(*I was going to say “aesthetic motto,” but actually, this applies to our ceremony choices, too. Putting our personal touch on tradition.)

Mood: something old, something blue
Palette: brown paper, cream, faded Tiffany blue

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Top row from left: photo of oak trees with Spanish moss by Liz Banfield, photo of boy in seersucker suit by Sarah Rhoads, blue cardigan with vintage brooch styled by Shana Faust
Row 2: miniature pecan pies and red velvet wedding cake with sugar magnolia flowers both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: blue chairs via Oh Happy Day, magnolia flower photo by Alicia Bock, black and white photo by A Bryan Photo, vintage Mississippi stamp
Row 4: photo of vintage blue car by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, photo of vintage guest book journal by Jenny Liu, blue and lace ring pillow and paper-wrapped grits favor both from Martha Stewart Weddings

Make sure to stop by later for a beautiful wedding in the English countryside!

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

Mood: Hawaiian casual
Palette: sand and surf, red and yellow

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Top row from left: surfboard photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, vintage surf postcard, tropical fruit wedding cake from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: tropical orchid bouquet by Matthew Robbins, photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, beach wedding from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: beach and palm tree photo from Real Weddings, popsicles via Ruby Press, red and yellow hibiscus in bud vases by Nancy Liu Chin via Green Wedding Shoes
Row 4: pink Hawaiian quilt from The Quilt Complex, ukelele photo by Dave Robbins, signature cocktails with dried pineapple garnish from Martha Stewart Weddings, surfboard and food truck photo by Ericka McConnell

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

Mood: soft and rustic
Palette: navy blue, peach, white, brown

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Top row from left: blue and white tea towels from Martha Stewart Weddings, miniature Cinderella pumpkins, rose bouquet by Matthew Robbins, rustic barn venue from Charleston Weddings
Row 2: gray and white invitation by Hammer Press, lavender sachets from Martha Stewart Weddings, navy dress from Emersonmade, photo of apricot jam favor by Thayer Allyson Gowdy
Row 3: dahlia centerpiece by Saipua, gray striped straws via lolliblog, photo of Shaker style chairs by Tec Petaja, gold calligraphy on blue envelopes by Betsy Dunlap
Row 4: white pumpkins, peach dahlia from Carter & Cook, chalkboard in a vintage frame from Blue Bell Bazaar, dahlias in a galvanized bucket from Real Simple

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

Mood: retro, bold
Palette: mint blue green, poppy red

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Top row from left: red carnation centerpiece and grapefruit mint mojitos both from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo of aqua birdcage veil by Silvana di Franco
Row 2: photo of toile dress with red necklace by Tara Whittaker, peony stem photo by Elizabeth Messina
Row 3: vintage car photo by Kate Murphy, teal wedding cake with pleated paper decorations from Martha Stewart Weddings, ruffled wedding dress photo by Duston Todd, calligraphy tag by Betsy Dunlap
Row 4: shoe painting by Janet Hill Studio via Blah Blah Blahg, Lomography Diana camera from Urban Outfitters, letterpress peony coasters by Ruby Press via Poppytalk

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

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.

Yeah. That didn’t happen.

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

source

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.

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.

Photo taken by me, buy the book here.

Since I have zero computer design experience, I was at a loss on how to even begin to design this. I ended up just using my good old frienemy, Microsoft Word. And I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with the result! Are you ready to see the fruits of my labor?

Brace yourselves, people.

And please, don’t laugh.

On my ‘puter screen.

And the finished product! I printed them onto ivory cardstock, and they will be tucked inside next to our main invitations. Not too shabby, eh?

The reverse side of our Welcome Dinner/Farewell Brunch invites will feature a wedding map. That, my friends, I did get some help with. But more on that later.

Did you design any wedding-related stuff on your computer? What program did you use?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

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.

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.