Unabashed Bliss

Thank you to those who have been following me and giving me such wonderful feedback!  Your words always make my day!  Jonnathan has designed me a brand new website!! It’s gorgeous!!! And no worries - I’ll be pulling my posts from here over to the new website.

www.unabashedbliss.com

Blissfully Yours -

Heidi

It’s February and yet today clearly felt like Spring.  Warm sunshine filled my living room, birds chirped outside the window and I felt an unnatural desire to go outdoors and sing a tune from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty “I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream” - WOW!  What’s up with that?! Giddy seeing our long lost friend…the sun… I pranced around the house excited to do something outside, although not sure what.  Then the rain came….as she always does….which reminded me of one of my biggest wedding day fears: RAIN!!!! NOoooooOOOOO!!!! Our entire “mood” of the wedding has everything to do with being married under a canopy of Oak trees with beautiful natural surroundings and lots of candles….so what if it rains???

These brides happily braved the rain on their special day - why shouldn’t I?  Right?

I’m convinced I need to go out and purchase some “just-in-case-it-rains” boots!  In fact I really love the look of them so much maybe we’ll do our engagement photos featuring rain boots! Hmmm we’ll see! I’ve seen so many options on sale at both DSW and Nordstroms. I better get some before they’re out of my size!!!

Sources: veiltales.wordpress, Melissa Prosser Photography, eventdecorator.com, greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com

I LOVE MILK GLASS! Last night at Value Village and the Good Will I hit “affordable milk glass heaven”!!! I’ve been collecting it for just a couple of months and found that thrift stores carry milk glass between $.99 and $1.99 a piece! Ummm hello?!  That’s EXACTLY what a bride on a budget needs!  I grabbed a basket and starting snatching any and every piece of milk glass as though I were competing on the game show “super market sweep”.  A sweet lady in the isle near me starting pointing out some vases that I overlooked asking me with her eyebrows up high, “for your wedding?”  Oh dear!  Did I look like one of those crazy brides? Oh well!  I might add in that I also got a great bicep work out carry that basket around.  Delightful!

First and second image via Snippet and Ink (Florist Gilly Flowers), third image Country Living.

I’ve seen many examples, and am most in love with flowers presented in monochromatic arrangements like these. So chic!

Images via Snippet and Ink (Gilly Flowers).

They add the perfect amount of charm to home decor if displayed in the open! I just need to find some old french country furniture now…

First Image: Photographer Punam Bean via Bella Figura Blog,

ETSY - floradelsol

STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO OF “MY MILK GLASS HEAVEN!”

Okay, so I obviously love to peruse my fav bridal blogs every day! I know - call me crazy, but how could I not when all to often I find these precious gems of goodness!  Today’s biggest delight was when I landed on Once Wed’s feature of Grant and Ashley’s wedding photographed by the very talented Tec Petaja.  I’m in love with the vibrancy of their wedding AND to see photos of the groom in a vest suit with his boys featuring suspenders!  LOVE IT!!!  Jonnathan has been talking about this very idea for our wedding!!! It’s laid back, but not too casual.  Classy and handsome and perfect for a summer wedding! I’d say quite suitable for a wedding!

Source: Once Wed (Photography by Tec Petaja)

Jonnathan and I found some sweet decor tonight at TJ Max!!! Ahhh I can’t wait to show you all!  Awesome finds and super cheap! I’m also getting ready for my brother and sister-in-laws baby shower next week - so we’re talking some DIY decor ideas that you won’t want to miss!  STAY TUNED!  Images from TJ Max tomorrow.

Check me out on NW Bride TV’s Blog!!!

If Heidi could have her dream job, she would start her day enjoying a perfect cup of coffee and a morning walk with her fiance and two boxers, which usually includes a ridiculous adventure, a good story and lots of laughter. Then she’d hunker down, whether in her home office or favorite cafe to continue creating her blog Unabashed Bliss - Perfectly Inspired Wedding Design, featuring topics such as: Bride-On-A-Budget, DIY, “Green” approaches to wedding planning, favorite vendors, traditional vs. non-traditional details, fashion and more. What aspect of being a wedding blogger does she love most? With her unforgettable smile, she beams back, “I get to do what I love and am passionate about! I care tremendously…

I was exhausted, it had been a long day at work, hadn’t taken a lunch break and all I wanted was to go home, sip on a glass of cab and crawl into bed. Thankfully 5 o’clock came fairly fast and I headed out the door knowing the love of my life was waiting out front…

So all along we’ve been going with a Rustic Elegance theme and I think using hay bales for seating options is perfect!  Affordable, country, and biodegradable!  Think about it - when using a rental company for chairs you end up paying at least $2 per chair, so why not pay between $1 and $3 per bale from a local farmer?  I already found a couple of farmers in the Portland area advertising straw/hay bales on craigslist.  I love the idea of supporting local businesses. So, we’re thinking of using hay bales for guests to sit on for the ceremony as well as lounge areas around the property. I just have to make sure we find thick enough blankets and make some bright colored throw pillows as well.

I love the circular seating under the trees!  We could definitely do this! I’ve researched and found that the blankets have to be thick enough so the hay doesn’t itch your guests legs or snag their clothes!  Definitely one of those small details that makes a huge difference!

Below are images from our venue - so you can see how perfect this idea would work!

Imagine sipping ice tea or a glass of wine while lounging on hay bales covered in quilts with this as your background! Delightful!

Sources: Lekiah Snazzy Jazzy Wordpress; W. Scott Chester Photography via The Green Bride Guide; Celebrity Bride Guide; The Knot; Postlewait’s Country Weddings.

“Weddings were so closely intertwined with spirits in England in the Middle Ages that wedding feasts were called bride-ales, which gave rise to the word bridal. At bride ales, the drinking of beer could go on for days…”(The Wedding Book - The Big Book For Your Big Day - Mindy Weiss & Lisbeth Levine). WOW - who would have thought the word bridal originated from bride and beer?! Ohhhh the beverage decisions to be made!

Rustic table set up, with glass beverage jars and cute handmade labels.  I’m thinking of having…

(Source)

Rustic Lemonade Stand: JK Photography; Labels: Snippet and Ink; Fresh Lemonade Tin Sign: Marty Mummert Lemonade Sing at AllPosters.com; Wall Art: Cost Less World Market; Beverage SetUp: Paloma La Dolce Vita Blog; Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea

Oooooohhhh how I wanted these!!! But of course the day I get the catalog showing them on clearance…. already sold out….. Wouldn’t these have been incredible to wear with my dress!  Especially with the other girls wearing brown boots… what a bummer.