The Marry Melodies

11 weeks to go...

2011-05-29T14:45:00.004-04:00

The invites have arrived, and they are beauuuuutiful!! I can't wait to share them with you in the coming weeks!!

I don't want to brag, but our lovely invites were designed by the talented Kathleen of Jeremy and Kathleen!!

Rule of Thumb - The Series

2011-04-01T12:36:00.002-04:00

For years I always thought planning our wedding was going to be a breezy walk in the park.. but since day 1 the experience has been like walking on egg shells and constantly dodging land mines.

As the wedding quickly approaches, we have learned many many many things by trial and error and wished someone would have sat us down early in the planning and told us how important it was going to be to get those logistical details figured out before hand.. but elas, this is how Luke and I do things.. and that's not always a good thing.

We've started this series in order to share with you what we've learned along the way...

Rule of thumb #1:
Before obsessing about inspiration boards, getting lost in color schemes and the ever endless world of linen options; start the process by creating a realistic budget for the type of wedding you are planning on hosting. This was our first misstep and we learned the hard way... A few months into our engagement bliss and big dreams of planning our lavish carnival-esk wedding, my better half was laid off from his company due to downsizing and the recession. We had not foreseen or planned on this happening so it was a huge surprise and huge disappointment that our wonderfully expensive ideas of a huge wedding were down the tubes. Talk about it a wake up call!! Having said that, going through that period of struggle in our relationship, financial and personal aspects of our lives, it really put things into perspective and drew the focus back to what that special day was going to be all about.. we quickly realised that it wasn't just about having a huge party. It was more about celebrating of our love and officially joining as one, a family.

Rule of thumb #2:
Scaling back on the guest list.
Our initial head count was 180+. When the reality of our shrunken budget kicked in, we had to figure out how to either a) make more money or start to b) cut cut cut. Arguments were had, and I’m pretty sure 1 or 2 things were thrown, but in the end we really worked together to trim our guest list down to 130. And let me tell you, we couldn't have asked for a better guest list. Cutting a guest list is like cutting your own bangs.. at first you're not too sure where to start, but once you get going, look out!

Rule of thumb #3:
Pay attention and read your vendor contracts before you sign seal anything. Ensure that things are clear and concise and make sure you ask a lot of questions… a lot of questions…and amend the contract as you go. This is one thing we overlooked and almost ran into a huge issue just this week that could have derailed our planing all together (I’ll save that tasty treat for another post). Our venue ended up letting that one major detail slide; However had the venue refused to work with us in the end, we would have been out our deposit and would have had to pay through the nose to have our invitations redone to make it work. Can you say ka-ching?? But lucky for us, they were very understanding!!

Coming up: where to save $$, tap into your resources, DIY doesn't necessarily mean less expensive

5-6 months to go...

2011-02-24T12:45:00.000-05:00

According to my Wedding To Do rule book, these are the things that should have been checked off the list so far....

Compile guest list
~~Reserve ceremony and reception sites~~
~~Order stationery~~
Register for gifts
Purchase wedding rings
~~Order dress and accesories~~
Book officiant
~~Book caterer~~
~~Order wedding cake~~
~~Book florist~~
~~Book music for reception and ceremony~~
~~Book photog~~
Book honeymoon
Send save the dates
Block book rooms at local hotel

Not too shabby when you look at the overall list... but we've still got lots to do and I know this list isn't complete. Plan of attack to come...

Minor details..

2010-11-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

At least twice a week I get the dreaded.. ' What is your dress going to look like? what style is your hair and makeup? We want details!!' Truth be told, this is a problem on it's own..

A year ago, I had absolutely no clue where to start! I've kept scrapbooks upon scrapbooks of ideas and schemes and décor for years and now, here I am engaged and finally planning a wedding, and I couldn't even settle on a color scheme. Has anyone else gone through this before? Just stumped...

Since we've pretty much booked all of our vendors for the big day, our little details are starting to shape into a monster neither of us expected. We've finally picked our color scheme..ish

via colorlovers

I am a true sucker for jewel tones. I really am.

my MOH

2010-11-21T21:34:00.000-05:00

How I asked my MOH you ask?

Well, the choice was clearly the easiest one to make. But I tossed and turned about how I was going to ask for about 3 weeks… I was clueless.. I dug through blogs high and low, googled "traditions", couldn't find anything I liked that wasn't over the top cheesy. And a couple nights ago, I sat down and wrote a letter about us. About our ups and downs, laughs and cries and said I wanted her to share in what will be one of the most important days of my life and that I couldn't think of anyone better to be there by my side.

I bought a card and a "bridesmaid: how to guide" on being fabulous and keeping the bride sane (in other words, when I lose my shit, she can be prepared to handle it.. lol). There were quite a few to choose from...

But I ended up going with The Bridesmaid Guide: Etiquette, Parties and Being Fabulous, it had a great combination of wit, humour and tons of information for her to flip through. I wrapped the whole thing with a nice bow and off I went.

I gifted them to my MOH last night. She obviously knew she would be my Maid of Honour, but I wanted to make it special. After all, it's the little things you look back on years after the deed is done. You want to remember simple gestures.. I found it to be a nice little touch to show her I value her friendship now and for many more years to come. I could tell she was very excited.

She immediately said we had to have a Father of the Bride marathon.

That my friends, is the reason she is my MOH.

Inspiration: A Rustic Affair

2010-09-17T09:53:00.000-04:00

We've been swinging back and forth on a couple themes.. never seeming to agree on one specific one.. but after walking through our venue last night, I think we've finally made our choice...

Here is an inspiration board of ideas we love and would like to incorporate in our reception..

1. cheese spread with chalkboard flags, 2. Black lanterns via potterybarn, 3. vintage locket via Etsy, 4. pictures on a string, 5. ,6. vintage birdcage cage, 7.bouquet via Stanley Makes Three, 8. signs via latte love, 9. wedding shoes, 10. via project wedding

Absolutely love the muted tones.. Dark framed lanterns and beautiful greenery compliment the light and airy dahlias and vintage pieces.

{heart}

lovely sashes..

2010-05-17T17:33:00.000-04:00

Over the past few years, I've been noticing that more and more brides are letting their individual personalities shine through their wedding decor and attire. From embellished bird cage veils right down to painted pumps, a blushing bride makes sure that none of these little details are overlooked. I'm going to say I've been thinking about jumping on the sash band wagon these past few months. Not only do these gorgeous sashes spice up the average looking gown but it also adds a unique and one of a kind touch that makes you stand out and shine on your special day.

Here are a few Etsy finds I absolutely love..

ivory silk dupioni sash via percyhandmade

sash belt handmade embellished ivory lace via percyhandmade

Sash belt silk rosettes via percyhandmade

Vintage Ivory on Black bridal sash via Bridal Shoppe

If only I can get the dress style sorted out.. and the search continues..

wordless Monday..

2010-05-17T16:43:00.002-04:00

A New York bride, groom, and their guests transported by pedicabs to the reception.

photo by: Lily Kesselman via New York Weddings

more on styling our backyard-ish wedding

2010-05-07T14:32:00.006-04:00

Over the years I've been collecting clippings from the LCBO (local liquor outlets) seasonal catalogues. I find some of their ideas would work beautifully with our overall wedding style. Since we aren't having a formal sit down reception, a traditional table setting wouldn't be in the cards; but that doesn't stop us from using these ideas as a basic guideline for our reception decor.

I love the mix of small tea light candles, lanterns and white freesia arrangements in little galvanized tin cups.. it's very laid back but adds a touch of class to the setting.

And of course, who can forget the glass globe string lighting.. finding these on the cheap might be a challenge, (a string of 20 lights can run you at $20-25 a pop online these days), but I'm sure we can find some kind of deal on eBay or see if we can't find a rental company in town.

As for color schemes, we're still deciding on our palettes but I have a feeling we'll be in the thick of purple and red hues from the jewel tone families.

It's all starting to come together!

inspired : Backyard weddings

2010-04-24T18:19:00.003-04:00

I imagine our wedding to be along the lines of this...

vintage chic.. j'adore..

via GreenWeddingShoes photography by Dana Grant photography

Learning to stand our ground..

2010-04-20T12:29:00.005-04:00

So far, wedding planning has been.. One word. Confusing.

Over the years, the better half and I would talk about reception ideas we dreamed up.. different scenarios.. we were looking for fun, no fuss, memorable, entertaining, kid friendly..

But soon after we got engaged, we quickly realized that our ideas weren't necessarily the ideas our parents had in mind. The whole thing was quickly becoming something else.. more formal, not us. With many very opinionated people in the mix it makes it very difficult to keep on track. You second guess yourself, you try to please others at all cost.. but I've come to the realization that you can't please everyone..

I don't want us to look back 1,2,15 years down the road and think 'why the hell did we do that? why didn't we do what we set out to do in the first place??' As the months go on, I find myself getting very excited about little details and ideas that are shaping up.. invitations, dress, handmade photobooth guestbook.. all little details I imagine will be absolutely amazing.. This is why we're going to start being firm with what we want in our celebrations of love (cheesy.. right?)

We are very excited about planning this thing no matter the size.. you just have to remember that the main focus here is not to get wrapped up in the stress and drama of planning a party.. It's to celebrate the beginning of the rest of your lives together with friends and family supporting you.. and there just so happens to be food and dancing nearby for everyone to enjoy.. heh

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I don't want this blog to become a place where I vent about my issues in being the "misunderstood bride". There are far too many blogs out there that are about bashing the in laws and listing everything going wrong in the planning in a negative light and that irks me.

Wordless Monday..

2010-04-19T22:48:00.001-04:00

via Mastin Photography

Where do you draw the line?

2010-04-19T15:22:00.000-04:00

For the past few months, we've been adding carelessly to our guest list and now that we're talking about having our invitations made we are quickly realizing we about to head into dangerous waters.

