Thanks to Katie Slater of Carla Ten Eyck Photography for their gorgeous engagement pictures, blow!

Congratulations Rachelle and Richard! I can’t believe the day is finally here– and we’re so excited for you. xxoo~

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wishing you a valentine’s day filled with caramel– not coconut. xxoo~

Valentine Inspiration

Inspiration Board on 100 Layer Cake

Valentine’s Day Photoshoot on Style Me Pretty

Bits of inspiration from Ritzy BeeSimilar Posts:

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{ um, hi– could katie be any prettier? }

{ all images courtesy of talents binaryflips }

congratulations katie and mike on your engagement! we can’t wait for the big day. xo!

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The hospitality of our hosts really got us ready for the next day, which was a full day of shooting and scouting for locations. We met up with our photographers who got up to watch the sunrise and photograph our models surfing in the morning.  The spot for our first shoot was where Larry of StayInCostaRica.com and our models Michelle and Alejandro surf every morning– Playa Hermosa . It’s a black sand beach with gorgeous views. It’s also where the International Quicksilver Surf Championships is held every year in August. We decided that for our beach shoot, the parking lot would be our ideal spot. A parking lot — I know. Even Larry said, I can’t believe we’re shooting in the dump where I park my car every morning!!! But seriously– it was so beautiful and had every element we were looking for. And to be quite honest, we can make ANYTHING look good.

After chose the beach, Carla, Mike, Tony and I went on a Costa Rican adventure to find the rain forest location for our second shoot… wait until you see it! Shout out to our friends The White Dress by the Shore and DD Nickel who were also part of our scouting adventure.

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Months of planning has gone into this, and with the help of Magan Hunt from StayInCostaRica.com, we have been granted the great opportunity to stay in the heart of one of the most breathtaking places you have ever seen, La Casa de Suenos, which means “the house of dreams”.  This really is quite an understatement!  The weather, the people, the culture, the plants—it’s all completely gorgeous!  Every time we sit down for a meal we are accompanied by such a colorful and tasty assortment of food—our chef Jose is such an artist in his field.  When we are not enjoying a masterpiece meal, we are exploring or collaborating on the grounds of Los Suenos Resort.  Each grain of sand that leaves the beach on our toes matches just how many times we have come across an amazing part of this city.  We fully plan on captivating each part of it in our photo shoot coming up so that we can share this with everyone!!

More to follow soon!!

XOXO

DianaSimilar Posts:

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If you don’t know about Posh Paperie than you must read further– if you do know of the lovely ladies behind this amazing San Diego paper company, than their work below will come as no surprise. I originally met with Elizabeth and Karrie as we collaborated on a project together. I found their work featured on WeddingChicks.com and fell madly IN LOVE with their amazing pinwheels and banners. They’ve been working with us on a lot of projects since our first introduction and I just couldn’t wait any longer to blog about them. Their work is custom for each client and they are capable of taking your wedding paper suite to new levels! From save the dates, invitations, programs, menu cards, travel maps, table numbers, sweet station signs, banners, paper details, unique installations, escort cards, place cards….. seriously, if you can make it out of paper, ribbon and glue, these ladies can do it! Take a look at some of my favorite pieces hijacked from their great blog:

Ladies, thanks for being an absolute source of inspiration for us at Jubilee and our clients! What a joy it is to work with two very talented and supremely creative women. If you are in the market for unique and amazing paper, check out our friends at Posh Paperie.

XOXOSimilar Posts:

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I love the vibrant color story and modern, sophisticated lines. We’re working with so many great vendors, including Carla Ten Eyck, The White Dress by the Shore, Datura: A Modern Garden, The Loading Dock, Dana Bartone, Ana’s Custom Cakes, Taylor Creative, Inc., Gus and Ruby Letterpress, Paloma’s Nest, 14 Stories and so many more!

