The gorgeous bride and her handsome groom. (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)
Recently I had the distinct pleasure of not only attending but also rockin’ it out as a bridesmaid at my cousin Kimberly Lynn’s wedding. Marrying the man of her dreams, the former Ms. Kidwell wed Brian Mitchell during a b.e.a.uuuutiful fall fiesta ceremony in the heartland of the Midwest. Surrounded by their closest 450 - give or take – family and friends, the duo said “I do” at Kim’s childhood parish, St. Barnabus Catholic Church on October 15, 2011.
It was a celebration for the ages, sprinkled with all things fabulous, and to say it was a joy to be a part of it all would merely be the tip of the excitement iceberg! As many weddings as I’ve attended (Kim and Brian’s marking the 50th the Mister and I have attended together alone!), it never ceases to amaze me at how original each one is… how the individuality of the bride, her groom and their families seem to take the same occasion and mark it with something genuinely unique, something uniquely them… I’m telling you, it’s something nothing short of amazeballs.
And because it’s always such an honor to be included in a celebration, I like to glorify the creativity of each by sharing it with the masses (you’re welcome, haha!) and posting it for all to see! Below are some of my favorite parts… feel free to be inspired:
Post Rehearsal / Pre-Wedding Slumber Party. Kim had all the girls over for a final Girl’s Night In after the rehearsal, and in a word, it was fantastic. Giving one of the best attendant gifts ever, we celebrated the evening by watching one part of the gift, Bridesmaids and secretly “ooh’ing and aww’ing” the other… unique bridesmaids’ jewelry – picked out by the bride herself – for us to where on the occasion. Love love love!
How much do you la-Louvre those colors together? (courtesy of Google Images)
Killer Color Combo. As sampled above with the bracelets, the colors were purple, orange and green. The mother of the bride, my fabulous Aunt Gail, is a DIVA when it comes to decor; so, there was no doubt that the wedding would be nothing short of F.I.E.R.C.E. when it came to its overall layout… and I have to admit, just looking at the floral arrangements alone, you can see just how fierce it was… Tyra Banks, eat your heart out!
And yes, that would be my bouquet barely peaking in on the right and me totally cut out. Yep, haha! (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)
The Bride wore Purple Pumps. Keeping in theme with the wedding day and the trendy modern bride, Kimmi sported her best plum pumps for the occasion, and showed off her boogie shoes in style!
I wanna put on, my my my my my Boogie Shoes, and boogie with you! (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)
Crowd Pleasing Priest, personalized by friendship. Being graduates of the local Catholic high school (Roncalli, what?), Kim and I had the pleasure of seeing one of our former classmates (and prom kings!), Dustin Boehm, reach the high honor of joining the priesthood. Kimmi decided no other priest would do, and Dustin, errr, cough cough, Father Boehm was the one chosen to oversee the whole newlywed nuptials! He did such a Tony the Tiger GRRREEEAAAT job!
Father Boehm in person and in action! (courtesy of yours truly and photosbyjennifer.com)
Father of the Bride Speech, marked with Love. So, being a complete sentimental nut, one of my favorite parts of a wedding day is always the time honored father of the bride speech, and my Uncle Rich did not disappoint! One of the best parts was when he totaled to the years of marriage Kim and Brian had backing them between the families, and because the Kidwell side is such a force to be reckoned with… he had all of us stand up and officially welcome Brian to the fam… all 900 and couting. Haha!
Kim giving her Papa a hug after his speech, so sweet! (courtesy of yours truly!)
