Idea :: Wedding Gift

Aren't we always on the lookout for the perfect wedding gift? While I appreciate the gift registry and quite often buy from it, I also like to find something unique and personal for the couple too - especially for close friends and family. As a matter of fact, the gifts I favoured from our wedding weren't on our registry. We received the most beautiful piece of pottery I've ever seen, a painting of our wedding ceremony, a beautiful wine decanter, and a silver candle snuffer, to name a few.



I thought these vinyl decals from Elephannie's Etsy shop would be a thoughtful accoutrement to the toaster or blender or sheet set you buy from the registry.

One could buy the "Home Established" decal for the couple's first home. Or if the marriage is a blending of two families with kids, the decal over the fireplace with everyone's names would be wonderful. Perhaps, if the invitation has a monogram on it you could have one custom made for the couple's wall.

Visit Elephannie's shop for more wonderful goodies.

Coach Me

Conversation between SexyHusband and I:
Me :: I’m so excited! I just heard that Coach has opened a store in town!
SH :: A ‘coach’ store?
Me :: Yes!
SH :: What do they sell? Whistles and clipboards? [insert chortle of a witty guy here]
Me :: You are a very funny guy.
SH :: Yep.



Selection from Coach's New Hamptons Collection

ps. SexyHusband, I'm quite fond of the Hamptons Leather Turnlock Wristlet in beet.

Let's Eat Cake!

One day last year Melissa DiStefano, of MasterPiece Weddings, woke up from a deep sleep and a very vivid dream. She remembered the dream as clearly as if it had happened in real life and it charged her with so much energy she decided to turn that dream into reality.

What was her dream? To host a national fundraiser – and thus was born “Let’s Eat Cake!”



February 17, 2009
Six o’clock in the Evening
Paramount Plaza Resort
2900 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608
352-377-4000

Let’s Eat Cake is a wedding cake competition benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The goal is to donate at least $50,000 to this deserving organization. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated directly to St. Jude’s to enhance their research efforts, which will improve the lives of the children and families who are affected by cancer.

Essentially, this event will create a very large Wedding Cake Buffet! Let’s Eat Cake will include a cake design and taste challenge as well as a live cake auction. The most coveted award is a "crowd's favourite" award, which will be determined by our guests after trying all of the delicious cakes.

Professional pastry chefs from all over the Southeast have been invited to compete. Aspiring pastry chefs and at-home bakers have also been invited to compete in the amateur division. Local and celebrity judges have volunteered their time to judge the event. There are four categories in each division; Best of Show, Most Beautiful & Creative Design, Tastiest Cake, and Crowd’s Favourite.

Be a sponsor, be a judge, be a competitor, be an attendee.

Learn more at Let’s Eat Cake. Contact MasterPiece Weddings to get involved, info@masterpieceweddings.net.

Photo Sources ::
KB’s Kake Kreations is a competitor, Posh Pastry is a competitor, Brides is a sponsor.

Cox & Cox :: Inspiration Board

Cox & Cox has made me all warm and smitten inside so I decided to take four of my favourite Cox & Cox items from their online store and create an inspiration board to please my senses and hopefully, to please yours.



Sources ::
Just Married Sticker, Confetti Box, Pretty Benchseat (which is actually two chairs!), and the White Voile Bunting all from Cox & Cox, Bride photo Meg Smith, Cupcakes Getty Images, Ring Jessamyn Harris, Snack Boxes Matthew Mead, Bouquet Susan Stripling, Shoe Photo Ryan Phillips (and I’m pretty sure the shoes are Prada), Blue Bridesmaids Myrtle and Marjoram via Snippet & Ink, and Aisle Evoke Photography.

By the way, Cox & Cox are having their summer sale right now so you may find your favourite item at a reduced price. It may compensate you for having it shipped 'across the pond' (if you happen to be 'across the pond' like me.)

