Blog Bliss: Weddingbee Inspiration Board

Remember how I said that no one's inspiration boards really inspired me for the feeling we were going for?

Well, I stand corrected. I still wouldn't say this one is my perfect inspiration board, but this one that was made for a Weddingbee/Minted/Polyvore contest captures the feeling beautifully. (And it won 3rd place out of 2300 entires!)

So I thought I'd share "Sunrise/Sunset" by kalync!

And as a recap - here's mine:


oooh - and as I was looking through some of the other boards she made, I found this one.


If there were any Indian influence or heritage in either of our families - this would have been a great board for us! I love that its beachy but not kitschy, and beautiful all the while. She has several boards here that you can peruse through: each one is very unique.

I love unexpected finds! Anyone else see one of the contestants and love their work?

Blog Bliss: Ritzy Bee to Chasing Spayde

One of the great things about blog stalking is that it can lead to new blogs and new things you've never heard/thought of. Ritzy Bee is one of my favorite blogs (which, again, I'll post more about soon... wow my "to blog about" list is growing again!) and today they are featuring a giveaway from Chasing Spayde Designs.... Chasing who? Fancy gift boxes? hmmm... seems like its worth clicking over and looking through their gallery and blog!

I was right! It was worth it! They have some really unique and fun paper, candles, monogrammed ribbons, soaps and favor boxes out the wazoo!

Goldfish are not a "thing" of mine, (unless they are the edible kind!), but I love this box featured on their blog!

How great/unique is this beautiful card box they made! hmm.. I like it, I think I'll look more into this one. Any guests of our wedding, if you see something similar to this around, smile to yourself because you know where I got it and how I found it!

Not exactly "me" colors, but I think it's great anyway.

Anyone else find something unexpected through one of their blog stalkings?

Blog Bliss: Elizabeth Anne Designs LIBRARY

So sometime in the near future I will jump back on the Blog Bliss Bandwagon and tell you more about which blogs I love and why... but for right now, I have a great announcement to relay:

Elizabeth Ann Designs just launched a new Library page! Its a great (and growing) reference page for brides-to-be to get a good idea of who EAD loves in the vendor world.I am thrilled to see some of my favorite planning site now including vendor listing and reviews. As a bride-to-be I hope to only do this once! Which means I have no experience with these vendors ahead of time and rely on the recommendations of professionals and other brides. Style Me Pretty has a similar board (which I'll post about later) and I am thrilled to see that my photographer is on both boards!!!

Congrats to the EAD girls!

Unveild Generosity

My sister is an uber generous person. (Ok-technically she's my sister-in-law, but she's been around the family since I was 3 years old, so as far as I am concerned, she's my sister. And yes - for anyone who's wondering how that works, my eldest brother graduated high school when I was a baby/toddler.) I was in her wedding as Jr. Bridesmaid. haah - I will have to dig up photos to scan of that.... brace-face and all.

Anyway - shortly after I got engaged, she called to tell me that I was welcome to borrow any of her bridal gear. Well, her dress wasn't exactly my style, or Florida (long sleeves in Florida....hmm... melting bride....), but she did have a cool veil. Its pictured below on another family friend that she loaned it to.


How fun is that with the flower print? And if I wanted to, the hair piece in changeable. Unfortunately, its white-white, and the length of it wouldn't go well with my dress, which really needs a shorter veil. But I think it's beautiful and was such a nice offer, I thought I'd share it with the wonderful world o'bridal blog. =)

Anyone else have unexpected offerings? Did you get to incorporate them?

Dressin the girls

So blue is my favorite color. But I'm not really a fan of navy blue, or sky/baby blue. To me they are both just a bit blah. I love aqua's and Caribbean blues, and ocean blues. At this point, I've been through the "To color scheme or not to scheme" decision and now need to pick colors. hmm - I like blue, and blue. And Adam likes blue. Even though I plan on going for Aqua and Ocean... I have a feeling I'll be reliving this Steel Magnolia's moment at least once:

"What are your colors Shelby? - Truvy ... "Her colors are pink and pink" - M'Lynn ... "My colors are blush and bashful...I have chosen two shades of pink, one is much deeper than the other" -Shelby ... "That sanctuary looks like it's been hosed down with Pepto Bismol" - M'Lynn

While others in this day and age are moving away from color schemes... I am the daughter of an interior designer. Confused? Think about the "son of a preacher" term. Oh yeah - I like all kinds of eclectic things and I don't care if they clash. My room growing up was a tribute to anything and everything I liked.. and my mother's worst nightmare. So if I had free reign of a color palette when finding items for the wedding - it would end up a mish mash melting pot of things I liked.... which while might lend some satisfaction at my mother's expense, Adam is a little more coordinated and wouldn't like it. So thus, we are color-scheming it!

