Something Blu Diaries

Man & Woman of the Year (Philly)

2011-03-25T15:25:00.002-04:00

This is not at all related to weddings but it is related to awesomeness. My best friend Shortcake is nominated for the Woman of the Year Campaign with the Philadelphia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. If you want to read more or donate, click here: Man & Woman of the Year (Philly)

Also if you'd like to attend our Prom for ALL in West Chester on April 16 at 7pm, please click here.

And if you want a sweet "Cancer Sucks" button, like this one:

leave a comment below and I will get you one STAT (for a small $3 donation).

Wedding Guest Dress Deals

2011-03-16T22:53:00.000-04:00

I really love a good deal, but the one thing I love more than a deal is the hunt for one. It's really satisfying for me to go through racks and track down the best of the best. I spent 2 hours tonight at Lord & Taylor at the King of Prussia Mall outside Philly looking for a dress for my birthday outing in 2 weeks, some cancer benefits in April and May, and later these will be worn to the summer weddings I'm attending. I scored BIG time. I scoured TEN $49.99 racks for most of the time and spent a little time on the 25% off rack. First I found a gorgeous cobalt blue Laundry by Shelli Segal dress with a gold beaded collar, originally $285, got it for $39.99. The collar looks very Cleopatra. (There aren't straps those are just the little hanger guys)

My second steal is a black chiffon JS boutique dress, originally $198, got it for $39.99.

And finally I splurged a little and got this gorgeous Adrianna Papell number, originally $228 for $137.

It has gorgeous aquamarine and pearl beading along the neckline and it's this stunning gunmetal silver color. Love them all! Obviously I'm into beaded collars. And since I never can find any necklaces I like, these dresses take care of that problem for me. I'm really looking forward to wearing my own clothes to weddings for awhile. As much as being a bridesmaid is lovely, I adore being one of a kind - and knowing I paid bottom dollar for my designer duds!

My Apartment Misses Me

2011-03-14T19:00:00.001-04:00

In the past 6 weeks I have spent one weekend in my own home. I can't even believe it myself. My travels include 35+ hours in the car, 5 Southwest flights, and use of two subway systems. I have been to St. Pete's Beach, FL for work; spent a night at my dad's house in the Philly Burbs for a family thing; traveled to Nashville, TN for a wedding; hit up Washington, DC for a visit to the alma mater; stopped by my grandmother's in upstate PA for her 89th Birthday; drove the 300+ miles to Pittsburgh, PA to see my lil' sister; and then most recently jetted to Newport, RI for another wedding. Whew! I'm really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed this weekend. I do have some plans to enjoy the St. Patty's Day-ness with the man friend. There is a rumor about a fancy steak dinner! Will report back. Hope everyone has a safe and very green St. Patrick's Day and weekend. Drink some green beer!!!

Bouquet Snagged!!!

2011-02-21T23:00:00.001-05:00

I just got home from my friend Caroline's wedding in Nashville, TN and after a lot of hard work and many hours spent planning, a fabulous time was had by all. I wore a fun red full length one shoulder dress (borrowed from my dear friend Alicita) and some great rented jewels from RTR. My necklace and bracelet pictured above are Nicole Miller and the ring, which you can see grasping that bouquet is by Lee Angel - it was super fun to wear! If you want to see the photographer's shots you can LIKE Myrick Studios on Facebook, and click "The Kiesler Wedding" and see me dancing and catching the bouquet and all the other gorgeous details the wedding had to offer. Thanks again go out to Caroline and Doug for letting me take part in their special day.

The Ultimate Gettin' Hitched Mix

2011-01-31T22:04:00.001-05:00

I have had a "Gettin' Hitched Mix" in my iTunes library for some time now, but recently I've been beefing it up to a full 4 hours+ for the getting ready process for my friend Caroline's wedding in TN next month. I like to focus on songs about getting married or the idea of "the one." The Bottom Line includes:

I Love You Always Forever by THE one and only Donna Lewis
Love Shack, B 52s
Various Sinatra
Love Story (pop mix), Taylor
Various Tim and Faith
Stuck Like Glue, Sugarland
My favorite Men of Country: Brad, Blake, and Dierks
Little White Church, Little Big Town
Copious amounts of John, Jason, and Train
Peppered by Natasha, Keri, and Joss
Dance tunes by Girl Talk
Hip Hop/Pop Sequence including Bruno, Usher, Beyonce, Justin, and Diddy.

Currently I'm at 56 songs aka 3.5 hours. I'm looking to get to 4 hours for sure, 5 would be spectacular. Write your suggestions in the comments below!!!

Rent the Runway Jewels

2011-01-13T22:20:00.001-05:00

I clearly don't have enough to say about this weekend. Today I received a very special UPS delivery of gorgeous AV Max bangles and a pair of Isharya earrings, which I'll be wearing to the Hair of the Dog celebration on Saturday. I borrowed them from Rent the Runway. If you haven't heard of RTR, you should check it out and join immediately. Send me your email and I'll send you an invite (something.blu.eliza@gmail.com). It's free to join, and rental rates are very reasonable, especially for accessories. Here are pics of what I rented:

My secret is out, I write reminders on my hands.

My earlobe looks funny

I bought this ring to own at Kenneth Cole on sale for $18 earlier this week. Love the stacked look, but it's just one piece.

Nail Polish is OPI for Sephora, Ocean Love Potion

I promise I will post a picture of my total ensemble on Sunday. Can't wait!!!

My Dry Cleaning Bill

2011-01-10T18:22:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty sure my Drycleaner thinks I'm a high class hooker. I've been carting in evening gowns and cocktail dresses in small groups for weeks. I've been rotating them through in groups of 2 or 3 in an attempt to space out the cash. Last week I picked up 3 dresses, a skirt, and a sweater for $50.25. This week I'll pick up 2 dresses and a sweater, I imagine for over $30.00. Trying to get all these dresses I've worn recently cleaned to be put away or others ready to be worn again is expensive! Many of the dresses are ones I have worn to weddings in the past and plan to wear in the future for weddings or related events. One I'll be wearing the the Black Tie Bachelorette this Saturday, and I wore it to my cousins civil ceremony this past fall. Every time I take a few things in, there are still more left behind. For example, I still have one summer bridesmaid dress that needs cleaning and mending - I ripped a strap reaching for the bouquet, hahaha. Does anyone know any less expensive alternatives to drycleaning for evening wear? I don't trust Dryel for things other then sweaters and dress pants.

Black Tie Bachelorette

2011-01-05T14:40:00.003-05:00

Yes, please. On January 15, I will be attending the 2011 Hair O' The Dog Party aboard the Philadelphia Belle Riverboat. I'm pretty darn excited about my outfit, but more on that next week. I'm even more ecstatic about the ladies I'll be attending this party with. This Bachelorette will be celebrated in Caroline's honor and another Something Blu Bride, Shortcake will be in attendance. Other fab friends new and old will round out our pack of the hottest girls at this party. The boys aren't gonna know what hit them.

Now for all you skeptics out there who are balking at the extravagance of a Black Tie Bachelorette I want to set some things right. Every bachelorette party I've been to, I've spent at least $50, and the average is more like $75 to $100 (I won't get into the most I've spent). And this fine and dandy party costs $88 a head, yet it includes drinks for 4+ hours and hors devours, not to mention 2 live bands on two decks and a live DJ on a third deck. So really it's a steal! And honestly if you're gonna do something, why not do it with style?

Plaid Bridesmaid Dresses???

2011-01-03T22:18:00.001-05:00

Now, that's just mean. Don't put your friends in this or this. Puh-lease. I love Alfred Angelo the other 99.9% of the time, but their Style Director has lost her mind on this one. Sorry, but someone had to say it.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important DATE!

2010-12-20T23:43:00.001-05:00

Working Title: Why you need a timeline - but the other one is more catchy.

So lately I've been spending time preparing for my friend Caroline's wedding in February. We grew up together in PA, and now she lives in TN with her fiance and will be married there in about 60 days (Wooohooo!!!). This past weekend we attended Caroline's first bridal fitting and her dress fit like a glove!! Only small changes need to be made on the hem and straps and it will be good to go! We have a second fitting lined up in a month to double check things. (We also got to see the bridesmaids dresses on her friend Tracey and they look stunning as well). Following Caroline's fitting we had a big meeting (with wine of course) to hash out her timeline details, check her photo list and generally talk shop about her BIG day.

draft of timeline from our meeting

The bulk of our time was spent on her timeline, which begins at 6:45am on a Saturday and ends at 12:45am late that night. (Can a girl get a '5 hour energy' please?) In my opinion, one of the most important things to think about as you plan your wedding is the timing of the day. Especially if multiple locations and a large bridal party is involved the coordination of it all can get really complicated. Main components to consider include: locations of all events and getting ready areas (including salons and hotels), number of people involved, means of transportation, travel time from location to location, items (flowers, lighting, etc) needing to be moved or set up if any, and the order of special things happening at the reception (intros, toasts, 1st dance, cake cutting, garter/bouquet tosses, grand exit, etc.) And then there are the question to be answered: Where will the flowers be dropped off and when? When should the photographers come and where to? When will you eat? What if there is traffic? What if the limo doesn't show? What's plan B? Are there any last minute VIPs (close family or bridal party members) arriving the day of? Will they need to be picked up from the airport for example?

