Jessica Rust Serving Pieces
A few months ago we posted about the amazingly talented Jessica Rust and readers went absolutely crazy for her work. Since then, I have seen Jessica’s designs all over the place…Grace at Design*Sponge mentioned them, Poppytalk Handmade features them on her web store, Jennifer over at Hostess Blog wrote about her. The nods of approval are endless.
And so, I thought a Jessica Rust original was just the ticket to convince you to enter our latest contest. For one lucky reader, this absolutely beautiful, make-your-friends-completely-jealous serving bowl will be all yours! All you have to do is answer one simple question…
(These Limited Edition Birch Serving Bowls and the Limited Edition Love Bird II Serving Bowls are completely, over-the-top gorgeous. Only 50 of these babies will ever be made, so if you love them as much as I do, and can’t wait to find out if you are the winner, I would buy one today. Each bowl features 14K gold luster on the exterior and will be numbered and signed…a true keepsake.)
Here is the question…how has the Internet, specifically blogs, changed the way that you approach your own wedding? That’s it. Simple as that. We are going to close the contest on Friday afternoon, so put your thinking caps on (cheesy, I know).
The internet and blogging has opened my eyes to ideas. It has shattered my idea of what a wedding "should" be or look like. Today there is no right or wrong when it comes to my wedding versus another. A wedding is about individual style and about who my fiance and I are as a couple. Seeing all of the amazing ideas, whether I would incorporate them or not in my own wedding, makes me more secure in the ideas I come up with or am inspired by. Without access to the internet and blogs I know I would be less sure of making less than traditional decisions when it comes to my wedding. With the internet and blogs I know I am in good company!
I can't tell you how much inspiration I get from fellow bloggers! Joining this community of brides, event planners, photographers, stationery designers, etc. has been the highlight of planning my wedding!
Last month I posted that I was planning a "game night" theme for my wedding and looking for inspiration, here's the post:
http://toastandtables.blogspot.com/2007/09/players-club-tableware-finds-for-your.html " rel="nofollow">http://toastandtables.blogspot.com/2007/09/players-club-tableware-finds-for-your.html
...and the response from the blogging community was unbelievable. Here are just a few the responses that I received full of suggestions and inspiration:
1. http://bklynbride.blogspot.com/2007/09/for-sarah-ultimate-game-night-wedding.html " rel="nofollow">http://bklynbride.blogspot.com/2007/09/for-sarah-ultimate-game-night-wedding.html
2 . http://bklynbride.blogspot.com/2007/09/for-sarah-part-deux.html " rel="nofollow">http://bklynbride.blogspot.com/2007/09/for-sarah-part-deux.html
3 . http://ohhappyblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/sarah-this-is-for-you.html " rel="nofollow">http://ohhappyblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/sarah-this-is-for-you.html
My Mother couldn't believe it!
I'm going back to my hometown to get married, so planning a wedding long distance can be stressful; but not when you have the help of amazing women in blogosphere helping you! *smile*
No magazine can give you this kind of feedback. I encourage all brides to start blogging, they won't regret it.
Finding bridal blogs such as Style Me Pretty has not only changed my approach to my wedding, but also given me such a huge sense of relief. I'm a bride living in Manhattan trying to plan a wedding in my home town outside of Philadelphia. Besides the fact that planning a wedding from afar is enough to make you tear your hair out, looking at the bigwig sites (the knot, brides, etc.) is informative, yet frustrating. My fiance and I are on a super-tight budget and it's frustrating that there is no real advice out there for people on a budget. It's despairing when all you see are pictures of these $50,000 or even $500,000 weddings and you're on a $10,000 budget.
I began to feel like it wasn't possible, but coming to blogs like this, with real people has given me such a sense of relief. Other people out there do amazing things on their own and in a budget. I no longer feel like I don't deserve a great wedding because I can't afford it, but I feel like I'll have a great wedding because I can do it, and others have done it, too.
