The PINspired Wedding

When Ben and I were planning our wedding last year, we had two options for our wedding date. Literally. Two options: August 25^th and December 8^th. We ultimately went with August for many reasons, and I am SO glad that we did because we had the PERFECT day, but I often wonder what that winter wedding would have looked like. So in honor of Wedding Week, I want to share with you my PINspired wedding, or what I WOULD have planned if we had picked the December date. I will use pictures from Pinterest (hence the name of the post!) and other sources as well. I hope you can see what it would have looked like (just like I see in my head), and maybe use some of my ideas for your own wedding!

The Date: December 8^th, 2012

Wedding Location: Christ Church in Montgomery

Front of the church.

Inside of the church looking out. 

The front of the church. 

Reception Location: the main lobby at Alabama Shakespeare Festival

The grounds of Alabama Shakespeare Festival. 

This is the best picture I could find of the lobby. Please excuse the tables and the cheap plastic chairs. Just envision the space with the pretty carpet and brick!

Another picture of the lobby. See the Bard in the background. I would totally take pictures with him :)

Another random picture. I couldn't find any pictures of the space empty, but hopefully you can use your imagination of what it would look like!

Theme: Black Tie Christmas

Colors: Black, Hunter Green, Red, and Gold

Bride’s dress:

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If we're dreaming, I'm wearing a Lazaro. I think this dress is soooo dreamy!! My one regret from my wedding was not at least trying on a ball gown. I definitely dont regret my dress, but at least trying on a ball gown would have been fun!

Groom and Groomsmen Ensemble:

The guys would all wear a sleek and elegant black tux like this. With shiny shoes, of course!

The guys would wear this under their tuxes. 

Bridesmaids dresses:
I couldn't settle on one look for the Bridesmaids in this fictitious wedding. So I came up with 3 different ideas.
The first would be a satiny full length dress that is conservative and classy.

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The second option is a structural option in a duponi silk.

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The third (and my current favorite) option has all girls wearing the same dress- a one shoulder structured ball gown!

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A helpful wedding planning tip: if you want your bridesmaids to all wear different dresses, consider making a collage like the ones above to see how the different styles would look together. It will save yourself some heartache later on down the road!

Wedding flowers:
All white flowers on the tables and for the wedding. So simple and elegant!

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Reception décor: Round tables covered with black matte table cloths covered with textured black table toppers. Black chivari chairs. Gold mercury glass vases with all white flowers. Flowers would be placed on top of stacks of antique books of Shakespeare plays, a different theme for each table. Place cards with calligraphy done in gold. Gold rimmed china. Mismatched silverware and drinking glasses.

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Band or DJ: Tim Tyler

Cake:

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Food: A cocktail hour followed by a sit down dinner of a fish selection, a steak selection, and a chicken selection, all with green beans and mashed potatoes (our favorites) with other finger foods at serving stations.

Drinks: Open bar

The one thing I wouldn’t change (other than the groom, of course!)? My photographer! Stay tuned tomorrow for some amazing pictures from my most epic day ever, taken by Chelsea Patricia Photography!

*I am still trying to post my second post for the day, but I am having a hard time getting it to post. Sorry about that, but I promise my post tomorrow will make up for it!!

The Wedding Gift Guide

Wedding Gift Guide

 For today's Wedding Week post, I have put together a few ideas for what to give for any upcoming event. If you have questions or more suggestions, please comment!

If its your wedding:

What to give your bridesmaids

*Jewelry that they will wear in your wedding is great, but consider giving them something personalized instead. If you live close to water, a monogrammed beach bag or towel is great. Or maybe a monogrammed koozie. Or monogrammed anything. We southern ladies love anything with a monogram on it. I love the idea (if your budget permits) of a whole themed gift bag. I gave my girls personalized market baskets with a monogrammed shirt (to wear the day of) and a Lilly Pullitzer wine glass to use while we got ready (and beyond), but you could go so much futher than that! I have put together some great ideas for a personalized beach bag containing all the items a proper southern belle needs for her trip to the gulf or the lake!

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     *A tip for monogramming-unless your girls are married, try to stay with just their first names. If you    include their last names, then it will be a gift that they cant use forever. So stick with first names and they will use it forever!

What to give your groomsmen

*Give them something that is practical. A great idea is to gift them their tie and a personalized flask. Or tickets to a sporting event in your town with a tee shirt. A great idea is to give them something unique that they can use in the wedding. For example, Ben gave his groomsmen Costa sunglasses as their wedding party gift. The pictures of all the guys in their sunglasses is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding!

