Melanie Swan Photo

I’ve been spending a LOT of time on Etsy.com lately. I’ve purchased a few gifts and made a huge wishlist for myself! One of my favorite things is something I bought for my precious niece, who is 17 months old. It’s a tutu!! Now, in my mind, every little girl needs a tutu. Really. They are just so stinkin’ adorable! (the tutus AND the little girls!). I can’t wait to go visit my sister and her kiddos later on this winter and do a photo session of little Miss Mary in her tutu. And of course, no tutu ensemble is complete without something equally adorable for the hair. So I found this precious little felt flower headband to complete the look.

As I was browsing I knew I had to find something special for my smallest and newest niece. At 6 weeks old, she’s a bit too tiny for a tutu, so I settled on this sweet hooded towel that I was able to personalize with some mickey/minnie mouse ribbon and her name embroidered in the Walt Disney font. As Brooke’s mom is a big Disney fan, I’m pretty sure this one will be well-received.

And finally, I’m absolutely IN LOVE with these eco-friendly reusable sandwich and snack bags!!! I ordered a set for some friends who are like-minded and am excited to fill them with goodies to start them off.

Of course, as I was browsing Etsy, I couldn’t help but take a peek at all the fabulous things that could be used for a winter wedding!! I found so many beautiful decorations, favors, jewelry, etc. Winter weddings are truly beautiful! I got married in June. I chose that time of year so we could have an outdoor wedding and so I could have tulips everywhere (my favorite flower!); but I have to say, the possibilities for a winter wedding rival those of a spring or summer wedding! I just love their cozyness!

This boutonniere is fabulous!! I adore the use of the pinecone. It exudes a bit of manliness, doesn’t it? And the hair piece is flirty and classic! I’ve become a big fan of fun things, such as feathers and flowers, in the hair, so I think this is perfect!

Decorations at your wedding are oh-so-important as they not only help impart the mood of your event, but they speak of who YOU are as a person. Fancy, classic, elegant, whimsical, FUN, rustic, urban, country, etc. You get the idea! In my opinion, home-made decorations are ALWAYS the best because they will be more YOU than anything else! And you’d be surprised at how easy it can be to do. However, it can also be very time-consuming. So, when you need a little help, what better place to turn than etsy (if not just for ideas!). I really like these snowflake place cards. And these ornamental balls would add a very elegant touch! They remind me of mistletoe (perhaps this is why their creator calls them “kissing balls”), which is just perfect for a wedding!! Perhaps my favorite, and most simple, of the decorations I looked at are these perfectly romantic and simple mason jar lanterns. And these would be such an easy DIY project!!!

Finally, favors are another element to your wedding that you can use to carry out your theme. I thought these pillow boxes topped with Poinsettias would be a nice complement to a Christmas wedding theme. The splash of bold color will make them stand out nicely on white or cream colored table clothes.

So now you see what I’ve been doing with my time! Okay, I haven’t spent ALL of my time surfing etsy, but I sure could!!