Once again, I am thrilled to have another adorable guest posting. If you missed Rose Marie’s first DIY project, just click here to check it out. This is a perfect idea to use for a wedding or even for a small Christmas gift … how perfect!

Hi Hill City Bride readers! It’s me again, RoseMarie from Home Confetti. This time I am sharing an idea on how to package your wedding favors for your Christmas or even Valentine’s Day wedding.

How adorable is this little red felt gift box? Use it to add a special handmade touch to your groomsmen and bridesmaid gifts, or it is easy enough to make to give one to all your guests! Best of all, this felt box can be customized to any wedding theme or season just by changing the color or ribbon.

Get the full tutorial, with downloadable template, here, and to help you throw a little confetti into your everyday life, visit me at Home Confetti here.

Thanks again to Rose Marie. I have enjoyed following her Home Confetti blog … she always finds the cutest things! Also, if you are looking for little things or even stocking stuffers to put into one of these little gift boxes,  just contact Suzanne Jennings from BeautiControl … there are lots of great things to choose from (and they have a sale ending today!).

One trend that I can not get enough of is that of having all things vintage. When you mix vintage items with a theme and an authentic look, I think it is just dandy, which describes this shoot by Sabrena Deal of S Carter Studios.

This 40′s inspired engagement session was all planned out by Tim and Melanie, and they purchased their outfits from ebay, Goodwill and even Kohl’s so that they would be sporting just the right vintage look for their shoot. From Melanie’s stylized hair to Tim’s pocket watch, this shoot is a perfect step back in time. Enjoy!

How inspiring! The amount of time and planning that Tim and Melanie put in is evident, and it made for some beautiful, unique engagement photos. If you would like to see more of their throwback session, just click here to go to the blog of S Carter Studios. Also, don’t forget that today is the last day to enter our giveaway.

For those of you who are not familiar with what a “blogiday” is … join the club! I only recently heard of bloggers taking a “blogging holiday” (hence, blogiday), which is basically a holiday from blogging. Well, instead of leaving the blog stagnant for a week, I decided to post some oldies but goodies since many of you are new followers since the inception of Hill City Bride. I am taking the week of Thanksgiving off from blogging in order to spend some time with my family, and I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

As a sidebar, I also wanted to say that today is my “sweet 16″ … anniversary, that is! The time has flown by, but it has been wonderful. Happy Anniversary, sweetie. Of course for a “sweet 16″, I had to repost about something sweet … CAKE!!

Wedding cakes are a central focus for many wedding receptions, and it is something that the bride painstakingly chooses … the flavor, fillings, icing and style are all chosen to reflect the taste (no pun intended!) of the bride and groom and their wedding day.

Recently we attended an event where we saw something that was new … or at least new to us. Fondant cakes are all the rage with the ability to have the icing as smooth as canvas, and that is what some bakers are turning their fondant into … yes, canvas! We would like to introduce you to the painted fondant cake.

Brushstrokes on a smooth surface like fondant allow for more detailing than piping icing or using fondant pieces can. All cakes are works of art, yet a painted fondant dessert truly takes the cake as far as artwork goes! Enjoy the samples below, and maybe one of these types of designs is right for your wedding day.

This is the detailing of the cake that inspired this post, which was made by Center Stage Catering for a ladies luncheon to honor Bella Magazine. It truly was a work of art.

It would be lovely to have a wedding cake or bridal shower cake that would match the flowers that were in the wedding bouquets and centerpieces!

Nature inspired themes also lend themselves to hand painted cakes.

Peacock feathers are widely used in weddings today, and although real feathers may not be very appetizing for a cake, these hand painted ones fit the bill nicely.

This is one of our favorites due to the three dimensional detailing with the berries.

Inspiring, isn’t it? We can picture many things painted on a cake that would be meaningful to a bride and groom such as interests they have or memories they have shared together. This type of cake would even be fun for a groom’s cake … we can just picture a cake with fun fishing lures painted on for a groom who likes to fish. The possibilities are endless, and enjoy the ideas we have given you to start with.

For fine cakes in Lynchburg, trust La Bella Torta … a super talented cake company (which makes both delicious and beautiful cakes!). Also, remember to enter our giveaway!

Ok, yes, I am taking a “blogiday”, but I just could not resist wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving AND posting these adorable wedding cake toppers. It’s maybe a little late to use them this fall, but think of them for next year! You can find them on etsy by clicking here. Have a wonderful day!!

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a fun “just married” sign … adorable!!

For those of you who are not familiar with what a “blogiday” is … join the club! I only recently heard of bloggers taking a “blogging holiday” (hence, blogiday), which is basically a holiday from blogging. Well, instead of leaving the blog stagnant for a week, I decided to post some oldies but goodies since many of you are new followers since the inception of Hill City Bride. I am taking the week of Thanksgiving off from blogging in order to spend some time with my family, and I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

RS Exclusive is also taking a blogiday, too, so here is one of their introductory postings … definitely an oldie but goodie!!

Once again, I am pleased to present to you “The Exclusive”, our question and answer column for your planning needs, which is written by the mother/daughter duo of Rachel McLean and Sandra Guelzo of RS Exclusive. If you missed their introductory post, feel free to view it here. Without further due, I will let you hear from Rachel McLean herself …

What Is a Wedding Planner, and Why Do I Need One?

Congratulations, you’re engaged! With the excitement of a wedding ahead, you (and your family) may find yourselves suddenly asking the question: now what? Whether you decide to have a short or long engagement, selecting a wedding planner should come first on your list of “to-do’s” when planning for your big “I do.”

By simplest definition, a wedding planner is an individual employed by a bride and groom to assist them in planning, designing and coordinating their wedding day. While accurate, this definition doesn’t even come close to showcasing all that a wedding planner is capable of when it comes to your special day.

Not only can a wedding planner help you organize yourself — beginning with helping you to set an appropriate wedding budget — but by trade, they are skilled in vendor negotiation and often have strong relationships with the best individuals and businesses in the wedding industry and can save you money by getting you what you want at the very best prices. A great wedding planner can provide help with everything from the selection of a venue, choosing a theme and décor, selecting flowers, hiring a band and photographer, finding a caterer and selecting a menu, directing the bridal party down the aisle and throughout the reception, and so much more.

Along with acute knowledge in wedding customs and traditions, an experienced wedding planner understands concepts of design, and will work with color, music, and flowers to bring out your theme and create a truly spectacular and unique event that will be remembered for years to come by your guests and family.

Because most wedding planners and full service event companies allow brides to pick and choose which services they wish to use, even the most budget-conscious bride can afford the expertise of a wedding planner.

Too often the biggest regret expressed by brides and their families following a wedding is that they wish they had made the decision to hire a wedding planner, rather than going it alone and dividing responsibilities among their families and close friends. What can seem like a good financial decision in the beginning can often end up costing more in the end, not too mention needless anxiety and stress on yourself and the ones you love.

The months and days leading up to your wedding are precious, and should be enjoyed to the fullest. Teaming up with a wedding planner you can trust will allow you to focus on what matters most: the beginning of an important and exciting new chapter in your life with the one you love, as two become one.

Through this column, brides will have their questions answered so that some of the mystery can be taken out of the wedding planning process. If you have a question, please feel free to comment on this post, or email us at info@hillcitybride.com. RS Exclusive is just waiting to hear from you! Also, remember to enter our giveaway!