Happy News for engaged couples!

Hello All-

This blog is not a forgotten adventure!! I am in the process of creating a full fledged website for your reading enjoyment! I've hesitated to post here in hopes of keeping all my ideas saved up for the new location.

That being said- I think this is worth posting ASAP!

Step aside Crate & Barrel... ETSY now has a registry section!!! This is unbelievably awesome for those couples who want to register but have always seen themselves embracing more handmade quality pieces to furnish & finish their home with. Had this been around a year ago (which to my knowledge it was not!) I would have used it.  Please check it out, and if you do use it, please reach out and let me know what you think!!!

To the coolest registry ever....in my humble opinion

Spring means Showers!

So with spring and summer being such a popular time for weddings, this is the time of year when the bridal showers start to pick up! A few ideas to get your creative showers going!

Gifting Ideas

The Wine Cellar

Consider having all guests bring a bottle of wine to give to the bride and groom. This way the happy couple is stocked up and have a library of selection! Consider placing labels on the back with personalized messages from the guest who brought it. A more complex twist  on this idea could be to designate specific people to select bottles for special occasions (anniversary's, 30th birthday, first bottle after first baby is born, first bottle for first home, etc). 

ABC
Each guest is designated a letter (via invitation), and their gift (or a small part of it) should be associated somehow with that letter. This lets guests be as creative as they can to connect their gift to their letter. My guess is the bride will always remember who gave what gift!

For the Pantry

Is your couple into canning, pickling, jams & jellies? Consider having guests bring recipes & samples specific to these sorts of pantry items. This gives the couple an opportunity to stock their shelves for the start of their lives together, enjoy some samples, and have the recipes for life. Not everyone knows these techniques? Have people who may not be pro-canners bring any staple family recipe for the cookbook & add spices to the pantry cabinet. 

Venues and Themes


A Picnic in the Park
This isn't necessarily a new idea, but just one that is always unique. For an idea on a budget, this is a great way to celebrate outdoors, and still feels like it's a special venue. Hosts can make bagged lunches for everyone, do a buffet style meal, or even have guests bring their own lunch! This idea also allows for both formal and casual style showers. Bring chairs and tables, use existing picnic tables,  or tell guests to bring blankets & pillows and sit on the ground! Check with local officials about regulations before bringing any spirits

Eat, Drink and be Merry:  A Vineyard Shower
Having a shower at a vineyard location is a great way for everyone to enjoy a special event, taste some wine, and eat some cheese & cupcakes. Vineyards are usually simple and elegant, with a relaxing atmosphere. This also can offer a fun entertainment, as tours & tastings provide a focus that can be entertaining. Many offer indoor & outdoor spaces, so for those wanting an outdoor venue with a safe backup, this may be a great option. Consider the gift idea above to match!


Cooking Class
Looking for a different idea? Try a cooking class as a shower. This is a great way for a bride to bond a bit with the ladies (and gents) in her life, eat wonderful food stress free for all, and still have an opportunity to open gifts. Know someone who is savvy in the kitchen? Have a DIY cooking class by asking a friend or relative to run the show! All you need is someone with the skills and a large kitchen to fit everyone.

Wedding Industry Survey

Whether you are a recently married bride, or newly engaged, please stop over and take this survey! Its only about 3-4 minutes long!

Click Here!

A sound Investment

So, as I begin this journey in hopes of making this blog worth reading- I've been educating myself more on the wedding industry. A Practical Wedding is an awesome blog for down-to earth brides. Megan Keene, who established the website, has recently published a book under the same name. I bought it on Amazon, and began reading it minutes after it arrived in the mail.

I am only a chapter into it, and wish that this was around when I was first engaged. I put it down long enough to write this. The first chapter alone is worth the cost of the book.

It is unlike any other wedding book out there! Having gone through the process of planning a wedding, her words are unbelievably authentic! Did I mention I wish I had this through the planning process? Recently engaged, or mid-way through the process, I would suggest investing in this. Your sane side will thank you later.

Happy reading!

The Album

So,  as I have previously mentioned, I have this severely biased opinion that quality photographs are worth a large portion of your overall wedding budget. And quality photos need a quality album to live in! In the words of my mother-in-law, what good are photos if you don't have an album to show off to people?!


In my quest to find a home for my own wedding photos, I discovered Queensberry Albums.  I am in love with the simplistic designs and layouts. Check them out at http://www.queensberry.com/!

Curious Guest Book Ideas

 Lately, there have been some great ideas on how to make these personalized notes more interactive. Below are a few ideas! Check out Etsy.com (if you haven't noticed, I have a bit of an Etsy obsession!)

 

Puzzles: Some have the option of including an engagement photo. 

Love this delicate twist. So simple, yet allows you to display it so elegantly afterwards.  

Hearts in an artwork, so beautifully simple!

Fingerprints. Often seen with trees, but this is another version of the idea. 

Instead of an engagement photo, the lyrics to your first dance song. Guests can sign the border to leave their special words. 

Welcome 2012!

My new year kicked off to a fresh start at my sister-in-law's wedding. It was a spectacular evening and a great way to celebrate the start of a new marriage and a new year all at once. This New Year's Eve wedding started my thinking about some interesting themes and date to incorporate into a wedding.

I began a Valentine's Day Wedding Inspiration Board on pinterest.com in hopes of showing you all some of my ideas. In the coming weeks I plan to feature a few more inspiration boards based on some unique themes. Enjoy!


Also if you have attended any recent weddings and want to send along the link to the photos, I'd love to have some fresh weddings to showcase and highlight.

Danielle