The Papered Nest has designed a collection of party items with a cheery feel that offer a stylish canvas to build on.

These bright and colourful hand-crafted products, created by two talented California women with a passion for party planning, could spark a host of ideas around which you can plan your big day.

We love the cheery feel of the party styling kits and we can’t stop smiling over quaint accents like the mini cupcake stands, and mason jars with stamped pewter lids (fill these with colourful jellybeans or small lollies to make charming wedding favors). Also, the oh-so-lovely hand dyed paper doilies are sheer heaven.

Each party styling kit contains everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind partyscape and includes the following hand-crafted and selected items:

1 X Favor Bag Kit (includes 12 kraft window favor bags, 12 yds of Divine Twine, and 12 coloured 1.5” scalloped circle “Thank You” tags)

12 X Striped paper straws

12 X Striped greaseproof cupcake liners

6 X “Yum” cupcake picks

6 X Food flags

12 X Treat sticks

5 yds Coloured 5/8″ ribbon

5 yds White 3/8″ ribbon

12 X Scalloped food tags

1 Drink Kit (includes 12 yds Coloured Divine Twine and 12 coloured 1.5″ scalloped circle “Cheers” tags)

6 X Coloured 10″ Hand Dyed Paper Doilies

Personalizing your The Papered Nest wedding accessories is easy too. Drink tags, favor bag tags, and cutlery can be stamped with “yum”, “cheers”, “thank you”, or “enjoy”! You can also purchase a personalized stamp and mark your wedding accessories with your names, wedding date, or even an affectionate message. The Papered Nest party kits are also available to accommodate guest lists of eight, 10, and 12, and they’ll work with you on custom orders of any size.

They’re perfect for engagement parties too!

{Images via The Papered Nest}

We recently discovered Turtle Love Company and we have to say that we were instantly smitten. They’re a mindful retailer of artisan jewellery, with all pieces designed by independent artists and handcrafted in ways that are attentive towards our planet and its people. We love that this company puts TLC (tender loving care) into everything they do!

We know that when the majority of people think of engagement rings and wedding bands that they don’t normally think of artisan-crafted jewellery. Yet, Turtle Love Company offers a wide range of casual handcrafted rings and jewellery, all beautiful and unique, their engagement and wedding rings might just surprise you.

Here are a few of our favourites:

River Rocks Diamond Ring – Handcrafted by Adel Chefridi, the Unity Diamond Wedding Ring is made of satin finish 18k gold set with multiple 3.5mm diamonds. Each diamond dazzles on its own from its perch in solid gold, but together they form a complete and balanced whole celebrating the beauty of a harmonious union.

Synergy Diamond Ring – The playing of two different musical themes often creates something more meaningful and powerful than just the melodies: a song. The Synergy Diamond Ring by Laura Serrafero symbolizes the union that is greater, through the bond of love, than the sum of its individual parts. This uncomplicated yet elegant ring is handcrafted using 14k satin-finish gold and a conflict free 2mm diamond.

Sapphire Stackable Engagement Rings – These heavenly engagement rings are crafted with satin-finish 18k gold by Adel Chefridi. The 4mm blue sapphire, exquisite in depth and brilliance, is bezel-set atop a 3mm band, and is made to stack with the Pink Sapphire Engagement Ring.

Dryad Three Black Diamond Engagement Ring – The Dryad Three Black Diamond Engagement Ring is made using recycled sterling silver and conflict-free diamonds, and it is handcrafted by Heather Perry. The three black diamonds shine out from the band like windows into the spirit of a tree, and the marked band reflects the beautiful imperfection of the natural world.

Delicate Nest Diamond Engagement Ring Set – This gorgeous engagement ring is handcafted by Michele Scholnick. The 5.5mm sterling silver “nest” cups a 1.75mm conflict-free diamond. The precious metal, gleaming with a delicate brushed finish, gorgeously compliments the brilliant sparkle of the SI2 quality, GH colour diamond.

Gold Diamond Wedding Band- This sublime diamond band is crafted by Adel Chefridi. The lush satin-finish 18k gold is a beautiful background for the bright diamonds, arranged in a geometrical pattern around the 3mm band.

