A few weeks ago my aunt and uncle mentioned observing a unique ceremony at a wedding they attended. In lieu  of lighting candles or pouring sand, they celebrated their union by participating in a wine box ceremony. All a couple needs is a wooden wine box, your favorite bottle of wine, and two sealed love letters addressed to one another.

While I was researching this concept, multiple websites suggested waiting until your fifth wedding anniversary to open the box of wine and celebrate one another and remembering your wedding vows. However; if you hit a rough spot in your relationship prior to your fifth anniversary, let’s say fighting over who’s turn it is to do the dishes, this is when the box comes in. Sit down & open the box together, uncork the wine and read the letters.

An excerpt from this website said it best, ”Even if you are not seeing eye-to-eye at that very moment, it will remind you of all the reasons you choose this person as your partner and all the things that helped shape the life they’ve created together. Never take your blessings of being together for granted. The romantic sentiments you wrote, the declaration of love, the clear thoughts about why you chose this person as your life partner will help put you back on even ground. This is the perfect ritual to remind you of your wedding day and your intention to love and cherish each other in good times and bad for as long as you both shall live.”

So tell us, what special ceremony do you have planned on your wedding day?

Images: Image via Blissfully Bossy via George Street Photo & Video]

We are getting married at a summer camp. One with lots of vintage and antique things all over the place, from old Coke machines to pretty wooden signs, a saloon, and a grubstake. Our wedding theme very naturally fell into the categories “casual,” “rustic,” and “vintage,” which was precisely what we had envisioned before we ever  picked our venue. I can’t quite decipher the differences between many of the various “types” of weddings, but I am glad that the DIY rustic romantic casual vintage green (insert adjective) wedding is in style right now and that I get to browse endless photos of weddings in sync with our vision to come up with new ideas and projects.

Most recently, we were deciding on our personal lodging, our love shack if you will, for the wedding weekend. While there are fabulous B&Bs and charming hotels in the Wimberley area, neither of us want to leave the party. So, it was set; we would stay at camp. At first I wanted a tent like the one in the hipster honeymoon Subaru commercial. (Yes, it pours rain and they have to sleep in their car, but it’s also an awesome canvas tent). I can picture an antique quilt and a pretty jar of wildflowers awaiting us with a lantern to keep the “honeymoon suite” dimly lit. I recognize this is not everyone’s idea of a romantic getaway, but we have both spent years of our lives where we slept more under the stars than in a bed, and there is something very romantic about it.

Once Z decided that my canvas tent looked like a sauna in the potential Texas heat, we started looking at other options. Next up was a vintage Airstream trailer like Lola the Airstream. This idea is still taking shape (where we will park it and whether or not it’s truly feasible is still TBD), but it’s a nice compromise between a tent and a fancy hotel. Either way would be fine with me!

We are fortunate that our venue lends to this type of decor and that the theme comes naturally, but it seems the simplicity is in fact a bit deceiving; it takes a lot more work and research than I originally thought to pull together the mismatched vintage casual thing. Emma Rathbone’s recent article, “My Wedding Hair” in The New Yorker sums up the entire theme pretty well: “I’d like to look blithe, beautiful, like I could barely even make it to this wedding because I had so much going on, and also maybe like I just woke up from napping with some doves, but also really sophisticated, like I’m seriously about to put on some sexy glasses and flip angrily through my Filofax, and all of this is signified by my offhand yet gorgeous and strategically tousled up-do. Is that possible?”

Do any of you know the true differences between romantic : rustic : bohemian : shabby chic : DIY? Or do they really just blend to create a wonderful Anthropologie-esque mix-and-match feel? Has anyone else found that many of the rustic, vintage weddings found on wedding websites are planned and set up by event designers?

Collage credits (clockwise from bottom left): Airstream interior – SilverTrailer.com // Vintage Trailer Wedding Shoot: WildflowersPhotos.com // Engagement shoot: Pinterest // Canvas Tent: West Elm // Camping engagement: Shannen Norman // Airstream at night: AirBnB // Lit up tent: Photo courtesy of Durdana Ali Malik (You magazine).

A few months ago I horrified my mother by suggested I carry my iPhone down the aisle with a photo of flowers on its screen (inspired by photographer Becca Robinson’s wedding). Not only was this an economical option, I thought, but also more eco-friendly than single-use flowers (and a great excuse to get a fabulous new iPhone case!) In light of her unenthusiastic reaction, I’ve been investigated other ways of keeping my nervous hands busy as I walk down the aisle.

Did you know flowers, herbs, and spices have been used in weddings for centuries? In fact, they are one of the oldest wedding traditions we have. Historically they were used to ward off evil spirits, and symbolized love and happiness. Today, many brides carry on the tradition of wedding flowers as a decoration that (bonus!) smells great too.

But isn’t it time we updated this tradition for the modern bride?

Brooch bouquets are on-trend lately, and fabric bouquets are becoming increasingly popular. I love edible bouquets too, with sprigs of herbs and citrus fruits (did you see the beautiful citrus bouquet by Sarah Winward on Grey Likes Weddings earlier this month?) I’ve also seen some stylish brides rock a fabulous clutch walking down the aisle. And isn’t that oversized paper flower by Brittany Wattson Jepsen lovely?

