Groom Style (Part II)

For a more summery feel.... Etro and Hickey Freeman at Barneys New York. And Paul Smith (again).

Groom Style (Part I)

I found a little inspiration on Wallpaper.... Jil Sander and Burberry Prorsum from Milan Fashion Week, Paul Smith from Paris Fashion Week.

FH and I found his dream suit today for $200 at the West Hollywood Wasteland. It's Jil Sander, and it fits him like a glove. Now we get to think about shirt and tie and shoes!

I've got to give props to West Hollywood. We're die-hard east-siders, but I found my dress at Meg and now here's the suit.

(Images from Wallpaper.)

Vintage Wedding Dresses (Part III)

And finally... the ebay search of dresses in the 1977-1989 (Punk, New Wave, 80s) category. These two are currently under $40. (And yes, the one on the right is beaded!!)

Just trying to encourage everybody to think outside the Dave's Bridal/Vera Wang box. There are so many unique dresses out there.

Vintage Wedding Dresses (Part II)

Here's what my ebay search of 1965-76 (Mod, Hippie, Disco) turned up. (Still under $100.)

Vintage Wedding Dresses (Part I)

These came from an ebay search of New Look-Early 60s. (All are currently under $100!) The orchids I found under vintage millinery flowers.

Would someone please buy the ballerina dress and report back to me? I'm freaking out about how great it is.

das kaninchen (the bunny)

Happy Easter! Das kaninchen on etsy.

Dream Wedding Flats

Glitter Ballerina and Flower Ballet Flat by Lanvin, Peep Toe Ballet Flat by Miu Miu at Barneys New York.

I'm gonna dance at my wedding!

52 Nights Unplugged (Reprise)

5 weeks ago, I made a pledge to unplug. No computer, no tv screen, for one full night each week.

I have not done this. Not at all. I think I made it two hours the first night...

But bolstered by Ariel Meadow Stallings and further inspired by Mark Bittman's piece in The New York Times, I'm determined to try again.

Tonight, and every Friday night for a year, I will UNPLUG! I will go to dinner with my FH (or my Husband!) I will meet my friends for drinks. I will read a book, go for a walk, spend some quality time with my neighbor's cat.

Bittman actually shuts down Friday evening and stays unplugged all day Saturday. He calls it a “secular Sabbath." Could I handle this??

(Image by Jeremy Szuder)

Rust Belt at Supermarket

Knottedrush ring and necklace by Rust Belt at Supermarket. (I think this would make a sweet, simple wedding band...)

More to look at on Rust Belt's site.

(Images from Supermarket)

Samoy Lenko at the Supermarket

Check out these dresses by Samoy Lenko I found on Supermarket (also a wealth of jewelry and housewares by indie designers).

Rehearsal dinner anyone?

(All Images by Marc McAndrews from Samoy Lenko's website)

Engagement Spoon? from catbird

I've been investigating ethnic wedding traditions, and the sweetest one yet is the Welsh lovespoon: a precursor to the engagement ring carved in wood by a young man and presented to his sweetheart as a token of his affection and/or betrothal, originating in Wales in the 17th century. The handle of the spoon is often intricately decorated, and the symbols hold meaning. According to the glossary here, a heart means, "my heart is yours, love."

My FH has a little Welsh blood, and I've hinted that he ought to get whittling, but no dice. Wouldn't this demitasse necklace from catbird (complete with rose cut diamond) be a smokin' alternative?

Vintage Shrugs

My super-crafty bridesman has agreed to knit a shrug to go over my dress! We found inspiration (and cheap vintage patterns) on ebay.

Ashley Anna Brown's Fern Animals

I saw this real wedding post on eco-chic weddings and had to investigate the birdie cake-topper. The Indie Wedding Guide led me to Fern Animals by Ashley Anna Brown, and her etsy shop.

Ashley does custom. What about a non-avian cake topper, people? You could get dogs or cats or lions with antlers!

