sequins & sparkles

Yesterday was a draining day spent at the oh so lovely DMV getting my new driver's license bearing my married last name.  Yes, I finally decided to take my husband's name!  More on that later.  The DMV is one of those places that sucks your happy soul & good energy.  I came home tired & cranky.  What's the remedy for that?

Sequins & sparkle!!!!!! 

A sparkly, sequin aisle!  How genius!!  The candlelight's soft glow makes the sequins shimmer beautifully, creating a magical aisle for a Bride to float down to meet her Groom.  Talk about a WOW factor for a marriage ceremony.

Ahhh, the sequins & sparkle have me smiling already.  What cheers you up after a trying day?

Photo by KT Merry via

green goodness

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, this week I celebrated green in weddings- green bridal bouquets & green bridesmaid dresses.  I adore green & I didn't use it in our wedding so this little green exercise has been the most fun for me. & it's been leading up to this very moment: glorious green centerpieces!

A creative centerpiece that is practically an ode to everything that is good & green with its air plant, cactus & succulent:

An exotic, green centerpiece is living large:

A leafy, original centerpiece that makes quite the green statement:

A Bells of Ireland centerpiece that proves this common centerpiece filler does just fine on its own green stems:

Speaking of St. Patrick's Day & green goodness, here is another sneak peek at my homemade cards to be revealed tomorrow:

I have to say, after seeing these green delights, I almost wish I had used green for our wedding.  Is/Was there a color you regretted not using for your wedding?


Photo 1 Aubrey Joy Photography via Photo 2 Mademoiselle Fiona Photography via Photo 3 Source Unknown via Photo 4 Aquario Studio via Photo 5 Koru Kate

Koru Kate Finds: Snowy Tree

Oh yes, once again, I spy stylish carnations . . .  


Koru Kate Finds is Holiday-style with this festive, snowy tree decoration!!!


I'm loving the snowy tree for holiday parties & weddings.  Turn your holiday table into a winter wonderland with your snowy tree, coordinating ornaments & candles.  Simple, inexpensive & attractive!  


For this holiday DIY project, you'll need carnations, small Christmas ornaments, cute container, floral foam & a little time on your hands.  Then follow the easy instructions from Miss Martha here.


If a snowy tree is not quite your style, you're in luck because carnations come in a rainbow of colors.  Bright red carnations with silver ornaments would make a bold holiday statement.  Lime green carnations with dark green & silver ornaments would make a modern holiday statement.  Choose your favorite color & use your imagination.


My holiday mind thinks the snowy tree may be the perfect hostess gift for my sister on Christmas!  


Photo via

Cranberry Craze

I'm officially dreaming of Christmas.  Nope, not a white Christmas; I'm not a huge fan of the white stuff.  A cozy Christmas with a crackling fire, a glittering tree & a festive table.  A pretty table just like the one above. 

I would love, LOVE this gorgeous holiday tablescape.  I pinned the image forever ago & I'm still a huge fan.  It's the perfect balance of stunning & attainable, unlike many of the images in Martha Stewart that require a professional crew to assemble & display.  Nope, I think I may be able to manage this DIY project!  Fill a glass container with water, cranberries & hydrangea, then add holly & pine needles.  Decorate your table with thick ribbons & sparkly garland.  Be creative: pick ribbon & garland colors & patterns to match your holiday look.  Place your cranberry arrangement on your ribbon/garland runner & you have instant holiday magic for your merry festivities! 

Holiday/Winter Brides, the cranberry hydrangea arrangements are just lovely as centerpieces.  For the sake of simplicity, you could nix the ribbon/garland runner & choose a beautiful table linen instead.  If you're having anything other than an intimate wedding with one or two tables, I'd skip the DIY route & put a florist in charge but maybe that's just me.

If you haven't noticed, I adore the holiday season.  If I'm missing any DIY holiday fabulousness, please share!!!!

Photo via

Koru Kate Finds: Firsts

Hello, Koru Family & Friends!  Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend?  Our first Thanksgiving as husband & wife was fabulous, thank you very much.  Then I got sick on Friday & Saturday & I missed some fun festivities like attending a 45th Wedding Anniversary party & decorating our home for Christmas.  Bummer.  Now that I'm on the mend, I can't wait to unpack our Christmas decor & make our home festive!


But long before we fetched our holiday decor from storage, I've been on the hunt for the perfect Our First Christmas ornament.  We'll only enjoy one Christmas as newlyweds & I want a beautiful ornament to commemorate the special occasion.  My dears, after a long & hard search, I found IT.


