This is gratefulbride's Blue Wedding!

We got a few photos from a very casual day out at the park. Some of our photos are very silly (thatz just us), & some are a little more sober. Just wanted to share with you ladies!! I hope you enjoy. If you don't mind..please mention which photo you think might look best for our STD. Please keep in mind that these are proofs, so touch ups, Sepia, Black & White Hues, Text, etc will be added later in the week.

Happy Mother's Day to any Moms!! :)

I LOVE Polka Dots! As most of you know, my FI & I are incorporating a good deal of Damask into our wedding decor, as well as our monograms, but we just don't want it overdone. Since we just recently took a few engagement photos (haven't gotten the photos back yet), I am trying to really finalize exactly how I want the STD's to look. I thought I knew what I wanted, but now I am looking into other designs!! My FI & I both agree that we want them fun, but chic & these are some really cute ideas I thought I'd share. I aalso think the postcard style is soo cute & I love the detail on the photo (click on to see better).

Please forgive me, as I have no clue where I found them! I saved the photos recently, but failed to save the site! Duh! But, many of you are better than most & could DIY, if you were interested. Happy Planning!

I just wanted to thank all of you who gave your input in regards to narrowing down the decisions for my Maid of Honor & Matron of Honor's dresses.

I had sent them both information over 3 weeks ago asking them to pick their favorite dress for the Big Day. I sent them websites for David's Bridal, Morilee, Jim Hjelm & Little-Flowers. They're both in different States, & coincidentally, they both chose the Tiffany Blue Morilee design. The SAME design. With the ease of having only 2 in the Bridal Party, I especially desire to have them in different styles, but using the same designer & color scheme.

Being that I want them to be comfortable & happy, I have decided to go with their judgement, but to add lace detailing to my Matron of Honor's dress. There will be lace detail around the skirt of the dress. Not sure if the lace will be in an iredescent white or Steel Gray. I love the look of lace, and I will have a lace jacket (as pictured), so it will compliment the look. So that my Maid of Honor isn't left out with the lace, I may have some added to her sash or to the top portion of dress (as in photo).

Not trying to leave any other brides out, but for the Tiffany aka Robin's Egg aka Aquamarine Blue Brides who are interested, there is a site (you may already be aware of) that has some pretty neat finds: http://www.squidoo.com/tiffany-blue They have things from Tiffany Bl dresses to shawls to accessories, & even a cute Tiff & Co baby ring. They have a little of everything.

So Cheers to all the Damask lovers out there. They seem to be growing daily. I really was looking for things involving my bachelorette shower when I came across these delicious designs. Most damask Brides out there pretty much have their tastes set, but I thought I'd still upload these photos as mere inspiration for any projects or DIY stuff you're tackeling.

The first card is a cute template for a shower, & I really like something different.....which is in the last photo, there are damask address labels. I love that! That's an easy thing to diy & will really dress up your envelopes.

I am in the process of designing & formatting a booklet for my Out Of Town (OOT) gift boxes for our guests at the hotel (see 2/23 blog). I know that I will be including a wedding day timeline, Happenings in the City, Local Hospitals, 24 Hour Stores (especially drug stores), Good Restaraunts, a Map & of course a Welcome Statement at the beginning of it all.

I posted a few pics to share with those of you doing oot boxes, bags or baskets for your guests. Or, even if you're not doing all that, some of you may be interested in having some type of welcome booklet (even if it's a 1 page newsletter, pamphlet or memo) for your guests to receive & welcome them after their travels.

Please don't let the topic fool you! This isn't about Hillary or Obama right now...it's about wedding issues (of course!!)...

Out of these 4 dresses (even if you hate them all), which would you vote for liking the most? I appreciate your feedback!

Does anyone know the proper attire "recommended" for Wedding Greeters & Guestbook Attendants? Do you have a certain "look" in mind for your Greeters & such? I never gave it much thought, because it never really stood out to me at any other weddings that I've been to, but I would like to have the rest of our attendants in some type of unison.

I am thinking of going with simple black for the ladies with a white floral corsage with the bouquet jewelry & a Tiff Blue ribbon. For the male attendants, maybe a black suit, white shirt & black or Tiff Blue tie? I don't want them to look just like our Groomsmen. The male attendants will also have a white corsage, like the ladies

I also thought about something old school, preppy like with gray & white argyle sweater vests or dark gray solid cardigans. Give them monogrammed lapel pins/brooches in either pearl, rhinestone or silver (in our initials) to wear instead of corsage.

