Location: COSTA RICA!

Overall I had a pretty miserable day today... only because I rushed home for a hair appointment that didn't exist. (You better believe that someone got a strongly worded email!!)

On a brighter note, I got a chance to speak to my future wedding planner today (YAY), among other things, we discussed possible locations! These were the five places she suggested:

{ Iguana Azul }
This was her first suggestion based on a previous post about a location I love. (Another great thing about Larissa...she reads my blog!!). This a great little surf location off the beaten path! I think it looks amazing, but I don't know if its too isolated for my guests.


{Pacifico}
This location is GORGEOUSNESS. Located in Playa de Coco, this location is a little closer to the airport than the first location and closer to a town. So there will be more for my guests to do but it will also be pricier.


{ Hacienda Pinilla } This location would make an amazing site because it has a range of options.


{ La Reserva Manuel Antonio }
This location is gorgeous. Manuel Antonio is one of the most amazing beaches in Costa Rica (in my very uninformed opinion). One of the best things about La Reserva is that you don't have to stay there to get married there. All things to keep in mind.


{ Casa Capitan }
Located in Santa Teresa (One communter flight and an hour drive from San Jose), this house is INCREDIBLE! OMG!

I haven't had a chance to check out all the websites but you better believe I will be creating a spreadsheet to decide which location is best.

Larissa also sent over our contract today... is it bad that I am super excited about reading it?? It's not my fault, I am a lawyer!!

Best news of all, Larissa is coming to New York in August for a workshop so hopefully we'll get a chance to meet :D

Inspiration Bridesmaids Dresses {LuLus}

My wonderful, beautiful, highly intelligent baby sister (and bridesmaid) sent me a link to Lulu's a few days ago. Lulu's is another great online store that does budget conscious dresses. So I thought I'd do a general bridesmaids dress search... its so hard to know how good a dress will look (1)in a set of 5 or 6 and (2) next to my wedding dress... but here are the dresses I kind of liked:
1. Whole Lotta Punch Dress $52.00
2. Shock Me Like an Electric Eel $34.00
3. French Toast Tuesday Dress $38.00
4. Peaches and Creams Dress $87.00

1. Luminous Lady Dress $37.00
2. Rabbit Run Strapless Dress $70.00
3. Daisy Ruffle Dress by Dick and Mo $62.00
4. Ballad of the Sea Dress $57.00 (This dress is also available on Ruche for $67.99!!)


They also have a dress that looks a lot like the dress I posted about yesterday. Thanks sis!!

Inspiration: Bridesmaids Dresses {Topshop}

I saw these cute bridesmaids dresses on Style Me Pretty and thought I should check out Top Shop. It seems to be another England-based online store much like ASOS, which I love even though I haven't had much luck with my orders.

The dresses in the picture weren't available anymore (BOO) but here are some of the dresses I though might make good bridesmaids dresses:


1. Pinafore Dress by Love $60
2. Juliet Ruffle Dress by Yuki $110.00
3. Pleated Dress by Rare $76.00
4.Ruffle Dress by Love $76.00

Chair Signs: Mrs. vs. Bride.

So I noticed both these chair signs today on two separate blogs. First of all I wasn't entirely sure if would be a necessary detail. Although I think they are adorable, I was pretty sure people will know where I'm sitting.Then I got to thinking, I am only going to be a bride for one day so I may as well live it up! I think the MR/MRS Signs are adorable for day after photo sessions but I have my whole life to be a MRS!

In case you are interested The Wedding Chicks have a great set of vintage DIY Bride/Groom signs. Enjoy!

Flawless Flowers

I love love love these flowers...


{source: Paige and Joe via Southern Weddings}

Giveaway: Oh Hello Friend {$50 gift certificate to beauty spot!}

It's Monday, which means its time for Danni's weekly giveaway on Oh Hello Friend. As usual, for your chance to win simply visit beauty spot and leave a comment on Oh Hello Lovely with your favorite item from the shop.

