Grape Stomping Good Time

From Top Left: bride, centerpiece, champagne, bolero

shoes, bouquet, sign, chuppah

place cards on barrels, bridesmaids, wine barrel bar, pashmina basket

centerpiece, winery gate invitation, rings in grapes, chocolate croquembouche

Vineyard weddings conjure up classy affairs with a touch of rustic charm to accommodate the setting. Immediately, I think of vibrant shades of purple and more natural tones to soften it up, such as champagne, light green and brown. I imagine trailing floral arrangements to mimic the hanging grapes.

Last, I think of croquembouche. It could be because I've always wanted to see one in person but it just sounds so good and so appropriate paired with your champagne toast. What's more french than champagne and croquembouche? I've got six weddings to attend in the next year, one of you has to make my dream come true..

Etsy Finds: Photo Booth Props

Etsy is a wonderful resource for Brides looking for those 'little details' and 'special touches' that don't have the crafting gene to "DIY" themselves! There are so many wonderful artisans and vendors on Etsy that craft the most exquisite bridal accessories, handbags, veils, gowns, guest books, signage, etc. There are also vendors that sell fun and quirky items like those listed below.

Here are some great shops (that I stumbled on and am not being paid to advertise for) selling all of your photo booth accessory needs! How fun is "Bucky?"

Sarah Elizabeth Design

Funny Side of Life

Little Retreats

Vintage Tea Party Inspired Wedding

If you haven't noticed yet, I love all things vintage and old and am inspired by all things antiquated. Mismatched tea sets, tablecloths, old lace, serving dishes, vintage tea tins, etc. They all come together to create a unified look of shabby chic-ness. My mother and I spent a year collecting various glass pitchers in all shapes, colors and sizes for the centerpieces at my wedding. My mother also collected vintage lace tablecloths to use on our cake buffet tables. We had so much fun scouring thrift shops, antique stores and garage sales to find our treasures. After the wedding, we gave the centerpieces (pitchers) to guests or family that had helped with various aspects of the wedding planning.

For the below board, I was really inspired by the vintage tea tins that I see in antique stores all of the time. I think this wedding would be perfect for a budget conscious bride that is maybe looking for an afternoon wedding concept. (Or for a wedding shower or engagement party!) Collected teapots or tea tins could both serve as centerpieces. Filling the vintage tins with candles to hand out as favors is a unique, DIY idea. (Less obvious than handing out the "perfect blend" tea sachets.) The teacups filled with flowers and a flag with a guest's name is not only gorgeous but serves two functions: place cards, as well as to enhance the tablescape. Last, I love the idea of matching the design from your favorite tea set to the design on your cake to tie it all together!

Tea, anyone?

From Top Left: flowers in teapot, tablescape, tin can candles, place cards,

DIY teacup cake topper, teacup, baroque cake, gorgeous tea set,

bride and her maids, teacup kiss, bridal hat, the perfect blend,

garden tea invite, table set for tea, dessert bar, teapot centerpiece

1920's Glam Inspired Wedding

I love the 1920's and the art deco era and how they're so highly romanticized. Drawing from this period can only add a touch of romance and glamour to your wedding..

From Top Left: lounging, 20's footwear, couple of martinis, Gatsby inspired bouquet

vintage brooch bouquet, amazing headpiece, feather centerpieces, bridesmaid flapper dresses

art deco std, get away car, 20's gown, feather clutch

cake topper, vintage car, winter fur, centerpieces

Love the art deco inspired Save-the-Date? Visit Go Go Snap's Etsy shop for more incredible designs. Or how about the vintage brooch bouquet?! I die. I want to plan vow renewals to simply carry it.

Friday's Flower: Cornflower

"Bachelor's Button"

In folklore, cornflowers symbolized the love between a young man and woman. Worn by the man, the cornflower predicted whether his love was returned or not by how quickly it faded. Too fast: so sorry, her heart lies elsewhere. Another common name for the cornflower is "Bachelor's Button" referring to the long lasting quality of the flower when cut. Bachelors would sport the cornflower in their buttonholes when calling on their lady loves. For our wedding, the cornflower was used throughout to honor my grandmother, who could not be present. She is originally from Estonia, which boasts the cornflower as its national flower.

Interested in using cornflowers in your wedding arrangements? Here's the details from GardenGuides.com: Annual bachelor’s buttons and basket-flowers begin to bloom in late spring and continue through summer. *Winter brides, fear not! Cornflowers dry incredibly well, retaining most of their vibrant colors! The dried flowers are also a great option for 'throw confetti' if you want to stay organic and bird friendly. Plus the vibrant blue pops in photos when showering down!

From Top Left: blue vases, married in a field of cornflowers, wildflower bouquet

cornflower bout., denim inspired wedding, beautiful bouquet

Swoon Worthy Non- White Wedding Gowns

I have come across several swoon worthy, non-white wedding gowns recently that I had to share. What are your thoughts? I think they're trés chic and daring. There was about a 30 minute period during my wedding planning that I considered the orange head turner in the middle... seriously.

