Hello Cupcake!

I saw this book titled Hello Cupcake! the other day at target and flipped through to find some amazing photography paired with step by step directions for the most amazing cupcakes ever! Now call me weird, but I have this thing about never buying books new, I don't know why, but that's just the way it is. So after I decided I needed it I headed over to amazon.com to check out the used price (hello $3.94).

I thought this would also be a great way to incorporate the little ones into your wedding day, without having to give up that glamorous wedding cake. 

Choose 2-3 different cupcake styles from the book, whip up a few batches with the help of your mom, or gal pals a few nights before, then watch the little ones jump for joy on your big day (and it might also distract them from licking the frosting off of your 5-tiered buttercream cake)!

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Apothecary centerpieces

Aside from the usual uses for apothecary jars (ahem, candy buffets) these vintage inspired containers can serve as a beautiful centerpiece or room accessory as well!

I love the fact that the jar blends well with any theme, and almost transforms with the objects that are placed inside! Remove the lid for more of a vase look, versus a jar!

Some ideas:

+ Fruit filler

+ Soap or toiletries for the restrooms

+ A place to hold favors

+ A wishing jar for notes from your guests

+ Or jazz it up with ribbon or a beaded garland

Links: Apple & peony centerpiece, Moss terrarium, Floral terrarium, Glass oil lamps, Glass ball ornaments, BOO paper sign, Tulips and candy hearts, Hanging bouquets, Robin's egg chocolate, Robin's egg soap, Starfish soap, Eggs in two-tiered nest.

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Refinishing round up

If any of you follow me on twitter or facebook, you've probably heard me complaining about my studio space, mainly the fact that I didn't have an adequate desk. Well the search is finally over, after months of scouring craigslist, ebay and the salvation army, I finally scored my dream desk, an original pedestal desk by the gunn furniture company of Grand Rapids, MI.

After getting it home, doing a little research, Joe and I found that the Gunn Furniture Co. closed it's doors in 1958, but not before supplying utilitarian furniture to offices, schools and libraries during the '30's through the '50's.

It's not worth much, but after we refinished it and put new drawer pulls on, it satisfied my wildest dreams (for a desk that is). I purposely left the initials "MM" that were carved into the top desk drawer, I like that it has some unknown history. And I'm still contemplating if I should patch and paint the "Lino" top, or if I should leave it as is, character and all.

So it is, I finally have an office space of my own, and let me tell you, it's glorious!

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Save the Dates from Jubilee Events Couture Paper

I ran across Candice Dowling, of Jubilee Events, through Twitter, and have been following along on her blog ever since! I recently saw a tweet of hers, showcasing a set of save the dates in her Etsy shop, and of course had to check them out!

I absolutely love Candice's creations, from her holiday cards to her paper wedding items. I specifically like this save the date card because it's different and bold, but also extremely elegant! Check out Candice's other amazing items at her Etsy shop here!

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I’ve always been a big fan of lace, so when I saw these two Jim Hjelm gown I about died. I love the unique style of lace that covers most or all of the gown, the simple ribbon and floral detail, and most of all, I love the color… a soft shade of white that compliments any skin tone.

This whimsical ensemble is ready made to fit any wedding style… outdoor, traditional cathedral, or even destination. It would be a perfect match with that wind-blown hairstyle I posted about yesterday!

Top Gown: JH8912

Bottom Gown: : JH8904

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Windy wedding hairstyles

On a blustery day like today (in central Michigan), stop fighting the wind and make it work to your advantage! Tousled hair is not only sexy but also low-maintenance, which is key for any wedding that lasts well into the evening. I'm one of those people who is constantly playing with my hair, so something like this would have worked well for me, as you can mess with it all night and still look lovely! I'm really diggin' the natural and graceful look!

Links (clockwise from top left):

blonde with sparkle, brunette with flower, brunette half-up, lauren conrad, eva longoria-parker, heidi klum.

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Wine accessories

Looking back on all of the gifts we received for our July 2007 wedding, one gift set sticks out in my mind. For this very reason, I am recommending it to all of you, for your own consideration. 

Introducing the wine enthusiast's collection! These are items that I never knew I needed, but now that I have them, I would never live a day without! 

The electric wine opener makes opening your favorite bottle clean and simple. I never had trouble opening a bottle the old fashioned way, but this is just easy as pie. It stores away in our utensil drawer and comes with a wall charger (that I've had to use no more than twice since we've owned the thing).

The 6-bottle wine cellar allows for that perfectly chilled glass of wine, and is an amazing addition to our bar area in the basement.

The stemless wine glasses are a more modern way to enjoy your reds or whites. They're space saving too!

Keep these in mind when you register for gifts, or are looking for an upcoming wedding, either way these are sure to please!

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Ornament favor tree

It seems like the latest trend with place cards is to hang them in a pretty fashion, instead of the usual table setup. I really like this because it adds so much visual interest, and can really enhance the style and setting of a wedding. Combine this with a favor and you’ve killed two birds with one stone… which is where the ornament place card comes in!

Inspired by the endless selection of ornaments at Anthropologie, and the romanticwish tree featured in many weddings, the idea of a favor tree was born.

The ornaments vary in pricing, but most are well below $10.00. String a solid ribbon or cord through each of the ornaments and a small tag (these are from etsy seller oldtomfoolery) with each guests’ name to complete the look.

The tree branches can be an inexpensive and eco-friendly way to display all of your guest favors, and come in many shapes and sizes, depending on your area. The photo below illustrates a wish tree that caught my eye, and could easily be polished off with sparkly sentiments.

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the great lakes by ORK

No, I don't live in Chicago, or Boston, or even Seattle... but now I can still enjoy an Ork poster of my area! The city neighborhood posters are now offering a print of the great lakes! Love it!

