Matrimonial Monday!

Photograph Taken by Marcy Silveira

Not much to report by the way of my wedding this week. Above is a picture of a venue that I visited. The absolutely gorgeous Annadel Estate Winery. It's definitely a contender.

In the meantime, there have been a few things that have been inspiring or exciting me for my own wedding. Thought I'd share some of them.

Photo Courtesy of Style Me Pretty

I love the idea of having throw blankets as wedding favors. In your wedding colors, they can make a festive and practical gift.

Photo Courtesy of intimateweddings.com

Having one or two signature cocktails has become very popular and I can see why. It's a money saver compared to having an open, full bar, and the cocktail can be an expression of the couple. My cocktail would probably be fresh and fruity, but not too sweet. And it would have gin...

Photo Courtesy of Here

I have always known that candlelight would play a big part in my wedding. I love the idea from the picture above of using old wine bottles as candle holders. (Mr. Kate has a great blog post about how to do this yourself!) It's simple and inventive, chic and rustic. It's just lovely. 

—

There are so many fun and beautiful ideas to put to use when planning a wedding. However, maintaining simplicity is hugely important to me, so I want to choose carefully. 

Are there any trends or wedding ideas that you are loving right now? I'm always looking for more ideas, so tell me about them!

Til next time. 

Matrimonial Monday!

I can't imagine anything more important than to be organized when you are planning a wedding. Even when organization reigns, you still feel like you are pulled in every direction while getting little accomplished, so imagine what being disorganized would look like...

Some peoples answer to this potential problem is to hire a wedding planner. This is great if you have money to spare, but few of us do, so the more economical option is a wedding planner— a binder with pages that help you to secure every detail of your wedding. 

This is the wedding planner I received from my mom almost minutes after Dan proposed. It contains tabs for everything from ceremony and reception, to honeymoon & beyond. It gives advice on saving money, recommendations on how to hire vendors, and traditional wedding etiquette. It has slots for business cards, folders for pamphlets and brochures, and spreadsheets aplenty. This binder is a one stop shop for every detail you could possibly want to incorporate into your wedding.

I will admit that I have not even scratched the surface on utilizing this tool. However, I plan too. Get it?

So, when you get engaged, I would recommend that one of your first steps be to get organized. And, that first step may involve the purchase of your very own wedding planner.

Til next time.

Matrimonial Monday!

Weddings are a business, and a part of that business are bridal magazines. 

They come in all shapes and sizes. They talk about venues, flowers, etiquette, bridal makeup, food, trends, and of course, the dress. They all talk about the same things with slight variations, and yet, many brides feel the need to collect as many as there are published. I'm not saying I don't fall into this category, but there are a few things I have learned along the way.

Martha Stewart Weddings

After my first round of collecting every bridal magazine I could find, I quickly discovered my favorites. One of those favorites is Martha Stewart Weddings. Lets be honest, Martha Stewart knows how to make things beautiful. The photos and inspiring ideas in her wedding magazines are so good that you could plan your dream wedding just based on a single volume. But, it's fun to collect Martha's mags, as I never tire of another beautifully done table scape or perfect appetizer menu.

The Knot

The Knot is an amazing resource when planning your wedding. When I first got engaged, I thought The Knot was just online, but when Dan and I went to do a little registering (post to follow!) we were given a Northern California-specific magazine from The Knot. This is great, as it has lists of venues and vendors, and beautiful photographs to go along. Finding area specific resources is so important, as it helps you to see what is in your area and therefore in the realm of possibilities...

I don't think every bridal magazine on the market is necessary. Not by far. However, it is all part of the experience. Flipping through bridal magazines with your mom, friends, or even your future husband is fun and exciting. You bounce ideas off each other, and that is how you begin to envision your dream wedding.

So go out and pick a few bridal magazines up. They aren't that expensive, they are good resources if you put them to good use, and they get you excited about what will be the most wonderful day of your life.

Til next time.