a spin on the traditional wedding band

I saw this ring in an Etsy email and immediately thought weddingband!!

For me.

For Cam.

I don't care, I just want to see it as a weddingband. I'm not convinced the band has to be ultra-perfect and pretty and thin and blah blah blah...

this particular one is by Etsy seller metalsmitten and is unfortunately sold out right now. but I have a feeling it will come back in time. Or you can find one elsewhere. Or maybe this would just be the coolest engraving ever.

Thoughts? Did you go for a traditional or different weddingband? What about engraving? Did you do it? What did it say if you did?

I think I just met my new best friend

Seriously. She's on Weddingbee. And her name is ProudPeacockBride. Well, on there.

And she posted a response to someone else's wedding question with this link!!

Since I know alot of you aren't going to click the link to see what it is, I'll tell you:


It's a tutorial for how to make a CONVERTIBLE DRESS!!


What's that? I can MAKE the dresses I've been pining over for weeks? And a WHOLE LOT cheaper than I can buy them? Yeah, that's what I thought. Win ALL AROUND!


Check out the pictures:




It's that easy people! Seriously. I'm gonna start trying this NOW!




Take a look at this dress. Then click on over to the Twobirdsbridesmaid website. See any similarities?



Here's one of the styles in action!

So, yeah, I'm really excited!

Who's a doll?

Chaotic Bliss makes me happy.
And here's why:
She gave me the Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award!




It's cute, eh?



Now, a few quirky things about myself. This list could go on for days ...

1. I always have a hairtie (or two) on my wrist.

2. I have a rubber ducky collection I plan to use in my future childrens' nurseries someday.

3. I over use exclamation points, elipses, and sometimes adjectives.

4. I learned graphic design through an interneship and F&M and fell in love.

5. I work part-time as a florist during the holidays.

6. I have 5 tattoos and am hoping for more.

7. I am working on writing my first book. It's a memoir of sorts. It terrifies me.

8. One of my favorite things to do is wrap presents.

9. Karaoke will forever remain a pasttime for me and I plan to somehow incorporate it into our wedding.

10. At work a stuffed liger keeps me company at my desk.



And now, some bloggers I think are worthy of this award.
1.Lauren
2.MisMikado
3.D.Marie
4.The Professional Bridesmaid
5.Born to be Mrs. Beever
6.cakewrecks
7.Layla
8.Bride On A Shoestring
9.Dreamer
10.Plus Size Bride

Just note, these are in no particular order - but they're all super awesomely amazing bloggers!!

two birds, one dress?

Has anybody else heard of twobirds bridesmaids? If you haven't, check it out, they're awesome. My bridesmaids come in all shapes and sizes ... short, tall, thin, curvy...you name it, my amazing girls have got it. So finding a dress to flatter them all? Impossible. I don't like matching dresses anyway. I just don't.

As I was browsing the interwebs for fabulous bridesmaid dress ideas I stumbled upon these dresses. Basically, it's the same dress wrapped/tied/what-have-you different ways. So, the bridesmaids can choose the best style for them!!

Check out some of their options:

What a pretty teal! And a cool way to wrap the dress!


I swoon over these rosettes. How cute would these be with the flower girl in the tutu with rosettes? Can we say romantic?


The red here is just striking - and look at all the different ways the girls can style themselves!


This look would be great for one of my more-conservative bridesmaids. The sleeves are simply, pretty, and romantic!


I love this option because I would want to separate my MOH (more on that dilema later) from the other girls - because it's such a big responsibility and (in my opinion) honor!

*all pictures taken from twobirds website*

So - I love these dresses. I've been sitting on the thought of this post for quite some time. They come in any color I could dream of, can accomodate every girl's style, keeps my idea of matching-but-not-matching (are you still with me?) dresses, but have one problem.

They're priced at a minimum of $270. How can I actually expect my girls to shell out that much money for me? I know I sure as heck can't afford that. Even though the dresses are really practical and I'm pretty sure I'd let each girl choose her own color ... I'm not sure they'll go for this. Each of them has their own interesting disposition but only 2 of them could easily drop this money on a dress for my day.