I have been putting so much emphasis into my aqua/tiffany blue hue(s) that I forgot that I was also incorporating steel/gunmetal gray! I really haven't been successful (nor has my wedding party) in finding a deep, rich gray dress for them. It dosen't have to be gray....and it dosen't have to be tiffany blue. To be honest, I don't know which color we're going to narrow it down to for their dress until they try them on & decide what they're most comfy in. I have given them 5 designers/stores to look into , who happen to carry the colors & just make a note of what they like. We're also leaning toward mettalic shoes for them..something in the deep gray zone. If anyone sees anything that is a good catch, please contact me!

Thx :)

Blue Sky Designs has a truly cute wedding book in a Word Doct that some of you may be interested in. I, of course willl have to edit a few things here & there :), but the booklet in general is very helpful. It has several pages to keep kids at the reception slightly entertained for a brief moment. I plan to send these to my Ring Bearers & Flower Girl in their little mini suitcases (see previous post). You just print it out on cardstock. Who can complain for a free project? Site is below.

So, I was just thinking about my Fiance's ring (have not purchased yet), and I got to thinking about a tattooed band. Not necessarily thinking of doing it, but just the idea of getting one in general. We have never really discussed it, & I know I will be getting him an actual ring, most likely with something personalized on the inner part.

I was curious though, to know whether any of you brides (and H2B) may be considering (or already have) a tattooed band. Maybe even to have between the two of you to have underneath your actual wedding band(s). It may be a date of significance, your initials, a personal message, etc.. Would you do it?

I came across these Tiffany themed shower ideas and got a little excited. I'm not really following a "theme", just a wide ranged style that compliments my FI & I. The menu card style is yummy, & the cake with the diamond is so stylish & fun. All this time I've been looking forward to my asian inspired shower, but I may have to mix it up a little!! Possibly red roses here & there for my pop of red.

Some of the photos need to be double clicked to see the full pic.

I'm in search for something white or deep gray to wear to our rehearsal dinner with some unique accessories. I like the design & colors included in this necklace. Not sure if this is a keeper, but I thought I'd share.

It's already been decided that with help, I will be making our invitations. I really look forward to it. Rather than completely knowing what I DO want, I moreso know what I DON'T want. I figured I'd just know the ones when I saw them. Well....these come pretty close!!! I mean Extremely. I love the rich, beautiful fabric (I would keep it in gray), I LOVE the ribbon, which would be in Tiffany Blue, and I LOVE the brooch closure. Plus, my FI & I already agreed upon having pocket fold invites.

The vendor who designs these are expensive, & I know that with the cost of all these materials, this can be a costly project even if I am DIM, but I'm willing to take on the risk of seeing exactly what I can get in bulk for cheap to make these divine designs!

I apologize for not thinking about taking down the site that I stumbled upon, but I basically came across these 2 inspiration boards...1 of them for a Breakfast at Tiffany's style, & the other for a Fashion Sexy style. Click on the image to see better. I love the cake on the Tiffany board.

So if I get something from another bride, I totally feel the need to give credit where credit is due. I sure wish I could say I was original enough to come up with this pic first, but I saw it on another bidal blog spot. It tickled me, so I thought I'd share it with you lovely ladies. I hope it lifts any heavy spirits out there. Happy planning!

No offense intended...

**Double Click image for clearer view**

What in the world have I started?!!! I just finished completing my next newsletter (of course with the professional boost from Marta) :). This newsletter is actually created for my Maid of Honor & Matron of Honor. My sister is our Matron of Honor, and she is in town, however, our schedules conflict alot, & I knew a newsletter would help eliminate lots of questions. My best friend, who is 9 hours away DEFINITELY needs this, so that we stay on the same page. Because my mom is the keepsake Queen, & Lleweyn's mom is the 411 Queen, I will be sending a copy for them as well (also a few other close friends).

Take a look, and I hope you enjoy. Just double click the image a wait a few seconds to better see image. I am still working on the sizing of one of the photos on the first page.

