Save the Dates #1

I first discovered Adobe InDesign on my computer about a month ago (I have no idea how it got onto my computer) and I was so excited because reading Doctor Whimsy's fabulous blog had inspired me to try to make my own save the dates and invitations.  I really like the idea of designing my own invitations and save the date cards - I think they have so much more meaning when you do them yourself.

My first attempt at using InDesign was actually just a worse copy of an invitation that Doctor Whimsy had made as I learned how to use the software, so I won't show it.  

My second attempt was at a save the date card.  I wanted to do something that reflected me and The Beau as a couple and decided on an Ultimate Frisbee theme.  The Beau and I both really enjoy playing Ultimate and we actually met at a game, so I decided to go with an Ultimate theme.

The person on the card is not The Beau; its just a random guy from a random picture I found with a google search.  I used Photoshop to alter the colors and InDesign to do the rest.  I made this before I discovered DaFont and I think that if I were to do it again I would a more interesting font.  

If I actually end up using an Ultimate theme for my save the dates I will use a picture of The Beau and I throwing to each other.  I already have an image in my mind, now I just need the time and someone with photography skills to help me execute it.

Halloween Party

All of The Beau's friends have a "holiday" that they are responsible for hosting.  Some of the "holidays" include the Superbowl and Park Ave Fest, which, while fun, are not holidays - but that isn't really the point.  While at a wedding this summer his friends decided that we needed to step it up and choose a holiday.  They initially suggested St. Patrick's Day, which I vetoed and quickly countered with Halloween, they accepted.  I love Halloween, and I'm so excited that we get to throw a Halloween Party because now I get to go and buy decorations, come up a great costume and (best of all) use my burgeoning skills with InDesign to make an invitation!  Almost as much fun as designing the invites was using my new favorite website DaFont to get Halloween fonts.

Bellow is my first invitation attempt.  Its not very good, but I was so excited about all my new fonts that I couldn't choose just one.

This is my second attempt - better, right?

BTW, all the images are also fonts that I arranged into pictures.

PS - Thanks to Doctor Whimsy for being a great friend and wedding mentor, and also for introducing me to DaFont!

Wedding Cookie?

So, I'm in one of my favorite coffee shops working on a take-home exam and eating a black-and-white cookie (aka moon cookies) when I thought to myself:  I love these.  I wonder where the coffee shop gets them or if they make them?  I wonder if they could make a lot... like for a wedding? Naw, you can't have black-and-whites instead of a cake... or could you?

Upon further thought I decided that they would make a great alternative to a wedding cake.

Reasons:

1. They are super yummy!

2. They are made in a serving, so no cake-cutting fees

3. They have a cake texture, so are like cake

4. They should cost a lot less than a wedding cake (I'm only assuming, this is an unsupported statement)

5. They can be arranged in nice ways (see picture bellow)

Thoughts?  Have a come up with a new trend, or am I completely out there?

(picture from here)

Galit at Etsy!

I'm really excited because one of my Israeli cousins started a store on Etsy selling handmade jewelry, and I'm going to shamelessly promote it!  In my opinion her pieces are beautiful and well made (I have one of her necklaces).  Please go visit her store: Galit, designed by hand.

Here are some examples of her work.

All images from Galit, design by hand at Etsy

My first love and Inspiration Board #1

I first started getting into wedding planning about 7 months ago after my best friend got engaged.  When talking to her about the kind of dress she wanted it quickly became apparently that we had vastly different ideas on what makes the perfect wedding gown.  Her philosophy: "if you've got it, flaunt it" - meaning, the she wanted a sheath dress that would showoff her figure.  My philosophy: its the only day in your entire life when you can dress like a princess and not look ridiculous, so go for it - meaning, show me the way to the big, poofy ball gowns!  (My philosophy may stem from the fact that my high school nickname was Princess, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!)  

While supposedly helping my best friend search for dresses on The Knot I found the dress that I had to have.  Its a Birnbaum and Bullock, I spent weeks thinking about it, and its my first love.  I've since cheated on it with others, who you will meet in the future.

Thinking about this dress led me to think about what my wedding might actually look like and I made my first (and currently only) inspiration board.  I love purple and green and seven months later I still want them as my wedding colors, but everything else has really changed.  More to come on that.

All images from The Knot

Martha Stewart

In the last year of my life quite a few of my friends have gotten engaged, and I got sucked into the wedding world ahead of my time.  During my forays into the world of wedding blogs I've noticed that everyone loves (LOVES!) Martha Stewart Wedding with a fervent passion.  Because of this, I occasionally visit the site, and I have this to say (even though I will likely alienate the entire wedding blogging world before I have any readers): 

"Dear Martha Stewart, 

Please fire who ever is responsible for "Best Cake Toppers" and "Wedding Color Palettes - Green".  These two slide shows are horrendously bad!

Thank you, 

Intercontinental Bride"

I would just like to point out some of the worst transgressors.

From "Best Cake Toppers" our second runner up is "Quince and Chocolate" - its a cake, not a tree!  

Our first runner up is "Crepe Paper Bouquet" - I have no idea what part of this is actually cake, and it is  therefore unappetizing and completely useless as a cake.  Also, what guy would ever agree to having this cake at his wedding?

And our grand prize goes to "Garden Roses" - can I have some cake with my flowers?

From "Wedding Color Pallets - Green" I have two related pictures, followed by a rant.

Why is it that green is always associated with clovers?  There are so many other more interesting, unique things that are green, but invariably, clovers always seem to come up.  As a clover-disliking, non-Irish person its frustrating and clearly overdone.  I thought Martha Stewart Wedding was supposed to show us new, trendy ideas; not the same-old, tired, over done stuff!

Ok, I'm done.  And for all you non-existent readers out there, sorry to start off so negative, I don't plan on it happening often.

All images from Martha Stewart Wedding.