Guest Books Worth Hanging

Planning my sister's wedding (in about 6 weeks by the way) was a funny task. It was almost like I was getting married again in a way because I was looking for those specific things that brides look for, it was awesome. For example, I was looking for a guest book idea that was awesome and original. I hate the idea of a book so much because it just sits and gathers dusk, so I wanted to give them something they could easily hang on the wall that would look really cool. Here are a few of the different ideas I came up with. First of all, balloon thumb prints to create an "UP" photo, that's absolutely amazing, like really, AMAZING. I love that movie, and if the love story is any indication of two people's lives together, you know it will be amazing.

I ended up making a variation of the second photo which turns out really really great. I am putting together a DIY on this soon as well which I can't wait to show all of you who are looking for the same!

Something Blue Wedding Inspiration

I love this fabulous shoot we are posting today. And what a wonderful story behind this shoot. You can't let anything get in the way of your wedding day, but if things don't go according to the plan, sometimes you have to improvise. And as you can see here, that can be just as wonderful. "Winter storms and a power outage couldn't keep Rachel and Daniel from marrying. But as a result, they were only able to get one great picture of the two of them on their wedding day. Rachel always wanted to do a Day After session and redo that part of their day, so they both slipped back into their wedding gown and suit and stepped back in front of the camera. This Bohemian Romance session was a reflection of their free-spirited love that has just grown stronger over time. The deep rich colors and vintage accents combined with the vegetables and flowers beautifully reflect Rachel and Daniel's love of nature."

Vintage Baseball Affair by Frenzel Photographers

I'm loving all the personal details this bride put together to make this day truly unique to them. From the handspun florals, to the vintage baseball details, and of course, those fabulous invitations, it is easy to get a sense of what this couple is all about. I just love weddings screaming with personal style, don't you?

Apple Orchard Inspiration

The best part of my day is getting the chance to chat it up with brides who are full of inspiration and excitement over their big day. After a fabulous chat with a bride, Ashlynn, she sent over her Pinterest board of inspiration and boy did it inspire me! Her inspiration is an apple orcahard-esque theme filled with fab DIYing and a bit of homemade glory. I thought this would be a fabulous opportunity to inspire those of you who are planning a late-summer wedding filled with homemade love.

I love these dish towel save the dates! In fact, I want to get a few for myself to remember our wedding day. :) Apple butter on vintage pieces are so awesome. Similar to jam, these are great favors that guests will love and will love to eat.

Source: Apple butter, dish towels, barn

Don't you just wish there were more red barns around? I sure do. I don't think I have found one in all of my searches, so if you are in a place that has one, I highly envy you! And, yarn letters are definitely becoming a favorite of mine at the moment.

Source: Table Number, Centerpiece, Invite

Source: Love, Lemonade, Cans, Orchard, Cake, Flatware

Source: Flowers, Tablescape, Ceremony

To Toss or Not to Toss?

To toss or not to toss, that was the question. I had mixed feelings about the bouquet toss and whether or not to do it during our wedding reception. As a wedding guest, I thought of myself as "anti-toss."  That is, until last year when I caught the bouquet at my friend's wedding and sure enough, I was the next to get engaged! Of course I do not think it's because I caught the bouquet but I still think it's a cute story and decided that it will be fun to continue the tradition and maybe pass along a little luck ;)

I still have a couple of concerns about the toss though. 1) I really don't want to make the single ladies feel singled out (sorry, couldn't think of a better word). I will definitely not be asking the DJ to play Single Ladies for the bouquet song. 2) I have visions of an empty dance floor when it's time for the toss or the DJ having to coerce girls out on to the floor. Or even worse...what if I throw the bouquet and no one catches it? My soon to be sister-in-law told me about a wedding she attended where the girls just let the bouquet land on the ground because no one wanted to catch it. How anti-climactic!

I've come across various ideas for bouquet toss alternatives or ways of enticing people to participate. One idea that I kind of liked and toyed with was attaching a gift card (ie: Starbucks or MAC) to the bouquet so that the "prize" of catching the bouquet is not the pressure of supposedly being the next to marry but rather a fun little treat. I also liked the "Longest Married" idea of gifting the couple that's married the longest with the bouquet (in our case it would be my grandparents). At the moment, I haven't decided on if I'll try to spice up the toss a bit but if I do, I will surely let you know!

What do you ladies think of the bouquet toss? Yay or nay? I'd especially like to hear if you've been to a wedding where the bride either a) skipped the toss (and if it was missed) or b) the bride did an "alternative toss."

PS: You might have noticed that I did not include anything about the garter toss. Hubby-to-be and I easily agreed right away that neither of us want to include that tradition in our own wedding.

Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

bust a move {reception music}

One thing I love about Brides magazine (thank u Shana for the subscription), is that in every issue they have a page dedicated to the timeline. Of course this is a suggested timeline, no need to add unneeded stress, however I'm one who could use some structure. I'm approx 10 months away from my big day. I have accomplished 3 of the most daunting tasks, gloriously: The dress? CHECK! The venue? CHECK! My bridal party? CHECK! So, I opened my monthly issue to get some ideas about where I should be in my planning process, and of course, what to blog about :)

Brides Magazine's "countdown" says: 10 months-

• select your officiant (future post about this coming soon)
• choose your attendants
• compile the guest list
• hire a wedding planner (if needed)
• Scout for a caterer, florist, DJ or band, and photographer

Since I've already done a post about photography and the guest list (thank you to you lovely ladies who read those and commented. I adore you), it looks like this week's post will be about music. Allison, the fabulous bloggolista, and creator/editor of E&I, did a post recently about wedding songs, and it totally inspired me to write. BTW the title of my blog post is dedicated to an amazing wedding song "Bust a Move," by Young MC. And YES, I know every single word by heart. These folks below seem to be feeling the tunes.

For those of you who know me personally, you know I LOVE music!!!! I have been infatuated with memorizing the words to songs since I was a little girl simply because I love the story a song can tell. Great songs take you on a journey of what the composer was feeling when they wrote it. Great songs bring back memories of wonderful time spent with the ones you love. And great songs can be a true escape into another world that's happy and carefree. For me, that's what music does.

So...... when it comes to my big day, you best believe that the music is gonna rock. Now you might be asking yourself, "how can she tell that the music totally rocked?" Well, my answer is: when people dance, and smile, and laugh, and make memories at the reception.

The challenge for me is not what song to play, but who should play it! Nothing gets a crowd going like a live band that's playing covers of your favorite hits, and nothing can KILL a crowd faster than a cheesey DJ (in my opinion). Please note: I am more fearful of the cheesey annoying DJ, than a band butchering a classic hit. If the band sucks, then my iPod is plugging in. If the DJ sucks, that's awkward. Vinnie only wants to hire a DJ if he or she refuses to talk! (LOL!) I have to agree with him on this one. In an ideal world I will hire a band, and incorporate our list of favorite songs to play in between sets and after the band leaves. But if we have to hire a DJ because of our tight budget, then I am going to want to have someone who talks only when necessary, i.e. introducing the bridal party, "hey everyone, it's time for cake," and "hit the dancefloor because it's the last song of the night." Other than that, Vinnie and I would like them to play our list of favorite songs (in no particular order), have the DJ  feel out the crowd and know when to play them. Is that too much to ask?

TIP FROM TAYA: start making a list of your favorite songs now! Even if you're not that into music, start making a casual list of your favorites.Maybe keep a notepad in your car so when a good one comes on the radio you can jot it down. Vinnie and I started a shared google doc and add songs/artists to it every time we are inspired. I even added a column for when I think the song would be appropriate, like "first dance, cake cutting, get the crowd jump'n".... you get the idea ;-) And to make sure your guests have some input too, you could add a song suggestion box to your website or on the RSVP. It's a great way to make your guests feel included in the planning process.

Oh, and if you live in LA and know of an affordable band please leave a comment!!!!!!! thanks in advance :)

The Great Tent Debate

Truth be told, Tyler and I only looked at one venue for our wedding. The house was recommended to us by a friend and the price was perfect for our budget. When we went to check it out, I really believed that this would be just the first of many trips we take venue hunting because there was no way we would find THE PLACE the first time. Right? I could not have been more wrong. I absolutely fell in love with it. The view was breathtaking and it was everything I had pictured in my head for our day. The house sits on 8 acres of lush green land and has tons of open space for all of our wedding events.

Once we signed the contract, I was overloaded with ideas and so incredibly excited to get the planning started. However, my perfect plan came to a screeching halt when reality hit me that we are having an outdoor wedding. In the summer. In the south.

I'm not sure if any of you have ever been to the south during the summer months, but there are a few things you need to know. 1. Don't bother curling your hair -- it will be flat within two minutes of walking outside. 2. If you have naturally curly hair, be prepared to experience a Monica Geller-esq fro. 3. Always (and I mean always) have bug repellent in your purse.

In my typical irrational, freak-out fashion, I immediately tell Tyler we have to change our venue (the date was a non-negotiable because it has significant meaning -- more to come on that later). I rattled off a list of all the things that could go wrong -- I mean, come on, what bride wants mosquitoes crashing her wedding? Definitely not this one.

Since there was no way of us getting our $2,500 deposit back, we brainstormed through ideas of what to do and the idea of a tent came back up. We had talked about that early in the wedding planning process because it is always a good idea to have as a back-up plan in case of weather issues during the wedding. I mean, yeah, the practical thing to do would be get a tent. But, being "practical" has never really been my style. And not that I have anything against tents. Some of the most beautiful weddings I have been to have had tents. It just didn't go with my vision. Plus, those things can get pricy.

