{Sneak Peek} Corley & Jake

Happy Monday!  Is anyone else in as much shock as I am that it is August?!  I can't believe it.  Summer is just flying.  I've been having so much fun in the sun that I'm way behind in posting about my birthday, my Cape Cod vacation, my Boston getaway.  Hopefully, I'll catch up soon.  In the meantime, this Wedding Wednesday's sneak peek never posted Friday so here it is:

As a beautiful couple says "I Do!" & blends two families into one at the historic Opryland Hotel, there are tons of bright peacock feathers & meaningful family details to inspire every Bride.  Oh, & did I mention there is a Cinderella carriage?!  I'll see you this Wedding Wednesday with every last detail!

Please join me tomorrow with a little love & support for my monthly Still Standing post.

Photography: Joe Hendricks Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Hearts & Sparkles

Hello, my dear Koru friends & family!  You may not have noticed since the blog kept going but I have been missing for the past two weeks.  I've been celebrating my birthday & relaxing on a Cape Cod vacation.  I enjoyed every moment but it's nice to be back! 

& I could not think of a better way to kick off my return than with two of my favorite things: 

Hearts & sparkles!  I fell in love with these darling bridal shoes upon second glance.  Upon first sight of the simple ivory peep toes decorated with a sweet heart, I thought the bridal shoes were cute.  Then I noticed the awesome rainbow glittery heels & I was sold.  Love, LOVE!!!

Sweetness in the front, party in the back!

Photo Tinywater Photography via

Rainbow Connection

Mere days ago, I mentioned if I was forced to name one thing I would change about our wedding, I would change the matching bridesmaid dresses (you can catch a glimpse of them HERE) to mismatched bridesmaid dresses.  I was thinking something along the lines of this or this, only in purple.  Guess what?

I spied this rainbow delight & I've already changed my mind:

Mismatched black dresses with matching shoes in rainbow hues!  Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.  Your bridesmaids could choose any black dress, chances are they already own one, & you could choose a cute shoe available in a rainbow of colors.  So simple, so stylish, so budget-friendly.

If this were my wedding, I would have let my bridesmaids choose any black dress & any purple shoe.  I bet the shades of purple & styles of shoes chosen would have made for a fun, original bridal party!

Clearly, if I have already changed my mind about this in the span of a few days, it's probably best that I went with a traditional, matching bridal party.  

Let's discuss!  Do you like matching or mismatched bridesmaids?  & what about this clever shoe idea?

Photo Picotte Weddings via

Sparkly Gold

Hello, my Koru family & friends!  I missed you!!!  We had a wonderful, relaxing vacation but I know we are doing something right when it is nice to return to our home sweet home & slip back into our normal routine.  &, of course, that means we're back to the regular programming here, starting with a little something gold & sparkly:  

 There's nothing like a little sparkle & shimmer to add pizazz to your wedding day!  Or any day really :-)

Please be sure to join me tomorrow for a gorgeous orchard wedding!

Photo Half Orange Photography via

red

It's hard for me to choose only one accessory that makes me smile in this happy bridal portrait.  The fabulous hat & birdcage veil?  Smile, check.  The bold red lipstick?  Smile, check.  The simple red sash?  Smile, check.  The too cool red crinoline?  Smile, check.  The bright red pumps?  Smile, check.  The Bride's Kool Aid smile?  Smile, check.

Without a doubt, the red crinoline is what drew me to this wedding photo.  Unique & eye-catching, to say the least.  Man, I would love to steal this dress & take it for a twirl on the dance floor! 

P.S. Today's Bride & yesterday's Bride could be besties!

What is/was your favorite bridal accessory?  

Photo by Feather and Stone Photography via

charmed

The sparkle.  The bow.  The sweetness & sass.  Oh, my wedding-loving heart practically stopped beating when I spied the oh so fabulous Kate Spade Charm heels in this cool photo!

