Before the First Look

Style Me Pretty

For brides and grooms that don't want to see each other before the ceremony, bad luck and all, we love this idea for photography together, separately.

The look that is exchanged when the bride and groom see each other for the first time is priceless!

This photography idea is perfect for couples who want a pre-wedding photo without ruining the first look, and I love the shot taken between two levels!

Dogs at your Wedding

Style Me Pretty

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We are all for inviting the four-legged family members to have fun in all the festivities and to take adorable "awww" inducing photographs with. 

We definitely approve of this trend!

Have you invited your pooch to the party?

We would love to see your pics! Send them to me melissa {at} awesometasticblog {dot} com

Prescription for Love

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Give your guests the Rx for love with cute candy pill bottles that also help direct them to their seat. This is really too cute, too bad we're not pharmacists!

But, we could point you in the direction for a stress less wedding!

RSVP with a Song

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We've all heard the suggestion of having people send a song request back with their RSVP card, but these are most awesometastic ones we've seen!

Love the simple colors and the scrawly design with the bride and groom's initials!

Sunflower Pom Poms

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We love this idea of using flower poms poms rather than tissue paper or lanterns to decorate the overhead space. Don't get us wrong, we love lanterns, but you can't help but smile with big bursts of sunflowers everywhere you look!

You could really use any type of flower, daisies, roses, anything, right?

Chevron Cake

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This cake is so elegant and fun, we love the soft delicate florals and the Chevron pattern. You could totally use this for any kind of chic and awesometastic gathering.

And the chevron pattern is HUGE right now, we prefer it on cakes rather than sweaters.

Agree?

Party Favor Ideas: Matchbook

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Wedding favors should be useful, small, personalized and not cost you a fortune!

Personalized matchbooks are perfect when giving your guests something they can use! Plus it's a tradition to give matches at your wedding. These are just an awesometastic version of the tradition.

Tell me what you think, is this a has-been favor or is it new and improved?

Awesometastic Stuff: Yumé Blush

Apple raspberry, orange vanilla, lavender honey, coconut lime...sounds tasty right? Although you can actually eat this stuff (great for honeymoons) Yumé Blush body chiffon makes your skin silky soft too!

This would make for a cute bridesmaid gift or favor at a bridal shower, but best part is that all the Yumé Blush products are 100% botanical and vegan, can be used for your lips, face and body and can be found at your local Whole Foods. Or you can order it online at Yumé.

They sent us some samples to try, and honestly, I really love this stuff, it's soft, and succulent, smells amazing, you only need a tiny bit, and I can use it on my face, lips, elbows, well, all over.

We tried the Chocolate Coconut, Vanilla Orange, Apple Raspberry and Lavender Honey, all were so fantastic, that I had to share it with my friends.

I think this would make a great gift for your bridesmaids, or a fantastic thank you for someone hosting a shower for you.

Have you tried it?

Beauty Week: Loose Braided Bun

Loose Braided Bun

The messy bun is a great look, plus it's pretty difficult to mess up a messy bun. Or is it supposed to look messed up? Either way, you can't lose.

But some occasions call for a more polished look, that where this awesometastic style comes in. It looks a lot harder than it actually is but it gives the illusion of more time spent.

Prettified hair in minimal time?

We love it!

This style would be great for an outdoor wedding or for a bride during the rehearsal.

Beauty Week: Shellac Manicure

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Acrylic nails can do a world of damage to your digits. I had them in the 90s and I swear my nails are still recovering.

 Rather than ruin them for your wedding, make your nails healthy by using a strengthening polish a month or two before the wedding and when you book your nail appointment ask for a shellac manicure.

Shellac looks natural, doesn't chip for weeks and it isn't bad for your nails!

Plus you can get classic French manicure colors or go for a crazy color combo with an accent nail.

This bride got shellac done that coordinated with her wedding color scheme!

What do you think, Shellac?

Beauty Week: Facials

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Having glowing skin on your big day is one of the number one things a bride wants, including a million great pictures where you can look at your glowing skin for years to come!

Consider getting a facial more than a week before your wedding, because you don't want to be left with red and splotchy skin.  Some sources suggest you should leave two weeks between your facial and wedding, but if you're a regular spa-goer you'll have a better idea of how your skin reacts. (Oh, and we're jealous if you're a regular spa-goer, just sayin'.)

Another great thing about facials? You can alter the ingredients that work best for you whether you have dry skin or sensitive, and those cucumbers are great too!

Beauty Week: Waxing

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According to The Knot's Wedding Channel, reserve any kind of waxing to at least a week, preferably more before your wedding date. 

