It's Southern New England. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by pristine coastline, boats, seashells, and hydrangea. Tons of brides who flock to New England as a destination, and also those of us who call it home, like to incorporate a nautical theme into our weddings, to pay tribute to the place we love so much and share the beach love with our families and friends! Here are just a few nautical wedding ideas...


Photo: Kristin Spencer Photography

Ghost Chairs: the new Chiavari? Well, Chiavari will always be queen of the wedding chair, however the Louis Ghost Chair is making splashes! It's lucite loveliness adds more mod to modern and a sense of playfulness and juxtaposition when mixed in with rustic, woodsy decor. Fun, Fun!



Photo: Andreasphoto.ca

Have you all checked us out on Facebook and become a fan? Don't forget that when we hit 500 fans we will be giving away this great GV2 By Gevril Men's watch valued at over $2,000 perfect for a wedding gift for hubby to be, dad, best man, brother, and more! A winner will be chosen at random once we hit 500 fans!

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Happy Monday, all! I'm sure everyone is busy looking forward to 4th of July celebrations and parades and cookouts and the like!

Today's bouquet is from the ever-talented Stoneblossom Floral and Event Design. Stoneblossom tells me, "For this particular bridesmaid bouquet, the bride’s color pallet was white and chartreuse green with accents of chocolate brown. We had decided on keeping the flowers mostly white with touches of green viburnum and to detail the wrapping style with brown ribbon. Well, as it happens so often in the world of floral design, we got really lucky at the flower market and stumbled upon some gorgeous chocolate cosmos. That truly made our day! They added the perfect finishing touch."

The chocolate really adds depth to the bouquet, don't you think? Really fun! Tell me more about your bouquets or recent ones you have seen that you liked!

Chatties, I need help!

1. Does anyone know a good makeup person in the NB/PVD/ FR/NPT area that does not charge $100 for makeup?

2. Does anyone know where I can get votive candle holders that are not boring and not wicked expensive (ie mercury glass, pressed glass, hobnail, etc ) in the same geog area or ebay???

3. My mom has been looking for a dinghy forEVER to put drinks in for the cocktail hour. Any heads up on that?

Thank you for any help any of you ladies can give me, it's a bummer not being at home and being able to look for stuff! And, when I get back to Westport in August, I'd really rather go to Horseneck than be in and our of Michael's, Targay, Xmas tree shop, etc searching!!!!

Gazillion thanks, xx britishbride

I can't believe it's been a year since I walked down the aisle! It's been a crazy fun year and it really has flown by. Today we will reminisce about last year, look through our amazing photos from Kristin Spencer Photography and take a bite from our Pina Colada wedding cake tier from Confectionery Designs and think about what the future holds! What a great day it was, the thunder clapped, the lightning flashed, and the skies opened just as we said "I do", and then we danced and laughed the night away.

Enjoy your first year together ladies, in an instant you wake up and it's on to the next!

Most of us have an idea what we want to look like when we walk down the aisle, the blusher resting daintily on the tip of our nose, and the beautifully detailed veil cascading down our backs as we walk down the aisle. Our perfectly white, sparkly, bedazzled (times a million) dream dress swishing with each step.

That swish, that awe inspiring feeling, has been the bane of my existence for a solid two months. It's been in the back of my mind before then, lingering. Once my fiancé popped the question though, that swish became a thundering. An innocent little "swish" of taffeta, tulle, organza or silk became a roaring that got ever louder. Occasionally accented with little cash register "cha-ching" noises added in every once in a while.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to make that (hopefully) once in a lifetime purchase. But I've seen those photos, the ones your mom pulls out and dusts off, where you slap on a fake smile and gush about "how gorgeous" those gigantic Ariel-at-the-end-of-the-little-mermaid balloon sleeves were. That Ariel sure had a killer figure, but balloon sleeves are just not for me.

Hi all. So my wedding on May 15th ended up being more than I ever hoped it would be! We had a gorgeous day and aside from some kinks with the caterer, I highly do NOT recommend West Bay Gourmet, the evening was a success and everyone had a blast.

Now what to do with my wedding dress. I am not the sentimental type who wants to keep the dress for any future daughters to use so I think I want to donate it to an organization who either sells used dresses really cheap or gives them to women in need. I got it at an incredibly good price since it was a sample so I do not want to give it to a place that will resell it for more than I bought it! Does anyone know of anything like this in the RI area?

I have tried to attach 2 pictures that show the front and back somewhat clearly!

I got a great deal on the jewelry. It's been a huge task, one of my BMs and I went into boston and went to SO GOOD Jewelry where I usually find tons of costume jewelry that I love, well we went and didn't find anything. The other day my best friend Steve and I went to the mall cause he needed something and we stumbled into JCPenny and found them! It was friends and family weekend so we got them very discounted! I love them, they are simple since I'm a simple person. They are gold but don't look like fake gold (ill be wearing my pearl earings that are also gold, and the clasp on my pearl necklace and bracelet are gold so I wanted my BMs in gold if I could find some that didn't look fake) I love my find! What do you think!?

Most people I've met either know what a maypole is, have done one, and rave about their experiences; or on the flip side have no idea what I'm talking about and think I'm insane.
Photo provided by The Black House (www.thehistoricalblackhouse.org)

Traditionally speaking the may pole was erected in the villages at various solstices, celebrations etc., including May Day (May 1st), the traditions vary widely from region to religion. The men of the village would erect a tall pole with a ceremonial topper ( think anything fertility related ie flowers, etc), and many brightly colored ribbons attached to the top that were able to reach fairly close to the ground. The men and women of a village would come together, raise the ribbons, and dance gaily around the pole winding, unwinding, and finally rewinding the ribbons around the pole in a beautiful latticework of dancing and merriment (lots of mead, wine and music making!!- all in the name of religion right?!). Also traditionally the first male and female to have a ribbon too short to continue to dance would be the first off into to woods to... "Celebrate" the rites of spring, and so on. Village couples could also take turns jumping the bonfire as a way of inviting a bountiful harvest and a fruitful womb in the women.

To cut to the chase, my fiance and I took part in a maypole (his first, however I am a seasoned ribbon weaver!), about a week after we found out we were pregnant. None of our families knew, and we ended up being the May King and Queen. For whatever reason, the Maypole celebration is a memory we cherish, and when originally discussing ideas for our wedding, and how to make it a "unique multicultural, non-denominational, celebration of our partnership," he threw out the idea of having a Maypole.