GoldiGems: Polished Nail Bar

It's no secret how much I love Milwaukee and all the amazing hidden gems it has to offer.  To chronicle my experiences with the best Milwaukee has to offer, I've come up with a new segment: GoldiGems.  In it, we'll explore the Cream City, looking for the shops that can make your amazing event even more memorable.  I'll do the leg work and you can reap the benefits.  A real win-win, yes?  I think so!  Enjoy!

This summer has been cray-cray for Goldiluxe!  We've been designing our little tushies off and Allison and I decided that after all the summer hoopla we would schedule a "Treat Yo'Self" day inspired by one of our favorite shows, Parks and Recreation.  Last Sunday, we finally got to have our fun.  We went to brunch at Trocadero (which was ah-MAH-zing, beeteedubs...) and then headed over to Polished Nail Bar for much needed manis. 

Sadly, I didn't get the chance to get any pics of our brunch, awful blogger that I am.  But, let me tell you, I had the breakfast tacos, a killer Kir Royale, and a fruit plate I shared with Allison.  The portion size was perfect.  I am a small plate fan, in general, so I was delighted that my tacos were sized as such. Our fruit plate was wonderfully fresh and flavorful.  We were given attentive service and the atmosphere of the restaurant was light, fun and relaxed.  A perfect place for a wedding day brunch!  I kept imaging a happy bridal party, adorned in smart outfits and stylish accessories sipping mimosas contentedly on the spacious patio.  Seriously, if you haven't been to Trocadero, check 'em out. 

From there, we took a short hop over to Polished.  From the outside it's pretty cute.  It sits upon what used to be a copy shop.  A nail bar, of course is a HUGE improvement in my book.

When we got there, we were immediately greeted, checked in and offered something to drink.  The young lady that greeted us also took the time to confirm our services.  I decided to get my first ever shellac manicure.  I'd heard a lot about them, but had never had one.  I did ask if the process was harsh on nails or leeched any creepy chemicals.  My fears were assuaged immediately.  BTW, the decor is amazing in there!  I managed to get a few snappies of some of my favorite details.

Pretty chandies, am I right?! 

After confirming our services we were sent over to pick out our colors.  The selection was HUGE!  Allison chose a traditional mani and I was shown to the shellac area.  So many colors to choose from....so many in fact it took me for-EVAH to pick something. A great problem to have, I think.  We weren't poked, prodded or otherwise rushed through the process...such a patient staff!

I was super happy to see they carried Essie.  It's one of my favorite brands. 

 My wonderful manicurist (who forbade me from taking a picture of her) was SUPAH awesome.  She answered all of my stupid questions, put up with me while I almost changed my mind on polish, was cute as a button, and most importantly-she did an AMAZING job on my nails.  Seriously, y'all.  She was fab.

More adorableness.  The light fixtures in that joint were KILLING me.

So, Polished is fab.  What does that mean for your bridal party?  Well, in addition to having some of the best prices in town (the 'cc' means that's the price you pay if you use a credit card...there is a slight discount for paying with cash) they've got some great ideas on how to make the big day a little more special.  For $250, you can rent out the entire space for two hours.  You can bring snackies, some champy and really make an event out of it.  Although the $250 doesn't cover the cost of your services, the Polished gang will make sure you're pampered and relaxed.  But don't think you have to pay extra to have a good time.  You can still bring the bubbly and munchies even if the idea of a private event isn't quite your scene.

As for the shellac?  I LOVE it! I'm over a week in and my nails look the same as on day one!  

Pretty great, right!  That coral polish really is the living end, isn't it?! A big thank you to Polished for allowing me to get all up in their biz.  I had a wonderful experience.  I do hope that, if you're in the market for a cute place and great staff, you'll give Polished a whirl.  Ooh, also, for more pictures of Polished cuteness, check out the gallery.

This post was not solicited or compensated by Polished in any way.  I had a really positive experience and thought I'd show a little love.

Living Authentically: If You Don't Blog It, Did it Really Happen?

