Friday, April 25, 2008
Pretty Images
Happy Friday! Here are some pretty images I found a while ago that I've been meaning to put up for forever. These were taken from the December issue of Vogue and were initially my inspiration for the wedding. While I've gone in a completely different direction since then, I still love these images (especially Penelope Cruz) and hope you do to. Enjoy! 
Etiquette
In the realm of invitations I have been given quite a bit of grief from several people who did not agree with my refusal to address our invites with the " plus one" wording for my single friends. My reasoning however was quite simple. We needed to keep numbers and costs down and frankly I don't see the point in allowing friends to bring a random date just because. I am sorry, but I refuse to cut people I actually care about and truly want at the wedding (not to mention pay more money!) just so single friends can bring dates. Turns not I am neither crazy nor a bitch. In fact, I am actually quite right in my ways---please read the following excerpt from the lovely blog of Manolo for the Bride:
In the realm of traditional etiquette, it's a well-established fact that one should never address an invitation to “and guest” or “plus one.” The bride and groom should invite those people they are close to, paying attention to social units and finding out the names of everyone’s significant others. It’s not gauche to invite solo guests — far from it, in fact! A friendly, outgoing single can have a marvelous time at a wedding.
So see? Looks like my "no plus one" rule is actually quite proper. I guess all that etiquette training with Ms. Vanderberg did pay off (thanks mom!)....perhaps certain people I know *ahem* should look into some training themselves....
In the realm of traditional etiquette, it's a well-established fact that one should never address an invitation to “and guest” or “plus one.” The bride and groom should invite those people they are close to, paying attention to social units and finding out the names of everyone’s significant others. It’s not gauche to invite solo guests — far from it, in fact! A friendly, outgoing single can have a marvelous time at a wedding.
So see? Looks like my "no plus one" rule is actually quite proper. I guess all that etiquette training with Ms. Vanderberg did pay off (thanks mom!)....perhaps certain people I know *ahem* should look into some training themselves....
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Do you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain?
For me the honeymoon was probably the single most stressful decision to make. Everything else regarding the wedding had fallen into place so seamlessly that despite my indecisive tendencies, I had no problems deciding upon my reception site, ceremony site, photographer and band. Bridesmaid dresses? Easy. My dress? Picked within 48 hours. The honeymoon location however, was a different story.
Growing up I had never been the type of girl to think about her wedding. I had never imagined what my dress would look like, much less what the colors, flowers, location, etc. would be. I had never even so much as touched a bridal magazine prior to getting engaged. The one thing I had thought about though was the honeymoon. Some girls dreamed about their perfect dress, flowers or invitations –I however, dreamed about my perfect honeymoon (Over the water bungalow in Tahiti? Yes please!)
Travel is easily one of my biggest passions in life. Ever since spending a semester abroad in Australia I have developed a severe case of wanderlust. There are so many amazing places to visit in this world and as you can imagine narrowing it down to just one—for the first trip as husband and wife no less (eep!!!)---was somewhat overwhelming for me.
And this is where my obsessive compulsive anxiety driven indecisive nature started rearing her ugly head. Luckily, I quickly discovered that there were many factors and travel logistics to take into account while planning--especially since I live in New York, S. Monster lives in Ireland the wedding will be in Florida and we’ll be moving to Ireland after all is said and done. Neither of us was keen on spending 4 days of pure travel time—which would had been the case had we tried to go to the French Polynesian (where I initially wanted to go), so that narrowed down our choices somewhat for us. Excluding the South Pacific and Asia due to travel, Europe since we will soon be living there, and Africa/ Maldives due to cost, we were able to limit our focus to the Caribbean (though not for lack of still looking elsewhere on my part)
I now (a little reluctantly at first) had to figure out where to go for an exotic non clichéd honeymoon in the Caribbean or if it was even possible. Places like Jamaica or St. Thomas are beautiful but they’re overdone and exotic would be the last word I used to describe them.
