simply stated...

 image: brooke granger

...im obsessed! 

i have a slight obsession with laurel denise necklaces. they are the perfect thing to customize for a special occasion {and make perfect family or bridesmaid gifts!! - i got my sister and my mama the "joy" necklace below from the simply stated collection, and customized the 7.9.11 for me, above!} thank you lolly for constantly creating such beautiful goodness!

  image: laurel denise.

wedding planning...where do you start!

inspiration board by brooke.

so after solidifying your main details (where the wedding will be, the date, venue, caterer, etc.)...the next step is to gather inspiration. this will initiate a theme, which will then help when you pick out your rentals, linens, flowers...

do not be afraid of your theme changing. we ended up having an indoor wedding, and alot of my initial images were for an outdoor tent wedding. it was so much fun to look back at the journey the wedding planning took from all the binders and boards i made!

a pic (via my phone so its not super clear!) of the inspiration board i made for my room! 

where it all started...

 

i was trying to figure out where to start. 

i have been MIA for so long and so much has happened, 

so i think i will just start where i really left off. the engagment. 

so last may (2010) my boyfriend of 7 years (i'm serious!) proposed 

overlooking the manhattan skyline...(where we met).

there was a picnic (with prosecco & red velvet cupcakes of course!), 

and then there was a 2nd surprise...

both of our immediate families traveled to ny to be there after the engagement to celebrate! 

so we had an impromptu engagement party in nyc! quite an adventure.

and after that...wedding planning overtook my life...

it started with this picture that i spotted on a wedding blog...

(at this time i cannot remember WHICH blog i saw this on, 

so i apologize for not crediting the appropriate photographer, etc...)

this image set the tone for me. the color scheme...

the obsession with blue mason jars...

the planning began...

i'm back!

image: my wedding day - 7-9-11! photo taken by shelby leigh photography.
photo copyright: shelby leigh photography 2011.

did ya miss me? ;)

well what a whirl wind. i cannot believe a year and two months of planning is over. i can't believe i'm married! it was seriously the most incredible day of my entire life. i do not have words to describe it really...it is so hard to put that day, and the moments leading up to it, into words. i feel completely overwhelmed with the amount of love we received and felt that day, that weekend, or for that matter...that we always receive from the inspiring, loving, generous and FUN family & friends that we are lucky to know! for that craig (my husband) & i are very grateful.

i am also overwhelmed with where to start back up with the blog here and my shop. there are lots of changes coming. i am just taking one step at a time, so bear with me as i get back into the swing of things. my mind was completely focused on moving (NYC to MD), buying a house, planning a wedding...for the last 6 months. now that we are finally settled into our house, (we have moved to maryland officially!), and we are MARRIED...i can finally get back to business.

so for now just sayin hi! and ill be back tomorrow with a new post!

omg!

photo courtesy of one true love rentals via 100 layer cake

I will HAVE to figure out how to use these vintage cans at our wedding...since my new last name will be GRANGER!

ah!



birthdays...and excuse to spend money right?

courtesy of bcbgmaxazria

wow, birthday came and went. another year older. ironically enough, it feels good. i thought i would be dreading the big 3-0. but it is actually opening up a whole new world of possibilites in my life. so i am excited. i cannot believe how much has changed the last two years...or well, how much is about to change, lets say. because i have been in a bit of a transitional stage the last year or so, and now things are falling into place. i am so so so excited for the next phase of my life...just around the corner! {5 months away!} and though i haven't been posting wedding stuff here {i am waiting til after the wedding to share it all!} i do have to share this TO DIE FOR dress i bought at BCBG for my rehearsal dinner. i figure the rehearsal dinner is a good excuse to splurge on an expensive dress, and besides, you can only really wear white a few times in your life, so i couldn't resist.  i cannot wait to wear it!

now to find shoes... ;)

let the planning begin!

so for the last week {post-engagement celebrating!} i embarked on the journey they call wedding planning.

um, who knew how involved it all is! so many things to think about right at the start...ie. where the ceremony will be, where to have the reception, solidifying an available date, {because apparently people book their weddings 2 years in advance these days!}, oh and dont forget catering & dj!!!!

when all i really want to think about are the little details...the centerpieces, the table placecards, the save the date, the flowers, the candy bar!!! all the "important" things {to me!}...but alas, we must find a place and a date first or there is no wedding.

in the meantime though, i started looking thru inspiring images saved on my computer or links in my favorites, as well as old photos of parties i have thrown the last few years...and i thought i would share them with you. well, cause im in the party planning spirit! ;) so they will be posted throughout the next week(s).

get ready to party plan with me!

{p.s. i promise i won't be writing too many wedding planning posts...i know you are not reading this blog to read about my wedding planning...but, we do all love planning a good party, am i right!?!}

{p.p.s. i have no idea where the above picture is from, but i loved it...please let me know if you know who it belongs to, so i can credit them appropriately! thanks!}

happiness!!!!!!!!

photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

i'm engaged!!!!!! ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!! it just happened last weekend in nyc!!!! :)

it was such a surprise and i am seriously on cloud 9!!!! (thus, the over-usage of the exclamation point. haha)

and of course, i had to share the news with all of you...who have been so supportive our shop, of me, & of everything we are doing here at madison belle! thank you! thank you! thank you!

anyway, it's been a whirlwind since saturday, so please bear with me and i promise to be back to blogging & corresponding soon!!!!

lots of love and happiness,
brooke!