Passion for Packaging

I need boxes people. I'm on the prowl for beautiful packaging worthy of perfect little wedding favors. Thanks once again to Nole, I have a new place to turn for inspiration: photo-stylist and all around craft-maven Rebecca Thuss. Rebecca's self-described 'passion for packaging' is clear. You can see more of her visual delights here.

No doubt

Favorite hair style of Oscar night. The others were just too stuffy. BellaSugar shows you how-to.

Report card

For those of you who like to drop by on a regular basis (my favorites among you, of course), you may notice that I've refreshed my blog links just a bit. One of my newer daily reads is Oh So Beautiful Paper, where blogger Nole turns her paper addiction into something we can all enjoy.
Some ample browsing time this afternoon led me to finally figure out that Nole is a local gal. And here's something you should definitely check out. . .she's published a review of her own wedding complete with gorgeous pictures (just a sampling above), personal vignettes (like her wedding vows!) and most importantly vendor critiques (Cake Love, Amaryllis, just to name a few). Definitely worth your while.

Girls in white dresses

Last year at Oscar time, we had just moved into our new (purchased!) home, had tons of boxes to unpack, no food in the refrigerator, no internet and no cable. I watched the entire Oscar-telecast and it kind of looked like everyone was walking the red-carpet in a blizzard. If you squinted you could make out the gown colors.

One year later and the house has come a long way. We've furnished, stripped wallpaper, we've painted walls, put in lighting, pulled out carpet, retiled floor, put in new appliances. Oh and I can now watch the Oscars in HD and record Big Love at the same time. Progress!
Penelope Cruz, in vintage Balmain
Jessica Biel, in Prada
Anne Hathaway, in Giorgio Armani
Miley Cyrus, in Zuhair Murad
Melissa George
Taraji P. Henson, in Roberto Cavalli
Sarah Jessica Parker, In Dior haute couture
Marisa Tomei, in Versace

Ready to mingle

Hotness! Someone's moving on fast and looking good doing it. Hayden Panettiere enjoys the club scene post-break-up. Anyone know the dress designer? Not a bad sexy post-ceremony or after-reception-party dress for one of you more daring types.

(Picture from USmagazine.com)

The getaway car

(Photo by maryluramsey)
I fell in love with the picture above while scavenging on FlickR. Isn't that 'Just Married' sign great? Simple and handmade, and check out those streamers. The whole scene reminded me that it's been quite awhile since I was a part of wedding where the bride and groom left the reception site at the end of the night in a vehicle that had been festively decked-out courtesy of family and friends. Probably because these days more and more couples are partying their wedding night away at hotel venues, and then just heading upstairs to their honeymoon suite when the night is over. But whether or not you go for elegant professional signage, car window paint, tin cans or even the route Shelby's brothers went in Steel Magnolias, it's such a fun tradition, I hope we start to see more of it!
Just Married Shabby Sign for the Bride and Groom, by Country Workshop, $9.99
Image by Wes Noonan
Photo by Kendz
Photo by Hector Mata

Make it easy

I've been meaning for weeks to post on the new gorgeous issue of Real Simple Weddings, one of my favorite bridal guides. I love Real Simple because, go figure, they're all about taking the stuffy and overwhelming out of planning, and injecting it with some fresh ideas and style.

So what sort of ideas do they have for DC-area brides? Washingtonpost.com recently hosted a live chat with Real Simple Weddings Deputy Editor Rachel Hardage, who took questions from local gals looking to plan their "big day on a small budget". Read the full transcript here.

Dot dot dot . . .

I was just scrolling through fabulous local photographer Jennifer Domenick's blog and my unborn daughter had a violent reaction to these bridesmaids and their super-cute slippers. . .
I see a lot of brides these days wearing funky shoes with a splash of color or some other fun detail, but not enough bridesmaids. I love any opportunity to incorporate prints into the bridal party's attire and these pumps are great choice. It's nice to know the little one loves shoes. Actually I think she might already be wearing shoes. Ouch.

