Koru Wedding Style

Here Comes A Break!

2012-01-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hi! Hello? Are you still there?!

Oh, how I miss your beautiful faces. Life is getting pretty, pretty busy. On Wednesday, my Mom arrived from California for a visit & we're having lots of fun. On top of that, my first 2012 wedding is coming up on February 4 & I've been working hard to make sure it's absolutely perfect. Next week looks like more of the same. Plenty of daughter & wedding planning duties, both of which I adore. I promise I will be back soon with tons of wedding & crafting fun. Until then, take care!

Try not to miss me too much :-)

Photo by Brooke Boling Photography via

Sparkle

2012-01-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

Hello, sparkly pretties. Valentino you say? Oh, how I adore you!

As a Bride-to-be, I had the hardest time finding shoes for my wedding. Shoes were too high, too boring or too expensive. It was starting to look like I might go barefoot when I found the perfect pair (yes, one of these days I will share all my wedding details with you!). These fantabulous Valentinos would have been too high AND too expensive for me but I believe I may have made an exception for them. They are AMAZING!!!

What route will/did you go for wedding shoes? Pretty sparkle, fun color or classic ivory/white?

Photo by Justin & Mary via

Believe

2012-01-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

This amazing wedding photograph is oh so romantic, it makes me believe in love!

There's a little lesson here, Brides-to-be. Whatever your budget, make sure you invest in the very best photography you can afford! I promise you it is money well spent. Trust me.

What vendors are/were most important to you on your wedding day?

Photo by Thayer Hearts Weddings via

Koru Kate Finds: Simple Pleasures

2012-01-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, this winter-loving girl finally got what she had been not-so-patiently waiting for: SNOW! We received about five inches of the white, fluffy stuff, just the perfect amount to turn our city into a winter wonderland. It wasn't enough to bring the world to a halt with closed stores & such. But RZ & I decided it was enough to bring our world to a halt.

We bundled up & headed outside with our Beagle Bailey for a fun, winter walk:

Beagle Bailey wasn't thrilled at first & spent the first five minutes trying to convince us to go back inside. The humans prevailed. Once we got to the snowy park, he really got into the spirit of things. He was running & jumping in the snow like an excited puppy. Adorable!

He even humored me by posing in the snow for the perfect winter photo:

It was the most fantastic winter afternoon with RZ & our pup. Lots of smiles & laughter. The fun lasted long after we headed home:

The day grew colder & colder until night fell while we stayed warm & cozy inside. We did little except nap, read & relax. Dinner called for a delicious meal delivered from a new restaurant & entertainment was watching a movie by candlelight. I loved every last moment.

In day-to-day life, I'm guilty of getting caught in the hustle & bustle by constantly working towards my latest goal or lusting after the latest shiny, new object. It's so easy to forget the simple, wonderful pleasures like a lazy day spent with my husband & our pup. Today's Koru Kate Finds is Simple Pleasures- find them & enjoy them!

Sprinkles on Top

2012-01-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite desserts is simple: one scoop of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles on top. It's as pretty as it is delicious.

Naturally when I saw this cake covered in rainbow sprinkles, I thought I'd died & gone to sprinkle heaven. The sprinkles make this cake so bright, colorful & happy- just the right tone for a wedding! & the satin ribbon is that perfect touch of elegance. This cake is a sweet winner in my eyes!

Would you let your favorite dessert topping inspire your wedding cake?

Photo by Monique Simone Photography via

Chevy-Loving

2012-01-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

While it's about time for my monthly Wedding Wheels post, one getaway car photo has received so much attention on Pinterest that I decided it deserved a post of its own.

Many Bride & Grooms use props for their photo session, whether it be antique furniture or a thank you banner. This beautiful Bride & Groom were no different, only they chose a lovingly-restored 1952 vintage Chevy pickup for their prop:

This prop + a gorgeous Bride & Groom + a pretty location + a Fall bouquet = a beautiful wedding portrait!

The icing on the cake? This vintage Chevy is no random prop. It was passed down from the Groom's grandfather & restored by the Groom, his father & his brother. Props with sentimental value, I adore it!

What props do you like to see in wedding photos? Will you or did you use props?

Photo by Hazelnut Photography via

First Look, snow-style

2012-01-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

When I was a Bride planning my Winter Wedding, there was not a lot of inspiration to be found in wedding blogs or magazines. Spring, Summer & Fall weddings were clearly favored. Thankfully, two years later (wow, where did the time go?!), Winter Weddings are getting more of their well-deserved time in the spotlight. Here at Koru Wedding Style, I will never tire of featuring Brides & Grooms enjoying their Winter Weddings.

How about a Winter Wedding gem like this?

Such a stunning black & white image of a Bride & Groom sharing their First Look in a snowy landscape. This Winter Wedding delivers big time!

Photo by Alison Conklin via

{Rerun} why we wed: kate

2012-01-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a difference one week makes! Last week, I was weepy & mopey about the end of our newlywed days. I couldn't shake the sadness, then I woke up & realized it was time to look forward, not back. We are merely days away from boarding our pup (poor guy, his usual petsitter is on vacation too), packing up our car & escaping for our First Wedding Anniversary trip, I couldn't be happier. I am so excited to reminisce about our wedding, celebrate our newlywed days & toast to our future!

As my final newlywed post, it seems fitting to leave you with my why we wed: kate post that originally ran on Happy Sighs. Why did I walk down the aisle & say "I Do!" on January 15, 2011?

My then-boyfriend Rodney proposed to me during a long, winter walk on a deserted, snowy beach about two years ago. It was as romantic & perfect as could be. As we finished our walk holding hands, I thought of one of my favorite quotes from an unknown source:

“Hand in hand, we shall walk into every day of our lives.”

For that exact sentiment, I married the love of my life on another crisp, clear winter day almost one year ago. I pledged all of my love for all of my life to the man who would love me, stand beside me & hold my hand on this crazy journey called life.

I have happily walked my path alone & I have wearily stumbled along my path with the wrong person. Thankfully, Rodney came along & we walk together with purpose & strength. No matter what comes our way, we are better together. Darkness & light. Good & bad. Sunshine & rain. Smiles & tears. When we found something so precious & rare between us, it seemed obvious that we had to grab each other’s hand & take the leap of faith that is marriage.

Our marriage began with a moving ceremony during which we exchanged vows to love, honor & cherish each other for the rest of our lives, followed by a beautiful celebration with our family & friends. It counts as the happiest day of my life. My favorite memory is walking out of the church towards our future. Hand in hand as the new Mr. and Mrs., big smiles on our faces & much love in our heart.

We’re at the tail end of our newlywed days & we’ve done our best to honor & uphold our vows every day. Some days we are more successful than others. But always, we are grounded by our vows & our love. Rodney is my true love, my best friend, my biggest fan & my loudest cheerleader. In short, he is everything to me & I am the same for him. We may not know where our path leads but we will walk together.

One thing is certain: I will never let go of his hand.

Photo by Timothy Glenn Photographers

Major Veil Love

2012-01-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Why I do declare that is the most incredible veil I have ever laid my wedding-loving eyes on EVER! The Bride looks like an angel wrapped in that light, frothy tulle. So classic & timeless.

I. cannot. stop. staring. at. this. wedding. fabulousness.

Photo by Cliff Mautner Photography via

Rings, Au Natural

2012-01-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

As a self-proclaimed wedding addict, I have my favorite go-to details when I look at wedding photos. Cool getaway cars for one. Ring shots filled with the personality of the couple & the feel of their wedding day. They can be anything from cheeky to beautiful to casual but they are always unique.

The pinecone ring shot captured my ring-shot loving heart. Without knowing one other detail about this wedding, you can guess it's an outdoor wedding for nature lovers. This photo captures the spirit of the wedding perfectly. When you learn that it's an outdoor Fall wedding near a cabin on a gorgeous property, well, this ring shot just makes sense. LOVE!

Do you like ring shots as much as me? What are your favorite wedding details?

Photo by Heather Armstrong via

Koru Kate Finds: Book of Love

2012-01-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Koru Kate Finds of 2012! If you're new here (hello & welcome!), Koru Kate Finds is my weekly series of wedding finds, from DIY projects to decor to jewelry, to inspire you & your wedding. Let's start the fun, shall we?

Today's Koru Kate Finds is the DIY Book of Love:

Let's face it, everyone has computer drives full of lovely photos that we never print. Ladies, it's time to make something of those memories. The sentimental fool that I am, this personalized & easy DIY project is right up my alley. All you need are fun photos, sweet memories & few basic supplies to make a Book of Love to cherish forever.

A Book of Love is billed for Valentine's Day, although it's fitting for any special occasion. Make one with photos from your engagement session, your bridal shower, your bachelorette party, your rehearsal dinner, your wedding, your honeymoon or your newlywed years. You get the idea, right?

A Book of Love is a perfect gift &/or a lovely keepsake.

For complete instructions & plenty of other DIY goodness, please visit The Wedding Chicks HERE. Enjoy!

Numbered

2012-01-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

10 days.

Our newlywed days are numbered. The official countdown: 10 days!

How is it possible that our beautiful wedding day was almost one year ago? The newlywed year has gone so quickly. We heard rumors that the first year of marriage is the most difficult; we didn't experience that ourselves. With deaths in our families, serious illness in our families, job worries & more, the first year wasn't all sunshine & roses. We were fortunate to enjoy more than our fair share of sunny, happy times too. No matter what, our marriage was strong & true. It was the wonderful safe haven among the chaos.

I'm sad to see the newlywed year come to an end. I can't shake the feeling even as we plot a fun first wedding anniversary celebration & I put love into a first wedding anniversary present. I suppose endings always make me a little teary. We'll never be newlyweds again- the time was so precious & fleeting.

The end of our newlywed days only leads to the rest of our marriage for which we have many hopes & dreams. I'm very excited for one particular wish we have for the upcoming year! I'm just not ready to embrace the next chapter yet. I'm going to savor our final, blissful newlywed days!!!!

Photo by Timothy Glenn Photographers

Take That, Blizzard

2012-01-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

If you've hung around Koru Wedding Style long enough, you know I'm a big fan of winter weddings. Clearly as a winter Bride, I'm biased. But with fun photos like this, can you blame me for loving winter weddings?

Snow + Smile + Sass = Delightful Winter Wedding Magic.

