Ever after

With all the craziness of planning a wedding and getting married (all while preparing a manuscript, podium presentation, and interviewing for fellowship positions) I managed to tell my story so I could share it and remember it long after the day has come and gone. But with so many things to focus on (mostly work related...grr...) I fear I will not have time for this blog. So, for now, one chapter is complete. And the next, well, who knows when it will begin.

October 24th, 2009

Haven't had any time to wrap up the wedding story, which of course ends in a happy ever after! The details were amazing and the day was everything I hoped for. I tried to savor every moment from the moment I awoke on my wedding day to the very last dance.

A quick recap:

All the girls headed over to Athena Aveda in Boston for hair and makeup. It was fun to get all done up and my bridesmaids and I had adorable hoodies that my sister J, MOH, bedazzled (not really, they were iron on decals) for us.

Then we all made our way back to the hotel to get dressed for photos. But before that bridesmaid F and I went up to peek at the set up and hang a few ornaments on the wedding tree. After much debate and no success with the poster idea we switched gears and I bought a live tree to hang our little ski ornaments on along with the guests' escort cards. Now we have our wedding tree to plant and watch grow!

Once we all had our dresses on we glimpsed a window of opporunity to grab photos outdoors as the day had been a bit overcast and rainy. I really hope the outdoor shots come out well as the location was so beautiful.

The 5 o'clock hour finally arrived and the ceremony began. The string trio was lovely. Walking down the aisle I smiled at our guests and my handsome groom and thought, nicely done on the Brooks Brothers suits and navy and yellow rep ties! And the mini ski boutonnieres were the perfect finishing touch. We managed to get through the ceremony and our heartfelt vows with a minimum of tears (thank goodness for Lancome waterproof mascara) and finished with our kiss and exit to "This Will Be" by Natalie Cole.

While everyone enjoyed cocktails and passed appetizers we ran outdoors, together this time, to get our first photos as husband and wife.

The introduction of our bridal party was fun and upbeat to "Pick Up The Pieces" by AWB. We made our entrance right into our first dance to "It Had To Be You" by Harry Connick Jr. The dance lessons at Supershag with Alfredo paid off and we rocked the foxtrot! (At least we think so). The toast by Best Man J and Welcome by my father were touching. And the rest of our evening was filled with great food, a constant flow of drinks (thanks to S for all those Greyhounds), and great times with family and friends! Of course the night went by far too fast and as the last dance "Dancin' In The Moonlight" by King Harvest came to a close we said our goodbyes to our guests. Well, then, we continued the party at the hotel bar until last call...and eventually we retired to our suite.

Thank you to my amazing vendors:

Wedding planner: Sarah True, True Event

On site coordinator: Michael Boivin, Boston Harbor Hotel

Officiant: Edi Pasalis, I-Do-Yoga

Flowers: Kelly Harris, Beautiful Blooms

Photography: Erica Coppell, Adeline and Grace

DJ: Renzo Hernandez, Top Entertainment

String Trio: Michael Reavey Music

Calligrapher: Betsy Dunlap

Invitation/Menu design: Erin Napier, Lucky-Luxe

Programs: Bridesmaid F, BeeHive Designs

Videographer: Jayson Lobozzo

Hair and makeup: Athena Aveda Salon and Spa

And a big thank you also to all of our family and friends for their love and support!

Coming together (not falling apart!)

Things are coming together! Bridesmaid F crafted a beautiful program for us and I am picking them up on Monday from the printer and tying them with navy ribbon. Even though our magnet board did not work as planned we came up with another idea to display the escort cards and so we are putting that plan into action. I am pleased with our ability to deal with the week of wedding crisis so well! And tomorrow after both N and I get haircuts we are heading to Maine to pick up the old wooden skis that will be signed in lieu of a guestbook. With just a few details to take care of I think we have a handle on them all.

To get us in the mood for our ski-themed wedding it snowed a little this morning!!!

