The Blushing Bride

My Wedding Day Extravaganza

2013-02-14T09:30:00.001-08:00

Hello!

It's been quite some time, hasn't it? I CANNOT believe that it's been over 8 months since my last post. Sometimes it's hard to predict those hectic moments in your life and when they're going to arrive. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep posting regularly again – oh how I miss it!

These last few months have been nothing short of exhausting! The wedding came and went so fast that I hardly had time to even know what was going on. It did, however, turn out to be the very best day of my life. I specifically remember sitting at the head table at our reception, looking around and thinking, "These people are all here for ME (and Brandt, of course!)?" It's an amazing feeling to have every important person in your life in one place at the same time – there to celebrate this next stage in your life. I loved every minute of it.

Since then, Brandt and I have been busy getting our lives in order and adjusting to the married life. So far, so good! We've got a quaint little home that we have tirelessly been working on/decorating, which has been a fun experience. All in all, life is good.

Now, I'd like to show you guys a little bit of our wedding. It was a beautiful fall day – couldn't have asked for anything better.

What do you think? Pretty, right? Ahhhh, I'm in love.

Now for some of my favorite moments.

#1. Getting Ready – Making ourselves purdy for the big day was one of my favorite moments. I mean, you're surrounded by the women in your life who you love the most – and they're giving you endless compliments because, well, they have to! What's not to love?

#2. The First Look – Brandt and I decided we would see each other before the wedding, and let me tell ya, it was the best decision we made about the wedding. It was absolutely PERFECT. My favorite part of the entire day. If you're debating about whether or not to do it, DO IT. It's something you'll remember for the rest of your life. And no, it does not make the walk down the aisle any less meaningful. You will still cry. Trust me.

#3. Friends & Family Time – Like I said before, these are some of your favorite people in the entire world. And they're all here for you. Take some time to revel in the fact that you can all be together. It's such a great feeling.

#4. The Ceremony – Duh. The moment you become husband and wife! It's almost surreal and it will be over before you know. I wish I had taken a minute to look around the church to see everyone. I was, however, far too nervous that I would turn into a blubbering mess (don't worry, I did that right BEFORE I walked down the aisle.)

#5. You + Him Time – After the ceremony, Brandt and I decided to take pictures on our own. There was no hassle of carting the entire wedding party around, and we got to have a little bit of alone time (with the photographer) to enjoy our new marital status. We did a little bit of everything: vintage car, open field, even a canoe ride across my family's pond that everyone was sure was going to turn into a disaster. Proved them wrong! I mean, how many people can say they paddled a canoe in their wedding dress?

#6. The Par-tay – Obviously. We ate like pigs, toasted to happy futures, drank far too much, chowed down on a dozen different cakes and danced our little butts off. And yes, our dance floor was outside under the open sky. Sounds pretty great, huh? It was!

There you have it! I appreciate you guys taking the time to read this. Happy wedding planning!

Papercraft on Etsy

2012-06-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I've been missing out on my blogging time lately and I think I'm having withdraw. It feels so good to be posting again. Why didn't anyone warn me that the last few month of wedding planning are down right hectic? :)

Today, I want to share an adorable little shop on Etsy with you called pghpapercraft. I actually found this shop when I won a giveaway on a fellow blogger's website for a gorgeous handmade burlap guestbook. You will absolutely love this shop! The guestbook is unbelievably cute – all of you burlap-loving brides won't even be able to believe the cuteness. It's perfectly rustic and polished at the same time. Such a winning combo. And the best part? It's fully customizable. Maile (the shop owner) made it incredibly easy to pick out your favorite color of ribbon (to match your wedding colors), and let her know what you'd like the front of the book to say. It's such a beautiful keepsake that you'll want to save long after the wedding.

Papercraft even has matching stationery so you could get menus, invitations, programs and place cards to match. I LOVE this idea. Everything would look so polished and put-together. Personally, I'm digging the purple and burlap look!

Be sure to check out Papercraft on Etsy if you're looking for some handmade goodness to spice up your wedding. It's affordable and oh so cute.

Here's some of my other favorite pieces. Enjoy!

Blue, Gray, Brown Beach Wedding

2012-05-24T11:21:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited to show you guys a beautiful inspiration board that was requested by Kishah – a 2013 bride-to-be. It's an October wedding in...wait for it...HAITI. Ugh. The jealousy is sinking in. Beach weddings always turn out beautifully. How can they not, with the ocean as a backdrop?