I have written and rewritten this post at least 10 times.  It's been a reflective experience and I think I am finally to the place where this post makes sense.  

Wow, guys.  Have I had a hectic few weeks!  As most of you know, Country Wedding was on July 14th.  By all accounts, it was a success!  The set up was smooth, the couple loved it, and I made it into my bridesmaid's dress and down the aisle on time.  Best of all, I was surrounded by friends. Beautiful, wonderful, silly, zany friends.  It was literally the best weekend I have had in an immeasurable amount of time.  The only downside was, I keep feeling like I was missing something.  There were photos I didn't take, people I didn't tag, tweets missed, posts left untyped.  The whole time I was enjoying this blissful celebration of love, I found myself feeling guilty.  Guilty for not sharing it with all of you.  Can you believe?!  That got me thinking and asking myself a lot of important questions: When did social media become more important than our social lives?  Are you, my wonderfully loyal and amazingly talented readers entitled to the most precious parts of my life?  Where is the line?

A few of the aforementioned friends in a blurry picture taken in the midst of a belly laugh.

I find I still don't have the answers.  For instance, I did manage to snap this amazing picture of my friends during their first dance as husband as wife.  The lighting, their faces, guests looking on lovingly...le sigh.  As I jumped to post the picture to Instagram, I thought to myself, "Is this really my moment to share?"  I agonized over that little picture, desperately wanting to share with you the gravity and joy of the experience I was having, but ultimately, I decided to save it.  To protect that delicious little morsel from the interwebs.

As a blogger, I know these are not concepts I ponder alone.  I have read numerous posts from smart, accomplished women sharing their dilemmas and offering their advice. I often see myself in their words. There are many schools of thought...all of them valuable.  I have always chosen transparency for Goldiluxe, even when my truth is a bit dark.  I've never once regretted that choice. Maybe I'm feeling like I've opened up a floodgate?  Like now that we've established such honesty, I'm having trouble rebuilding my boundaries? Does that make sense?

 Blooms from my ultra sweet hubby.

I won't bore you with the gory details, but I will say that for me, this summer has been a season of reevaluation. After weeks of feeling guilty, I realized (with the support of some really great friends) that it is okay for me to take a step back, to get my shizz in order and enjoy myself once in awhile.  That I am still a devoted wife, a talented designer and a driven business woman, even if I don't blog everyday.  Even if I'm not tweeting ad nauseum.  Whew!  What a load off, amiright?!

 I want to live my life fully, unbound by the pressures of social media. So what does that mean for this space?  It means that I'll still be honest with you, I still may use a few naughty words here and there, I still may tell you more than you want to know sometimes.  You'll still see all the things you're used to seeing around here.  What this means is that I am giving myself permission to keep some of my moments, my treasures, my life to myself.  To immerse myself in those moments and experiences as they happen.  To enjoy my loved ones when they are standing right in front of me.  I encourage you to do the same.

Tell, me.  How do you cope when the pressures of social media become too much?

Luxe Life: Country Wedding in the City

Hello there!
I am finally back and posting away!  I figured that once I posted a list of upcoming posts, I'd be motivated to step it up and get back on track...I was not.  Boo hiss on me.

But!  As promised, I give you the highlights from Country Wedding!

I wanted to start with the card box.  We made it out of an antique cosmetics case, previously owned by the bride's grandma.  I loved it.  We had to weight it a bit and rig it to stay open, but it worked perfectly.  It was one of my favorite touches!

 

Next up, we have a couple shots of the centerpieces.  As I said before, we collected LOTS of Mason Jars.  My goal was to have so many jars that we could use them as vases and candle holders. I couldn't find table card holders that were visually pleasing as well as right for the type of centerpiece, so I made them.  I chose a mid gauge wire and The Hubbs helped me coil one end...well, maybe I should make a tutorial for you...they were super easy and looked amazing! I also wanted to point out our little animal friends. I wanted to create the feeling of being in someone's home, sort of "housewife chic", if you will.  I know that we were flirting with kitsch here, but for this event it totally worked, our couple loved it! 

