Aug 3, 2010
Posted on Aug 3, 2010 in fashion | 27 comments
I think I’ve mentioned my dress doubts once or twice around here. Sigh. But don’t worry, I’m *really* done whining and ready to get down to business. And what better way to make a decision than to check out all your options? That’s right folks, I said options- plural. And that’s where the gulp comes in.
When you shop for a living and you don’t want to wear a traditionalweddingdress, by which I just mean one that comes from a Bridal Shop, you have A. LOT. OF. OPTIONS. Through the spring and summer months, short white(ish) dresses jump out at you at every turn, begging to be taken home and put through their couldthisbemyweddingdress paces.
And what else can an indecisive bride do but oblige them?
Seriously, I’ve taken home nearly every white, cream or gold, short/cocktail length dress in Los Angeles, submitted it to a series of fitting photos and promptly returned it to the store. Big Sigh.
And that’s how I’ve ended up with the final three. Yes. You read correctly. Three. Many dresses entered, but only these three made it to the final round. And so with the help of Bridesmaid J (also a stylist extraordinaire) we did a little accessorizing and staged an impromtu photo shoot to determine the winner. I’m about 99% sure of my decision, but I would LOVE to hear your opinion!
So which one do you like best?
The Modern Romantic:
The French Poet (styled two ways):
The Architectural Cutie:
So again, which dress should I wear? AND are there any other super indecisive Three Dress Brides out there?
Jun 27, 2010
Posted on Jun 27, 2010 in DIY | 10 comments
Happy Weekend!
It’s coffee, sunshine, and crafts around here!
And remember this little project (aka, my bouquet):
Yes. It’s actually happening. So far I’ve wired all of my vintage flowers and I’m pretty stinkin’ happy with ‘em. Next I’ll actually work them into a more cohesive/bouquet like form-so stay tuned for that.
What about you? What are YOU doing this weekend?
Apr 10, 2010
Posted on Apr 10, 2010 in Inspiration, petals | 6 comments
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I’m pretty certain that I don’t want a fresh flower bouquet despite my ridiculous love for the flowers. (cue Golden Afternoon) I know crazy town. Anyhoo…
I collect vintage enamel flower pins and have for a long time. My collection started when I was around 13. My adopted grandma passed away and her memorial included champagne and her vast assortment of costume jewelry spread out on her bed for friends/family to remember her by. I couldn’t cash in on the champers, but I did score a few impressive and much beloved pieces of enamel that day.
Since then I’ve randomly added to my collection at various thrift stores, vintage boutiques, and flea markets. I love a good deal and almost never pay more than a few bucks for each piece. More recently I’ve ramped up my hunt to include online treasure troves like ebay and etsy, where you can often times score “lots” of the stuff for super cheap. Why the recent upsurge in enamel purchases you wonder?
Worldwide enamel domination of course. And I’m gonna make my bouquet outta these babies too! And it’s gonna be awesome! I understand if you need a visual:
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AND a few from my own collection:
These bouquets are joyful, bright, and the perfect mix of vintage-quirky-wonderful for me! I LOVE them and can’t wait to turn my pins into such amazing wedding day art. I look forward to displaying my beautiful bouquet for many years to come OR ripping it apart and reincorporating my beloved pins into my daily wardrobe OR ripping it apart and handing those bad boys out to my wedding guests. Kinda like a bouquet toss. On second thought my hand/eye coordination may not be up to snuff for such an involved activity that late in the wedding game. So scratch that.
Are you going for a non-traditional bouquet? Or something else entirely?
Apr 7, 2010
Posted on Apr 7, 2010 in Decor | 8 comments
Do something pretty while you can
Don’t be afraid
Skating a pirouette on ice is cool
Planning our wedding has been an inspiration and a springboard for me to focus on the little details in life more often. A few fresh flowers at the dinner table, a small homemade flower pin gifted for no reason, or simply dropping a beautiful thank you card in the mail are small powerful ways to enrich our daily lives.
The details DO matter.
I’ve already written about my complicated relationship with the WIC/wedding blog world and the constant push/pull I feel to focus on the meat, the grit, the heart of our wedding and still somehow incorporate a few beautiful details. I secretly feel guilty when I get caught up in all the little details and find myself repeating the phrase “all the details no one will ever notice” a little too often.
