Important Announcement

Hi lovies. Let me start by saying I regret having to write this and I'm so so sorry for having to do so. If you are a regular reader of my blog you know the exciting news that I'm expecting in December. Well unfortunately recently I've been having some complications with my pregnancy. After a visit to the ER I have to take things extremely easy for a while. So... while I'm still able to work on all of these pending orders for my lovely couples, it's taking me a lot longer to get things done at the pace I have to move at currently due to the restrictions I've been given by my doctor. With all of that being said, here is how this might affect you:

Potential Future Clients: I'm no longer accepting orders at this time and will be temporarily closed until further notice. I hate having to do this and if there was anyway possible to prevent this temporary close I would do it... but I really need to put my health and my baby's health first at this point in time. As soon as I can start taking orders again I will be sure to let you know.

Current Clients: All orders will still be completed in time for your wedding dates, it just may take longer than the current turnaround times listed on the site. How much longer? I'm not sure... I've never had to deal with anything like this before so this is all new to me but all orders WILL be completed in time for your wedding dates. I am so sorry for any delays this may cause and I really appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

I'm usually not one to post about my personal life but I feel it's necessary to let you all know what's going on. I love my business and I love working with each of you but I unfortunately need to put my health and my baby's health first at this time. Please just know I'm doing everything I possibly can to get your orders to you as fast as possible with the restrictions I'm currently on and I will be taking new orders again just as soon as I possibly can. I appreciate everyone's patience and support during this time... prayers are appreciated as well!

xoxo,
Kristin Melissa
Owner, I Do Originals

Baby On Board!

Rosey Sugar

I'm so excited to announce to my lovely readers, clients, and industry friends... I'm pregnant! That's right lovies, I'm due in December and couldn't be more excited. As you all are well aware by now, I Do Originals has been my baby for the past 4 years... but now there's a new baby coming and I've been trying to figure out ways to still work as long as possible but take care of myself and allow for proper rest at the same time. The goal is to close temporarily for maternity leave from November 1st- January 3rd, but I'll need to stop taking orders early in order to get them all finished by November 1st. So... here's a little heads up with a basic outline of what to expect over the next few months:

Current Clients: If you've already placed and paid for your order, it will still be processed within the approximated times stated on your invoice... no changes for you!

Future Clients: If you're thinking of ordering soon... hurry up! Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

July 31st- The last day to order hand-painted items (aisle runners, table runners, banners, & parasols). The turnaround will still be three months as stated on our site.

August 30th- The last day to order personalized candles. The turnaround time will still be 4-8 weeks as stated on our site.

September 30th- The last day to order monograms and logos. The turnaround time will still be 20 business days as stated on our site.

As of November 1st I will be completely on maternity leave and the shop will be closed temporarily. I will be reopening January 3, 2011 and ready to accept orders for March 2011 weddings and beyond!

Of course this all may change based on how I'm feeling, if the baby's late or early, etc. but as of right now this is the game plan. I'm so excited for this little one to come!

Thankful Thursday...

Photo by Paolos Studio

I need to take a minute to say how thankful I am... today I'm thankful for...

(1) Our clients- who are so amazingly sweet and who warm my heart each and every day. It is a joy and an honor to create custom items for each of you. I received the sweetest message in my inbox from a recent bride who we created a verse banner for and I just have to share:

"Thank you for making my day so special. I absolutely loved the banner, as did all my guests. They had never seen anything like it before. I am so thrilled to have done this. It was so special and unique. Thanks again!! -Tricia"

(2) The five (yes FIVE) features we received this week on the most incredible blogs & websites... The Bride's Cafe, Kiss the Groom, Little White Book, Daily Candy, and Simply Stunning Nashville... you are all too kind!

(3) Janie Medley of The Bride's Cafe who is just the sweetest person ever....

(4) Elizabeth Messina who took the most beautiful photo of our parasol

(5) Michelle Gainy from Lemiga Events who is truly spectacular in all she does...

I could go on and on and on... but not to worry, I'll have follow up editions of Thankful Thursday in the future!

3 Years Ago Today...

Three years ago today I walked down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams. It has been an incredible three years full of love an laughter. We were fortunate enough to do an early anniversary celebration in Venice last month and we had the incredibly talented Maruo Pozzer there to document our experience with an anniversary photo shoot. I have been waiting until this day to share the slideshow with you all... just click on the first photo above and enjoy!

Tonight we'll celebrate with a fantastic dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and the evening will culminate with the watching our wedding dvd by the amazingly talented guys from EnigmaPro, which is a tradition we do on our anniversary. How do you celebrate your anniversary? Any special traditions?

