I Still Miss You

For those of you that may be new readers to this little bloggity blog of mine, you might not know that my Daddy passed away suddenly a year ago this past weekend. He was racing our sailboat with my Mom and our friend when it capsized. We think that the stress of the event caused a pulmonary embolism that took him quickly while he was doing something that he loved. It was two weeks before my 24th birthday and two-ish months before our wedding. It was the worst day of my life. This past year, and Father’s Day especially, has been extremely difficult and filled with ups and downs along with lots of questions and tears.

I don’t know what I would have done if it wouldn’t have been for my then fiancé taking off two weeks of work to be with my Mommy and I almost non-stop and my friends for checking in constantly, even though I wasn’t strong enough to talk to them. To be honest, I don't know how my Mom has done it. To be still standing after such a devastating life event is quite remarkable. I admire her more than she knows.

So, my friends, I'll be taking the rest of this {already short} week off from blogging to spend time with family and friends and just celebrate the 24 years that I had with my Daddy. He won awards from our sailing club for his legendary margaritas and we'll be attempting to replicate his recipe and toasting to his wonderful life. Over this holiday weekend I hope that you spend time appreciating those around you and cherishing how special and short life really is.

And, to those of you lucky enough to walk down the aisle with your Daddy, I hope that your photographer obtains a picture like this beauty:
photo via: our blog of love

Family Wedding

Tomorrow night Chris and I will be deep in the heartland of Indiana for the wedding of his niece-in-law, Kori. We are quite excited and naturally, I have the perfect dress to wear.
To those of you tying the knot this weekend {especially my penned & pretty clients!}, an early congratulations!
Have a lovely weekend!

Bridal Party Signage

Just a cute little piece of signage that, although not important or necessary, would make a lovely addition to the brides door while she is getting ready throughout the day.
Perhaps a crafty bridesmaid could make this for her friend since not too many brides will have time for DIY projects like this!

as seen on: the brides cafe photo by: sweet monday photo

Give Them Somthing to Look At

I'm not sure that you can really see this in the photo below, but this bride and groom hung old family photos above the gift table at their reception.
Isn't it such a cute idea {if logistically possible at your reception venue!}!?! At least you're giving your guests something to look at while they put their carefully wrapped present on your gift table! as found on: the brides cafe photo by: sweet monday photography

A Word About Favors

I know that there are many of you getting married within the coming months. You're probably {finally} starting to think about what you will give your guests as favors.

Advice to heed from Meg of A Practical Wedding.
"Perhaps one of my favorite posts I've written is one I wrote ages ago, on favors. In that spirit, I thought I'd share this thought from the imitable Miss Manners: "Who told you that you had to give out wedding favors? Etiquette has never thought of weddings as comparable to children's birthday parties, where the guests might need consolation for not being the center of attention. You owe them only the hospitality of the occasion." There. Now don't you feel better?"

If you remember from this post, we did a candy bar and, in retrospect, I would totally skip it. It wasn't worth the cost, I would have had to have 5 additional kinds of candy to make it eye-catching and diverse and for the amount of money that it cost me in the end I could have put it towards other details or kept the money in my pocket. So, if you're debating....skip the favors. No one will be offended.

As you know, each of my posts must be accompanied with {at least} one pretty picture. I've been saving these pictures for a while because I really had no good reason to post them. But I love them so I couldn't just let them go. So here they are, in all of their glory.

photos by the talented jonathan canlas while second shooting for leo patrone at the {breathtaking} wedding of heather and jonathan.

Maid Service {in Chicago}

Tonight Kristen and I are off to the suburbs of Chicago to attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner of Candice and Landon. And we're not the only ones! Candice and Landon have 12 bridesmaids, 6 groomsmen and a boston terrier flower girl in the wedding party! Let's just say that it's a good thing that Stephanie will be the wedding coordinator behind the event!

Candice and Landon, tomorrow is the big day and I know that you are glad that your wedding is finally here! I wish nothing but clear skies and lots of love for the both of you {in your outdoor wedding!} tomorrow. As for the rest of your life, I cannot wait to see what is ahead for you.

Much love, jfro
And a pretty bridal party picture that is appropriate for this post by jessica claire: More to come next week, there's another wedding around the corner!

Fabulous Tulips

I know that spring has come and gone, but aren't these tulips as close to fabulous as you can get?! When its your wedding day, the last thing that you would want to do is let go of a pretty bouquet like this. Unless you're setting it in a charming mason jar to admire it. Wouldn't you love to have your maid of honor carry the middle bouquet and have all of your bridesmaids carry a bouquet like the one on the left? Talk about a lovely floral composition!

These lovely bouquets are the work of Janie Medley Flora Design {you might know her from The Brides Cafe}. Photos by Katie Stoops.

