4 Creative Wedding Gifts

For a lot of engaged couples, it seems like one of the most anticipated part of the wedding planning process is registering for things you'll need to start a new life together. Aka: wedding gifts! My husband and I went through the registering process, which, admittedly was really fun for him and overwhelming for me, ha! We picked out all the practical kitchen appliances, home goods and other odds and ends that we thought we might need. And luckily, we received most of the things we registered for as gifts, which was a huge blessing to our newly married life. 

Now, as helpful and practical as those registered gifts were, there were some gifts that stood out particularly because they were so different and creative compared to the store bought gifts. I wanted to share some of those ideas, along with others, so that you'll be able to give these fun gifts to your friends when they get married! 

Garden Starter - Help your friends get a head start on their indoor or small patio garden!
- potting soil + assorted pot sizes
- a variety of flower, herbs and veggie seeds
- a hand shovel and rake
- a vintage watering can
- gardening gloves

Tea Set - A romantic gift for the tea or coffee lovers in your life
- two unique mugs
- a serving tea pot

- a pretty platter (DIY it!)

- a variety of teas + coffees

- biscuit or scone baking mix

Italian Date Night Basket - A special dinner for two, all in one basket

- a big basket

- two kinds of pasta 

- two kinds of sauce 

- a nice bottle of wine 

- a gift certificate to their local bakery to buy fresh loaf of bread

Fun + Games - Bringing it back to the good ol' days with some childhood fun!
- a board game (or two!) from childhood
- variety of penny/movie candies
- a DVD set of their favorite cartoons 

- bubbles and/or sidewalk chalk 

{Pre-Wedding Pep Talk}

I know many couples getting married this summer and fall. Hoards of wedding advice and marriage tips are probably being tossed your way right about now, between bridal showers and in-laws and church friends and wedding blogs. I am sure most of the advice is valid, but remember that each marriage, each couple, each LIFE is very, very different. So instead of being overwhelmed (or thinking "Wow, I need to apply every piece of advice to my life RIGHT NOW") thank each person for their thoughts and tuck it away for when you really need it. 

That being said, I wanted to share a Bible verse that is really important to me and my husband. Think of this as a little pep-talk. Ephesians 4:2 - "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love." It's hard to always live like that, but remember that the Word of God is true and it keeps us in check with where our hearts are. Marriage is a balance of giving. You give your love, your time, and encouragement. And it might seem like a lot, but if you are each giving each other equal amounts of everything, you'll both be getting just what you need! 

<3 Stephanie

{6 Reasons to do a First Look}

The First Look is a wonderful time when the bride + groom see each other before their ceremony. While I completely understand if people choose to travel the ‘traditional’ route, I am so in love with this idea. 

My husband and I did a First Look and it is still the {reason number one} most memorable moment of our wedding day for me. To have that special time, {reason number two} just the two of you, is something you’ll never forget!

The quiet few moments to say hi and pray together will provide {reason number three} peace of mind. It gives you both time to really take each other in and enjoy each other before the craziness of the day begins.

It also allows you {reason number four} get some of the photography “formalities” out of the way. Which ultimately means, {reason number five} more time to party later!

Oh yeah, and grooms? {reason number six} You’ll still cry when your bride walks down the aisle. Promise.

<3 Stephanie

image: stephanie rita photo

Colors of Spring | Styled Shoot

In preparation for Joie Issue 2, we wanted to share the full styled shoot from Issue 1! We weren't able to show the entire shoot in the magazine, so I thought sharing the entire thing here would be a fun thing to do! We had so much fun with this shoot and we hope you enjoy the full collection!

Vendors:

Photography: Stephanie Rita Photography | Boston, MA

Styling: TarynAlyse Weddings+Events | Keene, NH

Hand-painted sign: HeartCrafted Co. | San Francisco, CA

Cupcakes: Cupcake City | Reading, MA

Florals: Whole Foods Market | Wellesley, MA

Hair+Makeup: Kathy Dunbar | Whitman, MA

Dress: La Reine Bridal | Waltham, MA

Lace Chandelier: DIY (tutorial www.julietgracedesign.com)

Dinnerware: Thrifted

Candle Holders: Heirloom

Models: Sarah and Alex

Location: Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA

{Wedding Planning Tip} 3 BIG Things!

