The Perfect Wedding Clutch

I love a good purse. I seldom buy them, because I love my classic lovelies, and I can’t bear to spave (spend money on something because it is cheap, and thus, save money on the price) my money on a cheap handbag, unless it is beyond lovely.

Enter Nelle Handbags. I love these bags, they’re quirky, cute and so well made. I love stalking the blog posting to see when new bags are unleashed, and I can hardly wait for the day that Nelle Handbags are seen on the runways with some hot celebrity grasping the gorgeous silk charmeuse or ribbon material.

Sooo, here you go. Eye candy that makes my resolve (to save money) melt.

Nelle Holiday 2008

What I love about Nelle Handbags are these things:
1. those with brooches are all different! Each bag has a different bit of vintage “bling”
2. she hand-dyes the fabrics, creating rich, delicious colors
3. Laura loves ribbons and she makes them gorgeous, from details on the Fit To Be Tied to creating an entire bag from pleated petersham ribbon.

If you’re at my wedding, I can promise that you’ll see one of these pretties on me… but which one?

A Little Planning Goes a LONG Way

How do you know how much time to dedicate to your wedding photos? Some photographers suggest 45 minutes, others say 2 hours.

And, how do you determine if you’re shooting photos before or after your actual ceremony? If you do it after, you risk missing the cocktail hour (sad) or making your guests wait, and wait, and wait between the ceremony and reception — which many guests find to be rude.

Some brides are against taking photos before the ceremony because of the emotion of seeing eachother for the first time on the wedding day — some want to save that for the moment that they start their trek down the aisle (I couldn’t, I’d be a blubbering mess of tears!).

So… I present to you, Wholly Matrimony’s tips on planning a photogenic wedding.

I will totally be using these tips, as the GTB and I are investing a solid chunk of our wedding budget in the photography, because it is so important to me. Why wouldn’t I put the extra effort into helping our wonderful photographer capture the best moments?

Que Magnifique!

I love old-style ceramics!

Clara French Ceramiques have these beautiful, custom glazed cake plates. Sigh. I want that!

They come in a selection of scrumptuous colors — Rustic Mauve, French Pear, Silk Blue and others.

I think I’ll just have to get the “Bijou Footed Cake Stand in the Elle style (front stands in image). While the prices are steep (about $175 + shipping and handling), I don’t know how I could use anything else now that I’ve seen these stunning cake stands.

Wedding Dresses Are A Funny Thing

Wedding dresses… the topic of so many books, magazines, blog postings (like this one!), shops and musings.

Its funny how a dress that one would consider to be ugly, another may find beautiful.

I was never into the designer Mori Lee until I saw this dress. Now, since I am not a size 4, I see no reason to think that I would look like this while wearing this dress (oh no, my size 10 frame wouldn’t squeeze into that little thing if it were split at the seams).

And…what the heck?! I’ve always been the one to vocally share my distaste of lace, beading and sweetheart necklines, and now? I’m chasing them down!

I can admire this beautiful dress from the safety of my computer screen (without the slightest strain on my pocketbook) — but this little beauty will never touch my body.

Isn’t she lovely?