Kishah had a vision of blue and gray, with possibly some golds/deep yellows thrown in. It needed to be rustic, vintage and beachy of course. I seriously LOVE this inspiration board. I adore the different shades of blue mixed in together to give it an eclectic, laid-back vibe. It should NEVER be a requirement to stick to one color/shade of color. The golds and browns keep the whole thing earthy and grounded. And, it's beachy without being over-the-top and typical of what you would expect. It's really quite romantic. Kishah's wedding is going be gorgeous – no doubt about it!

Photo credits
Center: bouquet
First row: groomsmen, necklace, lantern, cake
Second row: flutes, place setting
Third row: silverware, bride
Fourth row: shoes, Jones Soda, couple, napkin

What do you guys think? Thanks Kishah for the beautiful request. Good luck on wedding planning!

Email me if you'd like a board! Shardiy@b-y.net

The Dress & The Cake

2012-05-14T06:11:00.001-07:00

First of all, I'd like to say congrats to L.O.A.H for winning my giveaway hosted by From Kristen, With Love. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Now on to my post. I must say that I had a lot of fun writing this post for you guys. For me, cakes and dresses are two of the most beautiful parts of a wedding. They set the whole stage for your big day and help it come together so wonderfully. I know all of you brides-to-be are probably looking at countless pictures of dresses and wedding cakes, trying to find the perfect ones. But, have you ever thought about a cake and a dress that seem to be perfectly inspired by one another?

I think it would be so much fun to take an element of your wedding dress that you love (the texture, the sash, the beading) and incorporate that into your cake design. I mean, why not? You love your dress (hopefully!) and chances are, you'd love your cake if it was inspired by your gown too.

OR if you're looking for a fun, colored wedding cake, why not match your bridesmaids' dresses to the cake? As long as you don't go overboard and try to recreate a cake that looks just like a dress, it will be a perfect subtle reflection that will have your guests thinking you're so clever, NOT cheesy!

Here's some examples to get you started.

Cake; Dress

Cake, Dress

Cake; Dress

Sleeping Beauty Engagement

2012-05-11T05:58:00.001-07:00

Hello my lovelies!

Today I have an inspiration board to show you that is a little different – it's an engagement shoot board! How cool. Sam contacted me the other day and said she was having trouble with her idea for a Sleeping Beauty inspired engagement shoot. If you ask me, she had it all figured out. She knew the poses, the scenes, the parts of the movie that she wanted to recreate. But, she was having trouble with the outfits and the props. How do you take something that could easily be over-the-top and cheesy and make it cute and modern?

Well, here's my take on it.

Photo Credits
Center: Happily Ever After
First row: couple, flowers, key, crown
Second row: shoes, tent
Third row: perfume, rabbits
Fourth row: couple, bouquet, couple, finger prick

I think it is perfectly whimsical and magical– but not corny. It just screams "fairy tale" to me! I love the patterned dress for something a little more modern than Aurora's long, fuschia gown, and that jacket for Prince Phillip is the perfect alternative to an over-the-top prince outfit. Can't you just see Sleeping Beauty asleep in that little tent, waiting for her true love to kiss her? I love me some Disney movies!

Thanks Sam for the fabulous request! Hope you like your inspiration board.

If you'd like me to make a board for you, don't hesitate to email me at Shardiy@b-y.net!

From Kristen, With Love GIVEAWAY!

2012-05-03T06:38:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! I've got a great giveaway to share with you all today – isn't that exciting? When Kristen contacted me to do a giveaway with her, I was beyond thrilled. I avidly follower her blog, From Kristen, With Love. She has the greatest, most creative posts.You definitely wouldn't regret checking her out. If you're looking for a new blog to follow, she is your best bet!

On to the giveaway! Kristen just opened up her Etsy shop (congrats, girl!), and is kind enough to give away an item for you guys to win.

Here's what you can win:

These hand painted wooden signs read "Mr." & "Mrs."... the perfect addition to your wedding decor and/or used as a photo prop. Let the world know you're officially a Mrs. by using this statement prop in your wedding photos. Hang it on the back of your chair at your reception to add a personal touch. After the wedding, you can feature the signs in your home to remind you of your special day each and every time you look at them.