It's so great to get advice from so many brides that have been through it or are going through it. It's truly invaluable.
In starting out with wedding planning, I did what any bride-to-be does - go to Barnes & Noble and buy every wedding magazine imaginable and sit for hours near the wedding isle perusing through wedding planning books. While finding some informative tid bits on etiquette, wedding dress designers, and discovering just why Martha is so fabulous, I, like many other brides left my magazine/book adventure feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. Then I found Style Me Pretty's inspiration boards and it wasn't until then that the vision of my wedding came to life. Style Me Pretty and related blogs have become daily reading for me. I look forward to visiting these sites everyday to see what creative, practical insight they have to offer. While wedding planning has become SUCH a business and we are constantly overmarketed to, these blogs offer creativity that goes beyond the wedding machine and gets back to the heart of what this day is about. But the best part about it all is the power of all of these women coming together to help each other achieve the day we've all dreamed of. Even though I've never met these wonderful woman who take the time out of their busy days to impart some of their ideas, I feel a bond that we are all women of passion and that extends all the way from our personal lives, to our careers...to just something pretty.
At first I didn't really think of turning to blogs for help planning my big day. Good thing I did. The internet was absolutely VITAL in planning my wedding for three distinct reasons: it helped create inspiring ideas that expanded my understanding, it brought me into a community of support and developed a way to stay grounded...financially, that is.
Wedding sites, such as Style Me Pretty, Something Old Something New and Our Wedding Plus were my go-to sites for unique and personal wedding ideas. Not only did I get great ideas from these sites, but they did a great job of teaching me how to blend ideas together to come up with something really personal. Making sure the wedding really felt like "us" was my main goal, and websites more than any other source helped me figure out out to translate that into an event.
Spots like Weddingbee and Indiebrides helped me build a virtual sounding board for my ideas. I got to "know" other brides out there, going through the same dilemmas (to chivalri chair or not to chivalri chair...that is the question). Having the input of real people doing the same thing was so helpful!
Last, I was able to compare cost of so many different vendors by using in the internet. This REALLY helped up stay close to our budget. We ended up having a spectacular wedding (IMHO) with just over $8000. I did not want to sacrifice quality for our big day, and didn't have to, thanks to all my internet contacts!
Blogs are brides' best friends. Anytime I feel stuck, uncreative, and lost, I always feel better when I surf blogs for ideas and answers. I can't imagine not having the internet and planning a wedding. And most importantly it's fun and you don't feel alone. I hate feeling alone but knowing that someone else is trying to find the best cake store in San Francisco, or a cheap bridesmaid dress but elegant looking, I just surf the web and I'm not alone!
Blogs specifically are the only planning tool I'm using for my wedding. When I first began planning I quickly realized that it would be a long, hard hunt through theknot.com and brides.com to find things that felt right for the kind of party we wanted. I knew it was there but I didn't have the patience to pass by all the things that just weren't us.
Then I started hunting around the blogs I already read for ideas (design*sponge, ohjoy...) and eventually they led me to you, brooklyn bride, something old/something new, etsy bride, faye and greer...the list goes on. And suddenly I felt surrounded by a bunch of people with the same taste as me with all these amazing ideas. And I wanted to do every single one of them! (I've also had to learn self control)
Perhaps best of all - though I feel like I know all the bloggers - I don't! Which means I can shamelessly rip off other people's ideas without any concern that they'll show up to my wedding and think that they did it better.
