I've Moved!!!

Moving on often means moving on UP! Settle in, make yourself at home and please visit my new digs at www.bridegoggles.info. 

The new Bride Goggles Web site!!!

Thankful For: Cute Leaf Templates!

I'm headed home to Long Island where I plan to stuff myself silly with Thanksgiving treats.  And I can't help but remember how, when I was little, I would fling myself into the fall leaves that were scattered around my front yard.  So, I honor this memory with an adorable leaf napkin ring and place cards that can be placed around the dinner table and enjoyed by all.   


Find the free (and that makes these all the sweeter, yes?) templates here.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

{images and inspiration via Merriment Design}

You Are the Milk to My Cookie

My idea of a night cap? Milk and cookies.  Perhaps I was Santa in my former life? Here are some cookie buffet ideas - a sweet complement to the end of any evening (whether you ride in a sleigh or not :)

{image via Events-ualities}

{image via EleGala}

{image via Always A Blogsmaid}

Decorative Sugar Cubes

My caffeine-addicted heart skipped a beat for these sugar cubes:

 {image via Dallas Wedding Planner}

{image via Classic Bride}

Plethora of Pine Cone Design Elements

I typically just associate pine cones with holiday decorations. So if you're like me, you'll realize how naive you really were.  Pine cones are multi-functional, multi-faceted and thus, my love for them has multiplied exponentially:

{image via ThisNext.com}

{image via JenaD Events}

{image via Ruffled Blog}

Cute Cupcake Flag Toppers

I'm not going to lie - I had a bit of blogger's block. Maybe it was the rainy weather. I don't know. But I cured it by going for a run and then having some chocolate. Which made me think of cupcakes. Which made me think of frosting.  Which led to this post - about my favorite cupcake toppers:

{image via Elle Cee's}

{image via The Celebration Shoppe}

{image via Project Wedding}

String Art

Anyone else remember playing cat's cradle? Anyone? I used to play it all the time. I tried to do it again recently and apparently you need the dexterous hands of a 7 year old to play that game.  

Moving along.

Even though I'm unable to do a simple string task, I'm glad there are people out there with Houdini fingers that can turn string into masterpieces. I bet they could even turn string into wine if they tried. Or, at least into a bottle of wine!

But a girl can daydream, and today I daydreamed that my fingers could pull off these:

Table Numbers

{image and inspiration via Happiness Is...}

Wedding Sign

{image and inspiration via The Sweetest Occasion}

Sewn Paper

When I receive a card in the mail - with my name carefully printed on the envelope and the stamp often lopsided - I get really really excited. I feel like I did when I was six years old and couldn't wait for the mailman to drop off the contents of his bag into our mailbox. It brings me back to a time when I didn't know that the mail could contain anything other than a personalized letter, when the thought of bills and credit card payments were a foreign concept.


I love the idea below because it adds an extra personal twist to whomever you are reaching out to via snail mail. Whether it's a love note to your significant other, a thank you to your future in-laws or a card to the bridesmaid who talked you down from a wedding panic attack - these hand sewn cards ooze love... even before you write your personalized message.


Find the tutorial here. 

{images and inspiration via Sew Mama, Sew!}

Ballerina Pink Desserts

Growing up, I was a girly girl - I loved dresses and tutus and dolls.  And pink.  I really really loved pink.  People sometimes have a hard time believing - what, with the fact that I played rugby in college, love watching crime shows and have a wardrobe that consists of a lot of jeans and black dresses.


BUT... but - there is still a girly girl underneath my less than polished exterior. And I still really do love pink. In fact, see those Oreos below? (Yes they are Oreos!) - that light pink is the color of my bridesmaids dresses. 