The signs are painted white & measure 1 foot by 6 inches and come ready to hang or hold with attached twine.

What could you do with them, you ask?

Here are some examples!

See how cute? Use them one of these ways, or get creative and come up with a different use all together! Thankfully, I have some pretty creative readers and I know your brains are going a thousand miles an hour right now. I know mine is.

How to Enter:

Fill out the Rafflecopter below and you'll be good to go.

Winner will be selected May 13.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Red & Silver DIY Wedding

2012-04-26T11:01:00.002-07:00

Today I have a gorgeous board for you to look at that was requested by a reader. Yay! I love those. Jenn is getting married June 2013 on the beach. Her colors are red and silver with a little bit of black thrown in. She wants a country style (she's wearing cowboy boots) with lots of DIY opportunities. She's a crochet guru, so that gave me the perfect opportunity to thrown in all kinds of handmade goodies. For example, the red hearts could be tied around napkins, doubling as a decoration AND a favor. Or you could sew tags on them with names, making for cute place cards. There are so many great options – as long as you're willing to sew up a couple hundred :)

Isn't the bright red so fresh and summery?

Photo Credits:
Center: centerpiece
First row: couple, flowers, dessert, bouquet
Second row: boots, cake
Third row: hair, flowers
Fourth row: bridesmaids, crochet bouquets, crochet hearts, boutonniere

Jen's wedding is going to be absolutely gorgeous. I want to point out, for all you DIY brides that know how to crochet (or are willing to learn), the three bouquets in the bottom picture are all crocheted! How stinkin' cool is that? And just think, you could save your bouquet forever. Get to crafting!

Photo credit: The Offbeat Bride

Thanks Jenn, for the request. If you'd like me to make a board for you, please don't hesitate to email me! I'm happy to help. Shardiy@b-y.net.

XO

Thirty-One Giveaway WINNER!

2012-04-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

As always, thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway! I'm fairly convinced that I have the best readers of all time. And thank you to Megan, who was kind enough to offer up her second bag to give away on the Blushing Bride. So very sweet.

Without further ado, the winner of the polka-dot bag is:

Maureen!

Maureen, I will be in contact with you shortly to get your mailing info. Thanks again, everyone. Check back for more giveaways in the future. XO!

Spring 2013 Gowns = COLOR

2012-04-20T07:56:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, Bridal Fashion Week this year boasted all kind of unique creations from some of the bridal industry's most prominent designers. So, what was all over the runway this year? COLOR – and lots of it! Taking the lead from Vera Wang, who has recently come out with all kinds of beautiful alternative-colored wedding gowns, a lot of other designers jumped on the "color" bandwagon too. Is that a good thing? I'm not entirely sure. Don't get me wrong – I love a good, off-beat wedding dress just as much as the next girl. But, would I really wear one? Probably not. And I'd put money on the fact that most brides would probably be right there with me on that. I definitely applaud the designers for coming up with something different though. It's bold, refreshing and a little bit rebellious, which is totally awesome.

So, love them or hate them, here are some colored dresses you can expect to see Spring 2013!

What's your opinion? Love 'em or leave 'em?

Vera Wang

Ines de Santo

Maggie Sottero

Vera Wang

Douglas Hannant

Oscar de la Renta

Vera Wang

Oscar de la Renta

Vera Wang

Oscar de la Renta

Fall Orange, Plum, Green Wedding

2012-04-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

I know we've all got spring on the brain at the moment, but today I've got a lovely fall color palette to share with you. Heather contacted me last week and asked me for some help with her upcoming fall wedding, and I jumped at the opportunity. She's getting married next October and wants a lively palette of orange, plum and lime green. How fun is that? She wants the entire look to feel very much like fall, but not necessarily like Halloween (although she said that if her fiancé had his way, they'd be married in full costume!). So, here's what I've come up with.

I adore this color palette. The leaf and pumpkin details scream autumn, but the vibrant color palette keep things energetic and fun. Fall is my favorite season for weddings, and Heather's is sure to live up to the hype. I love it that she's not afraid to go bold with lots of color, plus she loves purple – she's a girl at my own heart! There's also so much opportunity for DIY brides here. The pumpkin table numbers would be a great project, and all the leaf details would be easy – not to mention FREE!

What do you ladies think? Love this look for fall?