Pictures!!! Venice Photo Shoot w/ Mauro

Photos by Mauro Pozzer

I have to take a moment to tell you all how in love I am with Mauro Pozzer and his wife who did our photo shoot in Venice. Mauro suggested meeting at our hotel and take a few shots there and then going for "a walk through the city"... and that's exactly what we did. My husband and I walked hand in hand through the cobblestone streets taking in all the sites and smells and sounds of the breathtaking city. Mauro did such an incredible job of capturing this as he silently moved around us, finding the most unique angles and interesting perspectives. There were times when we'd look around and Mauro was nowhere in site... and then we'd see him off in the distance, capturing images of us from afar. Every now and then he'd yell out in his strong Italian accent "kiss her!" The photo shoot with Mauro was truly a highlight of our trip, and we now have a living memory of our time in Venice. Thank you Mauro!

Thank you...

We're back after a very long and emotionally draining last few days. We just wanted to say a quick thank you to all our friends and clients for your thoughtful e-mails and cards and most importantly for your support and condolences. It is good to be back and immersed in the wedding world once again. We are working hard to get back to all the correspondence we've received while we were out of town and are we're pumping out orders. Stay tuned cause we'll be back shortly with a long overdue post of some incredibly fabulous items for couple Stephen & Patricia!

I.D.O. News Update

So originally on Friday we were headed to a wedding but unfortunately got some very sad news of a death in the family and we ended up at a funeral instead. We are still currently out of town spending time with loved ones. We really appreciate your patience during this difficult time and will of course do everything that we can to get back on schedule when we return (which has still not yet been determined at this point but we're anticipating a return on Wednesday). All of your e-mails and orders are very important to us and we will return all correspondence as soon as possible. Thanks again for your patience...

Bridal Shower Fun!

This past weekend my mom, sister, and myself traveled up to PA for the bridal shower of a family friend, Jen. Jen's mom asked me to create a parasol for the shower which I was of course happy to do... and while I was at i figured I'd whip up a banner as well! It was so cute the way the bridesmaids set up the banner and parasol as focal points by the fireplace next to the bride's seat of honor- the whole set up looked great!

I've been working with Jen on different monogram designs and she ended up going with monogram 13D. I altered this a little for the banner since I did it all in one color and was thrilled with the way it turned out. For Jen's gift I gave her the unity candle set she's been wanting and I'll also be giving her a monogram aisle runner that she asked for once we finalize all the details... it's nice to have friends in the industry! :)

Jen's shower was absolutely wonderful, everyone had an amazing time and it was tons of fun too. One of my favorite things was the "panty poem" the bridesmaids read. I just googled "panty poem for bridal shower" and found the original:
Bridal Shower Panty Poem
The bridesmaids have a secret to share
About our little bride
She is obsessed with underwear
And that we cannot hide

So for our little panty queen
We gathered up some twine
And working as a friendly team
We made a panty line.

Alternate verse if no clothesline available:
So for our special panty queen
We'll make her feel just fine
By working as a friendly team
To form a panty line.

(Bride's name) these undies are to last you
All throughout your life
And (groom's name) will be pleased to say
He has a sexy wife!

So listen up to hear about
Your lifelong panty plan
These underwear, we have no doubt
Will last your whole life span

The first are for your wedding day
Of course they are pure white
We know (groom's name) will shout, "Hooray!"
When he sees you on that night

The next are for your honeymoon
They're sexy and all lace
We hope you'll leave your hotel room
'Cause (honeymoon destination)'s a gorgeous place!

On Valentine's you'll wear this pair
Before you hit the bed
Cuz Cupid's arrow in the air
Shoots tushies that are red

After a year has passed you'll face
Anniversary number one
With these you'll surely have a blast
'Cuz leopard's so much fun!

Purple or an alternate color or print could be chosen in place of leopard in the verse above

Then when the time is right for you
And don't be saying, "Maybe"
You'll wear your little pink or blue
In honor of your baby

And when your years of wedding bliss
Become the big 2-5
Don't worry - you'll just slip this on
To keep the sparks alive

When finally you're old and gray
With these you can't go wrong
'Cuz sorry (Bride's name) but at that age
You just can't wear a thong
(found on Diva Girl Parties & Stuff)

How adorably hilarious is that?! Congratulations Jen! Can't wait 'til the wedding!

Kelly + Jim: The Reception

Photos by Enigma Productions

For their first dance, Kelly & Jim invited their parents to join them on the dance floor as a way to show their appreciation and to honor them. Following the first dance my dad gave a beautiful welcome speech to the couple and their guests.

Photos by Enigma Productions

Centerpieces consisted of calla lilies, orchids, and the vases were filled with limes. For my toast, half of it we were cracking up laughing and the other half I was balling my eyes out. You may be wondering why I'm holding up a headless barbie... I was telling a story about how growing up one of our favorite pastimes was playing with barbies and our little brother would come along and take their heads off. Right before the wedding my mom actually found this barbie- with no head... so of course I had to show it! We actually found the head- which is what my brother is showing in the top right picture. It was a great touch!

