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...It's A Similar Feeling, Isn't It?

Here's to finding the perfect place to see the fireworks this weekend...

(Photo credit: Ben Chrisman Photography)

(Photo credit: Dan Power Photography)

(Photo credit: Fandango by Sandy Hill)

Love and thanks to our heros for fighting for us, for peace and for our country...God bless! Wishing you all a very happy & safe holiday. Any 4th of July brides out there?

...How Will You Light Your Night?

I find it so cool how something as simple as lighting can change the look of your wedding! To go from this...

To this...

To this...

(Photo credits: Birch Design Studio, Chicago)

Think about it. Lighting has always been used to "set the mood", so why not set the mood for your guests? Turn your venue from drab to fab by lighting several candles all around, sticking different color lights in the corners of the room, under tables, inside centerpieces or by replacing bulbs with black lights! Whoa.

Talk to your venue or wedding planner and discuss different options for lighting to achieve the look you want. Instead of spending a ton of money on flowers and wedding decor, save your dough and switch out some bulbs. Could it be so easy? You'll never know unless you ask, right? Any event planners or wedding vendors out there that could give brides helpful tips on lighting? If so please do comment and share!

...Oh Yes, She Did! Vegas Style, Baby!

You can imagine my excitement when I found out that Barbie got married again, only this time it was a fabulous Las Vegas wedding!

Hmm. Sometimes I lose track of how many times Barbie has gotten married, especially with the amount times she said her "vows" at my house when I was little! Keeping track of Barbie's nuptials is like keeping track of Ericka Kane's on All My Children. Sheesh! Nonetheless, I love Barbie. Always have, always will. I'm a true Barbie girl at heart, without the blonde hair.

Congratulations to the happy couple! Hopefully this time her and Ken get it right. Especially after I heard about her bachelorette party at The Palms Resort in Las Vegas! Rumor has it that's where it was held and that it got pretty wild. Oh, dear. Barbie, what are we going to do about you? Party with you? Ok, I'm in!

Have you heard the other exciting news? You can now party with Barbie in her brand new Barbie Suite at The Palms! Barbie is movin' on up in the world and has transferred some of her things from her Malibu home (location of Barbie's 50th Birthday Bash) to her new diggs in Vegas. Designed by interior designer Jonathan Adler, it's "the ultimate bachelorette pad"!

"Featuring custom details that celebrate Barbie's pink panache, such as skirted, corseted, lace-up “dress” chairs, a sunburst mirror made from 65 Barbie® dolls and custom wall coverings in Barbie’s signature patterns, this suite lets guests live it up in true Barbie style! Guests can also enjoy relaxing in an extra-large Jacuzzi tub, get cozy in front of a two-way fire place and take in amazing views of the Las Vegas strip." - The Palms Resort & Casino

(Photo credits: Barbie: All Doll'd Up & The Palms Resort & Casino)

To see more pictures of this gorgeous new Barbie Suite at The Palms in Las Vegas, become a fan of Barbie: All Doll'd Up on Facebook and be sure to check out Barbie's Blog too! Book your Barbie bachelorette party by visiting The Palms Resort & Casino website. You're in for a treat!

On a tight budget? I totally understand. Not all of us can just pick up any day and fly to Vegas like Barbie can! No worries, my friend Jennifer Opsahl, event planner behind Hello Bella Events in Vancouver, BC recently featured a Barbie Bridal Shower Barbie-que she did to help inspire you...

(Photo credits: Hello Bella Events)

To see more pictures from this event, check out Jennifer's lovely blog! Enjoy...

...It's Truly Magical!

This week, the lovely Polkadot Bride featured a wedding that I just have to, have to, have to share! Imagine walking into a wedding as magical as this one...adorned with 1,001 carefully folded, whimsical paper cranes. Get starry-eyed with me...

"Paper cranes became the overwhelming theme of the reception. From the minute they got engaged, Chelsea started folding 1001 paper cranes. The pair knew they would have an extended engagement (18 months) and Chelsea wanted to fold the cranes as a symbol of her patience and endurance to Mark. Once she’d finished the cranes, she started creating the other projects- invitations, favors, programs and more!" - Miss Polka, of Polkadot Bride

(Photo credits: photography by Renee Brazel via Polkadot Bride)

If that's not patience, I don't know what is. I cannot imagine folding that many paper cranes. Not 1,000 - but 1,001. I mean, the poor bride had to have gotten paper cuts galore, wouldn't you think? Ouch! Hey - no matter, it was worth it...their wedding turned out to be probably one of most extraordinary weddings I've ever seen. Wow.

