Happy Easter

Hope everyone has a wonderful day with loved ones!

{from Jenny Haas via Love and Lavender, via kiss the groom}

You like me, you really like me!

So yesterday I got a very surprising email informing me that I received the most votes in One Wed's Best of the Blogs contest for the Best DIY Bridal Blog.  My reaction was "MY blog...are you SURE?"  I guess sometimes I still think that I'm just writing this for myself and maybe 3 or 4 others out there in blogland aside from those who stumble upon this blog in a google search or something.  And while I'm still not sure it wasn't an accident or mistake, I am happy to celebrate that perhaps my blog has more than 3-4 readers.  So thank you to those readers and to everyone who voted for me.  I hope to continue to put out content that you love and find helpful.  No pressure, right?

When I started this blog almost a year and a half ago I was just coming off my own wedding and had so many ideas and so much inspiration left over, and I wanted to share what I had learned during my wedding planning in a blog, if no other reason but to have an excuse to still dream weddings.  Since then the blog has gained in leaps and bounds in readership, has gotten some fantastic wedding submissions, and has connected me to brides, bloggers, photographers, and readers all over the world.  I have some changes in the works for Oh Lovely Day, and I'm even more excited about it now that I know I won't be the only one seeing it!  So from the bottom of my heart, thank you thank you thank you!

The Engagement Story

Several months ago Kyle and I went ring shopping. I knew I wanted a vintage ring so we went to a couple of antique showplaces and the beautiful, Doyle & Doyle. I tried on several I liked, but fell in love with a very special ring. During this trip Kyle kept telling the vendors that we would be engaged by Christmas.Flash forward four months, still no ring. Not that I was getting antsy (well,

I'M ENGAGED!!

This Monday, I'm happy to be right where I am, as of Friday I am a bride-to-be!! It's been a crazy whirl wind weekend, as you can imagine, but we are so pumped to start gathering inspiration and planning the wedding!I'll be back tomorrow with all the details.

My New Dream Wedding Gown! (and 2 more I'm lusting over)

This weekend I made an unexpected stop at Kleinfeld's with my mom while we were in NYC for the day.  If you are a fan of Say Yes to The Dress on TLC, you will know this is a high end (and SUPER expensive wedding dress store where the show is filmed).  We purely went in to look around and see if we spotted any of the cast members and immediately saw Randy walking around, and he even said hi to us!  Everyone there was super sweet and all of the dresses were very beautiful.  I absolutely fell in love with this first dress (although I have to say the picture doesn't do it a lick of justice, so much more beautiful in person).  I love the open/big flower lace look.  I really like the other two pictured as well.  All three are Pnina Tornai exclusives for Kleinfelds.

My Dream Dress- Kleinfeld Exclusive by Pnina Tornai

Kleinfeld Exclusive by Pnina Tornai

Kleinfeld Exclusive by Pnina Tornai

It's an honor just to be nominated...

Isn't that what they all say?  But really, it is such an honor to be included in Bride Tide's Top 100 Wedding Blogs of 2011!

Thank you to Bride Tide and congrats to the other 99 blogs.  I got 99 problems but those blogs ain't one... (sorry if you don't get that joke- you need to be a Jay-Z fan to understand!)

Happy New Year and Happy Blog Birthday to me

One year ago, on January 1, 2010, I wrote my first blog post on Oh Lovely Day.   I've loved blogging and posting about weddings, DIY projects, and all things lovely in this last year.  I started this blog for me just because I enjoy it so much, but I've even found that a few people follow and read my posts!  I've struggled with it over the last couple of months, especially recently since having my little boy.  I just don't have the time to keep up on my blog reading and have had a hard time getting inspired to write a post.  However, I am not ready to hang up my blog hat yet.  I hope to start posting at least a couple times a week in the new year.  It might even be good for me.  So if anyone out there has a wedding, engagement session, story, gift, decor idea, etc. that they would like to share or have featured, please email me some inspiration!  I'm always happy to share a new idea, project, or product that I love with the 3 people who read this blog!

