Snoopy, giving his humans a moment to themselves! Via weddingshoesblog.com
I love me a good wedding. Yep, that would seem pretty obvious (and necessary!) considering April and I are lucky enough to be involved in weddings. From the moment of conception (our first meet and greet with our couples) to the cute and cuddly baby stage (when we ooh and ahhh over pictures of potential colour palettes, bridal bouquets, bridesmaid dresses, etc) and through the awkward teenage angst (ugh, RSVP delays, or seating drama) until the day when our collective baby is all grown up (aka THE WEDDING DAY!) it really is a journey. But.... despite loving the growth cycle of a wedding, I have to admit, I'm less enthusiastic about huge, elaborate, over-the-top proposals. I mean, I think it's fair to admit that weddings have an inherent level of over-the-top showiness to them, but it feels somehow more organic, and a joint venture. But there's a distinctively one-sided element to a grandiose, epic proposal. It comes across as peacock-y, wth a strong undercurrent of, 'look at how amazingly awesome I am, planning this outrageous and fantastic proposal!'
Renting a stadium, flying in the family, an orchestra and a jumbotron: another day in the life of the rich and shameless
Via eonline.com
(Side note: Don't even get me started on prom-posals! I am firmly #TeamSimpleButSweet, not #TeamViralVideo)
No comment!
Via collegehumour.com
Preach!
Via whisper.sh
But, I'm not against a proposal that is big, as long as it's heartfelt and again, organic; 100% free from artificial flavours and try-hard!
In celebration of Pride Month, I'm ridiculously proud to share a proposal that gave a serious case of the feels, despite taking place very publicly and captured on video for prosperity. Enjoy!
The blond guy on the right of the proposal? That was me watching this video. It hit all the right notes for a great proposal. Unexpected but perfect, grand scale but geared towards both the proposer and proposee. And, most importantly no 'LOOK AT ME SLAY AT THIS PROPOSAL!' but instead 'THIS IS OUR MOMENT'
Via ohfeed.com
Congratulations to the happy couple and I can't wait to see what their wedding looks like, if we're so lucky, that is!
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
Tamp down your natural crazy, lady! Via keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk
It seems like only *yesterday (* - or more accurately, 2 weeks ago!) we were talking (and in my case, bristling) about a bride who requested that her bridesmaid dye her attention grabbing/decor-colour clashing red hair. I always think that outrageous requests have a cap, or a limit to just how ridiculous they can be, but then, ridiculousness takes a turn to an unexplored level and we're left scratching our heads yet again! So, presented without judgment (other than an eye roll and a nostril-flare) is a doozy I stumbled across this weekend!
Ok, some judgement. Is this bride serious? I can't decide if this is an internet hoax or a whole new low! I read this story and there were no words! I was shocked but not surprised at the audacity of the bride ( Caroline) involved and the frustration the anonymous bridesmaid was feeling was almost palpable! I would love to hear a follow up to this story to find out A) what Anonymous ends up doing; B) if Caroline's requests reach new heights of crazy; and C) how many bridesmaid are left standing on the big day! What do you think? Inspired crowdfunding, or shameless guilting? You be the judge!
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
The spotlight is yours...so what's the soundtrack of your moment ? Via playbuzz.com
There ain't no school like the old school. Life before cellphones, mix tapes (real, honest-to-goodness tapes that you physically made for someone special, after agonizing about the perfect songs) writing actual letters and slipping them into lockers and then rushing to your locker between classes to see if you were the recipient of any letters of your own - man, those were heady, giddy, sometimes ridiculous but never boring times!
Via thefederalist.com
It's no wonder then, that for me, old school music>>>>>>>>>>>> new music, any day, hands down! I do have serious love for some newer/current artists, but you just can't beat the music from yesteryear (oh geez, what is happening to me?!) Could it be.....
Via Pinterest
Sometimes when we're working with couples and they talk about their wedding music, we perk right up and start brainstorming songs, especially first dance songs. Spoiler alert: they're a mix of quirky, oldies and just good, sweet songs. Some are old-school, some feel old-school, and regardless of how old they are, they'll always be cool. These are the gems that always pop up for us, so that means these bands or artists must've done something very right, hey?
'All I Want Is You' - U2
True story: This was April's wedding song! It was a beautiful moment that was even greater when mid-song, 'Dare' by Gorillaz came on and there was a sweet-ass choreographed dance routine that she and her husband surprised everyone with. When it was finished, they transitioned right back to the rest of this stunning U2 song. Brilliant!
