Kiss My Tulle

Reader Question: Wedding Color Help from Down Under

Y'all know that I just LURVE getting emails from Tulle Nation, right (Email them to Cris at cris@kissmytulle.com)? It's so cool when I see that you've taken time out of your day to try and connect with me and I appreciate every one of them. But, true be told, I absolutely ADORE it when someone reaches out to me and asks for a wee bit o' help with their wedding planning. So when this email dropped into my inbox, I just had to help out:

Hi Cris,

I love your website, it’s adorable!

I have a little dilemma I was hoping you could help me with. My wedding invitation is rustic/earthy/vintage and it has already been sent out. Then I decided I needed to add some colour to the whole wedding. So we chose the bridesmaids dresses to be made in a blue. I have my dress already. Apart from that I have ordered a fingerprint guestbook with pink, blue, brown and yellow inkpads (which I can always replace with different colours).

We are having the reception at an urban location, a modern french restaurant in Melbourne City. Hmmmm, so I’m a little confused as to how to make all the elements look consistent with the invite yet with colour added. Not even sure what my theme is!  I haven’t yet chosen the flowers or confirmed the cake. I have attached my mood board for you to check out and let me know where you think I can add/delete/change things. Would love your feedback :)

Thank you!

Elisa

Elisa, first up - You're adorable (compliments will get you everywhere) and you totally have a theme - Springtime in France. A little rustic, a little minimalist, a little colorful. Bam! Wedding theme!

Second, DO NOT delete anything. If you've sent out your wedding invitations then you're too far along in the process to delete anything without a) wasting your money and b) driving yourself batshit crazy. On the plus side, all of your alterations and ideas so far are lovely, perfect, and will TOTALLY work in your reception space. Here are my ideas to continue to add some color to your wedding:

1. I adore the colors that you're considering (Seriously, girl. They are SO close to my own wedding colors it's like we're twinsies!) and think that this palette would work beautifully with your rustic invites and French-inspired reception venue. Here's a quickie mood board that I created for your wedding (using many of your images):

Images Courtesy of: Elisa, Design*Sponge, The Sweetest Occasion, Steve Steinhardt, and Botanica Floral Designs

2. Off-set the rustic woods and open spaces of your gorgeous reception venue with simple white linens and table settings but infuse the area with color through the use of bunches of bright flowers and colored votives (or candles). For a bit more pop (and if the venue allows) consider hanging bunches of paper rosettes or pompoms (click on the links for DIY tutorials) or simply cut strips from colored paper and arrange into abstract mobiles.

3. I love the color and the style of your bridesmaids' dresses. Fierce! Add colorful bouquets that include the pink peonies from your bridal bouquet (if you do end up going with the one from your mood board) but also involve a bit more color via the addition of billy balls, hydrangeas, and tulips. This is a great way to subtly add more of your reception's colors without overhauling your entire wedding party attire. For the men, either have boutonnieres made that coordinate with (or stick with simple pocket squares in colors pulled from) the bridesmaid bouquets.

4. Love the concept for your favors but let me streamline it a bit for you. Since you're already planning on gifting guests a lovely potted succulent - don't worry about adding sugared almonds, too. Just dress up your green gift with a tag and a bow (for color) and move on. Do a little something like this (either as a favor/placecard or with the phrase "Thank You" so it's clear that this is a takeaway) and use a ribbon in one of your colors. If you're feeling really crafty, why not spray paint the tins in one of your wedding colors (pink, blue, or yellow)?

