Amazing First Dance

This is the sweetest first dance video ever (courtesy of Angeli). I wish I could get down like that in a wedding sari/lengha.

Bridesmaids Goodies

I'm blogging from India. Haha. I know that everyone will be mocking this heavily but I've got a few hours at night with not a lot to do but unwind after an entire day of shopping. Shopping here has been crazy (traffic, goats, heat, annoying merchants, mom who thinks she is also a bride) but its also been pretty successful. We have got pretty much everything we need to get - which is good since we leave on Saturday (its Thursday evening here). All the stuff we bought is being tailored or having the falls put in, etc. but I did manage to snag a few pics of the bridesmaids jewelry I got made today. Its pretty large and bling-ed out but the sari's we are having made are so simple we thought they'd need a little more sparkle.

Churi set 1 (for two of the girls)
Churi set 2 (for the other two girls)
Earrings (Changing the hanging beads to a deep purple color to match the saris)
Necklace (Again, changing the hanging beads to a deep purple to match the saris)
Full jewelry set:

Inspiration Board

Here is my stab at a collection of photos that will serve as inspiration pieces for my wedding. I'm not totally sure how I feel about it and might be modifying over the next little while. Thoughts? Comments?

Top Row: Hanging Jasmine Flowers (Saima Says Design), Centerpiece (Square Root Designs), Floral Bouquet (JM Flora), Vesak Lanterns (Image off of Flickr),
Middle Two Rows: Willow Tree at my wedding site Saddlerock Ranch (Bride Magazine Article), Hanging Lanterns and Orange Tent (Raj Tents), Reception Outfit (Satya Paul), Sari Inspired Cake (Sugar Cakes), Center picture of Indian Bride (Andrena Photography)
Bottom Row: Invitation Set (Saima Says Design), White Peony Bridal Bouquet (JM Flora), Graphic Lotus Flowers (Saima Says Design),

My wedding photographer!

I choose a wedding photographer! I was feeling panicked and I stumbled upon Andrena Photography over thanksgiving and fell in love. I wasn't blown away by the others so when I went through her website and realized I liked almost all her pictures I knew I had to have her. I was going to wait until I got some more information from the other photographers (just to be safe) but I called her today just because I had this gut instinct she'd be taken. Turns out someone was coming in tomorrow to see her for the same date. So I just talked to her for a bit and booked her on the fly. She seems great - very outgoing and I love her style so I think I will be incredibly happy. Not only was she my favorite she was the most affordable so I think it'll make everyone happy.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from her website (I made them into collages so there wouldn't be so many pictures)

The Cocoa Room

These little chocolates (almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds (!), etc) are GORGEOUS. I saw them in a little boutique shop last week. They could make great favors (maybe placed in those blooming boxes I posted a few weeks ago!)

9 Months! Wedding Maps & Photographers

I can't believe I have 9 months to go until the wedding! I know its probably a lot of time but since I am leaving for Sri Lanka through December that really only leaves me 8 months. So much to do, so little time.

So I found this great little tool called Wedding Mapper that is great if you are having a lot of events, having a destination wedding or having a lot of out of town guests.

Also, I am in the process of trying to find a photographer. I was looking at Aaron Delesie and Yvette Roman (courtesy of references from Style Me Pretty's little black book). Aaron was great when we talked but then never got back to me. When I called him, his assistant said he had already booked the date which was dissapointing. Mostly because I really liked him and he didn't even bother calling me to tell me that someone else wanted or potentially already had the date booked. Yvette is great and she has some beautiful shots. Her style reminds me of Elizabeth Messina but she is definitely more affordable. I'm waiting to get a slideshow from her before I make any other decisions.

I was also referred to Jenny from Red Loft Studios who also takes some gorgeous pictures and really offers affordable packages. I'm also waiting for a slideshow from her before I make decisions. Finally, I'm looking at Andrena Photography who takes some really beautiful, vibrant pictures and also specializes in Indian weddings which is a huge plus. She is also very affordable and I am anxiously awaiting talking to her on the phone so I can get an idea of her personality.

I am trying to just stop my search now and focus on choosing between Jenny, Yvette and Andrena. They are all great and affordable. Also, honestly I can't handle looking for any more photographers. I'll keep you posted on who I decide.