Here's why.

We've talked about weddings in the past, and we've always limited ourselves to 125 guests max. Not too big, not too small.. But after doing a head count of immediate family members who have to be invited to our wedding, the guest count starts at 85! He had tons of friends… I have tons of friends.. And they aren't people we haven't seen in years if you catch my drift!!

To avoid drama at ALL cost, we've already drawn the wedding party to 1 attendant on each side. We've also talked about including our close friends in the ceremony and planning tasks to counter balance the lack of wedding party. A cousin will be officiating, we've asked a close friend to MC the reception (funny concept, The catch? it must be bilingual.. Hilarious results!!) cake, hair, makeup.. sourced within our group of friends.

But to keep the numbers down.. where do you draw the line for final guest count? Is it rude not to invite your second cousins your parents said you HAD to invite (but whom you've never met) or your best friend from high school whom you've spoken to maybe twice in a couple years?? I really don't know what to do… It's all nice in my head.. but I'm Hopeful that it'll be painless.. (but I have my doubts..)

any tips?

Wordless Monday..

2010-04-12T22:48:00.001-04:00

via A Day of Bliss

mis-matched

2010-04-05T11:02:00.000-04:00

'Wouldn't it be fun if we had all mismatched chairs set up for the wedding ceremony? You know, Friends style"

I processed that sentence through my mind after the better half brought it up in a random conversation.. Sounds to me like a hip idea for the nuptials.. I instantly agreed with him..

I could see this being an incredible feet to achieve though. Here's why. Guest wise we're looking at a head count of around 125. We know a lot of people.. just not sure if we know a lot of people who would be willing to give us/ loan us that many chairs... We could probably end up finding 20 chairs at thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets.. Not sure where we'd find the other 100.. We can save that head spinning thought for later..

But in a perfect world, say we had 120 mismatched chairs.. We'd either have them painted a certain color or leave them as is and set them up in a way that there are different chairs in each row (no similar chairs side by side) Maybe paint a few chairs with accent colors to make it work. This would add so much charm to the already very bohemian/laid back setting. It would be a very romantic site.. I see lights and lanterns strung through trees where the ceremony would be held, mismatched lanterns lined along the center isle, some kind of arch made of branches and wild flowers..

Ahhh to dream..

It would be perfect..

via with this ring

P.s. we might be close to deciding on the potential wedding site this week… but I'll save that post for a rainy day..

Inspiration: A Carnival Affair vs. A Rustic Affair

2010-03-30T03:08:00.000-04:00

The best of both worlds.. right here. We keep swinging back and forth on this, but I think in the end we will find a happy medium between a Carnival and Rustic theme. Here are 2 very different yet fun inspiration boards for both receptions..

Carnival:
1. and 2. carnival themed reception, 3. pop bottles, 4. popcorn rings, 5. drink tickets, 6. snow cones, 7. carnival tickets, 8. bouquet of red lovelies, 9. candy buffet, 10. amusement park rides, 11. details

Rustic:

Absolutely love the muted tones from the Rustic board. Dark framed lanterns and beautiful greenery compliment the light and airy dahlias and vintage pieces. Having said that, really digging the bright pops of reds and blues and outdoorsy details from the Carnival inspiration board.

I think in the end, we'll be borrowing quite a few ideas from both themes to fuse our reception into something to suit our personalities.

Despite a few set backs, we're getting pretty excited about the planning. The great venue search is about to begin and I have a feeling the competition will be fierce!!!

wordless Monday..

2010-03-29T04:59:00.000-04:00

wedding kiss via A Cup Of Jo photography by Jessica Johnston

What's in a name

2010-03-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

A year and a half from now, the better half and I will officially be hubby and wifey. I've dreamed of the decor, themes.. but never thought to practice writing my married name.

yikes moment.

Kind of embarrassed to admit it, but it's %100 true.

I've been signing the same way for years.. Now, I am faced with an identity crisis. I have to give up my hyphenated family name for a single married name and I am having a heck of a time adjusting to it. Figuring out a style, a nouveau flare, is a whole different ball game.

It's so strange to me!!

anybody else go through this?

Rustic inspirations

2010-03-26T00:44:00.000-04:00

We've had a couple gloomy days, I thought maybe a little color and lovelies would brighten the mood up for the weekend..

White florals

bold red bouquet

bold orange

DIY Brides Rejoice!!

2010-03-23T21:12:00.002-04:00

Polaroid 600 film is making a come back... like for reals!!

'you wanna s'more?'

2010-03-23T04:49:00.000-04:00

via merriment design

Growing up, my brother and I were huge fans of 'The Sandlot'. There is a scene in the movie where the guys are having a camp out and each take turns telling scary stories about the Beast (the neighbours dog who as it turns out isn't beastly after all..) This scene generated one of my all time favorite movie quotes..

Ham Porter: Hey, Smalls, you wanna s'more?

Smalls: Some more of what?

Ham Porter: No, do you wanna s'more?

Smalls: I haven't had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?

Ham Porter: You're killing me Smalls! These are s'more's stuff! Alrite now pay attention. First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the 'mallow. When the 'mallows flaming... you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good!

I was thinking this might make an awesome quote for the DIY s'more kits we're planning on making for the candy buffet. I wouldn't start the quote until it got to this part.. 'These are s'more's stuff…" it would make it funny for my family.. I know my brother would get it right away!

Since we aren't planning on giving out favors, we thought maybe do little take away bags for the candy buffet where people can fill up what they want and take it home after the reception for a late night snack. Another plus would be If we decided to have our reception at a site were we could have a bonfire. It would work out perfectly and our guests could kick back after an all nighter of dancing and enjoy the s'more kits on site!

Via Stylishgiving

Now the fun part would be designing the packaging, and learning how to make the 'mallows and graham from scratch.. getting giddy already!!

Wordless Monday..

2010-03-22T06:41:00.000-04:00

Kevin Mullins photography

Planning advice..

2010-03-19T11:44:00.002-04:00

I think this will play a major part in our wedding day planning guidelines... sage advice from Amazing Wedding Receptions

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Top 10 AWR Wedding Day Don'ts

1. Not knowing that articles in popular wedding magazines, specifically the "Do's & Don'ts" of a wedding reception, are often written by interns and staff who may have attended far less as many weddings as you. But because perception is reality, they must know what's best.

False.

You know what is best and the Professionals from AWR know what is best, but only after we speak with you. We need to know first what you would like to do on your wedding day. What do you envision? What have you seen at weddings that you have attended that you liked or did not like?

I have been asked on several occasions to be involved in articles from popular wedding publications, that I just could not be a part of. Example: I was once asked "What are your top 5 songs that you play at a wedding reception, to get the crowd going?"

Well, my question back was who are the Bride & Groom, what age and ethnicity are they, and so on.... I even wanna know if they are a Red Sox or Yankee fan.

Needless to say when those factors were not being factored into the article, I asked not to be part of it. Rookies.

All of the AWR vendors also know how important it is to leave it up to the professional in that specific area (Photography, Entertainment, Floral, Videography etc.), and not to overstep our professional boundaries. Leave it to the expert. A Bridal Shop is not the expert on the vendors you should hire, they don't go to 85 weddings a year. Leave that to the wedding planners at the facilities & their expertise. They want what is best for you based on 1000's of Amazing Wedding Receptions that they have actually been in the room in witnessing.

2. Too much down time between the end of your wedding ceremony and the beginning of your social hour.

This is huge and a really tough one to rectify because it is beginning the day with a planned lull, and lulls are a party killer. I consider myself to be a black belt at avoiding lulls at receptions & I have seen it all. But the 2, 3, 4 hours between the end of the Ceremony and the beginning of social hour, killer. Especially when the reception site is not able to accommodate your guest who arrive early, to a drink or place to sit comfortably. It is a negative on the day & guest don't like it.

3. Arriving late to your own wedding ceremony or wedding reception site.

Another important timing aspect of your day. Plan your wedding day with professionals like your DJ, Photographer & Banquet Planner who will ensure that you create a realistic format of your day's events. Timing is everything. Not a good idea to arrive to your Friday evening reception site with your wedding party 30 minutes after you were suppose to be announced and then ask to spend a little time in the Bridal Sweet, when the Chef is preparing a meal for 250 guest. Ending Dinner at 11pm is not good.

4. Choosing extremely light music during dinner.

Key word here is, extremely. Guest defiantly need to be able to speak, not shout at their tables during dinner, but foot tapping and fun should never be banned. It's always great when guest grab a dance between courses, and to go from 0 to 100mph when dinner is over is never easy. We need to have our guest primed to dance. Let it be as is and hire someone whom you know is a professional with great vast experience at weddings, and knows how to make an Amazing Wedding Reception?To much light music can make it appear that dinner took forever when actually it didn't.

5. Choosing music that does not reflect your guest list.

So now you've paid all this money for your wedding reception and you searched far & wide to find the best wedding DJ available. The DJ is now at the reception and looks at the guest, and then looks at the must play list, and it doesn't make any sense. It's a far older crowd than what the Bride & Groom chose for music.

Maybe you also decide not to allow any of your guests to request anything either. These two together make it very difficult to have your guest walking away saying this is the best wedding I've ever been to.That is my goal & the goal of many other great wedding DJ's. It's evident that you don't trust the professional who has your best interest at heart. The best DJ's want the best weddings.Some songs on the no list, sure, absolutely, but don't handcuff your entertainment.If you choose a play list and you want your DJ to only play what's on it, then choose a couple of 100 songs and tell him to read the crowd and go with it. You can plan on a 6 hour wedding reception being somewhere in the neighborhood of 85 songs.I like about 20 must have songs and going from there. But that's me. I love reading a crowd with a clue.

6. During the reception, the Bride & Groom constantly leave the ballroom for long periods at a time.

I'm talking long, 30 mins here, 20 mins here, and another 45 here. Right there is over an hour.

