Etsy Find :: Natural Moss Wedding Ring Pillow

Perfect for an outdoor ceremony or eco-friendly bride!

More info can be found here. 

Etsy Find :: Handmade Jewelry

Recently I took part in the Southern Weddings Christmas Ornament Swap, and was assigned to a lovely jewelry maker named Adrienne. Adrienne owns a handmade jewelry company called Destination Diva based out of Wilmington, DE. Adrienne's jewelry is original, unique, and best of all, handmade. When I looked through her collection I knew I wanted to feature her work on the blog. Her jewelry would make a great holiday gift for your bridesmaids. Adrienne has so graciously extended a special Holiday promotion to our readers. Head on over to her Etsy shop for 40% off (use coupon code: holiday40).

Below are some of Adrienne's favorites from her collection. 

For more information regarding Destination Diva check out all of their sites below:

Website :: http://destinationdiva.vpweb.com
Blog :: http://destinationdivajewelry.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop :: http://www.etsy.com/people/DestinationDiva

Happy Holidays!

Choosing A Getting Ready Location

An often over-looked aspect by brides is the "getting ready" location on the morning of the wedding. This location should be planned well in advance in order to avoid issues the day of. Some important things to keep in mind when deciding on where you and your attendants will be getting dressed the day of your wedding:

• Make sure the space is well-lit (natural light from a large window is ideal). Your photographer will thank you for this, and you will end up with nicer photos.  

• The space should be large enough to accommodate you, your gown, and all of your female attendants. You want room to walk around and breathe - there is nothing worse than being crammed in a tiny bathroom when you're trying to put your makeup on and curl your hair.

• Make sure there is enough room for any makeup artists and/or hairstylists that will be coming to your getting ready location. Not only should there be enough physical space to accommodate them, there should also be proper resources on-site as well. For example, enough electrical outlets for hair curlers, hot rollers, flat irons, etc... and enough workspace for makeup kits and beauty supplies. 

• The space should also have plenty of mirrors, particularly a full-length mirror. 

If you are still having trouble narrowing down a getting ready location, consult your wedding planner and/or hair/makeup artist. 

 Photo courtesy of Pamela Marie Photography.

Etsy Find :: Knitted Cozies

This is totally unrelated to weddings, but these knitted cozies were just too cute to pass up this morning! Enjoying a delicious cup of coffee or hot chocolate with one of these cozies wrapped around a "to go" cup would be the perfect way to start a busy day! These cozies are also available for mugs. Head on over to Etsy to check out KnitStorm's entire shop of handmade cozies!

Hopefully everyone who was effected by the massive mid-Atlantic snow storm (aka Snowmageddon) over the weekend is staying safe, and warm!

Non-Floral Bouquets

Non-floral bouquets are making a BIG splash in the wedding world as of late, and this morning I rounded up a few of my favorites to share with you all! You name it, and you can probably design a bouquet with it...fabric, brooches, feathers, buttons, and even seashells! Detailed blog post about all of your non-floral bouquet options coming soon!

Enjoy, and Happy Friday!

{Photo Credits}

Photo # 1 - Alice Hu Photography via Ruffled Blog
Photo #2 - Pink Posh Photography via Stephanie Michele Events
Photo #3 - The Wedding Chicks Blog

Get Married Unveils Top 10 Bridal Trends for 2010

The following is a look at the top 10 bridal trends for 2010 as determined by Get Married’s editorial and production teams as well as leading industry experts:

1. Non-linear aisle: Brides are personalizing the procession by altering the traditional aisle with a circle or a triangular double aisle, enabling the couple to enter from multiple spots with a central meeting point. Stephanie Davis, Get Married magazine editor-in-chief and new bride, wedded lake-side on a circular dock from which she and her groom entered. “Our family no longer has two sides, so everyone sat together and, as an added bonus, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house!”

2. Comfort foods with a kick: Chef Wolfgang Puck believes that comfort foods have become more popular in the current economy. Think burgers, pizza, ribs, pot pie, and risotto—but comfort does not have to mean pedestrian. “Upgrade ingredients and prepare them with great expertise. Serve hors d’oeuvres like Kobe burgers, wild mushroom risotto, smoked salmon pizzas, slow-braised short ribs or a simple chicken pot pie with lobster,” advises Puck.

