The Great Bridal Swap

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!!

**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)

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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!!
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**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!!

Our first ever Giveaway is upon us!!

Curious? Check in Tomorrow for details!!

Wordless Monday.. on Sunday

via Victoria Souza Photography

Etsy word of the day: Owls

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!!

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

Something we might consider...

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

via David Zhang Photography

I {heart} Frocks..

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

via west london photography

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just a little inspiration for the weekend..

photography by Vallentyne Photography via Hostess Blog

See you all Monday!

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

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

Ben Blood photography via Stephanie James Couture

Signature drinks..

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...

via JaggerPhotography

Martha Fridays: an offbeat celebration

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!

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...