We love these adorable keepsake bowls via Paloma’s Nest on Etsy. They are simply precious, and can be personalized for your special day with phrases such as “With This Ring” or “To Have And To Hold” along with the date of your wedding.

What a lovely idea! They can be used as a ring bearers bowl during your ceremony and then kept as an heirloom. Or, they could also be the start of a wonderful family tradition that is passed on from one generation to the next! We also adore the simple initial monogram bowl which would make great groomsmen or bridesmaid’s gifts.

We are extremely fond of this real wedding, which took place at the brides parent’s home on their apple orchard in Maine. Katie recalls that she wanted to create an intimate and personal feel despite their large guest list, and her parent’s home was the perfect setting. They had a simple handfasting ceremony followed by cocktails in the backyard and a ho down under the tent.

Every detail was personal right down to the decorations. Katie says, “We gathered things that were made, found in the barn, found in neighbors barns, at flea markets, or on etsy. All of my family and friends pitched in to help pull off the wedding, right down to my bridesmaids who hauled hay across the yard the morning of the wedding. It was a complete labour of love!”

To see a slideshow with additional images of Katie and Bill’s wedding, click here.

Photography: Strut Photography

Dress: Amsale

Shoes: Frye with vintage shoe clips

Bookmark Favors, Table Numbers, and Invitations: Swiss Cottage Designs

We love meeting visionaries from all corners of the wedding industry, but when we crossed paths with illustrating maven Astrid Mueller, we like to think the Lovely angels began to sing!

Astrid is an internationally published illustrator with many talents, and Lovely can’t get enough of her stunning illustrations of married couples to be for invites, cake toppers, and keepsakes!

When we first spoke with Astrid she wowed us with a unique work she sketched just for Lovely after feeling inspired by a ban.do image on our site.  If this is a  “quick sketch,” Astrid, we see why all your work is so lovely!

See where Astrid got her lovely inspiration

After we picked our jaws up off the floor, we got the multi-talented Ms. Mueller to tell us a little about more about her work:

Lovely: What or who inspires you creatively?

AM: I often feel the urge to illustrate whenever I see elegant feminine couture fashion and old romantic or glamorous Hollywood movies, especially from the era of 1930 – 1960. When I work with engaged couples, I dive into their world. I get inspired for illustration concepts by their love story, style of fashion, and what they love about each other.

Lovely: What is your favorite part about working with couples?

AM: When a bride sends me a totally ecstatic email about how much she loves the illustration or stationery I designed for her. The ones with lots of exclamation points and capital letters are the best

Lovely: How do wedding fashion, designers, and trends influence your work?

AM: When I work with couples, I browse the internet for fashion that I feel would beautifully highlight their personality. I also always invite brides to send me a photo of their actual wedding gown, or go window shopping online, sending me photos of the designer wardrobe of their dreams! Apart from just the gown, I try to breathe life into their illustration. For example, a couple that loved to travel through Scotland and hike the windy cliffs also preferred simplistic design. I instantly envisioned them in their illustration without background, the bride in an elegant and clean chic white gown, the wind softly playing in her hair and wedding dress.

To see more of Astrid’s work and to personalize your big day with a customized illustration of your own check out her website and blog.

Just thought we’d share the joy of viewing the Cherry Blossom Girl’s wedding photos arriving on her blog. Take a look over here!

Don’t sluggish Monday mornings make you wish you can sit down in a cozy robe and lounge chair and have someone do your makeup for work that day?  Ahh…what a luxury.  We thought today would be the perfect time to tell you about an amazing giveaway our friend Jackie at Merci New York is hosting along with the makeup  gurus at Face Time Beauty Concierge.  So conjure up the dreaminess of looking amazing on your big day and enter now!  More details below.

Merci New York has partnered with Face Time Beauty Concierge to offer a complete bridal styling package to one very lucky bride and up to five fabulous bridesmaids in the metropolitan New York area.  The overall prize package is valued at over $2,000.

Our lucky bride and her five leading ladies will receive detailed day-of hair and make-up application from the amazingly talented team at Face Time Beauty Concierge, as well as custom hair pins from Knock Knock Studio , and day-of bridal dressing and fashion styling from Merci New York.

Better yet, we’re opening the contest up to more than just the bride! The giveaway winner could easily be a bridesmaid, family member, or wedding guest looking to give the bride a very special gift for her big day. In order to qualify for this amazing prize, the wedding must take place in 2010-2011, and must be within the metropolitan New York area.  Contest instructions and rules are listed in the giveaway post on Merci New York.  A winner will be selected at random on Friday, September 10th at 8 pm EST.