Photo credits:

Center: bouquet
First row: table setting, groom, table number, green dress
Second row: apples, pumpkin pie
Third row: flowers, shoes
Fourth row: place setting, bridesmaids, cupcakes, leaf headpiece

I love to help brides to be who are struggling with picturing how their wedding/color palette will come together. If you'd like me to make you an inspiration board and feature it on my blog (free of charge, of course!), please don't hesitate to contact me. My email is Shardiy@b-y.net. XO

Polka Dots + a GIVEAWAY!

2012-04-10T09:17:00.001-07:00

I've got two things to show to you today – a fabulous collection of polka dot weddings, and a polka dot bag giveaway from Thirty One!

If that's not hard to resist, I don't know what is. Polka dots are just so effortlessly cute. They're fun, playful and add a touch of sweetness to an outdoor spring/summer wedding. Plus, you can pretty much rock them in any color. Go bold with bright colors, or stick to white on white for a more traditional, subtle look. The choice is yours. When thrown in here and there, polka dots are such a fresh, festive idea – especially when combined with other fun prints. Stationery, ties, and even your wedding gown will look fabulous in polka dots!

Click on photo for source. Keep scrolling for the giveaway!

Since we're on the subject of polka dots, it would only be fitting to have a giveaway to go along with it! So here you have it.

Thirty-One Giveaway!

Megan Weaver, Independent Thirty-One Consultant is offering The Blushing Bride readers a chance to win one of her fabulous bags! Trust me, you're gonna love it. Thirty-One bags are so cute, can be personalized, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, perfect for so many different occasions! Be sure to check out Megan's website to view the Thirty-One catalog!

Here's what's up for grabs:

A Thirty-One All in One Organizer in Pink Lotsa Dots! Its got tons of room inside to haul all of your goodies (it would be perfect for a bride or bridesmaid!) and it's got two mesh side pockets. This pattern is just around for a limited time – it's only offered in the month of May. That means you've got to scoop one of these babies up! During May the All in One Organizer is only $5 if you spend $31 at Thirty-One. Plus, they can be personalized. It'd be a great bag to give your bridesmaids as a thank you gift. I am in love with those pink polka dots! EEK!

How to Enter:

Just fill out the Rafflecopter below! Easy Peasy. Good luck to all of you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win your dream gown from Ruche! (ARV: $500!)

2012-04-04T11:19:00.002-07:00

OH. MY. I have a giveaway for you that is going to knock your little socks off! Remember a couple of days ago when I made a post about my new found love for Ruche? (If not, be sure to have a look!). Well, to honor their new spring collection, Ruche is having a fabulous giveaway where you can win a GRAND PRIZE OF $500 to use towards a Ruche wedding dress or any other Ruche purchase. This is your chance to get a knockout wedding gown for free (or practically nothing). And, you want to know what's better? Many of the wedding gowns found on Ruche are below $500. This isn't one of those deals where you win $500 towards a $6,000 dress and have to cough up the additional $5,500. Nope. You could get this beauty for free (it retails for $499):

Or this one (retails for $349) with money to spare:

Or, this one (retails for $349)

In fact, there are only 2 dresses in the entire collection that are over $500. That leaves enough money to buy shoes, jewelry, a veil – whatever!

So, if you need more convincing to enter (you would be absolutely crazy if that was the case), then let me tell you HOW you enter. Trust me, you're going to love it. All you have to do is get on Pinterest (fun!) and make a board featuring your "dream wedding" (more fun!). Pin pictures from any and all websites, but be sure to include at least 4 images from the Ruche website including a Ruche gown! (You may pin images from the Ruche site and from their bridal page here: http://shopruche.com/bridal/mediashare.html).

Sounds fun, right?

Here's a breakdown of the rules to make it easy to follow:

You've only got a few days to enter, so get to pinning. Good luck!

Mira Zwillinger Spring 2012

2012-04-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Mira Zwillinger gowns for spring 2012? You are going to DIE. Die, I say! That's how incredibly beautiful they are. They textures are so unique – there is so much detail going on in these fabulous dresses! I love the pop of nude in a few of them too. They're just so modern and unique, not to mention romantic! You couldn't wear one of these and not feel like a couture goddess straight from the magazines. Honestly, I can't see these dresses being un-flattering on anybody. The fabric is perfectly draped, and hugs the body so wonderfully, and yet it flows to create flattering shapes and lines. Goodness gracious. These are some of my favorite dresses that I've seen in a long time (I know I say that a lot – but these are holding spot #1 right now!). So, have a look. These are just my favorites – there's so many more to look at here!