'Sea of Love' - Cat Power
Good lord, this song gives me the chills in the best possible way. Cat Power has that kind of voice that is evocative and haunting, beguiling and inviting. And this is one of my favourite covers of any song of all time.
'Fade Into You' - Mazzy Star
Hope Sandaval's languid vocals combine with a dreamy slide guitar to create a feeling of love standing still for a few perfect minutes while the world spins around it. Love!
'Nothing Compares 2 U' - Sinead O'Connor
Prince (RIP, oh Purple One!) wrote a lovely song; Sinead O'Connor took that song under her wings and gave it beautiful life. And the video was simple and stunning!
'Baby I'm Yours' - Arctic Monkeys
Another remake that is going to be instantly familiar to older folks at at the wedding, but a fresher take on the song. Clocking in at under 3 minutes, this song is short, but oh-so-sweet!
'Archie Marry Me' - Alvvays
#Archieisyouandmeandeverybody
Ahhh, this song melts me every time. This song can be anyone 's first dance song, it's not just for the aforementioned 'Archie'. My first nephew Tricks loves this song and every time I listen to it I think of him. And I think of the day that he gets married and is having his very own first dance. Maybe to this song? I will be an old lady and I will cry, but that's just because I'll remember the sweet little guy he was....and be proud of the amazing man he'll be. All happy tears! This song is not a very old song, it's a bubbly little 2014 vintage and it's just the perfect song to begin life (and one heck of a wedding celebration!) with on the dance floor!
'First Day of My Life' - Bright Eyes
So honest and humble, and hits all the right notes for the lovers and dreamers who want to love and let live, live and let love!
'The Girl' - City and Colour
Dallas Green is one of the brightest lights in a sometimes dreary musical landscape. The voice of an angel, honest to a fault and this song is part sonnet, part celebratory romp. This would be THE perfect song for a couple who wants to have a special first dance with a surprise - when the song changes tempo from gentle lull to joyous, the happy couple might plan to have a mini party with their closest
and dearest. From the wedding party, to siblings, parents or small children, the happy and upbeat part of the song could be a jump off point for a memorable first dance!
'L-O-V-E' - Nat King Cole
Charming song, with the even more charming Amelie!
Just like it's not Christmas in my house without Ella Ditzgerald, I feel like it's not a wedding celebration without Nat King Cole's golden voice setting the mood and putting a spring in your dance step. So why not bogart one of his most heartfelt and giddily romantic songs for your big moment on the dance floor?!
'Never My Love' - The Association
We started off with April's wedding song, so I had to bookend this list with what would have been my wedding song if I'd had a big ol' wedding with a first dance. Instead it was dinner at a steak house with my family and my dancing shoes kicked off under the table. My husband and I have danced to this song many times since our wedding, and we DID dance to it at April's wedding so while it's not our official wedding song, it's definitely 'our' song..... What will be YOUR song?
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
And the bride wore ivory... Covering her caged hips!
Via Tumblr
When you think stop to think about it, wedding dress possibilities nowadays - or, more specifically, what materials you can use to put together a great wedding dress - are pretty endless. Historically, we went from using flax, muslin and papyrus for clothing in ancient Egyptian times, to the Cretans who added to the textile library with animal skins, linen and wool. Throughout history, you could find all kinds of wardrobes choices in as varied of elements as silk, bamboo and felt; cotton and hemp joined the mix and as time progressed, imagination came to the party and brought cool ideas like dyed and patterned textiles. Then, as we move along the fashion timeline, we started to accessorize with lace and playing with silhouettes and detailing; collars and cuffs became a fierce competition and would tip society off to how much of a VIP a person was.
A wedding dress fit for a Queen (in the good old, old OLD days)
Via agnautacouture.com
Clothes had come a long way, baby! It was no longer just to protect humans from the elements, signify economical status and preserve modesty (read: cover your naughty bits) but it became a way to be colourful, be striking and express who you were. So it's no wonder that clothing wore for marriage ceremonies would go through the same journey as regular ol' clothes and becomes yet another frontier for 'the next big thing'.... I mean, wedding dresses have changed a LOT in the last century. See Exhibit A, if you will:
Via YouTube
And let's be real, wedding dress watching is its own history lesson. The dress du jour is celebrated almost as much as the ceremony itself! Collectively, there are dresses that are etched into a consciences, and with each wedding comes another image for the mental bridal catalogue. Who can forget this beauty of a dress -
This dress is bananas - B-A-N-A-N-A-S! But Pink!
Via eonline.com
-or this one...
Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Junior - gone way, way too soon
Via crhphotos.com
...or this dress that brought all kinds of drama ...
Via stylecircle.com
....this wedding look encapsulated the era and was a snapshot of a whole new world for brides ....
Via fromthebygone.wordpress.com
...and this wedding look? Keep it klassy, Britney!
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I feel like this bride gave us #bridalfashiongoals - one outfit wasn't enough and they were all equally stunning!
Via virgula.com.br
And wowza, this couple redefined what we consider crisp, classy and flawless.
Via celebritybrideguide.com
But in terms of the marriage between textile and ingenuity, these dress concepts are fierce AF!
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Last week, I came across a post on Buzzfeed that highlighted and celebrated a competition that takes place every year that challenges even the most imaginative minds by severely limiting what they can work with. Their mission, if they so choose, is simple: Construct a stunning wedding dress using nothing but Charmin toilet paper, needle, thread, glue and tape. Those that accepted the challenged brought their A-game and came to PLAY!
These creations make every toilet paper dress that I've made at every bridal shower I've ever gone to PALE by comparison. But am I ever in awe of what they've pulled off with just the bare minimum of materials and an immeasurable imagination! Congrats to every designer in the top 10 and to every soon-to-be bridal-shower attendee - here's a lot of inspiration for your future creations!
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
Any couple who look this pristine running through a forest has got to be the real deal, right? Via ostroveletania.blogspot.com
(Taupe - a perfectly acceptable, albeit bland, unforgettable colour in the brown colour family; Bella Swan)
'Twilight', the juggernaut book series by Stephanie Meyer, is awesome. Merriam-Webster Dictinary defines the word awesome as 'causing feelings of fear and wonder: causing feelings of awe; extremely good'. This book launched a movie franchise, plucked Robert Pattinson out of the Harry Potter universe and turned him into a heartthrob, while he and his on-screen soulmate/off-screen girlfriend Kristen Stewart were the subjects of intense media scrutiny, rabid fandom worship, a snazzy name for their pairing ('Robsten') and gave a generation the ultimate in wedding goals. Behold the Cullen-Swan wedding, in all its splendour:
The happy couple, married without any drama and dining in the moonlight
Via professionalfangirls.com
But before the reception .........
A magnificent groom awaits his bride in the middle of a magical forest
Via centives.com
The dress that triggered a million Pinning fingers
Via dailymail.co.uk
Not only did this wedding spawn hundreds of thousands of Pinterest boards and create a bridal demand for the pop-culture approved Bella-inspired wedding dresses, Edward and Bella were directly responsible for giving birth to another awesome book series, '50 Shades of Grey'. Anastasia and Christian Grey's tale began its life as Edward and Bella fan fiction on the good ol' interwebs. So when I say that both the 'Twilight' and '50 Shades' book series are awesome, I mean that they fill me with both fear and wonder. The writing in both of sets of books scares the bejeezus out of me (it's bad, you guys, seriously groan-inducing and cringe-worthy; and yet in comparison, Meyers is Bronte-esque in comparison to E.L James' cheesy and laughable writing. I can't even try to justify one being better than the other, it's basically like comparing sh*t to diarrhea: news flash, they're the same!) And I wonder how a character like Bella Swan could be so relatable and idolized when she was such a boring literary character? And how a wordly, experienced, articulate man-monster hybrid could become utterly undone and in awe of lip-biting, ultra-blinky, stammering Pants, I mean, Bella?! But, on the other hand, the rabid consumption of both book series is awesome, as in extremely good! Even in the midst of the wretched writing, it's still commendable that these characters, no matter how flawed, came to grab and enthrall a generation and lead them to read these books en masse. Young adult book series have enjoyed a real rise in popularity and in a lot of cases, the bar has been risen and both the writing and characters are much better; authors are elevating their craft and creating characters who are closer to being fully realized and realistic people (or at the very least, not beige and bland, like a certain Pants.) We have since been introduced to a new love triangle in Katniss/Peeta/Gale, we've explored the City of Bones and with each book comes an imaginative fandom who are looking to incorporate fantasy straight from the pages into wedding-day reality, whether it's in their themes or photography, all the way to their makeup and hairstyles and fashion.
A far cry from the chaos of Panem
Via Pinterest
May the odds (to dazzle at your wedding) be ever in your favour!
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And the literary-wedding day union doesn't stop,there; books, honest-to-goodness books and graphic novels are an acceptable and in a lot of cases, STUNNING source for wedding day inspiration.
