Vacation

Tomorrow we are headed up to Gloucester, Massachusetts to spend some time relaxing with our friends Mike and Sarah at their vacation home called Bayview. I need the time off! I will be back on Tuesday. Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Greece

We are going on a cruise to Greece for our honeymoon. We fly into Athens and then set sail on a ship around many of the islands and even have a stop in Turkey. Each day, we spend time on a different island. It's so perfect because, although we are not used to traveling this way, we never have to worry about where we are going to sleep that night, how we are going to get from A to B, and most meals are on the ship and we can have one on the island. With the Euro being so high, this will be a great bonus.

Hair Accessories

These stunning creations are by Etsy seller Whichgoose. She makes them out of natural and found materials adding to their appeal. I love their whimsy, fairy, unstylised look. So perfect for a breezy wedding.

Wedding Band

This is my wedding band. It was custom made in gold by Monique Leon, a New Orleans jeweler. I love flowers and I fell in love with this unique, gorgeous ring immediately. It fits like a dream and is so comfortable. I have other gold jewelry on my left hand so I am going to wear my engagement ring on my right hand after I am married and this band on my left ring finger. A ring like this one can stand alone.

Wedding hairstyle

This is my wedding hairstyle. I have long curly hair and this is so pretty, so elegant, and loose. It is the only hairstyle that will let me keep my hair down but still play up the curls. I ordered a hair vine infused with shells and pearls which seller Chicallure on Etsy made for me. I love it! I just sent her a photo of the above. I am also going to take this photo to my non-wedding hair stylist before the final cut. Unfortunately, as the wedding is on the beach, my hairstylist can't travel, so I have to have someone style my hair down there. Hopefully, a picture is a 10,000 words and I dont end up with big Jersey hair.

Rope coasters

These lovely beachy decor would be lovely for a seaside home or a wedding cocktail table or even favors. From the Martha Stewart craft of the day.

Instructions:

Begin by preparing a cardboard work surface and template for each. Using a compass, trace a circle about 4 inches in diameter onto a piece of corrugated cardboard. Snip the end of a ball of cotton clothesline at a 45-degree angle. Dab the end with craft glue, and fold it over onto itself. Fix to the cardboard with a pin. Carefully coil the rope around, gluing as you go, and secure with a pin every 3/4 inch. At the edge of the template, cut the rope. Let dry overnight. Remove pins, and coat both sides with acrylic paint.

Crustaceans

These crustaceans are from Dover Art. They would be perfect as decoupage for favor boxes, gift cards or as part of a wedding paper suite.

Beach wedding photo

I love this beach picture from Jennifer Stone Weddings. It is just a natural picture, the bride barefoot, the groom holding her shoes. She, lifting her dress in the prettiest casual way. I dont see too many that I like as most of them are "too stiff" for the beach.

Nautilus shell bouquet

This lovely bouquet is so simple and sweet and beach perfect. I dont have the name of the fantastic designer. When I was in NYC, I found large nautilus shells that would be perfect for this in the Flower district.

Perfect Beach hair

This is what perfect beach hair should look like. Just the perfect mix of structured and messy. The hair vine is beautiful. There is a wonderful shop on etsy called "chicallure". Jennifer makes beautiful hair pieces. I asked me to make me one with shells and pearls.

Seashell Lights

This awesome idea comes straight from Martha Stewart Living Craft of the Day.
Instructions:

A string of beach treasures casts a dreamy glow on a patio or porch. Decorate a string of small white lights with clean, dry shells. Tape a 2-foot section of lights to your work surface with bulbs lying flat. Apply a thin layer of epoxy along the hinge edge of a shell, and press into place at the base of a light. Repeat for each bulb. Let dry about five minutes before continuing with the next section.

Hospitality

I love this assortment of sunblock, fans and umbrellas for beach wedding guests. What a beautiful presentation! And the homemade bottles are super cute.