Love Song Friday, Volume 17

Happy Friday all! Can you believe this day is here? I love Fridays. Seriously love Fridays. I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for their recent comments and sweet messages. I cannot thank you all enough for your support and how you make each day a little brighter. Keep the encouragement coming! :)

Along with Love Song Friday I wanted to do a little recap of what we discusses each week. We got a lot done this week! We started with tips for selecting your perfect first dance (plus I just love the picture featured with this post!), showcased a fun keepsake called Message in a Jar, gawked over a gorgeous Anne Barge Wedding Gown, shared 24 fun things about myself (well I guess it was fun!) and now let's sing along with Love Song Friday!

Whew! What a week. And just think we get to do it all over again next week!

Today's song is not necessary a lovey dovey song. It is a girl power song! I love Jessie J's "Who You Are." It has such powerful lyrics and makes you realize that you don't have to have everything together all the time! My favorite lyric:

Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!

24 things about me...

Hello everyone! A week from yesterday I will be turning 24 years old. 24! While 23 has brought a lot of great memories and lessons, I can't wait to see what 24 holds. 23 brought wedding planning plus my dream wedding, moving to Texas, buying my first car, buying my first dog (Jane), starting my own little business and blog, filming my first wedding and publishing it for everyone to see.

To celebrate 24 years of life I thought I would share 24 things about me. Does this have anything to do with weddings? No but today I figure why not make my own rules!

1. I don't eat enough vegetables. More of a confession than a fun fact.

2. I dream of visiting Paris one day.

3. I love MTV's new show Awkward.

4. I aspire to be a published author one day.

5. I love to read. L-O-V-E it!

6. My favorite comfort food is a big bowl of mac-n-cheese.

7. When I was little I stuck a rock up my nose during nap time at school. Freaked the teach out!!

8. My husband is my best friend.

9. I love to bake. Cakes, cookies, cupcakes...You name it, I love to bake it.

10. Lovebird Productions is my baby. I have put so much of myself into this little blog and video production company.

11. I am an aunt to two fabulous kids. Payton (6) and Savannah (12)!

12. I was Prom Queen my senior year of high school. I still have the sash too!

13. I would love to be on Broadway. Musicals never get old and neither does belting out show tunes! My husband loves it.

14. I can't wait to be a mother.

15. I love the feeling you have after a good movie. Warm and fuzzy!

16. For my five year anniversary I want to take my husband to Hawaii.

17. I dream of owning a mini-van.

18. I could eat a snow cone every day.

19. I love a good pair of wedges.

20. I hope I can help plan a wedding one day.

21. My husband makes me laugh every day.

22. I try to be brave but I can be very sensitive.

23. My favorite blog is Young House Love. I hope to meet them one day.

24. I am glad you read all the way to number 24!

I know this post is not what you may be accustomed to so don't worry tomorrow will be back to normal with Love Song Friday. I hope that you have a great Thursday!

Wedding Dress Wednesday

It is Wedding Dress Wednesday and today's dress may take all the Wedding Dress Wednesday's cake! This dress is apart of Anne Barge's Spring 2011 Collection. I love the dropped lace bodice. I feel like lace is the answer to everything. Oh you need help with a centerpiece? Just put lace on it. Your cake looks to plain? Just put a lace pattern on it. You chipped a nail? Just put lace on it. Well maybe not the last one but you get my point. The more lace = the better. I hope you enjoy this dress and the Wednesday ahead!

For more on this dress, click here.

Photo Source: Here

Message in a Jar

Photo Source: Here

I love drawing ideas from Pinterest. I need to use it more but I slowly find myself staying on it for hours at a time. It is addicting!

Today I found this fun idea for your guests to participate in and you to enjoy later. All you need is a big mason jar, pen and paper. Have guests write you a little note. It can be advice on marriage, their favorite memory of you both as a couple or something you should try as a new couple. Just think how fun it will be to read these when you get back from your honeymoon or read them celebrate your one year anniversary by reading these! I love this idea and keepsake!

Have a great Tuesday Lovebirds!

Dance it Out!

 Photo Source: Style Me Pretty via Nancy Ray Photography

Your first dance spotlights your first moments as husband and wife. It is a time to celebrate your new nuptials, relief from all the wedding planning and a fun time to mark the beginning of your new life together! So how you do you decide on the perfect song?

Here are a few tips and ideas to help you decide on the perfect song!

1. Special Memories. Think back through all the wonderful dates and events you have attended as a couple. Did you dance to any fun songs? Old memories of past dances are a great way to help when picking your song. The first slow song my husband and I danced to (when dating) was Norah Jones "Come Away With Me." Ultimate Love Song. You do not have to use your first dance but it can point you in the right direction.