We are not, however, being matchy-matchy. I told the girls I would find one dress company with 2 blues I liked AND a wide variety of dresses and let them pick! (How much do I rock? =).

2 day's later I sent them an email saying - "I found your dresses!" Pick between one of these 2 styles... both will be in the company's "blue matrix".
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HEHEHEHEHEHEEHEH!!!!!!

To which my favorite response was

"i'm sure we'd all do anything for you love, but i have limits!"

The first time we met with the wedding planner (whom I will blog about soon) I showed her them. And she attempted to keep a straight face and wondered if maybe the slight in the leg of the first one wasn't a bit high.... and then I fell out of my chair laughing. I realize that I am NO fashionista by anyone's terms... but seriously??

Anyone else get a kick out of the extremes of fashion, or the fun of messing with someone?

Penny & Duct Tape Conundrum

Something borrowed, something blue, something old, something new; with an Irish penny in your shoe..... or something to that effect.

Ok - I've got the Something Old part.... though I still don't really know how the logistics of that one will work... if you have ANY ideas (other than make it into a necklace) please let me know!

Irish penny in my shoe. Ok... I have no "in" in my shoes. So I put this question to my friends and family. I received one UNANIMOUS answer..... Duck Tape.
Oh, yeah. The family I grew up in should change our motto to "If you can't duct it, f*^k it, it's broke!" We use duct tape to fix (or make) just about anything. My dad actually has several shirts that say "I can fix anything!! Where's the duct tape?" We keep several rolls of it around the house at all times and use it for an inordinate amount of things.

Any one else have bizarre family "traditions" that seem to be seeping into the wedding? (Or alternate ideas for either issue?)

From Hard-Edged to Sap in 1 Flower Flat

I am a fan of Stargazer lilies and its all Adam's fault. So is the fact that I now like getting flowers and get teary-eyed at sad movies (or t.v. shows) and that I cried like none other when he proposed. I used to be a hard-rock edgy tough and somewhat tomboy chicka. But...It is official - Adam has sap-ified me, and it all started with a group of stargazer lilies.

Adam spent a week with me the first time he was in Hawaii. He left, we were already in love, and I was crushed. In one week he had gone from being a friend I hadn't seen in many years but emailed on a regular basis, to my closest friend that I was head over heels for.

A few days later I got a call from a very confused delivery guy, who in turn confused the hell out of me because I knew the UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL guys all knew where our house was. Adam had sent me flowers! I am not normally a flower girl but I was thrilled. One issue - they were lilies - aren't they for funerals? And they were PINK. If I wasn't exactly a flower girl, I sure as heck was not a PINK person. But they were nice and the card was touching. I called and left a thank you message for him. The next day, one of my roommates walks by and comments on my STARGAZER LILIES!!! Anyone remember what I do. Oh yeah - ASTRONOMY! (well, astrophysics but similar deal.) How perfect and thoughtful was that?!?!?! So, he quickly got an excited new thank you message that I'm certain made him laugh.

A few years later, we are engaged, and my newest sister-in-law send me this stamp from Zazzle consideration for wedding papery.

I love it! Unfortunately, Zazzle ain't cheap and we aren't focusing on our papery as a splurge point for the wedding. But I loved the thought and that same sister-in-law is a floral designer who plans on making my bouquet for me... something tells me I might find a stargazer or two in there! (I hope!... hint hint...)

Anyone else have something that appears to be incredibly not "you" thats meaningful and to be incorporated in your wedding?

Any other brides to be that aren't focused on the papery aspect as a splurge point? I seem to be in the minority here.