Exiting the Wedding

You know the image you see time and time again, the one where the happy couple exit their wedding with flowers flying through the air and excited smiles all over the place? That image gives me a rush. That embodies a wedding to me. The culmination of months of planning, an hour (or maybe 15 minutes!) of pure bliss. Your dad walks you down the aisle, your mom cries tears of you joy, you say "I do" and commit your life to someone else, and then it happens. There it is. That beautiful moment where you exit the church surrounded by loved ones, as husband and wife. You are showered with rose petals, bird seed, whatever. To me, it is perfection, and I can't wait.

see it here

see it here

see it here



Back to reality: what if your venue does not allow rose petals because they stain the carpet? What if you're terrified that your dress might be burned by a sparkler? Then what? How do you achieve that dreamy image?

My fiance and I are having lavender tossed. We nixed the rose petals because we thought it would require too much clean up. I nixed the bird seed because I predict my new husband would be pelted with a handful by a groomsman (not a pretty picture!). We wanted something that represented the South. I thought magnolia seeds would be perfect, but I would hate to be responsible for a magnolia tree grove sprouting up at the door of the beautiful church where we are getting married.

So we settled on lavender. It smells good if it gets stuck in my dress, it does not hurt if it is thrown in someones face, and it fits really nicely in some little envelopes I had bought for another wedding project that I later decided was no good!

See it here

See it here

See it here

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

We are offically 56 days away from The Big Day! I feel like I still have loads of work to do and I find something new I love almost hourly, but I am starting to see seven months of planning come together. It's a great feeling, but at the same time- I'm freaking out! I can't help but remember when I was a brand spankin' new bride-to-be and all the things I was so sure I'd do, or not do. I can remember thinking I would only settle for an all lace dress, I'd do almost everything myself, and be surrounded by millions of ranunculus and peonies. Two months out from the wedding I'm getting my no-where-to-be found lace dress altered, I had to limit myself to a handful of DIY projects and my favorite flowers are out of season and $6.00 a stem.

But you know what? I'm ok with that. My wedding is evolving into something even more uniquely personal to my fiance and I than I could have ever imagined and I can't wait to see the final product.

Here are few other things I was dying to incorporate into my wedding, that just ain't happenin'!

I was hell bent on making these beautiful chocolate panels. When I got my first job and decided I didn't have time to try and beat Martha Stewart, I then learned how much it costs to pay someone else to make them!

If I had time to cut out cute fabric and glue it to lighters, I'd be all about the creative little DIY.



How adorable! "For your tears of joy" hankies. I need one for my tears that I don't have the budget to buy everyone hankies!

I still may try and make this little number happen! How neat would it be to have this in your centerpieces and one of those DIY book wreaths on the door?

Fun Reception extras

Lets be honest here, receptions are the reason people go to weddings! Of course it's an honor to witness a couple making a life long commitment to one another, but most people just want to boogie!

Any average bride can have a great DJ and drinks flowing, but I want to go the distance!

Cornhole? Yes ma'am!

see it here

Don't have the budget to rent an expensive Smilebooth? No worries, just hang an empty frame with a sheet behind it and let your guests become the photographer!

You could even have some clever props near the the frame for your friends to tie into their photos. I, for one, could entertain myself for at least 30 minutes with one of these.

see them here

Why not have everyone write the bride and groom well wishes, and drop them in a cute little container? You could even make cute little signs that say "Leave us a little note, drop us a wisdom donation, so that we may read them and remember this day, on our one year anniversary celebration!"