crystal & diamonds

Crafts Galore

2009-05-06T14:05:00.001-07:00

so sorry i haven't posted anything in awhile. i'm redecorating my house and i've been a little obsessed with that lately.

there's a new place that just opened on 3rd between La Brea and Fairfax called Hands-On 3rd

Hands-On 3rd is a workshop that offers classes in anything crafty! they do emphasize in sewing, knitting, crochet. they have great workshops that would entice any diy wedding bride. i noted a few classes below:

Fascinator:

"Yes, it's an accoutrement, an accessory! Create a fabulous design to wear in your hair, on a hat, or lately, on your shoes!" $35 members/ $45 nonmembers + material fee of $20

Open Sew:

"Sewing workshop & free tea bar. Come hang out & work on your projects! Bring your machine or use one of ours."

FREE to members/ $15 for non-members

you can also book events there. they have one called "Bride to Bead."

"The bride and her maids design & create their own silk thread necklaces or jewelry for the big day. A fun, bonding and easy way to make just what you want with our designer and hundreds of gorgeous beads to choose from."

photos via blackburnandsweetzer

inspiration board #4

2009-04-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

another one from snippet and ink

(click to enlarge)

who knew i was so southern? i love these colors and i absolutely love mason jars. i really like the idea of serving some type of iced teas in them.

Cayucos Creek Barn- San Luis Obispo (i think!)

2009-04-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

i also found this location on green wedding shoes

photos by sissel byington

i'm loving these barn weddings. i kinda wish it was greener but it might be the season this wedding was in. i'm hoping spring would have more green meadows. this place also has a portable firepit so i love that this couple decided to have build your own smores for their guests!

here is some info:
$2500 for the whole weekend! this is what i was expecting for a barn!

Eucalyptus Lane- Ventura

2009-04-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Found this location via green wedding shoes blog.
photos by Leigh Miller:
(click to enlarge)

beautiful right? i'll definitely have to check this out too since it's so close.
here are some not so fun specs though:
at least $4200 for a one day only rental fee- 11AM to 11PM. Need to use their specific caterer- most popular menu runs you at $64.95 per person.
eek! that expensive for a barn? wow.

a, b, c

2009-04-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

found this via stylemepretty who found it on paper+cup

these are the CUTEST details that i've ever seen for a wedding.

here is some background info for the inspiration:
"It was 1983, Minhee was new in her 4th grade class. She asked her mom to bring some cupcakes to celebrate her summer birthday during the last day of school. So her mother came and with delight started serving Minhee's birthday treats. However to Minhee's dismay, they were not the cupcakes she asked for. All the kids started to make fun of the traditional korean treats that Minhee's mom brought. However, there was one boy named Truman that just so loved the korean treats. He saw that Minhee felt sad and decided to eat as much as he can. He thanked Minhee's mom and continued to stuff his tiny stomach."

How CUTE is that? i wish my boyfriend and i had some interesting story we could incorporate into our wedding. i'll have to think of one.

enjoy!

frustration

2009-04-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

i hate copying and pasting verbatim but when i read this, i thought i found my long lost twin. this is EXACTLY how i feel and i don't see it letting up anytime soon :(

http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/04/23/confession-of-a-ringzilla/

here are some highlights:
"Growing up, upon finding out about something fun I were going to do in the near future, I used to make myself sick with excitement. I suspect it’s the same with many children, but I’ve never really grown out of it. Instead of a stomach ache, adult me just gets really, really obsessed with the matter at hand. Say, for example, Mr. Mary Jane and I had decided to get a kitten, but we wouldn’t get him for a month. I’d spend that whole month reading everything there is to know about kittens, looking at pictures of kittens, visiting kittens in the humane society, talking to kitten-owners about their vets, and buying cute crap for the kitten to play with when it arrived. I’d probably even make color-coded kitten-related charts. I like to be in control, and I like to plan. And when I can’t get what I want right now, I want to know when I will get it so that I can prepare. I have no excuse for this; it’s a flaw of mine. (And yes, I’m an only child. What gave it away?)

This surprise-engagement thing really bothered me. Again, I wasn’t after the ring, but it was symbolic for the next step to come. I was confused as to why Mr. Mary Jane didn’t want us to be engaged right away. I wondered how long I’d have to wait. I’m generally a “glass-half-empty” person, especially when it comes to matters concerning my character. I wondered what was wrong with me. Was he thinking twice about our future? (I have NO reason to suspect this.) Why wasn’t he as excited to get engaged as I was? I kept pushing the subject. I got annoying. I tried to get him to talk about wedding styles. About guest lists. I sent him links to wedding stuff. He was pretty tolerant, but I knew I shouldn’t be bugging him so much. I was being dumb. I knew it meant a lot to him to do the proposal his own way, on his own time. But I couldn’t let it drop.

