An updated look for the french twist

The classic French twist has had a reputation for being wildly popular with business women and the likes, tightly slicked back and pinned to perfection (think Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion circa 1997). These days ladies are taking a more relaxed approach to the French twist, and I’m all about it! Adding texture and body will eliminate that “stuffy” look and won’t leave you crying when a few pieces fall out.

Although I love Romy & Michele, I think this look suits the modern day bride better.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

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Free craft patterns by Amy Butler

Aside from having the latest and greatest fabric selections, Amy Butler also has a wonderful selection of DIY patterns for sewing and paper crafts. These fun ideas could be the focal point of your handcrafted wedding by using patterned papers and a little elbow grease! Oh, and did I mention they’re free?!

Check them out at the Amy Butler Design website, at the bottom of the page under free patterns.

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Frame the Date via Earth Friendly Weddings

You absolutely have to go check out today's post over at the Earth Friendly Wedding blog... Jennifer is featuring a few amazing products by Frame the Date, and I think I'm in love! I've always drooled over those clever compilations of letters in nature, that spell out your name or an inspiring word. Frame the Date is similar, but better in my opinion! I'm definitely going to be keeping this one in mind for future wedding gifts!

Go on, go see for yourself!

The Earth Friendly Wedding blog is this way...

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Estate Collection by Lara Lewis

I love the look of these Kate earrings in marine, from the Etsy shop of LaraLewis. They're a part of her lovely Estate Collection and boast an aged, vintage look without the wait! Check out all the other lovely things at her shop, here!

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Song request cards

I just saw these song request cards over at Elizabeth Anne Designs, what a clever idea! Your guests will have a classy way to request their favorite tunes (unlike yelling in the lead singer's ear), and your Band/DJ will thank you later! See how they accomplished this look, at the original post, here!

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Galison organizer

Keep your receipts and contracts ordered with this stylish little organizer from Galison, found on Allmodern.com. You can also find these and more items at the Galison site, here!

I like the pockets and sticky tabs, not to mention having ample space to write your to-do’s for the week. This little thing will keep you sane, especially near the last few weeks of wedding planning!

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Red Otter handmade books

Brides looking for a distinctive guest book in lieu of that plain store bought one, shall look no further than the Red Otter Shop on Etsy! These hand bound blank books would be the perfect solution for a bride looking for more than just a signature from her guests… In this space, guests would be encouraged to doodle, write a message or pin a photo to their page. The options are endless!

I love the hand picked patterns found in this shop, and the lovely craftsmanship that holds it all together. I'm thinking about buying up a bunch of these and lining them up on my office bookshelf, just so it looks pretty!

 

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Invitation testers wanted

We're inching into to a new market... and have decided to test out the waters in PDF downloadable invitations. You know, the kind you purchase, then download and print at home. They're a heck of a lot more economical, and a lot more gratifying, since you're doing it yourself!

We need a handful of participants to test a few of our young designs, which is where you all come in to play. The first 5 people to comment on this post (with their first name and email) will receive a free PDF file of our Fill in The {Blank} party invitations. All we ask is that you download the file, as directed, and print. Then tell us how it went!

Don't worry, it will be easy! So who's up for the challenge?

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Nature inspired wedding details

Now that the weather is a little more tolerable, we've been seeing a lot more outdoor weddings. What better way to celebrate the day than with a few of these outdoor inspired wedding accessories!

monogram birdseed favors, butterfly place card, kissing ball pomander, table sign, garden faucet knobs, wildflower seed favor.

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300th post

Today is Tuesday, and on a regular week, I don't really like Tuesdays. However this Tuesday is a little bit different, since it's my 300th post! I’m so excited to say I’ve made it to this point, as I never thought I would last in the blogging world when I first started out. With the support of some amazing people, bloggers and readers, we did it! Thank you everyone, you have truly made this experience worthwhile and enjoyable.Now, on to the real post for today. For any big celebration, you just have to have cake!

I ran across Consumed by Cake on Flickr, of all places, where I fell in love with her clean, no nonsense designs, and joyful use of color where needed.

Working out of Worthing, West Sussex, UK, this home-based bakery makes confections that look too pretty to eat! My favorite are the weddings cakes that take a simple concept and dress it up with a pretty accessory — be it a flower, a brooch or a slice of ribbon. You can visit their website directly, or check them out on Flickr for some great inspiration!

