Some brides want to achieve a wedding day look that’s more handsome than romantic, and I say go for it. The bridal suit has gone mainstream in recent years, either as the honeymoon getaway outfit or at the bride’s primary ensemble. But all bridal suits are not created equal. Take this interesting number from Piedad Rodriguez… I’d say it does its best to combine the simple look of a suit with the frills of a wedding dress. Does it work? You tell me! I am going to err on the side of hate on this one, but I would much prefer the more basic bridal suit paired with that hat. Yum.

Alternative engagement rings… ask 10 people what that means and you might get 10 different answers, from sustainable gold and diamond rings and skinny hammered gold bands to gems from space and gold versions of acrylic silhouettes. And then, of course, there’s the beautiful Twistie’s silver frog! Some might say that any non-diamond engagement ring counts as alternative, but in this day and age? Really? (A sapphire engagement ring should not be considered out of the ordinary.)

Heck, there’s no rule stating that an engagement ring has to have a stone at all, much less a clear one – preferably a diamond or something close to it – in a solitaire mount. Or that the man has to give the woman a ring. Some women just don’t wear rings or can’t because of their professions. And there are women who do the proposing, and maybe they give their partner a ring, maybe not. There are couples who can’t afford a pricey ring and would prefer not to buy something cheap. Couples who would simply rather spend that money on something like a new washing machine for the house they bought together years before they got married. Some people like the look of that traditional big rock; some people would rather wear an onion ring than be caught dead in one.

Personally, I like alternative engagement rings. Actually, I just like rings. I’m not going to make any judgment calls when you come up to me with your Ring Pop and announce that you’re engaged. If it works for you, I’m thrilled on your behalf. Now you tell me: Did you or your intended choose an alternative engagement ring? Are you someone who strongly believes diamond engagement rings are the only ‘real’ engagement rings?

Image: Indiebride

Feathers make great wedding accessories, whether they’re in a bridal headpiece or in a bridal bouquet or even on a wedding cake! You can find feathers in every color under the sun, so coordinating with even the wackiest wedding color schemes is no problem. How else can you use feathers in your wedding? Here’s a bunch of pictorial inspiration to help you figure out where to integrate this easy to use wedding accessory into your big day:

(more…)

The fabulous Rebecca sent me a link to this totally amazing quilled marriage certificate created by paper filigree expert Ann Martin. Glorious!

Now, paper filigree is new to me, and maybe to you, too. According to Wikipedia, “paper filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. The paper is wound around a quill to create a basic coil shape. The paper is glued at the tip and the coil shaped, these shaped coils are arranged to form flowers, leaves, and various ornamental patterns similar to ironwork.” Zow! Sounds like one of those hobbies that’s time consuming but produces an amazing finished product.

And what a nice way to display a marriage certificate – it’s certainly a lot nicer than the one issued by the state. I have one of those, and it lives in my fire safe.

You can see more of Ann’s quilled marriage certificates in this little Flickr set – and from what she writers, it looks like she’s in the market for commissions. So if you love what you see, get in touch with her!

P.S. – Don’t forget to enter the yummiest giveaway yet!