The best is when they give you about 50 specific versions of the must play songs for dancing and then keep leaving. That's fun. I'm kidding,chest pains!

Seriously, guest love seeing the Bride & Groom celebrating with them. Don't forget, they are there for you.

7. Placing of another focal point that attracts your guest to leave the ballroom.

Add-on's are great, but we really want to do our best to keep our guest around or on the dance floor.

Having the bar outside in the hall or lobby, not good.

Having photo booth out in the lobby during your 3 hours of prime party dance time, ah, no, not recommended. Photo booths are awesome & everyone loves them, but if we can fit it into the room easily, let's do it. It's a big difference.

Also if you have a nice outside area, make sure that your DJ will supply music out there all night. Wireless speakers are great because we can send a signal to those speakers so it is the same music inside & out.

8. After Dinner, the DJ is asked to announce that certain groups of guest (Family, friends, colleagues, and former schoolmates) meet outside of the ballroom for pictures, or worse yet onto the dance floor for pictures.

Of course, this stops any momentum of your party time.

Even though this is listed as #8, it is my worse pet peeve.

Because after the main course is served, you are mine. Your guests are mine. I want to rock this thing and then a photographer walks up to me and says, Can you announce for the Bride & Groom to go to the Lobby for pictures with their immediate family and then when they are done can you ask for the Bride & Grooms college friends to join them. That's fun.

9. Not realizing how important the ending of your wedding is.End it on a high note. Don't let your awesome, amazing wedding reception turn in to a dwindler wedding just because you wanted an 8 hr reception. It is not how long it last, its how it ends. Believe me when I say, there is nothing more awesome than a Bride or Groom looking at a full dance floor on their last dance of the night.

10. You don't trust your wedding professionals and play the role of a wedding coordinator during your own wedding.

Waiting too long to hire your wedding team and not hiring a true wedding professional, willing to build a foundation of trust with you. It is trust that is needed so that you can actually enjoy your own amazing wedding reception. Timely communications is a must, throughout the planning process. If they don't e-mail or call you back from the start, that's what you can expect the whole time through.

Top 10 AWR Wedding Day Don'ts
via Amazing Wedding Receptions

Little details: Hand painted..

2010-03-17T12:38:00.009-04:00

There is no better time to bust out the craziest little details than at your wedding, right? (Just save the mood swing (crazies) for another day)

After browsing the Flickr world for some much needed carnival themed inspiration, I absolutely FELL in love with these hand painted Coney Island inspired shoes... aren't they a beaut?

by darabrownstudios via Flickr

My curiosity lead me to search for more hand painted lovelies.. and I wasn't disappointed...

Down the Rabbit Hole - Alice inspired pumps
by Cocopunkz

Golden Blossom by Vinogradlv

via Scholarly Articles

via Craftastrophe

Now those are some snazzy dancin' shoes... don't ya think?

Wordless Monday..

2010-03-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

via Studio 1948

Reader Questions Answered..

2010-03-10T12:45:00.004-05:00

Wondering when you'll start posting to Marry Melodies again. It's been a while, and I really like your blog! Give us the deets! -e-mailer who will remain nameless..

I guess I've been caught. I won't make up any excuses as to why MM hasn't been as active as it has in the past 6 months, but be assured, posts are coming!! I love getting mail, and this message really surprised me this morning, in a good way. So I'd like to Thank you, 'e-mailer who remain nameless', I really love feedback and this has given me the push I needed to kick start the MM again.

Lots of love all,
xo
D
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If you can't wait 'till Monday, make your way over to An August Wedding to see the beginning stages of planning our upcoming 2011 nuptials. **For those of you who haven't heard yet, the better half got engaged on New Years Eve Central Park, NYC details here.

Fun times at the wedding show?

2010-03-08T22:13:00.000-05:00

Overwhelmed should be the word..

It was very strange to walk by kiosk after kiosk of makeup, gowns, fake hair, photographers.. Djs.. everybody just ready to pounce on you like a cheetah to get your business. There were a few downers, but highlights included designer cupcakes (we didn't exactly get to touch or eat them, but they were still pretty to look at), the swag bag full of samples and a (usually expensive) bridal mag.

We ended up bumping into a couple friends of ours at the show which was great since I know a lot of the wedding prep stuff isn't really my better half's idea of fun. When my friend suggested we check out the gown sections, I jumped at the chance!!

Most of these dresses were pretty gotty, so it was really fun going through the rack commenting about all of them. Years ago, I decided not to opt for the traditional long flowing diamond/bead encrusted dress, but if I were to go that route it would have been a great place to buy it! Since most of the gowns were from last season (or before then even) some of the dresses were insanely cheap!! Seriously, we saw a couple dresses marked at $350 down from $1400.. just crazy!! You could tell that some of the vendors end up bringing some pretty outdated gowns, (think Geena Davis in Beetle Juice) so you really had to look for amazing deals.

The better half and I got a kick out of the fashion show.. I would never have my mom wear some of the 'showcased' mother of the bride dresses..

The major department store registry sections were also great to visit.. just say you're going to register with them, and they just give you a ton of stuff for free!! Linen Chest gave away a lovely china platter just for giving them your e-mail addy! (not too shabby!)

I'm not sure where we plan on registering yet, but I think Sears and Home Depot are our top picks right now. Since we've been living together for over 4 years, we already have every kitchen gadget and small appliance you can think of.. so it'll be interesting to see what we come up with.

Oh and the bling! I think we found a local jeweller (a few blocks away from our house actually) who could do a couple adjustments to the wedding band I was looking at buying. The prongs on my engagement ring kind of stick out from the mount and it's been very difficult to find a wedding band to fit properly without looking out of place. But it's still in the early stages of figuring out if I want a simple band or something with a little more sparkle. Plenty of time to decide that.

So to cap it off, would I go back? Probably not, but it's always fun to look at all the pretty shiny things.

maybe I'd go back..

we'll see...

Ottawa Wedding Show!!

2010-03-05T13:37:00.003-05:00

The Spring Ottawa Wedding Show is this weekend

March 6 & 7 2010 at the Ottawa Civic Centre (Landsdown Park)

click here for directions

Showroom is open daily from 10AM to 5PM both Saturday and Sunday!!

Don't miss it!!

oh yeah, bonus... entry is FREE!!

Wordless Monday...

2010-01-25T12:37:00.005-05:00

via Forever

**Don't forget to follow An August Bride for details on our 2011 wedding plans**

Let the wedding planning officially begin!

2010-01-22T12:15:00.005-05:00

The deed is done.

The bridal party is selected and now, the planning can really begin!

A little backround story if you will.

Years before we got engaged, the FH and I would talk endlessly about wedding details.. From cakes, styles for the bridal party, themes.. Gifts.. (let's face it, the registry always comes up in passing...) but one thing we always seemed to disagree on was the whole bridal party thing. I wanted three, and he wanted 1.. And then after doing the math, made pros and cons lists, and arm wrestled over it, I finally got on board with the idea for one attendee on each side.
Last night we sealed the deal. It's official, 1 and 1. that is it.

Am I happy with it? Yes.. Did I lose sleep over it? No..

Here's why.

We have tooooooooooons of close friends. The girls are all close, the boys are close and we also have siblings and close cousins to add to the mix. To include some and not others would be a crime.. Having a bridal party of 16 would absolutely be out of the question. Headaches would never end and I really don't want to deal with diva attitudes if the girls didn't like the dresses or the seating arrangements for their spouses. The important thing is that all our friends and family will be there to celebrate with us, and if we have to keep the bridal party small in order to keep things drama free, so be it. Drama free is a very important detail.. You know why? Too many chefs spoil the soup. Nuff' said.

So the deed is done. The FH (Future Hubby if you're trying to figure that out), asked the best man last week and everything is falling into place.

*** DISCLAIMER!!!!***
I won't be going into much detail about the wedding on this blog... but if you want to follow along with our planning please go see our blog baby,
a-rusticwedding.blogspot.com and follow us!

It's results like these Brides become Bridezillas…

2010-01-22T10:40:00.002-05:00

Take my advice and steer clear from "what kind of Bride are you" quizzes...

My results you ask?

You're a Gambler
You want a fun, beautiful wedding as much as the next girl, but you're not willing to give up your life or your sanity to make it happen. You're there to marry the man you love. While your laissez-faire attitude is refreshing, it's the "whatever" brides that usually wind up being disappointed: Important details get missed, bridesmaids are unclear on their roles, or Mom takes over and creates the kind of wedding you really didn't want. The Zen attitude is fine, but don't leave too much to chance.

Never doing a quiz thing again…

Cake details..

2010-01-14T16:31:00.005-05:00

It's a funny process when you start planning your wedding. You spend your life day dreaming about details and ideas going in one direction and then all of the sudden, everything shifts into another lane. For years, I envisioned cupcakes instead of a wedding cake.. red velvety goodness with an amazing cream cheese icing. Sounds amazing right?

Then, after having a conversation with the better half about cake cutting and smashing cake in ones face as a tradition (deal breaker) and thinking back to having a red velvet cupcake in New York only a few weeks ago, my mind started racing.. What if I get red specs all over my dress after the better half smashes a cupcake in my face? What if my teeth are stained red for the rest of the evening? What is a girl to do?? So, I scrapped that idea. (hmph..)

Back to the drawing boards.

But not too much time was spent there. We actually came up with somewhat of a compromise. One of my dearest friends, a pastry chef, whom I've known since the second grade (think 15 years ago) was enthused when I asked her if she would bake our wedding cake. Without really going into the cake details with her, she was absolutely delighted and honored that I asked but would hold a world class protest if we demanded 200 cupcakes, had them individually decorated with intricate details AND individually boxed and wrapped accordingly to give away as favors. (apparently, Bridezilla made an appearance at the last wedding she made a cake for.. don't think it ended on good terms..)

