haters

I love this guy. How can you not? He made the rounds on the internet last year (biography available here). 

So when he popped up for sale as a letterpress print last month I bookmarked it as a "to buy when I get home from work" item.  He sold out quickly, but he's baaaack in stock:

So should I pull the trigger for $20?

Monday Mantra

found here

Wedding DIY Frenzy!

Today my Photoshop trial expired, so of course, I was up late last night printing like a mad woman. Luckily, the list is getting much shorter. This Friday we go back home for our final tasting and to drop off everything we can't take on the plane. So I've got 2 days left for projects unless I want to take one less pair of shoes on the plane with me ;)

I CANNOT wait to show you actual photos of what I've been crafting, but for now, my inspiration:

Water bottle labels:
+

Programs:
+

Place cards:
+

Seating signage:

+

Children's Activity books:
+

All You Need is Love / Destination Wedding Invitation Suite Revealed!

Hopefully, everyone has received their invitations. I asked my Mom to take photos of the invitation as she opened it and she obliged. Below is the reveal!

The outer 7.5" x 5.5" vellum envelope:

The back of the outer envelope:
"all you need is love"

The inner shimmery 7.25" x 5.25" silver envelope:

The invitation with wrap-around band (the inserts are tucked behind):

The entire invitation suite:
Wedding Celebration invitation mounted on moss colored cardstock, Destination Wedding invitation mounted on navy shimmer cardstock, RSVP postcard, Wedding Events card, Info card

The main fonts I used are Burgues Script and Florencesans Expanded. I also used various photoshop brushes for the images and a font called "Farm & Wild Animals" for the entree selections.

The vellum envelopes are from paperpresentation.com, the silver shimmer envelopes, navy shimmer backings and invitation paper are from cardsandpockets.com and the inserts and band ivory cardstock are from Staples. I was able to use the 61¢ wedding cake stamp which was very convenient, even though I would have like to use personalized stamps, and I used the only option for postcard stamps - a polar bear (insert clever LOST reference here).

Guests invited to the Wedding Celebration only received an invitation similar to the main destination wedding invitation mounted on the navy shimmer cardstock, the information card and a simplified RSVP postcard.

I will try to remember to take photos of this version. I completely forgot to make myself a couple extras for a keepsake and for photographing... so invite making is back on the to-do list.

Overall, I'm quite happy with how the suite turned out. I'm not sure what the cost breakdown is, or if I even want to know. I couldn't have done it without Andy - he really helped put everything together, cut paper, place stamps, stuff envelopes and kept me company until 2am. Thanks hon!

a stroke of crazy

I just had an idea:
Since there are 2 weeks between the wedding ceremony and the wedding celebration... What IF we took photos of numbers or words in the sand and then framed them and used them for table numbers?!

one of those days, when your brain works...

I just found THE perfect cake topper on ebay! It's perfect for both the cake (SSI) and cupcakes (IL) plus it's a nod to my groom (since we're not having a groom's cake).
He can add it to his shelf of collectables post-wedding(s) so it's win-win-win. Now I just have to *win* that sucka. Wow, that's a lot of parenthesis...

{HINT}
Also, I put in our menu/banquet order for the St. Simons portion of the wedding. Just waiting to see if our substitutions are approved.

2 months minus 2 days

I've finally put together my inspiration board. It's not perfect and will continue to evolve, but the concept and colors are there.

What do you think?

It's like someone went inside my brain...

...and created this invitation suite based on all of my jumbled thoughts.

I am still struggling to design my wedding invitation suite. I do realize that the invites should be in the mail by 8/20 which leaves me less than a month to get my act together. However, in my defense, I have ordered paper and evelope samples and designed the events/information/accommodations inserts. I really liked these inserts until today...
This invitation suite has everything I wanted to incorporate in my wedding invitations: seahorses and a very specific Beatles quote.
I may have to scrap what I have and use these as inspiration... oh, eff.



*le sigh*

a good morning pick-me-up

I've been stuck in a wedding/personal/spiritual rut lately. Jess LC posted a wonderful quote this morning and I found it particularly inspiring.
photo from here

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Marianne Williamson, from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles

Much needed...

I've been reading Makeunder My Life for a while; great tips and suggestions for getting rid of life's clutter, but now she's getting into
I know I could use some inspiriation and direction in simpliciation.
I don't even know where to begin right now in the midst of wedding planning and a community garage sale in two weeks.
Athough, I think this is just the kick in the ass opportunity I need right now...

Start Here:
How and Why

Step One:
makeunder step one: create a vision

PS - Let me know if you're going to attempt to follow along, I could use the support!

spot on

I'm not 100% on this exact shade of green, but THIS is exactly what I had in mind for our wedding - with a sprinkle of silver starfish/sun dollars

Click to expand...

sniffle

from A Cup of JO:
This photo essay is heartbreaking but beautiful: "Katie Kirkpatrick, 21, held off cancer to celebrate the happiest day of her life. Breathing was difficult now; she had to use oxygen. The pain in her back was so intense it broke through the morphine. Her organs were shutting down but it would not stop her from marrying Nick Godwin, 23, who had been in love with Katie since 11th grade. Five days later, Katie died." -- Photographer Romain Blanquart.

Such a sad yet inspiring story.

inspiration

I'm pretty sure inspiration boards are a requirement in the blog world... here's one from Snippet & Ink that I LOVE:Snippet & Ink

Now, I just need to work on creating my own that incorporates shells and sea horses!

Now it's the groom's turn

Together we've discussed suit options and I've bought the groomsmen's ties, but now it's allll Andy:

Andy’s suit & tie. We’ve got the pocket square, but no tie.

He won’t wear a navy suit and prefers a 3-button (I like 2-button), but here are some dapper options, courtesy of Jcrew.com and Banana Republic. Can you tell I've been influenced by last night's Mad Men marathon?

Don't the BR guys looked incredibly bored?!

This is more my vision than Andy's, but I think groomsmen’s socks are a fun touch and they double as a gift ;)

Also, Andy's on the prowl for his own tie!

Here's what I had in mind...

Andy's take on the theme - I love it!

both from VeraBradley.com

I'm hoping the VB tie works out... I ordered it from the Oak Brook store and it should arrive Friday! I'm a little worried about the blues and greens matching but I hope this is one more thing I can cross off the list!

So, the socks... what do you think, uber lame? added expense?

love!

I love these "By the Sea" themed invitations from Printable Press that were posted on today’s A Practical Wedding:

It makes me want to both throw my design in the garbage and inspires me to do more with the design, layering effects and colors.

PP's website also gives printing tips, vendor recommendations and printing estimates which is helpful in this stage of the (non-existant) planning process.

would this look totally crazy?

Instead of or with a veil?

I kinda love it…