A Different Kind of Guest Book

Over the last 16 months of wedding planning (sheesh!), I have come across a lot of ideas for guest books, but none of them has really struck my fancy. I've seen engagement photo guest books, wish bowls, wish trees, and Polaroid guest books, but I wanted to do something a little different. (One of the curses of doing too much research!)

Last month in the Spring issue of Inside Weddings, I came across a twist on the traditional guest book that I really liked:

photo from Inside Weddings

And last week while drooling over the work of Mrs. Penguin's photographer, I saw it again:

Photo from Sarah K. Chen's blog

I like the idea of having a memo board for guests to display their advice and well-wishes. It stands out enough that people will hopefully take notice of it and leave us a note, and it will likely provide some entertainment throughout the evening if our guests are able to read each other's messages!

Since I'm picky and want everything to coordinate with our colors, I couldn't just buy any old memo board, and I decided to make my own.

I started with a 20" x 30" piece of foam core (1/2" thickness) from Michaels for $5.99:


And a yard of silver satin from Joann Fabric for $6.99 (which I ironed on a low setting before beginning, to ensure that it was wrinkle-free):


I cut the fabric to be about 5" wider than the foam core around all edges:


I am sure I could have affixed the fabric to the foam core with a glue gun or something a little neater looking, but I decided that no one is going to see the back of the board, so I used some good ol' quick, non-messy thumb tacks.


If you have ever stretched an artist's canvas on your own, this is pretty much the same method I used. I started along one edge, tacking the fabric down, and then moved to the opposite side, pulling tightly so the fabric stayed taut. I did this all the way around, pulling tightly each time; to make sure everything was super secure, I finished the edges off using an extremely high-tech thing called a "stapler":


Again, not the prettiest method, but it works and it was free since I had a stapler on-hand!

The result was a neat, smooth satin-covered board:

Exciting, huh? :-)

Then it came time for the teal ribbon. Since the board was 30" on it's longest side, I decided I would place the satin ribbon every 5". With a pencil, I marked 5" marks along the top and bottom of the board, and then began affixing the ribbon by stapling it down to the back of the foam core. The piece of ribbon that started in the top left corner (at 0") crossed down to the right and affixed to the 10" mark at the bottom, in order to create a nice diagonal. I followed this format for all of the ribbons.


And then I went the other way to form my diamond shapes:


Once all of the ribbon was in place, I used my white thumb tacks and some cute decorative fabric flowers that I found at Michaels for $6.99 to further secure the ribbon at all of the intersections:


And, voila! My completed memo board:


The board will be displayed in our cocktail area, along with some blank cards and a sign explaining to our guests what it's for, so hopefully throughout the evening we'll get lots of fun messages from our friends and family!

Did doing this save me money? Probably not. Did it take more time than just buying a ready-made memo board? Definitely. But, I like that it will go along with the rest of our wedding decor, and I like that it has a hand-made quality to it.

What kind of guest book are you having at your wedding?

Bridal Shower Anticipation

Yesterday, I received an exciting piece of mail:

Albeit a little beat up from the USPS

My Matron of Honor had mentioned that I should be receiving my bridal shower invitation soon, so this must be it! I immediately tore it open with glee, ecstatic to be getting a tiny glimpse of the details of my fabulous shower, only to find this:

Click on image to enlarge and read the invitation

What a tease! They sent me a fake-out Mad Libs-esque invitation, with only my name filled in at the top. I know the date, time and location of my shower, but those clever, creative bridesmaids of mine are doing a good job of hiding all of the fun details from me. They know it's killing me to not have a clue, but I'm sure the surprises will make my shower all that much more fun when it finally does roll around.

In what clever ways have your bridesmaids kept your shower details a secret from you?

Menswear Mythbusters!

Many months ago, Mr. Cupcake and I decided that we wanted the groomsmen and dads (and, of course, the groom!) to wear suits in the wedding instead of tuxes. I've always had mixed feelings about tuxes, and Mr. Cupcake has never been thrilled with them, either. We both love the look of a sharp, tailored suit.

Photo by the Wiebners

When Mr. Cupcake went to try some tuxes on a few months ago at Men's Wearhouse, neither of us were really impressed and all of the jackets seemed ill-fitting on his not-so-tall and slender frame. We asked about renting suits, but the MW employees scratched their heads and said that they didn't know of ANYWHERE that rented men's suits. We heard this from other people as well, so we thought it must be true.

We were discouraged, because we didn't want to ask the men in the wedding party to buy suits that could cost well over $250, but Mr. Cupcake also didn't feel great when he had a tux on, and it showed. He should feel just as happy and confident in what he's wearing on the wedding day as I will. We considered having all the guys rent tuxes and buying one for Mr. Cupcake so it could be tailored to fit him, and eventually figured that was the most reasonable plan.

Since we weren't thrilled with the service at the MW we visited, we took a shot at a local tux shop — Iacobbucci Tuxedo Rentals in Morton, PA. A staple of Delaware County, it is not at all glamorous but I am pretty sure this is where all of the prom-dates-of-Cupcake's-past got their tuxes, and my dad still rents tuxes from here when he needs them, so I figured we should check it out. While we were there we just happened to ask about renting suits.... and guess what? They do! We cracked the menswear myth!

