Words to Live By

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     Truer words have never been spoken.  Leave it to the classiest woman who ever lived, Audrey Hepburn, to remind us what true beauty really is.  It's not what you see in the mirror, it's how you see the world.  

LLLove,

Jen

DIY Save the Date Banner

photo via studio castillero

       I love having props for photo shoots!  If you feel awkward having your picture taken (like I do) it gives you something else to focus on.  So for our engagement shoot I made a few things, including a Save the Date banner.  If you are interested in making your own, here's a little "How to."  


What you'll need:
1.) thick cardstock
2.) cardboard
3.) 1 yard of burlap fabric (or any fabric you want to use)
4.) a black thin sharpie
5.) a pencil
6.) a ruler
7.) scissors and/or an x-acto knife
8.) stapler
9.) about 2 yards of string
10.) a hot glue gun & glue sticks

                                   

Notes: You can either hole punch through the cardboard or just staple the string to the cardboard.  Also, I drew letters, but you could just as easily print letters from your computer with a font you like.

Happy crafting!

LLLove,

Jess

Wedding Planning 101

“Summer time, and the livin’ is easy” may be a sentiment embraced by many of you, but for those of you in the throws of wedding planning, living won’t be easy until the honeymoon...at the earliest.  But have no fear my beautiful Brides-to-be.  Take a deep breath, everything is going to be fine.

Start with the big picture.  

Photo via True Photography

Answer these questions:

What kind of wedding do I want? 

The question might seem silly.  Some women have been planning their weddings since they were 5, but other women don’t really know what they want.  Either way, get ready for your ideas to change.  If you have had a concrete vision of your wedding since the womb, start to let go of it...just a little.  It’s better for everyone.  Start by answering more general questions and you may soon find out that the swan ice sculpture you always wanted doesn’t fit with the beautiful outdoor garden you fell in love with and the summer heat.   Stay flexible, and I promise it will all come together.

Do I want a small intimate wedding, or a huge celebration? (Size)

Your guest list size will determine everything from the venue, to the favors.  The more you have the more things cost, so if you have a smaller wedding you can afford a few more things, but if you have a larger wedding you may have to go with a less expensive option cause you need 300 of them.  The bigger the guest list the harder it is to find a venue, but they are out there.  It all depends on what is most important to you. 

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall? (Date)

Next up, picking a date.  Most of the time this will be the step that everyone will have an opinion about.  Don’t get discouraged if you go through multiple dates before you find one that sticks.  Know you will never be able to please everyone, and only include the people that you really want there in the decision (family and wedding party max). 

Destination or my own backyard?  (Venue)

After you agree on a size, and date it’s venue shopping time.  Picking a date and finding the venue are often the hardest part so, I know you just started this roller coaster of love, but the first peek is almost ascended! Talk budget before hand and know what you are willing to pay.  Save yourself some time and research venues online first.  If it’s an outdoor, garden pasture you are looking for make sure to take these things into account: are there outlets near by, or do we need to bring in a generator?, Is there running water for the caterers, and bathrooms for the guests?, Is there lighting for when the sun goes down? and are there places to park? 

If you want a multiple venue wedding, (e.g. a church ceremony and a hotel reception) know that hiring transportation can get very pricy.  Most couples are choosing to do everything at one location, but if you really want two venues, it is totally doable.
Your venue may also dictate guest list size, so stay open minded and flexible.

What are my deal breakers?

Know what you have to have and be honest about it.  Being passive is much worse in the long run then honestly sharing your vision (as crazy, frilly, princessy as it may be) and then paring down from there.  If everyone knows what you are shooting for, you have a much better chance of getting there, then secretly mourning the loss of what you really wanted and resenting everyone for it later.


What do I Love?

Try to nail down a theme that will be your through line for the event.  Whether it is baseball, or an artsy photo that you love.  Find something you connect with and make it your overarching image.  Carry around something that reminds you of that image when you make decisions so that you can always have a reference tool to keep you on track.  If carrying around a hand painted tea cup from your great grandmother, or a cool pillow you found on etsy.com, helps you keep everything cohesive, it will be so worth it in the end. Happy Planning!


LLLove,
Jen

Words to Live By

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     When we first started talking about working together we had a lot of different ideas.  We talked about starting an etsy shop, a wedding planning company, decor company, and there is no reason why we still can't do any and all of those things, but the more we prayed about it, the more the wind changed.  Jess has always loved the blogging world, and I have always loved to write.  It seemed like the perfect fit, but we never would have found it if we had not stayed open to redirection.


LLLove,
Jen and Jess

It's a New Year ...

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photos via studio castillero

photo via true photography

       We have been talking about this blog for a few months now, and finally today we sat down and started it.  2011 was an exciting year, to say the least.  It included both of us moving, friends having babies, and lots of weddings including our own.  Yes, two sisters, getting married in one summer...our poor father may never recover... But we had so much fun trying to be DIY brides and designing and making a lot of decor for both of our weddings, that we started to get inquiries from other brides and friends, which lead to us starting this blog.  We wanted to have somewhere to post fun ideas, crafts, and just plain life.  For Jess it is mostly a creative outlet, and a place she can organize craft projects and inspiration, and for Jen it is a fun excuse to get to spend time with her artsy little sister and talk fashion, parties, and life lessons.  If we have to be grown ups, we might as well make it fun, and if it ends up helping or inspiring ideas for someone else along the way, well then that is the cherry and sprinkles on top.


       We hope you enjoy!


LLLove,
Jen and Jess