Matching Your Couple Personality

In other words, choosing the right cake topper.

Trivial? yes.

Important none-the-less? yes.

When picking your cake topper, it's got to reflect you!

Not your mother or your grandmother or our sister or your mother-in-law.

You're putting it on your wedding cake after all.

You have to walk into the reception and see it there.

You don't want to walk in, see it, and think, "ugh! why?"

So, for Mr. GrapeJuice and I, our cake topper will reflect our playful couple personality.

We're always joking around or sneaking little love taps on each others derriere.

Meaning, floral cake toppers and monogram cake toppers are out for us!

Here's what I like...

Cheeky Couple Figurine: "My Main Squeeze"

source :: cute party supplies & elegant wedding accessories

"Romance" Kissing Couple

source :: that's my topper

"Super Sexy Dancing" Wedding Bride and Groom Cake Topper Figurine

source :: wedding collectibles

"Picture Perfect" Couple Figurine

source :: cute party supplies

Playful Football Wedding Couple Figurine

source :: online bridal store

"The Love Pinch" Bridal Couple Figurine

 sources :: kiwi cakes & jw caketops

True Romance Couple Figurine

source :: wedding favours

Thematic Wedding Centerpiece

As you know, Mr. GrapeJuice and I are getting married on New Years Eve. We are very excited about this! However, I've been kind of lackadaisical with my planning efforts. It's not that I don't want to plan because I really, really do. I just feel soooooooooooooooooooooo overwhelmed by everything that is going on in my life. My mom, trooper that she is and ever motivating her young, dragged me out to Hobby Lobby over the weekend. And now, thanks to her, I have a NEW centerpiece!

The recipe for said centerpiece is...

 two pieces blue ostrich feathers,

two pieces white ostrich feathers,

one cylindrical clear vase

one silver decorative item {which I do not have a picture of}

 and a million mylar shreds.

Put it all together, and what do you get?!

A phone photo of my mock-up!

photos : shuttershock, fredaldous, brilliant event planning, hobby lobby

Wedding Progress

Over the weekend, my mother asked me if I had made any wedding progress. I looked at her and laughed. I just got back from a cruise and was not even ready to think about those things. She gave me the mom talk though. You know, the one that says you need to get on that sooner rather then later; the one that makes you feel like a disappointing child again. =]
Well, she got bored on Saturday and wanted to head over to Hobby Lobby because she had a coupon. She made a copy for me so that I could use one too. 25% goes a long way when you're on a budget and trying to buy a house. (more on the house later) While at Hobby Lobby, I had a planning break through. I picked a centerpiece style, which is perfect for our wedding, and I decided on flowers for the bridesmaids to carry. Later on this week, I will break it down and show you what I am thinking. Plus, I will attempt to show you the DIY step-by-steps that go along with the project. =]

Surprise Wedding Reception

I was clicking around YouTube this morning and found a wonderfully sweet video. It's by a group called Improv Everywhere, and they stage scenes in random places at random times. This scene really touched my heart because not everyone has the luxury of throwing a wedding and having all the amenities that come with it. I hope you enjoy the video.

Musical Monday - Jason Mraz

It took Mr. GrapeJuice and I awhile to figure out what our song was. I think it was nearly a year. But, it's funny, because as soon as we started dating, I started hearing it everywhere. My first exposure to it was at a cast party the same February that we started dating. Pretty cool, right? When we were apart and heard it on the radio, we would call each other and play it over the phone. {Yes, we're that couple!} To this day, it still makes me smile, and I love the feeling I get listening to it.

I'm Yours

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
Now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
And nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment babay sing with me
I love peace for melody
And It's our God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Scooch on over closer dear
And I will nibble your ear

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I'm be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

But I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours
Please don't, please don't, please don't
There's no need to complicate
Cause our time is short
This oh this this is out fate, I'm yours!

lyrics : sing365

And, because I can't pass up anything cute, here you go!

