Dress Shopping, The Lovely Edition

There haven't been many updates of late about the Practical Wedding itself, but that's just because when you are 16 months away from your wedding most news days are slow news days. And too much of us is tres boring, no? But, this weekend, I went wedding dress shopping with two of my girlfriends, and it was so much fun that I had to fill you in on the details.

We started with brunch at Brenda's French Soul Food, which was indescribably tasty. Always fatten yourself up before dress shopping, I say. Next, we decided the easiest way to get where we were going was by cable car, so on we hopped. The cable car trundled it's way up the hill, right past Grace Cathedral, where my parents got married 33 years ago. I got a little teary then, for the only time that day.

Our appointment was at a high end dress shop with a huge selection. It was filled with dresses I couldn't/wouldn't afford, but I was getting desperate. I hadn't seen a single dress that I was even vaguely willing to consider, and without some real ideas, it seemed impossible to even think about getting a dress made, or visualizing it into existence, or whatever the game plan is.

I ended up with the worlds nicest helper. When I told her I didn't care about prices since I was just getting ideas, not buying, she actually clapped and hopped up and down. Off she tore to the vault o' bride, from whence she emerged with at least 10 dresses. I've heard a lot of brides say they went into the shopping experience with firm ideas, and came out with a different dress. But stubborn me? Nope. Everyone thought my idea of long and lace was a little dubious and possibly old fashioned, until I put one on. And then, happiness and joy! Long and lace was lovely! Of course it was $5K, so did not buy it, but at least I know what I like (though retro dress shopping approaches apace!)

Funniest moment of the day? Me standing in front of a mirror in a ginormous wedding dress with a long train, a cathedral length veil, and some fake flowers.

Girlfriend: (teary)
Me: Huh.
Girlfriend: Oh, if only David could see you now!
Me: I think he'd say that this was a little bit much.
Girlfriend: God, remind me not to marry someone that cynical. I need some romance.

Now a sneak peek of the dress that cost too much, with the train that I am to clumsy to have:

Happy Gay Marriage Day, California!!

Today is a historic day here in California. Today, for the first time, gay weddings will be performed across the state legally. There are few things I believe more strongly in then the universal right of people who love and are committed to each other to have all of the rights and privileges of marriage. This is truly the civil rights issue of our time. I could not be more proud to be a native Californian today.

I'll see you at City Hall. I'll be the one cheering and in tears.

Picture via Vassar Alumnae Quarterly

Non Matching Bridesmaid Dresses

While we are talking about wedding colors, lets talk about bridesmaid dresses.
Full disclosure: When I was 21 I wore a David's Bridal ball gown bridesmaid dress, and I totally loved it. When do you get to wear a ball gown these days? I didn't want to take it off! But, now that we are not 21 anymore, and the price of all things wedding related has gone through the roof, I tend to think bridesmaids dresses are the worlds biggest scam. The prices are insane, the fabric is awful, the construction is poor, and no matter what anyone says, you are not wearing it again. And why do people buy into this? Perfect color matching. That's right. You can order your bridesmaids gowns in any of 100 colors, for the more perfect coordination of your day. (And if you are doing this, just remember, I loved my bridesmaid dress, so I am clearly a poor illustration of my own point. Go you!)
So I started looking around for dresses I liked, that were in jewel tones, and I found some dresses that I *loved.* Like the dress above. I want to wear that dress every day for a week. Sadly, it would cost me $250. But it made me think. Why the heck are bridesmaid dresses always solid colors? I know, I know. So they match. And don't clash. But I have already proven I, um, a little unfocused in the matching department. So, I'm thinking just asking our attendants to get dresses they actually like, and would actually wear again in, jewel tones. I love all the dresses pictured here, but I'm not sure our wedding party would like them, or find them flattering, and who am I to make them wear them?

What are you thinking of doing on the female attendant clothing front? (We are, by the way, putting the cart before the horse here, since we haven't really figured out the wedding party thing. But the dresses are so pretty....)