Moss letters.  So cute, I can't stand it. These were sooo fun to make.  I wouldn't recommend starting them at 2am, but what else is there to do when one can't sleep?  We tied them with yarn in the wedding colors and affixed them to the front doors of the venue.  Next time, I think I'd make them slightly larger.  They'd pop a little more, I think.

 

The autograph tree.  This just melts my heart each time I look at it.  Allison did such a great job!  Behind it are framed picture of the parents.  This was something the couple wanted to include, what a sweet touch!  I love the idea of honoring those that went before.  I wish you could see the pictures up close.  So.  stinking.  cute.  And my 'punny' little chalkboard.  I LOVED making these chalkboards!  I had so much fun challenging myself to make each one unique.  This one is maybe my favorite.  More chalkboard pictures to come.

Ah, the pie table!  This turned out really well.  I'm still in lurve with our supah cute banner! We've discussed it before, but I really wanted you to see it in action.  You can also get a good look at the stands I made.  I am so proud of them!

The venue had this adorable little patio area and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to turn it into a lounge area.  We had so many ideas, tiki torches, bistro lights, candles...it was a really hard space to edit.  But in the end, we opted for a sweet little lounge feel with flower arrangements, oodles of warm candle light and custom pillows.  I'll admit, the pillows were a bit of a eleventh hour kind of thing, but they were really fun to make.  They just look so cute!

There you have it, folks!  Country Wedding in a nutshell!  This was such a touching event and we are so grateful to be part of it.  If you want more, you should pop over to our Facebook page and check out our Country Wedding Album.

First Look: Citrus Celebration

As you are probably aware, last week we were hard at work on an adorable citrus-themed wedding.  It turned out beautifully and now I find myself too excited to wait until the pictures come back...So, I've decided to give you a little sneaky peeky of the beauty to come!  Here are three of my private images of the event.

A little teaser of the 'guest book' table.  Our clever little Bride purchased the paper flowers and the guest book tree from etsy sellers. (Vendors will be featured in the post to come, don't worry!)

Here you can see just a peek of the favor table.  Our couple chose matchbook seed packets as favors.  I LOVED them.  As you can see, they are super cute and really well designed.  (Again, we'll feature the etsy seller in the full length post about this event)

This is one of my favorite images of the evening.  I'm just so proud of the way this looks.  The lanterns are exactly what I had imagined for this event and I'm so happy we pulled it off so beautifully.  I don't mind saying that the candle effect on the tables is one of my all time favorite effects.  Dim lighting, festive music and hundreds of candles glittering like stars.  Le sigh...the glow...

Well, dolls, I hope that satiates your appetite for Citrus Celebration.  I cannot WAIT to show you the rest of the images.  I think you're going to love it!

Designer Love: Rosa Clara

Here are some of my favorite pieces from the Rosa Clará Spring 2012 Collection ($$$$).  This Spanish designer is known world over for her breathtaking pieces. I'm a big fan of the details in this collection-you'll notice lots of clean lines, big beautiful skirts, and simple, understated necklines.  Ooh, also, pay attention to the fab lace bridal tops (another Rosa Clara signature)  Without further ado…

 Ah.  Number 119-Alcantara.  I am dying for that fab train.  Again, with the wispy skirt, I know but just look at it.  A dropped waist to die for.  All pulled together with that lovely jeweled sash.  You know, I'd also really like the sash to be in a color...

Ok, so this is #160-Arkansas.  No joke.  I love this little dress so much.  I really appreciate the nod to the prairie skirt style.  I just think it is so sweet and simple...it really is like a breath of spring.

And, finally, #211.  Adorno.  Wow.  I love this dress.  The back is killing me and so is that ultra fab lace jacket.  For me, this has a really vintage sensibility.  It looks a lot like something Grace Kelley might have worn.  Just a perfect 10 in my book.  Le sigh...

