Men, looking for stocking stuffers for your special female someone, mom, or sister? Look no further! Ladies, looking for something to stuff in a stocking with meaning for the fav women in your life? We’ve got you covered too! We’ve rounded up some of our favorites this year! And if a link to this list happens to find it’s way into your sweetie’s inbox, we promise Santa won’t hear it from us! ;)

1. Personalized iPhone Case by Emily Ley ($48): These cases are gorgeous! I have a personal request in to Santa for this one!
2. Fuji Instax Camera at Urban Outfitters ($95): The NEW Polaroid, and it’s dang cool!
3. J.Crew Glitter Belt ($34.50): It’s sooo sparkly! And I have one!!! (Don’t hesitate. These babies sold out in no time last year!)
4. Gal Pal from The Container Store ($9.99): Deodorant removers. The. Ultimate. Gal. Pal. (Don’t you just hate those white spots on your black shirt?) They come in a pack of two and last forever!
5. philosophy’s purity made simple ($10): They called this goodie an ornament but I feel like stuffing it in a stocking. Either way, this stuff’s amazing! Although, I say that about everything philosophy!
6. Kate Spade Bow Bangle ($88): Every girl deserves a little sparkle on her wrist, riiiiight?
7. Printstagram Tinybook (3 for $10): Instagram lovers, get a load (or a little) of this!! A-freakin-dorable!!!
8. Coach Legacy Leather Universal Case ($58): What a mouthful for such an itty-bitty thing! Maybe that’s why I like it. Or maybe I just like the color. Goes perfectly with my Emily Ley iPhone case!

Happy Holiday Shopping!

xoxo

Happy Thursday, friends! Can you believe it’s been one week since we stuffed ourselves full of stuffing and turkey?! That’s almost, a little bit depressing. Mainly because my mom’s stuffing this year was particularly superb. It went so fast and I want more! To wane my woes, I’d love to share this wedding and love story from Emilia Jane Photography with you! It’s classic, blue, elegant, and beautiful too!

Tara and Majeid met in high school and quickly became close friends. Majeid was someone Tara could talk to about anything. One night, after talking on the phone for hours, Majeid finally gathered enough courage to ask Tara out on a date.

They went out on Tara’s birthday to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Majeid was calm, cool, and even had a card and candy waiting for her in the car!! But Tara was a nervous wreck. She admittedly talked Majeif’s ear off that night! But despite the nervous chatter, both recognized that something special was happening between them. Each day, Tara thanks God that they were lucky enough to find one another.

Majeid planned the perfect engagement, solidifying in Tara’s mind how lucky she was to have such a thoughtful man in her life. She’d mentioned to him long ago that she’d never been to the Nutcracker but had always wanted to go. He bought her tickets for Christmas, but had so much more prepared for that night than she realized.

After the ballet, they walked down to the Old Spaghetti Factory (where they’d had their first date) for dinner. Walking around downtown Louisville after dinner, they made a quick stop at Borders. Not unusual for Tara, who wound up buying a few books. For Majeid though, it was a detour and a moment to gather his courage for what he was about to do next.

Walking out onto The Belvedere, an area in Louisville that overlooks the Ohio River, Majeid got down on one knee. Her answer, of course, was yes!

{From the Bride} Our wedding day was incredible. From beginning to end, we could not have asked for a better day. It was filled with nervous anticipation and excitement. I remember most of the details, but most of all I remember how happy I was to have finally reached the moment we’d both been waiting for! We did not see each other before the ceremony because I wanted us to have the special moment of seeing each other as I walked down the aisle.

Our first dance song was You Make It Real by James Morrison. He is a British artist who we discovered when I spent a summer in London. I had a chance to go to the Concert by Diana, and I called Majeid while James Morrison was singing. Majeid and I were both blown away by how incredible he was. You Make It Real was not the song he sang that day, but it is a song that hits home for us.

{Advice for Couples} The best dating advice that we could give is to take time each day to focus solely on your partner. Remember that you are a team, and remember to compromise. Many arguments can be avoided just by conceding on certain issues and helping your other half when they need it. When planning your wedding, focus on the fact that the day is about getting married to the person you love, and not a million tiny details.

Congratulations, Tara and Majeid, and thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together. Many thanks to Emilia for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

We all know how far a little praise goes. It puts a smile on your face, turns a gray day into a sunny day, touches our heart in so many wonderful ways and even sometimes, a grateful tear or two is shed. That’s why we thought we’d share a few of the rave reviews that our Premier Partners in our Vendor Boutique have received.

