North Shore Resource for Fantastic Vendors

If you live in the North Shore and you're planning a wedding, it can be an overwhelming task to figure out whom to use for your wedding vendors.  As a Bride and being someone involved in planning events for friends and family, I love a great go-to resource for fantastic vendors.


I'm using a fantastic Justice of the Peace to help do my day-of coordination and help locate great vendors for me to use.  Her name is Elizabeth Gemelli and she's a fantastic resource for the wedding industry.  I'm so glad that I have such a wonderful person to work with for my big day!  Need more resources in the Boston / north shore area?  Visit Wedding Creators to find more great people with the services you need for your wedding or event!

DIY Door hang tags

Are you putting together Out of Town bags for your Wedding guests? If so, you may want to consider adding little finishing touches that are personalized. These sweet little touches are what will be remembered by your guests.

One fun addition to my OOT bags will be door hang tags. I've seen a few brides with these already. They're a fun way to get guests in the mood to party.

To the left you'll see my first test run with front and back of the door hang tags.  At the top of the "greeting side" It reads,

"Welcome to Gloucester"
"We're so glad you could make it! Enjoy your stay!"

What I learned is that you should place your "cut line template" only on one side.  It's extremely hard to match up the "cut line" on the opposite side with the one on the front.

My doorhang tags had to represent my pink and navy blue nautical theme, so I decided to create a Monogram Logo for us.

I combined an anchor with a ship wheel and a pretty font. You can download lots of free fonts from dafont.com and create your own monogramed logo.

Then I created my door hang tags in Adobe Illustrator.  I setup the page to be an 8.5" x 11" page and the template I grabbed from here, which is 3.5" x 8.5.  They also have larger sizes if you want a full sheet door hang tag.  I printed my door hangers on a heavier weight cardstock paper.

I setup the page to print two at a time.  I tried to center the artwork on the page to minimalize an offset print when I went and flipped the paper over to print on the backside.

A lovely Bridal Shower for a lovely Bride-to-Be

 The perfect Bridal Shower starts with the loving care and planning from a wonderful Family and a great set of Bridesmaids!

This pretty little blue and gold themed shower couldn't have gone any better.  We had a happy and surprised guest of honor and a great group of guests that really got into the games.

With fun games and lots of little treats and details, it made for a fabulous day with a lovely Bride-to-Be.






All In the Details...

Our Decorations were minimal. From tissue paper flowers, to the "Best Wishes" sign, the details were ruffled fun and girly.  For food we had brunch options like quiches, tomato mozzarella basil bites, turnovers, Caesar salad, fruit salad and mimosas.

The cake...

To keep with the ruffle theme the cake was decorated with a pretty ruffle frosting and topped with ranuculas that I had picked from my garden and placed in blue water two days before the shower.  They picked up the blue color nicely.

It was a two tiered chocolate cake with raspberry white chocolate cream cheese frosting. Yum!

Recipe coming soon.

The Favors...

Pretty little Clear and Gold Swans were filled with chocolate and candy and placed on a little table in the entryway with some flowers.

A lovely little setup to greet you as you came in and left the party.













The Games...
We had a game where the bride had to guess answers correctly about the groom as well as a toilet paper dress game, which was by far the most fun.

The ladies at the party got really into dressing up the bridesmaids and the bride-to-be got to pick the winning dress.










The Prizes...
Every game had a prize, lovely little labeled bottles of wine. The labels had the name of the Bride-to-be as well as the date of the Bridal Shower. A wonderful way to remember the day!

All the Bridesmaids having a good time!

Our lovely Bride-to-Be with some of the Girls!

Something blue...it's all about the shoes

My wedding has a fun nautical theme to it, complete with a beautiful ocean view.  Rather than go with a boring white or ivory shoe that I'll never wear again, I was debating between either pink or blue, since those are my colors.

After trying on several shoes in pink that I didn't like, I finally decided to go for a dark navy blue.  A stunning contrast.  I was actually afraid it might be too dark of a thing to wear with my dress!

That was short-lived, until I found several photos of other brides in blue shoes.  I love the contrast and I think it will make for some memorable photos.

Not only did I run across colored shoes, but I also saw some gorgeous print shoes out there.  Some brides are really wearing funky and fun things.  From beautiful hand-painted shoes to leopard print, you imagination is the limit to what you can put on your feet.

What did I end up going with for my shoes?
This lovely navy blue shoe is from Nina and it's called Elke.  I loved the bit of bling in the center of the bow.

The rich navy blue will look lovely peeking out from under my ivory gown. Love them!

Whether your shoes are Navy blue, pink, or even leopard print, a pair of shoes that are uniquely you will make a statement at your wedding.

peep-toe navy blue shoes with bling!

The perfect rehersal dress

conie fox dress 2

While I would love to wear something full length, everything I was in love with ended up being much to formal. I needed the perfect dress for my rehearsal dinner. Not too formal, but not too casual. Something white, ivory or off-white.

conie fox dress 1

My first love affair was with one of these two dresses. I felt like both were made with soft flowing fabrics and even though they were long, they felt more casual and beachy.