**Update: I forgot to mention, this gives people flexibility on price, with no pressure. I have friends that would prefer BCBG, and friends that are more into Target. So often weddings put people in awkward money situations, which sucks. If we can't buy everyones flight, at least we can find small ways to help, right?**

Top picture via Nibs, Bottom picture via Nordstroms.
(Funny story, I went to write this post about these two dresses I loved and I discovered they are both by the same designer, Adrianna Papell. What can I say? I know what I like.)

Reconsidering Wedding Colors

Whenever someone asks us what our wedding colors are, it always reminds me of that scene from Steel Magnolia's where Julia Roberts says her colors are "Blush and Bashful," And her mother says very flatly in a southern drawl, "Her colors are pink and pink. It looks like the sanctuary was hosed down with pepto bismol"
Right.

So when David suggested getting rid of "wedding colors" I was on board. David pointed out that the whole 'wedding colors' thing feels like sort of a scam. Why do we have to pick two or three wedding colors? So we can buy matchy matchy bridesmaids dresses? So we can buy ribbon and flowers and chair covers that all match? Somehow that just feels like a excuse to sell us things.

A color palette is sensible, since it gives you a visual theme and prevents people from clashing. But colors? I don't know. I'm not that focused a bride, I don't think. I don't really want to control that many elements of the day.
And we are seeing more and more images from weddings where the couple didn't make everything match perfectly, and I think they look just lovely. So we are thinking of just going with jewel tones, and not narrowing it down much beyond that.

What do you think, Internets? Is anyone else as tired of wedding colors as we are? Out with the colors in with the palettes? What are you doing for your wedding?

Bottom photo via Snippet and Ink.

The Simplest Wedding

Ever have days when the details of wedding planning are stressing you out, and getting you down and you start wondering what the point of it all is anyway? Then check out this awesome flickr wedding that was just a simple ceremony in a park, followed by a tiny picnic.
Oh, right! It's about getting married! It's about the ceremony! All you really need is your beloved.

Sigh. Much better.

The Bouquet Toss, And Other Gender Weird Traditions

We are cutting a lot of traditions from our wedding that we think have weird gender implications. We are not doing a garter toss. Luckily, since its a Jewish wedding I don't need to decide about how I feel about my Dad walking me down the aisle, since both parents will walk me down the aisle, which I love. We've reworded our invitation in a less traditional way that makes me feel more comfortable. No one is giving me away "to" someone else, thanks!

That said, I'm thinking of tossing my bouquet. Why? Because I am a professional on the bouquet catch circuit. I've been catching bouquets or wrestling other people to the ground while trying to since I was at least five or six. I love it! It's one of the most fun parts of a wedding, as far as I'm concerned. However, I really don't love the "woman who catches the bouquet is the next to wed" idea. So, we are thinking of just making it up for grabs for anyone to catch, and make it "good luck."

I've heard a few alternate ideas. I like the idea of doing a 'bouquet dance' where you present the idea to the couple who has been married the longest. I suggested that to my parents, and they looked a little panicked. Apparently, they might BE the couple married the longest at the wedding, and didn't love the idea of being pointed out for being well, older. Which of course I hadn't thought of. I mentioned this before, but one of the best ideas I've heard is Ariel's method, where she gave it to a recently married gay couple, with a few words about how she hoped soon all couples would get the rights of marriage (and the stress of wedding planning). With California making gay marriages legal, and New York recognizing gay unions, we may well have some recently legally married friends on hand. So that is another possibility.

What about you, dear readers? What are you doing with your bouquet? What wedding traditions are you keeping, which ones are you skipping? Which traditions seem fine to you, and which rub you the wrong way?

Photo via Maggie Mason, of her own wedding.

Lauren & Derek's Budget, DIY, Camp Style Wedding

So, I know you may have seen this super awesome wedding elsewhere, since it's gotten tons of coverage, and heck, these flowers are probably on your inspiration board (they are on mine!) But I couldn't resist writing about this wedding. It is chocked full to DIY goodness, budget friendliness, amazing ideas, and friends & family pitching in. And given that, how could I not share more details with you?

