Monday, August 31, 2009

good-bye summer...


summer is gone, ladies. it is gone. the crispness of the pacific ocean air has returned and the skies hang lower as we say goodbye to august and watch autumn take her place.
...okay, so if you don't live in Portland maybe you aren't experiencing these summer regrets. but this scene makes me wish i could have done more this season. there is always next year...

Friday, August 28, 2009

gown friday!



morning! am i glad it's friday!
not everyone has a black tie ballroom wedding or a chic event at the country club, and that is okay! no matter what the reason for a small family & friends wedding, sometimes a traditional wedding gown just doesn't seem to fit. i love these pieces from Andrew Gn. a little white dress could be that perfect ensemble for any intimate wedding ceremony.













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Thursday, August 27, 2009

cake stories

oh my loves these fresh, modern cakes from cake stories--such inspiration for all you brides out there!





little personalized cookies are all the rage these days. cakes stories masterfully creates these wedding delicacies. my favorites are the "xoxo" bag--too cute!



Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Monday, August 24, 2009

soul sista's shoot!



i just love this fun idea from jordan philips photography. jordan's wife and her married girl friends put on their wedding gowns, some cowboy boots and enjoyed some ultimate girlie-time in front of the camera. i can't tell you how many times i have talked with gals who just want a reason to wear that expensive white dress one more time--this is a perfect way to do it! contact him for your own photo shoot!









Friday, August 21, 2009

Gown Friday!

monique lhuillier time and again just creates pretty. that's what i think when i see her gowns, pretty. wouldn't you agree? i hope you have a wonderful friday and a relaxing weekend--well, i hope mine is relaxing! :) also, if you didn't get to check out my guest post over at Aspiring Couture, do today. i talk about the importance of first finding your wedding gown and wedding site and why it helps you determine the other elements of your wedding day!


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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Real Wedding: Katie Anderson Photography


here is another so very Portland wedding from Katie Anderson Photography. this couple has combined their passion for life, sustainability, community, family and friends to create a memorable event that was made possible by using only locally made or grown products as well as reused items. the bride, Heather was especially interested in non-traditional wedding elements (and LOVES etsy!) to make sure her and her husband's vision came to life--that red dress is so fun and was made by a local designer Lena Medoyeff Studio. i especially like the cupcake stands that were made from vintage plates and glasses from Goodwill. such a wonderful touch!
make sure you check out the vendor/decor details at the end of the post, Heather and Martin put so much thought and time into the details of their day--they are wonderful examples of finding ways to make their day beautiful without having break the bank!





























here is a list of vendor/decor information:

Commitment Ceremony Date: July 16, 2009
Ceremony and Reception Site: McMenamin’s Edgefield- Ceremony in the Meadow, Reception in Blackberry Hall
Photographer: Katie Anderson Photography
Flowers: Portland Farmer's Market (on Wednesday, South Park Blocks)
Cupcakes: The Edgefield; We made the cupcake stands out of vintage plates and glasses we purchased at Goodwill
Caterer: The Edgefield
Rings: My friend, Beth Wagner (Studio Acorn; http://www.mystudioacorn.com/ <http://www.mystudioacorn.com/> ), made custom ring for us. We came up with the elements we wanted to include, and she developed the design, carved the waxes, and caste the beautiful rings.

Gown and Designer: Lena Medoyeff Studio; the underskirt/ruffle slip was vintage, purchased through Etsy.com <http://etsy.com/>
Veil and Accessories: Fascinator by Kill 2 Be Beautiful (through Etsy.com <http://etsy.com/> ); my sister made the veil/blusher; the earrings were vintage, purchased at a yard sale years ago; the locket (around the bouquet) is from Gold Door (http://www.thegolddoor.com/ <http://www.thegolddoor.com/> ) and contains some of my mom's ashes

Formal Wear: vintage 1970's tux from The Tuxx Man (Ebay); Oscar de la Renta shirt from a thrift store in Las Cruces, NM; bow tie and suspenders from Avalon Antiques and Vintage Clothes (downtown Portland, OR)

Shoes: Heather's- Sofft; Martin's- custom Converse
Makeup: By my sister-in-law, Cristi Miles-Lindhorst, and my sister, Amy Chiszar

Hair: me
Officiant: Heather's father, Donald R. Leffler
Invitations: Us- designed by us and sent via email to save a tree
Honeymoon: Barcelona, Spain and Venice, Italy in the fall
Rental: none
Planner: Our sisters helped answer questions we had around planning. They also helped navigate and organize on the actual day.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

too hot & guest blogging!

okay this is what i want to do today. 100 degrees. yuck. seriously, ladies! too hot to post. but if you want to see more of Weddings Fresh hop on over to Aspiring Couture i am guest blogging today!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

dabney lee soiree invitations


good morning! it's my 3 year anniversary today! i can't believe it. 2 kiddos, 2 houses, and a couple of years of crazy fun times. it feels as though we have been married for much longer, for we have experienced much more than the average 3 year marriage :) i have been blessed beyond what i imagined, ladies. i hope that it's comforting to know that though there are going to be difficult times in your marriage, (it's just a fact don't be surprised!), it's all worth it to keep going and to keep fighting and to know that the blessings far outweigh the hard times! for sure!!

here is a lovely, and very fresh wedding invitation collection from dabney lee soiree. i just love these two. i feel happy just looking at them! in fact, her entire blog is just one big smile--the colors and, ooh, i really like the fonts she uses--so fresh!! perfect for a casual cool wedding with your closest friends and family.