Whether you are one of the newly engaged couples from over the holidays or if you said "yes" before the holidays even started . . . I want to first say Congratulations and to let you know it's time for the planning fun to begin.

One of the planning stages will of course involve creating your wedding registry - whether it's for your brand new home or if it's a second marriage - there is a registry for you. At MyRegistry.com, you can add products to your gift list from any store in the world, even right from your smartphone while shopping. It's true. Here's the full scoop on how easy it is to create a wedding registry with MyRegistry.com . . .

1. Adding gifts from any store in the world is a breeze when you place the "Add to MyRegistry" button on your bookmarks bar. Simply browse your favorite stores and instantly add gifts to your bridal registry with the click of the button.
    
2. Adding to your wedding registry list on-the-go is as easy as scanning any barcode and adding the items to your gift list while browsing your favorite store. Shopping at a store that doesn't have a website? Just take a photo and add a few details about where the item can be purchased.
    
3. Have everything you already need but dreaming of a romantic honeymoon? Well, then you can register for cash gifts. Creating a cash gift fund is the tasteful way to register for cash. It can be used for a honeymoon fund {including activities + dinners together}, a down payment on a new home fund or anything you can think of.

So, when it comes time to create your wedding registry - think about how amazing it would be to have a wedding registry that wasn't limited to just a few of your favorite shops. At MyRegistry.com, the sky is the limit when it comes to the possibilities of adding items to your registry. And, MyRegistry.com even syncs with major retailers which means you can incorporate your existing registries with your MyRegistry.com account. You will love the ease of creating your wedding registry and your guests will love the ease of shopping for you.

Click Here to Sign-Up for your Free Wedding Registry Account

I recently received an inquiry for my Lavender Wedding Invitations, but the bride had said "I am contacting florists now about flowers for the wedding. It is going to be harder than I thought to get fresh lavender for the wedding. I just need to make sure I will be having lavender elsewhere in the wedding." This made me realize that other brides might be running into this same problem when the flowers they choose for their wedding are out of season. So, today, I'm sharing with you a lavender wedding inspiration board that shows how you can incorporate your favorite flowers into your wedding if they are out of season with 4 tricks {shown below}.

4 Ways to Incorporate Your {Out of Season} Favorite Wedding Flower

1. Use the dried version in bouquets {already preserved for keepsakes} or in sachet favors

2. Incorporate the floral in your designs {invitations, menus, favor tags, even the clutch}

3. Bring the flower color into other elements of the wedding {dress, shoes, candle holders, etc}

4. Have your baker bring the flower into the design of the cake {either on the top or cascading down the tiers}

Shopping Links:
Lavender Wedding Invitations, Lavender Flower Girl Sash, Lavender Chiffon Flower Shoe Clips, Embroidered Lavender Clutch, Lavender Wedding Earrings, Purple Votive Candle Holders, Lavender Wedding Cake by Susie Cakes {photo by Amy and Stuart Photography, found via Brides}, Lavender Gift Tags, Lavender Sachets

this post contains affiliate links

When it comes to weddings {whether you are a guest or the bride} - the parties before the wedding or the special day itself deserve to have pretty jewelry that matches the dress. Today, I've teamed up with Blue Nile to bring you a fun post where I'm pairing pretty jewelry {with pricing from under $100 to under $500} along with a cute coordinating dress that's perfect for any of your summer festivities.

For under $100 - you could pair this Petite Anchor Pendant with the Line and Dine Dress from ModCloth. Instead of finding a dress that has even more anchors on it {I came across many like this in my searches}, pair this delicate necklace with a complimentary dress. One with navy blue stripes and a red bow at the waist is the perfect way make a nautical statement without going overboard {pardon the pun}.

PS: This Petite Anchor Pendant in Sterling Silver could be yours for FREE

ENTER TO WIN the petite anchor pendant from Blue Nile here

For under $200 - I've paired the vibrant Amethyst Cushion Pendant (on sale for $108) with the jersey knit Callback Confidence Dress in sassy purple from ModCloth. The neckline of this dress is perfect for the two amethyst gemstones to fit between.

For under $300 - I've paired the Lapis Statement Necklace ($220) with the Beguiling Beauty Dress from ModCloth. The striking neckline on this dress is perfect for a statement necklace with the lapis gemstones. I also love the cummerbund-like pleating above the waistline.

For under $400 - I've paired the colorful Peridot and White Topaz Dangle Pendant ($315) with the handmade summer floral sundress from Lovely Melody Clothing. Love how this necklace brings out the pretty green in the dress and contrasts beautifully with the bright pink flowers.

For under $500 - I've paired the Blue Topaz Halo Ring ($425) with the Baby Blue Vintage Style Sundress from Lovely Melody Clothing. Just as a classic round gemstone ring is timeless - so is a pretty little dress with a bow at the waist. Neither type of design will ever go out of style.

