reflections

Rainy wedding day.

A wise, beautiful post on A Practical Wedding yesterday left me thinking about rainy wedding days.  I always say that the weather on your wedding doesn't really matter; what matters is your attitude towards your wedding day weather.  Pull on your rain boots, grab an umbrella & keep smiling- chances are you'll enjoy your beautiful wedding.  Cry, pout & curse your bad luck- chances are you've ruined your beautiful wedding.

This creative photo above is a prime example of a rainy wedding day attitude done right.  Really, really right.  From the wet sidewalk to the long shadows, there is proof that the weather gods delivered rain clouds & bright sunshine for the wedding.  The happy couple took to the rain-soaked sidewalks & made a pretty incredible memory to last a lifetime.  The reflection of the Bride & Groom in a sidewalk puddle takes something ordinary & makes it extraordinary.  Talk about making a rainbow out of rain!! 

How would/did you react to rain on your wedding day?  Do/did you have a Plan B for rainy weather? 

Photo by Whitney Huynh Photography via

It's A Wrap! 25th Edition

This photo has nothing to do with this post.

It makes me smile though & isn't that enough?

Image by Our Labor of Love

via 100 Layer Cake

Hi.  Please raise your hand if you're happy it's Friday.  Yes, me too.  This week has been a bit, well, trying.  I am beyond lucky & blessed in life & I never lose sight of that.  Still.  Sometimes things are not so smooth or happy.  The grey, rainy weather hasn't helped any, although it has perfectly matched my mood.

& my mood has affected the weekly Koru List.  I like to bring you plentiful wedding eye candy from the likes of Style Me Pretty, while sprinkling in musings on weddings & marriage from the likes of A Practical Wedding.  They are my top favorite wedding blogs as different as they may be.  While the eye candy this week was as gorgeous as always, my stormy, brooding mood was drawn to two posts this week that made me think.  A lot.  About what wedding blogs I like & support, about the value in my sweet wedding planning business.

So I present you those links:  

Dear Wedding Bloggers, You Suck     

Price Is Not The Same As Value  

Well worth the read, ladies.   

♥ 6 Months: A Reflection ♥

Oh So Happy: Our Wedding Day
Photo taken by Friend

Six months ago today, RZ & I got married. A big grin spreads across my face & my heart fills with joy at the sweet thought of our happy, beautiful wedding day.

Six months is mere baby steps in the lifetime of a marriage. Still, I believe in celebrating the big & small so this day is worthy of celebration. Six months of being husband & wife, of creating our baby family (**), of becoming an official team. And I've loved every moment!

Pure Joy: Our Wedding Day
Photo Taken by Friend

Everyone & their neighbor ask me if our relationship feels different now that we are married. Tough question. No & YES. Day to day, in the regular routine of our lives, I don't feel like much has changed except perhaps that Mrs. applies to me. We go to work, we spoil our dog, we eat, drink & be merry. Still, there is something there that says everything has changed. Something that is hard to put my finger on, let alone describe. I suppose it's a subtle undercurrent to our relationship, always there, always flowing. Always reminding us of our vows, our promises, our forever. It makes us stronger & makes us better.

To RZ, my best friend, my love, my husband:
Cheers to many, many more!

** Disclaimer:
Baby Family is one of my favorite terms adopted from A Practical Wedding.
It doesn't mean we are having a baby!

Just Crazed

Crazy in Love or Just Crazed?
Available on Etsy in tilependantjewelry's shop

Nearly six months since our beautiful wedding day, we're happily living the life of newlyweds. Do you know what has surprised me the most? The amount of work that comes after the wedding. This is the dirty little secret that nobody bothered to tell me. I was thrilled to banish our wedding to-do list to the deep depths of some random drawer but our post-wedding to-do list is a close rival.

Here is our Post-Wedding Laundry List:

1. Decide on name change & make it official. Unfortunately, Facebook doesn't count.
2. Pick an image for thank you card & order those puppies.
3. Write said thank you cards. I can hardly wait!
4. Choose images for your wedding album. Mission impossible.
5. Clean & preserve wedding gown. Or figure out how to wear it again :-)
6. Finish submissions to wedding blogs. It's my dream to be a Wedding Grad on APW.

We have some serious post-wedding work ahead of us. As of today, we have completed Task #2. Go team!!!!

Are we crazy in love or just crazed? It depends on the moment.

Calling Jersey Girls!

The honor of your presence is requested at the "Jersey Shore" house!

Oh yes, my dears, it's true: the "Jersey Shore" beach pad is available for weddings!