Photos by Enigma Productions

As Virginia Tech grads, of course the Hokie bird had to make an appearance at their wedding- he was a big hit, not just with the kids but with all the adults as well! All of the VT students & alum got a group picture with the Hokie bird :) The bottom two pictures show the picture table that was set up of old family wedding photos- everyone got a kick out of seeing the old styles and trends!

And that's it for our week long posts of Kelly + Jim's Wedding! We hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into their wedding and lots of luck and the very best wishes to this beautiful couple!

Kel + Jim: A Little Bit Softer Now

I love this picture- my dad and one of his good friends were down doing the turtle and Kelly is cheering them on... so cute. I'll be back later on with some more great pics from the reception.

Kelly + Jim: The Ceremony

Photos by Enigma Productions

These are some of my favorite photos from my sister's ceremony. I loved the architecture of the church- very modern looking... it made for a beautiful backdrop. My favorite thing about Kelly & Jim's ceremony was that Father Jim, the officiant, made it so personal. He really got to know the couple and their relationship as he touched on aspects of their lives together. I've never been to a ceremony that was so persona, memorable, and all the more special. Stay tuned for our final installment of Kelly + Jim tomorrow... the reception!

Kelly + Jim: Honoring Loved Ones Passed...

Photos by Enigma Productions

My sister was so thoughtful when it came to honoring those in our family who have passed, particularly our three grandmothers. In the top left picture, Kelly is tying a ring from our Nana to her bouquet. Our Nana left Kelly this ring when she passed as it's garnets, Kelly's birthstone, so it's very special to her.

The second picture in the top row is the actual handkerchief that my dad's mother carried on her wedding day. It was embroidered with her initials and wedding date and my aunt then embroidered Kelly's initials and wedding date below. Kelly carried this down the aisle with her.

The top right picture is showing my mom sewing a ring from her mother under Kelly's dress.

All are very subtle thoughtful ways to honor a loved one passed. What did you do or what do you plan to do to honor loved ones?

Kelly + Jim: B-ball Anyone?

Photos courtesy of Enigma Productions

The long white dress, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, the happy smiling couple, these are a few of the thoughts that probably come to mind when you think of wedding photos. Basketball is probably not one of the images... that's why these are some of my favorite "shots" from my sister's wedding.

As we were all getting ready at my parent's house the photographers couldn't help but notice the basketball court my parents have in their basement and of course wanted to get a couple shots... it doesn't get much cuter than this. When it comes to wedding photos, it's so important to think outside the box, it definitely pays off and makes for precious memories.

Congratulations Kelly & Jim!

If you're a regular reader you probably know that my sister recently was married in August. Well I am so excited to share some of the incredible images from her amazing day... and what a fantastic day it was! All throughout the week I'll be sharing some of my favorite details from the wedding so be on the lookout cause there's a lot of them! To kick things off, here is just a very small snippet of what's to come. All images are courtesy of the incredibly talented Jeremy of Enigma Productions. He is fantastic and for all you non-local brides... he does travel! Congratulations Kelly & Jimmy!!!

My Sister's Getting Married Today!

Well readers, today is the big day... my sister's wedding! I'm so excited (and nervous about my toast!) I can hardly stand it. Rest assured that I'll be back with lots of details, pictures, and all the fabulousness! In the meantime, here are all the items that iDoOriginals created for her wedding. I'm particularly excited about the Martini Bar banner we created- how cool is that?! You can't tell from the picture but the olive is sparkly :) Wish me luck with my toast!

Happy 2 Year Anniversary to Us!!!

We didn't specifically plan an "anniversary trip"... it just worked out that the week we decided to go to the beach just so happened to be the same week as our anniversary. It was definitely a plus to be at the beach for our anniversary, but I honestly didn't care where we were... as long as I was with my hubby :) I still can't believe two years have passed since the day we said our vows. It's so cliche but it truly does feel like it was just yesterday.

Always the thoughtful husband that he is, Matt gave me a beautiful pearl & diamond ring- the final piece to complete my set. He gave me the pearl necklace on our wedding day, the earrings on our one year anniversary, and now the ring. It's gorgeous and the perfect "right hand ring". I gave him the watch that he's had his eye on for a while now- it looks impeccable on him. The best gift of all ended up just being able to spend a whole week together- no work, no interuptions, just time with eachother.

We also had some of our friends join us for the week. Our daily entertainment was our friends two adorable 18 month old twins. My husband is already getting baby fever and I think this just added to it even more. It was their first time at the beach and they loved it! So precious.

