Tag Archives: wedding

A Sweet Southern Affair

Posted in Wedding Planning by

Last weekend Luke and I traveled to Nashville for the wedding of his buddy Lee to the lovely Lanna. I absolutely LOVED their venue – Cedarwood Mansion – it had a ton of rustic, southern charm.

IMG_1308

Although the weather didn’t cooperate for an outdoor ceremony, the details inside couldn’t have been more breathtaking. They had candles lit everywhere.

IMG_1310

IMG_1311

Lanna looked gorgeous walking down the aisle with her dad! The picture is a bit blurry though :(

IMG_1299

After the ceremony, all the guests had cocktails in the barn behind the mansion. It was a really unique venue for a cocktail hour and I adored the laid-back feel of the barn.

IMG_1307

IMG_1303

IMG_1300

There was even an old pickup truck nearby that added even more charm. I hope Lee and Lana got some pictures by it!

IMG_1304

One of my favorite elements of their wedding was the use of candles. They had these awesome jars hung everywhere filled with tea-light candles. I thought it was a really pretty (and economical) way to set the mood.

IMG_1302

Their flowers were amazing as well. I absolutely LOVE tulips this time of year!

IMG_1312

Those are all the pictures I took before Luke and I hit the dance floor to practice our swing moves, but wasn’t their wedding lovely?

Lee and Lana- congratulations again! Thanks so much for inviting Luke and me to celebrate with you.

Words of Wisdom for the Wedding Bound

Posted in Wedding Planning by

Hi all –

I’m one of Liz’s soon-to-be-a-bride friends guest posting this week.

Now, I myself don’t have any great words of wisdom for the wedding bound since I’m just about to walk down the aisle, but thought I’d share a cute idea and some advice from family and friends that I’ve received so far.

For my bridal shower a few weeks ago, all the ladies created a chainlink countdown (you know, like this one, ala grade school crafts —>).  

Each person wrote a note about me and my fiance, marriage or advice. Each day since the shower, we’ve been removing a link, and it’s been a fun thing to look forward to each night (especially when the RSVPs start to slow down – you know, there’s a boom at the beginning when you send out and then they slowly trickle in). I highly recommend this to anyone who has to throw a shower!

So here are some of the Words of Wisdom I’ve opened so far and have stuck in my mind –

  • Those who cook together stay together
  • Always have something to look forward to
  • Never go to bed angry and always kiss goodnight

And of course a few funny ones –

  • If you don’t get something you want, CRY, and then you’ll get it
  • Avoid wearing oversized T-shirts (suited for the gym) to bed
  • Remember, just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to let him win

Enjoy!

Something Old Something New

Posted in Wedding Planning by

Yesterday I was trolling around on Twitter checking out what my favorite wedding people were talking about when I came across this tweet.

tweet

The word “vintage” stuck out at me and I decided to click the link. What opened was a lovely online boutique called Orange & Blossom. Their “about” page said they cater to ” modern couples seeking something beautiful, different, real.”

I spotted their “vintage and rare” section and fell in love with everything! Here are some highlights:

stuff

Aren’t those cuff links and blue shoes precious?!

If you’re a busy bride like me who’s elders aren’t bursting with georgous 1940’s jewelry, you probably thought having anything vintage incorporated into your wedding was too much work. I love that Orange & Blossom makes it so easy to add unique, timeless and sweet items to your wedding day.

The best part is, their prices are really reasonable. The items above range from $18-$44! Their vintage pieces get updated every Thursday, so don’t fret if everything looks sold out.

They also have a ton of new items handmade by artists including a great selection of eco-friendly products for brides having a “green” wedding.

Brides- what vintage items are you planning to incorporate into your big day? Mom’s veil? Dad’s cuff links? Grandma’s jewelry?

Wedding Jewelry Highlight- K. Amato

Posted in Wedding Planning by

TGIF everyone! The entry period for my first giveaway is offically over and I’m super excited to annouce that Angela (@AngelaTenClay) won the earrings!

And speaking of jewelry, a big smile came across my face this week when an email popped up from K. Amato jewelry here in Chicago. If you aren’t familiar with K. Amato, it’s a jewelry line designed by Chicagoan Kristen Amato that is a fan favorite of many of my girlfriends here in the city as well as publications like Lucky Magazine, Redbook, People and US Weekly.

 They recently launched a bridal line that has me swooning. Ever since I picked out my wedding dress, I’ve moved on to thinking about the big picture- the jewelry, hair and accessories, which means I’ve already spent a lot of time trolling the K. Amato website for inspiration.

My colors are green and yellow, and I love the idea of incorporating some yellow into my look. I’m pretty much in love with these earrings and necklace.

ear

necklace

And if my bridesmaids wear a yellow dress like I’m planning, I think this green bracelet would look awesome.

gren

Although I like to think I have amazing taste :), I wanted to get the professional opinion from one of K. Amato’s designers, so I sent an email their way with some questions. Katie, who’s on their design team, graciously sent back her thoughts on the new bridal line.

Liz: Why did K. Amato decide to create a bridal line?

Katie: Kristen decided to do a bridal line simply by seeing a lack in the market. Most bridal jewelry is insanely overpriced in the bridal salons- our feelings are just because its you big day does not mean you need to spend big money. We have the online bridal section on the website as well as a custom design service that we offer through our showroom (K.Amato 1229 W. Diversey Chicago, IL 60614).

Liz: You recently got married, did you wear any K. Amato jewelry? Which pieces?

Katie: Of course I wore K.Amato. I actually designed my own custom jewelry- I had 2 looks: one long lightweight pearl and crystal necklace, and one dainty pearl and rhinestone necklace made with a peal that my Mom gave me. Neither are on the website but that is why we offer a custom service out of our space.

Liz: Brides have many different fashion styles for their big day. Can you suggest pieces for a traditional bride? Retro? Modern?

Katie: There is a big variety of jewelry on the website for all kinds of brides- you do not need to stick to the bridal section. Traditional brides love pearls, retro brides love vintage looking earrings, and modern brides go to the regular line for their looks.

Liz: Have you had a lot of interest in brides purchasing jewelry for their maids? What’s been popular?

Katie: TONS of girls buy K.Amato for their girls- we offer group discounts that make it worth their while. Here are a few items that have been especially popular:

mon

The Monroe initial necklace

larab

The Larrabee horoscope bracelet

car

The Carmen earrings

There you have it ladies. Many thanks to Katie for her time spent responding to my questions! Be sure to check out K. Amato’s upcoming sample sales in Chicago for a great deal. If you don’t live in Chicago, you can buy K. Amato online too!