Grandma Lizzie

I apologize for not posting this weekend. I've tried to keep up, but it's been a rough week. My grandmother passed away this week. I had intended to post yesterday, but there was a power line down and we were without internet all day. I'll resume posting tomorrow -- I have a pretty purple and green theme that I'm planning.

For today, in lieu of Soapbox Sunday, I'm giving a little tribute to my Grandma Lizzie. I've been asked to make a CD of songs for her funeral, and since I've been sharing my love songs with you, today I'm sharing a different kind of love songs.

(On my CD, I'm using the Beatles verson of Let It Be, but you can't download the Beatles MP3s on Amazon.)

Wedding Song of the Day - May 29, 2009

I chose two songs for today, too. Maybe I should rename this to weddings SONGS of the day.

My first song choice is It's Your Love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill because it has a similar balance of laid-back but loving and intimate.

And for those of you who aren't into the whole country music thing, I went with a very beach related song -- God Only Knows by the Beach Boys!

Oregon Coast Intimate Wedding

With Dylan's graduation looming (YAY DILLY!), we've both been fantasizing about another trip to the Oregon coast. If you've ever been to the Oregon coast, you know how beautiful and relaxing it is. Rather than trying to coordinate a fancy shindig, I wanted to keep the details low-key and natural. As much as I love wedding planning and all the beautiful details, the idea of a small oceanside ceremony does have a strong appeal.

{click to enlarge}

Most of the beach pictures were taken by us somewhere between Lincoln City, Depoe Bay and Newport, Oregon. The lighthouse picture is from Yaquina Head in Newport. The picture of the deck overlooking the ocean is from Stonecrest Bed & Breakfast -- we haven't been there yet, but it's on my list of places I'd like to check out.

I will note that if you're fantasizing about a barefoot beach wedding, do your research on the weather and temperature averages before you choose your date. We went during spring break last year -- that's me freezing my butt off in the eskimo hood.

The sand dollar cookies are from Grandma Lulu's -- you can buy a whole case of them for a surprisingly reasonable price!

The cute cake topper and seashell picture frame / placecard holder are from Island Wedding Shop.

I LOVE the shell bouquet idea. I've seen it done several ways, but I thought the all white had a nice, simple elegance.

And last, but not least, the amazing wedding invitations are by Printable Press. I love how detailed and ornate they are. They seem much more artsy and upscale than the standard "beach" theme invitations I usually see.


I have a few additional ideas for the couples who want to keep things less formal (and maybe even a little extra fun.) I am OBSESSED with Williams-Sonoma specialty bakeware. I have found some of the cutest baking pans lately, and several of them are PERFECT for a beach event. The shell tea cakes are just about the cutest wedding favor / snack for a beach wedding. If you want to keep things super simple, I think the sandcastle cake would be an adorable cake option. And if you're especially playful and whimsical, I vote for the octopus cake. It makes me want a beach wedding just so I can have that cake. Maybe as a groom's cake? Love it!

The message in a bottle from Hanson Ellis can be sent out as invitation, but I also think it could be a cute way to send a wedding announcement if you decide to sneak away and elope.

Wedding Song of the Day - May 28, 2009

Today's theme is sweet and light, so I decided to keep the music that way, too. I know, I know -- Coldplayis the most cliche choice in the world, but it's still sort of perfect for an entirely yellow wedding. You Are My Sunshine is a little less obvious, but I think this version by Elizabeth Mitchellis sweet as can be!

Sunshine Yellow

Since I spent much of last week using pinks in my inspiration boards, I've decided to avoid pink all-together this week. The focus of today is all about shades of one delightful color: sunshine yellow!

{click to enlarge}

I just wanted this yellow inspiration board to radiate warmth and fun. This could be perfect for a light-hearted spring or summer wedding. The flower possibilities are great for yellow themes. I used daffodils, narcissus and calla lilies, but you could also go for gladiolus, tulips, roses, daisies, and buttery yellow stock.

