Featured Photographer: Blue Sunshine Photography

This Texas e-session has it all - playfulness, puppies and personality. And my favorite part about Blue Sunshine Photography is that they sent this adorable couple a "get to know you" email beforehand - and made sure to incorporate their love of magazines (Yay BridalGuide!) into the shoot.

{all images via Blue Sunshine Photography}

Wedding Program Decor

Hanging your wedding program from the ceremony seating not only ensures everyone will know what's going on... this cool idea adds a splash of something special to an otherwise simple chair:

{image via Brides Buzzing}

{image via Fairytale Weddings}

{image via KoJo Designs}

Bridesmaid Bouquets Re-Invented

Take the traditional bridesmaid bouquet and turn it on its head.  Think outside of the flower box with these out of the world ideas that will have guests' heads turning in awe at your awesome bridal party:

Bouquets made of pearls and your flower of choice

{image via Kay's Bouquets}

Bouquets made of ribbons and silk

{image and directions via Poptastic Bride}

Eco-chic bouquets made of buttons 

{image via Just Wright Design}

Bouquets made of ladies mantel, green dendrobium orchids, lady slipper orchids, green cymbidium orchids, green lisianthus, green ruscus leaves, sprays of green/brown berries and adorned with a string of white beads

{image via Westchester Magazine}

Garden Party Inspiration

Whether it's a bridal shower or the brunch after the wedding, garden parties are so chic. They're so elegant. They're so, well, awesome! Spruce up your garden get-together with colorful decor and subtle little touches that will transform any outdoor setting:

Keep drinks cools by filling a mini-wheel barrel with ice

{image via LivingEtc}

Place utensils in a blumebox decorated to reflect your theme

{image via Ideas in Bloom}

Gifts for guests can serve double duty - strategically place them on the table to turn them into lovely centerpieces

{image via The Cookie Jar Chronicles}

Give guests the foundation - and then let them decorate their sweet treats

{image via The Knot}

Decorative Ice Cubes

You've got ice on your finger, now you need some ice in that glass you are using to make a celebratory toast.  Here are my favorite finds to jazz up your drink and your party:

For the DIY Crowd:

 Fruit Cubes

{image via TLC Cooking; directions via Tipnut}

1. Fill the tray one-third full with water, then partially freeze

2. Add the fruit then freeze. This will hold the fruit in position

3. Then add water until the tray is about three-fourths full and finish freezing

 Flower & Mint Ice Cubes

{image & instructions via DognBird}

1. Fill ice cube trays one-third full with distilled water
2. Freeze for one hour then add small flowers or mint leaves
3. Add more water and freeze all the way

For those of us (ahem, me) with a bit less time and a lot less craftiness:

Glam Ice Cubes

Set of 6 for $6

{image via CB2}

 Heart Ice Cube Tray

£5.99

{image via Random Good Stuff}

Gift Tag Table Cards

Surprise guests by turning gift tags into table cards.  Eco-chic and very DIY, friends and family will impressed by the personalized touch:

{image via Papertastic}

{image via Leigh Webber Photography}

Blooming Idea: Watering Cans

From centerpieces to parting gifts, table cards to bridal shower decor... watering cans will make love bloom literally and figuratively: 

{image via Fete Fanatic}

{image via Aylee Bits}

{image via Beau Coup}

Featured Photographer: Jessica Zais

A Canadian countryside e-shoot that incorporates tractors, rust and romance! 

{all images via Jessica Zaiz Photography}

Button Me Up Vintage Jewelry

Trish Huber is super cool.  She moved to San Diego all by her lonesome and kicked off a new life across the country.  She is also following her dream after accidentally stumbling into a vintage button shop.  Inspired and entranced by the vintage awesome-ness, she has created a line of amazing, affordable, totally chic jewelry - all made out of... buttons!  Check out her designs and then purchase a few for your fabulous bridesmaids (or you know, yourself :)

{all images via Button Me Up}

Gumball Guitar

Okay. Oh. My. God. Slightly hyperventilating over here. Why? Here's why.. Because I just found this Gumball Guitar.  I love it. Love LOVE love it. Sure, I can't afford it. Sure, it might not be practical. But I don't care - because this might be one of my favorite centerpiece ideas ever.

Thank you, Etsy, for continuing to make my world spin sideways when I think it's otherwise dull and boring. 

{image via Etsy; spotted on LiaLia}

Aisle Lantern

Think lanterns are only for tables and trees? Think again.  Light the way for guests and the bridal party by hanging paper lanterns on chairs.  Perfect for beach or backyard ceremonies!

{image via Pink Frosting}

Honey Flavored Favors

I went to a wonderful engagement party this weekend - delicious food, beautiful flowers, sweet couple... and very personal touches.  Including the parting gift for all the gracious guests.  The groom-to-be, it turns out, loves bees.  So the couple incorporated their love with his love and we all received a great honey drizzler, with a note attached thanking us for celebrating with them.

Here, a few more honey flavored favors to get you buzzing with excitement:

{image via Masterpiece Weddings}

{image via WeddingBee}

{image via The Sweetest Occasion}

Summer Snowfall

Sure, it's 800 degrees outside. Fine, the sun is scorching and it feels like an eternal Bikram Yoga class. And, yes, winter seems a long way off.  BUT - what better time to think about snow flakes and pine trees and winter white than when we are actually craving the cold?  Here's hoping this provides some of you a much needed breather from the sweat and humidity.

{image via Wedding Dish}

{image via Wedding Dish}

Mason Jar Table Numbers

I never really thought about Mason Jars until I started this blog.  Then I started seeing all the ways they could be used and I couldn't STOP thinking about them.  Goggles de-fogged, eyes wide open, I love coming across cool Mason Jar ideas.


For example, turn a Mason Jar into table numbers.  Fill them with treats, sand, whatever - even incorporate your wedding colors.  The options are truly endless.  

{image via The Savvy Event}

It's a Mad Mad Wedding

July 25th. Get ready for it.  Mad Men. It's back on.  And life becomes infinitely better. Those drinks, those dresses, those dapper men I can't stop drooling over! I don't want to rush the summer away, but I can barely contain my excitement for the start of this amazing, makes me wish I lived in Manhattan in the 60s, television show.


To tide me - and you - over for another couple of weeks... here are some Mad Men inspired, 60s styled wedding ideas:

{image via Wedding Paper Divas}

{image via Wedding Chicks}

{image via Honey Suckle Chic}

{image via San Francisco and Wine Wedding Photography}

Ice Cream Soda Station

Having a backyard bridal shower? Want to add a bit of fizz to your engagement party? Or maybe you're just like me and have an obsession with, say, ice cream and root beer? 


Whatever your reason, these ice cream soda station inspirations will have you experimenting in your kitchen and leave your guests floating with sweet, cool sugar high :)

Print Your Own Soda Labels with templates found at the always fabulous Eat Drink Chic

{image via At Home with Kim Valle}

Provide the ingredients and print out the recipe on cards for guests to take home

One yummy how-to can be found at FoodChannel.com

{image via YumSugar.com}

Set up a station with all the essentials

{image via Bridal Party Tees}

July 4th Inspiration

I wear festive head bands. Some people wave a miniature American flag. Others break out the sparklers.  However you do it and whomever you do it with, let your patriotism shine as bright as those fireworks overhead.  Here are some July 4th inspirations to help you sail off into the long weekend.

American Fare on top of a Quintessential Dessert

{image and inspiration via Cupcakeaholic}

DIY Picnic Flair 

Instructions can be found here

{image and inspiration via Twig & Thistle}

A Patriotic "S-andle"

{image and inspiration via Hostess Blog}