Fairy Tale Engagement Shoots

All brides want a fairy tale perfect wedding. Some even recreate their favorite fairy tale or fable in a fun engagement shoot!

We found some fantastical and super creative ways that couples have used fiction for some fun photos:

Princess and the Pea:

Via Wild Flowers Photography

Alice in Wonderland:

Via Three Nails Photography

Little Red Riding Hood:

Via Green Wedding Shoes Via Three Nails Photography

Cinderella:

Via Jill Johnson Photography

I can see where these shoots could get a little over the top, but I think the photos above portrayed the stories in a tasteful and fabulous way!

What do you think of this idea?

Maid of Dishonor

Being selected as the Maid of Honor is a HUGE deal. Your best friend forever, your college roommate, your sister from another mister, the beautiful, blushing bride-to-be selected YOU to help her plan, keep her calm, and stand beside her as she says her "I do's."

...but what happens when you go from maid of honor to the maid of dishonor?!

Via Joyous Cascade

We at Masterpiece Weddings have witnessed a few Maid of Honor Faux Pas and we just really really reaaaaally don't want to see them happen again. Especially to you!

So we decided to create a list of what NOT to do as a Maid of Honor.

1. DON'T have a few too many glasses of Pino at the rehearsal and show up hungover and crabby on the day of the wedding. You'll be miserable and it will be a looooooong day. Plus, who knows how many people you told about "that one time when the bride and I skipped class and...." So limit yourself to two drinks. You can do it, I promise!

2. DON'T wait until the last minute to plan the bridal shower/bachelorette party. Find out what the bride actually wants to do early on so you can plan the best event possible with the budget you're working with. It will be way less stressful for you, we promise. Plus, if the bride wants her Bachelorette Party to be a quiet day of relaxation and mani/pedis and you plan for hot pink feather boas and a table at a nightclub...things may not go over well.

3. DON'T give an embarrassing speech. Please. Please please please. As hilarious as your wild college nights were or how you're glad the bride got over that awkward gothic phase..keep it to yourself. Even if you aren't the groom's biggest fan, on his wedding day (the day he's marrying your bestest girl ever)- he is the coolest, most wonderful guy in the room. And please, don't diss the bride and call her a spoiled brat, and remind the groom what a mess he has on his hands.

4. DON'T try and outshine the bride. This is her wedding day. Her. Wedding. Day.

5. DON'T commit and then back out last minute.

In all seriousness, Maid of Honor is named that way for a reason. It really is an honor to be chosen, so please...be the most fantastical, generous and awesometastic Maid of Honor we know you can be!

Adorable Holiday Cards

Well, it's the day after Thanksgiving. You know what that means (Well, other than a breakfast, lunch and dinner of turkey sandwiches with a side of pumpkin pie)

....4 am holiday shopping! Your favorite radio station playing non-stop Christmas tunes for an entire month! Figuring out where to find the perfect holiday card to send out to all your loved ones.

While we can't help you beat the crowds at your local mall, we can definitely show you where to find some photo holiday cards that are just festively fantastic.

Invitations by Dawn recently sent us some Holiday Photo Card samples and we were very impressed.

Not only were the designs creative and appealing, they offered a plethora of different kinds. Some cards were basic, while others gave you the option of giving a few family updates (which eliminates the need for a separate letter). Check out a few of the options Invitations by Dawn provides:

Via Invitations by Dawn

Via Invitations by Dawn

Via Invitations by Dawn

Via Invitations by Dawn

How awesome and trendy are these Holiday Cards?

What do you do to wish your family and friends a happy holiday season?

Grateful

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving full of family, fun, and food!
I could go on and on about all of the amazing things and people that are a part of my life, but I really think this sums it up:

Via Oh Lovely Day via The Crafting Chicks

So count your blessings, enjoy your day and all of what and who you have in your life to be thankful for!

Creative Candle Uses

Candlelight is super romantical; its a fact. But there are many different uses for candles on your wedding day than to simply "set the mood/tone/whatever."

For instance, candles can be used as centerpieces:

Via Martha Stewart

Candles as centerpieces are not only beautiful and elegant, they also give off extra light for an outdoor wedding or a space with dimmed lighting.

Candles can also be used as favors for your guests:

Via Wedding Collections

Adorable, right?! Your guests will love this sweet and personal wedding favor. Candle wedding favors come in a variety of designs and many can even be custom made, so you'll be sure to find the perfect fit for your big day.

In addition, candles can be used to light the way:

Via Ormonde Productions

Not only is this candle lit pathway beautiful, it's also functional!

Candles have so many different purposes on your wedding day that it's almost impossible not to use them.

Via The Wood Wife

...and okay, they can still be used to set the mood.

