Two Wedding Belles

Notes From A Newlywed: The Suits {Macy's}

2012-02-15T00:29:00.009-05:00

We weren't having a very formal wedding, so tuxes for the guys didn't really make sense. Once we were sure we wanted to go the suit route, we decided on a color: a light/medium grey. We also chose to make these the groomsmen gifts. Lots of decisions made. That was where the easy part ended.

Next came finding a suit that we liked. Really I deferred to my husband here, since I don't make a habit of wearing sensible pant suits in my everyday life and deemed him a more knowledgeable person in this matter. We did find one at a large chain men's store, but we ran into issues with availability and kind of felt our time there had run its course after some confusing customer service.

On a whim we returned to the suit section of Macy's, where we'd been before, but had been told (mistakenly) by a salesman that they don't really "do" wedding parties. We found a more accommodating salesman this time around, and we were on our way to buying ten suits through their personal shopping service within minutes. (And it should be noted that they outfit wedding parties all the time).

For anyone in the Philly area, I can't recommend enough to get your suits from the King of Prussia Macy's to outfit your groom and groomsmen. The thought of getting the right jacket and pant sizes, shipping them all over the country, and then dealing with exchanges or alterations for ten guys made me want to ball up in the fetal position in the shoe department (they have so much seating there). But Sherri with Macy's handled this like it wasn't a big deal at all. She was incredibly on top of our massive order, expedited exchanges when a couple different sizes were discovered to be needed, and coordinated our purchase with available sales so we could get the best price.

Can we talk about the suits for a second? The light grey Tommy Hilfiger looked great on all the guys, and complemented the bridesmaids' varying blue dresses fabulously. The suit has a slimmer cut and it's the perfect weight for the warmer months. I know a bunch of the guys have worn it several times since...including my husband.

Just a note on the ties: we also gifted these to the guys, with the g-men (left) ties from Banana Republic and the groom's tie (right) from Nordstrom.

All the suits (and the guys) were photographed perfectly by the one and only Nicole Peterson of Girl Photography.

BTW: Latest on The Fab Bride

2012-02-13T00:34:00.002-05:00

I wanted to make sure you all caught my latest post over on The Fab Bride, "Styling Your Wedding: Shoes As Inspiration." As you can imagine, it was easy to get a ton of ideas from this particular pair of heels. Now head on over to The Fab Bride to see the board that they inspired, and how something as simple as your accessories can influence your overall wedding styling.

Two Web Belles: Be Still My Heart

2012-02-10T00:04:00.003-05:00

1. Heart shaped s'mores pops from In Between Laundry. Basically...all signs point to yes.

2. Using a heart shaped paper punch, Oh So Crafty turns magazine pages into a cool little garland. If you don't want to bust out the sewing machine to achieve this look, a small hole punch and baker's twine would do the trick, too.

3. I'm always a sucker for a a graphic tote bag, especially when it comes from the ladies of ban.do.

4. These little pins were given out to wedding guests so they could "wear their hearts on their sleeves" and mimicked the felt heart boutonnieres worn by the groomsmen.

5. Stuffing a heart shaped piece of cake inside a cupcake is just so many kinds of right. Now this is a perfect little Valentine's Day treat.

Destination Inspiration: Paris

2012-02-08T00:27:00.013-05:00

Piggypacking on the London-inspired board I showed you a couple weeks ago, here is another dose of destination inspiration for you to feast your eyes on. Starting out with a photo of the Pont des Arts, and all of the locks that decorate it, I put together a board that features locks, keys, and a mix of scrollwork and grid lines.

(source)

sources (clockwise from bottom left): cake, dress, muslin bags, coasters, escort cards on fence, boutonniere, escort cards on screen, welcome bag.

We're Fans: Spoonflower

2012-02-06T00:33:00.012-05:00

I am dreaming up ways to use yards and yards of fabric, all because of my recent discovery of Spoonflower. I'm not a big sewer, meaning I can really only stitch on a fallen button here or patch a small hole there, but we all know that there are an infinite number of non-sew craft projects that incorporate swaths of fabric. Spoonflower has a ton of options in their shop, including funky ikat patterns, classic striped prints, and so many theme-specific swatches that it'll seriously make your head spin.

"Love Fiesta"

"Silhouette Collection"

"Happy Damask in Lemonade"

But guess what? If you don't find exactly what you want, they even have a customization tool that allows you to turn an image into your very own quantity of fabric.

I can't wait to find an excuse to get something from Spoonflower. How about you?

BTW: Goodreads

2012-02-04T00:28:00.002-05:00

Remember last week when I mentioned a bit about my book club? Well, did you know that you can easily follow along with all of my reads (and I can do the same with yours, too) if you're on Goodreads?

I finally joined just a few weeks ago, and I'm really liking it so far. The site is an easy way to track all the books you've conquered in the past and the ones you want to get to in the future. Plus, I like seeing what my friends are reading...because I don't already know enough about them as it is, ha.

So find me on Goodreads and let's connect!

Two Web Belles: Cute As A Button

2012-02-03T00:04:00.001-05:00

1. Paper pinwheels look a touch more pulled together with the addition of buttons at their centers, don't you think? You can get the full DIY instructions at Style Me Pretty.

2. Thank you, forty-sixth at grace, for sharing your tutorial for these button-shaped shortbread cookies. Seeing them all stacked up by color is just too perfect.

3. The pairing of bandanas and buttons in this DIY from Country Living allows for lots of flexibility in choosing combos for your table setting's napkin rings.

4. The soft rainbowed pastels of these favor buttons from Etsy seller buttonempire initially caught my eye. But then the details really drew me in further: each button features snippets of romantic words and their dictionary definitions.

