Garb for the Groom

Diary of a Bride to be by Lauren Cooper

This past week I’ve been thinking about tuxes for the Groom and his men.  This is something that I need to get a move on with because I need to have them picked out by the middle of January.  But with the holidays, it’s been impossible to drag out my future husband to try things on. 

I really love the idea of a sleek gray tux but I’m worried about if it’s too casual.  My wedding planner says it would look really great but this is one of those things where I just have to see it on someone…like FH.  So I keep going back and forth between gray tux and traditional tux with bow tie.  We’ve said our wedding is Black Tie Optional, so I feel like the guys in the wedding party should set a standard of formality.  I also think they should stand out a little bit from the rest of the gentlemen at the wedding…but at the same time, the ceremony is outside…in summer…and I don’t want to be cruel.  See my dilemma?  The more I think about it, the more I want to go tux shopping right now, but it’s the week of Christmas and the chances of that happening are about the same as a 70 degree day in December…in Vermont.  So in the meantime, here are a couple  looks I like…this week at least.

Tasting Troubles

Diary of a Bride to be by Lauren Cooper

I got an email on Friday from the Coordinator at our venue just to check in and see where our plans were.  Because I have all the big things out of the way, I asked if we could go ahead and schedule our tasting before my calendar filled up with fittings and invite stuffing parties.  She obliged and sent me instructions for how to choose our tasting menu.  So Sunday night, FH and I sat down and tried to decided what we wanted to taste.  Sounds simple, really not so much.

When we first started the planning process, FH and I really wanted heavy hors d’oeuvre served throughout the night:  a cocktail style reception.  Unfortunately, this was going to be over our food budget by a considerable amount.  Then our catering coordinator suggested stations which would turn over every hour into something different.  FH loves the idea.  Me, ehhh.  The more I think about it, the more I lean towards traditional sit down.  There’s a formula to weddings, and it works; so why not stick with it and mix it up where we can?  Anyway…

Choosing food is difficult.  FH wanted to try steak and fish to be served table-side, and crab cake.   To which I said “No, what about the people with shellfish allergies, or who don’t like red meat?  Then they’re stuck with fish, which they may not like.”  I know plenty of people who just don’t like seafood in general.  He didn’t like that so much.  After about 20 minutes of back and forth, we settled on tasting the steak, chicken and crab cake.  Keep in mind this isn’t even our final menu…this is what we’re going to taste and decide from there.  I can only imagine how finalizing the menu will be.  Ow, my head.

Gingerbread Favors

Clever Crafts by Private Receptions

Winter weddings lend themselves perfectly to all sorts of fun themes and DIY projects.  Take this gingerbread favor for example!  What better way to send off your guests than with a delicious holiday treat!  Here’s the how to:

You’ll Need:

4″ gift boxes
kraft paper
one bundle of greens (they used oregonia)
waxed string or baker’s twine

parchment paper (can be found in the baking aisle of your food store)
homemade gingerbread cookies
round Avery labels

 

1.  Stack cookies in four’s and tie with string

2. Place cookies in craft boxes, lined with parchment paper

3. Write or print names, wedding logo or monogram on labels

4. Wrap boxes in kraft paper (If you’re not too handy at wrapping, tissue paper works too and is a bit more forgiving)

5. Tie box with string and tuck in holly or festive greenery

 

This is also a fun project for you and your bridesmaids and mom to work on together.  Plus, it’s versatile enough that you can customize to your own wedding by wrapping boxes in your wedding colors…

Happy baking!

 

Photo courtesy of Project Wedding

Wedding Maps

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

There’s a recent trend that I’ve really taken a liking to:  Wedding Maps.  I first saw the wedding map in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and I fell in love with the idea.  It’s such a creative and fresh take on direction cards!  Fortunately, there are tons of stationers on sites like Etsy that can create a wedding map for you…however, it can be a bit pricey.  So I took matters into my own hands and drew up our map myself! 

