A Trade Secret - Handmade Flower Girl Dresses

Pearls for the flower girl and matching headpiece

I’ve made some really special friends through my years of hosting weddings and one of them is Karen Ellis (no relation, although I would love to claim her!) who designs and hand makes the cutest Flower Girl dresses. A couple of years ago, her daughter Hannah was married here at Magnolia Hill. You know how you just "click" with some people, and become instant friends? I think that is what I love about what we do, is that I become friends for sharing in a lifetime event of a wedding.

Mother of the Bride, Karen Ellis looks like she could have been a bridesmaid!

 

Since the wedding, I kept up with Karen and stay amazed at her design talents. She is a kindred entrepreneur spirit and I thought I would share some of her work....Everyone was talking about the cute "Fluff Ball" dress that the Flower Girls wore. The Mother of the Bride designed and made them, including a matching headpiece.

Our banner carrier says "Oh Happy Day" in a Karen Ellis designed dress.

 And for a Rustic Barn wedding...how cute is this?

or this...

A Denim top and cowboy boots complete the outfit for a Rustic Barn Wedding.

And so I am saving my favorite for last....I am crushing on these colors !

 

It was no secret I loved the classic vintage style Hannah and her mother, Karen chose for their wedding. I am so excited to share with all my brides the handmade element of these darling children's dresses...or Fluff Balls as I call them! 

 To contact Karen....

ellisoriginals501@gmail.com 

Or they can FB message me @ Karen Ellis or Ellis Originals 

Or 

can text Karen @ 501-951-2986

Enjoy!

“And a Sixpence in Her Shoe”

In the past, you have probably heard the saying a time or two: “ Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.”  The poetic rhyme from the English and quoted in Victorian times seemed to catch on and is still often repeated today. Each item is usually applied to the wedding outfit rather than décor…something the bride would wear. The items serve as good luck tokens to a bride on her wedding day making her attire personal and sentimental.    

The “Something Old” symbolizes the bride’s family. Perhaps a strand of pearls or grandmothers broach fastened onto a hand held bouquet. It does not have to be from a female side…maybe a button from one of the brides fathers suits sewn into the hem of the gown.  

Megan wears her mothers and grandmothers pearls

A “Something New” symbolizes hope for an optimistic future with the marriage. The gown, the veil or even the rings, may be the “New”. “Something Borrowed” needs to come from a happily married woman thereby lending some of her own marital happiness and the item must be returned! The item reminds a bride that she can depend on that friend or family member. A “Something Blue” represents a symbol of faithfulness, love, purity and loyalty. It can be the bride’s garter or simply blue shoes underneath the gown. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color as well.

A sixpence was a coin used in the British Empire beginning in 1551. One sixpence represented six pennies and was last used in 1967. People used to be very superstitious in the middle ages and it was a good omen as a lucky charm. During the early 1600’s it was traditional for the Lord of the Manor to give his bride a piece of silver as a wedding gift. Worn in the left shoe, the tradition of the sixpence as a symbol of good luck continues today. Some families have passed down the same sixpence through the generations to continue the hope for good luck to future brides. It's also nice to seek out a sixpence minted in the year of your parents or grandparents wedding. If not a sixpence then a coin with a meaningful date should do!

Carlea lost her mother at a very young age. Here she wears her mother's wedding dress as she holds a picture of her mother wearing it on her wedding day.

Brides have been honoring the tradition of wearing an old, a new, a borrowed and a blue item during their wedding for centuries. The wearing of these items is supposed to share good luck but most important they express admiration for a few special people on a very special day. 

Wedding Trends 2015

Wedding Trends 2015

             Keeping in tune with trends makes a wedding seem fresh and stylish and it seems everything old is new again…with a twist on tradition. There are so many little details that a bride must decide on when planning her special day. The day itself becomes a cherished memory and all of the little details make it special and very personal. Trends and traditions are all a part of making your wedding one of a kind and personal. 

            It seems the trend has flipped…from inside weddings to outdoor weddings…a return to nature so speak. Some of these trends have been around for a while, but they seem to becoming more prominent for 2015.  The return to nature translates not necessarily to rustic, but leaning toward a vintage trend. Hand tied bouquets with a traditional teardrop shape are making a return…bouquets that look fresh picked and lots of ribbons. Lace wedding gowns, with vintage details revisit the past. 

            A glance to the past is showcased in a meaningful way with homemade favors and locally sourced organic food, with vintage inspired packaging labels.  Drinks iced down in an old boat or galvanized washtubs add a welcoming vintage flair. Nostalgic food is a revisit to childhood by serving classic childhood favorites…all in a meaningful way. Think homemade Banana Pudding, Peanut Butter Pie, or Oreo Cheesecake instead of traditional chocolate grooms cake. Ask for the grooms favorite and incorporate it into the reception as a traditional Grooms Table. 

Milk and Cookie Shots on a Silver Tray

Home Made Banana Pudding

            One of the biggest trends in table décor is the addition of Mercury glass. My great-grandmother had several pieces and the vintage feel adds a bit of sparkle to any theme or table setting. Grouped together, with small flower arrangements it gives an altogether, vintage, luscious look. Mercury glass is seeing a popular revival.

Mercury Glass & Silver Teapot

            Years past, a guest would sign in upon arrival with a feather pin in a small guest book. Today guests may sign everything from stones, platters, quilts and boat paddles. The item may then be used as décor in the new home and enjoyed on a daily basis. 

            Bottom line, the biggest trend is expecting the unexpected. Surprise guests with fireworks, Confetti cannons, or a White Dove release. Put a modern twist on an old tradition that is personal and meaningful. Little details make the wedding meaningful especially with a touch of family tradition…a grandfathers pocket watch, a grandmother’s broach, a family Bible to carry the rings are all tiny details with huge heartstrings attached.  From the moment of engagement, write down little things you would like to incorporate into your wedding day…both old and new!

What are some personal, sentimental details for your wedding? 

On Being Southern

Beautiful, Southern women always have their pearls ... 

 a reminder the real beauty is on the inside of the shell. I just LOVE this picture of one of my favorite Magnolia Hill brides. Smart, beautiful, gracious, talented...just precious, and yet "down to earth" as my mama would say.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Proverbs 4:23

 

 " The most beautiful voice in the world is that of an educated Southern woman." 

                                                                                       _Winston Churchill

 

High Cotton 

Cotton has long been the symbol of the South...and why do we say and sing about "High  Cotton"? The term "high cotton" or "tall cotton" originates from the rural farming community in the pre Civil War era  when "high cotton" meant that the crops were good and the prices, were, too. The term has generalized to mean one is doing well or is successful. Here, a bit of cotton, a few magnolia leaves, a bit of burlap and satin ribbon make for the perfect bridal bouquet.

                                  Southern Living...

Where the tea is sweet, 
our words are long, 
 the days are warm 
and our faith is strong.

Known for our Peach tea at Magnolia Hill, it just seems perfect for spring or summer. Fresh sliced peaches, juicy and full of fresh picked flavor make cold iced tea almost addictive. Perfect for porch sippin' and planning a wedding!