I got pushier and pushier as time passed. Valentine’s day came and went, but not without me wondering if maybe he had the ring - maybe it was somehow possible. He gave me a beautiful pink marquise ring for my right hand for Valentine’s Day (along with other thoughtful gifts).

I started to get angry about the whole situation. I am the first to admit that I have traditional values regarding family. I would love to be a housewife, I love when Mr. Mary Jane does manly things for me to help me out (even though I’m quite capable), and I love being ’taken care of’ by him. But this proposal thing had my feminist waters boiling. Weren’t we supposed to be doing this as equals? As a couple? Why did HE get to see the ring? Why should HE get to choose when to propose? It just made me jealous and mad. I felt like he was stringing me along, teasing me, or maybe even trying to teach me a lesson about patience. It was bringing out the worst in me."

you should read the whole thing. i was going to write my own but i don't write as eloquently as she does. i feel even worse than this, if you can imagine that, because we haven't even done the ring shopping! i am getting extremely frustrated which i know is not fair to him but i don't care! i think i'm starting to get really depressed about this whole thing. :(

and what ms. mary jane said about the whole equality thing really struck a chord in me. i got upset over this same matter a few weekends ago at my boyfriend. and i still really don't think it's fair. why is he making all the decisions? why am i not involved? i think i would feel a little better if he spoke to me about it but he doesn't. and when you think about it, traditionally the guy doesn't necessarily know if the girl is going to say yes. since he does know, i feel its unfair for him to keep me waiting for so long! both he and i know we're going to get married, what's the holdup?

grr. i know im crazy. but i can't help myself.

typed reception tables

2009-04-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

found this little ditty on green wedding shoes. created by David Stark for the Metropolitan Opera's 125th anniversary.

i love type. i think this is a great idea to place on your tabletop at a reception. and type can be so fanciful, unique with so many different ways of displaying and colors. you can really mold it to whatever you want it to be/match. amazing...

inspiration board #3

2009-04-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

yet another amazing inspiration board by snippet and ink:

Mood: relaxed romance, flirty fun
Palette: oak leaf, raspberry, marigold

green gift ideas for the couple and the guest

2009-04-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

i'm sorry it took so long for me to write my next post. i think i wrote so much in my first week that i was struck with a creative block. but no need to worry, i'm going to post a bunch right now!

my friend who is going to a wedding this weekend sent me this nice little link. its filled with tons of great green, eco-friendly gift ideas. i'll provide some highlights below:

changingthepresent.org offers thousands of donation gifts from Inspire Dreams- 15 books for kids ($45), Equip a household- give seeds and supplies ($100), and Adopt a Jaguar- Support a conservation project ($35). now who doesn't want their own jaguar?

couples can also give a gift of charity when creating a registry with I Do Foundation Gift Registry. when creating a registry, you provide your guests by picking up a gift for you while donating up to 8% to your chosen charity.

Guests can create a gift basket of sustainable household items such as organic cotton towels, compact flourescenet light bulbs and more at National Green Pages.

or guests can plant a tree with Trees for the Future's certificates. they will give you a tree planting kit where you can plant your own tree or sponsor the planting of 250 trees in Haiti, Senegal, or Ethiopia.

couples can provide green gifts for their wedding party:

for the ladies- you can create a quality gift basket through global exchange. Global exchange works with Women Around The World Gift Basket to create a collection of goodies that benefits women and girls around the world by helping to end violence towards women and girls.

for the men- Ten Thousand Villages has a great assortment for guy gifts that include a Guatemalan camera bag and onyx chess sets.

there are tons of more ideas at green elegance weddings.

maps

2009-04-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

hand drawn maps? sign me up!

by Pier Gustafson

save the date

2009-04-24T17:08:00.001-07:00

yes, another invitation post:

these are great gatsby themed, cute right? can't you imagine a vintage mansion with overgrown greenery with lots of beautiful chandeliers at this wedding?

i can

from cup of jo

letterpress

2009-04-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

i decided i should probably take a class first before i buy a printer!

i think i am going to take classes at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. class schedule is here for anyone who was wondering.