Light the Way

I love light. There is just something about it that can make or break your mood. For example, I seriously dislike fluorescent lights. They are unflattering to both figure and face. I always seem to look tired and pasty in fluorescent lighting. {This is why makeup is a girl's best friend.} And, trying on clothes in a dressing room, let's just not even go there. {This is why girls shop in pairs/groups.}

photo : archi expo

Now, uplighting I like. It's dramatic and can completely change the ambiance of a room. Why go for just a dimly lit room when you can completely make your own with uplighting. Bring in an amber color to set a romantic mood. Or, use colors from the scheme of your wedding/event. However, you choose to use it; you won't be sorry. Change something ordinary into something extraordinary.

photos : entertainment tonite

Me? I'm a fan of the blues, the yellows/ambers, and the purples. It's soft and welcoming while adding a "Let's Celebrate" vibe, especially the purple uplighting. I just have to see a picture, and I start melting. I would love to add something like this to my wedding reception - wherever it may be! :) However, I'm not quite sure it's in the budget. Again, a girl can dream, right?! {Of course.}

photo : slyvia wayfer events

photo : it's your night

photo : love and splendor

Guest Book Alternative

Most of my wedding guests will be coming from out of town - specifically New York.
And, I really don't want a traditional guest book with their names in it.
I'm sure {knowing myself and Mr. GrapeJuice} it'll get lost in our massive piles of crap.
Who really wants to take out a book and look at names?
Not this girl!
I want something different.
Something unique.
...like a poster!

I'd entered a giveaway at Lasso'd Moon Designs for a guest book poster but didn't win.
No big, but it inspired me.
A poster would be quite convenient and cute.
Then, over the weekend, I saw tweet from brides.com about a city poster.
That got the wheels in my head turning.

A cityscape poster for the guest book.
It could be signed with a silver Sharpie, and after the wedding, framed and placed in our place of residence.
This would then be a constant reminder of the love that surrounded us on our big day while we were all in one place!

Photo : AllPosters.com

A Sweet Tooth

Everyone's talking about candy bars, sundae bars, popcorn bars, spice bars, etc.
While I don't necessarily want to have one of those, I do want some candy at my wedding.
And, what's better than rock candy?
Photo : Hoosier Historic Enterprises

And, this would be a great DIY project/science experiment!!
My little brother {he's 8} loves to do science experiments.
So, I think this would be an awesome Saturday activity.
Maybe we'll try it out soon to get all the details down; so by the time the wedding rolls around, we'll know what to do!

{plus, we are expecting to have kids at the wedding so this'll keep 'em occupied...along with a rockin' DJ!}
Photo : Luster Studios

{and no, this is not my brother}

If I Could...

This is where I'd get married!
...but it's 30 minutes from the reception site we are seriously considering...
Is it okay to ask our out of town guests to travel the distance??

My First DIY (for the wedding)

I am a pretty crafty person, which is quite handy since I am a teacher (still trying to find a job). In one of the bazillions of wedding magazines I have in my possession (but are going to a better place tomorrow-the dump!!), I found a really cute idea. There was a square vase that had been etched with the last initial of the bride and groom. And, rather than spend an unfortunate amount of money, I had the idea to do it myself.

Photo: Beaucoup

So, I decided that today would be the day to take on such a project. I've been going stir crazy in the house. I haven't been able to get a job yet (and I've been looking since MARCH) and being in this house alone is really, really, really boring.

I shall now share with you my journey to obtain the necessary material, and then I will tell you all about what I did and how to do it better!!

1. I went to JoAnn's. It is right by house (over at Providence in MJ) and didn't require too much effort. I went...and they didn't have anything that I felt I needed for this project. Most of the things they had I could get at another craft store. So, I left.
2. Well, as you may or may not know, Providence has a NY&Company. I'm thoroughly addicted to NY&C, and it didn't help that they are having a sale right now. 70% off for clearance items (drool worthy) and Buy One, Get One FREE on all Jeans and Pants (fainting spell worthy). I couldn't help myself. I went over to investigate. (I talked to R yesterday about it, and we agreed that I could get some jeans. I haven't bought a pair in two years. Scandal, I know!!) Well, I bought a hot, new pair of jeans that I love, love, love. And, I also bought two sweaters - dark lime/chartreuse/lawn green and coral. They will look awesome with my new, free black pants. (I love to pop one color.)
3. After spending money...oh, money, how you cause such problems, I headed over to Hobby Lobby in Hermitage. I walked back to the craft section with etching on my mind but no idea where to start. Lucky me though! A cute sales associate came up and asked if I needed help. Rather than turn her down and scour the entire store, I asked her if they had any etching supplies. Did they? YES!!! They had just what I wanted and needed. This is what I got: Armour Etch (3 oz.), stencil brushes, a craft knife (in pink!!), blank stencil sheets, and a cutting board. I was on such a high from being able to get all that, I headed over to the floral section for the vase, flower, and accent stones. But...sadly, they let me down there. The square vase they had was completely too, too big. The yellow flower was not attractive. I didn't even bother looking for the stones at that point.
4. Hobby Lobby trip behind me, I headed back over to JoAnn's in Providence. There, I got my square vase (despite the price - $9.99), my flower, and marble accent stones. Success!! Now, I had everything needed...plus, some super cute clothes.

