Insta-Shopping

All of the late-night breastfeeding has this mama spending way too much time on social media these days. The Facebook feed gets really boring, really quickly and there are only so many lacy dresses or fur-coated brides to look at on Pinterest. At 4:00 in the morning, my poison is Instagram. So many people to find, products to browse, connections to make. At 40 weeks pregnant and the size of a house, I found solace in searching #stillpregnant and seeing all those girls who looked the way I felt — miserable, huge, and over it.

Since Willow’s arrived on the scene, we’ve found a “twin from afar” for her, a little girl born the same date. It’s fun to watch them grow side-by-side, week-by-week. But the danger lies in the shopping. Did you know you can shop right off Instagram? (There may or may not be a gold, turban-style hairbow with plaid attachment on its way right now…)

Between the baby moccs and the “Rockin’ that Mom Bun” tees that have kept me entertained and my I-Want-It List growing, it occurred to me what a great place Instagram is for sourcing wedding inspiration — and even buying stuff. Some fun vendors and shopping ideas are below to get you started — as well as a few hashtags you can try for wedding inspo. Don’t forget to check out DIY ideas too, as they abound. Have fun! (But avoid doing it at 4:00 in the morning, assuming you’re not currently nursing an infant. The bleary-eyed among us have been known to do a little too much shopping at that hour).

Bridal hashtags I love:

#forthebride
#somethingblue
#weddingshoes
#weddingdiy
#yourbigday
#weddingphotography
#bridalinspiration
#weddingshopping

Be Generous.

There is a good thing about how long it took Josh and me to pour over our wedding photos and design the album with our photographer. This meant a glorious delay in actually getting high-res on everything for printing and sharing. I’ve always been one to drag a party out, so it’s a joy nearly 8 months post-nup to experience all these beautiful memories anew.

Our brilliant photographer Elisabeth Millay sent us this smart zip drive last week containing all of the images. I can’t get enough of her chic packaging — so indicative of the classy, thoughtful, aesthetically incredibly person she is. It also made me about nine million times more excited to see our wedding album, which should be coming soon.

My mom always told me that life is about the details. She inspired us to be generous, with our talents and with our time. I think one of the reasons I adore Elisabeth Millay is her generosity — she gives wholly and completely to her clients, even months and months after the big day, to ensure that no detail is overlooked. I look forward to booking her for anniversaries, babies, and other milestones in years to come. For now, time to get crackin’ on those Facebook albums! Happy Sunday, beautiful people. Go out and do something special for somebody today. Why not?

 

Rainy Days and Tuesdays … and Some Sweetness

The rain always brings up a sort of intense inner sadness for me, one I find it hard to shake. I hate to sound like a drama queen, but those blue-sky days are my drug. With only a couple meetings booked today, I decided to face the downpour head-on this morning and get my errands out of the way early, so I could come home and curl up with a warm cup of Starbucks (recently switched to Grande, y’all — congratulations are in order) and get back into happy writer mode. It worked.

We’ve talked before about the joy that comes from looking through other people’s wedding photos. It’s the reason that bridal blogs and Pinterest boards are flooded with real weddings, and also the reason so many pre-brides are hoarding images meant to inspire. It’s beautiful, and it’s just plain old fun. So let’s spend this rainy day inside checking out some of the sweetest moments from strangers’ weddings. And, sure, I’ll throw in one of my own for good measure. Here’s to sunnier skies this weekend, when it counts the most!

Jessica Lorren Photography nails it with this face-grab first look. So sweet!

“You may now kiss the bride” are some of the best words ever uttered, and this photo captures the magic perfectly. Sourced from WeddingChicks.com

 

This image evokes so much — strength, peace, protection, passion. Everything a wedding represents and more. Just love it.

The colorful, bohemian headdress. The fluttery cutout sleeves. The light sweeping across the horizon just so. The way she watches the men interact — stunning shot!

There are so many magical shots from our day that we haven’t shared yet, as we wanted to keep a lot of it under wraps till our family has their albums. But this post-ceremony moment is certainly one of my favorites so I thought I would post it today. Such joy, such love, such fun romping around on the beach with my beloved! Courtesy of Elisabeth Millay Photography.