The hint of color at the bottom brought them out of "wedding dress territory" and into a more casual day-evening look.

My only problem was I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend $200+ for these dresses.

I would most definitely be wearing dress #1 throughout the summer since it feels like such a beach dress.

The other because of the beading would be a bit harder even though I love it so very much.  It's so beautiful with the blue and purple flowers on the bottom.

Every short dress I kept finding I didn't like.  They were all so fluffy, poofy or so short I'd be afraid if I moved the wrong way, guests would get a full view.  yikes.

So what did I end up getting after sifting through hundreds of dresses?  I found this perfect dress.  Not to formal and not too casual with just a hint of bling.

It actually reminds me of something Kate Middleton would wear.  Sexy, yet chic and timeless.  I love it!

The best part is, it only cost me $79 bucks!

London Times dress

Vow and Ceremony Examples

Not sure what to have your Officiant say?  Don't know what kind of vows you want?  It can be a daunting task putting your ceremony together.  Below are some samples of Ceremonies and Vows to help you choose what works best for your individual style.

The flow:
A ceremony has a typical flow.  You need not follow this at all, however it can be helpful in putting together your ceremony.

A typical flow will happen in this order:

• Opening said by officiant - Whomever you choose to marry you, will usually say something nice to welcome your guests and sometimes explain a ceremony tradition.  This is great for mixed faiths that might not be accustomed to a particular ceremony.
• Consent - Your officiant might ask if you have come to declare your love and desire to marry without reservation to the witnesses of your marriage (your family & friends)
• Vows / Ring exchange - Sometimes these go hand & hand.  Sometimes they are separate (ring exchange coming after the Vows).  In some ceremonies the ring exchange is tied into the vows.
• Your special ceremony - This is the symbol of your unification with each other today.  Sometimes it occurs before the vows and other times after.  An example would be the lighting of the unity candle or the rose ceremony (below).  Be creative here and even come up with your own ceremony!
• Conclusion - Your officiant will pronounce you husband & wife, allow you to kiss and introduce you as newlyweds!   = D

Examples:
Below I have put these examples of Ceremony, Vows and Ring exchanges for you to easily "Build your ceremony".  Modify as you wish.  It's your special day!

Ring Warming Ceremony
The wedding rings are secured together with a ribbon or in a small bag and passed to each guest in turn.  The guest with the rings gets the opportunity to offer a prayer, blessing or wish for the wedding couple, either silently or aloud.  In this manner the rings are "warmed" with good thoughts before being returned to the officiant and either blessed or simply handed to the Bride and Groom to exchange with each other.

Opening said by officiant:
Welcome, Family & Friends.  Shortly Bride & Groom will make their vows to each other, symbolizing their commitment by exchanging wedding rings.
What I now ask you to do is to warm these rings by passing them around.  As you hold them in your hands, pause for a moment, and make your wishes for the couple and for their future before you pass them on to the next person.
The ring bag starts its journey with Brides's mother ______ and is passed from  guest to guest, finished with Groom's mother _________.  They will be retrieved by the Best Man for the ring exchange ceremony.

[Vows go Here]

_________________________________________________________________________________________

The Rose Ceremony

Opening said by Officiant:
Welcome, Family and Friends.We are together today to be witness in the uniting of Bride & Groom in lawful matrimony and to be with them and rejoice with them in the making of this  important commitment to each other.  Their gift to each other today will be their wedding rings, which shall always be an outward demonstration of their vows of love and respect and a public showing of their commitment to each other.  For their first gift to each other as husband and wife, they will be exchanging a single rose.  In the past the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing, it meant "I love you".  So it is appropriate that for your first gift as husband and wife, that gift would be a single rose.

Bride & Groom, I would ask that wherever you make your home in the future, where it be a large home or a small one, that you both pick one very special location for roses.  So that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take  a roe to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.  In every marriage their are times were it is difficult to find the right words.  It is easy to hurt who we lost love. It might be difficult in some time to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you".  "I need you" or "I am hurting".  If this should happen, if you simply cannot find these words, leave a  rose at that spot which both of you have selected, for that rose then says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words; That rose says the words "I still love you".  The other should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found,and remember the love and hope that you both share today. 

[Vows go here]

roses are exchanged after pronounced man and wife....

____________________________________________________________________

Sand Ceremony

[Opening Said by Officiant]

[Vows go here]

MOB & MOG go up and pour their respected color sand into their vesselst.  This represents the families that are being brought together today in marriage.

Bride & Groom, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings and the exchange of vows.  Please alternately pour the sand into the vessel.

Today you join your separate lives together.  The two separate vessels of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends.  They represent all that you have been as an individual.  They also represent your lives before today.  As these two vessels of sand are poured int o the third vessel, the individual vessels of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one.  Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual vessels, so will your marriage be.


_________________________________________________________________________________________

Candle Ceremony

[Opening said by officiant]
[Vows go here]

The mother's of ___________ & _____________, will each light a side candle of the unity candle, symbolizing the families that are being brought together here today through this marriage.

