Wedding Details {Black and White Wedding}

{all above images from ClaryPhoto see our wedding blog post here}

We just celebrated our second anniversary so I thought I would finally post some of my favorite detail shots from the wedding!  Many of the items in these photos are projects that I DIY'd such as ring bearer pillows, pinwheels, candy bar ribbons for jars, damask cardbox, and photobooth tickets.  Several of the other projects I created and had printed elsewhere were the "sugar bar" window cling, drink stir sticks, "B" cake topper, and dinner menus.

Then we had several fabulous vendors that made other items happen such as Slice of Lime Design for all of our paper goods and Exclusive Events, Inc. for our reception lighting, paper lanterns, white lounge area and decals on the columns.  I especially love our programs from Slice of Lime Design.  They are tiered and have the custom damask design flowing from one page to the next...does that sound right?  I do not know about how it sounds but it turned out fantastic! Slice of Lime Design also created our reception cards that included a poem that I wrote and probably had help from Emily from Slice of Lime Design...it's been so long I cannot even remember!  Anyway, the poem was about the candy bar, the photo booth, and the late night snack that we were serving at 10:00pm.  I will look for a photo that shows it better for another post.

A few other details were each of the bridesmaids bouquets were wrapped with a different black and white ribbon and had a vintage bow broach.  We had red balloons and paper parasols for photos, and my something blue was turquoise ribbon sewn onto the crinoline of my dress.  I also wore the antique wedding ring in the ring detail shots that belonged to my husband's grandma.  She was unable to attend so I wore the ring so she could be there in spirit.  Hmmmm.....I am trying to think of any other special details...would have probably been a good idea to have posted this 2 years ago! Oh yeah, I made my jewelry {chandelier crystal earrings and bracelet} and also made bracelets out of crystals for the bridesmaids.

Not sure if I have previously posted this, but here was our vendor line up for the day!
Photography: ClaryPhoto-Clary Pfeiffer Photography {blog}
Videography: Archway Media (I still have not selected my music so no video yet...)
Paper Goods: Slice of Lime Design
Florist: RW Designs
Wedding Coordinator: Proposing Dreams
Ceremony: St. Ambrose on the hill
Reception: Windows On Washington {8th floor}
Lighting and Decor: Exclusive Events, Inc.
Extras: Photobooth Stl 
Cake: The Cakery 
Rehearsal Dinner: Spink Pavillion Missouri Botanical Gardens
Transportation: A Perfect Touch
Make-up: Holly Speakes
Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston Vineyard Collection, Town and Country Bridal

I think that is it!

Damask Suite

{Vintage Marquis by Paper Source}

I love damask.  I have loved it for so many years before it was popular for weddings.  I remember doing a project in 2003 using some vintage red damask wallpaper.  Even after putting as many damask elements into my wedding last June, I still love it.  I even try to incorporate damask wrapping paper at almost any occasion that requires a gift {and even ones that do not}!

I am excited to see all of these great pieces from Paper-Source!

Slice of Lime Feature

{via Slice of Lime}

Emily of Slice of Lime created the invites, programs, photobooth sign, candy box labels, candy jar labels, sign board, rehearsal dinner invites, bridesmaid luncheon invites, thank you notes...and provided countless hours of therapy!

Just a side note...the busty pic of me is NOT my fav.

kitchen mini makeover

{Amy Atlas Events}

Throw in some tiffany blue and this is the color palette that I want for my kitchen. Problem is my cabinets are honey colored {icky} and the counter tops are just ehh. I am hoping to spruce up the kitchen with a valance, new light fixture over the sink and some DIY projects....were talking like $50 maybe $100, but that would be stretching it.....I think I can do it.

I bought some spray paint {creamy yellow} for a chalkboard project I plan to do this weekend...I also need a really cool piece of art...I would love to have one {black and white} of our sugar bar or our wedding cake...hmmm...

I plan to accessorize the space {have cute little white ceramic bird salt and pepper set}. Ugh. I really just want to paint the cabinets and I feel that the project would really pull together, but doing that seems really labor intensive and frankly I am way to creative to spend my time on that.

I am not sure what type of fabric to get for the valance. I was originally thinking black and white....but decided I needed yellow to add my punch of color against the honey colored cabinets and the pale blue/green wall. We also have black and white tile in the kitchen. I know, so retro. So here is what I am thinking for valance fabric. Black and white patterns are so easy to find...yellow? not so much!

{Picnic Damask Yellow, via Sew, Mama, Sew!}

{Antler Damask Tarragon, via Sew, Mama, Sew!}

{Anna's Drawing Room Sketchbook Ivory}

{Dandy Damask}

Since the walls are blue, I want to stay away from blue. I just don't know which direction I want to go! Suggestions?

...Exclusive Events decor peek!

Check out a peek at some of what Exclusive Events did for our reception!

We're Married!

Well, it is official...we are married! Tomorrow we will plan our honeymoon, pack and then head out on our road trip! I am so excited!

There will be so many posts coming in the future. I do not have any pictures of us yet. I intentionally had my camera and even put it in my pocket....yes my dress had pockets! and I totally only took 10 pictures...none of which are of me! So you will have to wait until Clary
posts a preview!