A little backstory: this is a wedding day blizzard. Not just some pretty snow. A blizzard!

The way I see it, there are two options when faced with a wedding day blizzard. You can scream, cry & curse the wedding weather gods. Or you can keep smiling & make the best of it. Clearly, this wise Bride chose the Option Two.

The Bride slapped on her snow boots, grabbed her umbrella, hitched her dress & made a beeline to the church to marry her Groom. & did some high kicks on the way! Ah, the true spirit of a gracious Bride.

Brides of all seasons, remember that anything can & may happen on your wedding day. The key is how you choose to handle it. Don't let anything ruin the beautiful day you say "I Do!"

Photo via

City Lovin'

2012-01-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

"I am about to make a brand new start of it, right here in old New York"

You can't argue with Frank Sinatra: New York is a great place for new beginnings, like weddings. For lucky couples tying the knot in the Big Apple, consider letting the magnificent city influence your wedding invitation suite.

I'm ready to bust out my party dress & attend this fabulous city affair! The Empire State Building featuring a sweet pink heart? Oh yes, I consider that NYC save-the-date perfection. The wedding invitation doesn't bother with the traditional NYC skyline design. Instead, the modern, calligraphy invitation & its coordinating pieces are a perfect compliment to the city lovin' save-the-date. The oh so popular gray color maintains a sense of cohesion throughout the invitation suite. LOVE!!

Are you getting married in a town or city that is important to you? Will you let the city influence your design decisions?

Photo via

Welcome, 2012!

2012-01-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2011, I say good-bye with a grateful & sad heart. I will forever remember you as the year we got married & started our positive new beginning. What an amazing journey! But rain is needed to make a rainbow & there's been plenty of sadness. I lost a dear family friend while many around me said good-bye to loved ones. What a year. It's time to move on!

2012, I am so happy to see your beautiful, promising face. Another new beginning filled with opportunities & hopes! My New Year's Resolution is to be the best version of me. I'd like to be a better wife to my fabulous husband. A better friend to my dear friends. A better sister to my sister/best friend. A better daughter to my sweet Mom. A better wedding planner to my lovely Brides & Grooms. A better blogger to my dear readers. I hold these roles close to my heart & they deserve the best me. I want to rise to the occasion each & every day to do my best.

Cheers to being the best we can be in 2012! I wish you Love & Joy in 2012!

Photo via

Our First Christmas

2011-12-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

Our First Christmas as husband & wife ♡

Our personalized First Christmas ornament arrived from Oceanside Designs &, well, it's simply perfect. I chose our favorite wedding photo, then Mel took it away & designed this amazing ornament that we will treasure forever. I planned to save it as a Christmas gift for RZ but once I had the pretty package in my hand, I knew there was no waiting. That baby went right on the tree to be enjoyed & admired!

I am so, so excited to make the beautiful First Christmas memories that we will always associate with this ornament.

On that note, I'm bowing out from blogging until 2012. Let's make a date to meet back here on January 2 & continue to have our wedding jollies in the new year ☺

May your holidays be merry & bright!

Photo by Koru Kate

{Guest Posting} why we wed: kate

2011-12-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

On January 15, 2011, RZ & I stood in front of our family & friends & said "I Do!"

Why did we get married?

That is a seemingly simple questions posed in the "Why We Wed" series on Happy Sighs. The easy question left me searching my heart & soul for the answer. I was inspired to look beyond the standard "we're in love" justification. Today, I'm very honored to be sharing my response on Happy Sighs- why we wed: kate.

Please visit me at Happy Sighs & say hello!

Photo by Timothy Glenn Photographers

Holiday Date Night, Take Two

2011-12-20T18:58:00.000-08:00

My hubs & I made a very important decision: 2011 could not be the year of No Lights at Rock Center. We wouldn't let this happen. Holiday Date Night, Take Two became a reality with one critical change in our game plan: the tree first, dinner second. You can't accuse us of not learning from our mistakes!

Last Friday night, like the holiday troopers we are, we made our way to crowded Rockefeller Center & breathed a sigh of relief when we were greeted by this familiar, beautiful sight:

LIGHTS!!!!!!!!! Camera! Action!

We paused for a bit to admire the graceful ice skaters:

We can't leave well enough alone so we posed for one more holiday photo with the LIT tree:

Seconds after this photo was snapped, we witnessed a man propose to his surprised girlfriend. (I stopped myself from handing them my business card, ha!) I felt like we were on a movie set for a moment. Pure holiday magic!

Our Holiday Date Night, Take Two got even better, continuing with a delicious dinner in the West Village. But dinner wasn't the best part. As we strolled through the charming, decorated streets, we were delighted to stumble upon Christmas carolers singing holiday tunes. I've never seen & heard Christmas carolers in real life. Let me tell you, it was quite cool. More holiday magic!!

Now our Newlywed Holiday Date Night will be remembered as The Year of No Lights at Rock Center, followed by Lights & Pure Holiday Magic. ♡ XOXO ♥

{Guest Posting} Blogger Holiday Traditions

2011-12-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

I am honored to be included in the festive Blogger Holiday Tradition series on Lovely Little Details today! I'm sharing a holiday tradition that is near & dear to my heart & includes the sweet Wishes ornament. Please take a peek & leave some love!

Photo by Koru Kate

Koru Kate Finds: Cheer

2011-12-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

The final Koru Kate Finds of 2011 is abundant during the holiday season. You can find it here, there, everywhere.

My holiday-style Koru Kate Finds is Cheer, specifically Holiday Cheer. The smiles on your family & friends' faces. The childrens' laughter. The carolers' sweet voices. The twinkling lights. The sparkly decor. The festive traditions. The amazing smell of fresh evergreen. Or how about the sweet smell of baking cookies? The cup of piping hot chocolate. The holiday card from a dear friend. The bright red bow on a pretty package. The lovely holiday party. The most perfect holiday date night as newlyweds.

Those are just a few examples of holiday cheer that I've enjoyed lately; I know there is much more holiday cheer coming my way in the next week.

Where have you found Holiday Cheer? I'm sending you sincere wishes for plenty of Holiday Cheer for you & yours!

Photo via

Holiday Date Night

2011-12-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

RZ & I have a Christmas tradition that began during our first Christmas as boyfriend & girlfriend: Holiday Date Night in New York City. Holiday-season Manhattan is absolutely magical from the Lord & Taylor windows to the Fifth Avenue star & everything in between. I have adored admiring the holiday cheer since I was kid; it's even more special to share it with the man I love. Holiday Date Night 2011 was hotly anticipated because we would enjoy it as newlyweds.

Our newlywed Holiday Date Night started out like every other one with the holiday windows at Macy's at 34th Street. My favorite window was the spinning bucket of champagne:

Next up, Lord & Taylor, always my vote for best holiday windows. Check out this snowy scene:

Bryant Park is festive during the holidays with ice skating & shopping. We always pose by their icy blue tree &, well, thank goodness (more on that later):

Dylan's Candy Bar hosted a pop-up shop this year & I couldn't resist taking a peek at the candyland. Is this candy Christmas tree not a candy-lover's dream come true?!

We never forget to pay homage to my husband's Filipino heritage with a swing by the Philippines Center's gorgeous holiday display of parols (p.s. I still want one):

We strolled up Fifth Avenue, passing Santa, Grinch, Reindeer & Snowmen. No, not decorations- walking, talking Santa & crew (only in NYC)! The Rockefeller Christmas Tree was crazy crowded & we decided to come back after dinner. First, we saw Cartier, tied up with a holiday red bow:

Time to eat, drink & be merry! We enjoyed a delicious, traditional steakhouse dinner at one our favorites, Wolfgang's Steakhouse. Bonus: we met Wolfgang:

Stuffed & happy, we made our way back to Rockefeller Center, only to find this disheartening sight:

Sad but true: Lights out at Rockefeller Center at 11:30pm. In the city that never sleeps! BOO!!

But hey, we wouldn't let one little glitch ruin our newlywed Holiday Date Night. Just a few blocks away, we found more holiday cheer. A bright, happy Christmas light strand put smiles back on our faces:

More holiday smiles at the biggest, merriest Christmas ornaments:

Our newlywed Holiday Date Night was so fun & so special. I will remember it forever as the year of no lights at Rock Center!

Photos by Koru Kate

Snowflake Smile

2011-12-14T22:08:00.000-08:00

Winter Brides may not be able to say their vows in a beautiful garden or stroll among fields of lavender for photos. But Winter Brides can have fun too, despite the cold & snow! Don't believe me? Just look at this Bride's joyful snowflake smile!

Photo via A Practical Wedding

Holiday Card Evolution

2011-12-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

In what seemed like a flash of brilliance, I chose to send homemade Christmas cards this year. I enjoy making cards & I adore the holiday season so why not? Sure, crafting 50+ Christmas cards would be my largest cardmaking project yet. Oh yes, of course I would find the time for this project during the busy holiday season.

Looking back, I identify that moment as a stroke of insanity!

Allow me to take you on the journey of the Koru Kate Holiday 2011 Card from inspiration (I'm so excited to make my holiday cards!) to reality (What in the world was I thinking?) . . .

Six weeks ago, I pinned a snowflake card as my inspiration:

One trip to Paper Source, one trip to AC Moore & one raid of my craft armoire later, I had Version 1 of my holiday card:

A few minor tweaks of colored card stock & patterned paper later, I was happy with sweet Version 2 of my holiday card:

Bright Version 3 of my holiday card on RZ's choice of classic holiday red card stock:

A few more of lovely Version 2 on my choice of icy blue card stock:

I'm a complete sucker for details so every card has a snowflake stamped on its butt:

I'm pretty proud of my humble holiday cards. We dropped the first batch in the mail last night; the second batch should be ready this evening. I've glued my fingers together, I've smudged countless snowflakes, I've wondered if the project would ever end. But there is a definite satisfaction knowing I created our newlywed holiday cards with care & love for our family & friends.

Will I make my holiday cards next year? Ha, by then I will have forgotten the insanity & I will think it's a fabulous idea!

Photo 1 via, Photo 2-6 by Koru Kate

Koru Kate Finds: Word Art

2011-12-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

Koru Kate Finds fabulous word art for the wonderful couples in your life! Or for you & your honey.