5. By just adding a couple heart-shaped buttons and some twine, you can take an ordinary envelope and turn it into an extra special delivery, just like they did over at Love Ardently.

Eyes on the Bride: Michelle T.

2012-02-01T00:19:00.008-05:00

I first learned a bit about today's bride-to-be and her wedding plans when we met over a year ago during a day full of tree planting and weed trimming in Fairmount Park. As if there were any doubt before that little green thumbed adventure, there's definitely a reason this is a wedding blog and not a gardening one. (Is there even a chance any of those trees are still standing?) So to get back to weddings now...

Michelle agreed to give us a peek at the details for her and Kevin's upcoming May wedding, so read on to find out just what they have planned.

photo by Hoffer Photography

Bride's Name, Age, Occupation -- Michelle Thurstlic, 31, Attorney

Groom's Name, Age, Occupation -- Kevin O'Neill, 26, Law Student

City of Residence -- Glen Mills, PA

Wedding Location -- The Yellow House of Willowdale (ceremony & reception), Kennett Square, PA

How you met -- Kevin and I initially met during the summer of 2007 while I was working for the Delaware County District Attorney's Office and Kevin was interning for one of the county's criminal judges. At the end of the summer, the judge's staff told me that I was all Kevin would talk about when court was not in session. Kevin says that he had a huge crush on me and tried to talk to me a few times, but that I was all business.

A couple of months after his internship was over, we ended up in the same bar one night in West Chester. Apparently I embarassed him in front of all of his friends by coming right out and saying "I heard you had a crush on me last summer." He got my number that night and we started dating within the month.

How long you've dated -- Together 4 years (engaged for 2)

How he proposed -- Kevin and I had plans to go out and celebrate the end of finals of his first year of law school. When he came to pick me up, however, Kevin presented me with a photo album filled with pictures from our time together. He had written little notes along with each photo saying different things he loves about me. When I got to the last photo, the caption was "will you marry me?" and when I looked up, Kevin was down on one knee with the ring. I was overwhelmed, but of course I said yes. Kevin then suprised me again by telling me that our families and friends were waiting at the bar/restaurant that we had planned to go out to. It was extra special to be able to share our happiness with everyone right away.

Wedding colors/theme -- Navy blue, kelly green, and white

Bridesmaids' dresses info -- J. Crew silk taffeta in Pacific Blue (they're wearing individual styles)

Best part of planning -- Laughing with Kevin over the ridiculousness of it all.

Worst part of planning -- Trying to get everyone on the same page.

Most surprising part of planning -- That Kevin's better at it than I am. Everytime I ask him to take something on, he's gotten it done on the first shot. I've agonized over every vendor and decision.

Favorite vendor so far -- Tie between our venue (The Yellow House of Willowdale--the wedding coordinator is just so great) and photographer (Hoffer Photography).

Places you registered -- Bed, Bath & Beyond and Pottery Barn

Any Do-It-Yourself (DIY) plans -- A lot of the decorations. The ceremony and reception are outdoors underneath a tent, which we're planning to decorate with bistro lights. We're also planning to use chalkboards to display seating arrangements and the menu for the buffet.

Honeymoon Location -- Undecided. Kevin is graduating law school a week before our wedding, and right afterwards will have to jump into intensive studying for the bar exam, which is at the end of July. We're planning to take our honeymoon in the fall, when he's finished, and are weighing France (all over), Argentina, or a road trip up the California coast.

Michelle's color scheme is one of my all-time favorites, and the venue sounds perfect for a May wedding, so I can't wait to see photos of how it all comes together. And those honeymoon options? None of them is a bad choice, right? Thanks again, Michelle, for stopping by TWB. Best of luck with the final months of planning ahead!

BTW: Guest Blogging

2012-01-30T00:07:00.002-05:00

I am by no means an expert blogger. But I wanted to put this post together because I do post on other blogs regularly and accept posts from other bloggers here on TWB whenever possible. I've come to realize that some bloggers might not be aware of the some of the basic courtesies of guest blogging, so I've put together the following list of tips.

(source)

When you are writing guest posts:

1. Don't commit to an unrealistic deadline. You know your workload and what your schedule looks like. If you need a week to get the post done, then tell the publishing blogger that. It looks really unprofessional if you say you'll have the post submitted by a certain date and then you have to push that out.

2. Ensure all your links/photo credits work. Double check that all of the text you've hyperlinked within the post goes to the correct landing page. It's extremely time consuming to fix this on the back end.

3. Stick to the photo sizing requirements of the blog. Every blog is formatted a specific way, so if the publishing blogger doesn't give you the photo sizes needed, just ask. Once you do know the sizes needed, save the photos according to those size requirements before you send the post over. Again, this is time consuming to change on the back end.

4. Don't go crazy with pimping out your own blog. It's expected and acceptable that when you write for another blog, you will backlink to your own blog within the post. But when every other sentence features this kind of self-promotion, it's the type of overkill that will cause a reader to lose interest in the post...and maybe even you as a blogger.

When you are accepting guest posts:

1. Communicate the publishing date to the writer. Let the writer know when you have the guest post planned for publication. They are looking for that so they can promote the piece via their own social media outlets. Of course, there may always be something that throws a wrench into your publishing calendar, so just give the updated go-live date to the writer if this happens.

2. If you aren't totally happy with the post, ask the writer for revisions. Aside from minor grammatical fixes, it's really not okay to change the post that's been submitted to you. Talk to the writer to get both of you on the same page, and see if the revised post more closely matches your original vision.

3. Send a direct post link to the writer as soon as you have it. This is just a show of good courtesy. The writer is helping you out by providing you with a day's worth (or more) of content, so don't make them scour Twitter or Facebook to see the post. Also, the sooner they get the link, the sooner they can promote the post themselves.