I wish everyone a safe and happy New Years and an inspiring 2011!  xx

Photo credit

My wedding is in The Knot Southern CA!

I'm not quite ready to come out of blog retirement/ maternity leave yet, but I did want to share a fun surprise.  Yesterday, in the middle of diaper changes and feedings I got a delivery of The Knot Southern California.  Actually, I got three copies.  I was totally confused.  And then I remembered- MY wedding is in there!  The issue should be out soon, if it isn't already, (I haven't seen a newsstand in ages!) so check it out.  We're on page 98.  I'm very honored to have been included.

My apologies...

I know I disappeared, but it was for good reason...I went into labor!  We weren't due until the 18th, but my little guy came early and at 3:30 am on 11/10 my water broke and we were in labor.  Almost 26 hours later my guy finally decided to join us.  We just got home from the hospital, and I'm going to take a blogging break to nurse, change diapers, stare at my kid, and sleep.  Without further adieu, here's Charlie:

Celebrating

Today is my birthday, and I'm celebrating with my honey, the baby in my belly, and sweets...

Photo by Elizabeth Messina

Happy Halloween!

Trying to make this my baby's first Halloween, even though he hasn't been born yet...

Hope everyone had a spooky Halloween filled with tricks and treats!

What a fun surprise!

A huge thank you to Style Me Pretty for linking to my post on DIY succulent wreaths!  What a great surprise, and honor!

And you know how much I love me some SMP!  The feature they did of my wedding pretty much made my year...

A Lovely Room

I love to decorate.  I've spent tons of time scouring design magazines, etsy, and flea markets for the perfect details for my home.  But there is one room that I have spent more time and energy on than any other.

I love...

I love pretty packages.

Via Oh Hello Friend

I love fresh peach pie.

Via Goodbite

I love Chicago.

I also love California.

by Jennifer Roper

I really love Italy.

I love Sunday brunch.

Via Wedloft

I love lazy mornings in bed.

Via Kiss the Groom

I love NFL football (and Tom Brady).

I love pretty flowers.

via Jose Villa

I love fall.

I love my best friends.

From Jennifer Roper

And my family.

from Jennifer Roper

I really love my husband.

from Jennifer Roper

And I love my big belly (and my little baby inside).

I also love weekends!  Happy Friday.  xoxo

One year ago...

One year ago this weekend I married my best friend, my high school sweetheart, and the best guy ever.  We declared our love and commitment to each other in front of our best friends and family, danced (and danced and danced), drank champagne and our signature mojitos, ate our yummy Vanilla Bake Shop cupcakes, and were the happiest two people on the planet.  It is true what they say:  time flies when you're having fun.  This year has really flown by, but it has been so much fun.  I'm sad that our newlywed status is coming to an end  but hope we will always feel like newlyweds, and I look forward to what each year brings.  This year, it will be a son.

Happy Anniversary to my honey!  I can't wait for our anniversary/babymoon weekend away...even if I can't have too much champagne!

Photo by Jennifer Roper

Wedding Week Preparation

One year ago I started the week of my wedding, where I pretended to work for two days, then took the rest of the week off and welcomed family and friends, basked in last minute pampering, and got anxious and excited for the big day.  Although I'm glad that stressful time is behind me, I do miss that joyous feeling of the best day of my life being just within reach and the anticipation of finally being a Mrs.  It is such a fun and exciting time if you let it be.

So, my best advice for the week of your wedding is this:  do as much as you can well before that time so you can just enjoy it, take the week, or at least a few days off if you can, let the little things roll off of your back (like people who call last minute and say they aren't attending afterall, or frustrating in-laws-to-be) and try not to let the big things get you down (like that natural disaster that almost prevented your big day from happening at all), and grab a few minutes alone with your almost-husband each day to just connect and remember why you are doing all of it in the first place. 