We can’t wait to share this same sex shoot with you all. xoxoSimilar Posts:

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It is that time of year again—turkey, wine, pumpkin pie, football, stretch pants—aka Thanksgiving. I think Thanksgiving might be my favorite holiday. This is our first year celebrating as a married couple so we’re excited to see our families and chat about the wedding. Thanksgiving to us is full of so many holiday traditions—as I’m sure it is with your family. We sneak really good bottles of wine in the butler’s pantry and snack on some type of delicious seafood for an appetizer, always brought by my aunt who lives in Boston. The children get bigger every year and we get them chatting about the mother of all holidays – Christmas. We eat dinner at my grandparents house in their big dining room on fancy plates and silver trays, which my grandfather has probably been shinning all week (my grandmother is the true party planner in the family, much to my chagrin). After dinner is aunt Kitty’s homemade pies—apple and pumpkin. Then, like clockwork, my dad rallies the kids upstairs into the family room and puts on The Grinch.

It’s a good day. I look forward to our traditions. It is never the same when a family member can’t make it, someone tries a new recipe (ahh! Where’s the stuffing?!), or something doesn’t go horribly wrong (remember the mash potato incident?). I find a lot of comfort in our family traditions and I’m excited to explore new traditions with my husband’s family this year. We have a new nephew and our other nephew is getting so big—it’ll be really exciting to share the holiday’s with them this year!

On our honeymoon to Sonoma County / Russian River we purchased many bottles of wine for special occasions. I’m really excited to bring and drink Porter Creek’s 2006 Carignane, grown in the Alexander Valley. We had the most amazing afternoon at Porter Creek Winery which was, literally, across the street from our fabulous inn.

What are your favorite family traditions during the holiday’s?
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I was so excited to work with the wonderful girls over at The White Dress by the Shore on my wedding gown and accessories (I did a feature on the blog about them last September). For my first dress fitting I brought along my friend Robin Dini to check out my dress. She surprised me with her camera and took some beautiful shots of Beth, Josie and I talking about different looks and the couture element of ruffled tulle I added to my Modern Trousseau gown. Am I super lucky or what?

Josie did all the alterations to my gown and has come out with her own line of fine European lingerie, sold exclusively at White Dress. Its called Beneath the Gown, and her creations are magnificent!!

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I’m so excited to be able to share our invitations with you!! As many of you know, the first item I purchased for our wedding was my shoes. They’ve been my muse for the entire event and have guided me toward the most amazing gown, linens, and paper. When I set out to have our invitations designed I knew of only one designer who would be able to take my shoes and make an invitation out of them!

Paper is one of my loves, and Kalyn from Lilah Paper and I have worked together on several events and her style really compliments my own. We came up with a custom invitation suite based on a variety of different inspirational pieces that I sent her through out the process. When she sent me our first round of proofs I was blown away. It wasn’t something I had envisioned but it was exactly what I wanted — which is a true testament to her talent! Much like a proud mama, I happen to think I have the most beautiful wedding invitations ever made.

We started out with a pretty belly band holding all our paper goodness together.

Inside, a tri-fold invitation suite. It starts off with lyrics from our soon to be first dance song by Van Morrison…

Our actual letterpress invitation to the ceremony with double backing layers. Photographs cannot do it justice! It is so gorgeous!!

Our pretty letterpress enclosure cards. We’ve gotten so many compliments on the cute vintage inspired food selections. We’ve also received A LOT of interesting first dance songs!!

Our envelopes were hand written by the extremely talented Lisa Ridgely of Pen and Ink Calligraphy. I LOVE working with Lisa — she is SO good to my brides and it was so much fun to be one of hers! We chose this gorgeous red ink color for a fun pop.

I had so much fun working with Lilah Paper and absolutely love the couture suite she came up with for us. The quality was so important to me, and our invitations are above and beyond what we could have imagined. We were SO thrilled to mail them all out (except for the $.78 stamps on each one) and have gotten so many RSVP’s back. Its a joy every afternoon to run out to the mailbox!

I’ll have some prettier pro pictures after the wedding with the rest of our amazing paper!Similar Posts:

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Last month Abby of Style Me Pretty asked all her Little Black Book vendors to dream up and create a DIY capable tablescape for her readers. I love any opportunity to dress up a table and quickly went to work on a simple Spring design using common household items. This tablescape was featured here!

Yellow has become my new FAVORITE color. I’ve become so inspired by it and now have a ton of new yellow cardigans, shirts and dresses. It has even worked its way into the redecorating of my living room this weekend! I love is cheery disposition and ability to brighten every room. The color yellow was my inspiration for this design and I set out to find all the pieces!