The most helpful tip I got when I was planning my wedding was to pick 3 things that mattered the most to us as a couple and splurge on those 3 things. So that's what we did. We made sure those important things were taken care of, while also knowing that we had to be thrifty in the other areas of our day.

What were our 3 BIG things? Photography, food, venue. In that order. Photography, because when the day is done, it's all we'd have left to remember. Food, because if you have bad food, your guests won't like you. And venue, because we wanted rustic and nature-y and that's exactly what we got! 

We had generous help from our parents, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a budget. We had minimal flowers, and provided all the vases ourselves. We used my iPod (with a very carefully curated playlist) and a friend DJed (which went much better than I expected). Our church loaned us the speakers and mic for the ceremony and reception. I picked up most of the details from thrift shops, and made all the centerpieces myself. My husband's tux was from JCPenny (not kidding) and my dress, although not inexpensive, was probably my favorite detail of the day, which made it worth it. 

Your BIG 3 will probably be different from ours, but maybe not. Talk to each other to figure out what each person is envisioning. You may have to compromise on the 3 BIG things, but what is marriage without compromise! :) 

~ Stephanie

{Easy DIY} Cake or Cupcake Toppers

Today we're bringing you the easiest of easy DIYs! These simple cake or cupcake toppers are great for a wedding, bridal shower, or even a birthday! All you need is: 

- Skewers
- Masking Tape
-Pretty Paper that fits your color scheme
- Acrylic paint that also fits your color scheme
-Paintbrush
-Scissors

Paint the skewers first, so you have plenty of time to let them dry. I used a turquoise acrylic paint for mine. Remember to leave the bottom inch of the skewer unpainted so you can stick it into your cake and not be eating paint later. :)

I set mine to dry on a tissue box, in front of a fan. They took about 15 minutes to completely dry.

Then, trace out the letters, numbers or words you will use onto your pretty paper. I used S and N for mine and my husband's names!

If you aren't confident in your letter-drawing abilities, you can also print from your computer the outline of the letters onto the paper. 

Cut the letters out carefully!

Next, cut strips of masking tape.

And once your skewers are dry, flip your letters over and tape the skewers to the back! On some letters you have to get creative on where to adhere the skewer to not let it show. It's ok if they aren't completely centered! 

Lastly, stick the skewers into the top of your cake or cupcakes and enjoy the cuteness!

We hope you have fun with this easy DIY!

~Stephanie 

Alternatives to a Champagne Toast

Maybe you have decided with your future husband that there will be no alcohol at your reception, or maybe you are just searching for a unique alternative to the bland champagne toast. Either way, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of alternative to use throughout the different wedding seasons.

Fall

Hot Apple Cider- An amazing Autumn beverage (at least if you ask me) that will add just enough pucker and spice to your wedding.

image

Winter

Hot Chocolate Bar- Allow people to create their own hot chocolate with specialty mix-ins like mini marshmallows or Andes mints. Afterward every has made their drink, toast with these lovely treats!

Coffee/Espresso Bar- Same idea as hot chocolate bar except with specialty coffees. If you're in New England, give Espresso Dave a call!

espresso topper exclusively from espresso dave

Spring

Sparkling Apple/Grape Juice- This is the classic non-alcoholic beverage choice. It can be found at most grocery stores.

Sparkling Tea- An up and coming option that combines many complex flavors in one bottle. Or you could make it yourself! Follow the link below for a recipe for sparkling peach tea.

recipe

Summer

Sparkling Pink Lemonade- This is what my husband and I used for our own June wedding. It added the perfect pink pop of color to the tables.

Glass Bottle Sodas- There are some great choices out there that can fit almost any wedding theme. Try Izze (great fruity flavors) or Jones (you can get the labels personalized)!

image

~Taryn