We're still 6 months away but thanks to everyone's inspiration I have a whole pile of ideas that will just blow all our guests away. So far everyone was quite impressed with our wedding invitations (http://thomoli.blogspot.com/2007/09/all-invitation-tins-with-our-fancy.html )" rel="nofollow">http://thomoli.blogspot.com/2007/09/all-invitation-tins-with-our-fancy.html) />
To sum it up, Blogs have been my insight to the creative ideas and advice I can not get in the area in which I live. I find myself not only consumed with the great blogging but also more than completely thankful that its available in this format. From saving money to thinking outside the box, I have been able to create what will be not only be the most memorable day in my life, but a fun and enjoyable event for my family and friends. The ability to connect with others on such an instant and continuous basis allows for the free flow of ideas. A wonderful way to think broader, bigger and more clearly. :)
The Internet, specifically blogs, changed the way that I approach my own wedding in numerous ways. I'm a blogger by way of habit and my personal blog has given me an outlet to fully document the entire process - from inspiration and conceptual design to vendor interviews to photos of the actual events.
With the added benefit of reading the many (thousands?) of daily blog entries from other to-be-brides, I feel as though I am a bigger part of a large creative community where I am able to pick and choose from details that fit my personality. It almost makes it more difficult to plan because I am so inspired from so many angles at all times that it's hard to make an actual decision. My design seems to fluctuate hourly. However, I know that whatever the finished product will be, it will be mine right down to the teeniest detail thanks in great part to the bridal blogosphere and it's infinite wisdom of frugal finds and chic choices.
Blogs and the internet have allowed me to indulge myself in the most spectacular wedding I could possibly ever have. Growing up, I wanted to get married in a red dress (a nod to Cyndi Lauper's She's so Unusual album cover). I was apprehensive at first and worried about what people might think. However, by connecting with other people's ideas on blogs (especially on Style Me Pretty), I've become more confident in my choices.
Blogs have also helped me understand what I can undertake myself. I'm a very hands on person, and I've learnt how to make so many things so my wedding will really be personalised.
Can I enter even though I've been married for 9 years? Whenever I see beautiful wedding blogs like this one I am a tiny bit sad that they weren't around to help me out! I have to remind myself that I did the best job I could with what I knew at the time. Also being the first in my family/group of friends to marry, I needed resources like this one! Now, nine years after my own wedding, I love to peruse all the beauty that surrounds brides today. I am wedding-addicted and everyone knows it, which means I am now the go-to-girl for wedding ideas! My sister, sisters-in-law, cousins, and friends all get to benefit from my wedding-blog cruising! I print off ideas and put them together for my bride friends--they get lots of inspiration from my little hobby! (That beautiful bowl would be a great gift for my anniversary coming up! :))
Blogs are an amazing resource and a wealth of knowledge. As much as having friends and family provide input and share their experience, or reading articles and ripping pages out of a magazine can be helpful, they are still limiting. Blogs provide an at-your-fingertip, honest, and fun way to share ideas. It's comforting to read about others sharing the same anxieties, rejoicing over the slight victories of a good buy, mourn with you when something goes wrong. Plus its like having a network of quite possibly thousands of other to-be-brides, former brides, or have people who are passionate (whether out of the love of planning or because they are service providers) about this industry share their expertise is the biggest safety net for a bride venturing into this stage. Blogs have help me so much, I'm starting my own blog to share all I've learn -- you know, spreading the wealth!
Yours was actually the first bridal blog I found while planning my wedding and it was because you posted an inspiration board for a friend of mine on the knot and she told us all about it. From your blog, I became addicted to all the wonderful photography and ideas and inspiration and I just couldn't stop. Soon I had my entire bar of bookmarks taken up just with wedding, hostessing, and decorating blogs. These blogs opened up a new world to me beyond what was in all the wedding magazines. Blogs bring in personal touches and inspiration from places you'd never find in a magazine. Finding unknows artists was my favorite. People who don't advertise on the knot and who aren't local. I would have never been able to incorporate their classy, unique, artistic, and non-traditional aspects into my day. And if I hadn't been able to, my wedding would have not truly been "me". I felt like everything came together once I discovered the world of blogs. And now I run my own blog- Trying to find new and inspirational bits and pieces for my readers. It's becomming such a passion of mine. How's that for blogging karma? :)
Yes, absolutely! I looked at all the usual magazine suspects, and then went to their websites and read every inch, and then became horribly depressed when I realized a "magazine style" wedding would cost more than I make in a whole year. So I went to some other resources where real people are planning real weddings without celebrity planners. What a relief! I've gotten wonderful ideas while knowing that our wedding will be uniquely ours AND leave a little left over for the ideas I've gotten off the internet to decorate our future home. ;)
I didn’t know I could have a stylish wedding. I knew I would be able to make my dress, I knew I would be giving out jam jar favors, I knew that my bridesmaids would look beautiful, but I didn’t know that all this hand-made could equate to anything that I’d seen in those magazines. When I was first developing my style and working out how I could combine my ethical views with creating products I found solace and stimulation in crafting blogs. Happening upon creativity after stylish creativity woke up in me the concept of an overarching vision that I could create. I’d never made a mood board in my life, but entering the style me pretty mood board display forced me to put all my images in one place and seriously consider the effect that each element had on the others.
