Ring Pictures

I kinda love pictures of wedding rings, they symbolize so much.

So, when I am looking for gorgeous images, I tend to go for the rings....

I was stalking a photographer's blog - Russell Martin, and I stole borrowed some of his ring pictures...

What do you love about your wedding rings?

Is there anything fun you want to do with your rings for your wedding pictures?

Pearl Wrislet Corsage

Source for Awesometastic Idea

About a year ago we did a wedding where the florist created these gorgeous wrist corsages and used pearl braclets instead of elastic. I thought it was genius...

Is it just me or do you just love this idea too?

Hand Painted Wedding Cake

Sweet Disposition Cakes

I was spending hours a few minutes on Pinterest, when I stumbled upon this cake. I cannot tell you how much I love this!

The hand painted Peonies are just gorgeous and to top it off with Sugar Flowers, it's just gorgeous. I am not sure if I could actually eat it. It's just so beautiful!

And I don't know that I want to know how long those flowers took to paint on the cake.

Is it just me, or is this not gorgeous?

Football Vase

Hostess with the Mostess

I cannot tell a lie, it's football season around here, and we go a bit overboard around our house.

So when I saw these adorable centerpieces I thought, hmph, I could do this...

Plus, I think if you really wanted to, you could totally use these as a cocktail table arrangements for your wedding. You'd score, big points with your fiance... Big Points... get it, points... game - nevermind.

Vintage Key Seating Chart

Photo By: Tony Evens

I was purusing some of my favorite blogs this weekend, and I came across this totally fantastic seating chart from ADORE Events!

It's vintage chic with tons of charm!

I am curious though, at one time these keys were used for something...

I just wonder who's they were and what they were used for? Am I the only geek who thinks that way?

Family on your Bouquet

Photography By: Morgan Matters Photography

We are always looking for beautiful ways to incorporate your family (either those no longer with us, or your entire family) into your wedding, and I love this idea of carrying small photographs tied into your bouquet!

Just so sweet, and really something that can be passed on to your family for future weddings.I saw this on MasterPiece Weddings Blog, a few weeks ago, and I knew I just had to share it.

Did you do something awesometastic to tie in your families wedding in yours?

Wedding Cake and Truffles

Truffle Wedding Cake - Designed and Created by KB Kakes

You love the taste of Truffles, and you want the look and elegance of a wedding cake, it's you are having this internal battle with yourself... Cake, Truffles, NO Cake, No Truffles... I hear ya.

Then you are worried your Mother In Law is going to disown you because you don't have a traditional wedding cake. Honestly... it's your wedding. YOUR wedding.

So, Kathy from KB Kakes designed this cake, both elegant and sophisticated, with a touch of, er, truffles! Perfect!

Right... it's perfect!

I love this because you have the quilted look on the fondant, the gorgeous silver cake stand, a topper to keep, a cake to cut, and truffles! It's perfect.

Would you do this for you wedding? What do you think of the truffle trend for including them as part of your wedding cake?

What size portrait should I get for my wall

Portrait sizing by Meg Fish

This example shows a baby, but really it could be anything... a wedding image, an image you took with your camera and want to get a print for the wall over the couch or mantle...

I just thought this was a great idea to show you just how small an 8x10 looks on the wall.

What do you think? Does this help you?

Make an Entrance

Source

Outdoor weddings can have some drawn out walks since the holding area may be far away from the alter, but making a special doorway for the wedding party's entrance or even just the brides entrance makes for a super cool addition to outdoor wedding decor!

And you could use it for a photobooth frame during your reception, we sort of love this idea.

Who wants to build me one of these?

Wreck the Dress

Source

So you spend a good amount or a lot of money on a dress that you're only going to wear once. Do you keep it preserved so you can one day hand it down to your daughter or do you take a crazy awesometastic "wreck the dress" photo shoot?

As amazing as these pictures would be to have to remember your wedding, would you consider wrecking the dress?

Gray Tutu

The Best Wedding Recpetion Ever

We saw this and totally thought it was adorable, you know I have an affinity for Tutu's and cute kids, so this sort of captured my heart!

Totally adorable!

Southern DIY Wedding

Footstone Photography

 



I was stalking Footstone Photography's Pinterest Page and found this beautiful DIY Southern wedding in a barn, no less!

And I was smitten.

