Speaking of Cupcakes

Saint Cupcake here in Portland is now shipping yummy cupcake kits nationwide. You pick the flavors, frosting, and sprinkles, then days later you get a delicious box of caloric goodness delivered to your doorstep. I'm salivating just looking at that cup-o-frosting.


found via makool

Voodoo

Just when you thought you couldn't get enough of my "support local business", "Go Portland", "I ♥ Oregon" hoopla, I go and throw Voodoo Doughnut into the mix.

I'm happy to announce the addition of some yummy custom pink "Portland Creme" doughnuts to our wedding dessert table. (I think they'll look lovely next to our cakes(s)).I'm going to stack them all pretty on some of our vintage cake stands like Martha does here, except these won't be quarantined to the "kids' table" like she suggests. These are intended to make even the oldest of grandpas melt into a frosting-coated puddle of childhood glee (I'm actually counting on a few candid wedding photos of this exact thing happening. Please).

Because who doesn't love pastry filled with custard?


P.S. that lovely was for you Emilia Jane. ;)


Images from here and here

Nick's vintage suit

Yesterday we made a trip over to Keep 'Em Flying on 21st and picked up the slickest vintage 70's suit for Nick to wear to the wedding. I have to admit, when I first saw it on the hanger it seemed a little too loud for my taste, but the second he slipped it on we knew it was the one.

The best part was when we brought it home and discovered these vintage ticket stubs in one of the pockets. After snapping a few pictures, I decided to slip the tickets back into the pocket where I found them. The superstitious part of me doesn't think it would be right to remove them. Who knows, maybe they will bring us some luck?

Frocky

I love all of these eco-friendly ensembles from Portland designer Julia Barbee.

A statement from creator Julia Barbee:

"Frocky Jack Morgan served in WWI and lived in North Carolina near my family. He defected, and wore a house dress because Jesus wore a dress.

I create because I am created. My inspiration draws from tactile bits, woolen fiber, and gossamer. I deconstruct because it allows me to embellish with extraordinary antique pieces exploring the history of the garment industry through old couture hems and grandma's tatting; it breeds a dance between finding materials to design with, and composing a form to work towards, and I can be a steward of the environment in a small way. I favor a neutral palate forcing texture to become a more dominant element. Formally trained in sculpture, I use my education in creating clothes, sculpting on the human body.

Each piece is one of a kind; mass-market is not the ideal here."


Images from here.

Moth

Check out these gorgeous ensembles from Portland designer Gretchen Jones. I'm loving all of the captivating photos as well. Maybe I can fit a few pieces into my post-wedding budget (along with the ant spoons and fox fur hand warmers)?


Found here. Her Etsy shop.

this is all i know

I love these paintings by Amanda Blake on Etsy.

It just keeps getting better...

Opera Society Dress by Holly Stalder. Made with layers of lace and an antique japanese collar.

You know how I feel about lace.

Wildflowers

One aspect of our wedding planning that really excites me is flowers. In an effort to be as eco-friendly as possible and show appreciation for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, we agreed to only use flowers and greenery that grow here in Oregon. We found a local farm to purchase our cut peonies. We plan to hit up the farmer's market here in Portland next spring to see what the vendors have to offer. Lastly, we are going to delve into my mom's expansive garden. We have peony plants, potted black mondo grass, calla lilies, and many more living plants to bring in and spruce up our reception venue.

On top of using my mom's potted plants, my parents have a vast backyard forest where we will pick wildflowers to add to the cut peonies and Farmer's Market finds for our centerpieces. Here are a few of my favorite Pacific Northwest species that I hope to find: Bleeding Heart

Hellebore

Calypso

My absolute favorite:Common Vetch

I am also inspired by Chelsea's use of wild strawberry leaves in the bouquet she created for the winter 2008 issue of Portland Bride & Groom:

I love living in such a green part of the country.

Stalder Love

One of a kind vintage lace and fake fur collar by Portland designer Holly Stalder. Available in her Etsy shop for $30.

Encircling Garden

New Twigs & Honey choker for sale in Myra's Etsy shop! Lace, silk chiffon, and long enough to double as a headband and sash.

