Who Knew Portobellos Were So Pretty?

I have an out-of-my-price-range-crush on these statement necklaces from designs by portobello!  They have a bridal collection which is very elegant, but how fun would one of these necklaces be to spice up your wedding dress neckline?! Ooooh unattainable jewelry love.

For the Funky Bride

designs by portobello

 These little gals are getting a little more attainable and could definitely be worn any day and everyday after the nuptials.

For the Bride's or Maid's Ears

designs by portobella



If you're feeling like you want to give your bestestes a little somethin' somethin' you might get out of birthday gifts for a couple years with these little numbers.

For You or Your Favorites

designs by portobella

 My favorite is the clear heart that looks like an apple.  Just. Sayin.

It's Cold Outside, Cover Your Wrists!

Brodie Hall Bracelets

How fun are these beauties? While checking in with Design Is Mine my eyes were drawn to the side bar advertisement for Brodie Hall Jewelry. They are reasonable priced for a special wedding day somethin' somethin'. Or if you're generous you could always surprise your maids with one. That's me, always thinking of ways to spoil the bridesmaids. 

My Favorite of the Bracelets
Sweeping Taffeta Ball Gown 

That image was just incase you needed a visual of how to wear a bracelet! I kid... AND I promise I will stop shamelessly plugging Anthro's BHLDN...eventually.

Outdoor Vintage

So I need to work on my time management.  I mentioned wanting to have Friday Posts...and look at that, it's Monday, oops!  My favorite aspect of the Train Station I Do Video was the outdoor table setting with the chandelier. Low and behold, Archive Vintage Rental based out of California can help one achieve this outdoor dream. Check out their website for some of their real weddings.  Enough inspiration to last a lifetime...I exaggerate, last a blog post! Who's in for bringing this west coast company to the east coast? 

Inspiration

Archive Vintage Rental

The "photo booths" are everywhere these day, but I still love them.  I like the spin on it with just hanging the frame outside.  And how romantic is the birch canopy.

The Bride

1.) The dress
2.) Whisper - Bridal Fascinator/Brooch
3.) Madison Three Strand Bold Stripe Necklace
4.) Dream Shoes
5.) Shoes I could learn to love

It all started with a polka dot dress.  One of my daily reads (or weekly, depending on my schedule) is none other than Style Me Pretty.  After a little recon I discovered the dress is a Christos Bridal Gown (pictured below).  This might be old news to some, but your old news is my new news.  As for the hair piece, I would probably do more of an asymmetrical style with the flower lower and in the back. Not that I thought about it though!

Christos Maribel Bridal Gown
Etsy's take on the Maribel

I'm assuming the Christos gown is $$$ so atelierTAMI's version for $790 is good in my book!

The Maids



1.) Anthro Dress One
2.) Anthro Dress Two
3.) Amethyst Heel A
4.) Navy Party Heel
5.) Anthro Dress Three
6.) Anthro Dress Four
7.) Amethyst Heel B
8.) Protoe Wedge



 Ok, ok, I get it, I have a problem with my love of Anthropologie.  I will say, I've been eyeing that first  yellow and white striped dress for awhile now.  Seeing as I probably won't be purchasing anytime soon, I'm going to live vicariously through this blog post.   Dress number 5 doesn't actually come with a yellow bow sash, but I feel like it would tie it all together better. Say Yes to  Hoboken has a do it yourself guide if you feel like being crafty!  (PS how cute his her navy polka dot dress she sports in her post???)

Now for my favorite part...



Gifts for the Maids

Jess LC

Who doesn't read Kendy Everyday? Well ok then, if you don't, you should.  She's witty with good style and is what lead me to Jess LC's jewelry.  I wouldn't mind sporting one of her necklaces in my everyday life, so obviously they'd make a good gift.  Am I right? Or am I right?

The Flowers

Joielala Photographie

I love alternative boutonnieres (as seen in the Valentine's Day post).  These images were brought to you by Joielala Photographie (love the name).  If you don't want to do it yourself, check out whichgoose's version on etsy. And just because they are cute...

 Style Me Pretty

One last completely random thought.  I've been listening to Jame Morrison's "You make It Real" on repeat since watching Mark and Jessica's I Do Film.  It reminded me of how much I loved the song.  Now the video doesn't really match the ambiance of this outdoor wedding, but picture a first dance under a chandelier hanging from a birch canopy, no?

And of course they all lived happily ever after...even the maids.

A little something for your maids...

