The Keepsake Box: Heirlooms or Clutter?

I admit that I am biased and think that keepsake boxes are such a great wedding idea.  My cousin got me a keepsake box as a wedding gift, and when I realized what I could do with it I was thrilled- and touched!  And I hadn’t even thought about wanting one.  You have to get up pretty early in the morning to think of a wedding topic I haven’t thought of, but my cuzzie definitely did!

 

You can even get cute ones from Walmart!

Mine looks somewhat like this one above (but it isn’t wall mounted, and mine is cuter, hehe).  It is black (like our other picture frames) and has a hinged lid with a collage picture frame in it, and the inside is solid wood.  I love it so much and used sepia colored wedding photos to fill the collage on the box top.  Inside, I saved a copy of every paper element from our wedding (our save the date, invitation, rehearsal invitation, menus, favors, OOT bag welcome letters, escort cards, wedding program) along with J.’s boutonniere, my garter, the cards we gave each other on the wedding day, and a few special cards from family.  It’s the perfect way to store memories- a kind of time capsule that now sits on an end-table shelf in our living room.  Close by but clean.  I adore it!

Another photo box done well on Etsy!

From The Memory Keepers on Etsy!

Etched wood, also on Etsy!

 

How would (or how do) you preserve wedding keepsakes?

 

Cupcakes Wrappers You Can Actually Afford

I like to think that cupcakes have magical powers to make someone’s day a little better.  Whenever J. brings me home a french toast cupcake from our local cupcakery, it makes me a happy, happy wifey.

So when I saw these adorable laser cut wrappers from NY Cake, I was utterly smitten.  Just look!  Does this make you want to eat cupcakes, make cupcakes, and serve cupcakes at every wedding from now until forever?!  (Click on images for their tasty sources!)

Picket Fence Cupcake Wrapper

Ivy Vine Ivory Cupcake Wrapper

Black & White Polka Dots

Shades of Strawberry Pink Cupcake Wraps

Just one problem (or, as I prefer to say, challenge)… this are kind of pricey for a non-essential wedding item.  What’s a girl-on-a-budget to do?  Hit up some DIY cupcake wrapper tutorials, of course!

Click this image for Offbeat Bride's super-easy tutorial

Or for lace versions, check out the Weddingbee tutorial from jen and jakes wedding!

I’m definitely whipping these out for my next cupcake recipe!  Don’t you just love them?!

Some Fairy Dust to Sprinkle in Your Bath

Recently, my mother-in-law and I came up with a shower favor that, in my very-biased opinion, is awesome.  You may recall the Once Upon a Time invitations I shared a few weeks ago… well, we decided that “fairy dust” bath salts would be an adorable favor to thank all the guests for coming.  So of course, I had to share them with you because I think these could be used for weddings or bridal showers just as easily!

Our bath salt favors in action (and yes, I took that photo!)

These were so simple to make!  First, we took a few drops of scented oil (we found Philosophy Amazing Grace fragrance oil at Save-On Crafts) and mixed them with equal parts epsom and sea salts.  Once we liked the level of fragrance, the salts were funneled into jars.  We got ours from the local craft store, but Save-On is a great resource for jars too!

Once the salts were in their jars, we added little hang tags.  The above tags were from madebyjackie on etsy, and were super affordable, but you could make stickers or tags at home too.  I love how easy it is to personalize these little dudes, and they look so cute on a table too!  If you are related to me, there’s a good chance you’ll be getting bath salts for your birthday, just FYI!!

Do you have any DIY favor tips?

Big Apple Welcome Bags

Who says wedding planning isn’t a transferable skill?  I recently became e-pals with Lauren, a fellow wedding lover, who took the OOT bag idea and made it her own!  Lauren recently relocated to one of the burbs near me (love when that happens) and just like any other NY newbie, had some friends come to visit and enjoy the city!  Lauren, ever the resourceful hostess, put together these adorable bags (made on Vista Print of course) full of city-goodies, featuring starbucks gift cards, bottled water and snacks, a lottery ticket, shout wipes, and circus peanuts.  Adorable, no?  Her friends loved them too!  Lauren saved money by using coupons for everything- and for more info on that, you absolutely need to read her blog, she’s quite the bargainista!   In fact, she did these bags for the ridiculously reasonable price of $15- but $6 was for the bag and $5 for the gift card, so you can see how easy it would be to keep this project affordable- maybe as a bridesmaids gift, if not for every OOT guest.

And I admit these may not technically have been for a wedding, but they would just be so perfect for big apple nuptials- and could easily be changed for other locations.  For example, in NJ maybe you add saltwater taffy.  Or maybe in Ohio you throw in some chocolate buckeyes.  Maybe add a local map, a coupon book, a subway card… so many directions you could take it.  I love them!   For more information on how she did them, definitely check out Lauren’s blog!!

