The creative class

I ♥ Etsy. For those of you who don’t know what Etsy is, it’s an online marketplace of handmade items where creative-types can hock their wares.

When I got married, I used Etsy to buy gifts for everyone who helped me with my wedding. It just felt right to buy them something not only beautiful, but handmade, and in some cases, custom-made.

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These beautiful clutches are by the Etsy seller EmmaGordonLondon. They are so girly and I ♥ their playfulness! I bought the purple clutch for my mother-in-law because she is a Betty Boop enthusiast, and it looks like something Betty Boop would love!

Georgia purple and polka dot

Dewie Peach

Jessica pink trim spotty clutch

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These pieces are from Etsy seller Foundling. Betsy of Foundling uses recycled metals and vintage, found, or repurposed materials into her jewelry.

Maize Ring

Lucille Drops

My husband told me how much he wished our kitty could be with us at our wedding, so Betsy custom-made these cufflinks using a photo of her. My husband absolutely loved them and wore them on our wedding day!

Kitty Links

My stepdad flies planes as a hobby. Betsy custom-made these cufflinks for me using vintage flight charts. Cool, right? Betsy was super-accommodating and great to work with!

Vintage Flight Chart Links

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5eizen is another Etsy seller. I bought this ring pillow for my wedding and it was one of my favorite details of the day. It was SO beautiful! I originally didn’t want a ring pillow, but when I saw this one, I fell in love.

Elle Ring Pillow

I love the way Irene of 5eizen incorporates color, texture and flowers. It’s perfectly simple and beautiful!

Sessa Sash

Gabi Hair Clip

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These clutches are from Etsy seller ViaBella. I bought one for my husband’s grandmother as a thank you for everything she did for me during my wedding planning process. I ♥ the way that Jane at ViaBella incorporates beautiful fabrics and unexpected details like flowers and bows!

Purple Peacock

Big Bow Silk Clutch

White Silk Bridal Clutch

Are you inspired to shop on Etsy yet?

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Paper heart

I love paper. I love the way it feels when you touch it, I love the way it smells and I love the way it sounds. I dream of someday opening a paper store filled with paper and all of its accoutrements: cards, stamps, sealing wax, pens, ribbon, wrapping paper, notepads – you get the idea.

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I recently came across these beautiful cards from Papyrus. It’s difficult to see it in the pictures, but they are super-sparkly. I also ♥ that the envelopes are lined. I adore lined envelopes; it just adds a little something special when you open the envelope. A little surprise.

Butterfly Girl

Peacock Girl

Parrot Girl

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My favorite paper store in the whole world is Paper Source. Whenever I go in there, I get so inspired to create beautiful things! I’ve also taken a couple of the classes that they offer. I took a calligraphy class and a wedding invitation-making class. They were both so fun! I also really love the videos that they have on their site. I think I’ve watched almost all of them.

Here are some beautiful things that I am coveting at Paper Source right now:

Butterfly Magnet Set

Indian Fan Rubber Stamp

Paisley Stationery

Do you love these wedding invitations from Paper Source as much as I do?

Bertini Plumes Wedding Invitations

Colonial Stencil Wedding Invitation

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When planning my wedding, paper was the most important thing to me. I wanted my invitations to set the tone for the wedding, and then all of the paper at the wedding to echo the design of the invitations. Our wedding paper suite turned out so beautifully!

Our invites:

Our invitation

These went into the hotel welcome baskets.

Welcome message

Before the ceremony, we signed our ketubah:

Ketubah

Our programs:

Program cover

Program pages 2 and 3

Program pages 4 and 5

Program pages 6 and 7

Program back page

These reserved signs hung on the first three rows of chairs at the ceremony:

Reserved sign

These tags hung on baskets of petals at the end of each row of chairs at our ceremony:

Tags

Sign for the guest book table:

Guest book table sign

Seating chart:

Seating chart

We named our tables after places we have traveled to:

Table name

These menus were at each place setting at the tables.

