Etsy goodies: Bling for the boys
Along the lines of men with rings (from my last post).. women aren’t the only ones who can get spiffed up at the wedding! There are many ways for a groom or for the groomsmen to accessorize for the big day. Here are some goodies from Etsy that I found:
Dress up those sleeves with these shiny swarovski cufflinks.
Wedding bands don’t have to be boring either. This white gold band with an understated texture has lots of character.
Customize your tie, in colour and design
Engrave a pair of collar stays for your hubby-to-be for a meaningful gift.
What about a vintage tie clip? Bring in this old school accessory in a way that suits you
If you’re still stuck, find last-minute groomsmen gifts with a very personal touch at My Wedding Favors.
MANgagement rings – trendy or strange?
A mangagement ring flashed around by singer Michael Buble, picture taken by dailymail.co.uk
A mangagement ring is supposedly a new trend these days. I’m not sure exactly how popular this trend is among North-Americans or even Torontonians, as I’ve never seen or heard of it before Buble’s ring. However the idea itself perplexes me.
I think it’s an honourable concept, for equality and all that jazz. Call me old fashioned, but isn’t it part of the fun to have the guy come up with a romantic way of proposing for the girl? Also, how ego-crushing is it to get congratulated by the guys for your engagement, only to tell them the girl beat you to the punch? More importantly, when does the girl get her ring??
Mangagement rings are interesting, in that they break the norm and shine some light on the man (grooms cakes are quite trendy also!). However I’d think there is some sort of value to the tradition that’s lasted over the years of having the guy proposing to the girl. I also have a hunch that guys get a sense of satisfaction and pride when their plans carry through and the girl graciously accepts, traditionally speaking.
Anyway, this trend is clearly not for everyone. But hey, it’s… interesting.
Etsy goodies: Silk-screened ties, bowties and silk scarves
Handmade and highly customizable, Etsy seller toybreaker, offers a unique gift for groomsmen or bridesmaids. You choose the image, tie colour and ink colour, and within a couple of weeks you will have an awesome gift that your bridal party will love. The finished pieces won’t cost you much more than what you might find at a department store too!
Each piece is silk-screened by hand, with squeegee and all. As someone who’s done this before, I can tell you that it is a highly tedious process (it’s not for everyone!). But it also yields a unique print each time and it is rewarding to see your finished work. Toybreaker is also conscious of her impact on the environment by offering synthetic fibers for her vegan audience, designing with water-based and solvent-free inks, and using post-consumer products in her packaging.
As a big fan of personalized weddings and a frequent browser of Etsy, an online buy-and-sell community of everything handmade, this ‘Etsy Goodies’ will be a regular addition to my blog. I absolutely adore toybreaker’s products and I hope you do too!
A lush and lavish engagement party
One of my friends from high school threw an engagement party over the weekend, care of her in-laws-to-be. They definitely did not hold back on any details! The night was complete with a punch fountain, a framed picture to sign, the bride’s favourite colour throughout and a decorated archway upon entrance. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought I was at a wedding (I even got a favour for attending!).
It was a great evening overall. What a gracious way to welcome someone to the family! The Jamaican dinner was a nice surprise and the hand-made pond in the backyard was a beautiful backdrop. Can’t wait for the actual wedding day next year! Congrats you two!
A video is worth a thousand words
At Sharon & Justin’s August wedding, they started off their wedding ceremony with a beautiful and meaningful video. Before the groomsmen went up to the front and just after all the guests were seated, they played a short video about their story and engagement. It was a wonderful way to start off a magical day! Guests laughed and cried, all before the ceremony even began. Really well done. Enjoy!
Ray, the videographer, shares that the idea for the video was actually conspired in the shower of all places, and also because Sharon and Justin are very talented in the music department. The music-theme carried through into the reception where they had some games that tested their musical abilities. It was a great wedding overall!
Wedding video is a very popular trend these days. Great photography is a must, but great video is an added luxury. Just like crazy cakes, they come at a premium price. There is low supply of good videographers around town, and a high demand for them. Ray mentions that for an average video, it takes about 10 hours of work for 1 minute of finished video. Definitely worth the time though; they are fun to watch and capture the full experience of the day.
Take a look at the same day edit of the wedding day here.
Ray is one of those hidden gems, and he only takes on a limited amount of weddings each year for videos, but if you are interested, you can contact him at serenaray[at]me.com
For those with a keen eye, this is one of the weddings in my gallery! I was on board for just the decor/design aspect, to help the couple add a personal touch to the day as well as tie in all the colour elements. It was a lot of fun to do, exactly the kind of detail work I love. Have a great weekend!
A slice of fabulous
I must admit, I watch a lot of reality TV when it comes to wedding shows. Slice and TLC are some of the only channels I watch when I turn on the tube (yikes, I know). Of the many shows out there, I’m always amazed at the cake shows that give a glimpse of the tedious and time-consuming work of a cake artist. Baking a nice cake is hard enough, but creating an edible sculpture is a whole different story!
If you are considering bringing a unique cake creation to your wedding, two things are for sure.
One, it will definitely bring that special wow factor to your wedding. It can also tie into your theme and colours, making it extra meaningful.
Two—and a solid two—it will cost you a pretty penny for the time and details it will take to make an edible piece of art. I’ve been told that every cake is different. However it goes without saying that if you want anything that is intricate AND tasting good, it comes at a premium price. If this is a route you’d like to take, but are worried about costs, consider alternate dessert options like serving a slab cake on the side or serving cake along with a sweets table. Both are great alternatives to serving a piece of cake to each guest.
Below are some ideas to get you started on your creative cake journey, made by The Wicked Little Cake Company, based in Toronto.
A Monet and Van Gogh-inspired cake for an art-themed wedding. It even has edible gold lustre on the hand-piped frame!
Believe it or not, this is a wedding cake! The couple wanted to add their favourite characters from the Monster Factory to their special day.
An example of some detailed work that also happens to be my favourite flower, the cymbidium orchid. Made by hand!
Etsy goodies: Cute wedding cake toppers
