DIY Day - Save the Dates!

I have been chomping at the bit to make our Save the Dates for the wedding, especially when I found the BEST site for Save the Date magnets.  Magnet Street Weddings has an enormous amount of options, and each one is fully customizable, right down to the text and the colors!  As we know, I love customizing!! Especially with my colors.  They even offer "free" personalized samples, meaning you can put all your colors, text and photos, and they will make one for you and send it out.  They do charge you $6.99 for this, BUT, when you place your order, that price is taken off.

The reason I included this as a DIY post, is because with the amount of customizing and personalizing that can be done with these, its like doing it yourself... which I love... though, I have to admit... when it came down to choosing which one to get, I had 6 that I just couldn't decide between... options are good, but if you are like me, be careful... it could cause decision making to be difficult.

With that said... I presented my top 6 designs to my dear fiance and asked him to choose, he was then able to get it down to 2 and then we just went with our gut!! (we do that a lot)... so technically we already picked the one that we are ordering, but I want to share with you 4 of our top 6, and get your opinions as well!!! Next Monday, on MY wedding Monday... I will share our decision!!

Ok lets go!!! So again, all these designs were made possible by Magnet Street Weddings and all the photos of us were taken by the talented Robert Yaskovic of Yaskovic Wedding + Portrait. (his amazing photos also made it difficult to make a decision... we liked them all, and couldn't decide between 7 of them for the SD!

Here they are, in no particular order... I numbered them for voting purposes only!!!

#1

I inked out our actual date and last names in case we have stalkers that we don't want to crash the wedding!!! hehehe :-)  And yes... Eat, Drink, and Be Married is a nod to my favorite musician, Dave Matthews, with a bit of a twist... it will hold NUMEROUS places for our wedding!!! hehe...

#2

I love these pictures!!! hehehe, but who am I kidding... i love all the pictures!!!

#3

Another fantastic shot!!!

#4

Don't you love them??? I do... even though we decided last night, I look at these again, and wonder if we made the right decision!! haha... Johnny laughs at me cause at the rate I'm going, I would never decide!!!

Another awesome thing about Magnet Street... they sell invitations too!!! Some of the Save the Dates have matching invites as well, which is cool if you want to coordinate everything!!

I can't wait to get them!! I'm so excited!!! :-)  Hope you enjoy! and let me know what you think!

Happily Ever After,

Your Bizzy Bride

Wedding Dress Wednesday - Judd Waddell

EDIT at the bottom!!!

Today, my favorite blog day, I would like to highlight a fabulous designer, Judd Waddell.  Architecture student turned fashion designer, Judd has worked for Carolina Herrera, created the "Occasions" bridesmaids line for Jim Hjelm, was Design Director for Galina Bouquet, and also launched a line for Couture Bridal.  The dresses that I want to highlight today are from his own collection that can be seen over at JuddWaddell.com.

My favorite site, and every brides, TheKnot.com provided me with details and great photos to share.

The first dress is a strapless ball gown made of silk satin-faced organza and Alencon lace.  It has a sweetheart neckline and a deep navy blue sash around the waist.  Available in White or Ivory, this gown runs in the $5000 and up range!

My favorite things about this gown are the various lace accents.  The piece that cascades across the sash, the lace that highlights the bottom of the skirt and of course the bodice.  Another thing I love is the gathering of the skirt.  Its a striking gown, and paired with the gloves, its just beautiful.

This next dress is another strapless ball gown with a sweetheart neckline.  Made of Peau De Soie (a medium weight smooth, silky fabric with a satiny finish, also called Duchess Satin) and Alencon Lace, it is available in White, Champagne, and Cream.  It retails in the $3000 to $5000 range.

Again, I love the lace... but I also love that full skirt... the satin and beaded embellishment just under the bust adds a stunning look to an otherwise simple, yet elegant, gown.

A favorite design, as you know, this is a Judd Waddell one-shoulder gown!!  A sheath silhouette with an asymmetric waist, this gown is available in white or cream.   Made of Peau De Soie, Alencon Lace, and Tulle, it retails in the $3000 to $5000 range.

