***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!***

After an amazing response to this giveaway, we’ve tallied up the entries! We’re so excited to announce (with the help of random.org) that the winner is KAITLYN (who said that both she and the love of her life secretly chose “Chalk It Up To Love” in photo booth style as their favorite save the date)! We’re so excited for you Kaitlyn and will be emailing you shortly! Thank you so much to EVERYONE who entered! xoxo

Surprise! The lovely folks at MagnetStreet are offering 150 Save the Dates for one lucky Heart Love Weddings-reading lady! If you don’t already know MagnetStreet, allow me to give you a brief and fabulous introduction. Known for their Save the Dates, MagnetStreet offers a complete line of coordinating wedding stationery including invitations, reception items, thank you cards, programs and more. Each design is completely customizable from the colors, to the fonts, to the wording, and photos too, allowing you to transform any design into your design.

Flip Flops on the Beach | Umbrella For Two

Names Written in the Sand | Seamless Charm

Enchanted Encounter Postcard

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

One Heart Love Weddings reader will win 150 Save the Dates (plus free shipping) from MagnetStreet! Any style, any design, completely customized your way in their fabulous Design Studio! I’ve used it myself and it’s super fast, really simple and completely fun! The Prize Coupon will be emailed to the winner (randomly chosen by random.org) and must be used by July 31, 2012. Please note that the Prize Coupon is a one-time use only.

The Giveaway will close on Monday, April 23rd at 12PM EST. Winner will be randomly chosen by random.org and announced by 3PM EST the same day!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post telling us and MagnetStreet which of their Save the Date designs would be perfect for your dream wedding. This is your OFFICIAL (ONE-TIME) entry into the giveaway, and you must leave your email address. It will not be shared, used for promotional purposes, or anything other than for us to contact the winner.

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

• Like MagnetStreet Weddings and Heart Love Weddings on Facebook
• Share this Giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to tag either MagnetStreet Weddings, Heart Love Weddings, or both.
• Follow @MagnetStreetWed and @HeartLoveWed on Twitter
• Share this Giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to @ either @MagnetStreetWed, @HeartLoveWed, or use the hashtag #HLWMSW150
• Be sure to come back and leave another comment for each of the above actions you take.

All my love and luck, lovelies! xoxo

*** This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below! ***

I’m so excited by the response to this giveaway! Thank you everyone who loved these sweet little mugs as much as I did! They were super fun to make and I’m so excited to give one set away! Our winner, chosen by random.org was a Twitter retweeter, Jillian!  I’ll be emailing you with details, congrats! :)

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone but celebrating and basking in your love did not. Which is exactly the reason why I waited to post this sweet little DIY until today. These little love mugs are super sweet and super easy to make. So easy, even I (the anti-DIY diva) could do it. And so I did.

It started with me trying to think of something to get my guy for Christmas. I was a bit strapped for cash this holiday season, so I was really racking my brain for something that would be both meaningful and budget-friendly. I don’t exactly remember when it was or even how the conversation came up, but my guy mentioned that he makes large ice cream sundaes in mixing bowls, which just weren’t cutting it. Please note: the man is 6’6” and loves his ice cream sundaes.

A week before Christmas, the light bulb went on. I searched high and low for the perfect bowl, dragging my mom to store after store after store. Some bowls were too small, others too big, some had weird handles, others had funky bases. I was like Goldie Locks searching for the perfect bowl.

Finally, at Pier 1, I found it. I then purchased a black (my man’s the manly type) ceramic paint marker and wrote Matt’s Ice Cream Bowl along the wide outer rim in big bold letters. On the bottom, I wrote Love, Alexandra 2011. I later lined it with red tissue paper and filled it with giant chocolate chunk cookies and took it to him. It was the best gift ever. His words. And mine :)

When we started brainstorming for the new year, I really wanted to do something similar. But for couples. Cue the love mugs (or sweetheart mugs, I can’t decide what I like better). And they are pretty dang cute, if I do say so myself. Here’s how we did it, so you can too!

{Step 1} Gather your supplies. We picked up white ceramic mugs at Target. Pier 1 has them too. And ceramic paint or porcelain markers from Michael’s in whatever colors you want. We picked up a variety four-pack and an extra black one just in case. You’ll also need both damp and dry paper towels and access to an oven.