2. Favorite Artist. Start with the music you listen to most. If your favorite artist is country or soft rock, look through their songs to see if their is something that you really enjoy.

3. Write it down. I always hear a song on the radio or a commercial that I like and later cannot think of what it was. Since starting this ol' wedding videography business I write a note of the song in my phone or on a piece of paper to remember it.

4. Be true to yourself. Keep in mind the style of your ceremony and reception. Not that this has to determine your first dance but it can help! If you are having a traditional church reception, jamming out to hip hop probably is not the best idea. Make sure that your song reflects your personalities as a couple and fits your wedding's theme. Your song selection should make you happy and excited!

5. Research. Search the Internet, wedding books and magazines. There are ideas everywhere just waiting to be found!

6. Ask others. Don't be afraid to poll your friends and family for help. You do not have to tell them the winner but you can ask them for their suggestions. They may think of something that didn't cross your mind!

7. Dance it Out! Probably my favorite tip! Say you and your significant other have narrowed the list down to three songs, take the time to try dancing to them all. Not only is this fun but you can practice for the big day!

These are some simple tips to help the process of finding your perfect first dance song. I hope you are having a great Monday!

Feel free to leave any tips or suggestions below or email me @ lovebirdproduction@gmail.com.

Love Song Friday, Volume 16

Happy Love Song Friday! Today I am spending the day with my sweet mother-in-law. She has come down to San Antonio to visit. Have I mentioned how much I love having guests?

I hope that you are having a great Friday and have even better plans for your weekend. Today's song is "Hey Jude" by the Beatles. I love this legendary song. I hope it puts a smile on your face! Now off to do girl stuff!

Engagement Session: Library Love

I am in love with today's E-session! These photos styled by Country Sugar Events are just too cute! Her attention to details are fabulous. Lisa Woods Photography captured these fun and lovely photos! I have to say these ladies made a great team! Enjoy Ben and Emily's E-session!

For more of these stunning photos, click here or here. Happy Thursday!

Wedding Dress Wednesday

It is Wednesday! Celebrate! With every Wednesday we get to spotlight a new gown. Today I chose a Monique Lhuillier gown. I am not a big fan of tulle but I love this A-line skirt. I love the corset top and the hint of pink in the gown. For more on this dress, click here.

Photo Source: Here

I hope you all have a great day!

Stamp It To Me

Good afternoon and Happy Tuesday! I can't believe Tuesday is already here. I have been on a mini vacay and was in various airports all day yesterday. Side note: Southwest did not pay me to say this. I arrived at the Indy airport V-E-R-Y early. My best friend and her husband who I was staying with left at 6 am for Boston. I rode with them considering they were my only transportation. I got to the ticket counter and they saw my ticket. I was scheduled to leave Indy at 6 pm and not getting home until midnight. Southwest said that will not due and bumped me to earlier flights and now I will be getting home at 6 pm. Did I mention they did this for free? They are stunning and the best airline around!

Now onto weddings, weddings, weddings. One simple and affordable trend that I am loving are stamps! Using a rubber stamp is fun because you can personalize your stamp. There are a few ways that I am seeing this be used. Here are a few examples of stamps used throughout your wedding planning:

1. Decorations. Use a stamp to decorate your ceremony and reception. Whether you use stamps on your escort cards or your dessert table, a fun stamp is creative and adds a touch of love to your big day.

Photo Source: The Wedding Chicks

2. Save the Dates. I love this idea from Martha Stewart! But who doesn't love Martha? This postcard was printed and the dates were added. On the opposite side is the couples pictures

Photo Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

3. Thank you Notes. I L-O-V-E this idea because let's be honest, writing thank you notes is not that fun. This stamp would allow you to stamp a blank card and sign your name. Done! You can find more stamp options that you can personalize on Etsy by clicking here.

Photo Source: Terbear Collectibles via Etsy

Love Song Friday, Volume 15

Happy Love Song Friday! I hope this blog post finds you in good spirits but if not this song will definitely put some pep in your step! Most people who listen to Dave Barnes know just how goofy he is but he also knows how to write a love song. He is very talented and lyrical. Today's song by Dave is "Loving you, Loving Me." I heard this song when my BFF Summer burned his newest CD for me. I LOVE it.

My favorite lyrics are:

It's just me and you and the moonlight baby
I'm staring at you staring at the stars tonight
The sun that fell so hard it disappeared and you and I can start this evening right.

Sigh. Thank you Dave for your romantic words!


Have a fabulous Friday and even better weekend!

