plus :) Here's a couple of pics. The platter is from AC Moore.




Although it's a bummer to not be using the chic guestbook, I am very pleased with the platter, and will be sure to take pics of the signed keepsake!

Lollipop Goodies

I can't wait to make this, only with a jumbo lollipop (swirl tiffany blue)!


So that I can cluster several of them into a bouquet form, sorta like this:


It will be for the kiddies...

If you would like to purchase this size & pay the full price, check out www.accenttheparty.com

Coming Soon....

I have about 30 days (or less) before I get to see our Wedding Cardbox! I love many different styles of cardboxes....from cages, to mailboxes to cake-style boxes, but once I found Shea Chic Designs on Etsy last year, I knew I had to stop there.

I actually placed my order back in late March, & the seller is really full with custom work, so if you like what you see on her shop, I recommend placing your order in plenty of time before the wedding. Fortunately for me, we are pushing our wedding date back anyway, so it only gives me more time to have the box before the wedding! Yay :)

So, a few descriptions about my box is that it has more than one tier, it has more than one shape, & it is inspired by a cake I found months ago. I think it is even in this blog somewhere:) My box is not yet featured in the seller's shop, as it is one of a kind! So, I am uber excited, and I can't wait to share it with you guys!

Far Above Rubies

So, I am in the process of getting the gifts together & finalized for our Wedding Party. Included in the gifts will be personalized T-Shirts. I wanted to go untraditional with this project, & steer away from the ever popular shirts with wedding party roles on the front (or back). As much as I love them ( and will probably be wearing a "bride" shirt myself), I just wanted to gift something to them that will actually reflect them, not a role.

As a sneak peek, I am sharing my Matron of Honor's shirt design with you guys. Her shirt design stemmed from a favorite chapter in the Bible; Proverbs 31. In a nutshell, A Proverbs 31 woman has a worth and value far above measure. She is excellent in person, and character, & she has great generosity, influence & devotion. That is my Matron of Honor (and more).



I still have many more to share with you all, once they are completed. I have our Flower Girl, Ring Bearers, Groomsmen, & even my ex-Maid of Honor because I had already started on her gifts before she was dismissed from the wedding party. I am also considering transferring just the graphic, or just the scripture onto a tote bag for my MOH....Each shirt will be rolled, & tied in damask ribbon, and included with the other gifts.

Stay tuned for more pics!

Sign me Up!!

I found a guestbook for my Bridal Shower! Yayyyy! Well, lemme rephrase that: I found a STUNNING guestbook for my Bridal Shower! Yayyyy!

Actually, TheHandmadeBoutique on Etsy.com is creating a custom guestbook for yours truly, and the seller actually understands the beauty of Tiffany Blue, as she used it in her own wedding! There are specials going on at the shop, so check it out quickly while awesome offers last! You guys all know that I'm all about saving some bucks!!!

Here is just a taste of styles from The Handmade Boutique's delicious store!




Yep...those are Swarvoski Crystals on Dupioni Silk :) So Chic!


Polaroid Guest Books..



I absolutely LOVE when I convo a seller & they take the time to put my request first. I emailed seller this evening, & we've already carried a full blown convo, got the order set, & are ready to go. Just like that.

As far as the design of my guestbook goes...that is a surprise! I will certainly post pics of the finished product! In the meantime, checkout The Handmade Boutique's Flickr account, which displays a lovely variety of fabrics & completed guestbooks to drool over. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehandmadeboutique/

What's Your Sign.....

I knew I shoulda went on to bed. But nooooooooooooooooooooo, I had to roll up on Etsy! I fell in serious like, when I saw these:








I would love to have one of these on the guestbook table to direct guests to the reception, or on an easel somewhere..I don't know. I'm thinking of where one of these shabby chic signs would go best...Or, our names & wedding date would be beautiful, then we could display it as a keepsake in our home.

Seller is Signs by Diane!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Rah Rah for Damask!

Ordinary Aqua Blue pompoms from The Dollar Tree



Wrapped in Damask Packing Tape


Turns into another fun goodie to add to the kid's favor paint cans for the reception.

