While I might not have been the girl dreaming about a wedding since the age 6…I have been the girl who imagined a wedding when dating certain men: I’ve dreamed of fancy black-tie and low-key backyard. Now that He Who Makes Me Smile and I are planning OUR WEDDING I’m finding it difficult to make decisions ONLY because when I do….that means I can’t choose another thing that looks equally wonderful. Plus you know, there are the ideas that he likes that I might not have thought of too that need to be incorporated. If I could, I could plan 27 different weddings for us…but there will be only one Weber Wedding Weekend.
So far I’m having a blast with the planning. Love love love it! I’ve gathered so many different ideas from so many different websites I want to take a few moments to share my sources of inspiration with the MANY brides-to-be out there who are in the same shoes! I’m surprised at how many people I know who are planning weddings right now. Once you hit old maid status like me (38!) you usually find yourself past the wedding, first child, second child phase not the wedding planning phase.
Anyhow, here’s a bunch of the sites that I have been looking to for WEDDING INSPIRATION! Feel free to share in the comments pages you like too!
1. DIY Bride
DIY Bride is one of the more recent finds in my search for all things wedding. I came across it while pinning (more on that later) and ended up going through months and months of archives! For any bride who is thinking DO-IT-YOURSELF (yourself meaning of course, with the help of a lot of friends and family who love you…) you simply have to check out this blog. Lots of great ideas.
2. Etsy Weddings
Etsy is the homemade Ebay of websites. Basically, if you don’t want to DO IT YOURSELF you can buy it on Etsy! I’ve also found lots of handmade items (invitations especially) to gather inspiration to make on my own. I tend to do searches for general things like “burlap* and browse through all the options. Another cool thing about Etsy is you can make it go local…just click on one link and shops will pop up in your area. Very nice. And very addicting, obviously not just for weddings!
Martha Stewart Weddings is a no-brainer. If you love or loathe Martha…if you are having 27 or 2700 guests…if your fancy ballroom sit-down crystal and china or backyard BBQ…giant fluffy wedding cake with many tiers or cupcakes you can find it all here. Enough said.
4. ModCloth
ModCloth is probably my favorite shopping page in the whole world wide web. I love the vintage, retro style of clothing and this website has it all. EVEN FOR PLUS-SIZE WOMEN. There are HUNDREDS of adorable dresses for sale in every size imaginable. If you are looking for bridesmaid dress inspiration, or something to wear to your shower or rehearsal dinner go here NOW! Obviously, not just for weddings.
Offbeat Bride offers “creative alternatives for independent brides.” Confession: I’ve been following this blog for YEARS. Yes, years. I love the eclectic thinking of the weddings that are featured. No judging. Just love. Any and everything goes. Of course I’m not all that much offbeat myself…our wedding is pretty basic and plain, but we are incorporating a few quirky ideas I found browsing this website.
6. Pinterest
First of all, if you are planning a wedding and you are not on Pinterest, leave a comment below with your email address and I will invite you ASAP. Second, if you are a friend who reads this blog and loves, well, basically anything and everything and you aren’t on Pinterest, leave a comment below with your email address and I will invite you ASAP. Not only have I found tons and tons and TONS of inspiration for wedding planning but also crafting, cooking, home improvement, raising kids, shopping…any and everything all in one organized place for you to find it in the future! And for like-minded others to find as well. You can find inspiration through Pinterest or you can find inspiration ANYWHERE ON THE WEB and add a pin to your Pinterest page to share with others. Best. Website. Ever. Everything I’ve found on the list of these websites, can be located on my Pinterest page.
8. Sparkle & Hay
Little did I know that Rustic Chic was a *type* of wedding decor before I started actually planning our wedding! Rustic Wedding Chic and Sparkle & Hay are two websites that basically embody the look and feel of Weber Wedding Weekend. I found them through PINTEREST and browsed through basically the entire archives of both. Love love love.
Unique Vintage is another one of my most favourite websites for shopping…and has LOTS OF PLUS-SIZE dresses to choose from! Bridesmaid inspiration galore. And actually…this is the place I first laid eyes on THE DRESS. 🙂 And the runner-up dress.
10. Weddingbee
Disclaimer: I’ve applied to be a BEE. And yes, I would have included Weddingbee even if I wasn’t trying to kiss butt. (Only kidding. I mean about the kissing butt part not about the including on my list part.)
I started reading Weddingbee quite a while ago, about the same time as Offbeat Bride. (Also known as the point in time I wanted to get married and was dating someone who thought otherwise…) In some ways I consider these two websites to be the YING and YANG of All Things Jennifer. I know my bestie Erin said the SAME THING when she was planning her wedding too…I’m not exactly the dye my hair neon pink having 27 people under the full moon with a vegan only menu kind of bride-to-be. Nor am I a 24-year-old show me your bling find the perfect song to dance with my daddy with the perfect lighting for my photographer kind of bride-to-be. Weddingbee however…is a page where brides connect with other brides while they are planning their wedding and follow along every step of the way. Which is VERY COOL. And the forums I have found very helpful once I actually started planning…as opposed to dreaming of planning.
11. Weddington Way
Before I settled on a bridesmaid dress idea, I found Weddington Way the only website that had bridesmaid dresses I really loved. It’s set up where you can share with your ladies ideas on what you like and don’t like and then you can buy the dresses directly from the website too! Love!
12. Wedding Gawker
Wedding Gawker is another inspiration page where there are links to tons and tons of different websites featuring different weddings. I browse through every once in a while to see what I can find and then add over to Pinterest.
Ok. Now that I showed you MY inspiration…you show me yours!
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