I didn’t have to look far — I opened up my pottery closet where I store way too many platters, dishes, and glassware. I pulled out items that we all have — a white cake stand (by Martha Sewart), some standard household vases (no doubt purchased at homegoods), and some vintage glass coke bottles passed down to me by my mom (a flea market or tag sale find, I’m sure). Real simple stuff, nothing super fancy, expensive, or unique. I knew I wanted to use these items but didn’t know what to put in them.

I took a drive over to one of my favorite florists, Flore in Southbury and asked the owner, Lori, what she had chilling in her cooler. Here is what I purchased on the fly:

1 stem white hydrangea
1 stem green hydrangea
1 ½ dozen circus roses
1 bushel of fancy yellow tulips (5 total used)
2 football mums
3 stems white lisianthus
Total Price: $60 wholesale

On my way home I stopped by the local fabric store to find something for our table runner. I spied some really gorgeous eyelet fabric and walked out with three yards (which proved to be a bit too much, but excess is always best!). I also popped over to the craft store and grabbed some yellow 8.5×11 heavy card stock (for the “charger”) and lacy inspired corner punch. Last stop: the dollar tree, where a good bargain is hit or miss. Fortunately they had some pretty yellow pillar candles and I scooped up two.

I had previously designed the menu card, which you can see, once I had decided on my color scheme. My inspiration for the menu was certainly my kate spade black and white tidbit plates, which I also incorporated into the tablescape. I love those plates! I had the menu cards them from a 8.5×11 sheet of standard white card stock and used this particular corner punch to add a little femininity.

After I had purchased my materials it was only a matter of putting it together. No one ever comes home with all the right ingredients and has a perfect centerpiece — there was a lot of playing around, new ideas, eliminations, and additions. In the end, this is what I came up with in about 20 minutes after focusing my ideas. I love it! After I was finished photographing it in my home studio, it graced our dining room table for the week.

Our tablescape can translate into any event and would look gorgeous at a wedding, mother’s day brunch, bridal shower, baby shower, or any other special occasion. You can dress it up, down, and adjust the formality pretty easily. Similar Posts:

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DIY: Tea Tins designed by Jennifer at Pigweed Press

DIY: Sugar Packets by a loyal bride and reader with a destination wedding in Barbados

DIY: Farewell Bells by Kathleen of Twig & Thistle

DIY: Southern Style Treats Mekala of Tie that Binds

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The obvious is chalkboard-turned-menu. I love how this couple used an old surf board as their surface to paint. Since chalkboard paint can go on virtually any clean surface, you can make anything your chalkboard menu. You can do a traditional bistro-style chalkboard menu, or maybe hang chalkboard tiles from clothes line strung between two trees. There are a million opportunities here to be creative and the best part: it is super expensive and easy to do!

In my search for this post I came across this fun and innovative chalkboard vinyl wall decals from Spell It Out Designs on etsy.com. To say I love these vintage / Victorian-inspired chalk frames would be an understatement! Vinyl is easily removable from any surface and leaves no trace that it has been there. While it is great for using on the walls, doors, or windows of your venue you should inquire first whether your location will allow you to do it. If they do, great! You can use these again as menu cards, place card displays, wedding signs (“wedding this way!”), inscribe a quote, thank you, note. Leave it blank and allow your guests to leave you messages! The possibilities are endless. And if you can’t put it on a wall, simply build a surface to put it on.

I’m also totally loving these chalkboard plant stakes used instead as a place card. These are from Crossroads Cottage, but you can easily make them yourself with a little time and energy. They’d be perfect for a smaller wedding! I also love them used in the tablescape design, tucked into a floral arrangement. They would also look perfect tucked into your stationary hors d’oeuvre display, or if you can, on your passed hors d’oeuvre trays.

This isn’t done often enough, probably because it isn’t that simple, but I love the look of these giant chalkboard seatting arrangement displays from a fete event. The key is to have a wedding planner who not only has gorgeous handwriting, but write in a straight line!

