Thanksgiving already?! This means, when I return to blog land on Monday it will officially be December… and we will have exactly 23 days to get all of that Christmas shopping done. Oh dear lord! In honor of that, here are a few early Christmas ideas from my favorite online shop… Etsy!
Have a safe holiday, and good luck if you’re heading out to shop Friday morning!
Advent calendar pouches by nuvonova
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The wonderful woman who has redefined the ring pillow (into a ring bowl), has another clever creation that I thought you all should know about... In case you are reading this and are not yet engaged, this new Will You Marry Me? ring bowl would be the perfect embellishment to any Christmas engagement! It speaks volumes for you and is a beautiful keepsake. You could even re-purpose it on your big day, in lieu of a ring pillow.
A festive winter cocktail can top off any brisky wedding, because who can honestly drink a seabreeze in the dead of winter? I love those warming liqueurs on a day like today, we're practically snowed in! This cocktail comes straight out of InStyle, you can find more here, and enjoy the recipe below (but maybe, wait until afternoon)!
Ixchel Winter Cocktail
(Makes one serving)
½ oz. Xanath vanilla liquor
½ oz. Agavero tequila
½ oz. Damiana liquor
½ oz. 1921 tequila cream
2 tsp. cold espresso
1 tsp. ground coffee
1 tsp. sugar
Cinnamon stick
Mix the ground coffee with the sugar and line the rim of a glass with the mix. Pour the Xanath, Agavero and espresso into the glass. In a blender, blend the tequila cream and Damiana with ice and slowly pour this into the glass to maintain separate levels of liquids. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
I am loving the style of Grise Photography! I came across their beautifully designed site (complete with a playlist) and was enthralled in the moments Jenny has captured. I seriously cannot believe some of these shots... she has managed to portray the bouquet toss in a totally different light (I'm still laughing out loud), along with many other priceless memories from her clients.
First off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well, I'm Jenny! I am proud to call myself a professional wedding photographer, but I'm also a fiancee (getting married next May!), a stepmommy-to-be, a vegetarian, and a strong animal lover. Besides my photography, interests include crocheting, music, painting, clay sculpture, dancing, singing, jogging, traveling, good wine, vegetarian sushi, the color red and meeting new people! I'm an "Office" and "LOST" dork, too. You should know this about me. Oh, and I love 80s music.
How did you get started with wedding photography?
Ever since my first assignment in my first photography class in high school, I've been hooked. While a student at Indiana University in Bloomington, I studied studio art with an emphasis on photography. During that time, I was also working at a local bridal salon where I met the first bride I would ever photograph: Sandra! I'll never forget her or her husband, because they gave me a chance to do what I've always dreamed of doing and I've never looked back. Their wedding was July 2005.
What would you say your artistic style is, when shooting weddings?
I call it artful photojournalism. What's important to me is to capture events and emotions as they happen, when they happen. I am not at your wedding to direct, but to observe and document the natural unfolding of things. While doing this, as much as I can play--with angles, light, color, contrast, etc.--I will! It's my pride and joy to constantly challenge myself as an artist, to always look for new ways to be creative, and in doing so, create photographs that really communicate to the world who this couple is!
Do you have any photographic recommendations (do's and don'ts) for brides to keep in mind for their wedding day?
Be sure you mesh well with your photographer before your wedding day! This is the vendor you'll be spending your whole day with, so if you don't get along, it's going to be a long day. By the time the day comes, the most important thing is to relax (as much as you can!) and be yourself! I know, I know, easier said than done when you've got someone following you around with a camera all day, you're wearing an ivory silk dress and carrying flowers. But remember: You're not a "bride" or "groom", you're YOU--first and foremost. And you're marrying the person you can't imagine living without. That is what to focus on above all else.
This last week I have been exchanging emails with Travis from Parklife Press, about his amazing letterpress products. I’ve drooled over many letterpress items in my day, but have never wanted to pay the money or wait to have a huge project like this completed.
Parklife press has managed to break through from the traditional letterpress limitations (time and $$), by offering a standard turnaround time of 3 weeks along with a final cost that is about a third as much as many other letterpress studios. I really like the fact that clients work with Travis personally to create a purely custom invitation set, with the help of his antique 1904 hand-fed Chandler & Price letterpress.
Travis was also kind enough to send me a few of his favorite samples (get your own here), which were stunning. Not only did the design and typography stand out in a crowd, the actual letterpress printing was even more luscious than his photos give credit to. The imprint is not only crisp, but deeper than the Grand Canyon, and the paper, oh the paper! It’s 100% cotton paper, and is the softest style I've ever felt.
If you’re thinking about going the letterpress route, you absolutely must contact Travis for more information; this is by far my favorite letterpress studio, ever!
At my last appointment with my amazing stylist Beth, I picked up a brochure about the eyelash extensions they offer at the salon. I had never heard of the brand Novalash specifically, but had vaguely heard about the eyelash extension process. While all of the methods enhance the length and thickness of eyelashes, Novalash uses a safe, medical-grade adhesive, which is manufactured without harmful formaldehyde, unlike other brands.
