{diy} initial wreath

saw this yesterday over at design sponge and thought about how lovely this would be for a fall ceremony..and looks easy too!

{wedding day} gifts...

i had totally forgotten to write about the secret gifts until one of my readers reminded me (thanks stephanie!)...

for the groom...
ok, i'm warning you..this really isn't very unique..to you..but for my groom, it was perfect. we got engaged in new york, he needed cuff links for his new french cuff shirt (didn't own a pair), and our style for the wedding was vintage..so of course, i just had to get these:

they are vintage nyc subway tokens set in sterling silver. gorgeous in person..and he loved them.

for the fam...
we really wanted to do something special for our parents. without their examples of love and the support of our relationship, this wonderful day would have never happened. so we presented them with a small token at the rehearsal dinner to represent the gift that would arrive later:

a cherry tree, already picked out and paid for was to be planted at each home, representing the strength of our love that they can watch grow over the years.

what are your unique or thoughtful gift ideas?

{wedding day} dress and details...

photos by: daniel meigs
hair flowers by: oh my deer (chelsea)
purse by: red ruby rose
jewelry by: me!

Do: get your nails done the day of or the day before..not a few days before. just throwing that out there.

Don't: get a strapless dress. ok. this is shocking, i know..but in my experience, if i had to do it all over again, this would be the one big thing i would change. don't get me wrong, i love my dress! but i wish i would have added some lacy straps for 2 reasons: 1. i was so worried about my bewbies flopping out and shocking guests, that i was hunched over in most of my pictures. 2. as the night went on, no matter how tight the dress was to get into, it stretched out..and i had to keep pulling it up. not sexy.

next: more vendor appreciation & seeing each other for the first time...

{vendor appreciation} Vintage Florals.

i know i promised details and the dress, but i'm pretty sure y'all are tired of looking at me and would much rather look at these beautiful flowers vintage florals arranged for the day...

photos by daniel meigs

i actually found melissa thru a wholesale flower shop that i used to frequent when i lived in nashville..i emailed the shop, asking if he had any recommendations for a floral designer..and luckily..he knew melissa.

the moment i spoke to her on the phone, i knew she was going to be fantastic. she seemed to know exactly what i was looking for and was just as excited to arrange them, as i was to have them there on the big day.

Do: be prepared. do some research as to what is in season on or around your wedding date. if you must have a flower that isn't readily available..be prepared to pay. try the wedding flower finder on real simple.

Don't: expect her to read your mind. bring pictures of designs/colors you like to your floral designer so you are clear about what it is you do and do not want. try the color image finder on google.com.

Do: check out your options. there are many ladies (and guys!) out there who do this sort of thing for a living out of their own home while trying to raise a family. you might get a better price and fresher flowers than if you use a florist. (but not always..there are good florists out there who won't charge extra just because the word "wedding" comes out your mouth).

{ideas} because i have control issues.

i am in the process of drawing out every little detail. not kidding. so last night i finished the table layouts..let me tell you that i do realize i am no graphic artist. i am okay with that..but i think this is good enough to get the point across...

Table Scheme:
15 5' tables. Each will have the following:
1 ivory table cloth that goes to floor
1 centerpiece
8 chairs
8 settings (see below for setting details)
3 white votive candles in clear glass holder
(6 of the 15 tables will have reserved signs - thanks to my fab readers who insisted upon me doing so..you gals are life savers!)

Place Settings:
The following will be set at each chair (8 at each table, 120 total):
1 khaki napkin with pocket fold.
1 large fork
1 large knife
1 sprig of rosemary


Cocktail Table Scheme:
5 tall tables. Each will have the following:
1 ivory table cloth that goes to floor
1 khaki tie halfway between tabletop and floor
1 centerpiece (budvase - smaller than the large table centerpieces)
1 white votive candle in a clear glass holder


is anyone else out there as crazy as i am -- taking drastic measures to ensure fewer miscommunications?

{ideas} Minus 3 Weeks .. and counting..

Some things I need to think about...

