Title Fun

So many of the blogs I've read recap their weddings with a constant title:

That Bride's "That Wedding"
Mrs Lovebug's "One Lucky Day"
Mrs Shortcake's "Old Fashion Love"

So I thought I'd reach out for some creative suggestions.
Keywords being beachy, tropical, stars, relaxed, party, celebration, destintion wedding, hometown.

My current idea is "Hometown Destination Wedding".

Thoughts?

And because every post should have a great photo:

If I didn't already have a dress....

While perusing my blog stalkings this morning, I cam across a Polkdot Bride post that made me think twice about my dress and maybe even being a two dress bride!

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

Posted by: Polkadot Bride at 3:07 pm

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is on again this year Some of the top names in Australian fashion have designed the most stunning gowns to auction to raise money for breast cancer research. (Check out the auctions here)

Designers including Willow, Sass & Bide, Akira Isogawa, Collette Dinnigan, Ksubi and Easton Pearson have all designed beautiful pieces for auction.

Collette Dinnigan

This one is my favorite and if I didn't have a dress already... and I was uber stick thin... this dress could be a STEAL since it is currently at $434!! There are also some great citrus bright dresses that could be fun for a bridesmaid or rehearsal dinner or just a fun dress! Go to the auction and check them out!

Blog Bliss: Jasmine Star...and her dog Polo

Jasmine Star is an amazing photographer. If you've never seen her work or stalked her blog, I HIGHLY recommend you do so. So shoot beautifully, and interjects personal tidbits and personality into her blog. Some people wonder why someone should stalk photog blogs.... this is why...Jasmine has a dog (Polo) who is celebrating his 2nd birthday.. and that might be the funniest picture I've ever seen. Thanks to Jasmine for posting Polo fun on her pro photog blog! Go, stalk, and enjoy!

Goin back to Cali

Ok. Really, it's my first time to Los Angeles (outside of LAX anyway)... but am I the only one who still gets LLCoolJ in my head?


:-) Sorry, couldn't resist.

I will be in LA for the remainder of this week, and the beginning of the next. I'll be visiting with bridesmaid *K (aka Minnie Mouse),

(Bridesmaid *K, Stitch, and Me at DW a few years ago)

house hunting, hoping to talk my way into UCLA grad program, and of course - going to Disney Land!Who would have thought LLCoolJ and Disneyland would be in the same post?

Anyway, this obviously means that blogging will PROBABLY be limited. (I saw probably because I am taking my computer and who knows?) But just for fun... look what will be coming up soon!!

My Foot, with *A's too small for my foot barefoot sandal!

I made bridesmaid *A 's barefoot sandals last weekend! And this time I took pictures so I can post a how-to DIY!!! AND....

3 of the 5 bridesmaids dresses arrived yesterday!! I go to see them in T minus 1 hour!!!! I'll take pictures and post a review of the dresses and the shop I've been dealing with.

Stay tuned!

But in the mean time.... stalk THIS blog.. I just love it!

Any LA advice or must-see's as an intro to the city? (I will be moving there this winter, so it's not imperative that I see and do it all now... but advice and suggestions always welcomed!!)

Tag: I'm It!!

This is my first blog tag and it was from The Pissed Off Bride!

(In finding a fun tag image I found this crafty blog: Kaleidoscope Impressions!)

4 things I did today:

• Read my bridal blogs...at work...ooops.
  
• Booked my airline tickets to go to LA to meet with UCLA and the new city I'll be moving to!
  
• Drove to work with the sunroof open and the windows down singing along to my Disney cd at the top of my lungs.... oh yeah - I am THAT driver that everyone raises an eyebrow at.
  
• Kissed Adam and told him I love him. Best part of my day. :-)
  

4 things on my to do list:

• Practice the moves we've been learning in dance lessons.
  
• Sand down and re-stain a dresser that has been in my family for more than 100 years. (I really don't like it, but I don't want it to be given away, so I'm refinishing it instead.)
  
• Start making my bridesmaids barefoot sandals.
  
• Go to the Pensacola Seafood Festival this weekend. YUM!!!! I am drooling just thinking about it....
  