I adore the bold, modern look of word art & I was happy to stumble upon these great options last night while I was supposed to be finding Christmas gifts for our Titas (Filipino term for Aunt). I couldn't resist sharing these gems with you! Now if Tita Meg ends up gift-less on Christmas, I can blame you :-)

For the newlyweds still basking in the beauty of their wedding day, the Celebration wall art:

For the couple with a shiny, new home sweet home & plenty of blank walls, the Home wall art:

For the happy couple who have been together through thick & thin, the Happy wall art:

I would not mind one bit if one of the above found its way under our Christmas tree!!

Images & Products via Red Envelope

My Wedding Invitation Ornament

2011-12-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

From inspiration to reality . . .

One of the first images I pinned was the wedding invitation ornament:

I loved the idea, especially since I had a wedding invitation or ten collecting dust. I promised myself to make my wedding invitation ornament when the Christmas season arrived. My Christmas spirit kicked into full swing this weekend & I started this DIY project with my extra-large, clear ornament:

I set out my supplies: my pocket wedding invitation; my outer & response envelopes for color; my ruler & exacto knife in place of fancy cutting matts; & my pencil:

I separated my wedding invitation from its pocket &, I'm not going to lie, I started to freak out a bit about cutting up my wedding invitation. It seemed wrong! Then I reminded myself the extra invitation was doing no good collecting dust. I detailed 1/2 inch strips & began cutting:

I repeated this process with my wedding invitation, response card, reception card, hotel card & both envelopes. I decided to cut my pocket only if needed. I had an extra-large ornament to fill; you probably don't need more than a wedding invitation for a regular-size ornament. As soon as I had a decent pile of strips, I wrapped each strip around my pencil to curl it into a swirl & dropped it in the ornament:

Soon, my wedding invitation ornament was filled to the brim! I couldn't control how or where my swirled strips landed but they naturally arranged themselves just perfectly. I spy meaningful details like my maiden name, my husband's first name, our reception location, our zip code & more:

I played around with adding different ribbons & other details to my wedding invitation ornament & nothing looked right. In the end, my simple wedding invitation ornament is quite lovely on our newlywed Christmas tree:

We'll admire & treasure our wedding invitation ornament for years to come!

P.S. I still have extra wedding invitations (the stationer in me ordered plenty of extras just in case!). Do you have any creative, holiday or non-holiday ideas?

Photo 1 via, Photo 2-7 by Koru Kate

Sweet NYC

2011-12-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

The best NYC-theme wedding cake ever!

Maybe it's the darling Empire State Building & Chrysler Building perched on top. Maybe it's the purple, delicate NYC skyline. Maybe it's the extra touches of the pearl piping & purple ribbon. Maybe it's the overall clean, pretty design.

Whatever it may be, I feel perfectly comfortable declaring this lovely cake the top prize for NYC-theme cakes. & let me tell you, as a NYC-area wedding planner & wedding guest, I have seen my fair share of NYC-theme wedding cakes. This baby takes the cake!!

Photo by Our Labor of Love via A Practical Wedding

Dear Hero, Merry Christmas

2011-12-06T14:36:00.000-08:00

I began crafting holiday cards this weekend but before I started the cards for our friends & family, I made one special card. I don't know the recipient personally. I will never meet this person. Yet this person is my hero.

I crafted this card with care, appreciation & love for our U.S. military servicemen & women. Penned to "Dear Service Member," my card included heartfelt thanks & holiday wishes.

I sent my handmade card to Holiday Mail for Heroes, a wonderful organization that collects & distributes the holiday mail to U.S. military service members, veterans & their families throughout the United States & the world. Imagine how much an extra dose of holiday cheer & gratitude may mean to brave soldiers protecting our freedom, many of whom are far from their home for the holiday season. Thanks to the Red Cross & its partner Pitney Bowes, now we have the golden opportunity to shower our heroic, deserving military men & women with some extra love & attention during
the holiday season.

Sounds good, yes? It's easy to show your support & send holiday cheer to our military. By Friday, December 9, simply send a signed card or letter to:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

For more information, please visit Holiday Mail for Heroes.

I was inspired by Chandra of Oh Lovely Day to participate this year; I hope this post inspires you to send a card!

Card & Image (apologies for low light!) by Koru Kate

Koru Kate Finds: Snowy Tree

2011-12-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

Oh yes, once again, I spy stylish carnations . . .

Koru Kate Finds is Holiday-style with this festive, snowy tree decoration!!!

I'm loving the snowy tree for holiday parties & weddings. Turn your holiday table into a winter wonderland with your snowy tree, coordinating ornaments & candles. Simple, inexpensive & attractive!

For this holiday DIY project, you'll need carnations, small Christmas ornaments, cute container, floral foam & a little time on your hands. Then follow the easy instructions from Miss Martha here.

If a snowy tree is not quite your style, you're in luck because carnations come in a rainbow of colors. Bright red carnations with silver ornaments would make a bold holiday statement. Lime green carnations with dark green & silver ornaments would make a modern holiday statement. Choose your favorite color & use your imagination.

My holiday mind thinks the snowy tree may be the perfect hostess gift for my sister on Christmas!

Photo via

World aids Day

2011-12-01T13:14:00.001-08:00

December 1 marks World AIDS Day.

I didn't remember until someone mentioned it on Twitter.

There was a time when I spent months & months preparing for World AIDS Day. During college, I volunteered for The Names Project in Washington, DC, more commonly known for the AIDS Memorial Quilt. I did silly things like seal newsletters & clean the office. Also, I did meaningful things like repair damaged panels, pack panels for displays across the country & assist with the display of the entire quilt on the National Mall. In the months leading to World AIDS Day, I channeled my energies to the big day to increase awareness about AIDS, support those living with AIDS & remember those we lost to AIDS. This volunteer job meant the world to me.

I remember my four years of volunteering with fondness & sadness. It wasn't so long ago, yet things were much different then. People were still dying of AIDS in America at an alarming rate. I worked side-by-side with two gay men who were living with AIDS. They had the brightest, biggest smiles & sweetest, kindest personalities. One died during my volunteer years & the other died a few years later. This world is a little less beautiful without them in it.

I graduated from college & despite a brief tenure volunteering for the New Jersey chapter, my time with The Names Project came to an end. The pursuit of career & personal goals became my priority. But never did I intend to forget this cause that is so important to me. At the very least, I planned sport my red ribbon on every World AIDS Day. Somehow I got from there to here.

The college me couldn't envision a future me who would not remember World AIDS Day.

We have not accomplished the ultimate goal of a world without AIDS. On World AIDS Day 2011, I make a vow to recommit. Maybe it will be just a blog post now & then. Maybe it will be just a red ribbon worn everyday. Maybe I will get involved in a World AIDS Day event. But no matter what, I will not forget we have a world with AIDS.

This is the final blog post for this week & I dedicate it in memory of Pedro & Chris. You forever touched me & you're always remembered.

Image via World AIDS Day

Wedding Wheels, Part Deux

2011-11-30T10:08:00.001-08:00

Today is Part Deux of my Wedding Wheels series! It's quite the rare opportunity when my love of cars & my love of weddings can come together so beautifully. Count me very happy! Many Brides don't care much about their getaway car, some Brides don't need a getaway car but if you're a Bride who considers your getaway car as a fun detail for your wedding, you've come to the right place for inspiration.

Be still my heart! This may be the best getaway car yet, a vintage Sheriff's car:

Nope, not a hearse although looks can be deceiving. The vintage ambulance is pretty rad too:

A cool, badass black classic car is a nice touch:

How about an orange classic to spice up your getaway?

&, when wheels aren't appropriate, strap on your good old walking shoes:

Fabulous, just fabulous in my humble opinion! That's it until next month. Be sure to follow my Wonderful Wheels board on Pinterest for much, much more getaway car inspiration!

Photo 1 via Once Wed, Photo 2 via Snippet & Ink, Photo 3 via A Practical Wedding,
Photo 4 via A Practical Wedding, Photo 5 via Green Wedding Shoes

Cranberry Craze

2011-11-29T18:58:00.000-08:00

I'm officially dreaming of Christmas. Nope, not a white Christmas; I'm not a huge fan of the white stuff. A cozy Christmas with a crackling fire, a glittering tree & a festive table. A pretty table just like the one above.

I would love, LOVE this gorgeous holiday tablescape. I pinned the image forever ago & I'm still a huge fan. It's the perfect balance of stunning & attainable, unlike many of the images in Martha Stewart that require a professional crew to assemble & display. Nope, I think I may be able to manage this DIY project! Fill a glass container with water, cranberries & hydrangea, then add holly & pine needles. Decorate your table with thick ribbons & sparkly garland. Be creative: pick ribbon & garland colors & patterns to match your holiday look. Place your cranberry arrangement on your ribbon/garland runner & you have instant holiday magic for your merry festivities!

Holiday/Winter Brides, the cranberry hydrangea arrangements are just lovely as centerpieces. For the sake of simplicity, you could nix the ribbon/garland runner & choose a beautiful table linen instead. If you're having anything other than an intimate wedding with one or two tables, I'd skip the DIY route & put a florist in charge but maybe that's just me.

If you haven't noticed, I adore the holiday season. If I'm missing any DIY holiday fabulousness, please share!!!!

Photo via

Koru Kate Finds: Firsts

2011-11-28T12:29:00.001-08:00

Hello, Koru Family & Friends! Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend? Our first Thanksgiving as husband & wife was fabulous, thank you very much. Then I got sick on Friday & Saturday & I missed some fun festivities like attending a 45th Wedding Anniversary party & decorating our home for Christmas. Bummer. Now that I'm on the mend, I can't wait to unpack our Christmas decor & make our home festive!

But long before we fetched our holiday decor from storage, I've been on the hunt for the perfect Our First Christmas ornament. We'll only enjoy one Christmas as newlyweds & I want a beautiful ornament to commemorate the special occasion. My dears, after a long & hard search, I found IT.

A holiday Koru Kate Finds is this sweet Our First Christmas ornament:

Oh, how I love, LOVE it! Simply send a lovely wedding photo & make any color or font requests & presto- you'll receive a personalized ornament to treasure forever!

Perhaps you & your friends have moved on from the newlywed stage in life. Don't worry, there are plenty of other firsts to celebrate! For the new parents, is there much more precious than a Baby's First Christmas ornament?

Or how about giving the jubilant new homeowners an Our First Home ornament?