I’m not sure if this is standard for most salons who offer this product, but at Indulge, you can purchase a full set for $200.00, which takes about 2 hours to apply, or you can get the mini set of 25 lashes per eye for $100.00. When cared for properly, they can last 6 to 8 weeks, and then slowly shed with your natural lashes.
This would be a great pre-wedding pampering session, as I hear it’s very relaxing. And just think, you really wouldn’t even need to wear mascara once you have a full set, which means no smeared makeup on your big day!
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Adding bits of your ethnic heritage to your wedding day is something that everyone will remember. It’s personal and usually different in a good way. These cut paper banners would be a beautiful touch to a wedding with a Mexican flare, or just to add a splash of color. These intricate paper products come from the Etsy shop of Aymujer, where sisters Yreina and Elsa Flores team up to share their culture with 100% hand made items.
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I don't know about all of you, but I love holiday stationery and gift tags. Having pretty paper and tags in my hands makes finding and wrapping gifts less of a chore!
Unity candles are a must have in most traditional wedding ceremonies, but surprisingly there isn't a wide variety of them out there. I had a hard time finding something that excited me, and since we weren't filling the alter with floral arrangements, I really wanted this to stand out.
After flipping through the latest Pottery Barn catalog I was inspired by one of their Christmas ideas, and thought it would translate well into the wedding scene (for December and January, that is). Dressing up small evergreen trees with red and white paper cranes, what a unique decor idea for your reception or ceremony!
According to the write up in the PB catalog; The crane is considered to be a sacred bird in Japan, and it is widely believed that any person who hand folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted on with.I’m not sure if these fingers could stand folding 1,000 paper cranes… but if you started today, and folded about 22 cranes every day, you could have a grand by X-mas!
PB has the pretty paper, pictured above for sale, as well as a video demonstration. You could also get a variety pack of reds and whites at your local craft store, like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
This image caught my eye, to say the least. Upon further investigation, I found the team of Aric Lampert and Casey Burnett who make up the Aric Alan Photography Team. They're currently based in Lubbock, Texas, and have a website and blog chocked full of amazing moments.
Trisha from The Beautiful Garden Boutique emailed me this week to share an amazing sale going on at her Etsy shop and web boutique. Check out the 20% discount on her collection of handmade fashion and bridal jewelry collections, complete with free gift wrapping and a free gift with every order over $50.00!
A few of my favorite items include the pearl and quartz dangle earrings, and the pearls and rose quartz necklace!
Another wonderful centerpiece idea from Rachel Ray, this teapot arrangement is creative and soft, and would be perfect for an outdoor reception or "mad hatter" themed shower. You could easily score a vintage tea set at goodwill or any garage sale for cheap, and permanently affix the set together for added stability! Or, if you don't have access to a tea pot, float open roses in individual teacups around the table.
I'm always trying to find new and exciting ensembles to wear at fall and winter weddings. It's a constant challenge for me because I'm cold all the time. I'd definitely wear this little number with a tailored jacket or shawl, and it's perfect to dance in! This classy dress can be found over at Gap, along with all of the accessories. Check out the shoe selection. at their sister site, Piperlime (only a click away)!
I love the idea of switching up your attire after the ceremony and before the reception, but for brides on a budget, a whole new ensemble may not be a viable option. Instead, maybe opt for removing your traditional veil and replacing it with a lovely floral hair clip! You could even trade in some of your more conservative accessories for ones that will work with a night of dancing!
Hair clip from the etsy shop of JMG Jewel Designs, traditional veil courtesy of David's Bridal.
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Confections in all white are beautiful, no doubt, but while they look great in magazines, they don’t always translate well to neutral colored venues. If you know your venue is pretty plain, think about the other end of the spectrum (the color spectrum, that is)!
I’ve pulled some inspirational cakes that beam with color, and still come off as elegant and chic!
White cake, yellow daisy cake, pink carnation cake, swag cake, delicate dotted petals, baskets of berries.
We all have them… unique friends who despise the idea of a wedding registry. I’m always in a pickle when it comes time to present them with something that they will actually use (at least as a conversation piece)!
Today I discovered fredflare.com, and am happy to share this surplus of off the wall objects with you! Not only does fredflare.com have toast shaped bandages, and lumberjack briefs, they also have a collection of beautiful accessories. It reminds me a lot of little pieces of Etsy, rolled into one amusing store.
A few of my quirky favorites:
Handmade Hellos, Panda Calendar, Fashion Oragami, and Personal Library Kit.
Aside from entertaining gifts, they also have a few items that would be perfect for favors! Flowers in a Can are an eye catching favor. And this trendy LOMO action sampler would be a great idea for some action shots at the wedding!
Don’t forget to check out their new blog, here!
I'm in love. I usually favor strapless gowns over any other neckline, when it comes to the bride... but this elegant ensemble has made me change my mind! The amazing stylists over at J. Crew paired this gorgeous silk taffeta Kate gown with their lux beaded sash belt, and added a little bit of sparkle to this otherwise simple silhouette. I think it's genius!
Rain on your wedding day? It’s that time of year, so why not be prepared with a stylish pair of rain boots? These fancy feet will no doubt lead to some adorable photo ops. if it does end up sprinkling a bit.
photo from Elaine, of Elaine Marie Photography, boots from kaboodle.
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