Love the lace one-shoulder... love the neckline, love the skirt!!! Just love, love, love!!! :-)

And last, but not least... FULL LACE BACK!!!! I have no idea what the front looks like... but I do love the back of this dress!!! A dropped waist made of all Peau De Soie, with a full lace back, this gown is available in White or Cream and retails in the $3000 to $5000 range.

I wish I had more information on this gown, and might make it a mission to find a picture of the front.  The light blue sash looks detachable, but I cant be sure.  That back is stunning though!!  If anyone finds more pictures of this gown, please let me know!!!

I FOUND IT!!!!! The FRONT!!!!

Here it is from the front... I LOVE IT!!! and yes, the sash is interchangeable!! As the one pictured is in cream! LOVE the straps... Love the lace on the bottom of the skirt... and I love the silhouette!! So glad I found it!!

Happy Wedding Dress Wednesday!!! :-) I hope you enjoyed, and I hope, like me, you live Happily Ever After!
Your Bizzy Bride!

Bouquet Day - HELP!!!

I am having a hard time with flower options... I want something different, but there is also a part of me that wants traditional... so I need your help.  I am going to show you a few options, and I want to know what you think, HONESTLY, what looks better!!! I know the wedding is a year away, but still... it doesn't hurt to plan!  All I know is I DON'T want your standard rose bouquets... and IF POSSIBLE... I don't want to spend a fortune either (but knowing my tastes, I will)...

With my Purple and Green theme... I want my bridesmaids to wear green dresses and carry purple flowers... My bouquet will be a mix of purple and green... the groomsmen will most likely wear purple and have green boutonnieres (unless the Fiance really vetoes the purple!!)

My first thought was Purple Lisianthus for the girls... something like this from W-weddingflowers.com

Obviously smaller for the bridesmaids... but that flower for sure...

Or... a single full bodied blossom like this Purple Hydrangea that I found on Project Wedding

For me... I know I keep saying that I want to have both colors in my bouquet, but maybe I should go for something more simple, and elegant...

This full bouquet of Gypsophila, or more commonly known as, Baby's Breath, looks classic and somewhat gives a vintage vibe to me... though I wonder if the white would clash against my Ivory dress (I plan on ivory due to my pale complexion)...

(sweetstylings.com)



Then I saw this composite bouquet on Wedding House.  A composite bouquet is "a creative form of floral decoration in which a number of different buds and petals are joined together on a single stem to give an elusive impression of a very large single flower".  Though this one appears to be a VERY large rose... it's more unique than just plain roses...

In the next photo from LIWeddings , a bunch of calla lilies were grouped together to form a large flower, for an illusion of a single blossom bouquet...

I do like how simple, yet elegant, this bouquet is.... and it is again, unique but classic.

So here is part of my dilemma... over the past couple weeks of looking at flower alternatives, I have found a non-flower idea that has really sparked my interest... aside from the brooches (which I think might be too heavy), I found these paper flowers on Posh Studios Etsy Shop.

Yes, they are paper... and I already found a site that taught me how to make them myself... I envisioned take a trip to the Hobby Lobby, and finding some really nice thick card stock in the EXACT colors that I want, and making our bouquets myself, and with the help of family and friends... Once you get going, they move along fairly quickly... and I only need 4 bouquets, and 4 boutonnieres... I will get our parents real flowers for their corsages and boutonnieres... I like these because I know that my girls and myself can keep our bouquets forever, and I think it adds a really nice modern, unique look to the ceremony.

Our venue will be adorned with an abundance of flowers all over the grounds and reception room, so I only have to worry about our flowers...  The dear Fiance likes them, but is concerned that I will later regret not having real flowers... the future MIL didn't seem to care for them, but enjoys the idea of being crafty... What do you all think?

I do love real flowers, but I love something different as well... I know I should wait to decide as more details come from the planning, but in a way, a wedding can revolve around flower selection... I think I care less about the flowers because we're not furnishing the entire wedding.  Le Chambord takes care of the centerpieces and decor... so really its just this...