*sigh*

If I didn't think it would be a bit overkill paired with my Twigs & Honey hair piece and the custom bolero she's making me, I would get this in a heartbeat!

Holy Bajeezus!

Still a couple Holy Bajeezus! dresses by Leanimal available at the online boutique Makool Loves You (yes, that is Leanimal AKA Leanne Marshall of Project Runway!)Only $128

I was lucky enough to catch this on their blog today. Get one while you can!

P.S. Sorry, but I snatched up the last size small.

P.S.S. I am so jealous of Myra right now...

Another Short Dress...

by Portland designer Holly Stalder. I am in love.

Pale gold satin under *sigh* gold lace. Plunging back. Ruffles.

I know I said I already bought my reception dress... but It's satin and lace! And the model is posing on the beach- in the ocean! (which I plan to do at the end of our reception)

This might be fate.

Peonies & Wine Part Three

The other evening the FH and I sampled another eco-friendly wine for our upcoming reception. I found a bottle of Parducci Petite Sirah in the Pacific NW wine aisle at the grocery store and had to bring it home (Petite Sirah is one of Nick's favorites). Parducci winery in California prides itself in being the first carbon neutral winery in the US. They also use biodiesel, solar electricity, and ensure that their packaging is earth-friendly. I'm sold!

We were both very pleased with the result. Eco-friendly, locally grown, and de-lish. Plus, at under $15 a bottle it's well in our wine budget!

Bolero ♥

For my ceremony on the beach I decided to go with a very simple, comfortable, sheath gown. I finally found the perfect one at Nordstroms' Wedding Shop. It's slinky, has a touch of lace, and fits me like a glove. But, I realized that though I love the dress now, it could still use a little something to make it pop and be a bit more... "me". Then, one day while perusing the web I discovered a solution: I needed a bolero!

I scoured the wonderful world of Etsy and found a few local designers who make the the loveliest boleros. First there is (of course, I'm obsessed!) Holly Stalder:

She can make a custom bolero to match your dress starting at around $140.

There is also Elizabeth Dye of The English Department with this unique bolero that was featured on the cover of Portland Bride & Groom magazine:

And then there is my favorite up-and-coming artist, Myra of Twigs & Honey -based out of Salem, OR. I recently had the pleasure of obtaining one of her gorgeous flowers for my wedding day hairstyle, and she is currently working on a custom bolero to perfect my ceremony look. When I saw her post this adorable wedding vest on her site I knew her work would be a perfect match for my gown and style:

This particular bolero can be found for sale here

With customs starting at under $100 her work fits almost any budget! Plus, if the bolero turns out even half as delightful as the flower she made for me I will be in heaven (and of course it will, because everything she makes is amazing).

I will be sure to keep you updated with pics of the finished product and my completed ceremony look!

My New Addiction

This just must be Holly Stalder week because once again I find myself in love with something from her Etsy shop. But, this time I couldn't stop myself from purchasing it...

Behold the gorgeous top that arrived in my mailbox yesterday afternoon:

And note the exquisite detail:

Do you think maybe if I wear it enough some of her design talent might rub off on me? One could only hope!

DIY Peonies

I believe that I am destined to have peonies at my wedding. It started back when I purchased a bottle of Stella In Two Peony Parfum and fell deeply in love with their rich, tangy scent. Then, one lazy Saturday afternoon as I casually flipped through a local bridal magazine, I stopped dead on a page featuring an Oregon bride wearing the perfect lace mini-dress and proudly clutching a lush bouquet of large, delicate, pink peonies. I have since tracked that dress down, purchasing it for my own wedding (the infamous second dress), and fantasized about those magnificent flowers non-stop.

Shortly after that I ordered a package from Springcart, and when the box arrived I was ecstatic to find a small cellophane bag containing three peony postcards in chocolate brown envelopes tucked inside.

Finally, my mom called me one evening after bringing home a backseat full of peony bulbs from a local gardening store. She told me that upon taking them into the house my father saw the pictures on the bags and smiled, telling her how much he loved peonies because his grandmother used to grow them in her yard when he was a child. They are fragrant, hypnotic, and they make my dad smile? Anything that makes dad happy makes me happy! (with the exception of taxidermy)

At that point there was no turning back.