A holiday Koru Kate Finds is this sweet Our First Christmas ornament:

Oh, how I love, LOVE it!  Simply send a lovely wedding photo & make any color or font requests & presto- you'll receive a personalized ornament to treasure forever!


Perhaps you & your friends have moved on from the newlywed stage in life.  Don't worry, there are plenty of other firsts to celebrate!  For the new parents, is there much more precious than a Baby's First Christmas ornament?  

  
Or how about giving the jubilant new homeowners an Our First Home ornament?

For plenty of other personalized gift ideas, please visit Oceanside Designs.  If you act fast, you can take advantage of their super Cyber Monday sale!!!  Now excuse me as I scroll through my favorites to pick our best wedding photo for our ornament!  This may take awhile . . .


P.S. If you're looking for all things ocean wedding & honeymoon inspiration, Oceanside Bride is a must-read!


Images by Oceanside Designs

Koru Kate Finds: Holiday Tree Alternative

Forgive me, Koru family & friends, as I have Christmas on my mind.  I blame Pinterest.  While I can successfully & willfully ignore store Christmas displays until after Thanksgiving, it's really, really difficult to pass up the enticing holiday crafts, decor & recipes on Pinterest.  I caved & pinned an idea for our handmade Christmas cards weeks ago.  Last night, this simple Christmas tree wouldn't let me pass it by: 

Idea & Image via

Today, this Christmas tree alternative comes to you as my latest Koru Kate Finds.  Can you guess what this Christmas tree is made of?  A tomato cage!!!!!!!!  


Yes, that's right: a cheap tomato cage.  You can find them in your nearest garden center or garden aisle of a large store like Home Depot or Target.  Simply flip it upside down, cover it in lights & you have a festive Christmas tree.  


I wouldn't use this alternative tree to replace my actual Christmas tree but I can think of a million & one fun ways to use them for my holiday decor.  A few cage trees in various heights would make for a very pretty lawn or front porch display.  Or perhaps place an alternative tree to add some Christmas love to an empty tabletop or foyer.  Bay windows are the prime spot for alternative trees to be enjoyed from inside &  outside of your home.  


Winter Brides, these cheery Christmas trees are perfection for winter wedding decor!  A few grouping of these alternative trees are a fabulous winter touch for your altar.  Place a few on the floor by your head table or sweetheart table to make a twinkly statement.  Add a few of these alternative trees to make your photo booth backdrop wintery.  Maybe put a few at the front entrance of your church &/or reception space for a winter touch.  Just use your imagination!  


Can you forgive me for bringing up Christmas so early?  Pretty please with a cherry on top?   

It's A Wrap! Halloween-Style

Hello, my pretties!  Are you loving the Halloween vibe on Koru Wedding Style?  I sure hope so.  The spooktacular thrills aren't over yet!!  It's A Wrap! is dedicated to creepy & glamorous touches of Halloween weddings.  Let's take a walk on the dark side . . .

The most perfect invitation to a sophisticated Halloween wedding:

 Image by Susan Dean Photography

via Style Me Pretty

Hello, spiderweb Halloween blooms:

Image by Art of Love

via Style Me Pretty

A simple touch of candy corn adds instant fun to this Halloween wedding:

Image by Turn Lose the Art

via Style Me Pretty

"Tricks" Guest Book for a Happy Halloween Marriage:

Image by Amy & Stuart

via Style Me Pretty

A sweet pumpkin ring shot that stills my Halloween-loving heart for this rustic Halloween wedding:

Image by Tonhya Kae Photography

via Style Me Pretty

A vintage Halloween vibe for the frightful dessert table:

 Image by Meg Perotti
via Style Me Pretty

Oh, I love Halloween so & I could go on & on with the stylish inspiration.  In case you're dying for more inspiration, be sure to click the via Style Me Pretty link under each photo.  Now I shall leave you to have a hauntingly good time on this Halloween weekend!  Trick or treat~ 

Pumpkins, Pumpkins & More Pumpkins

Tonight, I have a date with my cutie 2-year-old goddaughter to paint three baby pumpkins.  I'm so thrilled to be seeing & experiencing Halloween through a little one's spirited eyes. We have three small pumpkins & primary color paints: the making of a very seasonal good time!


We'll be sticking to the basics with our pumpkins but there is nothing wrong with a little Halloween pumpkin dreaming is there?!


Behold the Autumn beauty of this incredible pumpkin path:

Image via Country Living

The most delightful curlicue pumpkin:

Image via Country Living

Simple, dimple!  Disguise your pumpkin with a vintage (as shown) or new Halloween mask:

 Image via Country Living

Black & white pumpkins, achieved with black paint or Sharpie marker, are tres Halloween chic:

Image via Country Living

I loved Lite-Brite as a kid so this Lite-Brite-effect, crescent moon pumpkin has my heart:

Image via Country Living

For easy, no-carving inspiration, check out last year's Halloween pumpkin post!

