3rd Annual To Have and To Hold WEDDING BLOG PARTY 2012

Nancy Ann Storybook Bride Doll

I've had so much fun and have made so many new friends these past few weeks leading up to my

annual Wedding Blog Party.  If you love ALL things WEDDING like I do, please visit my past few weeks posts

and look HERE for my 2011 party  and HERE for my 2010 party!

My own wedding gown and veil are displayed in our bedroom

I cherish my copy of Modern Bride that featured my wedding gown

Hubby and me ~ married 38 years this coming June 14th!

These were some of the best pics that show the detailing of my gown

Our wedding cake topper is back right

My plantation WEDDING cupboard where I store some of my vintage cake toppers

(pic made a few years ago)....

and today ~ pretty full

I also have 5 or 6 pretty veils that I display in our bedroom

Musical Wedding Cake Topper

Precious Kissing Bridal Couple

Bridal Couple Taper Candles from the 1940's

Small Curio Cabinet that hubby added a light in

Ceramic Hallmark Scarlet O'Hara Bride Doll

Sweet Kewpie Bridal Couples

Most with crepe paper and felt costuming

Love the shy bashful child-brides

I cannot pass up vintage bridal photos or cabinet cards

I even have several vintage bridal garters and hankies

I've been so fortunate to be gifted with these bridal momentos by sweet non-blogging friends

Love the arched catherdral window behind this one

Shot of my small dining room curio

This topper dates back to the 30's ~ isn't her flapper hat just awesome?!

Sweet personalized wedding couple that was used at our daughter's wedding

One of my most unique pieces is this wedding egg diorama ~ gifted to me

by my dear friend Vickie

Vickie no longer has a blog but was sweet enough to send me a picture of her lovely

mannequin, Miss Victoria, all dressed up for our party!

Mini Madame Alexander wedding dolls from my sweet friend Pat of Urban Chic

Dancing Bridal Couple ~ gift from my dear friend Celeste

A newer topper made to look vintage

Another Nancy Ann Storybook Bride ~ I'm always looking for the brunettes!

And my little bridal giveaway ~ Just leave a comment on this post if you are interested!

Giveaway includes: scrap-paper covered cherub "book" box, cross-stitched Bridal silhouette mini pillow with pearls and bugle beads, new beaded and sequined chiffon bridal scarf (can be worn or used in tablescapes), silver "Spread the Love" pate/cheese spreader, journal, 2 etched glass photo coasters, 6 pink prismed wine charms,  rhinestone & pearl drop earrings, scrapbooking Bridal stickers, and a china Bridal Wedding Couple Bell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please visit all my lovely friends that are sharing their bridal posts today!

Big Hugs,

**I used my new digital scrapbooking software to create many of the decorative frames you see here today. It is a great kit from MyMemories.com .  I've got a special promotional code if you would like to try it for yourself ~ see the button on my top right sidebar!

link:
Handy Man Crafty Woman ~ Wicked Awesome Wednesday
Liz@Brambleberry Cottage ~ Time Travel Thursday
The Vintage Farmhouse @ Creative Things Thursday

Kerryanne @Shabbilicious Friday

Cindy @My Romantic Home ~ Show and Tell Friday

Petites Passions Passion Parade Friday

Stuff and Nonsense ~ Fridays Unfolded

At the Picket Fence ~ Inspiration Friday

The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home Party

Beverly @How Sweet the Sound ~ Pink Saturday

2nd Annual Wedding Blog Party.....Here Comes the Bride!

Welcome to my 2nd annual Wedding Blog Party!
I'm thrilled that you are taking time out of your busy day to visit me

and all the other participants!

Now let's get this party started......

                                       I've always loved weddings (who doesn't?!)

The past couple of weeks I've shared the following:
Retro Wedding Gowns

Vintage Wedding Gowns

Let Them Eat Cake

Vintage Wedding Pictures

Vintage Engagement Rings, Jewels, and Wedding Cabinet Cards

Lovely Pink Wedding Decor

Beautiful Bridal Accessories

You'd think I'd be all wedding-ed out by now.....but no!

I collect wedding memorabilia and would love to share some of my favorite items with you today.

~ My Bonnie Bride Doll ~

Santa brought her to me when I was 9 yrs. old.

I played with her for hours on end!

She could walk down the aisle and could even toss her own bouquet!
Of course, I always caught it!
Thus began my love affair with all things wedding.....

Look at her profile.....isn't she beautiful?

And her hair is just my color!!

This is her original satin dress. I had it dry cleaned last week and they lost it!
I just about died when they told me they had mistakingly given it to another customer.

Luckily "he" had no use for it and returned it!

I had removed her veil for safe keeping and can't remember where I put it!
Gosh, if I locate it soon, I'll take another picture and add it here!

Anyhoo, she is wearing her original gown, undies, and high heels. I've replaced her veil and her bouquet.

See the whopping price of $9.99?!?

Here is a short 1 min. original b & w t.v. commercial for her.....

I display my wedding gown and veil on a dressform in our bedroom.  She is the last thing I see when I go to bed at night.....

and the first thing I see when I wake up each morning! How fun is that?!?!