Server Trays. - servers & caterer's will poor champagne in the kitchen and serve everyone at one time with champagne. We will need at least 5 trays - may be able to borrow some?

Ice! - How can we keep ice outside/inside near the beverage jars for those who like ice in their glasses? and without using a big blue ice chest...(will also need 2 scoops for this)

Sweet Stuff. - Will need something to put the simple syrup (ice tea sweetener) in for guests to pour. Thinking about a syrup bottle? (something that can stay covered and is easy for the guest to pour).

Curious George. - Something to keep the kids happy (coloring books, crayons?)

Bathroom Baskets. - (1 women, 1 men, full of spray deodorant, gum, tide to go stick, etc. placed in the bathrooms)

Sorry, VIP only? - Should I make "reserved" signs for certain tables for bridal party, etc. since we are not doing place seatings?

What else should we be working on at 3 weeks out? I am about finished with the programs, will need to finalize a few details and print...

I can't wait to see it all come together..

{dress} good...better...

i heart my little alterations lady. not only does she know what she's doing (she was a seamstress for chanel for 10 years!)..but she's also fun to go to ... it's just like visiting my grandmother..complete with kisses on my cheeks (only with a thick italian accent that is sometimes hard to understand)..anyway..the point is..she rocks...and i'll show you why..

when i first picked out my dress, i wasn't exactly crazy about the little belt. it was cute, but i wanted something else..this became less a priority over time and it did look good with my fh's suit:

but my little italian seamstress said no way was she going to let me walk down the aisle with that ugly thing..so she made me this:

eek! isn't that so much better?! i pick it up next week!

moral of the story...trust a good seamstress.

{diy} stamps, wishes, and thank you's..

if you are a diy bride, and you have not yet discovered the wonderful world of rubber stamps...well, let's just say..read on..

i love them. i have found so many uses for them and have found myself addicted. first off, i used them for my save-the-dates and my invites..now i will be using them for my "wishbowl," thank you notes, and sachets..check it out:

wishbowl - n. apothecary (or other fancy jar) for your guest to place wishes, advice, or other notes inside..this takes the place of the traditional guestbook. we aren't opening ours until our 1 year (paper) anniversary.

so our guests can choose from one of these cards (hand stamped by yours truly):


and place it in the jar(s):

from here.

i also used the stamps for my thank you notes..which i hope to get a head start on before the big day:


and last, but not least..if you remember, i have a ton of leftover rosemary from the confetti project...with some great advice from my readers, i decided to make little sachets for my luggage, bm's and moms:


with all the stamping madness..i think elvis (my pug) is afraid he's next!

{ideas} check, check, & check!

candles:

from here.

violet mints:

from here.

and my scent, of course:

from here.

all currently on their way to the future mil's house!!

{woohoo!} butterflies-a-flutterin'..

heck ya! i'm getting married this month!

omg. i am so nervous. nervous that it might rain. what a bummer that would be..or nervous that i get pig flu and sneeze instead of saying "i do"...

and i'm pleased to announce that my programs are about finished..just have to print, stamp, and cut! here's a little preview:

front: cast & crew, ceremony ... back: letter for the parents, meaning of rosemary...all printed on the same cardstock as the invites. thanks to my co-worker friend for giving me a good "kick in the pants" (as she called it).

happy weekend everyone...

{beauty} hello lovely..

i am seriously having a hard time breathing right now.. a couple of months ago i asked the ever so talented chelsea of "oh my deer" to work some of her magic for me and my girls..and just look what she came up with:

for my beautiful girls...yellow "ranunuculus" with guinea feathers and "bling":


and for me:


eek! aren't they just perfect?

if you are looking for some lovelies to add to your big day..drop her a line on etsy..and get your very own!

