That’s right… who else would be so crazy as to host a house party right smack dab in the middle of two of our biggest weddings of the season?  Well, it’s not just a party.. it’s a Stella & Dot Trunk Show!  And YOU are invited!  Come on ladies, who could possibly pass up some of the hottest bling of the season?

My sweet friend and summer intern, Jenn Kemper will be hosting our trunk show.  It is one of her very first shows so I’m counting on you to help me support her.  We will be broadcasting the show live so everyone can tune in to the fun.  Set your alarm for 7:00 PM (central time) TODAY.  Leave a comment below letting me know you want to come or click here to rsvp and I will send you over all the information you need to be able to login and join us!

When Gina Zeidler showed me the images she took of this wedding for the first time, I nearly fell out of my chair.  The lighting, the colors, Marija’s sweet smile… it all captured me.  Before I share all the images from the gorgeous wedding day, I wanted to share a little background.  You can’t have a wedding without an engagement, after all.

Their Engagement  Story :: They love motorcycling so of course their engagement story would include one(see engagement photos here .)  While on vacation cycling between Vegas and Phoenix, Bobby pulled over. From Marija: “It was sunset and we were in the mountains, it was gorgeous.  He got down on one knee and popped the question.”  Marija immediately said Yes! Of course!  Unfortunately, they took their time and didn’t realize how far it was to the place they were spending the night.  It got dark and cold.  They nearly froze!  Bobby jokes he proposed and then almost killed Marija.  Made for a great story, though!

Bobby and Marija had a perfect wedding day. Their day was full of  modern, but vintage elements.  Marija used her engagement ring as inspiration.  It was Bobby’s grandmother’s ring – vintage and gold. It helped her select the colors and theme. Gold, orange and pops of turquoise.   Oranges, pinks, and yellows made a pop in the florals as well as throughout the evening alongside the cool metal of the airplanes.  Each of the attendant’s flowers contained a bit of airplane as well, with wings attached to the bout’s, and multiple pins nestled in the blooms Marija’s gorgeous bouquet.

Their wedding reception took place in an airplane hangar that was lit to the nines. It’s beautiful glow was a perfect atmosphere for a celebration and celebrate, they did! With the bi-plane in one corner of the reception and the 10-piece band in the other. It was an evening to remember.

Marija’s advice to all the brides out there :: ” Stay true to your values and style as a couple.  Try to create your perfect day, not everyone will agree, but keep you and your husband the focus of the day.  That’s what we did and I loved every moment and detail.”

Congratulations Marija & Bobby!

Photography :: Gina Zeidler | http://ginazeidler.com/

Event Design ::  Mi-Mi Designs | http://mimi-design.com/

Happy Friday Everyone!!

I am so very excited to be able to share with you about another kindred spirit I have found in the wedding world who has a heart for couples.  Pauline Stephens of Virginia-based Elations Designs created and hosts a wonderful seminar titled “An Engagement.”  When I asked Pauline what sparked her to start this seminar the heart of the matter really came out.  Pauline saw a need in her area for brides who may not have the opportunity to hire a wedding coordinator to still receive guidance as they work through their engagement.  She put a creative spin on the event by combining her expertise in wedding planning with a mini bridal show that showcases some of the most well respected area vendors and tops it off with a fun cocktail party to boot.

Couples who attend will walk away with a notebook full of ideas, a better understanding of the wedding planning process and a mind full of inspiration!

Take a look at the images of the latest seminar below, head over to Pauline’s blog for more information and mark your calendars for the next An Engagement seminar! 

Sponsors make me jump for joy.  I have the honor and privilege to receive so much support from the wedding industry and consider myself extremely blessed to be in a realm with so many creative artists.  This is our very first sponsor highlight here on Love, Milk & Honey and boy, is it a great one.  James and Elizabeth Hafner are a a husband/wife photography team based out of Austin, Texas.  They just launched their re-designed Vignette Photography site & blog and man, oh man, it is eye candy at it’s finest.  Read on to find out more about James & Elizabeth!  And if you want information about becoming a love, milk & honey sponsor, email me! advertising{at}lovemilkandhoney.com. We run some pretty sweet deals!

How did you & James meet? James and I were actually ‘set up’ by a mutual friend. I worked with our ‘matchmaker’ and James knew him from church. I would get weekly infomercials on James and I am pretty sure James would get an earful as well. I think it was almost a year before we became Flickr friends, checking out each other’s photography and leaving comments. A few months after that James used an all day photo shoot as an excuse to finally meet me. We got together with my sisters and our matchmaker and his wife after church one Sunday and went around town shooting away. He shot Canon digital and I used a Nikon 35mm so it wasn’t love at first sight but we quickly got over our differences and James asked me out on an official date 4 months later. A year after we met we tied the knot at an intimate ceremony outside of Austin.