I love bow accents with this cute theme. The dress is by Thread. The brighter yellow heels with the bows are called Rossi by Steve Madden. The darker yellow peek-a-boo pumps are Pura Lopez from Nordstrom.

The bow shaped napkin fold and the lovely wedding cakes are from Martha Stewart Weddings.

For the menu, lemons are an obvious choice -- lemonade, lemon sorbet, maybe even lemon meringue tarts? Yum!

Wedding Song of the Day - May 27, 2009

The song for today is I've Got the World On a String by Michael Bublé-- I thought it was a good combination of old-school classic with a modern twist, just like today's board!

Modern Romance in Black and White

Today's theme is modern romance with black and white floral details.

{click to enlarge} Some of my favorite elements of this board are the funky and fabulous button and felt flower bouquets by Princess Lasertron. I love the combination of handcrafted and vintage glam!

The white hydrangea bouquet with beaded black butterflies is another Martha Stewart find. The Caroline Herrera blossom gown photo was also from Martha Stewart Weddings. When I first saw it, I couldn't decide if it was a thumbs up or thumbs down for me, but I've decided I'm a fan. The rest of the gown is very understated, so I think that even with the huge bloom it manages to be elegant and lovely.

I love both pairs of shoes. The black pair are black tulle stilettos with organza roses by Badgley Mischka. Unfortunately, I'm not sure who made the other ones, but I love them. If you know, send me a note and I'll update it here! The same goes for that fantastic black lace cake.

The cute little black and white dress from Peach and Plum would be a modern take on a frilly flower girl. And it's even on sale!

Finally, the Damask Pattern Tape is genius. You can use it for packaging favors as shown in the picture, but you can also use it to on clear glass votive candle holders to make these:

Song of the Day -- Memorial Day 2009

I just wanted to give a little acknowledgement to the day.

Thank you to our service members, past and present!

Happy Memorial Day!

We spent the day in the yard getting things ready for summer. I took the day off from work and weddings, so today I'm just putting up a picture I took of the star magnolia in our backyard.

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend!

Happy Memorial Day!

Sunday Afternoon Song of the Day -- May 24, 2009

This song is obviously not wedding related, but the song clip is perfect for today's Soapbox Sunday post.

The song of the day is Doll Parts by Hole -- just listen to the words from the clip and you'll know why I chose it.

Soapbox Sundays are back!

It turns out that Soapbox Sunday went over better than I'd imagined, so it may just turn into the new tradition. Plus, it's good to lighten up and laugh. It's easy to get bogged down in the daily grind, but even more so when you're absorbed in wedding planning. Maybe I'm just not as sweet as some of the other lovely wedding blogger ladies out there, but at least I'm having fun!

So the Soapbox Sunday topic for today is wedding cake.

Let me start out by saying that I am in awe of the skill and talent of many people who make wedding cakes. I've gawked at pictures and thought, "How could anyone ever eat that?! It's so beautiful!"

Today is not about THOSE particular cakes. Today's items have bigger problems.

Once again, as I was skimming through pictures looking for beauty and inspiration, I stumbled upon a few things that made me do a double take... in a bad way.

The first one was actually my own silly mistake. I saw this cupcake and found myself tilting my head in the style of a dog who doesn't understand what you're saying. My thought was, "Are those tail feathers? Why on earth would someone want a cake that looked like a bird's butt? I don't underst--ooooh." It only took me a moment to realize what the cake was supposed to be, and I had a good embarrassed giggle at my silly mistake. I read the summary that accompanied the picture and did another double take. That wedding dress / bird's butt cupcake "serves 1-2 people and prices start at $25." (And it's actually closer to $30.) That's right. $30 for a 1-2 serving cupcake. Just out of indignation, I decided I liked it better when I thought it was a bird's butt. Also, I wouldn't spend $30 on a cupcake even if I were about to pass out from low blood sugar.

