No Glass. No Candles. No Problem.

Yesterday I spoke with a fellow wedding blogger (Lovely Little Adventure) who was having trouble deciding on centerpieces for her wedding. Her reception is going to be in a beautiful barn, so she loved the idea of using wine bottles and mason jars for decoration. However, her venue doesn't allow glass (or candles for that matter.)

So, I went on a mission to find some alternative centerpiece ideas that do NOT use candles or glass. It's a bit of a challenge, but it can definitely be done!

Option #1: Metal Containers. They're cute and rustic looking, but polished enough that they fit in at an elegant wedding. I love all the different colors!

Photo credit

Photo credit

Option #2: Wood Containers. I think these are so gorgeous! They're perfect for a barn wedding and are simple and elegant at the same time.

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Option #3: Can Centerpieces. Aren't these so much fun? I love the rustic, vintage feeling they have. The rusted up can and the elegant flowers are such an odd combination that somehow just works. 

  Option #4: Birdcages. This is a really fun, vintage idea. Get some birdcages (or lanterns) and fill them with flowers! The look awesome, and have big "wow" factor!

 Photo credit

Photos courtesy of Style Me Pretty Elizabeth Anne Designs, and My Life As I Know It

Hope that helps, Ashley! If you guys have any other great suggestions, I love to hear them :)

Mexican Fiesta Wedding!

Who doesn't love a Mexican fiesta? It's so bright and colorful that you can't help but be happy. And, if you get to hit things with a stick and drink Mexican beer and margaritas, you're guaranteed a good time. I think that a wedding fiesta is such an incredibly fun idea. Just imagine: live music, Mexican treats, a big flower in your hair, and a bouquet with every color under the sun in it. Sounds amazing. If you're getting married on or around Cinco de Mayo, this is a must. A must, I say!

 

Center picture: Couple

Top row: Couple, place setting, maracas, "bride" chair

Second row: Bouquet, cake topper

Third row: cake, pinata

Fourth row: banner, sombreros, bottle, shoes

BRIDAL GIVEAWAY CONTEST!

Giveaway day is here! Yay! I'm excited to give you all a chance to win some awesome prizes from Your Happily Ever After, especially since entering is going to be so simple. If you haven't checked out my post about these shoe stickers, go HERE!

Just to recap, you guys are entering to win a pair of these blue, "I DO" shoe crystal stickers for the bride to wear on her big day:

AND a pair of these "TEAM BRIDE" crystal shoe stickers for one of your bridesmaids to wear at the wedding, rehearsal dinner, shower, or bachelorette party.

Pretty awesome, huh? These crystal shoe stickers are the perfect way to customize your wedding shoes and make a big (sparkly) statement with your wardrobe.


Here's the rules:

You will have from SEPTEMBER 26 (today) to OCTOBER 2 at midnight to enter. Make sure you get your submissions in before (or on) Sunday, October 2. I want you all t o have a chance to enter!

The winner will be announced on my blog Monday, OCTOBER 3.

You must be a follower of my blog, The Blushing Bride, to enter. If you aren't already, just click the follow button and you're good to go.


How to enter: 

You will have 4 chances to enter. Leave a comment below, letting me know which ones you did. If you don't list them all, you will only be given one entry. Do one, two, three, or four entries. It's up to you. Obviously, the more you do, the better chance you will have at winning.


STEP ONE: If you do not currently follow my blog, please do so. Your entries will not be counted if you are not a follower of this blog (on Blogger, not Twitter.)

Submission #1: Visit "Your Happily Ever After" on Etsy and then leave me a comment here, telling me what you love about her crystal shoe stickers/why you'd like to win. 

Submission  #2: Follow The Blushing Bride on Twitter. 

Submission #3:  "Like" Your Happily Ever After on Facebook.

Submission #4:  Tweet about this giveaway. Copy and paste this into your Twitter:  @_BlushingBride is having a giveaway! Check it out for your chance to win. http://ow.ly/6EV7r




Be sure to leave me a comment, letting me know what submissions your completed. 

