Clutch Confusion

Pink and Cheesy -- what's not to love? If I hadn't already found some perfect potential purses, I totally would have taken the sweet and sage Mrs. Cheese up on her offer to borrow her silk wedding clutch.

Excited at the prospect of a custom clutch (possibly in one of our bright wedding colors, which are showing up on even the smallest details), I had turned to Etsy, and virtual window-shopped to my heart's content. I definitely wanted something I'd use post-wedding, and was initially drawn to uniquely-shaped styles with bold details like floral embellishments and funky fabric pleats.

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Next, I was swooning over metal frame clutches.

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I was so drawn to the red and white one above, loving its modern details.

Finally, though, I found Vicky. Her shop is brimming with clutches that combine classic shapes with some of the visual elements that originally caught my eye. They're simultaneously timeless and contemporary -- and any of these would complement the style of my gown oh-so well. I narrowed down my favorites (all images courtesy of the Vicky Riley Wedding Shop) to one of these three...

The Amy Clutch

The Audrey Clutch

The Emily Clutch

...but need some help from the hive!

Which purse should I pick?

(A) The Amy Clutch
(B) The Audrey Clutch
(C) The Emily Clutch
(D) None of 'em -- but I love [insert name here] from Vicky's shop, and think it'd be fab!

And, should I opt for a bright *pop* of color, like this bold satin clutch (she's called Esme)...

...or keep it neutral with a gold or champagne exterior? Please share your color thoughts in the comments!

(Cuff) Link Love

Sure, we get to don gorgeous white dresses, yards of tulle (or a poof of netting) and super fab shoes. And trust me, I'm definitely excited to pull my look together on our wedding day. But my attire and accessories have a decidedly bridal feel (um, duh), and I'm feeling a bit envious of my mister -- and really, all those grooms out there who are able to wear their passions on their sleeve...literally.

(Yup, Mrs. Cupcake's always fabulous
photographers snapped this one.)

As far as man-cessories go, I think cuff links are the coolest. I mean, look at all the cute (uhhh, I mean really, really masculine) options for pulling together a dude's dapper duds.

I love how so many designs are repurposed goods; bits of old wine barrels, vinyl records, Scrabble tiles and newspaper crossword puzzles were just a few of the styles that caught my eye.

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Worrying your groom will get tongue-tied and forget his lines? George Washington can help out with that!

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Etsy, of course, is another great source -- Mrs. Tiramisu and Mrs. Quiche worked with sellers to create custom sets that included mini maps of their wedding and honeymoon locations.

BIL and Mr. Bruschetta share a fantasy baseball team, and compete in a league against (among others) Daddy Bruschetta. So, it figures that I'm more than a little tuned in to cuff links devoted to America's pastime.

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And for our wedding? Mr. Bruschetta will be giving a nod to our adopted city (where I attended grad school) with recycled T token cuff links I gifted to him last Christmas.

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Will your groom be sporting special cuff links? If so, what do they say about him -- or you as a couple?

It's A Tossup

I like to think of myself as decisive, but I gotta admit: At times, I'm really wishy-washy. As in, read-all-the-birthday-cards-in-the-section-at-Hallmark-before-making-a-choice indecisive. And now, here's another case in point: Garter-maker extraordinaire Peterene sent along some pictures of color options for our four toss garters. I'm so torn as to which would look best -- so I'd love to hear what you think!

My keepsake one will be similar to the top garter in this set:

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Should I opt for toss garters with...

1) Brightly-colored ribbon in the middle -- each will have the same design/style as the toss garter pictured above -- with black on the edges?



2) The same idea as number one, but with ivory (instead of black) surrounding our four wedding colors?



3) An ivory -- or black -- center, with the bright colors on the outside? (Similar to this style, but with a flat bow instead of a flower, and a wider bit of color on each side.)



(All images courtesy of Peterene.)

I love how the colors seem to *pop* most on option one -- but wonder if the black edges are too, um, edgy for me. It all comes down to whether I'm looking for a fun, bridal-y set, or something a bit sexier.

Which would you pick if you were me?

Garter-ian Angel

We're putting a spin on the traditional bouquet and garter toss, looking to infuse humor and whimsy into our reception, and to stimulate some playful competition among our guests. And, of course, I'm hoping for some great pictures to capture these fun moments.

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How are we shaking things up? Well, I'm going to wait to reveal all the details in a future post. For now, though, I need some help from the hive. Since I lack the sew-how some of the other bees so clearly possess, I turned to Etsy seeking a seller to craft the toss and keepsake garters.

I was instantly drawn to Peterene's simple, satin designs -- but she's got some crazy, colorful styles as well. If pearls and lace are more your thing, Peterene's still your girl, with some vintage materials to complement romantically-styled gowns. (All images courtesy of Peterene Design.)







Now, the decision. As I said above, my favorite is the first picture -- the tuxedo garter set, a variation on Peterene's tailored set. But I'd really love to work in one or more of our wedding colors: orange, purple, red and light green. Should I select one accent color for the toss garter, and pair it with white, ivory or black? Would you opt for a vibrant keepsake garter, or keep it simple with more bridal-colored design? Share your ideas below!

Are you putting a twist on the bouquet and garter toss? Where did you (or will you) purchase your garters?