I need your help if I want to Live Happily Ever After with my flowers!!!
Your Bizzy Bride!

MY Wedding Monday - Venue!!

Today I would like to share with you all our Venue.  Its gorgeous and I love it!! Nestled in the Town of Hopewell Junction in upstate New York, Le Chambord "combines the charm of a European Inn with the elegance of an 1863 Georgian Colonial Estate." (all pictures taken from the website)

For everyday purposes, Le Chambord is a four star, American Continental restaurant with a highly reviewed menu, and one of America's top gourmet chef's, Leonard Mott.  The picture above shows the entrance to the restaurant, and behind the trees on the left, sits the Grand Ballroom, where we will seat our guests for our amazing reception.

All done up in whites and golds, the Grand Ballroom holds roughly 250 guests.  Adorned with crystal chandeliers, numerous antiques, a private bar (that the late Judy Garland used to drink at), and a large oak dance floor, the Grand Ballroom is the picture of elegance.  Those windows that you see in the picture above is where our sweetheart table will be located, and as I mentioned in a previous blog, the trees outside those windows will be set with little white Christmas lights.  Our table will be set with antique candelabras, and each guest table will have a tall candelabra with a floral centerpiece placed above (this is so that the guests can still comfortably talk to each other across the table without fighting around a centerpiece).

Next to the ballroom is the estate's Inn, where our guests have the luxury of the experiencing the owner's magnificent art collection and a plethora of charming antiques.  Each room is unique and designed with period furnishings.  They each have their own private bathrooms, and spacious bed chambers.  Room is limited, but our guests who are unable to book in the Inn will be able to book in any of the numerous hotels that are offered nearby.

(the front of the Inn)

We decided early on that we wanted to get married on site where our reception is.  The convenience alone was priceless, and Le Chambord has a beautiful Pavilion on site for ceremonies and the cocktail hour.

Flanked by an abundance of hanging potted flowers, the room experiences a beautiful breeze through its open walls.  Sheer curtains hang from each opening, and can be closed in the event of rain to keep out the elements.  A large canopy will also be put up, in the event of rain, so that I will not get wet walking from my suite to the ceremony!! :-)

After the ceremony, the guests are encouraged to visit the gazebo for pictures as the pavilion is broken down and set up (quickly) for the cocktail hour.

After the cocktail hour, our guests will be led into the Grand Ballroom, and my groom and I will be walked, by red carpet into the front of the Grand Ballroom for our main entrance... then, THE PARTY BEGINS!! :-)

I'm excited, in case you couldn't tell.. and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Le Chambord.  I must be honest, it's not exactly cheap (not terribly expensive either), but it's worth every penny.  AND... the best part... only one event per day... so I do not have to share the grounds of the estate with anyone but my guests!

Now, I dont want to give too much away... I want my guests to see it all for its beauty when they arrive...

OH.. and the owner, Roy, is super helpful, and he's already promised to help us in every way, and ensure that we live...
Happily Ever After!
Your Bizzy Bride :-)



Weekend Wants! - Etsy Finds!

First of all, my apologies for no Friday Favors post, I had a very late and eventful evening Thursday, and yesterday just turned into a busy mess... so I did not get a chance to post... but I will return to Favors next week. 

Right now, however, it is the weekend and therefore need to discuss a "want" of mine... Unfortunately the dear fiance does not share the same want, and... since its his day too, I will concede on this.  I'm finding out that he is far more traditional than I thought he was!!

Cake Toppers... I found these cute little wooden people on Etsy that I think are simply adorable. And, they come in all different character and can be totally customizable depending which Etsy store you go with.

These two sets are from the  CreativeButterflyXOX Etsy shop.

This Superhero Bride and groom show a little Batman hiding under that groom's tux... I know I think I am marrying a superhero... so its an excellent idea in my book!  These are sold for $24.95

Another adorable superhero, Superman!!!  These little wooden people run for $39.99.