Or engagement parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinner or any other event you'd like to host at the summer home of Snooki & the Situation. The Seaside Heights home is being touted as perfect for the non-traditional Bride & Groom. All with killer tans & Jersey accents must apply. Dream come true or nightmare?

I have to admit I have never watched "Jersey Shore" but I knew I had to pass along this gem when a fellow Jersey Girl sent this info my way. I don't live under a rock & I know the show is hugely popular. Perhaps some have been anxiously awaiting a "Jersey Shore" theme wedding. Any takers? Let me know, I'd love to help with the wedding planning!!

It's A Wrap! 3rd Edition

My. Favorite. Wedding. Eye. Candy. EVER
Photo by Nick Tucker via Snippet & Ink

Hello, hello! A big, hearty welcome to March & another edition of my favorite inspiration rounded up on the web this week. Enjoy!

Snowy Night + Abandoned Mansion + Firework Cake = My Favorite Wedding (besides my own naturally!)

Buy shoes for your wedding & help a child in need! I'll take the silver glitters, please.

Artichokes? Who knew!

Are you changing your name when you get married? Thoughtful posts here, here & here! (p.s. whatever you decide, you've made the right decision for YOU!)

Have a fantastic weekend!

It's A Wrap! 2nd Edition

Unexpected Something Blue!
Image from Style Me Pretty via Sparkle & Hay

The week is winding down (TGIF!) & here is the second installment of some goodies:

A Perfect Something Blue or any color of your choice!

OMG, I would have loved to receive this adorable print as a wedding gift!

We're not the only ones who think TGP is awesome!
Three cheers for our talented wedding photographers!

When do you say enough is enough of wedding eye candy?
(Seriously, are you reading this blog? I highly recommend it!)

I have been crushing hard on this green tote bag

When can I move in?

Happy Weekend!

It's A Wrap!

Photography by Amanda Wilcher
Image via Style Me Pretty

I spend a fair amount of time scouring wedding blogs, design blogs, craft blogs & more for inspiration each week. It dawned on me that I should be sharing this inspiration with you. Duh! Each Friday, I will recap my favorite finds for you in a little feature called "It's A Wrap!" Enjoy~

Love her blog, ADORE her wedding

Can't I have one?! Pretty, pretty please!

What sweet Valentines

You can have a princess dress, yes- you can!
(Editor's note: Start reading this blog NOW for your sanity!)

Won't you be my forever friend?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Crush on BHLDN

I was anxiously awaiting the unveiling of BHLDN, the bridal line of Anthropologie. Monday was the big day & I spent hours perusing the dreamy collection of wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, hair accessories & more. It was soooo worth the wait! Here are my favs:

Graceful, Cascading Goddess Gown
Image via BHLDN

Cutie Fondant Tea Dress
Image via BHLDN

Shimmering, Burnished Organza Gown
Image via BHLDN

Have you checked out this fabulous collection? If not, RUN- don't walk! There is so much wedding eye candy. What are your favorites?

Perfectly Imperfect

Perfectly Imperfect
Much like Life, Much Like Wedding Planning
Photo available at Etsy in NaturalCharmPhotos' shop

I've been thinking about our wedding planning. A lot. First, I read this honest post on A Practical Wedding about how the planning is different than we expect. Then I read this raw post on Hey Gorgeous about how the wedding is far from perfect. My mind started reeling. What did I expect from our planning & what did I get thus far?

I thought our wedding planning would be thrilling & messy. I'd been through the process too many times with planning clients to think that every last moment would be beautiful & memorable. While my wedding mantra is sweet & simple, I counted on sour & complicated too. That's Life. So I was prepared for the good & the bad, right?

Wrong. I was blindsided. I expected a few glitches but the actual glitches stunned me. Deeply hurt me in some cases. How about a church who is unwilling to answer the simplest questions about our ceremony so we can't plan the most important part of our wedding? Then there's the bridesmaid lost over the bridesmaid dress store. Oh, a personal favorite, is family that critiques & gossips about every decision & plan we make. Don't forget about missing people, like my Dad & Grandpa, & wishing they were here to celebrate with us. A hearty welcome to the many, many new gray hairs over how the wedding is so freaking expensive, even for a wedding planner with a winter wedding. & so on. Etc, etc, etc.

Worry. Sadness. Stress. Heartache. All part of the wedding planning game no matter how you play it. We're not there yet- hello wedding!- but I have faith that it's worth it in the end.

(p.s. if you're not reading A Practical Wedding or Hey Gorgeous! . . . why not??!!)