Holidays

A friend updating her Christmas card list got me thinking--it's never too soon to start planning your holiday cards! Newly married couples should start sending out joint cards (possibly with a cute photo included?)! Take 10% off orders of $50 or more at Urbanity Studios with the code Holiday2009 during checkout (expires in December). I love this Christmas tree card in a bottle!

Invite by Voice

Love this invitation idea: The gorgeous invitations by Invite by Voice play a song or a personal recorded message! In beautiful boxes, folios or cards...

Wedding

Thank you to everyone for all of your kind comments on my wedding day last weekend! I can't wait to post pictures of every last detail and vendor as soon as I get them back from the photographer! In the meantime, here is a snapshot a friend sent me...

Also, please bear with me in the delay in posting about the wedding--my husband and I are moving to Virginia Beach this weekend!

Things Remembered

A store that is often overlooked in wedding planning and wedding gift shopping--Things Remembered. They now have a free customized wedding logo service (with $150 purchase) and can engrave your custom logo onto flutes, albums, keepsakes and more.

Planning

Just a reminder that The Art of Planning Your Own Wedding will be held in NYC on September 13. See here for more info!

Coasters

Cocktail Idea: Silhouette Coasters

Popcorn

Steal this idea from Amy Atlas Desserts: Popcorn at your cocktail hour!

Box

Photo via 100 Layer Cake

Sometimes a small treat is a simple brown box tied with string can be the epitome of elegance.

Lace

Bridesmaid Idea: Lace Tops. Photo from She Walks in Beauty.

Balloons

Steal this terrific idea from this wedding on Perfect Bound: After the grand ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC, guests gathered outside the cathedral, and as the new couple made their exit, 100 bright yellow balloons were released into the summer sky.

Lanterns

Centerpiece Idea: Rustic white lanterns and soft yellow flowers. Photo via Style Me Pretty.

Biscuits

I am so envious of these artisan biscuits by UK company Pretty Tasty--how delicate and pretty!

Coffee

Green Favor Idea: Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Company sells over 25 varieties of coffee in pretty 4oz foil bags (and Java Drops, chocolate covered espresso beans). They've calculated the entire carbon load from planting to drinking, and even neutralized it with hardwood plantings in Pangoa. To order the favors, call Charlsie at 978.544.2002 or e-mail support@deansbeans.com.

WEDDING DAY!

Today is the day... !

Damask

Photo via Project Wedding.

Gorgeous and inexpensive decor--all you need to do is rent damask linens, black chairs, and gather some sunflowers.

White

Decor Idea: A variety of soft white flowers on a long table. Photo via Style Me Pretty.

Color Inspiration

Room Inspiration: Gray and White would make a chic and peaceful wedding color combination, don't you think?

Orange

Beautiful color combination: champagne and orange. Photo by Victor Sizemore.

Red

Here's an example of red done in a very classy, non-overpowering way--red shoes, rose petals and cake! Via Kiss the Groom.

Colin Cowie

Sponsor News: Check out Colin Cowie on Beau-Coup to see a list of products he hand-picked from their site that he loves!

Seeds

Love this product found on Something Old Something New: pretty packages of bird seed for guests to throw after the ceremony!

Trolleys

Love this idea from Paper+Cup: Treat your guests to a trolley ride post-reception (or between the ceremony and reception).

Cookies

How Beautiful and creative: Mexican wedding cookies displayed on a pretty platter.

Cherries

Creative Escort Card Idea: Cherries! Via 100 Layer Cake.

Colors I Love Together

Yellow and Gray.

Lollipops

I love this idea by Wedding Style Guide (an awesome Australian magazine): Lollipop bars! Think of all you could do with a dessert bar based only around lollipops... swirl, chocolate, white chocolate, brownie pops...

Feathers

Another wonderful idea by Amorology: A trunk of feathers near the door to shower the bride and groom during their exit

Dresses

For some great rehearsal dresses or bridal party dresses, check out Chloe & Reese! Super-sophisticated, and you can customize your dress by cut, style or fabric.

Life

If you're looking for wedding inspiration, I am in love with the new online catalog, Life Gets Married: Inside Weddings, full of beautiful photographs from beautiful vintage weddings. In this 1951 photo, dancers sprinkle petals down the aisle, and it inspired an idea: why not hire 3 or so ballet dancers to perform at your reception? We hear about belly dancers all the time, but ballet would set such a graceful tone.

Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows from Whimsy and Spice in Brooklyn, NY: $6 for a dozen. Great favor!