Playing Dress Up

May 30, 2012

Shout out from Austin, TX this week! I am here visiting my little sister (also my MOH) who moved to Austin last year. It's my first trip here and, wow, what a fun place! My mom and grandma also came in for the week. It's not too often these ladies are all in the same place, so it was a must that we go wedding dress shopping.

Up until this point I really hadn't given much thought to the dress other than knowing I would like it to be described as simple and classic, yet fun and young. This description could really go many directions so I was pretty much starting with a blank slate. With other wedding details on my mind, I hadn't started ripping pages out of magazines or pinning dresses on Pinterest. This meant that when it came to my first day trying on dresses yesterday, I was totally open-minded - I just wanted to try on anything and everything! What girl doesn't love to play dress up?!

Here are some shots of a few of the dresses I tried on. Like I said, I was trying on many different styles.

Blush Bridal Lounge

Erica, the owner of Blush Bridal Lounge was awesome and had the most amazing belts! We had so much fun seeing how different belts can totally change the look and feel of a dress. She also gave us lessons on different types of lace. Erica gave some great advice about wedding dresses - she said that it is a decision to be made with your heart, not your head (loved that advice!). I also liked that she would pin the dress up with me facing the mirror and ask me what I thought before turning me around to face my family. This way I got to assess how I felt about the dress before hearing other opinions.

Next up was Unbridaled, another great boutique.

Unbridaled

Kelsey assisted us at Unbridaled. She is also the buyer for the store, so she knew it all! She was great at seeing what I liked and then pulling other dresses that fit the bill. Just like everything else in Austin, these bridal dress boutiques did not disappoint. The people here are so genuinely nice and cool. I definitely recommend coming dress shopping if you are ever in Austin and in need of a wedding dress! :-)

I loved two dresses in particular – one from each place. One of the two was not a style I was expecting to like as much as I did and I was pleasantly surprised! If I do end up wanting to get a dress here, I can get measured while I’m in town and have them ship it to me in San Francisco. If you go this route they charge for the shipping but you don’t have to pay sales tax - not a bad trade-off!

Not only did I find a few options that I could see myself wearing on the big day, but I learned a lot about what I'm looking for and am excited to continue the search for my dress.

What was your dress strategy? Did you go in knowing what you wanted? Did you come out with what you thought you wanted or something completely different? When you tried on the one, did you just know?

Until next week, ya'll!

now for the details {table settings}

May 29, 2012

159 days and counting until I become Mrs. DiCarlo. Now that I have surpassed the 6 month mark, it feels like time is just flying by! Surprisingly, I am very relaxed. I have been extremely organized in my planning thus far, and just last week I checked off some BIG items.

Bridesmaids dresses- check!
DJ- check!
Officiant- check!
Videographer & photographer- double check!

The next meeting I have with my wedding planner will be with the florist, then the bakery to do some cake tasting!

If you've been following me along on this journey, my love for succulents is hard to ignore. My biggest challenge now is incorporating the flowers I love into a table setting that is affordable and reflects my style. I'm envisioning something simple, elegant, and a bit mid-century chic. Here are some images that have inspired me so far:

What's your table style? Simple & chic, grand elegance, or perhaps somewhere in between? Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas!

Leaving Your Love : {Guest Books}

May 24, 2012

It's on to guest books this week. While guest books are by no means as necessary as say a photographer or open bar (in my opinion, that is), I do think they are a nice touch and a great way to preserve memories from the big day. I am a torn between a more traditional guest book (that aligns with my garden wedding theme, of course) or a more clever alternative to the traditional guest book idea... Some traditional ideas:

Source: Etsy via Daisyblu

Source: Etsy via Braggingbags

I am a sucker for tradition, but I am also obsessed with these adorable guest book alternatives! How cute are these well wishes for the parents books?! What a perfect gift to go along with the parents' album!

Source: Etsy via Braggingbags

...and of course, you can never go wrong leaving advice for the bride and groom...