 
Image Courtesy of: Elizabeth Anne Designs

5. I like the wedding cake in your wedding board but think that it may be a bit too modern for the French rustic vibe that you seem to be leaning toward. Instead, why not embrace a less slick design and go for something more imperfect and playful (like the cakes below):

Images Courtesy of: Design*Sponge and 100 Layer Cake

Another option is to have a dessert table in lieu of the traditional single wedding cake. Save some money and pick up several small cakes, pasteries, and cupcakes from a local bakery. Then display them on a rustic table with touches of your colors in the cake stands, decor, and dessert labels:

Images Courtesy of: Ruffled and Jenny Cookies

6. I love how you've included a bicycle in your inviations and your wedding guest poster. To continue with that theme - be sure to have your wedding photographer take a photo of the two of you on a bike in your wedding gear. Also, try to get one that can be used as a thank you card post-wedding (buy or make a fabric banner/garland with the words "thank you" on it):

Images Courtesy of: Coventry Wedding Photographer, Jessica Frey Photography, and Victorian Station

Another idea is to include art prints featuring bicycles throughout your wedding (by the guest book, on the cake/dessert table, etc.). Here's a couple that I found:

Images Courtesy of: Monorail, n2design, and Silhouette Blue

And just one more bicycle idea - why not a bicycle wedding cake topper?

Image Courtesy of: Heather Boyd

Elisa, I'm really hoping that these options work out for you and your wedding! And, as always, please send us photos so we can see what you came up with! Tulle Nation, how awesome is Elisa's wedding board inspiration? Would you like something similiar for your wedding? Or maybe you know how to include a bit more color and rustic French style into her wedding? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Deals and Steals: Kiss My Tulle's Awesome Partners

It's that time, y'all! The time for me to stop and thank my awesome blog partners for helpin' me keep the wedding porn alive. If you like what you see, click through and check 'em out:

 

• Visit Big Day for 10k for plenty of "little budgets, big inspiration"! Tell Nicole I said "Hi"!
• Are you a member of the wedding industry? Then join TWIPS (Twitter Wedding Inspiration Pals).
• Didja hear? I'm a newly minted editorial partner for Two Bright Lights! If you're dying to have a wedding or wedding-adjacent event featured on my bloggity - submit 'em via TBL.

 

• Did you know that I'm one of the newest bride bloggers over at Budget Savvy Bride? Well, you do now! Swing by and say "hi" and check out all the bride bloggers (we're a varied and fun little crew!).

• James Allen has some fab stuff (seriously, check out their engagement rings). I lurve the sparkly!
• Remember when I talked about getting my wedding dress for free and then discussed how important it was to make your own moments during wedding planning? If you loved it - then you definitely want to check out The Wedding Dress Project to experience your own awesomeness.
• Would you like to become a partner in Tulle Nation? We'd love to have ya! Click here for more information!

Thanks all! I've got the BESTEST week planned for you next week so be sure to swing by (M-F) for the awesomeness.

Registry: Keep On Packin' While You're Travelin'

So you’re engaged. Congrats! Show us the ring! Schedule the day! Register for a bed! Wait. What?

Yep, that’s right – I said register for a bed. And I mean it. GET THEE TO A CRATE & BARREL, ASAP! Registering within weeks of getting engaged was one of the BEST decisions that The Boy and I made in those early days of pre-nuptial craziness. People wanted to give us gifts (in general, for our birthdays, for Christmas, etc.) and being able to direct them to our registries was great (for us and for them). No fuss.

Image Courtesy of: Martha Stewart Living

Trying to plan your registry? Never fear, m’dear! Throughout January and February, I’ll be breaking down each section of the registry (generally by room) and offering you practical suggestions on items to register for. Today, we’re talkin' about packin' for future travel (remember, this includes but IS NOT limited to stuff for your honeymoon. Think long-term):

Image Courtesy of: Shannon Pix

The Big Ticket Items (People may not buy it for you but you can use your completion program to get them yourself):

• (2) 22" wheeled suitcases sized to fit in an airplanes overhead compartment
• (2) 26" wheeled suitcases sized to be checked at the airport
• (2) bags or backpacks sized to fit under and airplane's seat
• (2) Laptop Bags
• Digital Camera
• Digital Video Camera
• MP3 Player
• Electronic Reader (Such as Kindle or Nook)

Image Courtesy of: The New Diplomat's Wife

Needed Items (Even if you don't think so now...):