Ooof. And the list goes on. So if you don't have a timeline for your day, it may be a good idea to start one. Basics include when you need to arrive and leave each location, include any appointments (hair/makeup/nails) and the order of things at the reception. Some are simpler than others, of course! But I don't think you can be over prepared! Closing thought: Build in extra time. You will run a little behind at some point, and that's ok. You can't have a wedding without the Bride -- or Groom, so don't worry, all will wait for you, but you don't want your guests to get too drunk while they wait for your grand entrance ;).

Artist Spotlight: Aressa, Etsy

2010-12-09T00:13:00.005-05:00

I became obsessed with these wire hangers after seeing them featured over and over by another wedding photographer who I love. After about the 10th one I saw, I asked if he knew where the Brides were getting them and he said Etsy. Lo and behold, after some easy searching I found Aressa. I quickly ordered 2 hangers for 2 friends who are getting married this winter 2011 and next spring 2012. Here are the two pics of them. I had this blue one made in the exact shade of my Bridesmaid dress for my friend Sarah's wedding in 2012. She was very excited when she opened it. I can't wait to see her gorgeous dress hanging from it!!


For Sarah

And the black one is for my friend Caroline. I mailed it to her in TN a few weeks ago, and got to experience her excitement via FB. I can't wait for this wedding day (it's so soon)!! Only 72 more days :D

For Caroline

These hangers make great Bachelorette or Shower gifts. They are VERY affordable - ranging from $20 to $25 each. The creator can make them in various colors and finishes. Ordering was easy and delivery was fast (considering they are handmade)!

7th Bridesmaid dress

2010-12-03T18:18:00.001-05:00

Lucky #7? Could be. I ordered this dress today. It's different than all my other BM dresses for a few reasons: 1) it's one shoulder, which is cool 2) it's 3 different colors - mostly brown, don't have one of those yet and 3) I don't think I have shoes to match it. And I have lots of shoes. So now I'm on Zappos.com - dangerous.

Photographer Spotlight: AEve Photo

2010-11-22T20:59:00.000-05:00

I know I bragged about her a few weeks ago, but here is another plug for my sister's awesome photography skills. If you are getting married in the future, you NEED to look at her stuff. Here are some of her pics from my cousin Katie's wedding. Katie and Peter had a beautiful October wedding in NJ at a winery and had some really cute kids involved in their special day. Allison captured the joy and love of the day beautifully.

10 in 2010

2010-10-10T23:30:00.021-04:00

I have attended 10 weddings in 2010, in just under 10 months, and clearly I needed to write about this on 10/10/10. My wedding season began on February 6, 2010 and ended yesterday on October 9, 2010. Whew what a year!!! Congratulations to all the happy couples and thank you for including me in your special day. Here are my favorite pics from each of the happy days:

Katie & Matt 2.6.10 Downingtown, PA

Rob & Amy 4.2.10 Portland, OR

Brad & Alyssa 5.1.10 Wilmington, DE

Berry & Doug 6.12.10 West Chester, PA

Mark & Mandy 6.26.10 Philadelphia, PA

Crystal & Steve 7.24.10 Washington, DC

Liz & Tim 9.4.10 Rochester, NY

Katie & Pete 10.2.10 Egg Harbor City, NJ

Emily & Vijay Hindu Ceremony 10.8.10 Flushing, NY

Emily & Vijay Civil Ceremony 10.9.10 Manhattan, NY

What I am wearing! A Hindu Wedding

2010-10-01T18:00:00.024-04:00

In mid-October my cousin Emily is having two wedding ceremonies in 2 days. The first on Friday is a traditional Hindu ceremony beginning at a temple in Queens, NY and the second on Saturday a civil ceremony, followed by a fancy reception in the evening at the University Club in Manhattan. For this weekend I will need 2 outfits, both formal enough for ceremonies but suitable to the very distinct times of day (7am and 5:30pm). I'm pretty settled on my wardrobe for this event, but as always I love feedback!

Friday Hindu Ceremony and Lunch in Queens, both at the Temple:

Solid Purple Donna Morgan, purchased at Marshalls for around $30.You can see the true color better here.

Saturday Ceremony and Black-tie optional reception, both at the U club:

I'm super proud of this purchase. I originally saw this dress at Saks online and immediately fell in love, but it was $495 - out of my reach for sure. A few weeks later the dress went on Rue la la for $99 but they didn't have my size, blast! Then the fates were very kind and with help from my sister, it was mine at last! I am so excited to wear this, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Cobalt Nicole Miller full length dress with gold and silver embroidery, TJ Maxx St. Davids, PA $99

WTW Winner - Jersey Winery Wedding

2010-09-28T00:18:00.000-04:00

Thanks so much for all your votes! The purple and black BR dress was a clear standout and I'm super excited to wear it to this weekend's wedding. As you can see, my dress is drycleaned and ready to go, card signed, and gift wrapped. There's only one more thing I need and that's my sister! She is arriving on Friday night from Pittsburgh and I haven't seen her in ages because she just got home from 3 weeks in Europe (lucky girl, I know). I can't wait to pick you up kiddo! We're gonna have a blast at this one.

Perfect Paper: Early Fall

2010-09-06T16:37:00.001-04:00

On Saturday I attended a wedding in upstate NY - now you may be thinking "Wait, thats still summer" and yes technically it is, but when you're in upstate NY it's a little cooler and the colors of fall are beginning to show. The Bride and Groom chose gorgeous invitations, which tied in with the chocolate bridesmaid dresses, colorful flowers and traditional woods and neutrals found at the church and country club. All the invitation items came in a convenient brown folder, which the main invitation was glued to on the right and had a pocket on the left for the reception card, response card, and list of weekend events.

The couple also tied their theme into a beautiful and delicious cake. The cake sat on a cake stand printed with the same paper you see on their invitations. Read more about this wedding here.

What to Wear? A Jersey Winery Wedding

2010-09-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

My cousin Katie is getting married in early October at a very traditional Catholic Church in central NJ and then her reception is at a nearby winery. I'm especially excited about this wedding b/c my sister Allison Eve is her photographer, check her out! Again I need your help deciding what to wear. I've been thinking of wearing this black dress with pearl embroidery. My friend L.A. has a great Milly dress with pearl embroidery that inspired this purchase. Her dress was a huge hit at a black tie wedding where I was a Bridesmaid in July. Some people frown on wearing black to weddings (unless it's black tie of course) and admittedly I am one of them especially in the summer, but in fall and winter I embrace the classic black. It's also easy to mix up a simple black dress with pearls, turquoise jewelery, or a colorful sash. Fellow Bloggers, what are your thoughts on wearing black at weddings? I'm also considering wearing the Banana purple and black dress from the WTW post in August. The BR dress received lots of votes last time and I do love it (mostly b/c it's purple), but in the end it just wasn't right for the Labor Day outdoor party setting. So we will give it another chance. Here are your two options, vote away!!!

Simple and classic. Maggy London, Steinmart sale, $59

I was thinking this could be cool, because it's sorta the color of red wines... haha. Banana Republic, clearance, $49

WTW Winner - Labor Day Weekend Wedding

2010-08-16T20:05:00.002-04:00

Wow that's a lot of Dubyas. After tabulating the votes from last week's WTW and reviewing the wedding itinerary a bit more, I've decided to wear...

Lilly on Friday (still can't pick which one - will have to be a spur of the moment thing with consultation from my wedding weekend roomie, The Tipster)

CK on Saturday:

And MK on Sunday:

Thanks for all your votes!!! Look for more WTW (What to wear) episodes coming in September - I have two October weddings, two weeks in a row, BRING IT ON!

What to wear? A new series

2010-08-06T17:54:00.006-04:00

The main part of wedding season has come to a close, and now I have a few upcoming off-season weddings to attend as a guest. As fun as being a Bridesmaid is, I am relieved to be a simple guest for the next few months. However, one thing I struggle with when I'm not a Bridesmaid is what to wear. Today I went to Steinmart in search of a deal and I found two great dresses (with assistance via text from Bex). Then when I got home I started to think about where I would wear my new dresses. This led to another text exchange with my friend J-mandy, and then to me thinking up this new feature.

So up first is a wedding on Labor Day weekend: my friends from college Liz and Tim will wed in his hometown of Rochester, NY. I went to their engagement party last fall, you may remember the story. The Bride and Groom's families are very generously including out-of-town guests in a Friday night party, the wedding itself on Saturday and a BBQ at a lake house on Sunday. I'm so excited about all these fun events. But what to wear? I have 2 options for each of the 3 events. Please vote in the comment section, thanks :D

(please forgive the BB pics, I live alone and my digi doesn't have a self timer)

Friday night cocktail party at Groom's parents' home:

Banana Republic jersey and satin cocktail dress, BR clearance $49

Lilly Pulitzer beaded Jubilee dress, LP store $378

Saturday Ceremony - Catholic Church/Reception - Country Club:

Aqua full length sexy back Calvin Klein, Marshalls $40

Navy ruffled Eliza J, Nordstrom sale $69

Sunday BBQ at the Lake House:

Michael Kors maxi dress, Steinmart sale $48

Lilly Pulitzer cotton sundress, Warehouse sale 2010 $69

Happy Anniversary to me

2010-08-05T19:59:00.023-04:00

I can't believe it's been a whole year since I started this blog!! Since then I've attended 12 weddings, been a MOH twice, thrown 6 showers/bachelorettes and learned a great deal. This year the blog will begin to focus more on saving money as you plan weddings, participate as an attendant or go as a guest. You've seen a little of this already with this summers DIY Bachelorette Accessories posts and it will continue in my new series beginning tomorrow about clothes. I have a bad habit of buying something new every single time I have a party or event, so I am going shopping tomorrow for dresses and then I'm not allowed to buy another dress until Christmas. My challenge is to dress for 4 weddings, a few showers, and a couple of bachelorettes in that time with clothes I already have and what I can buy tomorrow for less than $100 total. Bring it on!!