Newspaper Leaf Garland

Being Eco-friendly is always a plus in my book. Everyone knows that recycling is for the cool kids, so when I found this wonderful way to recycle my newspapers and create a beautiful garland, I was so excited! It's perfect for a creative and whimsical touch at wedding receptions.

photos via Life with Little Ones

This awesometastic newspaper leaf garland from Life with Little Ones is just unbe-leaf-ably (yep. I went there) cool and completely DIY. You can find the instructions right here.

What are some recycled wedding decorations that you've seen?

Silhouette Decor

Although we have a soft spot for fall weddings that are rustic and full of foliage, they can be just as autumn-tastic when celebrated with more sophisticated, classic decor.

That's why we are completely captivated by this silhouette pumpkin we found at Oh Lovely Day!

Via Oh Lovely Day! Via HGTV

Not only is this pumpkin a perfect addition to your wedding decor, it is completely DIY and you can find simple instructions right here.

As an added bonus, if think silhouettes are as classical-istic and chic as we do, you can compliment your darling DIY pumpkin with a just as wonderful cake topper from April Foster Events!

via April Foster Events

How sweet and sophisticated are those?! It gets better...they're DIY, too! (too good to be true, I know) Make your own by clicking here and you can create a completely one-of-a-kind cake topper that is sure to be a hit at your celebration!

Would you guys make your own decor for your wedding? 

Inspired Cake

Getting married is a big step (or giant leap. po-tay-to, pa-tahhhh-to) into the big world of adult-hood. Starting a new life with someone you love is without a doubt a very mature decision.

However, that does not mean that your inner child cannot come out a play from time to time, which is why we are absolutely enamored with this adorabler and super fun cake,by  Dream Day Cakes This cake was designed for the opening of a play at one of our local theaters, but we find it so inspiring for many aspects of crazy cakery deliciousness!

This cuteness is via Dream Day Cakes

How fun and just plain adorable is this cake?! It's so playful, carefree, and most likely ridiculously delicious.

Does anyone else suddenly have a strange craving for coloring books and cake?

Invitations by Dawn Winner!

We are super excited to announce the winner of the Invitations by Dawn Giveaway (It's been a long-time coming) We took all of the comments from FaceBook, Twitter and the Blog and randomized them....

And the winner is....

After combining all of the comments on both posts, we owe a huge congratulations to Mo! Please e-mail me, Melissa{at}MasterPieceWeddings{dot}net to claim your prize!

We look forward to hearing which of the amazing Invitation by Dawn invites you choose!

Preserving Leaves

Fall is in full force, which means harvest and fall themed weddings are an extremely popular option for brides!

Via Emmaline Bride Via Martha Stewart

Fall Foliage is a great way to incorporate all of the gorgeous colors of Autumn into your wedding, but leaves tend to crumble and lose their vibrancy by the time your wedding comes around. That's why, when we stumbled upon a wonderful D-I-Y leaf preservation tutorial at Emmaline Bride, we were ecstatic!

Via Emmaline Bride Via Martha Stewart

It's super easy to do, and the tutorial gives you a variety of options and a ton of inspiration that will suit your wedding timetable and theme.

This is just one of the many examples of how fantastical your preserved leaves can be utilized at your special day:

Via Emmaline Bride Via Better Homes and Gardens

Find out how to preserve your own leaves here.

What are some ways you would incorporate leaves into an autumn wedding?

Fun Photobooth Props!

Photobooths at weddings are just the funness! What could be better than allowing your guests to unleash their innerchild by taking some spectacularly silly pictures at your reception. And as ya'll have seen, we have had way too much fun than should be allowed in a photobooth...
Unless...

You had a photobooth complete with...

wait for it.
...
.....
Photobooth Props!!!

Via April Foster Events Via Little Retreats

How fantastical are these photobooth props we discovered over at April Foster Events?! I, personally, am a huge fan of the tophat-mustache combo. You can even order your own photobooth favors at the Little Retreats Etsy Shop.

What adorable and fun activities have you seen done at weddings?

Scrabble Wedding Details

I have a confession. I'm a HUGE scrabble fan. Receiving triple points on a word makes me squeal in happiness. And Words with Friends doesn't help my obsession. There are many evenings where I can be found in the zone....

So, when I found these fantastical ways to incorporate Scrabble pieces into your wedding, my inner-nerd was super excited!

First up, customized Scrabble Coasters we found at Intimate Weddings:

Via Intimate Weddings

How creative and thoughtful are these? Not to mention, you can make them yourself with this DIY tutoral. Your wedding party will adore this personalized favor and you will never forget which drink is yours!

We also found these nifty place cards at Style at Home that would be so easy and fun to create:

Via Style at Home

With details like these, your wedding will be nothing less than Scrabulous (get it... ?)!!!