Fear not, my fine-feathered friends, it doesn't end with these photos! To see more from this wedding, visit Polkadot Bride by clicking HERE. Enjoy!

Because Pink, It Was Love At First Site!

Brides, are you inspired by music? Maybe you feel like a song was written just for you even though a million other people might feel the same way! What if you used those inspiring lyrics from your favorite songs to help plan your wedding? One that comes to mind is the song "Pink" by Aerosmith. Oh yes, you know I'm a fan!

(Photo credits ~ Top: Flickr lilacvelvet, 2nd Row: Flickr, Flickr the other tiger, Bridal Affairs Blog, Bottom: Flickr Andicat, David's Bridal dress via Brides.com, Heather Louise Photography Heather Louise Photography)

For this inspiration board dreamed up thanks to my love for Aerosmith, I vision a retro loving rock and roll bride who loves all things pink. Maybe she incorporates pink into her wedding decor, wedding flowers or bridal gown!

(Photo credits: Blooms By Martha Andrews, Alison Ulshoffer Events)

Pink white-chocolate covered cherries are served as dessert or favors. Instead of bubbles, guests are given pink kites to fly or helium balloons to dance in the wind.

(Photo credits: Flickr jek in the box, Team Thomson Photography)

The sidewalks leading up to the wedding reception are graffitied with words in hot pink chalk, sharing lyrics of their favorite couple songs. Even better, this rock and roll bride uses the sidewalk as her wedding guestbook which guests can sign with the chalk! Come on - how cool would that be? Maybe you can't take a sidewalk home with you, but you can surely have your photographer take a picture of it to later frame and remember forever!

(Photo credits ~ ceceyy Flickr, Erin's Camera Blog, im on tambourine Flickr, rahxy Flickr)

Pink.

(Photo credits: Aerosmith, beth retro {break} Flickr)

Happy planning!

...The Original Torn Out Picture From The Magazine, I Found It!

All this time blogging I've been wanting to play a lil' show and tell like so many of you other brides out there and now I finally can! Want to see what yours truly wore on her wedding day back on April 4, 2003?

This dress by Mon Cheri...

Yep ~ I found my wedding dress again, tonight while looking through my scrapbook. I'd forgotten where I had put it! After finding it, I was as excited as when I first found it a little over 7 years ago! This is it, the exact picture I had torn out of the bridal magazine and folded up to show my friends. I still love it to this day.

Aaahhh, memories - do any of you plan on keeping any little wedding keepsakes leading up to your big day? If so, do share!

...But She's Not Gettin' 'Em!

Sorry, Cinderella, you'll have to wait to get your shoes until I can find out who on this planet sells them! For now, at least we can enjoy drooling gazing at these modern day fairytale lovelies...

(Photo credits: via Vintage Glam Weddings, photo by Jen Stewart Photography)

See the neat vintage wedding these shoes belong to by clicking HERE! The Cinderella wedding was held at a movie theater - you've got to check it out!

Celebrate With Me The Official Launch Of The Newly Redesigned "It's A Jaime Thing"!

We've finally launched, welcome to the new site! To celebrate (because I'm super excited!) the launch of my newly redesigned blog, my friend Stephanie from Geezees and I have teamed up to bring you one very fabulous giveaway!

Stephanie's custom canvas designs are the perfect way to display your love to each other, whether it be in the form of your wedding picture, an old love letter, your wedding vows, a poem or lyrics to your favorite song!

In love with this idea? Me too! Scroll down for details on how to win your very own Geezees custom canvas and more!

Let Geezees create a wedding gift for your favorite couple, a sentimental token of friendship for your maid of honor, a cherished gift for an expecting mom or any other special person in your life. These would also make excellent anniversary gifts!

Wouldn't it be nice to have your very own piece of custom canvas art? Well here's your chance, my dears! Ready for the details?

Stephanie has generously offered to give a custom designed canvas to one very lucky winner! This lucky-ducky winner will get to choose between a 9x12 Custom Canvas With Words & A Photo or an 8x14 Custom Canvas With Words!

Guess what else? Because she's so incredibly sweet, she's going to give a second runner up a Geezees $10 gift certificate that they can use towards their own online purchase at Geezees.com! On top of that, she's offering a 5% discount to readers throughout the duration of the giveaway! This giveaway is open to U.S. readers only (I'm sorry!) and will end at midnight CST on Friday, July 24, 2009.