• (2) Garment Bags
• (2) Sets of Travel Toiletries
• (2) TSA-Approved Toiletry Clear, Ziptop Bags
• Luggage Tags
• TSA-Approved Luggage Locks
• Laundry Bag
• Wet/Shoe Bag
• Security/"Hidden" ID+Money Bag or Pouch
• Beach/Shopping Tote (Straw or Canvas)

Image Courtesy of: Try Uruguay

Cool Items (Not needed but nice to have):

• Passport/Boarding Pass Carrier
• Electrical Adapter Kit
• Solar Power Adapter/Charger
• Travel Games
• Travel Blanket/Eye Mask/Pillow
• Jewelry Roll/Bag
• (2) Duffel Bags
• (2) Hiking/Camping Backpacks
• Tent
• (2) Mess Kits
• Airline Club Memberships
• Noise Cancelation Headphones
• Book Light
• Travel First Aid Kit
• Travel Sewing Kit
• Travel Flat Iron/Hair Dryer/Curling Iron
• Portable GPS
• Digital Luggage Scale
• Extra Memory Cards
• Tripod
• Extra Video/Camera Batteries/Lenses
• Guidebooks
• Travel Alarm Clock
• Travel Bags for Sporting Goods (i.e. Skis, Snowboard, Golf)

Image Courtesy of: Traveler's Joy

Your travel needs may not be much but that doesn’t mean that they should be neglected - be sure to invest in the important things as you’ll be using them every time you're on the move. A good set of luggage is, indeed, expensive but when you consider the fact that you’ll be using it every single day of every single trip for many years – it’s a sound investment. So, Tulle Nation – whaddya think? Did I leave anything off? *Planning your honeymoon packing? Be sure to follow my board on Pinterest for helpful outfit and packing suggestions!

Wedding Wednesday: How To Plan A Wedding In Three Days (That’s Right, THREE DAYS!)

Hola, Tulle Nation and welcome to another edition of Wedding Wednesday! This one’s been heavily requested by y’all – you want to know how in the HELL I planned a whole wedding in only three days. It can be done. Here’s how The Boy and I got it done and some things we learned along the way.*

Image Courtesy Of: Golden Heart Memories Photography

• Know your timeline. We flew into Alaska on a Friday. My dad got a formal diagnosis on a Monday. We applied for the marriage license the same day. There was a three day waiting period and we had a work party on Saturday and flew out on Sunday. So we were left with Thursday evening or Friday. We picked Friday because then people could come after work and/or before heading out to fishing camps (rural Alaska, y’all. Rural Alaska.). We set the ceremony for an hour after most people got off work to allow them time to commute without stressing out. However, that meant we also had to feed people. Understanding our timeline allowed us to know right off the bat what needed to get done so that we could get moving.

Image Courtesy Of: Golden Heart Memories Photography

• Delegate. It doesn’t matter how small your wedding is, you WILL need to delegate parts of it. I ended up having a close friend of the family track down our ceremony location AND she invited people for us (no time for invites - she did a phone tree). My mom made the ring bearer pillow, my sister and her daughters helped me make pompoms, my little brother made me a cake stand, and my nephew made the flower girl’s streamer wand. This left me time to write the ceremony, get The Boy's wedding ring, and work on Kiss My Tulle (pro-blogger = no time off). Just turn over a job and walk away. Choose the easy ones that you don’t really care about (or are not very important) so that you’re not stressed out if they don’t get done (or are not “perfect”).

Image Courtesy Of: Golden Heart Memories Photography

• Prioritize. When you have no time to plan, you need to understand what’s important. For The Boy and me, that meant focusing our energy on getting our marriage license, getting him a ring, getting my dad declared a marriage commissioner (so that he could officiate our ceremony), and writing our ceremony. Everything else was extra. Knowing what was important to us helped us stay focused and enjoy the short planning period that we had.