Sigh.  I wanted the Charm shoes so badly for my wedding.  Unfortunately, me and a 4-inch heel could not be friends on a long day spent on my feet.  I want the Charm shoes so badly for my life.  Unfortunately, me and a 4-inch heel on a regular basis are as probable as me catching a falling star.  But a girl can dream.

Or a girl can cheer when she spots those charming shoes in wedding photos.  Wow, how Charm shoes rock on a Bride!!

Do you have any long-running dreams of obtaining the perfect accessory?  Please share!

Photo by Jason Walz Photography via

Sparkle

Hello, sparkly pretties.  Valentino you say?  Oh, how I adore you!

As a Bride-to-be, I had the hardest time finding shoes for my wedding.  Shoes were too high, too boring or too expensive.  It was starting to look like I might go barefoot when I found the perfect pair (yes, one of these days I will share all my wedding details with you!).  These fantabulous Valentinos would have been too high AND too expensive for me but I believe I may have made an exception for them.  They are AMAZING!!!   

What route will/did you go for wedding shoes?  Pretty sparkle, fun color or classic ivory/white?

Photo by Justin & Mary via

Best "I Do" EVER

Brides-to-be know the Bridal Drill: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.

Something Blue can be tricky, although there are tons of cute, creative things on the market these days. My all-time favorite Something Blue are the rhinestone "I Do" shoe decals. Allow me to demonstrate their awesomeness from a real wedding . . .

Step One: Buy these cuties

Image via Shop Mindy Weiss

Step Two: Get Awesome Something Blue Photo!

Image via Photography by Martha

Love, love, LOVE! I adore this photo so much that it used to be the header on this blog & it influenced me to use "I Do" shoe decals as my Something Blue. Can you say obsessed?!

To score your own rhinestone "I Do" shoe decals, shop here or here. Enjoy!

Do you have a cool idea for Something Blue to share with us?

Koru Kate Finds: 5th Edition

I am counting my lucky stars. After a voluntary evacuation due to Miss Hurricane Irene, RZ, Bailey & I returned home to find everything safe & sound this morning. Thank you, thank you! Miss Hurricane Irene wasn't so kind to others & I pray the recovery is full & swift.

Let's proceed with the Koru Kate Find, shall we?

I made it no secret that I had a hard time finding fun flats for my wedding. The search lasted for months! Are you in the same boat of wanting flats with a little pizazz? Well, my dear Brides-to-be, J.Crew has sparkly, cute ballet flats just for you!

First, we have my personal favorite: Lula Glitter Ballet Flat in Metallic Silver:



Here's Lula in Metallic Pecan:


Last, but not least, Lula in Pale Gold:

(Above Images via J.Crew)

Isn't Lula just darling?! Yeah, I'm in love. Looking for all-day comfort & cuteness? Looking to kick off your heels & trade them for shiny dancing shoes at the Reception? Looking for adorable shoes for the Bridesmaids? Lula is your perfect girl!!

Wedding Belles!

I'm drooling. Are you? Or the better question: have you seen Wedding Belles, the new wedding collection from Kate Spade?

Wedding Belles is chic & whimsical, just as you'd expect from Kate Spade. It includes fun collections for the Bride, Bridesmaid & Honeymoon. Love, LOVE! I spent the major part of my weekend poring over every item & wishing they could be mine or could have been mine for my wedding. Here are my favorites from the Bride collection:

Wedding Belles Naomi Dress
Soooo cute for the Rehearsal Dinner or Celebratory Brunch

Charm Shoes
The perfect amount of sparkle & sass!

Pearl Bauble Bracelet
Classic Pearls with a bit of glitz

Very Opaque Tights
Wasn't I just saying colored tights are the perfect Something Blue?

Date Night Ring
Fun & flirty! I need this ring ASAP for our date nights!!

(All Images via kate spade new york)

Don't even get me started on the Bridesmaid & Honeymoon collections! What were your favorites?

