Have a wonderful weekend...

Wish I was here...

{a shot of the aisle I'll be walking down next October}

Mmmm...moonburgers?

I've seen them as Whoopie Pies, here they're Moon Burgers. Whatever you want to call them, I love them. I can't find a baker that I am totally in love with close to our venue, so I'm thinking about doing a dessert table with all sorts of mini treats. These will definitely make the cut if we got that route. Yum!

{these aren't so mini!}

A dress for the little bit...

Obviously, one of the biggest differences between weddings and vow renewals is that you don't have a wedding party. So, while we won't have any friends wearing ugly matching dresses, we do have a Lil to dress. She's quite the fashionista and is already very interested in what she'll be sporting for the big day. So, while we were back to school cyber-shopping, we came across this dress and I love it! In fact, if I could find it in my size, I would rock one too!

Her eyes will look fantastic in this color. It's made out of cotton organdy, which is nice, but not too formal. They have it in a pretty pink shade as well, which I like. As soon as it goes on sale {everything goes on sale at JC!}, I'll pick up one of each to try. Pink could go with navy and green, right?

So what do you think? Yay or Nay? Pink or Navy?

Of two minds...

If you've read my blog for very long, you know how much I love invitations and paper and most of all letterpress! So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that one of my biggest priorities for the rewedding are the paper goods. Save the Dates, invitations, welcome packets, etc. are all of the highest priority to me. Now, what might surprise you is that I have NO idea what I want to do for all of that. Well, that's not true, I have two versions in my mind, but I can't figure out which way to go.

For as long as I've been planning this, I've been obsessed with the ladies of Ice Cream Social out of Brooklyn and Betsy Dunlap and her fantastic hand lettering from the great state of AZ{she's the best thing to come from AZ in a long time, if you know what I mean}. I've posted about both before and I'm sure I'll continue to post their yumminess long after I make my decision.

{Images below are from the super talented duo at ICS}

Anyway, my problem is that even though our venue is the quintessential beach town with a beach ceremony, etc., we have no desire to have shells, starfish or coral anywhere. Seaside isn't really tropical, it's more like Nantucket or The Hamptons. Think preppy, not palms. But, it's not nautical and all about sailing either. So, ready made invitations are out, not that I was considering them anyway. Don't tell the hubs that though, I tried to find some...really!

So alllll that being said, I'm thinking about having ICS design us a logo to use on the invitations and any other goodies{cups and stuff for the event and welcome bags} I might need. I really dig the idea of branding the event with a personal logo, instead of the same ol' monogram or starfish. I love the idea of seeing all our friends and family using cups with our logo on them. The thought of having a Kate and How brand/logo makes me giddy. LOL. I'm such a weirdo, I know. It gives us an instant mark, without really having a theme. Really, the only downside I could see if that it's expensive. More then I thought it was going to be...a lot more in fact. But, do the benefits outweigh the cost?

My other idea is the exact opposite basically, no logo or motif at all. I would have Betsy Dunlap's stunning hand lettering take center stage. I would have her do the whole invitation suite, plus the welcome letter and STD. Both ideas would be done in letterpress here in town. It doesn't say beachy at all, but it would be beautiful. The downsides to this is that she's kind of hard to get in touch with because she's always jammed and it doesn't really give the event a theme like I want.

{all images below from here}

So, I think after writing this all out, I've made my decision. I know what is more us and that's what I should go with. But, what do y'all think? I need some people to back my decision up!

Help!

p.s.~thanks to the crappy movie we watched, my inability to concentrate and Entourage, it took me two hours to write this. Seriously. It's still the worst post I've ever written. I'm not even sure it makes sense. Oh well, I give up. I am who I am.

Blush and Bashful...

Ok, so our colors won't be pink and pink, but who doesn't love that movie? I actually love the color pink {you have to when you have a little girl}, but I can't do that to my sweet husband. He did rock a pink dress shirt for my baby shower {all of our friends wore pink} and I think that's asking enough for one lifetime. He looked so cute, btw.