As I was stressing over this one night to my parents, my father told me to simply take a deep breath and stop. Stop stressing, stop worrying, stop sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. He told me that the honeymoon was the groom’s responsibility—not the brides—and that I needed to trust S. Monster. I tried to argue but realized that my father (as most wise parents usually are) was completely right. I had gotten so caught up in micromanaging everything for the wedding that it had all too easily spilled over into the honeymoon. Consequentially I became so determined to plan the “perfect trip” –one that was exotic, amazing and romantic—that I lost sight of what was really important. I had become so overwhelmed with having to have it be "perfect" that I was continually second guessing S. Monster. Something that should have been fun was becoming a huge source of stress. So I let go. I gave full responsibility back over to S. Monster (where it should have been the entire time) with the knowledge that whatever he picked (even if it was Jamaica) I would be elated. And you know what? After I let go, I was able to truly relax and enjoy the process. Truthfully, the honeymoon is just one of the hundards of trips S. Monster and I will take in our life. It is not so much about where we go, or what we do, as about what it means to us. This is the first trip as husband and wife and after 4 years together, 3 years of which were long distance that spanned 3 different continents, we will finally be together! I trust S. Monster completely and knew that he would do an amazing job picking the destination-and of course, as always,he didn’t disappoint.
S. Monster picked St. Lucia for our honeymoon and it couldn’t be more perfect. Located in the pristine West Indies, St. Lucia is a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. It is also known as the "Helen of the West Indies" because it switched between British and French control so often it was likened to the mythical Helen of Troy. The Atlantic Ocean kisses its eastern shore, while the beaches of the west coast owe their beauty to the calm Caribbean Sea.
In natural beauty, St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South Pacific and set down in the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar 2,000 feet up from the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns, and birds of paradise flourish. The rainforest is broken only by verdant fields and orchards of banana, coconut, mango, and papaya trees. The island offers the perfect balance of exciting and exotic activities to heavenly pampering and long lazy sun soaked days.
Thanks to the benevolent generosity of my future in-laws, we will be staying in the gorgeous Windjammer Landing Villa Resort.
We were fortunate enough to secure a secluded hillside villa complete with a breathtaking view of the Caribbean and our own private plunge pool.
Growing up I had never been the type of girl to think about her wedding. I had never imagined what my dress would look like, much less what the colors, flowers, location, etc. would be. I had never even so much as touched a bridal magazine prior to getting engaged. The one thing I had thought about though was the honeymoon. Some girls dreamed about their perfect dress, flowers or invitations –I however, dreamed about my perfect honeymoon (Over the water bungalow in Tahiti? Yes please!)
Travel is easily one of my biggest passions in life. Ever since spending a semester abroad in Australia I have developed a severe case of wanderlust. There are so many amazing places to visit in this world and as you can imagine narrowing it down to just one—for the first trip as husband and wife no less (eep!!!)---was somewhat overwhelming for me.
And this is where my obsessive compulsive anxiety driven indecisive nature started rearing her ugly head. Luckily, I quickly discovered that there were many factors and travel logistics to take into account while planning--especially since I live in New York, S. Monster lives in Ireland the wedding will be in Florida and we’ll be moving to Ireland after all is said and done. Neither of us was keen on spending 4 days of pure travel time—which would had been the case had we tried to go to the French Polynesian (where I initially wanted to go), so that narrowed down our choices somewhat for us. Excluding the South Pacific and Asia due to travel, Europe since we will soon be living there, and Africa/ Maldives due to cost, we were able to limit our focus to the Caribbean (though not for lack of still looking elsewhere on my part)
I now (a little reluctantly at first) had to figure out where to go for an exotic non clichéd honeymoon in the Caribbean or if it was even possible. Places like Jamaica or St. Thomas are beautiful but they’re overdone and exotic would be the last word I used to describe them.