Which pumpkin inspiration is your favorite?  What cool plans do you have for your Halloween pumpkin?

It's A Wrap! 26th Edition

Spooktacular Wedding Invitations

Image via You Stir Me

Hi there!  Is that a smile on your face?  Yes, me too- it's Friday!!!  I've been in my true element this week as I worked on a wedding planning job & took a wedding invitation order.  Loving it but still loving my peaceful, no-work-allowed weekend :-)  Before I go, here is the Koru List of wedding loveliness just for you:

A spooky, chic collection of Halloween wedding & party decor

What will you be saying about your wedding & marriage two years later?

A bright & cheerful wedding to put a smile on your pretty face

Hey Mister DJ!  How about some of these indie songs for your wedding?

Oh happy, cheerful wedding day!

Three cheers for a colorful Brooklyn fete!!!

Did I miss something good?  Do tell!  & have a wonderful weekend~

Crafty {Belated} Birthday

Belated Birthday Gifts & Wishes 

for Jen of Craftiness NOW

At Koru, the inspiration & celebration of new beginnings involves weddings 99% of the time.  But beginnings come in many forms like births & birthdays.  & I like to celebrate them all!!!

My friend Jen of Craftiness NOW is no exception.  When she announced her birthday bash in August, I eagerly started a birthday project for her that involved her love of pink & crafts.  Then I was unable to attend her party (boo-hoo) & I stalled on my crafting.  We finally made plans last week & this was the fire I needed under my crafting butt to get this project done.

Let's call this project Inspiration Canvas Set.  I found inspiration on Pinterest but (stupidly) I didn't actually pin the source but the basic canvas, letters, paint idea is similar to this pin.  I wanted something simple & sweet to decorate Jen's cute apartment & inspire her with some well-chosen words.

First things first was a trip to AC Moore.  I loaded up on 4 baby canvases, wooden letters & paint.  Because a throng of sorority sisters had depleted the supply of wooden letters to make their paddles, I was forced to rethink my words.  I ended up with my original words of Love & Hope, plus the new additions of Joy & Wish: 

I painted two of the canvases with a few coats of Ballet Pink because Jen loves pink & the other canvases with Vanilla for a nice contrast:

The "toughest" part of the project was painting those tiny letters.  For most of the letters, I painted them before I glued them on the canvas.  It wasn't easy keeping them in place to paint them.  I didn't paint Wish until it was glued on the canvas for that exact reason.  Then I ended up with pools of extra paint on the canvas.  I can't decide which method was best:

Before too long, my birthday present idea turned into an actual birthday present that I'm pretty proud of:

I wrapped these cuties in a cupcake gift bag & paired them with pink wine & presented them to Jen at our little dinner & dessert party.  I'm pretty sure she liked them.  Hopefully, all of Jen's birthday wishes come true because she deserves each & every one!

FYI, with the right words, these could be a great engagement, wedding or baby decoration or gift.  Think Marry Me with the couple's name, wedding words like Forever/Always/Love/Heart or the baby's name, birth date & stats.  Be creative & have FUN!

It's A Wrap! 9th Edition & Crafting for Mom

Hello Koru family & friends! I was going to scrap It's A Wrap! this week & post about making Mother's Day cards instead. Sometimes we need a short break from weddings, right? WRONG, not this week! It's been a pretty exciting week in wedding world. Sit back & enjoy a little recapping & a little crafting!

Harold Pratt House Wedding
Image via Style Me Pretty

You probably spend a good chunk of each day drooling (I mean, reading) Style Me Pretty. If you don't, we can't be friends! Luckyfor you, there is a new, local, New York Style Me Pretty with New Yorkers' unique style & sass. Be still my beating heart!

LOVE: Split Birch Vases Image via BHLDN

Just when I didn't think I couldn't handle any more wedding excitement, BHLDN unveiled their decor collection! That's right- now they dress you, your maids & your party!! Quite honestly, this party decor goes beyond wedding which is quite awesome since my day has come & gone. I'm dyyiinngg here with all these pretty goodies!!!

The Mom Card

I took a break from wedding overload with making cards for Mother's Day. I've gathered so many pretty supplies since I started crafting again that now I simply spread out my supplies & create a new design. It's so much fun! Unlike last year, my hubs saw the cards & decided to skip Hallmark in favor of my creations- I'm so proud!! Hopefully, our Moms & Grandmas enjoy their cards made with love!

