Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts

4.25.2009

Bedazzled Bride

Remember before I blogged about trying to make decisions on jewelry?
Here and here and here.
Well, its now a few days prior to the wedding, and I still haven't decided on anything - oh, and I've added two hair flowers to the mix from Lauren Lee Designs.
(Click on the flowers for links.)
Oh, I've also added a necklace that I got from a great Etsy seller:
And my sisters-in-law have brought along their collections to see if there is anything out of it that I should wear. Too many options!
So it ended up being me, my mom, and newest sister-in-law trying to figure out what combination of hair thing, earrings, bracelet, hair flower, and necklace would work best. I wanted to wear something of my mothers, but as you saw before, we have very different tastes, and her necklaces end up being chokers for me. I wanted to be beautiful bridal, but I still wanted to be me.

So I donned my dress and veil and let mom and Ang play dress up with me. They came up with some very beautiful combinations.
Feather + Etsy Necklace +Mom's Pearl Bracelet +Sentimental Sapphire earrings

Feather + Mom's diamond solitare necklace + Sentimental Sapphire earrings + Mom's diamond tennis bracelet. Obviously, I'm feeling dramatic and silly.
Those combination (and a few other elegant ones I don't have photos of), looked beautiful and put together and elegant. But for the most part, I just kept thinking, can I take this off now?
So then we decided to see how things did with the orchid flower instead.
Orchid + Etsy necklace + Sentimental Sapphires + Mom's pearl bracelet + Sparkly veil comb

Same as above but without the sparkly veil comb thingy.

And then we started trying a few to see what would go best with Mom's wedding dress that would become my after-party dress.
So we left it with the options narrowed down to fancy and well put together, or mishmashed combination of things I like. Little did we know, Adam would make that decision easier for me!
Stay tuned!

4.16.2009

Floral Frenzy

So my sister-in-law is a floral designer (and thus the recipient of a million emails from me of blog photos I like). But I wanted her to be able to be a part of the wedding as my sister and bridesmaid and have fun. So this meant that someone else would have to work with her and do most of the actual leg work. One problem, she lives in Hawai'i and our florist is from Tennessee (wedding coordinator recommendation). So they talked via email and between them and the wedding coordinator, I never had anything to do or worry about.

My parent's just renovated their office building and the side of it that is for rent we used for the floral ready room. We cranked the AC and set up of few tables. And the next thing we knew:
Poof! Pretty Flowers and vases!



At this point, Tom (florist) was walking my MOH and I around flower by flower and explaining the plans and asking if they were ok etc. I finally stopped him and said
"The flowers are beautiful, I can't imagine that there is anyway to make them look ugly. So, as far as I'm concerned - we're good. No need to explain - I'm not the floral pro."

And guess what - I WAS RIGHT!
Between the floral fiends - we ended up with some BEAUTIFUL centerpieces!
(Photo by the wonderful Rae Leytham)

And my sister hand made my bouquet for me, and I couldn't have been happier. It was beautiful, whimsical, tropical, and had a touch of sparkle!
(Photo by the amazing Rae Leytham)
THANK YOU FLORAL FIENDS!

Anyone else take a hands-off approach to their florals?

12.02.2008

Mom V Bride: The Hair Trial

*****WARNING! Photo laden post!******
**ADAM Alert!!!! These are photos of me with wedding hair and veil. To venture beyond is risky to your health and it considered to be AMA (Against Medical/Michelle's Advice) because I kill you!!**


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Sorry - we have a large screen that Adam's computer is hooked to, so i dont want this to accidentally pop up before he reads the warning
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OK!
Here we go!
More small town fun to be had here. One of my brothers is just 2 years my senior and good friends with the daughter of the most talented hair guru in Panama City. Small town, small schools, much to my brother's dismay, we were all friends. Fotula (the hair guru) does not work on Saturdays... unless one of "her girls" really needs her.. say for prom or weddings. For every prom and high school formal, I and a small group of "her girls" would go to her for getting our hair done. All the other girls were real particular about their up-do's. She was always excited when it was my turn cause I'd say "whatever you want to do works for me - funky is fun", and she'd create some great hair that while pretty, looked nothing like anyone else's hair at the dances.

Well, obviously, I'm a bit grown up now and wasn't sure what she'd say about doing my hair. She was thrilled and asked my mother when we could do a trial because she was so excited! So just a few saturdays ago my mother and I went to Fotula and had a wonderful hair trial. I showed her a couple of picutres (below) and talked about the feel of the wedding and said - have at!

My inspiration photos:
(First two from Jasmine Star photography, second two from Bumatay Studio)




Can you tell I like the flower idea? Simple beautiful, beachy fresh and beautiful.... with the veil set at the back of the crown of the head. Other brides look beautiful with a bountiful amount of tulle atop their head.... I look like a ridiculous 5 year old playing dress up... not how I want to be described on my wedding day. My mother, was terrified that I would just pull my hair into a half pony and call it a day. (Unfounded fear, I never had ANY intention of doing my own hair. A successful ponytail is a good hair day for me!)