I couldn't help myself, I looked up the company's website. I wanted to know what "prices start at $25" meant. I was hoping to see an explanation of what made a cupcake worth that. (Frosting pigments made from rare precious gems? Lovingly and miraculously hand-crafted by blind nuns in Belgium?)

This is what I found:

• They really do have some beautiful, impressively decorated cupcakes.
  
• No one I know could actually afford to purchase their products for an event.

A good example of both of these points -- this "topiary mini cake":

It's lovely. I'm not sure I would call it a cake, if the size of the fork next to it is any indication, but I do think it's pretty. Any guess on the price? Take a deep breath and prepare yourself...

$85. That's right. EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS FOR A FROUFY CUPCAKE. Has the American dollar really been devalued that much? Am I being Punk'd? Is there a misplaced decimal point? I just can't wrap my head around it. You ladies make pretty cupcakes, and if I lived near you, I would consider taking your class to learn how to make such pretty cupcakes. Not only would I like to make pretty cupcakes, but if people would actually pay me $85 each, I could pay for our entire wedding and my fiance's student loans with just a few bake sales! Sign me up! :-P

*deep breath*

The other inspiration for today's topic was this cake topper by Teena Flanner for Bethany Lowe Designs.

Again, it was the combination of the pictures and the write-up alongside it that got me. This topper was described as tasteful, glamorous, fabulous and as a "personalized bride and groom."

Here are my thoughts on that:

• Nothing says tasteful and glamorous like a little man in a glittery white tuxedo.


• A glittery white tuxedo may very well be considered fabulous, so I might let that one slide. However, no one who could rock a white glitter tuxedo would be caught dead with a drag queen looking bride like the Amazon standing next to him (or her, for that matter).


• This is about as far from personalized OR "bride and groom" as it could be. The two of them are so androgynous, they're barely distinguishable. The only things setting them apart are two pairs of crookedly stuffed socks in the bride's gown and some poorly applied blush.


• Also, not a fan of the matching glue gun gunk on their heads. Hers attaches the veil, his attaches... more glitter.

It's almost too bad I already showed this to Dylan, because it would've been a lot of fun to show him that cake topper as a new "wedding inspiration" for us. "Honey, I LOVE this! I don't think I'll be able to find a white sequined tux off the rack though, so we're going to need you custom fitted for that baby. Ooo, also... I'm thinking about getting my hair cut exactly like yours! We'll be like twins! Androgynous, glittery twins! I'm so excited!" (Although I'd be really bummed to find out my bust looked like that.)

So again, if you were the "tasteful, glamorous, fabulous bride and groom" that this was personalized for, PLEASE send me your picture. I will post it right here next to the cake topper and may even eat my words. It'd be cheaper than wedding cupcakes.

Wedding Song of the Day - May 23, 2009

Maybe it was the light, fun colors from today's inspiration board, but I'm opting for light, fun, upbeat music, too!

These two are completely opposite genres, but I think they both add a playful and sweet element to the theme.

So the songs for today are Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) by Stevie Wonder and Sweet Thing by Keith Urban.

Petal Pink with Fresh Pastels

Today's theme has a garden party feel to it, although it could easily be done indoors, too. The colors are petal pink with fresh pastels, especially a soft sage green and lemonade yellow.

{click to enlarge}

By now you probably know how much I love the addition of birds to wedding themes, and I found plenty of pretty-in-pink lovebird DIY ideas from Martha Stewart. Everything from favors "from the lovebirds", traditional style escort cards and bird shaped placecards that perch on the edge of your guests' glasses. I especially love the little bird nesting on top of a tiny favor box, like an individual centerpiece for each place setting!

The DIY bath fizzies are also a cute Martha favor idea, perfect for girls like Heather and me who are junkies for all things cosmetics related.

Some of my favorite pictures on this board are the non-traditional bouquets. I LOVE the pink snowberry bouquets from MS. They're so whimsical and lovely! I also love the button bouquet by Really Bad Kitty on Etsy. How cute would that be for a flower girl or junior bridesmaid? They could take it home as a keepsake, and you wouldn't have to worry about them crushing their fresh blooms while they're playing around.

