Sneak Peek from Sweet Lady Jane Photography

On August 15, 2015 I became Mrs. Julie Saldarriaga! I can't even begin to describe how incredibly special our wedding day was. It truly was the outward expression of love from each person in the room that made it so unforgettably perfect. We could not have done anything with the support of our family and friends, specifically my parents, Michael and Phyllis and our Maid of Honor, Korinne. So many people helped to make our dream come true, including our fantastic team of vendors.

One sweet lady who we want to give a shout-out to is our photographer, Katie Hammond of Sweet Lady Jane Photography. Her patience, vision, and heart made us feel so at ease. She captured our day so beautifully. Although we haven't seen the full collection of images just yet (trust me, there is a lot for her to get through!), this sneak peek really touched our hearts. We hope you love it, too.

"Stephen and Julie's Sneak Peek"

I look forward to sharing more photos, inside details, how-tos, and stories from our Big Day. Here's to the next chapter!

Glass Glitter Wine Cork Place Card Holders

I was originally inspired by gold sparkling place card holders made by Kara Lamerato of Kara's Vineyard Wedding when I was looking for decor for my rehearsal dinner. We were having the dinner at an Italian restaurant in Boston and I thought something like the cork holders I saw would be perfect. I loved the concept, but was running short on time and really wanted to make something myself. So, I decided to DIY!

My amazing calligrapher Kate Yenrick had already created these beautiful place cards for me. All I needed was the holders. I didn't have enough time (or enough corks) to chisel out the wine cork myself. So, I took to Etsy to get the base. 

Then, I purchased some fabulous glass glitter from Michael's. I chose to go with a more champagne tone rather than a yellow gold. This made the glitter look like shattered glass and gave it a really modern effect. Here are the steps I followed:

1. Line your area with paper or cardboard. You want to be able to drip glue and spill glitter without worrying. 

2. While avoiding the slit of the cork, paint a thin layer in decoupage glue (I used Martha Stewart's Crafts Decoupage) onto the cork.

3. Dip your cork in a plate full of the glass glitter. Then, gently tap the bottom of the cork to remove any extra glitter.

4. Let the corks dry until the glitter is somewhat stiff. Then, add a second thin layer of decoupage glue to seal the glitter and you're done!

Creating something special for our rehearsal dinner was so fulfilling. Our wedding party loved them and it really added a personal touch to the night before our Big Day. Cin Cin!

Bach Party Weekend

My beautiful sash from my MOH made by Hop Studio on Etsy!

This weekend, my fiancé and I celebrated our bachelor/bachelorette party with members of our wedding party. It was the most memorable weekend ever! Sure, some may disagree, but for us, experiencing the weekend together was super special! Here are my top 3 reasons why you should consider a "bach" party with the bride and groom-to-be!

My Maid of Honor setup her room to be "Bach Party Headquarters" and it was so fun!

1. The more the merrier
It was so fun getting the chance to spend the entire weekend with our wedding party in Maine this past weekend! We had some amazing meals, enjoyed time at the beach, and went out dancing. On Saturday, the guys went go karting and out for a few beers, while the girls did some shopping and relaxed on the beach.  We then piled in a large taxi and headed to Portsmouth for an incredible dinner and a night of dancing! There was so much laughter and we loved celebrating with everyone together. 

We had so much fun celebrating with both the guys and girls!

2. Best of both worlds
My fiancé and I really wanted to spend time with both sides of the party, so this was a perfect solution. This was the first time we were all able to go away as a group, which was really cool. Our wedding party was able to bond and we had the opportunity to spend time with each person. Our Best Man lives out of state and is in the military, so unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it, but our Maid of Honor, our bridesmaid, and both of our groomsmen were there for the festivities and it was a blast!

3. Better together
When my fiancé and I talked about what we wanted to do for our bachelor and bachelorette parties, we realized that many of the activities were the same. Plus, we've been together for so many years that we really prefer to experience things together. We wanted to go to the beach, indulge in great food, and spend time with the people we love... so that's exactly what we did. Now, we'll have these memories for years to come!

The bachelorette and her bachelor ready for a night out on the town.

Thanks to our incredible Maid of Honor (who organized the entire weekend) and amazing wedding party, we had the best weekend of our lives. At the end of the day, you have to remember, do you. Don't give in to pressure to stick to the conventional. Throughout this process, we've been doing what feels right for us, and it's been an unforgettable journey. 

Here are some more fun pics from our Bach Party Weekend:

Super cute bridal party shirts that our MOH had made for the girls!

Had to take a selfie with my beautiful bridesmaid.

My MOH knows I love a good margarita.

Proof of a successful party weekend!

TSO Loves: Emily Steffen

When it comes to wedding planning and design, it's the little details that truly make the event memorable. As a bride-to-be I have been carefully curating accents to make our wedding personal and fun. When I came across the work of Emily Steffen I was hooked... which is why we decided to team up for a super fun promotion (see details below)!

Emily is both a photographer and an artist who I originally came across Emily during an Etsy binge one day. I was delighted to learn that she had her own shop with many beautiful pieces. From cake toppers to chair signs, and even t-shirts, she has some of the most on-trend, creative items for your Big Day. 

Photo: Emily Steffen

Here's a little about Emily from the artist herself:

"I am a midwest wedding photographer by day and handmade artist on rainy days and nights. I believe in the power of love. I believe in marriage. I believe that weddings are a beautiful beginning to a life spent together. And I believe that handmade items should put a REALLY big smile on your face to brighten your day! 

Every item is designed to be a beautiful detail on a wedding day AND can be translated back into your home for daily routine. The tees/tanks can become joyful every-day wear or the state ring-bearer pillows can become a cute accent pillow thrown on the couch to remember your wedding day!"

Photo: Emily Steffen

I just love finding artists and vendors in the industry who truly understand the meaning behind our work and what it means for couples to say, "I do!" Emily, you're a gem and I can't wait to share what you've created for our wedding and to see what you do next! Now... on to the fun stuff!

Now through June 5, order any item from EmilySteffenShop.com and receive 25% OFF when you use the code StylishOne! Can't decide what to order by then? Emily will be giving 10% off for the remainder of the month of June. I am so thrilled and excited to share this with you. Emily's work is absolutely stunning and her customer service is incredible.

Photo: Emily Steffen

So, what will it be? A shimmering cake topper? A super cute top? A whimsical chair sign? Share your pics with us on Instagram and Twitter @TheStylishOne_ and @emilysteffin! Be sure to add our hashtag #TSOLoves. 

Sponsored Post: EmilySteffenShop.com | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | 

Promo Details: Enter code "StylishOne" on EmilySteffenShop.com for 25% off your order from May 29 - June 5 and 10% off June 5 - June 30.