flower inspirations

Happy Leap-Year Day!

In case you need a little inspiration for flower arrangements and bouquets-- types of flower, colours, etc...

Engagement rings in Israel...

If you're into the classic, traditional, non-artsy engagement rings...

You can find these at Scheffer.

  

  

Gorgeous dress!

Check out this one! isn't it amazing? it's from Vera Wang.

Have your cake, but you won't want to eat it-- it's too pretty!

Check out these unbelievable cakes from Jolly Be Bakery! it's like jewelry for your food.

and thanks to KenzieKate for the find. they're gorgeous!

Taj Taj

I'm a huge fan of handcrafted jewelry, and Taj Taj has some gorgeous necklaces (and earrings too). here are some of my favourites.

Saja

Here's a nice spring-inspired possible bridesmaid's dress. This one is by Saja.

I also love it just as a fun dress to wear, if i had a suitable occasion....

Maggy London dresses

You can find these at Nordstrom. They're both gorgeous and not extravagantly expensive! It's win-win :) 

Aren't the colours great?

Colour combos

And speaking of bright colours--they're great for table cloths and flowers too. even just a simple bunch of bright blooms with a few tealights and a bright tablecloth can look stunning. i especially like the orange-yellow combo here.

mood-setters

I love the idea of these colourful chinese paper lanterns to set the mood. so simple, yet classy and elegant too.

flowers...

First off-- happy valentine's day.

And since there haven't been pretty pictures in a couple of posts... here are some cute, simple flower centerpieces (courtesy of The Knot).

It's all about a simple, bold, bright statement!

Wedding planner for an outdoor wedding

Ok. so you do need hebrew for this one... it's the israeli version of a wedding planner. he's kinda like a contractor, only for weddings. and he seems great. His name is Elazar, and you can find info here. he can show you photos, and he has connections with caterers, florists, and anything else you could want at your wedding... so check him out. His company is called Pashut Bateva (Simply in Nature). he specializes in pulling off outdoor weddings in all sorts of places. he's really professional and seemed like he'd be great to work with. 

Brit Ahuvim and other ideas...

If you're looking for something that isn't the traditional kiddushin, but rather an alternative Jewish ceremony, Rachel Adler suggests a brilliant solution that she calls Brit Ahuvim (Lover's Covenant). You can take a look at chapter 5 in her book Engendering Judaism to learn more about it. Rachel Adler is very knowledgeable in Jewish tradition, and is very committed to it, but she brings to it an amazing creativity and openness. i'd say it's worth a read even if you aren't getting married...

Also, Danya Ruttenberg has put together a rather comprehensive overview of many different ceremony options (including Rachel Adler's Brit Ahuvim) on a website. You can find them here. 

The point is, there are options out there if the traditional kinyan, the acquisition of the woman in the traditional ceremony, makes you uneasy...

If you're planning to marry in israel, and are dealing with issues concerning the Rabbanut, there are some organizations that might be of interest to you. There's one organization called Mishpacha Chadasha (New Family) that is working for gender equality under Israeli law in relation to marriage, among some other things. They get as close as is currently possible to a civil marriage in Israel. 

The other one that might be worth checking out is Tzohar. Tzohar works with the Rabbanut, but they try to create a traditional ceremony that is also a spiritual and enriching experience for the couple and their families. Both websites have most of their info in Hebrew. but they're way worth checking out.

Bags...

These are definitely not for a little old lady. though they'd look classy on her too...

whether you're looking for something for everyday fun, or to pack important carryon items for the honeymoon... these bags are great. there are other varieties too, just go take a look.

Reception ideas

Just an idea for an outdoor wedding setup. very simple, with white tablecloths and wooden chairs. and there's an alternative seating set up on the side. i think the key here is good, flattering lighting... (These photo is courtesy of Ein Hemed, an event venue just outside of Jerusalem).

Still looking for wedding rings?

If you're looking for an interesting, out of the ordinary wedding band, Sundance Catalog has some lovely options... here are a few of my picks:

Ah, dresses...

Not sure what the occasion would be for this dress, but i think it's really cute... maybe a rehearsal dinner?

And i thought these two would be great as bridesmaid dresses.

All three i found at Nordstrom, from BCBG Max Azaria.

Wedding ring

looking for wedding bands? here are a couple by Anne Sportun. She's a Canadian artist, and she has a store in toronto, among other places.

I think her stuff is great. a little off the beaten track, but still very classy. she's also got other jewelry, not just rings. check her out.

Sundance Catalogue

Whether you're looking for bridesmaids' gifts or bridal jewelry, the sundance catalogue might have what you're looking for. it's full of unique handcrafted jewelry. here are a few things i picked out that i think are really pretty...

beach dress

How great would this be for a beach wedding? it's so light and simple. and it's so pretty!

I can't remember where i found this one. but if you're thinking of having a dress made (as i was) then all you need is the photo for inspiration...

Hairstyles that you can try to do yourself...

I think these are really pretty. very natural and simple, but quite lovely.

just an idea... 

How you can get the exact hair accessories seen here: 

-gold-plated hair stick with matte porcelain birds by Lladro (first photo)

-sterling silver vine by Tacori (second photo)