I took note (check) and just decided it would be less complicated and a little more appropriate for our celebration of love (yes, I went there) if we had a traditional 2 tiered wedding cake without the traditional trimmings. Just a simple butter cream or cream cheese icing (hold the fondant...), a few floral garnishes and a set of beautiful cake toppers like these (which we fully plan on DIY'ing ourselves) and maybe a cute red cake stand.

via thesmallobject on Etsy

Already getting goose bumps and butterflies thinking about it..

This.. Is..

2010-01-07T11:40:00.001-05:00

Officially my new fave blog...

The official backup plan...

2010-01-06T17:19:00.005-05:00

Yes, you read right.

A backup plan.

It's actually pretty simple. We want to be prepared in case things get out of hand with family and friends confusing us with nonsense and silly things. A worst case scenario plan if you will..

The plan will only come into effect if...

'You know what' hits the fan and we are at each others throats in the early stages of planning our big day
We can't seem to please our families no matter how much we bend
The head count doubles from 150 to 300.. (it could happen)

If all else fails, and we throw in the towel, expect us to board a one way flight to Vegas.

That is that.

Voila.. the Back up plan.

source

Save the date.. or not..that is the question..

2010-01-05T11:08:00.006-05:00

via Attacked by Tulle

Wiki defines a Save the Date as an item stating the date of a wedding or other formal event. It typically states the date when a couple plans to marry, so that recipients will know to keep that date free. Save the dates usually take the form of a card, but can also be a refrigerator magnet or similar item. They are generally sent out at least six months before the wedding date, and are usually followed by a formal wedding invitation.

One problem. Money. I'll be honest with ya, I've been engaged less than a week and when the better half and I talk about potential wedding ideas, all we see are dollar signs floating above our heads. Does anyone else see them? To me, save the dates are one area we can skimp on and save some extra $$ in the long run.

The better half and I have attended a lot of weddings. I don't mean 2 receptions a year.. We sometimes hit 5-6 on the low end if we are lucky! To the exception of a June wedding we will be attending this year, we have NEVER received a save the date card for any of these weddings. I commend these Brides, since wedding invitations are already expensive as it is. If you factor in the card stock, printing and postage costs(bet you didn't think of that one!), a save the date card could tack on another $2-300 additional expense to your already tight matrimonial budget. Instead of putting that $300 towards a piece of cardboard no one will remember receiving, why don't you go the eco-friendlier way and have fun with it!

We were thinking of building a website especially for the wedding for out of town guests and lurking friends who might want to find additional information on the dates, where we are registered and all that extra stuff you usually leave off the official invite. Since my better half is already tech savy, this would be the cost effective way for us to go. A domain name costs next to nothing to register and we could throw the website on an already existing server which would save us a good chunk of change. So there you have it! A $300 expense turned into an under $60 one!

In the end, we decided to only send save the date cards to our out of town/province/country guests. Everyone else can check the website. 'nuff said.

Did you send save the dates out? Any advice for us?

A fresh start to a New Year

2010-01-04T14:10:00.003-05:00

I've been blogging about weddings for close to 2 years, but now instead of dreaming about them I actually get to start planning it! And for this, my friends, I am VERY excited. We've decided to plan for a late 2011 wedding, but this might change depending on certain obvious aspects.. We like to dream big, but in order to do things right, it requires a lot of planning and a very thick cheque book (which we don't actually have).

But first things first… a subscription to Martha's inpiration.. Check!

"What were your plans for New Years Eve?"

2010-01-03T22:08:00.008-05:00

My mom asked me this questions on the 1st of January 2010...

This was my reply...

The better half and I spent the day in Central Park..

Took goofy photos...

Stumbled upon a late night dance party..

Then at the stroke of midnight over looking fireworks at Strawberry fields in Central Park, the better half got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Not a bad way to start the new year, right?

Has it already been a month??

2009-12-17T16:23:00.003-05:00

Almost a month to the day since my last post.. Silly me!! To continue the trend, I'll be taking the rest of December off from the blog to focus on the fam, the better half and opening presents (just kidding ; ) )

In the meantime, here is a mini blog roll of some of my fave wedding blogs at the moment.. hopefully they can keep you occupied for a few more weeks..

Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bridezilla
Ruffled
And Stanley Makes Three
Honey My Heart
Eat, Drink, Marry
100 Layer Cake

Enjoy your holidays, eat lots of food and drink wine; I'll be back in the New Year with some awesome goodies to share!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Years folks!!

re-post: Amélie.. How I've missed you..

2009-11-20T06:56:00.000-05:00

Last June, my better half surprised me with an impromptu birthday weekend trip to New Orleans, Louisiana.Not only was this trip my first ever trip to the Southern states, it was also my first ever plane ride! (What a city! If you've never been to the Big Easy, I highly recommend you book a getaway trip)

The first night we got to NOLA (Short for New Orleans, LA), we took a haunted walking tour through the French Quarter. Our tour guide Holly, a local, was very entertaining and knew a lot about the city your average joe wouldn't know. She told us stories about Muriel's restaurant with the lone table set aside for the ghosts (in order to stop them from stealing the restaurant guests bread), Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carreactress.. She also recommended a few restaurants she thought we might enjoy.. (and we really did!!) While walking down one of the side streets, I noticed a very cute sign above a brick wall (cute things seem to stick out... I don't know why). The sign read Cafe Amélie. We took a quick peek inside, and we immediately decided to eat there the following night.

And we did. What a place.. cobblestones.. candle lighting, beautiful brick walls.. just beautiful. We ordered a bottle of wine (expected) and browsed the menu.. the smells coming from the kitchen were too good to not be tempted.

I'm gonna zip pass a few details to get to the crucial point of the story.

After we had finished dinner, we still had about half a bottle of wine to go. Coming from a household who tends to polish bottles before dinners end, we weren't going to let this one go to waste. To make things easier, my better half decided that if each of us took a sip after every toast we made, we would finish the bottle in no time. So one at a time, back and forth, we toasted to the city... toasted the cobblestones, toasted to Holly (for guiding us there in the first place), toasted the stars... toasted Brad Pitt (long story.. lol) and it went on and on... it was kind of slow going for a little bit. I almost didn't finish my last glass.. and then something happened.

To break the pattern, my better half says "I've save the best one for last..". I started to get antsy.. I think I got a little too excited for what I thought was going to happen.. I started smiling lots.. getting sweaty (don't get me wrong.. it was hot.. but I thought he was going to propose!!) He gets to his last sip, looks me in the eyes (by that time, I'm blushing so hard my head hurts)and says... "To Rufus". I don't think it registered, because all that was running through my head was.. "I'm going to be Mrs Bleep*.. OMG I'm going to be Mrs Bleep*." And then it hit me. He didn't propose.. He toasted to the damn dog!!! (* to keepanonymity!!)

I was a little surprised and confused.. how was that saving the best for last??So the night went on without incident. I really didn't bring it up because after all, he did plan this fabulous little getaway on his own and I couldn't have sulked the rest of the trip because of this little "oops" moment. We took a carriage ride through the French Quarter, went to Coyote Ugly for shots and hung out with the craw fish mascot at BubbaGump & co. We even walked on the set of Carmen Electra's new Flick "Mardi Gras". Overall, a great drunken night.

The morning after. We get a frantic call from my mother in law. ( I call her that because I've been in the family for 4 years now) She was freaking out asking if he'd popped the question.. (see I wasn't the only one with that on the brain!!) So he hangs up the phone, turns to me and asks me where she had got this crazy idea in her head from.. so I told him I too thought it was going to happen.. I think he felt bad about the situation lol

And then I added "When the time comes that you are ready to propose, it better beat a candle lit dinner, in a cobblestone courtyard in New Orleans.. and it also better not happen over the jumbotron at a Senators hockey game".

I think he got the picture.

Ohhh boys... How I love them ; )

Originally posted: October 14 2008

re-post: For the Boys and Girls

2009-11-19T07:09:00.000-05:00

How are you going to thank your little helpers for giving their (somewhat) helping hand during the big day? After all, they are the cute factor of the wedding… you can’t not have something special prepared for them right?

I found this area especially hard because I wasn’t really thinking specifically about which little kids would fill the spot. I know who we’d potentially have as our Ring bearer, but we aren’t planning on going the flower girl route. Even thinking about the ring bearer, It was harder to find something decent for them… Besides an engraved whistle (no thanks) and a silver plated yoyo… there wasn’t much choice around here.

You want to try to keep the personal feel throughout the gift, also throw in a couple things YOU KNOW the kids would love.

So I put together a little mock list of potential ideas.. and here’s what I was thinking…

Flower girls:
Canvas tote bag (take out your fabric paints and Bedazllers ladies!!)
Dress up Paper Doll Book (personally, I loved this as a kid!)
Little baggy filled with personalized M&Ms of her fave colors
Little silver Jewellery box (engraved to add that special touch)
Cute little earrings or engraved personalized Charm Bracelet

Ring bearers:
Wicked cool Backpack (You can let your hubby pick it out.. he knows what’s cool)
Juggling balls (in a special tin)
Little bag filled personalized M&Ms of his fave colors
Little boy watch (to attach to his belt loop)
baseball jersey/bat set (personalized of course) with matching hat
Small Lego set (to keep him busy while everyone is running around)

I was pondering the idea of coloring books and pencils and a set of markers.. but there is a risk factor that isn’t 100% kiddie full proof. You don’t want to have to scramble around at the last minute if your ring bearer thinks it’s funny to draw on your flower girl's dress.. oh yeah… believe it or not, it’s happened!! (Rule #1, ALWAYS keep a Tide stick close... in case)

I really liked the idea of Fleece blankets as well. Go to Old Navy for these (they always have pretty funky colors and at a great price you can't go wrong) or have it specially ordered with their initials on it for that special touch.

