B H L D N

Wheels off-here it is...

Brides everywhere beware!!!

BHLDN, looking forward to 2/14

aren't you?

it's going to be gorgeous....

Anthropologie weddings?

How sweet... "Be you. Be loved."

The news on this will launch on February 14th!! How exciting...

Oh great, more that I cannot afford :)

Cindy's Shoes

So my cousin Cynthia is getting married this weekend as you know...

We ran into a bit of a problem (but not one we couldn't solve!!!) when we ordered these shoes with the intent on dying them gold to go with the wedding...

And the cobbler said that dying wasn't possible!!! Alicia and mom and I sat around trying to figure out what to do. There was this piece of gold raw silk sitting next to the shoe and I started to weave it under the loop at the top of the shoe...we all gasped...with lots of tedious stitching and tacking, (and a lot of help and direction from my amazing mom), this is what I came up with for the wedding shoes:

(photo cred: cousin Julie)

I suppose I just expanded the Artisann line into wedding shoes!!!

Tartan Wedding

hello all!! just getting back into the swing of things after a weekend away in new york!

you know i love tartan. i know you love tartan. check out once wed's tartan wedding...

xoxo

Brides

Just wanted to share some of my brides with you all!! Don't they all look amazing?

My cousin Erica..(taken by Julie)

Dear friend Laura (and I did all the bridesmaids' hair pieces as well!)

I love all the concerned faces as they bustle her dress.

(Laura's photos are via Josh Fowler Photography!)

Chrissy's friend...

(via Nine Photography!)

cute cake, too!

Leopard on the loose.

Take a look at JCrew's updated wedding section.

There is a baby leopard on the loose named Mabaka. Talk about hazardous modeling..but it seems like this kitty remained calm. What a fabulously dramatic shoot!

Winter Wedding

My cousin Cyn gets married January 1. We're all trying to figure out what to wear for a Winter wedding. I also have friends attending Winter weddings...

I love this dress, but not the price tag.
Any other suggestions before I peruse the world of budget shopping?
xo

Looks like a Dream

Jose Villa has this inexplicable way of pulling you into this magical fairy world with his photographs. This photo shoot for Southern Weddings is no different. I love the use of bold, bright, rainbow colors in every element of the photograph---the dress, bracelets, balloon, wicker basket, bow tie, pocket square..to name a few. I am irreversibly obsessed with this dress and would like to have it. Thank you.

You must check out the rest of the shots on his blog.

Moses Poses

Who can resist this flirty little grin!?!?!?!

Cousin Julie took some adorable photos of our weekend together for Erica's wedding. This week proved very difficult to get back to reality and be away from family.

This weekend we're heading to Austin for Katie's wedding--photographed by Cousin Julie and flowers by my sister Virginia (Moses' mom). I'm sure it will turn out beautiful!!

xo

the Best Balinese Banquet

This weekend was a blast. My cousins and sisters are so much fun to hang out with. On Saturday, we all pitched in to make a Balinese banquet for Erica, since she and Evan will spent a month there on honeymoon.

Buddha sat at one end of the table and the wine pairings at the other :)

Cute candle lanterns, flowers by Virginia, pretty patterns, and menu fans.

The lake was misting over as the sun set!

A traditional "cousinship" picture of Julie and I :)

someone was pooped out on the car ride home....

My dear Erica

My sweet cousin, Erica, is getting married next weekend. This weekend we're headed to the lake for relaxation and sunshine, and lots of wine and coffee drinking before the big day.

Erica + Evan last November in South Africa:

Julie, Erica, and I at Julie's bachelorette three years ago! Seems like yesterday!

Favorite picture of all time of me and Erica.... got our beers, got our bikinis, totally READY for tubing in the Comal.

I love you, sweet cousin. So excited for your big day and verrry excited for this weekend!!!

Happy weekend!

Wedding present ideas.