What dress designer are you head-over-heels about at the moment? Share, please!

In the Spotlight: Ruche Bridal

2012-03-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Ruche is having a contest to win $500 for a dream gown! All you have to do if make your dream wedding on Pinterest. Check out the rules here!

OK, so I don't know if I'm totally out of the loop on this one, but I stumbled upon Ruche Bridal's website today and my mouth literally fell open looking at all of the pretties that I never knew existed. I just had to share. Does everyone know about Ruche but me?! If you don't, then you MUST go have a look. All of their styles are vintage-inspired and offer something a little different than the traditional look that you see everywhere. They have wedding gowns, the cutest bridesmaid dresses and all kids of great accessories.

You want to know the best part? It's so affordable. How affordable, you ask? Well all of their bridesmaid dresses are between $150 and $50. Wedding gowns range from $900 to $200, with most of them being in the $200, $300 range. Holy freakin' cow.

If you're a unique bride looking for something a little different, this is the place for you. If I was going for a vintage-theme wedding, Ruche would be a must-have. I know that there's a lot of girls out there who would love this site if they don't know it already, so I'm sharing the love.

My favorite pieces: (warning – lots of pictures coming at ya!)

Bridal Gowns

"Victoria" $849.99 "Alexandria" $749.99

"Tiffany" $349.99 "Gemma Lynn" $88.99

"Claire" $399.99 "Audrey" $249.99

Bridesmaid Dresses

"Freesia Dress" $72.99 "Ranunculus Dress" $82.99

"Petunia Dress" $63.99 "Peach Rose Dress" $134.99

"Hydrangea Dress" $145.99 "Gardenia Dress" $84.99

Shoes

"Oldie but Goodie Heels" $108.99

Jewelry

"Promises Gold Bow Necklace" 22.99 "Grand Bouquet Floral Necklace" $36.99

"Catch the Bouquet Ring" $24.99

Veils/Headpieces

"Simply Elegance" Ivory Veil $56.99 "Twirling Heart" Ivory Veil $48.99

"Singluar Destiny" Headband $42.99 "Something Blue" Feathered Headband $48.99

"Ever Thine" Fascinator $42.99

"Spirits Entwined" Crown $43.99 "Ever Mine" Fascinator $42.99

Accessories

"Sweet Reminiscing" Lace Shaw $52.99 "Forever Fancy" Rosette Bolero $76.99

"Pure Elation" Lace Gloves $28.99 "Gleaming Heart" Sequin Sash $59.99

So, what do you think? Are you in love with Ruche Bridal yet? I just can't get over the patterned bridesmaid dresses and those fabulous fascinators! So much pretty in one place! Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Ruche Bridal. They did not contact me. I was not asked or endorsed to write this post. These are my own opinions and it was fully s my choice to spotlight the shop. Ruche Bridal was not involved in any way.

25 Prettiest Spring Bouquets

2012-03-29T09:00:00.001-07:00

It's spring time. And it's wedding season. How much better could things get? Well, I could spend the next few minutes talking about gorgeous bouquets. Yes, that would be better. So here it goes.

Booking a florist is one of the items still on my to-do list. With 6 months to go until my wedding (as of today!), it's probably something that I should do. But, thinking about picking a bouquet is a really hard decision for me. I've never been a huge flower lover. I mean I've always liked them, but not any more than the average person. For some reason though, when they're put into perfectly coordinated little groups, cutely tied together and carried by a woman in white (and her bridesmaids), I become a flower FANATIC. I often find myself looking at pictures of bouquets and quite literally gasping out loud. Yes, I love them that much. I'm getting married in the fall, but couldn't be more head over heals for a good spring bouquet. The pastel colors, the soft, fluffy textures – they're just so romantic. Here's a collection of 25 spring bouquets that I adore, right down to the last petal.

What's your favorite flower season?

Click on pic for source.

