Branching Out

For a while now, Nettleton Hollow has been thee place online to buy decorative branches and have by FAR had the greatest selection of branches from curly willow, to the popular manzanita to iced birch, grapewood, kuwa etc.

BUT, one of my favorite places for wedding craft supplies, online store Save On Crafts, has recently REALLY expanded their selection of natural branches! They now carry everything from manzanita, mitsumata, ghostwood, iced birch to natural huckleberry. They also carry faux branches and blooming branches. Check out their new selection here.

30"-40" Natural Manzanita

3ft-4ft Iced Birch

ShopStyle.com

I'm sure some of you are aware of this GREAT web site but I decided to share just in case...

Similar to Like.com, Shop Style is exactly what its name suggests: it allows you to easily shop for the exact style of whatever you are looking for. It is a visual search and I love it because it searches SO MANY different web stores--ones I have never heard of before that have the cutest items!

How it works: You simply type in what you are looking for and it will pull up (normally) pages of results.

Here are a few searches I did to give an example:

"Yellow pumps" (19 pages):

"Yellow dress" (48 pages)

"Yellow Tie" (21 pages)

"Fuchsia Pumps" (10 pages)

Have fun!!

2009 Crystal Ball!!

2008 has been SUCH an amazing year for me--from becoming a Mrs. to the launch of Savvy! I am so excited to have the privilege to fully plan several 2009 weddings. Here are some of the fabulous venues that you will see Savvy in the coming year:

• Windows on the River, Cleveland, Ohio





• Blue Heron Golf Club, Medina, Ohio





• The Wyndham, Cleveland, Ohio





• 1840s Ballroom, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland

Exterior of 1840s Ballrooom, Baltimore

[I had a chance to scout this awesome venue last weekend. It is RIGHT on the water and next door to the most charming Bed and Breakfast ever! There is SO much to be done with this space, which is a mix of a contemporary/loft feel and a vintage/grand feel. Hard to explain. Although it looks really contemporary/loft-like from the exterior, the inside has LOTS of character and is far from a 'blank slate." There are murals painted on the walls and lots of gorgeous dark wood detailing--no steel beams, etc. And I love the outdoor courtyard space!

Windows on the River City View room, photo copyright Tom Forrest

Stay tuned!

Big Lots Goes Online

Big Lots is just ONE of those hit or miss stores--that when you HIT it is always for something fabulous and fabulously discounted. This morning, the retailer opened online shopping. Of particular interest are the Candles and Floral Decor section and the Indoor and Outdoor decor.

Now, of course, right now everything is all Halloween-ey and Christmas-ey, but I would keep my eyes on this one as they add inventory. Another one to watch is Dollar Tree Direct which has a fairly new online presence, sells in bulk and will ship your order for free to your local store.

Couture Water??

Now, if you really have money to blow like this..well, fine. Go for it!
First saw this Swarovski embellished 'product' in who but Donald Trump's new hotel and tower in Chicago this summer. These babies are in every guest room and/or available on the...ahem..."water menu."

From the Bling peeps:

"Our mission is to offer a product with an exquisite face to match our exquisite taste. Our product is strategically positioned to target the expanding super-luxury consumer market. It's couture water that makes an announcement like a Rolls Royce Phantom...the "Cristal" of bottled water."

Wow. WHO wrote that?? LOL!

Shameless pic of moi 'modeling' the bling libation at Trump. I know....:

The water is bottled in Tennessee.

The Sexy Sophisticate

Bride...
Maids...

Alvina Valenta Fall 08

Washington DC Exquisite Fabric

Is moving from its K Street location to M Street at the Shops at Georgetown Park. They are having a GREAT closing sale on K Street right now, too! I just stopped in on my lunch hour looking for some pretty lace for a bride's bouquet and everything was 30 percent off! This store is FABULOUS compared to your run of the mill fabric stores and their selection of ribbon, trims, imported lace and bridal fabrics are unmatched by any shop I've visited outside of the New York City garment district. Definitely worth a look:)

Sweet Chic Designs Giveaway Today!!

Sweet Chic designs offers the design of wedding invitations, monograms, programs, menus and custom favor and water bottle labels. And today, Lucy over at Sweet Chic will be blessing one lucky bride (or groom!) with three FREE monogram designs to use however you please!
To enter, simply comment on this post with your wedding date and colors and EMAIL ADDRESS by MIDNIGHT EST today. I'll draw the winner tomorrow and that person will be contacted by Sweet Chic for more info!
Ciao!!

Some of Lucy's SWEET work!

Forgive me for...

My continued posting of Forever 21 pumps, but my recent trip to the three-level mega Forever in NYC (around 34th shopping district) has me a believer that the store's shoes are...ok! Certainly for a one-time wear (think your wedding). I even tried on a few pairs of heels while there and they were....kind of...comfy! Not bad at all for the price! Before visiting the NYC store which has its own 'shoe section' I was like most of us--used to seeing a few random shoes here and there placed around the stores. Hard to take seriously.

But THESE are pretty SERIOUS on style and price! Enjoy!

The Glamorous Satin Pump
$28.80

The Pleated Satin Pump

$12.50. Yes, $12.50

The Ginger Satin and Suede Pump
$24.80

FlowersandSupplies.com

I have not ordered from this web site (yet) but it is loaded with goodies begging to be used in wedding decor! Some of my favorites right now:

Hanging tea light holder vases

Flocked fleur di leis votive candle

DIY cylinder hanging votive holder

[2 holes on the sides to attach your own filament or ribbon]

Cheers!
Meg

Inspired: Fall Jewel Tones

The rich mustard color really grounds this inspiration board and makes what could have been spring, fall. 

Board by Savvy.

Dress: Shopstyle

Shoes: J Crew

Necklace: 1928

Printed Tablecloth: Etsy

DIY Damask Votive Wraps

So, there has been a lot of talk lately about ways to add flair to ordinary glass votives--especially with this year's growing popularity of the damask print. Some ideas I think are very clever are wrapping damask-print packing tape around votives or finding a pattern you love, printing it on vellum then attaching to clear votives with double stick tape. I think it would be SUPER interesting to try the tape or printed vellum on tinted, jewel-toned votives in a mustard, purple or crimson!!

Get the packing tape here


One graphic designer I have worked with and 'met' on The Knot, Jennifer Levenfus, now has downloadable damask templates to use on votives on her design blog, The Fussy Designer. Check them out!

The Panache Satin Slingback

$20.80 from Forever 21

Back to School in Aqua + Red

I came across this August DIY wedding of a Vancouver, Canada couple on Flickr and was SO inspired by all of the thought put into it...and of course, the colors--aqua and red--which is one of my fave color duos right now!

The bride and groom apparently met on the campus of the University of British Columbia, and their entire wedding "theme" is centered around school and class. I know...sounds REALLY cheesy! But they pulled it off so well. Enjoy:)

Mood board for their wedding:

Screenshot of wedding web site:

Card box!

THIS was their save the date. Mailed in a box...

Placecards. Notice the guest buttons: "I love chemistry"

And their buttons in front:)

The invite!

Pomaders made with red cupcake liners

Table signs

Invite "pocketfolder"

Test tube escort cards