This fun and thoughtful idea comes from a wedding featured on one of our favorite blogs, OnceWed. The bride got the idea from Wonderful Graffiti to have a word search at the reception to entertain guests. If anything, it is just pure beauty, and makes for a great photo op. I’m sure her guests had a fabulous time using it, too!

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Last but not least, why not add a chalk board (or dry erase board) to your wedding’s photo booth? You never know what message might turn up! Just be sure to have something handy to wipe all the chalk that is bound to rub off on everyone’s black clothing. This is where we tell you that the dry erase board might be a better idea!Similar Posts:

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RJT Pictures
Robin Dini Photography
Carla Ten Eyck Photography
raw photo design
Orchard Cove Photography
Justin & Mary Marantz
Fresh Picked Weddings
The Wedding Planners’ Fabuluxe Blog
Totally Tabletops
Swanky Tables
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By Your Side Events

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I came across this DIY project on Craftershock.com and instantly fell in love. What a fabulous vintage detail to add to your outdoor summer soiree or garden party. I can see them hanging from trees or stringed lights. I love them so much I’m trying to figure out how I can incorporate them in an event of my own! The idea is to find used light bulbs that you can in turn recycle into these hanging vases.

Here is how to make them, courtesy of Craftershock.com

Step 1: Using fine-tooth metal saw, gently saw the bottom of light bulb. Pull out the filaments.

Step 2: Using a hand held drill place metal against some scrap wood and poke two holes opposite from each other.

Step 3: Lace thin wire through the holes and tie off at desired length. Fill with lovely blooms.Similar Posts:

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What you will need:
Tissue Paper
Floral Wire
Styrofoam Ball
Ribbon
**All of these items can be found at pretty much any craft store**

First thing you will need to do is cut down your pieces of tissue paper. This is totally up to you but do bear in mind the bigger the piece of paper that your using the bigger your flower will be. (One quick hint would be to fold the paper until you get the size your looking for and then just cut along your folded lines)

Your paper will end up looking similar to this.

Next step will be to do an accordion fold.  You will fold one way then flip and fold the other. When you are finished it should look like this. . .

While the tissue paper is still folded you will need to fold it in half. The general purpose in this is to find the center of your flower.

To give the flower a more realistic look you can draw a curved line on the top. As you do more of these you will not have to use this line.  Now all you have to do is cut along your guide.

 Now you will need to take the wire and wrap it around your tissue paper. After you have done that twist the wire together. Now make sure you wrap the wire tight around the tissue paper otherwise your flower will not be very sturdy.  Then you will need to spread open the two sides to prepare for the opening of the flower.

 
Now you are able to begin separating the layers. To make sure you flower is rounded I suggest altering sides as you work. It should begin to look like this. . .

Now you are done with the hard part.  You will need to make 45-50 flowers per pomander.  Once you have completed all of your flowers you will be able to start putting them into your Styrofoam ball.  First step here will be to insert your ribbon into the ball. I used a piece of wire to make sure that it was secure.

Take your flowers and insert the wire into the ball. . . continue until your ball is filled.

And there you have it tissue paper pomanders!

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Elisabeth from BLUSH floral design posted a fabulous purple centerpiece on her blog and I wanted to share. I just love these carnations in varying shades of purple. Believe it or not, carnations in bulk (like these) can look so gorgeous. The key is to use a lot and make your centerpiece very full. I agree with Elisabeth, too, that with these flowers the you can use the container to dictate the style of the arrangement. You can use square chunky vases, tall cylinders, old candy jars or medicine bottles, or mint julep cups. Although, I really love the antiqued vessels she used. And the sequin balls? Gorgeous! They’ll sparkle too in candlelight and are a touch of necessary glamour.

If you’re too busy for arrangements this season, give Elisabeth a call. Blush is offering holiday inspired arrangements at a really fabulous price. Get all the details here!

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I think variations on the usual outdoor decor is needed, so I did a bit of research to find some unique outdoor lighting ideas and a few new takes on some old ones.

First, I love these icicles that are hung from trees. Martha Stewart has a tutorial on how you can create these beautiful centerpieces to your yard. They seem super easy to make (especially if you enlist your fiancee / husband to do all the work) and the effect is really fabulous. Can you imagine what they would look like after a snowfall? These would work well year round too. I can see them used in a night time wedding as a variation on the ever popular chinese lanterns.

