Can I have this?

XYZ Blocks

Fred & Friends makes awesome kitschy gift items, like the Bananahandle (I just got one for my birthday!) or Pick Your Nose party cups.

New to the lineup are these XYZ blocks -- the alternative to ABCs. Perfect for an offbeat couple. I can see spelling out the bride and groom's names or some cute message, like "Gather" or "Just Married."

The Beard Club

I’ve been going back and forth about hair. Not mine, but Guitar Fred’s and particularly on his face! Guitar Fred can’t really grow facial hair in Tom Selleck fashion (thank God) but he loves trying to grow his mustache.

When he shaves completely, he’s too clean-cut for my tastes and since he can’t go full-throttle with a beard or ‘stache, I’m wondering that if he keeps his five o’clock shadow for our wedding, he’ll look unkempt. I think it’s sexy (thanks early '90s George Michael for illustrating!) but maybe not wedding appropriate?

I recently saw “The Beard Club,” a documentary about facial hair, masculinity, gender, and identity. The movie explores how “each day, every man must decide either to shave or not to shave. The act can be one of conformity, rebellion, laziness, or transition.”

The film gave me a broader perspective on men and their hair --many of the guys in the film said facial hair made them feel masculine and little rebellious. It's like a badge of pride!

Now, dare I ask Guitar Fred to shave his off for our wedding?

Will (or did) you?

Real Wedding: Woodland Theme

Just coordinated a really cool wedding for A + A on Saturday in Stern Grove (San Francisco). The bride and groom enlisted the help of their family and friends for major DIY and vendors like Indie Cakes and Gorgeous and Green added to the beauty of the event! Check out these fab details:

{Woodland themed tiered cake by Indie Cakes}

 {The wedding and groom's cake (a delicious chocolate with fresh peach-buttercream filling) sat atop cake stands made by the bride and groom. A lace curtain served as a table runner.}

{Bouquet by Gorgeous and Green}

{Tin can table number on a twig! Table runners were a variety of vintage fabric the bride purchased and cut with pinking shears.}

{The groom's mom led a team to bust out natural arrangements in mason jars.}

{Trocadero House at Stern Grove}

5 Retro Ways to Package Your Favors

**For the Mid-modern pop girl**

{Above from Bake It Pretty}

 {Above from Hey Yo Yo on Etsy}

**For the Girly Girl**

Vintage inspired brown bags

{Bit of Vintage on Etsy}

Blue and White Straws

I bought a 50-pack of vintage looking blue and white paper straws a few months ago. I really didn't have a plan for them, I just knew they'd be adorable and match our color scheme. Then I saw this on the Wedding Chicks (a lovely wedding designed by Jesi Haack). AHA moment!

The Great Veil Debate

Must I wear a veil? I'm looking at our budget and I can't justify spending $25-200 on a veil that I'll wear for 45 minutes (the duration of our ceremony). And what our officiant told us echoes in my mind: "Do what is meaningful to you, don't do what you think you have to because of tradition."

According to Wikipedia, "brides used to wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolise their virginity, now the white diaphanous veil is often said to represent this."

Umm...that doesn't apply to me. ;) As I'm sure for you!

I'm more excited about fascinators than I am the veil. They're flirty and pretty.

Pegasus Maiden gave me a sneak peek of the one you all helped me choose. I think it's great on its own and it cost less than $30 including shipping!

Paper Crafting Progress

Paper Source is having a 50% off sale on a bunch of their seasonal paper and I picked up scallop edge 5x7 flat cards and slightly smaller gray cards that I can print our program/menu on.

I got to work on our placecards, which is funny because I haven't even sent out our invites yet. I used:

- Martha Stewart boning tool (I saved money by buying small flat cards and folding them myself versus buying "placecards")

- Martha Stewart long-edge punch tool

- Paper Source "You are seated at" stamp

- Paper Source scroll stamp

- Ink pad in the color "Harbor" aka teal

- Paper Source flat cards

Here's how they turned out! I really like them and the teal looks great against the gray. I plan to write each individual/couple/family's name on the outside. Haven't decided yet how to display the cards.

Happy Friday: A Vintage Wedding

I apologize for laying low this week. I've been busy meeting with lots of clients getting married within the next few weeks and wrapping up the final details. I'm so excited for the parties to come and sharing the details with you.

Here's a sneak peek of a wedding I recently coordinated in the "other" wine country: Livermore! The pro pictures will be coming from Belathee Photography of New York City. For now, here's the photos I snapped with my new Droid-enabled Samsung Moment!

Flowers: Chestnut & Vine, Berkeley CA

Lanterns: Amos Productions, Livermore CA

Venue: Martinelli Event Center, Livermore CA

Photobooth: Green Cheeze, Pleasanton CA

DJ: Robin White, 3-16 Entertainment, San Jose CA

Cake: Gerhard Michler, San Francisco CA
Makeup: Sherrie Long, San Francisco CA
Coordination: Va de Vie Events, Oakland CA

Happy 4th of July!

Have a safe and fun day! Today's post features a real red, white and blue wedding shot by Jen Lynne Photography:

{Photos by Jen Lynne Photography}

Baby's Breath

I made a trip to the local wholesale flower mart and spied the ubiquitous baby's breath. I have seen some great uses for it. Hope you won't overlook it for your next party:

{From Tiffany and Leo's wedding featured on Snippet and Ink; photo by Erin Hearts Court}

{DIY baby's breath garland as seen on Once Wed}

{Used as a table overlay vs. moss, from Ruffled}

A useful window

There's a fab store in Berkeley called Urban Ore which sells salvaged and used goods. I purchased an old window for $20 and right now, it's perched on our vintage wooden desk at home. I taped Rex Ray prints behind the panes for now.

I spotted this on With this Ring via Snippet and Ink, and I just love the idea, especially for a garden wedding I'm planning in August!

 {All photos by Studio 222 Photography}