Tips for Making your Wedding YOU

This guest post comes from one of our #hollicon partners Chelsea at Crazy Love Studios. She's amazing! The end. Hope you enjoy! —Holli Anne

It’s the little things.

Looking for some ways to add some personal touches, character and whimsy to your wedding, but not too sure where to start?

When working on projects for your big day, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Keep it simple, yet creative. Some things may be worth a few extra minutes in the long run, but others aren’t. Weigh your options and focus on the least invasive projects or even have them made for you if they are just too cool to pass up. “DIY” is no longer something you actually have to do yourself! It has become a well sought-after style that has brought about many talented artists and creatives whose main focus is making awesome things---for you!

• Be yourself. Don’t do something that’s trending if it’s not your style. It will be obvious on the day of the wedding if your “look” is not cohesive and just a big mess of what you thought were “awesome” Pinterest projects. Stay true to your own style and create meaningful details based on what is important to you and your fiance.

• Form and function. Make sure what you are creating makes sense with the “big picture.” You are wanting to create smaller vignettes of inspiration inside the overall “feel” of the wedding day festivities.

Below are a few of our favorite picks from some of our weddings that are sure to spark your creativity!





1. Rustic centerpieces. We love that even though this wedding reception was indoors, the couple brought in rustic outdoor elements. The simplicity of the glass jar and candles with the slice of a tree stump beneath creates an elegant centerpiece. Oh, and how could we forget the adorable “I Spy” game that the maid of honor created for the bride as well. (Lesson: Use your people! They want to help!)

2. Memory locket. The bride’s father had passed away, but she wanted to have him close to her on her wedding day and walk her down the aisle. What a sweet, simple gesture!

3. Invites and stationery. It’s a great idea to showcase all of the wonderful stationery you have created for your wedding to document the event. We ask our brides to bring an invite to make sure it is included in the day’s photographs.

4. The bouquet. Make it your own. This was actually a simple bouquet we used for the bridal portraits, but we always love seeing what everyone does! We have seen buttons, brooches, paper, you name it. This is a great place to showcase your personality!

5. Favors. Aren’t these just the cutest? Each guest at this wedding was gifted their very own jar of homemade muscadine jam. It was a practical take-away that also added a fun southern flair of decor since they were brightly colored and displayed in large wire baskets.

6. Food. You don’t have to break the bank to have great tasting and adorable treats for your guests to get their fill of. How adorable are the mason jars filled with sweet tea and topped with little kraft tags? Who wouldn’t want to bite into that jelly-filled, southern-baked biscuit deliciousness? At this wedding the bride and groom’s families rallied together to create a sort of down-home potluck with all types of treats, both savory and sweet.

7. Faith and beliefs. This is a major part of the wedding day to many couples and this one made a nod to the father of the bride by using his own treasured bible filled with family memories to tie the rings to for the ceremony.

8. Boiled peanuts. Sorry, but I just had to include this one! It was also a great take-away for the couple’s southern wedding and folks literally just ate them up! The packaging is what I found adorable. The simple mason jars were stacked on a table, but since they are glass and you were able to see the contents, it added to the decor of their fall wedding.

9. Boutonnieres. (aka “man flowers”) Don’t skimp on the swag for your man’s getup. This couple went with a simple piece of cotton from a nearby field for this southern, fall wedding. It was a perfect touch to the rest of the decor without overdoing it. Besides, who doesn’t love cotton in the south, yall?

To find more of this awesome, check out Crazy Love Studios Website. If you have more questions on personal touches to your wedding, tweet us #hollicon.

Project 365: Day 65

It's stupid how pumped I am about this little box I made with recycled cardboard. It's only the beginnings of a set of presents for #hollicon and I just can't wait!

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Project 365: Days 59 - 64

#hollicon is almost here. I'm writing a book. I just moved to Florida. I'm DIYing my caboose off.

Are these okay to use as excuses for why I fell behind on 365 again?

Here is a catch up post!

So, if you follow my Instagram, you've already seen most of these pictures. Also, if you're a nerdface for Sims 3 then I suggest you follow me! I've been geeking out to the newest expansion! Today's picture actually comes from in-game play. I MAY have made a blog called Almost There in my sim's game. It's fine, right?