Just cruising around blogland and saw Mary's post about dorm rooms...I saw this letter pillow and immediately thought-how cute for a wedding present!! That is, if you decide to stray from the registry (confession: I OFTEN DO!)

Now..why are you $98?! Ugh.

Back to the present.

I am still alive! Survived two activity packed bachelorette parties in two cities for two great friends!

Sara and I being goofy at the bar..

Yesterday afternoon I wanted to crawl into bed and sleep it all off, but instead my roommate and I went grocery shopping and cooked up a storm for the week! Homemade vegetable soup (w/ Adzuki beans which are PACKED with good stuff), orzo pasta with shelled edamame and sauteed onions, and yellow (gluten free) cake batter cookies. We are set for the week!

This week will be full of errands and relaxing as I get ready for another fabulous bachelorette party...actually more of a "cousin trip" to Wimberly, Texas for my lovely cousin Erica. I can't wait to catch up with my cousins and drink endless amounts of coffee and wine all weekend! I hope the week speeds by.

Also...just picked up (and by picked up I mean downloaded off my iPhone) the new Ra Ra Riot album, the Orchard. Pretty tasty so far! They pre-released "Boy" a few months back, so you'll probably recognize that one.

Bachelorette Weekend.

This weekend I will be part of not one but TWO fabulous bachelorette parties!! Katie and Laura are both having October weddings so they both chose this weekend for their celebration! I chose to split my time between the two of them (and two cities!)

First stop... San Antonio!!
What: Laura's celebration day 1
Who: prettiest friends from when I lived in San Antonio
Where: Dinner at La Tuna and some drinks out
Outfit: Slightly casual...high waist purple H&M skirt, American Apparel tank, Nordy Wedges.
Next stop: Travel back to Dallas! What: Katie's Bachelorette!
Where: Relax poolside for the afternoon
Next: Dinner out, night on the town!

I am SO excited to celebrate with both of these lovely ladies :)

Laura + Tony

Katie + Mike

Take me to the forest

The French forest that is. This lovely couple (seen on Once Wed) was married in her grandparents forest-doesn't that sound like a dream? See the images here...and below are my favorites.

Ahhh to lay back in the grass with your lover.

The theme of the wedding was dots and stripes, and some guests followed suits. Love the gentleman's horizontal stripe top-looks very Parisian.

The details are magnificent!!

Here is Eleanore's fashion blog as well. I'm still pouring through it and am developing a girl crush :) The tagline says "Eleanore Bridge- Who the hell are you?" haa!

A new idea.

Lisa Linehan has a new idea. Plan the wedding, and hope to find a groom. Is she part of the "build it and he will come" Field of Dreams theory? Buy the dress, get the cake, set the date, book the venue...surely the groom will appear. She has literally done all that, with no man in mind. Lisa is 35 and wants to cut to the chase and find love. She admits it is unconventional, but is excited at the potential fairy tale outcome. If she doesn't find a groom by her February 15 deadline, she'd like to enjoy the party anyways. My question is, will she wear the dress?

I am completely speechless...

How Tuesday: Wedding Season Part IV: Recovery

I've just returned from a wedding of a dear friend. You may have thoughts in your head of how relaxing a wedding weekend will be, but no matter if you're in it or just attending, the travel and excitement will definitely weigh on you! Recovery is essential...I'm also going to include some hilarious things my friend Jon wish he had the next day.

during "Shout" --- a little bit softer now..

Remember to Pack...

1. Comfortable travelling clothes for on the way home. Shellie wears a cute cotton dress that is long and stretchy enough to also serve as a blanket..haha.

2. Comfortable shoes/flip flops (hey Jen, watch out for cow manure).

3. Pain relief medicines---Pepto, Tylenol, Advil.. whatever your "go to" is.

After the wedding...

1. Chug water.

2. Pack some of your belongings so you have as little to do as possible in the am.

3. Set your alarm to wake up in time for check out.

4. Remain calm. Crazy things could still happen between leaving the hotel and getting back home..flight changes, check out problems, missing persons, etc.