4. Promote the writer through Twitter, Facebook, etc, while promoting the post itself. Again, this is just a nice plug for the writer.

Do you have anything to add? Anything you've learned through your experiences in writing and/or accepting guest posts? Let me know in the comments!

By The Way: Book Club

2012-01-28T00:26:00.002-05:00

Just like Fight Club, our book club has a cardinal, albeit different, rule: there really are no rules. We read the same book at the same time and usually discuss it for about half a morning on GMail or in a brief conversation on the random occasion that all four of us are in the same place at the time of the book's completion. Yes, we're a loosely defined club at best. But we started our little book club (it's comprised of myself, Erin, and two of our college roommates, Karen and Heather) several years ago and it just keeps moving right along.

While we've read dozens of books by now, I've posted our last ten for you below. I always find reading lists helpful when I'm stuck for my next non-book club read, and maybe some of you find yourselves with the same problem.

The Lover's Dictionary, David Levithan (which I instantly renamed "The Lovah's Dictionary")

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde (a throwback pick)

The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern (so many questions/debates came up during this one)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer (one of the most well received picks in recent memory)

Room, Emma Donoghue (disturbing material but well done in my opinion)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See (one of the most not-so-well received picks in recent memory)

Bossypants, Tina Fey (if you haven't read this yet, what are you waiting for??)

A Long Way Down, Nick Hornby (a bit slow at points)

Water For Elephants, Sara Gruen (I somehow still haven't seen this movie)

Something Missing, Matthew Dicks (kind of a silly/whatever read)

Does anyone have any must-reads to add to our book club list? Lemme know. And remember kids...Reading Is Fundamental.

Two Web Belles: Have A Ball

2012-01-27T00:34:00.013-05:00

1. I would personally hate it if gum was anywhere near my wedding cake, but I do love the way these gumballs add dimension and color to each tier.

2. We have The Party Dress to thank for this next DIY, which involves covering styrofoam balls with wine corks. This a fairly large version, which they've hung from the ceiling, so I have to ask the question: how much fun would it be gathering these materials (glug, glug, glug)?

3. I want a confetti ball favor filled with goodies just like the one Offbeat Bride made. Someone be a doll, make one, and send it to me!

4. Talk about popcorn balls taken to a whole new level. Not Quite Nigella not only makes them pink, but then transforms them into pomanders with the skillful addition of looped ribbon. So cute.

5. Remember this: a good flower ball never hurt nobody. Oh, and do you see that runner? It's really just glass tiles laid out on the table. Such an inspired idea.

Destination Inspiration: London

2012-01-25T00:45:00.000-05:00

This latest inspiration board was originally created with an upcoming trip in mind. I've never been to London (except for a brief impromptu stay at the Heathrow Hilton) and will be there in just a few weeks time. With the original photo highlighting the iconic red phone booth with a glow of lights in the background, I wanted the board to incorporate similar colors and warm notes. Enjoy!

source

sources (clockwise from bottom left): chandelier, clock, bus, stairs, bridal party, shoes, chandelier, ribbons.

Spotted: As Seen at Lovesick Expo

2012-01-23T00:10:00.003-05:00

As Carina of Love Me Do Photography was prepping for this month's Lovesick Expo, she contacted me about contributing a piece to be included in a small 'zine that was to be handed out to those couples in attendance. Of course I was more than happy to oblige, and came up a quick little advice article entitled "How To Not Stress Out."

Carina just sent me a copy of the finished product and I absolutely loved flipping through the pages. There's lots of great info in there from so many talented vendors, and it's all highlighted with images from Love Me Do.

I've posted what I wrote below for those who weren't able to make it out to Lovesick to get the printed version. Oh, and good news for those already looking ahead to Lovesick '13: it's not only stopping in NYC and Philly again, but it's also adding Boston and DC to the itinerary.

Planning a wedding and getting married should be fun, right? Right! But it's so easy to forget this and slip into stress mode because throwing together a wedding and walking down that aisle is also alot of work. Here are some things to keep in mind so you can stay calm, cool, and totally stress-free.

While You're Planning...
1. Organize & prioritize: Utilize online or old-school pen and paper tools to keep track of inspirational photos, vendor quotes/signed contracts, guest lists, to-do lists, etc. all in one place. While you could gather ideas for décor and debate DJs vs. bands from now until forever, realize what is most important to have around you on your wedding day and work to keep those items within your budget.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Newsflash...you aren’t the first people to ever throw a wedding before. Chances are that family members and friends have navigated these waters before and will be able to offer up a lot of advice, support, and an extra hand with DIY projects if you need it.
3. Give yourself a break: When you’re looking at months and months of planning, you deserve a wedding-free moment here and there. It’ll be beneficial to your sanity to put the wedding mag down, stop stalking your photographer’s website, and get back to your other pre-planning hobbies. Everything will be right where you left it…I promise.
4. Don’t wait until the last minute: As your wedding date gets closer, you’re going to want the luxury of being able to spend this special time with your family and friends. So try to continually make progress on that to-do list as much as you can. Nothing is worse than writing out escort cards while in your wedding dress (yes, I’ve seen it done before!)

On your wedding day:
1. Get a good night’s rest (also see “Don’t wait until the last minute” above): It’s normal to have a few pre-wedding jitters, but try to go to sleep at a reasonable hour on Wedding Eve. And hey, everyone needs their beauty rest, right?
2. Eat, drink, and be married: Your wedding day is going to be a fun-filled, action-packed, emotionally-charged…LONG day. Be sure to eat enough and drink plenty of water as you’re getting ready for the festivities to kick off.
3. Allow your vendors to do their jobs: You hired amazingly talented people to surround yourself with on your wedding day. Don’t micro-manage them and just let them do what they all do so well. They'll be just fine without you worrying about their every move.
4. Keep your eyes on the prize: If a relative gets on your nerves, a line is skipped during the ceremony, or the cake is cut slightly behind schedule at the reception…just remember that this is the day you are marrying the love of your life. Nothing else really matters or is worth stressing out about. Have a blast and enjoy!