Anyway, with pink, peach and purple and pretty much everything else out of the picture for various reasons, we found navy, lime/apple green and white. It only took like two years to pick this. This color palette is very us for many reasons though, so I'm happy in the end. I get to use two of my favorite flowers, green hydrangeas and bells of Ireland. Very excited to have green flowers. They make me happy!

And just to prove we have very good taste by picking this combo, here are two inspiration boards from one of my favorite blogs ever. If Kathryn does it, you know it must be cool.

What do you think?

Mark my words...

I will have this arrangement at the rewedding. I love how the bells of Ireland are all wild and twisty.

{SMP?}

A clue to our venue...

Here is a small clue about our venue. This photo was shot there and the arch is by the florist I hope to use.

{here}

Oh Vera...

Just when I had made up my mind...

{here}

Long White Dress...

Our trip was wonderful. The weather and water were both perfect and the only problem was that we had to come home! Living with extended family for a week is always interesting, but I made it out alive. Only one minor freak out and I kept it behind closed doors. Apparently I have a beach baby on my hands. She LOVES the ocean and water in general. We all stayed burn free too! A miracle, I tell you. We must have used 5 things of sunscreen though.

Other big news! We made a big decision while we were there...We're now 100% sure on the date and the venue for the rewedding. Yay! We haven't signed a contact yet, so I'll share more details after we do. Though it's not really hard to guess where. :) Let's just say that this dress would be perfect...

{her tan lines really bug me}

The white dress...

I know I went on and on about this dress, but I can't help but think about this dress. It's so me. Easy to wear and it actually looks comfy! I have always adored Lela Rose, as you know if you read this blog, so it's not shocking that this is from her latest collection. I can't help butthink...what's a vow renewal without a beautiful white dress?

{Studio}

Once again...

Not really a surprise, but JCrew knocked it out of the park again.

Their Fall Wedding Preview is up on the site and it's great as usual. The colors for BMs are so pretty and fall-ish. The couple of gowns they previewed are stunning. I am in serious love with the first dress {pictured here}. It might actually make me change my mind about wearing an ivory/white dress. Love it, want it, need it!

{click image to enlarge}

5 from the Files #2...

It's all about the dress this week...

{ppp}

{gold}

{style.com}

{n-a-p}

Venue Change?

I am in love...

{here}

Think I could get all my friends and family to fly to Paris? Probably not...

I'm a fool for...

Artfool

I'm always impressed how their work can look effortless AND put together at the same time. Everything they do is great, but I'm in total love with this wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in NY. They did all white flowers in low arrangements and they almost look potted, don't you think? Of course, now I want to learn how to make the little white bowls they used on all the tables! They're so cute and delicate looking. You know...like me. {Ha!} They would look great on the gray linen runners I'm planning on making {or buying when I chicken out} Also, I'm digging the potted plant and lantern look for the outdoor tables during cocktail hour and the ceremony. Maybe plant herbs in them, a little rosemary or basil? I could totally do that myself, right? I might have a black thumb, but my mother and aunts don't! The only thing I would change is less greenery and more flowers.

So what do you think? Too simple? Just right?

{click to enlarge}

{here}

My first DIY project...

Monogramed Dinner Napkins for 75...

{Maaartha, of course}

I've decided that I'm going to hand embroider white linen hemstitch napkins with our monogram. They'll be used for the rewedding dinner, then we can reuse them for dinner parties, etc. at home. Since we're having a number of different colors {grey, white, orange, maybe teal and yellow}, I was thinking I would do a dozen of each color. That way I'd have a set of each to match with other dishes and decor at home. I think they will look great and add the personal touch I'm looking for. None of the colors will be too bright {the orange and yellow are going to be soft} and I'm going to do a smaller monogram then shown above, so I think they'll kind of blend in to the decor, but they'll stand out just enough to be noticed. Now, I just need to learn to hand embroider and find a good source for linen napkins!

