Make Your Special Day…. Yours

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Such an old ritual has become traditional in weddings across the country due to the fact that it allows brides to bring meaningful, personal mementos into her special day. We’ll help you take this old rhyme one step further with seven great ideas to help you scatter personalized aspects throughout your day.

Imagine that your mother-in-law is 20 minutes late, your hair is not what it is supposed to be, and you are cranky from lack of sleep. You feel the tears welling when you glance down at your ring and remember the whole purpose behind this stressful day- to be joined in matrimony to the love of your life. Now you just have to fight back those tears of joy! Remind your groom and yourself of the true purpose behind your wedding throughout the day with small personalized aspects that are only shared between the two of you.
1) Instead of wearing a strapless dress or a robe on the day-of, borrow one of your hubby-to-be’s button-up shirts- preferably a comfy flannel one! Throughout the day, you’ll be able to feel connected to your fiance and gain a sense of comfort from the familiarity and the smell!

2) These hangers are such a cute reminder of who you will be at the end of the day! It’s just the little “squeal moment” you need before putting your dress on!




3) As you’re about to walk down the aisle, it’s just you and your dad… and your bouquet. A bouquet charm is often used to include lost loved ones in the ceremony, but they can also be used as a private reminder of your love for your fiance. Create a charm out of a picture of the two of you, the silly key chain he gave you when you first started dating, or the earring that you lost the pair to when he twirled you around when you said “YES!”
4) While the groom doesn’t have a bouquet to personalize, he does have cuff links! Gift him a pair of personalized cuff links with your names, your wedding date, or a map of the place where you first met. Etsy is chock-full of custom cuff links that will have your groom thinking about you the whole day through!

 


5) Your wedding rings are already so personal and full of meaning that there is hardly any surface left to customize, except the inside! Have a secret message engraved on your beau’s ring that adds another layer of meaning to his band. You can also experiment with the growing trend of fingerprint rings without going all out by having your fingerprint engraved in the inside of his ring. What better way to say you’re mine?
6) Patches might be used to mend old things, but they can also be used to add a meaningful flair to a store-bought tie. Sew a patch with a message onto your to-be-husband’s tie so he too can have a moment of blissful happiness during the stress of the day. Be creative, but remember that his bros will probably see it at some point throughout the day- so keep it PG (or PG-13!).

 


7) Although you probably won’t put your heels on until the very last second, a personal message on the bottoms or written on the sole will immediately have you smiling! Anything from your names, your wedding date, or simply a heart will do. Have a saying or joke that only the two of you know? Write it on the bottom of your heels and remember it right before you’re about to walk down the aisle!While it is your SPECIAL day, don’t forget that it’s first and foremost YOURS!



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Showcase Your Rings!

A common trend in wedding photography is to get a close up of your wedding rings. Recently brides have been featuring their rings around their heels or nestled on a flower, but why not do something a little more creative? What makes these pictures unique is that they were tailored to fit the couple’s personality and their wedding style. Think about what makes your wedding different and use that as inspiration to showcase your rings.

If you’re a food enthusiast, stick your rings in your dessert. If that’s not an option you can always rest it in your tea cup.

If you’re more of the rustic and outdoorsy type…. Mixing metal with different textures provides contrast for your photo.

If you’re a couple that enjoys reading… Bring along your favorite book and open to your favorite quote or picture!

You get the idea!
Don’t limit yourself to what’s been done before.
Challenge your creativity and find something wild!


Images coutresy of: ellaimagery.com, thelovelyliestday.com, Carter Rose F8 Studio, lucydylanweddings.com, kellykate.net, paratinovia.com, Stacy Reeves Photography

Follow Fashion This Fall

All you fashionista brides out there have probably seen that purple and orange is a fun trend in fashion this season. See how you can carry these hues over into your wedding day inspiration boards.

Pairing purple and orange with gold accents is a great vibrant wedding color palette for the fall that strays from the typical deep dark tones that are commonly used.
Pantone Color Choices
Sunrise & Sugar Plum

Photo booths

What wedding trends are more and more brides and grooms having fun with? Photo booths! Having a photo booth at your reception is a fun way to get guests to interact with each other and is a great activity that guests can do during the cocktail hour, while the bride and groom take their wedding photos!

Photo booths can also be an expensive piece at the reception and in your budget.So why not create your own custom photo booth?With just a creative back drop and a camera man, all your guests can join in on the fun!

Here are just a few different ideas that are adorable, fun and beautiful to include in your wedding celebration.