Two Web Belles: Brush Your Shoulders Off

2012-01-20T00:14:00.016-05:00

1. The ladies of Styled Creative got crafty with your standard cleaning aisle scrub brushes and turned them into home accent pieces. Don't you love the shade of pink they achieved in that second look?

2. Dive into a gallon of paint and grab some brushes, and you could have a save the date just like this one. I'd really like to know, though: how did this couple keep paint from flying everywhere?

3. You won't soon forget this Angel Sanzhez gown and it's flamingo pink details. The designer infused some color into the dress with a broad brush stroke detail at the neckline and throughout the bodice.

4. These artist inspired cookies from Sweetapolita - paint dipped brushes and palettes - would be great favors for a bride who likes to paint, or maybe even a reception within a museum's walls.

5. Next time I need a simple vase in a pinch, I'm totally stealing this idea from Real Simple. Just take a regular ol' toothbrush holder and pop the stems right into the individual holes. Genius.

Spotted: A Meals and Miles Wedding

2012-01-18T00:47:00.023-05:00

When I'd read the news that Meghann of Meals and Miles was engaged*, I reached out to her to find out more about her initial plans for the wedding. As many of you may remember, the days and weeks immediately following the proposal are somewhat of a blur with so many emotions, ideas, and frequent wedding blog searches all mixed together. Because Meghann is looking to have her wedding about 12 months from now, though, she was already beginning the process of nailing down some specifics, and has a distinct theme in mind.

After hearing about the "navy blue rustic snowflake" theme from Meghann, I came up with this inspiration board to share with her...and now with you. White and silver is always a winner when it comes to winter weddings, even if you're in a typically warm climate like Meghann is. Setting these colors off with something darker, like navy, creates a really full color palette to work within. The snowflake is a nice accent because it doesn't necessarily evoke ties to the holidays, just the winter season in general. Both the venue and table decor are big ways to get the rustic vibe across to guests. And I had to throw in some string lights just because Meghann likes them so much...!

sources (clockwise from bottom left): votives, boutonniere, lighted dinner, bouquet, candle, escort cards, place setting, lighted entrance, bouquet, heels, boat shoes, cupcakes, cookie wreath, table setting, balloons, salvaged door.

*Read the full proposal story from Meghann if you get a chance. It's a really sweet one and has some pretty unforgettable photos, too.

Eyes on the Bride: Julia A.

2012-01-16T00:32:00.015-05:00

I'm very excited to have Julia here to talk about her Labor Day weekend wedding and all the planning that's going into the day. I am a frequent visitor to Julia's blog, Lemons & Loafers, so it's alot of fun to have her hop on over to TWB for the day. So Julia...take it away!

(photo credit: Kate McElwee Photography)

Bride's Name, Age, Occupation – Julia, 26. I work in marketing at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I am also a Health Coach and Fashion Consultant at Lemons & Loafers.

Groom's Name, Age, Occupation – Anel, 25. Anel is an incredible photographer (Adz Photos) and personal trainer. He is also a volunteer firefighter in his spare time.

City of Residence – New York City.

Wedding Location – Portsmouth, RI at a gorgeous and romantic estate and grounds on the water. It’s incredible. I cried when I first saw it!

How you met – At work. We both worked at Integrative Nutrition, a holistic health school where I still work. Anel saw me during an interview and walked past 6 or 7 times in the hour so he could look at me again. We became fast friends and that bloomed into a relationship. I had to tell our boss we were dating, so I waited for the staff holiday party 2 years ago and made sure he had a few glasses of wine first!

How long you've dated – We have been dating for 2.5 years.

How he proposed – This is quite a story. Anel proposed on my birthday at midnight on a quiet bench on the Seine river overlooking the sparking Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It was too good to be true! You can read the whole story here.

Wedding colors/theme – Our colors are bright pink, peach, and bright yellow. The bridesmaids are wearing beautifully bright yellow and the groomsmen will be wearing navy blazers, khakis, and Vineyard Vines ties in true Rhode Island form. We want the whole wedding to be preppy and classic with a little bit of whimsical thrown in.

Bridesmaids' dresses info – They are wearing yellow Alfred Sung dresses that have pockets. All of my bridesmaids are different heights and shapes and somehow it looks good on all of them. I’ll definitely be borrowing my sister’s after the wedding!

Best part of planning – Buying a wedding dress. I tried on over 20 dresses and when I found the right one, I just knew! There were lots of tears and it made me finally feel like a real bride. I could actually picture walking down the aisle with Anel at the other end.

Worst part of planning – Trying to stay within our budget. I had these grandiose ideas of what I wanted our wedding to look like but then I realized that everything has a price, and for weddings, the price is generally pretty high. It’s been quite a challenge but I’m very happy with all of our decisions so far.

Most surprising part of planning – That Anel wants to be so involved! I love that he cares about the décor, invitations, and what colors are featured so much. It’s nice to know that this wedding is just as important to him as it is to me.

Favorite vendor so far – I absolutely adore all of my vendors but I think that my favorite people to work with so far have been my friend Erin who designed our save-the-dates and is also on board to design our invitations, table cards, menus, and all other printed material for the big day, and Kate, our adorable photographer. Erin is always so positively up beat and comes up with the most gorgeous designs. Kate is funny and sweet the most talented wedding photographers that I have ever seen. You can see some of her photos here.

Places you registered – Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Sur La Table. We went for classic pieces that will never go out of style. I cannot wait for all of our red Le Creuset pieces to arrive!