So, I ask you, what's a girl to do? I love the whimsy, romance, and flexibility of these dresses ... but I just.can't.justify.the.price. Any other ideas ladies?

the flower girl

I'm pretty sure I know who our flower girl will be.

Her name is Echo. Echo is the only daughter of one of my best friends, Misty.

And she rocks. Seriously. This kid is too cool.

How cute is she? Seriously - and she is hillarious!

And I recently came across My Couture Bebe, where I'm pretty sure I'll be outfitting her in one of these beauties:

This one's called Blooming Paradise - the name even screams flower girl!

These are exactly some of the colors I envision for our wedding - and it has a flower on the side - a fun accent for a flower girl!

Petals on the bottom? Too cute!

I just really loved this one, too!

I'm thinking simply pairing one of these with a cute tanktop and some fun costume jewelry will really make Echo feel special and more like she's playing dress up then she's doing a favor for her "auntie" Alisha. She may even need a tiara and I may let her have one.

Did you have a flowergirl? If so, how did you decide who it would be and what she would wear? If not, why?

May 14, 2011

That's our projected wedding date.
It coincides with our anniversary-of-sorts. Or, the day we both agreed on for our anniversary because we're just not the kind of people to know when it actually is.
I wish I could remember what day he first told me he loved me.
I wish I say I wrote in my diary the day he asked me if we should just date already.
But the reality is, I can't. I've never been good at that kind of stuff.
I probably wouldn't remember his birthday if it weren't exactly 7 days before mine.

So, we sat down and figured out that it was around May 13 that we officially started dating.
And that works for us.

So I'd like to get married around that date (I'd say on the 13 but it's a Firday in 2011 and Sunday in 2012 and I want a Saturday to be honest though this may change because of our smal budget).

This puts our wedding both WAY in the future and steadily approaching. I'm not in hyper-planning mode but I always feel like there's somethign I could be doing to get things going.

But all that has to wait until he asks both my father and stepfather for their blessings .... that way my mom is happy.

It sucks knowing you're going to get married, considering yourselves future husband and wife, and not being able to plan things for the future entirely. It's a very very thin line between being batshit crazy pre-planning and ultra-prepared planner.

The Groom

We all know outfitting the groom is just as important as outfitting the bride - seriously.


And USA's new show White Collar gave me inspiration for exactly how Loverboy should look on this day. Enter: Neil Caffrey (or Matthew Bomer):

Okay, maybe it's that he's deliciously adorable as well. But I love this look. And I know Loverboy can pull it off. He loves hats like this and looks AMAZING in them( for proof see previous post).

How did you (and your groom) decide he would dress? Does anybody else find themselves with interesting inspiration from television or movies?

So, I went to a wedding recently. It was awesome! The ceremony and reception were held at an awesome brewery where the groom works. The ceremony was held in the catacombs ... and was awesome. The entire day was filled with more love than one girl can handle. I seriously cried tears of joy throughout the ceremony - it was so beautiful.

The reception was soo much fun - and the photographer took some great candid shots. I love this picture of Loverboy and myself because we had NO IDEA the photographer was taking it.

And this is a picture of the bride and groom that really speaks to me of their love and amazingness. These two just truly, really, amazingly love eachother. I was so glad they had us be a part of the first day of their marriage!

Now, a silly question. See the groom above? How he has tattoos and all that jazz? He's freakin awesome - has a story for all of them. But then why the heck would the photographer photoshop out the awesome fairy on my right shoulder?

Here's a picture of the fairy (this was the day after I got her - she's pretty red- and don't mind the poor photo quality):

And here's the photoshopped reception pic:

She's gone! She's just not there ... and I don't think she flew away!

It makes me laugh, really. But I still don't understand it. There are so many shots from the day of people with way more tattoos. Like - the party was full of them! So why take mine out?

{thanks}
Yeah, this picture is pretty much perfect to me. I found it on le love and it made me swoooooon! It's definitely how I feel about loverboy. And a wedding right there in the grass clearing there would be beautiful, wouldn't it?