April Rose

When I was growing up in Guilford, CT every Christmas and birthday I would hope for a tiny box adorned with beautiful ribbon and flowers from April Rose because I knew that inside would be a pretty pair of earrings or necklace or bracelet that I had my eye on. April Rose designs custom jewelry for all occasions. When I went to try on my gown for a final fitting on Saturday it occurred to me that an April Rose bracelet would add a nice touch to my bridal accessories and be a little something from home. I know I snagged the $20 vintage rhinestone bracelet from ebay, but looking at it now it seems a bit too much, and I can always wear it another time as costume jewlery or for Halloween as Holly Golightly (AH is my muse). I think I'll give them a call tomorrow and offer to send a picture of my gown, earrings, and shoes to inspire a design for a bracelet. I want something elegant but not overstated. After all, it's all about the details.

Father-daughter dance

This has been a tough one. I want something upbeat, not cheesy or overplayed, and that suits both our musical tastes and personalities. I came up with:

1. Father and Daughter by Paul Simon (nice beat)

2. Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder (a bit overplayed, but nonetheless a great song)

3. Daughters by John Mayer (a modern tune)

4. The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra (ol' blue eyes will get you every time)

5. Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel (always liked him but not sure if this suits the Father-daughter dance)

I e-mailed them all to my dad and we'll see what he thinks. (I nixed his suggestion of Buttefly Kisses, the Bob Carlisle tune. Sorry to all you Christian Rock followers, but I just couldn't do it!)

Ceremony

We met with our officiant again this past week to iron out the order of the ceremony and to discuss readings. I have quite the extended family and really want to include them all in our special day. We went over a few selections and realized they weren't quite right. Edi, our officiant, told us to find something that makes the heart sing! So, we went back to the drawing board. After perusing several books and online resources today we selected 3 poems that I think will set the mood and fit the readers. Now that we have that settled I can sit down to draft our ceremony programs.

The back of the program shown here is from Etsy seller 2bsquared. I was perusing some designs today and really liked the designs in this shop so I contacted the seller to inquire about programs. I definitely appreciate the work of others and wish I had time to nourish my creative side more!

With this ring...

Been busy the last few weeks...

We finally ordered N's ring from an online vendor www.eweddingbands.com After looking at a bunch of options he decided on palladium. I think it's a good choice as it's a shiny metal similar to platinum, but for a fraction of the cost. We realized that at $500 we'd get over it if the ring went plunk in the water one day while playing around with one of the boats, but it would be more difficult to swallow if said ring was $2000. So, it should arrive this week, and I hope it's as nice as the picture and the reviews make it out to be.

N also ordered my ring and I can't wait to see it! When we were up in Maine for the fs wedding I looked at a few options and really loved the look of the diamond eternity band. It will compliment my engagement ring beautifully but also can hold its own.

Metallic silver clutch

J.Crew metallic derby clutch in silver $69.50

Online shopping is quick and easy but takes away the fun of browsing the racks, touching the fabrics, and bringing an armful of clothes and accessories into the fitting room, even on the days when you have no intentions of making a purchase. I think this silver clutch may work well with my other bridal accessories so I'll give it a go. If not, it's quite easy to make a return or exchange at the store.

Glamour girl

My sister/MOH got me the lovely blue topaz noblesse earrings from David Yurman as a little something blue on my wedding day! I was able to pick them up today on my way back from a dress fitting. They are absolutely gorgeous and paired with my vintage rhinestone bracelet (ebay $20) and silver Manolos complete my old Hollywood glamour look. I'm still on the lookout for the perfect clutch to hold my day of necessities. And a rainy day is a great day to shop! (Really any day is a great day to shop though if you ask me)

7 weeks...

After spending a lovely weekend celebrating with F and S it's now time to get back to work on our wedding. Today I started by buying up candy for our favor table in our wedding colors: vanilla salt water taffy, yellow, white, and navy M&M's, lemon heads, blue raspberry gummi rings, lemon yellow gummi bears, coconut and pineapple jelly beans, blue raspberry Tootsie pops, and yogurt covered pretzels. Then I picked up a bunch of cellophane bags for the guests to fill up with the treats. And to top it all off I designed a sticker at Zazzle to seal the bags to take home.
I've got quite a bit on the "To Do" list, but I think I need to to take a break and run off those delicious wedding cupcakes from the fs affair!