***Just a note*** We like to keep it friendly and clean here, so be nice! Any negative comments posted will not be published and will not count as an entry. To keep it fair and drama free, winners will be chosen via a random generator. The first winner picked by the generator will be announced as the grand prize winner shortly after the closing date. Both winners will be notified by email and will have to claim their prize by contacting me within one month. If the prize is not claimed within that time period, a new winner will be chosen.

To enter, you must simply LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST (only one entry per person please)telling us how you might design your custom canvas if you are chosen as the winner! Share your vows, a favorite poem, song - whatever it is. Need inspiration? Take a peek at Stephanie's creative Geezees blog! Some comments might even be featured on the blog to give other brides inspiration for their own weddings!

Get creative, have fun & spread the word. Good luck and of course, thank you so much for reading!

...Inspired By Indian Culture!

Vibrant colors, luscious details, the long celebration of Indian Weddings that can last up to days...I'm in awe! Every time I see pictures from one of these gorgeous celebrations, I wonder - who couldn't be inspired by the beauty of it all?

(Photo credits: Birch Design, brides via Wedding Sutra)

To see more Indian inspired wedding inspiration and get help planning, visit my guest blog post from this week on OneWed.com by clicking HERE. Cheers!

...Where The Inspiration Stops, Nobody Knows!

It's been inspiration overload lately and with the new blog launch I've been busy trying to get everything in order. Now that everything is coming together, I thought I'd share a little blog love along with some fun ideas and exciting bridal news! Let's catch up with some wedding coffee talk, shall we?

(Photo credit: picture via OutsaPop, Coffee filter/tea bag dress created by Angela Bright)

Brewing Bridal News...

Wedded Bits finds a cool way to inspire your dress shopping: Follow your favorite dress designers on Twitter!

You can also follow us on twitter at @brides and @itsajaimething for even more updates and bridal news! Take the conversation even further by joining me on Bridal Tweet by clicking HERE.

OneWed.com celebrates the launch of their Engagement & Wedding Ring Gallery with the Platinum Guild International Contest challenging brides to "POP a Platinum Proposal" and win $4,500 in platinum wedding bands designed by Kirk Kara! Contest ends July 15th, so hurry!

Another sweet Chicago neighbor, Trendsetting Wedding offers tips on how to get complimentary night at Trump Hotel New York, Chicago and Las Vegas for your honeymoon! Chicago Cubs baseball fans? Consider a Wrigley Field engagement session.

Planning a Chicago wedding? Check out my guest blog on OneWed.com's Savvy Scoop Blog and let your love for the "Windy City" inspire you with my Chicago themed wedding ideas!

(Photo credits: via Chitown Bride by Studio This Is)

Looking to update your wedding blog or website? My good friend Prima Donna Bride just launched her lovely new blog this week. She's giving brides and vendors the chance to do the same with a custom site by That Window! For details on how to enter, click HERE. You have until June 26th, good luck!

Fall in love with this silhouette themed wedding idea over at the fresh new Bridal Inquirer!

In the (bridal) market for some sexy, unique garters for your wedding day? Julianne Smith has recently launched a fabulous new line of frillies you're going to love!

Grab some first dance inspiration by watching Dancing With Brides, then vote for your favorite couple!

Worried about planning your wedding while the economy is down? See if the recession is affecting wedding guests and their decision to accept or decline wedding invites. You'd be surprised!

(Photo via Bridal Inquirer by Cut Arts)

JOMYGOODNESS + One Cool Girl = Fabulousness. Check it out.

My friend Missy over at Isn't She Lovely said "I Do" this weekend!!! Visit her creative wedding blog if you have the time and send her happy wishes - congratulations, Missy & Chad!

Intimate Weddings is bringing back handwritten notes in a modern way! She even shares with us how to turn your handwriting into your very own font!

Choose the perfect way to display your placecards via my guest blog on the Wishpot.com Wedding Blog! While you're there, see my outfit choices for an affordable yet stylish summer (I had bachelorette party in the back of my head the whole time, of course).

California brides who live near the Sacramento or San Francisco Bay area (or those who are willing to travel there), get ready to get excited! The darling Kat over at Rock 'n Roll Bride is hosting a contest where one lucky couple will win a Tinywater Photo Shoot!!! Closing date for entries is July 6th.

(Photo credits: via Rock 'n Roll Bride by Tinywater)

So tell me, what's inspiring you this week? Happy planning!