Ceremony Shoes + Reception Runners. Kim’s nephews, Jackson and Austin, rocked it out as ring bearers and were both equipped with wedding shoes for the ceremony and running shoes for the reception. Genius. I also like how they took it upon themselves to ditch their jackets, ties and tuxedo shirts as well. Ahhh, boys :)
Work it out, Jackson! (courtesy of yours truly)
Glorious Groom’s Cake. Vastly becoming one of my favorite parts of the reception, their Groom’s Cake was one of the best I’ve ever seen! Courtesy of Cheryl Blessing of thecakestandindy.com, K+B’s groom’s cake was representative of their hometown pride and their fanatical love for the NFL. Kim, being a born and raised Indy girl, loves the Colts, and go figure, she falls in love with a Illinois native / Chicago Bear extremist. Yep. I can hope their kids are smart enough to make the right choice ;)
Touchdown perfection! (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)
Epically assembled with dance circles, laughter and all kinds of greatness, I could go on and on (and ON!) about Kim and Brian’s wedding, but sadly, like all good things, this post has to have an ending. So, here’s to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell…
As you sit side by side on the roller coaster of life, remember to scream at the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops and enjoy every twist and turn! We love love love you and cheers to many years of happiness!
October 27, 2011
courtesy of alfredangelo.com
And no, I’m not referencing one of my favorite movies ever! I’m talking about princess styled brides – duh! And not only are they back, but they are completely redefined!
No longer are the princess brides of too much tulle and over the top headpieces – yes, I’m talking about you Celine Dion…
courtesy of ivillage.com
& you, crazy inflatable Barbie with too much… everything! I mean, really? Who let you say yes to the mess… I mean dress :)
courtesy of wedinator.com and tackyweddings.com
Now are the days of the redefined princess bride. One that can be found in a more figure flattering, curve hugging gown, statement-worthy headwear and vintage jewels. Think long fishtail-styled trains, tastefully modified tiaras (yes, tiaras!) and cathedral length veils. Consider turning in that old Cinderella ball gown for a body skimming dress bedecked in all things that dazzle.
And while the glass slippers may also have to go, the fairytale *twinkle* can stay! Let the sparkles dance throughout the entire ensemble by adding in sequin and crystal bling to all your big day details. Imagine everything from your dress and bouquet to the centerpieces and cake sprinkled in pixie dust! It’ll be avant garde glitter at its best! As long as the fairy tale wedding is done right – avoiding all things Exhibit A and B ^^ encompass - I’d say you’re well tuned for one of the happiest happily ever afters ever! See below and start wishing…
Arm yourself with frocked in layers and chandelier earrings and see how ooh your la la can be!
courtesy of jlmcouture.com/Lazaro
Modernize the traditional tiara and show how fab regal can be!
courtesy of jlmcouture.com/Alvina-Valenta
Wow ‘em at the wedding with a cathedral length veil and round it up for the reception… it’s a win / win for princesses everywhere!
courtesy of etsy.com and jessikafeltz.com
October 20, 2011
I love fresh flowers. I know with their “here today, gone tomorrow” persona, it’s easy for some women to pretend poo poo them because of the expense. But I just can’t help myself! Even if their dead the next day, they are still a little slice of heaven while they last… no matter how short that while may be :)
And one of the hottest flowers to step out on the bridal market this fall are the colorfully cute, large blooming Dahlias. With their wide assortment of color schemes and statement-worthy blossoms, it’s no secret why these chic-topped stems are all the rage these days.
But if you still need convincing, check out the color arrangements below and see what I mean :)
White Dahlia Bouquets
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) marryyoume.com, unitedwithlove.com, jessicalynn402.blogspot.com (inset), bouquet-bouquet.com and diycoordinator.wordpress.com
Pink Dahlia Bouquets
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) bouquetbridal.blogspot.com, stjudescreations.blogspot.com, stjudescreations.blogspot.com (inset), floretcadet.com and sprout-flowers.com
Purple Dahlia Bouquets
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) stjudescreations.blogspot.com, birchblooms.blogspot.com, karmanlee.com (inset), stjudescreations.blogspot.com and boards.weddingbee.com
Yellow Dahlia Bouquets
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) bouquetweddingflower.com, exquisiteblooms.blogspot.com, exquisiteblooms.blogspot.com (inset), fleurchicago.com and bouquetweddingflower.com
Orange Dahlia Bouquets
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) google.com, thefullbouquetblog.com, theknot.com (inset), sprout-flowers.com and afloral.com
Red Dahlia Bouquets
photos courtesy of (left to right, top to bottom) boards.weddingbee.com, bouquetweddingflower.com, weddingbee.com, savemoneyonawedding.com and weddingbee.com
October 18, 2011
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!