5. Get magazines for the flight, in case you don't pass out immediately for a good nap :)

How Tuesday: Wedding Season Part III: Rehearsal Dinner

It's the night before the wedding. You're attending the rehearsal dinner. Maybe you're even the MOH (maid of honor) (or even the best man). That means you'll be needed to help out, tie up lose ends, welcome all the guests, and give a speech...eek! (the speech can be during the rehearsal dinner and/or the actual wedding reception)

Before/during the rehearsal:

1. Make sure everyone has arrived who is supposed to be in attendance.

2. Help the bride bring stuff to the church/restaurant (favors, gifts, name tags, directions to the rehearsal dinner, whatever she has prepared).

3. Arrive early.

4. Help keep everyone in high spirits during the rehearsal. I know at my church, this is a long process and very cumbersome.

5. Last minute chance to rehearse your speech!

Post rehearsal:

1. Double check on directions to the restaurant, and provide your phone number in case people need help with directions (I should never do this, I get lost in my own neighborhood).

2. Help drive everyone to the rehearsal.

The dinner:

1. Help the bride and groom greet guests and get them seated.

2. Get food for the bride and groom.

3. Have one glass of wine to calm your nerves before your speech-but stop there!

Some constant reminders:

**keep the bride and groom happy at all times

**don't out dress the bride

**don't get noticeably "over served" (i.e. blitzed) at any of these parties :)

**helpful speech prep help here , here , here and here.

How Tuesday: Wedding Season Part 2: Bachelorette

You've survived the shower(s). You've RSVP'ed to the wedding. You've bought a gift or two. The big day is approaching...what now? The all famous bachelorette party. First of all, it's always better when the party is a safe distance from the wedding. I can't tell you how many disasters I've witnessed when it is the opposite.

The lingerie shower. Often the bachelorette starts with a lingerie shower.

1. Host it at some one's house with hors d'oeuvres.

2. Make some drinks (like champagne with raspberries in it).

3. If you must play a game, play one where the bride wins---i.e. gets more "gifts".

4. Secret weapon for lingerie purchases? Ross! I am not even kidding... Ross has the best selection, and cheap too. AND the greatest part? Every bride loves what I've gotten them. (sing with me... "I got it at Ross!!").

Going out.

1. It's not your party. You can offer to be the designated driver, or arrange for taxis/car service.

2. Make sure to bring sashes/veils/bells/whistles so that everyone knows the bride has arrived.

3. Make sure the bride is well fed/has a drink at all times.

4. Keep the creeps away from the bride (there are always those sketchy guys thinking they can bust up the wedding last minute...).
5. If she's not having fun, move to another location! Karaoke bars, patio bars, and bars with a good DJ are probably the most fun.

Attire.

1. I said it before---simple rule: don't ever out shine the bride. Save your gold disco dress for when it is your day, or lend it to her.

2. Theme dressing is always fun, if you can get the rest of the bridal party or guests to join in.

3. Really tall heels may not be the most conducive for hours of dancing. Wedges?

4. If the bride is up for it make shirts for each guest (or at least the bridal party) saying you're with the bride, or even stickers/sashes to wear.

Recovering.
1. Feel like you're dead the next day? Order hangover food for the bride (whatever her choosing) or cook it.
2. Buy eye masks.
3. Arrange for light activity the next day such as mani/pedis.
4. Help the bride pack up her goodies by giving her a big tote as a party favor.
5. Help whoever hosted the lingerie party clean up.

Some of my favorite bachelorette parties were the most nontraditional venues... My cousin had hers at my apartment when I lived in San Antonio, where it was a short distance to go toobing on the Comal river and visit some vineyards in the hill country. We did go dancing downtown during the weekend as well. Just ask the bride what she wants and go from there! It doesn't have to be "the typical" night. Here are some pictures from the event almost 2 years ago!

Floating on the river was a BLAST

I ordered a custom tank for Julie that said their names and the date of the wedding with little stick wedding figures :)