Photographers

Britt Croft Photography | Christi Falls Photography | Live View Studios

Britt Croft Photography – “I am blown away by how she was able to capture the sheer joy and excitement in our (and everyone else’s) expressions. The photos were amazing and were above and beyond our expectations! We had no idea we could look that great! I definitely recommend Britt Croft Photography!”

Christi Falls Photography – “Christi did an amazing job for us! She really captured all the special moments of our day!!!! We will always be VERY thankful for what she did for us!”

Live View Studios – “We loved working with Brent and Anna! They both really love on you a lot from the moment you inquire to even after you’re married; it feels much more like hanging out with friends than with wedding professionals. We loved our experience with them and all the fun little gifts they gave throughout the process! Live View Studios is truly wonderful!”

Studio 516 Photography | Katherine Henry Boudoir | Jillian McGrath Photography

Studio 516 Photography – “Natasja was so much fun to work with! Thank you so much for being part of our day!”

Katherine Henry Boudoir – “Before my session, I was a little nervous about wearing little to nothing in front of someone that I had never met before. But, Katherine made me feel comfortable from the beginning! She showed me examples of pictures that I could do and even got into positions herself to show me how to do it. It was an awesome shoot! I gave the pictures to my hubby for a wedding gift, and he was blown away! I highly recommend Katherine for any Boudoir Photo Shoot!”

Jillian McGrath Photography – “Jill and Ryan are so easy to work with! When we were looking for photographers we wanted something unique, not the super pose-y type picture but whatever happened in the moment – that’s their mission too. They gave us exactly what we wanted! Their talent and style are excellent. They love what they do and it truly shows in the finished product!”

Stationery

Blush Printables | Simply Designed

Blush Printables – “Seriously gorgeous and delightful designs!”

Simply Designed – “Heather was wonderful to work with while designing our wedding invitations, ceremony programs, place cards, and table numbers! After a detailed phone conversation, she immediately understood my vision for our wedding paper needs. She was incredibly organized and kept us right on schedule for all deliveries. Heather presented us with high quality paper samples and beautiful design options. She was very prompt with returning emails and phone calls and made revisions or edits almost immediately. She went out of her way to accommodate us and we could not have been more pleased with the results!!”

 Bridal Fashion and Beauty

Happily Ever BorrowWED

Happily Ever BorroWED – “I rented the Sophie necklace from them and it became the focal point for my entire ensemble. I was so grateful to find them because the rental price was a fraction of the retail value. I had seen the necklace in the window at a local bridal shop but it was absolutely out of my budget so I was grateful to find the option to rent it. I was worried about whether the necklace would show up in a timely manner since I was traveling for my wedding several days in advance, but it arrived early and in perfect, pristine condition. No one would have guessed that it wasn’t a brand new purchase. Everyone commented on the piece at my wedding. I would absolutely recommend them without hesitation.”

Decor, Event Design and Florals

Olam Wedding Canopies | Danielle Pasternak, Wedding Coordinator

Olam Wedding Canopies – “Michelle helped design the chuppah, and she was very accommodating and easy to work with. She listened to what I wanted and then suggested new and innovative ways to make my vision happen. I love my chuppah, and would definitely recommend Olam Chuppahs for unique, custom-designed chuppahs. I plan to pass my chuppah down to my children, and I hope that this will be the start of a beautiful new family tradition.”

Danielle Pasternak, Wedding Coordinator – “I don’t know how to express how amazing Danielle and her team were. From the start, Danielle spent time on understanding what our vision was for the wedding and how we wanted the day to go. As the planning process continued she was always available to help in any way. Hiring Danielle was by far the smartest investment for our wedding.”

Aren’t these reviews just fabulous? We are so excited to have these very special partners as part of our Vendor Boutique.

Looking for more information? Please visit our Vendor Boutique and check out the beautiful inspiration boards that we feature for each of our amazing vendors! Don’t forget to check out their websites and blogs too! :)

xoxo

If you are interested in joining the Heart Love Weddings family and Vendor Boutique, or our new Vendor Directory, click over to our Advertising page and fill out the new form. We’ll be in touch with information within 24 hours! Have questions? Email karin@heartloveweddings.com.

Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s here! Raise your hand if you got engaged over Thanksgiving!!! Are you in a hurry and want to get married right away? (It could happen!!) How about planning a Christmas wedding? This gorgeous Christmas wedding inspiration board might just be the thing you need!

