Bridesmaids By My Side

My fiance and I are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives and are very excited to have many of them be a part of our bridal party.  Being surrounded by those closest to John and I will make the wedding that much more special!

When asking friends and family to be my bridesmaids, I wanted to make the experience special so I sent each of them a personalized card.

{Courtesy of Dazzling Expressions Handcrafted Event Stationary}

Whether it is a personalized card, a special piece of jewelry, or a unique frame to display a picture of you and your bridesmaids, your girls will love the personal touch and its something they can hold on to for years to come!

Cufflinks

Regardless of whether or not the groom will wear them again, cufflinks are an accessory totally worth investing in for the big day.  Rather than the traditional silver or gold cufflinks, why not select something that truly reflects personality and interests such as a favorite sports team or movie, or better yet personalize them with the wedding date and names of the bride and groom.  The possibilities are endless, many of which will not break the bank.

{Courtesy of ConnieGibbens}

{Courtesy of Cuftlynx}

My fiance, John recently picked out the following on Etsy and they are absolutely perfect.  He loves his boy, Abe!

{Courtesy of Belamodaartist}

Congratulations to Bridal Buzz

My sister-in-law's blog, Bridal Buzz is featured in the the January issue of BRIDES Magazine as one of the top 10 bridal blogs!  Kristin's blog, Bridal Buzz is praised for its' creative DIY wedding projects and unique invitation ideas. 

Congratulations, Kristin!  You certainly deserve this amazing recognition and then some!

So what are you waiting for...check out Bridal Buzz today!

Ring Bowl

A fabulous spin on the classic ring bearer pillow - a ring bowl.  This beautiful peice created by Paloma's Nest can be personalized with couples' names, a phrase from their vows or the wedding date.  Unlike a pillow, this is something you can continue to cherish and display for years.

The First Dance

Oh, the first dance as Mr. & Mrs.  What a magical moment for all newlyweds, I know I'm looking forward to mine!  So why not spotlight this special moment in the begining of the reception?  When the formal announcement is made to welcome the bride and groom, go right into the first dance rather than waiting until after dinner when you are less likely to have everyone's attention.  Plus, I think it would be a neat way to lead into thanking your guests for being a part of your special day. 

[Photo courtesy of Toole Art Photography]

Real Wedding Fridays: Country Romance

Each Friday, I will feature a real wedding that has brought inspiration to me and perhaps will spark an idea for you as well.  I continue to be floored by the amount of creativity and personality behind these weddings and I feel the need to share with you all!  I hope you enjoy!

Today's real wedding features one with rustic charm and clean, modern style. 

Everything about this wedding screams casual romance!  I adore the invitations - A Summer Fairy Tale.  What guest wouldn't want to be part of this event?

I can't get over the bride's beautiful bouquet of blush pink peonies.  Simply gorgeous!

I've always been a fan of the vintage milk glass vases but could not come up with a classic way of displaying them at a wedding.  Now I know!  This elegant display would be the perfect backdrop for your guestbook table or escort and place cards.

Lastly, I'm in love with the wedding colors.  The soft pink is the perfect compliment to the bold apple green.

{Courtesy of 100 Layer Cake}

Birdcage Veils

Like the wedding gowns they are worn with, veils can be traditional, modern, vintage, and simple.  All unique in their own way, a veil adds that perfect special touch to a bride's wedding day look. 

I've always envisioned myself in a traditional cathedral or elbow length veil with all the "poof" and volume one could ever care for.  That was however until I purchased "The Dress" and my idea of the perfect veil completely changed.  After trying on many various styles with my gown, I fell in love with the vintage birdcage veils as they are completely and utterly classic and timeless.  Not only do they a simple sophistication about them; birdcage veils can easily be coordinated with wedding jewelry and fun hair accessories.

 

DIY Photo Booth

I love photos!  So, perhaps that is why I'm overly excited about our DIY wedding photo booth!  I stumbled upon this genious idea months ago and immediately knew we'd have to include at our reception.  Our photographer will be capturing these special moments created by our friends and family.  We'll provide props to encourage creative and goofy shots.  I think this is something everyone can have fun with and will make some awesome photos for John and I to keep for years to come!

Pie Pops

My fiance and I are crazy about pie!  Apple, blueberry and pecan....you name it, we love it!  In fact, it is the one dessert I have mastered (thanks to my mom's amazing pie crust recipe).

I recently stumbled across pie pops.  Pie on a stick - simply genious!  These adorable sweet treats would be the perfect addition to our reception's dessert table. 

{Tuturial from Luxirare and Bakerella}

Beautiful Blooms

Something about peonies and hydrangeas just screams vintage elegance to me.  I can't resist these dreamy blooms and hope to incorporate both on my wedding day.  For florals, I would like to pair light and feathery peonies with full hydrangea blooms.

To complete this perfect picture, lots and lots of candles!

Bridal Buzz

Since the engagement, I've fallen in love with several wedding related blogs, most of which you can find under the "Inspiration" section on my blog.  One of my favorites that I've been following for almost 2 years belongs to my sister-in-law, Kristin Cronkright.  Her blog, Bridal Buzz, is a wonderful collection of wedding and party inspirations, brought to you straight from the mind of an invitation designer.

I also have the pleasure of having Kristin create our wedding invitations and stationary.  Her handmade, custom invitations at RSVP Invitation Studio, offer something for every style.  I'm very excited about our customized invitations and will soon have a sneakpeak to share with you all!

Be sure to check out Kristin's delightful stationary at her shop RSVP Invitation Studio where you can find everything from wedding invitations, baby announcements, holiday greeting cards, and unique gifts for that special someone!

Thank you Kristin for your inspiration!

Capture The Moment

I can't begin to express how excited John and I are about our wedding photographer!  We will have the pleasure of working with Crystal and Mike of Toole Art Photography, who perfectly blend a mixture of modern photojournalistic and classic photography styles.  Their ability to capture every detail will allow John and I to revisit our wedding day year after year and get lost in the love, laughter, and joy that will be shared with friends and family on this special day.

Here are just a few of my favorite moments captured by Toole Art Photography. 

Photos courtesy of Toole Art Photography's blog.