Through blogs I have located my bridesmaids fabric (an antique print sourced through a mention at DressADay), my dress (a Pronovias copy that I would never had tried on had it not been for a mention of another of their styles on WeddingBee), designed a website that fully reflects the eco-invitations that my godmother and I are crafting (with help from Paola at mirrormirror in web-design) and defining a seating area within a cavernous barn space using a pre-loved sofa and stool area (seen at Absolutely Beautiful Things).
My wedding would always have been crafted, but now it can be eco, stylish and pretty with an absolute knowledge and understanding of each design decision that I make.
The blogging community almost entirely, with a little help from magazines here and there, helped me plan my wedding this past year. I had the vision in my head, but being able to visit blogs who shared my same tastes helped me take my vision and turn it into a gorgeous, unique and most importantly personal wedding this past June. I continue to visit blogs looking for inspiration for home decor, party planning, gift giving, etc. I hate to say this, but I just might be addicted! Thank you for being an inspiration!!!
Blogs have given me a really easy, economical way to get inspired and excited about my wedding. I'm a chemistry graduate student and my fiance is also a graduate student, so we don't have a lot of money. Reading blogs helps me so much to think creatively about how to use what I already have and how to make a little look fabulous. I also love how blogs get me to think about color and shape and texture. I long for creative outlets after doing chemistry all day, and using the internet to look for ideas for my wedding helps me to remember that planning can and should be fun! It reminds me of that, that putting together color schemes, flowers, and table settings can be great fun. They help take some of the stress away, because they provide such a plethora of ideas!
A close friend of mine who blogs sent me links to a few wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty as soon as I got engaged -since then I have become addicted!
My fiance and I are choosing to have a "self uniting ceremony" followed by a classy garden cocktail reception. I was concerned that this is not your "typical wedding" and what will people think?!! Blogs have allowed me to rest assured that I'm not alone in developing a unique day that is representative of us. There are so many creative and fun ways to do it! I can't imagine what I would do without these forums to share with, support and encourage me throughout this incredible process. Blogs have provided me with amazing ideas that will definitely be reflected in our day in addition to the confidence to truly create a wedding that is us.
I hate to admit it, but the proliferation of blogs and the ability to post pictures and descriptions of my wedding has increased my tendency to want to "show off" in general. Sure, I planned to make my own invitations, but knowing that there was a ready-made audience to ooh and ahh over all the details probably pushed me to go a bit more over-the-top than I would have already. I found myself covering a pair of heels in tie fabric thinking "this will be sure to win the DIY contest... no one's as crafty as me!" and booking my makeup artist thinking "ha! I got to her first, the other brides will be jealous!"
On the other hand, I was more willing to use my powers for good instead of evil... I was eager to help other brides with their projects, share what I'd learned the hard way about glue guns, paper cutters, etc., and offer vendor reviews for people who needed references.
So I'd say blogs increased my tendency to talk about myself and my experiences... whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, I don't know. But I'm enjoying the ride!
