I love seeing couples utilize their creativity by finding fun and unique ways to seat their guests. I could do probably a hundred different blogs on all the amazing escort cards I have seen but today I wanted to focus on table numbers.  How can you not be inspired after seeing all these awesome table numbers people have incorporated into their wedding decor!

Images courtsey of Wedding Bee, Etsy, The Knot, Pottery Barn, Little White Book, DIY Newlyweds, Your perfect day, Brooklyn Bride and Tickled Pink

I love when couples draw inspiration from nature and incorporate it into their wedding decor.  These days I can't get enough of trees, branches and twigs.  I love how simple and effortless it looks and yet so chic at the same time. There are so many different and amazing things you can do with them too!

Images courtsey of Elizabeth Ann Designs, Martha Stewart, Design Sponge, The Knot, Wedding Bee and Ayoska

This is so amazing! Smock Paper is donating 100% of their sales this weekend to Oceana. This Saturday and Sunday (9/18 and 9/19) go to Smock Paper's website and purchase cards, invitations, or gift tags from their Isle Suite collection and help save the oceans!

Here is some information from their website:

"Like so many of you, we were stunned by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast that dominated the news this spring and summer. While the spill has now been contained, the environmental impacts of the spill and the threats associated with offshore drilling persist. Oceana, an inspiring advocacy organization, has taken an active role in the movement against offshore drilling, and we want to help – this Saturday and Sunday (9/18 + 9/19), go to smockpaper.com, purchase any cards, lettersheets, or gift tags from the Isle suite and we’ll donate 100% of the Isle purchase to Oceana. Printed on bamboo paper, our Isle suite is inspired by art nouveau and (an oil free) underwater beauty, and includes our bestselling “thank you very much” whale card.

You can learn more about how to get involved and sign the petition protesting offshore drilling on Oceana’s website. And don’t forget to shop our Isle collection on Saturday and Sunday when we will be donating 100% of sales to help further Oceana’s cause."

During the planning process registering for wedding gifts is something most couples do together. It can be a really fun and enjoyable experience but it can also lead to a lot of uncertainty.  Questions inevitably start to arise:

How many place settings do we need?

Do we register for something we already have?

Is this gift too expensive to register for? 

How do we tell people where we are registered? 

These questions and many more typically come up and of course, Martha has the answer :).  Martha Stewart Weddings has the Do's and Don'ts to registering that I highly recommend you check out here. 

Finally, some green tips for registering from Emerald Weddings:  Don't register for things you already have that work perfectly well, don't register for things just because it's "the norm" and don't register for things you don't need or will never use...DO HAVE FUN! :)

Image courtsey of Martha Stewart Weddings

I am happy to share with you our first ever guest blogger! Sarah Logan of ASI (beauty school in NY) has graciously provided us with some amazing DIY Makeup Tips designed to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day.

 Prepare to look beautiful in your wedding photographs!

Image courstey of Wedding New Co

Wedding pictures hold some of the happiest memories of a lifetime, so be sure you consider all the angles when preparing to be photographed on the big day.

Exfoliate and moisturize:  Don't forget that the most important step is good skincare for a clean, smooth base. Soft, supple skin will be the best canvas for any makeup to look great on.

Don't go changing: Brides shouldn't try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate the skin during the wedding countdown. Don't be tempted to get cosmetic treatments like a chemical peel too close to the date, especially if you haven't experienced the procedure before.

Build a solid foundation: Be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. Color correcting concealers are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup.

Define eyes and brows: While it is important to line and define eyes so they pop in photos, keep in mind that dark shadow will make eyes recede and look smaller. For big bright eyes, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon.  Also, make sure brows are properly framing the face; everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or a solid pigment and blend well.

Skip the glitter: Radiance enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, keep the sheen only on cheekbones and the cupid's bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder and blot any oiliness as needed.  The older you are, the more important it is to avoid shimmery eye makeup, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines.

Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, a beauty school in NY. It offers aesthetics certification courses and specialized coursework in microdermabrasion certification and paramedical esthetics.