REAL SIMPLE WEDDINGS 2010

so my copy of Real Simple Weddings 2010 arrived last week. i always look forward to this time of year... RSW has a tendency to make me smile. and this year's issue did not disappoint.

of course it has all the usual: timelines, etiquette guides, dress shapes for every body. ok, you can see those coming from a mile away. they're necessary. so what else does this issue have to offer than the usual wedding mag?

well, to start: lovely photographs with great ideas to pull from for your mood board/wedding scrapbook/idea folder. color schemes to help the tonally challenged. less on the cakes and flowers, more on the concepts. and a handy pullout guide in the back with all of the tips, tricks, and charts you'll need when you're ready to put the magazine down.

there are so many great, quirky weddings in this issue, which i really appreciate. it's so hard to find a showcase for different and wonderful ideas in wedding magazines. my fave was the very colorful event that was lola and adam's wedding (pages 66-67). the bride wore purple and orange! the groom wore a purple suit and top hat! the favors were custom playing cards with butcher images on them! (FYI, the groom is a butcher. don't freak out.) i wanted to party with these people! i think they live in brooklyn too. hmmmm...

handkerchief invitation above by bird and banner.

finally, i was so happy with the invitation ideas showcased this year. from handkerchiefs -- an idea favored by designsponge's grace bonney -- to custom-illustrated invites, there were truly some lovely and fanciful pieces featured. as critical as i can be about always seeing the same-old, same-old, it literally made me smile to see some of my most innovative colleagues published.

so, my lovelies, run out and get yourself a copy of Real Simple Weddings 2010. it gets my seal of approval... for what it's worth. =D

more info at realsimple.com.