Lauren & Derek run the Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco (a store we're personally huge fans of). They got married a few years back at the Log Cabin in the Presido in San Francisco. This venue is super cool, and we turned it down because I decided that the best possible wedding had already happened there, and I wasn't going to mess with that! This is one of the few weddings that I've seen that used a theme amazingly well. They called their wedding a "True Love Jamboree" and everything tied back to a log cabin, camp, National Park idea.
The brides dress was made by a (famous and talented) friend Todd Oldham. Not all of us have friends quite that talented, but its a great example of reaching out to your circle of friends to help create a meaningful day.
Those amazing flowers were done by a family member. A trip was made before the wedding to San Francisco's Flower mart (exactly what we are doing) where they loaded up on Dalia's. They made vases by covering jars with wood grain contact paper.
Their cake was made to look like forest logs, and they even had their wedding rings designed to look like woodgrain rings (awww). You can see Jennifer Kellogg's wood grain ring designs here.
For favors (again, favors I love) they had scout style patches made that said "True Love Jamboree." And the detail I'm most obsessed with? Super cool silver flatware that looked like twigs (I want!)
In a great example of a splurge that makes sense, since her dress was made for her, the bride wore Christian Louboutins in a bright, sassy, re-wearable color.
The couple got married out in nature (no need to decorate!) and had a friend as a officiant.
To go along with their theme, they set up a bunch of camp like activities. Mahjong for their Chinese relatives, a horseshoe toss, picnic blankets for hanging out, and... a s'more station! Behold:
Food was simple burgers, corn on the cob, and other picnic food. It fit right into the theme, and it wasn't crazy expensive.
The evening wrapped up with music from a band that was friends with the couple.
And the point of the story, dear reader? How happy they look.

Photos are by Jessamyn Harris, a awesome bay area photographer (wedding elf!) who will embrace all of your weird and creative ideas. She was a friend of the couple, and took the photos as a gift to them. She wants you to know that she took these photos years ago (but they are so cool she can't live them down!) You can read more about this awesome wedding and see a slideshow over at her site.

Also, though you know it hurts me to plug the WIC, Lauren & Derek's crafty home is featured in The Nest's print magazine this month (don't even bother with the website. It's running a story about upgrading your e-ring. Ick.)

Vendors, Or Creative Wedding Elves?

Since minute one of wedding planning I've always felt a bit weird about the idea of vendors. I was envious of those couples who had "vendor free weddings." That is until David pointed out that I was, after all, a practical person, so he had no idea why I was fantasying about feeding 125 people ourselves.

Lately, I've figured out my issue is really around the word "vendor." I mean, what are we planning? A county fair? Please. I have, however, valued supporting independent artists since I was a little girl. I grew up around a artist community, so I know what it's like to live as a independent artisan (hard), and how it feels to buy something handcrafted and know you supported the artist (great). So! I'm proposing a terminology shift. Out with the vendors, in with the helpful wedding artists (or innovative wedding elves? Wedding creatives?)

I'm lucky to be exposed to some of the cooler wedding artisans around, thanks to both this blog and living in the Bay Area. I'm featuring some awesome artists this week, and invite you to share you recommendations in the comments. On that note, I'd like to share a few things I've learned so far about choosing wedding artists:

• Don't put money into what makes you crazy. If there is a aspect of the wedding industry that drives you totally mad (for me, wedding gowns and engagement rings), don't put money into it. Find an alternative way to spend your money. The WIC is only as huge as it is because of all the cash in it's pockets.
• Find vendors (achem, artists) that want to work with couples like you. It's going to make you nuts to have a photographer that really wants the garter shot, if you are not garter tossing kind of girl. Save yourself the headache and find someone who likes you both for who you are. Luckily some vendors are willing to travel for reasonable rates, so if you can't find good people in your area, you have options!
• Prioritize. You probably can't have all the amazing vendors you want. And you know what? That's ok. That's going to make you appreciate the people you do have working on your wedding that much more. If you really love paper goods, spring for cool invitations. If you love photography, find a great photographer. Don't splurge on things just because it's what you are supposed to spend money on, if it is not what you are into.
• Don't limit yourself to artists that advertise as doing work for weddings. If you love a photographer, ask them if they would be willing to work on your wedding (and then explain that you are a SANE bride!) And always, always let your friends and families volunteer their skills.
  