Any Do-It-Yourself (DIY) plans – I don’t have any patience or talent for DIY so not yet. I’m turning to many talented Etsy artists to do this for me!

Honeymoon Location – We are honeymooning on the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy. We can hardly wait for a week of the beach, Italian food, good wine, and lots of relaxation. Then we’re off to Bosnia to have another celebration with Anel’s family there.

Doesn't Julia's wedding sound like one that you'd definitely have a blast at? I can't wait to see photos after her and Anel's big day. Thanks for stopping by TWB, Julia!

By The Way: Do You Doodle?

2012-01-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

Do you Doodle? I do. Doodle is a quick and easy way to coordinate schedules and plan outings with a large group.

Instead of sending out an endless chain of emails, just set up a Doodle with proposed dates and times - for a dinner out, a shopping trip, a wedding crafting session (which both Belles will be partaking in today), whatever. Then everyone follows the same link and fills in their availability. Choosing the "winning" day is as simple as selecting the column with the most positive responses.

See, I told you it was easy.

Two Web Belles: In The Kitchen

2012-01-13T00:02:00.012-05:00

1. Love this idea for a shower favor: classic dish towels bound with a tag and twine. If you're throwing a "stock the kitchen" shower or a regular ol' shower, the bride is going to get a ton of kitchen stuff, so it ties in nicely with the vibe of the day. Plus, you can always search for unique towels to match your color scheme or theme.

2. This is a DIY project that was originally conceived for holiday craft time, but with a few modifications, it could make for really easy wedding favors. Since the shape of the beeswax layers, and the finished candle, is determined by what cookie cutter you use, the possibilities for customization are almost endless.

3. These chair covers, fashioned out of pretty floral aprons, would be perfect table accessories for a bridesmaids' luncheon or cooking-centric party. Of course Hostess with the Mostess provided us with on point inspiration yet again.

4. Get two different sized mixing bowls, some water, and (if you want to get fancy) some flowers. Throw the whole thing in the freezer and in no time at all you'll have an icy serving bowl to display for party guests.

5. I love the look of these vintage glass rolling pins. Couldn't you get a cool centerpiece just by bundling a few together and placing in a small metal bucket?

Notes from a Newlywed: The Shoes {Badgley Mischka}

2012-01-11T00:33:00.004-05:00

I knew before I even went wedding dress shopping that I didn't want white shoes with my dress. Not only did I not want white, I didn't want anything close to it: no bone, ivory, cream...well, you get the point. Unless you're wearing a short dress, no one even really gets a good look at your shoes other than your photographer, so I really have no valid reason to explain my aversion to white bridal shoes. I've seen lots of brides wear them and they look stunning. But for me, I just wanted a little bit more color.

There were already alot of blue elements in our wedding: the bridesmaids' ceremony saris, their reception dresses, and parts of our paper suite. So I settled on blue shoes. Plus, these would be my "something blue," although I ended up with a few blue things by the time my wedding day rolled around so that wasn't really a hard bridal requirement to fulfill.

I ordered the satin Badgley Mischka Randall pumps from Nordstrom in medium blue. Such pretty shoes! The flower at the peep toe sort of coordinated with the detailing on the bodice of my dress, and for being 4" high they weren't totally uncomfortable. Note for anyone looking to wear Badgley's for their walk down the aisle: they run big, so definitely order a half size or full size down from what you usually wear to avoid any missteps.

All fabulous footwear photos are by Nicole Peterson of Girl Photography...who only threatened to steal my heels on wedding day, but didn't actually follow through with it...!

We're Fans: Michelle Rigg

2012-01-09T00:06:00.014-05:00

When you first glance at these cute little wedding creations from Michelle Rigg, you might think they're drawings or paintings. But they're actually embroidered recreations of brides and grooms - blank canvases that are hand stitched by Michelle - and are based on actual photos from the big day.

I saw these on My Modern Met and just immediately fell in love with the technique, the detailing, and the fun personal touches Michelle includes to make each one unique.

For those getting married, or for those who are already married, can you think of a photo that would make for perfect inspiration for one of Michelle's embroidered canvases?

Two Web Belles: Sidewalk Chalk

2012-01-06T00:42:00.016-05:00

1. This ring shot from Solar Photographers is so cute and would be so easy to replicate with just a couple pieces of chalk. I really liked how, when I first saw this on Landlocked Bride, the engagement ring's setting kind of looked like a little tiara on top of the stick figure's head.

2. Chalkboard place mats aren't just an easy way for you to assign your guests' seats for a casual dinner. If you provide a few pieces of chalk with each place setting, then everyone will have a chance to doodle while at the table - or maybe even face off in a little tic-tac-toe.

3. Aren't Dana Tanamachi's custom chalk letterings just the best things to hit blackboards since felt erasers? The crisp detailing is really unbelievable.

4. This couple wasn't afraid to lay out on, and get creative with, the pavement for their engagement session with Chelsea Nicole Photography.

5. Faux wedding cakes, covered in blackboard paint, occupy the little ones at a wedding reception shot by Eric Lundgren Photography. I originally saw this posted on a BRIDES blog, and think it would be fun for the adults to grab a piece of chalk and join in on the "cake decorating," too.

Notes From a Newlywed: The Flowers {Flowers by Mary Elizabeth}

2012-01-04T00:38:00.023-05:00

So, I had put off looking for a florist until the wedding was about six months away. I didn't feel a huge rush in securing one since I knew my floral order was pretty small. All I needed was ten bouquets. No centerpieces (we were going non-floral). No boutonnieres (the guy's were just going without).

I had gotten quotes from several Philly area florists, and in doing so I specified the exact number of stems I wanted assembled and delivered. I thought doing this would decrease the chance of having wildly different prices come back to me. Wrong. I really don't know how vendors can price out a service and product that is essentially identical and come up with such varying numbers. But it somehow happens.