FindGift.com also had a great box gift set with miniature pops, sweets & gadgets for the kids.

Oh.. one site I was looking at today suggested engraved paperweights for the ring bearers… honestly?? What does a 6 year old boy need a paper weight with his name engraved on it for??? It’ll end up being launched at his parents when he’s not happy… not so good!!

If you still have no clue where to start, here are great tips listed onBridal people :

Ask the parents for clues and ideas, chances are they will know exactly what to get the kids.

If that fails, take them out for a “Ring bearer”/ “Flower girl” day of fun! This can count as your gift by treating them to an activity packed day! If you still plan on giving them a gift, this is also a great way to find out more about their likes and dislikes. Should make your job easier in the long run.

The last thing to remember is to make them feel like they are an important part of your day. Don’t forget to have fun. Kids love to feel special too, they will always remember your wedding as being the coolest they've ever been to.

Originally posted: March 12 2009

re-post: Brooklyn Love..

2009-11-18T07:06:00.001-05:00

photography by Robin Roemer

re-post: My kind of Cake

2009-11-17T07:03:00.002-05:00

Pen Carlson Photography posted on the http://theKnot.com

If I were going to go for a traditional wedding cake, I would have something like this in mind. You don't need to have a 15 tier cake for a wedding the reception. Chances are no one will end up eating it anyways! ( in my past experience with weddings, the bride and groom end up having a dessert at the end of the meal in addition to the cake. Who wants to eat more cake after they've already stuffed themselves with dessert??)

Some couples end up having custom 'fake' cakes (made of Styrofoam and fondant) to cut the costs and waste. The cost gets cut by at least half and the guests wouldn't even know the difference! In addition, you can ask your baker to make decorated cake slabs with the same color scheme for dessert to serve when the time comes for coffees and tea.

That sounds good and all, but I still think cupcakes are at the top of my list for wedding desserts...

I'm torn... This is a second.

I really like this.

re-post: The dream wedding

2009-11-16T09:52:00.005-05:00

I am going to hit the ground running with this one. I am official sold on this idea. The dress, the shoes, the vintage appeal, beautiful cake.. oh My god.

We talk about ceremonies and venues and different things. We like things that have meaning, family oriented things. That is just us. We don't plan on marrying in a church, or having the big bash In a sought after venue everyone dreams of getting married in. (If you haven't read the past posts and are just getting into this blog you will be quick to discover we are looking for a no fuss casual affair)

Amanda and Daniel were married at the beautiful Bartan's Garden in Philadelphia, PA. She wore a beautiful white tea length, strapless, 2 piece gown. He wore a Paul Smith black suit to complete the casual look. The bridesmaids wore black dresses of their choice and the groomsmen wore black suits to complement the grooms attire. (I love this look. Classic, timeless.. casual yet chic)

The details of this wedding are absolutely wonderful. From the hand made invitations to the custom upholstered furniture everything was thought out extensively and executed with charm.
The guests were treated to a delicious spread of baby lamb chops and mushroom risotto catered by Philadelphia's Jeffery Miller Catering. The cake, decorated with details of small and large buttons, was a creation by Old City bakery. (whoever thought this up is a genius.. such a beautiful cake)

As a personal touch for the end of the evening, the couple gave out smoores and hot chocolate to departing guests (This is my kinda of affair)P.S. who doesn't love smoores and hot chocolate??!!

Originally posted: October 30 2008

Photography by Marie Labbancz via Brides Magazine

Wordless Monday..

2009-11-16T05:44:00.000-05:00

Photography by Simon Atkins

I'll be taking a breather from the blog this week, but don't worry, everyday I will be re-posting some of my favorite entries from the past year (so you don't miss me too much).

Enjoy! ; )

Maids, Maids, Maids

2009-11-11T22:33:00.007-05:00

When we first started talking about getting married, the better half pointed out that he only wanted 1 attendee on each side.. At first I thought that was the most ridicules thing in the world, however I take my words back.. I see where he is coming from now. Since we both have a lot of mutual friends, it would be hard for us to pick some and leave others out. So we decided to keep it low key at one on each side.. easy as pie. (there is more to this, but I'll leave that for another post)

This brings me to the main point of this post. Since I'm only going to have a MOH (<-Maid of Honor.. just in case you didn't get that), I've decided to go the non-traditional bridesmaid dress route and splurge on something a little different that I KNOW she will want to wear again, and again and again. Before you say "well I've heard that one before", hear me out. I know a lot of brides say they want something that their girls will want to wear again, but %70 of the time, they end up picking out the most hideous dresses that will end up being worn once and then hidden at the back of the closet never to see the light of day again.. But in this case, since she is the only one deciding, she can pick whatever dress she wants; style, color, cut. Anthropologie's fabulous styles might be a great place to start looking...

Rosettes-And-Ruffles Dress

Spirited Away Dress

Longest Night Dress

Frozen Crystals Dress

Now, enough about me... How did you decide what your girls would be wearing at your wedding? Tell, me all about it!!

Hollywood does it right...

2009-11-10T22:45:00.000-05:00

Have any of you seen I Love you, Man?

How amazing was the wedding scene? the beautiful fabric canopy, strings of clear beads and exotic white flowers.. just beautiful...

via Julianne Austin

via Celebrity Brides
Just a little inspiration to add to the book..

Wordless Monday..

2009-11-09T08:28:00.000-05:00

Looking forward to this exact moment with dad...

via Annie Warren Photography

I forgot...

2009-11-08T22:33:00.000-05:00

How completely amazing Love Actually was...

The cake dream...

2009-11-03T16:39:00.006-05:00

I had a dream last night...

I dreamed that our reception had just started at the National Art Gallery (located in Ottawa.. aka the dream venue..) Champagne was flowing, the band had just started and we were tearing it up on the dance floor. We love to dance.. We had our gourmet meals, laughed and cried during the speeches and had our first dance as the Mr. and Mrs... Everything was perfect...

Until it came time to cut the cake....

This is where my dream ended.. I've had this dream before.. it ALWAYS ends before the cutting of the cake.. I've always wondered why...

For those of you who don't know me personally, I love cake. Not the "I like to peck at my cake" kind of love... I'm the.. "I ate 2 McCain frozen cakes last night and I can't stop myself from eating another" kind of love.

The cake aspect of the wedding has always freaked me out a little. I am a stickler for detail, and I fear that If I brought a specific idea to a baker, I'll get stuck with something that is the complete opposite of what I wished for. This is my nightmare and may be a reason why my dream always ends at the cake cutting.. strange right?

This is why I relinquished all cake making decisions to the better half.

The verdict? Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Plain and simple. I didn't argue.. it's simple, beautiful and yummy as heck.

But a part of me always wonders...

What If I brought an image from a Martha Stewart mag like this one...

And ended up with this?

I guess I'd just have a great story to tell the kids right?

photos via the very hilarious Cakewrecks

Twirls & Swirls

2009-11-02T19:39:00.005-05:00

When I was a little girl, my mother attempted to teach me the art of calligraphy. I have always been intrigued and fascinated by different styles of lettering... however, I crashed and burned at doing it myself...

But lucky for me, The Professional Bridesmaid is hosting her very first giveaway: a customized calligraphy rubber stamp by the talented Barbara Kua Calligraphy! There are several whimsical styles to choose from.. My favorite?

The Katie

The giveaway ends Sunday November 8th, so make sure you pop by the blog for a chance to win this great prize!!

Wordless Monday..

2009-11-02T07:20:00.000-05:00

via Tim Chin Photography & Design

And the winner is....

2009-11-02T07:05:00.000-05:00

Before I announce the big winner to our super awesome Glitz and Glam giveaway, I just wanted to Thank you all for voting! We sooooo excited to have had as many entries as we did in our first ever giveaway here at Marry Melodies! Hopefully the next one will be just as awesome!!

And now the winner *drum roll please*...

Congrats, Samantha T!!

Make sure to check back with us for more cool giveaways!!
Thanks again everyone!! : )

The Great Bridal Swap

2009-10-27T23:31:00.002-04:00

Are you engaged?

Got any married girlfriends?

Crack open the wine girls, It's time to round them up and see what they have to offer.

Back in high school, my girlfriends would get together once a month for a clothing swap party. Here's how it works.

(This is where it gets fun)

Each girl brings a bag of clothes they are no longer attached to. The set up: throw everyones bags in one pile and organize the clothes by color. Set accessories like bags and jewelry on a coffee table near by.

**** Make sure you label your items before putting them in the piles. You wouldn't want to miss out on a good swap would you??****

The general idea of this is to find an item and swap it or barter for it. For example. You've been looking for a purple military style jacket in small f-o-r-e-v-e-r.. and your friend just so happens to bring one to the party for the big swap! You have your heart set on her jacket, but she doesn't like anything you've offered so far. Rule #1: Make her an offer she can't refuse. Use your imagination!

Here are a couple ideas to get the hamster wheel going.. Is your cousin a hairdresser? Try getting a free or discount chop in exchange for your items. Buy her coffee for a week or even better, try to snag her a date with the hottie accountant in your office (this one usually back fired, but it was always worth the shot!)

I could also see this concept being successful for brides to be! It gives them a chance to network with other brides to see how their events turned out. This would also be a good way to get rid of extra wedding stuff laying around the house (depending on the item or course) and get something awesome in return.

Another great way of doing swaps would be to visit social networking sites like Facebook for groups looking to barter/exchange/sell their lightly used bridal items. Check The Bridal Swap Shop out!! You know the old saying.. Someones junk is another one's treasure right? Always remember: A dress CAN be taken in. You can always dress up and style a boring item (clutch, shoes...) And ALWAYS keep an open mind. You'll never know what you'll find!!

P.s. Don't forget!! Our giveaway ends Friday!! Don't miss out!!

Sephora Glitz & Glam: Marry Melodies Giveaway!!