I do want to share one story.
One night Chris decided to look through a bridal magazine...he then says to me..."I think I picked out your dress". So this was a magazine with probably a 1000 dresses in it. We went back and forth about whether or not I should tell him, and I said well, I cannot tell you if it is or isn't. Cause even if it was, I could not tell him! So he marked the page for me to look at later. When he left, I opened the magazine and low and behold....out of all the dresses in the entire magazine, he picked mine. What are the odds?

Of course, just like a guy, he totally forgot what which one he picked. He asked me sometime yesterday...maybe while we were laughing on the alter or alone in the limo bus if he was correct...

Here is the picture he saw in the magazine.

{Vineyard Collection, Maeve}

DIY wedding card box

Today we tackled the DIY project of our card box. I had purchased 3 patterned hat boxes from Hobby Lobby many, many months ago with this project in mind. I love the look of a faux wedding cake when all the boxes are stacked!

So a few hours later, our card box is finished! We could not be happier with the end result.

Here is what we did...

We took off the lids and turned the boxes upside down. Chris measured and cut a hole in the bottom of the box that was the same measurement of the box to be placed on top of it.


Here is a shot of all three boxes stacked. Since they all fit so snug, there was no need for ANY adhesive. To seal the opening at the bottom, we placed the lid to that box back on.

Here all three boxes are stacked and ready for decoration!

Around the base of each box, I applied ATG tape.

After the ATG tape, black ribbon was applied.


To add a little something extra, I created bows from a thicker black ribbon and used a little hot glue to hold them in place. That is it! I am not sure if it needs something extra...so.....

I placed faux anemone flowers on the bows. These are not permanent until I see what you think....should the flowers stay? Should I add some bling? What do you think?

stuffed and waiting

The invitations that is.




Just have to get the outer envelope stamps and wait for April 10th to mail!

eye candy

I am making am effort to keep my personal laptop's desktop clean...a rather unruly task as I love to take screen shots as I pop around the net. While organizing my junk, I came across some rather fab "all things wedding" shots...check them out!

I wish I knew where I got this shot. Wedding heaven!

One bow...

Two bows...Three bows! Did you know I love bows? Wonder what my wedding cake will look like? Heh! ;)

zazzle?

The issue of postage is on the forefront. To zazzle or not to zazzle, that is the question. So I created a custom zazzle stamp (pictured above) that I think would go quite nicely with our invitation suite. But is it worth is to spend the extra money? Would it make more sense to go with this stamp instead?
Hmmm...I know the dragon fly is the first class odd-size 1 ounce stamp....but I just do not like any of the 2 ounce 59 cent stamps...

Each zazzle costs about 40 cents more.

sneak peek!

I have been so behind on all my favorite blogs.....I was popping around and was totally surprised and caught off guard to see this...

{Slice of Lime}

A sneak peek of our invitation suite courtesy of the fabulous Emily of Slice of Lime Design. So excited!!!

sugar bar, sweets buffet, sweet shop, sugar shack...

Whatever you want to call it, it will be so delish! January 17th was a great day! Why you ask? Well it is the start of ye olde tradition of sweet treats peddled by the Girl Scouts. Oh yes, it is cookie time!

One of THE BEST wedding favors I have ever gotten came in the form of a box of Girl Scout cookies. I did say a BOX. E & J decided to have these fabulous confections as wedding reception favors. I thought and still think the idea is ingenious! Guests are able to indulge in childhood memories and get a fabulous treat. I threw this idea around before I ended going with the candy buffet. If I would have had enough sense to think of a cookie buffet, I bet we would be doing one! My love for Swedish Fish will not allow me to change paths. So I decided to merge the two and instead of just cookies or just candy, we will have a sweets/sugar/treats bar. Samoa's and Swedish Fish can live harmoniously right? I ordered both Samoa's (my fav) and Thin Mints (C's fav).



The name of this buffet is still up for debate...but the sign will be along the lines of this:

feeling crafty...the results continued

Saturday on my way home from working out with trainer Megan, I stopped by Anatol's to seek out the perfect fabric for ring bearer pillows. I searched and searched the store and then I found just what I was looking for! The fabric for the pillow is a satin off-white damask.

I then need beads, sparkling beads! A trip to Michaels Arts and Crafts would provide me with the perfect colors of Swarovski crystals.

The finished result! I added black ribbon and a vintage bow brooch for extra bling.

After finishing the main pillow, I made a second one for the other ringbearer.

feeling crafty...the results

I found a photo album (8x8) at T.J. Maxx for $6.99. It is black and white with a damask cover. Too cute to pass up. I wondered if I could turn it into a usable book for our photo booth pictures at the reception. After a few alterations to the book, I adhered cardstock I had purchased at Hobby Lobby.

The inside of the book had plastic sleeves to hold 4x6 pictures and a little spot for notes about the picture. After I removed the plastic sleeves I needed to cover the holes. I also did not like the area to write in as it did not flow with a strip of pictures from a photo booth.


I cut paper to fit over both holes and the note spot. I used metallic photo corners for the larger section of paper on each page. I love how the black and white graphic border continues throughout the book for a unifying element.

Here is a shot of an inside page and a special guest appearance by Scout in the upper right corner! My idea is that guests will adhere their photo strip to the large color section of paper and write a message in the white section. Or they can attach pictures to the decorative paper and the white paper....after all a picture tells a thousand words! ha!

Another great thing about this book is that it had a cd envelope at the back so I can place the cd from the digital photo booth pics from the reception!

I later decided to add ribbon to the front and back cover to tie at the side to hold the album closed.