Big day pt. 3

I loved the flowers we ended up with. Instead of a florist we wanted to support local growers and make our own boquets. We went to Pike's Place Market the day before the wedding and spent less than $250 on ALL our flowers for the venue, boquets, etc. We were at the mercy of what was in season, but I had been watching for several weeks and knew we'd be able to snag some gorgeous dahlias. We wrapped the bottom with bakers twine and I made some button stems with stripes and stars.



I had 8 bridesmaids. It's a lot of people to coordinate with and perhaps 4 would have been plenty, but nonetheless...I'm glad I got to share the day with these beauties! They kept me sane and helped with all the last minute things that I couldn't have done alone! You might be noticing there are only 7 girls in the pictures...My dear friend Leah was unable to make it at the last minute due to illness. We accepted this possibility when I asked her to be a bridesmaid, as she battles a debilitating chronic illness. It was emotional not to have her there, she has been with me through all the big moments since high school. On my wedding day I called her just a few minutes before I walked down the aisle and then I had a friend put her on speakerphone throughout the entire ceremony. It was the next best thing to having her there in person.



For our centerpieces we used a combination of mason jars, white Ikea vases and old apothecary/medicine bottles from my father in law's collection. I wish we had taken more photos because there were some gorgeous aqua and green ones! We had 100s to choose from! It was so fun to include something borrowed in our decor. All the jars and vases were put together by the bridesmaids, moms and grandmas! We had way more flowers than we needed!



The bottom table runner was a natural linen I ordered online and sewed. The top runner is...kraft paper! For reals! You know those big rolls of brown kraft paper you can get in the mailing section? Yep, that's all it is. For about 15$ I made 13 runners. I used acrylic paint, spraypaint, stencils and oil pastels. Michal helped me iron the edges over and then I sewed around the edge. It gave the tables a pop of color! There are so many possibilities you could do with this, paint stripes...etc.



The photo wire was just bakers twine and spraypainted clothespins. It was so much fun to look at photos from when we were little or from the time we first started dating. I loved that everyone got to know us a little better through the photos.



I still LOVE that canopy. Can't help myself. It was a last minute idea that I wasn't sure would even work out. Boy did it ever work out...it was one of my favorite things! It's now hanging in our apartment! It was inspired by Max and Margeaux's wedding on once wed, but their fabric installation was part of a lattice structure. The challenge in creating ours was figuring out how to attach and suspend it from something.







That's all for today! Tomorrow...the ceremony!

Credits:

Venue: Sole Repair shop on Capitol Hill
Lights: Restoration Hardware
Candles: Ikea
Glass vases: Wholesale flowers and supplies online

All photos by James Moes Photography

Big day pt. 2

(click on the photos for larger view!)





The earlier part of my wedding day was the most stressful morning/afternoon I can remember. Between setting up all the decorations and having a super tight schedule that would have been plenty. Of course there were even worse moments. (The hair dresser was a fiasco and I cried in the middle of the salon. I was mortified. I only cry when I'm angry and I was sooo angry. The hairdresser pretty much refused to listen to what I wanted him to do.) My mistake, lesson learned. Do your own hair! I was an HOUR late to pictures because I was trying to fix my hair and put my makeup and dress on. By the time I stuffed myself (in my dress!) into my car and drove some of the bridesmaids to the park I was ready to get to the good part of the day.

I was so focused on the moment of our "first look" that I didn't even notice this guy climbing the side of tower! Imagine my surprise when I got the photos back!










The first time the boy saw me in my dress was perfect. Even though both our families and the entire wedding party was there too it was a secluded moment and it gave me enough time to relax and focus on just getting married!














This last photo is probably my favorite out of all of them!

My dress was a Maggie Sottero. My dad came with me when I picked it out in February, and it was the second one I tried on. We both had that reaction when I put it on, and although I altered it a little I was happy with the simple style of dress I picked. It fit comfortably and the striped fabric I added in place of the bow and studded brooch made it feel much more "me."

I definitely recommend taking photos before the ceremony, so that after you can just enjoy the guests, eachother and the whole experience.