I like the bride's veil too... super cute.  and if you are a brunette, you can get them customized to match you!  She has numerous kinds of wooden people to choose from, all with varying prices.  A fun look! (i think!)

These are from the Peanutbutterbandit Etsy shop.  She does so many different kinds of dolls... Whole families, various races, everyday decor dolls for your holidays... including this Zombie couple (which was one of the top two ideas I had that got shot down! haha)

They look great, and she even says, if you aren't getting married, they would make a nice Halloween decoration!  These are listed for $45.

Do you feel like a Princess???  Do you envision the fairy tale wedding?  How about Cinderella and Prince Charming? (again $45.)

I really do love her work... and this following pair is what turned me on to these little dolls... I thought for sure my groom was going to go for it, but he laughed and said, No!!

We are both big Star Wars fans, so I thought that he would totally go for it.  Princess Leia and Han Solo are the ultimate couple in my book... she hated that scruffy lookin Nerf-Herder at first, but once he dropped that tough exterior, she found the heart of the man, and couple help but fall!  Ahh... they make me happy... and are only $45 too, so I might just have to buy them for the heck of it... who knows, maybe I can squeeze out a groom's cake with these two!!!  In the shape of the Millennium Falcon!!! hehe ;-)

OK... so, anyway... these are the cake toppers that I want, but will not have... we will go traditional... maybe a Celtic heart of pewter, or just a cluster of flowers... pushing for some butterflies too... we shall see!

Regardless of what Cake topper we decide, I'm sure it will be beautiful, but I like finding these fun little unique things to really personalize your day.  That's why I blog for you... so you can enjoy them too!!

That way, we can all live Happily Ever After! :-)
Your Bizzy Bride!

DIY Day - Kind of!

So I can't stop thinking about those Mr. & Mrs. forks that I want to buy... and it had me thinking of how excited I am to be a bride, and a wife... a Mrs!!! :-)  Although I know everyone will know I am the bride next year on our big day, I want it highlighted in my decor.  It is all about me anyway, right?  So I have found a very cute way of making sure more attention is bestowed upon me!!

We will have a sweetheart table at our reception... but I saw these little ways to "tag" our chairs! It think its adorable, and adds another little DIY aspect to the day... one that is quick and easy too.

I want to give credit to these photos right off the bat... many were taken by the PHENOMENAL Jose Villa... and essentially, I found all these photos on the blog Style Me Pretty.  Its an excellent site for bridal research and inspiration, and one that is added in my links on the side!!

So lets get started!!!  Mr. and Mrs.

I enjoy these because they look vintage! Shocker, Jeannie likes something vintage looking... but seriously, they are also rustic with how they are made, but classic with the text script.  Its adorable!

This one is very elegant, as it appears the whole theme is.  I like the little silhouette pictures involved and the fancy frames... cute addition to the table.  And here is one combined....

Very adorable... very country with the cross stitching... but proves the point!! :-)

And this take the Mr. and Mrs. and adds a personal touch with a photo of the couple...

I like this idea too, but I kind of wish they used two different photos... but I am a photo freak... so of course I want lots!!!!

This is another way to point out the guests of honor... Bride and Groom

Hard to see the writing, but it does say Bride, in a BEAUTIFUL script.  I like the ribbons too, its a nice touch, and much cheaper than renting linens!!

Or, you could go with the Bride and Grooms initials... I like this, because again, it puts the attention on the bride and groom, but adds a nice personal touch!

I have a thing for these block letters too... I'm not sure what it is about them, but I love them!!!

Naturally, I saved my favorite for last... I think I am going to try and figure out how to do this for our venue.  The only thing is, we have rounded chair backs covered in white linens... so I have to figure out how to rope around the chairs and pull them together in the middle without making it difficult for us to be able to get up and down when needed...

Again, its that block look... the white is super classic (though part of me wants to color mine in with purple and green swirls!! hehehe...) Its like taking that Mr and Mrs idea that I love, and making it just subtle enough that it makes it a nice touch!! :-) I love it, and as I look at it, I cant stop smiling!!! It's going to happen! hahah.