Menu

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Do you love paper as much as I do?

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Sitting pretty

Wouldn’t a smaller version of this headpiece make a gorgeous bridal bouquet? And that dress! I am absolutely swooning over it! The petticoat peeking out from underneath is SO lovely.

I first saw photos from this shoot on Style Me Pretty, but be sure to check out the entire collection on Bella Grace Studios’ blog. If it doesn’t make you gasp in delight, I’ll eat my hat!

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On board

I really want to learn how to create inspiration boards. I am an avid reader of wedding blogs, and some of the bloggers are absolute masters of inspiration boards. Some of them are so beautiful, that they make me gasp, audibly. It kind of freaks my coworkers out.

Last week I was reading the Style Me Pretty blog and discovered that they are launching an Inspiration Board Builder! The news made me squeal with delight! To whet your appetite for inspiration boards, if you are not already acquainted with them, here are some of my favorites from the wedding blogosphere.

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This Marie Antoinette-inspired board from Style Me Pretty is absolutely gorgeous and so, so yummy! If you haven’t seen the film, starring Kirsten Dunst, see it. Now. It was the most visually-stunning film I have EVER seen.

Style Me Pretty - Marie Antoinette Inspired

I ♥ these boutennieres! And that dress? It’s like a gorgeous cream puff!

Style Me Pretty

Retro-fab!

Style Me Pretty

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Here’s a board from Wanwisa, a guest blogger over at the Southern Weddings blog. Have I mentioned that I ♥ polka dots?

Southern Weddings - What's Dot to Love?

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Here are three boards from Kathryn of Snippet & Ink, via The Bride’s Cafe. Which one is your favorite? Mine is the Positively Plum board, but that marigold-colored vintage dress is gorgeous!

The Bride's Cafe - Liquid Gold

The Bride's Cafe - Positively Plum

The Bride's Cafe - Rustic Elegance

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I saved the best for last. These dreamy boards are from 100 Layer Cake. Don’t you just love ’em?

100 Layer Cake - Rustique Romance

I agree! Rainbows are so pretty!

100 Layer Cake - Rainbows are Pretty

Ooh la la indeed.

100 Layer Cake - Ooh La La

What inspires you?

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Oops-a-daisy

My co-worker (and friend) Aimee has been having a tough time at work lately. She’s completely overworked and I just hate to see her so stressed out every day. I bought her these gorgeous dahlias, and for just a moment, she smiled.

Beauty can be found everywhere, even in a cubicle.

Let them eat cake!

It may sound shallow, but sometimes I pick books to read based solely on their covers. I know what you’re thinking, don’t judge a book by its cover, right? But I can’t help myself sometimes, especially when there are so many gorgeous, yummy book covers out there!

I am an aesthetically-driven person. I buy products because I like the packaging and sometimes I choose books because I like their covers. So now that we’ve gotten that confession out of the way, on with the post!

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I recently saw this book somewhere and despite the fact that I am an optimistic newly-wed, and the title is The Divorce Party, I actually considered reading it for no other reason than the slice of cake on the cover!

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There’s only one thing that I like more than books with slices of cake on the cover: books with cupcakes on the cover.

I’ve actually read Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center and liked it immensely. But enough about that. Don’t you just ♥ the cover?

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I’m not alone in this book cover-love, however. The girls over at the book blog, Five Minutes Peace share my adoration for not only books, but covers too!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

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Wear your heart on your sleeve

Who decided that all dresses have to be sleeveless or strapless? I know very few people who look good in sleeveless dresses, and even fewer who look good in strapless dresses. I, for one, have really heavy upper arms and elbows, and therefore avoid any tops or dresses that don’t cover them. If I do wear a sleeveless top or dress, I always pair it with a cardigan.