For plenty of other personalized gift ideas, please visit Oceanside Designs. If you act fast, you can take advantage of their super Cyber Monday sale!!! Now excuse me as I scroll through my favorites to pick our best wedding photo for our ornament! This may take awhile . . .

P.S. If you're looking for all things ocean wedding & honeymoon inspiration, Oceanside Bride is a must-read!

Images by Oceanside Designs

Thankful.

2011-11-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

Him, I am so thankful for him

Photo by the great Timothy Glenn Photographers

Thankful. Very, very thankful.

My husband RZ is at the tippy top of my gratitude list this Thanksgiving. I dedicate this post to him.

I am thankful to call you my husband. I am thankful for the beautiful moment we clasped hands, looked into each other's eyes & pledged our vows in front of our nearest & dearest during our marriage ceremony. I am thankful for the fun, rockstar party that followed. I am thankful for our sunny, dreamy Hawaiian honeymoon. I am thankful for the incredible, lovely newlywed times that came after our wedding & honeymoon. & for the times that were not so happy or easy, I am thankful we weathered the storms together. I am thankful for our sweet home we share with our sweet pup. I am thankful that I look forward to the moment you walk through the door every night. I am thankful for every big & small moment that we make special. I am thankful for this amazing life that is ours.

More than words.

Dear Koru Family & Friends, I wish you the most Happy Thanksgiving!

Holidays, Newlywed-Style

2011-11-22T01:21:00.001-08:00

Oh, the holidays!

I love celebrating the holidays in all their festive glory! It's the most wonderful time of the year. The grand holiday marathon starts with spooky Halloween, works its way through family & food-filled Thanksgiving, continues with family & gift-filled Christmas, then ends with the champagne pop of New Year's Eve. This marathon has been all the sweeter with RZ by my side. &, honestly, a bit more complicated.

How do you handle holidays as a couple?

We had no formal holiday agreement before I had my pretty sparkler on my finger. My family is scattered throughout the country with a good chunk in California & a small chunk here in Jersey. His family lives about one hour away. For the most part, we spent Thanksgiving with his family. Then we would spend Christmas apart with our respective families. Don't even get me started on our senior dog Gucci- he had to split his holidays with us too. I spent his final Christmas Eve without him while he celebrated with RZ & his family. Craziness! This holiday approach served us well for awhile but its days were numbered. Everything else aside, we missed each other too much.

Cue our first holidays as an engaged couple last year. There was no question that we would not be spending the holidays apart; those days were in our past. We, including our new pup Bailey, would be together for the holidays. We decided to take the split-the-day approach & put as many miles as possible on our car. RZ & I spent Thanksgiving afternoon chilling with my family, then took off & enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast with his family. Christmas Eve with his family, Christmas day with my family. It worked fairly well.

Now we're facing the holiday season as newlyweds, our very first holidays as husband & wife. It's so special I can hardly stand it! This year, we're flying by the seat of our pants & Bailey is coming along for the wild holiday ride. I suppose we're still searching for that perfect holiday solution that keeps us happy, as well as our families. Does it exist? Thanksgiving will be celebrated with his family. Phew, only one car trip! Christmas will probably shake down to Christmas Eve with his family & Christmas with my family. To be decided.

I can't imagine negotiating the holidays once we have kids! It seems a bit like mission impossible.

One thing we have figured out is that we must celebrate holidays together. Just as we are better together, holidays are much, much better together.

Photo by/Print available at Etsy in blushface's shop

Koru Kate Finds: Gratitude

2011-11-21T22:22:00.000-08:00

Give Thanks Always

Banner available at Etsy in thedancingwren's store

Today's Koru Kate Finds isn't a pretty something you can buy in a store. Nor is it a beautiful something you can ask a florist to create for you. Nope, this find isn't for sale.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I wanted to bring you my greatest Koru Kate Finds of all: Gratitude. Gratitude is found in our hearts & souls. Every day, usually during my evening walk with Bailey, I pause & give thanks for my beautiful, imperfect life. It's all mine, my one & only. I love my life! I thank my lucky stars for my husband RZ, my pup Bailey, my family, my friends, my health & my happiness. Depending on the circumstances, I add extra gratitude for things like a wedding booked or a new baby born. I'm never at a loss for gratitude no matter how hard & trying or wonderful & easy my day has been. Trust me, I have my fair share of problems & heartache but my blessings far outweigh them.

Gratitude is a daily part of my life. I hope you'll find the space for gratitude in your daily life!

It's A Wrap! 28th Edition

2011-11-18T21:29:00.000-08:00

TGIF! I think we can agree that we're breathing a sigh of relief that Friday has arrived. Finally.

I'm changing things up for this week's installment of It's A Wrap! I can pull moves like that because I'm the boss :-) Ha.

Over yonder in Internet land, Liz of Happy Sighs started a fabulous series called Why We Wed. Love is the main reason most of us get married. Kim Kardashian excluded, obviously. This series takes things a step further by asking you to go beyond your standard love response & search your soul. Why did you get married? What does marriage mean to you?

Bright, wise women in different stages of marriage weigh in with their varying perspectives each Wednesday. I'm hooked! I urge each of you to follow this engaging series. Hint- you will see a familiar face there in the future!

To get you caught up, I bring you the three post in the series thus far:

Why We Wed: Jolynn: the viewpoint of someone who thought she would never get married

Why We Wed: Morgan: the perspective of a Soon-to-Be Mama as to why she tied the knot

Why We Wed: Sarah: a newlywed shares her reasons for a second marriage

Fascinating stuff, right?!

Make your weekend bright & beautiful!

Image via Martha Stewart Weddings

All You Need

2011-11-17T09:44:00.001-08:00

Don't you wish you could whip up something Fall fabulous like this pumpkin centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table?

RZ & I don't have a Thanksgiving table per se as we travel to my in-law's home for the holiday. There is no room for plates on their table, let alone decor. Their table is a true bounty of a Thanksgiving feast, filled with delicious, abundant American & Filipino food. We serve ourselves from the dining room table, then scatter about the rest of the house to eat & enjoy the family day.

My childhood Thanksgivings consisted of an adults' table & a kids' table. The adults' table was a formal affair with pretty china & flickering candles while the kids' table was a folding table with festive paper plates. Later, they trusted us with a real china but it was tough to graduate to the adults' table. I'm still at the kids' table, sigh. There's only so much room at a dining room table!

I suppose you could have a blanket picnic on your living room floor & it wouldn't matter. All you need is family, love & gratitude for Thanksgiving.

Is your Thanksgiving table a formal, candlelit, place card type? Or is it a more casual, mix & match china, food-filled type?

Image by Heather Armstrong Photography via Inspired by This

Irish Wedding Bells

2011-11-16T07:44:00.001-08:00

Maybe it's because I'm Irish. Perhaps it's because I love green. Or just because. But I love Bells of Ireland! Those perfect lime green bells have my heart.

I don't spot them much in the wedding world so I was absolutely delighted (I may have squealed!) when I stumbled upon not one but two, DIY bridal bouquets that included Bells of Ireland. I did what any decent blogger would do & pinned my heart out so I could share them with you.

This stunning beauty is a combination of orchids, beach grass & Bells of Ireland just perfect for a beach wedding in Maine:

Photo by One Love Photo

via

& the sweetest part? The Groom's Dad made the Bride's bouquet!

For a Fall wedding, this lovely is a combination of snapdragons & Bells of Ireland that is unexpected yet just right:

Photo by Cassandra Eldridge Photography

via

& that beauty? The Groom's Dad was taking a snooze on his duties so the Bride & Bridesmaids made it!

The cherry on top of the stylish Bells of Ireland is that they are known as a symbol of good luck. What Bride doesn't want to carry a little good luck down the aisle as she get married?!

Tell me, what are your favorite flowers? Does their meaning play into your choices for your wedding?

Hi, My Name Is . . .

2011-11-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

Me, on my Wedding Day
I had no clue of the name drama that lie ahead for me!
Photo by the great Timothy Glenn Photography

My full name is Kathleen Ann Undecided.

Married women, I pop champagne & throw confetti for you! Yes, you. Whether you kept your maiden name, hyphenated your maiden name with your husband's name or took your husband's name, I whole-heartedly support & applaud your decision. The simple, sad truth is that I can't make a decision.

I have seen family & friends take different paths when it came to changing their names, such as my sister who has kept her maiden name & my best friend who took her husband's name. Both are in happy, healthy, loving relationships. Clearly, the decision to change or not change my name has no impact on my marriage. It's a matter of following my heart & doing what's right for me. Throughout our happy engagement, I had no doubt in my mind that I would follow tradition & become Mrs. Husband's Last Name.

We got married last January, officially becoming husband & wife. I changed my name on Facebook. I proudly wore my Mrs. Husband's Last Name hoodie during our Hawaiian honeymoon. I printed business cards with my married name. And the name game stopped there. What had seemed like the best decision for me now filled my mind & heart with doubt.

I still want to take my husband's last name. We are a team, we are partners & our shared last name is an important way for us to reflect that. Agreed. Hyphenation is not in the cards for me, just a personal preference. Agreed. Here's where it gets hard.

The way I see it, I have two options: drop my maiden name & take my husband's last name or drop my middle name, make my maiden name as my middle name & take my husband's last name. Both my middle & maiden names mean the world to me. Ann is my middle name & I was named after my Mom who has the middle name Ann too. I don't want to drop it. Sullivan is my maiden name & it's my Dad's last name (obviously). My Dad died when I was 13 years-old & my maiden name is a connection to him. I don't want to drop it. I have done nothing to change my name in the past (almost) year but that doesn't feel right either.

About two weeks ago, I mustered all the courage I possibly could & filled out the HitchSwitch paperwork to begin the process of changing my name. I decided to go with my first instinct & follow the traditional path of dropping my maiden name & taking my husband's name. As kind, understanding friends & family reminded me, I would always be a Sullivan & my last name has nothing to do with a connection to my Dad. I felt so brave & confident.

And then I cried & cried. The easy, detailed HitchSwitch paperwork arrived days later & I cried & cried some more. Epic meltdown.

Hello, my name is Kathleen Ann Undecided.

Do you plan to or did you change your name? Any advice for an undecided married girl like me?