Who knew that we would see inspiration leap off the pages and find their way into wedding days far and wide? Edward and Bella's wedding: a gateway literary wedding? Now THAT'S awesome!
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
And the wedding party takes to the street! Via ctvnews.ca
In the early hours of this past Sunday, hate reared its ugly head in Orlando, Florida and took the lives of 49 people and injured dozens more; every one of these victims was targeted because of who and how they love. In a whirl of news coverage, discussions, thinkpieces and heartbreaking pictures of this senseless act of mass murder, I came across a story that gave me a little spark of hope. Hope that there could come a time when the expression of love in ANY form will not be judged, condemned or vilified but instead celebrated, and our fellow humans' choices respected. Hours after the massacre in Florida, a welcome site; a couple in Toronto took their love to the streets in a joyous walk through their neighbourhood following their exchanging of vows in their backyard! Here comes the happy couple - along with a brass band and their guests!
Now this is what makes the world go 'round - love, family, friends and of course, a little music to set the celebratory tone of a newlywed stroll! If you're looking for a little bit o' feel-good, especially during a week like this, this is a good story to start with. Live and let love; love and let live!
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
The best words a bride-to-be could ever say to her bridesmaids! Via Pinterest
There are a scant handful of sentiments or words of advice that April and I have shared with every bride we've worked with. And when I say a 'handful', I mean we can count them on one hand! The very first sage sentiment we impart, the one that will be repeated numerous times during the planning process, is short but sweet:
"It's your day!"
We firmly believe that the happy couple deserve to have the day that THEY want. They should be free from the opinions and wishes of others (most often, their family members) and not obligated in the least to acquiesce to third-party requests that fall contrary to their own game plan. Now, that's not to say that brides or grooms will turn a deaf ear to anything anyone says or asks off them, there is always a little dance that takes place when family, particularly parents, come on-board during the planning process. But while a bride may 'kindly decline' a request to cover up a shoulder tattoo because 'it doesn't look appropriate', she might cheerfully agree to wear a lace bolero or shrug in the church that is made from a part of her favourite grandmother's wedding dress. It's all about picking your battles, you know?
Blue hair, don't care! This bride is a BOSS! Via weddbook.com
(Side note: Monetary contributions do NOT give anyone final say! We've had couples put in a very tough position by parents who put money towards the wedding day and feel that since they're footing some of the cost, that they can say how and where the money is spent, and have a list of demands tied to the money. Helping to pay for the wedding is a thoughtful gesture but should come free of ulterior motives)
Via Pinterest
Now, here's the big question..... Does 'It's your day!' automatically mean 'it's your way or the highway' ?? For us, the two concepts are not synonymous whatsoever! While it's one thing to want your bridal party to wear a particular colour or length of dress, it's another thing completely to ask a bridesmaid to drop 15 pounds by the big day. Once a bride crosses the line and starts requesting a change to a person's body, it's safe to say that she has officially entered Bridezilla Country, Population: 1. A story about an extremely specific bridal request is making the rounds online and I think it's safe to say that 'Ella', the bride in question, has lost her everlovin' mind. In my very humble opinion, of course!
When I heard about this bizarro and quite frankly, dangerous request, my first reaction?
Thank you, Kelly Kapoor!
Via tumblr
Personally, this not just rubbed me the wrong way, but it put my teeth on edge. The request is, let's be blunt, pretty damn inappropriate for a lot of reasons, the most depressing one being it fosters and highlights insecurity and the default reaction to pit girls against girls. If there was ever an environment that I thought would be supportive, bonding and celebratory, a bridal party seems like the place. This particular circle of friends seems more like frenemies, because not only does the bride put her request out there, but she gets her other bridesmaids to 'persuade' Red to dye her hair! The reasoning is presented as topical - her hair would clash with the colour theme. But then the things veer a little closer to a darker truth with the revelation that not only would her hair distract from the visual cohesiveness of the party, and that her hair is quite 'attention-grabbing'. The bride also reminded Red that as a bride, she gets to veto everything in terms of her bridesmaids' appearance. Ugh. If I was in Red's shoes, I'd get the hell outta Dodge while the gettin' was good! But what would you do if you were Red? Or, alternately, what if you were Ella? What does your bridal party look like?
A motley, merry crew....
Via onceuponawed.blogspot.com
....or the Plastics from Mean Girls?
Via quitecontemporary.com
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
The strangest Plus One at a wedding? Via buzzfeed.com
Long before a zombie apocalypse would have him running around the woods in the United States trying to stay alive to fight another day -
Via nerdlikeyou.com
....Andrew Lincoln was across the pond, planning a wedding day surprise for the lovely and angelic Keira Knightly on the big day.....