I saw these adorable vintage style mini suitcases (they come in a few different sizes & colors) at a very reasonable price at www.paper-source.com. I will be using these to hold a sepcial gift(s) for my 2 ring bearers (twins) & flower girl. It's so exciting that they actually have our wedding colors! I will personalize these myself.

In my 2/21 blog, I mentioned that I am having an Asian inspired Bridal Shower. I had been wanting to order some fans for my guests, but when Marta mentioned the tiff blue fans on sale, I missed the deadline for the sale!

I located some fans actually to go more along with the gray in our wedding, & rather than giving them as favors, they will serve two fold as place cards as well. I love the vintage chic look, so these have some lace detail that fits that model. Unfortunately, they're not on sale...yet. :)

I love this DIY project. It's simple, but has lot's of character. I thought I wanted to line the aisle with these, but I'm going to use glass vases with pillar candles instead, to keep the more elegant feel. The front of our reception hall is bare, so these will be perfect lining the sidewalk. Plus, this wil be the perfect place to mix fun with chic. It is perfect simple scenery for our evening wedding celebration. We'll weight them down inside to keep from blowing over.

I said I wasn't gonna do it, but I'm getting excited about it! Look closely or click on the photo to better see the 2nd pic. It is a rectangle card with damask on the side for chair tags.

I might make something like this for Bride & Groom, aka US at the reception, but I don't plan to make them for everyone (that's what the placecards are for)! I will, however, place them at the ceremony for our parents & such. Love it!

A few monograms that H2B & I like. Courtesy of Delovely Designs. The designer there is extremely sweet, very creative & reasonably priced. We're making progress!!!

I have only worn artificial lashes once in my life, but I loved them! I was inspired by a friend of mine who wears them often, but she insisted that I didn't "need" any. I tried it out just for fun, & they looked HOT! It wasn't obvious, but people looked at me like they were mesmerized...haha LOL. Or, maybe they were just disgusted.:) Either way, I do plan on having the individual ones again for our special day. I was wondering if any of you have ever used the MAC brand? I hear they look great, & also there is also an over the counter brand for $3 to $5 called Ardell Lashes (also recommended). Anybody else planning to add lashes, or getting eyelash extensions (not to be confused with regular bonding of lashes)? I hear the extensions last a good while, but risk pulling your actual lashes out...I don't know... I'm open to lotz of options! BTW...#3 would be the look I am going for....just to accentuate, not go overboard.

The sketch is part of Amy Kuschel's "Clever Couture" wedding line. It is the "Blossom" Lace Jacket. I am having a very hard time locating it!

The actual photo attached is a Knot bride, and I love the look with my gown. I too will be wearing a sash (in Tiff Blue), with a crystal brooch. I will have the jacket on for either the ceremony, or the reception, most likey not for both. If you find this jacket, please contact me!

P.S. The jacket does not have to be of the Amy Kuschel line, especially the price! I moreso just want to find this style.

**UPDATE** 4/16/08 I located a boutique here in Charlotte who makes these jackets. Of course, it can be pricey, depending on the type of material. Ironically , the seamstress will charge about what I found to be low online. It is an option, but if I can get the lace material for a good price, I will contact a friend who sews & go with that option.

Thanks!!

Not much to do with wedding business, but I was just curious as to what some of your nicknames are for your H2B's, or what he calls you. :)

Me & my FI have a pathetic running list of names...it's just a hot mess! But what I call him on a regular basis, since the month we began dating, is 'Smoochieface'. He calls me Baby Girl during decent times, & 'FooFee' on most other times. He also calls me many,many different animals. Don't ask...lol.

I will have a spanish style veil already for the cermony & a bird cage style for the reception. I don't plan to wear one of these bridal headbands, but I sure do think they & the flowers are gorgeous. I do plan to have a crystal comb or a flower in the lower back portion of my sleek updo.

I am still in between cakes & cupcakes for our wedding. H2B is indifferent, so I have full reigns on this decision! We will most likely go with 1 or 2 small cakes (1 for us to cut & share with wedding party, & then 1 to save), & then have a square shaped cupcake tier for the cupcakes. That way, we can get the best of both worlds.

With all that being said, I have fallen in love with the whimsical, clean look of these calligraphy cakes. We plan on having one scripture verse iced on one of our cakes anyway, so to have something like this & damask or flourish just makes it even more complete.