And last, but not least... Dazzle Malted Milk Balls by Koppers Chocolate. Not only are they beautiful with this theme, but I thought it was a sweet favor idea for Heather as a kind of nod to our late Grandpa who LOVED malted milk balls.

Wedding Song of the Day - May 22, 2009

The song of the day is Something About the Way You Look Tonight by Elton John. It has a simple elegance and romance that really appeal to me.

Mauve Pink, Raspberry and Navy Blue

Here is my inspiration board #2 for Heather. I've always thought of Heather's style as kind of preppy and classic, so I thought this color palette was perfect. It gives Dave his U of M blue, and Heather the pink that she loves.

{click to enlarge}

I've included tulips because they're her favorite flowers, and just happen to come in a perfect shade for this palette!

Overall, I think this has a simple, classic elegance without being stuffy, boring or too formal.

Wedding Song of the Day - May 21, 2009

The songs I've picked to go with today's board are Make You Feel My Love by Adele and Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan. I put two different versions of Ice Cream on the player, because the original track from Fumbling Toward Ecstacy is a better version if you want to download the song, but the sample clip wasn't as good. I wanted it to play the line, "Your love is better than chocolate..." to go with the chocolate theme! (I know, I'm a dork.) So if you want the full song, I'd recommend the last one on the playlist (the one that doesn't say Legacy).

Pink and Chocolate Brown

My cousin Heather just got engaged! Congratulations Heather and Dave! I've been working on several different inspiration boards for her that I'll be putting up over the next few days. Heather loves soft, feminine and pink, so I'm using different shades of pinks in most of the boards I've created for her. I'm also trying to balance out the girly just a little, since Dave's wedding color preference would be the University of Michigan colors. :-P

My first board for her is a classic combination of pink and chocolate brown.

{click to enlarge}

Some of my favorite elements on this board:

The candies in the center of the top line are dark chocolate covered almonds with a beautiful glaze, called Almond Jewels by Koppers Chocolate. I've had some of their products before and they've all been incredible.

Below the candy are another Martha Stewart idea -- individual flower favors for people to take home and plant as a keepsake from the wedding. I think she used different shades of violets.

The fab shoes are by Giuseppe Zanotti.

I love the bouquet and boutonniere to the left of the shoes. They're made up of Magic Silver Roses and Smokebush leaves tied up with pink velvet ribbon. Love it!

The precious mini-cake favors aren't actually cakes at all! They're fudge layered with pink sanding sugar. Another Martha DIY! Much easier AND affordable than having a bakery make individual cakes. The blossom ring is also a Martha DIY, perfect for bridesmaids.

I also love the contrasting chocolate and pink dresses for her little girls.

Fun news!

I have good news:

Margaret from Project Wedding featured me on the One Lovely Day blog yesterday!

and

Tori Amos just released a new album called Abnormally Attracted to Sin. I'm looking forward to checking it out. Maybe I'll find something I can feature for the song of the day!

Wedding Song of the Day - May 20, 2009

I love today's theme so much that I've had a terrible time trying to choose the right song for today. I like to play the songs and look at the board to see how they go together and how the mood of the song effects the mood of the board. To give you the same experience, I'm choosing several very different songs so you can choose the song and mood that most appeals to you.

The songs for today are:

Lullaby by the Dixie Chicks

Naked As We Came by Iron & Wine

Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) by Eartha Kitt -- this clip doesn't play it, but this it the "Birds do it, bees do it..." song.

Just Like Heaven by The Cure

Pale Blue and Earthy Brown -- Lovebirds theme!

My favorite themes involve a certain harmony and balance. I like to temper feminine with masculine, light and airy with dark and earthy, delicate with substantial.

This theme combines some of my favorite things -- the ethereal quality of lovebirds and feathers, the fragility and symbolism of eggs, and the earthy elements like birds' nests, twigs and moss. The overall feeling is fresh, and brings to mind renewal and new beginnings. This is definitely a new favorite theme!