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Fan programs can take the heat

I finished up a large order of gorgeous fan programs last week for a bride who will be debuting them in her outdoor ceremony soon. Programs are a simple element, that often get overlooked, and I tend to think they're one of the most important pieces of the day! Guests want to know what's happening, and the names of your faithful bridal party.

Think about how your programs can be a helpful accessory at your wedding ceremony... mounted on a stick, tied with a bow, or even hand-stitched to a favor!

Also check out this insightful article over at mywedding.com titled Want to Get Married Outdoors? No Sweat! It lists some great ideas and tips, along with some things to consider when planning an outdoor wedding.

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Regional Relics Post 5: Maple Syrup

The tradition of making maple syrup has been going on for centuries, initially used by Native Americans before European settlers discovered it. Even today, some of the traditional methods of transforming the sugar sap into syrup remain the same, which is why Michigan made maple syrup is our 5^th and last Regional Relic item.

You can find jugs of this sweet stuff in almost every general store you visit in Michigan, but you can also visit places like Currey Farms for bulk inquiries.

Select a few jars of maple cream to add to your wedding cake, or for a sampling of wedding cupcakes. You could also whip up a clever morning after breakfast basket with a spread of syrup choices, fresh fruit, juices, and pancake, muffin or scone mixes. We like Bob’s Red Mill brand the best (even though they’re based out of Oregon).

You can find out more information at the Michigan maple syrup association, here.

Photo sources: cupcakes, waffles, breakfast dry mixes, syrup bottles.

 

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Regional Relics Post 4: Cherry Republic

Cherry Republic is one of my favorite spots to score genuine cherry products from Michigan. They sell everything from Candy and Wine to Bath products — all cherry inspired!

If you had thoughts of a candy buffet at your reception, consider adding a few of their post popular cherry candies to the mix. You can place a special hang tag around the candy canister, with some information on the local favorites. The cherry soda pop is one of my favorite items out there, and would definitely be a hit with little ones at the wedding.

Cherry Republic also offers customizable items for use at weddings and special events. Check out the weddings link on their homepage for more information!

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Regional Relics Post 3: Black Star Farms

Weather your getting married in a vineyard or just want a Tuscan feel, serving local wines at your reception will add that perfect pinch of authenticity! 

One of my favorite wineries in the Leelanau area (north-west Michigan) happens to be Black Star Farms, where their casual and hand-crafted approach to winemaking won me over. I'm no wine connoisseur, but the classic wines and fruit brandies that they produce really utilize the best flavors of Michigan. Utilize their on site tasting rooms to really experience each flavor, and then handpick a variety of wines or spirits to enjoy later. How special  

To add to your reception, try dressing up each table with a bottle or two of your favorites, or toast the evening with a sip of sparkling wine, rather than standard champagne. Along with your custom cocktail for the evening, create a spritzer with white wine and other fresh ingredients.

Photo sources: wine bottles via Black Star Farms, vineyard image courtesy of Daniel E. Johnson, inn image, wedding photographs courtesy of Angeline Larimer.

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Yart Sale at Etsy

Definitely don't miss the 2nd annual Yart Sale featured over at etsy, beginning today and running through Sunday (June 14th). You can find our deals here, at our Etsy shop!

Learn more about the Yart Sale by reading up on this helpful article.

Image courtesy of: Misosoup

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Regional Relics Post 2: Native Flowers

Flowers that are native to your state (Michigan in our case) can be both beautiful and cost saving when planning for your big event. Some species can be found in your back yard, and others can be acquired through nurseries. Use them in table arrangements (possibly paired with a local piece of pottery), in bouquets, or as favors.

You can educate your guests on the local flora by naming tables after them, or even making a donation towards preserving them!

A few of my favorite native Michigan plants include Black Eyed Susans, Wooded Sunflowers, Asters, Wild Bergamot, Columbine and the Michigan Lily.

Here are a few links to nurseries with species lists, as well as plants for sale in Michigan: Michigan Wildflower Farm, MNPPA, Light of Day Organics.

Flower credits: 1. Aster 2. Wooded Sunflower 3. Wild Bergamot, by John Dykstra 4. Michigan Lily 5. Black Eyed Susans 6. Columbine

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