Suzanne + Jon - Lovely purple wedding!

Minneapolis Wedding Photographer, Brovado Weddings by Preston Palmer, sent over these Iowa Wedding Pictures! Brovado Weddings covers the entire 7 state region as a wedding photographer by flying a private airplane filled with his photo and video crew! Brovado routinely works as an Iowa Wedding Photographer and is known for their fantastic Engagement and Trash The Dress Photo Shoots!

exposed brick wall = gorgeous!

how cute is this little dress?

All photos courtesy of: Brovado Weddings

Inspiration from "The Notebook"

Andrew always uses quotes or says he hopes we die together just like Noah & Allie from "The Notebook"...and I'm a huge fan of the 1940s/1950s, which makes this shoot perfect! You can tell the couple spent a lot of time making every detail perfect...Enjoy! --- Also, no photo feature today - my internet is still down at home...boo!

Photos courtesy of: Green Wedding Shoes via Blushing Bride Studio 

For full session, click here

Corn-on-the-Cob Cupcakes

This recipe was sent over from my friend Shannon....these cupcakes would be great for a bbq with friends or a rehearsal dinner - and wouldn't that drunken watermelon I posted awhile back be perfect with this? Enjoy!

Ingredients

• Vanilla Frosting
• Yellow liquid food coloring
• 24 Vanilla Cupcakes, baked in white paper liners
• 3 1/2 cups small yellow, cream, or white jelly beans, such as Jelly Belly
• 4 pieces yellow fruit chews, such as Laffy Taffys or Starbursts
• 1 tablespoon black decorating sugar
• 1 tablespoon white decorating sugar
• 8 sets of corn holders (optional)

Click here for full tutorial/recipe

Photo courtesy of: Martha Stewart

Etsy Vendor ~ 310jewelry

Need the finishing touches to your wedding dress? 310jewelry is the place to go! Full of gorgeous pieces that will impress not only you, but everyone else!....Katie hand makes all the jewelry and wanted to share a little bit about what she does...Enjoy!

When did you get started: I've designed and created (or attempted to create...) jewelry for as long as I can remember... starting with the friendship safety pins when I was little... then friendship bracelets in elementary school... then when I got older, started experimenting with the shrinky dink plastic my little sister would use... I took a hiatus for awhile through high school and college, but then when doing my senior thesis on fashion design, created a line of bridal gowns, which of course, needed accessories... which spawned a rebirth of my love of creating... I think mostly, working with clothing, it's such a process... you create the design, create the pattern, do a practice garment, size it, then do the final creation.... with jewelry, it's a much more of instant gratification.... some take time, but you see the results much quicker than you do with clothing.
When I couldn't find a job in the "real world," I returned to school to get my masters in teaching. Using my hobby now to be more of a stress release after a long day. A few teachers liked the pieces I would wear to work and asked me to make them some. From there I started selling on the side. My third year of teaching, I was bumped and lost my job due to lack of seniority. I tried to make that closed door a window by using my time displaced from a job to try to sell to boutiques and opened my Etsy shop. I enjoy jewelry making so much, I would love to make it much more of a full-time job. But one day at a time. :)

What makes you different:
I really believe that your accessories help to paint who you are for that particular day. Maybe you feel simple, or you feel sparkling. Maybe it's a Audrey Hepburn LBD day with super large pearls, or you're going for more of a bohemian look. Whatever your choice, the accessories are going to finish the look.
Being that jewelry making is currently more of a hobby than a profession for me, I am much more geared towards the creation side, rather than mass producing an easy to sell item. Alot of my customers on Etsy are looking for a unique piece to wear for a special occasion, such as their weddings, and they want something especially made for them. These are my favorite customers because I understand how special this day is for them and how much the accessory is going to finish whatever look they are aiming to achieve. I think this desire to please my customer, to have my customer be so utterly excited to wear the piece, is what makes me different.

What do you love creating most: I love color. I love super sparkling crystals. I love finishing a piece and being so excited to post it to see the response. I really can't stand monotony, so it's hard for me to make something over and over again, which is probably not a very favorable trait in sales, but I think it also helps me to be continually creative as an artist and designer.

Favorite places to shop:
I love boutiques where you can find more out of the ordinary things. I'm the type of person who likes to have a dress you can't get just anywhere. I also tend to shop online, (Etsy! :)) because you are able to find more obscure items... and also because I just hate trying clothes on. :) Plus in Iowa, you just aren't allowed the luxury of having alot of unique brands available in person.
True Religion, Blue Jeans Bar, Riley boutiques in Chicago... Blue Mercury for products...
But then again, Nordstroms does tend to call me in... alot! :)

All photos courtesy of: 310jewelry

---These pictures are only a small preview, so go check out the rest of the store! You won't be sorry! :)

Vintage/Old Hollywood Shoot

My internet has been down, so couldn't post anything --- sorry!

Today's shoot is a mix of vintage and old hollywood, but it isn't a wedding - It is 2 young girls (shoot styled by their mom and Amanda from APL Photography)....you don't want to miss this!

how cute is this little lace outfit?

would love this suitcase for my wedding!

Photos sent to me by: APL Photography

Weekend Photography

Today's photo feature is by yours truly! These 3 cuties are my cousins and they "styled" the shoot with their own outfits...I know they were proud to wear the "Hawaiian" clothes that their dad had picked up for them on a trip -- it was just something fun to do on a Saturday afternoon...who knows maybe I'll dabble in photography now - Hope you enjoy this!

4th of July {esque} Wedding!

I won't be posting this weekend, because we are headed back to my hometown to spend some time with the family :) ----- but didn't want to leave you guys high and dry - here is a fun wedding that screams 4th of July!

All photos courtesy of: Christy J Photography

Hope you all have a great 4th of July weekend!