Hang a large panel of fabric on the wall. This idea is cheap, fast and beautiful! You can match the backdrop with your wedding colors to make the whole design of your wedding seamless.
Hang a sheet, quilt or large piece of fabric on a clothesline outside for an outdoor wedding.

And don’t forget to add some fun with props and accessories! Provide guests with an empty picture frame, umbrella, top hat, mustache or lips on a stick and/or a small chalkboard for silly messages.

We’d love to help you incorporate these fun ideas into your own wedding! Contact As you wish… for more advice and wedding planning!

Guestbook 101

One of the first things your guests will do when arriving at your wedding is sign your guest book. But a wedding guest book doesn’t have to be filled with plain white pages lined with signatures for the creative bride!

Your guest book is more than just a register of who attended your wedding. It can also be something unique and full of memories that you will treasure for years to come. Here are a few ideas for the creative bride and groom to replace the “traditional” guest book.

Turn your guest book into a scrapbook. Provide guests with small cards on which to write well wishes and their signature. Then put the cards into a scrapbook that contains wedding photos and keepsakes.


Not sure what to do with a book after the wedding? Have guests sign an item that you can display in your home.Some favorites are river rocks, picture frame mats, platters, or a flower pot or vase.


Have a photo album for guests to insert their pictures into near a photo booth at your wedding reception.

Always put your own personal touches to the details of your wedding day! Make sure to find a way to remember your guests in a way that you will treasure through the years.If you need more advice, you can always contact us at As you wish…!

Natural Centerpieces

Every now and again at As you wish… we get requests for centerpieces that are not the traditional flowers. We love how creative our brides can be, and when it comes to planning your wedding there are no limits, except your own imagination! Here are a few of our favorite ideas for non-floral table centerpieces: branches, shells, fruit, wheat, we love it all! These designs are elegant yet simple. We’d love to help you incorporate some of these natural design elements into your own wedding!


Images via Martha Stewart

Tie It Up!

For most women, we could file this topic under “who knew?” but it is something our guys have to think about on a daily basis. That is – how to tie a tie! Here we break down the different ways to tie a knot and give some guidance on what is appropriate for your wedding day!


This Windsor Knot is great for a formal affair since it works with spread collars to accommodate a large knot.

 


The Half Windsor is a smaller, more asymmetrical knot than the Windsor.

 

The Four-in-Hand knot is a simple, narrow knot that is even more asymmetrical and suitable for all occasions.

 

The Pratt Knot is symmetrical with medium thickness, and works great for shorter ties. Typically, this is used less often than the other three examples.

Lastly, we have the bowtie. We love the classic, elegant feel the bowtie brings to your guy’s formal wear! For tutorials on how to tie the knots correctly, visit here: http://www.totieatie.com/

Going for the Gold…

{…or silver, or bronze!} With these styles, there’s no first, second, or third place, we think they’re all winners! This fall, consider adding a metallic gleam to your wedding fashion.

Martha Stewart recently featured these styles in her magazine, and we’re head over heels in love:

As you wish… has put together a few more of our favorites to inspire you. What do you think?

Copper and bronze: Jim Hjelm and Watters


Pewter or Silver: Priscilla of Boston and Romona Keveza

Kate Spade accessories

Trend Alert: Hats off to Style


This season’s trend alert is the fabulous, boho chic, fedora! Part vintage, part modern, we love how these hats are a great complement to the wedding styles shown below. So if you’re looking for an accessory to top off the perfect wedding style, ditch the sprig of baby’s breath in your hair. Top it off with a fedora!

Melissa Sweet dresses, images from aisle dish via edyta

Your bridesmaids will love you forever if you have them wear one of these straw fedoras down the aisle! {Bonus style note: aren’t these dresses a fabulous color?} Dresses by Melissa Sweet.

We hope you enjoy this style as much as we do! If you want more style tips or need help planning your wedding day, contact us at As you wish… we’d love to help!

Shop ‘Til You Drop

It’s not every day one of our favorite fashion designer puts their items on sale, so imagine our delight when we noticed Kate Spade has put all sale jewelry on an extra 25% off! Now would be a great time to invest in some pretty new pieces for your wedding day, or just for fun! We think these would make great bridesmaids’ or moms’ gifts, too! To shop, visit www.katespade.com

Park Avenue Pearl Ball Charm Necklace, Looking Glass earrings, Looking Glass cuff, Clear as Crystal ring

Looking glass bracelet, Shimmer Skimmer Swag necklace, Kahina earrings