We're Back!

There's so much to update everyone on as a lot happened during our week off! Let me start by saying that iDoOriginals.com is back open starting today and boy do we have a lot of catching up to do! As anticipated our inbox is overflowing with e-mails and order requests so please be patient with us as we are responding to all e-mails and orders as quickly as possible!

Okay... so where do I begin, let's start with my sister's 2nd wedding shower and the bachelorette party- so fun! Everything at the shower was so beautiful. A big thank you to all my sister's bridesmaids for helping to host the shower with me- you all did a great job! Below is Kelly with her "shower hosts" (bridesmaids) from left to right: Mandy, Melissa, Kelly, me, Jess, & Jen (Jenna, you were missed!)

For the shower decorI used the same items that I created for her first shower (the parasol, banner, and table runner) as the key decor elements. They blended beautifully with the flowers and really helped to highlight key areas within the room. For the little details, I decided to "tie" everything together with the same pretty green ribbon that matches the bridesmaids dresses. The menu card was my favorite- I did a vellum overlay with a picture of my favorite baby photo of my sister... too cute! The favors were fun too- I ordered simple black umbrella's and created a sticker label to say "May all your showers be as special as you have made Kelly's today."

For my shower gift I ordered a whole set of towels off of my sister's registry and created two towel cakes out of them. This was my first time ever making towel cakes and I love how they turned out! I also created a slideshow with pictures of Kelly & her fiance growing up and then of them as a couple- it played in the background on a loop throughout the whole shower.

After the shower we helped unload all the goodies at my parents house and then went to my house to get ready for the big night ahead of us... and boy was it! We dressed Kelly up in an adorable little outfit- I especially love the Bride-to-Be sash that we ordered from ExclusivelySew.com. The purple boa made for some cute pictures too.
After the wild night we headed back to my place for a slumber party. The next morning it was off to the beach with my hubby and our friends to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. I'll do a separate post on that in a bit... stay tuned!

My Cousin's Wedding

A while back I posted about my cousin's bridal shower... well now she's married and her wedding was incredible! We all had such a blast and everything looked gorgeous- especially her! Here's just a small sample of her wedding details- it's times like these when I wish I was a better photographer to really capture everything, but I try my best. Congratulations Mandy & Bob!

Bachelorette Party!

One of my friends (that's her on the right me on the left) just had her bachelorette party last night and we had a great time! This weekend set off a month long of wedding related event weekends- bachelorette party, my cousin's wedding next weekend, a friend's wedding the following weekend, then sister's shower & bachelorette party... four weekends in a row of weddings and pre-wedding parties... I'm in heaven!I have to admit, I've had a blast planning the showers for my sisters wedding. I loved picking out the invites, favors, and of course doing the decor. We already have one shower down and one more to go (which of course I'll be blogging about)... but what I'm really looking forward to is another bachelorette party! I got these adorable invitations from PolkaDotDesigns and a ton of fun little surprises from Bachelorette.com. I'm so excited for another girls night and I can't wait to have some serious fun with the Bride-to-Be!

Surprise!

Surprises are so stressful... you're constantly afraid of slipping or that someone else is going to slip, you're on edge always wondering if the person being "surprised" already knows, and you just want to tell so bad you can hardly stand it. With that being said, when you can truly surprise someone... it makes all the stress completely worth it. Last weekend, we surprised my sister with her first bridal shower- and she was DEFINITELY surprised.

The set-up: We had gone up to PA for her graduation from Villanova University, which was on Sunday morning. On Saturday, we spend the day moving her out of her apartment and then we had my great Aunt's 70th birthday party that night. Well my sister was particulary concerned about her appearance for the party. She took so much time getting ready, went back and forth on what to wear a million times, and had a look of anticipation on her face all afternoon. When we arrived at the party she looked confused. She leaned over to me and said, "Kris, I thought this was going to be my bridal shower!" Of course I knew the whole time this is what she thought, so I was in hysterics as was the rest of our family. We enjoyed the party and then went home to get some sleep for graduation the next morning. After her graduation on Sunday the "plan" was that we were all going to her new apt. to unload the moving truck. We had to stop by her old apt. to pick up a few last things before we got on the road and we knew she would want to change out of her graduation dress into comfy clothes. We thought that if we all told her we weren't going to change that she wouldn't change either, but sure enough, she did... which validated that she had NO CLUE that she was on her way to her shower! This is why she's in a t-shirt and jeans in the picture above! We knew she could easily change back into her graduation dress (which is of course what she did immediatley after she realized what was going on!) so we just let it go and knew it would be all the more priceless her walking into her shower in her moving clothes!

Moral of the story: surprises may be stressful, but when they work, they're incredible! The shower was a hit.