Anyway, here a few sugary-sweet ways to incorporate pretty pink desserts into your candy buffet or next soiree:

Pink, Zebra-Striped Oreos

{image via Kara's Party Ideas}

Sparkly Sweet "Fruit" Slices

{image via Hostess with the Mostess}

"Fairy Floss" (aka: Cotton Candy :)

(image via WeddingBee}

 Marshmallow Skewers
{image via Cutest Foods}

You've Found... Elegant Decay #15!

There are a lot of things that inspire me - a simple act of kindness; a song that makes my toes tingle; a great sentence in a book.  Oh, and  Aleah + Nick Valley of Valley & Co. They aren't just the brains behind today's Blog Around the World: Elegant Decay scavenger hunt.  They are also the designers and stylists of the photos you are going to gasp and "ohh" and "ahh" over.  I know - incredible! 


So dig into this scrumptiously gorgeous image. I mean really, can't you just taste those crumbs!? Don't they just signify that a good time was had by all?! And listen - I love wedding cake. But I also love those non-traditional desserts that make guest appearances.  Especially when they land on tables that are just as beautiful as the food being served. And once I finish the yumminess - I can hit the dance floor and feel no guilt whatsoever about what I just devoured! 


I know I know. You want to see the picture.  I totally get it - I can't stop staring at it. But first...


A word from Aleah + Nick

We’re  Aleah + Nick Valley of Valley & Co. and we’re so excited to partner with some of our most favorite blogosphere friends for this Blog Around the World: Elegant Decay post! Today you’re invited to a worldwide scavenger hunt on these awesome blogs where you’ll find snippets of our Elegant Decay photo shoot, designed to show off the after effects of a celebration: fun! We all spend so long putting together amazing designs and tablescapes for our couples, and this shows off the end result {and the most important element}: enjoyment. We hope you enjoy this – thank you to all of our friends for participating and be sure to visit these other fabulous blogs for more photos, ideas, tips, and fun!

Design + styling and JOY cards: Aleah + Nick Valley of Valley & Co. www.valleyandco.com
Photography: Jeremy Leffel: www.jeremyleffel.com
Floral design: Anne Bradfield of Floressence: www.floressencedesign.com
Crystal and marble decorative candle accents: vintage pieces from Nick's mom
Venue, dessert, and drinks: Palace Ballroom by Tom Douglas: www.tomdouglas.com
Linens: Choice Linens: www.choicelinens.com
Chairs, silverware, and china: AA Party Rentals: www.aapartyrents.com 


Continue on your journey - but make sure to sit back and take in each picture. That's the point of this Blog Around the World! Enjoyment and inspiration.  


Check out these great gals (the #TWIPS on Twitter) - and their awesome blogs - to see the rest of the stunning images, decor inspiration and table-scape tips.  


Happy hunting! 
(listed in order of appearance, happening in 15 minute increments)

• Bubble Rock @stephbubble 
• Magnolia Rouge @rubyandwillow 
• Cap Classique @capclassique 
• Brancoprata @brancoprata 
• The Demoiselle @The_Demoiselle 
• Engaged + Inspired @EngagedInspired 
• Postcards and Pretties @postcrdsprettie 
• Paper Garland @papergarland 
• Sparkle and Hay @sparkleandhay 
• Superburbs @superburbs 
• Every Last Detail @ELD_Lauren 
• Brenda's Wedding Blog @weddingsites 
• Niche White @NicheWhite 
• Simply and Forever @KatieSaeger 
• Bride Goggles @BrideGoggles
• Landlocked Bride @LandlockedBride 
• Forget Me Knot Weddings @forgetmeknotwed 
• Fabulously Wed @fabulouslywed 
• The Bride Suite  @thebridesuite
• Enchanted Dreams Wedding & Affairs @NaomiVGoodman
• Marry You Me @MarryYouMe 
• Luna and Chloe Weddings @lunaandchloe 
• La Petite Coquin @lapetitecoquin 
• Glamour and Grace Weddings @GlamandGraceWed 

Splatter Paint Invitations

Combine the font from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with the artistry of Jackson Pollack along with a dash of the TV show True Blood and you get... THESE! Wild Ink Splatter wedding invitations from Project o3.  And as any good artwork will do, these will definitely garner some sort of reaction from guests.