Image Courtesy Of: Golden Heart Memories Photography

• Be flexible. Decide what’s important (see above) and delegate the rest (see above that). And the stuff that’s not a must? Don’t worry about it being perfect. Don’t worry that your sister insists on buying all the little girl’s matching dresses in pink after you already chose green ones from their closets. It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry when those cute pompoms you made to hang from the center of the ceremony spot end up being flatten out and randomly attached so that it looks like a Fourth of July parade float. It’s not important. Dad’s signature red bandana too big to use as a bouquet wrap? Tie it in a giant knot and move on. It’s not vital. Pick your battles and move on. Learn to shrug your shoulders. Grin and bear it. You DO NOT have the time to stress out about it.

Image Courtesy Of: Golden Heart Memories Photography

• Say “yes.” When people ask if they can help – say yes. When people offer their services – say yes. When people want to do something that you don’t care about – say yes. If it’s not a big deal to you – SAY YES. I was really hoping for nice photos of our ceremony but the local photographer was unavailable. Out of the blue, the next day a lady called me and offered to help out (her husband went to elementary school with me + she was hoping to build her portfolio). I had never seen her work and I hadn’t met her but I said yes anyway. I’m so pleased that I did because now I have a nice selection of good images from that day (including the last family photos we ever got with my dad). If I hadn’t agreed, if I hadn’t said yes – I would have missed out on that.

Image Courtesy Of: Golden Heart Memories Photography

Sounds so easy, right? Let me tell you – it was. Because we went into this whole thing with the mindset to enjoy it… we did. No stress, no worry. Lots of laughing, lots of family. Just the way my dad, The Boy, and I wanted it.

Well Tulle Nation, does that answer your questions? Any of you planning a wedding in a quick timeline? Any tips you can share with everyone else? Tell the class about it in the comments!

*For those just tuning in, my dad was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer in July. He was upset that he would not be at our already planned and paid for May 2012 wedding. So, The Boy and I flew up to Alaska and had a quickly planned civil ceremony. It was nothing like what we wanted but we’re SO glad that we did it as my sweet daddy passed away on December 11^th of 2011.

The Ranty Bride: In-Laws. Can I Throw Out A Question To The Readers?

Seriously, I need advice.

Someone said once that Twitter makes you want to get drinks with people you've never met. Facebook? Makes you want to throw drinks at people you know.

Image Courtesy of: The Hacker News

I am REALLY trying to get to some level of peaceful coexistence with my in-laws. If there's one thing they're good at, its saying and doing socially inappropriate things. The boy's used to it by now but it makes me very uncomfortable. However, they're 600 miles away, so despite all of the issues there, you'd figure the distance would at least make things more tolerable, right?

If I only had to deal with the in-laws once or twice a year, I could get over his sister making an uncomfortable, critical spectacle about my ring. I could get over his nieces and sister calling the husband the 'rich uncle' and whining when he won't buy them things. I'll eventually forgive the MIL for making our wedding all about her, hijacking our photographer, and halting the rehearsal dinner to go on and on and on about, basically, her. I'll try to get over his sister talking all kinds of shit about my sister and giving her the Stink Eye throughout the whole wedding and reception.

Image Courtesy of: Online Social Media

But, now, thanks to Facebook, I get to see them in all their glory every single day. There's the cousin who posts photos of her daughter's bowel obstruction, then complaining about the lines at the WIC office and the long wait in the emergency room because her third daughter has a cold and none of the three have a pediatrician or regular check-ups, oh, but the paternity test came out the way she wanted because the last kid was her husband's after all. So sad for those kids. There's his sister joking about her 19 year old DAUGHTER'S sex life, and not, "Get pregnant and I'll kill you, HA HA just kidding," but joking about her and some random dude having sex. Together. With a WINKY face.

Image Courtesy of: Law Actually

His mother is going on about how 'cute' it is when the 14 year old niece posts photos of her all up ons some shirtless boy. My grandmother? Would be HORRIFIED if I did that at 30! His sister complains about how annoying it is to have to go to WEDDINGS (um, ours), or how annoying it is that she has to learn how to give her daughter injections because SHE WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES. His mom constantly complains about there's nothing worse than farm-city-cafe-world-ville-whatever not working on any given day and harasses people when they post about any event they didn't invite her to, or anything they bought that she can't afford.

