Gold Glitter + Lace Wedding Invitation by Lavender Paperie

April 8, 2016

If you're planning a wedding with lots of glitz and glam then these formal wedding invitations from Lavender Paperie are just perfect! With a gold glitter lining and satin bow to top it off, everything about it screams perfection. And from the moment your guests open the beautifully printed envelope, they're sure to realize that they are in for one spectacular wedding.

Lavender Paperie has so many color and font options to choose from so no matter what your wedding day palette may be, this invitation can be customized perfectly for you! Head on over to their shop to see this design and more!

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Gold Glitter + Lace Wedding Invitation by Lavender Paperie

8 Of The Biggest Bridal Mistakes

April 6, 2016

I've asked brides, I've asked vendors, and I've learned from personal experience. And while we could make an endless list on this topic, that would probably overwhelm you quite a bit (pun intended).

So without further ado, here are some of the biggest bridal mistakes:

1. Not hiring a coordinator

Please please please make room in your budget from the get go with room for at least a coordinator for the month of the wedding. And your best friend and Aunt don't count! If you want to stress on the wedding day, then you can throw this tip out the window but if you'd like to have a peaceful, stress-free most wonderful day of your life, please listen to me. A coordinator will help you create a "clearly defined timeline that is set up for success. Having a wedding planner and strong DJ will ensure this is handled." (Hey Mister DJ) I am a coordinator and I hired a coordinator...let that sink in!

2. Hiring your friends

It is a lot easier to tell a hired vendor "no." And while hiring professionals is imperative, I get that some of your friends and family may be professionals in the wedding industry. Does this mean you should hire them? Absolutely not. If you don't like your hair or the photos don't turn out to be as you had imagined, it is going to be quite the awkward friendship moving forward. So keep your friends as your friends, and your vendors as vendors. You can make friends with your vendors too though ;)

3. Forgetting to tell your photographer about important photographs

"Bring a box. Put your coordinator in charge of giving the box to your photographer while you're getting ready. Fill it with important details you want photographed like your invitations, save the dates, family heirlooms, something blue, accessories you're wearing that day, wedding rings, parents' wedding photos, bridal party gifts, letters...And make sure you tell your photographer if there is a special moment or object you want photographed." (Britt, From Britt's Eye View Photography) Vendors cannot read your mind!

4. Letting anyone give you input on the dress before you express your own opinion

When you are trying on dresses, the rule is that anyone with you cannot say how they feel about each dress until you have stated your opinion. If you hate it, state it and move on. And if you love it, love it with pride and shout it out loud. And if you do that before anyone else says anything, they are far less likely to give you their "true" input and willbe there to support you and your decision.

5. Not getting a wedding video

Biggest regret BY FAR. For some reason, the wedding video is always put on the back burner. It was for me too even though I always tell my brides not to do that. (Do what I say and not what I do). So like a coordinator, budget this in. We don't want any regrets after the wedding because you will never get that day back!

6. Wedding arguments with the fiance

They're just not worth it. If you disagree, come to an agreement. He can choose one thing and you can choose another. But marital stress before you are even married just isn't worth it. Because the wedding is all about marriage, right?

7. Spending money on items that will get thrown out

If you are purchasing decor, make sure you can donate them or re-sell them. If you are purchasing a cake, don't order for 500 when you have 50 guests. And don't get favors that are just going to get thrown out. While it may seem like a big deal in the moment, just remember that you are literally throwing money away.

8. Not eating or drinking enough (water)

"Put your coordinator, friend, or parent in charge of making sure you eat and drink a lot of water on your wedding day." (Britt, From Britt's Eye View Photography) We don't want any brides fainting or feel less than par on their wedding day!

Did you have any wedding day regrets to warm future brides about? Comment below!

You Aren't Marrying "The Perfect Man"

April 5, 2016

Marriage isn't easy. And if anyone ever told you that, then they are lying. Unless, of course, they are just getting back from their honeymoon and haven't had a chance to really experience marriage.

As most of you know, my first daughter was born just three weeks ago and boy does that change marriage and at the same time makes it that much more beautiful. My husband and I have bonded over our little princess in a way that I would never have imagined possible, and I have experienced "the perfect man" each and every day since she came into this world.

Of course, my husband is not actually perfect but there are so many things I've seen him do and say that make me feel, in the moment, that I've married perfection. And then just minutes later, I don't know if I can take it any more. And in these moments of up and down, I've truly realized that there is no such thing as a perfect man.

So many couples jump into marriage because they believe that they have found perfection in a man or a woman. And I promise, there willbe moments of perfection in your marriage, moments of bliss, and moments of pure joy, peace and happiness. And boy do I love these moments. And then in a split second, it all changes and you no longer remember the man or woman you married. Intimacy slows down, those honeymoon feelings begin to fade, and the little things that make you tick begin to appear in each and every day life.

I am here to beg you -- Please do not search or marry the perfect man. Because he doesn't exist. What I want you to do, is marry the perfect man for you.

If you see perfection in your future spouse, then I would like to think that you are not ready for marriage. If you haven't experienced an argument, haven't seen any habits that you just cannot stand, and haven't once thought "I wish he didn't...." then you are certainly not ready for marriage.

Instead of searching for the perfect man, search for the perfect man FOR YOU. He compliments you and may have a personality that is the complete opposite of you. He may love to chat and you may love to just sit in peace every once in a while and while this may annoy you in the moment, realize that if you both were overly chatty, then you may actually clash more than ever, never able to get all of the words in that you wanted to say. So this man isn't perfect, but he is perfect for you. And if you both were Mr. and Mrs. organized then you may disagree on where things should go and how they should be organized. So instead, Mrs. Organized may actually be a better fit with Mr. Unorganized. It'll annoy you more than ever, but that trait is perfect for you and your marriage.

And I believe that once you realize that you aren't ever going to marry perfection, you may, just may be ready for that commitment in your life. The definition of "perfect" is different for each and every one of us. It is even different than the definition your own spouse holds true. We aren't robots and that is why your perfect imperfections need to mesh well with the perfect imperfections of your spouse. And that is what makes a beautiful imperfect marriage. You aren't marrying perfection, but the perfect man or woman for you.