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

DIY: Bridesmaids Tote Bags

I probably shouldn't post these, considering they are gifts for my bridesmaids, but I just can't help myself. Plus, I'm filling these DIY tote bags with surprise goodies, so I'm not giving EVERYTHING away. 

I got the idea for doing these from this pin. While I wanted to give my sweet friends a nice present, I just felt too much pressure in trying to pick out jewelry for everyone that they would like. 

Plus, I have a healthy obsession with tote bags and thought my closest friends just might be into them, as well. 

So this DIY is simple. All you need:

• Blank Tote Bags (sold at craft stores)
• Paint (I used acrylic, but fabric paint would also work)
• Paint Brushes

There are many ways to paint these. You could buy or make stencils. I actually attempted to make a stencil heart, but decided that was too much pressure for me also.

I like my crafts to look handmade and slightly imperfect, so I just went for it.

When I was deciding what to paint on there, I wanted to keep it themed around love, but I didn't want it to say bridesmaid. Love lasts forever, but being a bridesmaid is a one-day ordeal!

I definitely have some plans to make more tote bags after the wedding settles and my nesting begins. I despise plastic bags from grocery stores and the ways they creep up in my house and start invading, so this seems like a good option. 

Anyone else out there obsessed with tote bag decorating?

—Holli Anne

Currently Digging: Elegantly Wasted

Fun fact: Before I created Almost There I was going to create a book review website. Why? Well, if you know me then you know I'm obsessed with reading and writing. I have so many books it's ridiculous (and wonderful)! Reading is simply the thing I love to do the most. I have hundreds of books, a Nook (I call her Nookina), and a Kindle (though, my father has kidnapped her for traveling).

So, to summarize: I LOVE READING!

I'm always on the search for a new book to captivate me--a book that has a plot that's interesting, characters that are original, and writing that is smooth. Now, so far I've stayed away from doing book reviews/recommendations on Almost There but I'm breaking that rule today.

Today I want to convince you that you need to read Elegantly Wasted. Not only read it but fall in delicious, naughty love with it like I did.




Elegantly Wasted is written by C. Elizabeth Vescio, a woman who literally made me laugh out loud and yell "Oh shit!" while reading her book in bed. Her site's About page would have been enough to make me buy her book on spot had I not already found it. This woman is a "Jack of all trades and stereotypical black sheep" who uses phrases like "huge douche canoe." If that wasn't enough to grab my interest, the fact that takes her life inspirations from Neil Gaiman, Julia Child and Paul Simon certainly did. I'm big on Neil Gaiman. (Neverwhere made me fall for him.) I could babble some more about this woman I've never met but I'll direct you here to read more about her.

Now, I want to make one thing very clear here: if you don't have a sense of humor, if you flinch at profanity, if the idea of killing people as a profession makes you get down on your knees and immediately start praying, then perhaps you should stay away from this written gold. However, if you like strong women, exciting plots, mental instability and families that are most likely more messed up than your's, buy this book.

If you think this book is too much for you but you have a love for 50 Shades then SHAME. This book has layers. This book has feeling (and lack thereof). This book has family values, even if they are a little off.

Here's the overview that can be found here on Vescio's site:

“Just because I kill people, doesn’t mean I’m a bad person...” 

On the eve of her high school graduation, proper socialite Francesca “Frankie” Fairholm rebelled against her elitist and controlling family to pursue the dark lifestyle of a contract killer for the enigmatic Osiris Corporation. Years later, with her training complete, she believes she's doomed to the life of a sociopathic lone gun until a botched hit brings two unlikely allies, her cousins Addison and Katharine. 

Using Katharine’s etiquette school, Elegance, Inc., as a front, the trio weave through Frankie’s dark underworld, carrying out contracts, drinking too much wine, and trying not to get each other killed. 

Trouble follows the team home when the death of the cruel Fairholm matriarch reveals more than they ever wanted to know about their family. As the funeral preparations play out, the trio begin to realize there is much more to their employer than meets the eye and their family connections run deeper than they ever imagined. 

To read the first chapter go here.

Let me go ahead and stop those of you who think that it may sound cheesy. Read the first chapter and realize that it's fun and intriguing. Hell, buy the book on Nook or Kindle. It's only $3.99.

Elegantly Wasted is a wild, drunk, medicated, murderous, fun ride and I can't wait for the second one. It showed me a family that I could relate to and made me realize that I may have just a hint of a darker side in me. 