I purchased the packing tape (damask) from www.organize.com

The Evolution of a Cupcake Stand...

I started on my Cupcake stand last night. I gradually pulled my little styrofoam cake "dummies" out.....


And began wrapping Tiffany Blue satin ribbon from Micheal's around the circumference. Securing with pearl corsage pins....


I also traced each cardboard cake platter onto my Damask wrapping paper that I bought at Hobby Lobby during the holidays, & then began cutting away.....



A simple glue stick did the trick to attach the wrapping paper to the cardboard cake platters. I then positioned each wrapped cardboard piece on top of the styrofoam cakes, cascading into a tier effect. Here's a view from the top. If you look closely, you can see my sparkly cake topper....


I added rhinestone trim with my handy dandy hot glue gun(I purchased by the yard at Hobby Lobby. Be sure to use a coupon for this stuff, as it adds up QUICKLY).




And here's a glance of the pearl corsage pins....



The fact that my pins aren't lined up evenly disturbs me, so I will correct that before the Big day:)

Here's an overall shot....
Try to imagine our cake on top (to cut) & cupcakes on each tier.

I might take the last tier off because the last two are the same size/width. It really should be larger for a more tiered effect, but maybe I'll just leave it be.

Speaking of using your imagination, here's the Filigree Cupcake Wraps that I ordered. They will not be assembled until a week or so before the wedding....




They'll end up looking something like this....


And because space seems to be somewhat limited on this cupcake stand, I am also making little individual damask "pedestals" to display extra cupcakes, maybe of different flavors. I might as well use what I have here on hand...





Please share your thoughts! I'm open to suggestions :)
Thanks for visiting!

Flower Power....Attempt #1

This is a bouquet teaser that I am working on with peonies, full bloom roses & crystal embellishments, & feathers...

I really wanted to order all the flowers from Etsy, but it got really costly, plus I wanted to personalize this myself. I am still planning to order my bouquet from Etsy, but I even played around with that tonight as well. I used things that I already had here. For the bouquet, maybe I can let my MOH carry it, or use it in the toss??

Oh, & try to give the photos the benefit of the doubt. I was using my phone. I'm accepting any pity here, because I did a sorta shabby job, & I'm not talkin' shabby chic.


For The Groom....

I went with a Magnolia, because it has caught my eye in the whole search process for my FH. It's big & romantic, just like him :)

For His Guys....


I haven't wrapped the stem in ribbon yet, so please use your imagination :)

For Our Moms....





Here is the "bracelet" all stretched out (and wrinkled, lol).
I took a rough pic here, with the tail of the ribbon hanging off the side of my wrist...sorry! I really think this will look nice with brooches, so I may do the flower ribbon wristlets for the women who are helping with the wedding party (greeters, cardbox attendant, etc..), & the brooches for our moms. I'll post the final pics..For some reason, the ribbon looks more teal, almost emerald in the pics, but it is actually an iridescent aqua/tiffany blue. It matches my Matron of Honor's dress perfectly. I still have some tightening up to do on each flower, but this is my very first attempt at floral things, so I'll keep at it til I get it right.

Don't Forget the Dollar Tree!

A few months ago, I was in The Dollar Tree & came across some really nice dishes that will work for our head table.



I like the fact that they're not totally damask, but they have that damask look. Very filigree-esque. Plus, for a set of 24 pieces, they are only $24! The set comes with 8 plates, 8 bowls & 8 mugs. This is the set that is available at Dollartree.com. I can always purchase ala carte in a local store. We probably won't need the mugs, but the set provides enough for my Wedding Party, without having to rent. Plus, Smoochieface & I can keep the dinnerware later in our home.



They also have quality glassware to choose from. Of course, it's not the stuff you buy at Macy's, but if you take the time to look through some of their heavier pieces, they serve the purpose very well.



As for our guests....we plan to do a faux china in bulk to cut costs. Plus, being that we are having friends from Culinary School prepare & setup the food, I want to have minimal cleanup. Faux china is the way to go for us, being that it is easy cleanup, & still stylish.

Have You Ever...