4 of my guiltiest pleasures:

• Disney. Movies, music, and World. =) I am a 5 year old a heart. Thank God Adam loves me including that.
  
• Wedding Blog Stalking. My google reader stays up all day long, and I check it... alot.
  
• Gilmore Girls!
  
• Mimosas! Forget a sunday brunch.. I could drink those all day! Damn this thing they call work! oh - and the calories too!
  

4 random facts about me:

• I have 11 fake teeth. I fell out of a tree face first as a 9 year old, so that accounts for a few. Some have actually eroded from the inside out! (The x-rays and remains of those teeth are in various dental research schools now.) And some were for aesthetics because there was 1 surviving tooth between 2 fake ones.
  
• 2 majors, 3 schools, 4 years. That was my college life. I started out at Rollins College as environmental politics. I didn't fit in AT ALL because I do not find Coach or Louis Vitton sane things to spend money on. I spent a semester at the Biosphere 2 in Arizona studying astrophysics. (Pauly Shore was not there. We were not locked in. We did not order pizza through a window.) Deciding that I liked astrophysics, I moved out to Hilo Hawaii to UH to actually get my degree. Phew!
  
• I have been a dancer since I was 3 years old and still love it. But recognized in high school that it was not going to be my career even though I refuse to give it up.
  
• I kissed Adam first. When he was in Hawaii visiting me, he wasn't sure what I was thinking and whether or not he should kiss me. Our first kiss in Indy made me giggle like s school girl and trip over a COUCH! But al he remembered was that I left. (Men!) So he wasn't sure. We hadstood at the top of a waterfall and watched a beautiful sunset with his arms around me. It was perfect... but no kiss! So when we were carrying groceries into my house later I just walked up and kissed him and then started to walk away. Cartoon style he grabbed my hand, spun me back around into him and really kissed me. It was perfect... again.
  

I tag these fellow bloggers.... who might have already been tagged...sorry!:

Meg of A Practical Wedding

Zoliepup of Pirate is Marrying a Pear

Melissa of Adventures In Wedding Planning

and 2 State Bride

And just because every post should have one... a pretty picture courtesy of Rae Leytham!!

Blog Bliss: Blog Stalk List Update

So as some of you might have noticed, I updated my "Those I Blogstalk" list. As it turns out the "import from google reader" button isn't very upfront.

To me, it sounds like "click here - and all your google reader blog stalkings will be imported."

Turns out, notsomuch. Its more like "click here - and your google reader blogs will be included. HOWEVER, I will banish anything that starts with a B, will skip every other S, and will eject the E's! etc. etc. etc."

grumble grumble razzle frats!!!

So I've been copying and pasting by hand. If I missed you, let me know and I'll add it. (Wow - I love that my bloego (blog+ego) is big enough that I think that those I stalk stalk me too....) Oh well!

Bouquet Sashay

So I had this idea...
Ok. Like before, it wasn't my idea. But I found it, and liked it. (And by found it, I mean, thanks Next Exit Photography care of Southern Weddings :-) ).

These days its seems like many are shying away from carrying traditional bouquets in lieu of more personal or themed items. For the Catholics, Bibles and Rosary. Fans, books, and candles seem to be favorites. But fans are just asking to be fidgeted with, the books we like are across the board and often unheard of thus would require some explaining, and we are outside in the late afternoon - a candle would just be a battle of matches vs wind and something tells me wind wins!

So when I came across the above picture, I liked it! It was different from a bouquet, but didn't have to be themed or personal. I could find some cool fabric for the ribbon and call it a day. I sent the link to my bridesmaids positive that the responses would be that they love it! It was fun, different, but not so different that even my uber traditional bridesmaid would dislike it. SWEET!
If we have learned anything through my blogging (for those of you still awake or paying attention) it is that I almost never get the response I am expecting. The general response was that they didn't want a corsage. Am I the only one who totally didn't see this as a corsage but a funky wrist sash? Oh, and then as before, trust my eldest sister to have the best response.
MOH pointed out that she wouldn't know what to do with her hands. Eldest Sister "I'd just pinch butts."