Anyway - to the heart of my update. Last night I had a TERRIFYING wedding dream. Like, beyond terrifying actually. I cried my eyes out in the dream, during the dream in real life (I woke up to Loverboy asking me why I was crying) and then continued to cry when I woke up.

It went something like this (I can't remember it all - that's just how dreams are - they can be vivid one moment and totally broken up the next):

We decided to get married so Loverboy could have insurance. We figured, "hey, we're gonna do it anyway - and that makes sense." Nevermind that it makes NO SENSE AT ALL. Loverboy doesn't have medical benefits right now, no, but that's because his job doesn't offer them. And he doesn't get paid enough right now for us to even THINK about getting married in the next 6 months.

After we decided to get married, we wanted to go to the JOP. We had it all figured out - just get married now, move in together, then later have an official ceremony and reception. Okay, so this took care of the money problem - and it would make sure we'd be living together which we just can't wait to do full time.

So we talked to his parents. They were slightly disappointed but okay with it. Then we talked to my parents. Totally different story. My mother went all "mother of the bride-zilla" on us. Saying "my daughter will have a real wedding - something I never got" and got on the phone immediately to start planning. This, btw, is nothing like my mother. Of course she does not agree with us getting married in a courthouse (something we're considering since we don't currently belong to a church) because she's so freaking convinced I will NEED to walk down the aisle. But she wouldn't go crazy like this. No, not at all.

Skip to the day of the wedding. I find myself at the church I grew up going to. The church all of my cousins get married in. The church several of my friends from high school have gotten married in. The church I quit going to at 13 because I didn't like the injustice represented there. The church that had the nerve to kick the guy out who helped me in accepting Christ into my heart because he interpreted one small part of the bible differently than the pastor. And I started crying. Then I looked down at my dress. It was not my dress. Oh no. Remember the dress I fell in love with? IT was nothing like this. It was more like this:

{thanks?}

Can you imagine the bloodcurtling scream that emitted when I looked down and was wearing that?

So I screamed. And I cried. And my mascara ran down my face. I walked down the aisle to a keyboard version of Cannon in D (one my favorite songs, btw) but played on one of those electric organ settings (picture lap keyboard made for ten year olds in the 90s).

Needless to say, it is no surprise that Loverboy woke up wondering why I was crying. And it's no wonder I felt like I was falling apart. Ugh. I die.

Anyone else have wedding terror dreams? I don't want another one of these as long as I live!

Oooo lala!

Etsy's emails make me unendingly happy. Like, I look forward to them every day when they show up in my inbox (which is why they come to my work email - I get the little outlink pop-up letting me know Etsy has sent me more delights!

And usually when the email arrives my brain goes directly to wedding. Like, skips any other practical use (birthdays, Christmas, everyday fun) and goes right to wedding. Doesn't pass go and doesn't collect it's $200. What a shame, too. I could use that money.


{thanks}
I would love it if Loverboy bought me this necklace as a wedding day gift. I woud wear this with my dress - it looks so simple and pretty on a neck. And it would be almost like our little secret! How sweet and tear-inducing would that be? Too bad they're sold out as so many things often end up being one the Etsy email goes out ...


{thanks}

Eep! This is so cute! I'd wear this all the time. And it comes in a key chain, too (of course, both the necklace and keychain are currently sold out). Wouldn't it be cool to send the keychains and necklaces out as save-the-dates? I would, of course, if my budget didn't exist. I'm pretty sure you can't include something this cool for save the dates (which I'm not sold on anyway) for a $5000 wedding with approximately 200 people.

What Etsy finds make your heart pound? Do you ever see something and have your brain go right to wedding? Married ladies - what did hubby gift you on the day? What did you gift him?

Did you ever have a freak out moment?

Like, one where you go "this is never going to happen even though we've been talking about it, making preliminary plans, and are amazingly awesome people?"

Ugh, I had a moment like that today.

Things just aren't working out the way we hoped - Loverboy's DUI crap isn't getting fixed any quicker, we're both more broke than broke, and we both just need a break from life.

Anybody know where to find one of those? A break from life?

Favors?

What the heck should I give as a favor?