{click to enlarge pictures}

The layout of this board seemed tricky to try to identify, so I'm trying a new method and numbering the boxes.

1. A funky feather and berry boutonniere photographed by Stephanie Williams.
2. White roses on top of mossy vases.
3. Springtime Nest Bell Jars from Williams-Sonoma. They're even on sale right now!
4. Peonies arranged in nests for a fresh take on centerpieces. (Thank you Martha Stewart!)
5. Candy shelled chocolate eggs by Martha Stewart.
6. Faux Quince Blossom Wreath with Nest from Williams-Sonoma.
7. Feathery fringe adds a fun texture to the bouquet and looks beautiful with the feathery boutonniere.
8. Little nests filled with jordan almonds used as place card holders! (Martha Stewart)
9. A lovely pale bouquet of white hydrangeas and dusty miller leaves.
10. I think the blue shirt with the white boutonniere is a surprisingly nice change from the more traditional white shirt with colored boutonniere. This is another picture by Stephanie Williams.
11. An adorable love birds wedding cake by Martha Stewart.
12. Cookies pressed with birds and monograms -- Martha again!
13. Birds on branches centerpieces by Rebecca Thuss.
14. I want this cake plate way bad! It's birds on a wire by Fishs Eddy.
15. A French dessert buffet.
16. I LOVE this. A nest made of pussy willows -- why do you have to be so good at everything, Martha?!
17. Martha Stewart's bird's nest version of a wishing jar. Guests write their well wishes for the couple on bird shaped paper cut-outs and place the notes into nests on the branches.
18. Candles nestled into... nests? :-P
19. Lovebirds with table numbers -- woodsy and adorable!
20. Fiddlehead ferns. Love 'em!
21. Springtime Nest Bell Jars from Williams-Sonoma. These would make the coolest centerpieces for this theme!

Wedding Song of the Day - May 19, 2009

The song for today is Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison. It's the song that Ross on Friends called the most romantic song ever.

Dark Red and Mocha Brown

Today's inspiration board is all about classic romance. I'm helping a friend plan her wedding right now, and I made this board after asking her the way she imagined her wedding. She described red roses combined with rich fabrics and textures. I love the red floral kissing balls with the candles for an instantly romantic atmosphere.

Her fiance is the head chef at one of my favorite restaurants. His specialty is French cuisine, so I thought the wedding cake made by Florian Bellanger called "the charlotte" would be a perfect wedding cake for them. Besides being an impressive French pastry, it's gorgeous!

{click to enlarge}

The sexy red peep-toe shoes are from Ann Taylor. The red patent leather shoes are from BCBG. The bridesmaid dress on the lower left is by Jasmine Bridal. The other two dresses are by Thread.

Wedding Song of the Day - May 18, 2009

The song of the day is Today by Joshua Radin.

His music is so gentle and sweet I thought it would be a nice accompaniment to the soft, delicate feel of today's inspiration board.

Pale Peach and Gray

Lately I've really been favoring both gray and peach in wedding themes, so I thought I'd make a board of the two together. It's soft and romantic, but a little unexpected at the same time. I think this would be a lovely palette for spring because the combination is both cozy and fresh -- perfect for the unpredictable springtime weather we've been having!

{click to enlarge}

The dresses, shoes and gray suit are all from J. Crew, except for the strapless gray dress which is from the Eden bridesmaids line. I love all of them because they're all reasonably priced and none of them scream "I'm going to prom or in a wedding!" They're all very wearable styles, which is nice for your bridal party because they don't have to get stuck with an outfit they'll never be able to wear again. And who knew that they had such cute shoes at J. Crew?! I love the peep-toe pumps with the bow. Super cute!

The spray rose boutonniere, the cake / meringue, champagne bubble candy favors and the monogrammed sweater are all from Martha Stewart.

The roses are called Sahara and the white peach sangria looks fantastic.


Sometimes I like to play around with different fonts and designs for wedding invitations. I thought something like this one would be sweet with the pale peach and gray palette.