Orange, Pink & Yellow Wedding

2012-03-27T13:35:00.001-07:00

Last week, we (Fort Wayne, IN) had numerous days of record breaking hot weather. Having 80 degree temperatures is unheard of here in March (it's usually only in the 40's!) – it was quite the treat. Everyone got their shorts out and tank tops on and acted like it was the dead of summer. But, unfortunately, it was too good to last. It was like an awful tease, and now it's got me craving the warm weather more than normal. To cheer myself up and set me back into summer mode, I decided to create a board that just screams WARM.

These bright yellows, oranges and pinks are so vibrant, they just make me happy. This would be an absolutely stunning wedding fully of energy, excitement and lots and lots of dancing. Perfect for the bride who isn't afraid to make a bold statement. I adore those orange shoes, love that big yellow bow, and believe it or not, the woman in the bright orange dress is actually the BRIDE! How awesome is that? I'll have to feature her on an unconventional dress post....she def. deserves it with that beauty!

Doesn't this board make you think of summer? Are you dreaming of warmer days as much as I am? (Booo to you lucky ducks in warm areas!)

Photo credits:

Center: bouquet
First row: cake, shoes, ice cream, couple
Second row: flowers, place setting
Third row: bouquet, bride
Fourth row: boutonniere, place cards, hearts, table

Jenny Yoo Wedding Gowns

2012-03-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

Ah, yes. The Jenny Yoo Spring 2012 collection is here – and I must say, it is GORGEOUS. I love how her looks are always so under-stated and pretty. They're flowy, romantic and perfect of the "simple" bride who wants to stand out without too much poof and glitz. Although, people will definitely not miss you in one of these beauties. Another thing that I love about this spring collection? Every one of these dresses is so classic – you know that in 10, 15, 20 years, you will look back and STILL love your dress. Heck, it will probably sill be in style!

Here are some of my favorites from the collection.

Bella: Soft and sweet with a touch of spunk!

Celine: Well hello, Greek Goddess!

Madison: Pure, simple elegance at its finest.

Violetta: This just screams romance.

Aimee: Flowy and comfortable – perfect for a destination wedding!

And how about some elegant and fun bridesmaid dresses? Yes please!

Anya: Structured and pretty

Quinn: Sexy and flirty!

Margaux: Elegant and classic. Love the length for a fall wedding.

Marissa: Fun and spunky – comes in so many great colors!

Justine: So stinkin' cute. (Might be my fav!)

So, what do you think about the new Jenny Yoo collection? Love it? Hate it? Tell me what you think!

Check out the whole collection HERE!

The Smoky Mountains

2012-03-22T13:01:00.003-07:00

Hello lovelies!

Brandt and I just got home a couple of days ago from our mini-vacay to the Smoky Mountains. Let me tell you, it was GORGEOUS. If you don't remember (or don't know this about us), Brandt and I got engaged last year on Saint Patrick's Day in the Smoky Mountains. Although we didn't necessarily plan it, we got to celebrate our one year of engagement down there again. One year already? Ughh. I'm at the point where I'm SO ready to be married.

Since I haven't had much time lately to post, I wanted to at least show you a few pictures from our trip.

Here we are in downtown Gatlinburg. Anyone ever been there? There's so many cute shops and tons of fantastic places to eat. It was one of those trips where I felt like all we did was eat. Not complaining.

We went on an absolutely beautiful hike called Porter's Creek that ended up at a waterfall.

We (and by "we" I mean Brandt) drank lots of beer. Hey, give him a break – it was Saint Patrick's Day!

This is Brandt eating oysters....and my reaction to him eating oysters. Disgusting. Who wants to eat a giant loogy?

Gross. That picture still grosses me out. So there ya have it – our trip to the Smokys in a nutshell. Have you guys ever been there? If not, you should go. It's such a beautiful park and there's so much to see. The entire week, we only saw one bear from really far away. But since I've practically ran into one on a trail before, I'd say that's not a bad thing! haha. Have a great weekend, all!

Facebook Giveaway Round 1

2012-03-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

OK, as many of you know, I promised a few rounds of giveaways if you guys helped me get 100 followers on Facebook. So here's round one!

Up for grabs is this super cute, brand new Nine West wallet and checkbook cover (not pictured). It's really classic and pretty, and would go with pretty much any purse. And, it has a retail value of $40! I'd love to have it myself :)

So what do you have to do to win? Well, I've decided to do things a little differently than most giveaways out there. All you have to do is:

1.Make sure you are a Facebook follower. This giveaway is for Facebook followers ONLY. If you aren't already, please go to my Facebook, and "like" me HERE (or with the button on the right bar).