For the longest time I've had the idea to do fashion illustrations as artwork.  The sad fact that I'm afraid of adding any type of color to drawings (fear of commitment) usually prohibits me from finishing any one particular sketch.  While stalking the interwebs recently, I came across these Inslee sketches.  Be. Still. My. Heart. 

How adorable are these?

Shop Sketches


Now, what do these have to do with weddings?  I thought it'd be a cute idea for bridesmaids gifts, that's what! (Probably gathered that from the title of the post, huh?) You can order note cards or calendars, but she also sells 8"x10" prints.  How cute would it be to give each of your bestests a signature sketch that reminded you of them?  If that's not personalized enough, you can even commission the artist to do originals.  Pop one of these puppies in a antique frame you happened to pick up at the weekend flea market, took home and laquered in a bright hue, and you're good to go.  Too far with the laquered frame idea? I knoooow I'm lazy too.

Side Note: How cute would a series of these framed be in a little girls room?  Ok, that was random!
They might also look good as the artwork for a bridesmaid dress boutique dressing room.  Just saying!

Maybe I should try my hand at color after all!

I Do Films

While perusing the wedding blog circuit, I started to wonder if people still hired videoagraphers.  The only think that popped into my mind was the Jennifer Aniston movie Picture Perfect.  Don't act like you haven't seen it.  For some reason I thought wedding home movies might be a dying art. but then again, I've never gotten married so what do I know?!  I started seeing videos of engagements pop up as "save the dates" (cute idea I must add).  Then I stumbled across I Do Films...



Mark & Jessica from I Do Films on Vimeo.


Ed & Terese from I Do Films on Vimeo.


The Train Station from I Do Films on Vimeo.

Seeing as I love to pretend my life is set to music, I'd have no qualms about recommending these guys to put it together for me.  I'm not going to lie, it's like these soundtracks read my Pandora's mind. 

Side note:  The plan is to try to post the faux wedding inspiration boards Fridays.  (side note's note to self: maybe think of a catchy name for Friday Posts).  This last Train Staion video might just have inspired this weeks! Stay tuned!

It's HERE!

That is, if you didn't catch yesterday.  How c-u-t-e is it that Anthropologie premiered their wedding collection BHLDN on Valentine's Day? 

BHLDN

I will say, I forgot I signed up for the email.  I trashed their opening notification thinking it was spam.  OOPS! Helloooo fun inspiration.

Make sure to check out the website and see what kind of bride you are.  Also, their Nuputals of Yesteryear.  It's kind of like Awkward Family Photo's meets the AMC channel.

Nuptuals of Yesteryear

Oh Anthro, how I love your marked up goodness.

I Heart Hearts.

With today being Valentine's Day,   I thought I'd do my own little spin on the Holiday of LUV.  When I think of the big day of red, I think of retro, over the top and lots of sweet.  What better place to have a little shindig to celebrate love than Ted's Bulletin.  Who knows if the Restaurant (owned by the inventors of Matchbox...yuuum) would actually rent out the whole place for an evening, but wouldn't it be fun if they did.  Having the restaurant cater the party would be awesome in itself, burgers, shakes and cakes oh my! With plenty of historic churches around this Eastern Market neighborhood of DC, the couple would have their choice of scenic ceremony locations.

Ted's

I've never been a fan of short wedding dresses until I saw this dress. 

The Bride

1.) Dress

2.) Shrug

3.) Shoes

4.) Hearts!

Pardon the fact that both images are of red heads.  I secretly have always wanted to be a redhead, so maybe it was a subconscious thing.  Instead I just collect friends with red hair.  I mean...I like them for their personalities! I also love sticking objects in hair styles, be it bobby pinning jeweled bracelets around or braid or putting some Ban.do hearts strategically placed under a bird cage veil.  Not pictured: birdcage veil. 
Now it's time to have a little fun...

The Maids

1. Bando Headband
2. Etsy Head Piece
3. Red Dress
4.) Pink Dress
5.) Magenta Shoe
6. Red Shoe

Reds, pinks, magentas AND sequins??? Why yes-sir-y-bob.   I used to shy away of combining pinks and reds, but seriously why wouldn't you on Valentine's Day (and now every other day of the year).  How cute is that sparkly heart crown?  I hear they make it with gold stars as well, just saying. Just imagine how cute the pictures would be. You could have a funky alternative bouquet of hearts and buttons instead of flowers.  OR flowers and magentas, whites, reds and purples.   I would probably suggest giving the headbands as gifts along with these puppies...

