what to wear

Photo rules 101!!!
(Loving this shot, oh my!)

(via: lovesimplyhappens)


What should you wear for your Engagement Photos??? Even the makeup you wear on your wedding day matters!

Dress right everyone!
"love simply happens", but
but you need to plan your wardrobe!

(even my Daddy always said... he was a wedding photographer too... that's a whole other post!)

real simple cleanup

(via realsimple)

"Cleaning House" was never more satisfying!!! Anyone ready to Spring Clean their INBOX??

I just "Unsubscribed" myself from like 15 different stores/organizations/publications, etc!!!

I feel cleansed! And I didn't even have to pick up a sponge!

Happy Spring Everyone!

(Oh, and don't get me wrong..., I LOVE the realsimple magazine and will continue to read it faithfully each month. I just can't keep up with it all in my inbox! Now I have to go and delete all the stuff I've collected the last few years! Another day...)

You can check out their awesome tips on cleaning your actual house. They are great! Anyone have tips of your own to offer??? Time Savers? Unconventional cleaners?

We want to know!

it's all about the girls

Today's "Fun Friday" is all about the girls!

Two things:

1. Bachelorette Trip ideas found here... (NYC, Aspen, Vegas & Tulum!!! Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!!!!)

and...

2. I need your help in finding women in music (any era and any genre) for a CD I am making for my 7 year old girl. (only wholesome lyrics may apply!!!)

Thanks for your help, and have a fantastic weekend everyone!

needle + thread + a dress

Anyone making their own wedding dress? Or having one made for them? We want to know!

Also, is anyone having anything special sewn into their dress? My friend got married a few years ago and had her late father's wedding ring sewn into the underside of the bodice. Not for others to see, just for her to know it was close to her...

I cried and cried like such a baby at that wedding. Such an old, dear friend..., now a new mommy!

(source)

got pee?

(from Shakespeare's Bride via Relentless Bride)

I tell ya..., it's tricky peeing in a big dress. Can be done with the right help though... this card should spell it out for your girls!!!!

Any funny stories from you married ladies?
Best of luck to those about to be...

gum and men

(via skirt.com)

For "Fun Friday" today I decided to have TWO topics..., neither of which are libations!

This gum could totally come in handy, not just on Valentine's Day...

And I want your vote on the hottest actor of ALL TIME!!!

Please leave a comment with the man that makes YOU swoon (other than your own hubby, of course...)

My overall picks include these fantastic guys:











(via)

she's got the look

I never would have described Julia Roberts as "beachy", but this photo sure fits the bill!!! This is now, my official favorite one of her!

This is how I would like to look the rest of the summer. Glowing and totally casual.

How would you describe YOUR look?

(photos via DustJacketAttic, again...)

Can you believe this is also Julia?


Crap. More housework? See Every Day is Laundry Day...



Oh, and by the way..., you might need to turn DOWN your volume if you are at work (or UP, like I did!) as there is the coolest music on this fantastic site!!!!

the first year wife

the first year wife has some excellent advice for both men and women on her recent post entitled: And Then The Fight Started.

Which one made you laugh out loud the most?

Mine was...:

"My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping channels.

She asked, 'What's on TV?'

I said, 'Dust.'

And then the fight started..."

sleeping around

OK, not THAT kind of "sleeping around!!!"

Planning a getaway vacation??? Do you want a choice that is a bit more affordable and Eco-Friendly?

Try renting a house or "house swapping."
The folks at Ideal Bite have this great tip...

"The Benefits:
Fooling around with all the conveniences. More than the average hotel - fully loaded kitchens, laundry rooms, backyards, and general coziness.

Getting it (on) for free. The average rate for a midprice hotel room worldwide is $166 per night. Exchanging homes is free.

Saying "screw it" to high resource use. Those half-used shampoo containers, always-on hallway lights, and daily bedding changes in hotels add up to a lot of waste.

Getting up close and personal with locals. After all, if you wanted to hang out with your own crowd, you'd just stay home. This way, you'll get a more authentic feel for the area."

Check them out here for the rest of their article.

Honeymoon potential? maybe!

Also, I saw this cool site the other day called Coastal Nest. Looks nice... "A vacation cottage in Pacific Beach Washington. Stay & play & getaway!"





Remember what Dorothy always said: "There's No Place Like Someone Else's Home!"

words to live by

Always a lover of Audrey Hepburn. Found this great image and very famous quote from her on Content in a Cottage.

Please keep all these things in mind and have a fantastic weekend.

Engageology

Talk about DIY! You should really check out this cool blog I found today called Engageology! The bride goes over "The Science of Getting Married!"

They have tons of money saving tips! And look at the centerpieces the bride's aunt made for them. Under $200, when they had initially allotted over $800 in their budget!

wedding graduate

A Practical Wedding did a great post on The East Side Bride!!!

She's "Been There, and Done That" already and she is way hipper than me too!!!

Check out both their sites and all the fantastic tips...

Here they are to get you started:

"1. Don't go overboard with the wedding blogs. I know…. right? They will give you a complex.