For my future sister-in-law F

Thinking of my bridesmaid F today as she is getting married this Saturday. We had a bachelorette party for her last weekend and on my visit to her parents home in Maine I finally got to see some of the beautiful details of her event in person. I can't wait to celebrate with her and S this weekend!

Slow, slow, quick, quick

We had our first dance lesson with Alfredo at Super Shag on Wednesday night and it was fun! (although it was difficult to resist the urge to lead). N and I learned the foxtrot and signed up for a package of private lessons. His sister is getting married this weekend and I'm happy we managed to get one lesson in beforehand so we can practice our new steps!

Menu planning

Tomorrow is an exciting day for us as we have an appointment at the Boston Harbor Hotel for a tasting. This involves having bites of appetizers, salads, entrees, and of course wedding cake! And a few glassess of red and white wine to wash it all down. Once we select the menu I can send it off to be printed up for our guests who will select their entree on the wedding night. I think the cake is the hardest part to choose as they presented me with various options for cake flavors, fillings, and frostings, which can be combined in a number of ways. We both love yellow cake with chocolate frosting and so one of our combinations to taste (I had to put a few together to submit in advance) is vanilla cake layered with fresh strawberries topped with a milk chocolate ganache. I know that wedding cake with chocolate frosting isn't exactly traditional, but the idea is growing on me. And anyone who knows N knows he doesn't like to conform, and for my part, I just want the cake to taste delicious! Needless to say we are both looking forward to a fun evening tomorrow!

Cookies for Joe

When I was purchasing every last one of the wedding ring 44 cent stamps at the West Medford post office the other day I inquired about having my invitations hand cancelled on the advice of Bridesmaid F. Postman Joe didn't seem too excited about it at first, but then I offered up some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies as an incentive. He nodded happily and so I went home in the 90 degree heat and baked a batch of cookies for Joe. Of course I made a few for N too. He wouldn't let me give them all away!
Today I made it to the post office just in time before closing to drop off my invitations and have them sent off.

Emici Bridal update

Sadly the lovely yellow silk pomanders were sold out and to get new custom ones made was going to cost $45/each! (Modern Bride should know that the $15 price tag was false advertising!)So, I called upon my mom who is very crafty and she's up for the challenge. She glanced at the photo and accurately identified the silk blooms and french wired-edge ombre ribbon. In an instant she had ideas and is going to make a couple of mock ups for us to decide which we like best. For my part I ordered some wreath stands from Save-on-crafts so that we can display the floral beauties along the aisle during our ceremony. Can't wait to see her designs!

Candy table favor

Today I also snagged some glass apothecary jars, small and large glass jars, and 5 oz. metal scoops for our candy table favor buffet. Save-on-crafts is a great site to pick up such things and also has links for DIY brides. Project Wedding has a Candy Table 101 section that also gave me some fun ideas and links for supplies. I'm going to pick out navy, yellow, and white candy to display from the Candy Warehouse and leave either favor bags or boxes for our guests to fill up and take away. I'm sure there will be plenty of late night snacking on all the sweet treats!

Snow Train!

Just purchased this cute poster which will be placed into a frame over a sheet of metal so that our escort cards can be displayed on it with cute handmade ski magnets! The magnet project supplies have been ordered and include mini Sno-Skis from Moose-R-Us (same ones we're planning on using for the boutonnieres), craft glue, and sheets of adhesive magnetic backing. I'm also going to add navy and yellow ribbon which I will pick up at the Paper Source so it matches the ribbon I'm using for our table tents and other items.

Boston Maps

Fun BOSTON poster from Ork. My wedding planner Sarah blogged about these fun city posters a while back and when I was contemplating maps of Boston they came to mind. While they make a great decoration in an urban home I don't think they are very helpful to refer to for directions.