I hope you all find the time to enter. These crystal shoe stickers are calling your name! Thanks for entering. 


Good luck from The Blushing Bride & Your Happily Ever After!

Navy & Coral Wedding

How fresh is this color scheme? It's such an unexpected combo, but goes together so very effortlessly, you would think navy and coral were made for each other. I love that this color palette works equally well for a preppy wedding, a nautical wedding, a beach wedding, a contemporary wedding, & could even have a vintage feel if done correctly. It's so incredibly versatile! And, how wonderful is that ombré clothespin curtain that is hanging behind the cake/dessert table? It's absolutely gorgeous and the perfect opportunity for a DIY project!

Center photo: Cake
First row: bride, cake pops, book, shoes
Second row: dessert, table number
Third row: earrings, couple
Fourth row: dress, cookies, dessert table, pillow

Pooch: Bride's Best Friend

I'm aware that some of you will think I'm nuts for even posting this...and that's OK. But, others of you will love the fact that I embraced my love for dogs and did a "pooches at weddings" inspiration board! I mean, don't you think it's just the slightest bit endearing when a couple loves their dog enough to bring it to the wedding, or even let it be part of the ceremony? (Don't you dare answer no!) If you're thinking about having your dog make a guest appearance at your wedding, then take a gander at all of the ways you can make your pooch look his/her best for the big day. And, if you have a bulldog, it better be in a pink tutu. No exceptions.

Center: Bulldog
First row: Chihuahuas, lab, yellow dress, tux
Second row: Brown, black lab
Third row: flower necklace, couple
Fourth row: bride, blue tux, French bulldog, tutu

Bridal Giveaway!! ("I DO" shoe crystals)

Hello my beautiful friends and followers! Today I have exciting news for you all. I'm going to be hosting my very first giveaway with Your Happily Ever After, and you'll all have the chance to enter! It will be super easy to get your name in the drawing...and you'll each have multiple chances to win. How awesome is that?

I'm assuming right now you're thinking, "OOO! OOO! What can I win?" Well, check out these beauties:

 These adorable "I DO" crystal stickers are simply awesome, aren't they? Designed by Your Happily Ever After, these shoe crystals are such a great idea. Just peel, and stick. Doesn't get much easier than that. Especially for something that makes such a big statement. They're so much fun, and add a touch of personalized sparkle to your big day (and you'll get your "something blue" in too!)

As a bonus, the winner will also receive a "TEAM BRIDE" crystal shoe sticker as well! These are perfect for your bridal party to wear during the wedding, rehearsal dinner, or bachelorette party!


So, if you'd like to win a set of these stickers, here's some details you need to know:

I will be starting the giveaway on Monday September 26. 
You will be able to enter from Monday September 26 to Sunday October 2. 
There will be multiple chances for you to enter and they're all super easy to do. So be sure to check it out.
One lucky girl will win a pair of the blue "I DO" shoe crystal stickers to wear on her big day AND a pair of the "TEAM BRIDE" crystal shoe stickers for one of her bridesmaids to wear. 

For now, start by following me. You have to be a follower to enter the contest on Monday.
Also, check out Your Happily Ever After on Etsy to get an idea of the awesomeness that you'll have a chance to win. (Check out Facebook too, Here!).

I'll keep you all posted and remind you to come back on Monday for your chance to enter.

Until then, look at these adorable photos you can do with your new set of "I DO" stickers.

Note: You will be entering for the blue "I DO" crystal shoe stickers. Not the silver ones.

Good luck, check back on MONDAY, and don't forget to follow me!

