Pretty Butterfly Pins

This silk butterfly pin set is ever so cute! Fluttery and romantic, perfect for an outdoor cabin wedding; and a perfect hue for a fall wedding.

(photo credit: Kates Cottage Shop via Etsy)

Lets Play The Wedding Colors Game!

Hello loves! I thought it'd be a fun idea to share our wedding colors and three handmade items we've found so far that fit well within that color spectrum!

Who's game?!

Joe and I used teal, white, and mustard yellow as are primary colors for our wedding last year.

1. Mustard Yellow Bridesmaid Dress



2. Teal Eyeshadow



3. White Tiny Diamond Ring Set



(photo credits: dress, eyeshadow, ring set)

To Us: A Wedding Treasury

Fall is just around the corner, and although the majority of brides and grooms complete their nuptials during the summer months, fall weddings are close to second in popularity. When I envision a fall wedding, I see fall leaves and rustic settings. Although I would naturally pair these images with fall colors such as orange or yellow hues similar to that of changing leaves, I don't. I think of white and cream colors like in this wedding treasury by Modred Vintage on Etsy.



To view the entire treasury and all of it's sixteen fabulous items, click HERE or the photograph above.

p.s. How do you envision fall?

(photo credit: Etsy screenshot)

Bridal Hair Accessories

I love these three bridal hair accessories. From classic rhinestones to feathers to a boho feel, they all add a bling factor to your bridal look. They also all work for different hair lengths, which can often be a plus!



(photo credits: Rhinestone Headband Feather Fascinator, Boho Headdress)

Bridesmaid Sash

I love this flower sash from Romantic Art Life.

It's not only a cute accessory for bridesmaids, but it's also a great accessory idea if you're going to be attending a wedding soon and want to add just a dash of something extra to your outfit.

Inspiration Board #35: Wedding Gift Ideas for the Naturalists

I love gift-giving, and I'm starting to get into the holiday mood. It may be that or I'm just really into the naturalist vibe lately, but I put together a group of pretty cool gift or registry ideas for those that like to stay in-tune with nature. They're also things that you can get to redecorate your home with if you're already living together or are just about to move in together.

(photo credits from left to right: aspen tree photograph, colorful step stool, natural clock, headboard, kitchen cloth)

S'mores Yum

Joe has been working on our wedding Pinterest lately and he's been finding a bunch of really great stuff to share. We both especially like this s'mores bar idea, which would go nicely with the upcoming cold weather. I know a lot of people don't get married in the winter, but if you're one of the ones that are, why not consider making something similar? A hot drinks bar would be nice too!

Source: momentsofmagic.net via The Handmade Wedding on Pinterest

Champagne Flutes

Every time I see these awesome hand painted champagne flutes from Nevena Art Glass in my favorites list on Etsy, I can't help but stop and stare. They are so beautiful and unique, perfect for that vintage or princess feeling wedding. Joe and I got champagne flutes from Anthropologie for our wedding that I absolutely loved, and these really have a similar vibe. They also seem perfect for the upcoming fall season. I can totally see these at an October fall wedding with their leaf-like design. So romantic! What's your glassware idea for your wedding? P.S. I've discovered that you can use HTML tables on blog posts! Be ready for some interesting blog post designs in the future! P.S.S. For all of those getting married in the next few weeks, remember to take some time to just relax. Try using these bath bombs.

Soceity6 T's

Joe and I are getting our internet set up tomorrow! And you can bet that I'm pretty darn stoked. I really do hate to admit that I NEED the Internet. Well, okay, maybe not need, but I like having it around... a lot.

Joe has started his new position at UC Davis as their multimedia specialist, and is really liking it so far. It is a hard move, however. It's not necessarily that it's been over one hundred degrees several times already since we moved here that's made the atmosphere is different. The people are different and everyone seems more tense, not as friendly. And I'm direly missing South Lake Tahoe right now. It's not that I hate it, but it is going to take some getting used to.

Have you heard of Society6? It's a site where you can upload your own art for free (there's a $1 USD initiation charge) and sell merchandise such as iPhone cases and t-shirts on your own shopfront. Society6 does most of the work, including making the items, packaging them, and mailing them. But they do take 90 percent of the profit.

The reason that I mention it is that you can design your own wedding shirts using Photoshop or any other design software you have or can download a trail of and upload them onto your own Society6 shop and order them. At only $18 to $22 USD, they're a lot better priced than some other companies charge you for creating wedding themed merchandise. This way you'll also have creative freedom; and you can make a different design depending the person whom you're buying it for. You can also get designs from your bridesmaid's and groomsmen that they've designed themselves, giving them a creative freedom on what they wear as well. Plus you get ten percent of the profit, so you'll be getting back $1.80 or $2.20 for every t-shirt you order. I know it seems kind of silly ordering from your own shop, but it's a pretty cool option.