{Step 2} You’re going to want to clean the mugs thoroughly with warm soapy water. Remove any labels or price tags. Make sure they are completely dry before moving on to the next step. The markers will not write well on wet surfaces. Believe me, I know.

{Step 3} Using the marker, write out your phrase. We used lovey-dovey phrases like hey gorgeous and hey handsome or I <3 you. You can write whatever you like. Your names, nicknames, sweetums, sugar lips, etc. The shorter, the better and don’t be afraid to write bigger than you normally would on paper. You want whatever phrase you use to be bold, bright and visible. Don’t worry if you mess up. Using a damp paper towel (followed immediately by a dry one), simply wipe away what you don’t like and start again. You can do this as many times as you need to. I did.

{Step 4} Once you’re happy with your phrase and handwriting, move the mugs to a safe location. By safe, I mean, nothing can touch these beauties for a full 24 hours. Leave them be.

{Step 5} Once 24 hours has passed, set your oven to its absolute lowest setting. While it’s preheating, set the mugs on the oven rack and bake for one hour. After which you should turn off the oven, but NOT remove the mugs. Allow both the oven and the mugs to cool completely before removing.

{Step 6} Fill with your favorite warm and toasty treat and enjoy! The best part is the mugs are now microwave and dishwasher safe! Happppy daaance!

I think they are simply the cutest thing, no? And if this little lady can do it, so can you! But I’m also going to give one set away! That’s right, one of these beautiful sets of love mugs can be yours to have and to hold someday very soon! All you need to do is leave a comment below and become a fan of Heart Love Weddings on Facebook. And if you really want them to be your own, then you can rack up a few extra entries by tweeting about the giveaway and leaving an extra comment below to let me know. The giveaway will be open until March 2nd, giving you oodles of time to get your entries in. I’ll announce the winner the following Monday!

All my luck and love, lovelies! xoxo

The 12 Days of Christmas Gifts mini-series is back by popular demand! Last year, we started a tradition of offering you a holiday gift guide for each one of the 12 Days of Christmas. For her and for him. Last year, our price limit was $100. This year, the sky is the limit (though we promise not to overdo it)! So let’s get started! With a bang…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

For Her ::

To go along with our sexy, sultry gift just for him (see below), how about something pretty for her from Victoria’s Secret! These were a few of my favorites from their multitude of choices.

pink {$39} | lavender {$39}

Just For Him ::

If you’ve been around our blog for a while, you know that we absolutely love boudoir sessions and what they represent for both her and him. So how about a little something just for him that he will absolutely love (and possibly drool over)! And because you’ll have so much fun putting the session together, it’s really a win-win for both of you! (You’ll love the empowering beauty and confidence boost too!) To help you on your way, we’ve teamed up with one of our very favorite boudoir photographers, Katherine of Henry Photographers (formerly Henry + Masci Photography)! And she’s offering {drumroll please} a very special boudoir package just for Heart Love Weddings readers!

:: Heart Love Weddings Exclusive Boudoir Package ::

1 hour session at location of your choice

Unlimited outfit changes

Sips and treats

For His Eyes Only Mini album (Accordion style and custom designed, retails for $175)

All-Inclusive Special Price: $350

*Must book by January 31st 2012 to be eligible

Such an amazing opportunity! One I know you’re not going to want to miss! Go and email Katherine today to set up and schedule your session. Make sure you put “Heart Love Weddings Exclusive Boudoir Package” in the subject line!

Happy Drooling!

..

I mean, shopping!

..

Happy Shopping!

xoxo

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Boudoir photos courtesy of Henry Photographers

 ***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – winner to be announced soon!***

Are you fretting over how you’re going to get an amazing photographer for your wedding on a budget? Do you remember when we announced the “Love Your Story, Love Your Wedding” Photography Giveaway with Live View Studios a few weeks ago? You know, where we announced that Live View Studios is giving away a free wedding and engagement photography package for anywhere people fall in love? Oh, and that your love story gets published right here on Heart Love Weddings? Of course you remember! How could you forget something so fabulous? ;)

Well, it’s never been easier to enter your love story and wedding details than right now!! All you have to do is head on over to the Live View Studios’ blog and fill out the fancy-smancy entry form (photo below), submit a photo, like our Facebook pages, and that’s it! You’re done! Pretty easy, right? But here’s the thing, you only have until December 2nd to enter!! That’s less than 3 weeks away!! I should know .. my birthday is on the 4th! And, hey, wouldn’t that be the best birthday present ever – getting to read all of your wonderful love stories? :) So, really, there’s no time to waste! Get your love story in today! Brent, Anna, and I cannot wait to read all the details!

