Waterford Dinnerware versus Vera Wang Wedgwood Dinnerware (photos courtesy of macys.com)
While we all know how I feel about the bridal registry – click here if you need a refresher – I think there is something to be said for the never-ending debate of what should or shouldn’t go on one. In particular, I especially like discussions revolving around items which toe the line between Trend VS Tradition… in today’s case, Everyday Dishware VS Fine China.
When registering for a wedding, pre-nup pups almost always think of dishes first. No longer are the days of mismatched plates, cups and plastic ware; now are they days getting hitched, moving up and into some grown up dishes! And with this at the forefront of every bride’s mind, tradition almost always leads them straight down the fine china path.
But is this the way for every bride to go?
In a word… no. While registering for our wedding back in waaaayyy back in ’09 (haha!), the hubs and I were met with quite a quandary. While we consider ourselves a lot of things as a couple, ‘fancy’ would not rank among the top of our list; so, you can imagine our predicament when we were already in the possession of three - count them 1, 2, 3! – sets of fine china, inherited over the years from family… I mean, if fancy we’re not, how could we possibly pick out a fourth set of luxe-ware when we didn’t even have a home for the first three?
Answer: we couldn’t. After discussing this with our fabulous Bed, Bath & Beyond bridal consultant, we went with her recommendation of simply registering for a nicer set of everyday dishes, while still picking out other big ticket items for people looking to spend a little more. (Shout out to my boss, Cathy LaValley, who purchased the six remaining sets of our dishware to complete the registry! Dead sere, can’t eat without thinking of you, haha!)
It seemed to be a win / win for all, especially since not a single piece of our three fine china sets has ever seen the light of a guest whilst dining with the Dietzes. Um, oops? Look, I said we weren’t fancy, haha! But we did pick a registry that worked for us, which is what I would implore all of you to do too! Find things that work for you and work them… more importantly than giving you the finest, most expensive wedding gift ever, guests really just wanna a give something they know you’ll use and love!
At Marilyn’s Keepsakes, we recognize the importance for the DIY bride to shine in all her shabby chic goodness! We also recognize, however, that she can’t shine fully if not provided with the proper tools. After all, not all of us our born killer crafters with do-it-yourself goodness infused into our DNA!
We can, however, own the right to fake it ’til we make it with our line of DIY Stationery. Among the most recent addition is our DIY Paper Pennant Bunting Kit! This do-it-yourself, dream project kit will leave your guests “oohing” and “awing” from the minute they step onto the scene to the minute they bid you adieu. Because of its versatile nature, this one of a kind flag banner ensemble really lets your creative side shine by garnishing all your favorite events with a personalized touch of charm.
And by kitting these items altogether in one, simple package, we leave the fun part up to you for making everything from outdoor weddings and baby showers to anniversary extravaganzas, birthday parties, holidays and more a little bit more fun and a lot more personal! See below for product details and decor options:
Paper Pennant Bunting Kit Includes:
50 Flag Pennants
12.5 yards of White Satin Ribbon
Complimentary CD with 40 pre-designed Templates for mixing and matching
Test Printing Sheets and Instructions for use
When creativity reaches a lull, use one of our design options available on complimentary CD to re-inspire you! (courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com)
Because everyone deserves their own Christmas miracle…
photo courtesy of mywedding.com
It’s time for all of us to put that infectious holiday spirit to work, ladies and gents in hopes that Christmas comes early for one Floridian family! When my Google Alert for “wedding news” fed me this story from NorthEscambia.com, I couldn’t help but feel the all too familiar twinge of sympathetic fear run down my spine.
Kari Doyle, a Floridian wife and mother of two, went out Christmas tree shopping this past Saturday with her two daughters, Emma 4 and Olivia 2, at the local Home Depot off Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. Much to her dismay, the joy of picking out their family tree was quickly replaced by gut wrenching panic when she looked down at her hand and realized her wedding ring was gone!
I feel comfortable using terms like “gut wrenching panic” because unfortunately, this nightmare was my reality this time last year. Not even 24 hours after the Mister and I said “I do,” we were transporting gifts back to our home from my parents, when all of a sudden, I looked down at my hand and painstakingly realized <GULP> my wedding ring was gone!!