What to give to wedding day helpers

*A gift card for a spa day or a nice dinner out. I know with my wedding I had a team of family friends that worked their tails off to make my day happen. While it isn’t practical to give everyone that moves a chair a nice gift, consider thanking those that really make the day happen with a nice gift that they can use to spoil themselves. It will definitely not be expected and will definitely be more than appreciated!

What to give your flower girl and ring bearer

*An age appropriate craft. You can give them clothing items with “Ring bearer” or “Flower girl,” but I think it is so neat to give them something that they can make when they get home. It will remind them of their special part in your big day! (Just check with the parents to make sure your gift is appropriate for their lifestyle or rules!)

What to give your groom

*Ben and I did not exchange gifts at our wedding. It just seemed silly to us. I know its not to everyone, but I thought the rings we gave each other were the perfect gift. If you have the money to give an extravagant gift, go for it! Spoil your soon-to-be spouse! But if you don’t, a simple letter about how you are excited about your futures is gift enough. And I can promise THAT is a gift that will be cherished forever!

If you are an invited guest:

What to give at a bridal shower

*Pick something off of her registry or team up with someone else to get her something more expensive. Every bride wants her fine china and silver, so try picking something out of that. Or come up with a basket with a few small items in the same category, like the one below. It is a great gift and one that will get LOTS of attention at the shower!

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What to give at a couple’s shower

*Generally, these have a theme. So if you are invited to a couple’s shower with a theme, go with that. But when buying this gift, keep the groom in mind. The bride will be inundated with things for her new home and all the things that SHE wants. Because of this, the groom often gets left out. So consider a nice set of grilling tools (or team up with other couples to give them a grill!) or a personalized Tervis Tumbler with his favorite sport team logo (Ben loves his. Its one of his favorite gifts ever!). It will make him feel special and appreciated-and what bride doesn’t love for her man to feel appreciated??

What to give at a lingerie shower

*Dont give her trashy lingerie (unless she requests it). Stick with something pretty and classy, or even some comfy pajamas. One of my favorite gifts at mine was a sleep set from Soma. Give her something she will wear over and over instead of something that will sit in her drawer except for a few times a year!

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What to give someone you don’t know very well

*Give her something monogrammed with her new name. It will be inexpensive and personal, and something that she will use again and again!

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What to give on a budget

*Gift cards are always great, even if they are in small amounts. Gift cards were some of our favorite gifts because they allowed us to get some of the bigger ticket items that we knew people wouldn’t buy off of our registry (like the Kitchenaid mixer. Best. Thing. Ever.)

*If you feel that gift cards are too impersonal, consider a handmade gift. Here are some great links to DIY date night projects that you can prepare for the new couple that don’t require a lot of money. (Bonus? You get the date ideas for yourself, too!)

What to give if you are in the wedding party

*I don’t believe it is necessary to give a huge gift if you are a member of the wedding party (after all, your presence is present enough, right?). A nice gesture would be a picture of you with the bride (or groom) or team up with the other wedding party members to give a gift certificate for a night out. I think that is such a great gift-giving this newlywed couple a chance to go out, even if their budget is tight!

Come back tomorrow for 2 more posts on weddings!

1 Bridesmaid's dress, 2 looks

Today, my dear friend Sarah of Sarah in the Suburbs will be taking over my regular "What I Wore Wednesday" post to share about how to repurpose a bridesmaids dress-hers from my wedding, in fact! Sarah and I met our senior year of high school during Junior Miss (or Distinguished Young Women as it is called now) and have been besties ever since! Sarah asked me to stand by her side in her beautiful wedding and she was the Matron of Honor in my wedding! Sarah has a great blog. Please go check her out here and see the most adorable twin girls ever-in the history of the planet. Seriously. So Sarah, without further ado, take it away!

This is my Sarah. She is awesome. Whoever said you cant be a mom and be super fun doesnt know my Sarah :)
*Photo by Chelsea Patricia Photography

Hello Courtney’s blog readers! Thanks to Court for letting me take over her “What I Wore Wednesday” post. I was flattered when Courtney asked me to write a blog post for her about wedding fashion, and I was really excited when she asked me to focus on repurposing my bridesmaids dress from her wedding. Challenge accepted, my friend.

*Photo by Chelsea Patricia Photography

“Oh you know you could always shorten the length and wear it again.”