So, I kept looking, and I found FREE online maps at http://www.walkboston.org/ and at the website for the Freedom Trail http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/index.html I downloaded and saved the PDF files for printing and including in the welcome bags for our hotel guests. Hopefully the weather in October will be perfect for exploring the city on foot.

Emici Bridal

Gorgeous silk flower pomander featured in current Modern Bride Aug/Sept issue. I contacted Emici Bridal to check on cost (listed as $15 in MB article). I think these would be perfect to hang on the chairs of a few rows to line the aisle of our wedding ceremony (3 on one side, 3 on the other side). I have been pondering how to designate the aisle for quite some time and may have finally found what I am looking for. I think the silk flowers are a great idea, cheaper than the real thing, and then we can carry the look down the aisle and try to use a few similar looking blooms as part of the two boquets that will be displaced on pillars to mark the area where N and I and our bridal party will stand.

Our ski themed logo

This cute logo is printed on our envelope liners and across the top of the escort cards. I think I'd also like to use it on the tags for our candy table favors. Maybe printed on paper tags with a sweet message or possibly on stickers that can be used to hold paper bags shut...hmmm...back to PS again tomorrow I think.

Amazingly, my lack of sleep today has led me to a few new ideas!

PS Colorscope

This caught my eye behind the cash wrap at the Paper Source today. Fun!

Table tents

A trip to the Paper Source today in my post call haze yielded cute table tents. These were super easy to assemble with some double-sided tape, hole punch, ribbon, and yes, Orthopaedic scissors. I'm going to send them off to Betsy who will adorn them with the names of our favorite ski resorts in her beautiful calligraphy.

Wedding Paper Divas

So, I don't have time to get crafty. Instead I did a Google search and found Wedding Paper Divas and whipped up these rehearsal dinner invitations staying within our color palette. We're going to slip them into the invitations of our guests we would like to attend. While waiting for our Hand Conference to begin today I zipped the file off to my future MIL who quickly replied, "Fabulous!". One more check on my neverending "To Do" list completed!

Invitation suite set to print!

The talented Erin of Lucky-Luxe sent me the final invitation suite for approval recently, and now it's off to the printer! She posted a link on her web site of our suite to share with everyone. See it here: Lucky-Luxe. I can't wait to see the details of the blind emboss and elegant letter press design when I have them in hand. It's all about the details!

I LOVE yellow!

Bridesmaid F sent me this from the site Style Me Pretty. I just love the bridesmaid's bouquet! I immediately saved the photo and sent it off to Kelly of Beautiful Blooms for inspiration. During this very rainy and gloomy spring and early summer you really can appreciate how yellow can brighten the day!

Hotels and the water taxi

Of course I ended up doing this myself....

Today I called over to the Hilton Boston Hotel at Logan Airport to reserve a block of rooms for our wedding weekend. For our out of town guests flying into Logan the hotel has a free shuttle to and from the terminals and also to the water taxi to Rowes Wharf and the Boston Harbor Hotel! The taxi is heated and covered and will be a fun way for guests to arrive to the wedding. I bet N will want to ride around in it "escorting" our guests, but really just for fun! They are putting together the contract to e-mail me and I should be ready to add this accomodation to our wedding website in a few days.

Elegant Coffee Cake

There's something to be said for baking for stress relief. With fellowship applications looming, a manuscript to write, and a wedding to plan there is no shortage of stressors around here. So after my evening run I took a little time out to whip up my favorite coffee cake recipe from Debbie and Aunt Helene...I feel better already!

The batter is mixed and the bundt pans laid out.

Bowl of topping of chopped pecans, sugar, and cinnamon, and bowl of the batter.

Elegant coffee cake in the oven!

Invitation drafts and wedding website wonders

The lovely and talented Erin of Lucky Luxe e-mailed me two options to start the design of our invitation suite. I'm excited about the details and will share the finished product when it is ready. The one thing I am still unsure of is where to include our wedding website. I want guests to be able to visit the site for information and directions, but am wondering about the most appropriate place for the www link. My first thought is an enclosure, such as a directions/information card. Unfortunately the internet didn't exist when Emily Post was writing about etiquette, but thankfully Peggy has addressed this one!