To this day, that sinking feeling still remains, and as if reading from the pages of a classic novel, I can still remember the exact text that played through my head…
Where did I drop it? Was it outside? Inside? When was the last time I had it? Here? At my parents? In the car? Did it fall off because it was cold? I knew I should’ve worn gloves! How could I have been so careless? How did I not notice? Good grief… what am I gonna tell Tanner? (Eyes widen even further) What will he say? Is this a sign? Ugh. It could be anywhere? Where do I even begin…
Believe me, this is not a good feeling. So, my hope is… that if enough people read this and enough of us hope for it… Kari Doyle will know the joy that sooooo humbly graced me when my Mister – Sir Tanner, lord protector of wedding bands and finder of all things sacred – hollered, “FOUND IT!!!” from underneath our Christmas tree!!! Haha! That’s right… somehow my ring slid off my finger, miraculously found it’s way underneath our Christmas tree and back onto my finger again!
That was my Christmas miracle; so, Kari, here’s to yours…
***sending holiday spirit, cheer, love and prayers***
Let’s hope you get yours too!
NortheEscambia.com reports: A reward is being offered for the return of Kari Doyle’s wedding rings. If you find the rings, call (850) 572-8817.
Who needs Black Friday Sales when you can Shop with Us and save year round??? Happy Thanksgiving to all our fabulous customers and many blessings to all the couples looking forward to tying the knot in the New Year!
**Now, let’s raise our glasses in honor of our soon-to-be newlyweds**
May you treat each day as if it were your last, and each night as if it were first. And cheers to many, MANY years of happiness :)
Fine, I’ll admit it… I love me some Martha Stewart. The woman is diva. Sure, sure, she’s had her fair share of bad press, ego trips and (my personal fave) stints ala jail house, but in a way, all the insanity almost makes her more believable… more relatable. Don’t get me wrong; there’s for sure an extra layer of nuts mixed in with her brownie sunday, but if you think about it, most of the world’s brightest minds are all accompanied by a little madness :)
Regardless of what her reputation might leave you thinking, her talent is undeniable. The woman has a serious eye for frills and chills, and after I saw this Contest - where she recently teamed up with new “bridal” buddy on the block, J. Crew – I knew I had to pass it along.
Self proclaiming to be “a match made in style heaven,” J. Crew and Martha Stewart are teaming up to offer brides-to-be everywhere the chance to win a weekend getaway in NYC for you and friend! Some of the prizes include, an exclusive wedding consultation with the famed, Darcy Miller, a private shopping trip in new Madison Avenue J. Crew Bridal Boutique and $2500 to spend on your dream dress!! I.N.C.R.E.D.S.
“All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close up.” Sunset Boulevard
Yesterday, a girlfriend at work (whaaaduup, Nat!) asked me if I saw the Early Show on CBS that featured a couple’s Save the Date video… I was like, “Whhhhaaaaa? A video?? For their save the date? That’s incredible!”
Incredible, I came to realize, was the understatement of the century. After perusing through a few YouTube videos last night, I became a woman possessed. Save the Date videos have been around for awhile, and over the course of time, they’ve become - among other things - a force to be reckoned with. So, reckon, I shall.
When I featured the blog post about the Mister & Me’s Save the Date Magnets, I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with myself and our pre-invitation mailers. Armed with my Adobe Photoshop skills, I created something original in design and unique to us, and while I’m still proud of our little save the dates, I’d be lying if I said they weren’t dwarfed by the awesomeness of these videos.
Just like every couple is different, so were the videos they directed. Dead sere, I saw everything! Some couples treated it like a movie trailer to a big ticket event; while others stuck with the more traditional video / picture montage approach. In the end, however, it didn’t matter if they were telling story, being romantic or simply downright ridiculous, because with the conclusion of each video came the knowledge to Save the Date! Below are some of the standout examples: ENJOY!
Poking fun at Bridal Stereotypes:
Takin’ the CUTENESS to a whole new level!:
Bringing the Humor with Beyoncé (P.S. That’s the groom on the left) :
With less than a month to go before the nuptials arrive, I’ve finally had a chance to focus on the really important stuff… hair and makeup, of course! Haha, for cereal, though, Lord knows I love me some diva’ed out up do’s and red carpet cuteness! There’s just something so fun and girly about gettin’ glammed up, especially for big events, and since there’s no event more worthy of a jaw dropping look than a gal’s wedding, I went straight to my ‘ole reliable source for true inspiration: celebrity fabulosity.