Mustard and Ketchup...Oh Nostalgia

A few days ago my husband had the day off so we took off to go about town. We visited World Market which I had never been in before. The moment I walked in so many things stuck out to me that would be perfect at any wedding. I took a few photos to share with you. Sorry for the quality. They were taken with the iPhone.

I just love these napkins. I have recently been a big fan of navy, red and white. I think nautical is so fun! These napkins were about $6-8 each and could be used for a sit down dinner or as decor on your food tables.

I found another set of napkins with fun prints that were full of color. Not only could you use these napkins when serving cake or cocktails they could inspire the colors for your wedding. I especially love the gray and yellow print. These napkins were $6 a pack.

I just loved these ketchup and mustard bottles. They run $4 for a set and would be perfect for any backyard wedding. These would also be fun for a laid back rehearsal dinner especially if grilling!

These fun cola's add a pop of color and are just fun! Their is nothing as neat as drinking straight from the bottle. I didn't get the prices on these but just love them!

This concoction was not at World Market but it was at dinner and should be shared. It was so yummy and peachy! I was in heaven. It was a perfect end to a day of shopping with my lovebird.

Even though in a perfect paradise World Market did not pay me to promote them.

I hope that you are enjoying your Thursday!

Wedding Dress Wednesday

Who is excited it is Wednesday? I am! My post will be brief today considering I am traveling most of today!

I have a serious love for Maggie Sottero. Yes, she is not as big as some designer names but she does offer these benefits:
1. She is local. I can find her gowns in every bridal boutique.
2. Every dress is stunning. Every. single. one.
3. She is extremely affordable. Most designers would charge an arm and a leg for a gown that offered embellished corded lace visible through sheer tulle overlay but not Maggie.

This little beauty is called Abilene and is oh so beautiful. Enjoy!

For more on this dress, click here. Happy Wedding Dress Wednesday!

Picking the Venue

Where are you getting married? The million dollar question. After asking when the date is where you are getting married is the most asked question. I can remember the pressure of finding the perfect venue. It can be a nail bitter but you can do it!

I thought I would give a few tips that others gave me or I realized myself. These tips are here to help!

1. Write down what you want most. I knew that when I got married that I wanted to be married by a lake or body of water and wanted the reception under the stars. Knowing these things helped me cancel out other venues that didn't meet the criteria.

2. Consult your groom. I know. Most grooms don't care about the details of planning your wedding but still ask him his expectations. Most brides think this day is just about them but the grooms ideas are important too. When I talked to Rusty about what he wanted for our wedding day he told me he wanted to make sure everyone had a great time. Simple enough! Together we decided that our reception should entertain everyone while being comfortable and laid back.

3. Go visit them all. You never want to disregard a place until you visit it. Give each place a fair chance when it comes to picking your location. Trust me when I say you will pick the perfect place. If you are busy working, try having a bridesmaid or your mom visit the place and take photos. Make sure they know exactly what you are wanting. Make sure they have a list of expectations and are not afraid to ask questions. You do not want to cross a venue off your list without giving it a fair shot. No what ifs!

4. Remember your budget. This part is important. You can argue that you found a great place but once everything was said and done you would be over budget. How is that fair when finding the right venue? My words of advice: Do you really think picking a place that will put you way over budget is the right place? On your wedding day do you want to think about how much money you could have saved going somewhere else? Having a budget is crucial to your wedding day and your sanity.

5. Ask questions. Ask them! I have a hard time with this. Throughout wedding planning, my mom taught me how important asking questions can be. For example, she asked one potential venue (it was a resort) if we could get a discount if a certain number of guests stayed at the lodge. They told us they would cut our costs in half if we had 25+ people reserve a room. 25 people covered just my family! What a steal! Our venue went from $1,200 to $600. Holy cow! $600 is a lot when planning a wedding. Asking the right questions help!

6. Enjoy the process! This one is important! I stressed when it came to finding my venue. I mean was a worry wart. This never helps. I had narrowed my choices down to two amazing places. I really thought about the advantages of both and it clicked with me which one I wanted. Once we called to book the place, we got our date and started looking at the menu. Things just started falling in place. Picking the venue turned out to be the hardest thing for me. Remember to relax! As long as you know what you are looking for, everything will work out. I guarantee it!

If you have any tips or advice for brides on picking their location, email me @ lovebirdproduction@gmail.com or comment below! I would love to hear from you!

A Taste of Southern Charm

Happy Monday! I attempted my first inspiration board this weekend. Most people do a color scheme which I hope to attempt but I thought I would compile pictures that spotlighted a bit of southern charm. I love being from the south. As in L-O-V-E it. I hale from the land of southern hospitality, sweet tea and where saying y'all is the norm. Isn't it great? I hope these pictures inspire you and make you smile!