There you have it, y'all.  My favorite looks from the Spring 2012 collection.  The great thing is: I haven't even scratched the surface.  So, get on over to the website and get ready to swoon!  And for you local gals, I'm sorry to say no one in the Metro area carries Rosa Clara, but it's just a hop across state lines to the following CHI area locations:   

Le Salon
Chicago - 120 E. Delaware
60611 Illinois, Illinois
847 416 4483

Eva's Bridal of Oaklawn 
5269 W. 95th St 
 Oaklawn, Illinois 60453
708 422 5599

photo credit: wedding inspirasi dot com

Luxe Life: Full Glitz

As you are aware, Allison and I turned 30 this year. (Yikes.  30.  Still a shock.) What's the perfect way for two hip ladies to celebrate?  With a swanky party, of course! We grabbed some of our closest, most awesome friends and headed out to see our favorite local band, The Five Card Studs.  But first, we had a sweet little get together in the suite we reserved for the night at the historic Knickerbocker Hotel.  It was a huge hit and I thought I'd share some of our favorite images from the night..

Allison and I made cute prize ribbon pins.  We something a little fancy for our big night.  I think we succeeded.  I just wish I had a good picture of hers.  It was so pretty-black/blue/gold, if memory serves...

Custom wine labels!  These have to be my favorite detail of the evening.  Allison did an amazing job on these!  As always, I love the throwback design.

Cuppycakes!  I am really loving these toppers!  I think they are my favorite design so far.  Fun and festive.  The cupcakes were pretty great, too.

The invite that started it all! I am just so proud of this invite.  Allison did such an amazing job!  She is such a talented designer and I am continually amazed by her impeccable taste...I'm so lucky to have her as a design partner (and even luckier to have her as a friend). My favorite part of the invite is our "Bedazzle it! Glamorous!" tagline.

This is my favorite image of the night! My fun lady friend and the incomparable, Caesar Palace!  We had such a blast!  This was such a fun design to work on...so much fun in fact, you may be seeing it again soon!

Designer Love: White by Vera Wang Spring 2012

Bridal giant Vera Wang continues to provide her extraordinary designs to brides everywhere with the White by Vera Wang line, exclusively for David’s Bridal.  This groundbreaking line features bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, accessories and shoes.   This season’s brides will find nine new gowns, priced between $500-1500.  And let me tell you, all the classic Vera Wang elements are there.  

The bridesmaid dresses are really pretty stunning.  Again, you can expect all the things that make the Vera Wang Bridal brand great: updated silhouettes, contemporary cocktails dresses and chic variations on the theme.  The best part?  No gown is priced above $200.

The White by Vera Wang Shoe Collection features chic options for spring and summer.  Expect to see bow details, sling back open toed heels and rich, delicious fabrics.  Shoes are available in sizes 5-12 (half sizes 5.5-9.5).  All shoes priced under $100.

From the XO, Vera Wang Newsletter:

                        “It gives me great pride to be able to bring my designs to more women through White by Vera Wang. The collaboration with David’s Bridal is the perfect marriage of our abilities, both from a business and creative perspective.”

Here area few of my favorite pieces from the new line:

 Oooh!  I'm loving this dress from the 'maids line.  I am such a sucker for that amaaahzing fabric detail on the skirt.

 My two favorite gowns of the line.  Look at the lines on that floor length, would 'ya?!  Brilliant.  The more of these chic, short bridal gowns the more I'm loving them for Spring.  Can you imagine that little number in a tranquil garden setting...or a luscious gallery wedding?  Love!

A little shoe representation!  I'm really a fan of the bow detail on those strappy black heels.  They're a total steal for $88.  Oh, and sparklies!!  I love sparklies! 



Also new for this season, the number of stores carrying the line has increased to 250.  I'd check to see if your local branch is one of the 250...

Guest Post: Howard's Guide to the Perfect Shoot

Have I got something special for you today, gang. My super creative friend, Howard Leu has taken some time out of his cray cray schedule to pen a little ditty for us. So, I'll get out of the way and, Howard, it's your dice!