I did it here with our awesome Save-the-Dates. And you know what? I eat my words. I take it ALL back. Because people noticed, appreciated, and dare I say LOVED the details almost as much as I did.
And that got me thinking, is god really in the details?
Yes it’s may be an old adage, a cliched phrase, or a moot point if god’s not your personal cup o’ tea, but the details make life special.
Beautiful light. A second cup of coffee in pajamas. A crisply tied bow. A perfectly frosted cupcake. There is beauty and power and magic and art in the details.
Why in the hell else would I spend a year of my life planning and writing about our wedding if not to focus on the details? ALL the details. Aesthetic, emotional, and otherwise.
There is beauty in the intent, in the execution, in the memories of the details themselves. Our paper cranes started out as a purely aesthetic and slightly budgetary detail (paper is cheap yo!) but they’ve evolved into much more than that. When I look around at the hundreds of cranes in the trees at our wedding I’ll remember my drunk friends trying to fold straight lines and pouring more wine, and laughing out loud and showing off their epic crane fails. And that makes me smile. And even if I don’t notice the cranes on our wedding day, I’m sure the pictures of them will make me smile just the same. And I’m smiling right now, so I think the cranes are already worth it!
Here I am constantly trying to justify or rationalize or over think my desire for a beautiful wedding when there is absolutely nothing wrong with beauty. Beauty is valid, life affirming and uniquely in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, Virginia there is a santa claus there is magic in the details. And I want our wedding day to be nothing short of magic. Spine tingling, hair raised on the back of your neck, ugly gulping, guffawing, happy tears, wine flowing, surrounded by beautiful details that make you catch your breath and for a quick minute transport you somewhere magical magic.
All these silly details are important because they serve to remind us that this day is not a day like any other. They help transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. They support and invoke ritual, history, community, and a sense of specialness.
Of course I know beautiful flowers and paper cranes and coordinating linens are not necessary for a fantastic wedding, but do I think they contribute to the sense of wonder, of magic, of specialness that I want to surround us on our wedding day? Yes. And therefore the details have a place and an importance.
And so I have this great and complicated and fantastic journey that is wedding planning to thank for encouraging me to sit back and revel in the little details that enrich my life today. In this moment.
The color of the sky. The quality of the light as it falls on my pepper plants. My snoring dogs. Folding a perfect crane. Anticipating C coming home from work. And making beautiful details just for the sake of beauty.
How has wedding planning enriched your life? And what little details do you anticipate making you the happiest on your wedding day?
Apr 5, 2010
Posted on Apr 5, 2010 in Inspiration, awesomeness | 1 comment
What do ten awesome friends, one baby, two dogs, many bottles of wine and an afternoon in the sunshine add up to?
Seven measly wedding cranes. Four crane fails. A bit of a hangover. And a wonderful reminder of just how easy it is to throw a great party when surrounded by people you love. Awesome food, beautiful flowers and free-flowing wine don’t hurt either! I’m just sayin…
So while Easter wasn’t exactly the the crane-making extravaganza I was (secretly) hoping for, it sure was a hell of a lot of fun! We had the opportunity to host our first dinner party in our new home and and I’m talking about a super fantastic with a dollop of awesome sauce fun-fest. We don’t mess around.
AND just wait ‘til you see all the top secret wedding details we managed to squeeze in and test drive on our unsuspecting guests! What can I say, I’m a theater kid at heart and I love me a good dress rehearsal!
** WARNING: This post is chock a block full of awesome photos kinda like a freshfromthefarmer’smarket heirloom tomato that just bursts in your mouth. Or pop rocks. Maybe pop rocks are a better example. Anyway get ready for the explosion.
AND the pretty people:
AND the pretty food:
AND yes, even the failed cranes are pretty:
So if the fun, friends, and flowers at our wedding turn out anything like Easter, well, it’s going to be amazing. EPIC even. Squeal. I really can’t wait.
Do moments spent with friends/family fuel your excitement for your wedding too? Or are we just freaks? It’s okay. We know! 
ps. all photos by moi, except for a few I snagged from my awesome friend Katie. Thanks lady!