Have you ever met someone so sweet that you just may feel like you must have been on your best behavior in order to meet them? Lol, I have! I actually haven't met Ashley Cornewell, of Domestic Divas Fancy, but I have had the honor to chit chat with her online. Domestic Divas Fancy is on Etsy.com, and Ashley is also a fellow blogger.


http://domesticdivasfancy.blogspot.com/ Check out her Fabulous Blog!

First of all, so that you know a little history, I am ordering my Unity Candle from Ashley. Her work is beautiful, & her prices are wallet friendly. I was so flattered that a woman of her calibur had even visited (plus commented) my blog. I felt like a celebrity, lol. :) When I contacted Ashley about my interest in her candles, she soon replied with a thoughtful gesture to help me with tackling my long list of wedding 'to-do's'. It may not seem like much to most, but I respect & understand the hard work that alot of Etsy sellers (and beyond) have to invest into their online services, other careers, blogs, family, etc., and for her to offer with such a genuine interest is very humbling & appreciated!

Not only that, but a friend of mine contacted me on like a minute's notice to create some signage for a Housewarming (Polka Dot) Ice Cream Shower. She needed the signs asap, & because I really wasn't able to do all she needed in the time frame, I asked a couple of people, including Ashley. She was the only one who responded, & even sent images to me dispite a major storm in her area knocking out her use of a computer. She was more concerned about me getting my signs, & actually apologized to me, after all she had been through.

She used the colors & words that my friend requested, & created exactly what was asked of her. Here's a peek (hopefully I can show you guys pictures of these files in use)! :



We requested an Ice Cream Shoppe sign, a "Celebrate" sign, & a "Rejoice". Unfortunately, my computer is not uploading the other designs Ashley came up with, but I will post them at a later date, if possible.

Thanks Ashley!

Shake Your Budoir

Although I haven't officially marked my calendar for my Budoir Photos, I got in the spirit over the weekend & started taking some of my own, just to see how "creative" I could get on camera. The difficult part was that I was pretty bootleg by using my Blackberry, so you can imagine that I had to be VERY creative with my angles & leverage, lol. But, it was very fun, & I could see my best and not so best features on camera. By the way, I do have a digital camera (a Christmas gift), but the screen is shattered internally somehow. I have to get it fixed or go get another
:(, so I used what I had.

I would love to share, but they turned into more adult pics, than tastefully budoir, lol, so please just use your imagination here! They really aren't that bad, lol, but not for internet sharing. I'm trying to keep everything low key until I get the official budoir pics back. My plan for my photos is to compile them into a magazine style gift. Something like Maxim or King Magazine. I will have to get creative with the layout of the magazine (with very little text, lol), but I think Mr. Bridal Bliss will really enjoy it! Here's some photo inspiration (I also have more photos in an older post from 08).


Who the heck can compete with Stacey Dash!?!? But hey, this is my 'cover' inspiration:)




With all that being said, I wanted to share with you some very helpful information from Weddingbee. They have provided a wealth of knowledge to consider whether you are doing your own pics, or hiring a professional. I am hoping to hook up with my cyber sis, (Gorgeous) Ebonee at Becoming His Mrs. Blogspot, this fall to do pics the same day, down in Florida! I think this could be so much fun! Anyhoo, here are the tips from Weddingbee.....

Boudoir pictures, also known as intimate photos, are a very popular gift for your fiance or spouse. The word "boudoir" can be translated to mean "a woman's private dressing room, sitting room or bedroom." These photos are sexy photos of you, usually taken by a professional photographer. They can be taken in your own home, a hotel room or in a studio.

You can dress in anything you feel comfortable in, anything that your fiance or spouse would like to see you in. Suggestions include: a favorite shirt of your fiance, various items of lingerie, swim wear and undergarments. Boudoir photos are not necessarily nude photos, and most of the time they aren't. The illusion of nudity is often seen as more sexy than actual nudity.


TIPS

1.) A helpful mindset to have when taking boudoir pics is: don't take any photos that you couldn't show your best friend.
Get inspired before taking your photos by checking out other boudoir portfolios -- Maxim magazine covers are also a good inspiration for interesting setups.
Sometimes, the photographer will have a stylist available (usually someone with professional modeling experience) to help you get the right pose for each outfit/session.

