0 In Wedding Planning

Cloud Parade

So unless you live under a rock, you should know all about sites like Etsy and Wedzu for shopping handmade.  Mostly likely you are also aware, if not addicted, to Pinterest for all your online ‘pinning’ needs.  Each of these sites serves a purpose and can be super helpful to anyone planning a wedding.  So what if there was a site that combined the ability to create virtual inspiration boards but also shop directly from the items you bookmarked?  I give you… Cloud Parade.

Cloud Parade from Cloud Parade on Vimeo.

Cloud Parade is a pretty new site that lets you design and shop your wedding from one site.  After using Etsy for so long, it takes a little while to get used to the navigation and where to find everything but I think this newly launched site shows a lot of promise.  Essentially when you sign up, you can start saving items to your various clouds.  (Similar to your boards in Pinterest).  You can also view other people’s clouds.  See something you like and want to buy?  No need to worry about a broken link to the original source.. Cloud Parade is the source so you can just click and buy.  Super easy.


 Cloud Parade

The Cloud Parade home page highlights ‘featured products’, ‘featured vendors’, & ‘featured clouds’.  At the very top you can go straight to the shops or view various clouds.  If you want to customize your search a little more, they have an adorable pop down feature that lets you customize the search based on color, categories (favors, flowers, decor, and even services and rentals!), and style (bohemia, modern, rustic etc)  There is also your standard search bar for simply typing in what you are looking for.

Cloud Parade

 

Since this site is pretty new, I don’t expect it to be perfect.  There are a few things that lack some of the intuitive nature that Etsy has grown into.  I think this will change.  As more people use the site, I am sure the folks at Cloud Parade will received feedback and continue to improve the site.  Also, since the site is new, there aren’t a ton of shops to go through… however the ones on the site seem to be pretty top notch.  Besides, you have less to sort through making it easier to find what you need.

Have you used cloud parade?  Let me know what you think.

February 15, 2013 By
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0 In Accessories

Our House Feather Bow Ties

Our House feather bow ties > Indie Wed blog

When Victoria from Our House contacted me, interested in advertising on the site, I was totally smitten with her work. I knew that regardless of whether she chose to advertise with us, that I just had to share.

Our House feather bow tie > Indie Wed blog

These precious bow ties are super feminine and also come in the most wonderfully vivid colors.  (There is a cotton candy pink bow tie that I have my eye on!).  If you feel like the traditional bow tie around the neck is a little too formal (though these are anything but traditional, then perhaps you would prefer a feather bow suspended from a simple gold chain.

Our House feather bow ties > Indie Wed blog

Prefer something for your updo instead?  Try one of her feather bow barrettes.  They are made from the same super soft, hand-dyed feathers, each backed with a remnant of upcycled leather.  Couldn’t you just imagine a bevy of bridesmaids, each rocking one in a different color?

Our House feather bow barrette > Indie Wed blog

Victoria also sells a small collection of vintage goods from her Etsy shop as well.  So you can pick up a bow tie and vintage pair of pumps in one fell swoop!

Our House is an Indie Wed advertiser, however we do not utilize sponsored posts on the blog.  We simply write about products and businesses we like.  For more on our advertising policies, see here.

February 14, 2013 By
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0 In Rentals/ Vintage

Vintage Rental Directory

If you made it last weekend’s Indie Wed (a recap coming soon), then you may have noticed A LOT of vintage rentals.  We had a ton scattered throughout the space and also had our fair share of rental companies participating.  While the vintage rental thing may not be everyone’s (antique) cup of tea, for those who can’t get enough and want some for their big day, I was excited to come across this directory.

Some of the Indie Wed staff with rentals via A La Crate Vintage Rentals

Some of the Indie Wed staff with rentals via A La Crate Vintage Rentals.  Photo by Colin Lyons Photography

A Portland based vintage rental company, Something Borrowed, created a National directory filled with tons of vintage rental companies.

Vintage Rental Directory

I’m certainly going to keep this list in mind as we expand to other cities.  Do you have a vintage rental company?  Make sure you are on the list. If not, send the Something Borrowed gals a message to be added to the list.  With the popularity of vintage rentals, I’m sure this list will continue to grow.

February 8, 2013 By
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0 In Events/ Music & Entertainment

Live Music at Indie Wed

As we continue to entice you with all the fun things going on at this year’s Indie Wed, here is a list of the scheduled performances for the day.