Sunday Afternoon Album of the Day - May 17, 2009

Everyone needs a break from wedding planning once in a while, so today I'm talking trash about some of my not-so-fabulous wedding finds. On the same note, I decided to have a non-wedding related album recommendation today. So the Sunday afternoon album of the day is Lost Channels by the Great Lake Swimmers.

Enjoy!

Soapbox Sundays!

As I've been scouring the usual wedding websites this week, I have been especially aware of some of the less-than-fabulous wedding finds and ideas. I figure what's the point of having a blog if you can't vent your opinions once in a while? Maybe that will be my Sunday blog tradition -- Soapbox Sunday! Don't worry, probably not. :-P

But I do think it sounds like fun to talk a little trash about some of the weird things that are available under the guise of wedding worthy.

For example, Martha Stewart Weddings surprised me this week. I think Martha Stewart is the bees knees when it comes to all things domestic, but I'm skeptical that she would actually put her stamp of approval on a couple of the latest "favorite new wedding gowns."

Like this Bubble Dress by Amsale:

My first impression of this dress: Albino Grimace meets Beekeeper. Add a ridiculously large and unflattering "just-say-no-bow" to the chest and voila! I'm putting it in my "not even if it were free" category.

Next is this Lela Rose Layered dress:

I almost want to try to like this one. I think I could like it from the waist up on the right person. I do like the colors. But once you get past that mocha sash... NO ONE in the universe looks good wearing a stack of coffee filters as a skirt. It's like the designer just walked through the disposable plates and cups at Costco and thought, "Eureka! I'm feeling inspired!". I actually really do like layers on a dress, I just wish this one had about half the volume so that the poor girl could actually put her arms down without looking like she was stuck in an inverted cupcake. Maybe they could rig it like blinds and lower the layers to add length and lose some volume. Then at the reception you could pull the cord and hike it back up to dance the night away. I might be convinced then.

If I have just mocked your dream wedding dress, I apologize. Maybe I just don't have the "vision" required to imagine these in a flattering light. If you think you can rock one of these dresses, feel free to send me a picture. You might change my mind.

Wedding Song of the Day - May 16, 2009

Okay, so I'm cheating today and having wedding SONGS of the day. But if you're going to cheat, it's always nice to give extra, right?

I'm keeping this in the theme of summer fun with a big splash of Hawaii with Jack Johnsonand Jason Mraz!

Melon Inspired Summer Reception: Canary Yellow, Watermelon Pink, Cantaloupe Orange

I made this board after talking to a couple about their upcoming summer reception. They were lucky enough to get married in Hawaii, so now the focus is on a fun, budget-friendly party with family and friends.

Emphasis:

• Fun
• Lively
• Refreshing
• Summery
• Budget-friendly
• DIY
• Simple

{click to enlarge}

A lot of the ideas on this board are from Martha Stewart and Costco, so it makes the party planning easier and a lot more affordable.

I'm currently enrolled in a floral arrangement class (just for fun), and the instructor there said that Costco actually sells a lot of their flowers for the same price that she has to pay at the wholesale florist -- and often times, the Costco flowers are actually more fresh and look better! I'm all over that tip, so the yellow and orange roses and gladiolus flowers pictured are right off the Costco.com website.

The floral garland (it reminded me of the couple's Hawaii nuptials) is a DIY from Martha Stewart -- you just buy cheap silk flowers, pop the blossom from the stems and slide the flower heads over the light bulbs on a strand of lights! The butterfly lanterns and the DIY dressed-up paper plates are also hers.

The last little touches that I really like:

Using pictures of the couple, especially pictures from the wedding and honeymoon, for the table numbers to make guests feel more included with the big event.

Providing a tray of sunblock, paper fans and parasols for guests to use as needed.

Big pitchers of sangria! A perfect summer drink that's delicious, beautiful, AND budget-friendly. Talk about more bang for your buck!

Is it just me, or is anyone else craving melon right now?!