Koru Kate Finds: Holiday Tree Alternative

2011-11-14T10:29:00.001-08:00

Forgive me, Koru family & friends, as I have Christmas on my mind. I blame Pinterest. While I can successfully & willfully ignore store Christmas displays until after Thanksgiving, it's really, really difficult to pass up the enticing holiday crafts, decor & recipes on Pinterest. I caved & pinned an idea for our handmade Christmas cards weeks ago. Last night, this simple Christmas tree wouldn't let me pass it by:

Idea & Image via

Today, this Christmas tree alternative comes to you as my latest Koru Kate Finds. Can you guess what this Christmas tree is made of? A tomato cage!!!!!!!!

Yes, that's right: a cheap tomato cage. You can find them in your nearest garden center or garden aisle of a large store like Home Depot or Target. Simply flip it upside down, cover it in lights & you have a festive Christmas tree.

I wouldn't use this alternative tree to replace my actual Christmas tree but I can think of a million & one fun ways to use them for my holiday decor. A few cage trees in various heights would make for a very pretty lawn or front porch display. Or perhaps place an alternative tree to add some Christmas love to an empty tabletop or foyer. Bay windows are the prime spot for alternative trees to be enjoyed from inside & outside of your home.

Winter Brides, these cheery Christmas trees are perfection for winter wedding decor! A few grouping of these alternative trees are a fabulous winter touch for your altar. Place a few on the floor by your head table or sweetheart table to make a twinkly statement. Add a few of these alternative trees to make your photo booth backdrop wintery. Maybe put a few at the front entrance of your church &/or reception space for a winter touch. Just use your imagination!

Can you forgive me for bringing up Christmas so early? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Wedding Day is Here Again

2011-11-10T11:33:00.001-08:00

Oh So Pretty: Rose & Baby Breath Garland

Image by Leo Patrone Photography

via Style Me Pretty

Brides estimates that 46, 200 happy couples will say "I Do" tomorrow, on the lovely 11.11.11.

Check- this wedding planner has a wedding tomorrow at the grand The Ashford Estate. I'm particularly excited because I will be working with my former co-worker & my own wedding planner, Eileen of An Affair to Remember. She needs an extra hand & I'm always happy to help her. I love weddings (have you noticed?!) & I love working with Eileen so this is a real treat for me.

Although I'd hoped to keep up with my blogging this week, I'm a tad crazed & something's got to give. A Wedding Day is here again & I must give that top priority!

May the rest of your week be bright & beautiful! We'll meet again next week~

Chart House Wedding {Real Wedding Sneak Peek}

2011-11-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

Don't get too excited, Koru family & friends. Maybe just a smidgen excited. Why? I have some sneak peek photos to share with you from last Saturday's wedding!!!! Please understand these photos were taken by me during a whirlwind work day on my camera phone. I couldn't capture everything (ahem, like the beautiful Bride & Groom!), nor could I capture anything well. But I did my best to give you a little glimpse of a happy, gorgeous occasion.

The Bride & Groom live in Hoboken (just like me) where they are treated to stunning views of the New York City skyline just across the Hudson River from them. It was important to them to share those city views with their guests & the Chart House in nearby Weehawken gave them that luxury. Bonus points if you remember I considered Chart House for my wedding! Chart House sits at the end of a pier & it's so close to NYC you feel like you could touch the buildings. As shown here, Chart House is at the end of the pier on the left & the city is just beyond it:

The Bride loves, LOVES the romantic vibe of candlelight & candles were a major force throughout the wedding during the ceremony & reception. I didn't get a good photo of the guest table centerpieces but each table got a healthy dose of red rose petals, crystals & candles wrapped in various black & white pattern ribbon. Here is the version I modified for the head table:

This is a close-up of a candle & rose petals on the head table, yet look beyond the table to that glittering NYC view from the ballroom! Incredible, right? The Empire State Building is front & center, lit up in orange, white & blue for the NYC Marathon the next day:

Oh, & the gorgeous, delicious cake from Hoboken's famous Carlo's Bakery (aka Cake Boss)! Again, bonus points if you remember Carlo's Bakery also made my wedding cake! This couple's round, white cake is decorated with a big, black bow, black swirl detailing & black piping. Red velvet cake- YUM! I re-purposed flower garlands used during the ceremony to decorate the cake table. We positioned this darling cake so it was in front of the windows facing downtown. Maybe only I notice it but the white glow near the top of the cake is the Freedom Tower:

After a fun, rocking reception, the Bride & Groom had a Sparkler Grand Departure! If you follow me on Twitter you know this was almost nixed due to a fire hazard. But when there is a will, there's usually a way & we found one. After a candlelit Last Dance, my assistant & I lined up the guests, handed out sparklers & lit them up, then prompted the Bride & Groom to run through to their getaway car. This is the second Sparkler Grand Departure I've organized & it's just so awesome! My photo was taken after the Bride & Groom had left but the guests still had plenty of sparkle:

I hope you enjoyed this humble little sneak peek! More to come as soon as I can share professional photos from the great Daniel Hedden Photography. Um, cause if you noticed, I am not a professional wedding photographer. Just leave me to the wedding planning!

The Glam Life

2011-11-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

Me on the Job
{Personal Photo}

Ah, the glamorous life of a wedding planner.

If you don't think that a wedding planner's job description includes being stuffed into the front seat of their assistant's car with a beautiful, large, heavy flower arrangement, you're wrong. Very, very wrong. This precious little moment came after a 10+ hour workday including everything from dressing the Bride to greeting vendors to assembling centerpieces to coordinating a sparkler departure. Once the glowing newlyweds ran through the sparklers & departed in their getaway car, it was my responsibility to pack up their items from the venue & deliver them to their hotel.

There was lots of wedding loot to get from the second floor Bridal Suite to my assistant's car outside. One container of the top of the wedding cake. Two trays of leftover Indian food. Four large boxes of miscellaneous items like the Bride's bouquet, the guest book & the candles. One long box of extra sparklers. Last, but certainly not least, two humungous red rose floral arrangements that were used to decorate the ceremony & reception.

My assistant & I packed her car to the absolute brim until the only things left on the sidewalk were me, my assistant & a floral arrangement. The answer was clear. I picked that baby up & I hauled it into the front seat with me. The flower arrangement didn't quite clear the door so my assistant stuffed in the roses & greenery as best she could & slammed the door. We drove away with a few fronds sticking out the door. Classic!

& you know what? I love my job, each & every last moment!

Koru Kate Finds: Put Your Stamp On It!

2011-11-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a brilliant start. After the Halloween theme & the wedding break, I'm baaaack! Things are returning to our regularly scheduled programming here on Koru Wedding Style. So sit back & relax as I bring you my latest Koru Kate Finds!

Location Custom Stamp

Image via & Available at Paper Source

Hands down, Paper Source is one of my favorite stores. Paper Source is a dreamy slice of paper heaven for a girl like me. I regularly pore over their web site, catalog &, not as often as I'd like, Brooklyn store for inspiration & supplies for weddings & craft projects. I just plain adore one of their newest products that I have chosen as my latest Koru Kate Finds: Custom Wedding Stamps!

Custom Wedding Stamps are absolutely fabulous for you crafty, creative, DIY Brides! What better way to personalize your wedding than to literally put your stamp on it?!

How about this bold style for a sleek, loft wedding perhaps?

Big Ampersand Lines Custom Stamp

Image via & Available at Paper Source

Perhaps this style for a formal, modern ballroom wedding?

Anniversary Date Custom Wedding Stamp

Image via & Available at Paper Source

I chose two of my favorites to feature today but trust me, whatever your fancy & style, there is a

custom wedding stamp perfect for your wedding. Choose your style, customize it & use it anywhere & everywhere at your wedding. Just imagine the possibilities here. Stamp your wedding heart out: your programs, escort cards, table numbers, menus, favors & more!!

& the first stamp shown above? Make your own save-the-dates!!!!

The custom wedding stamp is easy, affordable & stylish! Does it get much better than this?

Gone Wedding

2011-11-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

RED, the color of Saturday's Wedding

Image by Jonathan Ivy Photography

via The Knotty Bride

Koru Family & Friends, here's the deal: the blog will be silent for the remainder this week. Why? Because I'm thoroughly & happily entrenched in wedding planning this week. Saturday is the BIG day!!!

I met this sweet Bride back in December when I was in the final stages of planning my wedding. She had bright, beautiful ideas for her Fall wedding day. It's been a true honor & absolute privilege to see those ideas grow & blossom. I can hardly wait to help bring those very ideas to life on Saturday to celebrate this happy couple's positive new beginning!

Before Saturday, there are schedules to be finalized, details to solidify, vendors to confirm & much, much more. So consider me Gone Wedding.

As for you & me, we'll meet again next week~

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

Glimpse of Halloween in our Home

My Candy Corn hurricane + My Swirl Pumpkin

Happy Halloween! The spooktacular day of trick or treating is here!!

How did you decorate your pumpkin? The fun possibilities are endless! I must admit, I went the easy route. Just me, my naked pumpkin & a black Sharpie:

Obviously, my adoration of swirls knows no limits. I decided my pumpkin would look good in swirls. I drew a swirl pattern in pencil, then made the swirls thicker & darker with the marker:

Here she is, my pretty swirl pumpkin:

May Halloween

find you in good spirits-

Happy Halloween!

It's A Wrap! Halloween-Style

2011-10-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

Hello, my pretties! Are you loving the Halloween vibe on Koru Wedding Style? I sure hope so. The spooktacular thrills aren't over yet!! It's A Wrap! is dedicated to creepy & glamorous touches of Halloween weddings. Let's take a walk on the dark side . . .

The most perfect invitation to a sophisticated Halloween wedding:

Image by Susan Dean Photography

via Style Me Pretty

Hello, spiderweb Halloween blooms:

Image by Art of Love

via Style Me Pretty

A simple touch of candy corn adds instant fun to this Halloween wedding:

Image by Turn Lose the Art

via Style Me Pretty

"Tricks" Guest Book for a Happy Halloween Marriage:

Image by Amy & Stuart

via Style Me Pretty

A sweet pumpkin ring shot that stills my Halloween-loving heart for this rustic Halloween wedding:

Image by Tonhya Kae Photography

via Style Me Pretty

A vintage Halloween vibe for the frightful dessert table:

Image by Meg Perotti
via Style Me Pretty

Oh, I love Halloween so & I could go on & on with the stylish inspiration. In case you're dying for more inspiration, be sure to click the via Style Me Pretty link under each photo. Now I shall leave you to have a hauntingly good time on this Halloween weekend! Trick or treat~

Creepy Crafting

2011-10-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Card {Made by Me!}

In our fast-paced, digital world, it's rare to receive a handwritten note or card. I'm delighted on the scarce occasion I get a sweet little note in the mail. This is the precise reason I decided to make & send a few Halloween cards this year. Just because.