Satsuma Press

2009-04-24T11:14:00.001-07:00

Yes, another invitation post. I found this from a cup of jo

Satsuma Press is a one person design and letterpress shop based out of Oregon. See some of Lynn's designs from her wedding collection below.

i am in LOVE with letterpress printing. how do i get my own printer? i knew i should've taken printmaking classes in college, darn it.

well lucky me, i just found a blog on how to buy my own letterpress printer here if any of you are interested. its fairly cheap- only $300 for the specific one cake & pie noted on their blog. i'll keep you posted if i actually do buy one!

hair

2009-04-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

total beauty's homepage today is about "picture-perfect bridal hair." i thought i'd share some of the highlights. they display 16 different bridal hairstyles with instructions/products so you can do these at home. most of them are ugly but i'll list some of the prettier ones:

What you'll need:

•Hair brush

•Hair elastic

•Clip-on ponytail hair piece (try HairUWear Posh Put On Pony, $49)

•Hairspray (try Aveda Air Control Hair Spray, $23 or John Frieda Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier Firm-Hold Hairspray, $5.49)

•bobby pins

How to:

•Step 1: Brush hair down and back into a ponytail and secure with a hair elastic.

•Step 2: Mist hair with hairspray.

•Step 3: Secure the hair piece to your head by clipping it around the ponytail holder. (See photo.)

•Step 4: Wrap hair piece into a bun and secure with bobby pins. (See photo.) Set with hairspray.

Works on: Chin-length hair

What you'll need:

•Hot rollers (try: Conair Infiniti Flocked Rollers, $54.99 or Vidal Sassoon Ionic Molecular Steam Setter, $20.99)

Bobby pins

•Hairspray (try Aveda Air Control Hair Spray, $23 or John Frieda Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier Firm-Hold Hairspray, $5.49)

How to:

•Step 1: Set hair with hot rollers and allow them to cool. Remove.

Step 2: Using bobby pins, start with the top and side sections of hair and form hair into coils, then pin them softly back. Then pin hanging ends toward the center of head, again in a coil shape. (See photos.)

•Step 3: Set with hairspray.

Works on: Medium to long hair

What you'll need:

•Hot rollers (try: Conair Infiniti Flocked Rollers, $54.99 or Vidal Sassoon Ionic Molecular Steam Setter, $20.99)

•Bobby pins

•Teasing comb or small-toothed comb (try Ulta Styling Comb with Lift, $2.75)

•Hairspray (try Aveda Air Control Hair Spray, $23.00 or John Frieda Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier Firm-Hold Hairspray, $5.49)

How to:

•Step 1: Set hair with hot rollers for added body and allow them to cool before removing.

•Step 2: Tease hair at the crown of your head to add volume and lightly spray with hairspray for hold, then smooth over the top layer of the teased area with a brush.

•Step 3: Gather hair into a low ponytail and twist it upward so that it creates a roll shape. (See photo.)

•Step 4: Secure the roll area with bobby pins and then wrap the hanging tail around (tucking in any loose ends and securing those with bobby pins as well). Finish by setting with hairspray.

Works on: Medium to long hair

What you'll need:

•Hot rollers (try: Conair Infiniti Flocked Rollers, $54.99 or Vidal Sassoon Ionic Molecular Steam Setter, $20.99)

•Hairspray (try Dove Flexible Hold Hairspray, $4.29 or Aveda Witch Hazel Hair Spray, $10)

•Jeweled clip (Scunci Genuine Crystal Clips, $3.29)

How to:

•Step 1: Apply hot rollers to the entire head. (See photo.) Allow to cool.

•Step 2: Once hot rollers have set, remove and finger comb hair to soften the curls. (See photo.)

•Step 3: Loosely pin back one side of the front section of your hair with a jeweled clip.

•Step 4: Set your style with a light-hold hairspray.

Works on: Long hair

What you'll need:

•Hair elastic

•Bobby pins

•Hot rollers or 1" curling iron

How to:

•Step 1: Using hot rollers or curling iron, create loose curls throughout your hair.

•Step 2: Divide hair into four sections: one on the far left side of your hair, two in the middle and one on the far right.

•Step 3: Take one of the four sections (on the far right or left -- depending on the side you want your pony to fall on) and secure it into a low pony.

•Step 4: Take the middle two sections and pin them on top of the secured pony. (See photo.)

•Step 5: Take the last section on the far side of your head and wrap it around the pony and the pinned sections to bring them all together. (See photo.) Pin that final section into place.