3. Gifting techie gadgetry: Registries and wedding gifts have increasingly become more high tech. Brides want electronic recipe finders, books and charging plates, and matching his-and-hers PDA cases—all examples of great gadgets for the couple as well as thank-you gifts for parents and the wedding party.

4. Texture-inspired invitations: Top bridal designer Monique Lhuillier shares inspirations and details from her various collections: “A lot of fabric details from the dresses translate into the invitations. We use techniques of embossing to mimic textures and incorporate the same colors from the gowns into the invitations.” Look for details you would see on the runway on your wedding invitations.

5. Old, new, borrowed and cobalt blue: From hints of blue in bridal fashion to saturated color throughout the wedding décor, “blues will be the most requested color in 2010,” according to Shane Murray of The Wedding Report. Bright cobalt blue is a hot hue for 2010, offering fresh, bold and atmospheric twist on the bluesy tradition.

6. Wear-again bridesmaid dresses: The urban legend of wearing a bridesmaids dress by choice after the wedding is a reality with the new silhouettes that mirror what is happening on the runway. Gorgeous and glamorous dresses with drop waists, bubble skirts and ruffles add an additional sense of style for bridesmaids to wear—and wear again.

7. Three-dimensional save-the-dates: Inform your friends and family of your wedding day with a twist. Three-dimensional elements on the save-the-dates, like a paper umbrella (signifying a destination wedding), adds character, humor and relevance.

8. Old Hollywood glam, for men!: A return to Cary Grant’s sense of style is making a comeback this year for grooms, looking charming and dapper in a white tuxedo with black-rimmed lapels. This cool old-school look brings back the sharp-looking vest and nostalgic pocket watch.

9. Blogger brides abound: Now more than ever, Get Married is seeing brides enjoy sharing snippets of surprises, ideas and images throughout their wedding planning experience. Personal blogs offer a space for brides to share, gather inspirations and explore. Check out Get Married’s robust and newly-skinned wedding blog.

10. Personalized plus: From the décor designs and inspirational invites to a great gifts and super-fab favors, Get Married is observing brides’ aspiration for distinctly personalized wedding details. Designing invitations, save-the-dates and thank-you cards and adding monograms to guest books, aisle runners and gifts (like cosmetic and travel bags) offers a hint of personal bridal style. An assortment of personalized décor, invitations, gifts and favors are available at www.shop.getmarried.com.

Photo & content courtesy of Get Married.

Paloma's Nest :: Custom Ring Bearer Bowls

Aren't these ring bearer bowls just the cutest thing?! I recently discovered Paloma's Nest in the latest issue of Southern Weddings Magazine, and instantly fell in love with these custom ring bearer bowls! Infact, Paloma's Nest is home to the Original Ring Bearer Bowl! Paloma's Nest is based out of Austin, TX; however, they ship worldwide. Click here to check out their fabulous collection via their Etsy shop. Each piece in their collection is customized specifically for you, and is designed to become a handcrafted modern heirloom. For more information about Paloma's Nest, you can check out their website here.

Photo courtesy of Paloma's Nest.

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

This afternoon I stumbled upon this adorable website, Flour Pot Cookies, a unique and decorative cookie gift company. The Flour Pot specializes in handmade cookie gifts and party favors. They offer a wide selection of cookie favors for all occasions {as seen below}, but perhaps my favorite item are their adorable Bridesmaid cookies. Each bridesmaid cookie comes individually wrapped in a super-cute polka dot gift box for only $10! These personalized cookies are the perfect way to ask your girlfriends to 'Be My Bridesmaid'. Best of all, The Flour Pot is based out of PA and ships nationwide! Check out their website for ordering details.



Photos courtesy of The Flour Pot.

Fashion Forward Boutonnieres

This blog primarily focuses on brides and their bridesmaids; however, today we wanted to show a little love to all of the wonderful grooms out there! If you and your groom are looking for something a little different than the average rose boutonniere, then you will definitely want to check out these fashion forward boutonnieres for a little inspiration. Don't be afraid to throw some color into your groom's boutonniere; after all, it's his day too and he should stand out from the rest!








Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Photo Props :: Monogram Parasols

I absolutely adore these custom monogrammed parasols from I Do Originals. These parasols make the perfect photo props if you're looking to add a little extra something into your wedding day photos. These handmade parasols range from $35 - $50 each and are available in a variety of colors and fonts. To see all of the personalized accessories that I Do Originals can create for your wedding, check out their website.

Photos courtesy of I Do Originals.