From Top Left: Vera creation, Kate Towers gown, gray M. Hardwick gown

light pink creation, orange beauty, Stella de Libero floral gown

Claire Pettibone in pink, Jill Stuart gown, Jason Grech dip dyed gown

Dreaming of a Wedding in a Secret Garden?

My dream wedding, budget aside, was to take place at Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville, Georgia. I had attended a wedding there as a little girl and had never forgotten the magic and romance of the place.

From their website:

Behind Barnsley Gardens Resort's storybook setting is a true story filled with as many twists and turns as a work of fiction. The original manor, called Woodlands, was an estate built by a man—Godfrey Barnsley—for the love of his life, his wife Julia. Godfrey Barnsley began construction on his Italianate villa in the 1840's in the north Georgia foothills, on land that had once been inhabited by the Cherokee Indians. Both the home and its elaborate gardens were formed by the work of Andrew Jackson Downing, a pioneering landscape designer and proponent of Italianate and gothic revival architecture. Julia never saw the completed home, as she fell ill and passed away. Through the years, the estate has witnessed much history and intrigue, including the Civil War.

From Top Left: kiss in the ruins, cake cutting

bridal shots, Barnsley at night

The ruins of the home still stand as do the splendid and varied gardens. The resort is simply breathtaking, both in full sunlight and by the moonlight, with twinkling lights winding throughout the ruins... *sigh* In any case, our wedding did not take place there as it was above and beyond our budget. We still had our dream garden wedding and in a location that suited our needs and personalities much more. That being said, Barnsley Gardens still holds a piece of my little girl heart and certainly influenced the vision of our wedding.

Dreaming of a secret garden wedding as well? Feast your eyes on these gorgeous shots and let your imagination wander..

From Top Left: garden gate, Secret Garden, bridal necklace, flower garland,

our wedding in the garden, lazy river, romantic table, upside down kiss,

garden cake, nighttime, chandeliers above, candlelit dinner

tablescape, dessert buffet, embrace, romantic aisle

Beribboned

From Top Left: butterflies, bride, rafter streamers

ceremony, hidden kiss, be-ribboned kiss,

rafter ribbons, fabric strips, candy bar

This inspiration board requires little description. Gorgeous, no? A girlfriend emailed me this morning to let me know that her reception site had rafters. The decorating ideas were endless: ribbons, lights, fabric, etc. And then I stumbled upon some of these shots and had to put this together. So whimsical. Why not run various size/style/color ribbons down the center of the dining tables to compliment the decor? Getting married in a non de-script location without clear boundaries, like say in a field or under a tree? Add a few maypoles to define the area or tie some ribbons or fabric from tree limbs to sway gently behind you as you say "I do." You can find a great tutorial to make your own Maypoles here.

Bridesmaid Blues

The bridesmaid dilemma - a sticky situation for many brides. So many factors to consider. Which friends and family to include? How many groomsmen is the groom considering? Is so-and-so reliable and going to help with the planning process or remain largely MIA? I was in her wedding, does she have to be in mine? I've known her for years but we've grown apart. I have four sisters and two best friends and my hubby-to-be only has one brother and one best friend.

The dilemmas are endless but in the end, you and the future hubs must find a solution that works for y'all (and your budget - don't forget bridal party gifts!)

I hated not having certain members of my family in our wedding party but I was able to honor them in other ways. I enlisted them to speak during our ceremony, act as greeters, etc. They were also included in showers and the bridesmaid luncheon. In the end, I'm glad we didn't have twelve bridesmaids but more than that, I hope I showed all the wonderful women in my life how important they were to me.

Once you have decided on your BM list, why not send a gorgeous note, like the one above, to ask them to be a part of your wedding!? I really adore this idea and think it makes the request personal and meaningful. The "Wedding Chicks" have uploaded this awesome FREE downloadable template for you to use as you please. You simply customize it with your colors, click submit and voila! You've got a template you can upload to vista print or any printer of your choice (even your own!) to send out to your future BMs.

For those on the receiving end of this notecard, let's review a few BM duties (which certainly aren't all required but definitely appreciated):

~assist in planning and other diy activities (scouting sites, dress shopping, gluing invitations or programs together, etc.)

~order your bridesmaid dress in a reasonable time frame, allowing for fittings, finding coordinating shoes, etc.

~help throw a bridal shower as well as a bachelorette party with the Maid of Honor

~attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and take good mental notes (you better not have to be told what to do all over again on the big day!)
~assist the bride in getting dressed on the big day

~be attentive to the bride on her big day, asking if she needs food or water

~walk slow down the aisle

~have a great time at the reception but be present and available for introductions, speeches, etc!

Bookish Bride

From Top Left: book stack, initials, guest notes, table 2

books by candlelight, centerpiece, aisle runner, LOVE,

bold books, old book, Mark Twain, two little love birds

As a vintage book collector, mainly of the naval aviation or Americana variety, I LOVE weddings that incorporate old vintage books. The worn look, the dusty smell.. just makes you want to settle in and enjoy. Their presence seems to say, "yes, our love is the stuff of fairy tales and story books." For the budget conscious bride, I love the look of the non-floral centerpieces. I love the way some brides have utilized vintage books, sheet music, vintage postcards, sculptural objects and candlelight. (Save the flowers for the bridal party and buffet line!) I also love the idea of naming different dining tables for favorite authors with their books on display at the table. I'd steer clear of the heavier stuff. (Das Kapital has a time and place and it's not at your guests' table over dinner.)

