Friday, February 25, 2011

My Best Friend's Wedding



Back in December, my older sister, Katie, got hitched. I've been holding out on you, and I know you're dying to see the goods! All photographs are courtesy of Mike Lewis, a fantastic photographer located in the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex.


Katie had always talked about having a December wedding. Our church, First United Methodist Church of Ft. Worth has always been beyond beautiful during the holiday season, and as a child Katie thought there was no place more lovely to get married than in the sanctuary during Christmas.  When we went dress shopping, a dress was absolutely a NO if it didn't work with her gorgeous white faux-fur stole and right off the bat we knew her colors would be red, gold, and green.












Mike had a perfect idea for Katie's wedding gift to Chase. Minutes before the wedding, he received a framed photo from Katie's bridal portraits, that left him still completely clueless to what she would look like as a bride.










Our mother's dress was custom made by Moe at The Bridal Showroom in Oklahoma City. Looking for a MOB dress can be a nightmare, her dress ended up being exactly what she was looking for.









All florals and centerpieces were created by Out of the Garden in Grapevine, Tx. Tucked into the bride's bouquet was lace from her maternal grandmother's wedding gown and a vintage brooch.
The reception was held at The Ashton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. They were incredibly accommodating and created an unforgettable memory.

Their first dance was to "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."


Since we were kids, we've always danced around the living room or kitchen to "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Katie and my dad decided there wasn't a better song for their father daughter dance. There wasn't a dry eye in the house!


With such rigorous dance moves, her bustle broke. Always, always, always have safety pins on hand!!
Chase's dance with his mother was cut short...
For a Louisiana "Second Line" led by the bride, groom, and mother of the groom to "When the Saints Go Marching In" You don't know fun until you've second lined!




Maids of Honor.. Practice your toast. You're bound to get weepy and nervous and forget the whole thing, like I did!
On the Way, a band out of Dallas entertained the wedding party and guests for the rest of the night. We really know how to party!



Never underestimate the cuteness of a ring bearer.


Thursday, February 24, 2011

Bad News

Bad news, blog friends! I had a huge computer crash, and lost all of my data.

I'll be back and posting soon, I have some really fun things I can't wait to share! 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Drive By Post

I'm watching the Grammy's as I type, so I don't have time for a full fledged post. I was browsing my favorite website, Mod Cloth, drooling over their dresses, and I found this gorgeous gown that I had to put on here. Perfect for a small wedding or rehearsal dinner, no?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Countdown to Valentine's Day

I can't wait until Valentine's Day-- though probably not for the same reasons you're thinking (although I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my main squeeze.. :-P) What I can't wait for is the unveiling of BHLDN.

Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters teamed up together for a line of wedding gowns and you can view them starting February 14th.

These won't be your typical Maggie Sottero's. They will be much more vintage inspired, with hand made detailing. The dresses will be less perfect and therefor more unique and Bohemian.

Here's a little teaser of what is to come!














Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Invitations, Invitations, Invitations!


The first glimpse your guests will have of your wedding will be the day they open up an envelope and see your invitation. It should be indicative of the level of formality of your wedding, as well as provide some idea of what the overall feel of the big day will be.

Before you even begin looking at invitations, I suggest creating your guest list. Please, keep in mind that couples and families count as one invitation. As a guideline, expect for every 100 guests to have 60 invitations. Obviously, this number can fluctuate if you are inviting several singles or large families. It is also suggested to order 20 percent more than you think you will need. As the day gets closer you could realize you forgot someone or have a few last minute invitations you want to send. It's also good to allow yourself a few mistakes.



Whether you begin on the internet, or in a stationery store, the best way to start is to just look at examples. Do you want something more traditional, whimsical, modern, or themed? Browsing in person is the best way to do it, because you can see the true colors, textures, and sizes.

Picking the invitation can be frustrating. There are so many options! Bring your fiance with you to look at the invitation books, it's a fun part of the planning for him to be involved. While looking at them, be aware that the font can change, the font color can change, and the wording can as well. You cannot change paper size, color, or decorative details. If you are very specific, it may be best to go custom. Keep in mind, while you won't know the exact postage until they are completely assembled, budget for postage as well. An oversized invitation or something with a bow or other three dimensional detail will cost more to send.



Check and double check the spelling of names, the correct addresses, and times. It is also best to be sure what your parents and his parents want to be called. While some women are content to be Mrs. John Doe, others would be outraged, so don't take the chance of offending, and get their names right!

Try to order your invitations 4-6 months before the wedding. Not only do they take time to be printed, it can also take a few weeks for them to be addressed. Do not, I repeat, do not use sticky labels for your wedding invitations! It is best to have them hand addressed. If you would like to order matching thank you notes, now is the time to do it. You can usually save money by ordering everything at once.



Be aware that if you do not list a person on the inside envelope, they are not considered to be invited. Also, be aware, plenty of guests may not appreciate this rule and you may be faced with pesky RSVPs for more than you had invited. How you choose to deal with this is up to you, but it is not considered rude to call your cousin Joe and tell him that while you would love to meet his girlfriend, unfortunately the reception hall will already be at capacity. To avoid this issue altogether, on the response card you could print it with:

We have reserved __ seats for you (you fill this part in!)
M_________________________
__ Joyfully accepts
__Sadly, must decline
__ Number attending

Please, please, please do not include your registry information ANYWHERE on your invitation or in the envelope. It's considered extremely poor taste and gift-grabby. Your guests can find about your registry through your wedding website, shower invitations, or good old fashioned word of mouth.

Once you have your invitations addressed and assembled, take one to the post office to figure out the correct postage. There is no use purchasing stamps until you know exactly how much each invitation will cost.

While sending out the invitations can be a little bit of work and slightly stressful, be sure to have fun! Have an assembling party with family or your bridesmaids. Provide wine and snacks (kept far from the precious paper) and have a good time.

Remember, these are a true expression of you, your fiance, and your wedding day, so choose something that reflects that!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Looking for Shoes?

Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I love shoes! I was that girl that pranced around my three story high school in four inch heels. So if anyone understands a bride's need for amazing shoes on her wedding day, it's me.

While reading a magazine, I came across a snippet about this website-- and I'm hooked. My Shoes is a search engine for shoes. You can browse by color, heel height, price, details, brands, and style. If you find a shoe you like, they then direct you to where on the web you can find it, what details you need to know about shipping and returns, and if there are any coupon codes available.

For those of you having trouble finding the perfect pair of 3-inch satin D'Orsay pumps, look no further.

I, for one, am going to have to put away the credit card and step away from the beautiful shoes!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Bargain Blooms

Flowers don't always have to be spendy. In fact, some blossoms have a bad rap for being cheap, even though they are still beautiful when done the right way.


Look at these carnations. Simple, feminine, and they won't break the bank.






Baby's breath is not desirable in a vase of red roses, but when you have a spray of just baby's breath it can be incredible. Perfect for a winter wedding or an outdoor and rustic affair.





Just right for summer and fall weddings, sunflowers are fun and striking, and they also come with a little price tag.





If you want something with great height and drama, gladiolus is a gorgeous bloom. When done well, they can be wonderful.