Years ago, I saw a wedding featured on television where the bride had an art background and used paper as a primary element in her work. So, when planning her wedding, she decided to incorporate her love of paper throughout the ceremony. From her bouquet, to the centerpieces, to decor, she had everything festooned with her paper creations. It was amazing and I thought, “That’s something I would love to have!”

Well, flash forward to me making handmade Japanese paddle fan programs for a friend’s wedding that reduced me to tears in the process and left me with permanent scars on my hands and my DIY dream went out the door! (Although, the programs did turn out beautifully if I do say so myself.) Fortunately, there are talented people like Chantal of Dragonfly Expression to help with such a handmade vision without the DIY disasters.

With customized styles and colors, there’s almost no end to the options that Chantal could create for a paper-laden scheme. From place card holders to table numbers, centerpieces to bridal bouquets, you can have a complete scheme tailored to your paper-loving specifications. No tissues or band-aids required!

As I sit at my desk, fingerless-gloved hands clutching a hot cup of tea, I just can’t get over that it is still winter. Hasn’t it be winter forever? I’m tired of layering and waterproof boots (but seriously, how cute are Hunter boots?). I want sun. I want cocktails. I want a few lazy, do-nothing days that aren’t ruined by unexpected errands and rainy weather. Don’t you?

Wyndham Resorts is giving away a vacation that is the perfect for what ails us. Just imagine: 7 blessed days in Daytona Beach, floating down the hotel’s lazy river and laughing at all the cold people back home (you know you would). The Wyndham Ocean Walk resort is right next door to a variety of restaurants and fun shopping in the event that you actually want to leave their gorgeous pools.

To enter, click here.

Kelsey and Jeff’s shoot is the perfect example of a wintertime engagement session: cozy, just ever-so-slightly moody, and very relaxed. Ashley Dru took them around Goshen, Indiana for a little small town charm (it is also where Kelsey and Jeff met). An added bonus: the park you see at the end of the session is where they went on their first date. Adorable!

Married life is different than single life.

…There might be a few of you out there wondering if it has truly taken me seven months (and three days. Not that I’m keeping track or anything.) to realize this. Don’t worry, it hasn’t!

There’s also the whole “I’m writing, not talking, and you probably can’t entirely decipher my tone of voice” thing going on right now – and just to clarify, that whole first sentence should probably be surrounded by smiley faces and exclamation points. Because the ways in which married life is different from single life are just. That. Wonderful.

The reason this is all coming up now is that Shayne and I have been met with some pretty potentially life-changing opportunities in the past several weeks: namely in the form of some new and exciting job offers! Which is exciting and challenging and definitely meant that the two of us have spent some quality time at our dinner table over the past week with our heads together, writing ever-growing lists of pros and cons. It also meant that we were motivated to really discuss some important things – like what is important to us as people, where we are in our lives, and where we want to be in the future (I picked a beach in Hawaii, by the way. Shayne didn’t seem to think I was serious.).

It struck me though, as we looked at our options and read through our lists, that this process and this particular decision would have looked a ton different if it had just been me making them. If I’d been a single gal, with two roads in front of me and no “wrong” choice to make, who knows what the outcome might have been?

But I’m not, and the fact that I’m married (that we’re married) struck a whole new chord when I realized that instead of this decision being about me and my wants and needs, it got to be about us. What decision best supports who we are? Which choice takes us where we want to be in one year? Five years? Ten years? What will provide us with factors X, Y and Z and what will give us A, B, C?

Being a we in this situation was incredible. This was probably the first real, big, life decision that Shayne and I have made together and it was almost exhilarating (although, like most of the large decisions I’ve come across, certainly difficult!) getting to take a step towards what we want, together, from our lives. No more “just me” for this girl, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

And, you know what? Together, I think we made the right choice.

So you’re engaged! Now what? Celebrate your future with family and friends at your Green Engagement Event! Find unique and beautiful vintage champagne flutes from local shops and tag sales. Fill them with some lovely bubbly and toast to your love with organic champagne or crisp prosecco poured over ice or homemade fruit pops!

Keep your décor simple and seasonal. Use local fresh fruit and flowers to create effortlessly elegant tablescapes. Any forgotten books in your home?

Hollow them out and place a plant inside! This unique effect creates a whimsical pot and adds a touch of natural beauty to any room or tablescape.

If you are planning a brunch celebration, make bite-sized French toast and croque monsieurs to cut back on waste. Take reducing waste a step further by sending your invitations to guests on personalized tea bags that they can enjoy later!

When Laurel McConnell sent me this wedding, I practically squealed when I saw the details. From the bobblehead cake toppers to the fun wedding favors, I was hooked. Kristen and Jason are originally from Seattle, but recently moved to London, so this wedding is infused with not only beautiful Northwest elements, but also plenty of British accents to celebrate their new UK life. What a perfect way to start the week!

