Decoration Inspiration

I love shabby chic! The combination of fancy/elegant/luxurious elements paired with faded/worn/distressed ones leaves me breathless. I hope to create a casually elegant atmosphere. My plan is to use ivory candles, crystal glasses, clear vases, delicate linens, and my bouquet for decor. I'll make candle chandaliers, string flowers to hang from above, sprinkle flower petals on the table tops & make a canopy for over the dining table. (template: taylormade uncluttered V1 & brush: paislee press inkblotV all available at oscraps.com)

Fashion Inspiration

I am an internet browsing junkie. I have a "Wedding Inspiration" folder in my pictures that I use to collect anything I find of interest to me. I then sort through them and determine what it is I am drawn to in each picture and attempt to incorporate it in my wedding plans. I am a total digital scrapbooking addict. So, of course, after weeding through my pics I arrange my favorites into layouts with words and phrases describing the elements I have chosen to use.

The dress... I'd like a fitted, ruched bodice with a light, flowy skirt. Maybe something in champagne... possibly ivory or the most faded of blush pink... I am not a fan of my upper arms, so I would like something to hide them...
The Suit - Nate likes double breasted jackets and as much as I am vintage he is modern. So I'm going to send him off to pick out any chocolate brown suit he likes. And I'm such a good wife... I won't even make him tie the legs together! ;)

Thrifty Shopping...

I have run into so many deals already!!! Hopefully something here may help you!
1. Fabric - I love WalMart's dollar a yard fabric shelves. I've found some beautiful material for virtually nothing. I plan on making a canopy, my own veil, and using some sheer material to create a more defined "wedding area" in our backyard where we'll be getting married. Granted I have no idea what this fabric actually is. It is all labelled "unknown" but for looking beautiful at $1/yard... I don't care what's in it! I have decided to be thrifty instead of snobby, so I guess I'm off to a good start! :)

2. Glass Jars - I found these sweet glass jars at Michaels for just $1 each. I bought 24 with a plan of placing 12 on each side of the path leading to where we'll stand during the ceremony.





3. Candle Holders - Never underestimate your local stores... You know the ones... the Mardens, the Maxways, the Bob's discount, the Freds... I found these delicate little holders on sale from $1 each to ten cents a piece! They weren't exactly what I'd pictured but when you can get 25 for the price of 2 1/2.... suddenly they are exactly want you want. lol...



4. Furniture - Yard Sales! Thank God for them. I got this adorable shabby chic set for a whopping $10! It looks rough right now because I just started priming.... but if you tilt your head and squint a little.... this is the perfect place to sit outside and sign a marriage liscence...




5. Jewelery - This was it. This was the ring I wanted... vintage inspired, cushion cut aquamarine center stone, white gold, accented with diamonds, a delicate pave band.... It was perfect. But... it was listed in a gallery with $1500 rings. And it was labelled "call for price". Ouch. So I filed it in my "It would be nice, but it's never gonna happen" folder. Then I went to WalMart. I can't remember what I was shopping for, but of course I couldn't help but look down as I passed the jewelery counter. And what did I see? That ring! It was almost exactly the same! White gold, genuine stones, nearly identical filigree under the stone... It just lacked the extra pave on the sides of the band. (Big deal!) So I gathered my courage and pushed down my hope and looked at the price. I couldn't believe it. This ring.... the one I found online for God only knows how much... was $98. Seriously. $98. I wanted to cry. Now I know $98 isn't "nearly as much as one should spend on an engagement ring." But for a ring that looks just like *the ring* I wanted..... I refuse to be that shallow. I love the ring, so.... we bought it. I'll warn you this pic is terrible. I will take a better one ASAP. the angle is different so you can't see under the stone, but.... it's almost identical. And for $104 after tax.... it's mine!













6. Frames - Thrift stores! I found this tiny treasure at Goodwill for about 75 cents. The glass is missing, but I don't mind because it has so much character! I'm not sure just what I'm going to do with it yet, but I'm sure it will find a purpose soon!

Life as I know it...

Hi. I'm Leanne... or Elle... or just "that girl" whose blog you've stumbled across....
I'm 26 and I just recently started living. For 25 years I colored inside the lines that everyone else drew around me. But last year my crayon broke and I just couldn't take it anymore. So I left my old life and began this new one. I couldn't be happier. After a decade of separation I am back together with the love of my life, my childhood sweetheart... the boy who taught me how to kiss. We will be getting married next year and I am having a blast getting ready for that day. We were both married before and are much more laid back about everything now. Don't get me wrong... I want everything to be beautiful... and I have in mind exactly what that means. But I am not going broke to make it happen and I am not going to stress about the way things "should be done." Our wedding will be exactly as we want it to be. It will be beautiful, it will be real, it will be us. I will be sure to pass along the deals and steals and short cuts I find as I go. I will be DIYing a lot so I'll post directions for those things too.... If you have any questions or just want to chat.... welcome! :)