{image and inspiration via Beast Pieces}

Bridesmaid Gifts

I'm a pretty relaxed bride. Probably too relaxed. Thankfully, I have a maid of honor who is efficient, organized and a decisive delegator. And I have a crew of bridesmaids who want to make sure it all goes off without a hitch - and that I have fun no matter what is going on.  

Finding the perfect bridesmaids isn't hard (well, at least it shouldn't be :) - but finding the perfect gift to ask them to be part  of the party, to thank them for making your day beyond memorable, well, that's another challenge.

Here are two incredibly creative and super sweet ways to say, "Will you be part of my big day?" and "Thank you for being the bridesmaid in the world!" :)

Ring with a memorable message

{image via Two Brunettes}

Necklace with a sweet surprise

{image via 100 Layer Cake}

Reply Cards

I never really thought about the reply cards that came with the invitation. And it's possible I never thought of them - actually, it's highly likely that I never thought of them - because they're all relatively traditional. And that's not a bad thing. IIII'MMM traditional. But sometimes, when I see something UNtraditional, I step back and think - ARGH, I wish IIII had thought of that.


That is how I feel about these reply cards.  Here's hoping I receive something like this in the mail soon:

Mad Libs + Old Fashioned Telegram = Jaw Droppingly Original Reply Cards

{image and inspiration via Hello Lucky}

A reply card that will help you get in touch with your inner Calamity Jane

{image and inspiration via Art Fire}

Winter Green Inspiration

One of my favorite movies EVER is When Harry Met Sally. And one of my favorite moments is when Harry and Sally carry the Christmas tree across the snow covered streets. It's just so... New York. It makes me happy even to write about it.


In honor of the movie scene that still makes me feel giggly inside, here are a few tree inspired, winter green wedding ideas:

Nifty napkin embellishments

{image via Helen Carter Weddings}

Gifts of nature for guests

{image via Ashville Event Co.}

Eye-catching centerpieces

{image via Merriment Events}

Spook-tacular Detail

Don't forget to embrace your inner child this weekend. And if that means trick-or-treating (even if you are over the age of 15), so be it :)

{image and inspiration via The Li'l Bird}

DIY Double Duty Napkin Rings

A menu that multi-tasks?! Print food selections onto stylized paper to save trees and wow guests:

{image and inspiration via My 10K Wedding}

Sparkly Pinatas

Handy eye coordination? Not-so-much. My bat would swing around but never land on the mark (whether it be a horse hanging from a ceiling or a baseball heading towards my body). 


But maybe some of that's because what I was aiming for at all those birthday parties and baseball games weren't as sparkly and gorgeous as these super chic pinatas. 


Feel free to fill them with candy, but filling them with confetti can add even more decor. 

{images via Para Ti Novia Blog}

Tree Ring Invites

Sometimes I run across something just so cool, I get goosebumps. Like, the hair literally stands up my arms and waves in excitement. This planting wheel-style invite by BurnhouseSF on Etsy is one of those things. It reminds me of the book The Giving Tree - which, even though I read it over two decades ago, is still one of my favorite books ever.

Featuring two separately spinning wheels that reveal whichever piece of information the arrow points to, the downloadable template is totally editable.  

Alright, I'm going to take a break from staring at this awesome invite (as I'm in desperate need of coffee) - but you should feel free to continue ogling :)

Template can be found here.

{image and inspiration via iDiy Blog}

Featured Photographers: Jason and Anna Photography

You know I love props (and if you didn't, now you do). And this Los Angeles engagement session has it all (and then some) - a gorgeous setting, a placid picnic and a vintage record player. Oh, and of course, a magnificent couple who are clearly in love!

{all images via Jason and Anna Photography}