2. Delegate. Early. Our wedding was essentially made by our friends and family: the baker/shirtmaker, the stylist/photographer, the chef, the musicians, the sculptor, the potter, the painter, the gardener, the director, the expert shopper, the mad organizer…. Honestly, I'm a better delegator than a DIY'er. I have good ideas, and then I look around to see who can help me make them happen. And a very happy byproduct of wedding planning was that we found ourselves talking to far-away friends more often. By the time the wedding rolled around it felt like a big party we were all throwing together.

3. Know when to let go. Two days before the wedding, your to-do list will seem insurmountable. It is. Take a fat sharpie, cross out three big projects, and get some sleep. Seriously.

4. The vows are more important than any of the crafty sh*t. We wrote our vows together, and we labored to make them simple and personal. In fact, I drove my almost-husband bonkers obsessing over them. But the vows are what people talked about. And because we memorized them and practiced saying them to aloud each other, they are imbedded in my brain. I love that."

bachelorette party - part 2

"No Photos Please!"

OK, this is STILL not about MY bachelorette party, but thought you might like this checklist from the Knot.com on how to plan one!

Bachelorette Parties: A Planning Checklist
Maids, bust out your calendars. Here's a timeline to help you prepare for the bride's naughty night on the town.

Photo: E. Photography


Maid of honor, are you ready to rock? Whether you're mellowing out or whooping it up, here's a checklist to help you and the maids prepare for this infamous night. Feel free to adjust the timeframes according to your celebration style.

3+ Months Before
Ask the bride what she wants (or doesn't want) in terms of bachelorette bashing. Will it be a night of terror on the town, complete with Jell-O shots, a scavenger hunt, and gyrating dancers? A quiet weekend getaway? Martinis at a mod cocktail lounge? A living room lingerie exchange? Pizza and pool at a local dive? Karaoke? Casino?
Establish her comfort levels. If she wants G-rated instead of G-string, review your options together. If she does want to walk on the wild side? Get her to define exactly what that means. Remember, while you want her to cut loose, you don't want to mortally embarrass her, or worse, totally freak her out.
Set the date -- shoot for a weekend night about one to two weeks before the wedding. (If members of the bridal party are from all over and can only convene a few days before, that timing works, too.)
Create the guest list.

2 Months Before
Send out a casual "save the date" email to see if there are any major conflicts among invitees. If you're partying far away, include specific details.
Brainstorm possible game plans and party stunts with the maids (make it a surprise for the bride).
If the party will be at a hot spot or out of town (the only Chippendale's club in town, a popular tapas bar, a cabaret theater, South Beach, a rock concert, someone's beach house...), make reservations, order tickets, and deal with lodging and transportation details.
No matter what the format, alcohol and bachelorette revelry usually go hand in hand. Be responsible. Start thinking about transportation arrangements -- many ladies opt for booking a chauffeured limo, bus, or van for the evening. Call around to compare rates.
Research and book any talent that might make an appearance at the soiree.

1 Month Before
Send invitations. Emailing and calling is okay, too. Make sure your invitation politely informs guests that a contribution to the festivities will be expected and name the price.
If you're going with the standard pub crawl, devise the itinerary. Start out with dinner at a rowdy restaurant (you don't want to drink on an empty stomach) and map out all the establishments you want to hit plus what time you'll be popping in. Planning it out this way will help you book your transportation for the proper length of time, and it limits the carousing so that you don't overdo it or spend too much cash. Make all necessary reservations, even at bars. Ask about drink specials and bachelorette freebies.
Make your transportation reservation(s). Do it earlier if you live in a metropolitan area, are partying during prom season, or in the summer, when the number of pre-wedding parties tends to peak.
If you're partying at home, help the hostess plan refreshments and activities. Make a shopping list. Divide up to-dos among bridesmaids: games, decorations, booze-buying, stereo and/or karaoke set-up, CD duty, etc.

1 Week Before
Buy fake penis paraphernalia, bachelorette accessories such as the novelty veil or tiara, bite-me candy necklaces, and other naughty props.
Make a list of the games you want to play, with rules and how-tos, lest you forget after too many margaritas. Keep it handy.
If you're having a scavenger hunt, conspire with your maids and make a list of the mischievous missions the bride will have to fulfill throughout the course of the evening. Keep that handy, too.
Confirm RSVPs
Confirm transportation arrangements
Confirm the at-home entertainment

1 Day Before
Debrief the bride (it's okay to keep some of the details a surprise).
Remind guests of the meeting place and time, reiterating the address. If there are several stops planned, name the second address, too, for latecomers.
Re-confirm all reservations.
Get plenty of sleep.



http://wedding.theknot.com/bridesmaids-mother-of-the-bride/bachelorette-party-ideas/articles/bachelorette-parties-planning-checklist.aspx

Another Ideal Bite

I know I have mentioned "Ideal Bite" in the past, but they came up with the best advice today, and I wanted to share the article with you. And since I have been in a "bikini" mood recently...

"Driving Solo and Late for a Bikini Bash?"

(Oh, and just so nobody gets as upset as I did at this... it is an April Fool's Joke. Some people just need to lighten up. Read it, it's funny!)