Perfect Paper: Formal Letterpress

2010-07-31T19:28:00.001-04:00

My friend Crystal had a very formal and traditional wedding in Washinton, DC this summer. She and her husband were wed in a traditional Catholic Church and then we proceeded to an elegant reception at the historical Willard Hotel downtown. Below you can see her formal invitation, which was letterpressed in black on off white heavy card stock. The invitation set the tone for the ceremony and reception. Guests weren't quite in black tie, but it was certainly formal - just what the couple wanted.

Other examples of gorgeous paper are their programs, menus and favor tags.

Lilly Wedding Dresses

2010-07-19T16:13:00.006-04:00

I could not be happier about this latest development. Lilly Pulitzer's FB account just confirmed the rumors I heard swirling at this year's Warehouse Sale in June - Lilly Wedding Dresses are a reality! I've never been happier to be yet unwed, to think someday I'll have these to choose from as well, HOORAY! In no particular order, here are my top 5 (all pics via Lilly Pulitzer):

Happy Fourth!

2010-07-04T19:41:00.002-04:00

This blog isn't always about weddings, sometimes it's just about delicious dessert. Today I made Red, White, and Blue desserts for our Family BBQ in honor of Independence Day and my dad's 59th Birthday. I made an Angel Food Cake and my sister made a strawberry topping. Also I made what we call Blueberry Fluff. It's a delish combo of sponge cake, cream cheese, dream whip, and stewed blueberries. YUM!

Perfect Paper: Regional - Philly

2010-07-03T19:22:00.002-04:00

My friends Mark and Mandy chose the Philadelphia skyline as their inspiration for their wedding stationery. The skyline was featured on their save the dates, invites, menus, programs, place cards, goody bags, and I suspect I will be receiving a skyline thank you note shortly. Their wedding color palette was navy, white and silver. It looked great on paper and in person. Navy bridesmaid dresses and silver and white details throughout the ceremony and reception site carried the theme through. They were married on the roof of a downtown Philadelphia hotel with guess what? A partial view of the skyline! Here is a pic of some of their perfect paper:

Linen and Lace

2010-06-20T19:30:00.004-04:00

A little while back I blogged about the Showerette I was throwing for my college best friend, and last night was the party. We had a fantastic time!!! Bdette and I, who are co-MOH's in this wedding, transformed her apartment into a lacy bachelorette pad fit for a Queen. One of our favorite decorations used were paper doilies I picked up at Michael's Crafts for $4. I made a wreath to decorate the door using small round doilies taped to the door, and then I threaded a light blue ribbon through them to make a circle.
And Bdette had the great idea to sew them together to make a sort of banner across the windows. If you had told me a week ago I would be sewing something again after the veil and sash I made last month, I would have laughed. I could probably use sewing lessons, ha! But this was actually easy, I just threaded white string through the holes in the large square doilies.

Because we invited guests to give a linen or lace gift we wanted to display the lingerie gifts. We used a white satin ribbon and made a clothesline. We tied the bras, panties and nightgowns to the clothesline with tiny pieces of blue ribbon. It looked really cool!!

Perfect Paper: Summer/Floral

2010-06-19T18:53:00.002-04:00

Welcome to a fun new feature - Perfect Paper, which will showcase invitations, programs, menus and the like, which I make, receive or find online that are AMAZING. First up are Shortcake's invites, which are an original design by her aunt Lisa B. Shortcake loves Hydrangeas and they were used in the invites, bouquets, tables and the entire color palette of the wedding.

Paint your own Cake Plate

2010-06-12T07:30:00.003-04:00

I created this cake plate at The Painted Plate in West Chester, PA. It is a 14 inch plate with a 4 inch pedastal. You can create a similar one for around $60. Above is a pic before it was fired, and below is the final result. I added a strawberry and a skateboard as icons of the couple to be. Many of you have seen Shortcake around the site before and today she will marry the man of her dreams!! And her wedding cake will sit on this plate. I'm so excited to be a part of her day. More to come after the wedding!

Shortcake's Bachelorette

2010-05-24T20:17:00.003-04:00

We finally got to celebrate Shortcake's Bachelorette this weekend. We had too much fun to discuss. Here is a pic of her in her veil and sash. They were a big hit!

DIY Bachelorette Accessories Part 2

2010-05-15T16:37:00.003-04:00

To continue my DIY Bachelorette crafting this week, I also picked up supplies to make a veil at Michaels. I bought 1 yard each of a pink sparkly tulle and white sparkly tulle. Luckily I had given the Bride-to-Be a tiara as a Birthday gift a few years ago, so I borrowed that from her. I also grabbed some sequins I had from a shirt I bought a while back. I don't think I will actually need to replace them on the shirt anytime soon.

I began by ironing the pieces of tulle and then folded them in quarters. I cut the bottom of each color, rounding out the corner without a fold (right side here). I also cut along the long edge (top seen here) to make it slightly rounded. As seen below:

Once unfolded all the way the piece was basically a large oval. Folding it in quarters allowed me to cut it once and have it all be symmetrical. Think about when you folded paper to cut a heart as a child!

Next I took the each oval and folded it in half. Then I folded them individually accordion style, with the folded edge at the top:
This allowed me to gather the wide piece into a smaller bunch. Now I began to sew the tulle to the tiara. The tiara had zig zags, which made it very easy to use. I began with the pink tulle and held the folded edge of the fabric, still folded accordion style and put one stitch through all the layers of the tulle, effectively binding them together. Then I set out to attach it to the tiara. I started at one end and simply weaved it in and out and then repeated the process with the white tulle. The end was result was not something fit for a wedding day, but for my first attempt at making a veil, I thought it turned out great. Also I saved myself some cash. Veils with tiaras, which I saw online, were $20-$30 with shipping. I made this for a grand total of $15.

DIY Bachelorette Accessories Part 1

2010-05-09T21:28:00.002-04:00

As Shortcake's Bachelorette approaches I've been working on a few things for her to wear. Earlier this week I looked online and at a few stores at sashes, veils, and tiaras, but I didn't find anything I loved at the right price. It seemed that most items were poorly made or those that were of better quality were quite expensive. So I thought to myself, "How hard can it be to make a sash?"

I went to Michael's Craft Store and picked up a number of things. For the sash I bought 2 yards of wide white satin ribbon, some pink sparkly iron-on letters, and a few stick on rhinestones.

I began by measuring the ribbon with a friend's help. I simply placed it over her shoulder and pinned it where it hit her hip. Later I turned it "inside out" and then sewed that spot together, creating a diagonal hem, then I trimmed it and scorched the edges with a match (so it would not unravel) and then I turned it back to the now outside, seen below.

Next I laid out the letters to spell Bachelorette and then followed the instuctions that came with the letters. Basically iron with a towel on top and then lightly go over the back of the ribbon. Lastly I added the rhinestones, which I stuck at the top and bottom of the sash. To make the sash myself was about $6. They were selling online for about $15 to $20. I will post a photo of Shortcake wearing this ASAP!

What's a Showerette?

2010-05-02T15:39:00.001-04:00

Ahh, yet another trip to Target for invites. I just can't get enough! The price is right and the selection is lovely. This time I decided to pick up these pink cardstock sheets. Each one was blank, aside from the word "PARTY!" in a gold foil on the side. The accompanying envelopes even had gold foil lining, LOVE. I decided to try using my computer this time. My handwriting is ok, but it does take longer and certainly more care to hand write invites which I learned here and here.

So using Word and a laser printer, I created the invites for another friend's Showerette to take place in June. What's a showerette you say? I have to give credit for this term to my partner in crime (and planning), Bdette. Because this Bride's guests are all over the U.S. she had 2 family showers in PA and OR, and we are responsible for the friends' shower in DC. Our college friends are also spread out, so it didn't make sense to have a Shower one week and then a Bachelorette weeks later. We decided to combine things, and Bdette started calling it a Showerette. Isn't she clever? I certainly think so. So we're having a Linen and Lace theme and guests can give traditional shower gifts (linen) or sexy lingerie gifts (lace).

If you would like to make invites this way, make sure you set your printer to Cardstock and Manual Feed. Be careful as you feed each sheet into the Printer, if you push it crooked, it prints crooked (like duh). It's also good to buy a few extra invites, I bought 30 and produced 26 acceptable invites.

I will update after the party with some pics. We have all kinds of fun decorations planned. I promise to get carried away with this theme, lol.

Bachelorette Party for Shortcake!

2010-04-22T17:26:00.001-04:00

In a few weeks I'll be hosting Shortcake's Bachelorette Party. I have several things to work on for this party including a homemade veil and sash, so stay tuned. Again I picked up invites at Target, for about $1 each. These are made by Papyrus. They are pink and green, as you can see and even have glitter on them. I love glitter!!! This one I kept for myself because I made a little mistake with the address, whoops! But all the others were perfect.

Recipe Shower Invites

2010-04-17T21:10:00.001-04:00

Today I threw a surprise shower for my best friend, Shortcake. I'd been dying to post about this but the party was a surprise, so I had to wait.

I picked up these lovely invites at Target for about $1 each. The picture isn't as sharp as I'd like but each invite is blue with a wedding dress on it. Each one had a satin bow or piece of lace on it as well. So pretty!! I wrote in all the information for the party by hand, but I'm sure I could have ran them through a printer as well. I couldn't resist picking up the matching thank you notes for the Bride. I included them as part of her gift and labeled them with the guests' addresses in advance. The Bride loves to cook, so I sent blank recipe cards to each guest and asked them to bring them to the shower, filled in with their favorite recipe.

