wedding |

workspace wednesday | save the dates.

By annmarielovespaper on June 26, 2013

I will admit that John and I agonized over what to do for our Save the Dates. As two graphic designers with very different styles, meeting in the middle proved to be a tad tricker than we both anticipated. It’s one thing to collaborate with co-workers and professionally find middle ground. It’s another thing to be engaged to your fellow designer and attempt to have constructive critiques without making the other person mad (“whatever you want” translates into “that might be your worst idea of all time.”) But somehow, someway, we did it! We tag-teamed the assembly efforts and shipped them off to our guests last night with four months to spare. Despite my concern that we may have missed the mailing window of opportunity, the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings assured me that we are right on track. HALLELUJAH.

I can’t wait to share photos of the actual Save the Dates once they reach our guests! Stay tuned…

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rustic fiesta.

By annmarielovespaper on June 1, 2013

For as long as I’ve known that I wanted to marry John, I’ve known that our wedding would be a fiesta. I mean, I live for color! I live for dancing! And I really live for Mexican food and margaritas! So clearly, there was no wavering on the fiesta idea. On the other hand, John and I both love anything rustic. We love the great outdoors. We would kill for a Craftsman-style home one day. And of course, we did get engaged in Yosemite, after all. So together we came up with the concept of “Rustic Fiesta!” It blends the colors + vibrancy of a traditional fiesta with the earthy + organic textures of rusticism. !Ole!

These photos + colors really represent the vibe I am hoping to achieve this coming Fall. I am obsessed with wild + overflowing floral arrangements, lots of warm mood lighting, and plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of paper decor items. I love the idea of exposed wood tables + an eclectic mix of dishware, dancing alllll night long to my favorite songs (I have gold flats for this very purpose!), and a fantastic spread of tamales for dinner and churros for dessert. I am so excited to be collaborating with John on our unique + collective visions for the big day. It’s so much fun to bounce ideas off of each other (or more like me sending him 15 texts in a row with ideas…he loves when I do that! HA!), even when we don’t see eye-to-eye on how things should go. We’re working as a team and that’s all that matters.

Rustic fiesta forever!

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fringe flag diy.

By annmarielovespaper on May 28, 2013

I’ve recently come to the rather startling realization that this wedding is going to happen in a few months, whether I like it or not (for the record, I love it). Needless to say, no matter how busy I am, I really need to get cracking on all of the DIY projects I have in mind. So! I’ve decided to tackle the smaller projects first, if for no other reason than the fact it makes me feel like I’m getting a lot done. Baby steps, ya’ll.

This past weekend I whipped out a bunch of fringe flags for all of our guests to wave around as John and I walk back down the aisle. It’s about as low-tech as crafts go, but will (hopefully) pack a big punch in photos! Here’s how I made them:

S U P P L I E S

Tissue paper
Thin wooden dowels (found in the baking section at any craft store)
Glue Dots
Washi tape (I found my gold-striped tape here)
Scissors

Decide how long you want your fringe flags to be and cut a sheet of tissue paper accordingly. I folded my sheet in thirds and kept it folded while I fringed the ends.

Fold each sheet of fringed tissue paper in half lengthwise a few times until it is in a tight bundle.

Roll the tip of the dowel in a large Glue Dot.

Wrap the base of the fringe tissue paper around the adhesive until is completely wound (I went with Glue Dots, but hot glue would work just as well.)

While holding the fringe tissue paper to the dowel, wrap a strip of washi tape around the base of the tissue paper until it is completely secure. If the fringe is too tight, tousle it with your fingers a bit to loosen it up. Finally, wave your fringe flag around like you just don’t care!

One wedding craft down, five hundred more to go!

To see this DIY in action, check out my Vine video here!

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taking inventory.

By annmarielovespaper on April 20, 2013

The thing about thrifting several times a week and then immediately banishing my treasures to boxes in the garage is that I have no freaking clue what I own. So the other day, something possessed me to break out all those boxes and open each and every carefully-wrapped item so I could take inventory. I knew the minute I started, I would immediately regret this hare-brained scheme, but, like most stupid decisions, I was in too deep to quit. Before I knew it, glassware covered every square inch of the dining room table.