Source: Etsy via Braggingbags

I am loving this burlap & heart "guest book" alternative. What a great way to display all of your love notes!

Source: Etsy via beautifulstart

Finally, this rustic looking wooden box with little wooden circles that say 'All things grow with love' has stolen my heart. How perfect for my garden chic wedding? And affordable at approximately $130.

Source: Etsy via dazzlingexpressions

*Did you have a guest book at your wedding? What was the best advice you received?

Bridesmaid Asks :: DIY

May 23, 2012

I've heard that you are supposed to be a few months into the wedding planning before you ask your bridesmaids. But I don't think I'm alone when I say that I got excited and wanted to ask them right away! While people may have different opinions on the exact time you are supposed to ask your bridesmaids to be a part of your wedding, I think we can all agree you should be asking not telling. Being a wing woman to a bride these days can be a big commitment (both with time and money) and while it is a fun experience for most ladies, not everyone is in the position to take on the responsibility. With that said, I don't think you can go wrong with asking your bridesmaids, whether it's over the phone, in-person or sending a little note, but for those who want to do something extra crafty, I found some great ideas.

Remember paper chain dolls? Well, they grew up and got a lot more stylish!

Source and Instructions

Love this card with the lace:

Source and Instructions

Or you could play off the little engagement ring box with something like this...

Source and Instructions

If you want to go big and are a little further along in the planning process, you could make a box like the one below with details about the wedding party and wedding. It sounds surprisingly simple (and fun) to make!

Source and Instructions

If you are more into letting others craft for you, there's always Etsy! I have seen these hangers used for pictures of the bride's wedding dress, but they would make super cute bridesmaid asks by adding a personal note to each of your ladies. It would even make for cute pictures on the wedding day with all the bridesmaid dresses (and your wedding dress) hanging together.

Source

Here are the cards I made, ...

Supplies you will need:

Pre-made cards and envelopes (I used Square)
Colored paper - mine was an opaque orange color
White scrap paper
A pen - I used navy
Elmer's glue gel

Instructions: draw a silhouette of a dress that you can use to trace the dresses. Trace the number of dresses you are going to need and then cut them out (cut inside the line you drew so it's not visible). Glue a dress onto each card. Then use your pen to free-hand draw the little bouquets and cut them out. Once the dresses have dried, glue the bouquets on top. I made a special version of the card for my sister (my maid of honor) by cutting a wedding dress shape out of shiny, textured white paper and putting that next to the 'bridesmaid dress' on the front.

Weigh the cards down with a heavy object, like a book, to keep everything from rippling as the glue dries. Lastly, write 'will you...' on the front and 'be my bridesmaid' on the inside and write a little note to your friend/sister/sister-in-law to be. I tried my best on the hand writing, but these would look even more professional if you have great handwriting. Or you could use a computer and printer if you know how to do that or get some alphabet stamps. I think if I were to do this over again, I think would use letter stamps to spell the words out.

How did you or do you plan to ask your bridesmaids? Did you do something crafty or go with the tried-and-true way of just asking over the phone or in-person?

pretty & personal {signs}

May 22, 2012

Having gone to a lot of weddings in recent years, there is one thing that always sticks out to me... the personal details! And one of the most adorable and tasteful way you can get personal with your wedding is by using signs! I happen to like a more vintage/DIY look when it comes to pretty & personal signs. Check out some of my inspiration!

My favorites signs were hand crafted by my friend Jessica Haro at her gorgeous Sonoma wedding last year. (I've given her many a shout out on this blog, because, well, she's pretty fabulous at designing a wedding.) I loved walking up to the ceremony site and reading these heart-felt signs on the way... it made me feel so connected to how excited she and Mike were to say "I do!"

Here are some other sign ideas that I may use- with my yellow & grey mid-century motif, of course!

: Source: The Loveliest Day

Source: Rustic Wedding Chic & Design Sponge

Source: 1 & 2

Will you be adding signs to your wedding decor? If so, what's your style? What are you envisioning? Any tips on how to easily create something ala DIY? Please share!!