I’d love to hear about your vision for the day…

I wanted the day to be fun for everyone involved and was looking for a down to earth but classy wedding that incorporated our personalities. We are both Seattle natives but are living in London so we wanted to make sure there was a little bit of London incorporated into the wedding. We hired a London taxi to take me to the ceremony and for the party favours we gave velum envelopes with scratch tickets and a 2 pence coin to scratch them. I stamped a crown and wrote on all of the party favours – For richer or poorer… Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone won anything except my cousin from Belfast who went around the reception and asked everyone if she could have their coin as she could bring them home and spend them! We also had a few traditional aspects including the cake knife which has been in my family for over 100 years, my grandmother’s handkerchief that was wrapped around my bouquet and an antique English coin tucked into my dress from a friend in England.

Did your wedding location hold a specific significance to you?

We both love the mountains and the water and wanted a venue with a view of both. I am in marketing and do a lot of events in hotel ballrooms so I definitely didn’t want that. We looked at a lot of loft options in Seattle and one day on a bike ride we ended up at Golden Gardens and knew we found our dream location. The only challenge was that they only released the venue one year ahead of time and it was on a first come, first serve basis so I made my fiancé camp outside the Seattle Parks and Recreation offices on the day the dates in August were released so we could get the day we wanted. We arrived at 2am and slept on the sidewalk until the office opened at 8am. We were the first in line and got the date we wanted!

What was the most meaningful part of your day?

Having our family and friends in one place, together!

Did anything funny or out of the ordinary happen?

My cousins were sailing up from San Francisco and unfortunately had engine problems so they didn’t make it for the wedding but they tracked the whole thing through the Facebook updates from the guests – practically in real time!

Tell us details of the events surrounding the wedding.

We had a great rehearsal dinner and the day after the wedding we had a picnic in the park for a more casual and relaxed get together for our family and friends from out of town. Jason had two bachelor parties – one in Vegas and a Buck’s night in England. I had three bachelorette parties – one in Seattle, one in Warsaw, Poland and a Hen’s night in London.

How did you know your partner was “the one”?

The first time we went out (10+ years before we got married) I don’t think either of us would have ever thought we would eventually get married. After the first date, we went our separate ways but have a lot of mutual friends and our paths crossed again several years later. We began dating and I knew he was the one when I realised he had become my best friend and we really complemented each other.

Any advice you’d give new brides who are just getting started?

I have the same advise as I received. Enjoy the day because it goes too fast and plan a wedding that will make you happy, not everyone else (except your fiancé of course).

Vendors:

Photographer: Laurel McConnell Photography
Event Planner:  Very Important Events
Hair Stylist:  Salon Maison
Caterer:  City Catering Company
Floral Designer:  Bella Rugosa
Reception Venue:  Golden Gardens Park Bathhouse
Dress Store:  A Princess Bride
Dress Designer:  Pronovias of Barcelona
DJ:  Wave Link Music, Inc.
Jewelry:  Foxfire Jewelers
Groom’s Attire:  Joseph A Banks
Groomsmen’s Attire: Joseph A Banks
Bridesmaid’s Attire: David’s Bridal
Bakery:  Hoffman’s Fine Cakes and Pastries
Taxi: British Motor Coach

Let’s face it, picking out the bridesmaid dresses can be some pretty treacherous territory. (Honestly, my sister should have thought to ask for assistance when she got married. Not good. Poor girls.) And, you give one quick Google search for bad bridesmaid dresses? Well, let’s hope that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Fortunately, there are plenty of beautiful options around to avoid severing any friendships or family ties. So as we head into the weekend, here’s a small sampling of some lovely offerings that may help you in dreaming up your perfect bridesmaid look while avoiding any nightmarish moments.

Ivy & Aster

Amsale

J.Crew

BHLDN

Megan and Justin’s wedding is full of DIY details completed by their great family and friends. Megan chose a netutral (taupe) for her bridesmaid dresses and then added pops of orange, including her very cute shoes. Thank you to Katherine Salvatori for sending us this very sweet wedding. Happy Friday! 

Vendors:

Photography: Katherine Salvatori Photography

Invitations: Magnet Street

Venue: Upland Community Church

Tiny Succulent Favors

These tiny favors are darling as little favors! They cost around 1.00 each.

Supplies:

succulent starts

scissors

brown paper

string

tags

pen

container to display them in

Steps:

1. Cut the plastic pots so each succulent is separate (keep it in its own plastic pot).

2. Cut the paper about 5″ by 10 ”

3. Wrap the paper around the pot (you can line with plastic if you want to but succulents are fine left dry for several days).

4. Tie with string and add a tag with the guest’s name.

Buy it:

Any of the florists or wedding planners in the mywedding.com directory can help you!

Erin and Jamie will be getting married this summer in Cape Cod, but for their e-session they took Allison Maginn to Manhattan Beach, CA. This couple is so freaking cute, I can’t even stand it. And I am pretty sure that I need Erin’s red flats in my closet as soon as possible!