Luckily for me one of the florists I found was Mary McVeigh of Flowers by Mary Elizabeth. Her prices were very competitive, she was extremely responsive to all of my questions, and she was really flexible when it came to listening to my ideas. What she delivered - in the midst of the semi-chaos of our hotel suite's prep time - was exactly what we had discussed months prior.

And yes, I kept the bouquets simple, small, cheery, and chock full o' billy balls. I thought the bright yellow would pick up the gold details on our saris for the ceremony, and then pop against our dresses for the reception. But really...I just knew you can't go wrong with some b. balls.

This floral explosion of photos provided by Nicole Peterson of Girl Photography.

We're Fans: Uptown Artworks

2012-01-02T00:25:00.008-05:00

I discovered Uptown Artworks when I was doing a bit of holiday shopping a couple months back on One Kings Lane. One customizable item in the shop's pet themed pillow collection was the perfect gift for someone on my list, and the quality of the finished piece when it arrived at my door was beyond what I had expected.

This isn't the one I purchased, but it's similar in style.

But Uptown Artworks isn't just about your four-legged friends. Alot of their pieces could be flawlessly incorporated into your wedding. In fact, they have a pretty large selection of options when it comes to ring bearer pillows. Just take a look at some of the options. From favorite quotes to your wedding date to meaningful locations, you can have it all put on a pillow.

The shop has home accessories that would make for great gifts for newlyweds (or for yourself), too. Destination wall art (I had to include the Connecticut one, obviously), zip code pillows, and custom family wall art are just a few of my favorites below.

Isn't it easy to see why we're fans of Uptown Artworks?

Two Web Belles: 3, 2, 1...Happy New Year

2011-12-30T00:49:00.009-05:00

Take three cake pans and some candlesticks, plus an afternoon dedicated to DIY, and what can you get? This tiered cake stand from The Crafting Chicks, that's what.

Your rings and two billy balls. Sometimes that's all you need for a perfect little ring shot. I originally found this on Brenda's Wedding Blog, but then scooted over to Sara Gray Photography to see the entire wedding.

After looking at this winding dinner set-up (as seen on Style Me Pretty and shot by Gia Canali), I bet everyone is rethinking their floor plans and figuring out if one really long guest table will fit in their reception space. But I do have a question: do you allow for open seating in this case, or is there some way to easily point guests to their assigned seats?

And before I forget...Happy (almost) New Year!

Notes From a Newlywed: The Invitations {Down-to-Earth Paperworks}

2011-12-28T00:49:00.008-05:00

When it comes to our next vendor, Down-to-Earth Paperworks, I really can't say anything but good things. If you want to read more of my gushing over working with Menna and a bit of background as to why I decided on this particular style of invites, be sure to check out this post from earlier in the year.

Menna not only designed our invitations, but also whipped up coordinating ceremony programs, too. And these weren't your average programs...they had a front and back cover plus eight interior pages of text. When you have a 90 minute Indian ceremony, you definitely want to make sure that all of your guests can follow along.

Thanks, as always, to Nicole Peterson of Girl Photography for getting some great shots of our paper products.

We're Fans: Audrey & Emma

2011-12-26T00:49:00.005-05:00

Now that we've all dug out from under the pile of ripped wrapping paper and discarded bows, what were your favorite gifts this year? If anyone got a new bag, then maybe heading over to Audrey & Emma should be your next move.

Audrey & Emma doesn't offer a supply of handbags, no no. But Santa already covered that, right? What you'll find here are bag liners that conform to the shape of your bag and protect and preserve it. Kind of an innovative idea if you ask me.

Let me just throw this out there: liners are only available for Louis and Longchamp bags right now, so you'd have to have with a fairly generous Santa to use their off the shelf products. They do, however, offer a custom liner option for any other bags needing a little pick me up.

PS...Is anyone braving the mall today? Yowza.

By The Way: My One Day in December

2011-12-23T00:53:00.021-05:00

This post is part of a series entitled "One Day in December", the brainchild of Orly Lyndon. Yesterday's post was from Ilse of Secret Jewel (but as of scheduling this post, I didn't see it go up...?), and tomorrow's will be brought to you by Krissy of Wed Eclectic. If you're on Twitter and want to see the entire chain of bloggers who have participated, just look for #1DayinDecember11 to follow right along.

PS isn't the little logo above the best? It's the work of design guru Cris of Kiss My Tulle. Okay, here it goes...

When I look back at some of the earliest TWB posts, one thing is evident: we had no idea what we were doing. To call it a blog would really be pushing it; we rarely posted, we never included photos, and it was, dare I say, kind of boring. But Erin was (and still is) a true lover of blogs, and I knew that having a solid dialogue could help clients find and interact with us, so we soldiered on. Erin is still out there loving her some blog reading, but isn't really liking the blog writing so much. That's why it's basically been all me here for the past several months. But of course there is no 'T' in TWB without Erin, and who knows....maybe one day she'll want to hop back on here and share something with all of you again. You don't get the benefit of her daily email musings like I do, after all. 2011 is the year I was determined to make the quality of this blog equal that of the service we provide our clients.

Sometime over the course of the past several months, I actually started to enjoy blogging for the first time. Before it always felt like a chore, and it'd take for-ev-er to get even the simplest post pulled together. And guess what else happened? The TWB audience expanded. It's still a small following compared to many other blogs, and that's okay. But when I look at the visitors, comments, followers, etc. that we have now compared to this time last year...it really is a remarkable difference. So 2011 is the year I finally found my blogging mojo, and alot more of you found TWB. Thanks so much for liking what you saw and sticking around.