I gathered my spooky supplies including blank cards, sparkly (!!) paper, orange dotted paper, black swirl ribbon, glittery Halloween decorations & black cat stamp. What's a good craft project without a little sparkle & my signature swirl?

How about some love for my scared black cat & friendly ghost:

Halloween card in progress:

And the final reveal . . . Halloween Card Design One:

Halloween Card Design Two:

I wish I could send each & every one of you a handmade card full of Happy Halloween wishes!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins & More Pumpkins

2011-10-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I have a date with my cutie 2-year-old goddaughter to paint three baby pumpkins. I'm so thrilled to be seeing & experiencing Halloween through a little one's spirited eyes. We have three small pumpkins & primary color paints: the making of a very seasonal good time!

We'll be sticking to the basics with our pumpkins but there is nothing wrong with a little Halloween pumpkin dreaming is there?!

Behold the Autumn beauty of this incredible pumpkin path:

Image via Country Living

The most delightful curlicue pumpkin:

Image via Country Living

Simple, dimple! Disguise your pumpkin with a vintage (as shown) or new Halloween mask:

Image via Country Living

Black & white pumpkins, achieved with black paint or Sharpie marker, are tres Halloween chic:

Image via Country Living

I loved Lite-Brite as a kid so this Lite-Brite-effect, crescent moon pumpkin has my heart:

Image via Country Living

For easy, no-carving inspiration, check out last year's Halloween pumpkin post!

Which pumpkin inspiration is your favorite? What cool plans do you have for your Halloween pumpkin?

Fall Spice

2011-10-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes {Made by Me!}

If there is one thing you haven't seen on Koru Wedding Style, it's cooking & baking. Let's just say I do not have a natural talent in the kitchen. Natural disasters in the kitchen, well, I have plenty of those. However, when I ran across this yummy Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes recipe on Hey Gorg & none of the ingredients or instructions scared me, I decided to give it a whirl.

Please indulge me as I recount one of my first positive baking experiences. Ever.

First things first, I lined up my ingredients & supplies. The less surprises & fruitless searches, the better:

I know lots of great bakers who add just a little bit of this & a little bit of that but I followed the recipe to the letter. Soon, I had a concoction that looked & smelled like pumpkin spice:

Here is my sous chef Beagle Bailey. He's pouting at my feet because I had not dropped anything delicious his way:

Soon, my pumpkin spice cupcakes-to-be were ready for the oven:

20 minutes later, these perfect cupcakes emerged from the oven. I couldn't believe it!

Naked pumpkin spice cupcakes in pink foil for Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

Now the recipe calls for homemade Chocolate Ganache frosting. I knew I had already pushed my limited baking skills with the cupcakes. Store bought cream cheese frosting? Yes, please.

The Pumpkin Spice cupcakes are surprisingly easy & sooooo delicious- I definitely recommend them! They draw rave reviews that swell this non-baker's heart. So far, I have brought them to a new Mom & Dad while visiting their newborn & to a hungry crew at a Jets tailgate. They're just perfect for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving & Fall weddings too!

Koru Kate Finds: Halloween Spirits

2011-10-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Week! Halloween is almost here!!! Welcome to my chic & spooky Halloween-themed blog (this week only). Let's start with a Koru Kate Finds: Halloween-Style!

How about some sinister drinks to spice up your Halloween party or wedding?

Black Magic Cocktails

Image via Martha Stewart

With Halloween chic names like Ghost in the Graveyard, Screwed-up Screwdriver & Berry Scary Martini, these dark drinks scream of a hauntingly good time! Please, I beg of you, put one drink on display with a scrawled sign bearing its name. You know what I mean- that classic, a monster-just-wrote-this scrawl. It'll be a fearful, fabulous touch, I promise. I can say from personal experience that black vodka is not easy to find but it's well worth the trouble. Sinister black vodka drinks are a big hit this time of year!

Witches' Brew

Image via Martha Stewart

Just imagine this steaming cauldron of Witches' Brew making a creepy statement at your Halloween party or wedding! What's inside?, you may ask. A good, old-fashioned favorite Root Bear Float. Just add some dry ice & you've got the Halloween spirit. A Witches' Brew that is good for big & little ghosts & goblins alike is a frightful delight this time of year.

For above recipes & more Halloween drinks, please click HERE.

Do you love or hate Halloween? Can you tell that I'm a big fan? Any spooky inspiration to share?

It's A Wrap! 26th Edition

2011-10-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Spooktacular Wedding Invitations

Image via You Stir Me

Hi there! Is that a smile on your face? Yes, me too- it's Friday!!! I've been in my true element this week as I worked on a wedding planning job & took a wedding invitation order. Loving it but still loving my peaceful, no-work-allowed weekend :-) Before I go, here is the Koru List of wedding loveliness just for you:

A spooky, chic collection of Halloween wedding & party decor

What will you be saying about your wedding & marriage two years later?

A bright & cheerful wedding to put a smile on your pretty face

Hey Mister DJ! How about some of these indie songs for your wedding?

Oh happy, cheerful wedding day!

Three cheers for a colorful Brooklyn fete!!!

Did I miss something good? Do tell! & have a wonderful weekend~

Pretty Paper

2011-10-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have a wedding invitation appointment tomorrow & I'm really, really excited because I don't have such appointments much anymore. I'm not comfortable bringing strangers to my home studio & I'm not lugging my heavy invitation books elsewhere. But tomorrow is a fun appointment with a family friend that will give me the golden chance to flex my creative invitation muscles. Now I have invitations on my mind!

Invitations are my favorite wedding detail & I'd love to share some recent finds with you:

Invitation by Avie Designs

via Oh So Beautiful Paper

The modern, lasercut Mexican Papel Picado invitation is AMAZING! I'm in absolute awe. This invitation is practically too good to be true. I would love, LOVE to receive this invitation to a fun, fiesta wedding!!

Invitation by Julia Kostreva

via Once Wed

No doubt about it, letterpress is beautiful. This Fall invitation takes letterpress invitations to a new level with a process called split ink fountain. I don't know anything about split ink fountain except that I absolutely love it!

Invitation by Woodland Papercuts

via Postcards and Pretties

This charming invitation is named Deer Beloved. I mean, that just about says it all! Papercutting is used to create the invitation & I'm a huge fan of the results. I'm picturing a winter wedding in Aspen.

Invitation by Scout's Honor Co.

via 100 Layer Cake

Nautical-themed weddings & invitations are nothing new but the fabulous watercolor design takes this invitation to another level. I know from my art class days that watercolor is no easy feat so I really admire this design. It's a fresh, pretty take on a classic waterfront wedding.

For more of my fun invitation picks, check my Paper Board on Pinterest!

What invitations are you loving these days?

Family Vintage Wedding

2011-10-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary!

40 years. 40 years!

Last weekend, RZ's parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. This lovely photo shows the day of their positive new beginning. The day they started their baby family that would bring them two amazing sons, two fabulous daughters-in-law (if I do say so myself) & one adorable, fun granddaughter. Just one pretty wedding day, ordinary & extraordinary.

I have only been around for the last five years of their journey but I have witnessed something that is precious & beautiful. They lead their family with a strength & love that is nothing shy of fierce.

We hope to follow in their big, loving footsteps. Of course, our story & our path will be our own. But like them, we'd like the love & strength to be the common thread in the story of our life together.

We are three months shy of our first anniversary & they are an inspiration to us!

Koru Kate Finds: Giselle

2011-10-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Giselle Wedding Gown

Image by Elizabeth Dye at englishdept

Way back when I was on the hunt for the perfect wedding gown . . .

The Giselle wedding gown was my very first love. Simple & sweet, just my style. That Alencon lace detail? I die! Oh, I fell in love, so hard. I printed out a photo of the Giselle wedding gown, tucked it in my wedding folder & considered the dress search over. I'd picked out matching wedding invitations with an Alencon lace detail. I was sold!

I booked my first trip to Lovely Bridal Shop during an Elizabeth Dye trunk show & although I was open-minded & tried on a bit of everything, Giselle still had my heart. But I worried about a tea-length dress for a formal church ceremony, not to mention during winter. During my second trip to Lovely, I tried on the full-length version of Giselle. It wasn't right for me. The fit was awful for my body & the lace detail was lost. Giselle was soon forgotten when I fell in love, true love, with the last dress I tried on: my wedding dress!

Alas, Elizabeth Dye remains a favorite wedding gown designer of mine & as I happily perused her new, beautiful collection, I was pleased as punch to discover a redesigned, full-length Giselle to present as the latest Koru Kate Finds:

Giselle Wedding Gown, full-length

Image via Elizabeth Dye at englishdept

Love, love, LOVE! The new, full-length Giselle is the perfect replica of the tea length version. Same flattering A-line silouhette & same sweet lace detail. It's absolutely divine in my humble opinion. I don't wish I could go back & have this dress but I am really, really excited for the Brides-to-be that have this lovely dress as an option!

Be sure to check out the other fabulous Elizabeth Dye options at The English Department too!

It's A Wrap! 25th Edition

2011-10-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

This photo has nothing to do with this post.

It makes me smile though & isn't that enough?

Image by Our Labor of Love

via 100 Layer Cake

Hi. Please raise your hand if you're happy it's Friday. Yes, me too. This week has been a bit, well, trying. I am beyond lucky & blessed in life & I never lose sight of that. Still. Sometimes things are not so smooth or happy. The grey, rainy weather hasn't helped any, although it has perfectly matched my mood.

& my mood has affected the weekly Koru List. I like to bring you plentiful wedding eye candy from the likes of Style Me Pretty, while sprinkling in musings on weddings & marriage from the likes of A Practical Wedding. They are my top favorite wedding blogs as different as they may be. While the eye candy this week was as gorgeous as always, my stormy, brooding mood was drawn to two posts this week that made me think. A lot. About what wedding blogs I like & support, about the value in my sweet wedding planning business.

So I present you those links:

Dear Wedding Bloggers, You Suck

Price Is Not The Same As Value

Well worth the read, ladies.