If you want to see the whole collection, you can go here.

more candy bags!

2009-04-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

here are some more lovely bags for inspiration:

via snippet & ink

check out these bags! photos from once wed. the couple ordered these custom bags from for your party. they also do ribbons, candy boxes, napkins, matches, coasters and more. check them out!

just simple cellophane and ribbon- classy
via elizabeth anne designs

check out these cute bags!:

and these:

and these!:

these are cones:

all by beau coup
most of them come in different colors and can be personalized. hooray!

candy bags

2009-04-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

i know, i know, im posting tons about candy. i'm actually doing some research for a wedding friend of mine who's thinking of having a candy buffet for her wedding in june!

candy bags (all photos courtesy of wedding bee):
all you need are clear plastic bags- or any fun colored bags like so:

then create a cute label like so:

and if you want a sticker for the back- a twist tie/or ribbon would work nicely too:

and you have your own personalized candy bag as wedding favors- cute!

ill find other pics of bags and post shortly!

candy jars

2009-04-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

here are a few pics of jars used at another wedding, courtesy of wedding bee.

you can find jars anywhere! target and ikea- see below for some that i found for purchase online, marshall's, tjmaxx, any home store, and flea markets of course! i'm sure you can find tons. Pasadena has the great rose bowl flea market every 2nd sunday of the month and if you've never been, its HUGE. last time i went, which was just a couple of weeks ago, i saw tons of jars, bottles, vases for cheap!

$29.99 at target

$16.99 at target

$2.99 for a 4pack at ikea! these would be great for a single serving candy buffet which would look like so:

photo courtesy of wedding bee

candy buffet

2009-04-23T11:49:00.001-07:00

i am posting a little more info on a diy candy buffet to add to sam's post. below are image examples of candy buffets along with some important information on how to create your own, courtesy of junebug:

instructions from junebug as well- thank you!

Planning your own DIY candy buffet? Here are a few of our top tips to make it a success:

Candy buffets are as much decorations as they are yummy favors, so you’ll want to have enough candy to create an abundant presentation.

A varying selection of large and small glass vases, bowls, and platters makes a charming candy buffet presentation.

Choose five to ten varieties of candy and purchase several pounds of each depending on the size of your wedding and the look you’re going for.

Don’t go under one-quarter to one-half a pound of candy per person, or you many run too low.

Small Chinese food–style take-out containers, vellum or clear plastic envelopes tied with ribbon, or pretty tins make excellent take-home containers for your candy buffet.

Include a small metal scoop in each large candy jar for easy use.

Label each kind of candy, especially those containing nuts, so your guests can choose wisely in case of health concerns.

Hard or wrapped candies work well in warmer climates, but the best choices are candies that you personally love and think your guests will appreciate.

Possible treats for great candy buffets include jelly beans, licorice ropes, M&Ms, gummy candies, sour gummy candies, malted milk balls, lollipops, saltwater taffy, hard candy sticks, rock candy, vintage candy necklaces and bracelets, gum balls, gumdrops, conversation hearts, chocolate kisses, and chocolate-covered cherries, almonds, pretzels, and espresso beans.

and as sam posted before, here are some shops:

economycandy.com

candywarehouse.com

weddingfavorites.com

websites

2009-04-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

i am also going to start learning web design. hopefully i'll learn all there is to know before i get engaged so i can make my own wedding website rather than using a template

yay for design!

invitations

2009-04-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

i've been thinking and reading a lot about invitations lately. i am going to design all of my own printed materials- save the dates, invitations, menus, programs. i'm still conceptualizing the theme, obviously since i'm not even engaged yet, and am looking at materials. as you all know, i really enjoy the rustic/nature look and found the below from oslo press. since i dabble in invitation design for work, there's some extra pressure for my invitations to look awesome. i think the printed materials will be my biggest hurdle.

Oslo Press uses wood veneers which look absolutely beautiful for an invitation as you can see. these are their swatches below:

what's really neat about Oslo Press is that they are also eco-friendly. they repurpose industrial extras when creating these wooden invitations to reduce the amount of industrial waste in landfills.

Oslo Press

diy mini garden

2009-04-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

my roommate and i are having a craft night in a couple of weeks and i've been thinking of what i should make. lo and behold, i just found this awesome diy project on design*sponge. i think this will make a great addition to my office. i'll post pictures of my finished product!

instructions here

more pies

2009-04-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

i don't know why i'm so obsessed with pies. my boyfriend mentioned he would rather have a pie than a cake for the wedding so why not do some research...

how cute are these bite sized pies! love them.

found these via oh happy day who found them here

dress shop

2009-04-22T21:32:00.001-07:00

i think this place has been open for awhile but i just found out via 10,000 weddings.

