Bridal Shower Fun!

I won't be having a traditional bridal shower, instead we've requested to have a shower for the both of us together...I think it's called a Jack and Jill shower? I'm not one to play all the shower games and I haven't felt comfortable opening up multiple presents in front of lots of people since I was in elementary school. Having Mr. there will be a lot of fun and will help take some of the attention away from just me...and also, is it bad that I don't know how well I'd hold up in a room with all his family by myself yet? Still adjusting to this big family thing...

If I were to actually have a traditional bridal shower, I think this is the best idea EVER. Sarah of Blossom and Branch was featured on 100 Layer Cake for the Bodega Flowers class she teaches in the city. Sarah said, ″I thought, why not show people how to gather some bunches from the local bodega and create something charming in their home? This class teaches women how to shop for, clean/prepare and arrange flowers, using their own container."

How AMAZING would a flower class be for any sort of shower or party! Pick up some fresh flowers from Whole Foods (maybe even ask guests to bring their favorite container or supply some for them), and hire a florist to teach an arranging class. Who wouldn't like to know more about flower arranging??

Huge bonus: everyone goes home with something pretty, and not some cheezy prom-type favor.

I love the place settings...So simple, so appropriate, and so pretty!

{ all photos above via 100 Layer Cake }

How cute would it be to have pretty aprons like this one from anthropologie for your guests to wear too?

While not a part of the same bodega flowers post, I just love the details from this bridal shower:

{ photos by Boutwell Studio via Style Me Pretty }

Disclaimer: No, mom and Cat, this is not a hint. Just thought this was a fun idea. Don't drive yourselves nuts emailing back and forth thinking that I'm requesting this :)

Best Girls' Weekend Ever

Ok, not a favorite wedding, but if I were to have a true bachelorette party, this would be my kind of party! Campout by the fire, fun flowers, cupcakes, crafts...yes please! It was a collaboration between some of my favorites in the wedding world and was inspired by "Where the Wild Things Are"...love it!

















































































Event design + styling Bash Eco Events + Yes, Please Designs
Photography erinheartscourt
Beauty the drybar, Josie Maran Cosmetics
Wardrobe + Stylist Mai Olivio of ShopRuche
Floral Design succulentLOVE
Cupcakes cuppieLOVE
Invites Wiley Valentine
Creative Direction Lucia of UE and D*LSH Design and Summer of Grey Likes Weddings
Headresses by and Littledoe

New, Yet Vintage?

We're hopefully on the cusp of booking a florist, and what sealed the deal for me was that I didn't feel like I had to "sell" my vision to her. Unfortunately, there are not very many Flowerwilds or Saipuas in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania and when I try to describe that sort of look to the other florists we met with, well...it's just good I had a lot of pictures to help explain what I was seeing. Instead, when I met with the last florist it was more of an exchanging of ideas and it really helped that she knows our venue so well. She had already done some weddings with a similar feel that we're looking for. I'm just hoping that her price is within our budget.

One of the areas I really felt I had to sell to those other florists is in using succulents. This florist, on the other hand, encouraged me to use them! I love the look of just about every wedding I've seen featured using succulents. However, sometimes I feel like they are a bit too modern for what we'd like. I think what makes the difference though is the container they're in and that the patina on these containers gives the more modern looking plants a vintage vibe.



{ photos by Stephanie Williams via Green Wedding Shoes }



{ photo by Jennifer Dery }



{ photo by Lisa Lefkowitz via Green Wedding Shoes }

I could definitely see using something like these. However I think the hunt for affordable containers like this might just drive me nuts. Since our venue has an outdoor seating area I can definitely see us doing something like this for the outdoor tables though.





{ photos by JAC Photographers via Green Wedding Shoes }

Not really that vintage vibe, but I think they'll be really nice on the outdoor tables and will hold up well in the July heat. What might make them work better too is if our florist can incorporate succulents in our indoor arrangements as well.

Anyone else struggling to figure out how to use something that they love in their wedding where it may not quite fit into their overall feel?