Never, and we mean never, wax anything, and we mean anything, the day of your wedding. You could get redness, bumps or irritations you don't want to see, or feel! 

Do a test run with an esthetician about three months before your wedding so you can see how long it takes for any redness to go any, then you can have an idea on when to book your appointment before the big day! 

Beauty Week: Tightlining

Sometimes we get so busy we don't take the time to make little touches that can make a world of difference, but we all need a touch of glamour even if it's not for a party or wedding.

This week I want to focus on things that can make a world of difference not only for your wedding day, or a special occasion, but for your everyday as well.
Check out this tightlining technique that makes your lashes looks mega-full and defined. It may take a little more time at first, but you'll be doing this everyday once you get the hang of it!

Antipasto Kabobs

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I think my stomach just growled.

This kabob appetizer of Italian-awesometasticness needs to find it's way to my fridge right now! And maybe your cocktail hour! What a great way to serve antipasto that isn't a mess, and you don't need a fork!

This can be completely customizable to your needs, wants, likes and dislikes. All on a stick.

Silhouette Cake Toppers

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It is no suprise that we LOVE silhouettes, and cake toppers silhousettes are so romantical and fun! With a slight bit of mysterious'ness mixed in.

Love how the silhouettes take center stage on the simplistic all-white cakes.

Hollywood Movie Save-the-Dates

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This is probably one of the best save the dates I've ever seen! And the "Rated 'M' for Marriage" is hilarious, what movie would you use on a Hollywood film-inspired save the date?

Seriously awesome! And if your name is Terrica and you own a company named Cocktails and Details, you should totally do this!

Alternative Footwear and Vintage Scenery

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Love this look of matching Chucks for a twist on traditional wedding footwear! Between the shoes and the vintage truck you can tell this couple is stylish and playful.

And you know that Saundra at Planning Forever...Events would LOVE this!

Wedding cake with Initials

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The initials of the bride and groom completely tie together this cake and balance the flowers with a little bit of metallic edge.

Love the fleur de lis at the bottom of the cake!

Do you think the letters would look better as gold or silver instead of bronze? Of or maybe wood? I feel like this could used so may ways, and not on top is a great change up from the norm!

Like? Love? You tell me!



Dessert for Breakfast

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I am sure you are wondering what eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee have to do with a wedding, right?

Think about a day after wedding brunch... or having these delivered to your guests rooms the day after your wedding...

Dessert for breakfast is just one of those guilty pleasures you have to indulge in every now and then, but cookies that actually look like breakfast?! Now that's something I could get used to.

We are always looking for fun and unique items for Wedding Brunch, and these are too cute!!!

I'm sure I could come up with a last minute brunch party to have these at.

Wedding Theme: Medical

This theme might seem a little weird on paper, but just go with us here and look at how cute this couple made a medical wedding theme look!

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When the bride and groom are both medical doctors, but they combined their Indian and Western cultures to make one uber colorful and unique wedding that looks unforgettable!

We think they hit the nail on head!

How stinkin' adorable are these -- Love the names for all the items at their candy bar!

Makeup by Kara Winslow

It's hard to find a makeup artist you mesh well with when coordinating for the big day. You don't want to look like a clown, you still want to look like you, and you'd also like to see makeup still on your face in photos taken during the reception.

We love Kara Winslow she will make sure you 1) don't look like a circus freak and 2) give you a natural look that will last all day. Seriously, the girl's got talent.

Check out Kara's website to see all her amazing work, I mean she's good enough for Ryan Lochte and he jumps around in the water all day! (Ok, swims reallllly fast in the water all day.)

Go USA!

Young Love

Jeff Stoner Video

Meet Patti and Danny, a long long time ago and now!

These two were friends all through out their growing up years and there wasn't a dry eye in the house during their wedding at the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes.

How cute are those matching bathing suits!!!!

I saw this on my friend Jeff Stoner's facebook, he video'ed their wedding, and I just knew it was too cute not to share with you!

(I totally think about the pictures of take of G and Z, and using them as blackmail at their wedding.... I wonder if Patti and Danny's parents thought that too?)

The Awesometastic Bridal Blog Loves Uncommon Goods

I am not gonna lie, we get tons of requests to post about random products. and most of the time, it's just same ole' same ole. Wine glasses, everyday favors, gifts that are just blah. So when when we got this email, I thought, with a roll of the eyes... it's the same thing as the one before, but it wasn't.

Uncommon Goods really sticks true to it's name, they have every wonderfully wacky thing in the book, plus some more!