As I started my hunt for the perfect peonies I knew I wanted to make DIY bouquets. My mom can garden like nobody's business and with her help I would be in safe hands.

Generally peonies bloom from Spring to early Summer (approx. end of April to mid-June), and by having a May 30th wedding I knew we would be right near the end of mid-season (which happens to be when my favorite peony species are in bloom!). We were lucky enough to discover a local nursery on the outskirts of Salem, OR called Adelman Peony Gardens. A couple months ago my mom and I kidnapped Nick and went over to the gardens to check out the flowers and get some more info. to prepare us for the following Spring. Here are some pictures Nick took of our top choices:
Mrs. FDR

Mister Ed- they bloom with both white and pink flowers on the same plant

Monsieur Jules Elie

While at the gardens my mom purchased a few live plants that we hope to have in bloom for our reception next year (we are planning to bring in tons of live plants from her garden for green-decor). After speaking with Mrs. Adelman who was harvesting flowers in the garden, we learned some valuable peony advice:

1. Peony buds can be kept in the fridge sans water for weeks (though you want to keep them away from fresh fruit because it emits ethylene gasses that speed up the maturity of the flowers).

2. You cut them when they are tight buds, then when you want them to open you can place them in warm water to speed the process. If that doesn't work, Martha Stewart has some great peony advice here (if you fast forward, the peony tutorial starts in the fifth section about 25 minutes into the episode).

3. At the Adelman Peony Gardens cut peonies cost about $2 a bud. At around $24 a dozen, DIY peonies fit almost any budget!

4. Leave at least three leaves on the stem of the peony to keep it thriving. Make sure you do cut off the leaves that will be submerged in water as they will rot in the vase if you don't.

Thanks to the Adelman Peony Gardens for the wonderful tips!

Also, If your wedding doesn't fall between the months of April and June and you love the look of peonies, you can always substitute for the gorgeous Ranunculus. They can be just as lush as peony blossoms and come in an array of vibrant colors:These are some purple fringed ranunculus that can be found at Saipua (and while you're there, check out their yummy soaps!).

For our centerpieces we purchased various vintage crystal vases and will be filling them with peonies and greenery from my mom's garden. I will be sure to update with pictures when we get some!

I also recommend this video from The Knot On Demand (scroll down to 'How To: Make a Bouquet' to watch a tutorial on how to make a simple yet elegant peony bridal bouquet).

Gardens that sell cut peonies:
Adelman Peony Gardens in OR
Bridgewater Gardens in MI
The Peony Garden in IA
Swenson Gardens in MN
BB Peony Gardens in ME
Third Branch, LLC in VT
Omena Cut Flowers in MI
Halcyon Hill in NY

If you have any more tips on using peonies in bouquets or know of more cut peony suppliers please feel free to share!

Love This Dress!

As you probably know by now, I am addicted to Etsy. It would be safe to say that I spend at least 10% of my day searching through the listings and drooling over various items. Well, when I logged on this morning and started to peruse my list of "favorite sellers" I spotted an absolutely gorgesou beach-style/casual wedding gown that is sure to make any bride swoon. It is by local Portland designer Holly Stalder, and I'm all about supporting local artists. I only wish that I didn't already have two wedding dresses (a long gown for the ceremony and a short one for the reception) so that I could add this to my collection. If I could somehow justify having a third dress this would definitely be it.

Simple, flirty, and has a vintage flair that I adore. To top it off, the dress is under $300- which is very budget friendly! If you want to check it out, here it is in her Etsy Shop.

This is going to make one lucky bride very happy!

A Little Bit of Bling...

I hate the word "bling" but find it ever so appropriate when describing this gorgeous ring:
We finally picked up my wedding band from Gilt this past weekend! For those of you that don't know, it is the same place Nick purchased my Edwardian engagement ring- circa 1910 14k yellow gold shank with Old European Cut diamonds set in platinum. See the pic below: They had to size the wedding band down to my itty-bitty 4.75 size ring finger, and I'm trying my hardest not to wear it while lounging around our apartment. It is by Granat Bros., circa 1938. 14K yellow gold with 12 diamonds set in milgrain platinum.

Vintage, simple, and oh-so-sparkly! (our camera does not do this justice)

Guilt-free never looked so good!