2009-10-26T06:39:00.006-04:00

**GIVEAWAY NOW OVER**

Our first ever Giveaway is finally here!!

I have been getting into the holiday spirit lately and I thought I would spread the joy by giving away some of my fave beauty products!!

Entering is easy as pie!! Just comment on this post with the words GLAM, and be entered in a draw for a chance to win this AMAZING set of deluxe-sized essentials from Sephora! It will mostly likely add some glitz and glam to your holiday look!
(fine print below)

This set contains:
- 0.27 oz Tarte Celebutante Dry Oil Shimmer Spray
- 0.3 oz Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion in Flash (iridescent pink)
- 0.17 oz Tarte Glam Gams
- 0.4 oz Tarte Lock & Roll in Bronze (shimmering true bronze)
- 0.28 oz Guerlain Meteorites Powder Pearls for the Face in Beige Chic (golden glow)
- 0.17 oz Tarte Cheek Stain in Eco-Cheek (coral with a touch of shimmer)
- 0.23 oz Sephora Super Shimmer in Desert Gold (rosy tan with pink and gold shimmer)
- 0.06 oz Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten in Sunswept (bronze, coral, and rose)
- 0.59 oz Smashbox Eyeshadow in 24K (true gold shimmer)
- 0.1 oz Laura Geller Lip Shiner in City Lights (pink and gold flecked glimmer)

-------------------------------------------------------
PRIZE: Glitz & Glam Shimmer and Shine Deluxe Sampler
TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the word "GLAM"..
GIVEWAY CLOSES: Friday October 30th 7pm EST
NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
PRIZE SHIPS: Canada and USA only
ADDITIONAL INFO: The winner will be selected using random.org and announced next Monday(Nov 2nd).
Good luck!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**please note The Marry Melodies is in no way affiliated with Sephora, We just wanted to be nice and give away an amazing prize pack to our readers!!**

Giveaway!!

2009-10-25T23:22:00.000-04:00

Our first ever Giveaway is upon us!!

Curious? Check in Tomorrow for details!!

Wordless Monday.. on Sunday

2009-10-25T17:43:00.000-04:00

via Victoria Souza Photography

Etsy word of the day: Owls

2009-10-24T22:04:00.008-04:00

Last weekend, the better half and I took the steam train into Wakefield and spent a beautiful afternoon walking around the village. We decided to grab a quick bite to eat and ended up going to l'Hibou, which had just opened up the week before our little trip (BONUS!!). I instantly fell in love with this cafe.. Vintage owl salt and pepper shakers (which I'm pretty sure was the inspiration for this place), a mix of mismatched chairs and tables dating from the 70's and a bar area embellished with recycled wine bottles that is to die for!

Since seeing this cafe, I have become enamoured with all things owls. It's not something we've been obsessing over, well actually I've never really said anything about owls up 'till now.. but as a theme, I would love to see this happen. (maybe not for the wedding, but a rehearsal dinner or an engagement party)

Either way, it would give me an excuse to order these gorgeous invites..

ello there via Etsy

The Knot Bargains!!

2009-10-24T21:51:00.002-04:00

Want to get $10 off your next purchase from the knot.com? Click here and save!!
(Hurry!! Last day TOMORROW!!)

Something we might consider...

2009-10-23T09:04:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday folks!!

To end the week on a good note, I thought I would share with you a great story I read in the newspaper a few days ago. This was a very heartwarming idea and definitely made me think of something we could do when the time comes that we tie the knot. Besides who needs 4 blenders when kids deserve everything in the world?

Hope you enjoy it!

Wedding guests bring toys for kids
By DEBORA VAN BRENK
The London Free Press
via Canoe

LONDON -- Forget the blender -- cue the giant stuffed gorilla. A Strathroy-area couple who married last weekend made an unusual request of their guests and the result was a truckload of toys for needy kids at Christmas. Fiona and Rick Zwering dropped off "their" wedding gifts at the Salvation Army service office in Strathroy this week. "It was just amazing to see how much people gave," Fiona said. "I'm not an emotional person, but when I saw all the toys, I was crying."

This is the second marriage for both and, as single mother to two boys, Fiona said she's been grateful for the services of the Christmas hamper program in the past. "You know how everyone says, 'I'll give back, I'll give back,' and you never get the chance to give back? Well, this was our opportunity."

"We already have two blenders and three electric hand mixers . . . We joked that we didn't need another 50 blenders."

For pickup, they enlisted Const. Steve Pommer, who co-ordinates the Cops for Tots program, which helps provide Christmas gifts in Strathroy. His truck was so full of toys they couldn't all fit into the back of the SUV.

The gorilla rode shotgun.

"It wore a seat belt and everything," said Gloria Mullin, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies, which catered the reception. The couple's generosity came as no surprise to Mullin, who also knows the couple through the Strathroy Community Players. "That's so Fiona," she said. Guests donated about 150 toys, which ranged from remote-controlled trucks and games to cuddly critters. The surprise donation marked a first for the agency, said Maj. Edward Hayden, executive director of Strathroy's Salvation Army community family services. People often donate food and gifts in lieu of birthday presents but "not for a wedding," he said. "This is great. The quality and quantity of toys will go a long way this Christmas."

Last year's 275 Christmas hampers represented double the number of the previous year, he said. "This year, because of the economy the way it's going, we're going to see more need than last year," Hayden said. Pommer said Cops for Tots passed along the equivalent of $9,000 worth of toys last year for local Salvation Army Christmas hampers. Last year, though, an increase in need and a decline of giving meant Cops for Tots cleaned out its meagre bank account. "This is the first year we've had to start from nothing," Pommer said.

The Zwerings, meanwhile, were a bit embarrassed by the attention, which was quickly making its way through the Strathroy grapevine. Fiona Zwering said the generosity came from friends and family who, without exception, supported the novel idea and went beyond what was asked of them. She said it's a great example to the couple's children -- his six-year-old son along with her 16-year-old and 12-year-old sons -- and, she hopes, a challenge to others to be generous in turn.

Wordless Monday

2009-10-19T21:26:00.000-04:00

via David Zhang Photography

I {heart} Frocks..

2009-10-19T10:17:00.007-04:00

visit Frocks online...
Jenny Yoo - Ella Dress in off-white silk shantung with flower by Alice Hart

I love them even more for posting this lovely photograph of their window display back in May. The colors work so perfectly together and the Jenny Yoo bridal dress? Hello, gorgeous!! This is definitely going up on the inspiration board.

p.s the feather flower is to die for...

Wordless Monday

2009-10-12T09:23:00.000-04:00

via west london photography

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-10-11T10:36:00.002-04:00

Just a little inspiration for the weekend..

photography by Vallentyne Photography via Hostess Blog

See you all Monday!

Stephanie James.. {the love never fades...}

2009-10-07T09:47:00.000-04:00

ahhhhh more {hearts} from Stephanie James Couture...
side note** amazing photographs!! Balloons never get old...

Ben Blood photography via Stephanie James Couture

Signature drinks..

2009-10-06T20:09:00.001-04:00

photography by Kris b. via flickr

Stumped finding a specialty drink for your reception? Try using the Signature Cocktail finder on the Knot. You can search by your color scheme, seasonal flavours... so may recipes.. worth a look! *Bar tip for the budget-conscious: You can save on the drink tab by offering wine, beer, champagne, and just the signature cocktail, rather than a full bar.

My top pics: Mango Mojito, Caribbean Dreams, Blueberry Martini

Wordless Monday...

2009-10-05T10:32:00.001-04:00

via JaggerPhotography

Martha Fridays: an offbeat celebration

2009-10-02T08:50:00.003-04:00

After spending the night browsing the Martha site for some DIY inspiration, I stumbled on this super cute rustic wedding. Details ranging from vintage fabrics, 1060's surf music to boutonnieres of oak leaves and acorns , I absolutely LOVE everything about this wedding!! Definitely more ideas to add to the inspiration book.. the color scheme would be perfect for a late summer/fall celebration.

This gorgeous bouquet of roses, cactus dahlias, and pom-pom dahlias is accented with oak leaves and acorns.

I find this arrangement very whimsical.. just adore it.

p.s. how sweet is his tie?

photographs via Martha Stewart

When in Greece!

2009-10-01T09:54:00.005-04:00

Two of my favorite Canadian wedding photographers tied the knot in Santorini, Greece last month! I've been following Rob & Lauren's blog for quite some time now, and I have to say I really enjoy their style and approach in capturing an image.

How beautiful are these shots??!!

p.s. can you believe they took their own wedding shots? Just Fab...

Carnival {love}

2009-09-30T21:47:00.010-04:00

Last week, 100 Layer Cake posted one of the coolest weddings I've ever seen, I almost died and went to bridal heaven.. honestly, this is my dream wedding. The balloons, m'stash, color scheme, creative centerpieces, the dress.. (OMG the dress...), even the little dinosaur in Lisa's hair piece... I LOVED it all!!!

I used to dream about the big dress, gazillion flowers, huge venue.. but over the past couple years, the better half and I envision something a little different for our nuptials.. 100% us in every way. We are unconventional traditionalists.

After making my blog rounds this afternoon, I fell in love again... Sarah Maren turned another fantastic shoot into gold. The day after the beautiful Lisa and handsome Goeff tied the knot, they went on a "day after" shoot... I'm not going to lie when I say I am UBER jealous. It's not really a secret.. I am obsessed with the idea of having a carnival themed wedding. The better half and I talk about leasing a ferriswheel all the time.. I'm serious!! I find these dreamy and inspiring..

anyways, enough of my babbling! On with the photos...

Click HERE, to view the rest of Sarah Marens wonderful shots!

Wordless Monday...

2009-09-28T13:46:00.000-04:00

via Lemon Lime Photography

Wordless Monday...

2009-09-21T10:37:00.007-04:00

photography by Caroline Tran

Starting this week on wards, Wordless Monday will be a regular post.. ; )

Paper {love}..