Our sweetheart table is right in front of a large window that looks out into the woods that are decorated with Christmas lights, so that there is a beautiful twinkle behind us all night... I picture us sitting at our table, exchanging a kiss with our little ampersand between us, and maybe our amazing photographer can take a pic of us from outside looking in as we're lit up by our twinkle lights!! hehehe...

We can keep the ampersand forever on our mantle or on the wall... another awesome keepsake of our wedding, but also of our union!!

Ok, I'm getting super gushy now... I'm soooooo going to live Happily Ever After!
Your Bizzy Bride!!

Wedding Dress Wednesday - Butterflies!

EDIT: The color of the BHLDN Ethereal Monarch Gown is actually called Buttercream... WHICH... makes me love it EVEN more!!!!

Anyone who knows me is aware of my fascination with butterflies.  I have them tattooed all over my body, I have had them as decorations in my home for years, and I basically just love them.  So naturally I plan on having them throughout the wedding... from the favors, to the cake, there will be butterflies.

On top of that, I have been trying to find a wedding dress with butterflies on it, but haven't been exactly successful.  The first one I found was this... Butterfly yes, wedding (for me), not so much!  This is a Luly Yang Couture dress, and is rumored to hold a $25,000 price tag... OUCH!

I mean, its definitely butterfly, and although I wont be wearing white, I will be wearing a variation (ivory... my complexion cant take white!)

So... on with the search... I found this pretty gown, but again, not really my style for the wedding... I couldn't find out much about it, but I believe it is vintage...

(wedding15.com)

I do love the butterflies... but not really what I looking for!

So I found this image, which I believe came from a DIY Martha Stewart... and I could probably do with a little help of some needle and thread... but still its not quite what I want...

(ThingsFestive)

And then... I found this... close... and beautiful and elegant, and from one of my most favorite designers... Alfred Angelo... The only thing is, its from his new line, and I don't know how much it is, or specific details as it was just released in his new Disney Princess Line.  This is called Rapunzel!

(Alfred Angelo)

AND... IT'S ONE SHOULDER!!!!!!!!!!!!  I think the trim on the bottom is all butterflies, but I have yet to find a photo of a closeup of the bottom... but I will keep searching! It's kind of perfect... especially if it comes in Ivory... and knowing Alfred Angelo, the price is most likely going to be reasonable... All his other Princess gowns retail under $1400.  Here is a sketch of the Rapunzel!

(Disney Bridal)

I was able to just find a little excerpt about this dress... from the press release:

"The delicate three-dimensional satin petals on the skirt pay homage to the natural things Rapunzel longs for, and expresses through her artistry. These petals are adorned with light-catching crystals and twinkling sequins to represent the lanterns she views every year on her birthday from her tower."

So they might not be butterflies, but I still like it...

and Now, for the gown that I have found that is perfect in every way!!!  Well... almost...

This is the Ethereal Monarch Gown by BHLDN, and its EVERYTHING that I want... its Ivory... It has butterflies throughout the skirt that stretch up to the waist... more butterflies that trail along the left shoulder.  It's not strapless, with its shoulder kissing neckline... and it looks unbelievably vintage to me... There is pleated tulle underneath that adds a fabulous touch, and an interior corset.  The back shapes into a V and has fabric covered buttons... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this dress... but the price is a bit of a shocker... at $3200, it certainly exceeds my budget!! :-( which is sad, but definitely the way the cookie crumbles! Who knows, maybe it would look horrible on me!

But look at the details:

(GreenWeddingShoes)

They also pride this dress on being flattering on all body types...

OK OK, I will stop now.  I tend to have a lot of dream dresses, there are hundreds that I love... 10's that I love love... and this one that just takes the cake. 

I have PLENTY of time to look for a dress... I don't plan on going shopping for a few more months... want to get in better shape, save some more money, and also give those designers out there more time to make more amazing dresses!!! Who knows, maybe someone will knock off the BHLDN gown and I can get it cheaper!!

Ahh I do love dresses... they seriously make me Happy... Ever After!! ;-)

Your Bizzy Bride!