So what do you think? Too many different colors? Would you do them all grey or white on white? Am I think only person who thinks these are cool? Any idea where to buy the napkins in bulk? I don't want cheap quality ones, but I would like to pay as little as possible. :) In a perfect world...

update~I don't think I explained this right, so let me try again. :) When I say different colors, I mean the thread. So, they would be all white napkins but each with a different color monogram. Still like the idea?

Crappy pic...

This is the world's worst picture. I took it with my iPhone and it was overcast. BUT, if you take away all the tables and set chairs up in rows, you have our ceremony site. You can't really see it, but the arbor has twinkle lights wrapped around the trunks. Nothing too gaudy. There is a little fountain hung in the middle of the wall and that's where we're going to center ourselves...right where that middle table in the back is. I'm currently trying to decide if I'm going to have the florist add flowers to the arbor, because I don't think it will be flowering in late August.

What do you think? Passable?

{click to enlarge}

All about our venue*...

Here are a few beautiful pictures of our chosen venue

 {Bottega Restaurant and Cafe}! 

I happened to see these on the A Bryan blog the other day and I actually squealed with delight. I'm a dork, aren't I? Anyway, this is a very special place for us. It's where we had our first date and it's also where our families met for the first time...right on the patio/courtyard where we're going to hold the ceremony, if fact. It's Lil's favorite place to eat {the casual side} and we go all the time. It's a Birmingham culinary landmark and the second restaurant from Frank Stitt {who was robbed!}. The food is Italian and they have a wonderful cookbook out if you collect them. Yummy! These pictures about a couple of months old and they did a small remodel around the new year, so they're not exact. But, you'll get the general feel I think. They moved the bar from the back of the restaurant to the front and made a little outdoor bar area, where I hope to set up an oyster bar during the cocktail hour. I'm going to try and snap some extra pictures this weekend. But for now, just tell me how great it is? ;)

 

{A close-up of the signage and the beautiful stone that the building is made of}

{I really wish these were in color, so you could see the beautiful paneling and colors in the room}

{There's a huge double sided bench/booth that runs down the middle of the room now. It's not a true booth, just one bench seat with chairs on the other sides of the tables. Make sense? The wood makes the beautiful paneling.}

{We probably won't need to seat upstairs, but I love the picture and the candles on the ledge. I hope to have a group picture shot from above as well}

{We won't use the tent, but under that is the courtyard where we're going to have the ceremony and cocktail hour. I'm going to try and take some pictures of the arbor and fountain wall soon. The other side that you see in the distance is the casual cafe side. We won't use that side, so it will be open to the public.}

Next up...Glamour shots of the food! The important part to us!

{**I haven't booked them yet, but I will soon. I feel a little nervous saying it's our venue, BUT they don't do a ton of special events and we got there once or twice a week and know the owners.  So, I think everything should be fine when I get around to it. Keep your fingers crossed!}

{Oh and all the photos are by Caleb from A Bryan}

Venue Sneak Peak...

More to come...

{a bryan photo}

Look what I found...

Kate was gracious enough to allow me to post her fabulous cake on here. It just what I would want with a few minor changes. Doesn't it look yummy?  I think it would look great with three small tiers and a few ranunculus or garden roses. We can't all be lucky enough to have a date during peony season. They're so beautiful on there. I'm pouting just a bit...

So simple, yet so chic. Just like Kate! ;)

{SMS}

It's all in the details...

I've always been a bit enamored with Cheree Berry's work, but she hasn't had a ton of her custom work on her site until now! I finally saw more and it's all fantastic! I LOVE the little details in each of her pieces {like #1! How darling is that?} and she has a nice preppy style that appeals to the JCrew side of me. What else do you expect from a former Kate Spader?

Enjoy the paper goodness...

{click on images to enlarge}

{all images from here}