This post is highly geared towards the Pool, Aqua & Tiffany Blue Brides, but is also for everyone else who may have also ran across in your random searching for your Grooms:

Has anyone seen or know where I can find Aqua Blue, Polka Dot neckties? I've been searching, but am having a difficult time. I'm looking for aqua with white dots, or with gray dots.

I appreciate your help!

Okay, so I completely have no business whatsoever even peeking at decorative or personalized stamps for the wedding, due to my budget. HOWEVER, a woman can still look..can't she?!

I have been on zazzle.com in the past, but stopped back by today, just to peek. The stamps are sold in sheets of 20 for $16.95. It would be in my budget if we were inviting 20! We have a guest list of 160. But anyway, I love the look of them, & you just never know. One alternative that I will most likely do is use my Damask rubber stamp (photo in previous blog) & put a nice aqua or gray stamp on the corner of the envelope...just to give our personal touch. Looks like I'll be getting the good ol' USPS stamps. Gotta love em.

This may not be a big deal on a wedding planning list, but to me it really is in the details. I am one who HATES using public restrooms to the point that I will go out of my way to get home (in most cases)!!!

I really want my guests to feel comfortable all around, including when they go to refresh themselves, so by going to purchase a few inexpensive items, I think it may help a long way. We will do mostly white & steel gray in the restrooms, with accents of aqua blue, & a slim vase with white gardenias. I read somewhere that white evokes comfort, which is I guess why you see it predominantly in spas & such.

We will have a silver bath tray with different items in it for our guests. Inexpensive liquid soap will be put in liquid hand dispensers with the pump. And, I found some faux linen white damask hand towels (disposable) that will add a nice subtle touch. Air fresheners will definitely be on hand. Here are some items we'll have displayed:

Ladies Room-

* An extra pair of nude pantyhose! A size larger than average to accommodate the widest variety of sizes.
* Tylenol and aspirin. Make sure to have a non-aspirin option available for those that can’t take aspirin. Small travel bottles or individual packets should be plenty.
* Tampons and maxi pads
* Hair spray
* Travel sewing kit
* Safety pins in a variety of sizes. (I had to use these to hold a bridesmaid’s top together at a reception after it split up the seam!)
* Bobby pins
* Static Guard tote size
* Shout Wipes or Tide To Go stain pen
* Deodorant Spray
* Imodium A-D
* Tums or another antacid
* Breath mints
* Floss
* Contact lens solution
* Manicure set
* Clear fingernail polish
* Tissues in a pocket pack
* Cough drops

Men's Room will have everything the Ladies have, minus the feminine products & pantyhose!

Okay. I posted a blog earlier wondering about the Jones Pops, mainly out of curiousty of the taste. As I mentioned, my FI & I are considering doing a signature drink, but after thinking more about it, we'll have a coffee bar set up,so there is a way to utilize what we'll already have on hand & create a signature coffee out of that!

I do realize that everyone is not a coffee drinker, just like everyone dosen't drink soft drinks or alcohol, but there will be lots of Starbucks fans in the house, so I think we'll be okay. I'm excited about this, because it's not often you hear about a signature coffee drink for the bride & groom. Plus we're having an evening wedding & this could be useful during & after dinner with dessert. Not sure if our signature drink will be a cold or hot mix yet. The bar will have a variety of hot beverages, including teas, cocoas, coffees, etc.,plus all the fixins.

Here are 2 recipes I saw that sound pretty good:

Angelic Coffee Cocktail

4 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoon light brown sugar
2 cup 1% milk
2 cups Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend, brewed hot and strong
8 tablespoons brandy (optional)
2 tablespoon finely grated dark chocolate

1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 cup coffee
Ground cinnamon
Sweetened chocolate powder
Grated orange peel (optional)
Top with whipped cream (optional)

I love my wedding colors, and I'm sure that each of you feel the same about yours (rightfully so)! Before locking in, I knew I wanted steel gray incorporated but I have to admit I had toggled back & forth with color choices before I finally had the sigh of relief.

Just wondering...as you look at all the lovely colors, inspirations, patterns, what other color/style would you choose if you had more than one wedding (not considering changing husbands & money being of no concern)??

The cute drinks are located at the Jones Pops website. They run pretty high for online orders. Just wondering if it's worth the money?