Bouquets it is!!!!

Anyone else have some crazy friends and family with entertaining responses?

Anyone else love an idea that got shot down like a duck?

What are your girls carrying?

Fantastic Friday: Real Wedding

As we all head off into the wonder that is the weekend, I thought I would share with you some photos from a friend's wedding...

Julieanne and Steven are hitched!! How great are some of these photos!? Oh, and my little 'ol blog just doesn't do them justice. Go on over the SB Childs Photography for better viewing (and more pictures)... and while you are there, check through some of the other posts.. I think I might start stalking this blog too!

How great a shot is this? I love it in the sepia tone; it just fits the beautiful old mansion feel.

And how great is Julieanne's beautiful gown? Anyone who is trying to figure out where they can get it, forget it. It was her mothers! She had it revamped and I think its beautiful. (And I am a little jealous!)

Can anyone guess what Steven does?

Gabe looks SOOOOOO adorable! I mean, he's a cute baby, so he's always got an adorable factor... but in a little tux onesie thing? SOOO CUTE! Of course, with these two as parents - of course he's cute! ;)

Loving this shot, even though they are posed, they just don't seem to even care that anyone else in anywhere near by because they are so into each other.

I think this might be my favorite shot. How fun!

No... maybe this one is my favorite. VERY Julieanne. =)

AWW!! I wonder if Gary (Dad of the Bride) got teary eyed.

Obviously they had a good time at their reception.

Ready to make their great escape...

And what better way to make an escape than in this beauty!?!

Many congrats!!!

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?

April Showers Bring May Flowers! ... hopefully???

NEVER thought I'd be enticed by the thought of it raining on my wedding day. Isn't that what every outdoor bride dreads? Our venue has a great rain policy. So if it rains there is a ballroom reserved and waiting for us. Well, we are talking April in Florida so rain is a very realistic possibility... but we have been keeping our fingers crossed for sunshine.

I've been enticed by umbrella shots before...
and of course the fun umbrella group shots...
How fun are those???

But only today did I start to think that if it rained.... maybe we'd just get wet and still have it outside. This new idea is PURELY the fault of one Marie Labbancz and her Art of Love Blog!!

Ok - so we start with the fun umbrella shot...

So after the photos they move inside right?

WRONG!
How great are those guests!!?

I love that the celebrant doesn't seem to care in the least about the rain. And, as you can tell, we aren't talking a light sprinkle!!

And eventually the Bride and Groom loose their care of the rain because they are so focused on each other. I think this may be one of my favorite shots...ever.

Can we say "troopers"!?? I hope my vendors are this dedicated!

(Make sure to check out the original blog post for more photos. The photos are also bigger and better there... really need to figure me out some html code so I can make this blog wider for more fantastic photo viewing!!)


So this has made rain a romantic thing in my head.... dreaming of rainy days.... thank God for iphoto... which allows me this reality check. Scroll back up and look at how BEAUTIFUL that bride looks even though she's soaking wet.

Following that line of thinking... check out how cute my MOH and I are at Downtown Disney!

Ok - time to cash that reality check....

Here we are a 1/2 hour later after playing in the fountains... (man I miss Disney!) Not exactly picturesque...
Ok. Still don't believe me? Yeah that picture is a little dark and blurry, so we'll go with another piece of rainy day evidence that while I love water, it is not my photo buddy.

Before....
(Me on the far right, a couple of my good friends and one of my bridesmaids in the polka dot dress.... No, I'm not kidding.)
Me (on the right) and Miss Polka Dot Dress a few hours later...

Anyone still think me in the rain on my wedding day is a good idea? If so, please leave me a comment and tell me WHY!?

A wedding video I actually like!

I don't normally like the videography aspect. I think its a good idea to have to watch later, but it never strikes me a beautiful or stunning the way it touches other people. To me they usually end up looking like one of two things. 1 - The bride was attempting to make her Hollywood debut with forced acting and WAAAAY too much editting to feel authentic. OR 2 - like someone handed Uncle Joe the camera and asked him to film it. And, apparently Uncle Joe is ADD and can't pay attention to whats going on, and also has a touch of a neurological disorder and can't keep his hand steady. ON TOP OF THAT then there is the current trend of using old school 8mm type of filming. As I've touched on before - I am not a vintage girl. I like living in the here and now.