These shooting stars are super dramatic. I can see them scattered through out your backyard — it would be so unexpected! I love lights strung in layers, especially from tree to tree or object to object. It’s almost like creating a canopy of lights. Click here for a tutorial on how to make them.

I love these but they are a bit hard to make. They certainly would be fabulous for cocktail party, scattered and grouped along your sidewalk and on your front porch. They remind me of the outdoor luminaries (which we’ll talk about below), except made with snow instead of white paper bags. But they are so much fun! Martha has a tutorial on how to make these, too. You could vary the shapes depending on what type of “molds” you could find. I bet festive cake molds would work well.

Wrapping your lamp post in evergreen garland isn’t new, but adding this orb lights instead of the traditional string of lights makes this extra special. They look like little snow balls!

Consider lining your steps or walkway with cylinder vases like these, filled with something fun. Cranberries, crystals, ornaments, strands of beads, even popcorn would look gorgeous in these. I think varying pillar candle heights would also create lots of dimension.

Paper bag luminaries are so popular and for a reason — they have a big impact and they are easy to make. All you need are white paper bags, some tea lights, and a little sand which are all available en mass at your local craft store. I love these because of the festive cut outs, which can be achieved with a simple craft punch (or if you are super artistic, an x-acto knife).

I LOVE the big, vintage christmas lights. And what better way to display them then wrapped around an old bicycle. Some other ideas with a similar theme: an old vintage mail box or sleigh.

I love lights wrapped around these rustic grape vine balls. You can find them virtually anywhere and at all different price points. They would look so pretty lining your walkway, in your flower boxes, hanging from a tree, in a flower pot / urn, or grouped together in a sturdy bush.

I hope that I’ve inspired you all to rethink your outdoor holiday decor and make it part of your next holiday soiree!Similar Posts:

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Some of my favorites are items that guests sign: platters, a canvas engagement photograph, a quilt made for the couple. These are all reusable items that won’t be gathering dust somewhere or stuffed in an old shoe box. Some of my favorite platters are featured below. I’ve never had a thing for gimmicks or themes, so I wouldn’t recommend your standard platter with a bride and groom in the center. To me, that won’t translate well while entertaining for thanksgiving dinner. However, a platter with your married monogram, initials, or an excerpt from your vows is extremely beautiful!

Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
Platter #1: Serendipity Crafts | Platter #2: Say Anything Ceramics

I’ve also seen a bride and groom ask married couples to send in a photograph from their wedding with the R.S.V.P card. At the wedding, the photographs were displayed on card stock which was removable from a book or hung on a tree. The couples left beautiful messages and words of wisdom next to their wedding photograph, and it was used as a keepsake for the bride and groom. Here is an example from Room Service Home:

Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!

Another idea which has become really popular over the years is to have a “Wish Jar.” This is what I prefer best, because if you’re craftly like me, you can take all those wishes from your wedding guests and display them. You can have them mounted and framed in a fun collage or you decoupage them on canvas , using glazes and paints to infuse some personality. Another idea? Place them in your wedding scrapbook! What is great about the Wish Jar is you can customize the jar and use it in your home for décor or as something functional. Also, don’t get hung up on the word “jar.” As long as you can place a card in it and remove the card with ease, you’re good to go. So vintage jewelry boxes or hat boxes made a unique spin on the “jar”, as do bird cases, ice buckets, and glass bowls. You can also have fun designing the wish cards where your guests will write words of wisdom! You can tie in the design of your invitations, place cards and menu cards, or go for something completely unique. Here are some ideas for your “jar”:

Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
1: Birdcage from Anthropologie Home | 2: Crate & Barrel | 3&4 Pottery Barn

Having a fall inspired wedding? What about a pumpkin for your collector, or even some fun hollowed out gourdes.

Be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized version!
Image from Better Homes and Gardens, but thanks to Jamie for posting it on her blog.