Cheers and happy shopping!
October 13, 2011
The woman who pretty much owns the bridal market on wedding dresses, Vera Wang, is dishing out some seriously good advice in a her weekly email newsletters, and I would highly recommend for all brides-to-be to check it out! Being a lover of all things bridal, I’m a HUGE fan. Obvs.
And this week’s treat was no disappointment! Often times, brides find themselves wanting something new and original to add to their wedding lineup; so, they look for alternatives that would best suit them. In today’s email, Ms. Wang offered some suggestions for the traditional bridal bouquet. Among the ideas?
Wrist Corsages. For a touch of grace.
photos courtesy of tulledreams.blogspot.com (top left), blog.weddingish.com (right) and sheenaholland.com
Pinned Corsages. For high-necked or off the shoulder gowns.
photos courtesy of stylehive.com (left), wmagazine.com (top right) and seattleflowers.com
Bible, Psalm or Prayer Books marked with a Favorite Flower. For additional sentiment.
photos courtesy of etsy.com (top left), answerstolife.tv (right) and godswordhasanswers.com
I love all the ideas for their unique nature and alternative appeal. Plus, having a corsage frees up your hands to hold onto other things… like your man’s hands :)
October 11, 2011
photos courtesy of C. Siderys
Recently, our fearless leader and your favorite MK sales lady, Carolyn, attended her nephew’s New England wedding in Maine, and I gotta be honest… after looking through all the pics… kiiiinnnddaaa jealous I didn’t get an invite to this lobster-filled love fest!
Set in the picturesque tranquility of the bride’s hometown, Peaks Island, Maine, Carolyn’s strapping nephew, Kris Fitzgerald, married his “Maine” squeeze (ha, get it?) Kristin in front of close family and friends during a beautiful bed ‘n’ breakfast ceremony at The Danforth. It was an event to remember, filled with rustic romance and trimmed by all things charming.
Eager to keep the casual atmosphere of old-fashioned fun going, guests were escorted aboard a ferry boat after the ceremony off the coast of Portland and wistfully sailed to the reception on Peaks Island. Often referred to as the Coney Island of Maine, Peaks Island proved to be the perfect setting for their sunset soaked lobster feast. Details were as follows:
Location: Peaks Island, Maine: where old world charm and simpler times reign supreme… and there’s nothing untouched by postcard pretty :)
Peaks Island entrance; the happy couple entering; sailor's delight (photos courtesy of C. Siderys)
Menu: A savory feast of Lobster, Steamers & Clam Chowder (in honor of the groom’s Boston bred heritage)… seriously, my mouth is watering. Think I’m embarrassed? Think again! I mean look at all that YUMMY!
photo courtesy of C. Siderys
Colors: Complimenting the wedding colors of Lobster Red and White perfectly, colorful dahlias, picked from the mother of the groom’s garden filled the feast with homegrown love… and LOTS of it! There was enough homegrown love to decorate 32 tables! (Please, garden master, tell me your secrets!)
photos courtesy of C. Siderys
Cake: Whoopie Pie Wedding Cakes, of course! A Portland, Maine original, these tasy treats are both thoughtful and delicious!
photo courtesy of C. Siderys
Favors: What better way to send-off your guests than with Lobster Shaped Cookie Cutters?!!? I think none! And as an added bonus, check out the charms Carolyn found for the bride and groom to take home… can anyone else say, genius?? And if you like the charms, you’ll most def have to check out her girlfriend’s Etsy Store: Wilma & Betty :)
photos courtesy of C. Siderys
Final Touch: I absolutely adored everything about these New England nuptials… the sunset setting, the savory feast, the laid back atmosphere… but mostly, I love how even a still frame image was able to capture all the love and laughter it contained! Here’s Carolyn with her sisters :) Check out the mother of the groom… she’s the diva second from the right with the nautical inspired diggs. Love love love those sailor-styled shoes!
photo courtesy of C. Siderys
October 6, 2011
courtesy of CNN.com
Just when you thought the #hashtags and Royal Wedding watches were over… the event heard ’round the world rears its way back into ‘ooh la la’ all over again! According to CNN, UK’s Telegraph, and People.com, the Duchess of Cambridge - more widely known as Prince William’s prettier half, Kate Middleton – and her decadent dress have given Buckingham Palace a fiscal cause for celebration.
