skip to main |
skip to sidebar
I always say that brides who plan their own weddings should have everything so prepared that the week before they aren't doing anything and instead sitting back and enjoying the excitement of the coming day of their wedding. So if a bride wants to DIY, she needs to embrace it and needs to be organzied--plan everything in advance so she's not scraping hot glue off of their nails the day before her wedding. But when they do, I love it when brides DIY because it's truly a cost-effective way to have a wedding that adds so much of their personality to it.
And with my line Down the Aisle in Style™, which you can find at Jo-Anns and AC Moore, brides can find something inexpensive that helps show off their personality. One cool thing is that you can even make a DIY wedding an opportunity to throw a crafting party, making it a fun activity to do with your bridesmaids while you enjoy a few cocktails, and you'll be proud of what you've done and what you've all made. It could be your invites, your candles, printed materials, your favors or even down to the accents on the flowers with dashes of bling. There's something to be said about doing it yourself that makes your wedding truly share that personal touch. Plus, when using my craft line, there are tips on the back of all the packaging, so I'm there for you every step of the way.
I'm all for crafting, making it special and doing it yourself... just not last minute, so you can relax and feel like a guest at your own wedding. So when you're getting ready to go down the aisle on a DIY budget--start with going down the crafting aisle first.
xoxo,
David
A lot of brides don’t know what to do with their hair for their wedding. Do I wear it up, do I wear it down? Do I wear it pulled back? Do I wear it in ringlets? I hear it constantly. My advice is always to wear your hair in a way that is representative of you. You want to be recognizable to your groom and your guests—not to look like someone playing the role of a bride!
A hairpin (such as the ones in my Down the Aisle in Style™ line for Jo-Ann’s) can add a bit of personality without overpowering who you are. As for the style, I personally love when women wear their hair half-up, half-down. It shows that they’re not taking themselves too seriously and it’s a way to add a bit of playfulness to an otherwise sophisticated hairstyle.
Brides can also wear their hair fully up for the ceremony, and then switch to half up, half down for the party with the use of a gorgeous pin. Using a pin to glam up a half up, half down hairstyle is simple, stylish, not to mention inexpensive since you won’t need to hire a stylist!
The rule of thumb here is that accessorizing is crucial, and knowing how to accessorize is just as important. A beautiful pin does the job without taking away from YOU.
xo,
David
Brett Culp, a videographer for many of my brides' events (in fact, almost ALL of the videos on my website were done by him!), produced this video for his favorite artist, Sarah Groves' song "Miracle". I lOVE this video and hope you do too...
It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I like drama! My plans and designs have to be big, fabulous and over-the-top. Of course, all that drama usually equals crazy, stupid, over-the-top budgets. That’s why it made so much sense for me to create my Down the Aisle in Style™ line at Jo-Ann’s because I wanted all of my brides to have the look and feel of a dramatic and chic wedding—without having to spend a fortune.
One popular item in my Down the Aisle in Style™ collection is my set of illuminated branches. These are stylish and so much fun! They are beautiful white branches with tips that light up with battery-operated LEDs. The branches can give dramatic height to your centerpieces and create that sparkle that so many of my brides crave.
The branches are perfect for a white winter wonderland wedding—just like the one I created for my Snow White bride last month on My Fair Wedding. But you certainly don’t need to have a winter wedding to use these branches! They work just as well for ceremony archways and columns or incorporated in an all-white floral wedding design.
So no matter your budget, you can have fabulous elements that add drama, style, and sophistication to your big day!
xoxo,
David
I love hearing how so many of you were fans of my Mad Men bride this past Sunday. And I’m super shocked and super happy to find out that the birdcage veil is one of the top three items being sold from my wedding crafts line (Down the Aisle in Style™) at Jo-Anns! I included the cage veil in the collection because it’s an accessory strongly reminiscent of ’40s and ’50s style to add personality and vintage flair to your wedding fashion. I never thought it would be so popular! I’m thrilled that there are girls out there who want to step back in time as they step forward in style.
The cage veil is a fabulous accessory because it shows that the bride is fashion-forward, a little daring, and not afraid to go against the “safe” choice. The vintage style, with its delicate white netting that can be swept over the eyes, is a great substitute to the traditional long veil. But it is still a veil; therefore, I think it should be worn only for the ceremony and cocktails. At a wedding I recently attended, the bride wore a cage veil throughout the wedding. Because it is a smaller accessory, I can understand why she might have thought this was fine. However, personally and etiquette-wise, a veil should come off before you step into your party.
If you want to stay fashion-forward after the ceremony, you can switch out your cage veil for one a great brooch, hairpin or flower comb, which I’ve also included in my collection. A beautiful and unique hair accessory is another way you can sparkle head to toe!
xo,
David
Here’s something that my grandmother said to me when I was very young: “Never use the word ‘hate.’” She told me I should never say “I hate you” or “I hate this” or “I hate…” something. “Hate,” she explained, is a very strong, very negative, very damaging word to use.
My grandmother’s message has certainly stuck, and I’m really glad it has. I honestly can’t remember the last time I said I hated someone. But if I do utter the word, it’s always in response to something that is severely wrong or to an extremely uncomfortable situation.
On the topic of “bad” words, it also bothers me when people—especially kids—call people “stupid” or say something “sucks.” These words can be hurtful, and when they come out of your mouth you come across as being disrespectful. So why say them?
Xoxo,
David
I’m so excited that March is National Craft Month. As far as I’m concerned, every month should be about crafting and adding personality to your home—or wedding!
I think the success behind my Down the Aisle in Style™ line at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores comes from brides realizing that with my crafting accessories they can add that extra sparkle and unique touch to their wedding.
When developing the line, I worked hard to find materials and supplies that were affordable yet looked and felt luxurious, and that would make your projects feel like they’re truly your own. After all, making my brides feel special is the cornerstone to my events and everything in my brand!
The real inspiration for Down the Aisle in Style™ came from finding that so many women I encountered were unable to find wedding accessories that made them feel good about themselves. They struggled to create the look, feel, and style that reflected their personalities and vision. I wanted my brides to be able to walk down the store aisle, discover their sense of style, and then easily incorporate these ideas into their wedding.
With my supplies, you can customize your printed materials and add adhesive sparkles or pearls to place cards, table numbers, candles, and more. One item that I’m especially excited about—as someone who’s worked in the floral business for 25 years—is my battery-operated tapered candle, which looks like the real deal!
My collection also includes dripping crystal embellishments, crystal pendants, beautifully patterned guest books, natural wood and fabric hand fans, rhinestone bouquet wraps, and an assortment of fashion accessories (including my birdcage veil, feather hair comb, and satin clutch).
No bride likes to feel like she can’t afford to have her heart’s desire at her wedding. But this way you can step into a store, find something that speaks to you, and know that it fits within your budget. You can actually have fun as you explore all of your options and settle on those accessories that will help make your wedding all the more memorable. At Jo-Ann’s, you can practice walking down the aisle... with confidence and in style.
xoxo,
David