*Remember to head here to fill out the fancy-smancy entry form. The one above is just a photo and won’t get you very far.

*For all the details, rules, terms and conditions for this giveaway, go here and read carefully!

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – winner to be announced soon!***

Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! I am practically bouncing in my seat as I type this post because it’s. just. that. AWESOME!!! We are SO excited to be pairing up with Brent and Anna of Live View Studios to bring one inspiring and in love couple wedding photography for FREE!!! That’s right, the “Love Your Story, Love Your Wedding” Giveaway is ON!!! Read on for ALL the details from Brent and Anna directly! :)

Well hello there! Let’s pull up a chair and grab some sweet tea while we chat a bit. We’re Brent & Anna Deitrich, and Live View Studios is our photography business. We like gourmet cooking, Starbucks, walks on the beach, living in the South, and surrounding ourselves with music. One of our favorite things is the wonderful couples we’ve met and worked with in our photography business .. we love hearing your stories, sharing the joy of your wedding, and seeing the smiles on your faces when you see how beautiful y’all are in your photos!

But here’s the thing – we’re not completely booked for weddings for next year yet, and we want to find even more creative and unique couples to work with .. so we’re offering this incredible opportunity for you and your lovey! :)

We are on a nationwide search to find the couple who has the most unique love story (at least in our opinion!), and is incorporating their story creatively into their wedding details. Since we love to see style integrated into all of our photos, we want to recognize a couple who is putting lots of effort into making their wedding stylish and creatively unique; their love story come to life. We want to see some original, heartfelt wedding details .. they can be designer or they can be DIY .. but it needs to be an expression of the couple and their love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re getting married in an extravagant location or just in your parents’ backyard – love will make it all fabulous!

And we want to hear how you fell in love. What are the things that make you and your love unique?

 After we find this couple, we want to photograph their wedding. For free! 

Why? Because we love to encourage originality, creativity, and style in weddings. Because no couple’s love story is the same, and we want to recognize and celebrate those that are uniquely original. Together, with Heart Love Weddings’ editor, Alexandra Beauregard, we’re going to select one couple’s love story and wedding that just blows our socks off. AND the winning couple will be featured on Heart Love Weddings’ blog (so basically you become famous!).

Here’s what we’re giving away: 

• Free wedding and engagement photography for one couple, between now and the end of 2012. Your wedding can be local or a destination .. we love it either way!
• The photos from your engagement shoot & wedding, edited and given digitally to you in boutique packaging. We have two versions of digitals, one low res version for sharing on Facebook and online, and full res ones for printing out prints smaller than 8x10s.
• Wedding day coverage by two photographers with assistants for each.
• A $100 credit towards your wedding album.
• Your wedding (and engagement session) will be featured on Heart Love Weddings!

Extras: 

• Prints, albums, and canvases can be purchased separately.
• Destination weddings or weddings outside of the Raleigh area will incur travel expenses – this typically ranges from $500-$1500 for our team depending on distance, location, etc.

Here’s How To Enter: 

To enter, drop us an email at ourlovestory@liveviewstudios.com with the subject “We Love Brent & Anna and Heart Love Weddings” by December 2, 2011. Include the following details about yourself and your wedding in the email:

• a recent picture of the two of you :)
• both of y’all’s names
• where you live, and where you’re getting married
• your wedding date
• the story of the two of you .. how you met, fell in love, and proposed (we want all the juicy details!)
• the unique details of your wedding (if you’ve got inspiration photos that go with these, send us links or how to see them as well! Pinterest, anyone?)

To complete your entry after you’ve sent us the email, you’ll need to also do the following steps:

1. Leave a comment on this blog post letting us know that you entered the giveaway
2. “Like” Live View Studios on Facebook
3. “Like” Heart Love Weddings on Facebook

Want to share your excitement? Let your friends and family know on Facebook by using the Facebook share link on our post here. OR you can tweet the following message on Twitter:

We just entered the “Love Your Story, Love Your Wedding” photography giveaway with @LiveViewStudios + @HeartLoveWed! http://su.pr/16dkAi

Terms and Conditions: 

• Prize includes an engagement shoot and wedding day coverage with two photographers, plus assistants for each.
• The closing date for entries is midnight (EST), December 2, 2011. We will notify the winner (via their email) within a week after the closing date!
• The wedding can take place anywhere, but transportation and lodging costs must be covered for our photographers and assistants for destinations outside of the Raleigh area. This typically will range from $500-$1500, but we will try and work with your budget!