Cox & Cox :: For Your Table

Cox & Cox, launched by Fiona Cox and Lizzie Thornton-Allan in 2001, embraces the heartfelt philosophy that it is possible to create a home that is both beautiful and nurturing, taking inspiration from all over the globe. They emphasize the need for unusual, beautiful and practical products in their selection of items that have a nostalgic and retro feel, taking inspiration from childhood memories, but with a contemporary twist. They endeavour to continue the Cox & Cox tradition of…



These beautiful items may also be used for your wedding, to make it distinct and special for you, your families and your guests.



Love Origami, Fortune Sticks, and Sweet Talking Chocolates from the Weddings and Parties collection.

Cox & Cox :: Signage

Have you visited the delightful place that is Cox & Cox? You should. You really, really should.

Love, adore, yearn for this signage.

Pretty :: Short Dresses

Source :: Priscilla of Boston

Elizabeth Anne Designs Library Launch

Rebekah and Ami, the brilliant twosome that are the creators of Elizabeth Anne Designs, are incredibly excited to announce their newest project, the EAD Library. After months of development and research, they are launching a new resource for brides today! Their library is filled with hundreds of useful links, from photographers to shops to stationers. Their goal is to compile a simple, comprehensive list of vendors that will help every bride, no matter her location, find the vendors and inspiration she needs for a beautiful event.

Sounds positively lovely! Pop in and have a look, perhaps you'll find just what you're looking for. Don't forget to visit their blog too.

Things I Love About Weddings :: Photography

What do you love? Really love? Chocolate? Shoes? Movies? Me too. But, I really, really, really love weddings. I’m not sure why, where it comes from exactly, it’s just a huge passion and it’s always been there.

Since I’ve just passed my one-year blogging milestone I’ve been thinking how I should celebrate “blog-style” and I decided that I should have a countdown. “One Hundred Things I Love About Weddings”. Great. Off I go.

Hmmm… all stop.

In compiling my list, I discovered that there are more than one hundred things – way more. So, how do I pare the list down? I don’t. A foremost priority for starting this blog was to catalogue my favourite wedding things and I don’t want to leave anything out so… here starts the perpetual list of “Things I Love About Weddings”.

Photography.

If I had done the countdown, photography would have been “#1!” {Insert giant foam finger here.} Because I’m an amateur shutterbug myself I’m endlessly mystified and enthralled by the inestimable number of talented photographers that devote themselves to capturing the perfect picture of the perfect moment of the perfect day. So many succeed perfectly.

Where better to find amazing photos than the The Wedding Photojournalist Association and the The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association that have recently released the winners for the first quarter of 2008.


{Sol Tamargo}


{Kenny Pang}


{Britta Trygstad}


{Jessica Christian }


{Alana Couch}


{Zlatko Batistich}


{Noah Wolf}


{Genya Garrett}


{Kelley Walker Chance}


{Kate Harrison}

See why I love photography? And weddings? Beautiful, sweet, blissful love.

Blushing :: With Thanks

Today is the one-year anniversary of the Blush.alicious blog. I started this blog on a whim. I started it for me. I needed a creative outlet. I needed to do something with idle hands, idle ideas, idle imaginings. Never, never, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would have found such success! By ‘success’ I mean visitors… repeat visitors… fans of this blog. I thought that most of my hits would come from a few friends and my husband maybe. But thanks to all of you, Blush.alicious has taken on a life of it’s own. It’s a place I love and I’m glad you love it too.

So, thank you! Thank you for visiting, thank you for bookmarking, thank you for linking, thank you for subscribing, thanks for recommending, and thanks for coming back time and time again.

I would also like to specifically thank my early blogging friends – your advice, links, and support helped launch Blush.alicious: Liene at Blue Orchid Designs, Kelly at Glamour This!, Lara from Ready 2 Spark, and Aletha from Pearls Events. I know that there are many more, so many more, that link to Blush and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, but these ladies were the first and I’m indebted to them.

I would also like to specifically thank these wonderful sites for linking to Blush; the volume of traffic generated from each or your sites daily is generous and I’m beyond flattered.



Martha Stewart Living - Martha’s Circle, Abby at Style Me Pretty, Delightful Blogs, Real Simple Nearlywed Blog, Kathryn at Snippet & Ink, and, most recently, Alltop Weddings.

