CONGRATULATIONS Michele P, you are the lucky random winner of the Emici Livet $250 giveaway!  For your next step, please be sure to email me, alison(@)theknottybride(.)com, by Monday, April 6th, 5pm (your time) to claim your prize!

Photography by Emici Livet

As I’ve said before, I love Marie at Emici Livet and she is a goddess.  A goddess as in she is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet and she cares about every piece – every bouquet, every sash, every ring pillow, every hair accessory, etc. etc – that she makes, as if it were her child.  That genuine love for her work, combined with unparalleled ability and technique (plus a very healthy obsession with perfectionism, lets be honest), always results in a one of a kind piece that’ll melt your eyes off and make you run to the doctor to get a new set of eyes just so you can start staring at it again.  I really am not overstating this, trust.  Her creations are like, really beautiful, and you’ll end up passing them down for generations whether or not that was your plan initially.

The stuff she makes – it draws you in.

So it’s so fun for me to be able to host a giveaway from Marie for Knotty readers.  Here’s what you’ll win:

$250, which you can use towards anything in Marie’s collection!

It’s Emici Livet’s BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER, you guys.  Like whoa.

If you’re like “screw the giveaway, I want to get something NOW” well then guess what- I have a discount code for you.  Actually, I have two.  Just go to Emici Livet and pick out what you want, then use the code KNOTTYBRIDE and boom, 10% discount.  This applies site-wide, people.  Marie’s also throwing in a code for free shipping.  It’s FREESHIP, duh.  These codes will expire about an hour before we announce the winner so don’t wait around y’all.  Now, check out a sampling of the beauties that await you on her site, then…

Scroll down for how to enter (FYI it’s easy)!

^ dying over this ^

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HOW TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment on this blog post telling us you’d like to win.  <– Each individual may leave up to 5 comments of this type, on this blog post to increase your chances of winning this random drawing.  If you’re looking for something to talk about in the comments, perhaps let us know about a few Emici Livet items that catch your eye!

2. If you’re on Pinterest, extra entry if you pin any one of the images contained in this blog post (must leave an additional comment on this post indicating that you pinned).

3. If you’re on Twitter, receive an extra entry by tweeting the below (tell us you’ve tweeted, by leaving an extra blog comment):

love this #giveaway on @theknottybride blog! @emicilivet http://theknottybride.com/41200

4. Extra entry if you “Like” The Knotty Bride on Facebook (let us know you’ve done so with an extra comment in the comment section of this post)

5. Extra entry if you “Like” Emici Livet on Facebook (again, let us know you’ve done so with an extra comment in the comment section of this post)

6. Extra entry if you blog about this giveaway on your blog/tumblr, either as a stand-alone post, or within a post.  Must link to the contest, obvs.

7. Posting about this giveaway on Facebook (like with the others, tell us in a separate comment on this blog post).

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Contest entries will close Thursday, March 26th @ 1:30pm, EST

Important notes:

The winner must contact me, alison(@)theknottybride(.)com, within 72 hours of the announcement to claim prize, otherwise prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

The $250 prize may be used towards Emici Livet products only.  Prize cannot be exchanged for cash money, y’all.

Everyone is eligible to enter.  You can enter multiple ways and they will count as multiple entries.  If you decide to enter in more ways than just leaving comments on this post, then, with each separate type of entry (Twitter, Facebook Like, blogging the giveaway, posting on Facebook), you must leave a separate comment telling us what that entry was (if you’ve gone ahead and liked us on FB, leave a comment telling us.  If you tweeted the giveaway, that’s another comment.  Same with reposting the link to this blog post on your own blog.  You already know this, I know, but I just have to be clear)…

Ok, good luck friends!

xoxo,

Alison

Images: 1, 2 & final by Megan Robinson; model photos by Anna Peters; all other images by Emici Livet

1) You’re engaged…

^ I love this bouquet themed invitation ^

I’m just having trouble deciding which of the color combinations I like best… I think it’s all of them?

2) You have a million ideas, or absolutely no idea, what you want to do about your save the date cards or wedding invitations or anything else stationery-related.  All you really know is that you want them to be spectacular, not too pricey, and extremely you.

Enter: The American Wedding Marketplace.  Here’s why we like them…

First of all – this is very important – they have really stellar reviews on the internets.  Brides describe their invitations as “great price, great quality,” “I would recommend [them] to anyone,” “significantly cheaper than other popular invitation makers, but I saw no difference in the quality, or the options offered,” and “just what we wanted… we got so many compliments on them.”

We also love the fact that The American Wedding Marketplace comprises three distinct brands – The American Wedding, MyGatsby and The Green Kangaroo.  What does this mean for you?  It means the site is teeming with stylish options for every possible style a bride or groom may have.  Styles you may not even yet realize you like are just waiting for you to find them, right here.

Even better, they’re completely customizable with unique paper colors, font options and ink pairings.