I have learned so many wonderful, creative ideas that have shown me not every wedding has to be the same. There are endless ways to make our wedding special and unique and beautiful all at the same time! And with inspiration boards (thanks to this blog!), it has truly been such an amazing way to put all of the beautiful pictures I have collected together in one place to really see my vision for the day! It's also really fun to see how other people's weddings turn out. :)
Blogs have been by far the best wedding resource out there for me. It's been such a relief and pleasure to find so bloggers that have similar taste as me with an abundance of ideas! And the creativity! I'm overwhelmed with it all, but can never get enough. I admit, when I open my RSS reader, my eyes go straight to my wedding section and I always get so excited when certain sites have new posts for me to read. :)
As usual, grooms aren't a whole lot of help. Do they really care about the color of napkins? And moms can be a little too much to handle; they start pushing their own style... So where can we find people to bounce ideas off of? Blogs! Whether it's reading questions posted by brides with the same dilemmas as you, or Bloggers posting insanely inspirational links and photos, the internet has totally opened up the idea pool - open source wedding planning if you will!
I'm planning a wedding across the country, so thank you for making ideas and support never more than a mouse click away!
I can't say enough great things about blogging! Although, my fiance thinks it's very time consuming and may be interfering with my school work. I can't disagree, but it brings me peace to lay all my ideas out there, and have a gracious blogging community provide feedback.
It's sometimes difficult to find a balance between wedding planning, home, work and school. However, the benefits of blogging definitely outweigh the difficulties of finding enough time.
All in all, blogs have begun a new era in wedding planning. New ideas and traditions are being forged and it's truly exciting to be a part of that process!
Blogs/internet are a blessing and a curse.
I am in the midst of planning my '08 wedding and I am not familiar with weddings at all aside from attending a handful. I do not have sisters nor a mother who is particularly inclined to jump in and help so I am on my own (all my friends are single so they cannot relate either). So, when I started I had NO idea what I needed to do. Thanks to this blog, wedding bee and others (oh happy day/brooklyn bride/indie bride forum) I have gotten TONS of ideas and realized that I can have the "wedding" we want which reflects both of us with style!
But, on the other hand, some of these great examples have led to frustration now that I see things that I never knew existed - do I REALLY have to do out of town bags? do I REALLY have to DIY everything to make the event "us"? do I really need to add jewels to my bouquet? And on and on... So, every so often my fiance has to drag me down from the walls and say: you know what you always wanted, just get the inspiration and keep on track with your vision.
So, keep the inspiration coming and I will try to keep it all in check with our budget (small) and our vision (fun, stylish-comfort and memorable)!
Blogs are both a blessing and a curse! I can spend hours upon hours reading about different wedding ideas and DIY tips!
Reading blogs has been very helpful for me in such a way that it helps me think outside the box a little more. When I see a great idea, I almost never copy directly. I always tweak it a little to reflect my personality and style. While I do consider myself a pretty creative person, when so many options are present, I have a hard time coming up with the base of an idea, so it's easier for me to see other ideas compiled, and then change them a little.
Simply put: they are realistic, out of the box, non-cookie cutter ideas. And when everyone is trying to make their day unique and special it brings more inspiration then all the magazines and "big boxed" websites out there. :)
Inspiring.
Simply put: they are realistic, out of the box, non-cookie cutter ideas. And when everyone is trying to make their day unique and special it brings more inspiration then all the magazines and "big boxed" websites out there. :)
Inspiring.
Simply put: they are realistic, out of the box, non-cookie cutter ideas. And when everyone is trying to make their day unique and special it brings more inspiration then all the magazines and "big boxed" websites out there. :)
Inspiring.
Wedding blogs and the internet have made my wedding planning a much more exciting and do-able process! I am eager to log online every day to see what new ideas have been compiled and posted! Not to mention that I will be taking my doctoral exams and I will be out of the country conducting fieldwork during most of my planning period (researching for my dissertation). Without the internet, I would not be able to plan my wedding.
