I love vintage things! I have a stash of vintage clothing (that I actually wear!) in my closet… dresses, mostly. Sometimes real vintage items are expensive, hard to come by or are in overly worn condition, which is where companies putting their modern spin on bygone designs come in handy!

Such is Shabby Apple. With retro-reminiscent, vintage clothing items such as dresses, skirts and even cute (and modest!) swimwear, considering them for an elopement or getaway gown after your reception is perfect. You may even find a little something for your bridesmaids, your rehearsal dinner or (yay!) your honeymoon. Take a peek at some of the styles below that are found on their site.

Such adorable styles, aren’t they? To peruse Shabby Apple‘s site a little more, be sure to click here to see more of their inspired vintage clothing. You will be glad you did!

Joy writes for our publication, and she always has creative ideas up her sleeve. I’m excited to share her DIY project with you today! 

This past fall my mother gave me an incredible gift, her wedding dress. She wanted Christmas ornaments made out of it for my siblings. I had a lot of fun working on them, but I also wanted to make something for each of the women in my family that was a little more for day to day use. I came up with a whole list of cool ideas for wedding dress re-purposing, but the one I finally settled on was a simple necklace.

The beauty of this projects is that it is…

• so simple any one can do this. It takes no sewing/crafting skills whatsoever.
• very inexpensive. I bought the needed supplies for these pendants for under $10.00 and had enough supplies to make seven necklaces.
• only takes a really small portion of the dress, so if you are doing trash the dress photos or using your dress for another repurposing project you can still do this without really affecting the overall structure of the dress.

Supplies:

• Pendant tray – A simple search on Etsy will give you a number of color/size/shape options. I used Shop Dog Craft Supplies for mine because she seemed to have the best prices, and I received amazing customer service.
• Glass dome – Make sure whatever pendant tray size/shape you purchase has a coordinating glass dome size/shape.
• Glue – Really any strong, clear craft glue will work. You don’t want Elmer’s or hot glue, but other than that whatever you have on hand should work.
• Small piece of wedding dress – The lace and embroidery were great for this. Because it needs to be flat you should avoid bead work… etc.
• Pen
• Sharp scissors

Directions:

• Take your glass dome, and place it on your piece of dress. Move it around till you like what is centered underneath. Trace around the dome with pen.
• Cut the fabric out making sure you cut on or just inside the pen line.
• Glue dress cutout piece to tray.
• Add another thin layer of glue, and top it with the glass dome (If you are working with lace, the glue should seep through, and you can skip the second layer of glue).
• Let dry, and hang it on ribbon or chain. This can also be made into a key chain or small Christmas ornament.

Well, there you are! I hope that you enjoy this way to turn a dress into a wearable keepsake for several members of your family. If you are interested in more DIY projects, just click here.

The summer issue of clutch, the girl’s guide to everything essential is out, and we were so happy to feature this Summer of Love shoot. It’s perfect for this time of year! If you haven’t picked up a copy of the publication, you can see it online here, but until then, enjoy this beautiful session.

\

I adore exploring the globe, so this travel themed wedding by Crystal George Studios definitely caught my eye! From fun folded maps to a creative cake, this affair has lots of details to draw from. Here is what Crystal herself had to say…

Some people buy engagement rings when they devote themselves to each other. Other people buy small aircraft. Courtney & Brad were both medical students entering their residencies when they met, and Brad has now almost finished his residency in Pediatrics and is a doctor! Both super smart. Super dedicated.

But miles separated them from each other, and so when they decided this love was for life they purchased a small airplane, instead of a ring, to see each other. In celebration of this symbol of their commitment the wedding was decorated with small flight maps from places they had visited together folded into hearts and paper airplanes.  SO CUTE.

Enjoy!

Ceremony & Tea Party:  The Gardens at UVA

Reception:  The McGuffy Art Center, Charlottesville VA

Bride’s Gown:  Pnina Tornai, Courtesy of Church Street Bridal, Lynchburg VA

Hair & Makeup: Emily Garbee Harris of Bodyworks Day Spa & Salon

Jelly & Jam Favors:  Handmade by Mother of the Bride

Florals:  Sugar Magnolias for ceremony, Reception florals by Mother & Sisters of Bride

DJ:  Thomas St. Clair Dean

Warmer weather is finally here (yay!), and today I have some inspiration for you to possibly head out to our local trails and parks for your engagement session. Mo and Emily hail from England and had their engagement session in Bristol, but when I saw these photos, I immediately was taken to our own beautiful Virginia trails… it is amazing to me how similar the scenery is to ours. I hope that you enjoy the uniqueness of this couple as you see their love unfold through the images by Love in Focus.

Craving more engagement inspiration? Just click here to see another lovely couple in love.