As I was stressing over this one night to my parents, my father told me to simply take a deep breath and stop. Stop stressing, stop worrying, stop sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. He told me that the honeymoon was the groom’s responsibility—not the brides—and that I needed to trust S. Monster. I tried to argue but realized that my father (as most wise parents usually are) was completely right. I had gotten so caught up in micromanaging everything for the wedding that it had all too easily spilled over into the honeymoon. Consequentially I became so determined to plan the “perfect trip” –one that was exotic, amazing and romantic—that I lost sight of what was really important. I had become so overwhelmed with having to have it be "perfect" that I was continually second guessing S. Monster. Something that should have been fun was becoming a huge source of stress. So I let go. I gave full responsibility back over to S. Monster (where it should have been the entire time) with the knowledge that whatever he picked (even if it was Jamaica) I would be elated. And you know what? After I let go, I was able to truly relax and enjoy the process. Truthfully, the honeymoon is just one of the hundards of trips S. Monster and I will take in our life. It is not so much about where we go, or what we do, as about what it means to us. This is the first trip as husband and wife and after 4 years together, 3 years of which were long distance that spanned 3 different continents, we will finally be together! I trust S. Monster completely and knew that he would do an amazing job picking the destination-and of course, as always,he didn’t disappoint.
S. Monster picked St. Lucia for our honeymoon and it couldn’t be more perfect. Located in the pristine West Indies, St. Lucia is a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. It is also known as the "Helen of the West Indies" because it switched between British and French control so often it was likened to the mythical Helen of Troy. The Atlantic Ocean kisses its eastern shore, while the beaches of the west coast owe their beauty to the calm Caribbean Sea.
In natural beauty, St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South Pacific and set down in the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar 2,000 feet up from the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns, and birds of paradise flourish. The rainforest is broken only by verdant fields and orchards of banana, coconut, mango, and papaya trees. The island offers the perfect balance of exciting and exotic activities to heavenly pampering and long lazy sun soaked days.
Thanks to the benevolent generosity of my future in-laws, we will be staying in the gorgeous Windjammer Landing Villa Resort.
We were fortunate enough to secure a secluded hillside villa complete with a breathtaking view of the Caribbean and our own private plunge pool.
Yes, I think this will do quite nicely...
Monday, April 14, 2008
Purple Rain
I had initially thought of having red as the dominant color and purple play the supporting role, but recently I've started to change my mind. There is something so soft in the richness of plum and lavender especially when paired with gray. Since crimson is such a bold color on its own, I think it would make a lovely statement if used sparingly and let the lushness of purple take center stage instead. Plus, I think too much red with fight with, rather than complement, the reception site....what do you think? To help visualize, here is some purple inspiration that I'm currently enjoying
even though I'm trying to stay away from flower center pieces (aside from having the bridesmaid bouquets do double duty) I love this look of various vintage vases each holding a specific bloom. Each is different and yet together it creates a cohesive look.
I love the vastness of purple flowers. The first bouquet is a little too blue, and the second a little too pink...perhaps a combination of the two would be just right.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Object(s) of desire
There is something about the old, vintage b&w photobooths that I have always adored. Even though I know that this is out of my budget and I'm not entirely sure where I would put it--I still want one.
For the wedding I decided against hiring a cinematographer. Partly because of financial reasons and partly because I didn't feel that after the first couple of viewings I would ever re-watch the film. While I am still glad that I put my money towards a photographer instead of a cinematographer, after seeing some retro Super-8 films, like that from Mason Jars Films, I wonder if perhaps I was wrong in thinking I would never re-watch my film. There is something wonderfully simplistic in these films. It is in the grainy vintage home-movie looking images that provokes the beauty and joy of the day. Take a look and see for yourselves.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Band
After we found the ceremony and reception site, S. Monster and I had to decide what were the most important elements we wanted to budget for. Luckily, it wasn't a hard decision. We both knew immediately that the two things we wanted to splurge on were phenomenal live music and an exceptionally taleneted photographer.
Since I'm planing this wedding out of state I was initially hesitate about booking a band unheard. However, after doing extensive research and gathering a plethora of local recommendations I feel confident in our decision. Featured on Style Network's "Whose Wedding is it Anyways?", The Buzzcatz, offered what I had been looking for--a big band mix of swing, soul, blues, jazz and rock & roll. Plus, since I can't actually hire (read: run away with) Michael Buble I feel that The Buzzcatz are the next best thing. So far Ricky Sylvia, the lead singer has been extremely accommodating and easy to work. I'm excited to see how things turn out!