If this isn't your first time here, then you probably know I got married in May of this year. I know alot of brides love their wedding planning experience so much that it leads them to quit their jobs and turn to a career in the wedding industry. I obviously did things in reverse order (as did Erin), as I was a planner first and then a bride after. And I must say that planning my own wedding didn't really strike a chord with me. The line that I would repeatedly say was "I'd much rather plan someone else's wedding than my own." Don't get me wrong, we had an absolutely wonderful day. I'm just happier pulling together those endless minute details and coordinating countless moving parts for someone else. It's easier, even. Yup, 2011 is the year I got to see how things look from the other side of the aisle (and was happy to return to the planning side!)

(Photo from our May wedding, from Nicole Peterson of Girl Photography)

And I just so happened to marry a "real blogger" as I would call him: he blogs as part of his full-time gig, and has an ever-growing, extremely loyal following. It's been years now where I've heard from him, "Okay, I just have to finish this post first" when we have plans to go out. And now I find myself using that line on him every once in a while. Yes, 2011 is the year that we made it official: he will always hear about my proudest retweets and I will forever hear about his day's page views. Now if that isn't love...I don't know what is.

There are so many invaluable industry people out there who are also a big reason this blog has grown. The support you've all shown this past year, not only to me but to so many others, through your shared experiences, encouragement, humor, and compassion has been unequaled. You have collectively provided a rather extensive network that I know I can rely on for favors, questions, and collaborations big and small. I haven't met many of you in person, but I "talk" to you almost every day. Funny, isn't it? Book it: 2011 is the year I started so many new blog relation(friend)ships.

(From our VDay styled shoot with SWOONOVERIT & Little Bit Heart, as featured on Brenda's Wedding Blog)

All I can say is...here's looking to 2012...!

TWIPS Holiday Cards: From Jenny Greenway

2011-12-22T00:14:00.004-05:00

The last TWIPS holiday card I found in my mailbox was from Jenny of Something Old, Something New. The buttons give it a really fun three-dimensional touch.

And Jenny didn't neglect the back of the card, either. Just a couple layers of paper add so much to the thoughtfulness of the overall design.

Thanks to Jenny, and again to everyone else who took part in our little card exchange this year. I hope next year's is even bigger and better!

TWIPS Holiday Cards: From Kate Myhre

2011-12-21T00:02:00.004-05:00

Kate from Modernly Wed sent along the next card I received in the TWIPS holiday exchange. The subtle shading helped to create a simple and sweet holiday greeting. Thanks Kate!

One more holiday card left...and it's coming at you tomorrow!

TWIPS Holiday Cards: From Greta Larson

2011-12-20T00:51:00.001-05:00

The next holiday card in the TWIPS parade came from Greta Larson of Northwoods Wedding Company. Greta's is the only round card I received this year, so hers definitely stands out amongst all the other squares and rectangles hanging in our living room.

Greta also wrote the sweetest note inside the card. Thanks for reading TWB and sending this along! Still a couple more cards to go...

Handmade Holiday Ornament Swap

2011-12-19T00:51:00.001-05:00

I remember hearing about a few ornament swaps last holiday season, and I had it on my to-do list to make sure I scoped one out this year now that I wasn't so preoccupied with a little thing like planning my own wedding. Making more than one ornament seemed a bit daunting to me, so I shied away from anything that I thought would be too time consuming. I was really excited when I got word of the Handmade Holiday Ornament Swap hosted by Blush + Jelly and Truly Chic Inspirations, though. Send out one ornament and get one back? Oh yes, sign me right up.

As I've noted on a few occasions before, I am sometimes still seriously slacking when it comes to this whole blogger thing. I totally forgot to take a photo of my crafty little creation before I packed it up and sent it on its way. Boo. It was something I thought up that involved washi tape and floral wire, and stuck to a blue, green, and orange color scheme. Nothing remarkable but I would've like to show you nonetheless.

But, hooray, I do have photos of the ornament I received in the mail last week from Rori. Once I hung it up, I realized that my growing ornament collection was lacking any purple so this is a welcomed addition.

Rori also sent along a few cute things from her Etsy shop, which was such a thoughtful surprise.

Did anyone else do a little holiday swapping this year? Let us know/link up in the comments!

Two Web Belles: RAINdeer Games

2011-12-16T00:05:00.008-05:00

1. So it's raining and it's nighttime. No need to cut your e-sesh short. Just look at this photo snapped by Millie Holloman Photography on Pretty Chicky. Pretty convincing, huh?

2. First smart move: putting flowers inside rain boots. Next one: using these flower-filled boots to line your ceremony aisle. The rainbow of footwear and florals will definitely be an unexpected surprise for your guests.

3. A little bit of rain didn't get these bmaids down. Of course umbrellas and wellies that match their dresses probably didn't hurt.

4. Oh, so you thought that rainy wedding days meant that you'd end up with dreary and drab photos, now did you? Not so when your guests bring their most colorful umbrellas with them.

5. If Mr. Weatherman is calling for a chance of showers on your wedding day, you might not want to count on your guests to bring their own umbrellas. This couple had a supply on the ready, and didn't mind using them as props during photo time, either.

Eyes on the Bride: Cris S. {Part 2}

2011-12-14T00:14:00.022-05:00

Guess who's back...back again...Cris is back...tell a friend...now that our Wednesday morning song break is over, it's time to turn it over one more time so Cris can walk us through her 2012 Texas wedding. Remember that these are just some of the details, as Cris already gave us the lowdown on her first round of nuptials last week. And to get even more Cris whenever you want, don't forget to check out Kiss My Tulle. Okay, here we go...

Wedding Location – Our home in the Texas Hill Country (check out how we’re remodeling it for The Big Day: http://www.atno64.com).

