Wordless Wednesday: Overcome, Overjoyed

Courtesy of Shawna Herring Photography
Tifiny & Telly
Atlanta, Georgia

Plus Size Wedding Gown of the Day: Mori Lee

by Mori Lee Juliette
Style #3036
This gown is made of delicate chiffon with lace and comes in ivory or white.

Save The Date Magnets: PosePrints.com

Looking for something fun in wedding stationery? Caricatures are becoming more and more popular among those who want to let their guests know they're in for a good time. Also, Save-The-Date magnets have been around for years because they can "stick around" as visual reminders before a wedding- and as mementos after the wedding. This week we found out that PosePrints is combining both ideas in their Save-the-Dates and allowing couples to customize them. Pop over to the website when you get a chance and take a look at some of the options. Here's one of our favorites:

Bridal Boutique Madness!

Good grief! Have you been hearing all this chatter about the meanness of certain bridal boutiques? Apparently, it's enough to make some brides turn their backs on these shops altogther. No wonder Filene's Running of the Brides is more popular than ever. Many brides to be were already looking for ways around "boutique-ish" prices, as demonstrated by THIS article on CNN.com.


And now it's come to this: Women being CHARGED to try on wedding dresses. Right now, it's only happening across the pond. But is it only a matter of time before this trend washes up on our shores? Shop owners say they don't have time to cater to women who aren't serious about buying a gown, or women who aren't even engaged but are trying on gowns "for fun". Read the full article HERE. Well there ARE ways to get around all the mayhem. We'll have more tips next week. Stay tuned.



Tell us about your experiences (good or bad) with bridal boutiques in our comments section!

Priscilla of Boston: For the Plussies!

When Houston Rockets basketball player Brian Cook tied the knot earlier this month, his bride Victoria Velasquez (left) caused a sensation in a stunning gown from Priscilla of Boston’s Platinum Collection.

But lots of non-famous brides-to-be are also discovering gowns from Priscilla of Boston thanks to the lush fabrics, beautiful beadwork and attention to detail.

The newest Priscilla of Boston bridal gowns come with glam modern details like “crumb catchers” and empire waists, but also with vintage touches. Each gown is custom made and sizes go up to 24. The standard order time for gowns is around 16-18 weeks. Here are just a few of the gowns that can be custom ordered.







See more gowns and read about real bride La’Keidra O. Hardeman on the Priscilla of Boston website by clicking the picture below:

The Sand Ceremony

According to our wedding-watchers, more and more couples are using the Sand Ceremony- also known as the Unity Sand Ceremony- in their nuptials. Why is this trend becoming so popular? Well, there are several reasons. The sand ceremony has all the sentiment of the unity candle. But the sand ceremony is more practical than the unity candle for outdoor weddings. How many brides and grooms have struggled to light a unity candle wick only to have it repeatedly blown out by the breeze? Another reason this tradition is taking off is because sand ceremonies can involve other people, like children, who will be part of a blended family.

During the ceremony the couple takes turns pouring different colors of sand from small vases into a center vase as the officiant reads a poem or blessing, until all of the sand is in the center vase. This symbolizes a union-- two becoming one. In some instances, children are allowed to take part by reciting a line from the reading and pouring sand as well. After the wedding, the finished sand-filled vase can be displayed in your home as a keepsake.
What do you need to pull this off? Not much:

A nice glass vase
2 smaller vases holding colored sand (one will be used by the bride, the other for the groom)
Colored sand to match your theme. Or not.
Rose petals (optional)
A poem, reading or blessing

We found these sets at Someday Treasures and My Spiritual Wedding


If children are involved you can lay coins around the center vase and give them coins at the end of the sand ceremony.
Try these Gold Unity Coins


Rose petals are a nice touch. We like these from Pick A Petal.

But they're completely optional. Feel free to experiement with other floral accents like bougainvillea petals



or lavender buds.


Have you seen the sand ceremony done differently? Or do you want to add your own spin to it? Tell us all about it in our comments section. Also, if you're already married, feel free to submit pictures from your own sand or unity candle ceremony.

Wedding Inspiration - Anne & Aaron

July 2009
Playa Del Carmen
All photos by Ashley Garmon Photographers