Where The Heart Is

2011-10-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

Wedding Guest Group Photo: Yay or Nay?
Image by W. Scott Chester

via Ruffled

That gem of a wedding photo up there? I love it.

My wedding planning self isn't the biggest fan of Wedding Guest group photos. Those go down a little something like this. Due to a lack of big, open fields in the NJ-NY area, the most common spot to take such photos is on the church steps after the ceremony. Sweet notes are included in the program to kindly ask guests to stay behind & take a "quick" group photo. About half the guests are happy to stay behind but they make a beeline to congratulate the Bride & Groom & lose focus on the photo. The other half of the guests are quite intent on getting to Cocktail Hour to have a drink & don't appreciate our security guard-like moves to keep them in place. Once everyone is indeed in the right spot, you have to attract their attention, pose them & make them smile. Wedding Guest group photos are hardly ever quick or fun.

I mean, family & bridal party photos are enough.

As such, we didn't entertain the mere thought of a Wedding Guest group photo at our wedding.

But wow, I adore the sweet sentiment of a Wedding Guest group photo. Even if your group is too large for each & every face to be distinct in the photo, it's quite something to see one photo that includes each & every person who celebrated your marriage. You wouldn't remember how long it took to find Aunt Nancy who had wandered away or how Cousin Andy grumbled about missing the raw bar. You'd simply see the faces of those you love on your wedding day.

The heart-shaped happy couple & wedding guests photo is pure group photo perfection. Beautiful setting, happy couple, smiling guests AND a heart. Love, love, LOVE!

Will (or did) you take a Wedding Guest group photo at your wedding?

Koru Kate Finds: Carnation Glory

2011-10-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

I've said it before & I'll say it again: I like carnations. Carnations come in a gorgeous rainbow of colors, don't cost a fortune & easily last from getting ready to the last dance- yup, I'm a fan. I did lots & lots of research on chic carnation arrangements when I was planning my wedding. Almost one year later, I'm pleased to run across new wedding inspiration for carnation-lovers. Today's post is dedicated to those Brides who share the carnation love with me.

The Carnation Topiaries would look beautiful in any color to match your wedding decor:

Image via Luxe Finds

I can envision these pretties lining the aisle, decorating cocktail tables or, with a few at varying heights, serving as a reception centerpiece.

This Carnation Cake would add a simple, sweet look to any wedding reception:

Image via Luxe Finds

I believe this cake would look quite lovely in any carnation shade. Plus add more tiers, square tiers &/or a patterned linen for more pizazz!

For more fabulous carnation inspiration, please visit Luxe Finds.

What do you think about using carnations for a wedding? Yes or no?

It's A Wrap! 24th Edition

2011-10-07T20:16:00.000-07:00

Getting Dressed: Unforgettable Wedding Moment

Image via A Cup of Joe

Hip hip HOORAY- it's Friday! Time for us to check in & catch up. How was your week? Good, bad, lovely, ugly? Let it go, breathe. Everything seems better & brighter when Friday is here. I am so, so excited because we're going to meet our friends' one-month-old daughter tomorrow. Yes, I love me some newborn baby time!

Now, for your pleasure, here is the weekly, official Koru List of wedding inspiration:

What's your most unforgettable wedding moment?

If it's a Smog Shoppe wedding, I'm sure to love & adore it

Roaring Twenties Inspiration: Art Deco, Jazz, Flappers & More

Pure genius: custom stamp wedding invitations!!!!

Friends & Family planned the wedding, Bride & Groom simply showed up

(The Bride showed up in an awesome blue gown I might add)

The most gorgeous PAPER flower table decor I have ever seen

Mismatched Maids: Yes or No?

I vote YES!

Want to dress up for a FREE BOUDOIR SESSION

with a killer photographer?

Enjoy, Koru Family & Friends!

Fall Lovin'

2011-10-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

One crisp, cool October Sunday each year, you can find me & my husband celebrating the Fall season at Wightman's Farm. This tradition dates back to my childhood, now it's our tradition too. The farm is a seasonal delight of products like pumpkins & apples & of activities like pumpkin slings & apple picking. RZ & I are in it for the farm's fresh & delicious apple cider & donuts, not to mention the miles & miles of plump pumpkins.

We loaded up on two cups of hot apple cider, two gallons of apple cider & two dozen donuts before I began my search for the perfect pumpkins. Sometimes it takes awhile but with the threat of rain, I was amazingly quick this year. That's me in the purple skirt in absolute Fall glory with my cup of hot apple cider & our bags of homemade donuts as I pick the two most perfect pumpkins:

RZ convinces me to pose for a photo among the corn stalks & while I can bear to be separated from my new pumpkins, there is no way I'm letting go of my hot cider & yummy donuts:

My hubs says Hello & Happy Fall:

He had his eye on this Jets pumpkin & I insisted we decorate our own. Then I was left wondering who has the incredibly fun job of painting these pumpkins? Where do I sign up?

Much like Fall, traditions are comforting. Once upon a time, I shared this tradition with my birth family, now it's a delight to create & enjoy this tradition with my baby family (remember: this does not mean we are having a baby!). & our yearly trip to the farm never disappoints. We celebrate not only the gorgeous season but the delight of making yet another sweet memory in beautiful life we have together. Till next year, Wightman's Farm!

What are your favorite Fall traditions?

Wedding Wheels

2011-10-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a little-known fact about me: I love cars.

Yes, it's true. My little fascination with cars started when I was younger. I favored my Matchbox cars over my Barbies. I treasured my car & truck quilt my Grandma made me because it was much more fitting than the flowery stuff available for little girls. I adored our family friends' Mercedes. I dreamed of owning a classic Mustang (still do!).

You may think my love of cars got lost in my wedding planning world of tulle, lace & flowers. Oh no. As I pore through wedding magazines & wedding blogs, I always look for fun, creative modes of wedding transportation. It doesn't have to be a car to catch my eye either. Now that I can pin & save those images of wedding wheels, I'm in heaven. My Wheels board on Pinterest is my favorite.

Allow me to share some favorite Wedding Wheels with you. Nope, wheels aren't limited to cars!

An unexpected cherry-red tractor for a Farm Wedding:

Image via Snippet & Ink

An adorably-styled classic for a Classic Wedding:

Image via Martha Stewart Weddings

A cute bicycle of love for a Country Wedding:

Image via Ruffled

A vintage blue truck for a Southern Wedding:

Image via Southern Weddings

For my absolute favorite Wedding Wheels, just take a look at the Koru Wedding Style header! I really love cars so Wedding Wheels will become a regular monthly feature- I can't help myself :-)

Do (or did) you have any fun plans for Wedding transportation?

Crafty {Belated} Birthday

2011-10-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Belated Birthday Gifts & Wishes

for Jen of Craftiness NOW

At Koru, the inspiration & celebration of new beginnings involves weddings 99% of the time. But beginnings come in many forms like births & birthdays. & I like to celebrate them all!!!

My friend Jen of Craftiness NOW is no exception. When she announced her birthday bash in August, I eagerly started a birthday project for her that involved her love of pink & crafts. Then I was unable to attend her party (boo-hoo) & I stalled on my crafting. We finally made plans last week & this was the fire I needed under my crafting butt to get this project done.

Let's call this project Inspiration Canvas Set. I found inspiration on Pinterest but (stupidly) I didn't actually pin the source but the basic canvas, letters, paint idea is similar to this pin. I wanted something simple & sweet to decorate Jen's cute apartment & inspire her with some well-chosen words.

First things first was a trip to AC Moore. I loaded up on 4 baby canvases, wooden letters & paint. Because a throng of sorority sisters had depleted the supply of wooden letters to make their paddles, I was forced to rethink my words. I ended up with my original words of Love & Hope, plus the new additions of Joy & Wish:

I painted two of the canvases with a few coats of Ballet Pink because Jen loves pink & the other canvases with Vanilla for a nice contrast:

The "toughest" part of the project was painting those tiny letters. For most of the letters, I painted them before I glued them on the canvas. It wasn't easy keeping them in place to paint them. I didn't paint Wish until it was glued on the canvas for that exact reason. Then I ended up with pools of extra paint on the canvas. I can't decide which method was best:

Before too long, my birthday present idea turned into an actual birthday present that I'm pretty proud of:

I wrapped these cuties in a cupcake gift bag & paired them with pink wine & presented them to Jen at our little dinner & dessert party. I'm pretty sure she liked them. Hopefully, all of Jen's birthday wishes come true because she deserves each & every one!

FYI, with the right words, these could be a great engagement, wedding or baby decoration or gift. Think Marry Me with the couple's name, wedding words like Forever/Always/Love/Heart or the baby's name, birth date & stats. Be creative & have FUN!

Koru Kate Finds: Think Pink

2011-10-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, something that is near & dear to my heart. I, like most, know brave women who are fighting, have fought &, sadly, have lost their fight with breast cancer. In their honor & until there is a cure, I do something to support the cause & spread the word during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My biggest & proudest achievement was raising money & walking the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. The scale is smaller, but no less important, this year. I put my pink ribbon on my jacket, added a pink ribbon to my email signature & I bought a LOFT Cares bracelet.

If enough people make small steps & contributions towards breast cancer awareness, it will lead to a BIG impact. On that note, I present my latest finds that are stylish & support the cause:

The pretty, bold Roxanne Assoulin LOFT Cares Beaded Cuff now graces my wrist & I love it:

The Rachel Leigh LOFT Cares Bracelet is simple & sweet:

The Jessica Quirk LOFT Cares Friendship Bracelet is funky & fun:

Best of all? $5 from the purchase of each bracelet is donated directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

What will you do to fund research & spread awareness for breast cancer this month?

It's A Wrap! 23rd Edition

2011-09-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Invitations, Art Deco-Style

Image via 100 Layer Cake

Hello, Beautiful! Did you have a good week? Yes, no, maybe so? Whatever the case may be, no worries because the weekend is here. Take a little time to feast your eyes on some serious wedding eye candy before you start the weekend celebration:

A scrumptious soiree, styled in the name of 1920's & Art Deco

Need I say more?

Yup, I adore the details but big smiles & pure joy capture my heart

(psst . . . there's a tractor too!)

What's white, black, green AND delightful?

Rhi of Hey Gorg is one of my fav wedding bloggers &

she doesn't disappoint with this bright, beautiful wedding full of amazing details!