2009-09-20T17:26:00.007-04:00

I love getting wedding invitations in the mail.. it's no surprise considering i love paper goods in general. If you are looking for inspiration to creating the perfect invite for your special day, look no further than once wed. I absolutely love everything I've found on the site so far..

here are a few of my faves..

via Union Photography

I've also been a fan of this set for quite some time now. I've printed out many photos from this wedding and stuck them in my inspiration book for future reference.. I love the red and turquoise combination..

Invitations by Celine & Photography by Gabriel Li

And last but not least... the theme image logo/monogram.

This is so simple yet beautiful.

via once wed

Nothing trashy here...

2009-09-11T10:07:00.003-04:00

I was doing my daily rounds on the blogsphere this morning and I stumbled onto these gorgeous photographs by WhiteHaute Photography..

absolutely stunning...

Joel and Nicole's downtown Los Angeles trash the dress session

WhiteHaute photography via Trash The Dress

While were on the subject...

2009-08-28T10:28:00.004-04:00

How great is this? On my last post, I put up an inspiration board from Snippet and ink..
This poster really stuck out of the mix of photos. I just love the style, the colors... everything about it really..

by Hatch Show Print via southern weddings

inspiration..

2009-08-28T10:19:00.003-04:00

Really loving the red these days... just so happens to be the better half's favorite color too!!

via snippet and ink

Top row from left: sour cherry pie from Martha Stewart, flower and shoe photos both by Jose Villa, milk bottle "vase" styled by Paul LoweRow 2: photo booth photo by Meg Smith, poster invitation via Southern Weddings, lunch boxes and strawberry shortcake both from Martha Stewart WeddingsRow 3: bouquet by Saipua, vintage veil from i speak film's flickr, wagon from BridesRow 4: truck via Sweet Paul, invitation from Poppies for Grace, lantern photo by A Bryan Photo

Rainy Summer..

2009-08-14T10:08:00.000-04:00

via jeremyandkathleen

After this summer, I have vowed to always have a backup rainy wedding day plan. I really think Mother Nature has it out for us.. So far this has been the rainiest spring/summer we have seen in yearsssss.. that's enough to drive a sane "Bride to be" crazy!

I have always fantasized about having a big backyard wedding. My dad owns a home/country decor shop about 20 minutes East of Ottawa, and everything about it would be the perfect setting for our outdoor dream wedding. It truly is perfect. The store is located in a gorgeous century old home with a wrap around porch at the front entrance. Attached to the store, is a rather large barn (recently painted Red) which I absolutely love. Once in a while when we have a chance to visit the shop, the better half and I take a stroll around the parking lot and around back of the store and chat about what we could potentially do with the space if we do decide to set up camp there.

Realistically, we couldn't use the store itself as a backup venue in case of rainy weather. The store is already short of space, and I really don't think our guests would enjoy being cramped together in such tight quarters. The plan would be to have the wedding ceremony behind the store in the garden area and the reception on the parking lot located next to the store. Without a doubt, we will have get very large a tent and a dance floor.. maybe a stage for the band.. I may have gone and jinxed it by talking about "le plan" with all of you.. All this to say, it would be perfect.

We're just hoping when the time comes for us to say our "I dos".. Mother Nature will be kind and keep us in mind. ; )

If you are planning on having an outdoor extravaganza, the only rule you have to keep in mind for outdoor weddings, always have something up your sleeve for un-predictable weather.. you never know what'll happen! Weather is 1 thing you cannot control. But if anything happens, go with the flow.. rain won't ruin your special day. A pouting bride will.

And PS. make sure you have a backup plan for footwear.. This will give you a justifiable reason as to why you should buy super cute wellies, like these!

**for additional tips on how to deal with outdoor weddings, visit bridal wave!!

Thank you

2009-08-13T09:22:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to give a shoutout to all my new followers.. it's nice to know you are reading and enjoying this blog : )

Little details: The Rings

2009-08-06T19:22:00.003-04:00

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to take pictures of her and her hubby's wedding rings. I happily agreed to do the shoot, but I was running a little low on inspiration.. that is until I landed on Project Mad Love.

These images are so beautiful...

via projectmadlove
via projectmadlove

After finding a little courage (that is after one too many glasses of vino) this is what we came up with...

I think it turned out pretty nice! What do you think?

Truly Inspired

2009-08-06T10:22:00.001-04:00

I have no words.

photography Lisa Lefkowitz via Summer Picnic Wedding

NOLA revisited..

2009-07-24T15:20:00.008-04:00

Since our little stint in New Orleans (what I thought was to be our engagement trip), I've always fantasised about having a destination wedding there. The French Quarter is so beautiful and the food alone would be worth the trip. Everybody is so accommodating! Having said that, planning a destination wedding and having to deal with the logistics of getting 135 people down there in the first place isn’t something we had in mind. I think we're a little too laxed to pull that off. but a girl can dream right?

I think we might have a New Orleans inspired wedding here. At home.

Here are a few photos that have inspired me to keep dreaming..

via flickr

via Michael Caswell Photography

via Crosspollination

a little creativity goes a long way...

2009-07-20T10:41:00.012-04:00

juicyyummburger via flickr

Sooooo loving these personalized Gocco'd wedding invites! The colors and theme work so well together (and PS how beautiful is that tree??!!) Instead of going for the standard embossed wedding invites by these people.. I'm pretty sure we're gonna take this route invitation wise.. we are very un-traditional and I like to think we are fun.. this would be totally appropriate for us!!

do you like?

Oh my goodness...

2009-07-01T23:28:00.002-04:00

Brides, are you ready for this??

p.s. 24/7 bridal channel... the better half will not like this!

The rustic invites..

2009-06-30T12:10:00.000-04:00

lilribbers shop via Etsy

Numbered bottles..

2009-06-30T07:40:00.000-04:00

via Martha Stewart

DIY seems to be the hottest trend in weddings for 2009. Martha Stewart Weddings posted on these cute bottle labels that double up as table numbers! If you're not big on using these at your dinner tables, try using them at your rehearsal dinner the night before the big day!

For a "How To" session on making these labels, click here.

just a thought..

2009-06-29T23:58:00.003-04:00

How perfect would this be... this is totally us.

via green wedding shoes

Converse with me..

2009-06-22T22:13:00.000-04:00

via Kelly Oshiro Events

Real Weddings: A Caribbean Dream

2009-06-22T17:50:00.000-04:00

Last month, the better half and I attended our friends Destination Wedding extravaganza in Cayo Coco, Cuba. Besides a few minor setbacks, everything was perfect for the Mr. and his Mrs.

I am very grateful the Mrs. agreed to spill the beans and give us her take on planning the big day. If you're flirting with the idea of having a wedding abroad, this should give you a few ideas on what to expect during the planning process.

enjoy!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why a destination wedding?
We wanted something casual, less formal and definitely something different compared to all the weddings we had previously been to. (basically all the same except: remove and insert new bride and groom) We also didn’t want a huge affair with tons of people in Ottawa, we just wanted our closest family and closest friends. We were able to hang out with everyone all week and actually spend time with them on the resort. We love the beach and we love to travel, it just made sense to do it somewhere down south.

How did you find the experience of planning a destination wedding?
Because the agency was very unorganized, I found it really stressful. There were times where I was fine with everything but then she would screw something else up and then I would have to go back in and do damage control. Other than the agency, the coordinator on the resort was amazing...he really came through for us. Everything was simple, and amazing.

Tell us about the Travel agency?
How did you find them?
We were referred to this travel agency. We met with them and all seemed okay - until we booked it. One month later, our travel agent quit to work in the public service and we were left with the GM who quit 4 months later. It was one thing after another. Un-confirming our guests, losing credit card information and failing to tell us really important details. I would highly recommend to really research your agency before going with them, SUPER IMPORTANT. (be sure to ask for referals!!)

Describe your thoughts on the day of the wedding.
Was it everything you'd hope it would be?
It was definitely all that we hoped for. It was simple, it was elegant, it was casual and it was tropical. That’s all we wanted and that’s what we had...it was perfect. We were both calm the day of the wedding, no stress, no cold feet. We were quite calm and just enjoyed the day. it flew by! […] we wouldn’t have changed a thing! Our families and friends were there to share this day with us and we couldn’t have been more happy and grateful.

Would you recommend the resort, getting married in the Caribbean to anybody?
I would most certainly recommend it to others. We had such a great time and the location was perfect. The spa that did my hair was fantastic as well. People from the Caribbean are more relaxed and may not be able to provide EVERYTHING you want, so consult with them before you book. For the most part, they will do everything in their power to accommodate you and your guests and make the day one to remember. BE OPEN MINDED. 2 hours before the wedding ceremony a water main broke which resulted in water being shutdown across the whole resort. My groom and some of the groomsmen had to shower with bottled water!!! But what can you do? It was really funny at the time!

Any tips for couples considering going the destination wedding route?
BE OPEN MINDED, the things that happen not as planned, end up making great stories for later on!

one hundred wishes..

2009-06-17T16:07:00.000-04:00

I've always been a fan of the raffle tickets idea for a carnival themed event. Sticking them in albums and in invitations for photobooth sessions, drink vouchers..

But since I've seen this..

photography by the marvelous Max Wanger

I will forever be obsessed with these...

People with this kind of imagination amaze me.

revisiting vegas..

2009-06-16T02:12:00.000-04:00

So I've been thinking.. is a Vegas wedding too cliché?

Invitations = {inspirations}

2009-06-15T16:03:00.001-04:00

via frolic

Perfection..

2009-06-14T22:59:00.000-04:00

This is it..

this is THE inspiration boards of all inspiration boards (well for me anyways) Now if we could fuse this board with this post and this post, it would be perfect.