• And my best tip is this: You know you have found someone you want to work with when you feel like "We can't possibly afford to pay this person what they are worth," or "If I had a extra $1000 to spare I would shove it in their pocket right now, because they are that awesome." If you feeling ripped off by a vendor, that is a red flag. This doesn't mean the vendor is a bad person, but it's your subconscious piping up to say that they are not right for you.

What are your vendor tips internets? Do you have vendors that you love?

Photo via Time.com (also, check out their article about thrifty weddings).

Georgia & Errol's Vintage Wedding

I know that I get really excited by each new budget savvy practical wedding that I share with you, but I can't help it! They are all so awesome. So naturally today, I'm the most excited about this wedding, sent to me by Australian photographer Hailey Bartholomew of You Can't Be Serious, of her sisters wedding. First all, a word about Hailey. She is actively looking to work with brides doing creative independent weddings. Ahhh! Vendors who want to work with couples like us! You can't beat that. Australian readers, take notice!

There are about a thousand things I love about this wedding. But most amazingly, it was planned in just three weeks with the help of family and friends. Three weeks, people!! Their family and friends pitched in on all the wedding details. They got married in a park, and then had their reception at a restaurant. Simple, and clearly full of joy.
The bride found her vintage wedding dress and her amazing veil at a vintage store for a grand total of $400, including alterations. Can I mention that I am so in love with her veil that I want to steal it out of the picture?
Ok, first of all, how adorable are those flower girls? Ah! This had got to be one of the most fun wedding party pictures I have ever seen. It looks like a party! All of the girls dresses were found at a vintage store. The guys all wore their own suits, and they bought hats to unify the look.
The bride's sister took all the photographs (ohh, to have a super talented photographer for a relation), and her husband made invitations from engagement pictures turned into photo postcards.
These adorable flower girl dresses they bought online to match the vintage style, and then sold them on eBay after the wedding. The flower girls are the brides nieces.
I'm in love with group shots at weddings, since it's such a great document of everyone who celebrated with you, and this may be the ultimate group shot. These pictures make me feel like the wedding was a indie film (Amelie?), and contain such a amazing sense of movement and joy in them. I am, quite officially, in love with this wedding.

Trends I Love: Old Family Pictures

I really love the trend of having a table of old family wedding pictures at your wedding. It's a great way to honor your family on your wedding day, it's beautiful, it's affordable, and you'll definitely use these pictures in your home after the wedding.
Another great thing about these pictures are that they are sure fire entertainment. My cousin had a table like this at his wedding, and we spent a good 15 minutes at the table. We oohhed and ahhheddd over the photos from the 1950's, and giggled at the wedding fashions in the 1970's. I figure this is just fine, because of course our kids will love the 1970's fashions and mock our wedding choices. Miss Manners says that one of the key jobs of a wedding is to provide your kids with something to make fun of for a lifetime, which is a good way to keep it all in perspective.

And on that note, happy weekend! Woo!

Top photo via The Knot, Bottom photo via Snippet and Ink.

Perhaps Vintage, At Heart

It's funny, because I don't tend to think of myself as one of those VINTAGE girls. I have always had my own particular taste, and I just sort of traipse along, knowing what I love and what I don't like so much... and some of what I love is old fashioned, and that is fine. But when it comes to wedding dresses, I'm suddenly finding that I have very old fashioned tastes. Maybe it's just that I don't like what's currently in vogue. Maybe it's that I hate this age of weddings as conspicuous consumption. Tiaras? Not sober. Princess dresses? Uh-uh. Strapless? Ahhh! Aggressive sparkles? Ohpleasejustleavemealoneinthiscornerplease?