Gifts for Your Maids

1.) A girl is going to get cold in the month of February (A)
2.) A girl is going to get cold in the month of February (B)
3.) Who doesn't love Lady Bugs?

Let's Not Ignore the Men

Jumping Men Brought to you by the letters...OnceWed
1.) How cute would these be instead of boutineers??
2.) Hello Converse Cutie

Ok, I know I used Bad.do a lot, but I couldn't help myself! I do own the heart headband in red.  You can bet your bottom dollar I'm getting my use out of it!

HEART!

Oh yes, and they all lived happily ever after....even the maids.



There's Something About Neutrals...

Laura & Ryan via OnceWed and Braedon Photography

It's been over a year since my friend Ginger's wedding and she still teases me about my love for neutrals.  While helping her pick out her colors (or smiling and nodding when she would show me a new palette every week) I stumbled across this wedding on OnceWed.  Something about it just resignated with me.  Be it the neutral dresses, the fact that the bride is wearing a cardigan (love!) or the fact that they are all in boots, it just makes my heart swoon. 

After going on a date the other night, I came into the office to an eagerly awaiting Ginger ready to ask me, "Should I start picking out my neutral dress?!" She was quite proud of that comment I might add.   After avoiding an internal panic attack, I started thinking how I'd recreate a wedding based off Laura and Ryan's (above).   The first location that came to mind, be it not a barn was actually the town of Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. 

KCDS; MMiller; Brian Oh's

This is a town I've been going to since I was young.  Either with family, friends or boyfriends (or should I say flavor of the weeks...I jest) I try to make at least once a year.  For some reason I find it charming and romantic. I have no idea why I feel this way. My first memories of the town are going to the wax museum and on the ghost tour of the quaint Civil War town.  It doesn't quite scream "NEUTRAL CARDIGAN BOOT WEARING WEDDING!" But alas, in my opinion I think it just might work after all.

The Ceremony:

MMiller



The Venue: Secret Six Tavern

intothelens photostream; Antoni Hanlon Photography's Photostream



The Secret Six Tavern may look small, and let's be real here, it is.  BUT I do think it would be good for a smaller reception.  Not pictured is the outdoor patio they have.  You could move some tables around to create a dance floor and who doesn't like beers on tap?

Now for the fun part...What would those maid's wear???  Hello medly of unique neutral dresses!

The Bridesmaid Dresses:

1: Million Dollar Smile Dress

2: All the Fuss Dress

3: Cause for Celebration Dress

4: Dancing in Your Dreams Dress

5: Pom Pom Trim Dress

6: Tiered Ruffle Dress



Now, I realized the dresses took a turn for the rose.  Pink is the new biege maybe? Just go with it!

In case this wedding was taking place in the summer, I thought I'd give some sassy strappy shoes/sandals options.  I do feel like it's more of a fall venue though, so I'd ask all the maid's to wear their own brown boots.  I mean, who doesn't own brown boots these days?

The Bridesmaid Shoes:

1: Angiolini Sweetness Sandal

2: Nine West Sandal

3: BP Gia Sandal

4: Aerosoles Ride Line

5: Aldo Farisola Boot

6: Target's Merona Kasia Boot

Now for the fun part, the bridesmaid gifts! It's always fun to recieve jewelry.  A piece the girls can wear on the day and still be a wearable keepsake for after the wedding.  In all my blog stalking, I came across the esty shop Elephantine.  Having recently ordered from them myself, I can first hand attest that they have they cutest packaging.  It even came with a miniture personalized thank you card!  I love how delicate all the pieces are.  They all also seem to be able to transition into your everyday wardrobe.  Or at least mine!  ;-)

Gift's for the Maids:

Elephantine

Following in suit of the fall weather and OnceWed wedding, it would be nice for all the maids to have a little something to keep them warm...

1: Boden Cashmere Cropped Cardigan
2: JCrew Dream V-neck cardigan

Onto the Bride...

Remember the horrible scene in 27 Dresses when the sister on hand cuts up the mom's wedding dress and everyone gasps/ hates her?  By everyone, I mean the audience.  Well, I wasn't one of them, I actually quite liked the new version! 

Luckily, I wasn't the only one who liked it.  Apparently JCrew caught on and made their own version.

Bride Attire:



Dress:  JCrew

Cardigan: Corsage Drape Cardigan 

Sparkly Shoe Option

Boot: I'd wear my own, but if I didn't have a pair...

If you can't afford the JCrew option, I found the same concept on Annabel and Ruby's Etsy Shop! 

The Ella Dress

And they all lived happily ever after.  Even the maids.