Turtle Love Company engagement and wedding rings come in a range of styles and prices to suit every couple. Plus, their selection of seriously breathtaking wedding jewellery is all conflict-free and hand-crafted.

Turtle Love Company ships to the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. For further details, click here.

{Images via Turtle Love Company}

Who’s Gemvara? Gemvara is a jeweller, but not your run-of-the-mill traditional jeweller. They have the crazy idea that you deserve jewellery that’s uniquely you. That’s made only for you. Only when you create it. So you design it. You give it meaning.

Here’s a few of our favourite Gemvara engagement rings. You’ll notice that coloured stones are currently all the rage:

The Annabelle Ring – Cushion Aquamarine 14K White Gold Ring with Diamonds

Arpeggio Ring – Round Diamond Platinum Ring with Blue Sapphires

Reese Ring – Emerald-Cut Emerald 14K White Gold Ring with Diamonds

Of course, choosing your wedding jewellery doesn’t end with the engagement ring. It actually only begins, but don’t worry because Gemvara has you covered. They have some breathtaking and customisable necklaces and earrings that will make you drool.

Here’s a few of our favourite Gemvara wedding accessories:

Brilliant Petite Oval Pendant – Oval Aquamarine Sterling Silver Necklace with White Sapphire

Margarita Earrings – Round Emerald 14K White Gold Earrings with Diamonds

Gemvara has also just designed a new “Naked Gem” collection, which is as sexy as it sounds. The collection has an assortment of bold, eye-catching pendants, earrings, and rings. Designed by Gemvara’s V.P. of Brand Marketing Corinne Grousbeck, the “Naked Gem” collection pieces can also be customised with your choice of 26 gems and eight precious metals. Gotta love that.

{Images via Gemvara}

Picking the perfect wedding dress is tremendously exciting and fun, but can also be tremendously costly and heartbreaking when you realise that you can’t afford that dream frock. Many designer wedding dresses cost $5,000 and upwards, which will take a big chunk out of any wedding budget.

That’s unless you know about two little, but well kept secrets! First, the pre-loved wedding dress marketplace is taking off. Second, StillWhite.com.au offers the latest designer wedding dresses at a fraction of the retail price.

We recently became obsessed with Still White, which is fast becoming Australia’s leading pre-loved wedding dress marketplace. We love that a creative husband and wife team started the company and that there’s so many affordable and drool-worthy wedding dresses on their marketplace. Plus, owner Ingrid Szajer explains, “Most of the wedding dresses on Still White have been worn once, are professionally dry-cleaned and in perfect condition. In fact, some are brand new, unworn dresses from girls who have simply changed their mind.”

We’re seriously smitten with the sheer amount of variety in the Still White marketplace, the simple process for selling pre-loved wedding dresses, and the incredible savings brides can make by purchasing their wedding dress on Still White. Take Jenny from Sydney, who recently bought her strapless Maggie Soterro dress on Still White for $950. She saved an incredible 50% off the original retail price!

What’s more, the Still White marketplace is packed with hundreds of wedding dresses, with loads more being added on a daily basis. There’s something in every style imaginable, for every size and for every budget. “We have dresses from all the major designers like Maggie Sottero, Henri Josef and Mariana Hardwick,” says Ingrid.

Ultimately, whether you’re looking for a designer wedding dress or a unique vintage frock, Still White has got you covered.

We suggest looking beyond pricey wedding dress boutiques and heading over to Still White for some serious savings and wedding inspiration.

If your not located in Australia, fear not, as Still White is also available in the following countries.

New Zealand – http://www.stillwhite.co.nz
United Kingdom – http://www.stillwhite.co.uk
United States – http://www.stillwhite.com
South Africa – http://www.stillwhite.co.za

*Sponsored Post

Born in Ireland and raised in South Africa, Catherine’s traveling lifestyle has created an inspired artisan who incorporates experiences and observations from her travels into her designs.

Catherine is well known for having created elegant runway looks for some of Hollywood’s most famous women, including Beyonce, Fergie, and Kim Kardashian.

Lucky for brides everywhere, she has brought her passion for design to the wedding world with her stunning bridal collection. Now Catherine is becoming an established talent in the wedding world and we’re not suprised. After all, her knack for defining femininity while maintaining sophistication is apparent in the way each of her wedding gowns creates a goddess-like silhouette.