PS: This post contains affiliate links which basically means that you as a purchaser see nothing different by clicking the links above. But, when a purchase is made, I will receive a small commission. For example, on a recent affiliate sale that was a total of $112 for the particular shop owner, resulted in me earning $4.48 in commission. It definitely takes lots of sales to add up - but every little bit helps keep my blog running and your support by clicking on my affiliate links means so much to me.

Now that wedding season is gearing up it's time to start thinking about your wedding registry. For those of you that are starting to navigate the registry avenue - today's post is for you. Jackie joins us today with her Top Wedding Registry Do's and Don'ts.

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1. DON'T expect that all your guests will get you a gift.

Remember that your wedding is truly about celebrating this very special moment with your close friends and loved ones, and their presence is way more valuable than anything they could ever buy you.

2. DO register for things in a wide price range.

Know that some of your guests may only be able to come to your wedding, particularly if it involves traveling. Providing a range of price points allows everyone to feel like they can get you something you'll want without placing financial strain on themselves.

3. DON'T feel obligated to put together
a registry, or a traditional registry.

Many couples these days live together prior to getting married or would simply prefer more personalized and unique items, so if you already have a full set of kitchen utensils, sheets and wine glasses, register for something that you will use. Honeymoon registries are a great way to allow your guests to contribute to a memorable experience, and sites like etsy and Scout Mob are great if you prefer more unique or handmade items like art prints and tech accessories.

4. DO use tact and appropriate language
when telling guests about your registry.

While many people might expect that you will be registered somewhere, it's in poor to taste to put registry information on or with printed wedding invitations. If you're using a wedding website, that's a great place to announce your registry; you can also spread the word through family and friends.

5. DON'T be afraid to register at multiple retailers or websites.

If you only find a handful of things you like or need at one retailer, register for them anyway. This also gives your guests more convenience: for some that prefer to purchase gifts at brick-and-mortar stores, registering with more than one retailer increases the likelihood that one will be nearby. And for those that like to shop online, multiple registries allows guests to mix and match, or additional options if one registry has already been completed. You may want to consider Amazon, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Macy's, Anthropologie, Kohl's, West Elm, and JCPenney.

6. DO research the registry process, return policies and customer
service experience with the places you intend to register.

Does the retailer or website make it easy to find my registry? If the retailer only has an online retail outlet, is it easy reach their customer service department? How strict is the return policy and time frame for returning items? How does this retailer keep track of what my guests have purchased? What happens when something I've registered for sells out or goes out of stock? Know what registering involves before announcing it to your guests so everyone has a positive experience.

7. DON'T be surprised if you get a gift you didn't register for.

Some guests who know you well may prefer to get you something meaningful (concert tickets, a restaurant or spa gift certificate - yes!), or many guests may just give you cash. Not every guest will feel comfortable with or as excited as you are about what you've registered for, but be sure to acknowledge their thoughtfulness.

8. DO personally thank your guests for the specific gift you received.

Thank you notes are a great place to mention how you've made use of a gift or what value it has added.

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Credits: From Mr. & Mrs. Chalkboard Art Thank You Cards, Floral Thank You Card Set, Watercolor Wreath Thank You Card Set, Vibrant Florals on Black Floral Thank You Card Set
{All images featured are found on Scout Mob - Inspired good from independent makers}

I'm thrilled to share today's post with you. I was recently asked by Troy {and Amy} of Event Source in Canada to participate in a wedding article they were putting together entitled "Wedding DIY — Is it Worth It?" and today I'm sharing my answers with you.

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Here's what Amy wrote:

As brides, it’s important that we build realistic expectations (of ourselves and others) so that we’re not  bogging ourselves down with minutiae.  Weddings are stressful enough, so where and how do you draw the line?

I decided to go out to some of my favourite wedding planners, bloggers and all ’round awesome folks in the industry to see what they thought.  We received some fantastic answers to the age-old question: What is worth doing yourself for your wedding, and what isn’t?

Here are my responses and you can see the entire "Wedding DIY — Is it Worth It?" article here

• For a wedding, brides really shouldn’t DIY their wedding invitations completely. I’m all for DIY, but my recommendation is to let the expert designers create a beautiful wedding invitation for you – then purchase the template and print the design yourself {or via a professional printer/office supply shop}. You can of course always have it completely designed and printed for you – but this DIY choice lets you have a gorgeous invitation that you had a hand in assembling.
• Never ever, make your own food for the wedding. Leave that to the food experts. However, if you’re having a super intimate wedding, it can be fun to ask family and friends to make their favorite sweets for the dessert table.
• Favors are something that can definitely be done by the bride and groom as this is the time for your personal touch to be shared with your guests.