Did you always know you wanted to pursue photography? Elizabeth: I’ve always had a love for photography. It was an art form I could do and do well. I never thought I’d pursue it as a career by any means though. The idea was hatched after our marriage and the thought of working alongside James on something we both loved was very appealing. The more I do it, the more weddings I experience, the more I love it.

James: No, it wasn’t until after college that photography caught my attention. I enjoyed being able to create shots with a heavy emphasis on composition and color, taking traditional shots in a whole new context or from a unique approach.

Did you always know you wanted to be a husband and wife photography team? No, not until we hatched the plan of starting the business together. It’s been great though, we work well together, can read hand signals and facial expressions from across the room and we each bring something different to our overall style. It’s a blessing to be able to work with your best friend.

What 3 words describe the feeling that you try to portray through your images? Our goal and hope is that we truly capture whoever we’re shooting- their personality, love, joy and commitment to each other.

What is your favorite part about photographing weddings? I think for both of us its meeting new people, hearing their love stories and then seeing their day unfold. It’s really about the people.

Share a piece of marriage advice that has helped your marriage. A friend of ours told us this on our wedding day and it stuck: Love is not a feeling. It’s a choice you make each day.

Our favorite fashion guru, Annette, is back with some tips for your closet!  Ever wonder what “the basics” should be?  Annette has you covered!  And be sure to head over to Annette’s re-designed site for an update on her latest designs and her countdown to bridal fashion week!

Hey everybody. Hope your summer continues to be amazing and full of sunshine. I’ve been busy, busy as usual. I saw Laurens post regarding her closet and thought this would be the perfect topic for my next blog post on Accessories with Annette.

Organizing ones closet can be a daunting task at times, so here goes a list of those top items I feel every lady should have in her closet. Always feel free to add your own personality and flair to my suggestions, we are not all made alike.  Here are my top 11 items. (because 10 sounded boring, and I couldn’t give up one of the items)

• The perfect pair of jeans
• A comfy cardigan (Light color is preferred)
• Little black dress.
• A pair of dress pants (black is best, but they can could be tan or gray)
• Fabulous trench coat (neutral color)
• Feminine blouse
• Day Dress
• A Tee in black, white, and a couple fun colors.
• Accessories to include (scarf, belt in black and tan, and tights)
• Three piece ladies suit, with pencil skirt, jacket, and vest (black)
• Shoes (to include top three of black pumps, black boots and sandals)

With these top items you will have the perfect go to outfit for work, lunch with the girls, weekend shopping, or  an evening date. So here we go with my top items, and  some outfit combinations from the items.

Next time you clean your closet think of these key pieces to incorporate into your wardrobe. Remember to keep it fresh, classy, and stay true to yourself. Have a little fun with it , you’ll be surprised how many combinations you can come up with.

Do you have your own list of items that you feel are a must? Leave me a comment with what they are, I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Annette Roxie

*******UPDATED*******

The Winner of the Birdy Blue Contest is…….

LEAH!! who’s entry said this:

“I love the natalie personal stationery! I would use them to drop encouraging notes in the mail to my stressed out mama friends, thanking them for their friendship.”

Congratulations, Leah, email me (lauren@lovemilkandhoney.com) to claim your prize!  Thanks to all who entered!!

************

Original Post:

Happy Friday love, milk & honey readers!!  We have a special treat for you to end the week. A giveaway from the talented Birdy Blue designs!  Remember her post last week about the importance and uses of calling cards? This week you have a chance to snag some personalized paper goods all your own!  Rachel from Birdy Blue is giving one lucky reader 25 of anything in her shop.  You hear right… 25 of ANYTHING!!  So, what are you waiting for?  Get to entering!  Here’s how…

You may enter up to three times.  First, visit Rachel’s Etsy shop, Birdy Blue Design, take a gander at all the paper lovelies, and come back here and leave us the name of your favorite find and how you plan to use it in the comments.  Second way to enter, Twitter about this giveaway and mention @luvmilkandhoney in your tweet.  And Third, head over to facebook and leave a comment on the love, milk & honey page with your favorite paper-related memory.  (Mine is most definitely passing notes to my high school sweetheart between classes.  Little did I know I would marry the boy 9 years later and still have the notes we wrote to preserve those memories!)

You have until midnight (CST) tonight (Friday, August 13…creepy) to enter.  I will be announcing the winner first thing Monday morning so be sure to stay tuned!

Happy Weekend!