Wedding Web Site Tips from Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette

Your Web page should represent you as a couple. Take the time to develop a design and content that you are both comfortable with – one that reflects your personal aesthetic style.

Electronic RSVPs. If you plan to let people RSVP on your site, simply add a printed sentence at the bottom of your reply card sent with your invitation saying, “You may also reply by way of our wedding Web site: www.happycouple.com.”

Don’t list your Web site on your invitation. This may be tempting, but refrain. There are plenty of other ways to let people know about the site, such as including the Web address on other items enclosed in the invitation packet, such as the response card or maps.

Keep it Simple. A few well-designed pages will speak volumes.

Keep personal info private. Some pre-designed Web templates prompt you to type in personal details such as when you shared your first kiss, what you did on your first date, and so on. This may be good fodder for the bachelor(ette) party, but there is no need to share such intimate moments with your entire guest list – and anyone else who may stumble across your site. Keep your postings tasteful and inclusive.

Don’t put the emphasis on gift registries. It is fine to post links to various on-line gift registries on your home page. This is one of the conveniences of your site. It is important to strike a balance between discretion and a desire to make things easier for your guests. Place such links to the side of the page in modestly sized type.

Don’t overlook your unwired guests. Remember, not everyone has ready access to the Internet. If you know that a certain invited guest is not connected to the Web, be sure to send hard copies of any pertinent information

After the wedding. You can use your site after the wedding to post wedding and honeymoon pictures, anecdotes and a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all. This thank you does not replace the individual thank you notes that must be handwritten.

Think you might like to give it a try? Wedding Channel (www.weddingchannel.com) and The Knot (www.theknot.com) provide step-by-step instructions for designing your own free Web page, reachable through their Web addresses. Other Web sites show you how to create a Web site at your own Web address for a fee.

My dress has arrived!

While I was on call Friday night I got word from Phyllis at Priscilla of Boston that my wedding gown has arrived! How exciting! Right away I picked up my new iphone (LOVE, LOVE the iphone by the way) and called over to White Dress By the Shore for a beneath the gown fitting. My wedding planner Sarah suggested their services and I am looking forward to the upcoming trip to the Connecticut shoreline where I grew up. I am hoping to leave with some pretty new bridal lingerie!

Now that I have that appointment scheduled I also going to schedule my first fitting, where I will be ready to dree the part with my new lingerie and my shiny silver Manolos!

Thank You!

Just got some Thank You cards in the mail from my stepmother that match the invitations she sent for my bridal shower. Now I've got to sit down and start penning my thank you notes for all the lovely gifts I have received. Bridesmaid F told me that you aren't supposed to use your gifts until after you are married, but she and I agreed that is crazy talk. How can I resist baking a fresh loaf of bread in my new bread maker? How could I sit idle watching my beautiful new dishes and flatware collect dust? It's been like Christmas with all the gifts, and I must say N and I are enjoying our haul.

Thank you to everyone!!!

Bridal shower

I had a lovely bridal shower tea this weekend at the Madison Beach Hotel. Just wanted to tkae a moment to thank everyone for their well wishes! We had a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon to enjoy the company of family and friends.

Now it's back to planning full speed ahead!

Neverending "To Do" list

Currently on the "To Do" list:

1. Select ceremony music. I've got a PDF from Michael Reavey of the music in their repetoire, but other than knowing I want the Pachelbel Canon in D to play as a walk down the aisle, I am unsure of music selections for seating of the grandparents and parents, procession of the wedding party, and the recessional. I'm leaning toward a modern selection for the recessional that the DJ can pick up, creating a smooth transition to cocktail hour. N doesn't want me to tell anyone so he can see if anyone notices!

2. Meet with the officiant to discuss ceremony outline and vows. We've had an initial consultation with Edi and I've set up a meeting for 6/27 to start the process. Check.

3. Groom and groomsmen attire options (so far):

J. Crew white dress shirt and silk navy tie to match bridesmaids' dresses

Land's End suit-nice shade, khaki/oatmeal heather with white shirt and navy tie

Banana Republic suit-possibly khaki or this silvery gray hue with a white shirt and navy tie.