Here are some of my favorites


There's more...

Beauty spot has also kindly offered a special exclusive discount for oh, hello friend readers. Receive 10% off your purchase, good till July 9th! simply enter code "ohhellofriend" at checkout and you'll be refunded after purchase.

Good Luck and happy shopping!

Giveaway: My Style Sweepstakes

Another great giveaway...

On Wedding Paper Divas enter for chance to win a $1700 Wedding Style package, with gift certificates to Wedding Paper Divas, Beau-Coup and The Dessy Group. I don't know how I didn't know about this!! There has been a winner every month since February and this is the last month!!! This best part... you can enter once a day!

What you'll win:
*$500 gift certificate from Wedding Paper Divas
*$200 gift certificate from Beau-coup
*$1,000 gift certificate from The Dessy Group

Winner for June will be announced on July 1, 2010 on http://twitter.com/weddingpaprdiva.

Good Luck Ladies!

Giveaway: Brenda's Wedding Blog {Honeycomb Veils}

As you all know, I won a veil for my wedding (YAY!!) but that doesn't mean I can't share amazing veil giveaways! Brenda's Wedding Blog is offering readers a veil of your choice. To enter the contest, please visit Honeycomb Veils on etsy and then go to Brenda's to leave a comment {wedding thought} with your wedding date and your favorite product{s} from Eilat's shop. The contest runs thru Monday June 28th, with a winner being selected on Tuesday June 29th.
**Please be sure to leave your email address on the comment form so she can email you if you're the lucky winner!!

Good Luck!!

Inspired to Shine

{Source: Style Me Pretty}
I love this image. This bride is gorgeous and she just looks like she's glowing. I love the chandelier in the background and the beautiful furniture. This images captures a lot of what I want to look/feel like at my own wedding!

For more gorgeousness click here.

Keeping things simple

Today I read the most amazing post on A Los Angeles Love. The lovely blogger on a LA Love spoke about the envy (and anger) that comes with planning a wedding on a budget. I definitely know the feeling, but the thing that really caught my eye was where she says " We have a wedding in which we've edited away the fluff, out of sheer necessity, and focused on a day and rituals that matter to us."

This got me thinking about how I could edit out the fluff. I am definitely doing brunch at my wedding but I have been having such a hard limiting myself. I want a waffle station, omelet station, pancake station, beignets, french toast, coffee bar, juice bar, mimosas... and the list goes on!! I know I can't afford all these things but that doesn't stop me from wanting them with every bone in my body. THEN I saw this amazing post on Green Wedding Shoes.


I love the simplicity of this rooftop pancake affair. I have to believe that at the end of the day no one will care if they don't get to choose from 5 different exotic juices and 8 different coffees. I definitely do need to take a step back and figure out what's important to me.(hehehe... us, I suppose)

P.S...
{How adorable is the "I Love Us". I think it's definitely one of my favorite wedding themes/sayings.}

Groomsmen Ties

About a week ago someone at work was wearing the most amazing tie. It was a navy tie with light pink monkeys and little monkeys!! It was adorable. I know it sounds insane but it was adorable. It looked like a Vineyard Vines tie but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. Then...

Today I had a horrible morning, which means I did a little retail shopping. This included half a dozen gray/pink ties from Express. Here's the tie I bought:

At this point it looks like I have (1) engagement photos (2)a veil and (3) groomsmen ties! WTF?!?!? I am clearly not doing things in the right order, which isn't a huge deal UNLESS I end up having to re-buy things later. Oh geez...

The Ultimate Wedding Gift

My dream wedding present is on sale on Rue La La today! Would it be strange to buy it for myself??

Inspiration: Images of Travel

Yesterday, on Green Wedding Shoes Jen blogged about inspiration boards inspired by travel.