Photo Credits:row 1: Victor Sizemore Photographyrow 2: EyeSpy Photography, Gertrude and Mabel via Snippet and Ink, Jupiter Imagesrow 3: EyeSpy Photography, J. Crewrow 4: Jupiter Images, EyeSpy Photographyrow 5: Gertrude and Mabel, EyeSpy Photography

So um.. What do I wear??

2009-06-14T20:05:00.000-04:00

So you get an invitation to your best pal's wedding.. it's an outdoor August affair starting mid afternoon.. no specifications on attire. What do you wear?

Here are a few tips from msn lifestyle.. hopefully this will help shed some light on what you should plan on wearing to your next grand affair.

The invite says: "White Tie"
This is the most formal of all wedding dress codes (think the Oscars). He should wear: A tuxedo, a long black jacket with tails, a white pique vest, and a bow tie. Black, formal shoes and even white gloves for dancing are appropriate. She should wear: A formal, full-length ball gown in a neutral color like dark brown or black. Glamorous makeup and dramatic jewelry and hair are appropriate.

The invite says: "Black Tie"
This is the next most formal wedding dress code and usually means the wedding is an evening affair.He should wear: A tuxedo. A black bow tie, cummerbund, and patent leather shoes are also suggested. She should wear: A chic cocktail dress or a long evening gown in a dark, neutral color like brown or black. The bride, wedding party, or friends can help answer questions about the appropriate dress length.

The invite says: "Formal" or "Black Tie Optional"
The wording here suggests something slightly less formal than black tie. This means that a tuxedo isn't required but the event is still formal enough for one to be appropriate.He should wear: A tuxedo or a formal dark suit and tie.She should wear: A long dress, a dressy suit, or a formal cocktail-length dress in a dark, neutral tone like brown, gray, or black.

The invite says: "Beach Formal"
This suggests an elegant beach wedding -- so dress to impress, but also dress for the elements (sun, sand, and water). Anything you'd wear to a nice restaurant on a summer day is appropriate.He should wear: A summer suit with a linen shirt (no ties required), linen pants or khakis, and sandals.She should wear: A formal summer sundress at tea- or knee-length with flat sandals. Makeup and hair can be natural and everyday.

The invite says: "Semiformal" or "Dressy Casual"
Depending on the time of the event, you'll want to dress somewhere between formal and casual. Wear darker, more formal hues for an evening fete; opt for light colors and fabrics for a daytime wedding.He should wear: A suit and tie, dark or light depending on the season and time of day.She should wear: A cocktail dress or a dressy skirt and top.

The invite says: "Casual"
Generally, casual means anything goes. That said, jeans, shorts, and tank tops are probably not appropriate unless they're specifically noted as acceptable. For the purposes of wedding wear, assume business casual to be on the safe side.He should wear: Dress pants with a button-down shirt or polo.She should wear: A summer sundress or a skirt or pants with a nice blouse. Makeup and hair can be natural and everyday.

on a not so wedding related note...

2009-06-13T21:52:00.000-04:00

1.Sweet Babydoll Kids Dress ,2.Vintage Metal Organizer,3.Garden Roses Vintage Rose and Crystal Necklace ,4.Hello Greeting Card Set ,5.Birdwing Butterflies Painting ,6.Vintage Porcelain Teacups ,7.Turquoise Cluster and Cubic Zirconium Earrings , 8.The Rouge bag in Sage, 9.Vintage Office Chair

inspiration board put together by the folks at creature comforts via Melissa Loves

so pretty. don't ya think?

For the love of shoes..

2009-06-09T17:03:00.000-04:00

amina @ still motion via weddingbeepro

Taking the shoe shot to the next level.. just amazing.

Linens, tables and chairs.. oh my!!

2009-06-09T11:32:00.000-04:00

Photography by Tim Chin

Seating charts are probably one of the the most dreaded areas in the planning process. This is most likely why we are thinking of throwing the formal dinner/buffet tradition out the window and sticking to heavy Hors d'oeuvres and lots of mingling instead. We know this is a big nono in wedding etiquette, but we'd like to have a chance to meet and greet every single one of ours guests and have a great time doing so. We always hear stories about how newlyweds barely saw their guests the night of. We want to do things a little differently.. our way. We'll have several tables and seating areas set up and guests will be able to sit where they like. (maybe set up a little V.I.P area for the older folks) No head table, no fuss.

But again.. this is the "idea du jour" guaranteed it's going to change when the time comes…

On that note, you shouldn't have to butt heads to figure out the seating charts. Here are a couple
ideas from past weddings we've attended..

Draw from a hat:
Sounds kinda funny, but it works! We attended a wedding last year where most of the the bride and groom's guests were mutual friends or knew each other in some way. This was a no brainer for them. Family guests were grouped together near the head table (you don't want to stick grandma Pearl with Bob your un-ruly college friend right?) and the rest of the tables were figured out with the draw of a hat.

The idea is to cut little pieces papers and assign them to your guests (single, or with guest) and draw from a hat.. and tadah!! You have a table roaster. It ended up working out perfectly. This is a really great way to get your guests to mingle and meet new folks! Because the better half was in the bridal party, I ended up at a table with the grooms men's wives, the photog and a few of our single friends.. We had a blast.

Group friends/family and cliques together:
This is probably the most effective way to go. Simple. You don't have to smash your head trying to figure out who will get along with who. There shouldn't be any complications there.. Unless you're trying to avoid some kind of confrontation..

Save yourself the headache and plan ahead. The more you worry about it, the more stressed you'll be the day of. But in the end, just remember to have fun. No matter what happens, it always works out in the end..

How did you figure out your seating charts?

more to come..

2009-06-05T19:42:00.000-04:00

What a crazy couple weeks!! More posts to come soon...

but for now...

Melissa Gill Photography via Zimbio

Introducing..

2009-05-28T15:16:00.000-04:00

Yudu... the new Gocco...

excited yet?

Photo Booth Love

2009-05-26T10:03:00.001-04:00

via Manolo for the Brides

Delightfully surprised

2009-05-25T12:43:00.000-04:00

Browsing etsy is a regular pass time of mine. I tend to get antsy reallllly easily when nothing interesting happens at work. Especially during lunch when my peeps aren't getting together to chow down.. today is just one of those days..

I thought I'd keep myself busy by browsing etsy.. omg, I'm so glad I did.

I wasn't even looking for invites specifically which is why this comes as a delightful surprise..

cute, simplistic, to the point...

I LOVE IT.

Check out Nic and Kristen's work at Evapaul through etsy. Their range of style and attention detail is pretty amazing..

click here to see!

Photography: Do's and Don'ts

2009-05-24T14:26:00.000-04:00

I don't have very much experience in shooting weddings just yet.. but after reading this article, you almost have to agree with it in some ways.. hopefully this will give you a few ideas on things to remember when you interview your photog for the first time..

also please remember.. some moments happen spontaneously and unplanned. If your photog has a flawless portfolio, chances are you'll be in good hands. Trust the artist and they will deliver.

Photography Expert Dan Creviston Shares Things to Avoid and Tips to Ensure Flawless Photographs on Your Special Day via Best Wedding Sites

Top 10 Mishaps of Wedding Photography:

1. Not carefully choosing your photographer
Before choosing your photographer, take time to review their portfolio. If you don’t have someone with experience and skill, your photos will pay the price. Studios should provide album examples to review before you make your choice. If the studio does not allow you to choose your photographer, quickly move on!

2. Not chatting with your photographer a week in advance
It is important to discuss everything in detail with your photographer prior to the wedding day - don’t be afraid to be up-front about your expectations. Do your check in one week prior to the wedding so all instructions are fresh in the photographer’s memory. If you have specific requests, ideas to explore, or important don’ts to cover, express them. This is especially important because churches, synagogues, mosques and chapels may have specific areas that cannot be photographed. You don’t want any unwelcome surprises!

3. Not creating a photo "wish list"
Have you always dreamed of a romantic photo on top of a hill, in the middle of a field, or on a median along a busy street? Show pictures in magazines, old family photos, or any other visual to convey this to your photographer. From there, your wedding photographer should make your “wish list” happen.

4. Taking only stiff, posed pictures
Every album must have formal photos of the wedding party, but don’t let it stop there. It is important to have shots in a more relaxed setting – whether on the dance floor doing the electric slide or strolling around the reception.

5. Shooting at high noon
The sun is shining, the sky is bright, but what you may think is a perfect time to shoot is far from it. High noon sunlight creates harsh shadows on the face and doesn’t cast you in the best light – wait until the afternoon.

6. Sweaty, shiny photos
Of course it will happen - standing close together in full formal gear can turn up the body temperature. But don’t let shiny faces and (eek!) sweaty armpits take away from the special occasion. Be prepared with powder, anti-perspirant deodorant and paper towels!

7. Not scheduling enough time for the photo sessions and driving time
It takes time to shoot pictures of the entire family, arrive at several different shoot locations and get all of those perfect shots with you and your hubby. Make your life easier – allot extra time for photography! As a plan of attack, get the large group shots finished first, starting with children and the elderly. Next, take pictures with the families and bridal party. Lastly, spend some alone time with your man and the camera, while the impatient herd heads towards the cocktail hour. After all, it is your day!

8. Badly positioned hands and feet
After several shots, you and your wedding party may become antsy – tapping fingers, leaning on one foot and fidgeting. It is important that your photographer works with you to keep everyone photogenic, focused and above everything else – comfortable.

9. Missing the small moments
There are signature special moments in a wedding – the bride and groom’s first kiss, the first dance between a father and new bride, the garter ceremony and cutting of the cake. But small moments - such as the flower girl smiling from the pew, a proud moment between the mother and father, grandma on the dance floor – cannot be missed!

10. Stopping photographs before the reception is over
Many couples want to turn the cameras off at 9 p.m., but some of the most memorable and interesting photos happen when the party really gets going. Keep shooting!