On the serious side, I haven't changed my name yet.

Come here & be part of this important discussion.

If you'd like to be a part of the ongoing collection of the lovely & beautiful that catch my heart each week, join me on Pinterest. I pin my heart out every day!

Until next week when I have tons of fun stuff coming EVERY day, have a fabulous weekend!

Facelift Blog-Style

2011-09-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

My Winter Wedding

Image by Timothy Glenn Photographers

Welcome to the updated, beautiful space of Koru Wedding Style!

After 340 posts in the span of almost two years, it was time to make changes. Mostly minor tweaks here & there. I chose a pretty script font for the blog & post titles to add a softer touch. I switched up the font color scheme to gray & shades of purple for more contrast. I added a sweet, sparkly background to the sidebar as a fun touch. And the biggest (& my favorite!) change . . .

A new photo for the header! I chose one of my favorite wedding photos to represent Koru Wedding Style. This blog is a lot weddings, a little me. This photo represents both nicely. It's just perfect.

In this photo, it's dusk on our winter wedding day. RZ & I are fresh newlyweds, officially married for about one hour. The vintage taxi whisks us away from our church ceremony & parks on a charming cobblestone street outside the Hoboken Terminal for our photo session. RZ & I spill out of the taxi to wait for the rest of our bridal party to catch up with us. Tim starts snapping photos. & this is one of them showing me & my husband in our beloved hometown on our beautiful wedding day.

& I love every last detail- the dusky sky, the city lights, the cobblestone street, the pile of snow, the vintage taxi & the happy couple. Just as everything in this photo means something to me, everything I post here is meaningful to me. Everything.

I hope you enjoy the facelift of this sweet space. Let's continue have lots of wedding fun & inspire each other :-)

Koru Family & Friends, What do you think of the new design? Like? Love?

Koru Kate Finds: Words of Wisdom

2011-09-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Wedding Planning Wisdom

Image on Pinterest via HERE

Read the Wedding Words of Wisdom above.

Repeat.

Let the words soak in.

Share with every almost-Engaged, Bride-to-be & Newlywed woman you know.

I plan to share the Wedding Words of Wisdom with every Bride that crosses my path, whether it's a beloved friend or dear client. These words touch upon the things that may drive you crazy during the wedding planning process- the guest list, the menu & the music. Then these words bring it back to what the wedding is all about- love. Everyone needs this reminder at one point or another!

"Spend the rest of your days with the person you love." The exact reason for a wedding, the basis for a marriage. Ah, & such a beautiful gift & tremendous privilege.

It's A Wrap: 22nd Edition

2011-09-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Count this beauty as one of my Favorite Weddings

Image via Style Me Pretty

Hi, Koru Family & Friends! Today is the first day of Autumn. It's pretty much a wash of heavy rain & grey skies here but I hope Autumn delivers sunny, crisp, cool days soon. Enjoy the first Autumn weekend!

Before you leave to celebrate the weekend, please enjoy the Koru List of my favorite finds this week:

It's a bold statement but I feel comfortable making it:

This whimsical Wedding is my favorite Wedding EVER

Will you be using Tangerine Tango or these other hot colors for your Wedding or Event?

Sometimes an amazing Wedding needs no words

What would you do with 66 Minutes with your loved one?

Come join me in pinning lots & lots of Wedding loveliness!

May your Autumn weekend be fabulous~

Family-Style Vintage Wedding

2011-09-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

As much as I love poring over gorgeous weddings on my favorite wedding blogs, I adore looking at our family's & friends' weddings even more. Those wedding photos touch my heart in a way no others can. Two weeks ago, my mother-in-law proudly showed me her Mom's wedding photo. It was a real treat to see our dear, beautiful Nanang's wedding in the Philippines:

But wait, it gets better. My mother-in-law urged me to look a little closer. I still didn't see it. She pointed out Nanang's calla lily bouquet. A bridal bouquet strikingly similar to my own:

The story might be more of a Hallmark moment if I had specifically chosen this bridal bouquet because it was like Nanang's bouquet of long ago. But I like stories that are my own instead of perfectly polished.

Nanang, in a country far away, in a time very different, chose a calla lily bouquet for the day she was a Bride & became a Wife. Many moons later, I carried a similar bouquet on the day I married her grandson & became his Wife. On the day of our positive new beginnings, we had love in our hearts & calla lilies in our arms.

XOXO

Koru Kate Finds: 7th Edition

2011-09-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

Making Memories

Image via Treasury of Memories

Newlywed Nesting. Is there such a thing? Well, the hubs & I got major nesting fever back in June when we started several major projects in our home sweet home. Now we're finishing up with a few little projects, including choosing, printing & hanging wedding & honeymoon photos on our walls.

That's where my latest Koru Kate Finds comes in. I found this Established Canvas Kit gem during one of my many Pinterest binges & I thought it was absolutely perfect for displaying a few of your wedding photos. It's beyond fabulous!!! The kit comes with the four canvases, the ribbon & the established sign. All you need to do is choose & adhere three of your favorite photos. Then presto: you have a sweet wedding memento to adorn your home!

Now, of course, I opt to take the more difficult route & make my own Established display. I will pick up the four canvases at my craft store, plus some pretty ribbon to match our decor & wooden letters to make our name & wedding date. Then I have the difficult task of choosing three favorite wedding photos. I'm excited about these personal touches that will make the display the perfect match for our home. I'll post the results soon :-)

I hope my find inspires you. Get those creative wheels turning . . . Make your own to celebrate your Wedding. Fun gift for a First Wedding Anniversary. Lovely gift for a baby's First Birthday. Or great gift to mark any special occasion!

It's A Wrap: 21st Edition

2011-09-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

Wowza!!!!

Image via Inspired By This

Happy Friday, Koru Loves! I hope your week has been bright & beautiful. Inspiration has been plentiful in the blogging sphere this week so I have lots to share with you. Follow these links for fabulous eye candy & heartwarming messages. I present you The Koru List:

Flowers to melt your heart

French, Rustic & PERFECT

Chinchilly has my vote, what's yours?

Take this awesome message to heart

Here, it's a tough place to be but, never fear,
you already made the best decision

Enjoy!!!

Hello, Fall

2011-09-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Fall doesn't officially arrive until Friday, September 23 but I started celebrating early.

As much as I adore Summer, once I've kissed good-bye to the long, lazy beach days, I embrace Fall with open arms. Crisp air. Colorful leaves. Warm apple cider. Cozy sweaters. Pumpkin patches. Fall weddings. Oh yes, there is much to celebrate during the Fall season.

I kick off the season by adding a touch of Fall to my hurricane candle. Clearly, it's time to dump the Summer sand. One cheap bag of candy corn later & here is my first Fall decoration:

Bonus: I had extra candy corn to eat :-)

What are your favorite Fall decorations?

Koru Kate Finds: 6th Edition

2011-09-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

I was on a Shopping Mission yesterday to find a new, fun outfit for RZ's birthday. Sadly, I was unsuccessful & recycled an outfit for the happy occasion. On the bright side, I found pretty, well-priced dresses for my dear readers in Wedding mode. These sweet dresses are perfect for Bridesmaids for Wedding, Guests for Wedding or Bride for Rehearsal Dinner.

First, I offer you the soft berry Faux Wrap Sleeveless Dress for only $60:

Next, I give you the warm iron Carla Flutter Sleeve Sheath Dress for only $65:

Last, I present my personal favorite, the fresh olive Ruffle Front Sleeveless Dress for only $65:

Images via Ann Taylor Loft

Add a cool statement necklace, fun little belt &/or fabulous shoes & you're good to go!

As much as I enjoyed my experience at Bella Bridesmaid & I loved my Bridesmaid dress, I wish I had gone the off-the-rack ready route for my Bridesmaids. The process of finding, ordering & altering those traditional Bridesmaid dresses was my least favorite experience of my wedding planning. Hindsight!

If you're willing to hunt & compromise on color, you can find a perfect dress for a good deal!

Happy Birthday, RZ!

2011-09-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Fiesta Papel Picado

Available at Etsy in aymujer's shop

To my best friend,

to my husband,

to my everything:

Happy Birthday!

In Memory

2011-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00


	Image via Lavender & Lilies

September 11, 2001 is a day forever etched in our hearts & minds.

There is so much to say, so little of it seems right for the somber occasion. On that sunny morning 10 years ago, I rushed to work, ignoring the horrible sight of the first tower billowing smoke across the Hudson River. I came home much, much later on the ferry & looked in horror at the heavy smoke where the towers had stood tall. The Twin Towers were gone. Loved ones were forever lost. My heart was broken. The world had changed.

Hope & resilience persevere.

I bow my head in remembrance.

{Groom's Words} Tears of Joy

2011-09-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

My Handsome Groom at the Altar

(Photo by Friend)

I wish I'd had a tape recorder.

Two nights ago, RZ & I were having dinner with our cousins who were telling us about a recent wedding they'd attended. They were gushing about the tough Groom crying when he spotted his beautiful Bride.

RZ said, "You don't think it will happen to you. But it does, it really does. I was standing at the altar & I saw my Dad crying & I wondered what was happening. Then I realized I was crying!"

I'm paraphrasing here, already forgetting his exact words, although the loving sentiment is forever etched on my heart. Me, little old me. I was the beautiful Bride who made him cry on our Wedding day.

RZ & I have talked about our lovely wedding again & again: how perfect it was, how happy we felt, how the love & joy of our family & friends was palpable. During these fabulous discussions of our memories, I never asked him what he was thinking &/or feeling at particular moments. I wonder & I want to interview him about every last detail but that seems like a bit much.   I feel like I'm way late to the importance of the Groom's perspective party.

Did your Groom willingly share his emotions after your Wedding? Or did you ask? Or do you plan to ask?

It's A Wrap! 20th Edition

2011-09-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day Weekend! May it be filled with friends, family, sunshine & laughter. Before you celebrate, enjoy these lovely links:

Name-Your-Price Wedding Invitations!

Seriously. And be fair!!!!!!

First Course of Dessert Wedding, why yes, thank you!

Consider yourself forgiven

Let's keep fighting for Marriage Equality

for wonderful people like Leann & Ann & Aaron & Cory

Now go enjoy the Summer sunshine~

Score Cool Invitations by up up creative

Images via A Practical Wedding