This got me thinking about the inspiration behind my own wedding. So I decided to try my hand at putting together my own board. I should warn you, I suck at putting together inspiration boards, I've tried numerous times and they always come out looking like a collection of pink things and things I like. This one is no different unfortunately but I figure that the public shaming can only make me better. This is what I came up with...

Giveaway: Clutch That {$75 Giveaway}

Another Etsy Store GC Giveaway! To enter click here.

A great thing about this store is that she offers bridesmaids purse sets! Here are some of my favorite clutches from Clutch That:

Giveaway: Oh hello Friend {SILHOUETTE SD}

It's Monday(!!!) which means oh, hello friend (you are loved) is doing another amazing giveaway. This week Dani is giving away an Silhouette SD! So what is a Silhoutte SD you ask. Good question! According to their website, "the Silhouette is a digital cutting tool for personal use. It connects to your computer just like a printer, but instead of printing designs it cuts them with a small blade."

Here some examples of things you could make with your very own Silhoutte.


To enter click here.

More Engagement Photos...

We got the rest of our engagement photos!!! So I obviously had to share some of my favorites. I love this shot because it makes my legs look in this photo and I think its a great shot of my favorite pair of shoes!

This picture was a tough one to pull off because I have no control over my facial muscles and tend to get really giggly.


The story behind the rose is that it was a valentine's day present two years ago. My FF is a very anti-valentine's day person and wanted to do something unique. Something a little different from the traditional dozen red roses or box of chocolates. We were living in Thailand at the time and I had to work all day so he had me meet him on the SkyTrain platform after work. When I got to the platform I saw him standing behind this huge rose! I named her "Orchid Valentine" and hand carried her all the way to New York City.

How amazing is the sky in this one!! I was so worried that the clouds would make all the shots look super gloomy but I think it turned out amazing.

Jetsetter: Bangkok, Thailand

When I saw this sale on Jetsetter I got all sad and sentimental. I miss Southeast Asia with a passion that burns deep in the pit of my stomach. AND this gorgeous hotel is where my FF and I spent out last night in Bangkok. He surprised me with a rooftop date at this gorgeous restaurant with an amazing view. (To be perfectly honest with you, I thought he was going to propose that night). Regardless it was one of the best meals we had in Bangkok.



So if you haven't joined jetsetter here's another reason to do so... Have a great weekend!!

I ♥ the Lakers

In celebration, here is a clearly inspired wedding detail I couldn't pass up...


For more from this wedding click here.

Congratulations Lakers on another great year!

Something old, Something New, Something borrowed, Something blue

For my something old inspiration I really focused on things that have a vintage feel. I especially love these vintage silver Mr. and Mrs. flatware. I have blogged about vintage postage stamps in the past and I still love them!
1. Mr. and Mrs. Vintage Silver
2. Vintage Postage Stamps
3. Vintage Postcards
4. Vintage Signs


For my something new I focused on wedding items that are a little more trendy or new. Although I love all these items, I think the personalized bottle labels and the ring bowl are the two I am most likely to actual consider for my own wedding.
1. Ring Bowls
2. Vintage Brooch Bouquets
3. Personalized Bottle Labels
4.Personalized Paper Parasols


Rentals! I love these vintage parasols. I am also amused by the idea of cake rentals. I recently learned that cake rentals are very popular in Malaysia (where my mother is from) and my mother didn't realize that the cakes in wedding pictures were actually real! Lastly who doesn't love a photo booth. Anyone who is on facebook knows how important photographs are (if you don't have photographic evidence it may not have happened)!
1. Vintage Parasol Rental
2. Cake Rentals
3. Photo booth rentals
4. Jewelry Rentals


Last but not least...something blue. I am not a huge fan of blue. In fact I hate blue, but I love all these items. I especially love the bird bowls and the coasters.
1. Lacy Blue Bird Bowl
2. Vintage-Inspired Coasters-Serene Summer
3. Vintage Blossom Collection Wedding Invitation and RSVP
4. Asymmetrical White Chrysanthemum Necklace