Looking at beautiful websites and wedding photos has also kept me sane during this stressful period! Whenever I am totally overwhelmed I take a few minutes to do some wedding "research" and then the excitment about the wedding steers me back on track! I would not be able plan my wedding during such a crazy period if all I had were wedding magazines and books (they are fun too, but don't compare)!
I have actually found all of my vendors through the web and sites like yours!
Had I been asked this 6 months ago, I would have said "what are blogs? Now they have become my morning, evening and weekend rituals.
We were engaged on June 22, 2007. I've never been one of those girls to have a picture in my head of my "dream wedding." First thing I bought was a Martha Steward Weddings magazine, which led me to many vendors's sites. From there, I was introduced to "real brides" and the world of "blogging."
Not only have blogsites been a huge resource of inspirational photos and diy projects, but it has given me the reassurance I've needed during those stressed out, overwhelmed periods I've experience on a weekly basis. To read personal reflections on other brides who have had the same experiences in choosing a photographer to frustrations with bridal party, and of course to the infamous committing to the dress, is like having close friends by your side. I've had many laughs reading some of the posts, and have cheered on many brides who have had to confront poor vendors.
Whenever I feel that family and friends are tired of hearing me talk wedding stuff ad nauseam, I know my blogsites will always lend an open ear, and even offer more advice and suggestions.
Wedding blogs are a recent phenomenon. When I got married there was little information for the bride other than magazines. Of course, you could get a wedding location where they would plan it for you with little imagination. (Think-Prepackaged!) I found going against the mainstream very difficult although I did persevere. Our wedding was creative and reflected us as a couple. It just would have been so nice to have access to all the information, ideas and inspiration that wedding blogs give now back then.
If we look back 10 years ago, we did have the ressources we have now. Back then, you basically had to find your vendors the old fashion way.
Now with the interet, weddings blogs have become a canvas for inspiration and ideas. Some ideas tangible other not so much, but the dream of having a magazine worthy wedding is possible due to the great wedding blogs out there. You can find various resources and not to forget, you meet (electronically) great people.
Being a designer, the internet is my best friend. I could not imagine my life without it and planning my wedding is that much easier. Its also a great way to share your ideas, and to have feedback by people who actually want to hear about your wedding.
Abby, your blog is the inspiration for my new wedding blog. You have created the wedding blog standard for everyone in the blog-o-sphere. Keep up the great work!!! And gals like me will be reading carefully for our next wedding find. Thank you....for making wedding planning such a great experience.
The internet has added a whole new dimension to wedding planning. Before I was engaged, I would dream of this simple, elegant affair and planned to pick up different elements at local stores. About three months before I became engaged I discovered Weddingbee.com. Weddingbee ultimately led me to a million other blogs and wedding web sources (including you!). And I'm forever grateful.
Instead of having a basic wedding with not a lot of flair, my vision has drastically changed and now I'm planning a beautiful, elegant, charming wedding with a ton of fun elements.
My thoughts of a black and pink wedding are now buried beneath fuschia pink and apple green things. My typical wedding cake is no longer in existence. Instead, its a Dr. Seuss/Madhatter inspired cake with stripes, polka dots, and a beautiful personalized cake topper hopefully purchased on Etsy (another great find from the internet).
Martha Stewart's website & The brides guide has inspired me to make my own ring bearer's pillow and monogrammed door hangers. And even better yet, I'm working with my florist to create floral puppies for my flower girl like I saw on weddingbee.com.
I've also been grateful for the many tips I've found on different wedding blogs for not only planning my wedding, but also planning for my marriage. I honestly could not have had a beautiful, memorable, fun wedding if it weren't for resources I've found through the internet and blogs.
Before discovering wedding blogs, I figured I would have to stick with a pretty conventional wedding (mostly because I was unsure of how to go about things, and channel my ideas). I knew I wanted to be different, and infuse my wedding with all sorts of personal touches, but I didn't quite know how to do it without things being too bold, and uncohesive. Wedding blogs (especially this one, since it opened the door for me) have taught me how to refine my ideas, appropriately showcase all my creative and personal touches, but so that everything works together in harmony.