Footstone Photography

To me, it screams Mason Jars, Bow Ties, and a ton of charm.

Love, Love, Love!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Recently, a really good friend came to visit, and I wanted to make cookies, no cupcakes, no cookies, wait no cupcakes...

It was a war in my head.

What to do...

That little voice was like the devil on one side and the angel on the other... cookies - cupcakes-cookies... you get it.

So I made these:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes (I used her frosting and cookie dough recipe and my chocolate cupcake recipe and my chocolate chip cookie recipe)

These are now my signature cupcake, and that frosting, hooooo-leeeeee-cowwwww, amazing!

Seperating Egg Whites with a Water Bottle

So, I saw this thing on Pinterest, that you can seperate an egg from it's white with a water bottle, and I thought phssh, whatever that can't work!

But our friends over at Dream Day Cakes, thought phssh, let's try this stuff out...

Separating Egg Whites from Dream Day Cakes on Vimeo.

GNYS Entertainment

 

This week we wanted to share a little love to one of the most awesometastic entertainers around, Jarad of GNYS "Genius" Entertainment

It really isn't a party 'til this guy gets started. Gnys Entertainment is the most professional DJ we have ever worked with, with the perfect mix of fun, and has a way of getting everyone off their feet to dance, have fun, and walk away saying that was the 'funnest wedding ever' and they will say funnest!

If you are in Gainesville, Ocala or anywhere in Central Florida and are looking for a DJ, you MUST call Gnys Entertainment!

And I don't say that about just anyone...

(Oh and don't forget to ask about their dancing classes, make your first dance incredible and memorable)

Bridal Store Closing

 

Businesses close all the time, and it's sad and scary when it's a bridal store. Unfortunately, in this economy it's happening more and more.

 

Recently in our town a bridal store that has been in business over 88 years (Eighty-Eight, that is not a typo... Eighty-Eight...) was forced to close it doors. They just couldn't fight these rough times any longer. It can happen to anyone - 5 years, 10 years, 100 years...

 

So, as a bride what do you do?

 

Let's say your ordered your dress from a store you found out was closing, first contact the store to find out how they are handling orders, and try to be understanding, your call may not be returned right away. If you can, head over to the store and ask questions, the hard ones. If your wedding is more than 6 months away, and you just ordered. You may need to request a refund on your credit card, find out if the store will be offering refunds for orders that weren't completed.

 

The store is closing for a reason, they aren't able to make ends meet, your order may need to be handled in bankruptcy court. It's sad. Really sad.

 

If you haven't ordered your dress yet, this may be a great opportunity to buy a dress off the rack, keep in mind it will be a sample, and zippers may need to be repaired and there may be small stains, but you can get a dress for a great price.

 

The bridal store closing affects a lot of wedding professionals and brides, if you hired a wedding planner, contact them for help, they are probably dealing with more than one bride who was affected by the closing of the store and may be able to offer insight on how things are being handled.

 

Wedding Insurance is also another option that would be able to help you in this instance.

 

 

Birthday Party Photography

Gabriel was recently invited to one of the coolest parties we have ever been to! I mean the cool-est! There were mermaids and water, and crafts, and music and swimming... and a killer bounce-house-water-slide.

Well, Gabriel wanted to go swimming, and I got suckered conned drew the short straw, to go with him. But I am so glad, because the sly, ninja like photographer, Rya, caught us having the best.time.ever.

I love the unabashed awesome fun we are having, it's dap-smag on our faces... can't hide it.

Thank you, Rya, this is an image that we will cherish for a long long long time.

Dream Day Cakes

Warning... Cheese Ahead - If you can dream it, they can do it! (Yeah, I warned you)

Seriously.

One of my favorite clients went to Dream Day Cakes and said, I want you to make a cake of a Florida Spiney Lobster. Here... this is what one looks like.

Florida Spiney Lobster = Big Shrimp



And Bam!

Totally fantastical, right?

Okay, so Big Shrimp aren't your thing?

You are more of a Gamer.

Oh? Like X-Box?

Yup, that's what I am talking about!

High Score!

Dream Day also came up with pretty spectacular ideas for the bride that doesn't want the traditional wedding cake...

 



What do you think? Would you consider a Cake Pop Tower or a mini dessert tower instead of a wedding cake?

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

Source

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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!