(All images from Ashley Anna Brown's blog)

Birdie Love: Lauren Alane

Oh Joy! did this simple little bits post yesterday featuring Henry the Owl by Lauren Alane. Which led me to thoughts of cake toppers... Or gifts for bridesmaids!

Lauren says she doesn't do custom (although the owl in the apron was done for a friend's kitchen) but she puts current projects on her blog. And new birds will be available on her etsy shop this Thursday (March 20th) at 9pm EST. (Oh Etsy.)

(All images from Lauren Alane)

Flickr Inspiration: musica de radio

How gorgeous are these photos by musica de radio? I'm pretty sure they're self-portraits.

the Russian: Handmade Roses

A vintage wedding dress post on a $10,000 wedding led me to a vintage wedding link from etsy wedding. Where I found the Russian, who makes these gorgeous handmade flowers from vintage clothing and real branches. (Hello repurposed!)

DIY Andy Warhol

This inspires me to do something similar for the kids' table. (I see wedding everywhere, people.)

I have an artist friend who has already done amazing black and white drawings of the scenery at my ceremony/reception location. We can xerox the images (if she'll permit me), staple into a little coloring book, and put 'em out with boxes of crayons!

Warhol's Do It Yourself (Landscape), 1962 and Do It Yourself (Flowers), 1962 courtesy of MoMA's first online exhibit.

Custom vans for your wedding?

You guys, I'm seeing too many converse in the wedding pics. What about his & hers custom vans? Ship the shoes in your size to Anna Fleischer, she'll paint 'em and ship 'em back to you within two weeks. (Thanks to shoesense for the post.) Or you can order them online at Your Kicks.

If you want to go a little subtler (and really control the color palette), you can create your own custom slip-on on the vans site. I designed the above in pink and pearl grey as an example. (These take 5-7 weeks. Boo.)

Sendable Succulent

This came to me on Daily Candy this morning. LA-based Succulent has announced the first phase of nationwide delivery. For $45 plus shipping & handling, they'll send one of these sweet locally-grown, pesticide-free plants in an artisan-made container. Packaged with recycled/repurposed materials... I'm a sucker for repurposed.

I know I'm obsessed with little green things right now. But this would make a classy thank-you, and would last a lot longer than a bouquet of flowers. (Succulents are almost impossible to kill, I know from experience!)

Design*Sponge + Pancake and Franks

Okay, I admit I'm obsessed with Design*Sponge. Even when the post isn't about weddings, I see the wedding possibilities... This DIY address numbers project Derek & Lauren did with Pancake and Franks has table numbers written all over it. (And the cacti potted in white mugs? Hello DIY centerpieces!)

The gorgeous cards by Pancake and Franks are printed locally in San Francisco on 100% recycled paper post consumer waste. Wouldn't they be perfect thank you cards for a green wedding?

Hmmm, can you tell which color has been dominating my palette lately?

Rose and Radish

The exquisite Rose and Radish journal.

I love the idea of arranging non-flowers as flowers. I'm getting married on a farm, so herb or vegetable centerpieces would be fitting...

Designer wedding, Finland

Issey Miyake dress, Camper shoes, gold thread ring by Ring by Ilkka Suppanen, Button corsages by Hella Jongerius that were given out to the guests. (I love that idea!)

Thank you to Brooklyn Bride for spotting this. Images from Wallpaper.

Woodsie Goodness from Bell'occhio

Singing Bluebirds, Woodsie Cake Stand originally created for Martha Stewart Weddings, and Twig Tapers (currently sold out, dammit) all from Bell'occhio.

Not Quite Calligraphy...

Devise a handwritten font for only $9 at Fontifier. Courtesy of Black*Eiffel.

This might be perfect for "handwritten" wedding invitations. We're going for a homemade feel, but I don't want it to look too sloppy...

Apple Green Wedding

I love this shoot. Via Junebug Weddings. The bride manages to look elegant but unfussy, in a dress with a bustle no less!

I do think the apple, pear, apricot (you name it) as favor/place card is overdone. (I loved it too, the first time I saw it...) I prefer the apples hanging in the air.