Etsy Find :: Stylish Handmade Clutches

If you follow this blog, then you probably already know about my obsession with Etsy! Incase you are unfamiliar with the wonderful world of Etsy, it's an online store where you can buy and sell all things that are handmade. Definitely a must-see for any bride! Occasionally I will blog about my "Etsy Finds" - things that I stumble upon and absolutely have to share with our readers! Today I wanted to share these stylish handmade clutches from Davie and Chiyo. All of their clutches are handmade with only the finest fabrics from all over the world. I've shared a few of my favorite clutches {seen above} from their collection. Head on over to their Etsy store to see all of the wonderful clutches they have to choose from!

Photos courtesy of Davie & Chiyo.

Bridal Flip-Flops

Awhile back I blogged about having 'Happy Feet on Your Wedding Day', and today wanted to share one of my favorite suppliers of bridal flip-flops, ESNY Occasions. ESNY offers a variety of affordable bridal footwear, including flip-flops and ballerina flats - both great choices for your wedding day. For ordering information, click here.

Photo courtesy of ESNY Occasions.

Stylish Wedding Ideas :: Estilo Weddings

I recently stumbled upon Estilo Weddings, an online store specializing in creative + stylish wedding merchandise. After a bit of browsing, I fell in love with so many of the items that they offer. You can find everything from ring pillows (pictured above) to favors, and even cupcake wrappers. Be sure to check out their collection of eco-friendly wedding items as well!

Photo courtesy of Estilo Weddings :: Dusty Pink Ring Pillow :: $59.95

First Aid Wedding Favors

Ok, seriously...how cute are these bandages from Creative Bride?! An adhesive bandage is an essential item for your wedding day, so why not carry them in style? Include these with your bridesmaid gifts and carry a pack with you in your clutch. You never know when an unexpected blister will appear from those adorable Jimmy Choo's! For tips on how to keep your feet "happy" on your wedding day, check out our blog post here.

Photo courtesy of Creative Bride :: "Hugs & Kisses from Mr. & Mrs." Bandages :: $2.29

Ask the Planner: Help with choosing the right size limousine

Our second question in our "Ask the Planner" series comes from a friend of mine in North Carolina regarding the size of limousine she should reserve for her wedding day. I felt the need to feature her question as I feel that it's a common question that many brides often ponder in this stage of the planning. Here is her question and my response:

Question: "I have a bridal party (including my fiance and I) of 10 and have no idea what size limousine to reserve. Can you help me out with some advice?"

Answer: I'm so glad you thought to ask what size limo you should be getting! So many people think that if they have 10 people in their party, that they should reserve a 10-passenger limo and be done with it. That is actually not the case at all. A 10-passenger limo is not made to hold 10 adults...deceiving, isn't it? While a 10-passenger limo may be alright if you're trying to save money on a bachelorette party for 10 girls, it's not alright for a wedding. One major thing to account for is the bride's gown...I typically tell my brides to allocate two seats for the bride, and to think about the size of the people in your bridal party. Is your soon-to-be husband an ex-college football player or basketball star? What about his groomsmen? You don't want to have everyone sitting on top of one another dressed in gowns and tuxedos...trust me, it's not fun on an 80 degree day in the middle of summer! I typically like to add an additional 2-4 seats depending upon your bridal party...at the very least, a 12-passenger limo would suffice; however, a 14 passenger is what I would recommend for a 10 person bridal party.

If you have a specific question you would like us to answer & feature on our blog, email me at the following address: sumer@simplyperfectwedding.net

Recissionista Find: Special Occasion Shoes at Target

A few weeks ago we blogged about the awesome bridesmaid dresses that are now available at Target, and today discovered that Target also has some really great special occasion shoes as well! All of the shoes in this section are UNDER $25.00 and completely adorable!

Here are a few favorites from the collection (I'm especially loving this red pair of peep-toe pumps!):

Mossimo Irene Peep-Toe Dress Shoes :: $22.99

Mossimo Heidi Satin Bow Heels :: $19.99

Mossimo Isabelle Dress Shoes :: $16.09

Add a Splash of Color!

I love love love the idea of a bride wearing colored shoes on her wedding day and had to share this adorable photo with all of you this morning! This trend is definitely on the rise and I sure hope that it sticks around for awhile. Not only is this a creative way to set your wedding apart from the rest, but it also makes for a great photo op!

Photo courtesy of Southern Weddings Magazine.