On the First Floor Main Stage there will be a variety of great musical performances mixed in between live DJ’s on both the first and second floors. As you go about your day, make sure you stop by to listen to these great acts.

photos by Studio Starling (left), Cage & Aquarium (right)
January 31, 2013 By
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0 In Contests & Giveaways

Enter to Win a Free Stylized Engagement Session

At the 2012 winter Indie Wed show, Tuan H. Bui Photographer and Naturally Yours Events  teamed up to offer one lucky couple a free stylized engagement shoot. The session included all the images, custom event stylizing, hair/makeup, and even a video from Bokeh Line.  Our winners, Chelle and Dave, were a blast to work with and the shoot  fit their fun and quirky relationship perfectly.  You can read all about their submission HERE.

 

blanket-fort-chicago

 

ENTER TO WIN A FREE STYLIZED ENGAGEMENT SESSION!

To enter, stop by Naturally Yours Events’ booth at Indie Wed on February 2nd. Or if you can’t make it to Indie Wed, you can enter HERE – contest closes Saturday, February 9th. We’re asking for the normal stuff – your names, wedding date, a way to contact you if you win, and we want to hear your love story (i.e. how you met, how’d you pop the question, or what’s the most unique/interesting thing about your relationship?). With this information we can really customize a unique engagement session to fit your style.

_MG_1400

 

We got to know Chelle and Dave and found that they are truly kids at heart. Many of their dates and most memorable moments (like when Chelle and Dave got stuck in the rain under a viaduct on their second date) involved picnicking near Lake Michigan. So, we took the idea of a picnic a step further as they built a “home” out of blankets, right off Lake Michigan complete with skyline views – and spaceship sheets!

_MG_1232 _MG_1371-Edit _MG_1471 _MG_6954 _MG_1419-Edit

 

Vendors for Chelle and Dave’s shoot:

coordination + styling: Naturally Yours Events // photography: Tuan H. Bui Photographer // videography: Bokeh Line // desserts: Fritz Pastry // hair + makeup: Saleha and Safaa with Alluring Artistry

 

Fine Print:

  • Enter to win by visiting Naturally Yours Events’ booth at Indie Wed on February 2nd or HERE
  • This contest closes February 9th
  • Winners will be announced by February 16th
  • Winners will meet with Sponsors by for their consultation session
  • Only one entry per couple
  • You must be 18 years or older and engaged to enter
  • You must not have booked your photographer or wedding planner yet (we don’t want to step on any toes)
  • You live in or near Chicago, or are willing to travel to Chicago for your engagement shoot
January 29, 2013 By
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0 In Jewelry

JewelMint

Recently some folks over at a site called JewelMint contacted me about getting involved with Indie Wed.  When I looked into the site more, I thought it was pretty interesting.  JewelMint started in 2010 as a collaboration between actress Kate Bosworth, and celebrity stylist, Cher Coulter.  It is actually one of the brands owned by BeachMint. Their 6 brands also include Justin Timberlake’s HomeMint and Rachel Bilson’s ShoeMint.  

JewelMint Logo

Each of these sites are meant to be a more personalized online shopping experience tailored to your tastes and style.  They are also a type of membership/subscription service.  When you join JewelMint, you take a quick quiz that determines your style profile.  From there you are shown selections that match your style profile.  You can choose from necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more.  All pieces are created specifically for JewelMint and can’t be purchased anywhere else.  Better yet, everything on the site is $29.99.  Each month a new collection is released.  All the pieces are limited editions so if you see something you like, snap it up or it might sell out.

At the beginning of the month, if you don’t like any of the selections, you can just skip that month with a click of your mouse.  If you forget to ‘skip the month’ you do get charged a $29.99 fee but that turns into a credit you can use later.  However, if you decide it isn’t for you, you can cancel your membership with a simple email or phone call.  Easy peasy.

Looking at the site I found several pieces that I thought could be lovely bridal pieces for a more modern gal.  Then there is the rehearsal dinner, honeymoon, bridesmaid gifts and so on.  Really you could take care of your entire accessories ‘wardrobe’ in one fell swoop.

Now what does this have to do with Indie Wed?  Well the folks at JewelMint are so sure that our guests will love their jewelry that they are sending us a big box chock full of gift cards to hand out at Indie Wed.  We will be passing them out all day to attendees as they enter the show!  Hooray.  So what is better that stylish and affordable jewelry?  Stylish and free jewelry!  Yet one more reason to head on over to Indie Wed this coming Saturday.

January 28, 2013 By
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