How many times have you heard that statement in relation to a bridesmaids dress? While we typically agree and move right along (while silently laughing in our heads), I do believe it is actually becoming more and more likely for bridesmaids to wear their wedding day attire again. Wedding fashion is moving away from “the bride should be the prettiest” to “if everyone looks good, my wedding will look good too.”

Courtney, fortunately for me, was one of those amazing brides that gave a lot of thought to what we were going to wear. She wanted her entire wedding to look good, not just her. I think her decision to have a patterned dress for her bridesmaids was a modern choice. I also felt the cut of the dress flattered all of our different body types and helped us all to look our best and complement her on her wedding day. The dress we wore was knee length, had a simple, but fashionable pattern, and was made from comfortable cotton material. All of these factors are key in choosing a dress that your bridesmaids would want to wear again.

Game Day Version: 

Belt: Versona Accessories

Earrings: Handblown glass

Rings: My own

Shoes: Francesca’s Collections

This look was worn by me a few weeks after Courtney’s wedding to the first Auburn game of the season. I changed out the shoes, re-accessorized, and voila! A completely different look that does not say “wedding” at all.

Dressy Version:

Blazer: H&M

Earrings & Necklace: Francesca’s Collections

Rings: My own

Shoes: Target

This look is something you could wear on a date, to a special event, or even to work (if you work in an office where you need to be a little dressier on occasion). This look is edgy and a little bit rock and roll, and the blazer helps pull it together with the necklace as the finishing touch. And who says blue and black don’t go together? Not me! I love to mix it up and break the “rules” when it comes to fashion. Rules are meant to be broken, right?

So as you can see, a bridesmaids dress can be re-worn if done correctly. It’s all about the simple changes, really. Thrown on a blazer and a different pair of shoes or change the accessories and you can have as many new looks as you like!

Thanks again to Courtney for having me on her blog! I had a great time putting together this post. Maybe we can do more in the future, Court? 

Yes, my dear Sarah, yes we can!! Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us- and stay tuned for more projects from the minds of Sarah and Courtney :)

Check back tomorrow for The Wedding Gift Guide!

Linking up to: www.raegunwear.blogspot.com, www.tuckerup.blogspot.com, www.thepleatedpoppy.com/blog, www.rolleduppretty.com, www.becauseshannasaidso.blogspot.com, www.getyourprettyon.com.

Kate Spade

When I found out about the Style Soirees hosted by Pinterest Told Me To, I was super excited to have another themed challenge. Then I started researching this month’s inspiration, and I realized how hard this was going to be. It is really a difficult task to take a piece of inspiration and interpret it in any way you want. This month’s inspiration is Kate Spade, purse and accessory guru. Because I did not have a TON of time to plan this one out, I decided to use as many Kate Spade accessories as possible as a base to create outfits for weddings, all using Kate Spade items.  I have options for a casual wedding, a church wedding, a more formal wedding, and a formal wedding (not black tie, just formal). So check out my wedding looks created around style icon Kate Spade.

CHURCH

I just about died when I saw this beauty of a bag, and I instantly knew that I wanted to pair it with another pattern. Instead of pairing it with a clothing item that was patterned, I chose a pair of pattern wedges and chose a top and maxi skirt that pulled colors from the bag. With colors and patterns like these, my instinct was to pair them with a neutral, but I love the bold colors of the top and bottom and this color combo is so hot right now! The length of the skirt is perfect for an afternoon wedding in a chilly church and could easily be changed out by a flippy skirt in the same color for an outdoor wedding. 

FORMAL

This look started with the shoes. I knew that I couldn’t leave these amazing shoes out, so I knew I had to create a look around them. The short, flirty black dress is the perfect canvas to let these shoes shine, and the pearls keep it classy. The neutral bag ties the whole look together, and the whole thing is just dressy enough for a formal wedding.

COCKTAIL 

I LOVE this dress. I am pretty much dying over it. I love the bright colors, and I think this look is perfect for a dressier wedding (or even a less formal late afternoon wedding). 

CASUAL

Ok, so this outfit isn’t as casual as they usually are, but this outfit could be worn to a casual lunch or even to run errands, in addition to a wedding. I am dying over this skirt, and I love the pattern play with the floral wedges. The yellow bag and earrings tie into the skirt and the white peplum top balances out all the color and pattern in the other outfit pieces.

What do you think of my looks created around style icon Kate Spade? Would you wear any of them to a wedding?

Stick around today for a post on Bridesmaid fashion by one of my dearest friends (and fellow fashionista and blogger!), Sarah in the Suburbs. 

