Streamers and Inspirations

Some pretty pictures to end the night. I have been looking for non-floral gazebo decoration ideas:

Love this streamer garland.

{via Green Wedding Shoes}

This is just because I love her hair down and the big flower.

{via Style Me Pretty}

This is perfection. 

{via Bow Ties and Bliss}

Bedtime Invitation Pretties

Okay, I need to get off the computer and go do dishes or something productive, but before I sign off:

I think I really want to do this with the save the dates... it is so cute and simple (while requiring so much work-- I love how "simple" often isn't simple ;-) )

{via Oh So Beautiful Paper}

Such a lovely invitation suite package! 

{via Oh So Beautiful Paper}

 The font of their names is killing me! So scrawly and perfect. 

{via Green Wedding Shoes}

Have a wonderful night! 

Crafty

I was feeling crafty tonight after staring at Pinterest for hours. Oh Pinterest, why must you be so addictive? And, I pulled out the ribbon, lace and embroidery hoop I bought from Hobby Lobby last week. This was the idea:

the one on the right

{via Green Wedding Shoes}

{via Style Me Pretty}

Well, I think I need a lot more ribbon and lace, but here is the started ribbon hangy thing:

I rather like what I am seeing develop. A few more ribbon spools and some more lace scraps, and I might have a fun little decoration. This one is massive, and I think I would like to make some smaller ones. I will post a picture when it is all done! 

Finds

I have found way too many amazing things this past week. The only thing I am slightly worried about is that my stuff might take over the house and Nick might begin to think I am a hoarder. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Besides all the amazing vessels and vases I have picked up, I started a new project that is either crazy or ingenious: I am collecting mismatched china plates for the reception. I love the look and it is so fun to rummage for pretty old china pieces. We'll see how that goes... and if you think I'm crazy, you are probably right.

Show and Tell:

And here something in honor of my newfound succulent obsession:

Invitation in the Works

I am beyond excited that Emily Jeffords of Beautiful Hello is designing my wedding invitations. I grew up with Emily, and even in our teens she was the most stylish, artistic girl I knew. Fast forward 15 years, and she is still stylish and artistic and has an amazing Etsy shop and gorgeous blog. I can't wait to see what she cooks up. Some invite inspiration we are working off of.

Handwritten Scripts, vintage vibes, dark blues:

{via We Heart Photography}

{Designed by Smock}

{via William Arthur}

Flowers Flowers!

Meeting with floral designers is a girls dream come true. You've got a talented designer with a pen and a note pad asking you what you want, and showing you loads of pretty pictures. Yes please. Maybe I need a career change? Just a few snapshots of inspiration:

Poppies and mason jars, orange and white

{via Be U Weddings floral design by Wild Poppy}

Big leaves and lots of texture!

{via Style Me Pretty}

Perfection in a bouquet-- add some trailing leaves and I might just die.

{via Flora Grubb}

Succulents are such strange little plants, therefore I love them and their odd beauty.

{unknown}

This shape is perfect-- love the wispy, just-picked feel.

{via Style Me Pretty}

These bottles are the inspiration behind the weekly Goodwill trips.

{Via Style Me Pretty}

I'm loving ranunculus, succulents, big leaves and greenery, buds popping out of little vases and quirky vessels, and bold orange pops of color.

Friday Wedding Inspiration

It just doesn't get any prettier than this wedding. I love all the flowers, the simple elegance, the puppy, the obvious joy.

{All via Style Me Pretty}

It's Friday! I've got a full weekend ahead: working on an essay for my writing class, cleaning frightful apartment, appointment with a florist, hanging out with the boy, and hopefully some thrifting/antiquing for wedding gems.

Videography...

All along I have said, "We don't need a videographer... who actually watches their wedding video?" Nick agreed, and I was pleased to cross a line item out of our budget. Then I saw a beautiful 5 minute wedding video that made me cry, and I had to admit defeat. Darn. Good thing Nick just laughs and understands. Love him.

So, I'm on the hunt for a videographer/cinematographer who can make lovely, artistic videos and won't break my bank. Easier said than done. It seems there is a disparity (cost and otherwise) between artistic videos, "MTV" videos, and "your parents VHS" style videos. I guess I had to hit one snag in the planning process, and of all of them, this is pretty small potatoes.

Wedding Inspiration

I am head over heels for this wedding, and I had to share. So unique, so different, so obviously inspired by who they are.

{All via Style Me Pretty}

This bride also has a blog and a wedding planning business called Lace and Likes. Check it out here!

More Shoes and Flowers

I got home from work today to find a box on my doorstep. Shoes! I tried them on, and declared them the champions. (I apologize for the bland, unpainted toenails.)

In other wedding news, Caitlin (my maid of honor) and I met with a really wonderful florist today. She and I had way too much fun talking about all my ideas, looking at pictures, and brainstorming. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it was a fun first meeting.

Lastly, how can anyone resist this stud? There we go-- this is what it is all for. I can't wait to be this man's wife!!

THE dress

It's funny-- I found my dress before we even set our date. And somehow the act of finding that one perfect dress made everything else fall into place.

 It is true that two hours after putting Nick's ring on my finger, I was scanning pretty white dresses on wedding websites. It was all so new... and I had no idea what I liked. A few weeks and some intermittent scanning later, I found a picture that stopped me in my tracks.

I went with my parents to try it on one weekend, just for fun, and even 4 sizes too big with massive clips holding the fabric taught, it was perfect. I tried on a string of other dresses, just to make sure my affection for the first dress was the real thing, and no matter how pretty the dress, none of them seemed quite right.

Obviously, no pictures of the dream dress, in the off chance that Nick wanders over here. Other than tradition, I like to keep him guessing. It is fun to thumb through wedding magazines to the dress ads, and pretend that a particularly overdone dress is "my dress." His reaction is priceless. ;-)

The dress has been ordered, and now I wait! 

Photography

I haven't 'dreamed about my wedding since the age of 4,' (though, from the look of this blog, I doubt you believe that...), but I always knew I wanted an amazing photographer to capture whatever the day was like. The flowers will wilt and the dress will sit in the closet, but those photos will always be there, sitting on the coffee table, reminding us of the day we stood up before our friends and family to commit to each other.

Enter Mike Reed of Mike Reed Photo. Even after hours of research (yes hours, and I loved every minute of it) his images were perfection. He knows how to capture the light and the important moments, and his photos are works of art. I can't wait to see what our pictures look like!

  

{All via Mike Reed Photo}

Check out his site and blog for more gorgeousness:

Site
Blog

The Winfield and some fun finds

I have become obsessed with Goodwill, antique stores, rummage sales and the like. Because I can find things like these:

(Excuse the weird finger)

Hobby Lobby is also my new friend. I went there today and got this stuff for my first wedding project!

The goal is to make something like this, with shades of blues and lace, but who knows... that could change!

{via Style Me Pretty}

Here are a few more amazing pictures of The Winfield Inn! When Nick and I visited, I knew immediately that this was it. There are rescue horses happily grazing in a field, a gorgeous old house, sprawling grounds, quaint twinkle lights everywhere, and the potential for lots of naturally growing flowers. SO my style. And the wedding coordinators onsite are the sweetest, happiest girls. Robyn is our coordinator, and she got my vision immediately, even forwarding me a blog post of a bride who used stacks of books as decorations.

{All via Style Me Pretty}