Ideally, I'd like to assemble a little gift box for J's best boys. Why blow the entire gift budget on one lame, albeit shiny, gift when you can shower them with a number of practical presents?




Even though the wedding is still two years away, we decided to celebrate our engagement by having our engagement pictures taken by a photographer whose work we'd been admiring for some time.
I was led to Kristy's website by a former co-worker, who said that her work was absolutely amazing. He wasn't lying. Kristy not only takes the most breathtaking, fun photos, but she's such a joy to work with! Our photography session felt like a mellow afternoon with a friend.
We're set to get our photo cd this week, but I thought I'd share some of Kristy's picks while we wait...







This strawberry and orange, 1950s-inspired card by Etsy vendor pepperinapress is just too cute! What a perfect way to show your bridesmaids that they're in for a fun adventure! These lovely cards are currently listed for $3.50, but the rate can be adjusted depending on how many you order.
If you're planning a classic, formal affair, these stamped and dusted tags by Etsy vendor AlmondWorks might be appropriate, and at $2.50 each, they are easy on the wallet as well as the eyes.

While I'm not usually partial to pink and red roses, this adorable card, by Etsy vendor RetrospectiveDesign is just too cute! They're available for maid-of-honors and matron-of-honors, as well, and are $7.00 for a set of four.
And since you're already buying cute bridesmaid-related paper goods, why stop at just the proposal? Another Etsy vendor, davidcoty, has the cutest dress fitting reminder available in his online shop. Check out this vendor's bachelorette party invitations, too! How adorable and thoughtful are these little cards?
A few months ago, I got a little package from my maternal grandmother with a little photograph and an article from her wedding in August of 1955.
The wedding announcement from the newspaper is beautifully written. Such amazing detail.
"The bride was escorted to the altar by her brother, Thomas Riddering of Marne. She chose a waltz-length gown of antique taffeta and lace styled with a fitted bodice, scoop neckline and bouffant skirt. Her shoulder-length veil of French illusion fell from a calot of matching antique taffeta and lace. She carried a spray of white carnations..."
"...Miss Rita Riddering, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. She was attired in a ballerina-length gown of blue crystallet fashioned with a long torso, portrait neckline and short sleeves. A short fold of crystallet finished the bodice and tied in a bow at the back. Her bouquet was of pink and white carnations."



They're the very definition of geek chic! Classic, yet quirky! They remind me so much of the movie "Return To Oz," a favorite film of ours. The fiance let out a squeal of delight and awe when I showed him this lovely Etsy find.
Buildersstudio offers these adorable cake toppers in a variety of styles. They average at about $150 and are made of lightweight wood, so they're light enough to fit on any wedding cake. Whether I buy one or not, these will always be one of my Etsy favorites!
Since the wedding is still a full two years away, it's too soon to finalize (or even research) some of the wedding arrangements. However, we plan to send out the save-the-dates in a matter of months, so I giddily got started on planning our DIY save-the-dates.
In order to complete this project, I needed image composition software. Thanks to the folks at GIMP, I was able to download their wonderful program for free. It took a little messing around, but after a few hours and a couple downloaded vector images and fonts, I came up with this:
Pretty, eh? We might still tweak the colors a bit, and we still have to circle the wedding date on the mini-calendar and affix one of our favorite engagement pictures to the backside, but then they'll be ready for the printers and will be sent off to our family and friends. Needless to say, making these on our own has saved us a little money and has made the whole process a little more personal.
What about you, faithful Bride In A Blog readers? What do you have planned for your save-the-dates?

This Foulard Bandeau veil from Unveiled Bridal Designs really demonstrates the versatility of this type of veil. The headband style really gives the whole ensemble a 1920's feel that's perfect for weddings inspired by old Hollywood or The Great Gatsby. Absolutely gorgeous. You can rush order this stunning veil for $152.90, but if you have time you spare, you can customize it to your heart's content.
Who says a lady has to stop admiring other gowns after she's purchased her wedding dress?
Not I, said The Bride.
I've always been a huge fan of Stephanie James' work. Unfortunately, she currently doesn't have any vendors within 500 miles of my little Oregon village, so I was forced to get creative and eventually opted for another gown. However, I'm still constantly checking her blog for updates. I've spoken to Stephanie herself via email, and she is a fabulous, friendly lady that goes out of her way to help her customers create their dream dresses.
Stephanie James is one of the few vendors that carries a wide variety of tea-length styles. Here are a few of my favorites...

I can vividly remember the first time I set eyes on The Josephine! I was flipping through Modern Bride magazine, and I fell hard. Classic, with a distinctly creative twist. According to Stephanie James' blog, this style is now available with a wide variety of different accent colors.

Oh my! The Daphne is just so very charming! I just can't get over that adorable flower detailing on the bodice. Delightfully simple, yet flirty!

Ah, The Greta! I absolutely love the clean lines of this dress. If only I were the retro Vegas wedding type. This dress would look simply fabulous on a sassy, bold bride. I can just imagine it paired with some brightly colored pumps and some bold accessories. It's just too cute!

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