I don't even think they're necessary. I've discussed not having them at all.

If I do have a favor ... I want it to be something functional.

And not edible. Cake is edible. And I want a candy buffet but I don't want that to be the favor.

Anyway, I really am in love with these mini bubblegum machines from beau-coup! They're sooo fantastic. The Broke Ass Bride (aka Mrs. Meatball at Weddingbee) introduced me to these babies.

Aren't they fab? And I'm really into the aqua and red color combination ... and wow - look at that- they come in both.

They're a little pricey though. I realize $3 isn't alot ... but 100 guests x $3 a favor = $300 for favors people may or may not keep for a year. Hrm. Wouldn't they look cute with the candy buffet though?

I'm also considering these:

I saw them on Off Beat Bride a while ago - and think they're pretty swell ... but it seems like alot of work for something that will most likely get thrown away, not understood, and I'd really rather eat a fortune cooke. But we get back to the fact that I don't want to give totally edible favors.


{thanks}

But they're really pricey, too - the cheapest I've found is $5 ... I'm hoping maybe something like these will come up closer to my price range. Maybe they'll make a pocket apples-to-apples? Haha. It's Loverboy and myself's favorite game ...

Anybody else struggle with favors? Anyone have "unusual" favors? Anyone decide to go sans favors? Any other ideas?

cake

Neither Loverboy or myself are big cake eaters. Don't get me wrong - I love a good corner piece once in a while, I've determined I like red velvet with white buttercream icing the best, and I can't turn down a Carvel Icecream Cake (the DQ ones aren't too bad either). But I just don't love cake the way I know tons of other people do.

This left us deciding that maybe our wedding would be better sans-cake. But I just can't imagine a wedding without cake ... and while cupcakes look cute I feel like every member of my family has done them recently.

And I came across these cakes at Cake Nouveau:

It's hard to deny how pretty this cake is - and the off-set tiers and square design are just right. It's elegant - but not over-weddingy. It jumps out to me as a "wedding cake" all the same. And makes me swoon for something so unique.

Maybe I'm biased because I love the Great Gatsby. But this cake rocks! Everything's a little crooked ... and the addition of the color is subtle making it still evoke "normal" visions of a wedding cake. I'm pretty sure somethign like this is a top contender.

Okay, maybe take away the warning signs ... possibly tone down the colors ... but a triangle cake!??!?! What what?

I'm pretty sure - judging by the topper - that this was indeed a wedding cake once. And an edible topper seems like a really good idea ... because, lets face it, I'll never use the darn topper ever again anyway. I love the construction of this cake and the fact that it's only two tiers but still so unique and fun makes my heart beat extra hard.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Tim Burton - I'm not so sure I'd do this for our wedding - but I would love to be at a wedding with this (channeling any October brides...).

The title says it all: Till Death Do Us Part. However, I'm not so sure family would approve of Loverboy and I having this cake. And I've never been into skulls myself ... but again - I would LOVE a wedding with this cake ... or something like it.

This cake just makes me happy. The tiers are sooooo cool! From the keyboard in the middle - to the funky horn-like tier up top - it's hard to say no to a cake like this. And I love music ... and so does loverboy. But it may be a little much for our wedding.


Like what you see? Head on over to Cake Nouveau where there are TONS more! They're so fresh and fun - I bet you'll find inspiration! Are you having a wedding cake? If so, what does it look like? If not, what are you having instead?

He did it ...

Sunday night, while loverboy and I were house/dog sitting for my aunt and uncle, just sitting on the couch cuddling, he did it.

He looked at me, turned my head and said, "Will you marry me?" I almost died. Yeah, we've talked about marriage before ... yeah, we've talked about our wedding and the kids we want to have and our future ... yeah, I jokingly ask him "will you marry me?" when he does somethign super fantastic ... but he had never come out and just asked me. I was speechless.

And I think that made him nervous because I got "Well, I know I don't have a ring and all, but I want to get you what you like and deserve, and I just can't afford that right now. I'm sorry." I just continued to stare and told him that, quite frankly, I don't care about the ring that much (though it'll be nice when I do have one) I'm just all kinds of happy that he asked me like that and of course I will marry him.