2.) Bring a friend along that may help you with making sure "nothing is hanging out."

3.) Look for a photographer whose photos you love, and not necessarily a "boudoir" photographer.

4.) Bring a fan and music for the shoot.

5.) A good photographer will highlight your best assets so be proud of your body.

6.) Ask if you can chat with previous clients to get a feel for what the style of the photographer is like.

7.) Be comfortable with yourself--and talk to the photographer before you bare it all to see what they want to shoot, what they are hoping to get out of the session, and most importantly, what you want to get out of the session!

8.) A good boudoir photographer will ask questions like "Is there any particular feature that your fiance loves or that makes you feel especially good about yourself?" or "What body part would you like to me avoid taking pictures of?" (this is mainly why I experimented ALONE this weekend. SometimesI look different on camera from the way I feel that I look).

9.)If you book a hotel room for the shoot ask the front desk to assign you to a room facing the sunrise if you are doing an AM shoot, or the sunset if you are doing a sunset shoot. This will give your photographer the best possible light to work with. Hotels typically do room assignments 2-3 days before the actual date of your stay.
Don't forget to take some smiling, laughing, bright and happy shots as well. Your guy probably likes seeing you with a smile on your face as much as he likes seeing you play the role of the seductress.

POPULAR PROPS
Including items that have meaning to your fiance make it more personal.

Favorite Sports Team souveneir, like a jersey or football
If he loves playing guitar, include it in a few shots
If you are shooting somewhere with a bathtub, fill it with flowers, bubbles, milk, or other floating things and take some fun bathtub shots.


BUDOIR ATTIRE
http://www.victoriassecret.com/
http://www.trashy.com/
http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/
http://www.agentprovocateur.com/

WEDDINGBEE POSTS
http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/08/26/my-diy-boudoir-photos/ from Miss Candy Corn
http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/08/25/a-bare-hydrangea/ from Mrs.Hydrangea
http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/08/17/tonys-girls/ from Mrs.Onion

Cardbox

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned Crystal Heagerty's Shop at Etsy.com, who is completing my cardbox for my Bridal Shower in May. I must say that Crystal is super friendly, & keeps her word on product deadlines, because she just emailed me photos of my completed cardbox, & I am SO pleased AND excited to get it in the mail! She totally nailed it!




I love Photo Cardboxes, and this one just has a different, chic feel to it than alot of the other styles I've seen. I love that it is uncommon, & I can completely change the look with different photos later on.




One of the Best things about Crystal is that her prices are really affordable for a Bride on a budget.

Date Change Postcards

{Just click the image to better see the text}

I LOVE it! Charlotte, at Delovely Designs Blogspot totally caught my vision & ran with it. I wanted something whimsical, with a slight retro feel. I wanted it to be fun! I had searched online previously for 'postponed wedding announcements', & it seemed like there was nothing. Whatever I could find was very bland or traditional. Not us.

Anyhoo, these announcements are getting printed & sent out asap for our out of town guests.

Happy Friday!

Narrowing down the LIST

As most of you know, I keep another blog at Wedding by Color, where I can sortof "scrapbook" my wedding planning ideas & comment with lots of other brides about our happenings.

Well, while on the forum, I have had the honor of meeting some awesome brides, one of which is selling me a damask trifle bowl & her crystal tree. I got the combo for a great deal this way, & the tree is something I've ALWAYS wanted near the entrance of our reception (wherever the heck that's gonna be, lol). I plan to have it on a place card or guestbook table. Here's a few lovely photos of what I'm getting:



You may notice a hint of purple crystals blended in. She of course had a purple wedding, but I won't be needing them. I am considering hanging a few full bloom white roses, peonies or orchids from just a few crystal strands.



And the cement trifle bowl:



I believe that the seller used this for holding her bubble wands. I might steal this idea for the kids. Not sure just yet. I might use it for our send-off sparklers... Any suggestions?

Wedding Date Updates

So.....new wedding date updates are that there are none, lol! My wonderful fiance & I are taking our time right now with the executing plans & such, and waiting until the job/career status is secured until buckling down our true wedding date.

