YES!

I have been thinking about the concept of having a Halloween wedding, and turns out...I love it! Halloween doesn't have to just capture the dark side of humanity...it can also capture the fun, child-like, gothic (traditionally speaking), or romantic sides. What about having your wedding at an old cathedral or a gothic mansion? I normally don't advocate traditional roses for weddings, but for Halloween I say the more blood-red  roses the better! How romantic. As far as dresses go, I am thinking something with a vintage feel (obviously it doesn't have to be vintaged/used, but it could be). Melissa Sweet, one of my favorite wedding dress makers, has  a couple gowns I find fitting for a Halloween wedding:

Let's see...what else could be fun for a Halloween wedding? Maybe have your cocktail serverse masqueraded. It wouldn't be expensive to purchase these for the waitstaff and it would be a nice touch...and they should wear white gloves of course!

Carved pumpkin or gourd centerpieces will look beautiful and festive with some dedication. I would go for muted colors so they work nicely with red roses or whatever colors you choose! Check these out...as I said, it will be beautiful but take dedication! If you decide to take on this project, let me know! I would love to help or at least see your progress.

Of course these are just some of my ideas! If you are interested in having a Halloween wedding and need help with the preparation, let me know!

J.P.

Here are some other jewelry sets that Phrannie made for my bridesmaids, as promised!

Love, Love, Love them!

J.P.

It can be difficult to come up with gift ideas for the wedding party (groomsmen, bridesmaids, ringbearer, flower girl, and anyone else who may have helped you through). You want the gifts to be personal and useful, while staying within a budget.
I encountered this same dillema when it came time for me to purchase such gifts. I didn't want to get the traditional embroidered tote bag for my bridesmaids and my husband didn't feel it was appropriate to buy his groomsmen engraved flasks. Here are a few ideas we came up with:

For the guys, why not get something they can use year round? Whether for hosting football parties in the Fall, grilling out in the Summer, or for just eating in, it is great to get a variety pack of burgers, steaks, and appetizers. Omaha Steaks offers a wide variety of items (but not much in the way of vegetarian dishes) that are quite tasty, and everything will be shipped to their door frozen. You can find good discounts online too :)

For the wonderful bridesmaids, I decided to have jewelry sets handmade to reflect the color scheme of the wedding. I thought this was a perfect gift and hopefully something they would be able to wear again and again (I know I would). Phrannie sells her things here on Etsy and her work is lovely, phunky, and phashionable. I told her what the dresses would look like and the style/personality of each girl and she went from there. Each piece was unique and looked perfect with the black dresses! I will post more pictures of these in a different blog.

For my ringbearer and two flower girls, I purchased gifts from UncommonGoods. I wanted to get them something that they would enjoy and that is out of the ordinary, so I stumbled upon the perfect place. They don't just sell kids stuff, however. You could find many great gifts for your wedding party and even party favors (art, ornaments, journals, candles, dishes, etc) and the best part is they strive to sell organic, recycled, handmade and fair-trade products! The picture is yoyo dolls I purchased for the littlest in the bridal party (a 2 year old). Her face lit up when she received them!

Also, check out Lush handmade cosmetics company. I mean, come on! Everyone likes to be fresh and smell good :) And you can feel good about using their products because they do not test on animals and use great ingredients! Another great gift for women or men...

J.P.

Tarah and Vic were married October 12th in New York State, with their reception in Connecticut. What a beautiful Autumn weekend this was with the leaves changing and the weather just right! I had a great, yet busy time being their Wedding Coordinator for the day. Beginning at 2:00 I set up the reception hall so that it would look perfect for the bride and groom's grand entrance, and finished off the night packing away their many gifts. In between there was of course alot of fun and excitement with Live Wire Entertainment bringing down the house! Seriously, this band rocked and I could not believe their vast assortment of songs. Also, Steve from Blue Sky Photography was there to capture all the fun moments and I am sure the photos will turn out great! Both Steve and Live Wire were wonderful to work with and I would definitely suggest them for your next event. Here are a few pictures I took of the reception Hall before the guests arrived. I can't take credit for any of the decorative ideas (since Tarah and her mom came up with those) but I did the set up. I loved the use of hydrangea...such a pretty flower. You can see a few more pictures and read what Tarah and her family had to say about the day on my Home page!

J.P.

Thanks to Lindsey from Bustle Event Design  in Indianapolis for inspiring me with her blog to honor those hard working artists at Etsy. They really do have so much to offer, and I luckily took the opportunity to use their creativity for my wedding.

In looking for local artists in Jersey City and Hoboken with Wedding and Event goods, I spotted the funky style of a few I would like to mention!

First, there is Metalclothnwood (I even read in her bio that she does dress making!) who is showcasing some awesome hair ornaments. For me, a girl with short hair, it is important to accessorize with a hair comb...and they seem to be all the rage! Here is one that I really like-I think it would be a nice addition for a bridesmaid's outfit...and they come in various colors!

Here is another hair comb I just adore... for the more adventurous bride :) I think this would be a great addition to a Fall wedding, with the neutral colors and it provides the feeling of warmth! These and other vintage-esque goodies are handcrafted by emilyaugust!

And what about this vintage-inspired piece from DoriViv!?!? I just can't get enough. I think this item speaks for itself, but if you are looking to be a feminine,  elegant,  head turning bride...I think this is for you!

Now here is another fun and personal addition to your wedding from lillyclover! It may just look like a really pretty "thank you" card but it is more than that...it features an illustrated portrait of you in your wedding dress. Definitely a "thank you" card worth keeping!

Please check out these artists sites (linked with their names). I know most of them will custom make their accessories to reflect your personal style. Please also check back here for updates from time to time ;) I will soon be displaying works by Phrannie Lyons in NYC, who created the beautiful beadwork for my bridesmaids to match the flowers. She rocks!

J.P.