Many of you sweet reader friends are engaged and well on your way to marriage!  I have gotten a few emails from some worn out brides to be expressing their wish for the wedding day to just be over — stress has overwhelmed them and the excitement is dwindling.   I know there are so many days during your engagement where the planning and details seem to never end.  Planning a wedding is a whirlwind of excitement, emotions and change.  So many important people and dreams coming together in one pinnacle day.  Today I want to remind you that while the dress is sure to be beautiful and the flowers will make you swoon, the marriage is what you are in it for.  The everyday after the big day.

Making sure you invest in each other more than you invest in your wedding day is crucial to journeying through the season of engagement.  Wrapping your head around this idea, especially with all the decisions and details going on, is going to take some major will power.  Here are a few suggestions to get you going:

1. The simple game of questions: This is a favorite for James and I.  Anytime we get frustrated with life or seem to be harboring frustration, instead of going silent we go back to the basics.  Questions.  It is literally that simple.  You take turns asking questions of each other.  For example:

This fourth of July was a total bust in my mind.  The 4th is my favorite holiday.  It is the day James and I got engaged and I have always been smitten with fireworks.  We did nothing on the 4th besides go to a parking garage, and watch fireworks from a mile (or two) away.  Smaller holidays (think birthdays and the 4th) are a big deal to me.  James, not so much. I never articulated that I wanted to be doing more for the 4th and James is not naturally a planner.  Therefore, I sulked and he got irritated.  I couldn’t talk about it.  I was mad.  He was confused. And we were both sitting outside in the hot summer evening.  In silence.  James chimes in: “Of all the fireworks you’ve ever seen, which one is your favorite?” Me: “The ones that look like weeping willows.  But they have to be white… no colors.” James: “I like those too, babe.  Your turn.”

And there it starts.  We played for about 20 minutes and my frown turned into giggles.  I was then able to calmly tell him that my expectations for the day weren’t met and I was sad.  He was able to tell me that I needed to share my expectations with him or he wouldn’t know.  Boys aren’t mind readers.  “Questions” takes it back to simple conversation which allows you to let your guard down a bit so you can process things with a bit more perspective.

2. Buzz it out. A bride and groom of mine came to my studio, halfway through the planning process, burnt out.  She felt like he wasn’t listening and he felt like all she talked about was the wedding.  So, here was my suggestion.  It’s two-fold so hang in there with me.  Schedule specific times during the week that are “wedding chat” times.  Compile your questions for each other, make weekly to-do lists for all parties involved and pow wow about the wedding with your undivided attention for no more than an hour at a time.  But, on the flip side, schedule play dates with each other in which no wedding talk was allowed.  Be it a date, a movie night or even a stroll around the block.  No wedding talk.  How do you ensure the subject stays away?  Grab one of your board games that comes with a buzzer (pictionary, guesstures, etc.)  borrow the buzzer on your date night and set it in a neutral location.  If your fiance brings up the wedding, you get to buzz the buzzer!  It’s just a little reminder to be present in the moment.  Guaranteed laughs will follow.

3.  Create a safe-word. Maybe it is neither you nor your fiance who is overly dwelling on the wedding, it could be an involved family member or an excited friend.  Use teamwork with this one and come up with a safe word between the two of you that signals to your partner that you need help or an out from an invasive, stressful, or just plain awkward conversation.  Get creative. (hairspray and doodlebug are my current favorites)  The more creative, the funnier it becomes as you try to work it into conversation.

Engagement can be such a fun season of your relationship.  Keep perspective and remember that your wedding is only one of many days in which you can choose to celebrate your marriage.  Have any more ideas that you and your fiance have used to stay sane?  Please share them in the comments!

header image: Gina Zeidler

Ugh.

That’s it.

June & July in a nutshell = ugh!  Not because I didn’t get to work on some beautiful weddings with some of my favorite clients (I did! I did!) but ugh because I haven’t felt like myself.

I’ve made reference to it a couple times here… claiming to be back…saying I am going to continue with gusto but, truth is, I’ve been gusto-less.  My creativity is tired, my body is tired, even my toe nail polish is tired (quick! someone send me some OPI Cajun Shrimp).  We’ve taken a brief vacation, I’ve stayed away from the office, but it’s like every day holds at least 3 or 4 Eeyore moments.  You know what I mean?  Little black cloud raining only on you.  Eeyore.

I’ve wanted to write you guys and tell you what was up but honestly, I got too caught up in putting useful information on the blog rather than just being real.  Ever do that?  Try so hard to be useful that you aren’t.  I put Love, Milk & Honey out there to be transparent with you guys.  I don’t have all the answers but I love marriage, I am fueled by relationships and I light up when I talk about living passionately.  (read: marriage makes me beam brighter than edward cullen. twihards? you out there?)  Anyway, I realized that I have been my own writer’s block as of late.  So, I’ve decided to stop that…just letting you know.  You may not find my posts useful or informative always but they will be real.  So there.