NOW - on to the crafty project.


1. I printed out my letters on photo paper so that it would be thicker than regular paper. The letters were picked by R from a group that I sent him yesterday in an e-mail. He has some pretty good taste.
2. I cut them apart so that they were no longer on one sheet of paper. I did each letter one at a time and taped it to the underside of the stencil sheet (which was clear).
3. One letter at a time, I used my craft knife and cut them out. I have very little experience with craft knifes and found cut them out to be quite difficult. But, once I got the hang of it, it got easier. It just took time and patience - things that I'm working on! :) I was (and still am) impressed with how they turned out.
4. After they were all cut out, I set them aside and cleaned one side of the square vase I bought to prep it. Then, I picked one of my handmade stencils, and taped it down to the side of the vase. Using my stencil brush, I put the Armour Etch on to the vase in the form of the stencil. I did not do each letter at the same time. I did one at a time. It only takes 5 minutes for the etching cream to set before you have to wash it off anyway. (As you can tell, the first one didn't turn out that well. I barely put any of the cream on. I figured out, as you can tell from the others, that you have to glob the stuff on and let it set for 6 minutes instead of the recommended 5.)
I'm sorry that it's kind of hard to see the etching. I wish I had a black piece of paper to put behind it so that you could see. The project turned out fairly well. The only thing I would do differently next time is use contact paper so that it stuck to the vase. I noticed that when you glob the etch cream on, it tends to get under the stencil. So, if you plan to do this - use contact paper.

Also, be sure to take the stencil or contact paper off AFTER you have rinsed off the cream. It will look like you have just washed away all your hard work until you remove the paper or stencil. Then, you get a happy surprise!! :)

Here's the finished project. My plan is to have a blue light glowing from within the stones. Or, do you think I should use blue stones with the blue light so that you can see the monogram??
Let me know what you think!!
I had lots of fun doing this project. :)
Hope this is helpful to someone.

Wonder of Wonder

So sorry for not posting until now. The past two days I have been searching and researching all different kinds of wedding reception venues. R and I all ready know that we're getting married in a Catholic church by my grandfather who is a Deacon; we just haven't picked the church. That's not a main concern right now because there are quite a few in the Nashville area. However, it has been incredibly hard to find a reception venue within our price range, but after two days of looking...I think I've found it. According to the wedding budget I'm using on The Knot, R and I are supposed to spend about $800 dollars on the reception venue. That's nearly impossible if you want something spectacular in the city...which is what I want. I'm more city than country. But, despite all the odds, I have found a venue that meets my standards at a reasonable rate as well!!! It is the Old Hickory Country Club.

*~Sassy Bride~*

Color Board

Here's what I've picked out so far that I like for my wedding. I think I might have too much blue...
What do you think?

Photo Credits: David's Bridal, Kuga Designs, Flowers Xpress, Links 2 Love, Fifty Flowers, The Knot, Save On Crafts, St. Henry, JoAnn Fabric

*~Sassy Bride~*

DIY Projects

I am pretty crafty with some thread and a needle so I have decided that I am going to make my ring bearer pillow. I sort of want something a little atypical anyway so that works out for the best. Plus, it'll be quite easy on my budget. It won't cost that much to buy fabric and sew it together, and I'd like to see something I put my heart into hold something that will be on my finger forever. Doesn't that sound perfect? Now, I just have to figure out the color scheme and the pattern I want to use.

I really like the clean lines of this and the color contrast. Maybe put a monogram charm on there instead of a heart. I think that would add a great personal touch to it as well.

I am completely obsessed with this print for the pillow. It has all my colors and would look darling with a pale yellow or silver ribbon. It's available at JoAnn's.