So, here we are, six months away and still have yet to decide if we are going to tent-it-up. We did find out that the temps are a bit cooler at the lake (the owner of the venue said it should be in the 70's that weekend -- thank goodness) and they are going to mosquito-bomb the place (there is something I never thought I would write) before the wedding. We've found other solutions to combat the humidity and pesky creatures, but we're still not sold on a tent.

I found some pictures of tents I really liked, but does the openness of them defeat the purpose of even having it? What are your thoughts on tents? I am in desperate need of guidance. In exchange for any tips you can give, I'll be happy to send you a travel-size OFF from my stockpile. :)

What are your thoughts on tents? I am in desperate need of guidance. In exchange for any tips you can give, I'll be happy to send you a travel-size OFF from my stockpile. :)

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4

{Reception Music} Band vs. DJ

I love music. I love music so much it gives me chills or brings me to tears or makes me dance like an idiot. It's because of my love of music that I REALLY want a band at our wedding. One of our first nights together as a newly engaged couple was spent with me playing Kyle song after song after song (over many painstaking hours for him) and planning out our entire wedding playlist.

We love the good old American Crooners like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and Dean Martin. We also love Ray Charles. All of this music involves several musicians and horns. Beautiful, loud horns. I can't tell you how many venues we had to pass up because they didn't allow horns! One of the major reasons we ended up picking the Headlands Center for the Arts as our venue was because they didn't have any restrictions on the music - a very rare thing around here apparently!

We've spent the last few months driving around to hear various bands perform and see if they would be the right fit for our wedding dreams. It's been tons of fun, but I've become a little paranoid that no one will dance, or the singer will be horrible, or the band will be boring. And, above all else... I've realized how desperately we need to take dance lessons.

So, I keep questioning my decision to have a band. A band can bring you back in time and really liven up the room. Who doesn't love a live show after all? But with a DJ, you can pick any music you want and change it as you go if you need to pick it up a bit! Plus you can do fun things like Allison did, and have your guests make hilarious song requests.

  

I was also thinking about getting a vintage record player and laying out a bunch of vinyls for people to pick and choose what they wanted to listen to. Maybe during the cocktail hour?

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

What are you doing for your reception music?  Have you been to a wedding with a band?  Or is a DJ the way to go?

Romantic Settings

During what seemed like our lifetime-long venue search, I had mentioned to one of the numerous venue coordinators we met with that lighting was important to me. Specifically, I wanted a feeling of coziness – dark, but not dark enough that you couldn’t see the person next to you. Just an overall feeling of warmth and glow. Not very specific, right? But without skipping a beat, this well-seasoned wedding professional responded knowingly, “Oh yes – you want dark and sparkly.” Of course she hit the nail on the head and since that moment, “dark and sparkly” has been a key theme in my wedding planning. Luckily, our venue’s gold-leafed ceilings will contribute perfectly to this theme.

Credits: The City Club

And similar to my fellow blogger, Taylor, I anticipate that candles will play a huge part in achieving this vision.

Credits: Twinkle, Centerpieces, Reception

Credits: Reception, Hat

Can you see what I am going for? Warm, cozy and of course dark and sparkly! Now tell me what’s your lighting inspiration?

Food Truck Phenom

First, let me just say that looking up photos of food trucks while eating the delicious dinner my fiancé made and enjoying a glass of wine is fantastic. Almost as fantastic as eating a delicious dinner and enjoying a glass of wine with my fiancé AT a food truck, but hopefully we'll get to do that next year. Second, I promise I'm not a hipster, but I love food trucks. They give me a warm, cozy feeling like you know it's a bunch of good friends getting together and chowing down. I mean, we all know food trucks are no longer the slimy, fatty, grease trucks with some vague semblance of Mexican food anymore. Now they're AWESOME!

It's quickly becoming a wedding trend to have a food truck at your reception to give it that backyard, home-cooked feeling that's better than dad wearing an apron and standing around the barbecue all day.

We aren't able to have a food truck at our wedding because our venue comes with an amazing organic farm-to-table caterer. While that fits one side of us perfectly, that other side of us loves greasy, delicious food truck food! So the compromise? We're planning on having a food truck for the rehearsal dinner.

Doesn't that look so inviting?

Seabirds in Los Angeles is one of my favorites

The girl below hired three food trucks for her 110 person wedding. How much did it cost her? $3,580.

Dessert trucks or mobile bars are also a really fun idea!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Of course there are lots of restrictions to be aware of before hiring a food truck. Permits, permission, curb clearance, and potential lines are all something to consider. But hey, if you can do it, DO IT.

I am patiently waiting for the amazing No Worries Filipino vegan cuisine team to make their transition into the food truck world. Common guys!

Have any of you used a food truck for your wedding? Have you been to a wedding that featured a food truck? How was it?