Inside Our Wedding Attire

I feel like I blinked my eyes and two years has flown by. At the risk of sounding cliché, I must say time really does fly when you're having fun. In honor of our anniversary today and since this is indeed part fashion blog, I'm going to take you on the inside of our wedding attire.

Dress shopping is always such a fun part of the journey to the alter. I decided that my first trip to Sorrells (in Washington Pa) was going to be when I picked my dress. Surrounded by the closest women in my life, I picked the very first dress I had tried on.  Since I'm not an off the rack kind of girl the fun didn't stop there. Having a fabulous Mom as a seamstress has always worked in my favor and continues to. She added feathers, rhinestones, and her own amazing personal touch on everything.

This one was a close second but I felt it didn't show off my shape enough. That being said, I did love it and I loved the embellishment on the hip. We used that concept in my end result.  

This beauty here wasn't even in the top 5. Look at me I couldn't even keep a straight face! This was the "Moms Pick" dress. As much as I didn't like this dress it played a huge part in my design. See the sheer one shoulder? We got the idea for my dress from this.

The winner! I loved how I felt in this immediately. It was the exact silhouette that I wanted.

On the night that MK and I got engaged, my Sister-In Law wasn't able to make it to the engagement but at our engagement party she had a video all ready to go saying that she had set up an appointment at the one and only Kleinfeld's. It was such an amazing experience!! Not to mention getting to be in New York in December. Which is my favorite time to be there.

The photo on the right was another adventure with her at BHLDN in Houstan, TX. She has quite the eye and snapped this photo while we were browsing all things wedding. Such a beautiful store, when planning your garb for walking down the isle the possibility's are endless.

Back to the dress and accessories. Not only did I decide on my dress that night, I also decided on my jewelry and head piece. The headpiece was one of my favorite parts of my whole look. This was also the moment I thought, maybe I should wear my hair up. I'm typically a hair down person but with the earrings and one shoulder, it needed to be up. I actually did my own hair on the big day too.

"Feather Girls"

The "Feather Girls" dresses were my accent color, Royal Blue with Kelly Green accents. Opposite of the Bridesmaids dresses. My Mom custom made these dresses for my beautiful Nieces. Ella just about stole the show when she walked down the isle elagantly tossing feathers.

The ladies also had a shoulder and hip embellishment and feathers in their bouquets.

Can't forget about the guys! They  wore tan Michael Kors suits with a subtle white pin stripe. The vest has a paisley print. Handsome group of guys right there! 

One of my very favorite photos taken that day. 

Distinct Décor

Every now and then a line comes along that just speaks to me. In this case it's Michael Aram that has found a place in our home. We have a very contemporary style and these compliment our place perfectly.

Think they would be perfect in your home? They are from Joyce's Jewelry Boutique in Morgantown, WV. Give them a call at (304) 599-6981 or message me for more details.

For Thanksgiving last year, which I typically host, I did about a week's worth of research on "the perfect cheese plate". The information I found was daunting. Amidst all of it, I found a little tid bit that made it all seem very clear:

"Something old, something new, something goat, and something blue".

Below (also Michael Aram) is more of an everything tray. I added prosciutto, walnuts, and honey. The honey always pairs so well with your "something blue". As far as your "something old" I always go the route of an aged Gouda and the "something new" I prefer Bocconcini (fresh mozzarella balls). So, next time you are standing in front of 80 different cheese options wondering what to purchase, this makes it easy!

“Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love brought together under one roof.”

— Nate Berkus

All In The Details

 One of my favorite things in life is hosting parties. Over the years, I've learned that preparation and attention to detail are everything. My Aunt from the Florida Keys came home and what a perfect party weekend she chose. MK and I already had a little gathering scheduled for Saturday so we just continued on with the fun and had a family soiree the following day.

Sunday morning came and I started prepping. Fresh flowers, premade sangria, and lobster canapés ready to go.

I am absolutely an appetizer person. As much as I love to gather around my table in front of a big bowl of spaghetti and my family's smiling faces, there is something to be said for mingling and floating around nibbling on some delicious hors d'oeuvres.

Here is my Lobster Canapé recipe:

• 1 pound lobster
• 2 tbsp. mayo
• 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup mango (diced)
• 1/4 cup celery
• 2 tbsp. red onion
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Throw everything but the cilantro in a bowl and toss. Take a full tablespoon of the mixture and put in on a slice of cucumber or in this case I used a mini phyllo bowl. It adds a nice flakey crunch.

Fresh flowers are the best! Be your gathering inside or out, they really add some elegance. When choosing your flowers pick colors from opposite sides of the color wheel so that they compliment each other.

Here is Mk and I with the guest of honor. It was so great to have her home.

We will miss her dearly!