The Grandma Card

Happy Weekend! Happy Mother's Day!

The Look

The Look of Our Winter Wedding
Ivory Linens, White Flowers, Glowing Candlelight
(Photo by Friend)

There are countless ways to approach the design of your wedding. We took the venue-driven route. We chose venues that, among other things, were so stunning they require little to no decor. We wanted to keep things simple & elegant to enhance, rather than distract from, the venues' true beauty. Simple & elegant became our wedding mantra. If the idea didn't fit simple & elegant, it didn't belong at our wedding.

The snapshot of our sweetheart table & wedding cake best showcases our wedding look. The simple, bunched carnation bouquets with ivory swirl ribbon. My long, sleek calla lily bouquet with ivory swirl ribbon. Striped ivory linens with simple white napkins. Votive candles glowing. Magnolia menu cards with peony purple backers & matching shades of peony purple ink, including our swirl motif. Our pretty purple toasting flutes. Our square, white wedding cake with orchids spilling down the side. All set against the glittering backdrop of Manhattan. Simply elegant!

Now I realize some of the things I'm describing, you can't see well in the photo above. I'm working with guest snapshots to tell our wedding story; later, I'll go into every last design detail with TGP's crisp, beautiful photos. But you get the idea hopefully.

The Manhattan Ballroom took my breath away when I saw it for the first time. I was so happy to see our design ideas come to life so beautifully. But in the end, it wasn't the flowers or the linens or the menu cards that mattered. Our friends & families who celebrated with us made our wedding shine!

The View

The glittering, glorious skyline of Manhattan was the shining star of our winter wedding.


This was carefully planned. RZ & I are lucky enough to enjoy stunning views of Manhattan from our beloved hometown of Hoboken & we wanted to share this experience with our guests. So the Manhattan Ballroom at Hyatt on the Hudson, with its fabulous skyline views, was booked. The flowers & decor were kept simple & elegant. The prayers to the Weather God were made for a clear evening.


On January 15, everything fell into place & the Manhattan skyline lit up in full glory.



Imagine dining on delicious food with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. Imagine dancing to a fun song with the bright lights of Manhattan surrounding you. Imagine celebrating a joyous occasion among the ultimate backdrop of Manhattan. So beautiful, so romantic. You're imagining the very night of our wedding!


It was a dream come true to treat our wedding guests to the dramatic Manhattan views. In my mind, the skyline was the star of the show & she's never shined brighter or more beautifully!

(Skyline Photos from Our Wedding
Taken by Wedding Guests)

It's A Wrap! 5th Edition

Fun idea for Something Blue! Or Rainbow ☺
Image via Say Yes! To Hoboken

April! Can you believe it? Where oh where is time going?! I'm welcoming April with open arms & hoping it brings spring weather to us. Here is my weekly round-up of inspiration:

Colored tights- BRILLIANT!

A must read for perspective. Warning: you will cry.

I love me some Jersey pride!

A little green moss + a little crafting = fun wedding decor!

I promise no more winter weddings after this one
(disclaimer: unless another stunner comes along).

Have a lovely weekend!

Our Ceremony, Part Two

Take a formal ceremony in a beautiful church . . .

Add family & friends,
like our Sister of Honor, Best Man & Reader shown here

Add a dash of decoration,
like our flowers in memory of lost loved ones . . .

Stick with tradition, yet add a few personal touches . . .

And you will be happily married, like us!
(All Photos by Friends)

Read Our Ceremony, Part One HERE

Our church ceremony was the most beautiful, moving experience I've ever had. I didn't always have confidence I would feel this way. I was at odds with our church ceremony throughout much of the planning process.

I'm a casual, relaxed girl at heart. I'm most comfortable in a t-shirt, jeans & flip flops. Sunshine is my goddess. Think San Diego. Think beach.

I didn't mesh well with the grand church & its traditional ways. RZ's top priority was a ceremony held in the Catholic church so I tried my best to embrace our reality. But I worried. Would our church ceremony be too formal, too stuffy & too much for me? For us?

Thankfully, as we infused more & more of ourselves into the ceremony, it became more & more ours. Perfectly us.

A few tips/perks to a church ceremony that I wish I had known in advance:

1. Our gorgeous church is breathtaking. It required little or no decoration which equals savings on the floral budget. We ordered one altar arrangement in memory of our departed loved ones. Otherwise, we let the beautiful venue shine.

2. Our soloist, my godmother, helped me choose meaningful songs. No, I couldn't walk down the aisle to a Beatles song but I was pleasantly surprised by the options like Con Te Partiro, Ave Maria, etc. & she sang them like an angel!