For more on each photo, follow the links below!
Birch vases: Here
Back of lace bridal gown: Here
Sign: Here
Wedges: Here
Chalkboard: Here
Invitations: Here 
Mason Jars: Here
Cake: Here

I hope that you all have such a great day and even more exciting week!

Love Song Friday, Volume 14

Happy Love Song Friday! I hope that you are enjoying your Friday and rejoicing in the fact that this week has flown by! Today I chose Colbie Caillat's version of "I Want You Back." She may not be as charming as the young Michael Jackson who originally sang it but I love her version!

Enjoy and have a safe weekend!

Totally Smitten

Here recently I have come across this fabulous vendor Belletristics. Sarah, the face behind Belletristics, has a passion for creating fabulous stationary and designs for the do-it-yourself bride and boy is she talented. Every design I look at I get blown away! Her recent smitten printable stationary suite is Ooolala fabulous! To check out more of her great work you can view her portfolio or etsy shop.

Photo Source: Here

Aren't you in love? Hope that you have a great Friday! Love Song Friday is coming up next!

Wedding Dress Silhouettes

I thought I would do something a little different and try to get in front of the camera. With that being said this is probably the last time that you will see me there. I fully understand why I am behind the scenes now! In good fun though I did create a video to help you understand the different styles of wedding gowns and what size best fits your body type. I hope that you find this video educational and watch to the end! Their is a little surprise! Happy Thursday!


Wedding Dress Silhouettes from Lovebird Productions on Vimeo.

For more on the dresses featured click on the links below.
J Crew Wedding - A-line
BHLDN - Ball Gown
Maggie Sottero - Mermaid
David's Bridal - Empire
Monique Lhuillier - Modern Sheath

Wedding Dress Wednesday

Photo Source: Here

I know. Once again another dress that is stunning. Another dress that stops me in my tracks. I just love this gown. It is simple and tasteful. This strapless sweetheart neckline and flower detail is gorgeous! I also love the pleated hem. It is very unique! To find this gown near you just click here.

I hope you all are having a fabulous Wednesday!

A Box of Memories

A few months ago, I suggested using shadowbox frames for storing your wedding keepsakes here. Well, I finally took the time to scope out the perfect shadowbox frame from Target to place our engagement, wedding and honeymoon memorabilia in. The frame cost me just $10. Steal! Twenty minutes after opening the frame, I got warm fuzzies looking at the finished product.

For now the frame is sitting on our buffet table until I can find the perfect place for it. In the frame I placed the cork from our champagne bottle, our rehearsal dinner invitation, our wedding invitation, the room keys to our honeymoon suite and rooms at Lake DeGray (where we were married), our newspaper clipping announcing our October wedding, our cookie cutter wedding favor and seashells from our honeymoon! It makes me smile every time I pass it. Do you have any

The NotWedding

Photo Source: Here

Time to introduce the NotWedding! Hold the phone? NotWedding? Yes! This idea is genius. The NotWedding is a fake wedding ceremony + reception that showcases various vendors in their element (the day of a wedding). As a guest you attend the heart felt ceremony, dancing reception, have a formal dinner and more! Brilliant right?

This is an alternative to a bridal show. This helps brides to be say, "Ooo I love that vendor." or "No way will a taco bar work at my reception." This event is so helpful for new brides! Interested in attending? It takes place on July 21st in Atlanta. You can order tickets by clicking here. Tickets run about $40 and are available for upcoming brides, guests of brides and vendors. For any questions you may have or for more information you can check out their website here. It is nuts to me that you get to experience the best of the best just by attending a mock wedding!

Brides can also score awesome deals and savings on things like scarves, etsy purchases, wedding day coordination, custom invitations and more! Check out how to snag the swag here!

I hope that you all are having a great Tuesday! Check back later for a peek at my shadow box of our engagement, wedding and honeymoon!

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July! I will be spending today with family but wanted to drop in and say hello. I hope you all are enjoying you four day weekend. I will be back tomorrow to keep you entertained!

Photo Sources: Here

Love Song Friday, Volume 13

Happy Love Song Friday! Friday is here and it brings a four day weekend. Oh yeah! Today is a busy day! I had a request from my fabulous big sister in Alpha Gamma Delta (oh those college days) to play a little Hootie and the Blowfish. I looked on Youtube for the original music video which featured an extremely young looking Darius and a shirtless drummer. It wouldn't cooperate with the blog so instead you get a young Darius giving a live performance of "Hold my Hand." I just love this song! Bring back good memories. Sigh.

I hope you all have a fun four day weekend filled with laughs, pool time, cookouts, family time and fireworks! Happy 4th of July!