I'm a bursting bubble of joy!

{thanks}

And, thanks to weddingbee, I know about this little gem. It's a free engagement ring stand in of sorts that Turtle Love Committe makes! How sweet, right?

Allure 8634

I didn't think it could happen.
But I found a dress I'm in love with.
And I've seen it worn on someone with almost my exact same body shape.
It's unbelievable.
And not what I expected.
If you remember, I had tight specifications that I thought would be required of my future dress. This dress fits none of those. And I don't care - it is perfect.

This is it:

I'm not sure if I would go for the white or the ivory... I'm really digging the ivory on the model - but I am pale pale pale and not sure it would look right.

Here it is on someone almost exactly my size:

She is baffled111 from weddingbee and is selling her dress. Of course, it would be pretty silly to try to buy it now as I don't have an engagement ring, solid wedding plans, or well, a car - but she's 5'9" just like I am and she wears a size smaller than I do right now - though I'm working on that and will definitely be down to that size by my wedding. My tatas are a bit bigger but they're shrinking as I work out and lose weight.
That means this dress would have the perfect fit with little alterations. Grar to timing.

Did you ever fall in love with a dress that went against everything you thought you wanted? How about seeing something perfect for your wedding and for the perfect price but it still wasn't the right time to buy?

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about flowers at my future wedding. I think I'm pretty solid: no boutonnieres, maybe one daisy for each bridesmaid, none for the centerpieces ... and I'm not sure if I would carry a bouquet.
Why?
It seems like an added expense. And it wouldn't be awful - my Aunt's a florist - but it would be just one more thing to spend money on when Loverboy and I are BROKE (and right now ... it doesn't seem like there will be an end to that anytime soon).
But if I DO carry a bouquet it would be this:



And if I do carry this bouquet then my girls would DEFINITELY carry one daisy each ... and if I have any boys on my side ... well, he'd have to have one too even though I said no bouts. Haha.

What do you think? What flowers are you carrying? What made you pick those? Or are you carrying something other than flowers? or maybe nothing? Why?

I don't watch TV very often.


But last night, finally relaxing after a long day and waiting for Loverboy to call I turned on NCIS (if I do watch TV, this is one show I LOVE).


Then it went to commercials. And I saw some beautiful images of bottles hanging from a ceiling with lights - creating a nice warm glow. It was an Absolut commercial. And it's PHENOMENALLY done!


The bottles looked similar to this:

{thanks}

{thanks}

The second picture is the as close as I could find to the bottles and their glory. Of course, I'm assuming they used Absolut bottles because they were frosted glass. I'm thinking this may just have to be a project I get into now to prepare for the future wedding. It'll take a long long time to save up enough bottles.

What other lighting options are you considering/using for your wedding? Did you get inspiration from any bizarre sources or find it when you weren't looking?

Okay. So topics of the week didn't really work. And that's my fault. Because life has been crazy, I just haven't gotten to update as often as I would have liked. I feel once I have an actual wedding to plan (maybe I should say if .... that's another story for another day) then I'll feel like there are more things worthy of my updating! Anyway, without further ado:
Invitation mini-books.
I came about these wonders thanks to Miss Lightning (now Mrs. eep!) on Weddingbee. And I was telling some people how cool I thought they were and how I could probably replicate this idea with things I have in my ever-expanding craft bin.
These little wonders are made by Elise Blaha: enJOY it! and I think would be a great idea to replicate in some way for invitations. Afterall, who said all of your invitations have to look EXACTLY. THE. SAME? I guess it depends how big of a party you're planning. But I have a feeling I could pull this off for either the wedding or maybe the rehearsal dinner (or something smaller).






Don't you just love the pretty little stars? These would look so cute for an invitation!




You can even switch up the orientation and use different things to bind them with!




I don't know about you - but I'm bound and determined to do something similar for my invites!

Are you doing anything besides envelopes with all the goodies inside? If so, what made you decide to do it? If not, what made you decide to stick with envelopes, card invites, reply card with envelope, etc?