Oh, and a side note: as far as my planning goes, I got A LOT accomplished this weekend! DJ & officiant- CHECK!!!

See you next Tuesday :)

The Lab :: Romatically Pink by Esla Events

May 21, 2012

Photographer: Meg Perotti

Back in January 3 gals (Erin of Bustle Events, Yasmin of Floral Theory and yours truly of Engaged & Inspired) banded together to bring the most amazing bridal event to Northern California, The Lab. I wanted to feature some of the incredible images from Esla Events of an inspiration board she brought to life at the event. She was a new-comer last year, but her talent was so evident and we knew she should be a perfect fit for what we were doing. Check out these AMAZING images from The Lab. Special thanks to Weddingbee for the inspiration board!

We are so excited to host The Lab Event once again next January! Watch out for the date, which we will be announcing soon.

Photographer: Meg Perotti

Photographer: Edyta Szyszlo Photography

Photographer: Meg Perotti

Photographer: Edyta Szyszlo Photography

Photographer: Jennifer Skog Photography

Photographer: Tinywater Photography

Weddingbee’s “Young Love” inspiration board Designer: Esla Events Floral: Studio Choo Desserts: Fox & Fawn Rentals: Hartmann Studios Vintage Rentals: Milkglass Vintage Rentals/ Heritage & Craft Lighting: Impact Lighting Stationery: Aerialist Press

Garden Chic Table Numbers

May 17, 2012

Hello and happy Thursday! I am officially less than 2 months away from the big day! Now that the countdown is officially on, many friends and family members have been asking what is left on my to-do list. When I run through the list with them- decide on favors, assemble hotel bags, finalize escort cards, etc. I am always surprised at their response. The typical response I have been getting is, "That's all? Oh you're practically done!" Practically done?! I certainly don't feel anywhere close to being finished, but I am enjoying working on all the little details. Today I'm talking table numbers. While scouring the internet for table number ideas, I quickly realize that they don't have to be strictly functional...they can be cute too!

For example, I am absolutely loving this burlap wine bag. You can put an actual bottle of wine in, or an empty bottle and fill it with flowers!

Source: BurlapandLinenCo

And these mini chalkboard signs are just too cute.

Source: Braggingbags

These precious shabby chic frames are serious contenders and come already painted in our wedding colors! I just love the vintage-y vibe they give.

Source: Braggingbags

Or, for a more rustic look, how cute are these birch bark hearts?

Source: Jadenrainspired

Finally, you already know that I'm a sucker for vintage books! How clever are these as table numbers?

Sources: VictoriasWhimsy, LoveAndFound

*What did you do for table numbers? Do you have a favorite from the above?

{welcome bags}

May 14, 2012

Let's talk about welcome bags. Since we have family and friends traveling from all over the country to be in Long Beach on our special day I think it's appropriate to leave a welcome with a personal note & bag full of goodies to show our appreciation. I found a helpful list from The Knot that gives suggestions on what to put in your welcome goodie bag. I am all about the personal touches. Here are some ideas I think I may incorporate into my welcome bag:

Local postcards & a vintage map of Los Angeles! (I like how a personal welcome note was wrapped around the postcards!)

photo credit: Intimate Weddings & Etsy

I'd also like to have custom totes that our guests could reuse. I'm envisioning something with a map of southern California, or perhaps something sweet and simple like these:

photo credit: Intimate Weddings & Style Unveiled

photo credit: Wedding Chicks & Etsy

This tote (above) can be custom made! Photo credit: Ruffled Blog

Here's the tutorial on how to DIY!

Some other items I plan on adding to this bag are Advil ;-) snacks, magazine, transportation info, wedding itinerary, bottled water, and perhaps a burned CD of our favorite tunes.

What are your thoughts on welcome bags? Are you planning on giving one to your guests, or are you going to keep it simple and just leave them a sweet welcome note & itinerary? Feel free to comment and leave tips/advice!

