To Have and To Hold

Dressing Our Party: The Guys

A few days ago, Weddingbee reader Mrsv2bee posted a link to sneak-peak wedding photos on her photographer's blog.  (Click on it!  They're absolutely gorgeous pictures!)  One photo of her hubby's perfectly styled groomsmen caught my eye:

Don't they all look so handsome and modern in their light-colored suits and mismatched sneakers?

I've known all along that I don't want our guys to wear traditional tuxes.  I've always pictured light gray suits, stylish ties and red vans/converse.  Fortunately, B is on board with this vision. 

Until today I hadn't really put any effort into searching for our ideal groomsman ensemble.  I had browsed Men's Warehouse's website, but that was about it.  I turned to Rock 'n Roll Bride, the internet's mecca for modern, (slightly edgy) stylish bridal parties.

I found some amazing inspiration: {all photos found browsing Rock 'n Roll Bride's "groom style" tag}

I don't think I want our groomsmen to wear black, but I love the modern fit of these suits.

B doesn't really like khaki suits, but I really like how these are styled.  (Isn't that beard impressive?)

Love love the vests and colorful skinny ties.  I think I'd have added cute socks, though.

More skinny ties.  Plus, there's just something about a man in suspenders!

LOVE the vintage style suspender clips, shoes... everything, actually.  I wonder if they wore jackets at all?

How adorable is this groom?  I really like these suits.  The unique pocket-squares make the look, don't you think?

Aren't those ties fun?  80s style slatted glasses are fun for photo-ops, too!

 

And last, but certainly not least, v-neck sweaters.  I'm not really a bow-tie kinda girl, but I'm really digging the look of the sweaters over dress shirts and gray slacks.  I haven't really seen this combination before in a bridal party, but it'd definitely be more pocket friendly than having each GM buy a suit (they all have to get plane tickets, too).  

I love that non-traditional styles are so widely accepted now in the wedding world.  Are you going to dress your guys up in suits?  Where did you find your inspiration?

Our Hallowedding: Getting the "pumpkin" rolling

With a classic Twilight Zone marathon serving as motivation, I turned to the internet to find inspiration for our Hallowedding (doesn't "Hallowedding" sound fun!?)

I've never actually thrown a Halloween party before.  In my head I imagine classy, Marthaesque decorations with tasty food and tastier drinks.  I spent hours searching for inspiration and came out with a small bounty of photos that will lay the foundation for a memorable party to celebrate our nuptials.

{Photo sources: Love-o-lanterns, tissue pom, bottle invites, tulle poms, pumpkin cooler, witches candy, pumpkin punch bowl, Halloween garland, brain cupcakes, luminaries}

Now, I do want this to be more of a Halloween party than a reception, and B agrees.  As I stated before, we don't want our civil ceremony to make our wedding in May any less special.  So, I'm not going to use our relationship as a focus of the decor.  No dates, no monograms, or any of the like.  I do think "J <3 B" jack-o-lanterns would be super adorable, though!

I'm really looking forward to getting started on our Hallowedding party crafts.  I even have the perfect costumes in mind for B and me... I'm keeping those secret, though!

Have any of you thrown a totally fab Halloween party?  Do you have any suggestions or ideas that would make ours memorable?

Ear Candy

When I was little, my mom made me wait to pierce my ears until I was old enough follow the post piercing cleaning regimen on my own.  On November 18, 1991, the day before I turned seven, mom took me to the mall, let me choose my studs and I got my ears pierced. 

I had earrings to go with every outfit.  Cute little hearts, flowers, diamonds...  fast forward eighteen years and my interest in earrings-- in jewelry in general has faded.  The holes in my ears had been closed for years and despite the nagging from my mother (who never leaves the house without earrings), I never really had the desire to have them repierced.  Until I became a bride-to-be.

The thought first came after looking through a bridal magazine accessory spread.  Beautiful chandalier earrings with perfectly coordinated necklaces were calling out to my in-tact lobes.  

So, earlier this week when MOH showed me her fabulous Parisian clip-on earrings and how much they hurt her ears, I suggested we go to Claire's to have our ears pierced.