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I’ll admit, choosing to register at Pottery Barn is a matter of taste. If you don’t like Pottery Barn’s style, well, there are nine other Top Picks for you to choose from! For those of you who like the style of Pottery Barn, you can find almost all of your registry items in one store. You can register for a pillow sham and a day bed – the options are endless. Here are some of my favorite items that appeal to a wide variety of tastes:

Great White Dinnerware

In my eyes, Pottery Barn’s great white dinnerware collection is the end all, be all, of casual dinnerware. As a matter of fact, if you are not going to register for your bridal china, this set easily translates into a more formal setting. I love the clean, smooth shape of the set and the polished finish. I recommend to my brides that they register for white dinnerware. Why? Think about the investment you are making in buying all these beautiful pieces. The quality of the product is really superb, so you should be using this dinnerware for many years to come. In 10, 15 to 20 years, this collection will still be fresh and modern unlike some of the other fad dinnerware that is appealing. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t buy what you like – but mix and match, supplementing other pieces with styles that you like. I recommend registering for at least 12 place settings, but it is wise to register for up to 16. You may never use them but at least they are available should Christmas be at your house soon!

Various Glass Service Pieces

It is so important that you don’t forget about these beautiful and functional pieces! Register for a wine decanter, glass iced tea pitcher, or margarita pitcher! You will use them, especially if you love to entertain. And while you’re not using them? Double them up as vases!

Entertaining & Serving Pieces

Don’t forget about the platters and large pieces that come with your dinnerware and china – but also find supplemental pieces that you can use for serving appetizers, drinks, and other goodies. Pieces from Pottery Barn that I love? The wine barrel lazy susan, the barona tray, and the barona cheese board.

Pottery Barn has also entered into the modern era when it comes to bridal registries: you can update your registry 24/7 online and receive a 10% discount on any items not received on your registry within one year. So, which Pottery Barn stores in Connecticut have the best selection? Well, almost all of them are the same, but here are my picks: Farmington in the West Farms Mall, Wethersfield at Evergreen Walk, Westport on Main Street, and Danbury in the Danbury Fair Mall. Do go to the store to register, even if they don’t carry all the items. Their staff are super friendly and will make it a fabulous experience for you, which is so important! I especially like the staff at the Westfarms Mall in Farmington. They are extra fabulous!

One last and important detail: Pottery Barn’s return policy is overly accommodating. I’ve ordered A LOT of pieces from them over the years, and if ever I was unsatisfied with something or my item was unintentionally damaged during shipping, I got a replacement immediately. I’ve always been impressed with their customer service!
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As I said before, I am a big supporter of taking dance lessons to work with what your momma gave you. It loosens you up and allows the two of you to bond and feel confident about your natural dance ability. Plus, you get to spend some scheduled time together pre-wedding day, which is important!
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We’ve all seen a really cool yet simple idea and thought, “Why didn’t I think of that!”

This isn’t one of those ideas.

Most brides indulge in the tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Well, if you’re having difficulty finding your “something blue” the folks at Betty Beauty: Color for the Hair Down There (yes, really) has launched a new product called Bridal Blue. Shall I continue?

The BRIDAL betty in Malibu blue is “just what the blushing bride needs for her special day!” Each BRIDAL betty kit also comes with a free (as if we’d pay for it) stencil shape in a heart or kiss which presumably adds an additional bit of “flare” for the hair down there. Immediately after I saw this product all I could think about was that Sex in the City episode where Samantha dyed her hair down there and fondly referred to herself as “Bozo the Bush.”

I had a difficult time trying to choose where to file this point for the archives. I’ve decided that “DIY” is the most appropriate. Similar Posts:

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Chris Kattan and model Sunshine Tutt were married on June 28th at Chateau Du Sureau. The couple added a lot of green elements to their daylong celebration, including driving to the ceremony in a hybrid car. “The entire menu was all grown organically and locally,” Sunshine said. “We tried to make sure that we did everything by the book to really make this wedding as eco-friendly and green as possible.” Success!

In addition to using local vendors and artisans (which I am a huge advocate of!), the couple gave each guest an environmentally friendly gift bag. The reusable totes were from My Bag Cares– a company that plants a tree in the United States for every bag purchased – and were filled with $1,505 worth of natural and organic health and beauty products. Now that is a wedding I’d love to be a guest at!