 For Wedding Couples: How to Have a Perfect Wedding Shoot

 Like many wedding photographers, I started out shooting weddings for friends and family. I fell in love with wedding photography from those experiences and also from seeing just how creative wedding photography can really be. I love weddings, and I love capturing people’s candid emotions. It still seems like magic to me that we have this technology that can freeze a moment in time and preserve it for our enjoyment. Sure, I enjoy taking pictures of foliage or things that catch my eyes but being able to capture moments of a celebration where two people commence their union and commitment to one another, there’s nothing like it. And each wedding is unique. That makes shooting weddings challenging and exciting. My own wedding is in April of 2012. And believe me, I would shoot my own wedding if I can find a way to do it. But I can’t.

What I can do is help you get the most out of your wedding photographer and help them in ensuring a perfect wedding shoot. Here are some tips:


Hire the one you trust. I like to think that a wedding photographer is so much more than just that person with the camera taking photos at a wedding, but most of the time it is just that. The only time that it’s not just that is during the formal portraits and wedding party photos. That’s when the photographer is also the stage director, the timekeeper, and the person who tells people what to do. And since this is a person you are hiring to provide a service, why not make sure that they can do more than snap photos. The photographer will be concerned around two things at the wedding party shoot: 1. Getting great photos within the given amount of time, and 2. Making sure that the photo shoot doesn’t delay your arrival to the reception because the angry guests will surely not blame the couple (yep, you guessed right. They’ll blame the photographer). Hire someone you feel like you can trust and work out their duties during the wedding before hand. Then on your wedding day, let go of responsibilities and stress, and enjoy!

A walk with your photographer photographer. When you have your pre-wedding consultation with the photographer, you should do a walkthrough of the whole day as well as the different shoot locations. It can be either a verbal one or if it satisfies you, an actual walkthrough at the locations. A well-trained and experienced photographer should be able to shoot in any conditions and environment, and will most likely go visit the locations by themselves in the morning of the wedding or the day before. The walkthrough is for you the couple to communicate with the photographer what you like about the locations you’ve chosen for the shoots and what kind of shots you have in mind. Also, if you’re the kind of person who communicates better with pictures, don’t be afraid to ask the photographer if it’s okay to show them some wedding photos you like that you collected from magazines and websites. Try using photos that will show what you want and not the photos that you actually want.

Designate an organizer. Perhaps you already have a wedding planner or someone designated to be the point person to make sure things go smoothly on your wedding day. Then you can understand how having a go-to person during a photo shoot can help it go smoothly and efficiently. It could be someone in the wedding party or someone who knows most of the family and friends at the portrait shoots. This helps the photographer focus on what’s being captured behind the lens and ensure the time is well used. It also helps to have the organizer and photographer to be on the same page so that one can round up people needed for the shot while the other is setting up the shoot.


Breathe in, breathe out, relax. When you’re standing there posing and feeling self-conscious about how unnatural you might look, do this: take a deep breath, roll your shoulders back, breathe out, and relax your body. Try to have one foot in front of the other and offset the even height of your shoulders. If you’re naturally camera shy, instead of looking into the camera lens look over it. Stiff in the face? If you just can’t seem to find that natural smile to match the joy in your heart then divert your attention to your spankin’ new husband/wife. Give them a little nudge or just simply look at them and remember what this day is about. Engage them in an affectionate glance, or whisper something tender or funny in their ear to get their attention. Those small moments always make photos that are full of magic.

You’re the Star! The most important thing you can remember about standing there for the photo shoot is that no matter how much you want to look good for the camera it really comes down to how you feel inside. Even if it is a posed photo, what’s really being captured, besides how fabulous you look, is what you express from within. Let the photographer worry about how the photos look. Just focus on all the attention from the cameras and friends and family on your wedding day.

Howard is an architect and freelance photographer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He restores and writes about the wonderful historic fabric that is the old buildings in Milwaukee when he’s not pointing his camera at people. You can find his photography works at howardleuphotography.com.

Milwaukee's Finest!

So, there I was-perusing my favorite blogs and minding my own business, when I came across Cracked Designs. I follow this blog, but I hadn't caught up with them in awhile. Boy, was I missing out!

