Handcrafted: The Cure For The Common Wedding

For the Betrothed

On Halloween, the day for costumes, my thoughts are on themed weddings. Sometimes having a themed wedding simply means that you have adorned everything in the colors of you husband's favorite sports team, and sometimes it requires a bit more work. If your theme requires custom period ensembles then you should check out the Very Merry Seamstress.

This very talented seamstress has designed dresses in a wide variety of themes. If there is a movie you love the costumes in, chances are she has made a replica before. If there is a period of history you are obsessed with, she has captured the essence of the time.

Here is your chance to embody Guinevere, Juliet, Eowyn, or even have your groom looking like a pirate. I know many people fear that buying a wedding dress outside of the usual dress shop means sacrificing quaility, but that isn't the case here. You have pleanty of silks, velvets, and satins to choose from and a lot of time and energy that is put into making your dress perfect.

A Happy All Hallows Eve to ye! 

Emergency kits

I am a big believer in preparing for emergencies, especially when it comes to your wedding day. I have seen some great lists out there. The Knot has one that covers almost everything. I say almost because they left off extra stockings, dress tape, deodorant, and a small swiss army knife. What a bride really needs is a bridesmaid that is slightly obsessive about being over prepared. That is the bridesmaid you want to put in charge of your emergency kit.  They will be better prepared than any kit you could buy. When you are picking the one you will charge with this job, make sure you pick the most responsible of your bridesmaids. You want to pick the one that always has a safety pin, aspirin and a $20 in her purse even if she is just going to the store. She is probably also the first one to order her dress and asked if you know of a good tailor in town just in case her dress needs a last minute alteration. Put her compulsion to work for you.

In the bag

There are a lot of things you have to remember to take with you to your ceremony, and aside from the veil and garter, your bridesmaids have an equally long list. Even the best of bridesmaids can forget to bring something. Wouldn't it be nice to have a something to help them? Favors You Keep has just such an item.

These are the size of a large shopping bag which makes them the perfect size for carrying all those things girls are prone to forgetting. On top of being a great size, there is a forget-me-not list printed on the side of the bag.  The list covers all the basics and has plenty of room to add in a few extras of your own.

So this doesn't come off as an over controlling bridzilla move, I suggest you add in some great body products for pampering when you give it to them.

Do-It-Yourself

Normally I am against major DIY projects for your wedding, but when a company makes it look this good, then why not. The Uncommon Bride is indeed uncommon. They carry a line of do-it-yourself invitations that are attractive, unique, and the kits are well put together.

 

The Uncommon Bride proves that the DIY route does not have to limit your options. You have the same color choices and options available as you do with their printed invitations.  They come with all the same accessories, instructions, and even an example so you will know that you have done it right.

This is also the perfect way to get blank invitations so that you can have your invitations hand written either with your own personal flare or by a professional calligrapher.  This is the ultimate way to personalize your invitations.  Do not be limited by the options you see on your screen. The Uncommon Bride will design  stationery around your very own ideas, and make the creative process painless.

Indie Star for 10-25

Our Indie Star this week brings a cute idea to personalize favors, fill welcome baskets, or to keep you hydrated after your last girl's night out.
Personally Unique prints custom water bottle labels for your special event. Not only will it have your names and date on them, it also has really nice artwork, and an ingredients list that you get to create. You could have some real fun with that last part and let your creativity show.

Tagging Your Wedding

Reception halls are usually cold and impersonal on purpose, it gives each person who uses it a chance to decorate it any way they want. The only things that are off limits are the walls and the floor, until now. Wonderful Graffiti Wedding has a product that takes all decorating limits off.

These are gorgeous and 100% removable. There is a step by step demonstration showing how to install them, so you have an idea of what you are doing before you even place your order. Don't worry if you aren't the DIY kind, you can arrange for someone to come and install it for you.

Custom quotes and designs are no problem for Wonderful Graffiti. There are so many creative ideas on their site. I know you will be inspired.

Practical Tip Tuesday

I can't promise that I will have a tip every Tuesday, but I thought I would give it a try for awhile.
For my first practical tip I would like to suggest that, if you don't already have one, you should invest in a strapless long line bra. I know they look like a corset, but they are not uncomfortable if you get one that is well fitted to you. They will give you a level of security that you can not get from a plain strapless bra, and it will prevent the tacky tug.  I think you probably know what that tug looks like, but we all do it anyway. It is a reflex. No matter how well fitted a strapless dress is, it always feels like it is slipping. So, without thinking, you grab the dress at the top on the sides and do that tug and wiggle that you hope no one sees, but everyone does.  Another good benefit of the long line is that if you are using chicken cutlets, or another form of padding that is not sewn in, you will worry less about them slipping out. 

This bride got caught tugging by her photographer, and now it is on Yahoo Images for the whole world to see.

Well Groomed

Most grooms are not into the planning part of the wedding, and for the most part they like it that way. From time to time they will start to feel a little left out. For those special times there is a handcrafted solution. Let your groom pick out a pair of cuff links from Click!

Your groom will get to pick out something for the wedding that is distinctively him without messing up the way he looks in the wedding pictures. These cuff links are very masculine. They are made from unconventional materials such as concrete and cork.

The owners of Click! are Frances and John Smersh and they are the ones behind these modern designs.  In addition to being available online , Smersh Designs are available at many retail location across the country. You can safely send your groom to pick out a pair of cuff links and maybe he will reward your trust by getting  something for you.

Yummy

I have covered different printing styles, different types of paper, and several unique types of stationery, but this is the first time I have seen an invitation that you can eat. Invitastions makes delicious cookies with your invitation printed on them.


This company is the result of combining the skills of the ladies behind She takes the Cake, a cake company and Bride Design, an invitation company. It is an unusual partnership with uncommonly delicious results.


This is such a creative way to ask  someone to be your bridesmaid. They would make great shower invitations, place cards, or even save the date cards. The favor options available at Invitastions go beyond the usually wedding cookies.

Indie Star for 10-18

This week's Indie Star is Joyful Heart Design. She has an Etsy shop with several great wedding related stationery items. It was the save-the-date cards that caught my eye. I love it when a calendar is included. It is very helpful to your guests. Another great feature is that these cards are postcards. You don't need to put them in envelopes and you save on postage.  They are also just the right size to earn a place of honor on the refrigerator of your future guests  .