Profitting millions upon millions in ticket sales, the dress and all its trimmings went on display from late July to October 3, and while exact numbers won’t be known until after the year end audit, first case estimates put more than 600,000 visitors in eye line with the royal wedding WOWSA gown, breaking the previously held record of visitors from 1994 of 420,000.
photos courtesy of people.com
The Alexander McQueen dream dress – designed by Sarah Burton – is considered the Rolls-Royce of wedding wear. Composed of silk gazer and hand-tatted lace intricately comprised with shapes representing the counrties of the UK, this knock out gown also features a 9 foot train and several bling-tastic accessories. Among the ones on display, the Queen Mum’s ‘something borrowed’ 1936 Cartier halo-styled tiara and a pair of Robinson Pelham diamond earrings, a ‘something new’ gift from her parents which featured their family crest.
And the ‘oohing’ and ‘awwing’ doesn’t stop there! While the majority of money raised will go to preserving the Royal Collection – housing thousands of paintings and treasures of the Royal Palace, the Duchess of Cambridge asked that a slice of that ca-ching go to charity. According to the Telegraph:
When she gave permission for the dress to go on display, the Duchess made it clear that she wanted the gown to raise money for charity, and a proportion of the takings will go to the charitable foundation set up by the Duchess and her husband to receive wedding gifts. (telegraph.co.uk)
But what’s next for the dress, one might wonder? Straight to storage, and rightfully so! According to a palace source,
Kate is “keen to ensure that the dress survives undamaged for as long as possible, and so this inevitably means limiting the number of times that it is transported or displayed.” (people.com)
In the meantime, we can all still sigh in remembrance, keep the Royal Wedding pics a Google search away and hold close to a our memory bank, the day a Prince married a Princess.
October 4, 2011
courtesy of mywedding.com
Everyone knows that a wedding day is all about the bride ((insert groom to be polite)), but of all the brides I’ve ever known, not a single one of them has ever been dead set on leaving everyone else out in order to achieve her grand status. Sure, there will always be the boo-tastic bridezilla exceptions, but generally speaking, most brides want their big day to be a big day for everyone else too.
Brides ((okay, and grooms)) want their guests to laugh and enjoy. They want their bridal party to dance and cheer. But most of all, they want their family and friends to leave feeling with a feeling of exhaustion from all the fun and excitement… it’s simply how they roll. After all, what bride wants the day that’s “all about them” to be one everyone else marks with distain and ill repute? Um, I’d hope none!
Which is precisely why I love Love LOVE the idea of statement bridesmaid dresses! I mean, helllloooo!?!? Your bridesmaids are not cookie cutter friend prototypes; so, why would you ever want them in cookie cutter dresses? You wouldn’t!
Hence, why so many brides are turning to retro patterns, colorful pallets, hand-me-down favorites and vintage accessories, in order to create the perfect look for their big day. More and more, today’s modern bride is pairing similar colors with different shapes and patterns in order to create a unique, fun ensemble that suits both the bodies of her bridesmaids, as well as her overall aesthetic… truly, making it a win / win for all involved!
Don’t believe me?? Check out below, and see what I mean :)
photos courtesy of (top to bottom, left to right) weddingchicks.com, greenweddingshoes.com, marthastewartweddings.com, bridalbook.ph, snippetandink.blogspot.com, weddingobsession.com and greatexpectationsky.com
This kind of look can be achieved in a number of ways. You can find a dozen or so dresses that you enjoy and let them select personal favorites or for you braver brides, you send some of your most trusted ladies out to raid closets and find what works best for those on TIGHT budgets. One of my personal favorite solutions: hit up your local paint store, pick out and pair up your favorite color swatches. Then, provide your ‘maids with a base color pallet they can use to find their dress.
It’s really up to you, but the conclusion will no doubt be the same… unique dresses for unique girls for a unique day! Whoop, whoop!
