Happy Valentine’s (Birth)Day!

Are you sick of hearing me talk about Valentine’s Day yet? Beginning to realize my dismissal of it as ‘just a Hallmark holiday’ was a bald-faced lie? Okay, you’re partially right. Like I said, I like making a big deal about things just for the sake of enjoying them. Remind me of this when I try to claim I’m a humble person who never blows things out of proportion, and swear I don’t want any drama on my wedding day. Actually, don’t, ya jerks- leave a bride alone!

Right, so, I admitted a couple days ago that I had a small poutfest last year about ‘missing out on’ Valentine’s Day because of Michael’s birthday- okay, wow, I can’t even finish typing that, I am really terrible! I am so lucky to have Michael. Even luckier because instead of calling me out on being a selfish, living stereotype of a chocolate and flowers-obsessed woman, Michael listened, somehow continued to love me AND promised to not only give me a real makeup date, but also came through with gifts on V-Day.

I think there’s both kitschy and sentimental appeal in going traditional. (Er, sometimes. I’ll claim never to have typed those words if someone starts pressuring me about a garter toss or playing the Macarena at my wedding.) And I think Mike enjoyed being an atypical boyfriend by bringing home:

A dozen red roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, and a sentimental card.

Note he got a card inscribed ‘To My Wife’. The kid loves doing that. I told him we should make the most out of ‘fiancé’ because it’s a temporary status that we’ll never have again, it’s special blah blah blah, but he just loves calling me his spouse. He’s pretty sweet, that boy of mine.

I like to spread my flowers around so there’s something pretty and fragrant in several different places in the house. Here’s my stab at amateur floral arranging- good test run if I go this money saving route for the wedding:

Yes, all my makeshift vases are made out of wine bottles and decanters. It’s called upcycling, people.

Of course, if we do try to save money on flowers for the wedding, we won’t be having roses. The funny thing is, I think Mike always gets me these because they’re his personal favorite. Which reminds me!

I finally got an opinion out of him!

That’s right, Michael had a décor opinion about his own wedding! Shock! Awe! I asked him if he could envision any type of color or shape- or dear god, anything- that would fit into a certain venue and was fully expecting another, “Uh…. I don’t know. I don’t know about this stuff. Whatever you like will be great, baby.” (He’s learned to lay it on a little thick to get me off his back.) But instead he said, drum roll please…. He thought red flowers would look nice. Ta da! That’s right, folks, Michael took a wedding décor question, gave it some thought, and produced an opinion. I know I sound sarcastic but I’m truly happy.

Whether I’ll actually use his suggestion, um, we shall see, but in the mean time I’m just thrilled to have him be involved. (More on gender stereotypes in wedding planning and how they irk me- yet remain factual in my case- later.) And actually, he later moved the bottle/vase in the kitchen from the counter to the stovetop because he thought it looked nicer. He's developing an eye for style and an interest in floral placement! I think all the incessant wedding talk must finally be seeping in...

Michael reports that he had a great birthday evening- first, I made his favorite dinner upon request:

Ribeye, mashed potatoes, brussell sprouts with bacon and spinach sauteed with garlic

This man loves brussell sprouts!

Then we just chilled out in the living room.

Our makeup Valentine’s date has been rescheduled to Friday night due to various circumstances. The upside of that is the weather is supposed to be lovely (for February) AND there’s a full moon that night, and we’re going to a rooftop bar. Candy, flowers, a lacy card, full moon view from a romantic bar- I feel like I’m inside the ‘ideal’ bubble in a Kathy cartoon- i.e., not what I ever imagined myself wanting. But much like finding and falling in love with Michael, it’s surreally wonderful. ;)

Inspiration Board/Blog: Fun with Fruit and Flowers

Every time we see a new venue, I go home and start imagining how everything else would fall into place around it. Fashion, favors, decorations, place cards and of course, centerpieces.

I love fresh cut flowers, which sets me apart from a lot of Offbeat Brides. However, I'm not crazy into giant expensive centerpieces. (Thank god, because they're really expensive and almost impossible to do yourself.). As I continue to do research and ogle pictures online, I've found I prefer single solid colors. I posted about my cut your own lavender centerpiece idea on my previous Inspiration Board/Blog post here. I still love them. But I needed to look for shorter centerpieces to better compliment places like The Supper Club. I found I really like square vases with a solid color. I like the architectural look when they are even across the top:

 Roses seem to be the most popular, but I think tulips or other flowers could work. I also really like the understated elegance of this:

It would need a table that wasn't too crowded so it wouldn't be overwhelmed by wine glasses and silverware, but I love its simple beauty, and it would be pretty easy to DIY. Using multiples that keep a light floral touch could pump up the volume a little while remaining delicate:

In a lot of the images that popped up for 'square vases with flowers', fruit was used inside the vases:

I love how this looks. I also love the idea of edible centerpieces. I've seen people use vases filled with green apples or lemons and oranges as decorations. I've also heard of brides using Edible Arrangements baskets (or making them themselves) as centerpieces. I started looking into fruit as decoration.