But let us look at dresses I do like:

I can't seem to get away from loving the tea length, 1950's dress. My mom is afraid I will regret a short dress (fair) and that it will look dated one of these days. Will it? Possibly. But I'm not sure that this counts has a full blown trend, since it is both delightfully retro, and totally impossible to find in a regular wedding dress salon.
Then, there are the long dresses. Since this picture makes me think Lovely! Long! Bridal! So I'm clearly still loving vintage. I love how this dress is long, but not froofy. I love how it has no train. I love how it is simple yet elegant.

What do you think, dear reader? Will I regret a short dress? Do you like the long and simple look? Can I go wedding dress shopping again without stabbing out my eyes? Stay tuned.

Pictures via Real Simple Weddings and {Furi Kuri} weddings

Just In Case You Didn't Think The WIC Was Trying To Drive You To Debt

Riiiigggghhht. So that pretty much sums up every problem I have with the wedding industry.

Dangerous Wedding Think

So, I've been admiring shoes lately. Specifically, I've been admiring super expensive to-die-for shoes worn by brides in super high end weddings. Then one day I was looking at a pair of lovely shoes, and I thought to myself, "Hey? Whats another $500 on top of everything a wedding costs? I'm sure I could just pay for these on my own and not put them in the budget. Who cares? It's my wedding day. I'm only planning on doing this once."

Then I took a deep breath. And thought for a moment.

And realized that this exactly the kind of crazy wedding thinking that can get you in a world of trouble really quickly. This is how we get trapped in the downward budget spiral. The dress? Only double what we wanted to spend, but so much less then what most brides are spending, and so pretty too! The catering? Yes, its over budget, but great food is great food. The photobooth? Yes, we didn't have it budgeted in, but we don't want to regret not having it, right? The problem is, this type of thinking is reinforced over and over again by the great world o' weddings, and it's so seductive that we want to believe it.

I'm not going on the record as being totally against expensive wedding shoes, and I'm not saying I'm above wedding day splurges. I'm sure that when it comes down to the wire I'll splurge on something. What I am saying is we need to watch out for this dangerous thinking. We should try to replace it with the fact that getting married is a adult decision, and as adults we know that we don't get everything we want or "deserve." I'd rather look back on my wedding and be proud of the responsible spending choices I made, then know that I got everything I wanted.

And I know that's not what the WIC is looking for in a girl.

Picture via Peonies and Polaroids

Michelle & Noah's Picnic Wedding

Stop the presses! I have a new favorite budget wedding! This one is via Real Simple Weddings, and it's a picnic wedding. A picnic wedding just wasn't practical for us, but I love them. The very best part of this wedding? The couple was aiming to keep the cost under $10,000 for their 100 person wedding, and (drum roll please) they came in UNDER budget!
The bride and her sister sewed these stylish picnic blankets out of calico fabric they found on sale. I also love this simple bouquet of tulips wrapped in fabric that would be super easy to make on your own.
They had their caterer pack these brown bag lunches for the guests, and put a sticker on each one with the menu. Just because they were having a picnic wedding didn't mean they skipped dancing! The music was played on a ipod, and they had their first dance to Iron and Wine's "Love and Some Verses."
The bought wooden table ware on ebay, and the brides sister made the delicious looking whole-wheat cake with butttercream frosting. I love this wedding so much, I just want to eat it up!

Has anyone been to a picnic wedding? Planning a picnic wedding? I want to hear all about it!

New URL, And Much Excitement

Things are moving and shaking over here at Chez Practical, and I'm pleased to announce that I now have a new and very official sounding URL. We are now www.apracticalwedding.com. Woo! If you could redirect your browsers and links, I would very much appreciate it. Also, please note my shiny new email address.

Here is to much more creative, thrifty, and sane!

