Engagement: Shannon and David

We gave you a sneak peek of Shannon and David's Nacho Cheese wedding a while back and now we have some sweet engagement photos for you to drool over.



Bobbi and Mike took these ridiculously gorgeous pictures in our beloved downtown Gainesville! They are seriously the awesomesauce!!

Shannon and David are the cutest, in real life and in pictures! Thanks again Bobbi and Mike for sharing these amazazing photos, we love them and we love you!

More Awesometastic Marriage Proposals

I found these two super cute wedding proposals and had to share them with you!

Youtube



Blog

Do you have any cute proposal stories?

A Lament for Chivalry

Chivalry is dead, but second-wave feminism didn’t kill it. It was a casualty of rugged American individualism.* A medieval code of gallantry and honor, chivalry was a mere byproduct of a social structure founded on recognizing one’s God-given role in life and dutifully submitting to it. In contrast, our society is plagued with people who have no sense of social obligation. It’s socially correct to blame a self-absorbed, nearsighted materialistic culture committed to promiscuity and fatalistic eschatology, but I’m naming a different cause: the democratization of our traditionally hierarchical economic, political, and religious systems, a.k.a. free-market “capitalism,” liberal philosophy, and evangelical spiritualism.

With a growing public concern for the individual’s rights, privileges, and wants came a new attitude about living. No one thinks in terms of what preserves society. We’re committed to a neo-Smithian doctrine that says what’s desired by the individual is best for society…theoretically, of course, since in practice we really don’t care what happens to everyone else. How amazing it is that we are starving from lack of altruism in a country known for its astronomically high levels of charitable giving.

Over the last half-century, Miss Manners and others have written books on what we might call “common-sense” or “Golden Rule” manners because society degraded further than even Paul Fussell would have thought possible. Today, middle class Christiandom obsesses with the finer points of European court etiquette while neglecting the weightier matters of the law such as Thou shalt not use argumentum ad hominem against thy neighbor on an online forum. Worse still, our religious leaders, whom we seek to emulate, devote their careers to poking fun at others in a condescending pharisaical manner.** Like the nineteenth century snobs who refused to help “undeserving” single mothers, we use others’ weaknesses as an excuse to mistreat them and exclude them from receiving a welcoming Gospel message. We do this because it makes us feel better about our own failures, and we do this because we have no sense of duty to our fellow man.

Case in point: The lesson of comparing Jane Austin’s Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice with Mr. Knightly from Emma is completely lost on our young men. Helping someone in need (e.g., asking a wallflower to dance) plays second to the pursuit of one’s selfish ambitions (e.g., dancing only with attractive ladies) despite the promise of winning the approval of God (for putting others’ first) and the respect of onlookers (including any pretty ones). The strangest thing is not that this sort of behavior is a regular occurrence but that it’s committed by those who honestly believe themselves to be well-bred, gentlemanly, chivalrous. With white knights like those, who needs dragons?

Since chivalry was first pronounced dead, many have asked how to go about reviving it. No chance of that happening by women acting vulnerable and helpless. This oft-promoted “solution” hasn’t worked. Feminist independence was a reaction to masculine individualism (e.g., the right to drink, gamble, beat and starve one’s family, and not come home at night). Essentially reinstating gender relations of a bygone era doesn’t bring back chivalry. This just sets us back to a point when women accepted the fact it was on life support. The only difference is that today women become more angry faster when no one comes to rescue them. It only takes one dreadful experience to learn that we can’t depend on strangers. Until people learn how to reach out and meet others’ needs first, we can’t teach others to rely on them.

* In case I haven’t made myself clear: Yes, I’m blaming a modern masculinity. Or better put, I’m admonishing the sons of Adam for following his lead.
** Let the record show that I called Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church a “Pharisee.”

Inspiration Board: Oranges and Yellows

We created this inspiration board for a bride who wanted oranges and yellows with a fun, warm, and friendly feel. It is perfect for the summertime! Take a peek and tell us what you think!





Dresses; Cones; Boutonniere via Caroline Fontenot; Cake; Drink; Jars; Hair Pins; Invitations via Angelica Glass; Dessert Table; Bouquet; Macaroons



Haute Couture skirt (pattern by Paco Peralta) – Saia Alta-Costura (molde de Paco Peralta)

Finished this skirt yesterday and I couldn’t be happier with it! My friend Paco sure knows how to draft meticulously (click here), the lines of this skirt are amazing! The shaping on the hip/waist fits perfectly and the subtle A-line is drafted on the exact right proportion considering the long height of the skirt. Bravo Paco! The sewing details will follow shortly over at my sewing blog, as soon as I get some time to compose the review are published here.
For this outfit I wanted to create a romantic feel, something timeless and a little bit dramatic, hope you guys like it!

Acabei esta saia ontem e não poderia ter ficado mais feliz com o resultado! O meu amigo Paco é um mestre a desenhar moldes de forma meticulosa (clicar aqui): as linhas desta saia são divinas: a forma sutil como contorna as ancas e a cintura, além da correcta proporção do evasé para o comprimento longo da saia são de génio. Bravo Paco! Os detalhes de costura serão publicados no meu outro blogue logo que tenha tempo de escrever o artigo detalhado estão publicados aqui.
Para este conjunto quis criar uma atmosfera romântica, algo intemporal e um pouco dramática. Espero que gostem!

Gainesville Wedding: Sam and Joe

It's no secret that we love our clients - like seriously love our clients. If they weren't getting married, I'd marry most of them myself.

And Sam and Joe were no exception. They are sweet, and adorable and fun and sweet, and nice! I was literally the first person to cry when Sam got her gown on... I am a sap.

Check out these images from Footstone Photography.

Vendors who created this gorgeous wedding:



Photography: Footstone Photography

Flowers: Joan Prange of Prange's Florist

Reception Entertainment: Gnys Entertainment

Ceremony Music: Duo Cellissimo

Ceremony Venue: Baughman Center

Cake: Ms. Debbie's Sugar Art

Planning: MasterPiece Weddings

Venue: Sweetwater Branch Inn

Summer Blogosphere Series Part 5

Today I want to give some love to two blogs in one post!! The watercolor trend has become very popular and there have been some fantastic posts on them that I just had to share!



These watercolor invites from Elizabeth Anne Designs are just precious!







Hailey Sivadge and Wiley Valentine



Momental Designs



Swiss Cottage Designs

 And I am head over heels in love with the colors in this watercolor invitation from The Sweetest Occasion!





Scout's Honor Co

 I love the softness and sophistication of watercolors. I think a watercolor inspired wedding would be absolutely gorgeous!!!



Seen any other cool watercolor wedding ideas? Please share!