Here are a few of our favourite Catherine Deane wedding dresses:

Lia wedding dress

Annamaria wedding dress

Caitlin wedding dress

Justine wedding dress

Elana wedding dress

Collette wedding dress

Catherine Dean Bridal is stocked worldwide and also sold online. For a list of retailers, click here.

{Images via Catherine Deane}

Effortless layers of ethereal silks make Australian designer Anna Campbell’s 2012 collection light and flowy. Plus, we think the mix of vintage and modern details is just gorgeous!

The trademark Greek goddess charm of Campbell’s wedding gowns are not lost on this collection, which contrasts her ultra feminine fabrics brilliantly with sophisticated crystals, delicate beading, exquisitely detailed lace and pretty embellishments at the bodice.

The 2012 collection pays special attention to the back with exquisite French lace, crafted to create an artistic detailing that enhances the natural beauty of the bride’s shoulders and back, without competing with other elements of the dress. The result is romantic and unforgettable, with unexpected details.

We love that each Anna Campbell wedding dress is custom tailored and detailed to reflect the bride’s individual taste and vision, making it a one-of-a-kind.

Campbell’s newest collection is her most anticipated to date among soon to be brides in Australia, Europe, the United States and the Middle East. The growing popularity of Campbell’s gowns can be attributed to their combination of effortless romantic femininity, and the inspired intricacy of the embellished details that allow them to work in any setting, from city to beachfront ceremonies.

We seriously love the fact that no bride can don an Anna Campbell gown and feel anything less than the feminine heroine of her own special day!

You’ll be happy to know that Campbell has also introduced accessories in her signature style this season, with delicately embellished veils, hairpieces, bracelets and cuffs that compliment the gown and create a refined cohesive style for the bride.

Each hand made veil and headpiece is an organic extension of the gown for which it is designed, with stunning accents of beading and lace.

Anna Campbell’s 2012 collection also includes lines for flower girls and bridesmaids, in classic ivories and loads of amazing colours.

For more wedding inspiration, head over to the Anna Campbell website.

{Images via Anna Campbell}

This Danish fashion designer is a self-confessed sucker for weddings. Having graduated from the Scandinavian Academy of International Fashion and Design in Copenhagen, Jannie then received an honorary prize from Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte for the most creative fashion collection in the country.

Her wedding inspiration comes from eras past: in particular the early 1900s’ French Bohemianism, and the Art Deco movement and the 1920s celebrity glamour of Hollywood. Handcrafted from her studio in Copenhagen, Jannie’s headpieces are made from such luxurious materials as French and Edwardian lace, silk, and soft chiffon.

Take a look at some of the Jannie Baltzer wedding accessories:

Jannie Baltzer ships internationally. To view the whole collection and for more wedding inspiration, visit Jannie Baltzer online.

{Images via Jannie Baltzer}

Here’s some of the most memorable wedding jewellery from today’s celebrities:

(From left to Right – Top Row: Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark and Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark; Seal and Heidi Klum; Russell Brand and Katy Perry; Emily Blunt. Middle Row: Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise; Reese Witherspoon; Jessica Simpson. Bottom Row: Cash Warren and Jessica Alba; Penelope Cruz; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and William, Duke of Cambridge.)

Princess Mary – her engagement ring has a square diamond cut in 58 facets surrounded by two square rubies. It is an old Danish royal tradition to create wedding accessories in the colours of the Danish flag, red and white.

Heidi Klum – Seal flew his fiancée to the Canadian Rockies where he proposed to her in a custom-made romantic igloo with a 10-carat cushion-cut diamond ring.

Katy Perry – On New Year’s Eve last year in India, Russell Brand gave Katie Perry a Golconda diamond ring, one of the most treasured gems in India. Designer Hanut Singh, Indian jewellery designer, helped the comedian pick out the rock.

Emily Blunt – John Krasinski presented his ladylove with a 3-carat Edwardian diamond and platinum ring designed by Neil Lane.

Katie Holmes – Tom Cruise took her atop the Eiffel Tower and presented her with a 5-carat oval-cut Cartier diamond ring, with antique styling and an art deco feel.