Business Proposition

I have a little business proposition for all of you out there. Someone find a space as open as this and I'll bring the robins egg blue paint and chandeliers draped with non-foo foo garland and we'll have ourselves a lovely little reception hall. After a couple finishing touches we can throw open the doors to brides to be and their rehearsal dinners, bridal shower lunches and even the occasional intimate wedding!
Who's with me? Extra points if you're a wedding planner since we could combine your mad planning skillz with my penned & pretty calligraphy skillz. Can you say full service?!
photo by: laura novak

Flower Girl Gawk

To all of you lovely brides that are getting married today, I hope that your flower girl looks at you like this when she sees you for the first time all dolled up with your wedding gown on.
Best wishes and an early congratulations. xoxo, jessica lynn
photo via: simply bloom photography

Garden

Never before have I so very much wanted to get married in a garden...

If you are planning any sort of garden wedding, you must must must check out this wedding by the ever so talented robert sukrachand

Cheap Shot

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a couple days and it's a cheap shot to only post about ring shots. But these are adorable ring shots so I think that you will forgive me quickly.

Back in the day, I was all about damask details. So my heart did an extra little pitter patter when I saw this ring shot from Jessica Strickland.
"She saw him. She loved him. She got him." Photo by Laura Kay.

I didn't carry a bridal clutch on my wedding day. It just wasn't necessary. Or so I thought. Clearly it's purpose on my wedding day would have been to capture a ring shot like this by Kate Webber.

In my all time list of "favorite" brides, Nicole would have to be one of them. Don't you just love the birds she purchased off of etsy to assist with her ring shot!?

A lovely reader, Kim, sent me this ring shot a while ago and I just adore the mini snowman. He's holding some serious bling so I hope his little twiggy arm doesn't fall off! Photo by: Rose SchallerFor other lovely ring shots you can visit these two lovely posts by

An Alanta Bride and The Pink Book Blog !

Party Filled Weekend

I'll have you know that I am off for quite the party filled weekend!

Tonight I'll be wearing my favorite sundress and breaking in my new cowboy boots at the Keith Urban/Taylor Swift concert with two of my Cincinnati girlfriends. Rest assured that I will be belting out "Days Go By", "Better Life" and my new favorites "Sweet Thing" and "Kiss a Girl." To say that I am quite excited would be quite an understatement.

Saturday brings the bachelorette party of one of my best friends, Laura Ann of The Beginning of Forever. We're keeping the events of the evening a secret from her, so I can't share anything with you since she is a regular reader of this little bloggity blog of mine. Let's just say that I found the cutest dress this past week at Forever 21 and it will be perfect for the occasion!

I hope that your weekend is shaping up to be as fun as mine will undoubtedly be!

image via it's mary ruffle

Seat of Honor

It is my personal belief that every woman, on her wedding day {and every day of the year}, should be treated like a queen. She should be given the seat of honor, doted upon and adored by her husband. I think that the following pictures justify that school of thought quite well.

The seat of honor...

Doted upon...

And adored...

So, wherever your wedding day make take you. Make sure that you have the seat of honor and are doted upon and adored like never before by your husband. After all, the wedding day is all about the bride, right?!

photos via: rebekah westover, jasmine star and evoke photography

In the Details

You know, when it comes down to it, most weddings look the same. What makes your wedding stand out in the minds of your guests {from the other 6 weddings they have already been to this summer} are all the little details.
I just had to share this little picture with all of you to demonstrate my point. Now, who in the world would think of putting flowers in a sink basin at their outdoor venue!? The bride who wants no detail to be overlooked, that's who. Granted, no guest will walk away saying, "Remember those flowers the bride had in the sink basin outside?! Oh, those were just lovely." But, once they see those flowers in the sink basin, their eyes will be drawn to all the other little details that you have incorporated into your special day. As they take it all in, they will form a beautiful memory of your lovely ceremony and reception that they will not soon forget.
photo by: one love photo via: the artsy bride

Pretty Scenery?

If there is ever a reason to think that you must be surrounded by pretty scenery to obtain great engagement pictures, let this shoot prove you wrong.
From shrubbery to a parking lot, this couple posed in some nontraditional locations {isn't that what it's all about these days!?} which provided them with some lovely engagement pictures.

I've written about nontraditional locations before. This post was all about trusting your photographer when it comes to your engagement shoot locations. Newspaper stands, graffiti walls, fences and alleys are all fair game, remember?!

So, would you do it!? Are you bold enough to let your personalities, smiles and maybe a killer outfit command your photographs and let the scenery take a back seat?!

pictures by the talented sloan photographers

Striped Shoes

Have you seen these shoes?! Not only do they have a delicious pattern but heels to die for. I love this bride's style already.
See more here at lucky me. Photo via emily photo.