The party was a total success!

A Busy Wedding Guest

2010-04-06T19:57:00.005-04:00

Currently my fridge has 4 shower invites, 3 save the date magnets, 3 save the date postcards and a photo from a wedding I went to last year. Isn't it pretty?

So yes Wedding Season has begun! And that means lots of dates to remember, presents to wrap, errands to run, people to call, dresses to be steamed and dancing shoes to polish. I am determined this year to be a super organized wedding guest and bridesmaid. Admittedly I'm pretty organized all the time, but wedding season requires OCD level organizatoin. I'm gonna go on record and say that I use files. Every wedding I'm invited to gets a file - in it goes any save the date, invites to pre-wedding parties, receipts from gifts, travel documents if needed, and my notes on stuff I need to do for that particular wedding like alter a dress, write a speech, or make a slideshow. Usually party invites and save the dates are on the fridge until the party happens and the wedding invite arrives. I just made my master to-do list for the next few weeks this evening and it's massive. It includes gifts needing to be ordered, RSVPs to be completed, DIY projects to complete, dresses to be altered and bachlorette parties to plan. I've got a lot of head of me, and it's gonna be fun!!!

I get a new sister!!!

2010-03-31T19:00:00.004-04:00

The surprise shower last week was for my godsister-in-law to be, Alyssa. She is marrying my godbrother Brad. I'm so excited!!! In our family god parents and their children are just like regular siblings. We all grew up together in the Philly area, so it's our first family wedding. Her Bridesmaids put together a wonderful day with a delicious meal and Alyssa opened over 100 gifts!

Also their wedding is on Kentucky Derby Day and my god sister Allison and I love the Kentucky Derby. So we're getting hats to wear at the reception. I may even wear mine to Church!!! We're still in the market for an ivory hat for Alyssa if anyone has suggestions.

Here is a pic of my hat:
It's fab, I know ;)

And it begins

2010-03-26T23:16:00.003-04:00

Bring on the full fledged wedding season! It always starts with a shower.

Headed to a Shower in the AM for someone very special!!! Can't say who because it's a surprise. I bought a funny gift! I'm super excited. Wish the sis was in town, but it will still be fun. Can't wait to see family and friends. Will report back with more afterwards.

Bridesmaid Duties

2010-03-04T17:00:00.003-05:00

Over the weekend my cousin, Bride-to-Be in October, asked me "What's reasonable to ask of my bridesmaids?" and then yesterday a friend asked "As a maid of honor what on earth am I supposed to do?" It struck me that these two questions are rarely answered together and from both perspectives, so I thought I would take an opportunity to explain common things expected of Bridesmaids/Maids of Honor, and hopefully provide Brides with some perspective on all your Bridesmaids do for you. I hope as Brides read this they understand that while being in your wedding is truly an honor, it's also a lot of work!

Let me start by saying that what is shared here is (as always) 100% my opinion, and is based on some research I've done on sites like theknot.com. Etiquette is always different depending on who you ask, so if you're in a wedding ask your Bride what she wants. And if you're a Bride, tell your Bridesmaids what you do and don't expect from them. Most people can't read minds! There are countless articles available on the net on this topic, and I would highly recommend those on theknot.com.

As a Bridesmaid, you should EXPECT to:

Buy a dress chosen by the Bride to wear on the day of the wedding. Hopefully your Bride lets you and the other BMs give some input, but she doesn't have to. Cross your fingers and hope it's under $200.

Host a Shower for the Bride-to-Be. All Bridesmaids should help plan and financially chip in for this, but the Maid of Honor typically runs the show and may foot more of the bill. If families are really spread out or the Bridal Party is large sometimes there are multiple showers, talk to your Bride about what she wants.

Organize a Bachlorette Party for the Bride-to-Be. Good news here is that guests usually chip in for their share. Having a per head cost stated on the invites is totally acceptable --that way guests know what they need to chip in up front and what they get for it. This could be as easy as organizing a bar tour where people pay for their own drinks and buy the Bride-to-Be drinks. Most bars and restuarants will give a package deal or drink specials to bachlorette groups.

Buy a gift for an engagement party (if there is one), the shower, and the wedding. Yes, that's two or three gifts total. Gifts at Bachlorette parties are totally optional, and if given are usually small and more of the racy/fun variety. I've been asked before how much is appropriate to spend, and I don't think there is a standard answer. You should evaluate your own lifestyle and what you can afford. Typically if you are invited to the wedding with a date, you would want to increase your gift to show it's from two people.

Know all the wedding information inside and out. People will ask you, "Where are they registered?" "What time the ceremony starts?" "Is there an open bar?" "Where should we park?" and the list goes on. Even though all these answers may have been on the shower or wedding invitation, sometimes people just don't read. Be patient with them. If you can't keep it all in your head, memorize the couple's website to refer to guests, or keep copies of invitations handy to reference.

Act as Co-Host at all wedding events. The Bride and Groom are only 2 strong, and not everyone knows each other. Help out by introducing family to friends and vice versa; look after the family of the betrothed --especially grandparents and children; take pictures; point guests toward the gift table, etc. Do not take over events planned by others, just help direct things to help it all go smoothly.

Other things a Bridesmaid MIGHT have to do...

Buy shoes chosen by the Bride to wear on the day of the wedding. Sadly, I have not found a definitive way out of this one in the past. I think suggesting that everyone wear the same color shoe, but use a pair they already have is great, but some brides just don't go for it. It's probably best to just go along with this one if the Bride seems set on having matching shoes. Again, cross your fingers and hope they are under $50.

Wear a certain color/style of jewelry on the day of the wedding. For example: pearls, which if you don't already have you are doing to have to purchase. Tip: pearls from Claire's look just fine in photos-- no one will know but you.

Pay for professional hair, makeup, and/or manicure for the day of the wedding. Some Brides want everyone to be professionally made up. I'm of the opinion that if a Bride has to have this she should pay for it as a gift, but that's just me. Tip: try to talk to your Bride about what is essential or not and if you have a friend who is good with hair and makeup who can help, instead of paying for a pro.

Carry/transport gifts from the wedding to a hotel suite or someone's home.

Decorate the get away car and/or honeymoon suite.

Stay in the hotel the night before or night of the wedding, depending on if you traveled from afar.

Attend a Brunch the day after the wedding.

Additional duties for the Maid of Honor:

Make a Wedding Day Emergency Kit! This is serious aka not the place to slack. You need fashion tape, bandaids, deodorant, razors, q-tips, nail polish remover, clear nail polish, extra stockings (seasonal), lip gloss, tampons, safety pins, perfume, concealer, waterproof mascara, batteries (for a camera), shout wipes, bobby pins, floss, contact solution, nail clippers/nail file, mints, mouth wash, sewing kit, bottled water, granola bars or 100 cal packs, body lotion... I could go on. Try to get sample sizes, or put a few of each item in small ziplocs. Throw all of this into a cosmetic bag or a gift bag --pretty much anything with handles!

Plan and Organize the Shower for the Bride to Be. Hopefully other Bridesmaids are willing to help, both by pitching in and helping out financially, but at the end of the say the Shower is your thing. Typically all female guests invited to the wedding would be invited to a Shower, but as guestlists grow this becomes massive. I would consult your Bride about her expectations for the size, guestlist, theme, location, menu, etc. of a shower. Most Brides have a pretty clear picture of what they want. The knot also has fabulous articles on this topic, simply put in Shower on their search bar.

Write a toast (if asked by the Bride) to give at the wedding reception. Be careful with being too funny, remember grandparents are present! And it shouldn't be any longer than you can stand to hold your glass with out your arm starting to hurt (aka 2 minutes). Traditionally the Maid of Honor's remarks are addressed to the Groom as good wishes and tips for making his new Bride happy, but MOH's can share a short favorite memory of the Bride or a heart felt poem or quote.

Attend wedding vendor appointments with the Bride. Give your opinion when asked, and know when to bite your tongue, haha. You know your bestie, there may be times when she doesn't ask and she needs to hear it, but other times when you need to just Let it Be. ;)

A Blizzard Bride

2010-02-15T20:35:00.001-05:00

Unless you've been living under a rock the past two weeks, you've got some snow on your shoes. Amidst all this record setting precipitation was my dear friend Katie's wedding to her fiance Matt. Katie planned their whole wedding in less than four months due to Matt's impending deployment, so a little blizzard was not throwing off her plan. She was focused, she was ready, and she was getting married!

The February 6th, 2010 Blizzard brought down 25+ inches on our little Philadelphia suburb. Don't believe me? Here is my dad with the snow blower and that's my car, 3 hours before the wedding. After I confirmed with a bridesmaid that it was in fact happening, we had to dig out, while it was STILL snowing.

I left my father's house at 1:40pm for a 3pm wedding. I got stuck about 100 yards from the church and a nice man helped push me out. I think my cocktail dress and snow boot combo was a clear cry for help, haha. I arrived at the church, after an 8 mile drive, at 2:50pm. I have NEVER in all my wedding going days, arrived so close to show time. Thankfully we were operating on snow time, and everyone was late, so I was cool. In all the commotion of digging out and driving through the tundra I hadn't charged my digi (professional wedding guest FAIL). Thankfully, I own a Blackberry Tour with a fab camera, crisis adverted. I waved to the high school buds, skated to my seat on the arm of a cute groomsman, and claimed my spot on the aisle.