Image Courtesy of: The Gloss

Then there's all the comments about how poor they are, even though no one seems to have any interest in, you know, working, and even though they are paying a second mortgage for some vacation trailer, and buying fishing boats, and drinking a lot, and always going shopping.

Image Courteys of: Thoughtpick

My therapist? Told me to block all of them. The boy asked me to block them so there would be some chance I'd still like them. So, I removed them from my feed one by one in an attempt to stop wanting to THROTTLE THEM on a daily basis.

The problem? I have three people marked as 'close friends', so I get notified every time my sister, BFF, or husband post something. My husband posts funny and interesting things. Things I like to read, or look at. Today, I clicked on the notification that he posted a link about buying Packers stock (wtf? I don't understand, because, you know, the Browns are a factory of sadness). And, what do I get? There's his mother, whining about how he didn't buy her some with a :-(((((((((. What's up with the extra '((((((('?

Image Courtesy of: She Knows

Seriously, loyal readers, I don't know what to do. I know this is a first world problem, and people are starving in the Sudan. Overall, I'm blessed. But, Facebook is ruining any desire to want to have a relationship with my in-laws, and that is putting a strain on my relationship with my husband.

I can't delete them because they'll throw fits about that - his mom threw enough of a fit and got pissed at me when we asked her not to blast out our news for us, so I can't imagine she will just not notice if I'm no longer her friend, and she's bound to get pissed if her son tells her I blocked her to try to salvage my relationship with her. I like being on Facebook so I can keep in touch with my friends, so I don't want to let them drive me off of it. I've been on there since you needed an .edu address! What do I do, block my husband now? I'm at a complete loss.

Image Courtesy of: Business Insider

I feel stupid asking for advice about Facebook, but here I am. So, what do I do?

Real Wedding: The Off-Beat Vegas Wedding of Audrey Desindes and Chris Hale

Have I got a treat for y'all today! This incredibly cool and off-beat wedding was submitted to me by Imagine Photogaphy (via Two Bright Lights) and OMG is it awesome! Tattoos, leopard print pool table, piercings, inky black candelabras, and cigarettes make this one of those "Not Your Momma's Wedding" weddings.

Bride and groom Audrey Desindes and Chris Hale choose the Artisan Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada for their destination wedding and from the killer photos captured by Imagine Photogaphy, it looks like it was fucking AWESOME!!! Check it, y'all:

Images Courtesy of: Imagine Photogaphy (via Two Bright Lights)

Wouldn't you have had a blast if you'd been a guest at this Vegas wedding? And how COOL are the bride and groom's tattoos (and the fact that they defied tradition and choose to show them off)? I just love how Audrey and Chris embraced their love for quirk and darkness and incorporated it into their wedding decor. Is anyone in Tulle Nation planning (or attending) a Vegas wedding? How about showing off your ink in your wedding garb? Sound off in the comments!

Fitness Friday: What the Fuck is My Fitness Pal?!?!

It’s that time again! It’s Fitness Friday – the time every two weeks when I report back to y’all about my fitness journey (as promised). I've been doing much better lately (even though my elliptical gave up the ghost last week! Ah!) and have actually been to the gym 10x in the last 2 weeks - HUZZAH! I'm holding stready a 140 but I just know that if I continue to make good food choices, I'll start losing again.

Image Courtesy of: Cut and Jacked

Which brings me to the topic of today’s post. Since I first announced my Big, Fat, Fitness Journey, I’ve been receiving a steady stream of emails from people wondering about this mysterious thing called My Fitness Pal. Basically, y’all wanna know what the hell it is and just why it’s so damn great. Well! Let me tell you…

My Fitness Pal is a FREE website (and smartphone app!) that helps you lose weight. Truly – it is that simple. MFP works much like Weight Watchers does – you plug in your personal information (weight, height, gender), calculate your ideal weight (safely!), and then use the tools provided to manage your diet and exercise. Simply put in your food choices every day and MFP will tell you how many calories you are consuming (and how many you need to lose weight). Add in your exercise and “earn” more calories. Simple, right?

