All Things Wedding From Wedding Stationery to Bridal Wear

Another relaxed summer wedding inspiration board for you, with a touch of red, white and blue to continue this week’s color motif. And what’s more summery and Fourth-of-July than a picnic? Print save-the-dates or invites on brown paper lunch bags to give guests the idea of what’s to come. Set up a swing and some lawn games, and maybe decorate with some paper lanterns hung in the trees. And again, if this idea seems too informal for a wedding, it would be perfect for a welcome party or rehearsal picnic luncheon.

Mood: breezy summer picnic
Palette: brown, green, red, pale blue

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Top row from left: picnic baskets and pies (via Dress Design Decor) both from Martha Stewart, “games” wooden sign photo by Jose Villa
Row 2: swing photo from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo of sandwiches wrapped in paper by France Ruffenach via Santa Barbara Chic
Row 3: brown paper bag picnic save-the-date by Sesame Letterpress, tea towel wrapped bottles from Martha Stewart, photo of basket of cherries by Kathryn Kleinman, tulip and daisy bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 4: photo of blue convertible VW Bug by Duston Todd, red punch jar from Custom Event Group, vintage handkerchief ring pillow photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, bride with blue shawl photo by Meg Smith

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

For Christmas, Mr. Snow gave me a gift certificate to a local spa. Being the thrifty person, I decided to save it for “pre-wedding pampering” (at least, that’s what Martha Stewart told me to call it in her suggested budget). I imagined an Aveda facial, Caribbean pedicure, or deep tissue massage a few days before the wedding. Ahhhh….

Yeah. That didn’t happen.

While my “pampering” took place in a serene room like this:

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The treatment itself was anything but serene.

Yes, fellow pampering comrades, three days before the wedding, I “pampered” myself with my first leg+bikini+arm wax.

And I (barely) lived to tell the tale.

No, no. I’m making it sound so horrific for dramatic blogging effect. Honestly, while no Caribbean pedicure, it wasn’t *that* bad.

I will also say that I’m not a total waxing novice. I have had facial and bikini waxes before. I’d always been intrigued by the idea of not having to shave for weeks and even attempted it at home in ninth grade to disastrous results.

I decided the wedding was a good enough excuse to torture pamper myself with the full waxing adventure (minus the excursion to Brazil… I’m brave, but not that brave!).

Now, I’m too much of weenie blogger to ask to take pictures during a waxing appointment (creeeeepy…), but I can tell you all what I learned and offer some information and tips if you too decide to wax yourself into oblivion a few days before your wedding.

1. You have to grow out your hair for AT LEAST three weeks. Longer if you can stand it. Not such a big deal for arms or areas generally covered by clothing, but, because I’m regular leg-shaver, this was a challenge for me (especially when, while attending a BBQ a few days before the waxing appointment, a friend’s one-year-old niece hovered around my legs most of the night, petting my downy leg fuzz… kids keep you honest!).

2. The appointment takes about an hour. Yep. Mentally prepare yourself for having hair stripped from your body for. an. hour.

3. It hurts. But not as bad as you anticipate. The only place that brought tears to my eyes/made me have to stop chatting with my esthetician was the lower half of the calf. Honestly, by the end of the appointment, my endorphins were in such overdrive, I hardly even feel any of it (which is why I can say that arm waxing was the easiest… it came at the end)

4. It isn’t cheap, but it isn’t unreasonable either. I paid around 100 dollars at a very chichi salon for everything.

5. Wear something that covers the waxed area if you’re going anywhere other than home after the appointment. You will look a little like you’ve broken out in the pox for a few hours after the appointment. I forgot this important detail and had to walk around a rather busy section of downtown looking afflicted.

6. Everyone says to take a couple of ibuprofen prior to the appointment, but I didn’t (b/c I forgot). I was fine, but I can’t see it hurting anything.

7. Go to a nice place for your waxing appointment. Not only do you get to have hair ripped from your body while you lounge on a comfy spa bed and serene music plays, but you see the difference in hygiene practices. Hot wax + intimate body parts = not a place you want compromise on safety or hygiene (you can literally lose the top layer of your skin if the wax is too hot).

8. Go to an experienced waxer. I paid a few extra to have an “experienced” esthetician. They know the best directions to pull hair, how to keep the conversation rolling, and how to wax fast. Speed and lots of talking are key in this kind of “pampering”.