Glamour Closet, a bridal sample sale boutique headquarted in San Francisco, has opened its second location in West Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA.

NEW designer wedding gown samples such as Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Reem Acra, Amsale, Kenneth Pool and MANY MANY MORE are priced 25-75% OFF its original retail prices EVERYDAY!

Learn more about us at www.glamourcloset.com

Hours of Operation:
Wednesdays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED Mondays & Tuesdays

NO appointments necessary, we are on a walk-in basis ONLY.

Location:
324 S. La Brea Avenue (cross street: West 3rd)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel. (323) 938-2000

i am mainly writing this so i can remember/find this later on when i go dress shopping.

pie on a stick

2009-04-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

courtesy of wedding bee
so there are tons of posts of stick candies and even cupcakes on sticks to provide as delicious wedding favors and they are delicious...

but what about a pie on a stick! i can eat that every day, not just on my wedding day.

i was watching food tv last night and they had a segment on the bakery Blond Giraffe. jamie and bobby dean has the best job ever! they were taught how to make Blond Giraffe's world famous key lime pie dipped in chocolate on a stick and of course sampled their creation afterwards. i think these are a much yummier favor than cupcakes on a stick, what do you think?

silhouettelry

2009-04-22T16:34:00.001-07:00

oh my goodness, i just found the CUTEST necklace that i need to buy as soon as i get my paycheck tomorrow :)

Meg Moorhouse, designer from Brooklyn, CUSTOM makes these silhouette necklaces in sterling silver, 18k gold vermeil, or 14k solid gold with a 16 inch chain to match. you send in a digital image of your desired silhouette and your new necklace will arrive within 4 weeks. she will also do personalized engravings on the charm.

now i can wear my boyfriend around my neck all day, every day :)

this could be a great bridesmaids' gift too... give them a silhouette of themselves as necklaces- is that weird? to wear your own silhouette around your neck?

buy these for $148 at candy store collective

inspiration board #2

2009-04-22T16:22:00.001-07:00

i've been collecting images to create my own color inspiration board but snippet & ink always seems to post thousands that are exactly what i was imagining before i can even finish my one:

colors: lavender, green, cream

one day i will finally finish and post my own.

bridal bootcamp.

2009-04-22T15:43:00.001-07:00

this posting cracked me up and is as if i wrote it myself. thought i would share...

Jess makes a plan to tone up & slim down before the big day.

By Jessica Solloway

My wedding is six months away and that wave of panic about losing weight just hit me. I don't need to do anything drastic, but I definitely want to look, well ... awesome, to be blunt. I won't go crazy and live on a diet of lettuce with lemon juice until the big day, (who am I kidding, I couldn't even if I tried), but I definitely need to get my game face on when it comes to eating right and working out more.

A few obstacles:

1) I love cheese, chocolate and carbs.
2) I can't afford a personal trainer.
3) I feel like I do the same thing at the gym all the time and I'm not seeing any results.

Here's my plan of attack (I just started last week):

1) Pretend I'm allergic to all of the foods listed above. So far, that has not been a successful tactic. Still working on it. (For real -- I am just trying to do low fat versions of cheese and not eat as much.)

2) Instead of shelling out money on a personal trainer, I have been discreetly watching OTHER people with their personal trainers at the gym and then I copy what they're doing. Don't worry, I stay very low profile as not to appear creepy.

3) The best thing EVER that has helped me vary up my workouts (and also solve the lack of personal trainer issue) is my recent discovery of Exercise TV on demand. It's free, and there are TONS of workouts to choose from. So far, I'm really into the Skinny Bitch Boot Camp, Bootyliscious Buns and the 30 Day Shred.

Sidenote: I spend most of the workouts cursing Jillian Michaels and wondering how she can talk while she exercises when I am struggling just to breathe. But as I've learned from from her, we have to force the body to adapt, or we'll never see change. (So far, my body HATES when I force it to adapt to insane amounts of push-ups, but I'm trying.)

All of my friends say that as it gets closer to the wedding, the adrenaline kicks in and you lose weight without even trying. Sweeeeet! Sign me up!

Aside from focusing on my new diet and exercise regimen, I am heading to Cleveland and have a bunch of appointments set up. I'm going to meet my florist, see where I'm getting married, and do a cake tasting!