I love this program because it is 1. FREE and 2. Accessible. No confusing algorithms, no doing the math myself, no cutesy website design. Just calories in, calories out, and pounds off. Don’t believe me? Check this out:

What I really like is that I can calculate and track every calories that goes into my mouth so that when I’m out and about and tempted to “cheat” – all I have to do is plug what I want to eat into the food choices and it allows me to see how many calories that REALLY is. This has been a lifesaver for me since I have a very difficult time calculating calories on my own (and understanding portion sizes took me a while to get down, too).

I also like My Fitness Pal’s exercise tracker – it lets you calculate your cardio and keep tabs on your strength training in one spot. I’ve used this tool a lot to figure out how many calories I have “earned” through my cardio workouts. It also assists me whenever I’m ready to shake up my strength training routine (about 4 weeks) since I can just look back and see what reps and weights I’ve been doing.

But the absolute BEST thing about being a part of My Fitness Pal has been the support. Some people love getting it in the forums and some use their free blog but me? I’m a sucker for my MFP friends. They’ve been there for me every single day that I’ve logged in and helped keep me motivated in more ways that I ever could have imagined! To me? THAT’S been the most delightful surprise of all.

Amazeballs, right? So! Does this inspire you? Are you in? Do you want to publicly declare a Fitness Journey of your own (if you blog about it, I’ll be sure to follow you!)? And, as always, bug me on Twitter, Facebook, check out my Fitness board on Pinterest, and MOST importantly - be my friend on My Fitness Pal (I’m akbuilt – invite me to be your friend and I’ll add you to my group!). Thanks for everything, y'all. I do appreciate every little bit.

Registry: Keepin' It Cozy In The Living Room

So you’re engaged. Congrats! Show us the ring! Schedule the day! Register for a couch! Wait. What?

Yep, that’s right – I said register for a couch. And I mean it. GET THEE TO A CRATE & BARREL, ASAP! Registering within weeks of getting engaged was one of the BEST decisions that The Boy and I made in those early days of pre-nuptial craziness. People wanted to give us gifts (in general, for our birthdays, for Christmas, etc.) and being able to direct them to our registries was great (for us and for them). No fuss.

Image Courtesy of: Southern Living

Trying to plan your registry? Never fear, m’dear! Throughout January and February, I’ll be breaking down each section of the registry (generally by room) and offering you practical suggestions on items to register for. Today, we’re gettin' cozy in the living room:

Image Courtesy of: Turquoise, Tulips, and Bliss

The Big Ticket Items (People may not buy it for you but you can use your completion program to get them yourself):

• Couch (get a REALLY good one)
• Media Console
• Bookcases
• Coffeetable
• Endtables
• Armchairs/Recliners

Image Courtesy of: Southern Living

Needed Items (Even if you don't think so now...):

• Lamps (both floor and table)
• 2-4 Pillows
• 1-2 Throws
• TV (get a good one!)
• DVD/Blu-ray Player
• Stereo
• Curtains + Hardware
• Storage Bins/Baskets/Ottomans

Image Courtesy of: Flickr

Cool Items (Not needed but nice to have):

• Artwork/Prints/Wall Hangings
• Vases
• Console Table
• Mirror
• Picture Frames
• Picture Ledges
• Surround Sound
• Video Game Consoles (and Controllers)
• Clock

Image Courtesy of: Elements of Style

Your living room doesn’t need much but be sure to invest in the important things as you’ll be using them every day. A good couch is, indeed, expensive but when you consider the fact that you’ll be using it every single day for many years – it’s a sound investment. So, Tulle Nation – whaddya think? Did I leave anything off?