J. Crew suit- nice warm khaki hue with white shirt and navy tie of course

N is really against the rented tux look with the shiny shoes, and I am just happy that he is so passionate about some part of the wedding details. I think the groomsmen will all look very smart in new suits, and then after the wedding they will be a welcome addition to any wardrobe!

4. Rehearsal dinner. N's parents are looking into some options around the city of Boston and have come up with some preliminary ideas. Check.

5. Finish off bridesmaid's gifts. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but I think I have come up with a nice gift set for each of my girls to include a custom clutch from a designer I found on Etsy filled with lipgloss, nailpolish, purse-sized perfume spray (I'm going to select different scents for each of the girls based on their very different styles and personalities), and a pashmina wrap. Check.

6. Book alternate hotel rooms (read: cheaper option) and put together concept for welcome bags. This should take high priority since I need to block off some rooms ASAP! Maybe I'll put N on the job, he's always good at finding a deal! For the welcome bags I think I am going to turn to bridesmaid F for inspiration. She's the most creative/crafty girl I know!

The list certainly goes on, but I think that's enough tasks for me to focus on for the weekend and week ahead!

Blog love

So things have been busy around the hospital leaving me little time to update our planning progress...
Shortly after receiving my lovely save the dates from Lucky Luxe I managed to get them addressed, stamped, and mailed to our guests. A few days or so later I got an e-mail from Erin saying our save the date was featured on another blog, Oh So Beautiful Paper! How fun! She's now beginning to work on our invitation suite, and I am excited to get a peek at her designs. For my part I need to work on the wording (i.e. "request the honor of your presence" or "request the pleasure of your company", or something to that effect.) I'm going to consult my Emily Post Etiquette book and Martha Stewart Weddings for ideas.

Evolving inspiration

Sarah's latest inspiration board based on our creative journey. I love it!

Flowers

I finally got the chance to sit down with Kelly of Beautiful Blooms to discuss flowers. We are off to a great start and I am looking forward to the opportunity to walk through the Flower Exchange and Jacobson's with her soon. We talked about using large alter pieces on pedastals during the ceremony and lining the aisle with candles and possibly hanging flowers at alternating rows. I think I am going to go with white calla lillies for my boquet and bright yellow for the bridesmaids. The yellow will be a beautiful contrast to their navy silk taffeta dresses! I brought a pair of the cute mini skis with me to show her so we could talk about how we are going to incorporate them into the boutonnieres. Kelly is a ski fanatic as well (I am jealous of her 75+ days she got this year) and is excited that Nate and I are introducing a ski theme into our wedding. As we sat there flipping through books and magazines I got excited about the creative possibilities.

Save the Date!

Just got this gorgeous design from Erin of Lucky-Luxe. Can't wait to send them out to our guests!!!

Bridal bootcamp?

Procrastinating is easy. The interweb provides hours upon hours of information. Recently I came across an article about engaged women going to extremes to get in shape for their big day. I wonder what they look like 1 year later? 5 years later? Hmm... Now, I know I am not in as good shape as I was back in college when I was rowing year round and alpine skiing/racing, but residency doesn't provide a lifestyle that allows for that. But, with the coming of spring and hopes of warmer weather for outdoor recreation, I am going to committ to fitness again. And not just for the big day, for life! My first act, a warm up row on my Concept2 followed by a 3.5 mile run. I feel great!

Mini skis are here!

The miniature snow skis arrived today from Moose-R-Us. They are so cute! And so cheap, the total cost for 7 sets with shipping was a mere $26.00. Now I need to make a trip to A.C. Moore for yellow and navy ribbon and pins. Guess I should also grab a glue gun. For the ribbon I was thinking of using yellow for the groom and navy for the groomsmen. Good idea? Well, I can't wait to put them together with Bridesmaid F's help. How lucky am I to have a DIY diva for a sister-in-law? Another thought I had was that it may be fun to incorporate a small bloom into the boutonnieres. Maybe yellow? or white? We'll see what Kelly thinks when we get together to talk flowers later this week. It's the little details that make this process fun!