Seeing everything all laid out together made me so happy-slash-confirmed my suspicions that I am a hoarder. The best (worst?) part of all is that in the middle of this inventory-taking madness, I went to the gym and stopped by – where else? – the Goodwill on my way back home. I AM ADDICTED. But I promise I have a master plan! Once this whole wedding extravaganza wraps up, I have grand plans of starting a rentals biz so I can share the glassware love with others. Ahem…and have an excuse to keep hoarding.

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we love it here.

By annmarielovespaper on March 26, 2013

When Saturday rolls around and John and I are looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon, Ventura often seems to top our list of places to go. And why not? It’s such an underrated little beach town so close to where we live. The weather is always nice, the parking is always plentiful and FREE (take note, LA!), and there are so many fantastic thrift shops on Main Street that we could spend hours wandering though. Oh, and we’re totally getting married there in October! Needless to say, we love it.

On the way home, we stopped at our wedding venue to see what it looks like at night. Despite my previous concerns that the lighting wouldn’t jive with my vision, I am happy to report, it looks SO GOOD! Warm, cozy, and ready for an all-night fiesta! Am I killing you with the wedding stuff yet? My apologies friends, but we’ve got a loooong (but not that long – ahh!) way to go! And speaking of wedding stuff, lately I’ve been sending e-mails with potential vow material to myself whenever a poignant thought crosses my mind. This includes, but is not limited to, grabbing my phone to write out my thoughts in the middle of the night while still half-dreaming (nightmaring?) about arriving at the ceremony only to realize that I forgot to write any vows…! (P.S. I woke up the next morning to some surprisingly decent work!) I am LITERALLY writing these vows with my eyes closed. If only the rest of the wedding planning could be so easy!

xoxo

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the cream event.

By annmarielovespaper on March 11, 2013

THE CREAM! Where do I even begin? So many talented vendors in such a stunning location. It was pretty much the best of the wedding blog scene mixed in with super stylish vendors + guests (wearing their “blogger’s best” as my partner in crime Janelle so aptly put it) topped with a killer soundtrack that had everyone moving + grooving. Those Bash, Please gals sure know to get things done right.

P.S. You can see our Vine videos from the event at @Ann-Marie Morris and @The Style Eater!

xoxo

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gold thrift finds.

By annmarielovespaper on March 10, 2013

Last weekend on an impromptu thrifting trip, I struck gold. LITERALLY. Gold goblets, gold vases, gold bowls…gold gold city! I’ve been on the hunt for these kinds of pieces for months, so to find it all in one place for less than three bucks a pop was pretty much the highlight of my Goodwill-ing career. (In fact, I should probably retire now.)

I have big plans for these babies and none of which involves polishing them up (the more tarnished, the better!). I am already dreaming up the way they will look when filled with beautiful, overflowing flower arrangements and plenty of candlelight on the tables at our wedding. Excuse me while I get back to pinning…

xoxo

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we found it.

By annmarielovespaper on March 5, 2013

It was a good weekend.

After searching and researching the past few months until I couldn’t stand to look at one more outrageously expensive pricing sheet, we finally found our venue. It’s not in San Diego, like I imagined. It hasn’t (yet) graced the pages of every big wedding blog. But it’s a blank canvas with a Spanish-style flavor. There are barely any rules and our date is wiiiide open! In other words, it’s perfect.

We are so excited to finally have a place to build our vision around. This is where I get to put my Pinterest boards to work. This is where I get to hire an amazing photographer. This is where I get to dance all night long in my beautiful dress. This is where I become an Espinoza. This is where it all goes down.

Oh yes. It’s gonna be good.

xoxo

8 Comments

thank you notes.

By annmarielovespaper on February 26, 2013

One of my resolutions for 2013 is to stay on top of social correspondence, especially since this is the year that lots of it will be going down. So as I was opening all the wonderful gifts from our party a few weekends ago, I couldn’t help but immediately start brainstorming ideas for the thank you notes that I would soon be writing. I knew I wanted them to be simple, but I also wanted them to have a handmade feel. Hence, embossed hearts! What’s more appropriate for a V-Day party than gold and hot pink hearts? Then again, when are gold and hot pink hearts not appropriate?

xoxo