Wedding Wednesday: On Making Your Own Moment

I come to you this Wedding Wednesday with a bad, bad mood. I’ve been struggling the last week with some depression lately (my birthday was the one month mark from my dad’s passing and it hit me really hard) and I'm having a difficult time bouncing back into the fun and sunshiny “I’m planning my wedding!” mood. How’s that for keepin’ it real in the blogosphere. Honestly, I’ve tried really hard to keep my sadness and anxiety over it all away from Tulle Nation because really, who wants to listen to someone boo-hooing all the damn time? But then it hit me – this is tough for me and Wednesdays are the day that I hand y’all personal stuff so… there it is. Not pretty but very, very real.

But! Now that I’ve gotten all that honesty off my chest – off to today’s post!

Today, I’d like to talk about making your own moments during wedding planning and the wedding itself. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately (after I participated in recording a podcast with Hindsight Bride, The Rogue Bride, and The Thirtysomething Bride last weekend and it came up). My engagement and wedding planning have been anything but traditional. First, I’m planning a wedding on a SUPER budget, at our house, and DIYing most everything. Second, we’ve already gotten married. And third, I’ve been the happy recipient of several freebies.

And the freebies are what started my discussion on making your own moment during the podcast recording – specifically, getting my wedding dress for free (y’all HAVE visited The Wedding Dress Project, right? Go, go, go, go, GO!). Having Liz share her wedding dress with me has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Not only did it allow me to have a far more beautiful dress than I ever could have gotten on my teeny budget but it has also blessed me with an incredible new friend. I am truly thrilled to have Liz and Luke in my life.

But! Sometimes even the most amazing things can have a downside. In this case, I missed out on the whole “shopping for my wedding dress” experience and that “finding THE ONE” moment. So not a biggie but a slight bummer none the less. I’m not a showy-offy kinda gal but after several months, I realized that I actually did want that moment. I really wanted to have that time when you walk out in The Dress and everyone stops and “oohs” and “aahs” and maybe even tears up. Silly, stupid, and a little selfish but true.

Then in early December, my mom called to tell me that my dad had taken a dramatic turn for the worse. In fact, he was completely comatose and probably would not live through the weekend. I immediately flew up to Alaska and hunkered down with my family to spend the remaining days of my daddy’s life with him. However, before I had left Texas – I packed my wedding gown. See, originally it had been planned that I’d bring it with me and my childhood best friend would make my wedding jewelry over the holidays. And, selfish me – I wanted that. I really, really, REALLY wanted that memory. So… I schlepped that fifteen pound dress up north with me.

And that’s when something really cool happened. My family wanted to see it. In fact, they basically demanded that I put it right on and show them. So, we turned it into a moment. Everyone gathered around my dad’s bed and my niece helped me into my gown in my parent’s bathroom. I walked out and… everyone stopped and “oohed” and “aahed” and there were tears. And I held the train of the dress up to my dad’s wasted hand so that he could feel the fabric and beading. And I asked him if he liked my dress. He grunted.

I’m taking that as a yes.

There are no pictures of my moment. I chose not to have them. But I will always have the memory of sharing my dress with my family and my sweet daddy. I made my moment and I’m not ashamed of it nor do I feel selfish for doing it. It was easily one of the best things that I have ever done and I will always, always have that special memory.

Real Weddings: The Air Force Wedding of Priscilla Rosario and Robert Brotten

As the wife of a retired Air Force veteran, I've got a soft spot for all military weddings. Maybe it's the uniforms, maybe it's the patriotic details, maybe it's just because the wedding party actually shows up on time! Whatever the reason, there is something special about a couple who embraces their military life and incorporates it into their wedding day.

Take the wedding of Priscilla Rosario and Robert Brotten - it was held at the base chapel and the reception was in the amazing Fort Myer Officers' Club (which features a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen). Not only did the men (and the bride's dad!) rock their military dress blues but the reception featured several live performances (including the bride singing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" while the groom played the bugle!).

Images Courtesy of: Ever After Visuals (via Two Bright Lights)

Isn't this Air Force wedding to die for? And how COOL it was for the wedding party and guests to do live performances during the reception? I just love how Priscilla and Robert incorporated a military theme to their wedding without making it too over-the-top. Are any members of Tulle Nation using military or patriotic inspiration in their wedding? Let us know in the comments!