(artwork credit: Karen Hallion Illustrations)

Ahhh! We're moving!

Joe and I are moving from the beautiful South Lake Tahoe to the equally nice, but maybe not so much serenely landscaped Davis. Although we'll miss South Lake Tahoe, we're really excited for Joe to start his new job at UC Davis. It's strange to think that since we got married we've already moved three times (including this one). Now, there are a lot of people that live with their partner's before they get married, but for those that are going to be living together for the first time, there is a really cute and short blog post from Apartment Therapy with some useful moving tools. Including, one of my favorites offered by USPS.

Speaking of getting married, Joe and I are celebrating our one year anniversary this upcoming Monday! Are there any of you that are going to be doing the same this year? What are your plans?

Joe will be starting work that day, but we're still planning on spending an evening out and getting to know our new city.

In between packing and trying to apply to new jobs, I've been debating what to get Joe for our one year anniversary. The follow is a one-year anniversary gift idea for him inspiration board.

(photo credits from left to right: leather satchel, silver bracelet, Leica t-shirt, green button-up shirt, wool slippers)

The First Look by Carolyn Scott

Do you know what a first look is? I really wish I would have known about it before I got married. See, my wedding was pretty much the first wedding I'd ever attended and I figured that the first time the groom and bride saw each other was during the ceremony. If I would have known what the first look was then I would have definitely opted to go with it. Now, I know there are some that are superstitious and really believe that it's bad luck for the groom and bride to see each other before the wedding, but read on and you may just change your mind.

A huge thanks to Carolyn Scott, the talented Raleigh wedding photographer, for sharing her insights on what the first look is and why it's a good option.

(photo credit: Kelli Nicole Photography)

The 1st Look: What It is and Why It’s Awesome
By Carolyn Scott

There are a lot of different ways to organize the pictures on your wedding day, but one thing that saves time and sanity every time is doing a “first look”. So what is it? Why would you do one? I’m glad you asked…

Doing a first look simply involves seeing your future husband or wife before the ceremony as opposed to seeing each other for the first time while walking down the aisle. I know that as little girls we all dreamed of seeing our sweetheart through a romantic and dramatic veil of tears as we walked down the aisle, but things have gotten a little bit more realistic. So why do the first look?

1. The movie entrance you’re envisioning isn’t entirely realistic: Now, before anyone gets upset, this is a generalization and may not be true for everyone, but it certainly was for me. I had to walk down a flight of modernist stairs in order to see my beau, in a gown, in three-inch heels. Clutching a bouquet in one arm and my dad on the other. I was so incredibly nervous (and concentrating on not falling and holding on to everything) that I do not even remember walking down the stairs let alone seeing my future husband. Granted, not everyone has to walk down steps, but plenty of my friends have this moment conveniently blocked from their memory as well. You’re surrounded by friends and family. Everyone is staring at you, and you’re trying to remember exactly what it is you’re supposed to do when you approach the ceremony point.

How does the 1st look help? The first look helps by creating a private space for just you and your sweetheart to see each other beforehand. No family members, no groomsmen cheering inappropriately. It’s typically just you and your photographer(s)… with the photographer(s) hopefully being very inconspicuous and allowing you a bit of silence and space.

2. Let the silence be broken and the nerves be calmed: Upon walking down the aisle, you’ll see your sweetheart and grab his or her hand, then turn to face your officiate. Later, after walking down the aisle, you’ll be scooped up by your photographer and ushered off to the reception. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to exchange a few hurried words.

How does the first look help? The first look will provide you the opportunity for some much cherished time alone with your sweetheart when he actually tell you what he thinks about what you’re wearing! You can talk about the little mishaps of the morning before you forget and the day goes by in a rush. It’s a nice breather. In addition, I was terribly nervous before the ceremony and had spent a long time without my best friend and person who is constantly by my side, so it was absolutely wonderful to see him. I was so relieved to be with him that I got teary eyed and was so happy to remain by his side before the ceremony.

3. It saves time: If done in a traditional way, weddings usually require a cocktail hour after the ceremony. At this time, you take family portraits, bridal party portraits, and newlywed portraits. Things are usually rushed and a little crazy because your reception guests are at the venue waiting for you.

How does the first look help? The first look helps by getting all of your pictures out of the way early. You can do your first look, your bridal party, your family, and your newlyweds all before the ceremony or you can save just your family for afterward like we did. That way you save all of your guests from waiting around and becoming antsy, and you can enjoy your cocktail hour or a longer reception.

4. It saves money: A typical cocktail hour can be pricey, especially if it’s an open bar.

How does the first look help? It can easily eliminate the use for a cocktail hour entirely by taking only family pictures afterward, something that can be accomplished in 10 minutes, and moving straight along to the reception.