I would also like to thank my “Sexy Husband” – Babe, without your friendship, love, support, foot rubs, McKay’s Ice Cream emergency road trips, and caving when I suggest we go for Bellini’s at Joey’s or head to 4th for sushi, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Thanks to you. I love you.

Thanks to my sis, for sending me ideas and being my number one. Thanks to my girl Coop for the arse kicking, and all my friends (St, B, K, V, Su, and Bear) for “chick outs” and for checking in and checking up. Thanks to Sophie for being so darn cute. And, thanks to my parents, who don’t read this blog or really understand what a blog is but – I thank them anyway!

Now that my "Oscar acceptance speech" is over, I would like to say one last thank you. Thanks to those who have emailed me with comments, suggestions or the like. I have been so busy lately that I haven't been able to get around to much Blush stuff. I have over 900 (!) emails to attend to so if you're waiting for a response - it's coming!

This last year has been so exciting and full of change - there can only be more. Someone once said that the only constant you can count on is change (or something like that) and I will tribute that statement. I'm hoping to make some changes to Blush in the next little while, format and content and such, so please bare with me.

xoxo,
Lisa

ps... if I missed anyone I'm sorry! And I thank you!

Pretty :: Classic White Shoes

Of course, there is absolutely everything right with the classic white or ivory shoe too - perhaps the over-sparkle and extra-bling isn't for you. It's all a matter of taste really...



First Row :: Evoke Photography, Robert Lawler, Zieff Photography (Shoes by Kate Spade),

Second Row :: Lloyd Dobbie, Chris+Lynn Photographers (x2), Ryan Phillips Photography

Pretty :: Incredible Shoes

Not every bride would wear this burnished and feisy Armani stiletto.



But... every bride should.

I adore the trend of brides wearing fabulous shoes under their wedding dresses - I did it myself! Of course, the traditional bride will look nothing less than lovely in her white satin pumps. But, why not look divine? And daring? And, the likelihood of wearing them again increases greatly.

Think about it.

Source :: Armani Privé Couture Fall 2008 via New York Magazine

Ring "Pillows"

It appears to be Etsy day today at Blush. Have you ever noticed that once you start browsing you just can’t stop?

Look at these splendidly unique ring ‘pillows’ by Etsy seller Muscari by Easter Yu. Love them. Love them all.



puff, birch, bird nest, shell.

She also has some other treasures: boutonniéres and feather hair flowers...

Bird on a Bike Seat

Love the whimsy and simplicity of this Save The Date. The image was inspired by a vintage poster and the seller, Cheer Up Cherup from Etsy, offers to modify colours to any combination of your choosing.

Love Letter Locket

Look at this sweet vintage letter locket by Etsy Seller BuenoStyle. It’s a tiny, authentic, vintage locket that the seller has ‘made over’. Shown here is a “love” message but she also suggests, “miss you” or even “marry me”. Awwwww! What a great idea for a proposal!

Vitamin String Quartet Collections

I'm a details girl. I just had to show you more. I want to make sure you understand the depth of this pool of music!



If you click on the album link it will take you to the page where you can listen to snippets of the song...

The Modern Wedding Collection
In My Place (Coldplay)
Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)
Here Comes Your Man (Pixies)
You’re Beautiful (James Blunt)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Beautiful Day (U2)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Daughters (John Mayer)
Do You Realize?? (The Flaming Lips)
Transatlanticism (Death Cab for Cutie)
Everlong (Foo Fighters)
Today (The Smashing Pumpkins)

The Gothic Wedding Collection
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division)
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths)
Pictures of You (The Cure)
Bring Me to Life (Evanescence)
Bizarre Love Triangle (New Order)
Girl’s Not Grey AFI)
Vampires Will Never Hurt You (My Chemical Romance)
Heaven’s a Lie (Lacuna Coil)
Join Me in Death (H.I.M.)
Something I Can Never Have (Nine Inch Nails)
Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) (Enya)
Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode)
All That I’m Living For (Evanescence)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (The Smiths)

