I’m not sure where I heard this tip, but sometime during my engagement to Travis I was told to register for white dish ware instead of a pattern.  The idea is that you will use your dishes all the time and if it’s white you’ll a) never get tired of an outdated print and b) you can switch out your bowls every so often to spice up the look of your set.

I loved this idea and a year and a half post-wedding, I’m still happy we did it this way.  The plates we registered for were Mikasa from Macy’s— they’re pretty and sturdy and have some visual interest, despite the plain color.

And this week, I picked up a new set of bowls at Cost Plus World Market.  I love the funky, eclectic pattern of the Charlotte bowls and the low price is awesome!

It’s so nice to be able to switch up our dishes without buying a whole new set.  It makes dinner at home feel a little more special and when we’re tired of the look, we can choose something else!

What do you think of this registry tip?  Would you (or did you) register this way?  Got any other fave kitchen finds?  Share ‘em in the comments!

Sorry for the late post today, my sweets!  This is such a busy week and the hours are just flying by…

I’m excited to share a few snapshots of our wedding album with you, if you’d like to see.

Nevermind that we’ve been married over a year already.  I was the ultimate procrastinator and didn’t put our wedding album together until a couple weeks ago.  This is not a sponsored post, but I have to give serious props to the company we used, Photobook America.

The quality of our album is awesome, and I was able to put the entire thing together myself with an easy-to-use downloadable software from the site.  When it’s time to order, you can choose all kinds of fancy options to make your album extra-snazzy.  We chose not to go above and beyond, and our book still turned out beautiful!

If you’re thinking of ordering an album of your own (I’m thinking a custom photo book would make great holiday gifts!), become a fan of Photobook America on facebook for a 40% discount!

One thing I love about my day job as a hair and makeup artist is that I get to see all kinds of beautiful weddings.  It blows me away how creative and unique each celebration can be.  A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of working with Ingrid who is, in every way imaginable, my dream bride.

This woman is absolutely beautiful inside and out, and I had so much fun working with her on the big day.  Her wedding was completely personalized and absolutely dreamy… want to see a few pictures?

The first awesome thing about this day: Ingrid got ready on a houseboat!  The weather was foggy all morning and I was worried about her outdoor wedding, but as soon as she arrived, so did the sun.

I love the braided hairstyle Ingrid chose for her big day— so relaxed and romantic, don’t you think?

Her sister-in-law, Stacy Bostrom, is an amazing photographer based in southern California (you can check out more of her work here.)  Despite having had a baby only three weeks before the wedding, she still managed to take the rest of these amazing snapshots of the day… she wasn’t even the official photographer and she still knocked it out of the park!

Check out the rest of the photos from the day on Stacy’s blog.  Isn’t the whole feel of this wedding just a dream?  *swoon*

Have a great weekend, my sweets!  See you back here on Monday.

Happy happy Friday!  I am sooo excited for this weekend.  Travis and I are making our annual trip to Half Moon Bay for the pumpkin festival, where we will fill up on amazing food, fall treats, and feast our eyes on the 1700-pound, award winning pumpkin.

The weather has been gloomy and perfectly autumn— I am loving every minute of it!

So let’s kick off this weekend with some fun links from around the web…

Cute nails!

Would you trash the dress?

Awesome DIY stools made from side tables!

Fall in a box.

Pumpkin frozen yogurt… mmmm :)

Have you used a mattifier to keep your face from getting shiny?  I’m thinking about picking up this one for my clients…

I adore this hair color!

Cute idea: plant flowers in pumpkins for Halloween/Thanksgiving.

I’d love to curl into this bed with a good book…

And don’t forget to enter this week’s hair happy giveaway!

What are you up to this weekend?  Doing anything cozy or fall-related?  Is the weather changing in your neck of the woods?  Tell me what you’re up to in the comments!

Hey guys, Chelsea here.  So, I’ve never been a bride (give me a few more years, please!) but I have been a part of four weddings, and as a bridesmaid, I’ve learned a thing or two about what to do (and not do) from watching my respective friends handle their bridal duties.

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I know when it comes to weddings there’s a ton to plan. In fact, when I went to my friend’s wedding this past weekend she did things I had never even thought of, like making welcome baskets of snacks, toiletries, and an itinerary for guests staying at hotels . Read this article about wedding etiquette and you’ll see that apparently this is a must-do!

Each of my four friends had very different ideas about how she wanted her special day to be and I can respect that since every bride (i.e. woman) has unique personalities and preferences. But as someone who has carved time out of my schedule on four different occasions for these weddings, I’ve compiled a list of three things that brides should consider when it comes to managing their bridal party.

1. Pop the question

Once you have set the date, choose your vital bridal crew and ask them early on to be part of your wedding, letting them know how much they mean to you. I loved the way a friend of mine got asked (see the picture above). Of course it’s perfectly fine not to get crafty when asking, but a few kind, meaningful words go a long way.

Also, make sure you are clear with your intentions. If you want someone to be in your wedding party, let her know. It sounds simple but recently a friend invited me to her wedding with only six weeks notice and then a week later, asked me to be her maid of honor. I was first confused by the initial invite as a guest when I thought I’d be in her wedding, and then I was even more thrown when the maid of honor invite was seemingly an afterthought.

2. Give a token of appreciation

My friends who made the bridesmaid experience most enjoyable are those who recognized her bridal party had taken time and money to celebrate her future marriage, and in turn, found a way to show their gratitude. One friend made us cute shirts to wear while we got ready and gave us each an adorable necklace to wear on her wedding day, while another wrote the sweetest personalized notes. For me, it’s not about a gift. It’s about being thought of and feeling included and important.

3. Keep your bridesmaids in the know

Not everyone is a great planner, but if a bridesmaid is going to fulfill her duties of attending to the bride’s needs and being present at important wedding-related events, then the bride needs to properly communicate plans. Someone who doesn’t do this could actually just be a very laidback bride who doesn’t want to sound bossy, but you can still provide logistical details without being a bridezilla. Trust me, your bridesmaids will be happy to know the plan so they can be there for you!

If you’re married, what did you do to make things easy and fun for your bridesmaids? And if you’ve been a bridesmaid, what did the bride do that you appreciated?  Got anything else to add to the list?  Share ‘em in the comments!