When it came time for me to find a wedding dress, my options were severely limited. I went to the type of bridal shop that lets you select your own dresses from the rack (as opposed to the bridal consultant selecting dresses for you). I pulled every dress in the store that had a sleeve and ended up with about 5 gowns in the dressing room. The pickings were THAT slim.

Luckily, this story has a happy ending! I found my wedding dress that day and absolutely love it. It accentuated all of my good bits (my waist and shoulders) and de-emphasized my not-so-good bits (my hips and thighs).

Photo credit: Andrea O'Grady

For some super-great advice on selecting a flattering wedding gown, read this post from my all-time favorite blog, Pursuing the Picture Perfect Wedding.

But let’s get back to gowns and sleeves.

There are loads of options out there for wedding dresses with sleeves, you just have to look. At the end of the day, I find dresses with sleeves to be elegant, sophisticated, and beautiful as the necklines almost always draw the eye up to your face, which, on your wedding day, is the most beautiful part of you!

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This gown is by designer Adele Wechsler, who is an eco-friendly designer. Doesn’t it look like something your grandmother might have worn on her wedding day (in a good way)?

Adele Wechsler - Style: Juniper - $$$$

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Here are a couple of vintage-inspired gowns by Alita Graham. Isn’t the lace romantic?

Alita Graham - Style: 31702897 - $$

Alita Graham - Style: 31622244 - $$

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These poofy princess gowns, by Demetrios Young Sophisticates, will let you live out your Cinderella fantasy!

Demetrios Young Sophisticates - Style: 2804 - $$$

Demetrios Young Sophisticates - Style: 2813 - $$$

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If your shoulders and collarbones are rockin’, accentuate them with this gown from Jacquelin Bridal.

Jacquelin Bridal - Style: 9501 - $$

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These lovely gowns from Italian designer Le Spose di Giò, made me absolutely swoon with delight when I saw them! I ♥ the way they marry romantic organza with modern high-fashion. Any bride would be utterly memorable on her wedding day in one of these beautiful designs.

Le Spose di Gio - Style: N1 - $$$$$

Le Spose di Gio - Style: N5 - $$$$$

Le Spose di Gio - Style: N29 - $$$$$

Le Spose di Gio - Style: N32 - $$$$$

If I had chosen to get married at city hall, I would definitely have opted for something like one of these more simple, yet equally stunning Le Spose di Giò looks.

Le Spose di Gio - Style: N19 - $$$$$

Le Spose di Gio - Style: N18 - $$$$$

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I adore the unique neckline and 3/4 length sleeves on this gown from Mon Cheri Bridals.

Mon Cheri - Style: 19223S Kimberly - $$

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Either of these two gowns, from Rina di Montella, would be perfect for a winter wedding.

Rina di Montella - Style: RB2812S - $$$

Doesn’t this one look like it’s covered in snow flakes?

Rina di Montella - Style: RB2818 - $$$

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Don’t forget about your ‘maids! Matchy matchy bridesmaids are a thing of the past! Why not let your girls choose their style and you pick the color? If everyone looks their best on your wedding day, it will show in the photos.

These sweet dresses from Siri come in a variety of colors, fabrics and styles. They are also available in white or ivory, which is perfect if you are looking for a dress for your low-key wedding or elopement.

Siri - Style: Loretta Young

Siri - Style: June Carter

Siri - Style: Fontainebleau

Siri - Style: Thalia

You can see that I have a penchant for sleeves. What’s your favorite wedding dress style?

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Try walking in my shoes

No outfit is complete without a rockin’ pair of shoes. But here’s the problem: I simply cannot wear high heels. I’ve tried every brand out there that’s known for its comfort: Aerosoles, Butter, DaniBlack, Ecco, Kenneth Cole. The list goes on and on.

I will buy pretty much any magazine with a headline about comfortable heels on its cover. I know, I’m a sucker. But I’m tired of spending a fortune on shoes that leave my feet aching and covered in blisters only to end up on the floor of my closet.