Now let it be said, the Lord has a sense of humor. Katie is a mountain climber, camper, and all around out doorsy gal. She once got lost in the woods by herself at night on a mountain with no supplies and survived some seriously cold temps by walking around all night and navigating by the stars. If anyone can handle 2 feet of snow on her wedding day, she can. The photo below says it all... Blizzard 0, Katie 100.

The warmth radiating from Katie's face as she walked down the aisle melted the remaining snow on our shoulders, and we forgot all about the snow emergency. The Minister opened the ceremony with a "Nice day for a white wedding" joke, and Katie and Matt glowed as they exchanged their vows with smiles on their faces.

On the way to the reception, I was pulled over by a police officer--as were the photographer and a few other guests! We were all instructed to go home immediately, nods and a "Yes sir" followed while we held crossed fingers behind our backs! At the reception, we were greeted by yummy food and drink courtesy of the Downingtown Country Club. Their staff put on a great show, with an immaculately plowed driveway, valet service and a coat check that accepted snow boots without even blinking. Here are a few shots from the reception:

What an amazing day! Love you Katie.

Annnnddd I'm back!

2010-01-29T10:00:00.003-05:00

I'm going to a wedding, I'm going to a wedding!!! Next Saturday!! Let wedding season begin. You know what this means?? Spring is near, that's what. I just put another down payment on my 6th Bridesmaid dress. I have lots of weddings lined up on my calendar. I am super duper excited! And this is my happy bridal face (they don't have a wedding guest one so what can you do).

A great bridesmaid gift?

2009-12-11T22:18:00.004-05:00

The other day my BFF, Bride Shortcake says, "What do you want as a Bridesmaids' gift?" I thought for a few minutes and really couldn't come up with squat. Then I thought of all the gifts I've already received as a Bridesmaid. So I answered the question in the negative. I don't want a tote bag monogrammed with my initials. I don't want a $20 gift certificate to an obscure boutique in Old City I will forget to use before it expires. I don't want another pair of dangly earrings-- I like jewelry A LOT, please come over and pick out a pair you like that I already own. I don't want a flask. I don't want a t-shirt that says Bridesmaid across my chest. And I don't want a pair of jazzed up old navy flip flops.

Disclaimer: If I was in your wedding and you gave me one of these items, I love it! I just don't need two.

However, now that some time has passed, I thought of something I really do want. Shortcake, I'd like to have a sleepover with you in your parents' house, in your childhood bedroom, complete with me on the trundle bed. Just the two of us. And we may have to play dress up in some of our high school clothes, or at least look at some really bad old photos.

As for a tangible gift I did come up with a few suggestions, as I'm trying to be helpful. I would wear a sturdy pair of flip flops (which happen to coordinate with our BM dresses) from say, J. Crew, at your reception. Or you could also give a useful engraved item to each Bridesmaid with a statement or rhyme that reminds you of her. It could be a key chain, letter opener, picture frame...the options are endless.

Holidays, work, and blogging don't mix

2009-11-30T12:00:00.001-05:00

I'm a delinquent. I wanted to come right out and say it. I could say that no one sent a Bridespot in for November, which is true. I could say I haven't attended any weddings this month, which is true. I could say, the weather is lousy and I don't like the cold, and it makes me cranky. BUT they would all be lame excuses. Truthfully, I have been crazy busy and my personal life and fun hobbies (like this blog) have taken a backseat to the 9 to 5 and alllllll my social commitments lately. Do you know I have to skip work to go to a florist with my best friend??? How are we that busy, really? And now as tomorrow brings December and lots of holiday parties, my schedule will only tighten. Sometimes you just need a day off. I think I'll get one around January 3rd. Ha! Just have to power through til then. I apologize for being a deliquent, I really do. I hope to get the creative juices flowing again this weekend. Love to all!

Venue of the Month - Meredith Manor

2009-11-10T10:00:00.004-05:00

Name: Meredith Manor
Location: Pottstown, PA
Rental Fee:
Day Time: Barn; Barn & Tent

Friday 4 hrs: $1,200; $1,500

Friday 5 hrs: $1,450; $1,825

Saturday Afternoon 4 hrs: $1,200; $1,500

Saturday Afternoon 5 hrs: $1,450; $1,825

Saturday Evening 4 hrs: NA; $2,800

Saturday Evening 5 hrs: NA; $3,400

Sunday 4 hrs: $1,400; $2,200

Exclusive Caterer: They have an exclusive caterer on site. Their food is amazing. They do not offer separate food tastings for every couple getting married at the venue, instead they have 2 open houses a year where they set up food as if for a wedding and there you can taste the food.

Main Ballroom Capacity: The minimum guest count for tent use and/ or for a Friday Evening, Saturday Afternoon, or Sunday is 100 people. The minimum guest count for tent use and/or for a Saturday evening is 125 people. For groups less than 100, the Barn facility may be used on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons, or Sundays. Maximum Capacity is flexible as a bigger tent can be used.

Limitations/Rules: You must use 1 of their 2 pre-approved DJs and they have an in house baker for the cake which is Bakers of Buffington. They have a recommended (but not required) florist and photographer as well, if you'd like to use them.

# of events per day: 2 events per day.
Parking: plenty of outdoor parking.
Outdoor Space: there is a patio where they have the bar with gazebos and fountains nearby.
Separate Cocktail Space: cocktail hour would be held in the barn and outside on the patio.
Ceremony Site: Yes-outdoor, can be held indoors if weather is bad.
Bridal Suite: Yes.
Air conditioned: Yes.
Handicap Accessible: Yes.
Overnight accommodations: No.
Nearby accommodations: The Inn at Chester Springs, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, all located in Exton, PA.

Special Comments from the Bride Jenn: "The reason we picked this space is because we both absolutely love the outdoors! It's the perfect location for a summer wedding and everything is included so there really isn't much to worry about!"

Thanks to Bride Jenn for suggesting this venue and helping with the post!!

A Fall Colored Wedding

2009-10-31T18:00:00.006-04:00

My Beautiful Friends post was just a small preview of the fun to be had at Lissa Bee and Officer Jack's Wedding. They created a lot of the things seen around the wedding themselves or with the help of friends and family. I love when couple's do this, because it makes everything so personal and special. As you can see above, fall colors were everywhere! Sister of the Bride Lil'Jess made fabulous centerpieces below for all the tables with different photos of the couple on each table attached to a pumpkin and paired with a bouquet of fall flowers.

Their cake also featured a very unique cake topper with the bride and groom poised to shoot. Lissa Bee and Officer Jack met when they both joined the Capitol Police Force about 3 years ago.

The Bride and Groom also really love them some tattoos. In fact one of the first things Lissa Bee ever told me about Jack was how beautiful his leg was because of the gorgeous tattoo on it! Here you can see some of the Bride's ink as she breaks it down on the dance floor!

Beautiful Friends

2009-10-25T15:25:00.006-04:00

Last night my friend Lissa Bee wed her true love Officer Jack. The whole day was amazing. Another friend of ours officiated and started the day off with an extremely personal ceremony. We all laughed as Lissa Bee swiftly kicked her train out of her way and tossed a grin over her shoulder. Tears were in large supply as the Bride and Groom exchanged their vows and shared their first kiss as man and wife. As they walked down the aisle, Lissa Bee raised her bouquet in victory and let out a cheer. The reception was also a rockin' time. Highlights included a garter removal not to be forgotten as the groom found a flip flop, spoon, condoms, and finally a garter hidden in Lissa's dress. I'm in the middle of taking out the red eye and sharpening the photos now, so a full post is to come later this week. It was a beautiful day with cherished friends and lots of special moments. Congrats you married lady!

Bridespot - Lissa Bee

2009-10-20T10:00:00.004-04:00

Well Miss Eliza Blu, Here is my wedding story!

The most fun part of wedding planning for me (so far) has been picking the dress, theme, colors, favors, etc. Of course the most fun will be actually getting married! It was wonderful to make things what I wanted them to be, and how I wanted to do it. I had a vision in my head and tried to create it. I wasn't ready for people to get mad at me, expect me to use their opinions, or have my wedding be how they thought it should be. Officer Jack and I have learned compromise through out this whole process, and have enjoyed it. We have had our bumps in the road with the planning of our wedding, but other than that, everything was pretty smooth. I can't believe I am getting married in 12 days. What's my biggest triumph you ask? Besides paying for most of the wedding ourselves! And besides marrying the man of my dreams! Hehe. Well that would be hand-making lots of stuff for the wedding! I handmade all my wedding favors, and I am helping make the dessert. Now, what will I do after it is all over? :-)

Love,

Bride Lissa Bee

Thanks for sharing! I can't believe you'll be a Married Lady soon. This is a very special first Bridespot as Lissa Bee has been a friend for over 10 years. She is also very modest, she printed her invites at home (you can see them featured in the DIY Invites post), homemade pumpkin butter for her favors and embellished 100s of little jars, AND she decorated her very own pair of white shoes seen in here. She is a DIY Bride Machine.

In addition, she made beautiful gifts for her bridesmaids, which I will post photos of after her wedding, as not to ruin the surprise. I can't wait to be there to see you and Officer Jack tie the knot!

Slow Down

2009-10-17T23:30:00.001-04:00

All week this week per head costs, shower dates, stationery designs and linen colors have been like bouncing balls in my head and suddenly they all just stopped. I was proofing next week's Bridespot and WHAM, I thought to myself, "What is all this stuff? This fog of flowers, satin, and pointy shoes! How did I get here?" I used to be the girl that said all you need is love, and now I'm just as bad as those Brides I hate. The Brides who steamroll their fiances or bully their family into over spending. Only it's crazier, I'm not even a Bride. My friend Michael says I feel for people more than anyone he knows, and for the first time I really see what he means. Because I'm so blessed to have friends I love who let me help them register or dress shop, my mind gets churning, and I run away with myself. I forget what the marriage is really about. So tonight I'm slowing down.