The Gay Wedding Collection
At Last (Etta James)
A Love That Will Never Grow Old (Emmylou Harris
You're My Best Friend (Queen)
Across the Universe (Wainwright)
Like a Prayer (Madonna)
Where Do I Begin (Love Story Theme) (Shirley Bassey)
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Sylvester)
Your Song (Elton John)
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (the Smiths)
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life (Dusty Springfield)
Vision of Love (Mariah Carey)
Your Love Is King (Sade)
Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
How Deep Is the Ocean (Diana Krall)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Wedding Collection
Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
All You Need Is Love (the Beatles)
You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC)
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith)
All I Want Is You (U2)
Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
I Was Made for Loving You (Kiss)
Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N’ Roses)
Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
Daughters (John Mayer)
Heroes (David Bowie)
God Only Knows (Beach Boys)
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Have I Told You (Van Morrison)

They also have some "Valentine's" albums:
My Metal Valentine
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Valentines Collection
The Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day Massacre: The Emo Anti-Valentine's Day Collection

And The Modern Baby Shower Collection



Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses)
Boys Don't Cry (the Cure)
Tiny Dancer (Elton John)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) (John Lennon)
Teach Your Children (CSN&Y)
100 Years (Five for Fighting)
Hey Baby (No Doubt)
I Was Made for Lovin’ You (Kiss)
I'll Be There (Mariah Carey)
Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
Shower the People (James Taylor)
Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You? (Diana Krall)

Source :: Vitamin Records

Love :: Vitamin String Quartet

I love all kinds of music and I'm always on iTunes browsing and buying - this is my most recent favourite find :: The Vitamin String Quartet. They are a series of musicians (usually violins, violas and cellos) that perform classical versions of a popular album – the whole album! Their first release was “The String Quartet Tribute to Led Zepplin and they’ve since covered the likes of Alicia Keys, the Dixie Chicks, Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, the Foo Fighters, Jimi Hendrix, Faith Hill, Elton John, Kiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Pearl Jam, Queen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Santana, U2, Kanye West and many, many, many more.

This makes really, really great wedding music. I found a lot of great songs on iTunes and you can visit the website of Vitamin Records.

This You Tube clip is the Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.

Pretty Cake

Isn't this just the sweetest cake you've ever seen?



Source :: Macmocakes

Sale Dresses by Nicole Miller

I'm all about dresses today!

So, I was browsing around the Nicole Miller website and popped over to the sale section. All of these dresses (and many more) are 60% off!

If you need a dress for your bridal shower, bridesmaid tea, or the rehearsal dinner, your search may be over!

Pretty Dress

Her name is Ella and she's very, very pretty.



Source :: Amsale

I Heart Knubbig.... What?

Who doesn't love Ikea? And all of the wonderfulness you can find there?

My current objects of affection are these resplendent little table lamps – Knubbig. They come in two different sizes; the little one is the size of your two hands together. They are about $10 and $17.

I would really like to use them on the patio at the wedding I’m doing on the 13th of July. Then I don’t have to worry about the candles in the wind. Hmmmm….



And, if one could remove the electrical, you could put a candle in there as an alternative. Hmmm....

Source :: Knubbig at Ikea

Real Wedding :: Terri + Mark

This is one of the reasons I've been invisible for the last few weeks. Mark and Terri were married Saturday, June 21st under a blazing sun and surrounded by their closest family and friends. It was an absolutely tremendous day.

It was an honour and a privilege for me to spend the last year with them, learning intimate details of their relationship and planning one of the most important days of their lives. As far as they were concerned, the day was perfect. Behind the scenes there were a few glitches, but nothing we weren’t prepared for.

I would like to thank Terri and Mark so much for putting their trust and faith in me as their Wedding Planner – it was such a joy!



Also, a huge shout of appreciation goes out to Judy, Jodi, Suzanne and Andy for all their assistance. Kiss Kiss.

Lastly, credit ::
These beautiful pictures were made by [6:8] Photography. Kevin and Duane, it was fantastic working with you, I can't say enough good things about you, your professionalism, and your photos. Also, loved that you matched the wedding party! Thanks for it all.

:: Submit your Real Wedding; email me at {blushevents at shaw dot ca} ::