9. Exfoliate before and after the appointments. Use a somewhat intense (ie. salt scrub) exfoliant a few days before the waxing appointment (not the day before or the day of… it can irritate your skin too much). Use a gentle exfoliant afterward to help with avoiding ingrown hairs during regrowth (I just use a washcloth, but my hair’s pretty fine and straight).

What do you get after this hour of, uh, intimacy with a stranger and endorphin-producing pain?

Well, I didn’t have to think about shaving during my wedding or my honeymoon. Actually, at three weeks post-appointment, I can still get away with not thinking about shaving because only the teeny tiniest fine hairs have started to grow back. If I could afford it, I think I could become a full-on waxing convert.

Anyone else have waxing tips or tricks?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

Yesterday was a perfect day here, and we enjoyed it by cooking out with some friends – I hope we’ll have lots more days like that this summer! This week, I thought I’d post some red, white and blue inspiration boards, and I’m starting with this laid back lobster boil wedding. Get your guests in the spirit with lobster bib save-the-dates. How to make things both relaxed and lovely? For table numbers, tie tags around galvanized buckets filled with flowers, and for place cards, write guests’ names on smooth stones. Serve up ice cream in paper cups with wooden spoons, and drinks with striped straws. Send guests home with lobster-shaped lollipops. And if this seems too casual for a wedding, how about a rehearsal dinner?

Mood: relaxed, preppy
Palette: driftwood, pale blue, lobster red

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Top row from left: bride and groom with balloons via Nibs, ice cream with paper+cup wooden spoons via Martha Stewart Weddings, Cape Cod photo from Maverick Charters
Row 2: linen ring pillow from Eunice’s wedding* via Martha Stewart Weddings, dahlias in mason jar vase from Wedding Style Guide, lobster lollipops and rubber stamp save the date both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: lobster save-the-date by Linda & Harriett, photo by Karlisch, blue striped straws via Kelly Oshiro Events, lobster bib by Bird & Banner
Row 4: photo of DIY programs with bakers twine by Leigh Miller, red checked napkin, dahlias in galvanized bucket from Real Simple, blueberry pie

*Hello!Lucky is a Snippet & Ink sponsor, but this is not a sponsored post.

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

The beginning of a season is one of my favorite things – it always feels as though that season is the one I love most of all. Right now (of course) it’s summer. I love the sunshine and how nice it is to be outside all day long. I love that cherries and berries are actually affordable and delicious. That dinner is always as simple as it gets, and rarely requires cooking that doesn’t happen on a grill. And that it’s light out until bedtime. So it’s really no surprise that today’s inspiration board is easy going and totally simple. Iced tea and honey jars, sun dresses and a picnic basket. Sounds like a delightful way to spend the day, whether or not you’re getting married in the summer months.

Mood: sweetness and light
Palette: sunshine, honey, wheat

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Top row from left: yellow gingham honey jar favor via Creature Comforts, iced tea and sweet tea cocktails from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo in a field from Real Weddings, vintage yellow dish via Green Wedding Shoes
Row 2: beehive cake via Design Mom, invitation with kraft paper and yellow gingham via Elizabeth Anne Designs, yellow rose necktie by Chinny Chin Chin via The Constant Gatherer
Row 3: picnic basket from Longaberger, short wedding dress from Martha Stewart Weddings, bumblebee invitation by Ceci New York, bouquet with garden roses and bunny tails from Martha Stewart Weddings

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

What could possibly be more summery than strawberries? Maybe seersucker? Though there aren’t actually any seersucker photos in this inspiration board, the idea is there; I can just imagine the groom and his attendants wearing seersucker suits with white bucks. Strawberry red, pale pink, and cream make for a wedding color palette that’s at once preppy and romantic, and totally appropriate for sunny summer afternoon. And for dessert? Wedding cake inspired by strawberry shortcake, of course!

Mood: romantic, preppy, sweet summer
Palette: strawberry red, pink lemonade

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Top row from left: three-tiered strawberry wedding cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, birdcage veil photo by Our Labor of Love (thank you Emily!), dahlias in mason jar from Wedding Style Guide
Row 2: DIY lemonade favors by Jordan Ferney, ribbon necklaces styled by Shana Faust
Row 3: red and white flag ties, tent from Big Sky Tents, photo of red lipstick and curly hair from Locher’s, custom napkins and drink stirrers by For Your Party
Row 4: photo by Jennifer Sosa, red and white tie from Billy Reid, strawberry shortcakes from Martha Stewart Weddings

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.