Soooo pretty. I especially love the citrus tones for a summer wedding. Although there are ways to take the fruit concept to the extreme:

These are all carved out of watermelons!

I do need to take being a worrywart into consideration- as much as I find the fruit centerpieces charming, after a few minutes my mind starts stressing about refrigeration and flies and bruised fruit. I've got some plans for combating the anxiety issue, but in the meantime, here are a couple other cute centerpieces. I'm particularly excited about the photo cube vases- I have an idea for numbering the tables that I'm excited about, and those cubes could be the perfect solution!

Inspiration Board/Blog- Lavender

I’ve found a tutorial for making an Inspiration board on my computer, which, I’m going to try to do soon. I’m also working on setting up something in my house, like a cork board. In the meantime, I’ll post inspirations here as they come.

Since I signed up for some wedding sites I’ve been getting mailings from businesses across the tri-state area. Something arrived a few weeks ago that struck me- a post card from Pleasant Valley Lavender in Morganville, NJ.

How pretty is that?

So, first, I haven’t chosen colors yet. I don’t know if I’m even going to. And a lot will depend on the venue, of course. But when I sat down to make this blog, I chose the color combo of purple, turquoise and dark gray. I just like the way it looks. And then this purple and turquoise post card shows up… hm. 

Also, pick your own lavender! Very affordable! I’ve toyed with the idea of arranging my own flowers, but I’m afraid of how they’ll turn out, seeing as my flower arranging skills are pretty amateur. And I don’t want to be worrying about anything on the day of or day before the wedding;  I’m enough of a worrier as it is. I just want to focus on the ceremony. But simply picking lavender and making bunches doesn’t sound too taxing! And I can probably get my bridesmaids to help (thanks girls!).

I’ve seen images of single-flower and/or color bouquets and I think it looks very sophisticated. I can envision everything black and white with just a splash of purple. I like it.

Bouquet Alternatives

I’m pretty sure I’m going to have a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. I already have a couple different ideas that I’ll be mulling over for the next year. However, I’ve been checking out some flower alternatives and there are so many creative ideas out there! (Warning- this is a very picture heavy post!)

Now this is original!

A lot of girls are choosing silk or fabric flowers as a fresh cut alternative, for a variety of reasons- environmental, sentimental or budgetary. Some find fresh flowers to be wasteful, or just too expensive, while others like the idea of creating a bouquet they can keep forever. There are some really pretty and crafty ways to make silk, fabric, felt, paper and even leather flowers. It’s the even more non-traditional bouquets that are blowing me away, though.

I'm lucky to be a part of the Offbeat Bride Tribe, so I have access to all their unique ideas, and get to share my own with them. Some of these pics are from the Offbeat Bride site as well as Etsy, Google Images, etc. I didn;t get hoto credits for them but I hope they don't mind my sharing them with you all! This blog is basically my online inspiration board.

A very popular theme I’m seeing is button bouquets. They look so fun! You can buy them on Etsy but a lot of girls are creating the bouquets themselves.

Buttons and felt by the OBB infamous Princess Lasertron

Here’s an idea I love- book pages and maps! I have maps all over my apartment, and I have been a huge book nerd since I was little.

I think this is a sweet idea. I would definitely consider it for a beach wedding. Plus my mom has vases of shells I might be able to use to make it even more personalized and special, so that’s something to consider.

Speaking of sweet ideas: 

For Christmas time or otherwise- ornaments! 

(Isn't she adorable? I first got this image off Google Images but more info on her wedding is at OBB.)

These are gorgeous- they’re made of brooches that girls either already owned or borrowed, or sourced at flea markets and costume jewelry stores.

 And here’s a bunch of cool, creative ideas:

Balloons

Wire

Crystals

Coffee Filters!!

Duct Tape!!!

Also, flowers made of :      

Clay

Wood

 

Steel

I see a lot of girls also carrying fans, parasols, crocheted flowers, crocheted purses, origami, feathers, stuffed animals, lanterns, books- so many awesome ideas.

Pinwheels

Muffs (winter adorable and joke ready)

Whatever this is

Some bouquets even light up! Again, I already have two solid ideas for fresh cut flowers I’d like to carry- I have always loved flowers, and so did my mom. And I’m looking into non-floral centerpieces, which should bring down costs, so I’m happy to spend a little on my bouquet (and the flowers for the bridesmaids and moms/grandmas). I can save the ribbons and a special charm I'm planning to make. Still… it’s pretty fun to look!