Not only do they have a simple black suit that they rent, but it is only $65! We were shocked, and very excited. For the suit and another $25 for shoes, it will cost each of our groomsmen only $90 to rent their attire. We checked out a sample jacket, and it was indeed a simple black suit, but not bad at all.

I also happened to call another local tux rental shop yesterday — B. Gross Menswear in Media, PA (don't mind the hideous website) — and they also rent a black suit. Their price is a bit higher at $99, plus another $20 for shoes, but we are going to go check it out this weekend to see if the suit is any nicer and perhaps worth the higher price.

Mr. Cupcake will now buy himself a spiffy, dapper black suit that will be tailored to fit him, so he will coordinate with the groomsmen but stand out a bit (as he should!), and, most importantly, feel handsome and spectacular on our wedding day. The guys will also wear white suspenders and the ties we bought them, along with a teal pocket square and bouttoniere.

Are your guys wearing suits or tuxes? Has anyone else had any luck with renting suits?

Bachelorette Dilemma!

I am a very lucky bride -- my bridesmaid's have been working tirelessly to plan a super fabulous cocktail-party themed bridal shower for little ol' me. Since I am fortunate enough to be having more than one shower, the shower from my bridesmaids will be exclusively for all my fabulous girlfriends to attend (and of course my fabulous mom and FMIL). I can hardly wait to see all the amazing details they have come up with for my shower (and I know they have lots of surprises in store -- all they'll tell me is the date, time and location, and I pretty much have to guess the rest!).

My shower will be around 5:00 on a Saturday evening (since it is a "happy hour shower," if you will!), so hopefully my lady-friends will hang out into the evening sipping fabulous cocktails and doing things that ladies do at showers. All but one of my 'maids live out of town, so I am grateful that they'll be coming into town for this shindig, and I have a handful of other out-of-town friends who will be invited as well.

The only minor dilemma this has created is that now we're all a little stumped as far as what to do for a bachelorette party. A lot of brides have their shower and bachelorette over the same weekend to accommodate travelers, but this might be a bit tricky for me since the Saturday night spot of that weekend will already be jam-packed with bridal shower splendiforousness. I'm infamous for being a waste of life when Friday nights roll around after a long week of work, so planning something the previous night would probably not be the best idea. A weekend trip somewhere isn't really a possibility since we're all a bit busy this summer and I don't really want anyone to have to go to any huge expense (since they've already put so much time and I'm sure money into my shower), and I'm also not so much the "let's go club-hopping, do shots and see strippers" type of gal. I'd love to go for dinner and drinks somewhere and then go out to do something.... but what? And when???? I think I'll be a little too overwhelmed in the few nights before the wedding to do anything then, but I'm having a hard time figuring out another time that my girl friends will actually be able to get together.

So hive, I need some opinions: what fun, non-traditional bachelorette parties have you been a part of? Did you/are you planning to have yours in the few days leading up to your wedding, or farther in advance? Should we just let my bridal shower double as a bachelorette party and call it a draw? Or, will I regret not having a raucous night out somewhere with my favorite ladies?

I Keep My Sweaters in My Oven

Okay, I don't really keep my sweaters in my oven... but this was a line uttered by Sarah Jessica Parker that made me giggle when I (finally) saw the Sex and The City movie this weekend. I'm not quite as bad as Carrie Bradshaw when it comes to the kitchen, but I'm also not quite a master chef... yet.

Once the wedding is over and a little bit of chaos subsides in our lives, I really want to take a cooking class or two so that I feel more confident in the kitchen. I really want to enjoy cooking, but right now Mr. Cupcake cooks way more often than I do because I just can't find the time to organize ingredients and actually prepare meals. With everything going on, cooking dinner feels more like another chore on my growing list of to-dos than something I would do to relax and unwind. Luckily, Mr. Cupcake likes to cook and has a knack for throwing together a yummy meal using whatever ingredients we happen to have, but I still want to be able to hold my own in the kitchen someday.

I am hoping that all of the delightful kitchen items on our registry will give me the added motivation to get my act together in the kitchen, since cooking with a hodge-podge of old college cookware and hand-me-down electronics isn't the most fun at the moment.

I have mentioned my adoration for it before, but let's just take another moment to appreciate the beauty that is the KitchenAid Stand Mixer:

My color of choice: Ice, from Bed, Bath and Beyond

It will be refreshing and hopefully less frustrating to have some nice, matching, non-stick cookware:

Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick Cookware from Crate & Barrel

I'm also thrilled to replace my trusty (but too small for two burgers at a time and frankly getting a little gross) college-buddy, my George Foreman Grill, with a nice new replacement:

Cuisinart Griddler with removable plates from Bed, Bath & Beyond

And perhaps I'll be inspired to blend more things once I have this:

Cuisinart Smart Power Premier Blender from Bed, Bath & Beyond

It will also be nice to eat my culinary creations off of our real, grown-up dishes with our real, grown-up flatware:

Halo Dinnerware from Crate & Barrel

Stanton Mirror Flatware from Crate & Barrel

Is anyone else hoping that their fancy new registry items will inspire them to find their inner Julia Child? Are you planning to take a cooking class to learn how to best make use of your new kitchen gadgets?