Today I've decided, I need to stop making grand predictions. I used to think I could see it, when a couple had "it," when they were going to make it. But lately I've seen couples I would have bet my life on fail, because of lies, distrust, health disasters, other people in their way, yet until the very end they looked perfect. They looked happy. They had it all--a perfect home, friends who got along, people to support them, (seemingly) love, but it didn't work. As a single girl I occasionally ask myself, will "this" happen for me? This being the dream guy. This being the beautiful big day. This being the big break up you never see coming. I wonder do those people with the unhappy ending, do they know where it all went awry? Can they look back and say, "There! That's where the train derailed"? Or is it just as mysterious when you're in it as it is to the onlookers?

When the bouncing stopped tonight I was reading that a Bride's greatest triumph was marrying the man she loved, the man of her dreams (not getting her dress for a steal or finding a photographer for under 4 grand). So often our relationships, romantic or otherwise, are less and less about the people we love. The relationships become about the fog. Tonight I've come through the Brigadoon, the spotlight is back where it belongs. It's on the love.

Venue of the Month - Radnor Hunt

2009-10-10T10:00:00.002-04:00

Our first Venue of the Month comes to us from Bride Shortcake and Groom Slim Jim. Their wedding reception in June 2010 will be held at Radnor Hunt.

Name: Radnor Hunt.
Location: Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Rental Fee: $3000.
# of Hours you get for that fee: 5 (extra hours: $250/hour).
Recommended Caterer: J. Scott Catering.
Grand Main Ballroom Capacity: 220 sit down; 250+ cocktail.
Petite Ballroom Capacity: 80 sit down; 100+ cocktail.
Any Limitations/Rules: You must use their bar packages for any alcohol since they have a Liquor License. They have 2 packages: One for just Beer and Wine; another for Beer, Wine, and Liquor. Events must end by 12midnight.
Outside Caterer allowed: Yes, but with a fee.
# of events per day: One.
Parking: Yes --optional valet with added fee.
Outdoor Space: Yes --Covered and uncovered Patio space, as well as open grassy areas. Pictured above and below.
Separate Cocktail Space: Yes --The Petite Ballroom. Ceremony Site: Yes --both outdoor and indoor.
Bridal Suite: Yes.
Air conditioned: Yes.
Handicap Accessible: Ballroom and Cocktail area --Yes. Bridal Suite --No.
Overnight accommodations: No.
Nearby accommodations: The Desmond Hotel.

Grand Ballroom
Petite Ballroom/Cocktail Space

Special Comments from the Bride: "The natural light in the ballrooms at Radnor is amazing, and I love the wainscoting in the main ballroom. This Venue has true Chester County Charm!"

All photos taken by Bride Shortcake. Thanks Lady!

Calling all Brides!

2009-10-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

I'm starting two new feature sections this month. The first will be called Venue of the Month. This series will highlight a fantastic venue in the Philadelphia area (NJ, DE, and MD borders too). So if you are getting married in the tri-state area and want to nominate your venue please email me at something.blu.eliza@gmail.com with VENUE in the subject line. Please include the name, location of your venue, and the name of the event contact person, and I will do the rest. This feature will run each month on the 10th.

Our first Venue of the Month will appear very soon! It comes to us from Bride-to-be Shortcake, who you may have seen around the page before (Philly Knottie Event). She is (probably, awaiting fiance approval) getting married in June 2010 at The Radnor Hunt Club in Malvern, PA.

The second feature section is called Bridespot. This will be a guest post by a current Bride-to-be or newly wed. Your post can be about anything your heart desires related to your Bridal experience! For example, you can share with the Something Blu community any of the following... What are you struggling with planning? What has been the most fun about wedding planning? What have you learned about your partner since you got engaged? What did you not expect to encounter while planning your wedding? What has been your biggest triumph?

Please submit Bridespot guest posts to something.blu.eliza@gmail.com with BRIDESPOT in the subject line. Accepted posts will be notified and credit will be given, not to worry.

I can't wait to hear from all of you!!
<3, Eliza Blu

Engagement Party Hi-jinks

2009-09-29T22:55:00.010-04:00

A few weeks ago I drove to a college friends' engagement party on Long Island. I had to wait to post this because it was a somewhat traumatic trip. The pain has since faded and I've been able to see the good, so here goes.

It's a beautiful Saturday morning, when I embark from Philadelphia, PA to Shoreham, NY. GPS programmed, Lilly dress on, overnight bag of beach gear packed, 172 miles to go. Traffic is lousy, but I'm making progress. Mile 80, my car begins to violently shake and I lose the finer nuances of steering control on the NJ turnpike. Ammmmaaaazing. It's Saturday of Labor Day weekend I'm 2 hours from home and about 2 hours from my destination, "What the heck am I gonna do?" Okay, you're right, I didn't say "heck" but this is a PG blog.

Gift from God #1, I was near an exit and the toll collector directed me to a Chevy Dealership nearby. I rattled 8 miles down the road to a little town called Avenel, NJ. I find the Chevy Dealership and think, "I'm saved!" I wander inside in my Lilly Pulitzer Dress, RL shades and white Guess heels, and ask "Is the service center open?" You should have seen the looks I received as I thought to myself, "I just had to drive up in this outfit, didn't I?" Sadly I am told the service center is closed, but a very attractive car salesman takes pity on me, takes a long look at my PA plates, and proceeds to call every mechanic in the surrounding area.

After about an hour he finds 3 places that are open and said they would "loooooook" at a car, but gave no guarantees on fixing it. One of these places is about 200 yards down the road, so I made my way down there. After nearly bursting into tears telling my story to the owner of the auto shop, he agrees to look at the car. Up goes my Impala on the lift, and moments later in comes the owner shaking his head saying, "You gotta see this." I wander into the garage (still in Lilly, mind you) to see my rear right tire is torn about 1/3 of the way around. The tire had somehow begun to shred layer by layer without losing air but significantly effecting my ride (hence the crazy shaking). Gift from God #2, the shop had a used tire in the right size and he was able to change it out quickly. I really wish I had video of me standing in an auto shop in a Lilly dress with a completely stunned look on my face. And he did all this for $26!!!! So if you are ever in Avenel, NJ and need a car fixed please see Mr. Pete San Giorgio at Avenel Auto Care Center on Rt. 1 South, and tell him I sent you! I showed my dad the new tire when I got home and he was impressed with the work done and that I was not swindled (and my dad loves that car more than he loves me).

I return to the road, Mile 89. I eventually arrive at the party, THREE HOURS LATE. Are you serious?!? I'm never late. I was mortified. My third gift from God for the day came when I gave my hostess gift to the Bride's mother and she exclaims "How did you know?!" as she opens the bottle of Relax Riesling. Apparently it's her favorite. "Whew, as least I got that right!" I think to myself.

The Bride hands me a margarita, I proceed to have a blast at the party. They even had Karaoke!!! I sang "These Boots are Made for Walking." Yea, you wish there was video of that. My college guy friends treated the crowd to their own rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and there is video! I really hope you can see this.

Aside from being egregiously late, and singing off key, the party was amazing! The Bride's family opened their home to everyone and everyone pitched in to help with the event. The Bride's uncle catered the food, and now their wedding caterer certainly has big shoes to fill! The Bride's aunt used her late grandmothers heart shaped pans to make the lovely cake you see below. The Bride's parents graciously hosted both families and lots of friends, not only for the party, but overnight in the house and in tents outside their beach side home. We all woke up with the sun and spend the day by the water laughing at the photos and videos, and getting sunburned. It truly was an amazing weekend, absolutely worth all the car trouble.

DIY Invitations

2009-09-24T22:32:00.025-04:00

Lately I have received more and more DIY invites to weddings. I think this can be a really wonderful way to save money and/or be more creative with your invites. There are some very beautiful, yet affordable, options out there if you shop around. Staples, Walmart and other office supply stores sell kits with invites, response cards, envelopes etc. Also sites like Etsy.com offer access to artists who can create silk screened invites or other hand made options. Or you can go serious DIY and buy paper, calligraphy pens, die cuts, paper cutter, ribbons and a unique hole puncher at craft stores like Michael's or Joanns. I say power to you if you start from scratch!

However, when you do it yourself there are some things to think about since you as a Bride are not a stationery professional and likely haven't done this before. Think of writing your invites like you did assignments in Elementary School-- Who, What, Where, When all need to be included. Also the How is achieved with guest information cards and perhaps a listing of your website, which would serve as a back up for all this information. It's my opinion that your website should not take the place of any event details though, unless your intention is to have a paper free wedding! (An undertaking I would love to see).

Invitation:
Usually a 5" x 7"ish card on heavy paper announcing your marriage. Information to be included: Parents hosting, bride and groom's names, ceremony day, date, year, time and ceremony venue including town and state. There are lots of phrasing resources on the net, so I won't duplicate those efforts here. ***Optional: You may put on the same sheet at the bottom "Reception immediately to follow" and the place of your reception, if you don't want to have a separate reception card.

Reception Card:
Traditionally Reception info is usually listed on a smaller card, approximately 4" x 5," included with the invitation. This card might say "Reception immediately to Follow" or "Dinner and Dancing" with the location information. Contrary to popular belief this is not the same as a response card. Guests will keep this card for their information.