One For One

Something Blue, Something New & Something Good
Image via TOMS

TOMS is known for its comfortable shoes & charitable work: for every pair of TOMS sold, the company donates one pair of shoes to a child in need. One for one.

Now Brides can rejoice because TOMS has launched its Brides & Bridesmaids Collection! You & your ladies can look stylish, feel good & support a great cause. Seriously, check out this collection because there is everything from blue glitters to ivory grosgrain classics. They're much more fun than sneakers & more original than ballet flats. & did I mention the good cause? Rock these cuties all day long or wear those killer heels for saying "I Do!" & change into comfy TOMS for dancing the night away!

I searched long & hard for the perfect shoes (my fun choice will be featured soon!) & the TOMS Wedding collection would've made my choice easy: the silver glitters, please!

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!

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?

You're So Lovely

"You're So Lovely"
says Lovely Bridal Shop

I finally, finally had the chance to retrieve my wedding dress from Lovely Bridal Shop. It arrived one month early & I was unprepared. I hadn't found my wedding shoes yet! Not to mention, I didn't have a spare moment for a trip to Manhattan. Lovely assured me that my dress was in good hands & good company so I let time fly by. Finally, the time came to claim my wedding dress.

My Sister of Honor & I made our way to Lovely Bridal Shop on a beautiful Fall evening. Very, very unlike us, we arrived early. We ducked into Cafe Cluny, the adorable cafe across the street, to enjoy a glass of wine & share a cheese platter. An hour of good conversation later, we crossed the tree-lined street for my pick-up appointment at Lovely.

At long last, I was in the dressing room with my wedding gown. The dress was better than I remembered, much more beautiful than the sample dress I'd fallen in love with months ago. It was surreal! My wedding dress was here, really here! Right. In. Front. Of. Me.

Next thing I knew, I was staring at a Bride in the mirror. She was wearing a perfect, pretty wedding dress. I could hardly believe that Bride was me!

Oh So Lovely

Someday soon, I shall be headed to this quaint spot in the West Village of New York City . . .

The Great & The Lovely-
Lovely Bridal Shop

I got the unexpected, happy news that my wedding gown is HERE! One month early!! Thank you, thank you, Lovely Bridal Shop for the great surprise!!! Be still my racing heart, the good news just keeps coming.

Lovely's line-up of pretty, pretty dresses

Now I really wish I had my perfect shoes to try on with my wedding gown!

Glass Slipper

I'm having as much trouble finding my wedding shoe as the Prince had finding the woman who fit the glass slipper in Cinderella. I have two problems: heel height & price. I may have taken ballet for years yet somehow I have the grace of a bull in a china shop. If I don't want to trip down the aisle, I need a kitten heel. Also, I'm not interested in spending a small fortune on shoes that barely anybody sees. That being said, I would like to love my wedding shoes!

So the search began. I'm talking hours & hours of searching any & every shoe web site I know.

My very favorite shoe is the fun Lalita from Kate Spade:

Flirty Lalita shoe
Available at Kate Spade

Lalita is now available in ivory at Nordstrom & well, I swoon at the mere sight. Sadly, the price & the heel height don't work for me. I did find the comparable Camille Bloom sandal at Ann Taylor that brings the shoe into my price range but doesn't help my high heel issues.

The search continued & I found the sweet Evie from Kate Spade that I like:

Sophisticated Evie shoe
Available at Kate Spade

The heel height is perfect & I like Evie, I really do. But at that price I want to love the shoes. And I don't love Evie.

I turned to Unforgettable Moments & I found these acceptable, well-priced Catherine shoes:

Simple Catherine shoe
Available at Unforgettable Moments

Catherine may be the winner! The heel is right & the price is right. Do I love Catherine? Not really. More that I like the price. I may buy these & jazz them up a bit. Dye them purple (for free!) & add sparkly shoe clips (or brooches) & I just might love Catherine.

Plan B: Winter wedding = my favorite Uggs!