Sunday Surprise: New Wedding Photos

Josh and I spent the better part of a weekend recently looking through all of our wedding photos from the brilliant and talented Elisabeth Millay. We thought we’d seen everything until our videographer, Alwyn at Kiss the Bride Films, sent us some stunning stills. The Sunday Blues are a real thing around here, but they were alleviated by this special package. I now present you with four sweet moments made still, forevermore:

Winter Wonders

This weekend was inspiring. The weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining, Josh and I wandered all over DC snapping pics and eating salads and gluten-free wraps without a care in the world. And then it changed. But even in this never-ending East Coast winter, we can find beauty. Sometimes it isn’t just the swish of a dress or glint of an envelope liner that does it for us — stunning wedding inspiration can come from a variety of sources:

Brr… It’s Cold Out There

… I won’t continue this one with the cheer that comes to mind. But I will say this. If you have a winter’s wedding coming up, you have to figure out a way to make the potentially freezing weather work for you. Here’s the good news: hair is less likely to frizz this time of year. Your pores should appear tighter than they do in summer months, and your groom isn’t as likely to be sweating like crazy! But icy winter temps can also mean travel delays, slippery walkways, photo-ruining precipitation, and other bridal nightmares. Keep your cool — literally — with these tips:

Give the girls and guys of your bridal party HotHands hand warmers before attempting any outdoor photos. The ladies can conceal theirs with the bouquets and the gents can tuck them into the pockets of their pants. Everyone will be a lot more cheerful if they can feel their hands while grinning for the camera.

In lieu of a more tradition gift, consider giving your girls bunny-soft, uber-warm cashmere cardigans from J. Crew. This one comes in fifteen shades from neutral to bold, so you can mix and match or get them all in one hue that blends with your colors. The sweater will keep them comfy throughout the day and they can continue to use and love it all winter long. Also, these will be brand new, so there’s no worry about stains, pills, or other snags that could look less than perfect in your pictures.

Make sure to have a Thermos (or several) on hand filled with hot cocoa. Between takes, pass it around and share the warmth. Not only will the warm sweetness keep your bridal party cheerful, it can make for some really cute candid shots, too.

Write your names and the date in the snow, if you have any. This is the winter’s equivalent of the classic beach shot, and it will make for absolutely lovely wall or album art later. Make sure your photog gets snaps of you guys etching the words — those will also be very romantic.

Snow or no snow, you’ll want to have a cozy blanket on hand. Not only will cuddling up with your honey make you feel warm inside and out, it’s a beautiful symbol of the love that wraps you both up every day. One of my mom’s dearest friends knit us the most incredible blanket as a wedding gift, and it was such a poignant symbol. If you don’t have any talented (and patient) knitters in your family, I suggest purchasing one ahead of time. This cashmere one, from Ralph Lauren, is timeless:

$595, bloomingdales.com

Fur is classic, but if it’s not your thing, there’s plenty out there. Consider doing some solo shots in your dress worn with your groom’s jacket and a large scarf. Or, try a show-stopper, worn open, with your gown. I love this one from Etsy:

$85, NextChoice on Etsy

Showers and Showers… and What to Wear.

On Saturday, I attended a lovely bridal shower for a dear friend whose glam DC wedding will take place in January. It was refreshing to travel a mere 30 minutes and find myself in a room filled with love. Since moving here, Josh and I have started to settle in our cutesy Virginia neighborhood. I have plans upon plans and so many phone calls to make to dear friends who leave nearby, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Between the new job and last weekend’s health scare, I feel like I am just starting to find a routine and feel (a little bit) at home.

My friend Tara is going to be the type of bride that you see all over Pinterest and just gasp at her beauty. She did bend my ear a tiny bit about the amazing theme of her wedding, and I even got a sneak peek of the hairstyle which is beyond words. But we’ll keep all of that under wraps until after the wedding takes place.

This was the beautiful favor from Tara’s shower.

After the shower, Josh and I had hoped to return to Maryland for a dinner party at the bride’s father’s home. But Josh’s work commitments made it impossible for him and I, traveling alone in a crazy rainstorm, didn’t end up making it either. We cracked open a bottle of mediocre red and ordered in Chinese, after which my beloved fell into a deep slumber. And I, inspired by the beautiful snow that had fallen earlier, got to work brainstorming more winter wedding ideas. Let’s talk fashion:

After the shower, Josh and I had hoped to return to Maryland for a dinner party at the bride’s father’s home. But Josh’s work commitments made it impossible for him and I, traveling alone in a crazy rainstorm, didn’t end up making it either. We cracked open a bottle of mediocre red and ordered in Chinese, after which my beloved fell into a deep slumber. And I, inspired by the beautiful snow that had fallen earlier, got to work brainstorming more winter wedding ideas. Let’s talk fashion:

The first look
A snowy first look is absolutely magical. Whether or not you’re lucky enough to get actual flakes, you can make it work by donning a white fur or otherwise puffy stole or cape. Also, the bride below was smart to wear her hair up. In theory, snow on the hair is absolutely enchanting. But unless your stylist stays on-hand for a major touch-up, melted snow can create a real mess for your locks.