In the meantime, our out of town guests REALLY need to know what is going on, so I contacted Charlotte over at Delovely Designs Blogspot a few weeks back to come up with a fun, to the point announcement to mail out to everyone who received a Save-the-Date a few months back....mainly our out of towners.

It's pretty easy for us to contact most by phone, but some have been unreachable. And, not all of our guests have email. I probably also coulda just typed something, but I opted for something a little more creative. However, once we reset our date, I will not spend another dime on Save-the-Dates. We will invest in our invitations & pray that everyone can still attend.

Stay tuned for our "Moved Date" announcement. I will post it as soon as Charlotte completes it.

Tag....I'm It!

Thanks to Future Mrs. D, over at http://gettingmymrs.blogspot.com/, I have officially been tagged! Fun stuff! Thanks Mrs. D!!!

The Rules are as Follows:
1. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs for brilliance in content/design.
2. Show the winners and let them know.
3. List at least 10 honest things about yourself.

So for my ten honest things:

1- I am not a fan of "Speidi", aka Heidi & Spencer from The Hills, however, I think that Heidi's hair is fabulous.
2- My favorite breakfast cereals are Fruit Loops, Capn' Crunch, Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal & Cream of Wheat.
3- I've discovered I'm very much into the little details.
4- I like to talk to my fiance on the phone before I start my day, & right before I go to sleep. He means that much to me, & I tend to feel a little off when this routine is interrupted.
5- I don't have severe road rage, but I HATE when people cut me off & don't wave to say "thanks", & I also HATE when people speed out in front of me, then drive slow. Why didn't they stay in a hurry? I also don't like when people leave their turn signal on. Uggh!
6- I've always prided myself as being understanding. Who's perfect? Not me. Not you. So why judge? I don't have the time to make someone into who I want them to be. I've learned that God is VERY good at what HE does. Why mess with it. Well....lemme make a contradiction :::clearing throat::: I mean, exception here. I guess I do want to judge the people in #5. Lol..
7- I'm always looking to see what I can help with, improve or create. As you know, I love the details. I love to see others fulfilled & blessed in all ways. If I can be a part of that, I am elated.
8- I'm a lover not a fighter. But if you mess with my Smoochieface, or hurt my family, then it's fair game, lol. Don't say I didn't warn you. :)
9- I love romance. It dosen't have to be roses delivered every Friday, but an occasional message to say "I love You", or cooking me dinner, or just some quality time is everything to me. Show interest. If you love someone, show it. We don't have forever.
10- I love Chick Flics! Put on The Notebook, My Bestfriend's Wedding, Steel Magnolias, & I'm a wrap! I love to eat Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream from Baskin Robbins, or Haagen Daaz plain Vanilla (theirs is the only Vanilla I like). I love doing my toenails, & my new fetish is strappy heels in funky colors! Well, maybe I just got carried away & tried to blend a few into one answer, but hey, I had to mention some food on here!

Now I get to tag a few divas!!! They include:

Purr-fection at http://purrfectlyimperfect.blogspot.com/

Okay, okay. This is soooo bootleg, but yall... I don't even feel like typing the rest of the names! Please forgive me! My "details" aren't working right now, so just let this be a to be continued....

I promise to post the rest of the wonderful tagees this week! xoxoxo

Shower Plans

Despite our wedding date being pushed a little further out, my Bridal Shower will stay put! My sister is the fabulous Matron of Honor, and she has teamed up with my awesome friends near & far to put together a Spa Day Bridal Shower, at the Embassy Suites! It will take place at the end of May!! I am totally elated!

The theme is an 'Around the Clock' theme, which means that the guest can bring something for any time of day. For example, "Sally Sue" might bring a coffee maker for some A.M. brew.....or "Linda Mae" might bring some sexeeeee lingerie for the midnight hour. The options are limitless.

The whole Spa thing comes into the agenda for those who may be up for any pampering & additional time with yours truly, aka the bride to be! My sister has lined up a time for lunch & the Shower, and for those who want manicures, pedicures, massages, or any additional spa services, they can stay for the "after party" to have those things done. It's different, & just a good time for all of us ladies. There are even room availabilites at discounted rates for those who have traveled, or simply want a night out. I am one of those girls, lol.

