A Campaign for More Affordable Engagement Rings

Image courtesy of Turtle Love Committee via A Diamond Is Expensive
We wouldn't be planning our wedding right now if there was an engagement ring involved. I'm sure I'd be waiting for another year or two. So we have taken the offbeat path and have forgone the ring. I sometimes wish that I had one, but I think that's really the metalsmith in me. I'm sure I'll make myself a ring once I get back into the classroom.

Wedding Updates

So some news on the wedding front:

My "Man of Honor" is moving to Portland at the end of May and I have no idea if he'll be able to come back for the wedding. So now I'm in a panic. I think I know who would be a good substitute for him and I'm sure she'd meet his approval. It's so odd for me though because she's such the complete opposite of him. I've known him since kindergarten and I've only known her since last summer and we haven't hung out very much, however we get along great and I like her a lot and she'll be here this summer and we can hang out a lot more and she'd be so much fun to plan with and I'd love to be better friends with her.
I just really need to talk to my friend and see what he's up to and how serious the situation is. =/

Crowns made by whichgoose at Etsy

Photographed and Modeled by me.

My headpiece for my wedding was created by whichgoose from Etsy. I absolutely love her work. Each headdress is unique and never is one exactly the same. Mine was titled Equinox and is beautifully made with a rose made out of a pine cone, wheat, lace, walnuts, and pearls. She has something for everyone, I swear! I was originally planning a beach wedding and mexico and was going to get one that featured seashells.

It's Sushi Day!

Thursday for me is Sushi Day. I live in a college town in Central Illinois and there is only one place to get sushi in this town, however they can only afford to serve it Thursday through Sunday. I always tend to crave it on Monday so I count down the days until Thursday. I used to be a Plain Jane (tuna and salmon roll) but they don't fill me up so I always had to order two rolls of each and that got a little expensive. So I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and had the Happy Roll, and boy does it make me happy. So two rolls of them fill me up plenty and I then dance around the apartment like a fool.

Pendant made and photographed by me.

I love sushi so much that I make a sushi pendant in my first metalworking class for our "found objects" project. The pendant has real rice in it and I had to drive the hour and fifteen minutes to Hannibal, Missouri to get the rose quartz for the fish part (I believe I made a tuna roll.) The seaweed part is silver with a liver of sulfur patina on it. I also did a metal press with real seaweed so that the silver actually has the seaweed texture. I absolutely love this pendant.

Snippet and Ink: Midwest Inspiration Board!

It's as if they read my mind! I'm definitely going for pastels and creams (Ryan is wearing a light yellow button down shirt underneath his white linen suit) and there's even a mason jar on the board! I really like the flowered crowns, I'll have to post pictures of the crown I ordered from Etsy. It's amazing!
Please go to their site to see the where all these items come from!

Check out Snippet and Ink and see if they've read your mind too!

Mason Jar Inspiration

We're getting married at my family's round barn and I'm really trying to go for a down to earth feel while not being too country bumpkin. I guess I'm trying for the simple pleasures aspect of country life. Mason Jars happen to be one of those simple pleasures. So a lot of my decorations are inspired by Mason Jars. Here's my Mason Jar Inspiration Board:

Green DIY Centerpieces/Favors

Photos by Me through Jackson Street Photography

I've been thinking of centerpieces and can't decide what I'm wanting. I absolutely love the idea of potted herbs and seasonings to decorate the tables and then people can take them home. It's add a very down to earth feeling, especially for an outdoor wedding or reception.

For this wedding the bride also had fish bowls and tall glass vases with a candle, vines and lilies in water, on a mirror for another centerpiece, I love how the whole set up was still very green and colorful without the price tag of big floral arrangements.

Amazing Treats for Your Reception

I shot a wedding in October that was really memorable to me because of the treats they served at their reception.

Candy Mice! Not only were they darling, but they were so delicious!

How to make them:

Hershey Kiss or Hugs for the head
2 almond pieces for the ears
Chocolate covered cherry for the body with the stem being their little tails.
Add frosting gel for the eyes and nose.

I'm pretty sure it all stayed together because they put them together when the chocolate on the cherry wasn't hard yet so they stayed together. This totally reminded me of the mice in Cinderella, so if you happen to be going with a Cinderella theme, this would be amazing, especially with all the pumpkins in the fall too!

More Pictures (Taken by me through Jackson Street Photography):

My Obsession

I should probably admit this in the beginning, but I absolutely adore Barack Obama. I think my borderline crush on him has to do with what I've grown up with; Bush, Clinton, Bush. And then who comes walking into our lives but a good looking, down to earth man that I can relate to. My biggest goal in life, my "if this happens I can die happy" moment would be to have a portrait session with Barack Obama and his family. I think for my career being able to do that would be the sign that "I made it."
So periodically I'll post pictures of Obama, nothing really political, I just love pictures of him being a normal person, like running (in the White House) along side his dog, Bo.

The Dress in the Making

So far, I have the pictures that inspired me, and the fabric. My mom is making my wedding dress. She is such a talented seamstress. She made all my prom dresses in high school, all my sister's prom dresses, and even her friend's prom dress this year. I keep trying to convince her to start an etsy shop, but it hasn't happened yet. I may have to spend a day with her during the summer (when she doesn't work) and show her Etsy and plan out what she should make and sell. I'll post them on here for you to see as well.
This dress if by Mirit Weinstock but I just don't have the money to spend $1300 on a dress. So my mom and I went to JoAnn Fabrics with the picture, found a pattern that would work for us and bought the fabric (I'm going to have lace over the whole thing) and the total for the fabric was about $87. My mom hasn't started working on my dress, but as soon as the college semester ends she'll be home and can work on it.

The First Cup

I'm a wedding photographer and engaged, going to get married on July 31st of this year. It's a very offbeat engagement, no question was popped, there isn't a ring. We're getting married at a barn. I have no idea what I'm doing for the most part. I know my mom is making my dress, I know that we are using mason jars as decorations, and I know that we will be having a pie buffet, no cake. Also, we shall have sweet tea and lemonade. And deviled eggs.
Okay, so I know what's important to me. It's just a lot to get done in such a short time. I want to share everything that I think is awesome, even if I can't use it and also my photography, wedding and non-wedding. And my inspirations.

Photo by Me