My gown and veil were featured on the cover of MODERN BRIDE in the Fall 1975 issue

This is my plantation wedding cupboard. Hubby added lights to it for me to display some of my wedding topper collection.  This pic was made several Christmases ago ~ it is a bit fuller now!

                                 My Scarlett O'Hara Bride Doll by Seymour Mann

This was when Scarlett married Charles Hamilton. She later married Frank Kennedy, then Rhett Butler.

Different dresses, different men, same ol' scheming Scarlett, but I love her!

Can you tell I'm a huge Gone With the Wind fan?

To see more of a Bridal Tea in a past post click HERE.

Our 1974 Wedding Cake Topper

Gosh, it's yellowing ~ must mean we are close to becoming "vintage"!
Our anniversary is June 14th!  Will be 37 years!

                         Sweet handmade bird's nest by Shirl of Shirl's Rose Cottage

Below are gifts & purchases:

Karla at Karla's Cottage ~ Bridal decoupaged box, tiny June bride, paper Wedding dress
Laurie at Laurie's Charming Designs ~ Pearls of Wisdom Birdie

Vickie at Visuals by Vickie ~ Kitty Cats Bride and Groom by Summer's Darling Pat

Glitter Bride and Groom & Cakes ~ borrowed from daughter's wedding
Wedding graphic ~ Karla's Cottage

Glittered Pink Church ~ Mary at Oh Merci!

Last year I featured my little Ring Bearer and mentioned that he was lonesome for his Flower Girl.
Well, Sweet Pat of Urban Chic was listening......She sent me not only her little Flower Girl, but an adorable Bride and Groom, too!

They are mini Madame Alexander dolls distributed by McDonalds.

 

Beautiful PaperDoll and Fabric Picture

by precious Amy of Four Sisters in a Cottage

Most of my cake toppers are vintage, but the one below is a reproduction by Katherine's Collection.

I love the sequined heart, the pearls, and especially love the two tiny gold wedding bands on the lower front left.

Goodness, someone needs to pry this bride away from her groom ~ Look how smeared her lipstick is!!
Beautiful faux chocolate cake by Celeste of Celestina Marie Designs

Such a solemn couple

This bride reminds me of Marilyn Monroe with her beauty mark over her eye!

These look a tad riled, don't they?!?

I think this groom got into his bride's mascara and eye liner!

My very favorite and very OLD child couple

Guess what is in this beautiful vintage double heart wedding ring box!?!

Ring Box from Amy at Four Sisters in a Cottage

The Promise Ring that Hubby gave me in high school

and the lucky penny that my sweet daddy placed in my shoe on my wedding day.

Hubby also placed this same penny in our daughter's shoe on her special day.

What? You can't see the diamond?!?
Well, here, let me make it a bit bigger .....  still can't see it?!?

It is just a teensy chip of a diamond but I was oh so proud of it ~ still am!

As I said the wedding cupboard has gotten a tad more crowded.

Let's open it up and take a closer peek inside....

To see more photos and closeups of these items, click HERE.

This is a display I have in our family room.

The Nancy Ann Storybook Bride doll is a recent find.

The beaded bell wedding cake topper is a reproduction made by Martha Stewart

Most of these cake toppers are from the late 1940's and 1950's

1950's Bride and her attendants

I love sweet children Bride and Grooms

Many of these are by Lefton and Napco

Some of my more recent Bride and Groom toppers.

Most of these are from the 1980's and 1990's.

I could just go on and on about my love for wedding cake toppers, vintage wedding cabinet cards, bridal gowns, veils, tiaras, garters, bridal books, figurines, and well, you understand my mania now, don't you?!?  Next time you are out shopping and find a unique wedding item, think of ME!

No wedding party would be complete without presents,

so I'm offering this giveaway below.....

Cross-stitched bridal bouquet picture in oval frame
Cross-stitched wedding cake, designed by me 

Vintage Chalkware Bride and Groom Cake Topper @ late 1940's

Cross-stitched Bride with Tulle Veil, designed by me

Handmade Beaded and Sequined White Felt Heart

Trio of Stacked Lavender Sachet Pillows

AND

3 Velvet Charm Bookmarks (wedding bells, engagement ring, and heart)

Rhinestone and Pearl Drop Earrings

5 Wedding Charms (Bride & Groom, Bouquet, I DO Hearts, Church, Just Married Car)

Handmade Love Tag

Vintage Crocheted Doily

Just leave me a comment on this post if you'd like to win ~ and let me know if you are a follower for an extra chance to win!

Winner will be drawn and announced next Saturday, June 18th

Please feel free to link up to this party below. We have out of town relatives here and will be spending time with them, but I'll be visiting you all as soon as I can.

Party guidelines:

Link your intended post and not your whole blog.
To link up with inlinkz you must have a link back to this party in your post prior to linking up.
If you find inlinkz will not add your post, then just add my link in and try again.
Please try to visit as many of the links below as possible and be sure to leave them a comment letting them know you stopped by.

I'm sure you will  find some great inspiration and some new blog friends.

Big Hugs,
Stephanie

LET'S PARTY!