You want to read a great book with an unconventional yet great leading lady? Elegantly Wasted is right up your alley.

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Making a Wedding Day Emergency Kit

The following post is a guest post from one of our #hollicon affiliates, Moniek James-

Eldridge. Moniek is an event planner at Distinctive Soirees. You can find her on her Website here. 

So, you big day is here. You’ve been stressed to your highest potential and have had several bumps along the road, but the day is finally here. Your wedding day.

You finally have a moment to take  deep breath and imagine what it will be like when you say, ‘I do, and your thoughts suddenly are interrupted by a the sound of your flower girl crying because she’s fallen and now has a run in her stockings, followed by your maid of honor complaining that her shoes are going to give her a blister, and you just heard that one of the groomsmen has spilled his last-minute meatball sub down the front of his tuxedo shirt. Congratulations!

Fortunately, you have a well-stocked wedding day emergency kit on hand, thanks to your planner. Crises averted. For the brides that need to make sure they are prepared for the worst, below are your must-have items for wedding day emergencies:

• 1.     Full sewing kit – in the event of a loose button or split seam
• 2.     Clear nail polish – stop runs in their tracks
• 3.     White chalk –  to mask stains
• 4.     Moleskin – for blisters
• 5.     Bandages – last minute alterations can be dangerous
• 6.     Pain reliever – for the Drama Queen, er, maid of honor
• 7.     Nail polish in your shade – freshen up your manicure
• 8.     Double sided tape – for wardrobe malfunctions
• 9.     Adhesive hem tape – stop loose hems in a snap
• 10.  Snacks/antacid – nausea doesn’t look good on anyone

There you have it. With these tools at your disposal you can take on anything that comes your way on your big day, and have time to tuck your cape in and be cool, calm, and beautiful as you walk down the aisle.

HAPPY WEDDING ;-)

If you have any wedding planning questions you don't see here, Tweet us at #hollicon and we'll answer you on the blog! —Holli Anne

Ways to Save on Wedding Invitations + Some Fun Designs

I realized earlier today that I've never blogged about our wedding invitations, which does seem a little crazy considering you are ALL invited to our wedding via instagram (#hollicon). 

Our wedding invitations were one of our big money savers. Also, they are one of my favorite details, generally. I love that slab serif font, our colors and definitely the style of it all. 

I think it does a great job of showing our guests what kind of event they'll be attending. 

They were designed by my fiance, Joseph Melancon, which obviously helped us save some cash. An even bigger bonus is that he works at a print shop, so we were able to get the invitations at cost.

We used red envelopes, which I ordered from Wiregrass Weddings, one of our #hollicon partners. 

While everyone might not have the luxury of an in-house graphic designer or the close-connection to a print shop, I do think there are some key things we did that could help everyone save money on invitation costs. 

1. Keep it simple

One page, front and back. We investigated doing some awesome foldout invitations with lots and lots of fun cards and information. They are definitely awesome. But not only will the design and printing cost more for a big package, but the shipping will, too. The heavier the envelope, the more likely just one stamp won't be enough. 

2. Electronic RSVPs

We debated over doing things the old-fashioned way and including a stamped response card and then we decided not to do that. Why? Many of my married friends tell me they never get them back in the mail anyway. So, while it's nice to support the post office and all, we opted with the e-mail, phone call RSVP option. Yes, I did have to track down some people in the end, but so have all my friends who included response cards. If I were doing it over again, I would have done things exactly the same way.

3. Price scout

Definitely consider the different services you need and shop around. Go with quality and find somewhere that matches that price-wise. (I, of course endorse Wiregrass Weddings). But I also endorse doing a little research and penny pinching. It may take a little more time to save money on your wedding, but this tip should translate to ALL your wedding details if you want to keep that bottom line low. 

4. Avoid fancy

Don't confuse this with me saying "avoid classy." There's a lot that can make even formal invitations look sharp. But, when you want to pinch pennies, stay away from hand-drawn calligraphy (or hand-drawn anything) and letterpress. There are ways to get similar looks by using graphics and in some printing techniques. 

There are plenty more ways to save, but I'm not going to pretend to be a print expert either. These were just the elements we used in keeping our costs down and would have especially used if we didn't have the print shop connection.

Do you have any other wedding invitation questions? Tweet to #hollicon or comment below and we'll get you an answer!

—Holli Anne