3. We chose traditional vows & I took much comfort & hope from starting our marriage just as others have before us.

4. RZ is Filipino & we incorporated these three Filipino customs: veil, cord & coins. It was a respectful nod to his heritage & it personalized our ceremony.

5. I can't stress enough how honored we were by our family & friends who participated in our ceremony. Our parents, grandparents & bridal party who supported us & stood by our side at the altar. Our friends & family who recited readings & assisted with the Filipino customs. My godmother who sang. Our guests who witnessed our positive new beginning. Everyone warmed our hearts with their very presence & made the ceremony ours.

In the end, our church ceremony was perfect for us. I learned that if something doesn't feel right, there's hope. With a little thought & a lot of heart, you can make anything yours!

DIY Project: The Recap

A little DIY wisdom from little old me!
Print available on Etsy at NayArt's shop

All in all, I picked three DIY projects for our wedding: the hotel welcome bags, the ceremony poms & the K & R decorations. I've stressed the importance of choosing your DIY projects carefully. Looking back on mine now, I want to share some advice & wisdom on my projects.
Do I have regrets? Do I wish I had done things differently? Do I have any advice? Read on!!!

1. Hotel Welcome Bags: I'm glad we did the hotel welcome bags ourselves & I'd make the same decision again in a heartbeat. Because we only had to make 30 bags & deliver to one hotel, it was manageable. Even fun.

But I do have tons of advice. Due to our limited storage space & curious beagle, we didn't have the option to shop for our treats & supplies in advance. However, I could have written & printed our welcome letter & wedding itinerary long before I did. Start any & all tasks early!

We were fortunate to have 30 bags, one delivery & a Jeep. If you have 30+ bags, multiple hotel deliveries &/or a small car, I would seriously consider hiring a professional or delegating this task to willing friends.

2. Ceremony Poms: I loved the poms so much & I adored having my personal touch on our wedding ceremony. I noticed them as I walked down the aisle, I spot them in our wedding guests' photos & I'm proud of them.

There are no regrets here, not even that I didn't finish eight poms. Remember it's okay to let go if a project doesn't go as planned. Well, one regret: the ceremony poms are the only things that did not get collected & returned to us at the end of our wedding. I wanted to keep one as a memento in our home. Luckily, I do have the extra pom that never made it to our ceremony. Make sure you take the time to check & account for everything at the end of your wedding!

3. K & R Decor: This project was quick, easy, inexpensive & personal. Plus we can enjoy the painted initials in our home for years to come. Love, love this project!

However, the K & R didn't look quite right at our reception because I didn't double-check the placement of the guest book table. I did my due diligence by taking a site tour & noting the set-up for our wedding. I wish I had asked again, then I would've bought freestanding letters. But the real lesson? Things may not go or look as planned & just go with it. As long as you keep smiling, nobody will notice anything is amiss!

Are you tackling DIY projects for your wedding? Happy crafting!!

DIY Project #3: K & R

Painted K, Naked R

My final DIY wedding project was our initials, K & R. Because RZ & I branded everything from the spot in the sand where he proposed to our wedding invitations with our initials, I wanted to continue the theme at our wedding reception. I picked out the perfect spot for our initials on a site visit at Hyatt on the Hudson: our guest book table. The guest book table would be against the wall & the letters would add a bit of height & personality. After the wedding, we could hang the letters in our home as a wedding memento. Now all I needed was to complete the project!

K & R in Progress

This DIY project was the quickest & easiest. I bought two wooden letters, one ampersand, two bottles of ivory paint & one bottle of mocha paint at AC Moore. I briefly considered painting the ampersand purple because I had added touches of purple, like the bridesmaid dresses, throughout the celebration. In the end, I went with mocha for the simple reason that it would look best in our living room when the wedding was said & done. I took my supplies home & painted the K & R with about five coats of paint over a period of a few days. I applied the final coat of paint the night before the wedding :-)

The snag was the guest book table wasn't placed against the wall as the catering manager had told me. I went through three catering managers at Hyatt on the Hudson &, unfortunately, the second one who led me on a site tour may not have known everything about the cocktail hour set-up. It never occurred to me to confirm the guest book table placement with my third, final & best Hyatt contact. At our wedding, the guest book table was placed in an excellent position near the ballroom entrance- just not against a wall. I hadn't bought letters that could stand on their own so the initials were awkwardly propped up somehow on the table. For a fleeting moment as I entered the ballroom & noticed the table, I considered putting on my wedding planner hat & trying to fix the problem, then realized it wasn't a big deal. At all.

K & R in our home today

For the record, as you can see above, our initials look just right on our living room wall!