So, with all that being said, say hello to my little friend...the Gorgeous Shower Cardbox:



Try to imagine this cardbox in white, with tiffany blue satin ribbon, rather than the hot pink. I love this particular cardbox because it is like a memoboard, where our engagement photos will be displayed. The seller (from Etsy, of course, lol) takes care of everything including the photos being matted. The photos will be from our Engagement session, in black & white. Here's a few more shots:





I am looking into getting a complimenting guestbook from the same seller. The cardbox is from the super nice Crystal Heagerty's Shop, & her turnaround time seems to be pretty good. I will post the finished product as soon as it comes in!! I can't wait :)

Pretty Dress

So, about a month ago I mentioned a beautiful little dress for my beautiful little neice to wear on my wedding day. Well, I received the dress about a week or two ago, & although it wasn't really what I was expecting, I still like it very much! The above pic is an upclose shot of 1 of the 2 flowers the seller sent me. She was so kind as to send me one in a blueish, aqua shade, as well as white, so that I could pick which one I liked the most!

The quality is really nice, & in person, it is very lovely! I will add more tulle though. I was a little deceived by the original pic. The seller is Sweetplume in Etsy.

Here is the pretty paper the dress was wrapped up in when I received it:



I purposely went up a size, because of our date change. I will probably get a satin sash to match the MOH dress. Other than that, it's a wrap!



Please excuse the polka dot attire, lol. I slipped the dress on top of Tayler's pj's. :) These photos were taken with my phone, so they're a little dark..

Photo Guestbook In Progress!

So, some time ago, I mentioned to you guys that we will have a Damask photo guestbook at the reception. Well, after many days, I finally uploaded the rest of our engagement photos & will order the book soon. Here is a glimpse of the cover:


I can't seem to save & upload the other pages to show you!! Sorry!! I am ordering the book from www.photoworks.com.

TGIF!

Happy Friday to everyone. Ummmm.....that is all, lol.

I Love These!

I've seen these damask flip flops online before, but never gave much consideration to providing comfy shoes for guests as they dance their pretty little toes off. But, after seeing them again on The Knot, from Katie & Jeff's 'Real Wedding', I am about to start scouring The Dollar Store (where bride found these).

The List

Wow. I sat down tonight & made an updated list for everything needed for our wedding. On my actual Word Doct, I have strikethroughs to show me what has been completed, but on here, they are not evident. So, just imagine that I am only 50% done. Looks like having more time added to my plate was really in my favor.

I mainly am posting this here to help me keep up with my progress. Please just carry on....nothing much to see here. :)


Ceremony
Pomanders (almost done)
Aisle Vases
Aisle Runner
Unity Candle
Manzanita Arrangements for Altar
Music List
Floating Candles for Aisle
Programs
Venue
Bouquets
Ring Bearer Signs
Flower Girl’s Pomander Ball
Crystal Strands with Flowers for Altar (almost done)
Tears of Joy Packets

Reception
Cake/Bakery
Cupcake Stand
Table Linens
Chair Linens
Book DJ
Music List
Centerpieces
Candles
Cardbox Ordered
Crystal Tree
Place Cards
Table Numbers
Menus
Venue
Guestbook(s)
Toasting Flute/Cake Cutting Set
Favors
Bathroom Baskets
Frames
Photos for Frames
Photo Sharing Cards Ordered
Vases
Diamond Confetti
Damask Tablecloth for Placecard Table
Chargers for Head Table
Disposable China: Plates, cups, utensils
Personalized Napkins for Dessert
Napkins for Dinner
Led Lights
Book Food (Kapresha finalizing menu)
Slide Show Arrangement
Sparklers
Matches

Apparel
Fiance’s Ring
Buy Dress
Order Tux
Bridal Party Dress
Groomsmen Tux
Ring Bearers Tux
Flower Girl’s Dress
My Shoes
My Earrings
My Necklace
My Veil
Bridal Party Jewelry
Boutonierres
Corsages
Hair Trial
Makeup Trial
Undergarments
Lace Bolero
Bride Bling Jacket
Garter
Shoe Clips
Brooch for Shannon’s Bracelet
Chandelier Clip-ons for Shannon