Favorite Weddings - Wedding II

Here is favorite wedding #2! While a little too rustic for us, what I love most about this wedding are the flowers...the bouquets in particular. This was also an original inspiration for bridesmaids dresses before we decided to go blue.







































































































































This was another wedding featured on Style Me Pretty. The vendors were:

Wedding Coordinator: Danielle Odil of Something Classic Events / Venue and Catering: Devil’s Thumb Ranch / Wedding Dress: Christos Julianna / Wedding Hair: Candace Post from Hot Heads Salon in Denver / Bridesmaid Dresses and Menswear: J. Crew / Organic Wedding Pies: Teacup Bakery / Invitations: Gocco by Parrott Design Studio / Florist: Plum Sage Flowers / Custom Hair Flowers: Muscari Designs / Photography: Tec Petaja

Favorite Weddings - Wedding I

I realize that all the wedding planning stuff I'm doing isn't totally interesting or blog-worthy right now (versions 1-159 of wedding invitations anyone? names just .25" to the left, font opacity decreased 2%...snooze!) so I figure instead I'll post pictures of weddings that I love. While they may not be what we're looking for for our own wedding, I just can't seem to get enough of them!

With that said, this actually is one of the weddings that I'm using as floral inspiration. Her bouquet is just dreamy (hence all the photos), and I love the tablescape...also inspiration for our own wedding.







I would be totally fine if this was my wedding :)

The wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty who gave this vendor list:

WEDDING PLANNER – Alexandra Kolendrianos / FLORIST – Flowerwild (Kate Holt) / PHOTOGRAPHER – Jessica Claire / HAIR – Sheila Stone / MAKEUP – Stacey Craven / LIGHTING – Bella Vista Designs / VIDEOGRAPHER – Living Cinema / RENTALS – Classic Party Rentals / DRESS – Elizabeth Fillmore (“Odine” Dress) / CAKE – Christine Dahl / INVITATIONS – Tracy Lazaro / VENUE – San Ysidro Ranch / ENTERTAINMENT – Santa Barbara String Quartet / OFFICIANT – Reverend Richard Tobin / LINENS – La Tavola Linens

A strapless dress I would TOTALLY wear

Love this dress...love the color, absolutely LOVE the detail in the top, and love how light the skirt looks.















{ Photo via The Sweetest Occasion via Haute Design }

Bridesmaids Dress Hunt

Now that I’ve chosen my bridesmaids, this weekend I went with one of them to start looking for dresses. I wanted to go the retail route rather than the bridal store route…thought I’d find dresses that we liked better for the price. Not to mention I can’t wait 6 months for dresses to come in.

I wanted to get different dresses within the same color palette like the photo below:

{Belathee via Style Me Pretty}

We went to a retail store (that will remain unnamed), and it may have been one of the most frustrating things (aside from the guest list) so far in wedding planning. I had high hopes for the store since I love their stuff to begin with and I love the weddings I’ve seen where all the girls wear their dresses.

Well, the girl treated me like what I had in mind was the worst idea ever. She acted like I was wasting her time and she didn’t even entertain the idea. Because obviously it looks heinous in the photo above. She did say that if I was going to go with different colors/dresses that I should go with blue - one of my other thoughts.

{JAC Photographers via Green Wedding Shoes}

I like how the blue dresses really make the flowers pop! And I think it helps my non-matchy feel. So, at least we made that decision, but still, the blues at the store were just WAY too drab. They would be great for a fall wedding, but I just don’t think they are summery enough.

So, after a nice breakdown when I came home (spent a good amount of time in the Macy’s in Herald Square looking at HEINOUS dresses…that will kill the fun), the search continues.

Gave in to the bridal stores though…heading to Priscilla of Boston with two of my bridesmaids next Friday. Excited for these dresses! Hoping that they work out and we can find some more inspiring colors!

{images via Priscilla of Boston}

Anyone else have more trouble finding bridesmaids dresses than their own wedding dress?