Blog sites were so fantastic when I was planning my wedding because it gave me endless ideas. We were able to take different ideas and apply them to our budget and see creative things without just buying a bunch of wedding magazines. It has been nice to see some pictures of real weddings that I could apply my own style to, not just fancy magazine photos that can blow a budget. I was able to print out specific pictures for the flowers/cake/linens/photography/etc. Also, blogs were a great way to share ideas with my sisters and family that were out of town and get their opinions as well.
I discovered wedding blogs fairly recently as a result of starting my own blog, and it has opened up a new world of discovery and intrigue for me. I have to admit, I was never one to think much about my future wedding, but rather felt that I was "above" obsessing over little details and planning everything out before actually being engaged. I didn't dream about my perfect wedding, dress, flowers, colors or even a ring.
However, while I am still not engaged, I have stumbled upon this niche in the blogging world and been unexpectedly drawn into it. The fluid and interactive nature of blogging has highlighted the creativity and personality that a wedding can embody. Weddings can be a matchless expression of a couple's journey together towards becoming one. It has tapped into my own creative side, which has been lying dormant for several years. The wedding blog world has also shown me that this event is a great way to unite the practical with the artistic to form a very special and memorable day.
You can imagine how it caught me off guard when I first found myself pouring over color palettes, dresses, flowers and invitations online for hours at a time!
Who knows? Maybe this is all because I'm in a great relationship and I may find myself planning that special event one day.
Engaging beauty leads to new visual patterns of thinking...
Inspiration boards have led me to look for details, throughout my day, that group together, or lend elegance to everyday situations, or simply delight me.
Because blogs provide me with examples of creative, lovely ladies with whom I can _relate_, and feel connection with, my own creative inklings feel grounded and realistic, and then blossom.
Instead of being a practice in purchasing [the things and stuff of others], my wedding will be a culmination of collecting patterns, images, details, and supportive snatches of whimsy and swoon. My wedding will be my own, and layered with everything I've gained from staying connected to all of you.
I'm from a midsized town in Central IL, and resources here are limited.
Until I found the wedding blogs I thought the only inspiration available was David's Bridal (yawn!) and Preston Jackson books (expensive). Blogs have helped me find many new ideas, resources and planning material.
We have successfully navigated my sister's August wedding, and will successful plan my February wedding - all inspired by photos and resources found on various blogs.
One thing I've appreciated most are the posts I find that show someone like myself how to make something very individual and creative - when I'm lacking in resources and talent!
I have found that the internet, and blogs specifically, have changed the way I go about planning my own wedding. Along the way, I am learning that the best, best ideas out there come when two or more people put their heads together.
One of the interesting and refreshing things I've found in wedding planning is that everyone loves to help everyone else. At least I haven't encountered a spirit of competition; rather, a spirit of excitement and joy to share with others.
I've scoured wedding websites and blogs and have found some amazing ideas. These little touches will make my wedding unique and will combine the great ideas of my peers into something that represents my fiance and me in the midst of our world!
My mother never married, my sister married in court (and lives in another state!) and all of my close friends are single. I have only been to a handful of weddings and was not involved in any of the planning. So when I got engaged over the summer, aside from the overwhelming joy and love, I was a little worried about the wedding. Of course I knew Martha Stewart could help and I did a few google searches and checked out the knot but I never imagined how much help and how many ideas I could find on the internet. I came across Style Me Pretty after seeing an episode of Martha where bloggers were featured. That opened up a whole new world! It is so exciting to see what will be posted next and it is all so inspiring. It is so amazing to be able to see what other brides are doing and feel like I am part of a little community. Everyone is so generous with ideas and are sharing such a special part of their lives. It feels good to know that I'm not alone in all of this planning!