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.....One problem: his best friend was the groom who would ultimately kiss the bride and carry her over the proverbial threshhold, not Mark (Lincoln) himself!
Via rebloggy.com
Ahhhh, forbidden love! He does find a way (half-adorably, half-creepily) to let his feelings be known and after his romantic/restraining-order-worthy grand gesture, the part of me that wasn't slightly uncomfortably wondered just what would've happened if HE was the one to put the ring on her finger instead of his best friend Peter (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor)
Via rottentomatoes.com
'Love Actually' was released during prime holiday season in November 2003 and it would end up becoming one of those movies you can watch all 365 days a year. It's a collection of love stories featuring a series of couples that are exhilarating, heartbreaking, maddening, cliche, intoxicating and all-too-familiar to the broken hearted, and the Juliet (Knightley) and Mark (Lincoln) chapter was a master class in unrequited love. Peter asks his best friend and best man Mark to videotape his wedding and not only does he record the wedding, but he arranges a swoon-y and charming rendition of the Beatles' classic, 'All You Need Is Love" that unfolds in the church in the loveliest way for the newly minted bride and groom.
Love, love, love..Its easy (to smile when you watch this!)
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Limited interactions lead us to believe that Mark doesn't like Juliet but as the story progresses, Juliet approaches Mark to get a copy of the video he shot of the wedding because the photographers messed their pictures up. He tries to lie to her and act as though he doesn't know where the video is, but she finds the video in kind of plain view in his apartment. and as she watches it, she slowly discovers that not only does Mark NOT dislike her, he does in fact like her. A LOT. The video gives away, with every shot of her, his surprisingly strong feelings towards her.
Subtitled but the message is clear: He's smitten with you, Juliet!
Via YouTube
Awkwardness ensues and he takes off, literally leaving her alone in his apartment to absorb his video love letter to her...... Until he pops up on Christmas Eve with a silent message for her.....
Sweet and slightly sinister, or is it just me?!
Via YouTube
As he walks away saying, "Enough. Enough now." we know that their first kiss will be their last kiss. But in the silence after the kiss before she goes back to her house, that's when the mind starts to wander and ponder the 'what ifs' ands maybe that's what makes it so perfect. One gesture, one kiss, one moment that really and truly has no hope or agenda, a moment that just .... is. In a blink, a beginning and an end. I can live with that. *sigh*
Yep. This is good with. One... and done!
Via reallylatereviews.com
So, our #Flashback Friday is all about a boy... declaring his love to a girl.... while her husband watches the telly nearby. Ain't love grand?!?
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
When you know what you love, why hide it?
Via agentsofgeek.com
(Side note: The word 'geek' has been badly abused over the years and I use it here in its purest, most positive definition, which is someone who is very interested and knowledgeable in a particular thing, field or activity)
I remember the first movie I ever saw; it was 'Grease', a drive-in night with my folks and I looooooved it. My uncle had an 8-track of the soundtrack that he had to play every time I was in his car, and to this day, I watch the movie a few times a year. I am and will forever be a Grease geek and I'm not even remotely ashamed of how much I love this movie and how well I know the movie! Of course, watching the movie now as a grown-up, I can see just how wildly inappropriate this movie really was for a kid in elementary school (teen pregnancy scares? p*ssy wagons?! hickies from Kenickie?! 30-somethings masquerading as teenagers?! Damn, that was some R-rated content!) but I was smitten with the singing and dancing (and Kenickie, he was my T-Bird of choice!) and the idea that eventually, we all drive off into the sunset with our very own Danny or Sandy, floating car optional. This movie will always have a special place in my heart!
#teamRydellHigh
Via booksablog.com
Sometimes the books or movies that we love can become such a part of us that we are associated with them forever. They come to be as much a part of who we are as our hair colour or our fingerprints. Which is why it's always so cool to see wedding-related details that tip their hats to who we are as we move towards who we're going to be. It's why I always swoon over a Harry Potter themed wedding, why a Lord of the Rings wedding would make my LIFE, why I'm currently squeeing over the Star Wars artwork in one of our upcoming weddings. and why these engagement rings made my day!
Buzzfeed, my internet boyfriend, collected some awesome rings that celebrate these very things in one lovely post and without being too geeky, these are the sweetest engagement rings this side of the Shire! Proof positive that we don't have to check our childhood or 'geeky' loves at the door when we're all grown up!
Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April