2. Guess the number of buttons in this jar! Head to my Facebook and post your guess on my wall (guesses made here will not count). Hint: There are between 300 and 800 buttons.

The winner will be picked on Sat, March 17, based on the closest guess without going over. You have until then to get your guess in. Then I will make the announcement and send the winner an email. International guesses welcome :) Good luck!

Cakes! Part V

2012-03-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Update: My giveaway is up and running! Check it out here: Giveaway Round 1. You have until March 17 to enter!

First of all, thank you all for following me on Facebook. I'm happy to say that I've reached 100 followers (which may not sound like a lot, but is a big accomplishment for me!). I'll be hosting a giveaway soon (probably this weekend) for my Facebook fans. There will be multiple prizes and multiple winners, and it will be easy to enter – no jumping through hoops. I know we all get sick of those. Check back this weekend for the giveaway. THANK YOU again!

On another note, here is another lovely collection of cakes. I decided to make a cake post because, the fiancé and I have FINALLY decided on a design for ours! Now we're in the process of finding someone to make it. Brandt's family has always had a tradition of coming together and making cakes for special occassions – for birthday parties and reunions, all of the aunts and some of the cousins each make a dessert. Then one gets set in the middle of each table, acting as a delicious centerpiece. People then get up and go around to all the different tables, trying whichever desserts they like. Sounds fun, right? It is!

I decided to use this tradition in Brandt and I's wedding – but with a twist. We will have about 15 people making cakes, but all of them are going to be white. On white cake stands. And placed all together on one table. How gorgeous will that be? I imagine this gorgeous table full of white cakes and it just makes me so happy. For this reason, Brandt and I decided that our cake should be small. We will be the only ones eating it! So here's what we've decided on:

I love this 1.) because it's rustic and feminine at the same time – which is pretty much Brandt and I in a nut shell. The ruffles are adorable and 2.) because our cake will be the only one with a splash of color amongst all of the other white ones. I'm not sure if we will use apples or not on top, but it will definitely be something green. I also adore that green cake plate. So there you have it, my wedding cake! Everyone I talk to says that it probably won't taste the best because it will have so much fondant on it. But, that's not what I'm concerned about. Because Brandt and I will be the only ones eating it, it doesn't have to taste great. I just want it to LOOK good! Apparently I'm very shallow when it comes to cakes...

To get you inspired, here are some other gorgeous cake ideas.

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Do you have a favorite? What is your cake going to look like? I'd love to see!

100 Facebook Likes = One Awesome Giveaway

2012-03-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I hope the beginning of your week has been going well and not horribly slow. Here in Indiana it's almost 60 degrees, which is a nice change, so I'm feeling in good spirits. And, I'm planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains next Wednesday for my fiance and I to celebrate one year of being engaged – so that's keeping me chipper too! If you remember, that's where he proposed at. Needless to say, it will be a fantastic little get away for both of us.

Unfortunately, I've been incredibly busy at work (I write copy for an advertising agency – if I've never mentioned that before) so I haven't been able to give the time and attention to my blog that I would like. Booo. But not to worry – I still read all of your blogs regularly and appreciate everyone that still takes the time to come check mine out to.

That being said, I realized that I haven't had a giveaway in quite a while. That just won't do! And, I'm so close to having 100 followers on my Facebook page. So I'm proposing this:

Help me get 100 followers on Facebook and I'll have a super awesome giveaway

And, it will be a fun giveaway for only Facebook friends – with MULTIPLE WINNERS. That means more chances to win. And I won't make you jump through hoops to sign up. Seriously, I'm only like 6 people away. If you don't already follow me on Facebook, click the button on the side or click here:

Thank you all! I hope I get the followers soon so I can start this giveaway. It's going to be a blast. Much love!

Gorgeous Wedding Gown Backs!

2012-03-02T08:47:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: My giveaway is up and running. Check it out here: Giveaway Round 1. You have until March 17 to enter! Good luck.

Lately I've found myself "oo-ing" and "aahh-ing" over wedding dresses that have an absolutely breathtaking back. There is just something so under-statedly sexy about a beautiful back. It's the one place where you can show a whole lot of skin and still look classy (as long as your butt crack isn't making an appearance). I especially love these dresses when they're paired with a demure, conservative front. Then the bride turns around and POW! It's like at Christmas when you get a package that is soft and lumpy and you just know it's socks – then you open it up and find a cute shirt or leggins or something better than socks. Yup, just like that.