Cardigans galore
I’ve seen matching cardigans or peacoats work on the bridesmaids for outdoor winter shoots, but I’ve also seen them way not work. Coordinating is one thing, but a line of six of the same sweater can end up looking ho-hum. Instead, encourage your girls to wear wool cardis that relate to your wedding colors but are not an identical color match. The look ends up being much more elegant and natural.

Have some fun
There will be plenty of pictures of you two looking fabulous and chic — save your heels for a moment when you aren’t trudging through the snow. A little humor goes a long way, and a shot of the groom holding your bouquet so you can lift up your dress to reveal snow boots is just the sweetest thing.

Our Wedding: Behind the Lens

We just received our Facebook downloads from the photographer. I can’t lie– it wasn’t easy narrowing down 900 pictures to select a sampling for online sharing, but I did it. Once we finally get unpacked in our new place and set about selecting the ones for our album, it will be  tough. Involving quite a bit of wine, no doubt.

But this morning’s post was truly lovely and I have already looked through my own album upwards of five times. Does anyone else do that? In any case, I believe the sign of a truly talented photographer is that the story of the subjects is told wordlessly, and you can read it in every shot. Elisabeth Millay could not have come more highly recommended, but I was still nervous about the photos. My wedding was the biggest and brightest day of my life. I was worried that in time, cloud cover in the brain would let certain elements slip away, but with these pictures, I’ll never miss a moment.

Here are some of my favorites!

I love how Elisabeth set this shot up with the rings over our initials. With Josh’s on top of mine, it’s a symbol that he will always be there to protect me.

Elisabeth captured such an interesting expression on my face. I was feeling nervous, peaceful, and eager to finally see my groom. When Josh first saw this shot, he said “You look like a woman” — as opposed to a girl. I couldn’t agree more.

These five have had my back through some of the most thrilling and terrifying times. I am beyond blessed to have people in my life who know the meaning of being a BEST friend. Oh, and they look gorg.

This is one of our favorite images. I feel like it could be in a coffee table book! The boys look so determined. I just love it.

I gasped when I first saw this shot. What a magical moment. I get chills thinking about.

Initially I was a little disappointed at the goofy face I was making after the ceremony. But now I realize that everything about this is beautiful. I’ve never felt such joy — you can’t arrange your face a certain way in moments like that.

Brides: put this shot on your checklist for the big day. In the moment it felt a little staged and weird, but wow do I love how it turned out!

There’s a certain cinematic feel to a late-night shot. Elisabeth nailed it with this kiss, taken outside. The vows had been exchanged, the party was coming to a close, and I found myself making out with my husband on the pier. Perfection!

Keep Off the Dunes

We have entered fall, but I know some of you are dreaming of next summer’s nuptials. If you’re planning a beach wedding, it’s imperative that you understand two things:

1) There are many things you can control, but the weather is not one of them. Make sure you are absolutely in love with the rain-plan too, because if it pours on your big day you still want to beam as you walk down the aisle.

2) Nature is protected for a reason, and the dunes do not care about your big day. Speak with the on-site coordinator ahead of time about what areas are off-limits for your photos. Also make sure to check out their website for photo ideas. If you don’t see some of your favorite spots featured, speak up. It’s possible that areas of the beach and surrounding land are protected, so other brides were unable to shoot there.

I really, really wanted to get a dune-feel with our photos, but this Long Island girl was not about to harm any grass or wildlife in the process. Instead, we worked with our team to line everyone up on the boardwalk, and our photographer and videographer stood on the nearest one. They shot us with a zoom lens giving the appearance that we were in the dunes, but in fact we were not.

Your wedding is your day, but you have to be mindful of what was there before and what needs to remain after you’re gone. Each venue comes with its own host of specifics; do your homework so you don’t end up disappointed.

Photo courtesy of Elisabeth Millay (elisabethmillay.com)