fab friday finds - Fun Wedding Gifts from Uncommon Goods| Cincinnati + Dayton Wedding Planners

Yes, yes, I know most brides + grooms have a registry and for good reason. But sometimes the only thing left on the registry is a wooden spoon or a gift out of your price range. Or maybe you are pretty close to the couple and want to buy something a little more memorable + personable than a gravy boat. Insert Uncommon Goods. It's one of my favorite online shops for fun + funky gifts. Here are a few gifts I found on the site that would be great gifts - at several price points. Make sure you take a look at the site though - there are TONS of great items and not just for brides + grooms.


If you are a bride and like what you see, check out their wedding registry. Some of my favorite gifts came from our Uncommon Goods registry.


from left to right, top to bottom:


Three Wine Men (wine carriers) I love these - especially for a couple that loves wine. Each one is made of steel + resin and sell for $75.00 each.


Custom Brick Memory Vase This is just such a cool idea. You send in personalized photos and they create a custom vase for the couple. Pricier than the other options at $250 but definitely a gift the newlyweds will treasure for a long time.


Table Topic Cards This set of three retails for $27.00. A great idea if you are hosting a shower or the bachelorette party. The custom topics include questions to get to know the bride + groom and the honeymoon set includes topics for the bride + groom to take along with them. Cute, fun + entertaining.


Bride + Groom Family Tree Album Not sure if you are a fan of Who Do You Think You Are (the ancestry show where celebs track down their heritage) like I am, but this is a great economical (only $19!) + thoughtful gift for a newly established family and something to pass on to future generations.


Mr + Mrs Hand Towels Is it just me or do you love stick figures too? Perfect for the newlyweds new place. $40

Meg + Kevin = Married

I am so excited to share a few sneak peaks from Meg and Kevin's amazing North Carolina wedding. I think fate brought Meg and I together. We met at a friends wedding in Key West a year ago and she jumped at the opportunity to have someone help put her wedding together.

What an amazing wedding weekend in Pinehurst, NC it turned out to be. We couldn't have asked for better weather, 70's and sunny, for a weekend packed with outdoor events. The festivities started with a Croquet/Bocce Welcome Dinner with guests wearing the traditional white attire. Friday the men enjoyed playing golf while many of the ladies caught up at a luncheon on the spa lawn. Friday ended with am amazing Wine/Old World Italian themed Rehearsal Dinner at the Fairbarn. Complete with a surprise Chinese Balloon Lantern release planned by the bride's brother (SO romantic).

Guests began their wedding day festivities mingling at a champagne reception. Then making their way to the sun filled West Lawn where Meg and Kevin exchanged vows under a gazebo filled with beautiful balls of pink and white flowers. The couple entered the cocktail hour, complete with a cigar roller, lead by a bagpiper. Guest moved inside to find their escort cards on a bed of moss and were treated to a 4 course meal that would make any mouth water. After carts full of cheese and desserts made their way around the room, guest where then lead across the hall for a fun filled night of dancing. The Atlanta Party Band welcomed guest who sat on lounge chairs, enjoyed the Martini Luge, Cappuccino bar and candy buffet.

I do not know a more deserving couple of such a lavish, classy, and beautiful wedding weekend.

Can't wait for professional photos from Lacey Gadwill and the video from 28:20 Films. Both such fun to work with!

A special thank you also goes out to Meghan from Pinehurst, Ashley from Camargo Rental, and Allison from Poeme for her amazing talent and hard work!

Be on the lookout for professional photos soon. In the meantime here are some highlights I took with my personal camera.http://picasaweb.google.com/lindsey.england/MegAndKevinSWedding?feat=directlink#

Tools + Tips Thursday - The Unity Candle | Cincinnati + Dayton Wedding and Event Planners

photo courtesy of the knot

A few quick + simple tips for your unity candle.

*Have someone (like your wedding planner) prelight the candle wicks and blow them out prior to the ceremony. Occasionally the wicks can be difficult to light for the first time. Burning off the excess wax covering helps the wicks light easier during the ceremony itself.

*Keep a small tealight lit discreetly behind the main pillar candle or in another hidden location on the altar/table. We often use a lit tealight instead of lighters, matches or candlelighters. The mothers (or designated persons) take the taper from either side of the main candle and light from the tealight. Simple, easy and no worries about getting the lighter to work. There are certain denominations that require lighting from a specific candle at the altar but the overall idea is the same.

*If you are having an outdoor ceremony, be sure to put hurricanes over your unity candles. Ideally the hurricane should be 2-3" taller than the wick of the candle to help prevent wind from blowing out the candle or preventing it from being lit in the first place. Even so, realize that some locations are so windy that it makes it nearly impossible to keep the candles lit. If you are getting married outside and want something to symbolize the union but don't want to worry about candles lighting or staying lit - consider a sand ceremony.

*Anyone can light the unity candle - mothers are the most common, but I've seen both sets of parents light candles as well. Another popular option for couples with children is to have the children light the candles - very little ones can be escorted by another family member to help.

What to Wear Wednesday | Cincinnati Wedding Planners

Today's feature event? The day-after brunch. We've selected a beautiful silk chiffon dress in a bright + fun color from JCrew. Each accessory adds a little shine + a hint of the same orange hue. This would be a perfect outfit to take with you on your honeymoon as well.

The total cost? $144.79.

Dress - JCrew
Shoes - Via Spiga via 6pm
Hair Pins - Forever 21
Locket - Forever 21
Clutch - Forever 21

Patrice + James = Engaged! | Cincinnati + Dayton Wedding + Event Planners

Patrice + James are just about as adorable of a couple as you can get... proof is in their amazing engagement photos in downtown Cincinnati by the fab Tine @ tmphotography. We are looking forward to their September wedding @ the Taft Museum with some of our favorite vendors including Tine, Brideface, Jen Nally, Giddy Ink , Tres Belle + Katie Elfers!

pretty sure this next one is my favorite!