Escort card/favor idea

I was contemplating combining the escort card with a favor and came up with the following idea. After skiing many people enjoy mulled wine, cider, or cocoa. So, I was thinking of attaching the escort cards to a bottle of wine packaged with mulling spices. The Spice Barn sells pre-mixed mulling spices in a variety of quantities, and for a reasonable price. The wine used for mulling is supposed to be a cheap red varietal, but the tricky part is finding a large number of half-bottles or full bottles (1 per couple) of cheap wine that doesn't look cheap...The local wine shop my mother frequents is showing this bottle of Sonoma Vendange Cabernet on their website for 12 bottles for $35.88 ($2.99/bottle). Definite possibility. In the meantime I am going to brainstorm other ideas for my escort card/favor that fit with our subtle ski theme.

Candy table

Image from www.amyatlas.com

So I've been thinking about this for a while and I really like the idea of a candy table in addition to wedding cake and also for a favor idea. Amy Atlas has some lovely designs on both her website and blog, but starting at $5,000/event, she's definitely not going to make the budget. Finding the candy is the easy part, at http://www.candywarehouse.com/ you can buy in bulk according to size, color, or theme! I've bookmarked that site for later. Now I have to start looking for candy jars, cake stands, plates, etc. to display the treats on the candy table. At one end of the table I am thinking of having a basket with cellophane bags with a cute sticker attaching ribbon to them for guests to fill up, then tie, and take home to enjoy later. Of course I'll have to think of a sweet message to print on the labels!

Sex And The City

While searching for a good picture of the silver Manolos, I came across this photo of Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw on SATC. It's from an episode I believe is titled "A Women's Right to Shoes."

This YouTube video (I could only find it in Spanish) is a clip of Carrie getting her coveted Manolos and strutting them in the streets of NYC. Fabulous!

Shoes!

My inspiration here is old Hollywood glamour. One of my favorite actresses, Audrey Hepburn, was not only beautiful on the screen in the popular films Funny Face, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany's, but also off the screen in her ballet flats and Hermes scarves. Truly a style icon!

These Manolo Blahnik Sedaraby D'Orsay shoes in silver look like something AH would wear and are a stunning accessory for any bride on her wedding day, and thereafter!

DIY boutonniere

My incredibly crafty future sister-in-law found the exact mini skis I was looking at (see post about Fritts Rosenow) for a mere $3.00 each! So, needless to say we are ordering them and making them ourselves. How fun!

Snippet and Ink Board #315: Navy and Yellow

Inspiration board sent to me by Betsy Dunlap. I love that my calligrapher is adding to my inspiration!

Top row from left: book photo by ThussFarrell, lemon cake by K. Rose Cakes via Ritzy Bee, narcissus bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, fascinator by Rosa ClaraRow 2: leaving City Hall photo via Blah Blah Blahg, Austin Floral Indigo plate photo by Gemma Comas, lemon centerpiece from Martha StewartRow 3: lemon sparkler from Brides, lollipops from One Hundred Wishes, photo by Mulberry Photo, navy tights and yellow shoes from BlueprintRow 4: cattleya orchid bouquet photo by Jocelyn Filley, Chanel nail polish from Nordstrom, lemon centerpiece from Martha Stewart Weddings, lemon slice invitations by Brown Sugar Design

Lucky-Luxe

My other exciting news is that Erin of Lucky-Luxe is designing "Save the Date" postcards and invitations for me. Her work is fabulous! Recently on her blog she posted "Save the Date" postcards she created for another bride, who my wedding planner Sarah is also working with, and has a navy/blue/yellow color scheme too. Even though I don't know them, from her post I feel she really captured the essence of the couple, and beautifully set the tone for their upcoming fall wedding. I can't wait to see what she creates for us!!!

Betsy Dunlap

Growing up I always appreciated beautiful handwriting. My mother recalls that if I didn't like the way a word looked on paper, or caught myself misspelling a word, I would erase the whole word and sometimes the whole sentence, just to make it perfect. I also tried my best to copy the sweeping strokes of others whose writing I admired.