Pink & Gold Wedding

When I envisioned this wedding idea in my head, I was thinking, "Pink and gold Juicy Couture." While I'm not sure if it did the job or not, I do know that I love it. This is such a wonderfully feminine look. It's so soft and romantic that I just want to look at it for hours. In fact, it looks like a wedding that would come straight out of a fairy tale book. The shoes, the dress, the cake...all of it screams "I'm a princess...but in a super fab, fashionable, I'm-going-to eat-an-enormous-piece-of-that-cake-and-still-look-awesome-in-my-dress" sort of way.

Photos courtesy of Style Me Pretty & Elizabeth Anne Designs

Center: chair & dress
First row: presents, shoes, cake table, merci
Second row: girl, couple
Third row: perfume, vase
Fourth row: tux, cake, place setting, macarons

Versatile Blogger Award

To my great surprise, I got an email this morning saying Melissa from 20 Going On 80 awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks Melissa. Now, for my end of the bargain, I've got to share with you guys! Here's the rules:

Rule #1: Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

Rule #2: Share 7 things about yourself.

Ok, here goes nothing.

1. I am obsessed with Disney World. I have been there more times than I can count and it never gets old.
2. I am also obsessed with Harry Potter. I have read the books more times than I can count (and watched the movies) and it never gets old. (I'm detecting a pattern here.)
3. I couldn't live without my iPhone. Why? Because I am addicted to stupid games like Angry Birds, Bunny Shooter, and Tiny Tower.
4. I love to knit. There is hardly anything more relaxing to me. Who am I kidding? It pisses me off. I end up throwing my knitting across the room and cursing. And I still love it.
5. I love my dog. He's a Jack Russell Terrier and the sweetest thing in the world... and he's smarter than most people I know.
6. I think my fiance is the most wonderful person on Earth. He eats more than humanly possible, he drinks too much beer, and he thinks I'm the weirdest person he's ever met. And, yes, I think he's the best!
7. Trashy TV rocks my socks. I love Hoarders, Jersey Shore, Millionaire Matchmaker, and any kind of "love" show (Rock of Love, Flavor of Love, etc.)

Rule #3: Pass this on to 15 blogs that you recently discovered.

Ok, here's the part I'm not liking so much. I'm supposed to pass it on to 15 blogs? That's a lot. I don't want this to become an annoying forwarded message that we all hate. I also think it kind of takes away the excitement of receiving an award when you realize that 14 other people got it too.

So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to pass this on to TWO people (gasp!). And I'm going to carefully choose the people that I think deserve it (double gasp!).

I've chosen to award this to Whitney at We're Making History!! I think her posts are cute and fun to read. And, she posts about all kinds of differentl things, making here extremely versatile and a perfect candidate for the Versatile award.

And, I'm going to also award Shannon at Love in the Big Easy! Follow her as she plans for her wedding in beautiful New Orleans! She has so many great posts to check out.

There ya have it. Check out these to sites and show them some love. Thanks again Melissa :)

Wedding Hair: Inspiration for the Unsure.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with my hair on my wedding day. No idea at all. But, does that concern me? Hell yes it does!

Let me explain my worry to you. First of all, hair is important. No, it may not be as important as some other things, but it definitely ranks right up there in my opinion. I can put on the cutest outfit I own and feel like a million bucks, but if my hair looks like crap, it's instantly ruined. The way my hair looks directly reflects how I feel about myself. Sad, but true. I want to feel beautiful on my wedding day, and I know how I wear my hair can make all the difference.

Secondly, I don't usually like how my hair looks when other people do it. Granted, I've only ever gotten my hair done in a "formal" style for high school dances, but I hated them none-the-less. When I go to the hair salon, I can't wait to rush home and get my hands on my hair. But I don't want to do my own hair on my wedding day.

So, as you can see, I'm slightly apprehensive about the whole hair deal. I figure some of you may be in the same boat, so I'm hoping to inspire you with some of these beautiful hair styles!

What do you prefer? Up, down, half-up? Flowers, veil, headband? Braids, curls, waves?

Photo credit

Photo credit

Photo Credit

Photo credit

Photo credit

Photos courtesy of Style me Pretty and Wedding Guide