Love Story Books

I have to thank God right now. He had to lead me to find this great article. Chris and I have a very unique story. Especially from my side of it. I want to share it with our guest, but I don't wnat to take a large amount of time at the wedding to do it. These books are a great idea. While I had thought about doing the books before, this confirms the need to have them. I hope it will be a great keepsake for all our guest to take home.

*images via Style Me Pretty

After the wedding and honeymoon I plan to create one giant book with pics from dating to life as newlyweds.

Got Cold Feet?

I just found the cutest thing: cold feet socks for the groom. While I won't be making a pair for Chris, I think this is quite cute. I definitly think this could be a very marketable item. Now what to do for the woman...mayby cold stockings?

Mekala recently launched a new venture called Tie that Binds where you can purchase the cute label for these socks. Her new adventure is all about details, all about creating a wedding brand that you can thread through every element of your day. Definitely worth a visit.

And here are the step-by-step instructions for the Groom’s Socks Gift…

*images via Style Me Pretty

Materials
Your groom’s socks for the wedding
Ribbon
Brown paper / any paper (I used a paper grocery sack!)
Stapler
Scissors
Printer and DIY Label
Sticker Paper

Instructions
Step 1: cut paper strip about 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. Fold into a loop and staple. To form the square look of the paper, fit around socks and crease.

Step 2: Fold socks in half and loop a bow of ribbon at the fold. Then slip the socks into the paper loop

Step 3: Print label on sticker paper, cut out, and attach to brown paper strip.

Step 4: Place them as a surprise! He’ll remember your lighthearted-ness on the big day for years to come.

*image via Wedding Bee

Change of Venue Cards

Here are the new post cards I will be mailing out this week...as well as about 30 invitations I have yet to complete :O

Bridal Shower NYC

Ok...so I am just getting around to posting these pics. We had such a great time. Janet was a wonderful host and I basked in every minute of it. All of the women were so gracious. It was a great time for all! I decided to do a little vintage spin on the pics for fun. I hope to do a full print vintage album. It just seemed so fitting for the location, a Harlem brownstone. Of course these are just a few. i will be posting part two and three shortly.

*click on pictures to see larger.

Let Them Eat Cake!

So last week in the mist of my changing venue nightmare I decided to pick up a few containers for our dessert buffet. I found several apothecary jars at outlet stores in Atlanta. My original idea was to mimic this dessert bar.
photo credit: Karen Nickel Photography via An Atlanta Bride

In fact the bride who did this got married in the same venue as I will be marrying. Her blog is fabulous by the way. When I started to really think about it I couldn't fathom adults who really want that many sweets. While I love the idea...it just wasn't practical. I will have three or four flavors of cake for guest to sample and maybe another sweet treat to end the night :) I think my dollar and energy will be better spent on dinner items. So its to the return line I go with all my jars and platters in tow. Here are few more dessert buffets I liked.


images via Martha Stewart Weddings

images via manolobrides.com

Budget Saving tips for dessert Bars/ Buffets:

1. Buy as many items as you can yourself. While it may be easier to just let the caterer do it, often times the amount to rent items from them will be higher or equal to buying them yourself. The benefit of owning these items is that you can always sell to another bride and recoup most of your investment.
2. Shop at outlet and bargain stores. Marshall's, TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning are all great sources. My person favorite being TJ Maxx. Try Dollar store as well. While they don't carry as many items you may get lucky. Now the true secret is online shopping. This store carries everything. Including a wide assortment of jars and platters.
3. Mix candy and desserts. Desserts will hit your pockets hard since most have to be made at a specialty store. Even if you use the grocery store, such as Publix's Bakery, the price can add up quickly. To cut your cost add candy you can buy in bulk. I recommend either the grocery store bins or one of the many online shops.
   
4. Don't go overboard. Many guest will only sample a few sweets. Most adult palettes are not suited, but for so many sweets. Also many will just appreciate the novelty of it.
   

Orignal Venue becomes New Venue!

God Always works things out! I will try to keep this story short and sweet. Awhile back when I knew Chris would be my husband I began thinking about a wedding. It was the first time in my life I had thought about marrying someone and especially a wedding. Well, as I began my search I felt drawn to Atlanta. While looking for venues in Atlanta I stumbles across the Biltmore Ballrooms. I was so impressed with it.

I told my parents and Edmee that was the place I would get married. Well, fast forward a year...that's right a year...and Chris and I come to Atlanta to look for wedding venues. Of course I go to the Biltmore and I thought it was beautiful, but I wasn't drawn to it like I thought I would be. Besides that when you added everything up it was pricey. So we continued our search and decided to go with another venue.

Well, as the time crept closer to the wedding we realized that our current venue was too small and had a host of other issues. We were devastated! What to do? Where to go? Well we both thought about the Biltmore.

So we called the women we had met with and explained our situation. We also let her know why we hadn't chose them before. So that began a day and half process of negotiations that brought the Biltmore down to the price we wanted to pay and not only that, but more incentives than we would have gotten had we booked with them a few months back. This is thanks to us being so close to the date and Chris' superior negotiation skills.

So what was a nightmare has become a dream and we are now back to the venue that I believe God wanted us at from the beginning!

Barrack's Dessert!

Well my mother has the most beautiful shoes she is going to wear to my wedding. Well, I should say was going to wear to the wedding. That is until a little boy named Barrack decided he needed dessert. So what does he do? He eat's her shoe! And I mean he ate it. Take a look!



I won't tell you what happened to him...but let's just say he won't be eating anymore shoes anytime soon!

Wedding Thriller

You have to look at these clip. Seriously these peeople are putting me to shame. Chris and I barely have time to practice a first dance....let alone the entire wedding party!  Enjoy

Mirror...Mirror

So it was the day before my NY bridal shower and I needed a dress...quickly. I happened upon a cute store in Long Island and thought it would be fun to capture the big decision.

Can you guess which one I wore to the NYC shower? Better yet can you guess the one I will be wearing to the DC one?

Bridal Shower on September 12th Update

The Location has changed to the Lorien Hotel and Spa in Alexandria, VA. Here is the formal invite that will be mailed out.

Vintage Set

Okay...so my mom and I went to visit my bridal shower location today and it was so fun! I will post more in the next one...but here are a few vintage shots she took of me in the courtyard of the hotel.

My Baby!

The pics I took of him :)







Lemme find out he is a Ruff Ryder...lol