Rehearsal Dinner
Pizza, Chicken Alfredo, & Salad
Sliced Pound Cake & Gourmet Ice Cream Bars
CD’s for Music
Invites
Games

Misc.
Set a Date
Mail Date Change Notices
Book Photographer
Order Invites (Design is Set)
Engagement Pics
Honeymoon
Book Hair Appt.
Book Makeup
Guest List & Addresses
Get Marriage License
Mail Wedding Invites
Out of Town Boxes
MOH Gifts
DOC Gifts
Parent & Pastor Gifts
Wedding Party Gifts
Book wedding night room

Earring Update

I received my earrings from Velvet Olive on Etsy, & all I can say is WOWZA!

The seller was super sweet & paid close attention to detail in making my perfect, custom earrings. They are tear drop, Austrian Swarvoski crystals, with silver findings & settings. I didn't want studs, I wanted something that felt more like "me". The stones are 30mm, almost 1 1/2 inches:).



I tried them on with my necklace from my great grandma, & it's a perfect match.

Heller-o Bolero!

Okay, maybe that was a little cheezy, but I was mixing up how Madea would say hello, & rhyming it with Bolero....yep, it's been a long week.

So...lemme give some great news first. I got my bolero! Yay! I eyed it for a long while on Etsy & actually debated between 2 different styles. One was from seller Rohm, the other from seller Maryangelika. What was extra sweet is that my aunt actually gifted the bolero of my choice to me, so I went the modestly priced, couture style:




It is white lace with intricate beading, & I received it this week in the mail. All I can say is that the pics really don't do it justice. I was completely overjoyed when I tried it on! I am very grateful, & it is the perfect touch to my dress. However, it is alot of lace with my Mantilla veil. I don't plan on getting rid of it though (the veil). A birdcage veil would look awesome with it, but I am not going back on my first choice.

Now to the "other news" (I don't believe in bad news. News is news). I lost my Maid of Honor. Well, actually I sorta fired her. It's a long story, & very hurtful, so I will not elaborate, but the base is that things haven't been what I really thought they'd be, & rather than having an uninvolved body present on my wedding day, rather than a best friend, I felt it best to severe it now.

The other-other news is that I will no longer be a June bride. Sigh. My fiance & I have to move the wedding date, yet again. I do not have a date to announce just yet, but yes, we are still getting married, & very much in love, and it's nothing bad that he did, lol. We are facing circumstances beyond our control, so I am continuing to trust & fully rely on God. He has everything well covered, & as frustrated & hurt as I am, I know that He does not make mistakes. I am grateful that He has still shown us such mercy, despite how things may seem.

As my relief, I am packing in between the typing. I am just going for the weekend to spend time alone at a Hilton Garden Inn in South Carolina. My sister had gotten me a rate at 1/4 of the original price a few weeks back, & it couldn't be more on time. I'd love to invite my Smoochieface, or a girlfriend or my mom to just have a girl's weekend, but I really could use this time for myself for a change...just to breathe & cry a little. I think I'll just sleep til noon (I haven't had that in soooo long), & eat loaded nachos in bed, & go catch a movie. The weather is supposed to be beautiful tomorrow & Sunday, so I am way looking forward to my secret getaway!

Everyone have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

P.S. I will post my cupcake stand soon. I have been very slack, but I'm almost finished!

Pretty Clutches

I am a huge fan of handbags, especially clutches. I found these stunners on Etsy today, & am considering purchasing 1 or 2 for my friend, who is serving as our Day of Coordinator, and maybe my Matron of Honor as well. I think that any of these would look awesome with my MOH's dress!






Seller Shakukayu.

Here I Come :)

I got my ring bearer's banners (my twin nephews) back from Etsy yesterday, & I'm really excited about them. They are small enough for each stud to carry on his own:



Here's pretty much what it'll look like as they each come down the aisle.
Hopefully it'll loosen up my Future Hubby's nerves as he waits for me to come to meet him at the altar. :)

A New Dress :)

For Tayler!! Here she is enjoying her cup o' snow a couple of weeks ago.