Initially I just wanted orchids, but felt like something might be missing. I still love my orchids, not matter how many times I see them in weddings.....they still look unique to me.

But then of course, when I turn my back, these yummy white hydrangeas jump out....in a subtle way. I love the soft, fluffy look to them. Almost like wedding pom poms! I still plan to keep my original style of bouquet & flower garland, & even centerpieces...but now I am incorporating white hydrangeas & these very pretty white gardenias (used sparingly due to rich fragrance). It just looks so fresh to me. And the crystal embellishments will provide just enough bling.

I have been wanting to incorporate photos into our reception, but didn't really want the ordinary display. I guess this does have a traditional look though ..lol.

We're going to just copy some of our photos from childhood to engagement phase (even some back in the day photos of our families) into either sepia or black & white hues. They will be placed inside steel gray frames & hung with aqua ribbon. We won't do enough to cover an entire wall, but enough to be a focal point. ...about 10-15 photos. Not sure if it will be over place cards, like pictured here. The plan was to have a crystal tree at this table (see earlier blog) or the wedding graffitti above, but I think we'll simplify & do the wedding graffitti on the floor, & on the doors to the reception venue. I said all that to say...I don't know where the pictures will be hung (yet).

Thanks to a Bride (scheri) stopping by here today, I found out about www.ayleedesigns.com. They have some really beautiful monogram styles to choose from and are moderately priced. I have been trying to do the design on my own, but it is to no avail. Iam now trying to narrow my choices.

I want one without date, and maybe one with the date. And then maybe another one without our joined last initial for some of the pre wedding mailouts.

I am drawing a complete blank when it comes to how I really want our cake table to look. I keep coming back to table runners, so I am trying to figure out a way to incorporate them. We will probably have a runner on the cake table, as well as the head table. As far as the Monogram applique' goes, we will do that ourselves because it can tend to be pricey to have customized. I know there will be some votives at the table, but hopefully I'll see the "It" factor very soon. A damask tiff/aqua blue runner is definitely an option with our gray or red monogram (similar to runner in early March post). If that's the case, a damask tower won't be done, for the sake of not over doing it.

If you look at the cakes/cupcakes we're considering (especially if we use a damask cupcake tier), I think that in itself will be enough to complete the table. Anyone else doing a runner?

Okay, so just when I thought I was finished feeding my damask fetish, up pops another idea! This is something different that I really haven't seen. It is outdoor wallpaper, or wall art that you put wherever you'd like. Being that our wedding is at a rented, public facility, we know we can't go crazy with it, but basically..I will have the damask wall hangings displayed in the reception lounge area (will only do one accent wall to keep from overdoing it), which will most likey be on the outdoor patio off the water.

I found this on the Susan Bradley site, which is a little too expensive for my liking. So...a good trip to Home Depot & Hobby Lobby will most likely do the trick for the DIY approach! I probably wont experiment for another month or so, but I'll be sure to post when I do.

There are about 10-12 people (excluding the Bridal Party/Groomsmen) who are helping with wedding set up and other details (Greeters, Ushers, decor, etc). I have been looking for some type of gift for them to provide at our Rehearsal Dinner. I really am loving the rhinestone luggage tags, & also the jewelry rolls to keep jewelry well kept. The jewelry rolls will be moreso for my friend who is helping with the planning & directing, & for another close friend helping out.

Now I need to find a more masculine gift for the guys involved.

Since budget is of the essence, something like this sits dead last on my list, but I sure thought these little aprons were cute! I love to cook & bake & my H2B loves to grill. I think he'd rather see me in the apron, than wear one himself! :)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Bridal Party, which consist of 1 Maid of Honor & 1 Matron of Honor. They both are my BFF's & have been there through thick & thin. My sister, aka Matron of honor already lives in the same city as me, but my Maid of Honor lives in Missouri.

I was talking with my Maid of Honor (whom I haven't seen in 4 years) the other night, & she wants to come down here, to North Carolina to spend some time for a few days this summer. I want to do something very special for her & my sister because it really is not often that we get to see each other all at the same time.

I saw these cute cookies that I thought about having personalized for them. I am also thinking about doing a spa day for the 3 of us (thank goodness it's only a couple of girls!!) with massages & mani/pedis. Do you all have any other suggestions or fun things you're doing with/for your Bridesmaids?