On to the photos of me!
All by me... or Mom anyway.=)


Note: I had no where to go after this, and I would be seeing Adam in the next few hours so we decided not to do anything full out just so it would fall out soon. I highly recommend doing your hair trial when you have somewhere to go after! Unfortunately, schedules did not permit this good idea to pan out for me.
Its hard to see, but I've got a sparkly hair comb in here (and above). My mother is desperately worried that I wont have enough sparkles.... ummm.. did you see my dress mom!?

Mom also thought I should take advantage of being a bride and wear a tiara of some kind because, when else would I wear it? (Don't ask me why that means I want to wear one at all, but somehow my mother thinks life might be incomplete without it.) This sparkly band was as close to a tiara as I was willing to go, so I brought it for the trial.

Ok, my favorite photo - look in the background at Fotula's expression (in the brown). Very telling of what we all thought. It looked nice but "meh" and certainly not me.

This was a flower comb thingy I made the night before so I'd have something to try. (Hooray for Hobby Lobby and Weddingbee! 1 fake flower, a plastic hair comb, some beads I already had, and some thread and voila! Good enough to get an idea.
Ok, so we are unanimous that the flower is the hair adornment of choice, and while my hair looked very nice, we all felt it wasn't quite right.
Back to the curling iron!

Getting better! And more me, which made above smile grow.

It'll have more body on top, but in general - this is it! Pulled back by the flower on one side, and let loose on the other!
Random note: It'll actually be the mirror image of this. My right ear normally has 2 earrings in it... sometimes 3. But my left always has 6. (You can see a couple shining through in the top photo.) They are simple studs, but I love them, and the few times I've been without them, people comment that I don't look like me. AND my hair can part on either side, so as of tomorrow, I'm switching sides to have my earrings show a little. Its silly and small but I don't care.




At this point, I am totally happy.
I need to buy/make a better flower thing (cheap plastic comb would not stay put), but other than that - Done.

My mother disagreed. She thinks I didn't have enough sparkle. So back to The Glass Slipper we went to check out sparkly comb things for the veil.

Its hard to tell, but its sparkly star beachy.

My mother absolutley loved it, I didn't hate it - so we bought it. We'll see if it actually gets worn on the day of, but at least its an option.
At this point, I am sooo over pictures! As you can see on my face.

Whatcha think?
Anyone else give their hair guru free reign, or succomb to mom's wants?

10.29.2008

Fall in love...

With Fall Flowers!
Just because it's fall, I wanted to share a beautiful bouquet of a beautiful bride friend. This was my friend Leni's bouquet from her Sept wedding last year. B-E-A-UTIFUL! Inside and out and how much the couple was loved showed in every aspect.

Le Sigh. :)

8.27.2008

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?

7.17.2008

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.

7.08.2008

Fantastic Florals: Unexpected!


I wish this company had a blog I could stalk! I found them through a blog post on Cross Pollination and am so glad I followed the link to check out their site!
SillaPere is a design lab specializing in events and environments with some amazing events and great photos to show for them. For a fresh and fun little intro to this company, check out their "We Are" tab.
In searching through their images of weddings, there are some great pictures of beautiful events. But what really caught my eye was an unexpected one. I love twists in plots and surprises in life, so these photos had me head over heels in no time. Enjoy! And go to their website to check out others!

Ok, so we've got some beautiful ribbon detail heading down to a barn on the coast. A little different using ribbon than flowers - I like it.

Wow! Who would have thought to do that with ribbon to dress up the side of the barn next to the ceremony!?

Holy Cow! I love the panels. Random and artistic without being over the top or crazy. Just fun, a little funky, and out of the ordinary. Now prep yourself to be completely surprised as whats inside the barn...

Who saw THAT coming? Not me!! I think that is just incredible! Can you imagine the awe-surprise factor when guests entered the barn!??!
For more eye-candy - check 'em out!

6.24.2008

Relationship Scavenger Hunt Proposal

I'll give you a quick set up of info before telling you to push play on the slideshow: This is now a few days after my birthday, *Adam is at a friend's studying for his next flight (he's a Coast Guard rescue helicopter flight student), and I am at home cleaning house... oh yeah, and its raining and freezing cold outside. *Adam put a great deal of effort into the proposal, so I put some effort into the slideshow of the pictures. The comments tell the whole story and I certainly don't have the room to put them all on here!





So I called and told everyone we knew. All the girls responded by asking if it was everything I had dreamed of... notsomuch because I am not that creative and NEVER could have come up with anything this good. The fellas were a different story. All the married guys responded with "Man i am glad I am already married!" and all the single guys responded by saying they now hate *Adam because they can't top that proposal!! Yeah, that's right, I snagged a creative and romantic guy!