Ring-a-ling-ling

All engagement rings, like all engagement stories, are beautiful and romantic. I love to think of the man going to chose a ring to ask a woman to marry him. While we are all for tradition, these engagement and wedding rings featured on Refinery29 gives some alternative ideas on ways to sparkle up that finger!

For more information on prices and where to buy, click here.

Inspiration Board #15: Peaches and Cream

I love the romantic softness of peaches and cream, whether applied to makeup or stationery or flowers or decor. It is feminine and beautiful. think dahlias and roses, floaty fabric, pretty paper and you have a look that's as sweet as peaches and cream.

{Source: Tablesetting via Style Me Pretty, Peach Vera Wang Dress via Real Weddings, Bride and dressvia Once Wed, Chair with roses and cone via Elizabeth Anne Designs, Bouquet via Style Me Pretty,  Peach shoes via Heather Warasaka}

Handmade Heaven

While you may not be a bride inclined to bury herself in sticky tape, scissors and paper while magically crafting DIY master pieces, you may still want one-off, homemade elements to enhance your big day. Etsy, the online handmade and vintage market place, is the perfect place to hunt for such a thing. We love Humunuku's shop filled with beautiful things perfect for a wedding: hand made stationery, gift bags, bunting and labels.

Love Love Love Cards

Merci Beaucoup Gift Bags

Love Love Love Clothe Pouches

Merci Beaucoup Thank-You Cards

Vintage Animal Bunting

 

Merci Beaucoup Handle Gift Bags with Striped Ribbon

Real Wedding #15: Pretty in Pink

Although not our usual DIY love or reception details, a few things about this wedding caught my eye ... the gorgeous ruffle on the bride's dress, a very romantic proposal*, the look on the bride's face in the car, the bride's gumboots, the lovely misty rain photos, the old Peugot that took her to the church, and her sexy LBD for the reception. So pretty and romantic!

*"Early one morning Brett asked me to help him find a calf in the paddock, he drove to the top of the mountain behind our house and at the very top he surprised me, he had mowed a patch, set up a white picnic rug with Will you marry me written in roses, champagne and a stunning bunch of soft pink roses.  As the sun rose he then got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him and presented me with a ring he had secretly purchased two months earlier.”


{Source: Via Polka Dot Bride}

Fun Friday

No give away or competition or free stuff today but check at our recent posts here, here and here. Instead today we thought we would show you this fun engagement shoot taken at a laundromat! I love the idea of an engagement shoot as it's wonderful to have some great pics of you and your hubby-to-be when you are not all dressed up. Chose a favourite spot or think up some fun location where you two can feel comfortable and have a good time. Most photographers will gladly do engagement shoots to so find out the details from them.

Pretty and Printable

We're often asked how a bride on a budget (99.9% of us) can make the most of her resources - where to splurge and where to save. Well, one item we always suggest saving on is the invitation. It is such an important part of the wedding as it sets the tone for what can be expected by your guests. However, it is also an item that you can easily DIY and still make it unique and fabulous. There are some gorgeous printable and customisable invitations available for free (yay!) on the web and we just love this one from our fave, Nonpareil Magazine.

You can download the templates here (available in four colourways - combinations of lemon, blue, mint and raspberry), included are invite, thank-you note and envelope liner. Then we just love the touch of the fabric invite wrap (imagine the possibilities of colours and patterns!) with ribbon and sticker.

How have you saved on your bridal budget? We'd love to hear from you.

Inspiration board 14: It's black and white

Black and white is a classic colour combination and translates beautifully into a wedding. The style can become elegant, trendy, cutting edge or pretty - depending on what type of bride you are. We love the elegant, grown-up manifestation of the theme - think dark chocolate desserts, black and white stationery, decadent cake, a huge white balloons! You can't get more chic than that.

(Please click on board for larger image)

Top row from left: bridesmaid dress by Quail; chocolate-covered spoons and coffee by Martha Stewart Weddings;  picture of bride via Snippet and Ink
Row 2: picture of chateau source unknown; short, tulle wedding dress source unknown; black wedding dress via East Side Bride; stationery by Ink Wells Row 3: cake via Once Wed; love-garland via Chronicle Books; image of heart-shaped salt via Le Love