{beauty} oh yea..hair!

i got a note from the lovely miss chelsea yesterday saying that she will be working on the flower for my hair in the coming weeks...which got me thinking about how to wear the hair on the day...

i've imagined from day one that i will wear my hair in a low side bun sort of thing..but loose and romantic. but here's the thing..i loathe wearing my hair up. i have always been that girl who hides behind her hair..mostly because to me...my nose is freaking ginormous and i don't want anyone to see it. it's a vain problem, i know..but i really can't help it. so what am i thinking? i want to feel beautiful..not self conscious...i thought that maybe at least if the bun thing was more on the right with the flower, when i stand at the "alter" with my fh..no one will notice my sniffer.

sigh.

so here are some ideas for the low bun thingie:



of course these beautiful girls have cute little noses...so i've started to wonder if maybe i shouldn't wear my hair down..like this:

what do you think?

{ideas} rosemary confetti

the rosemary for my confetti showed up last week...and while i originally was going to do this, i decided to do something like this instead. although..when i pulled out the antique sewing machine my mother gave me ages ago..i realized. i don't know how to sew. at all. i thought, "how hard can it be?" .. ha. so to keep a long story short, i put the sewing machine back in the closet and did this instead:

oh..and i bought entirely too much rosemary. seriously..i have like 4 lbs. left. oops. anyone have any great ideas on what i can do with that much rosemary (besides cook. a lot.)?

{ideas} keeping with the vintage...

last night i was up looking at my dress...the shoes, etc. and i kept thinking there was something missing...something that i needed to really take it back to "old fashioned" and vintage...and then i found these:

aren't they perfect? it will be so cute to see the little ruffle poking out of the bottom...don't you think?

April Fools! haha.

i do think they would be cute to wear around the house tho. thank bloomers4u for the awesome pic.

{ideas} vintage hankies

i have been collecting vintage handkerchiefs for the past year to hand out as favors for the ladies..i plan to have them gathered in an old wine crate with a sign that reads something like "ladies, please take one for your tears of joy.."

today i washed, ironed and tied them with a bit of baker's twine:

i also have picked out a few to belong to myself, my girls, and the moms:

i have about 60 right now and am thinking i need at least 20 more..

i don't really have favors for the gents..is that bad? i'm thinking they don't really think of things like that and i doubt they want man-kerchiefs...what do you think?

{invites} wax seal

last night, i finished up my invites and they are ready to be hand cancelled (a must when using wax seals) and sent out the door! to be honest, i'm worried about the little guys..i've worked so hard on them and it's tough to see them go out into the world..

but i digress.

i had some trouble figuring out the whole wax seal thing and wanted to share with you my tips and tricks if you plan on doing them yourself..

1st, using my glue stick, i touched a dab of glue on just the end of the flap. i only used it on the end because i did not want my guests to have to tear open the envelope, thus tearing the beautiful liner i worked so hard on. this also helped to keep the envelope flap in place as i used the wax:

2nd, i used wax that can be put in a glue gun, however, i have a mini glue gun, so the huge wax sticks would not fit into mine. boo. i was not about to admit defeat! so i used a lighter to heat the wax/glue. tips for using the lighter: don't place the stick directly in the flame. it will catch on fire. it will also turn your wax/glue black, which you don't really want, otherwise you would have ordered black wax..right? turn the stick back and forth constantly..you will know it's ready by looking at it..it looks soft and gooey..

sorry for the bad pic..but you get the idea, right?

once the wax is soft, pretend it's a crayon and draw a little circle on the flap of the envelope where you want it to seal. for me, the first coat wasn't thick enough:

so i repeated this step. the first time i drew clockwise circles, and the second time, counter-clockwise. just to be sure to get an even coating of the wax. make sure your seal is nearby and facing the way you want when you go to grab it. i use my right hand to "color" the wax and then moved it to my left as i grabbed the seal. you will need to do this somewhat quickly, and make sure you don't have a window open or a fan going as it will dry the wax quicker. then simply press your seal into the wax and hold it there for about 5 seconds:


and voila! they didn't all turn out perfect, and yours probably won't either. it's okay. i don't think they are supposed to be perfect. it took me about 10 envelopes before i really started to get the hang of it. so definitely practice. it took me less than 2 sticks to do 90 envelopes..oh and my thumb hates me today (from using the lighter).

happy waxing!