Quite simply put, blogs have helped me envision the wedding of my dreams before I was even sure of what I wanted.
Each post, each comment, each inspiration board, each photo...helped bring me one step closer to my perfect wedding. With the internet, blogs, and chat boards, I was able to see "what was possible". By taking those ideas and building upon them, I was able to create a wedding that was personal and unique, inspired and inspiring.
Because of blogs like Style Me Pretty, my wedding was just a touch more original, creative, beautiful, and ultimately memorable. I think all brides aspire to that... we want a wedding day that envelopes our guests in love, brings joy and laughter, and leaves no doubt that this bride and this groom share a love that is deep and longlasting.
Thank you Style Me Pretty for playing a role in my beautiful wedding day!
Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a lurker. I read a handful of blogs everyday for inspiration, news, and just out of sheer curiosity. I am constantly amazed as to how much information exists on the internet. So naturally, when I got engaged (okay, maybe even before then) the first place I went to for ideas was the internet.
Sites like theknot and weddingchannel are great for general ideas and information, but blogs are where you can really be inspired. I want my wedding to be unique and personal and its through blogs where you can truly find individuality. So, I just have to thank Style Me Pretty and all of the other bloggers out there for letting me lurk-- thank you bloggers!
My wedding would not have been the wonderfully perfect day it was without the Internet. I found my vendors through area brides on the Knot and endless inspiration from wedding blogs and Knot bios. I even bought a lot of my special touches from various Web sites. More importantly, I was able to find a community of supportive and creative people (mostly women) who were going through the same anxieties, decisions and happy moments as I was. Now that my wedding has passed, I still check up on the blogs and posts because I'm not ready to give that up.
Having access to resources that are across the country has been a major help. And of course seeing others photos and personalizing their ideas to fit my special day.
Wedding blogs, especially Style Me Pretty, are the very nice, sweet surprises that I have just recently discover. I was referred by a friend and it's just a mazing how resourceful and helpful it can be.
I love how images and pictures that are shared through the blogs can widened my minds and trigger even more creativity to plan a unique, finger-printed and customized wedding of my own. I love how inspiration boards can help inspire me finding the best style and colors that suits my wedding. I love how those links here and there can provide me the most helpful information and the best possible vendor.
Reading entries through blogs is such a more fun way to get a unique information that other people may not find in the local bridal show.
It's just great. So, keep bloggin' Abby! :)
Bridal blogging has provided me with my very own Sherlock Holmes! Free of charge.
I was able to pinpoint the wedding dress of my dreams through the Conde Naste Bridal Dream House website :o)
If you happen to be in NYC sometime during the next four weeks and if you're a bride-to-be, you'll want to check out the Conde' Nast Bridal Media Dream House at 112 E. 73rd Street. They've created the surroundings every bride would love to come home to after the honeymoon. It's all there; furniture, kitchen appliances and utensils from Cuisinart and The Pampered Chef, accessories from J.C. Penny Wedding Registry, and gorgeous wedding gowns from David's Bridal. They've even placed some amazing and unique Kate Aspen wedding favors, wedding shower favors and bridesmaids' gifts throughout the home,all of which can be found at myweddingfavors.com! When you walk into the kitchen, look for the "It's About Time!" Champagne Bucket Timer. Also in the kitchen you'll find the "Whisked Away" heart whisk favor, which is totally cute! Head into the dining room, where you might find lovely wedding gown candles decorating the tables.
The internet and specifically, Bridal Blogging, has opened the doors to a most unique prospective for hosting the ultimate party. So many ideas obtained on these sites lend themselves to party planning and execution. Absolutly amazing what can be done and now we are able to see the visible proof that it is being done.
The internet and specifically, Bridal Blogging, has opened the doors to a most unique prospective for hosting the ultimate party. So many ideas obtained on these sites lend themselves to party planning and execution. Absolutly amazing what can be done and now we are able to see the visible proof that it is being done.