Colored crinoline for the Bride, I mean why the heck not?

Hi Ladies,

Sorry I have been a little sparse with my entries but I am told this comes with the territory for new businesses, so please forgive the absence. I intend to blog more regularly from now though, I think I may have come up with a schedule that allows for it, so we will see, I will keep you posted on how it goes.

But now that the apology is out of the way, let's talk color for the bride, and some fun ways to inject it in to your attire.

I am in love with colored crinoline and love the various things that can be done with it as well as the fact that it really is one of the easiest ways to introduce a new and fun color in your outfit. But the best part is that it is not just one color that you can do, as you may have noticed in 'confessions of a shopaholic', you can do more than one and go as crazy or as light as you would like. This would work for the bride who has no fear of pushing the boundaries as well as the one who may have or want some limits within which to play... There is something for everyone so check out these pictures and see if you get inspired and go with it and see where it takes you.

Oh, by the way, in case you are wondering about where to get such an item, the first place I would look is in a vintage store or a costume store. If however you have no luck with either of these options, then buy one in white and have it dyed to whatever color or colors you want...You can do that (have it dyed) at 2birdstone on etsy for a really great price, so check them out and have fun with it!!!

Ring Pillows for your creative wedding...

So, I haven't blogged in a while due to the business of running a business and launching a new bridal rental line, but I am back now and wanted to share some cool traditions with a bit of a twist. This is for the bride who likes both tradition and creativity as well as the out right creative bride.

Ring Pillows are my topic of choice today as they are a tradition that I often find boring because they seem to come in one color and one color only and they all seem to be designed the exact same way...you know, like they were made for your great grandmother's wedding ...then of course the ones that aren't one color only are designed in a way that is still uninteresting as the only element that seems to make them stand out is color.

Well, I found some that are gorgeous, and have character as well as great design. Yes you guessed right, they are on etsy...my favorite place to shop!!!

The store is called white thistle bridal and http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteThistleBridal is where you can find more of their stuff. I love the creativity that goes in each design and the detail with which it is executed...there is something for everyone really, wheather you are traditional with a bit of a twist or more out there and risky with what you prefer...check it out!

Alternative to the Bouquet?

So I saw these really cool purses and was originally thinking that they would make awesome bridal party gifts for your bridemaids, until it occured to me that they are the prefcet item to pull double duty for the bride that is on a budget. They are so wonderfully designed as purses but have the perfect decorative item that would double for the bridal party in place of a bouquet of flowers. This is a very fun and savvy way to save money on flower costs as well as a neat way to do something possibly quirky and different if you make it your own. Take a look at some options at http://www.etsy.com/shop/mollusa. I personally enjoy the use of color and various textures that give them such a uniquely refreshing and stunning look.

Dress Up your Favors...

Hello Brides out there that are always looking for the odd but beautiful thing, I think I may have found something to add to your wonderful ideas of uniqueness at your wedding. What could it be you ask? Well it is a nifty little shop on etsy called Paperlemons and I had to tell you all about it. Her name is Luisa and she makes the cutest , most unique tags I have seen yet. They are striking little odd looking beautiful things that I would use to bring beauty and brightness to any room , decor or party and of course more importantly, wedding table.

These are a wonderful way to dress up favors which as we may know are really another excuse to have pretty little things at a table among other things. Let's face it, they are not just a way to say thank you to your guests but rather they somehow tie the entire decor in the room together. So needless to say, most often I have seen people pick out favors that are a good idea but sadly seem to be doomed to have such mandane presentation, which frankly I think is boring...you might as well just skip the whole favor thing, because again let's face it, you can't really say thank you to 150 of your guests, some of who travelled miles to be with you on your special day with candy or a scented candle...so while it is a nice idea, it is really for us, for the beauty, for the fun, for the excuse to add something other to our decor and celebration, as well as share some quirk about ourselves with our guests, so why not own it and then do it in style, with intention and boldness? This would definitely be one way to achieve that, so check out more of her items at http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperlemons and see what other fun things you might find. My guess is you can have whatever you want if you let her know. I would keep her in mind for things like unique invitations as well or maybe place cards and such cute stationery needs, I know I will :).

Bold, Colorful Wreaths

I am a big fan of brides who march to the beat of their own drum. One of the funnest things that a bride has to do is pick out some interesting kind of head wear, but lately if you look around most of it looks pretty similar and, honestly, pretty uneventful. So if you are looking for a fun and unique way to spruce up your look on that day, I think wreaths would be a great departure from the usual. Now I am not talking about the kind of wreaths that look like they are trying to disappear, I am talking bold, unique, beautiful and fully there-so no one will miss them or you. I found these in a fun shop on etsy. There is pretty much something for everyone, whether you are looking for something subtle or bold you will find some very fun and unique options. I am of course a big fan of the bold and beautiful, so that is what you will see below :) These are also perfect if you are looking for a way to be environmentally friendly since a lot of them are made with recycled items. Take a look at Whichgoose on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/whichgoose to see the countless options available to you. Enjoy!!!

Cool Lighting Decor !!!

So I found these on etsy and thought they were awesome because they pull triple maybe quadruple duty...firstly as lighting, secondly as ambience, and thirdly as personalized decor that can be used for many other occasions. If you are a bride that is looking for interesting ways to light up your celebration with character, but don't want the usual harsh LED lighting or to pay for a lighting technician who will probably do something that has already been seen a bajillion times, this is definitely a great solution to consider. Take a look at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hannahnunn and see what else she has on there and share your thoughts.