Printed at Minted

I think every bride has an element to her wedding about which she becomes a little obsessed.  A little --shall we say bridezilla? -- about. Mine right now is invitations. I feel like I can make no further decisions about the wedding until I find the perfect invitation. So I've been cruising the internet (a lot.)

For moderately priced invites, Minted has my favorite collection of Cape Cod wedding-appropriate invitations. Here's a few:

{ Find them all on Minted. }

Obviously these are all beach-y, but the inventory runs the gamut to include traditional/vintage/contemporary/etc.

Destination: Paper

Full time job, full-time wedding planning does an abandoned little blog make.
Thankfully Amanda Zoss of Zoss Design emailed me the cutest Cape Cod-inspired wedding invitations to put Shoreside Bride back on track and heading for Destination: Paper. Where I may stay for this whole week.

{ Find them here. Thanks for sharing Amanda! }

How quickly will your guests' minds go from "Opening the Mail on a regular Monday" to "Awesome Destination Wedding on a Cape Cod Beach!" when they open this little number? Just looking at the seagulls and the dune fence makes me feel like I'm on vacation.

Cape Cod Wedding Venue: The Pelham House

The Pelham House in Dennis Port is one of those venerable (cue Patti Page) "You're sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod" resorts of yesteryear. It's not very luxurious, it's not terribly glamorous, but is has a certain quaint charm that, for many, says "Cape Cod" like nothing else.

And best of all, it is perched right on Nantucket Sound and the grand lawn overlooking the beach can accommodate a tent for up to 200 people.

 

There's a little beach for a feet-in-the-sand ceremony

Not too shabby a view, right?

Unlike many outdoor tented venues on the Cape, the Pelham House has parking, guest lodging, indoor restrooms, and electricity. They also allow weddings to go a bit later than many outdoor facilities.

Really, the Pelham House has got it going on. Check it out if you're still looking for a venue! 

 

These photos courtesy Shoreside Bride; check out some professional ones at Boston Hearts Weddings or from K Photographie. 

Eight Maids a Milking, Seven Starfish Hanging, Six Geese a Laying...

Err, no. Not quite the song. But me likey these starfish ornaments and thought they warranted a song.

Tie pretty little nametags to them (in silver or gold calligraphy), hang them from a Christmas tree, and aren't they just a darlin' Cape Cod Christmas Wedding escort card? 

{Is everyone trawling Etsy like I am for Christmas presents?!? 

These are from Etsy seller Hen And Chick 

but maybe could be a DIY project? } 

Happy Veterans Day

To all the men and women who serve: Thanks.

{ Really. Can a man in uniform be any more handsome? }

Tuesday Shoesday: Holy Turquoise

See them there? On the bike?

Now up close:

{ Rachel of Millie Holloman Photography via Southern Weddings }

Inject a pop of Turquoise (the Pantone 2010 Color of the Year) into a Shoreside wedding? Yes, please.

(Plus, love the bicycle built for two, the short dress, the beachy background...Yes, this is pretty much the most perfect picture ever.)

Relax

{ Completely Coastal }

The past few days I've been talking a lot with a mother of the bride, who is very anxious about her daughter's upcoming wedding. They are just about a week away and are furiously trying to tie up loose ends. It's all small things, really, but in the few days before your wedding, everything seems of such dire importance.

I've pointed them toward places to get a few of the things they still need to buy, made some suggestions on the timeline, helped track down a vendor or two.

But the most important thing I think I've told them is this: Relax. It's all going to be fine.

Did you know September is the busiest month for weddings on Cape Cod? Understandably so. The craziness of the tourist season has passed, but the weather is still great.  There's a lot of September brides out there, so I'll tell you all, too: Relax. It's all going to be fine.

Use Labor Day weekend, so fast approaching, to take time off of work -- the work of planning a wedding. Go on a little pre-honeymoon. Do the thing you've been meaning to do all summer but haven't had the time. Or sit your butt in chair and gaze out at the ocean.

And relax. It's all going to be fine.
 

Love at the Beach

An engagement session on the beach courtesy of Forget Me Knot Weddings and photographer Lisa Devlin.

Charming little setup

For a Shoreside tea party

Or for gazing out at the ocean

Followed by a walk

And a little beach graffiti

These engagement sessions with their adorably styled vignettes and super-cute props seem so relaxed, candid and fun.  It seems like a good idea for someone (um, me) who does not at all like having her picture taken to be distracted from the pressure of posing for pretty photos.

Vintage Engagement Session

Hope everyone had a great weekend! To start off this week - a vintage engagement session on the beach courtesy of Ruffled. Go, Go Gidget.

 { Sarah E. Evans via Ruffled }

Tuesday Shoesday

Again, a little reminder: Fancy heels are hazardous at the beach.
Beach = barefoot.

{ Ozzy Garcia for Once Wed }