September 27, 2011
courtesy of movies.tvguide.com
Come on babe, why don’t we paint the town? (bom, bom) And all that Jazz? I’m gonna rouge my knees and roll my stalkings down. (bom, bom) And all that Jazz!
Firstly, I would like to start by saying that I am a HA-HUUGE fan of the Roaring 20s and all that Jazz! Was it an era known for corruption and gangster hullabaloo? Well, yeah. Buuuut it was also a time filled with economic prosperity, trend-setting musicality and over the top fashion. There was a kind of daring romance – both scandalous and progressive – that seemed to encapsulate the 1920s, which has gone unmatched ever since.
And it’s because of that unmatched style that the Twenties have become an excellent source of for brides to find inspiration when planning their big day – scandal aside, of course. Whether it’s in the choice of dress, the kind of favors, the type of venue, equipped with Speakeasy or Cigar bar or simply the overall ambience and atmosphere created, the Roaring 20s leave brides, their grooms and all their guests with a little extra . Check out below and see what I mean:
photos courtesy of joshgoleman.com and pacoandbetty.com
The hubs and I actually took a lot of 1920s style and weaved it into our wedding. My favorite part? All the bridal party dudes were given a little extra swagger when we topped them off with dress fedoras and bowling caps!
courtesy of Jessika Feltz Photography
And if you’re looking for some 1920′s inspired tips and tricks, feel free to check out the 2002 film, Chicago, or read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — two incredible representations of the times!
September 22, 2011
courtesy of parati.taconeras.net
I am 27 years old, and if you think I can’t remember the jittery feeling of anticipation I’d get every time I prepared for a weekend slumber party… you’d be seriously mistaken. (I wanted to say “dead wrong” but never really enjoyed the harsh connotation of it, haha!) There was just something about packing PJ’s inside my Care Bear backpack (hollllla to Care-a-lot!) that would send me reeling into excitement OVERLOAD! It still brings a smile on my face even to this day :)
But somewhere along the line of growing up - I’m assuming somewhere between getting my license, going away to college and landing in the constant state of slumber party madness with female roomies – slumber parties seemingly lost their TALLY-HO appeal, and thus, fell off the fun scale altogether.
However, and this is a big however, when my cousin (wad it do, Kimmi!!) sent an email stating that after her rehearsal dinner any and all bridesmaids were invited to her parent’s house (yay, Uncle Rich and Aunt Gail!) for a post-rehearsal, pre-wedding slumber party… the famed frenzy started again!
You see, Kim lives in Chicago, but because most family and friends are still in good ‘ole Indiana, they are doing the “I do” thang here. With no place of her own, she turned to the magic of her childhood home for refuge and extended the welcoming hand to the rest of us as well. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of being in a favorite spot from my youth or the fact that I know it will be an amazeballs time, but I can’t help but feel the same twinge of childhood excitement come over me in preparation for it.
While I highly doubt there will be any pillow fighting in our underoos (sorry to crush your hopes and dreams, fellas), we will more than likely get to spend an evening painting toenails, giving facials, eating junk (how much will be determined by the tightness of our dress alterations, haha!), laughing and simply enjoying each other’s company. I’m sure glory stories of the past will be relived and we’ll all stay up waaay to late, but it will be well worth it to send off our beautiful Kimmi in style!
And as an added bonus, we’ll already be together in the morning for the hair and makeup ladies’ arrival! Dead sere, this pretty little lady is PUMPED!
But the best part is… this could work for anyone! If you’re a bride interested in having all your girls gathered for an evening of pampering, junk food eating, laughing and childhood inspired ridiculousness… why not have a pre-wedding slumber party too?!? This not only gives you one last opportunity to giggle with your girls, but it also ensures that everyone will be ready under one roof when your big day arrives!
It’s fun. It’s simple, and best of all, the details can be left up to you! Make it a high end event with on-hand manicurists and a relaxing masseuse or low brow fun with rolled out sleepers and classic romantic comedies on the big screen… it really can be whatever you want, and what a great way to say goodbye to your old life before starting your new one! Here’s to you and happy slumbering!
September 20, 2011
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