Ring Bearers and Breakables...?

I've never really dug the whole ring-bearer-pillow bit.  If the pillow is really lacy and girly, what the devil do you do with it after the wedding?  NavyGuy would die before he'd let me put the pillow on our bed, and honestly, the last thing we need is another piece of bedding stashed somewhere (how or why we have four rubbermaid totes full of pillows, sheets, and bedspreads is a question for another day...).  Yes, I could just store it with my other wedding memorabilia, but I knew I could do better than that...

So, where do I turn for all things unique and creative?  Why Etsy!

Paloma's Nest is the seller.  I ordered one of these little clay bowls to hold the rings, and I think the positives outweigh the negatives...

Downsides:

1. We have two ring bearers... and one bowl.  I'm already brainstorming something else we can shove in the "extra" boy's hands so there isn't a brawl before we go down the aisle about who gets to carry the bowl.

2. Bowl could be breakable if dropped (or thrown at brother), so the elder brother will definitely be carrying it, and I'll probably be holding my breath the entire time.

Upsides:

1. I love how simple and modern it looks.

2. Ours will be personalized with our wedding date and the words to our exchange of rings during the ceremony.

3. It's way more useable after the wedding - as a dish to hold your rings while you wash dishes, or even a wall hanging (note the useful holes near the top).

It's a risk I'm willing to take to avoid the flowery pillow.  Pray the boys are on their best behavior for thirty seconds down the aisle before they hand the bowl off to someone else... 

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Wedding Day Clutch

Time to vote for a purse for the big day! I know that it's highly unlikely that I'll be carrying it around myself that day - that's what I have gullible friends personal attendants for. However, I would like to have a very clearly identifiable clutch for a few VIP items... my chapstick/lipstick for the day, cell phone, vows, etc, so that there is no confusion and lost item drama.

I also however, would like something from the day that I can use again. Except for the times I plan to throw on my veil while vacuuming, most of my wedding day attire isn't really suitable for everyday life (though, how cool would it be to find an occasion when you could wear the dress again!?! If Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe could do it, why not the rest of us?). A clutch that doesn't scream bride could legitimately pop up again for other special events, making it a more justifiably purchase. Hence, I've picked out some pretty and colorful options from Etsy - the handmade mecca.

Please leave your vote in the comments!

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Option 5

Option 6

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DIY Invites - Little Details

The wedding planning rolls on. At the moment the major work revolves around DIY craft projects - namely, the invitations. There was a small victory today as I found a reasonably priced return address stamp to use on the RSVP envelopes and the actual invitation envelope. Where did I happen upon such a neat stamp? Etsy.com, the mecca of handmade items. It's crazy addictive - I'll go there searching for one thing and end up browing fourteen completely different things. The fun part of Etsy is that you know you're getting a unique item.

So I found this design, which will be customized with my and NavyGuy's information by "TerBearCo." a rubber stamp designer who sells her items on Etsy. She answered all of my questions promptly and is going to have the item done with more than enough time for me to use them on my DIY invites (which of course, I'll be blogging about soon enough). As soon as the stamp arrives, I'll be sure to post a pic of the finished product!

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