I already had my wedding and no one has asked me to be a bridesmaid recently…

But darn it, there must be some occasion for which I could wear this delicious vintage dress! (A good excuse to buy a new crinoline, too.)

Those ’50s dressmakers sure knew how to make a girl want to twirl.

Each detail makes this white organza & tulle 1950s gown especially hard to resist: spaghetti straps, floral embroidery, a full skirt with four flouncy layers of fabric and bows in both front and back…

I’m melting!

Calling all brides: Do you or your bridesmaids need a vintage dress? This one would be hard to top.

In size small from Mysterymister on etsy, this little darling can be yours (or mine) for just $158. I’ll race you!

Posted in bridal beauty, fashion, vintage | 1 Comment »

Yes, you read it right. Our beloved OrangeandBlossom.com is looking for just the right new caretaker & friend. As much as I have loved creating, tweaking, filling and admiring this online wedding boutique, I have also found my life filled with other pursuits (including our High Tea for Alice cupcake stands) that have nudged me to make a difficult decision. I won’t spill all the details here, but if you or someone you know is interested, please get in touch. The site can be used as is or transformed with the help of our Web designer into your own beautiful vision… I will miss you all… greatly! {Photo & homepape photos generously courtesy of Vanessa Preziose Photography. }

Posted in O&B items, sales | No Comments »

If these engraved His & Hers highball glasses by Kate Spade New York weren’t part of your wedding registry, you may want to splurge on them anyway…

Before they decide to stop making them. Which often happens when you have your heart set on a certain something but drag your feet in purchasing it. (That’s what we get for being practical, right?)

I’m always a sucker for a nice script font. And this one has just enough swing and sass to make me pull out the debit card and…

Well… the glass makes the drink, right?

“Two of a Kind” double old-fashioned glasses available as well. $50/pair.

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Sometimes you don’t know you need something until you see it. For me, this is like a daily thing! I’m sure most brides (okay, women in general…) can relate. Today, these custom monogrammed table linens in natural burlap leapt off the screen and onto my Want List. Rustic weddings are still way in, and these beauties would add a finished touch to all that shabby chic charm. The monogrammed burlap table runner ($42) and the monogrammed burlap table topper ($38), both by Shop 24 on etsy, are available with a number or a letter. Divine thinking!

Posted in DIY, handmade, reception | 1 Comment »

My first thought on seeing this ribbon by TheLoneleyHeart on etsy was: “Awwww! What can I wrap this around for Hubby?”

My second thought,  given the time of year, was: “Wow! Imagine this going around and around a love-themed Christmas tree!”

We have a white Christmas tree for the bedroom & I instantly had grand visions of covering it with red, white & silver ornaments, tinsel, garland, paper hearts & this rustic, linen fabric ribbon, ordering several with different personalized messages of adoration. I couldn’t decide if the end result would look highly romantic (should I go Modern Love or Victorian Love?) or like a kindergarten holiday class project gone wrong.

Enough about me, this ribbon was too too good to not share with you. Check out their personalized custom ribbon by the yard, Christmas ornament & decorative display ball-o-love, too. Awwww!

Posted in DIY, favors, gift ideas, handmade | No Comments »

We’re always on the lookout for ways to light up a room. Especially a room filled with people you love most in the world… We recently added a handle of new ways to do just that, from crystal-studded votive candle holders & candleabras worthy of a wedding centerpiece on their own, to zebra-print candle holders & clusters of silver metallic mercury glass candle holders just right for a tea light. See them all under our Wedding Candle Holders category. And if you don’t find it there, drop us a note using the “Contact Us” form above. We love hearing about just what you need so we know what to add next. Flameless pillar candles? Strings of lights or colorful lanterns? Scented battery-operated flameless candles? Hmmm. You tell us!

Posted in O&B items, reception | No Comments »

That about sums it up for me today.
Heart-shaped leaves growing in serene, green silence,
just as they were born to do.
I hope you are enjoying your day doing exactly what you are thankful for…
there is so much abundance all around…
if only we make time to see & give thanks.
Thank you for being here. Each visit from you is a blessing!

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I had to ask. Seems like I’m always one of the last to know about anything. Especially when it comes to technology. But I think I kind of like it that way. We don’t have TV. That should give you an idea of my level of “in the loop…”! Anyway, fans of Pinterest know that weddings are a HUGE deal there, both for creating your own inspiration boards by “pinning” images from across the Web & collecting them all in one place and for peeking at boards made by other brides who have done the same. If you need an idea of where to start (highly unlikely), just go to the Pinterest Weddings category and feast your eyes.  While Pinterest has its limitations (like, why can’t I rearrange the images on my boards?), they do make it easy to “repin” images you find to your own boards, email an image, tweet it, Like it or just admire it, no technology required. The lack of tools on Pinterest is likely temporary. So enjoy it while it lasts. Not being able to perfect everything you do there is somewhat liberating!

Posted in as seen in / other blogs, DIY, inspiration | No Comments »

I’ve always wanted to go to Bali.

Among about 200 other places.

Light one of these three Getaway Candles of beeswax & a sustainable palm wax blend and drift off to another land.

Paris, Florence, Bali… Hmmm. I can think of several other places they could do next. How about Provence, Tahiti and North Pole?

A cute gift for the honeymooners to light once they must return, reluctantly, to reality…

Set of three, $50 from ArhausJewels.com.

I can smell the night-blooming jasmine already…

Posted in gift ideas, honeymoon & travel | No Comments »

This striking little dish & its simple meditation keeps coming back to my mind after spying it on etsy a few weeks ago.

Handmade by MBartStudios, its powerful letters are stamped one by one into white earthenware clay then carefully filled with black glaze.

The artist credits the phrase to the poet Rumi (who I had to look up), while others credit it to Keith Urban. (I prefer to think that Rumi was the original on this one…)

Either way, it sort of stuck with me. A lot.

Sometimes a few words come along at just the right time, don’t you think?

Maybe it will stick with you, too…

Handmade quote dish is 5″ in diameter, $22.

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