The wedding is featured in in Touch Magazine, but I wanted to share with you the beautiful pictures they’ve posted online. Everywhere you look there are beautiful hydrangeas in purple, blue and green. I love the chiffon green bridesmaid dresses with an empire waist and sash – they are so elegant, chic, timeless, and dare I say, you could wear them again! No word on the designer of the brides gown, but she exuded glamour in her mermaid style gown. Also enjoy the randomly gratuitous picture of Jimmy Fallon (who is, coincidentally, a married man himself now )

SourceSimilar Posts:

• Holiday Centerpiece: Carnations
• DIY Tissue Paper Pomanders
• A purple, chocolate and gold invitation suite by Lilah Paper
• A Preppy Spring Inspired Tablescape: Yellow, White & Black
• Decor Idea: Hanging Light Bulb Vases

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8 chunky square votive candle holders
$1.97 ea, Wal-Mart

5 Tall, thin vases
$1 ea, The Dollar Store

3 Tall and chunky mosaic vases
$1 ea, The Dollar Store

4 round, traditional vases (not pictured)
1 ea, The Dollar Store

4 packages (two per pack) of 7 inch & 9 inch tissue “bells” (for the kitschy factor!)
$1 ea, The Dollar Store

6 packages of tissue paper in brown, green & hot pink (8 sheets per pack)
$2.29, Wal-Mart

3 packages of stick-on crystal embellishments
$2.29 ea, Martha Stewart Crafts

3 Rolls of ribbon (thick brown, brown/white polka dot, thin green)
$2.97 ea, Wal-Mart

1 Roll of cooking twine
Free, because we don’t cook!

80 stems of fresh assorted mini gerbera daisies
$79.80 (with overnight international shipping!) farmstogo.com

Grand Total: $135 (give or take some cents)

Items used but already owned by us:
Stampin’ Up! Engagement Stamp Set with rubber stamps and ink pads
Cardstock for tags
Hole puncher
Floral wire
Wire Cutter
Circular paper cutter
Fabric glue
Tealights

Not bad, right? The key to beautiful and affordable décor is to shop around for the best bargain. I recommend looking in the stores we’ve mentioned, plus places like Home Goods, The Christmas Tree Shops, Ocean State Job Lot, Big Lots, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, Michaels, Joann Fabrics, and your local discount store. These are all wonderful resources and you can sometimes find the “find of a lifetime!”

Shopping for discounted flowers can also be really difficult. To be sure that you order the correct amount of flowers, do a trial run of your centerpiece beforehand. It’s always good to have some extra blooms on hand, as the shipping process tends to eliminate a few beauties from the bunch. Also, if you are ordering the flowers yourself, make sure they are delivered no more than two days before your event (unless otherwise specified by the floral company). You want to make sure that the flowers you’ve chosen are at the peak of their blooming cycle and are as fresh as can be (no one likes half-dead flowers!) If your floral budget is limited you can do what we did – tie the blooms together to mimic a bouquet. I think it’s just as elegant as a lush and full arrangement.

Tomorrow I’ll provide you with some tutorials on how to take all the ingredients we’ve purchased and turn them into our décor!
Similar Posts:

• Brown & Green Bridal Shower
• Romantic Wine Miniscape: Part Deux
• Holiday Centerpiece: Carnations
• Decor Idea: Hanging Light Bulb Vases
• DIY Tissue Paper Pomanders

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All the tables were adorned with a variety of chunky vases filled with white and yellow Gerbera Daisies that we hand wrapped in twine to give an elegant bouquet effect.

The yard was adorned with tissue paper “pom-poms” (or tissue flowers, if you prefer) that we hand made. They were all jeweled with small crystals for an added bit of bling, which ended up looking like dew on the petals! All the vessels were wrapped in ribbon in brown, brown & white polka dot, and green. We also made the brides monogram and incorperated it into the tablescapes with some twine and ribbon. I especially love the “mr. & mrs.” we created out of card stock and stamps from Stampin’ Up!Similar Posts:

• Brown & Green Bridal Shower: The Nitty Gritty
• DIY Tissue Paper Pomanders
• Holiday Party Decor: Outdoor Lighting
• A Napa Valley inspired bridal shower in Connecticut
• Holiday Centerpiece: Carnations