That being said... Mason Jar films produced this video (which I initially found on a Style Me Pretty post) made me pause and have an "awww" moment. It actually reminds me a little of the "home video" from the movie My Girl. It feels honest and authentic AND looks beautiful. That is one gorgeous bride with a beautiful veil and dress!!



I would think that my above rantings about wedding videography would convey it enough, but in case I am too subtle... (heheheheh - sorry- can't even type that with a straight face) I wasn't planning on having my wedding videotaped.... now I'm second guessing that.....

Ah - and Mason Jar Films also has a blog that I think I will be adding to my list of stalkings - check it out!

Inspiration Fun: Wordle!

So just a few moments ago, I was reading the updated "unread" of my google reader and came across yet another distraction for me.

The Pink Book Blog just posted "Wordle me this, Wordle me that"..... uhh - what?

PBB posts:

It literally is hours worth of fun! You can input words of your choice and Wordle randomizes it by color, font, layout, etc. Or it also has this great feature where you can input the URL of your blog or a website and it will pick from words used in your blog and randomly put together a word-collage! It is addicting, so beware!

Heed that WARNING!!! This is so much fun!!

Here's one that's a little more on the groom's side of view of my blog:

And I can't seem to figure out how to center this or enlarge it without it being too pixilated to read..hmmm... ok. I'll only post one more (and click on the links for much better viewing!!) before I blurr-blind everyone.






Darnit!! Ok - now I think I'm making it worse!! (ought to teach me to mess with HTML when I have no html coding skills!) grrr...ok - better idea - go play!!! And check out the much better posting skills of the Pink Book Blog.

Blog Bliss: The Bride's Cafe

Happy Monday!! (*read-congratulations for dragging your tail out of bed and going back to your normal weekly routine after a long, beautiful holiday weekend*)
I wanted to focus on another of my favorite blogs to stalk. This blog has such a wide range of features and styles that I always look forward my Google Reader announcing that there is an unread The Bride's Cafe post!

In Janie's Bio she writes:

I have been a floral designer for weddings and events for almost three years. I absolutely love what I do and I love making my clients happy with my floral designs. My mother always grew pretty little flower gardens and I can remember how she always took such special care of them and I think this is where I get my love of flowers.

TBC features many real weddings in full detail. From some inventive florals to the emotional moments, no detail gets left behind! She also posts some great style pages! She features such wedding porn as posts dedicated entirely to shoes, which always include some classic high fashion beauties, to some sense of humor unique personality types). She also includes features on other vendors and artists in the wedding field that might have else-wise been overlooked. Check out her feature of some custom veil makers! How fun is this? (side note teaser: when I start in on my dress shopping, we'll get to the "me in a birdcage" moment that had my mother and I rolling on the floor of the dress shop crying because we were laughing so hard.)
She has also included features on how to make your wedding a little easier on the environment. Many of these tips save some green in eco matters, and some green in economic matters! (Which, at the moment, tends to be in everyone's minds since we seem to be in a recession.... errr.. "bagel"... oh please tell me someone else got that?!?! Any other West Wing fanatic brides out there?? Anyone ? Bueller? Bueller? Wow, I've been at this blogging thing for 2 weeks and I'm already beginning to show my geek-factor!)

Ok, now on to some eye-candy courtesy of some of my favorites (*read-starred on my google reader*) from TBC:

I love the emotion in the images TBC posts. Its more than the details, where brides tend to get stuck and forget to enjoy the moment.

How unique is that chandelier?

Never run-of-the-mill on TBC.

Love the hair. I think I am taking this picture with me when I go fr my hair trial run.

Thinking a little more "high society" feeling? She features those too!

If you haven't yet added TBC to your blogroll - I highly recommend it for some great ideas and an amazing variety of eye candy!