Check out these beauties and let the swooning begin.

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Bunting Love + Company B

2012-02-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

Unless you've had your head under an enormous rock lately, you must have noticed that bunting has been taking the wedding world by storm! And, I must say that I totally get the appeal. It's inexpensive, cute, and has such great DIY charm. Plus, there's SO MANY different things that you can do with it, and a ton of different bunting styles. A little bunting here and there can really spice up an area and give it a little bit of personality.

Here's a few examples of my favorite uses:

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After seeing all of these beautiful pictures, I know what you're thinking: Where can I get some bunting for my wedding? My first suggestion would be to check out Etsy. In fact, one of my favorite Etsy shops is called Company B.

Company B is the most adorable Etsy shop full of beautiful bunting! Bridget, the owner and artist behind the shop, is so very sweet. She loves being creative, and bringing new life to something old. Her work is simple and pretty, rustic and feminine at the same time. I actually got a "Just Married" bunting in the mail from Company B, and I must say, I absolutely LOVE it. It look like this:

How stinking cute, right?

The burlap is absolutely to-die-for. And, I was so pleasantly surprised at the quality. It's sturdy, yet perfectly flowy and delicate at the same time. You know how sometimes you can just feel the love that went into making something? These products have that. And you know what else? All of her products are handmade – from mixing the clay to painting the letters. And, they're eco-friendly, which I love. I cannot wait to find a way to use this at my wedding.

You must, must, must check out Company B. Trust me. You'll love the products and working with Bridget is such a joy. Here are so more things that you can expect from this wonderful shop:

"Mr. & Mrs." cotton on burlap banner: $35

Red heart glitter banner – $25

"Happily Ever After" banner – $45

Polka dot "Love" banner – $30

Monogrammed Baker Banner – $15

As you can see, there's quite the variety! How cute is that last cake banner? Omg. Love. If you're looking for affordable bunting, Company B is the place to go. And an added bonus? A portion of the sales from Bridget's shop goes to humanitarian efforts here and abroad. I can't get over the generosity.

Purple and Green Rustic Wedding

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I got a email from one of my readers, Catherine, asking if I could make a wedding board for her. Obviously, I said yes! I love helping brides with their wedding day plans. Catherine wants a green and purple wedding, in an outdoor, rustic setting. She loves burlap and mason jars (a girl at my own heart!) and wanted to incorporate some calla lilies in somewhere. I was super excited to get started because, doesn't it just sound gorgeous?

Thankfully, I think it turned out just as pretty as I had envisioned. I love the combination of deep purple and green, with a few touches of brighter color thrown in. It just looks so rustic yet feminine at the same time. I really like the mason jar centerpieces with candles in them (which would be great since her wedding will be in the evening) because they add such a nice glow while still keeping with the rustic feeling. I also LOVE the wooden details with a look like this. It keeps the look earthy and friendly. And of course, the bouquet with a few calla lilies, and the calla lily boutonniere tie the whole look in nicely. I'm pretty sure that I want this wedding for ME! Ha. Hope you like it Catherine.

Photo Credits:

Center: bouquet
First row: table setting, cake, favors, apples
Second row: jars, centerpiece
Third row: couple, shoes
Fourth row: centerpiece, ring holder, bride, groom

If you need help with your wedding planning, shoot me an email. I'd love to help any way that I can! Shardiy@b-y.net.

Linea Raffaelli: Dress Designer Extraordinare

2012-02-16T05:19:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was randomly searching for wedding dresses (doesn't everyone do that in their spare time?!) when I came across a Belgian designer I had never heard of – Linea Raffaelli. For those of you who HAVE heard of Linea Raffaelli, bear with me. For those of you who haven't, boy do I have a treat for you. Looking at these dresses was love at first sight for me! They are so incredible beautiful, modern and fun. The unique textures and colors of this line are such a breath of fresh air in a market where everything can kind of start to look the same. These styles definitely stand out – in a great way. I love the playfulness, the whimsy, and the gorgeously crafted couture feeling that these dresses have. I want, I want, I want.

Here's just a few of my favorites. What do you think? Are you as in-love as I am?

Check out the rest of the beautiful dresses here!