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I’m crafty.  We all know this.  I know that not everyone likes or wants to be crafty, but this little competition is about our dream gifts, the ones that we would absolutely die to receive if we were in a wedding.  So I’m going to assume that my bride is just a little bit crafty, or at least willing to collect images and/or write letters.

My dream bridesmaid gift is a handmade album, chronicling the years of friendship between myself and the bride.  She could do an altered book design:

Dedra Long via Paperclipping

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Any of these separately would be great gifts, but together? Fantastico!

Little Otsu Annual Planner from Little Otsu - $16

Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith- $12.95

Personalized Paperweight from Rock Paper Scissors - $36

Marquee Stationery from Pink Loves Brown - $12

Green Paper Suitcases from Pink Loves Brown- $22

Quatrefoil Pen from Paper Source - $68.20

Verbana Soy Candle from Archipelago Botanicals - $29

Total - $196.15

Let the voting commence!

E and I were talking about how we really build each other up.  We bounce ideas back and forth, critique even the smallest details.  We’re a great team.  But not today!  We’re introducing a friendly little competition.  Today, we’ll be creating our dream bridesmaids gifts.  Well, if we were the maids!  The limit is $200 and the deadline is 5pm today.  Check back to see what we’ve come up with!  Comment if you love what we’ve done.  Most comments wins bragging rights.

Love,

Elizabeth and Anne

Did you know that just by one click of your mouse you can donate .6 bowls of food to an animal shelter?  I didn’t, until this morning when I read this post.

Each day, please take the time to go to the Animal Rescue Site and click on the purple button - your click directly helps animals receive food, paid for via the site sponsors.  Just look at the number of clicks and bowls of food that shelters have received due to this site in the last week!

Please help these sweet and loving creatures that cannot help themselves by taking time each day to visit, and pass along via your own blogs. 

Thanks Jennifer, for alerting us to this amazing way to help!

E.

{site found via Made by Girl, all images via the Animal Rescue Site}

A bride who used Aletha at Pearls Events was picked for WeddingBee’s Knottie Bios of the of Week.  While not an official award, it is great publicity for a fantastic coordinator.  Congratulations!

Liene at Blue Orchid created a Flickr group specifically for Wedding and Event Inspiration Boards that are inspired by and use non-wedding related photos.  We’ve joined and hope you do too!

I read this entry on Blue Orchid Designs. Talk about perfect timing! I’ve been organizing a lot of our resources (more on that later), and this has sucked every bit of creativity from me. So this was a perfect chance to get inspired for a dear friend and practice some of the ideas Liene suggested in her post. Isn’t it great that we have a community that really helps each other out? Thanks Liene!

A friend is expecting a baby in June, and a group of friends are throwing a shower. She is just graduating with an interior design degree and has graciously agreed to be my guinea pig. As we all know, the it colors this year are purple and gray and coincidentally the exact colors she would like to use in the nursery if she has a girl.

Top Row: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer via Desire to Inspire, Sew Many Buttons, Coe and Waito via mstetson design
Middle Row: Sarah Kaye, IStock Photo, Bumble Ink
Bottom Row: Stuffed Ark, Jay Lynn Photo, Cote de Texas

I’m thinking we could have a garland a la Sophie Cuvelier, some soft and cuddly elephants (perfect for bringing in the soft gray) and using some A Muse stamps on the paper goods. Now off to search the perfect favor….

We’re in a list mood this week at EAD. Anne posted on the 10 rules for brides yesterday(although I still maintain that #8 does not apply to me), but those centered upon you gals that had already planned your wedding or were heavily into the process. What about the newbies out there (welcome!)?

You’re engaged…. Now what?

• Jump up and down and scream! Tell all your family and friends but refrain from the immediate “will you be in the wedding” during the initial celebration. You don’t even have a venue yet!
• Discuss basics with your betrothed (and only your betrothed). Budget, potential contributors, size of wedding, style of wedding, location.
• Discuss basics with any potential contributors and with both sets of parents. I firmly believe that if, in step 2, you determined that you and your future spouse will be paying for the wedding, you should not discuss budget with anyone else, other than your planner or coordinator. You also have a great deal more flexibility in voicing your opinion with regard to the other basics than you would if you were receiving funds from any other source.

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The salon called today - my gown is in!  Yippee!  Sorry, no sharing until after the vow renewal, but I had to share my giddiness with all of you.  :)  I can’t wait to put it on again to see if it feels as amazing as it did the first time.

Also, I am *thisclose* to picking a florist and a caterer.  That leaves very few vendor decisions left - only decor and musicians, really.  Then the true fun begins - all the small stuff!  I already have so many posts stored up for after the event to share with you - I’ll give in-depth instructions for each and every DIY project, comprehensive vendor reviews, timelines, recommendations, and even the list of things I’d do differently (which hopefully is incredibly tiny, as I’m completely disregarding rule #8).

Yay for more checkmarks (or almost checkmarks)!

The Knot posted this article on rules every bride should drill into their head.

1. I can live without Lady Slipper Orchids.
2. I won’t make my bridesmaids look like clones.
3. I won’t invite my second cousin’s fling.
4. I won’t obsess over my registry.
5. I’ll loosen up over rehearsal dinner.
6. I’ll write thank you notes as the gifts come in.
7. I won’t stress out about his bachelor party.
8. I won’t have unrealistic wedding expectations.
9. I won’t let downers dampen my enthusiasm.
10. I’ll make my album within one year of the wedding.

In the spirit of honesty, I broke 4 rules.  I won’t tell you which ones.  There should be an eleventh rule:  I will hire a day of coordinator.  :-)