Do you have any wedding detail ideas that are totally funness?

Attack of the Groomzilla

Brides are always the ones who get the rap for being over dramatic, unrealistic, emotional, etc.etc.etc.

Truthfully, Bridezillas are few and far between. Majority of the brides we've worked with and witnessed have been an absolutely joy of bridal beauty. Honestly!

Awesome Groomzilla via Updates, Live

...sometimes, however, a groomzilla comes out to play.

A friend of mine recently sent me an article that was honestly almost too ridiculous to be true. The article went a little something like this:

A groom, upset that the wedding photographers missed the last dance and bouquet toss, decided to sue the photography company.

...six years after his 2003 wedding. If that's not absurd enough, he wants them to not only reimburse the $4,100 he paid for the photos, but also the $48,000 that it cost to put on his wedding.

Oh wait. There's more- he and his bride ARE DIVORCED NOW.

Now, I don't know the details, they weren't my clients, but here is my take, maybe the photographer had a package with a time limit, and maybe - giving the photographer the benefit of the doubt, he let the couple know that his time was quickly approaching...

Regardless, if you are unhappy with the service of your vendors (any of your hired wedding professionals) 6 years is not the amount of time to wait before letting them know. Let them know right away, and you can always work with your wedding planner to help - but never wait longer than, 2 months after your event to speak your mind.

I mean .... Seriously?!?!

I personally think one of my favorite parts of the article is where the Court Justice quotes Barbara Streisand's "The Way We Were":

“This is a case in which it appears that the ‘misty watercolor memories’ and the ‘scattered pictures of the smiles ... left behind’ at the wedding were more important than the real thing,” the judge wrote. “Although the marriage did not last, plaintiff’s fury over the quality of the photographs and video continued on.”

To read the full article, go here.

We weren't sure whether to laugh or drop our jaw in a way that showed how completely appalled we were.

So everyone, I hope this showed you exactly how NOT to treat your vendors. This is a Zilla-free zone (that applies to Bridezilla, Groomzilla, Vendorzilla's and Godzilla...although he may be the least scary of the bunch).

Shoes for a cause

We love a good cause! Doing something to help others is just awesometastic, which is why we love the idea of TOMS shoes.

If you haven't heard of the TOMS shoe one-for-one idea, it goes a little something like:

via TOMS

What a superb idea, right? Well, just when you thought it could get better, the innovative minds over at TOMS created a new line of wedding shoes!

Via TOMS

That's right. Wedding Shoes. Now both you and your feet can feel fantastical because by purchasing these super-comfy and well-priced shoes, you're also donating shoes to a child in need.

Via TOMS

They come in an array of different sizes, styles and colors for brides, grooms, bridesmaids and groomsmen. They even have some teeny ones for your flower girl and ring bearer (they're called "Tiny TOMS", which is beyond adorable)

Would you wear these on your big day?

Every Miracle deserves Another

As I am about to enter a newly new chapter of my life, I am well, at a loss for words, which doesn't happen ever often for me. So, I am going to let him explain....

Top Image taken my friend Amanda with SWOONOVERIT

My Mommy is having a baby brother for me, his name will be Zachary. My Mommy and Daddy tell me all the time that I am a miracle and that my brother is too. I am not sure what that means, but this little miracle is excited to show Zachary how to ride a tricycle, and eat Cheerios, and play with cars and read books, and color, and play with toys, and, and, and a lot of other stuff too!

I guess that means that Zachary is a miracle too. So that's cool. But now that I am a big brother, I feel like this is a big responsib.. responsibil.... a big deal. So, I promise to be a good big brother, and show Zachary all the super duper fun stuff, like running around naked in the rain, and brushing your teeth, Seasme Street, how to dance and the funnest part falling down!

So, while Mommy is busy, she said her friends are going to take over her blob. She won't be gone long, I promise!

Wuv you!

G

DIY Series: Mad-Libs Guest Book

It seems like everyone always has their own advice to offer when you start a new chapter in your life. Mom and Dad have words of wisdom, Grandma has old stories to learn from, and friends always seem to think they know best. But wouldn't it be great if you could get some advice that you're allowed to laugh out loud at?!?

Every time I turn around I keep finding more and more fun ways couples are spinning their guest books! This Mad-Libs guest book idea we found on Emmaline Bride is so fun! And it will leave the bride and groom in stitches even after the big day is over!

Now this looks like some advice I could take! What do you guys think of these??

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Any bride knows that having good bridesmaids is an important aspect of their wedding day. A bridesmaid is responsible for walking through countless hours of wedding day details with the bride, sitting through fittings and appointments with the bride, and even offering some Dr.Phil-worthy advice to keep the bride calm through all the wedding jitters and stress.