Bridezilla Marries Groucho

Sabrina from the Introverted Wife sent in a "Been There, Done That" article for us! I'm so glad to see that practical AND fun weddings are still out there! Check out what she has to say...

"Creativity: We had the more classic ceremony to appeal to what traditions our parents and family wanted, but for the reception we decided as we were getting married around our most favorite holiday ever we made it a Halloween theme. I decided I just had to go as Bridezilla complete with a tail I sewed by hand while my husband went as Grouch Marx.



I refused to do something for the wedding just because it was tradition and everyone did it. So I had a 21 year old flower girl because she had always wanted to be one and asked me. I completely trounced the whole only the bride wears white rule. Not only did my flower girl wear a gorgeous short white dress for the reception, but my best friend got to wear her wedding dress again as part of her costume. I don't understand why some thought it was gonna be a big deal. Everyone there knew me and my husband were the ones getting married and a wedding dress got to actually be used more than once. Not to mention they all looked gorgeous in it.

Thrifty: Neither of us had any dreams of grandeur. We knew that by the end of the day it was a success if we got married and we didn't get too many things on fire. Being classic midwesterners it's also really hard to imagine wanting to spend say over $300 on a dress that was going to be worn just once and I didn't even bother looking at true bridal gowns. For me a bridesmaids dress in white was just perfect (I wish I could claim to have made my own dress but really the tail was hard enough. My husband even helped me by sewing up the end).

I found that by doing everything imaginable to avoid things associated with weddings we saved a ton. My mother in law made the ring bearers pillows while I found some cute easter baskets for the flower girls. All of our flowers were silk and my mother worked on making the bouquets. Having the halloween theme helped save a ton of money too as for decorations we just raided our parents basements and stole whatever decorations we could use. And then if there was something I made it wasn't just for the wedding, like the funkin I carved with our monogram.

Sanity: We could have never planned and gotten through this wedding without our friends and family. It made everything so much more relaxed and carefree to know that it wasn't just an organist but my good friend John I was dealing with (who I let pick our wedding music so I walked down the aisle to the Imperial March from Star Wars, I was laughing the whole time). My flowergirl did my hair so I knew I could trust her to do whatever she wanted. But the flip side of letting your family and friends help means I had to step back and just let them do their thing. My mother created the ugliest unity candle in existence but rather than getting bent out of shape about it I laughed it off. In fact by the day of I was rather proud and showed it off to everyone.

Our wedding was not a specific focus of colors, flowers, or theme but of just one thing: fun. It was so hilarious seeing the three guys dressed up as the Marx brothers hamming it up and all of us girls dressed as evil brides attacking each other. When kids didn't want to go down the aisle or were running around writing little love notes to each other we all laughed so hard at how adorable they are.

Everyone knows there's no such thing as a perfect wedding but I'd like to think that when it came to having a fun time we nearly achieved wedding nirvana."



Definately check out their Flickr Pool for all the photo fun!!!

New York Weddings Event

2009 New York Weddings Event
Wednesday, April 1st
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street
5-8 pm

Mason Jar Bride

I came across the coolest Wedding Blog the other day! The bride to be is Jessica and not only is she funny, but she made her own Save the Dates! Check out this article by her with step-by-step how to's!!!

Mason Jar Bride...

She also has a fun "Questionnaire" about your hubby!!! (I plan on posting my answers even though MY HUBBY isn't my fiance. (We've been married almost 8 years!!!)

Contest - Happy New Year!

Enter to win Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides
By Ariel Meadow Stallings


Comment on this page, or send an email to Kelley@MyIslandWedding.com with

what you are looking most forward to in the year 2009!

The most creative, interesting, or funny answer will win.

Cool My Island Wedding Calendar Magnet to all that enter, (if you want...)

Deadline is December 31, 2008.

(Already married and don't need this book? We'll work out a suitable replacement...)

Your Thoughts - How to cut the invite list?

OK..., we have an email from a bride-to-be who desperately needs to cut her invite list. The place where she wants to have it just cannot accommodate as many people as she feels obligated to invite. She also knows that some may be insulted at not being invited.

Hmmm. How does she cut her list? Any suggestions?

Number Nuisance

I received an email from a bride who had a problem..., seating arrangements! It is hard enough to go through your list of attendees and fit them all where everyone will get along, etc. Between family feuds and co-workers vs. childhood friends, where should everyone sit?

But one thing she wondered... is it insulting to your guests that are sitting in the last numbered table? (Usually the one nearest the band or the kitchen!!!)

I admit, I always feel a little "less than special" when I am at "table number 14."

Check out some of these pretty and creative ways you can number your table, from MarthaStewart.com. But then check out my winner idea from her site as well! She assigns each table a name. (Hey, did she get this idea from me?)

In this case it is a type of shell (for a beachy wedding.) Then you can either make a sign for each table with that name, or fill a vase with that type of shell to distinguish one table from another.

I got married on Block Island, Rhode Island in 2001. I named each table using names of locations or attractions on the island. ie: The Southeast Lighthouse; The Great Salt Pond; The New Harbor, etc. I then attached the seating cards to our favors (which were jars of local honey) and set them out on display as people entered the reception.

No one feels left out that way!



All images are from MarthaStewart.com