A week before my wedding my mom and stepfather were doing their evening walk when they were hit by a drunk driver, who then fled the scene and left them in a ditch.  My stepfather broke his neck and had to be airlifted to a hospital.  My mom was an emotional wreck, but physically ok.    Two days before my wedding there was a wildfire very close to our venue and we didn't even know if we would be able to have the wedding, and if we could, if it would be a smokey mess.  In the end, my mom was able to travel to be with us (and even danced, drank, and had lots of fun), and we skyped the ceremony for my stepfather (who is now doing well) to watch.  And there was no fire or smoke to be found, at least not near our venue.

So enjoy that time as much as you can.  We made a long weekend out of our wedding festivities- going to the beach (with lots of sunscreen!) with our guests one day, spending one-on-one time with our parents, rehearsal dinner and post-rehearsal dinner gathering, etc.  It is over in a flash and you will miss it, eventually...

See, doesn't it look like we had fun!?

Happy Birthday to my brother

I wasn't going to post today, but since I forgot to send my brother a birthday gift or card (yet) and today is his birthday, I thought I would take a minute to wish him a happy one!

Happy Birthday to the best little brother!

Chicago....My Kind of Town

Hey all!  I'm off to my favorite city for a long weekend to attend my best friend's baby shower, meet another best friend's new baby, and get in some girlfriend time before I have my own baby.  I'll be back to posting by the middle of next week, IF I survive the heat and the deep dish pizza...

Simple Saturday

To celebrate my wedding being featured on Style Me Pretty (I'm still so excited about it!) here is my husband and my favorite picture from our wedding:

Photo by Jennifer Roper

My Wedding: The Details

So in case you didn't see yesterday, my wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty this week, and I'm still riding on that high!  It has been 10 months since my wedding and I thought I was sort of "over it" but having my wedding on SMP has reminded me how much I loved that day and how wonderful it was.  So I wanted to share some more of the detail photos.

I wore shoes from J.Crew (that I got on sale for $99), had a dress label sewn into my gown with my married name and wedding date (bought from etsy seller danamariecreations), my gown was the "Fern" by Melissa Sweet, my mom gave me a hanky with family heirlooms stitched on which I wrapped around my bouquet, my maids and I wore earrings by Erin Gallagher and I wore a garter by Julianne Smith.

My florals were done by Greenwich Floral Design.  We did multiples mixed with larger arrangements (but all low) in vintage containers I collected like milk glass, white pottery pitchers, glass bottles and mason jars, etc.  If only peonies had not recently gone out of season my florals would have been just what I wanted, but I loved them anyways.

I collected vintage keys and tied them to our escort cards (and also to floral containers).  I made my programs myself and included custom made cd's inside of music we love and incorporated into our wedding.  I did lots of other DIY projects, like the petal cones above.  We served Hemingway mojitos as our signature drink, as a nod to my husband's favorite writer (he is also a writer and a book lover).  We had cupcakes in lieu of cake, done by our favorite bakery, Vanilla Bake Shop.

My maid of honor and I designed all of my paper goods.  We started with a custom monogram and incorporated that in my save-the-dates, invitations, programs, welcome bags, cupcake flags, and drink stirs.  We also made my entire invitation suite (which was letterpress printed at Studio on Fire).  We made signs for the card table, guestbook table, bathroom baskets, flip flop baskets, and cake table.  Besides my invites, my favorite paper elements were my cupcake flags, my drink stirs (which had our monogram on one side and famous quotes about drinking on the other side), and the cootie catcher menus!  As a result of our collaboration, we started an etsy shop called Tilde Designs where we sell all of these paper goods, among other things, and do custom orders.  Check us out so we can both become stay-at-home moms someday instead of the lawyers we currently are!

I hope you like the details from my wedding.  Please leave any questions in the comment section and I would be happy to answer them!

I've also done previous posts of some of the DIY projects I did.  To see those go here, here, and here.