Wedding Favor?

I saw these on the Something Old Something New blog and just loved them. These flower shaped favor boxes from Parapluie look really beautiful and could also serve as part of the table decor

Preston Bailey Ideas

Preston Bailey is this fancy, event planner to the stars and has some gorgeous pictures of events he's done. They are so beautiful and dramatic and I think I can take elements of his designs and make them my own.

I love this elephant flower statue. I have absolutely no idea how much something like this costs but its could look great in front of the ceremony Mandap/Poruwa or even near the guest entrance. I love these floating flowers - they look like lotus flowers to me which reminds me of Sri Lanka. There is a small pool at Saddlerock that I could definitely float flowers like this in.

I like how dramatic and simple the centerpieces are. The colored glass looks great in the daylight but probably won't be enough decor at Saddlerock. I just thought this was an interesting centerpiece idea. The height and shape look really unique and Moroccan.
I just thought these leaves were really pretty and dainty.

Wedding Ideas: Jo Gartin

I went to Borders today to look at some Wedding books and waste time and I stumbled across a book by wedding planner/designer Jo Gartin called Jo Gartin's Weddings An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride. She has these great ideas that bring in so many throughtful details. I am personally obsessed with the little details (place cards, favors, etc.) and her ideas could make a wedding really memorable.

Ceremony Decoration Pictures

These pictures from Fiori Fresco are amazing. I love the richness of it although I'm sure it comes with a large pricetag. Without all the tenting, it could be possible just less dramatic and rich.

JM Floral Ideas

I love these bouquets and centerpieces from Janie Medley Flora Design.

Bridesmaids Bouquets:
I especially love these orange, red and plum colored bouquets since they go perfectly with my wedding colors. I like the iron like rod details in the pink bouquet below as well as the flower choices.

































Centerpieces:
I love the colors and flower choices on these centerpieces below. I especially love the centerpieces with the hanging candles. The clay pot on the centerpiece below I think is gorgeous but prob not glamorous enough for my mom.



























Potential bridal bouqets
I'm realizing that I love peonies, cala lillys, and jasmine flowers. I think I want to do an all white bouquet with small accent rhinestones in the wedding colors - orange & plum and maybe a splash of turquoise. Or I love the bouqets below with the detailed ribbon or rhinestone detail around the stems.

The first big step!

I thought this warranted its own post since I bought my bridal outfit yesterday! I wasn't planning on doing so - we went to visit this designer, Bhavana, at the Indian store near my house. Bhavana has made bridal outfits for a few of our family friends and custom designs all her pieces. We got to the store and I just got so inspired by this one beautiful lengha and things just sort of fell into place/spiraled into a fit of excitement and giggles. I don't want to get into the details too much because I know he checks this and I want to surprise him but I LOVE what we designed. It will be an ivory color, the design features the paisley shape (that sort of tear drop)with lots of swarovski crystal work, beading and general bling. It will take until the end of January to get a swatch back of the work/color. From there we make changes, approve the swatch and it goes into production. So I have until end of Jan/beginning of February to try and loose as much weight as possible because that's when we design the blouse as well. That's all I really want to reveal on here but I was just too excited to keep it in!

We also designed a going away/reception outfit that is modern, unique and also gorgeous but since Bhavana requires up front payment and since we are going to India/Sri Lanka in December we held off. I have this feeling though that I won't find anything in India that will beat what I designed, and if I do I can always have Bhavana change the design for the reception outfit. I'm working on convincing my mom to just get it - I have a really good feeling about it and most of the time I think you make the best decisions on gut instinct.

Bridal Jewelry

I found some great stuff at various far too expensive websites but I want to recreate one for less money either in Sri Lanka/India or through a family friend.

Our favorite is this first necklace from Jacob the Jeweler. If I got this one made, we couldn't do the giant rocks of diamonds and instead would do a cluster of smaller ones. It didn't have a matching earring but we think we can design something to go along with it. Cartier Necklace and earrings are also beautiful


Random necklace I saw somewhere but I tend to like this teardrop shape. Only thing is that I don't think I'd want a colored stone and I think thats sort of what makes this style necklace work.