Today I find myself admiring the work of calligrapher Betsy Dunlap, who I am excited to announce, is available to work with me for my wedding! No doubt, the details will be amazing!

Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres

Just got sent a link from F of these adorable boutonnieres she saw on the Brooklyn Bride. It's too perfect that they are navy and yellow!

Ski theme ideas

Now that most of the planning is well underway I've taken some time to think about design for the event and incorporating a ski theme into the paper, decorations, and favors. (More on the paper when we get that finalized.)
In lieu of a guest book it would be fun to have people sign a pair of vintage skis. This idea came from Real Simple Weddings. The couple hosted their ski themed wedding at Squaw Valley, CA. The bride, a graphic designer, put together adorable save the dates and invitations! Check out her company at www.mintchipink.com Sarah and I think it would be fun to incorporate similar ski images in a wallpaper pattern for my invitations. Thanks for the inspiration!
For the decorations I was thinking of naming the tables after ski mountains we've been to together: Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Killington, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Sugarbush, Cannon, Loon, Waterville Valley, Wildcat, Mount Snow, Saddleback, Alp D'Huez. If 16 isn't enough I'm sure I can think of a few more! I'm working on ideas of what to make the table signs out of, but I was thinking little wooden signs in the style of trail signs. Any ideas for me?
Some favor ideas I came up with are inspired by our travels. In France they served these amazing sugar coated waffles at a small stand outdoors at the mid-mountain gondola. We stopped there several times for a 4 o'clock snack on our way back to the lodge. They've become popular in the USA and you can find a Waffle Haus now at most New England resorts. I think they would be great to have on the dessert/candy table! I found a great recipe a few years back from the Boston Globe. An apres ski treat was warmed spiced wine called Vin Chaud that I think could make a fun favor too. I'm also considering putting together cocoa favors with dipped marshmellows. I'd love to give guests something we enjoyed after a great day of skiing that can also be enjoyed on a cool fall evening.
Getting creative and coming up with a few DIY projects= amazing details!

I LOVE this bag!

Silk gala Clutch $88 at www.jcrew.com

J.Crew bridesmaids dresses

My future sister-in-law F (bridesmaid) chose lovely J.Crew dresses for her bridesmaids, and it was the first place I looked to for mine. They truly have a beautiful collection of styles and colors. I hope the girls will actually wear them again! My sister C bought two of the styles to try on and e-mailed me photos that I will share. I love them both!

Earrings and necklaces and bangles, oh my!

Top Row (L to R): David Yurman Noblesse Pave Earrings $1350 and Petite Albion Pearl Earrings $1110 at www.davidyurman.com, Tiffany Pearl studs $275 and Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard pendant in platinum $975 at www.tiffanys.com
Bottom Row (L to R): Tiffany Pearls by the Yard Necklace $295 and Cultured freshwater pearl necklace $625 at www.tiffanys.com, Ippolita 2 Diamond bangle $335 at www.ippolita.com, David Yurman Confetti Pave Station bangle $425 at www.davidyurman.com

Just daydreaming about some potential accessories...

Shoes, glorious shoes!

Top row (L to R): Kate Spade "lover" $275-$295, Kate spade "muse" $275. Both at www.katespade.com
Middle row (L to R): Jimmy Choo "Macy" $595 at www.jimmychoo.com, Manolo Blahnik "Sedaraby" in white $715 at www.barneys.com
Bottom row (L to R): Manolo Blahnik "Sedaraby" in silver $715 at www.barneys.com, Manolo Blahnik slingback sandal $695 at www.neimanmarcus.com

I admit to having a bit of a shoe obsession! Recently I created a fun powerpoint with the above images and sent it to my sister J (MOH) and Sarah to help me decide on styles/colors of shoes for my big day. We all agreed that stylish (and hopefully comfortable) shoes you can wear again are well worth the expense. I think my fiance N would faint if he knew how much these cost!

My Mosaic

Inspiration Board