We poured over their website and found so many great wedding gifts. (Okay, some of those gifts are for us. Reward yourself, right?) But the customized wedding poster and custom tree trunk wine box are our favorites! So fun!

It's the gift that keeps on giving with a wine section for your first, third and fifth wedding anniversaries.

I want to know what you think... is this something you'd want to get as a gift?

Helping Aaron

My Gorgeous Sister and Aaron

My personal Superhero, Awesometastic Man!

I cannot thank ya'll enough, we (our awesometastic readers, friends and all around amazing peeps)came together and helped a little boy that is near and dear to my heart!

We collected over 112 hats and jillions of toys- check out Aaron in his Avengers hat!

(Warning Sappy'ness ahead)

Aaron's Mommy is my sister's bestie, and this kid has come into my heart, and has tugged on my heartstrings in such a way that I just feel drawn to help, has that ever happened to you before?

Aaron is a new 5 year old little boy, and right now he wants to grow up and be Buzz Lightyear. He is the coolest, strongest, happiest, most courageous person I know! He has undergone spinal surgery to remove a tumor on his spine, Chemo for weeks, 2 bone marrow tests, countless days of Laser Beam therapy (Proton Radiation), has a radiation burn on his back as big as my 8 month old son, and still manages to melt my heart with his smile!

Your gifts, financially, toys, hats and snacks have been amazing!

And I just wanted to say thank you, again and again, from the bottom of my very touched heart. If you want to keep up with Aaron and his progress of kicking cancer's bottom, you can read more about him here - Aaron's Site.

Help Aaron!

Photo of Aaron by Yap Originals

Check out this handsome-sauce covered kid! His name is Aaron, and he has cancer. But cancer doesn't define who he is... Cancer is just a diagnosis he has. Aaron is a Buzz Light Year Loving. Lego mainiac kid you just want to squish with kisses.

He is doing better than when we original introduced you to him.

It was right around....here.

Aaron and I wearing like 6 hats each, and playing with toys from YOU!

We collected a TON of hats for Aaron and he has a great time playing dress up with his Mom and Brother.

Now, Aaron is undergoing his Proton Therapy (a form of Radiation) at Shands Jacksonville and I am going to travel up there the week of the 4th of July.

And the reason I am telling you all this is because I want to collect a TON of fun games and gift cards and games and puzzles and games... ya know, the stuff that 5 year old boys love!

So, I need your help. Send me gift cards, board games, card games, snacks whatever you'd like. He loved the stuff you sent last time, so do it again, and if you didn't get a chance to send stuff before, send it again. (the only thing I ask is that it is a new toy... we are concerned with germs)

Thanks again! You guys rock my socks off!!!

You can send the stuff to:

Hats On!
c/o Melissa DiStefano
2608 West US Hwy 90, Suite 102
Lake City, FL 32055

Tie the Knot

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While filling a vase with sand is great and symbolic you can't get much more real than literally tying a knot.

This couple is tying  a fisherman's knot, the strongest knot, which won't come undone even if the rope breaks and only gets tighter with pressure.

If you have done this at your wedding, I'd love to see pictures!!!!!!

How's that for awesometastic symbolism?!

Party Theme: Sprinkles!

So, I have an issue, I love sprinkles, lots of them... I really don't care of how they taste, but I could nuts using them as decor... so when I saw a sprinkle themed party, I sort of got a little too excited.



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This party theme really has no age requirements. Sprinkles could be used for any get together, baby shower, birthday party, bridal shower, you name it, sprinkles make any occasion colorful and tasty!

Any one with me on the fun'ness of sprinkles?

Cupcake Cake

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First of all, this cupcake cake is way too pretty for a one-year old!

Ok, we're just pouting because we want one. But really two-digit ages have more cupcakes, so that's a valid reason for having our own cupcake cake right now, right?

So maybe I can do this for my Fourttiesadhgdkafjgit.... (intentional typo)

I am still deciding what to do for Zachary's first birthday, maybe something like this? Maybe?

DIY Photobooth

Style Me Pretty

As much as we love a good photo booth, there's just something whimsical about a simple frame hung on a tree branch! Perfect for an outdoor wedding or party!

So sweet and Rustic Chic.

Don't forget you still need someone to take the pictures.

Icy Beverage Display



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A boat-load of drinks will keep all your guests well hydrated throughout the entire party, plus how cool does this display look for an outdoor cookout?

One of my favorite Destination Wedding Planners found this boat for one of her clients Rehearsal Dinner and I am in loooovvvve with it! What a great way to display your drinks have a fantastical conversation piece.

I am pretty sure you won't have to refill it a gazillion times!