Hooray!

YES! I was just notified that I am the Project Wedding's Color Palette Inspiration Contest Winner! WOOHOO! I'm so excited! That means that my contest entry is now a Project Wedding Guide article. Actually, writing that article for PW is what inspired me to start my own blog here!

I've also been invited to be a "star bridal blogger" by one of the founders of Project Wedding for their blog One Lovely Day. Apparently they liked my inspiration boards so much, they said they may even feature me on the front page! They have 30,000 readers, so maybe that will actually encourage someone other than my friends and family to read this blog! It's win/win!

Wedding Song of the Day - May 15, 2009

The wedding song of the day is L-O-V-E by Joss Stone. Fun, sexy and sultry, just like today's inspiration board!

Hot Pink, Red, and Navy Blue

The feminine patterns of toile and lace meet strong, bold colors for an unexpectedly fun combination! This board balances the spicy colors of passion with classy and cool navy blue.

Emphasis:

• vibrant
• rich
• passionate
• sultry

{click to enlarge}

Wedding Song of the Day - May 14, 2009

Something that I haven't seen on most wedding inspiration pages is a good list of wedding related music. I'm a music junky, so I'm all over it.

My first wedding song of the day:

"Man and Wife" by Michelle Featherstone

Rosy Copper, Mossy Green, Warm Brown

Some of the inspiration boards I've put together have been for us, while others have been for friends or just to have fun with different color combinations or themes. This is our current favorite for early autumn wedding. The colors are rosy copper, mossy green and warm brown.

I wanted to make an autumn inspiration board, but avoid the more stereotypical autumn decor (pumpkins, oranges, yellows, reds). It was important to keep a warm, cozy, autumn feeling. We love the idea of incorporating some flora and fauna with vintage romance. We especially love the lovebirds theme, and acorns because they're a symbol of good luck and potential for the future.

The emphasis for these boards:

• elegant
• vintage
• romantic
• whimsical
• woodsy

{click to enlarge pictures}

My favorite parts of the upper inspiration board are the rich textures, the acorn boutonniere and the bouquet with succulents, scabiosa, roses and little tufts of feathers. And my ring, of course!

I found the adorable ring bearer's "nest" and flower girl's basket on Etsy.

We aren't religious, but we love the symbolism behind the Jewish chuppah, and the intimate space it creates for the bride and groom during the ceremony.

We'd like to have an outdoor ceremony, but I think my head would explode if we had to gamble on the weather. We're hoping to bring some of the outdoors in with elements like the oak branch and acorn candleholders (on the top row) and the woodsy decor.

So that's my latest take on an autumn wedding, I hope you enjoy it!

Introduction

I am a recently engaged woman who has been endlessly fascinated by the wedding planning and inspiration blogs I've found on-line. I'm having a fantastic time planning our wedding, and that has led to me helping a few other friends plan their upcoming weddings and events. In the spirit of sharing information and inspiration, I've decided to join the club and start my own blog.

I'm currently a little obsessed with inspiration boards. I love the idea of a collage of pictures that give an example of not only the colors, but key elements, and the overall feeling of your dream wedding. It's a great way to be able to communicate your ideas in a way that people can understand clearly, which is so helpful when you're planning something as important as your wedding and reception!

A little bit about my wedding style preferences...

My likes:
Elegant
Down to earth
DIY / homemade
Unique, personalized
Budget-friendly
Sentimental

My dislikes:
Generic
Over-done
That as little girls we've been raised to imagine our "dream weddings" that in reality would cost $100k. I'm all for having a lovely, charming wedding and reception without paying the price of a house down-payment!

I'm going to post inspiration boards that I've put together, and just other pictures that I find fun, beautiful, helpful or inspirational. I have a ton of pictures saved on my computer, so I may not be able to identify where the pictures have come from -- if I've posted something of yours and you'd like credit for it or you'd like me to take it down, I'd be happy to oblige. In the future, I'll try to be more mindful of where the images come from.

Here we go!