Response Card:
This is what guests return to you with their regrets or acceptance, and perhaps their food choice. Since they are sending this back to you, it should not be the only place pertinent information is listed on their invitation, such as the the location of your reception, website, or the hotel information. I suggest discreetly numbering these cards on the back in case you can't read someone's handwriting. This way if an illegible card is returned to you, you can check the code # against your master guest list to tell you to whom you mailed the invitation with the corresponding number.

Accommodation Information Card:
Most Hotels these days have a prepared card they will give you when you reserve a block of rooms. These fit conveniently in with the rest of the invitation package. Or you could make small sheets on your computer with a small map on one side and hotel information as well as directions on the other. This would be your resources piece of your invitation. This could also be a nice place to put your website.

Inner Envelope:
All the items listed above go inside an inner envelope. Do not seal this envelope. On the outside, write the first names of the intended guest(s). This can be informal, for example your parents' could say "Mom and Dad" and your friend's could say "Liz and Guest." This is also where single unmarried guests will take their cue on whether or not you're inviting them with a date. So your single friend Liz's may just say "Liz" as well.

Some of the samples I found (like the one shown above) featured a folder instead of an inner envelope, you could write on the back of this as well.

Outer Envelope:
Now you slide that envelope into this one. On the outside you'll need neatly printed mailing addresses with formal salutations. If you have lousy handwriting like me, I recommend computer printed stick-on labels, especially the clear ones which look less obvious. Don't forget your return address in the left corner or on the back on the envelope flap, and a cute love stamp too!

P.S. The USPS now offers custom stamps! You can upload a photo of you and your fiance, your dog with a red heart in its paws, or anything your heart desires to be made into your very own custom stamps!

Photo credits: blue and red invite, Etsy - Mwilson Shop; inkjet reception card, ehow.com; response card and accommodation card photographed by me and created by Bride Lissa Bee; and Best Occasions Invite Kit available at Walmart.

Best Man Speech Flow Chart

2009-09-17T22:32:00.006-04:00

I came across this on the net. It made me laugh when I really needed to in the middle of my scheduling panic attack yesterday. Hope it instills laughter in others. I will have to think up my own flow chart for my next MOH speech, lol.

Photo credit: holytaco.com. Click the photo to see a bigger version!

Panic

2009-09-16T13:35:00.003-04:00

Holy mother of God. I just found out my already busy Summer 2010 wedding calendar got even more jammed. In the past 16 hours 3 of my family members announced their nuptials. Winter weddings need to come back in fashion. Oh man. I needed to vent. Somehow I will make this happen. I don't even know what to do right now. Here is my list thus far and I have a sinking feeling I'm missing some. And I already have 2 in one day, how am I ever going to pick?!

(deep breaths, deep breaths)

May 1, 2010 - South Jersey
June 12, 2010 - Philly suburbs
June 26, 2010 (2 different couples in one day) - Downtown Philly and upstate NY
July 24, 2010 - DC
September 4, 2010 - upstate NY
October 2, 2010 - South Jersey
October 8, 2010 and October 9, 2010 (hindu & christian ceremonies for 1 couple) - Manhattan

Coworker Plus Ones?

2009-09-06T21:04:00.004-04:00

A friend asked me for advice on giving coworkers plus ones or not after reading the "Date Dilemma" post from last month. I've read some conflicting advice on this topic. If you look on the knot.com you can find lots of helpful guest list Q&A, so I would encourage you to look it over. I think my best advice is to assess your specific group of invited coworkers. Personally I would make this decision by asking myself a few questions...

1. How crammed is my guest list already?
2. Do I (or my spouse-to-be) know my coworkers spouses, sig. others, partners etc. well?
3. Are the majority of invited coworkers married?
4. Married or not, could my work crew all attend as a group of singles and still have fun?
5. Are there other singles being invited who they could mingle with?

If my guest list is kinda tight...I would seriously assess if the work crew could all attend as singles and have a good time together and/or with other singles. Even though some may have spouses, I likely don't know them, so I think saying to your work friends, "Yes I would love for you to be a part of my special day, but due to my big family, I'm inviting people from the office to come stag," is totally acceptable. Chances are all your work friends will love to hang out as a group.

If my guest list is not super tight... I would still have the above thought (no reason to spend extra cash). However if 9 out of the 10 co workers you're inviting are married I would probably just invite all the Couples and give that one person a plus one. Seems fair.

Anytime with the singles, just decide what's best for your event, your guest list and YOUR HEART and stick with it. I think more than anything guests notice consistency when it comes to who got invited with or without dates.

Registries to Love

2009-09-04T14:20:00.001-04:00

I love shopping for my friends wedding gifts probably a lot more than a normal person should. I get totally involved in looking at the registry and finding a gift that means something to me and to them. I also try to link things together (as evidenced by my last post). But I digress, this post is about the fabulous-ness that is Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy's.

Last night I went to BB & B to get a wedding gift, shower gift and engagement gift from three different registries for three events occurring this month and next. Because my schedule is crazy, I arrived at the store at 8pm. Expecting the wedding counter to not be staffed I went to one of the regular checkouts to ask for registries to be printed. HOWEVER, the wedding counter was still open and the sweetest gentleman nicely printed all three registries for me (and none were particularly easy to find since apparently my friends have either common names or ridiculously hard to spell names). I was totally impressed with the customer service. Then I very easily found the gifts I wanted and was even able to get gift wrap at 9 o'clock at night. It's all about the little things in life folks!

In general I love when people register at BB & B because there is a such a variety of items as well as a variety of price ranges, which I find is very important to guests of different life stages. Also ordering online is easy and fast if you can't get to the store. Both the store and website allow you to do one credit card purchase although items may be from more than one registry and they even offered to ship my in store purchase to the different Brides and Grooms for free!! I knew I could ship from the web to the couple but not from the store... I was like a kid on Christmas. Since I go to a lot of weddings and pre-wedding festivities anything that saves me time and energy is a plus. Also I like shopping, so I have fun going to the store, but many wedding guests don't like shopping, and even they could quickly purchase and ship a gift through the BB & B system. So if you're looking for somewhere to register BB & B gets my vote!

A second registry I can't get enough of is Macy's. Admittedly this is partially because their China department is my guilty pleasure, but their stores and websites are very user friendly too. I have also ordered from multiple registries in one purchase on their website and in store. (A friend recently had trouble doing it in store, but I think the clerk just wasn't versed in how to do it.) Macy's obviously has more of a selection when it comes to certain items (dishware, china, and housewares) being a larger department store. Also tends to have the fancier more exclusive things you might need as a new couple. Overall, I think the greatest invention for Macy's,
BB & B or any other registry system is the "Ship to couple" feature. If you're not attending the wedding or shower, it takes all the work out of how your gift will arrive, and even if you are attending you don't have to worry about carrying it or breaking it on the plane. So a second vote goes out to Macy's Bridal Department.

Photo is of one gift wrapped by BB & B, one by me and the third gift I shipped to the couple!

Recipe Shower Part 2

2009-09-03T21:21:00.001-04:00

So the Recipe Shower has come and gone and I have failed to post this for quite some time. My apologies. By day I work at a University, so it's a busy time of year.

In the end I chose to give my friend a recipe for my Chocolate Wacky Cake, which is my grandmother's WWII ration recipe featuring no eggs or butter. It's delicious! If you want to try it out it's super easy to make, recipe is at the bottom of this post.

As I said in the last post, I love to give a themed gift so I picked out a rectangular cake pan, spatula, and wisk to give with this recipe, since these are items you would need to bake the cake. Luckily I noticed that mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons had all already been fulfilled on her registry. The Bride loved all her gifts, and as she is an avid baker, I know she will especially appreciate a cake recipe. I have to give a shout out to the Maid of Honor! She did the sweetest thing I've seen someone do with all the recipes. She bought a photo album type book with single slots for each recipe card and collected the recipes at the shower and slid them all into place. This way the Bride's recipes are organized and kept all in one place. Bonus-they stay clean under their plastic page protectors!!! Genius. I will definitely add that to my bag of tricks for the next shower I throw.

I got some twitter traffic about how one plans a recipe shower or what exactly that meant, so here is a brief run down. For the person(s) hosting the shower, plan as you normally would. Pick a date, place, make your guest list, but when you mail invitations include an index card or printed recipe card with each invite. You can usually buy packs of recipe cards at grocery stores or kitchen supply places with pretty graphics and fun details such as notes that feature "From the Kitchen of... " or "Cook with Care Instructions." Explain to guests on the invite to fill out the card with a recipe of their choice for the Bride (and Groom) and bring it to the shower. Even guests who are unable to attend are able to contribute by mailing their recipe on the provided card to the couple.

Using this invitation to contribute a *free* recipe is also a way to steer guests away from giving a tangible gift at the Shower (if the Bride and Groom are on board with that), especially in this economy a lot of couples are saying one gift on their Wedding day is enough. You could phrase it "You're invited to a Cooking Shower! Hosted by Sarah's Bridesmaids. Instead of gifts the Bride requests of gift of your cooking skills! Please share a favorite recipe on this card and join us for good company, tea and desserts on September 19, 2009 at 2pm at the Cambridge Tea Room, West Chester, PA. Please RSVP to Eliza by September 5, 2009 at (phone or email)."

Here is the recipe: Grandma Betty's WWII Wacky Cake

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 teas. baking soda
2 teas. salt
2 tbs. red wine vinegar
2 teas. vanilla
2/3 c. vegetable oil
2 c. cool water

Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another. Slowly stir dry ingredients into wet mixture. Pour into a lightly greased rectangular 9" x 13" pan or split between two 9" round pans for a layered cake.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes. Enjoy!