Images Courtesy of: Style Me Pretty, Hi Fi Weddings, Inspired By This, Martha Stewart Weddings, Unknown, and Style My Pretty

Wedding colors/theme – Upscale Picnic (like the kind that my grandma used to host in her gorgeous backyard during the summer) and lots of blues, greens, reds, and pinks.

Bridesmaids' dresses info – I’m letting them pick any dress they want as long as it’s a jewel blue color. They LOVE this and have already shown me several options. (I think they’re excited to pick something from their closet or find a dress that they’ll actually wear again).

Best part of planning – Seeing amazing ideas from other weddings and trying to figure out how to do them cheaper and/or with my own spin on the idea.

Worst part of planning – Trying to nail down the guest list – this sucks to a spectacular degree.

Most surprising part of planning – How many people try to get you to use their vendor/friend/services. I’m still trying to figure out a tactful way to say no. (Funny story, one woman was SO insistent that I use her cake lady – even though she had no clue what style of cake I wanted, how much my budget was, or that I had already booked a cake vendor. Sheesh!)

Favorite vendor so far – My photographer, Miranda Laine Photography. The photography was SO important me that I used a whopping 1/3 of my budget toward it and booked her within weeks of getting married. Miranda is everything I was hoping for in a photographer and was SO amazing during the interview process that I just knew she was the vendor for me (you can read more about how I chose my photographer here.

Any Do-It-Yourself (DIY) plans – Lots! I’m blessed to have come from a very hands-on, crafty family, so I’m planning on making tons of the décor for my wedding. (I’m also really lucky and my best friend/matron of honor lives close by and loves helping out with this kind of stuff). So far I’ve planned: a fabric/flower streamer thing for the ceremony alter, pallet tables for the reception, tree stump benches for the ceremony seating, the ring pillow, a quilt for the DIY photobooth backdrop, some costume bits for a kid’s costume box, the flower girl dresses, possibly the junior bridesmaid dresses, all of my invitations (and assorted paper goods), and on and on….

Images Courtesy of: From The Kitchen of Olivia, Elizabeth Ann Designs, Oh Happy Day, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Martha Stewart

Honeymoon Location – We’re toying with going to the United Kingdom (The Boy was stationed there in the mid-80’s and wasn’t allowed to go to Ireland then + he loved it and wants to go back for a visit), Greece (we can score a killer deal on an apartment right on the beach [thank you, assorted military/veterans vacation clubs]), or New Orleans (if we’re low on fundage – we’d love to support tourism there after everything they’ve been through in last few years).

*all other images provided by Cris

TWIPS Holiday Cards: From Danielle Pasternak

2011-12-13T00:50:00.001-05:00

The next card to arrive courtesy of our little exchange came from Danielle Pasternak. You might remember Danielle from her previous TWB appearance in my wedding recaps. Yes, she is a day-of coordinator and now, I know, a card maker, too. Her creation is just so crafty and cheery, isn't it?

Destination Inspiration: Christmas in Bedford Falls

2011-12-12T00:21:00.001-05:00

Inspired by last year's trip to Whoville, I decided to use another Christmas movie as the basis for a board this holiday season. This time around we're visiting quaint Bedford Falls, the setting of the classic It's a Wonderful Life.

(source)

You can aim for 1940s elegance, try to capture that sweet small town charm, or mix in some elements from the movie like bells, angels, and lassoing the moon.

credits (clockwise from bottom left): lasso the moon sign, bride, couple in bank vault, couple coming down stairs, bells, sled, flower girls in angel wings, bride in fur, couple in car.

And I'll leave you with a favorite quote from the film, which doesn't necessarily correlate to today's inspiration but could inspire a cute housewarming gift:

Bread...that this house may never know hunger.
Salt...that life may always have flavor.
And wine...that joy and prosperity may reign forever.

Two Web Belles: ...Sitting In A Tree

2011-12-09T00:13:00.000-05:00

1. I'm mesmerized by the fluffy folds of this cupcake liner tree from Paper Crave. This isn't a DIY for those on a time crunch, but the finished product is a stunner. With all of the liner options available now, you could swap out colors and patterns to make these fit for almost any occasion.

2. Cheese has never looked so good. We have the kind people over at Cabot to thank for so creatively arranging those little cubes of cheese into a Christmas tree.

3. A Christmas tree outfitted with ornaments is a festive way to show your guests to their seats if you happen to be hosting a wedding this time of year. These were shot by Charlotte Geary Photography, and would definitely be a sweet keepsake for guests to take home with them.

4. How chic are these topiary trees from Madigan Made? This DIY is almost too easy to pull off, too, utilizing scrap paper and wine glasses.

5. A stump isn't just a stump when you bust out some power tools and turn it into a card box. Aren't the carved initials a sweet addition?

By The Way: Holiday Desserts

2011-12-08T00:18:00.009-05:00

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

I know I'm not the only one who is right in the middle of the holiday baking madness that always hits this time of year. There are just so many reasons to break out your apron and spend quality time in the kitchen: cookie exchanges, potlucks (for which I always go the dessert route), work luncheons, hostess gifts, dinner parties. Some might say that's a dessert overload. But I say bring it on.

It's best to be mindful when planning the holiday desserts you're going to be making. Some groups of friends will be impressed by a sweet treat that's made from scratch and features unique ingredients. Others will appreciate the coziness of a familiar dessert and won't mind if you use some help from a box in making it.

Yesterday I was tasked with whipping up a dessert for both adults and kids, and it had to be portable since the party location was outside our home. I also wanted something that wouldn't overtake dinner prep time in the kitchen. What did I immediately think of when cruising the baking aisle at the store? Brownies!

There are little choco chunks in there to make the brownies extra chunkalicious. Friends young and old are sure to enjoy.

And I don't think there is anytime I like licking the spoon more than when it's brownie time.

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.