Lauren & Joe's Illustrated Invites

I'm so excited to share with you guys one of my favorite invitation sets of all time. I didn't find these invites online, nope, I found them in my mail box. These are the invitations and Save The Dates from our friends Lauren and Joe, who had a small stylish wedding in Oxford two years ago. I'm sure you will agree, after looking at these invites, that we have cool friends.
Lauren's sister Joanne illustrated the whole set. Everything was printed on a thick textured cream paper. Note! You can DIY (excuse me DIT) your invites and still get them printed by someone else. Hurrah!
For the Save The Dates, Lauren asked her sister to draw the garden bench in Oxford where they first met and later married, and to 'think Edward Gorey.' The background is the Oxford skyline, and the lanterns in the trees tell us to Save the Date.
They used a mix tape illustration for their invitation because they "joined their tracks in matrimony." In particular, I love the invitation wording. If you look closely it says "We will exchange vows of love and partnership." I've never seen this wording before or since and I love it. I'd go so far as to say I'm suddenly considering stealing it.
Then, my very favorite thing. The back of the invitation? Haiku's explaining the day. Worth a close look, because that Lauren, she can write.
And finally, favors I actually love! The favors were soy travel candles (perfect for their destination wedding) made by Lily Queen on Etsy.

**Note, if you want to contact Joanna, who illustrated these invites, drop me a line, and I'll send you her email. She has reasonable prices, and clearly, prodigious talent!

You Are Not A Bridal Island

So, I've been thinking about "DIY Weddings," and I think that "Do It Yourself" can be a bit of a misnomer. The idea of a bride sitting at home doing everything on her wedding by herself makes me a little sad. Weddings can be one of the greatest excuses in our lives to get our communities together. Its a great time to get our kick *ss friends and our crafty family members together and helping out.

The traditional wedding idea perpetually floated by the bridal media is that your wedding is a great day, because it's the day that you get to be a bridal dictator of your own bridal island. Ick! Who wants that? So lets collectively just skip the bridal dictatorship idea, and move on to something a little more healthy. How about instead of Do It Yourself weddings, we have Do It Together weddings? And since weddings are all about weird acronyms, we can call it DIT.

When David and I made it clear that we were all up for having people help out on our wedding, we were surprised at the talents people came forward with. My sister revealed she could letterpress (who knew?) and offered to make my veil. Our friend Beck revealed she had some serious flower decorating skills and was willing to head up that project. David's oldest friend Kory is taking our engagement pictures. I can't even imagine how stressed out and crazy we would have been if we tried to do all those things ourselves.

And finally, somehow the world of weddings had turned into the worlds most competitive and guilt ridden place. If we are doing "DIY" we feel bad admitting that we didn't DIY to the Nth degree. And you don't have to! Simplify! Some people are up for hand screen printing all of their invites. Me? Heck no! But I do know how to print in color on my home computer, or find a print shop in my area. I'll still save a bundle of money, and get the invites I wanted, and that is, after all, the point.

Picture of the screen printing of some awesome invites from Saricat.

Anda & Peter's Last Minute Wedding

Have you SEEN this wedding? Because for serious, you need to check it out. Before I show you the pictures, let me count the ways I love it.

1. Pregnant bride. Yeah, we all have been to weddings where someone got a little enthusiastic about the engagement, but how cool is it that she rocked a white dress, showing and everything?
   
2. They procrastinated planning the wedding till the month before. (Who doesn't feel them on that?)
   
3. $80 handmade wedding dress.
4. Reception at a bike lot decorated with paper airplanes.
   
5. Grooms motto was "If you can't skateboard at your wedding, when can you skateboard?"

That would be the bride. That's adorable pregnant fairy princess bride to you.
They put their last minute vows in a vintage copy of Treasure Island.
Note: if you get married in nature, you don't really need decorations (thats our plan too!)
Behold, the reception site. I'm pretty sure they weren't locked into any catering contracts. Or contracts period.
I'm sensing the guests enjoyed themselves.
A paper airplane and glitter send off!

Thanks to East Side Bride and her excellent blog for the heads up on this wedding!