I also have my best friend's wedding shower, so it will be good practice for my own.

I'll let you guys know how it goes next week! And if you have any good pre-wedding workout ideas, please leave a comment below!

bird notes

2009-04-22T15:39:00.001-07:00

i am loving martha stewart these days. how does she and team come up with so many creative ideas.
from martha:

Anchor bare branches (these are manzanita) in a large, sturdy vessel filled with stones or gravel. Use wire to secure nests, available from craft stores, to branches. Set dove cards -- available precut -- in a dish. Place pencils alongside your tree with a sign asking guests to inscribe a card and to place it in a nest.

courtesy of martha stewart

instead of a guest book, you can have this "thoughtful tree" where guests handwrite notes to the bride and groom on bird shaped pieces of paper and place them onto the nests in the "thoughtful tree."

i am definitely obsessing over all things birds right now!

go planet earth.

2009-04-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

ok, so how many of you are going green? i am trying trying trying! my downfall is water bottles. i cant seem to let them go. i officially drive a hybrid and bring recyclable bags to the grocery store, etc etc. baby steps. i found these eco friendly items for the kitchen that i am obsessed with! if you click on the site you will see a set of bowls that are so cute. i love that being environmental is the cool thing to do.

candles and wood

2009-04-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

so great to place on top of your reception tables. and its a fun diy project. see below for details

Candleholders

1. Locate your log’s most handsome region. Note any knots or blemishes that could add texture or make the wood difficult to cut.

2. Secure the log in a vise.

3. Saw off a disc-shaped piece of wood at the depth of your preference. (Anything less than 3/4” and your candle will wobble.)

4. Place the side you want to face down on some a piece of scrap wood and clamp the disc into place.

5. Select the bit size that matches the diameter of the candles you plan to use.

6. Drill a candle hole 1/2” to 3/4” deep in your desired location.

7. Remove the candleholder from the clamp and clear away any dust.

8. Line the candle hole with foil to avoid setting the house on fire.

9. Insert your candle and light up.

found on readymade

drinking games

2009-04-22T00:21:00.001-07:00

i just found this reception idea on theknot. lawn games during cocktail hour! how awesome! a rousing game of bocce ball or croquet would pass the time away until supper.

photo by christy murray

an urban location

2009-04-21T23:35:00.001-07:00

maybe i'll abandon my search for that perfect outdoor garden location for the smog shoppe in culver city! found this on dailycandy weddings.

check out the awesome pictures. very urban, city feel with a good amount of greenery and smart eclectic decor.

smog shoppe boasts a 100% solar powered 6500 sq. ft of indoor/outdoor space in the heart of culver city.

teacup chandelier

2009-04-21T14:57:00.001-07:00

i think this is the cutest thing ever. not sure how i would replicate this for a wedding but cute for the home:

From domestic construction at etsy

i want.

2009-04-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

these staub cocottes look a-m-a-z-i-n-g and i want some. you can make anything in them. baked mac n'cheese, artichoke dip, any side dish you could imagine. they make everything so toasty, fun, and ready to serve straight out of the dish.

http://www.staubusa.com/

this hot spinach artichoke dip recipe would be just perfect

courtesy of paula deen

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
2 (13 3/4-ounce) cans artichoke hearts
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a casserole dish with nonstick spray.

Heat the spinach in a microwave oven on high for 5 minutes and squeeze dry. Drain the artichoke hearts and coarsely chop in a food processor.

Combine all the ingredients except the jack cheese in a large bowl. Stir well. Scrape into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the jack cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Transfer to a chafing dish and keep warm over a low flame. Serve with bagel chips.

1 cup grated pepper jack cheese

peace be the journey.

2009-04-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

love love love the pink with the peace sign. you can totally layer this necklace with a medium length gold charm necklace and a strand of pearls. keep an open mind with that idea. trust, it would be tres cute! you can purchase at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7230478

how sweet it is.

2009-04-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

for a parting gift at your wedding - do a candy bar! use some plastic or paper bags (totally affordable) and have stickers made with your initials to seal it up. you can even write a cute message to all of your guests saying how "sweet it was to have them celebrate". everyone will go home with something sweet and a bag will last for days!

economycandy.com

candywarehouse.com

weddingfavorites.com

what i would do...

