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. 

Vermont Wedding

Sure, it was my own! And I may be a tad bit biased, but I thought it was pretty good!

Our engagement was about 19 months, which left me plenty of time to come up with ideas, and then change them a few times. My goal was to have a beautiful detailed wedding with as low a cost as possible. I guess you could say that our biggest splurges were our venue and our photographer. However, both of those aspects were well worth the cost! The venue, Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont,  really created a personal atmosphere that our guests enjoyed.  Our photographer, Channing Johnson Photography (MA) captured superior quality images we will forever love.

Our wedding was a destination for all of our guests. Being from Massachusetts, people took the ride up to Vermont, and most made a weekend out if it! It was a great way to make the weekend about more than just us, since people took family outings in the area.

Below are some of my favorite images, and also some images of the details. Most everything you see was DIY by me.

The new weddding blog!

Alright- So I'm already married. It's been almost a full three months since I tied the knot with my loving husband, Mike. We had a wonderful wedding, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. It was the perfect start to our marriage, which is what the wedding is all about!

Throughout the planning process, my father continually predicted that I was going to find myself bored when it all came to an end. He was only partially right, I do miss the planning! However- it is most definitely not because I am bored. I have a busy life: I am a high school art teacher, undergoing graduate studies, working on sets for our school musical, getting ready to buy (or build!) a home, and keeping up with everyday life. My schedule is packed full, and yet all I want to do is help someone plan their wedding!

I'm by no means original in this newest dream. I've known many a bride that has said "oh, I would love to be a wedding planner!" I always sigh and think, yeah right! But I am determined to give it a shot at least. Except- I don't want to just be a planner, I want to be in the industry's center. I want to review ideas, share posts, and give advice. There were a few blogs and websites that I found helpful through planning my own wedding, and I would love to someday be one of them. This is my new adventure- I'm going to give it a try. Starting from the moment I post this!

If you are out there and interested in help coordinating your wedding in the Massachusetts area...let me know! I hope to post some images of my wedding soon too. I figure you will need to see my credentials!