Fabulosity, however, was not what I found. In fact, I suspect that the “Life in the FAB Lane” star who originally coined the term, may have AT LEAST rethought her role in exploiting the term after viewing her shot on the gem I’m about ready to share with you.
While perusing for famed looks of some of my fave celebs – Eva, Beyoncé, etc. – I came across this ABC News post, which featured some of today’s prettiest pretties lookin’ all kinds of funky while not “in color.” Not that I’m judging, because trust me when I say, I’m the hottest of the hot messes when it comes to going “au naturale,” but I’d be lying if I didn’t say my heart wasn’t smiling a little, knowing that even the most gaaaarrrrgeous girlies, have their off days too…
Wow, not so fabulosity now, are we Kimora? (Photo Courtesy of ABCnews.com)
Oh...Eva...No. (Photo Courtesy of ABCnews.com)
To view the whole “make me feel better about myself” slide show, go to ABCnews.com… and please, enjoy!
Talk about taking it to the next level: this morning, on The Today Show, Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira featured a couple who completely rocked it out on their wedding day. Unimpressed? Well, what if I told you all the “rockin’ out” took place while walking down the aisle?
You heard me correct, kids. Jill and Kevin Kheinz, along with their entire bridal party, two stepped, sashayed, aswirly twirlied, etc. all the way to the altar. Typically a time for Cannon in D, Ode to Joy and held back tears, the beginning of most wedding ceremonies leans more towards solemn solace, not funky freshness. This couple, however, said “Pppppffffffttt” to that and “Heck Yes!” to cuttin’ a rug – or, in this case, cuttin’ a runner.
And while I’m sure great grandmothers and old school religious leaders everywhere may be falling out of their chairs in shock, I can’t help but stand up from mine and break it down – Mary K style - right along with them!
On behalf of Marilyn’s Keepsakes and groove thang shakers everywhere, we offer a big congrats to Kevin and Jill… for getting married… having fun… and being completely, totally and originally awesome! Cheers to your nuptials… you crazy kids, you :)
What about all you other brides and grooms to be?? Would you ever bust loose during your ceremony?
At the risk of sounding too bold, I’m gonna go ahead and say that teapots rival the cuteness of puppy dogs and baby feet. There, I said it… do with it what you will, but there is no denying the undeniable creativity and colorfulness of a wedding day centerpiece done up Mrs. Potts style!
With their variety of shapes, sizes and styles, teapots have a chic’ness that exude an ironic blend of timeless elegance and contemporary freshness. Fashioned in everything from antique, hand painted ceramic to engraved stainless steel, there is surely a teapot to fit every wedding day decor. And with the ability to dress them up with your favorite fresh flowers or coordinated tea cups, the possibilities are almost limitless!
Which is exactly what so many brides are looking for! Because every wedding is different, teapots have the ability to individualize every couple’s big day. They can capture every mood from an afternoon tea on a spring day on a London to the Mad Hatter and March Hare party in Alice in Wonderland. It truly is an unmatched brilliance, and after viewing all their possibilities, I’m hooked!
Okay, okay, I’m totally aware that it is soooo High School Musical, but what girl doesn’t (at least secretly) wish that her wedding reception break out into a full on choreographed production?? I mean, is it too much to ask for all your guests – ages 1 to 100 – to have pockets full of pre-planned moves that would dazzle even Rogers & Hammerstein… I think not.
It’s practically an unwritten rule in every girl’s handbook to go gaga over She’s All That dance offs and Sound of Music style a-swirling. Something about romantic song and dance numbers never cease to go out of style with any female… especially one planning “the most romantic day of her life.”
I, of course, fall into both categories perfectly; so, far be it beyond me to go against the grain. <Sigh> I’m a case and point example of a hope-FUL romantic, which is why I dream of the “unrehearsed” and unbelievable break out dance routine at my own reception. However, I’m aiming for something a little less classy and a lot more flashy… which is why I’m desperate to know if these people (and their pants) are for hire. Hehe, enjoy!
At the risk of sounding too bold, I’m gonna go ahead and say that teapots rival the cuteness of puppy dogs and baby feet. There, I said it… do with it what you will, but there is no denying the undeniable creativity and colorfulness of a wedding day centerpiece done up 