2009-04-21T10:29:00.001-07:00

...for this fred leighton necklace. it would go just perfectly with my dress. talk about a statement piece.

trees and veils

2009-04-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

i decided to browse through wedding photographer's leigh miller's website and found the beautiful images below. i was very interested in this couple's theme of trees and wood as you can see through their programs, favors, and even their cake! as you know im in love with all things rustic!

check out the program. i love that its printed on actual wood. on the info page, the bride mentioned that their invites were also custom made and printed on actual sheets of Walnut wood. wow!

here is a larger image of their cake. love the sticks!

another aspect i liked was the bride's veil. it was handmade by Brenda's Bridal Veils on etsy.com.

i wonder if i could pull off wearing veils to work.

all images by leigh miller

shoelry

2009-04-20T14:54:00.001-07:00

i was reading martha's blog today and found these!

they're shoe clips! i thought this would be a nice budget friendly alternative to the post sam made below on shoes. you can place these on any pair of shoes that you already own to create something new and unique! and they are fairly cheap- &25 for the flowers.

you can buy them at erica weiner jewelry.

tunes

2009-04-20T12:19:00.001-07:00

i've been debating whether i should have a dj or just an ipod play during the reception. i know for sure that i want a 4 string quartet to play during the ceremony but the reception...who knows. here are my pros and cons:

ipod-
pro:
-we choose the music/playlist (babe is very big into music and is very stubborn when it comes to his playlists)
- free!

con:
-someone has to press play, pause, stop during any speeches etc. this alone gives me anxiety attacks.
-there's no one to feel the mood of the crowd so what if when everyone is eating you hear a crazy, obnoxious dance song? or an extremely mellow sad song when people are in the mood to dance?

dj-
pro:
- there is a person to feel the mood of the crowd, and can help people get pumped up/pumped down during certain times. this will help so i'm not out there dancing by myself!
- this person will control all of the audio levels during the speeches, etc.
-i won't have to worry if people liked my choices in music!

con:
-money
-what if he/she sucks

i actually found a wedding dj who has his own blog which you can find here.
he posts his playlists on his blog and so far the music seems pretty good. i've posted samples below. he also creates monthly compilation cds and sends them out to anyone who asks. i hope to get mine in may. once i do, i'll let you know if its any good.

a sample playlist for the cocktail hour/dinner:

for the dance party/reception:

found these here

1950's here i come.

2009-04-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

do you ever go online shopping? you put a few things in the cart and then your hand takes control of you and click out. i'm not quite sure if thats Suze Orman telling us "dont do it - you dont need it!" or if thats me thinking "what if it doesnt fit? what if the color is hideous? how do i return it?

well, vintageous.com is the perfect example of what im talking about. i love love love the 1950s. i love the tulle. i love the feminity. i love the colors. i wish we could all dress like that all the time. i have been looking for bridal shower and rehersal dinner dresses

for a while now and all i want is a mid length big tulle dress. i click, i put in, i click out, its no longer avail. one day i will type in the credit card numbers. in the meantime, check out what im talking about. sigh.

inspiration.

2009-04-20T09:58:00.001-07:00

inspiration board #1

2009-04-19T21:46:00.001-07:00

here is an inspiration board that i found from blog 100 layer cake that i really like.

love the yellowish and bluish hues in the pear and sage, respectively.

Dresses!

2009-04-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

so, for the longest time i've always told myself that i have to have a vera wang dress. i think its because that's the only bridal designer i knew! but now that i've been looking around, i realized vera wang is overrated :)

i am in love with monique lhuillier!

here are some of her gowns from her spring 2010 collection that i absolutely LOVE. wow who knew bridal fashion goes that far in advance!

here are some other dresses that i love by her:

i love that the skirt of this dress has a hue of green.

i think i just like this image itself, model/pose, rather than the dress :)

Dresses for the Bridesmaids

2009-04-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

i know for certain that i want different dresses for the bridesmaids and i definitely want them to choose their dress, within reason of course. i haven't decided on a color palette but i know i want green in there for sure so i want the bridesmaids dresses do be in two or three shades of green. i want to provide my bridesmaids with those shades and they can choose any gown they want in those shades exactly. and i would want to see them before they buy it of course.

i just really feel that mixed dresses match so much better and look better than dresses that are exactly the same. and i want my bridesmaid to look beautiful and get a dress that they would wear multiple times, not only to my wedding. and girls have different body types, not all dresses look good on all girls.

here are some examples of mixed dresses. don't these just match nicely?

pics courtesy of martha stewart weddings

here is an example of what i do not want. don't the looks above look so much better than the below? i think so:

pic courtesy of martha stewart weddings

DIY Altar

2009-04-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

i found some great pics of an altar that i would like to replicate at my wedding. in fact, i would like to make them myself which i'm sure won't be too hard, right? see below for images. i think this looks beautiful. since my wedding is outdoors, i think the twigs/sticks twined around would look great. i would just add a few vines for some greenery.

i know these images have been posted on several blogs but i believe the photographers are from this one

i'm not sure where i found this one :( if this is anyone's pic, let me know and i'll credit accordingly.

this is not from the same wedding but the look is very similar. depending on how hard it is to make, i would also like mine to stretch out down the aisle. i would probably do something different to keep it upright instead of those white bag weights on the ground.