Since I'm planing this wedding out of state I was initially hesitate about booking a band unheard. However, after doing extensive research and gathering a plethora of local recommendations I feel confident in our decision. Featured on Style Network's "Whose Wedding is it Anyways?", The Buzzcatz, offered what I had been looking for--a big band mix of swing, soul, blues, jazz and rock & roll. Plus, since I can't actually hire (read: run away with) Michael Buble I feel that The Buzzcatz are the next best thing. So far Ricky Sylvia, the lead singer has been extremely accommodating and easy to work. I'm excited to see how things turn out!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thus far...
Before the sheer abundance of things to do, decisions to make and projects to start become too overwhelming, I thought I would spend time posting on what I have accomplished so far..
I'll start with what I picked out right away--the ceremony and reception site
Ceremony
The ceremony will be held at the gorgeous First Presbyterian Church of Downtown Orlando which my family has been attending for several years now. When it came to deciding on the church S. Monster only had one request--he wanted something big and airy. I think we accomplished that goal...
Reception
The reception will be held at the beautiful I.W. Phillips house in the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne. The historic 1916 I.W. Phillips House is a Southern-style home turned B&B Inn.
The first-floor reception room has an 18th-century Flemish oil painting, a magnificent Rose Medallion porcelain display, Russian icons, gorgeous Oriental rugs and an authentic Tiffany window. French doors open onto a sweeping veranda overlooking a courtyard with bubbling fountain, brick patio and lush gardens. At dusk the courtyard falls prey to the soft glow of twinkle lights woven throughout the surrounding foliage. The house boasts an intimate romantic setting which has the perfect blend of southern Florida style, old world charm and secret garden feel for our October wedding.
I'll start with what I picked out right away--the ceremony and reception site
Ceremony
The ceremony will be held at the gorgeous First Presbyterian Church of Downtown Orlando which my family has been attending for several years now. When it came to deciding on the church S. Monster only had one request--he wanted something big and airy. I think we accomplished that goal...
Reception
The reception will be held at the beautiful I.W. Phillips house in the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne. The historic 1916 I.W. Phillips House is a Southern-style home turned B&B Inn.
The first-floor reception room has an 18th-century Flemish oil painting, a magnificent Rose Medallion porcelain display, Russian icons, gorgeous Oriental rugs and an authentic Tiffany window. French doors open onto a sweeping veranda overlooking a courtyard with bubbling fountain, brick patio and lush gardens. At dusk the courtyard falls prey to the soft glow of twinkle lights woven throughout the surrounding foliage. The house boasts an intimate romantic setting which has the perfect blend of southern Florida style, old world charm and secret garden feel for our October wedding.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
More shoe options
some possible "bling" adornments to the shoes. Vintage clip on earrings also from ebay
1 step forward 2 steps back
Good news: We have decided on the bridesmaid dresses! They are a lovely muted violet shade and I think will look amazing on all of my gorgeous bridesmaids. 
Now the bad news:
I had found the perfect shoe to go with the dresses. A beautiful grey peep toe pump with just the right amount of "bling" from Steve Madden
Unfortunately, as seems to always be the case, we were only able to get one pair before they sold out....So now I am in search of some new options. Given the style of the dress and the length, the shoes are essential in creating the overall look. Let's be honest, it is always all about the shoes. Therefore, I am on a quest to find the perfect non-vintage, vintage looking grey shoe. I was thinking along the lines of a peep toe pump, but I found some alternatives that work as well. This picture from one of the most gorgeous weddings ever (which I will post more on later) has inspired me to no end. This talented lady dyed a pair of shoes and added vintage clip- on earrings ($8 from ebay!) to create a beautiful one of a kind look.
This has gotten me thinking. I've been having a hard time finding fabulous replacement shoes, but what if I found something somewhat plain, and then added on vintage brooches or clip-ons? I've done a preliminary search on ebay and found some gorgeous clip-ons for less than $5! So since that looks easy enough to take care of, let's look at shoes. Here are some I've found so far....(please ignore the hideous sparkle heart stick on on the upper right hand pair...that would obviously be removed and replaced)
The bottom left hand corner pair are from Charles David. Their fun and sexy, but I'm not quite sure if it's the look I'm going for....II don't know what are your thoughts on the above shoes?
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