I’m a fan of DIY-ing but, as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t really want to overwhelm myself since all of my wedding helpers are a few hours away.  😦  Keeping that in mind, I thought drawing a map and sending it to whatever stationer I chose would be a simple and fun project. And I was right.  I went to Google maps, looked up where our wedding is being held and searched for locations nearby that pertain to our wedding weekend.  Clicked print and viola!  A simple template.  I carefully traced the streets that I needed and added in the locations.  Then I drew little symbols that went along with each destination.  For example, there’s a golf course nearby that people can visit, so I drew a tiny golf bag.  Finally, I very carefully hand printed the names of the streets and destinations.  And it looks pretty!  I’m scanning it in to the computer today so that I can pass on to the stationer when I’m ready.  (Yes, I still have to choose invites.  Yes, I have a week left to do so.  I know, I know!)  Pictures to come soon!

Bridal Nightmares

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

I’ve heard about brides having nightmares about their wedding and I’ve even written about how to avoid them, so I was not prepared when I had my first truly vivid bridal nightmare last week. 

I’m blaming it on the Say Yes to the Dress marathon I was watching while my fiance was out of town.  I went to bed feeling calm, relaxed and secure in my dress selection but this dream shook that up.  It started out with my Mom and I going to the final fitting for my dress.  Final.  Dress. Fitting.  They showed me the dress and my heart started to sink.  Not saying anything to my mother or the bridal consultant, I proceeded to try the dress on.  Standing in front of the mirror,  I realized that I was in the WRONG DRESS.  Not wrong as in: the store made a mistake, here’s your real dress.  Wrong as in, I picked and ordered a dress that I now hated.  (Sob!)  So I was standing there, trying to be brave and offer suggestions to the tailor to make it the way I wanted it to be and it just wasn’t working.  I burst into tears and sobbed to my mother that I couldn’t wear that dress.  And then I woke up. 

Annnd now I’m paranoid that this nightmare will become real and my dress hasn’t even come in yet!  Note to brides that have found your wedding dress:  Stop watching  Say Yes to the Dress before bed.  Immediately.

Adorable Cocktail Stirrers

Fashionable Foodie by Markia Raveau-Violette

I came across this collage of cocktail swizzle sticks and fell in love! They are absolutely adorable and you can choose ones that are personalized to your day. Stick them in your custom cocktails and you’re all set!  To see how to make these cuties, click here!

Amazing Engagements: Aaron & Tamara

Amazing Engagements by Markia Raveau-Violette

Check out Aaron’s creative street art proposal to Tamara!

Amazing Engagements: Tamara & Aaron Street Art Proposal

Amazing Engagements by Markia Raveau-Violette

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY1LoiIFOqo&list=PL8A8C50EE1538BD14&index=10&feature=plpp_video

The Unsinkable Shoe

Diary of a Bride to Be by Lauren Cooper

A couple weeks ago I was asked what shoes I was having my bridesmaids wear.  Frankly, I hadn’t given it much thought.  Because the ceremony is outside, my friend suggested that they wear flats for the ceremony so they don’t ruin their shoes.  And then my mom asked me if I was having a runner so that my pretty white shoes didn’t sink into the grass.   Then I realized that I should probably think about how my girls (and my guests) are going to fare in dress shoes in the grass. 

A few days later, I found something intriguing in my inbox.  The Solemates High Heeler…a sign from the wedding gods?  I think so!  Ladies, this tiny gadget is ingenius!  The high heeler slides easily onto the heel of your fab dress shoe and prevents heels from sinking into grass by increasing the surface area on the bottom of the heel.  No more ruined shoes!  Plus, it comes in different colors so that your shoe aethetic is not compromised. 🙂  What a perfect thing to hand out at my garden ceremony! 

Worried about it not fitting your heel?  They’ve got you covered with three different sizes available.  And just in time for the holidays, they’re also offering gift sets!  Each set comes with a pair each of narrow, classic and wide sizes, a snowflake ornament and a reusable alumnium box.  Be sure to check these out for your next event!  We wouldn’t want those new Jimmy Choos to get chucked.

Edible Menus

Fashionable Foodie by Markia Raveau – Violette

Amaze your guests with these chocolate menus from Candy Art USA.  Not only are they a unique alternative to paper menus but they also double as a favor. Start by choosing white, milk, dark, or even marbled Belgian chocolate. Then customize your menu by adding a colored photo (edible of course), monogram, or border. The lettering can be painted with edible gold or silver, or feel free to leave it plain.

If you don’t love the idea of a chocolate menu, a chocolate save-the-date could be for you. 😉