• Just one entry per couple, please.

• Winners must be willing to be featured on Heart Love Weddings’ and Live View Studio’s websites. Winners must be willing to be featured in future advertising and promotion for Live View Studios and Heart Love Weddings.
• Copyright belongs to Live View Studios, with a limited release for printing.
• No cash alternative will be offered in lieu of the prize.
• Final winner will be selected by Brent & Anna Deitrich along with Alexandra Beauregard.
• By entering the giveaway, you hereby warrant that all information submitted by you is true, current and complete.
• Live View Studios and Heart Love Weddings will not give your email address away to anyone.

Ready? Set! Go! We can’t wait to see what y’all send to us!

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Well, what are you waiting for?! You heard them – go go go!!! :) You have until midnight, December 2nd! That seems like a long time, but with the way the days are flying, it’ll be here before you know it! With that in mind, don’t delay, enter this incredible giveaway today! Please be sure to have read the grand prize, entry requirements and terms and conditions carefully!! Why? Because they’re über important, that’s why! And we can’t consider you and your lovey’s love story if you don’t! Now, go go go!!! Brent, Anna, and I can’t wait to start seeing all your wonderful faces and reading all about your love stories!

Oh-happy-Tuesday! ;)

xoxo

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!***

According to random.org, our winner is Liz (who said the most important part of Bridal Beauty to her is a clear face!) Congratulations, Liz! You’ll get to try that purity made simple very soon! ;)

I’m introducing a new feature today called Bridal Beauty! Everything pertaining to making a bride feel her most beautiful on her wedding day will be discussed here. Fitness, hair, makeup, skincare, and much more. We’ll start today with some of my favorite products…

I am a BIG fan of products by philosophy. You might as well call me Philosophy girl as 90% of my daily care routine consists of products by them. I’m talking facial cleanser, body wash, lotion, moisturizer, perfume – the works. I have really sensitive skin and philosophy is the only “stuff” I trust. It’s amazing! And every single product smells so good!

The best part? (And this is direct from the philosophy website.) “What is in philosophy jars and bottles can give you better skin. What is on philosophy jars and bottles can inspire better days. We believe in miracles, and we believe in the beauty in everyone.” Seriously. I love them.

That being said… what better way to kick off a new feature than with a giveaway of some of my most favorite products!!

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here comes the bride gift set by philosophy

a trip down the aisle is a beautiful moment. marriage is a beautiful journey.

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The set contains travel size containers (great for honeymoon travels!) of the following:

• purity made simple one-step facial cleanser. A smooth, creamy cleanser with a subtle hint of fragrance that not only cleanses but refreshes. It’s the best cleanser I’ve ever used.
• hope in a jar original formula moisturizer for all skin types. A moisturizer so light and fluffy you won’t know it’s there, but can feel it working.
• amazing grace perfumed shampoo, bath & shower gel. philosophy’s most popular, best selling fragrance (and my personal favorite, goto scent) for all your bathing needs. Best. scent. ever. I wish there was a scratch n’ sniff for computers. Seriously.
• amazing grace perfumed, firming body emulsion. A soothing, pretty-smelling lotion that you’ll want to apply day and night. I know I do.
• Bonus: A sample of philosophy’s microdelivery peel step 1 and step 2. It says right on the package that results are immediate and remarkable. I can attest to that. I love this stuff. Baby smooth, healthy-looking skin is the result. Perfect for the bride on her wedding day, right?

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All wrapped up in a pretty, pretty box (there’s glitter on the front)! It’s the perfect gift for the bride-to-be! And we’re giving one away today! Brides, maids, and moms too – we want to know what the most important aspect of bridal beauty is to you! Comment below (be sure to leave your email so we can get in touch with you!) and one lucky reader will receive this lovely box of goodies!

Startinggg now…

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

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*Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org.

*Entries accepted now through Thursday, August 4th at noon!

*This giveaway is via Heart Love Weddings. We have not been asked, compensated, or given product by philosophy to do so.