Recipe Shower

2009-08-21T16:28:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite Bridal Shower themes is Recipe or Kitchen Showers. And lucky for me, I'm attending one tomorrow!! I am currently trying to choose a recipe to share with the Bride, current front runners include, homemade salad dressing, Chocolate Wacky Cake (no eggs or butter --WWII recipe), or my famous pasta salad. Feel free to vote below!

I love this shower idea because, #1 it's interactive. It allows guests to contribute a free gift to the couple!! Who doesn't love to give something significant without spending money? #2 The Bride (and potentially the Groom) gain a recipe for something new! And who doesn't love good food? #3 It makes my decision about what gift to buy lots and lots easier! Because I can be a super nerd and buy something off the registry that they could use to make my dish. Such as a salad bowl and dressing shaker; cake pan and mixing bowl; large kettle and produce knife. Can we tell I love a themed gift?

I will report in about the shower on Sunday, and which recipe wins!!!

Knot.com Philly event

2009-08-19T16:47:00.001-04:00

Last week I went to a Knottie gathering in Philadelphia. It was loads of fun: free drinks, free food, a few vendors and lots of brides! It was held in the new Chestnut Club, which has yet to open to the public. This great historic theater has been transformed into a classic ballroom incorporating the old woodwork and little nooks. The ballroom also features a floor to ceiling window overlooking Chestnut Street at one end. It would be a fabulous downtown Philly location to have a ceremony and/or reception.

Click Here to see some photos of brides telling viewers what The Knot means to them at the event.

Featured is a pic of me and my best friend, who is getting married next June. I got a special MOH guest spot in the photo. She loves The Knot because "She would be totally CLUELESS without it."

Brides with Ruby Slippers

2009-08-11T09:53:00.002-04:00

and Blue, Green, Yellow, and Purple too!!

This is a trend I have totally fallen in love with. It warms my heart to see Brides slide into colorful and sometimes sparkly shoes on their special day. As a size 9 (occasionally a 9.5), I realized long ago white shoes on me look like skis. Hence, my plan to someday make my something blue a shoe! Really ladies, what a fun way to showcase your favorite color, coordinate with your bridesmaids, or just show off your personal style when you bustle up your dress to dance at your reception. Here is a collection of my favorite brides with colored shoes. Special shout out to my friend Kaitlyn (below) whose first wedding task was to find perfect Aqua shoes and then build the rest of her wedding around them. Enjoy!

Photo Credits: Red shoes, Martha Stewart.com; Blue Shoes, my friend Kaitlyn (great legs huh?!) photo by Hitched Studios of Boston; Green and Yellow shoes, Brides Cafe; Purple Shoes, jessicalynn402.blogspot.com

Great Giveaway - Save the Dates

2009-08-10T17:04:00.001-04:00

Click here to read about a Save the Date giveaway. You could win 100 Save the Dates just by commenting on the page or becoming a follower of her blog. These amazing designs are produced by Rachel Jasper. If you win you get to pick a design of your choice!

http://thethirty-somethingbride.blogspot.com/2009/08/give-away-rachel-jasper-designs.html#comment-form

Bridezillas, Eh?

2009-08-09T22:25:00.001-04:00

This one is for you Erin.

Truthfully I have not encountered any true blue blooded Bridezillas in my time as a Bridesmaid or wedding guest. PTL. However, I have seen a few Brides on the edge under certain circumstances. Here are some things I've known even the most serene Brides to growl at:

1. Moms (mostly their own but occasionally the Groom's)
2. Money
3. Other people's ideas and traditions being pushed on YOUR wedding
4. Guest List Size
5. Shoes
6. Hairstyles/Veils
7. Pictures - angles, who's in them, how many, etc.
8. Bridesmaid dresses
9. Your weight/dress size
10. ???

What drove you nuts planning your wedding? Or what have you seen Brides get wacky over? Lmk I need #10

The Date Dilemma

2009-08-05T14:16:00.002-04:00

In my wedding travels over the past few years I've noticed some inconsistencies in how Brides and Grooms decide to give out the coveted "plus ones." Being single for most of the time following college has placed me in the category of "to plus or not to plus." I find there are a few schools of thought out there...

Technique #1. All friends who live with and/or are engaged to someone are extended an "and guest." This rule is also occasionally stretched to include plus ones to friends whose significant others are known well by the Bride and Groom. All your other friends who may be actually single or in new relationships do not get the added guest--regardless of whether or not The Bride/Groom are actually better friends with the deemed Single guest or the guest living in sin (I'm kidding, but that's how my Gran says it). I find that with rare exception this technique places The Singles in a situation where they are asked to travel to a wedding alone, sit at a table of other forlorn Singles, have no dance partner for slow songs, and stay in a hotel alone.

Occasionally one gets lucky and attends a wedding with other FUN Singles (Yes, Virginia they do exist) and one does not miss having a date in the slightest and may in fact be better off without one. After all, introducing your hired escort to your 50 college friends can be tiring. Most of the time however, attending weddings as a Single is depressing, costly, and takes the spirit of love out of the experience.

I would like to say I understand that per head costs are pricey. Having been a bridesmaid a couple of times I know that your Chicken Cacciatore can cost $120 a person for no good reason. I am not minimizing that at all, instead just explaining the plight your single friends may experience if you do not extend them a plus one. Some final food for thought, female guests are likely giving 3 gifts (shower, bachelorette, and wedding) is it so much to give them the gift of a dance partner?

Technique #2. Friends of a certain age, say over 21, all get plus ones (without attention to their current relationship status). Of course this then runs over into cousins and others over the age of 21 also potentially needing dates. This obviously would multiply quickly, but it may be the most fair strategy I've come across. It's certainly objective.

Technique #3. Friends of a certain closeness with the Bride or Groom (or perhaps their Parents, if they are paying for the wedding) get plus ones regardless of personal relationship status, and friends who are your fringe friends but are nicely being included in the guest list do not get plus ones. Example: All your college girlfriends who were there when you came home from your first date with your Husband-to-be can bring a Gent of their choice. But the girl who you worked with at your latest job is invited as a Single, even though she lives with her bf.

This technique asks you then to sort your friends and single family members into most important, very important, and generally important piles and then dole out those desirable plus ones in tiers. This could help you decide to give only Bridal Party members plus ones, but not other friends. Or help you make a point to your mom that your Cousin Maggie can attend alone, since after all her parents will be there.

The White Wedding Guest Dress

2009-08-05T14:14:00.004-04:00

Say that title 10 times fast, I dare ya...

This past Saturday I attended a wedding of two college friends and saw one of the more appalling things I have ever seen at a wedding: a female guest wearing a solid white dress. I'm going to let that sink in for a minute... Lucky for her, I did not know her or her date. Her date was a friend of the groom and she was nicely included and attended with him. I don't know about her, but where I was raised, a guest of a guest need obey even higher standards-- but alas I digress. Allow me to set the scene...

It's a sunny afternoon at a mid-size Catholic church, sitting in a pew is little me, waiting for my turn to rise for communion when I see a girl on the groom's side rise to reveal her tea length white lace dress. This dress was not unlike many I have seen Brides put on for receptions or post-wedding parties or day after brunches. It was delicate, beautiful, strapless, fitted, and white. Then suddenly I realize, "WAIT!!! The Bride is on the altar, not in a pew to my right. Who does this floosy think she is!?" At that exact moment, I hear a sharp gasp behind me, uttered by my best friend (also a bride to be next July). Knowing what she has just seen, I turn around and mouth a definitive, "I know." To which she turns, makes eyes at our other friend and so on and so forth for 3 more pews. (Obviously all 6 of us had to sit on the end to have optimal picture taking range, duh.) So as 6 perfectly coiffed hair styles turn in succession, like shiny dominoes, we begin to step into the aisle for communion. It is then that I lock eyes with the Maid of Honor, another one of my bffs, and telepathically scorn this woman with laser beams shooting out my eye balls.

Okay enough, it's too painful. Now, on to the question my boyfriend asked me when I recounted this story later in the night (he was not present for the mental stoning of this harlot), "Do people still tell their daughters you can't wear white to weddings?" So internet blogging community I ask you, "Do they?!!" Because as a little girl I distinctly remember my mother scolding me for trying to wear a white and blue sundress to a wedding, for as she said "It is not your day to wear white, your day will come." Has this respect for the Bride and her one day to symbolize innocence, virtue, possible (haha) virginity, and general spectacular center of attention-ness gone out the window?!?!

Mothers of America, please tell your daughters, there is only one day you wear white to a wedding, and that is on your own wedding day. Not some one else's.

Books hurt Trees, Blogs are Free

2009-08-05T14:12:00.003-04:00

This afternoon my friend Kevin (who has been to nearly 300 weddings) joked that he and I could write a book about all our funny stories of attending and being attendants in various weddings. While I don't see that happening any time soon, I thought a blog about my adventures as a wedding guest and bridesmaid could be fun to write about. I have been to... hold on I'm counting...12 weddings in the past 2.5 years, involved in 3, and invited to about 10 others. Recently, I've run out of cup-cake and icing jokes to account for all the pick-up skirts a girl can stand, and I've come to peace with the realization that by the time I get married NOTHING will be original. Even my brilliant idea (from 5 years ago!!!) to wear blue shoes, but I'm not bitter, I swear.

I hope you enjoy reading it. Feel free to leave comments!