Rehearsal Dinner: Themes and Dinner Options

I recently had a member of Tulle Nation request a post on rehearsal dinners. She was stuck on what kind of dinner to have and needed some inspiration for a theme. Now, traditionally, the groom’s family handles the rehearsal dinner (allowing the bride’s family to focus on the actual rehearsal and wedding day) but more and more couples are hosting their own rehearsal dinners (just like The Boy and I will be doing for our May nuptials). So the question is? Can you host a rehearsal dinner that’s fun and inspired while on a budget? The answer? Totally.

Rehearsal Dinner #1: The Italian Feast

Image Courtesy of: Living Lucca

Everyone loves pasta (there’s even gluten-free options!) and pasta is cheap. Do a family-style dinner with two entrees – one with meat and one without (try the ever popular spaghetti plus a caprice-style one). Add a huge garden salad, 3-5 salad dressings, a couple of loaves of homemade bread, and some red wine. For dessert, have sorbet with wafers. To decorate, cover the tables in checked cloth (like large print gingham) and lots of white dishes. Use the bread as a centerpiece (several lined up on a long cutting board would look awesome) and add unscented candles stuck in mismatched candlesticks or old wine bottles.

Rehearsal Dinner #2: The Seafood Feast

Image Courtesy of: Southern Living

Most of the time, seafood is not the go-to budget option. However, if you’re lucky enough to live on the New England or Gulf Coast, it is completely doable. Simply host a crab or shrimp boil! They don’t need utensils and most people love to drink cold beer with the meal. Add some fresh berries with whipped cream or ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Add some newspaper-covered tables, several buckets (for seafood “skins”), and old glass jars filled with melted butter - and your decorating is done. Cooking and clean-up is minimal but the fun is in the getting messy while you and your friends eat up.

Rehearsal Dinner #3: The Forkable Feast

Image Courtesy of: Seattle Times

Want something casual but tasteful (heh) for your rehearsal dinner? Try a forkable buffet – a sandwich bar and/or salad bar where everything requires fingers or just a fork to eat. Gather together 2-3 pre-sliced meats, 2-3 pre-sliced cheeses, and 2-3 bread options. Pair with some sliced veggies and condiments for a simple and tasty meal. For a salad bar, lay out some lettuce plus 5-6 chopped vegetable options and several dressings. It’s also nice to include a few pre-made salads (like macaroni or green bean) but not required. For drinks, stick with lemonade spritzers or soda and for dessert – homemade pie. Have a pile of blankets and quilts handy for lounging on.

Rehearsal Dinner #4: The Breakfast Feast

Image Courtesy of: Design*Sponge

Breakfast for dinner? Always a winner. Host a pancake rehearsal dinner and just listen to your friends ooh and aah. Set up a few griddles with pre-mixed pancake batter. Let guests choose toppings (chocolate chips, blueberries, bananas, flaxseed, etc.) and be served by a helpful volunteer ***coughcoughfamilymembercoughcough***. Add breakfast sausage or bacon and fruit slices for a yummy (but super budget-friendly) dinner. Decorate tables with old sheets (no need to worry about spills) and lots of brightly-colored flowers in old jars and tin cans.

Rehearsal Dinner #5: The Pizza Feast

Image Courtesy of: A Well-Traveled Woman

Remember when you were a kid and your class would earn a pizza party? Everyone still LOVES that feeling so bring on the nostalgia and host a rehearsal dinner pizza party! Either order delivery, buy frozen, or do a make-your-own station but make sure to buy several different kinds (including veggie and meat-lovers options!). Pair with soda or beer and a huge garden salad. For dessert, do root beer floats! Use old paint dropclothes as tablecloths and the pizzas will make a delightful centerpiece!

So there you have it, Tulle Nation – 5 very different but very affordable rehearsal dinner ideas. How many of you are planning to have a rehearsal dinner? Who will be hosting it? Do you know what theme or food you’ll be serving? As always, we’d love to hear all about it in the comments.