Photos taken by: James Moes
Dress: Maggie Sottero from I Do Bridal
Accessories: tulle/beaded necklaces and matching bracelets for the bride made by Michal
Bridesmaid dresses: Macy's and Funnel Cake Weddings (my dad picked them out! Don't laugh, it's true!)
Groomsmen vests: Mens Warehouse *note-these were suit vests, not tux vests
Groomsmen attire: Tie-Amazon, shirt and pants were whatever they already owned
Grooms outfit: shirt, pants and tie from Express
Flowers: Pikes Place Market
Button stems and boutonnieres: Made by me with the helping hands of friends

The big day Pt 1

From the beginning...




The groomsman putting on their button boutonnieres.



My father in law dressed to match the groomsmen, converse included. It was adorable!












That little boy is a favorite of mine. Cutest nephew ever!

All photos were taken by the wonderful James Moes. We are thankful for his amazing talent and friendship! We took photos prior to the ceremony at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. And, as promised by James, it did not rain for pictures! The moment we got into the car to head to the ceremony it began to! I'll post a few sets each day because there are lots!

Monday Mix

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Long distance Christmas

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! We spent the day with good friends, and ended it with picking up the intern from the airport! So happy to have her back!

Since my family all lives far away, I've gotten used to celebrating Christmas through the phone. Yesterday when I was talking to my brother my niece was trying to "show" me what santa brought her over the phone...so we hopped on Skype instead. Those two mini faces bliss me out. It makes me homesick! There is just something so magical about christmas when you are a little kid. Here are a few cute snapshots of my brother's adorable fam during our skype session!


Merry Christmas to you and yours :)

Slice winner!

Thanks again for playing along! It's been sooo much fun! I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday with great food and even lovelier people!

12 days of giveaways final prize!

Here it is...the final giveaway!


Drumroll.....

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A brand new Music and Dance Slice cartridge from Making Memories! If you don't have a slice machine perhaps you know someone who does....it would make a lovely gift! This is the Last giveaway...so don't be shy!

Thanks for playing along with our blog giveaway! It's been soooo much fun! I'm off to bed because I will be driving the lovely intern to the airport at 5:30 am.

Here's a little peek at our attempt to decorate the mantle. There are still ornaments I need to hang and I hung our stockings after the photo was taken...


AND...a sneak peek of what I've spent the last few days putting together for an epic set of posts:




That's right! The photos are in! Since we had over 640 images from our photographer and another 400 from our digital photobooth I've been sorting, and putting collages together so I don't have to post them one at a time! I can't wait to share the magic with you.

Winner 11

Shelle and Dan!

Designer Wednesday Trifecta

Have you ever had one foot out the door to your holiday gathering only to realize you don't have anything for your host? Or maybe you need something quick for your neighbor or coworker or that dang secret Santa exchange you forgot about! Well don't lose your holiday cheer...thanks to Anna we've got three adorable cards you can make faster than you can say "Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!"

You Need:

White blank card
Such Sweet Tierney Christmas buttons (or other adorable buttons!)
Alphabet stamps
Ink

Choose words that have an "O" in them and replace with a button.
Anna used "Hope," "Joy" and "HO HO HO"





How quick and perfect are those cards? I don't know about you but I ALWAYS groan at the idea of cardmaking, it seems so difficult! This cute trick could really come in handy!

This month everyone was asked to contribute a non layout project. You saw Pearl's awesome tags earlier this month and the rest of our team didn't hold back! I love all three of today's features! Show them some love!

Stacey's Mini book
Yes, those bright colors make me so very happy! I can't get over adding pink and lime into our christmas scheme this year.

Sharmaine came up with several cute packaging ideas, perfect for your last minute gifts you still need to wrap!
So simple and festive. Adding the snowflakes and doily behind each button is the perfect box topper!


Don't forget to comment on Giveaway #11 below. And stay close to your keyboards tomorrow because the final giveaway is a hot one you won't want to miss!

*Note, if you won a giveaway and haven't already submitted your address to me you can send it to suchsweettierney[at!]gmail.com I will be mailing all the giveaways out on Monday the 27th!