Phara and Jeff’s Sophisticated Outdoor Engagements

It’s not every couple who can pull off looking both ultra cool and incredibly in love at the same time.  And yet between the sunglasses, the shoes, and the obvious affection they have for each other, Phara and Jeff do so effortlessly.  Of course, that is probably because they are ultra cool and incredibly in love in real life too!  J. and I got to celebrate Phara and Jeff’s wedding with them recently, and we are so HAPPY for this wonderful couple!  These are their engagement photos, which were taken in Central Park.  I love how their photographer captured so much of their essence, and yet so simply (and yes, photo credit to come- as soon as Phara returns from her honeymoon!)

Congratulations Phara and Jeff!!

Offbeat Ties

Choosing groom’s and groomsmen’s attire can be even harder than choosing the bride’s.  For some reason, I can distinguish between 8 million white dresses, but rental tuxedos all look the same to me.  Some couples get around this by looking into suits or switching out accessories.  But another way to personalize the groom’s look that I am really drawn to right now, is a great, custom tie.  And Etsy is just the place to find them.  Check out this goodness, and keep in mind, if you don’t see what you want, many of these sellers will do even more custom work with you!

Which ties do you love?

Filed under attire, budget-friendly, groomsmen | Comment (1)

And the Band Played!

Well, it took me a while but I’m finally here- my last recap post!  In some ways it’s sad (I was sad to see the day end; and it’s sad that it’s taken me so long to finish my recaps!) but every time I look at these photos it’s impossible not to smile!  We front-loaded our reception with all the traditions so really, from the beginning of dinner we were all dancing.   And that was SUCH a good idea!  We danced before the food came out, between courses, and of course, after dinner.  I don’t think I will have to convince you how much fun it was (all images from Jessica Morrisy of course)!  But advance apologies for the picture-heavy post.  What can I say, last but not least!!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!; These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (from the reception); Getting This Party Started; Here’s to Eternity!; Priorities: Cake!

Rielly and Sean’s Rustic, Romatic Engagement Shoot

Today I’m super psyched to be able to feature the kind of photos that simply make me melt every time I look at them.  These photos were taken by Sanderson Images for my friends Rielly and Sean out in western NJ (near Bucks County, PA) and really, you don’t need to be told much more than that.  They speak for themselves!  Of course, it helps that it had rained that day, which made the greenery ultra vibrant, and the sky indulgently moody.  I think we now know why rain is considered good luck on one’s wedding day.  And what’s even more awesome, is that these two are tying the knot THIS WEEKEND and I get to be a bridesmaid!  Remember the Paper Porn from a few weeks ago?   Yep, no surprise, that’s their wedding!  I can’t wait to feature more!  Congrats to Rielly and Sean!

Pillowcase Dresses!!!!!

I know, five exclamation points is a bit much but it’s hard not to write with so many when I see pillowcase dresses.  These are a recent discovery of mine, one that has turned into a full-fledged obsession.  There is something so lightweight and airy and comfy and kid-appropriate about a pillowcase dress.  They are inexpensive to make, can be made with recycled or vintage materials, and can be totally customized to match a wedding.  I think they’re the ideal flower girl dress, and I also love that they’re re-wearable.  If only I was 28 years younger.  If you don’t like these, you have no soul.  I mean it, I am in love.  Or maybe I just need to get knocked up.  But that’s another blog post for another day…

Even if you’re not a seamstress yourself, you can score adorable pillowcase dresses on etsy.  Take a look at what my own quick research revealed (all images link to their source)!

KayKape's version ($19.99)

Crisp in blue from TheUptownBaby ($25)

From Main Street Bowtique ($40)

Hummingbirds from CreativeBee706 ($20.99)

Also from Main Street Bowtique ($54)

Girlie Bow's Damask adorableness ($20)

Priorities: Cake!

At this point in my recaps I’m going to skip around a bit, because after the toasts, we ate dinner but of course, there was lots of dancing between courses!  And after some of that dancing it was time for cake- and then more dancing of course!  Our wedding cake was so special to me… and seeing it all made to our specifications really made me smile!  There were three layers- the one J. chose (white cake with chocolate ganache and cannoli cream), the one I chose (red velvet and cream cheese frosting) and the top (chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and cannoli cream- J.’s ultimate).  Sadly, I never got to taste my red velvet… the staff brought me the white cake, and I barely ate any because I wanted to dance, so I didn’t ask for the red velvet.  But what little cake I did eat was SO good!  Le Petit Gateau did a great job with it!

And remember those cake toppers from my childhood Easter basket?  They didn’t actually end up on top of the cake, but rather, on a lower tier.  I’m not sure if it was on purpose or because the bakery didn’t realize I had a topper- but I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the placement, it looked great!

The actual cutting of the cake was all pomp and circumstance… the maitre’d kept making us do cheesy things while we tried not to roll our eyes.  Our focus was all cake- and when we finally got to taste it, it was delicious!  I know that eating one-year old frozen cake is a little bit of an odd custom, but I have to say, I’m looking forward to eating it again on our anniversary!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!; These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (from the reception); Getting This Party Started; Here’s to Eternity!