Colors: Hollyberry, Evergreen, Snow, Coal

Red, white, black, and evergreen are perfect, traditional Christmas colors, but here they are used in a little bit rustic, non-traditional way. Plaid is such a fun pattern and I love how it can incorporate into a wedding so beautifully. Don’t you just love the plaid sash on the bride’s dress? How it was carried over into the cute little favors? And then black and white gingham for the groom’s bow tie? Perfection. Sleigh bells, evergreen and red ornaments are easy, simple decor elements all readily available during the holiday season. Christmas is actually a great time to get married as many decorations are already in place and can actually save you money when it comes to your decor. Both churches and venues are all decked out with holiday plants, Christmas trees, ribbons and bows, ornaments and evergreen. What could be better, right? And can I get a high five for those amazing salted caramel cupcakes? The sprinkling of salt on the caramel reminded me of a dusting of snow. Yum!

Cheers to a beautiful Christmas wedding!

xoxo

Row 1: Christmas Bride photo by Sachin Khona Photographer styled by Filosophi Event Planning via Wed Over Heels; Favors photo by Sachin Khona Photographer styled by Filosophi Event Planning via Wed Over Heels; Bow Tie photo by Millie Holloman Photography via Southern Weddings

Row 2: Table Setting via Sweet Something Design; Salted Caramel Cupcakes via My Baking Addiction; Pinecones & Ornaments via Plough Your Own Furrow

Have you ever wondered how to come up with colors for your wedding? Of course, the first logical choices are your favorites. Let’s just say you love pink, or purple or blue. Now you’re thinking, what would coordinate with pink? Because you know that an all pink wedding would not fly with your fiancé – no way, no how, unh-unh. Enter Chip It! What is this I speak of? Well, it’s kind of a really cool decorating tool that just so happens to work pretty sweetly to help you coordinate colors for your wedding too. Let me show you.

First, download Chip It from Sherwin Williams, yes, the paint people – ha! You will create a little “Chip It” button on your toolbar, just like the ”Pin It” button. :) When you find an image with colors that inspire you, click on the Chip It button. A little drop down tab should appear in the top left hand corner. Roll your mouse over it until this message appears: “Roll over any image and chip it!” Take your mouse and roll over the image that you love until another little tab appears that says “Chip It”. Click on this and watch the magic happen.

Here is a photo of a beautiful color scheme that I saw. I chose this particular image because it was based on interior design (not even remotely wedding related), and because I loved the colors. Remember you can find color inspiration for your wedding anywhere – in nature, food, interior design, flowers, etc. – the list is endless!

Living Room Inspiration via Made by Girl

Here is what happens after I “Chip It”!

Just look at some of those gorgeous, soft, muted tones that Chip It pulled together from the image. But you may be saying, “That looks really kind of boring…for a wedding.” Ah, yes, but did you notice the “more colors” in the lower right hand corner? Wait for it….

BOOM! Now we’re talking!! Do I have you oohhing and ahhhing yet? No? Okay, let’s take it one step further. Here is what I would do next. Go to the Sherwin Williams site, and in the search function, type the color numbers that you favor from the Chip It board. Mine are SW 6875 Gladiola, SW 6666 Enjoyable Yellow, SW 7025 Backdrop, and SW 6212 Quietude.

Ta-da! Here is my color inspiration for my wedding!

You can even go to your local Sherwin Williams store and pick up the actual paint swatches to carry with you to your vendor meetings. Cool, right?

Now, let’s head on over to our Inspiration Studio and select a color. We’ll start with orange. Here is a great photo that actually incorporates “Gladiola” and “Enjoyable Yellow”.

Photo by Peach Blossom Photography via Heart Love Weddings

Here is a bouquet from one of our inspiration boards that picks up “Gladiola”. We even pick up some of the “Quietude” in the leaves.

Photo by Jenny DeMarco Photography via Style Me Pretty via Heart Love Weddings

I then clicked on yellow in our Inspiration Studio and came across this inspiration board. I thought the yellow Save the Date worked well for my “Enjoyable Yellow”.

Hitchcock Ink -Etsy via Heart Love Weddings

And here is the beginning of your rustic, orange (Peach/Gladiola), yellow (Enjoyable Yellow) and green (Quietude) wedding color inspiration board! Pretty, isn’t it?

Now you have a bouquet to show a florist, baskets full of peaches that work well as decor and even better as a favor, and a fabulous Save the Date idea for your stationer.

Just for giggles, here’s another picture  with colors that inspire me! Let’s see how Chip It works it…

Italian Villa Inspiration via Italian Villas

How fabulous would these colors be for a wedding?! You could get so creative. Let your imagination run wild with any image you may have! :)

What do you think? Has choosing wedding colors ever been so easy and fun? I don’t think so. Are you going to go try this? Let me know what you come up with. Go now and have some fun! xoxo

Please note: We did not receive compensation from Sherwin Williams in creating this post. We just wanted to share a really fun and cool tool that can be utilized for more than just interior design.