Cracked Designs is a Milwaukee based greeting card and design company. They specialize in clever, greeting cards and custom wedding stationery. And let me say, "meow!" I am in lust with their paper finery. Today, I found three items in particular that I must share with you all.

The first thing I saw was this. Um, hello?! Have you seen anything cuter? I love how the two versions on the end have the initials inside the birds. Mmmm, it's love! Wanna see more? Well, here it is:

This design is called "Lovebirds" and is part of Cracked Designs' Signature Collection. Here are the specs...
This suite is $175 for a set of 50 (set includes 1-5"x7" invitation with backing, 1-3.5" x 5" reply card, 1- 3.5" x 5" reception card, 1- 4 bar reply envelope and 1- A7 outer envelope). The suite can be customized with your unique colors and information; Lovebirds can also be purchased in any quantity! Hooray! All pieces are printed on finely textured, heavyweight card stock. You will receive an e-mail proof. This is the Etsy shop where you can convo the geniuses behind the design with your questions, concerns and specifics. The turnaround for this suite is usually one week. Shipping would be $5.00.

The team at Cracked Designs works with recycled papers and a vast array of designs. Prices will vary of course, based on quantity and invitation style. Custom work is available as well. For those of you who would like to know a little bit more about the invites at Cracked Designs, they offer a sample pack option. A what? That's right, a sample pack! Here's a little taste...

"Get out of town?!", you say. I will not. This is brilliant, Cracked Designs and I say "Brava!". Okay Brides, listen up! If you can get a sample to have, hold and use to get a sense of the product you are about to buy, do it! Seriously. It's the only way to be sure you're getting what you pay for. The problem is, most designers that I've run across just don't offer this as an option. Some do, but be prepared to pay for it. Often, the retail store you visit will have vendor samples but you can't take them home and you certainly can't take them to your other vendors to help articulate your design scheme. For a paltry five clams, you can order any of the six Signature Collection designs or you can order a sample from one of their custom jobs. One quick convo about what you're looking for and "voila!".

Finally, one of my favorite Cracked Design products. Ever. The Journey Journal! "Mutha whaaat?! Shut your mouth!" I love this product! Measuring 5" x 7" and printed on heavy card stock, this journal has it all! Inside this clever little tome you'll find: a checklist, pre-planning list, places for reflections, drawings, official info, plans, date and location! It's unbelievable. There is even a storage space for small mementos you may have acquired along the way. The cutest feature, for me is the 6 round metal fasteners and length of string that comes with the journal so you can mark your journey on the cover. This 12 day travel journal will run you only $12.00. Be on the lookout for all the Journey Journal editions, including Spring Break, Europe and Australia. Wanna customize? Contact the seller and you just might get your wish!

Delish! The Journey Journal is a perfect handmade gift for the jet-set newlyweds in your life (hint, hint, friends and family)! Especially considering these little books can easily be customized. What a sweet and thoughtful gesture. I'm thinking about purchasing one for The Hubbs for the Hmoon. It's perfect because he's never been to where we're going and I think he'd have a blast chronicling it all.

Here you have it-- three of the many reasons Cracked Designs is one of my absolute faves! Be sure to keep up with them at the Cracked Designs blog, check out their website and visit their Etsy shop for full details, shop policies and outstanding product, of course!

Stay tuned as I stay on the prowl for more of Milwaukee's Finest!

A Blog is Born!

Hey all!

I am happy to announce that I have launched another blog. Please put your hands together for "Renegade Soiree: Fabulous Parties at Any Price"! Hooray!

This new blog is meant to be about party planning in general. I really wanted to get into some of that stuff and I just couldn't justify doing it here. I really want to keep the mission of this blog as uncluttery as possible. This is the best way I can do it, I think.

Renegade Soiree can be a resource for party planning tips, ideas, shortcuts, money savers and recipes. We'll do some how-to's and stuff as well. It's still a baby blog.....but I am excited to watch it grow up! Hopefully, some of you will come along on the journey!

Let's Get Funk-y!