To celebrate my newly pierced ears, I turned to Etsy to find some possible earring choices for my bridal ensemble.  Is it silly to try to choose earrings before I have any idea what my dress is going to look like? 

I've never been comfortable in large earrings.  I guess I always felt that they added bulk to my already round face.  My search started out with aqua colored studs.  Don't you think the pale minty aqua will be lovely with a sweet, white dress?

1. Periwinkle blossom earrings from seller Miasophia
2. Aqua Dot minis from seller Sofiemari
3. Chrysanthemum studs from seller IceCreamCandy
4. Vintage Rose Studs also from IceCreamCandy

My favorites are the chrysanthemum earrings, though they're all so cute.  They're all cheap enough that I might end up with a jewelry box full of aqua colored earrings!

In my search I also found a handful of beeaautiful "dangly" earrings (that's what I called them when I was little : )  I might not wear them on a day-to-day basis, but what better day than my wedding to wear some big, fancy earrings?

5.  Cecilia earrings by Liesldesigns
6.  Blue drop earrings by Jenalynscreations
7.  I lost the link to these!
8. Jade teardrop chandalier earrings by MermaiCharms
9. Pale rose earrings by Linkeldesigns
10. Pool earrings by Farafield
11.  Blue quartz earrings by SarahClarkDesigns
12.  Something blue earrings by Amjewels
13.  Taylor earrings by Eliwill

They all look so pretty up there together, don't they?  I think I like number 8 the best, there's just something about them that's so lovely!  13 would be a close front-runner, but I think I'd like them better if the silver wasn't oxidized.  Which are your favorite?  Do you think they look "bridal" enough?

 

I know that I don't want to wear red earrings.  I might wear red on my fingernails, definitely wear red shoes, but I'm sticking to more subtle colors for my jewelry.  But don't these red hot earrings by StrangeLittleBird look delicious?  They're the perfect shade of candy red; I might have to get these for myself to stock my earring collection!

Did you turn to Etsy for any of your wedding day jewelry?

Immigration Update and Costume Weddings?

B and I have been very blessed with a smooth immigration process.  We are fortunate enough to live within the jurisdiction of fast offices for both parts of the visa journey.  In fact, the timeline for most Fiancé visas are six months; we just found out we’ll have the visa in hand in as little as three weeks.  That’s four months since I mailed off our visa petition.  I am SO beyond excited!  B will be here by the end of this month, and I’m not going to have to say goodbye to him again for a long time.

In addition to getting my house FMIL ready (B’s parents will be driving him down from Canada to meet their new ‘California Family’), I have our legal marriage to think about.  We have to marry within 90 days of B’s entrance to the US using his visa.

My first instinct was to downplay our civil ceremony.  I didn’t want to take importance away from our wedding in May when we’ll be exchanging vows in front of our loved ones.  I figured the courthouse was the way to go.

Think Carrie and Big’s wedding(Sans Manolo’s)

After discussing this with MOH this weekend, I’m almost convinced to do a something totally different.  Because, really, how many couples get to have two “weddings”?  One that’s completely off the wall, and one that’s completely fabulous?

MOH stated that it'd be neat if she could be ordained to marry us.  We were throwing ideas at each other and at some point Halloween was put into the mix.  The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea!  I've always thought my little 100 year old country house would be the perfect setting for a halloween party.  It would be a costume party, and of course B and I would be dressed in our best!

B and I could be a zombie bride and groom, a la Christina Aguilera

 

Frankenstein and his bride?  At 6'10" B is definitely tall enough for the role!

 

 

Jack and Sally would be adorable if we could pull these costumes off!

 

I'd have nearly two months to plan a spectacular halloween party/wedding.  I'm imagining adorable invitations for a handful of our close friends and family, spooky decor, tasty food, lots of alcohol... maybe scary movies projected on the side of our house?

I'm still not 100% sold on the idea of planning any festivities around our civil ceremony, though.  What would you do?  Are you "making it legal" before your wedding?  Are you going to do anything special for that?