This just jumped to #1 on my Christmas list.

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Back to the grind

Monday morning (5 am to be exact) I left the chilly state of Michigan with a couple of colleagues for a health conference in San Diego. It was a nice break from my usual duties as in house graphic designer, and I got to soak up the sun for a few days before heading back on Thursday morning. The travel kicked my butt, however I'm back in action and plan on playing catch up this weekend.

Keep an eye out for new posts beginning Saturday!

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Winter Wonderland wedding cake

Now this is a classy cake! No need to fuss over the cake top, crystal snowflakes are delicately sprinkled all over this yummy white cake. I really love all the different snowflake shapes, featured on each layer, without looking too crowded or busy. These snowflakes could easily be replicated in white chocolate, sugar, or fondant to create a tone on tone look that would rock your taste buds!

I found this gem over at the Pink Cake Blog... lots more ideas where this came from! Anne, the owner of Pink Cake Box, has an amazing collection of cakes, cookies and cupcakes and has been featured in numerous wedding magazines. Great work Anne!

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Midnight snacks

Snacks are important to late night party-goers, because you have to have something in your belly if you plan on dancing all night (can you say after party)! A new trend of offering a “midnight” snack has hit the wedding world, and I can’t complain. I’ve been to a few weddings that served coffee and Krispy Kremes, soda and white castle burgers, or cookies and milk to their guests before the night ended… Our own wedding offered a buffet of warm soft pretzels and cheese along with some non-alcoholic beverages to wake people up!

I love this idea, because who doesn’t get the munchies after an evening of cocktails and dancing. It’s a nice little treat that can make us feel like kids again!

Anyone have any clever ideas for a midnight snack?

Photo Credit.

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Teacup candle feedback

Last week I was following up with the customer who purchased the ivory lattice teacup candle, and was overwhelmed with this lovely message she sent back:

Hi Kristen,

I received the teacup candle a few days ago - darling! I'm using it on my wedding day as a memorial candle, actually. We lost one of the matriarchs of the family very recently who came to this country by way of Jamaica & England and was of course an advid tea drinker. The candle will be placed next to a canvassed sepia picture I had made in her honor.

Hopefully, after the event I can have it refilled.

Thank you so much! This piece is absolutely perfect.

Best,

Rachel

It's people like this that really make you love what you do. Thanks for the note Rachel!

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Our first christmas ornament

I love getting out the boxes of christmas ornaments every year after thanksgiving. Each one brings back a special memory, and is a pleasant reminder of how much we have grown in life! Your first Christmas ornament as a new couple is no exception, so why not commemorate it with this beautiful Lennox Cake Ornament! It has that timeless look, with it's hand painted ivory fine china, accented with 24 karat gold, and is a steal right now for $29.99!

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Shopping season begins!

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

doggie ornament by ClayGrey's

ivory felt stocking by rikrak

noel cards by rubypress

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Marry me?

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.

As Caroline says: "Take the plunge! I have set everything up for you... all you have to do is ask!"

Ring bowl by Paloma's Nest at Etsy.

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Snow day

Officially our first big snowfall of the season. It's pretty out there... until you get snow in your shoe.

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Holiday cocktails

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.

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Shoe style

A lot of bridal shoes are decked out with bows and bling, and while that can be very pretty, you can get the same wow factor from a punchy color too! These are some of my favorite flashy colors...

red, pink, yellow, green, blue, indigo.

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Grise Photography

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.

I recently had a chance to get in touch with Jenny for a little Q&A session, to give you a peek inside her world.

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.

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Parklife Press: Custom Letterpress + Design

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!

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Novalash: eyelash extensions

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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Mexican cut paper banners

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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Holiday goods at Etsy

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!

I'm in the process of uploading some new designs to Etsy, so check out the stock of holiday items offered by RSVP Invitation Studio!

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C'mon baby, light my fire

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.

I chose an oval pillar candle that had an intricate floral pattern carved in to it. I found it at weddingaccents.com, and was very pleased with the quality and price. Our florist created a wonderful centerpiece showcasing it beautifully!

The best part of it all, is the fact that even after our wedding, we've displayed it along with a few other ivory candles in one of our guest rooms... and I love it there!

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Oragami Paper Cranes

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.

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Aric Alan Photography Team

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.

I love the little details like ring shots, so I was pleasantly surprised when i saw a new take on the "ring shot". It's obviously very meaningful to the couple, and is a great way to tell a story!

I would have loved to do something like this for our "ring shot", but I know my husband would have refused, as he is a PC guy all the way. Eh, well.

Keep up the great work Aric and Casey!

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The BGB jewelry sale

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!

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Tea time centerpiece

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.

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Cool weather clothing

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)!

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Switching up the accessories

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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Embossed stationery

I recently had a client inquire about embossing their invitations with the logo from their country club venue. I thought it was a great idea, as we used an embosser for our wedding stationery, and sent her some of the pictures from our set of save the dates. I also wanted to share a little bit about my experience, in hopes that more brides out there will venture in to the many embossing options.

I don't tend to see a lot of invitations with an embossed element, even in custom designs, they are few and far between. I think a lot of people assume that it's horribly expensive, but if you look hard enough, it can be a very affordable element to a classy wedding.

I customized the above hand embosser with our initials inside of a dotted circle, and purchased it for around $60.00. It was made in a week and I immediately started practicing with it, and it wasn't long before I got the hang of it. After I got the hang of it, I embossed our save the date envelopes, place cards, program covers and much more. It was a beautiful and custom way to tie all of our paper goods together.

For me, the $60.00 was a small fee to pay, for having an expensive, handcrafted look throughout our wedding. Not to mention the fact that I'm still using it today on our personal stationery sets. If you plan in advance, this type of design element can be a lasting memory of your special day, to use for as long as you wish!

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