Man (& Bride's) Best Friend

Is there anything better than the unconditional love from your four legged family member? I think not. Every morning, I sit down with a cup of coffee and catch up on news, emails, etc. My dobie, Ella, lounges nearby. As you can see by the shot below, she is a professional lounger.

She was rescued approximately one month after my husband and I got married. I can't imagine life without her now. Had we had her at the time of our wedding, there would have been no question that she would have been involved. Being quite the ham and uber social, she would have relished her involvement!

Alas, she was not but my parents' dog, Kane, was and he is seen in the middle shot below. He was such a calming influence on me and I loved having him with me while getting ready. Being an old curmudgeon, he was not invited to the ceremony or reception but he played his role, early on in the day, admirably. While everyone else was all aflutter with activity, he stayed by my side and gave me reassuring kisses whenever necessary.

While dogs may not be appropriate at every wedding (Fido may not be welcome in the ballroom at the Ritz), they certainly aren't out of place down on the farm or in a backyard wedding. So why not include them in your special day if you can? Obviously, they provide for some great candid shots.. and I'm sure you'll be happy to see them in your album, years after your wedding day. After all, they're part of the family too.

From Top Left: Groomsdog, Pooped, Ring bearer

Three pups, Kane and I, K9 friend

Collar of flowers, Ring on nose, dog in tie

Mercury Glass: True Vintage Glam

Is there anything more glamorous and 'old worldly' than mercury glass? I think not. The way it shimmers and casts the room in soft light is pure whimsy. That being said, true antique mercury glass can be a budget buster. Even reproductions can run a little high. Some facilities have their own collection for rent but beware the gold tinted glass knock offs - we're looking for full shimmer, splotchy, been around the block mercury glass here. Check out these gorgeous uses of mercury glass. How fabulous is the hanging aisle runner? And the 20's inspired tall feather creation? Be still my heart.

From Top Left: mercury votives, lace mercury, goblets,

flower vases, hanging mercury, tall glam

Sold on mercury glass but not on the price? No worries. There are several DIY options. I'm sure you'll be shocked to learn that the crafting queen Martha Stewart has come up with one way to get similar results. You can view her tutorial here. I would recommend that route if you're contemplating three hundred votives to surround your centerpieces on each dinner table. If you're feeling up to a real challenge and want to undertake a more authentic looking project, you have got to check out this tutorial! (a close up shot of those results can be seen below - so realistic!) I can't imagine doing three hundred little votives this way but maybe two dozen aisle runners or several tall vases to recreate that gorgeous feather arrangement. Love, love, love.

DIY mercury glass

Singing in the Rain

My husband and I were blessed with beautiful weather on our wedding day but it was a definite gamble, as the majority of our wedding took place outside. Like so many brides, I crossed my fingers, checked the forecast daily (ok, hourly) and sent prayers heavenward.

The week after our wedding, Georgia experienced record flooding and crushed many Bride's hopes and dreams of a sunny outdoor ceremony. For those brides facing the thunderclouds and 100% humidity, pick yourselves up off the floor, rouse yourselves from the throes of your tantrum and fix your running mascara and carpe diem because some seriously unique and beautiful photography is to be had..

From top left: rain & fog, rain fall, umbrella kiss,

street kiss, hello sun, real bride

umbrella party, rain boots, rainbow

Let Them Eat Cake.. and Lots of it!

There's nothing worse than dried up wedding cake, coated in thick sugary fondant. You've sat through the ceremony, the luke warm meal, the mandatory dances and speeches and to cap off the night, you're served mono-flavor, three day old grocery store cake. Mmmm boy, I'll have another slice of that. NOT. Well, thankfully, there are options and not just the current candy bar trend. I'm talking about a cake buffet. Options for your guests to drool over, choose from and savour. Each and every bite.

From Top Left: Cake Buffet 1, 2, 3

4, 5, 6

One of my favorite aspects of my own wedding was our cake buffet. It was sublime. We did have a traditional cake (to appease the MOB) and groom's cake, which were works of art and truly delicious (Elizabeth of EB Cakes = miracles worker). And just in case guests wanted a third or fourth or fifth option, they had a cake buffet to choose from! We had six different flavors from a local bakery and yes, we tasted each and every one! MMMmmm.. The cakes and buffet were set out in the garden with votives and luminaries everywhere. It was pure magic and pure finger looking goodness. Guests enjoyed picking their own fresh favorite flavor, whether it was red velvet, german chocolate or coconut, etc. Indecisive guests could take home a few different slices. It was a big hit and would be perfect for the bride who just can't settle on one flavor. Or why not have a desserts only reception for the budget conscious bride?

Lastly, I must mention the biggest perk- we were able to save a slice of each cake in addition to the top tier of our cake, ensuring our first year of marriage was a sweet one!