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams (Minus the Caviar Part)

Lately I have been having a love affair with old-fashioned coupe champagne glasses. They always look so classy in old movies like Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman:


I decided a few months ago that there won't be any modern toasting flutes for Mr. Cupcake and me at our wedding, and so began the hunt for the perfect coupe champagne glasses to go along with our vintage vibe.

I have seen lots of these on ebay and at secondhand shops, but they're usually a little too casual looking and I wanted something with a bit more flair than this:

Image from Wikipedia

Yet a bit less expensive than this:

$232 (plus shipping) for a set of 8 on ebay

$45 per glass (plus shipping) on ebay

I was surprised to find that Waterford makes a really lovely coupe glass, but of course, these are not available at any of our 3 registry locations, and I'm too cheap to buy 'em myself ;-):

Waterford Crystal Lismore Essence Champagne Saucer,
$79.50 each at Neiman Marcus

While taking a walk to get some lunch the other day with a few co-workers, we happened upon these cool coupe glasses with a really pretty silver flower and leaf design in the window of a local secondhand shop:

Sorry, I still haven't replaced my crappy camera
and this was the best shot I could get without a flash!

I went inside to check them out, and they were $46.50 for the set of six (and completely lovely). Although the stem is pretty short and I was picturing something a bit taller, I decided that the charming design outweighs any concern I have about the stem, and I love that they're actually vintage (although I'm unsure of how old they really are). I can totally picture Mr. Cupcake and me toasting with these on our wedding day, so I bit the bullet and bought them!

Here is another photo that I took with the flash, which unfortunately creates some annoying reflections, but you can get a better idea of what the silver design looks like.


Has anyone else been on the hunt for the perfect vintage coupe champagne glasses?

Personal Style Guide? Yes, Please!

It may be early to start thinking about what I'll be wearing during our honeymoon in Antigua (since it's not for another 3+ months), but when we head to the Caribbean it will be fall in Pennsylvania, and finding cute tropical-worthy attire may not be easy. Usually by early August, the stores are starting to stock their fall clothes, and I don't want to be stuck without anything cute to wear while enjoying a week of paradise with my new hubby.

Today I got quite an exciting email from one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie: they are now offering complimentary personal shopping at select stores! All you need to do is call to schedule an appointment, and your shopper will mix and match a handful of outfits and accessories in the sizes, colors, and styles that you like.

I don't allow myself to go to Anthro too often because that would mean a serious negative balance in my bank account, but I do treat myself to some pretty Anthro pieces every so often, and I rarely feel like anything I have purchased there in the last few years has gone out of style. The honeymoon might be a nice excuse to splurge on a couple of nice items for my trousseau. And what better way to pamper myself than with a personal shopper to do the leg work for me! It may be free, but it will still feel like a treat :-)

Perhaps I'll be taking home one (or two!) of these cute items:

Coquette top, $78

Bachelor's Buttons Tank, $88

Sheerwater halter, $88

Great Heights Bustier, $78

Mix-and-Mingle Tank, $58

Lush Arroyo Dress, $148

Blue Angel Dress, $168

Spotted Cat Bikini, $78-$108

Sunshade Flora Chemise, $58

Waxflower Falls Cover-Up, $98

Is anyone else planning their honeymoon wardrobe so far in advance?

Invitation inspiration

It happened in a flash.... there I was, driving home from work one day, when BAM! The image of our wedding invitations flashed before my eyes. I rushed home, opened Adobe Illustrator, and got to work creating a masterpiece. Within a few hours, voila — we had our invitations.

Okay, that's a little bit of a fib. Oh alright, that's a big fib. It's a downright dirty lie. If you look at my master wedding to-do list, "start designing invitations" was back on February's list. Well, there I found myself in early May, still hemming and hawing over what in the world to do for our wedding invitations. The few designs I started to work on brutally sucked and kind of made me want to throw up a little when I looked at them. I knew I had to get the design to the printer by early June in order to allow ample production time, but the outlook was grim. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, and it became difficult to come up with anything that I didn't despise.

Then, I don't know how it happened, but somehow, eventually, I managed to put together an invitation design that I didn't hate — actually, I quite liked it. But it certainly didn't take just a few hours. Oh no. I obsessed over those babies for quite a few weeks. Nitpicking here. Kerning type there. Swapping out typefaces, tweaking Pantone colors, and subjecting my talented coworkers to surveys like "if you were a thank you card, which one would you be?" while giving them three layouts to choose from.

Last week, the day actually came when I was ready to send my invitation suite to the printer. I felt butterflies in my tummy, but they were butterflies of excitement. It's really happening! Our wedding is getting closer! People are actually going to get invitations for this shindig!!!

Without further ado, I present to you..........

Hehe, just teasing.... Did you really think I'd make it that easy for you? Did you think I'd just show you the whole she-bang, just like that? Oh no, you're going to have to wait till these puppies are in the hands of our guests ;-) Sorry, Charlie! But, until then, here's a little teaser to give you a glimpse into what I've been up to....