Hey, want some custom coasters for your guests to take home?  Check it out:

A note from The American Wedding Marketplace: Every week in 2015, we will be launching a new design on our website.  We’re always interested in hearing about what brides want to see and welcome their suggestions for new designs they would like to see in our lineup.  We also run some amazing deals so subscribing to our emails and following us on facebook is highly recommended!

One of our favorite features of this marketplace is the ease with which you can coordinate your custom invitations with not only the rest of your stationery suite (save the date cards, wedding programs, the list goes on)…

^ the Penny invitation suite ^

… but with a ton more fun little details, like personalized wedding napkins, custom stampers, wedding glassware and more.  It’s thrilling, really.  I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of exclamation points I use in my writing recently, so I may not be coming across as amped as I, in fact, am.  So just trust that I am very, very, VERY amped about this.  Next to marrying your true love, custom details are among the most exciting elements of planning your wedding, IMO.  Don’t miss out.

Head over the The American Wedding Marketplace and start having fun with their designs right now!  Or whenever, no pressure.  You can request a catalog for free if you’d like to browse the old fashioned way.  Oh, and they give you your first five wedding invitations samples totally free of charge.  Thought you might like that. :)

xo,

Alison

I’m taking a vibrator (it’s mini) on a plane today, wish me luck.  I don’t know if it’s legal or not but I’m gonna find out the hard way.

Ok.  Honesty time.

Ever since I became a mom, every time I see a fellow mom on instagram post an exceedingly staged, attractive *look, i’ve got my shit together* selfie, I have to remind myself that there was probably about an hour of prep that went into that, with the makeup and the hair and the wardrobe selection and the kids not cooperating the whole time and how it was probably the best take out of like 100 takes, and that the worst of the takes probably sent the mom into a bit of a depression spiral.  It makes me feel better when it’s day three of not having showered and the bedsheets need changing.

Is that bad?

Instagram both inspires me and makes me want to curl into a ball in my closet and not exist for a little bit.

In other news, the ethereal nymphs working over at BHLDN sent some images to me and I’ve decided to share them, because LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY DRESSES

Zoe Gown by Catherine Deane ($1,600) Paired with Budding Crystal Comb ($120), Leona Drops ($180) and Parlor Slingbacks ($180)

In Perpetuity Camisole by Natori ($160) and Anika Skirt by Catherine Deane ($500) Paired with Crystal-Crossed Belt ($200), Carmen Halo ($350), Mizar Crystal Cuff ($70)

From the ladies who sent over this great stuff:

BHLDN released its new November lookbook… the black and white imagery is a first for us.  It’s timeless and elegant, highlighting the extraordinary details and craftsmanship of our new gowns.  The assortment, called The Iconic Collection, captures the spirit of iconic women of both past and present.  The collection is luxurious but approachable and distinguishes style from trend. 

Six NEW bridal looks include:

-              Zoe Gown by Catherine Deane ($1600)

-              Zahara Gown by Catherine Deane

-              Nova Gown by Tadashi Shoji

-              Barletta Dress by Watters

-              In Perpetuity Camisole by Natori ($160) and Anika Skirt by Catherine Deane ($500)

-              Francesca Topper by Tadashi Shoji (paired with our Seraphina Gown)

Now you guys, I have to be honest I don’t always feel like BHLDN nails it with the wedding looks they put out.  I don’t know about you but personally they’re usually too ‘bohemian alt’ for me.  I like looking at them but I probably wouldn’t go with one as my actual wedding dress choice.  But this time I think they nailed it.  I’d probably wear one of these.  Assuming I get my pre-baby body back :\  (<– that will happen, right?)

Bartletta by Watters ($960) Paired with Ribboning Cirque Veil ($250), Crystallized Allium Posts ($75) and Primavera Cuff ($100)

Adele Gown by Sue Wong ($800) Paired with Cascading Fleur Lace Veil ($1,000), Snowbud Earrings ($140), Icecube Cuff ($270) and Parlor Slingbacks ($180)

Tamsin Gown by Catherine Deane, Ivory ($1,600) Paired with Floating Cathedral Veil ($300) and Forestry Skinny Sash ($250)

Seraphina Gown by Tadashi Shoji ($600) and Francesca Topper by Tadashi Shoji ($180) Paired with Estuary Necklace ($250) and Elsie Studs ($40)

Nova Gown by Tadashi Shoji ($600) Paired with Cascata Chandeliers ($120) and Diadem Sash ($300)

Livia Gown by Badgley Mischka ($800). Paired with English Garden Pendant Necklace ($140), Baltic Amber Earrings ($100)

Zahara Gown by Catherine Deane ($1,800) Paired with Karina Necklace ($350), Night’s Light Earrings ($120) and Parlor Slingbacks ($180)

Are these dresses your style?  And does instagram bum you out sometimes too… anyone…

And do you want me to STFU about being a mommy (aside from posting the posts about my birth story and my personal tips for getting through pregnancy and birth) and just stick to the wedding stuff, even though it is my whole world now and I don’t know if keeping quiet about it here on the blog it is even humanly possible for me?

Love,

Alison