Would you dare walk down the aisle holding a small, framed piece of art? What about walking your dog down the aisle? Or holding a book, a bunch of oversized-balloons, a stick of cotton candy, or simply the skirt of your dress?

Then again, there is something wonderfully romantic (and empowering) about giving the gift of flowers to yourself on your wedding day.

What do you think? Will you carry flowers down the aisle, or opt for a non-traditional bouquet? I’d love to know.

(And if you see a great photo of a bouquet for my iPhone, let me know.)

Bouquet alternatives for the modern bride // Farmers Market Bouquet by Amanda of anthomaniac shot by Melissa Arlene Photography via Green Wedding Shoes // Origami heart bouquet by Nikki and Jake of Nikki Cross Applesauce via Etsy // Map bouquet by Robyn Woodrow shot by Elinor Carucci via Real Simple // Cotton bouquet by TALLCOTTONNPEAS shot by Elinor Carucci via Real Simple // Ribbon bouquet via Martha Stewart Weddings // Brooch bouquet shot by Ulmer Studios Photography via The Wedding Chicks // Tissue paper bouquet by Martha Stewart Weddings // Paper bouquet shot by Ventola Photography via The Wedding Chicks

Large paper flower by Brittany Watson Jepsen of The House That Lars Built via Etsy // Vegetable bouquet by Something Special in Flowers shot by Christa Elyce Photography via Ruffled Blog

iPhone floral image shot by Stephanie Williams via The Brides Cafe // Love Love Me Do print by Lucie Sheridan

I have always liked simple dresses and imagined my wedding dress would be no exception. However, when it came time to start looking, I found my inner diva and I decided I wanted to make a statement on my wedding day.

I wanted a dress that was still ‘me’ but that would also wow the crowd. I have a pretty reserved style in my daily life and I wanted to shy away from the “Ya, it’s pretty but totally predictable” response.

I started dress shopping last summer and tried on about 8 dresses before finding ‘the one’. I had an appointment booked at Kleinfeld’s and I was certain I would find something there. So before going to NYC, two of my girlfriends and I went shopping for fun so that we could have the shopping experience together. I found 3 dresses that I really liked, each completely different from the last. I couldn’t decide which style was the one for me so before heading to the Big Apple, I asked my mom to take a look at the three styles I liked in hopes that she would narrow it down to one so that could be the one style we would focus on at our appointment. None of them sparked the reaction I was hoping for.

My consultant asked what I liked about each dress and then disappeared. Minutes later she returned but insisted that I kept my eyes shut. She dressed me while  my eyes were closed, placed a veil on my head and a bouquet in my hands and prepared my mom for the grand reveal {I still haven’t seen myself at this point}. She smiled from ear to ear and waterworks began. Once I turned around I saw that the dress embodied all my favorite elements from the previous dresses and combined them perfectly. I didn’t want to get out of it.

When I walked to the front of the boutique to see what it would look like in the natural light, the church bells from across the street went off and gave my mom and consultant goosebumps. It was a sign.

We never made it to Kleinfeld’s but I did say yes to the dress!

But that was 9 months ago and I’m seeing my dress for the first time again this weekend. I have to say, I’m really nervous. I am afraid it will no longer have that spark. What if my taste has changed? I’m worried that my fiancé won’t like it and I’ve been having nightmares that my mom and other members of my family won’t like it either.

I know I’m being crazy but I’m freakin’ out and I’m in dire need of reassurance!

Have you purchased your dress? How did you know it was ‘the one’? What happens if I get it and am no longer head over heals?

Please help!

Lady Samantha

xoxo

Photo credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LS_iyQWqGM0/UCUuDPZp2TI/AAAAAAAAADI/W344i8oTri0/s1600/stressed-out-bride.jpg

After the flurry of excitement from our engagement weekend settled, I came home from work ready to start my bride-to-be workout routine. Determined and focused to lunge, squat and run, I left work at a reasonable hour and put my workout gear on the moment I walked in the door. Good, I thought, no time to rethink things.

I started to clear away furniture when I leaned over to move a basket and lo and behold a box of Girl Scout cookies came tumbling out. I have no idea where they came from but they stopped me in my tracks. I took a long, hard look at the purple box of heavenly bites and contemplated where they could have possibly come from. Who on earth brought these into my home and WHY, dear God, WHY was I allowed to be home alone with them? I stroked the perforated edge of the box, knowing undoubtedly that this was a test I was about to fail miserably. Despite being alone, I looked around to make sure no one was watching and then dashed into the kitchen like a drug addict, shredding the box in a manner that would make anyone watching think it was an exorcism. Before I could come up for air I downed two. TWO! I’m not even sure I remember swallowing but gone they were. Good Lord they were SO good! WHY!!!! A quick flash of my engagement ring brought me back to reality. I gazed at the calorie count. Two Samoas, 150 calories. Darn it, that’s like 200 squats. I hate squats. So I put the box down, stepped back and thought about going to finish…er…start… my work out. That’s right, I hadn’t even started yet. Better take one for the road I thought, and before I could stop it, I was swallowing cookie number three. Nom. Nom. Nom, 100 more squats. Gaaaaah.

So how do you do it ladies? What does it take to really get in the best shape of your life? Wedding photos last forever. I’m hoping my love handles won’t.

- Lady Katie