What shoes do I wear every day? Puma flats, which I just barely get away with at the office.

Puma - $64.95

My favorite pair of shoes ever are my pink Cole Haan flats, that took me nearly six months to break in. It was totally worth it, though. I get compliments on them ALL the time.

Cole Haan

Huzzah! My flats are more comfortable than your stilettos.

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One of my new favorite blogs is Cupcakes and Cashmere. Its author is the adorable Emily, who is always rockin’ super-high, sexy heels. But I can’t help but wonder, “don’t her feet hurt”? Checkout her latest post called Louboutin Love. Ouch!

This leaves me to wonder, why do shoes have to be so uncomfortable and further, why do women insist on wearing them? You don’t see men teetering around on ridiculously high heels.

Do your feet hurt as much as mine do?

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Well ruffle my feathers!

It’s no secret that I ♥ anything girly. The girlier, the better in my book. So you might imagine that I am in ecstasy over the new ruffled styles that are in stores now.

Having just discovered the new plus-sized brand Faith 21 (available only in select Forever 21 stores and online), I absolutely fell in love with this frilly tank. It’s girly, girly, girly!

Faith 21 - $17.80

It seems that everyone has jumped on the ruffles bandwagon and I ♥ the name of the color of this sweater from Old Navy: Bluest Eye

Old Navy - $32.50

Don’t you love the sheer girliness of this top? I especially adore the ruffled sleeves!

Forever 21 - $17.80

Doesn’t this skirt just say sexy secretary? It’s oh-so-chic.

Express - $69.50

This clutch is perfect for any bride on her wedding day, or to go with the little black dress you’ve got hanging in your closet.

J. Crew - $79.99

Not only is this jacket ADORABLE, but the color’s name is Sweet Potato. Yum!

J. Crew - $69.99

This skirt makes me want to take Flamenco lessons. Olé!

Alloy - $29.50

I think that this bag will go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe.

Torrid - $15.98

Do you love ruffles as much as I do?

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31 is the new 21

This weekend, I wandered into Anthropologie (♥!) and fell in love with pretty much every accessory in the store. I don’t fit into their clothes, so I’ve been relegated to shopping only their accessories and housewares. Don’t feel too badly for me though. Their accessories and housewares can still put a MAJOR dent in my bank account.

Having recently made a vow to be more fiscally responsible on the heels of my wedding, I couldn’t possibly justify spending $32 on a headband that, let’s face it, I probably will only wear a couple of times. I always tell people that if you fall in love with something that’s outside of your budget, you can almost certainly find a knock-off version within your budget. I left Anthropologie telling myself that very thing.

Enter Forever 21, my new favorite store for accessories! I drove to my local mall and ventured into Forever 21 for the very first time. Can we just talk about this store for a minute? ♥♥♥♥♥♥!!! I’ve seen and heard about Forever 21 for years, but have never gone into one because, if I’m being honest, I am WAY older than 21. That store? Really needs to change its name.

It turns out that they have really cute clothes, which, sadly, I do not fit into. Why do stores insist on only carrying “regular-sized” clothes?? I am a plus-sized woman with spending power! Give me some clothes to buy!

It turns out, though, that Forever 21 has a brand called Faith 21 (available in select stores and online) that carries plus-sized clothes! Huzzah! I now have another spending outlet for my hard-earned money!

But I digress (again). I was on the hunt for a comparable headband to the one that I saw at Anthropologie that I had cleverly, and covertly, taken a picture of with my iPhone (♥!).

Anthropologie - $32

I didn’t see what I was looking for at Forever 21 and asked a salesgirl if they had any more headbands. She said no, but that I should check the Forever 21 accessories store, just 3 doors down! What she should have said, is that there is an accessories mecca three doors down. Who knew? This store, called For Love 21, had the cutest accessories that I have ever seen and I found my comparable headband for just $3.80!

Forever 21 - $3.80

And the best part is, my husband thinks it looks cute on me.

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