-crystal

bridesmaids

2009-04-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

Just an inquiry, am I obligated to have my boyfriend's sister as a bridesmaid?

I see her once a year, if that! She's very nice but I would hardly call her a friend, more like an acquaintance. I don't want to be rude or cause any hostility to my future in-laws but I already have my 4 maids picked out! And since I want a small wedding (50-100),I feel silly having so many people standing around.

I talked to my boyfriend about this and he kinda got upset about it. I didn't even think he cared since he and his sister aren't all that close.

I think I'll just have to suck it up and do it. :(

step to it.

2009-04-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

sam here. i am so excited to be a part of crystals blog! we will have fun posting random things about weddings, be it, arts and crafts, ideas, locations, inspirations, etc.

i, myself, am getting married in august to the man of my dreams (sigh) and while doing hours upon hours of research, i have noticed, while not wanting to go in debt i still want to feel like a princess no matter what it takes. so, i'm going to start my first post on shoes!

get some of these shoes for bridal showers, a night

on your bachelorette party, or your wedding night. xx

Badgley Mischka silk pumps with mesh overlay and tulle flowers - $215

my almost perfect location

2009-04-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

as stated in my previous post, i first started this wedding madness with a simple search for location. i soon found that it is going to be much harder to find the "perfect" wedding location as i envision it in my head, which is like this:

green luscious landscape surrounded by mountains with wildflowers blooming all over the place-kinda like this:

sans julie andrews

with a rustic small white chapel right in the middle like so:

or:

i soon found these things were hard to find in southern california, especially the green part until i found the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse (pics below). i literally almost cried when i saw the pictures. this was even better than the image in my head and it was just a couple of hours north in the town of los olivos! this place is completely isolated, surrounded by hills, very green (well in certain seasons anyways- i want a spring wedding), and tons of land! (150 acres). the more i think about it, i don't really want to get married in a chapel or church since neither me nor my boyfriend are that religious. i think an outdoor wedding would suit us much better. the farmhouse is also plenty rustic and i definitely want that rustic/outdoorsy/green/garden feel to my wedding. look at these amazing pics:

pic courtesy of santa barbara wedding chic

pic courtesy of Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse

pic courtesy of emily

you get the point. well it turns out Sam, who hopefully will let us all know in detail in her next post, knew a couple who was married here and the location didn't turn out so well. apparently when the guests sat down the chairs started sinking into the ground which i'm sure is very uncomfortable. also the drive up there was pretty long and windy which could be a headache for the guests especially at night. an option to offset that would be to use shuttles but that's extra cost and i think it still would be a hassle for the guests. so that kinda sucks but i think its worth checking out in person, if i ever get engaged.

so my search is still ongoing. i heard that charmlee wilderness park in malibu was pretty green and nice. i'll find out more info/pics and write about that in a separate post.

-crystal

hello!

2009-04-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

hello world!

welcome to my blog.

let me start at the beginning (i promise it will be short as i tend to ramble when i write!). my name is crystal and I am NOT engaged...yet! I have been going out with my boyfriend for 6 years, i know right!? and i am just waiting for the day when he finally proposes. until then i've decided to dabble in a little wedding research. at first it was just for fun to see if i could come up with any location ideas, then it evolved into a full blown obsession. so here i am now creating my first blog devoted to weddings. i've read plenty of other blogs and decided i would like to write my own, mainly to store all of the research, imagery, inspiration, ideas in one central location that i can keep organized and share with friends and anyone else who is interested (hopefully potential new friends :) )

since this is my first blog ever, i apologize in advance for any blogging etiquette i might mess up or my rambling!

oh also, i plan to recruit friends who are like me, not yet engaged but obsessed, and friends who are engaged and in the midst of wedding planning to become frequent writers in this post. my main contributing editor will be Sam. you will definitely hear from her soon.

-crystal