Perfect Summer Wedding Outfits

Today I want to share with you the perfect outfit for any summer wedding. Whether you are going to a casual or formal wedding, I have the perfect options for your event. I tried to keep my items to prices I would actually pay, so hopefully this will help some of you out!

 

Casual outdoor wedding by candbselman featuring prabal gurung dress

 

WHAT TO WEAR

*Casual sundress in a fun color: a casual dress in a fun color (or even pattern!) keeps things fashion forward without grabbing attention from the bride. Because that is just not a good idea!

*Flats or wedges: For an outdoor wedding, flats or wedges are best. I always hate wearing a pretty pair of heels and sinking into the ground all night!

*Accessories with a natural twist: These are great at keeping your ensemble casual, and are a great way to keep things summery and appropriate for any outdoor party.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

*Stilettos: Like I said before, sinking is a bad thing. Unless it’s sinking into a super comfy bed or a bubble bath :)

*White: This goes for all weddings really (I don’t care what any rule says you can or cant do), but don’t wear white. Please. If you aren’t the bride, don’t wear white. It’s just rude.

*Denim: I know its tempting to wear denim to a casual event, but just don’t do it to a wedding. Unless the bridal party (i.e. groomsmen) is wearing it, don’t even think about it. Even then…please just don’t. 

Casual Indoor Wedding by candbselman featuring a striped dress

WHAT TO WEAR

*Sundress with a sweater or a light jacket: Churches tend to be a little chilly in the summer months (at least here in the south), so a sweater or light jacket is a great idea to throw on over your sundress. A colorful blazer is a great option and is SO incredibly on trend!

*Closed toe or peep toe pumps: A more demure shoe is appropriate for a church setting, and you wont sink into the ground walking in!

*Bring flats for reception: Flats can easily be thrown into a clutch purse (or kept in the car) for a quick change. No one wants to dance in restricting high heels!

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

*Anything too dressy: This is a casual event, after all! Keep it light, fun, and flirty and leave the sequins for the club.

*Skin revealing or too-tight outfits: Just like the sequins, provocative outfits just aren’t appropriate for a church wedding. Cover the girls up and loosen the fabric a little please! 

Semiformal Wedding by candbselman featuring a mint green necklace

 

WHAT TO WEAR

*Cocktail dress or dressy sundress: Don’t wear a super casual sundress. If this is a semi-formal wedding, just stick to what you would wear to a dance or a night at the theatre.

*Pretty heels: Now is the chance to throw in some fun! You don’t have to be as conservative or casual as other wedding types, so play up your look with an edgy sandal.

*Black is totally ok: Black used to be a faux pas at weddings (funeral, anyone?), but now it is a timeless and elegant option. Keep it fun with bright accessories or metallic anything!

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

*Flip-flops: I have been guilty of this in the past, and I still think they are ok to change into for the reception (although I often go barefoot…whoops). But please don’t wear them with your pretty dress! I don’t care how dressy they are…just don’t do it!

*A little sparkle goes a long way: A little bling is always a good thing (think diamond studs or a tennis bracelet), but for the semi-formal event, keep your bling to a minimum. No flashy sequins or over the top jewelry.

*No full-length dresses: In some cases, a dressy maxi is appropriate (especially for a wedding with an outdoor reception), but on the whole, long dresses are best kept to more formal events. 

Formal Wedding by candbselman featuring straw clutches

 

WHAT TO WEAR

*Go long: A cocktail dress is totally appropriate for a formal wedding, but when do we ever have a chance to dress up? If you are invited to a formal or black tie wedding, go long! Pick a simple dress that you can wear time and time again, and play it up with accessories.

*Glam it up: Speaking of accessories, now is the time to glam it up with your jewelry! Pick pieces with some serious sparkle. Gold is a favorite of mine: you can never go wrong with art deco or hammered gold pieces!

*Bring flats: Formal weddings are the best place to wear your fancy heels. But don’t forget those flats for walking around and dancing!

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

*Don’t wear a daytime dress: Please just don’t wear a sundress to a formal wedding. It’s just not appropriate. The bride has taken a lot of time to set a formal and fancy atmosphere, so please dress accordingly!

*Nothing too flashy: Don’t don a dress with a slit up to high heaven, and don’t wear a full sequined ball gown. Please remember that the bride is the star of the day, and if she didn’t tell you to outshine her, DON’T!

I hope you take these tips with you when shopping for an outfit for your next summer wedding!

Stay tuned later today for the 2^nd installment in the Spring 30x30 challenge, and come back tomorrow for TWO MORE wedding themed posts!

Linking up today to:

 www.northernbellediaries.com