My friend Kate is a brilliant photographer. She has a degree in photography from MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design). I met her a little over two years ago while we were both working at a certain Milwaukee stationery store.The above photo is one of my absolute favorites. It features the Wisconsin Dells, which I'm told is a tourist location with a lot of water parks. I believe it is a 45 minute drive from Milwaukee. The Hubbs and I are putting this little beauty in our house. But I digress...

So, Kate. Milwaukee resident and friend of mine has a cat. His name is Annoying Customer, or AC for short. AC runs a blog and it's marvelous! This pretty kitty is the subject of several of Kate's creations. She has an extensive line of cards and invitations featuring the little black dynamo.

Anyway, Ms. Funk has just issued her Spring 2009 catalog. You can find it, here. It's super cute! She has several boxed card sets available as well as party invitations. All handmade and all brilliant. The catalog itself is wholesale but I think you can get a good sense of her collection. The products and retail prices are available on her Etsy Shop.

If you're in the Milwaukee area, you may find her products at Fasten Collective on Kinnickinnic Avenue or at Broadway Paper. In Illinois, she can be found at Renegade Handmade. She also has a really great Etsy Shop, which might be the easiest way to satisfy your craving for Kate Funk products.

Please tell your friends, families and neighbors about this great local artist!

Photo credit: "Wisconsin Dells Trio" Kate Funk
In the catalog: layout and graphic design by Brennan Groh, all products by Kate Funk

More on Save the Dates!

My last post was a lot of words. Today, I have some pictures for you. Here we go!

This comes to me from my friend Kelly. She and Blake will be married in August. What can I say? I LOVE this. Notice the simple wording- names, dates, and "invitation to follow". That's all you need. The picture is adorable. They look so happy and Kelly looks beautiful in blue. The design is perfect! It's flirty, fun, and I absolutely cannot wait for August 16th. Remember what I said yesterday about leaving your guests wanting more? This is what I meant. I think this is a great example of functionality and artistry. The best part?? She did these herself! That's right, my crafty little friend drew these up in Photoshop. They were printed on high-quality photo paper and sent in a sweet little envelope (Which I don't have for you b/c The Hubbs threw it away). These cards measure 4x6 a standard postal standard, but these could easily be made into postcard size. This would save both paper and postage. I think this is huge for bargain-savvy brides! This shows us that with a little ingenuity and an eye for color and design, we can take control of our weddings and save a little money doing it.

This one is ours. Yep, this is your first glimpse of the Burgess/Ellingen invitation suite. Again, we stuck with the simple wording. Names, dates and "invitation to follow". We went with a big, bold format to really catch the eye of the recipient. I chose a square shape to make it stand out even more from the mail one usually receives. The design is simple but elegant and, I think, accurately gives our guests a taste of what's to come. Our biggest challenge was amping up what can usually be a casual announcement to fit the theme of the formal evening wedding we were having. We also had a lot of out of town guests so these went out in two waves. Out of towners first, then locals.

Our cards were designed by my friend/Bridesmaid Allison. They were thermographed by Paper Envy here in Milwaukee....well rather, Elm Grove (more about Paper Envy as we roll along). These were a little more expensive, but by having our friend design them and buying our deliciously shiny paper in bulk, we really did save quite a lot.

Save the Date cards are necessary. More impotantly, they're exciting! Have fun with them! Announce your wedding with a bang!

Box Me Up!

I LOVE The White Box of Milwaukee. The White Box is a local wedding planning and consultation service. They have a variety of services tailored for even the most finicky of brides. Absolutely fabulous! Their blog (Bespoke) is even better, chock full of stories, tips and hints that we can all relate to. Whether you're in the MKE area or not, do yourself a favor and check them out!

Saturday, this wonderful company posted about the proper way to hold your bridal bouquet. They beat me to it, but they did it so well, I'm not even upset. In fact, I am printing the post out, making copies and handing them to my bridesmaids at the rehearsal. These are the kinds of things that a bride can easily overlook. In many cases it takes a planner to help point them out. I think I feel a series coming on....

To get enlightened, check out the post here.

To get hooked on The White Box, stop by their website.

Enjoy!