Reese Witherspoon – The rare four-carat Ashoka diamond ring Jim Roth proposed to her with has 62 facets and rounded corners, and is based on a classic diamond from around 262 B.C.

Jessica Simpson – NFL star Eric Johnson popped the question six months after he started dating the singer/actress. The Neil Lane ring was designed with the 49er colours in mind, and has a ruby flanked by two diamonds.

Jessica Alba – The eye-popping five-carat antique-style Asscher cut diamond ring was given to her by then fiancé Cash Warren when they were expecting their first child together.

Penelope Cruz – Vintage styles are really all the rage these days as Javier Bardem proposed to the actress last July after three years of dating. The ring, worth around $30,000, was a three-carat blue sapphire ring.

Duchess Kate – To mark their engagement, Prince William gave her his mother’s 18-carat diamond and sapphire ring, reported to be worth millions. It is said that Prince Harry chose to keep the ring in memory of Princess Diana, and that he very kindly gave it to his brother William when the latter wanted to propose to Kate.

{Princess Mary’s image via Squidoo; Heidi Klum’s image via IndiWo; Katy Perry’s image via People.com; Emily Blunt’s image via Wedding Love; Katie Holmes’ image via MiaDonna and Co.; Reese Witherspoon’s, Jessica Simpson’s, and Duchess Catherine’s images via ABC News; Jessica Alba’s image via Zap 2 It; Penelope Cruz’s image via Just Jared}

- Gabriel D’Annunzio on Marchesa Luisa Casati

The naming of a fashion brand after Europe’s early twentieth century fashion legend Marchesa Luisa Casati, is sheer brilliance.

Dramatic, flamboyant, and highly elegant, Marchesa pushes the envelope of fashion further with wedding dresses from their Fall 2012 Bridal Collection. British-born Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, founders of Marchesa, wanted this particular collection to be an ethereal underwater fantasy. If you ask us, the pair definitely succeeded.

Marchesa’s exotically decadent lines of gazar, layers of gigantic tulle flowers, silk crepe draped softly around female curves, illusion fabric with luxurious embroidery and beading—some of the dresses were simply outrageous and yet all were bewitchingly beautiful.  Georgina’s expertise on design along with Keren’s bespoke fabrics result in creations that are one-of-a-kind: a fusion of high fashion and eccentric aesthetic.

Here are some of the wedding dresses from the Marchesa Fall 2012 Bridal Collection:

Opulent? Oh, yes. Over-the-top? Maybe. But that’s the whole point. Marchesa, like its namesake and muse, is not just there to follow, but to be so different as to stand out from the crowd.

The Marchesa flagship store is based in New York. They are also carried by stockists worldwide—in London, Canada, Russia, Kuwait, Dubai, and Hong Kong. In Australia, Marchesa is exclusively sold at the Helen Rodrigues store in NSW. To view the whole collection and for more wedding inspiration, visit Marchesa online.

{Images via Marchesa}

A present from Princess Diana

Representing the once-starry-eyed engagement of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles, the 28-year-old ring was a gift of love to her sons, and was then passed on to Kate. More than the design, the story behind the ring is the very thing that captures the world’s attention. It’s the promise of a fairytale wedding and a blissful royal life together.

A love so true

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem started dating in 2007, and three years later, he proposed to her with a three-carat blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Today, the pair have a baby son, Leo, whom they dote upon and shower with love.

Lovelier the second time around

Both actress Elizabeth Hurley and former Australian cricket player Shane Warne had been divorced before, and are now in love with each other and engaged to be married. He proposed to her over dinner in Scotland with a nine-carat blue sapphire ring set between two diamonds.

Here are some options and wedding ideas for a blue sapphire engagement ring:

1 – Brilliant cut set in white gold

2 – Oval cut set in yellow gold

3 – Cushion cut set in white gold

4 – Emerald cut set in white gold

Sapphires have long symbolized truth, faithfulness, and sincerity, making it the perfect gem for a wonderful marriage to come.

{Duchess Kate’s image via Free New Fashion Design; Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem’s image via Zimbio; Penelope Cruz ring image via Ring Envy; Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne’s image via Unique Fashion Jewelry; Four blue sapphire rings via The Natural Saphhire Company}