I found another great idea for a DIY project. I don't really like the idea of a guest book. Sure, you know everyone that has been there and to whom you should send a thank you note, but it's not that personal. At my sister's wedding this past weekend, she had people sign a photo matte with advice. It was a great idea but not enough room. I want people to leave us advice, like - "Don't go to bed mad at each other." I found this though and am totally on board with it. After the wedding, it can be used to store other things like photos and important information while the good advice is made into a collage to be hung up somewhere prominent in the house.

(source)

*~Sassy Bride~*

My Addiction

I have a problem with latching on to new things. For example, whenver I get a new song on iTunes, I play it over and over again because I can’t ever get enough! I’m pretty sure that will be my problem here. I don’t think I’ll be able to tear myself away from my new blog. You can tell because it’s only been a few hours since my very first post. I guess this will keep me from being bored since I am currently unemployed.

Here’s what I’ve discovered that I love so far…

• The Knot – I love the budgeter on this site. You can input your amount, how many people you’ve invited/are attending, and the female and male attendants. It also gives you a breakdown of how much you should spend per person on food, favors, and invitations.

• The Cathedral of the Incarnation – This ceremony site is breathtaking. R and I are Catholic, as are our families. It is important to us to get married in a Catholic Church. It has a beautiful aisle and altar that almost any bride would fall in love with.

• St. Henry’s Catholic Church – As with the Cathedral, this ceremony site is absolutely beautiful. It has the same features that the cathedral does plus more. I love it’s circular foyer/narthex and astonishing stained glass windows. They are so vibrant and would be a great addition to any bride on her wedding day.

• The Cannery Ballroom – This reception venue seems very sleek and modern with a Southern twist. It has great opportunities for many different kinds of decorations wether it be DIY projects or hired lighting with drapery.

• aVenue – I like this reception venue because, like the Cannery Ballroom, it has a nice open feeling. I really enjoy the raised portion of the room which I envision showcasing the DJ and cake so that neither gets bumped into with some crazy dance moves.

• Union Station – I absolutely LOVE this place! I think the decor alone speaks for itself – both outside and inside. It’s just so classic and elegant like I’ve always dreamed. I would love to have my reception here if I could afford it.

• Nashville City Club – I think it looks very crisp and clean, which makes it perfect for any kind of color scheme. It is a major plus because it has a beautiful view of the Nashville skyline, which I love. I’ve been to a wedding where I could see the Charlotte, NC skyline from the roof and LOVED the ambiance created by such a surrounding.

• Loveless Barn – This is looking like a great possibility for R and I. It is very open and seems easy to decorate with candles, lighting, and small flowers. The outside is definitely deceiving. I’m not a country girl by any means and do not want to echo my sister’s Old Spencer Mill wedding, but this place is so divine inside that I can’t get over it. It’s been stuck in my head for awhile now. (Maybe that’s a sign?)

• Casablanca Bridal – Yes, I know that my wedding is 2 years away, but what girl doens’t like trying on bridal gowns. I feel so glamourous and beautiful in them. I have found two from this designer that I love – 1881 and 1938. The even greater thing is…they are under $1000 and aren’t discontinued.
  • 1881 – From the moment I saw it, this dress spoke to me. R wants me in a white dress but I just love the two-tone for this dress. Yes, I know that I can get it in one color, but I’ve seen it that way and do not like it as much. Plus, I love the bling. It’s just enough to give the dress that extra edge. AND, another bonus, it can be made into a halter dress. I’m kind of busty so I would like some extra support for my girls.
  • 1938 – This dress is beautiful too sans the flower. Once on, it shows all the right curves in all the right places. That’s what I love about the new pleated/rouching style – it’s absolutely figure flattering!!! The only thing missing is some shine, but that can easily be added with a necklace and earrings.

• San Patrick – While I cannot post the link to my absolutely favorite dress from this designer. I can give you the name – Eliseos. If you go to the website, you can see the gown. The shop near me – Cherished Memories – had just gotten the dress in when I tried it on. I was very impressed and so were the sales associates. I was the first to try it on and all of us were stunned. I didn’t think I would like a dress with those design elements, but I was pleasantly suprised.

Any pointing in the right direction or opinions on what I have discovered so far would be welcome. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sorry for the cliche. I just seemed to be frustrated all ready and haven’t even begun to do the BULK of my planning yet. Help…

C.