Greece is the word

Ladies, if you're having trouble making plans for your honeymoon, give the Orbitz-scanning a temporary rest. The ever-generous JCrew is once again giving away a free honeymoon, this time to Greece!

Check it out, sign up for a chance to win, and if you're feeling lucky pick up a little something to take with you on your romantic vacation, like this little number:

Lovely Laundry

Y'all must think I have a serious shopping addiction. (I'm not denying it). But why else am I constantly showing you what to buy, buy, buy? But people, I know how it is. In the next three months I'm going to a bachelorette party, four showers and two weddings. Yeah, that's right. You've got people in your life to spoil, so let's get to it.

My latest obsession: The Laundress. . .just your typical line of luxury fabric care. You know, fancy stuff. Now would I buy fancy laundry detergent for myself? Yeah probably not. But if someone gave it to me as a gift? Well now we're talking.
The line features specialty detergents for different fabric types and colors and loads of laundry-related accessories you never new you needed, like hotel and travel laundry bags, Apres Laundry Cream, sweater stones and much more. Perfect for your new grown-up wardrobe and all those ahem, intimates, you'll be receiving for the honeymoon.

Cotton Candy

Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, in her perfectly pretty Luisa Beccaria dress on Grammy night, reminded me that Valentine's Day is this Saturday.
I love the combination of pale pink and bright red. . .it's a really clean and modern way to make things feminine and romantic for I don't know, say a wedding taking place on the annual lovers' holiday.

But the realization that the big V-day is this Saturday freaked me out just a little. And that's because this year, instead of the annual trek to our absolute favorite restaurant in DC, I offered instead to cook a romantic meal at home. Yikes! I only have five days to figure this one out. Recipe ideas, anyone?

Scripted

Maybe it's because I'm just not a fan of my own handwriting, but I am totally a sucker for beautiful fonts and penmanship, and thanks once again to my savvy sister-in-law, I have a new calligrapher to obsess over. . .the amazing Jenna Hein.

The talented calligrapher definitely has her way with a pen. . .she specializes in weddings but also works on monograms, logos and signage.

There's more of the designer extraordinaire's work to admire over at her adorable blog, Love, Jenna. If you're interested in exploring Washington, DC-area calligraphers, check out the Washington Calligraphers Guild.

Tie the knot, neatly

Whether or not you have a wedding planner doing your bidding, a bride's got to be organized. You might be delegating the details, but you've still got a to keep track of those wedding gifts, your thank you notes, and a zillion little things, all why you're running to and from appointments. Not to mention the fact that hello, you probably had a life before you got engaged and now you've got to balance all these new details with your work, friends and family. Geez - how're you going to do it all?

Here's where I have to let you in on a little secret.. Organization does not come easily to me. There, I said it. I know, I know. I'm kind of paid to be organized for a living. But it's true. . .I have to motivate myself, and I do it in my favorite way. . .I find pretty little organization tools and the rest is comes easily. And my favorite place to start is See Jane Work. Here's some gear that might help you out.
Mr. & Mrs. Luggage Tag Set, $25
(Do luggage tags make your organized? Not really - but these are irresistible!)

Snip/Tuck

Somewhere after 'love' and before 'marriage', you get the dress, and sometime after getting the dress, you need to get it hemmed, cut and stitched so that it fits you like you were born to wear it. It's alterations time.
Most bridal shops offer alterations in-house, but for the more complicated or delicate projects some brides seek out an independent seamstress, like local 19-year veterans Angie Cavallaro and Estee Livioco.

Both ladies offer more than just the average 'snip/tuck'. Cavallaro has completely remade family heirloom dresses and even created dresses from scratch, while Livioco routinely adds sleeves, reworks necklines and embellishes dresses with bead work and lace.

Learn more about the two in-demand experts here. Already sold? You can reach Angie Cavallaro at 703-830-0634 and Estee Livioco at 301-869-5971.
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