Bride & Groom will each take a candle that symbolized their individual lives.  Now use these candles to light the central candle as a symbol of the relationship you are beginning today.  Let me remind you that marriage doesn't change your separate identify, but it does enrich all your natural skills and ability by helping you to grow.  If each of you will contribute your very best to your marriage, you will become as one in life's most intimate and fulfilling relationships.

Marriage brings two people into a unique relationship.  In this union you will share many experiences  as if you were one person.  Genuine love allows you to overcome any sense of loneliness and isolation, yet permits uniqueness as individuals.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Vows 1:
Bride, I promise to give you my love, to accept and cherish your love, to help you when you need me.  I promise to be your faithful husband in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health.

Groom, I promise to give you my love, to accept and cherish your love, to help you when you need me.  I promise to be your faithful wife in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health.

Vows 2:
I Groom, take you Bride to be my beloved wife, to live together in the lawful estate of matrimony.  I promise from this day forth to nurture our relationship, to listen and respect you in all our life endeavors together.  To share the joys and responsibilities of life with you, love you , respect you and tenderly care for you.  I promise for us to grow together with honesty and acceptance and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

I Bride, take you Groom to be my beloved husband, to live together in the lawful estate of matrimony.  I promise from this day forth to nurture our relationship, to listen and respect you in all our life endeavors together.  To share the joys and responsibilities of life with you, love you , respect you and tenderly care for you.  I promise for us to grow together with honesty and acceptance and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

Vows 3:
I groom, offer you not the summer of my life, but the autumn brisk and vibrant.  I promise to be a companion, worthy of your precious friendship.  I pledge you compassion in good times and bad, sickness and health.  It is with my intent that our life together include our circle of friends and our loving families.  We'll cherish the memories of our individual pasts; and create our new life as we go along together.

I bride, offer you not the summer of my life, but the autumn brisk and vibrant.  I promise to be a companion, worthy of your precious friendship.  I pledge you compassion in good times and bad, sickness and health.  It is with my intent that our life together include our circle of friends and our loving families.  We'll cherish the memories of our individual pasts; and create our new life as we go along together.


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rings 1:
A circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth and the universe of wholeness, perfection and peace.  The rings you will give and receive today are a symbol of your love for each other,and a constant reminder of the value of your bond in marriage.  They will also be a sign to others that you have made this commitment to be husband and wife.

Groom, as you place the ring on the brides finger, repeat after me. "Bride, you are my life, my love, my best friend and with this ring I thee wed.  May it be a reminder of my love and sacred commitment that I have made here today."

Bride, as you place the ring on the brides finger, repeat after me. "Groom, you are my life, my love, my best friend and with this ring I thee wed.  May it be a reminder of my love and sacred commitment that I have made here today."

Rings 2:
Bride, this ring I give you, my personal gift and my personal promise , of love and trust and pride that you are my wife.
Groom, this ring I give you, my personal gift and my personal promise , of love and trust and pride that you are my husband.

These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love.  Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver.  may these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken here today.

Rings 3:
Come health, happiness & prosperity, I will stand with you, come illness, trouble or poverty, take this ring, as a sign of my love and commitment.

And the honeymoon is booked...

So Mr. Posh and I finally decided upon our honeymoon destination.  I had originally said my number one choice would be Europe and next on my list would be St. Maartin or someplace warm and tropical.

Mr. Posh balked at the idea of Europe.  He knew our trip would be quite expensive.  I agree, I knew it would be well over our budget, but when you're getting married and have no children, it's best to go before you have children, otherwise you'll never go (well, maybe when your kids are 20 years old!)

Our search started with St. Maartin.  We're big foodies and knowing that St. Maartin (french side) is well known  for it's culinary delights, it was a no-brainer.  We were horrified by the cost.  To stay on the French side is significantly more expensive than the Dutch side.  The worst part was flights.  Have you seen how much they cost?  Yikes!  The flights were such a huge part of the cost (almost $1000 per person) we had to nix that.

Next was tropical destinations.  I have already been to Mexico and Dominican Republic.  I can say I really enjoyed Mexico, but disliked Dominican.  When I brought Mexico up to Mr. Posh, he didn't seem enthusiastic.  The thought of Mexican food every night didn't really do it for him.  That made us cross pretty much all the South American destinations off the list of potential honeymoon locations.  California and Hawaii were also some suggestions I threw out.  Everything on the west coast is super expensive.  Completely ruling it out.

Mr. Posh recommended we do an east coast cruise that goes to Nova Scotia.  I just sort of felt "meh" about it.  I'd go check out Nova Scotia, but not really digging it for my honeymoon.

But then I circled back to Europe.  "How about a cruise to Europe?" , I asked Mr. Posh.  He still thought it would be too expensive.  Well the price of flights were about the same to Europe as they were Hawaii and California.  Might as well do Europe.  I wanted to see France, Monaco & Italy.  We found a 2 week cruise that hits all those places and more all for $7k.  No stay in Europe would be that inexpensive.  Plus the hassle of unpacking and re-packing a million times to every country and hotel was too much.  The cruise will be perfect.  Most meals are pre-paid, we leave our stuff on the boat and don't have to worry about trains or transportation.

Pretty soon Mr. Posh and I will be living La Dolce Vita . :)