Personalized Hand-Lettered Mugs by Wandersketch

May 14, 2012

I'm loving these mugs SO much. The hand-lettering is so perfect. This is definitely going on my must-buy list. Wandersketch is an awesome Esty shop with a variety of hand-drawn dishware including plates, bowls and of course, these amazing mugs. I am definitely keeping these in mind for upcoming weddings as well, such an awesome gift for the couple!

Source

While looking for favor inspiration I came across these and was os inspired by the possibilities. How amazing would these be as favors for your guests? Of course it is kind of a toss-up if guests will want a mug with your initials and the wedding date on it, but as a gift, I have to say, this is pretty amazing. And for those special people in your life, this would be a gift they would love to have.

They are kind of on the pricey side, but if you don't want to splurge on your favors, this is a fun gift for your wedding party or close family.

Source

Aren't you guys loving these? So beautiful.

Put a Ring on it :: Something Old, Something New

April 25, 2012

With this being my very first post on E&I, I thought it appropriate that I start at the beginning – the day I got engaged. Most of us ladies picture the moment of our proposal with a big shimmering diamond peeking out of that little box. My story happened a little differently (and I could not be happier with how it turned out!). My boyfriend, excuse me fiancé, Chris, proposed to me with his maternal grandmother’s wedding ring. It fits perfectly with the vintage style I love and is so special to have something that saw his grandmother through many wonderful years.

My Ring!

Chris’ idea was that this ring could be my wedding band and that we could go design the actual ‘engagement’ ring together later that day. He knows how picky I can be and while I know I would have loved whatever he chose on his own, I was thrilled to have a part in designing the ring. Chris’ family friend and jeweler, Lynn of Lynn Hill & Co., had been helping him with the process of fixing up the ring he gave me and he had an appointment for us that afternoon. I have loved pear-shaped rings for the past few years so I at least had that part figured out.

Here is some of my inspiration:

Source - Clockwise from top left: 1, 2, 3, 4

The traditional way to wear pear stones is with the pointed side up, but I love that you can change the whole look by turning it over. Lynn was so patient while I tried on rings and figured out just how I wanted everything to look. While I thought I knew exactly what I wanted before I went in, I found it was a little more complicated when I actually got into the shop and had all the amazing options around me. Not to mention taking into account that I wanted the two rings to complement each other. I was imagining how guys must feel on their own picking out a ring – the pressure!

I finally came to all the decisions I needed to make and can’t wait to see the end result in a couple weeks. I decided on a thin, plain band (because with pave it just looked like too much going on along side the existing ring), bezel setting (since the ring will already be sitting high enough to get up over the wedding ring and prongs would make it even higher), and a halo around the main stone (hopefully I have all my jewelry lingo right!).

Did you have a hand in your engagement ring design or did you prefer to leave it up to your man? If you did go along to help design the ring, did you find it harder than you thought it would be?

Source

Of course rings, jewelry and all things sparkly are so much fun to day dream about (and try on!), but this brings me to another thing I’ve been thinking about over the past few weeks…staying grounded/calm/sane during this coming year. I think the first few weeks of being engaged are sort of the calm before the storm that can be wedding planning. Once reality sets in that you have a very important party to plan! In this time I have been thinking more big-picture – what it means to be getting married, what our dream wedding would be (if logistics and money were not factors), what things will be the most important to us on our wedding day and looking back on it.

Time and again I come back to two things that I know I want – 1. For our wedding to be a true reflection of Chris and me as individuals and as a couple along with the community and lives we have built together, and 2. For everyone to have FUN! I am hoping that if I can keep these two things at the back of my mind during this process, it will help me to be confident in the decisions I make and enjoy this special time as much as possible. Of course, I want other things too (i.e. great food, lovely décor, etc.), but I think by coming back to my main points of focus, I will be able to make decisions with more ease.

How are you staying grounded during your wedding planning? Do you find that having some basic theme or idea to come back to keeps you on the right track?