DIM=Did It Myself

Here's a look at some of the projects I've completed for the wedding. Still to do: our out-of-town bags, boarding pass itinerary, and programs for the wedding.

Menu Cards and Pocket Folds

You would think something like a menu card and a pocket fold would be simple enough, but I found finding the right style and tutorial to actually be an extremely difficult task. This is the best tutorial I've found: www.ehow.com/how_5807819_pocket-fold-napkin.html Made a rough sketch of what I want the menu card to look like. I'm using grey linens with peach menu cards adorned with vintage buttons and navy type. I just hope they turn out as good as I hope when they're finished. :)

So I'm an idiot

Received my earrings today (super fast shipping!) but I'm an idiot and didn't read carefully enough to notice that the "screw post backing" meant that it was a clip-on. Painful. So I'm returning them. Think I might get this pair instead.

Makeup Inspiration

Goal: Make my eyes pop and make use of as much makeup as I already have so I still feel like I look like myself.

I've been researching like a crazy lady about which products I want to invest in. I've heard a ton of great things about Dior's AirFlash Spray Foundation from other DW brides who have had to suffer in the heat and humidity all day. I currently use mineral foundation, but mineral foundation doesn't look so great in pictures. And I've heard that Dior's spray foundation makes it look like you're airbrushed. Perfect.

For my eyes, I'm going to invest in Dior's killer waterproof mascara, DiorShow and some false lashes to give me the right drama I want to create. I currently wear MAC's paint pot black liquid liner and Too Faced's Natural Eye. Thinking about getting the Too Faced's Naked Eye. The colors are a little more bolder while still having natural softness. I also have a custom eye color palette from MAC, but prefer Too Faced. (For anyone considering between the two.)

For cheeks, I'm going to stick with the same Nars blush in "Orgasm" that I wear every day. It stays on well and the peachy-pink tones look great on a lot of skin tones. Hopefully I won't run out of my current stash by November. I do think that I will invest in a better kabuki brush. I love this retractable one from Too Faced. (I didn't realize I was such a Too Faced fan until I wrote this post.)

The key word for lips is PLUMP. I love Buxom's lip-plumping products and will be purchasing Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in Amsterdam and Buxom Lips in either Destiny or or Amber.

For finishing touches I'll use Model in a Bottle setting spray. If it's good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for me.

Buttons and Bling

Did some shopping on Etsy (my favorite source for wedding goodness) last night and made a couple purchases that I'm pretty excited about.

1) Found these vintage rhinestone screw-back earrings from ThisBlueBird. They're from the 1950s and are exactly the right kind of sparkle I want to go with my dress. Since I'm going to have a big headpiece and already have bling on my dress, I think these earrings will be my only jewelry.

And then we get to the buttons. I decided that to make the wedding as fabulously vintage chic as I can, I'm going to use buttons as decorative elements. Not only do they look great, but they are a lot cheaper and lighter (for hauling down to MX) than we considering with some other decor. I bought a little over 1.5 lbs from Roxy724. Ok, maybe a little more than that. Here are some pictures of my inspiration of how I'd like to use them.

Adding These So I Won't Lose Them

Kind of like this look for my makeup. I guess I'll further decide when I do my hair trial.

My bouquet came in today!

Very excited about my custom bouquet created by an Etsy seller.

I wanted a nontraditional bouquet with more texture than flowers and that is exactly what she created for me. I can't wait to add a vintage brooch to give it more of my Natalie charm. :)

Pomander Tutorial

You will need:

About 2 1/4 yards of quilting fabric for every two pomanders

4" foam balls

hot glue gun with glue sticks

sharpie

scissors

ribbon

push pins

can of tuna

patience

STEP 1: Draw all of the little circles and cut them out from your fabric. I used a can of tuna as my measuring device and it worked great.

STEP 2: After you have all the circles cut out, fold the circle in half and put a dot of hot glue at the bottom and fold one side into the middle.

STEP 3: After you've folded one side into the middle, but another dot of hot glue at the bottom of the part that you just folded and fold the remaining part of the circle onto the folded section.

STEP 4: Poke a hole into the foam with your scissors, shoot some hot glue into it and stick the end of the fabric flower that you've just made into the hole. Do this around the circumference around the foam ball.

Tip: Don't worry about trying to fill in all the space at first. Go loose with your placement. You'll fill in all the holes later.

STEP 5: After you've made a circle around the circumference, fill in one side. Don't worry about making them in lines, filling randomly is better.

STEP 6: Before you fill in the other side, you'll want to secure your ribbon. I measured mine from my fingertips down the length of my arm. Then I put the pin through the ribbon, lined the pin with hot glue and stuck it in the foam.

STEP 7: Fill in the remaining side

Four down, two to go

Here are four of the six pomanders I'll use to decorate the aisle at our reception site in Mexico. Still need to find peach fabric which has been near impossible, but I haven't given up yet. These babies take a LOT of time to make, but I'm hoping that they'll add a nice touch.

Grant picked a look

White shirt with this vintage navy gingham tie from J Crew. I love it. 

More pictures of the flower inspiration

Hope to place my order with Cari at Bloomingon Flowers soon. Super nice lady that does great work. Turns out one of her old friends took these photos at a wedding in Los Angeles and I happened to find them on my own on StyleMePretty.com.

This wedding is really making me realize it's a very small world.

What the Gazebo looks like (where we're getting married)

In case you were curious.

Hair Inspiration

(More great photos from Ashley Maxwell Photography.)

Et...voila!

Bought these great brooches from Etsy seller MySilverology.

Maid of Honor Bouquets- Almost done!

Just need to add the crystal brooches I ordered tonight from an Etsy seller. I'm no green thumb, but I'm learning how to work with faux flowers. 

Want to make my own napkins for the AHR

We'll see how ambitious I'm feeling closer to the day, but I'd love to use vintage fabrics to add more signature charm to the at home reception.

Dessert Heaven

Found a great tutorial from the talented ladies at Farewell Paperie on how to make these stands and cupcake flags for a fabulous looking dessert station.

Bouquet charms

Previously mentioned I wanted to put charms of my Nana and Grammer on my bouquet. I love the idea of putting their pictures in a locket like this one to tie on my bouquet and wearing it as a necklace after. 

Sweet!

Not crazy about the flowers, but loving the bride/groom cake on top with tiers of cupcakes below. At-home-reception dessert? Yes, please. 

The girl that doesn't like flowers just fell in love with a bouquet

Just emailed someone about making a faux version of this bouquet for me. I love that it's not typical. I'd also like to add vintage charms to the bouquet of the special people in my life that are no longer living.

DIY Mexican Reception Project

Fell in love with this look from Crate & Barrel. Going to try to recreate it in a more cost-effective manner by doing a DIY project. Updates to come! 

Great look for the at-home-reception centerpieces

LOVE this look I saw on Ashley Maxwell's website. Totally goes with our "warmth in winter" vibe for our at-home-reception.