Crafty Pint Sized Goodness

You know how some people have "Adults Only Affairs" for their weddings? Well, were more in the "Kid Friendly Affair" camp. What's a wedding unless you have some little girls spinning until they fall over on the lawn, and some little boys on a sugar high from the six slices of cake they managed to eat when no one was looking? The sad thing for us is, there just are not many little kids in our families a the moment. We're both from a bit of a in between generation, so that's just how it worked out. We won't even have a super tiny flower girl, more like a medium sized junior bridesmaid.

But, I'm not quite sure I'm willing to give up my dream of a craft table for the, um "kids." Because I'd like to play with some glitter on my wedding day (and you bet it will get in my hair). And who doesn't get a little tipsy and then think to themselves, "you know what I'd really like to do? Build a Lego car."

Have a happy weekend, all!

Picture via Perez Photography.

What Is A Practical Wedding?

Someone asked me recently "What defines a budget wedding? What's the price range?" And I thought that was a question worth answering. In my mind, a couple on a budget is a couple who's working to get the most from their money. If you have a $50K wedding for 800 people, thats a budget! A $10K wedding for 3 people? Personally, that wouldn't pass my budget test, but to each their own.

That said, I could not agree with Ariel of Offbeat Bride more. The last thing brides and grooms need is more pressure. No one is 'in' or 'out' of the budget club. We're all doing our best to have the wedding that is the right cost for us and our partner. That's it, and that's enough. If you are spending no more then the cost of your marriage license on your wedding, you deserve to feel supported. And if you are spending quite a bit more then that, that's fine too. (we are!) I talk about making savvy spending decisions a lot here, but the site isn't "A Budget Wedding" it's "A Practical Wedding," and it's about supporting practical and sane wedding choices in a world that's pushing you towards doing some nutty things. I want to help couples (and us) feel good about their weddings, and their choices. The WIC spends a fortune making you feel like you are not doing enough, and you are. If your wedding is right for the two of you: That. Is. Enough.

DIY Guilt

When Aimee sent me the Save The Date cards that she and her fiance had come up with, she sent them with a little apology, a apology I think all DIY couples are way too familiar with. She said "We went the uber-casual/simple/inexpensive route with a postcard we made from a photo, here are our silly Save The Dates." And then I opened this awesomeness:Not only do they look cool, but they took the picture at the cafe table where they met, and they photoshopped their kitty into the card, and it fits their personalities since they love both books and coffee shops (us too!). These are some of the coolest and most personal Save The Dates I've seen.

I think couples going the DIY route tend to have some guilt going on. We're under so much pressure to spend SO much money on so many different things, that when we do things on our own, we are afraid they are not going to be good enough. I hear a lot of people saying "We hope it's not tacky" and "We hope it doesn't look homemade." So I just want to say this. You can spend a small fortune to pay someone to hand design save the dates and invitations for you that reflect who you are as a couple, but they may never be as cool or as personal as a Save The Date like this one, made by the couple.

So lets reclaim our own weddings! Forget saying we are having a DIY wedding. When people ask, you can just say that you are not having a professional wedding. Because really, when you think about it, there is nothing more old fashioned and traditional then doing your wedding yourself.

Moroccan Wedding Inspiration

So I know I haven't mentioned it here, but we are serving Middle Eastern food at our reception. It's the first wedding decision that we made, in that we made it about two years before we got engaged. It's our favoriet kind of food, its great for vegetarians (David is one, I am not), it's not super expensive to make, and its great to serve en mass. Add to that the fact that we are having a Jewish wedding (already influenced by the Middle East), I worked at a Turkish Coffee house for years, and I used to bellydance... and well, this is a perfect food choice for us.
It only recently occurred to me that since I have a love of jewel tones and Middle Eastern decor, we could use that as a jumping off point for our color palette. These Images from My Marrakesh are inspiring me so much my toes are tickling. This is what I want! Not some paint by numbers wedding...
I saved the best for last... this bowl of flowers is fantastic DIY centerpeice inspiration. Bowls of low of roses like this would be beautiful interspersed between taller simple floral arrangements on a long table.
All images via My Marrakesh.