Now.. for some cool stuff…

Spark rocks.  It is seriously going to be such a wonderful experience.  I will be announcing the new cities, features, details and dates by the end of this week… so please consider it.  It will be a brilliant investment in your relationship.  Not to mention a totally awesome weekend away with your lovah. (lover… said in a sultry voice.)

I am really excited about some of the new features.  If you want us to come to your city, let me know!  Email me (lauren@lovemilkandhoney.com), skype me (laurenkmoore) , twitter me, TELL ME!

Ok… also…

I have something up my sleeve for The Niche.  It is, obviously, one of my favorite sections of the blog so I think it is time to take it a little further.  I’m nervously-excited so say a little prayer for me this week that I step out and get the ball rolling.

AND

My husband, James, has a twitter.  A lonely twitter with no friends and very few updates.  Please follow him so he will stop stealing my phone to read all of your updates.  And so that he will hopefully share some of his wit and charm with you guys.  He has this thing about following people before they follow him…don’t ask me.. I’m not a boy so I don’t get it.

Speaking of husbands… I changed my last name yesteryday.  I’m only a year late.. no worries.  $100.00 off Spark to the first person who correctly guesses my new last name.  Gina, Emily, Ulmers, Lara, and Katie… you can’t guess .  Everyone else, the comments are open!

I love you guys.  thanks for hanging in there with me.

I came across Rachel of Birdy Blue Design via twitter.  And, I fell hard and fast. for her blog. for her designs. well, maybe even for her.

She has an incredible design portfolio and her knowledge of paper goods makes her designs even more valuable!  Today Rachel shares a bit about the re-emerging calling card and some of her favorite uses for it.  Be sure to head over to Rachel’s shop and pick some of your favorites…and stay tuned, we might just have another Birdy Blue surprise for you this week!

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Hello lovely Love, Milk and Honey readers! Don’t you just adore Love, Milk and Honey and all that it represents? I sure do! I am so happy to have the opportunity to share a little bit about about the resurgence of calling cards (and no, I am not talking about the calling cards we used to use to actually call someone back in the 90′s). Calling cards have been said to have been originated in 15th century China and were commonly used by 17th century European royalty who would send cards to people’s homes to notify them of their arrival in town. Over the years, the calling card became a means in which people were or weren’t allowed into certain social circles. In more recent years they have gained in popularity, I think largely due to the fact that as humans we crave the tactile as we swim through the ocean of emails and technology on a daily basis.

We are all familiar with business cards but calling cards aren’t quite the same as the business card. Calling cards today tend to have a minimal amount of contact information, sometimes only the person’s name and phone number are included. The designs also vary from quite elaborate to very minimal, modern looks.  They are also commonly used by those not in professional trades, like mothers and students. I love seeing the calling cards that simply say “Matty’s mom” or where the card is laid out pretty formally as a business card but the title of the person’s job simply says, “Mom”.

There are a host of different uses for the modern calling card. Being on the artistic end up things, I just thoroughly enjoy designing them and would love to do more of them! They are appropriate for the social elite as well as the mom at home who takes great pride in her important role.

Thanks again for letting me share a bit about the history, role and popularity of the modern calling card!

-Rachel

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Readers, let us hear from you… do you have a favorite use for the calling card?

James and I were so blessed to be able to buy our first home and we love it.  Well, most of it… Our master bedroom closet is approximately the size of a Pez dispenser.  And, for a girl with a love for shoes, it just isn’t cutting it.  So, I’ve drafted a letter to warn my poor undersized closet of my intention in the coming weeks.  I invite you to join me in becoming a master closet organizer!  C’mon, it will be fun!

Dear teeny tiny closet,

This thing – you and me – is not working out so well.  Well, it might work if it was just you and me.  But it’s not.  It’s you and me and him (hello, marriage.  Here, have my closet space. womp).  That’s a lot of ands but not a lot of space.  So, I’ve decided to take a stand.  I have relinquished my fight to move walls to create a Carrie Bradshaw worthy closet (I am NOT happy about this by the way) and have moved on to more practical means.  Consider this your official warning.  I am a red-head and I take no prisoners.  I vow to shelve, organize, rearrange and finagle until I come out on top.

Yours truly,

Lauren

Have a malfunctioning closet of your own?  Share it with the class!  Let’s get these bad boys whipped into shape before Fall arrives.  I’ll keep you updated on my progress and some of the great organization products I find to help me along the way.  Send your closet/organization tackling stories my way, I would love to share them on the blog!  lauren{at}lovemilkandhoney.com

header images from Left to right from: here, here & here