Going to the Chapel

The Rice University Chapel that is...

Hubby and I are out of town this weekend going to a dear friend's wedding in Houston!! Since he is probably one of the most charismatic, smart (seriously he is the smartest person I know and I would venture to say he is the smartest person most of his friends know) and sincere people I have ever met, I am thrilled to see him on the happiest day of his life! We have been great friends since the ripe old age of 16!

I was promised great music (a jazz band from New Orleans) so I hope to have some photos and reviews to report when I get back. (Although no promises since my clutch is a bit too small for my camera)

CONGRATULATIONS TIM!

Rain Is "In" - Sun is "Out"

I prayed to God (literally) that it wouldn't rain on my wedding day. I searched historical records for my local area to find out that there has only been a tenth of an inch of rain on May 19th in the last ten years! I pleaded with the clouds and sun gods when I felt a "rain like burst of wind" come through my backyard on my wedding day. I attempted to hide my neurotic rain issues from everyone around me so I wouldn't hear the "don't worries" or the even more dreaded "rain on your wedding day is good luck" bull @#$#.

Luckily for me, my day turned out sunny as can be. But I am here now to tell you NOT to worry about it. Seriously. It rained on my bridesmaid's wedding day and she was so upset that she wouldn't get the outdoor photos and I was so upset for her. If I had seen the following photos then as opposed to now, I would have told her to EMBRACE IT!

My favorite examples of why rain is "in" are these gorgeous photos of my friend Rachel's wedding to her adorable hubby Jack. She is the one that I feel green with envy about in terms of photography (another issue I will delve into later). More of her utterly outstanding photos can be seen on Mandi Marie's blog which is linked to the right of your screen.

See the (beautiful) storm clouds closing in? I wonder if at that moment Rachel was thinking "Crap this is really going to put a kink in my plans."

Here, her and Jack are thinking "Hurry up and smile honey, we better get inside."

And here the lovely newlyweds are doing the dance of joy saying "It may have drizzled, but our photos are going to AMAZING!!!" This is my absolute favorite of all! I seriously stare at these photos non-stop because they had such a beautiful location (Rockhouse Negril), are beautiful people, and had a gifted photog to boot.

I kid around by interjecting my comments, but I seriously doubt tornados would really upset any bride because once you are there, you don't care about anything other than marring your beloved. And since I know Rachel, I can say that only she could embrace the rain as good naturedly and laid back as she did because she is just that sort of bride that professionals would die to work with. So we should all learn something from her photos (since my obsession is apparent - I will probably spot light her more when she gets more of her photos in).

Some other rainy day brides that made the most of it are knotties: Drzwife and Minotosgirl (currently cannot find her bio).

Drzwife

Minotosgirl

If any of you have more great rainy day shots, leave a comment and let me know. I would love to add more to this post.

So to sum up the topic: Whatever natural disasters or other supposed catastrophes come your way on your wedding day, go with it, work it, embrace it. Make it the new "in" thing because as long as you smile big like these smart brides, no one will notice it but you. And the right photographer can make any situation beautiful!

Also, random side note: If you are inclined to stick to the whole "rain on your wedding day is the worst possible thing that could happen to me EVER" school of thought....don't be surprised if it rains in "rainy season" in Florida or the Caribbean. Seriously. We don't call it the rainy season for kicks.

Once again, if you are stuck with your date make it work. Bring a chic black umbrella or a bright festive one to match your BM dresses. Bring brightly colored cheerful galoshes, etc.

More Flower Clips

In my pursuit of the perfect flower clips, I found this site. These flowers look much more realistic that the site I posted a few weeks ago. Some even have pretty pearl accents.

Late Bloomer Boutique

Extravagant Favor Packaging

I almost died when I stumbled onto Nonnie Wallers' website!! If only I had seen this prior to my wedding I might have gone seriously over budget in the favor department! This site offers mini cakes as gifts and truffles and petite fours as favors, but the most alluring aspect is the beautiful way they are packaged!

For a mere $118, you can receive 19 pieces of chocolate truffels packaged in an exquisite hat box. I really think this site is a treasure for hostess gifts, etc. But for wedding favors...hey, if you can afford it - I envy you. However all hope is not lost because some of these looks can EASILY be recreated with some pinking shears and a trip to the craft store.

Had I seen this site prior to my wedding, I would have definitely jazzed up my chocolate favors similar to the photo below. I love the different patterns and the tiny bejewled belly bands (for lack of a better term) around each piece. If anything, this site has taught me to think "inside the box" a bit more. Go check out her site and Happy Drooling because they are JUST gorgeous!

Bridal Replicas

OK - I'm not even kidding! For a small fortune, you can get a doll made to your likeness wearing a replica of your wedding dress! No folks I am not pulling your leg! And I hate to admit, that Barbara Cox pulls it off quite well! Tell me this real life bride and her mini-me don't look alike!




Alternatively (and much more affordable) you can get just a replica wedding gown made and you can run to Toys-R-Us and buy a Barbie that looks the most like you...maybe toss her hair up into chignon and you can be immortalized as a bride on your shelf forever!!



I joke around, but this could be a potentially cute gift. The replica dollars are 24" tall which is a bit scary to me, but the Barbie sized dresses could easily be a great shower gift/memento. I am sure the future daughter's out there would love to play with "mommy" one day - and in that respect, I think the concept is sweet.

The price for doll is $835 ::::choking on my latte:::

The price for the Barbie dress is $150, plus the price of your Barbie doll.

To find out more go to Dolls by Barbara.

Faux Flower Clips

Just a quick post today to include a website I just found online.

http://cliponflowers.com/

A lot of the destination wedding girls do similar things for their wedding day hair and at these prices, you might as well buy rather than DIY. In my opinion, based on this site, the Orchids look the most real.

How pretty would your bridesmaids look with matching flowers in their hair! Do it!

Too Cool For Pearls

OK ladies - I like would to introduce a new post activity that I hope to be able to continue. I am going to be asking married ladies a question...."If you could do it all over again....how would you change things?" We will then make that person's alternate ego wedding a board to represent it. We will also show you that person's TRUE wedding style by highlighting their real wedding.

I don't want typical sappy answers like, "Oh I would have done pink roses instead of white." You HAVE to pretend you are "too cool." Why? You may ask? Because it is my game and I get to make the rules. SO you must do something completely opposite of "you" and make it chic at the same time. We will start with my board.

My board is inspired by the notion of "IF I were a super skinny super tall model with super model bridesmaids and all the money in the world, this is what my wedding would look like."

Standard Disclaimer: We all obviously know that each participant loves her wedding AS IS and really wouldn't change a thing...but I am bored, so this is what we are doing.

My uber celeb filled wedding will take place at the One and Only in Palmilla, Mexico. My color palette be in the tones of a soft yellow, turquoise and a coral hue. It would include mini bridesmaid dresses from Shoshana, David Yurman and Judith Ripka jewels (which I obviously bought as presents for ALL of my guests), and minimal florals (since I am a posh super model, I don't need flowers to make my wedding special). We would be drinking lemon drops in martini glasses, but we would call them lemon de frouff (there is an accent above the "o" so we can use our accents and pronounce it lemoan...we change the name because we are trendy like that :)

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BUT my real wedding wasn't quite like that. I am a traditional girl at heart no matter how much shopping I do on new fangled high heels and oversized purses that you can fit the kitchen sink in just because the Olsen twins say it is cool.

My real wedding to my husband was more like this...and I wouldn't change it in any way : )

To find out more about my Florida wedding, please go to my bio on the knot: StacyH&BrianC