by Chris Obenschain at TLC Weddings

Check out this fabulous article on choosing your wedding reception site that we were featured in! : )

You like to express yourself, right? It’s not like you listen exclusively to elevator music or your wardrobe consists entirely of muted gray pantsuits and boring brown blouses. So why, on one of the most important days in your life, would you accept anything less than a perfectly personalized wedding reception? In a world of custom-fitted wedding gowns, brides too often forget that the reception site should also be custom-suited, too. Regardless of your style, budget or the size of your guest list, you can choose a site that’s functional and expresses your personality. Answering these questions is a great place to start in your search for your perfectly unique reception site.

Read the rest of this article right here…

Love and Light,
Natalie

There are many different bridal trends that are inspired by different shapes, colors, dances, or time periods. We love these ballet-inspired bridal fashions that we found from marthastewartweddings.com.

Draw your inspiration from the quiet, graceful beauty of the ballet, and turn your bridal debut into a spotlight performance worthy of a standing ovation.

We got this great idea from stylemepretty.com. This DIY cupcake bar was originally at a cocktail party, but is cute and practical enough for a wedding! A few minor changes and more cupcakes and you are all set for your reception! These cupcakes can either replace or enhance your wedding cake, and you can pick as many flavors as you want! Pick out different icings, toppings, and you are ready to go!

To read more and see more pictures about the DIY cupcake bar, go to stylemepretty.com.

Prep Step A: Get clearance

Make sure your officiant will accept personalized vows. Catholic and Episcopal congregations, for instance, may require you to recite all or part of the traditional vows, though in most cases that’s left to the officiant’s discretion. Remember: Even the most accommodating officiant will want to review your words in advance.

Prep Step B: Make a plan

You need to tackle the logistics to make sure you and your fiance are both on the same page: Are you each going to write your own, or will you write them together? Will you show them to each other before the ceremony?

Knot Note: If you’re feeling shy, opt to write your vows together and even recite the exact same promises. If there’s more you wish to say, privately, say it in the cards you exchange on the day of your wedding or on your honeymoon.

Prep Step C: Create your outline

An outline can help to establish a structure that you both stick to. For example, plan to first talk about how great your fiance is, then about how great you are as a couple, then about what you’re vowing to each other.

Prep Step D: Find your voice

What overall tone do you want: Humorous and touching? Poetic and mushy? It’s your call — the most important thing is that your vows ring true and sound like they’re from your heart.

Prep Step E: Cut it down

Finally, pick a length and stick to it by keeping the mantra pithy and to the point in mind — anything longer than a minute or so, and no matter how gorgeous your prose, the audience will start to squirm.

This is something that we do at our weddings! It adds a great personal touch to keep for years and years to come!

These directions and picture come from marthastewartweddings.com. Transform a store-bought album into a guest book that has a handmade feel. Use double-sided tape to affix envelopes in assorted sizes and colors to the pages of a plain-paper photo album or scrapbook. Leave cards and a pen on a table for guests to write wishes. When they’re done, they can tuck their cards inside the envelopes for the bride and groom to enjoy later.

We encourage our brides and grooms to wait for their 1 year anniversary before opening any of the envelopes. It creates a special anniversary activity and allows you to reminisce even more about your wedding day.

Check out these beautiful Multi-way necklaces at Green Diva Bridal.  They are upcycled vintage necklaces that convert into multiple styles and have detachable components, such as charms and bracelets…all in ONE piece (how fabulous is that?)

Green Diva Bridal is also celebrating Earth Day in style with their 30 days of deals for Earth Day! Get fabulous this month with Green Diva…

Read this incredible article below by Kathy DalPra of Green Diva Bridal!

For the green bride, finding the perfect wedding dress can be a daunting task.  Although more eco conscious options in bridal gown designs are quickly emerging, this little corner of the fashion world is still somewhat elusive.  The good news?  There are already dozens of fabulous couture wedding gown designers that have taken this environmental challenge head on and are rocking the runway with some of the hottest, most creative looks around.  You may not find them all at your local bridal boutique, but who ever said high fashion was supposed to be easy?

Still, my mission is to break it down for you…option by option…so your job of connecting with the ideal, made-for-you eco wedding dress is as effortless as possible.  This week’s maven:  Chrissy Wai Ching

Interview with CWC

GGW:  What makes your fabrics kinder for the earth? (Ex. If its organic, peace silk, sustainable bamboo etc.)

“We are using all organic silks, peace silk, hempsilk, and hemp.”

GGW:  Are your fabrics sourced under Fair Trade agreements or by certified Fair Trade suppliers?

“Yes.”

GGW:  Is any part of your gown construction out-sourced and, if so, is it done by a Fair Trade certified workshop?

“We are handmaking everything in house in the Seattle studio.  Nothing is outsourced.”

GGW:  How does your design company give back to the local or global community?

“Yes, we donate to the International Asian Community in Seattle and also mentor local high school students.”

GGW:  Anything else that you do which is environmentally or socially responsible?

“Everything is custom made, everything we make is put to use.  We use the extra scraps of silk for collaged styles like the Zolotova and Satori.  Thus, we generate a very small amount of waste.”

GGW:  Where does the inspiration for your designs come from?

“Nature is a huge point of inspiration for color and design.  I also draw inspiration from working with the textiles themselves and seeing how they like to move and drape.  All the amazing women that I meet give me inspiration as well.”

GGW:  Describe the kind of bride that might be drawn to your pieces. (Personality, perspective, style)

“Brides who are looking for something unique that melds with their personal style.  Brides who want to feel comfortable on their wedding day in a breathable dress that flows with them.  Brides who like to support small, local businesses, care about the environment, and community.  Many of our brides are artists, and are not looking to have a cookie cutter wedding.”

GGW:  How can brides order gowns from you?  Do they have a choice between selecting a stock design and creating a custom design?

“We make everything to the brides’ measurements.  We can make the stock designs or custom designs.  Since we are handdyeing and mixing all the colors, we can create any color imaginable.  Brides can come into the Seattle studio (by appointment), or we can work with brides from afar.”

Check out her website at http://wai-ching.com

We got this great blog post from greenweddingblog.com – from an original interview conducted by Kathy DalPra of Green Diva Bridal!

A new trend that was featured in this month’s Martha Stewart Weddings is the fabric inspired wedding cake. The article below and all of the pictures are from marthastewartweddings.com and are absolutely adorable! Check out this new trend!

Eat your wedding cake — and wear it, too. Cloak your confection in designs that mimic the look of vintage floral fabrics, be it your grandmother’s heirloom lace or your favorite thrift-store find, fora cake that’s oh-sew-gorgeous (and anything but old-fashioned).