So don't you think they deserve something special for accepting such a pivotal role? These "Will You Be My Bridesmaids?" boxes we saw on The Wedding Chicks are such adorable and creative ways to ask your girls to take part in your wedding with you!

With the details and inspiration cards you ensure you get the best help from your bridesmaids!

Have you ever been asked to be a bridesmaid in someones wedding?? How did they ask you to share in their special day??

DIY Week Part 5

For the last day of this Do-It-Yourself Week I wanted to share these doily lanterns with you that I think are SO adorable and creative from Glamour & Grace! Who would have thought doilies could be so awesome, elegant, and fantastic all at the same time?!?

These are not your Gramma's Doily's!

To Make These Lanterns: 
   Step 1: Take your rubber ball or balloon and place it in a small dish to keep it steady while you work. Put a piece of wax paper underneath the ball to protect the dish. Begin placing the doilies on the ball, making sure the edges slightly overlap. This is what will keep the orb together after the fabric stiffener dries.
   Step 2: Once you have the doilies arranged how you want them, pour some fabric stiffener onto the palate or wax paper. Start painting the fabric stiffener onto the doily, ensuring you cover every bit, otherwise it won’t harden and the uncoated parts will sag.
   Step 3: Leave a small opening somewhere to insert your LED tea light.
   Step 4: Let the doilies dry overnight to ensure they are COMPLETELY dry. 
   Step 5:  Once the doilies are dry, use a blade to pop the balloon/rubber ball. Carefully pull the ball out through the hole you left open in the doilies. And Vio'la! 

You can even attach a ribbon to hang them around your event!

How much do you guys love these lanterns?!?

Invitations by Dawn Giveaway Take Two!

Win Free Invitations!!!

You may recall a post a week or so back where we featured the fabulous Invitations by Dawn as our guest blogger and had a super fantastical giveaway featuring her invitations.

Well...I got a little too wrapped up in making G's Halloween costume (he was a "Gangsta" by the way. It was awesome), baking fall-themed treats, being way too pregnant (did I mention that?), etc. etc. etc. andddd maybe/kinda/sorta forgot to choose a winner.

Complete slip up- we here at Masterpiece Weddings are only human! BUT!  We are also nice. So today, we are providing you with another chance to win a simply wonderful giveaway thanks to Invitations by Dawn!

In case you forgot how chic and fun Invitations by Dawn's wedding invites are, here is a little reminder:

Golden Fall Flowers via Invitations by Dawn

Pure Elegance via Invitations by Dawn

Best Friends via Invitations by Dawn

It Takes Two (Pink and Green) via Invitations by Dawn

High Style via Invitations by Dawn

 Simply beautiful, right?! You can find all of these styles and tons more at Invitations by Dawn.

And now it's time... again... for an invitation giveaway from Invitations by Dawn!
(If you've already left us a comment on the last post, you don't have to comment again- we'll make sure you're entered!)

The lucky winner will get to choose 100 wedding invitations from Dawn's great collection of theme wedding invitations- all of which include the latest trends, patterns and color schemes! Invitations by Dawn adds new wedding invitations all the time, so you can be the first bride to send one of their unique styles! Here's how to enter:

1. You must live in the United States (sorry to all of our international readers- we still love you!)
2. You must leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, November 8th at Midnight
3. Your comment must include your favorite time of the year to get married and why
4. Also include a valid email so we can contact the lucky winner.

The winner will be selected randomly once the giveaway has ended. Good luck! (if you entered the first time, no need to enter again, you will be included)

{MasterPiece Weddings was not compensated in anyway for posting this - we just like to share awesome things with our readers}

DIY Week Part 4

For part four of this Do-It-Yourself week, I love love loved these retro pin wheel centerpieces from Emmaline Bride they found by Elizabeth St on Etsy! These adorable pin wheels are such a great way to make your bridal shower or retro wedding that much more fun!

I loved these, what do you guys think of them??

DIY Week Part 3

For part three of DIY week I couldn't resist these cupcake signs from Boho Weddings & Events. As if cupcakes aren't adorable enough, these signs make them even more perfect!

I would say "I do" to these cupcakes, wouldn't you??

DIY Week Part 2

So I'm not sure I've ever met anyone (well except for my friend, Sissy... but I won't count her) who didn't like marshmallows, and how could you not when they're as fun as these are! These Marshmallow Pops from Austin Weddings would be such a great idea for weddings favors for your guests!

This could be a great project to enlist the help of your bridesmaids to do with you just before the big day!

OR!!! What a fun idea for a dessert station! Maybe it's just me, but I think I'd be glued there! "Oh, where is Melissa.... oh that's right, she's at the marshmallow station - still...."

What have been some of your favorite wedding favors??