Cheers! An Engagement! Champagne Celebration Engagement Shoot by Katie Day Photography with Rent the Runway!

How lucky a girl am I to receive a gift like this AH-mazing engagement celebration shoot in my inbox?!  Captured by Katie Day Photography and styled by the bride herself, this fun bubbly-filled shoot is just the PERFECT feature for New Years Eve. 

With a bottle of bubbly, a fabulous dress (a la Rent the Runway), and drawing her inspiration from that epic scene in Wedding Crashers when the guys have been out all night at a wedding and watch the sun rise while drink champagne on the steps of the Washington monument in DC, Lauren and her groom-to-be Bryant popped a cork or two and frolicked about town through day & night! Genius!  What lively fun!

Seriously though - are they not too adorable?!

And good news my friends, this beautiful southern bride is also a blogger!  Follow along on her journey filled with delectable wedding inspiration here on her blog Southern Aisle.

Lauren - thank you so so much for submitting these photos & a Very Happy New Year to you and Bryant - can't wait for 2011!

Thursday Afternoon Sparkle: A Pittsburgh Engagement Shoot by Leeann Marie Photography

& just a little bit more sparkle for your Thursday afternoon; because really - who couldn't use some more sparkle in their life?!  I just adore these images by Leeann Marie Photography who shot this beautiful couple's engagement this past fall on the University of Pittsburgh Campus.

The only thing brighter than the twinkling lights in the tree is the glow coming from this adorable couple's faces as they gaze at each other.  Doesn't it just make you smile?

Thursday Purseday

It's back!  Oh how I have missed it so!  And todays is just the PERFECT little sparkly bag to carry with you tomorrow night for New Year's Eve - the Glitterati Party Clutch! 

I really may have to run out to the closest J.Crew and find one of these ASAP...

Perfectly Chic New Year's Eve in Paris

This may be the most amazingly sweet Paris chic wedding EVER.  While searching for New Years wedding inspiration (giving credit where credit is due - at Dan's suggestion) I oh so happily came across this beauty by Amy & Stuart Photography on Junebug Weddings.  Pink Peonies, New Year's Eve, Paris, and an intimate wedding = nothing less then Perfection!

::Swoon::

Trespassing on Farms: A Rustic Winter Engagement Shoot

Today's lovely rustic winter engagement shoot is extra special for so many reasons.  First, as it was submitted by a Sparkle & Hay reader (love that!) and second, because the photographer is one of the bride-to-be's bridesmaids!  Ann Wuetig who is an amateur photographer in Philadelphia, PA area (though judging by these images I can tell you she won't be in the amateur category for long!) and her happy couple Esther & Paul wandered, jumped, and played in the farm fields near the bride's parents home over Thanksgiving.  You can just feel their excitement - but I'll let the gorgeous images speak for themselves...

Esther & Ann - thank you SO much for sharing this beautiful photos!  Esther you will be a beautiful bride and I cannot wait to hear about your wedding!  Any Philly area brides out there looking for a photographer please please please contact me and I'll be happy to pass on Ann's contact information to you!


p.s. I cannot in anyway take credit for the title of this post - it came to me titled that in the email and it was too perfect for me to change!

Winter Wedding Warmth: Bride Style - How to stay Warm for your Winter Rustic Chic Wedding

Happy Monday! Hope that your holiday weekend was filled with laughter, love, and cheer. Here in Connecticut the ground outside has been transformed from green to white (more than a foot of white) which got me thinking of winter brides, particularly those who wear strapless or short sleeved dresses. So I did a bit of searching and found a few options which struck me as perfectly cozy chic...

A vintage fur

A Simple Photograph via SMP

A stylish fleecy coat

olivia leigh

A knit shrug

 etsy knit shrug

A Winter Parka

suzannamarchphotography

A short coat, lacey gloves, and muff

heather waraksa via ruffled

Which is your favorite?

Sunday Bouquet

Merry Christmas Weekend (to all who are celebrating) I couldn't not post this gorgeous seasonal red bouquet today in the holiday spirit!

Merry Christmas!!

From my family to yours - Hope you are having a *SPARKLING* Christmas!

*This is our actual Christmas card from this year!  Designed by the amazing Emily of Paper Moss, with photographs by Anna Sawin Photography & Suzanna March Photography.

**Remember to enter for the chance to win a free LOVE SHOOT with Anna Sawin Photography!!!  Enter by 12/31/2010!**

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

A LOVE SHOOT WITH ANNA SAWIN PHOTOGRAPHY!!!  (I couldn't even wait long enough to put the header photo in first, I'm that excited)

When the name Anna Sawin comes to mind I just HAVE to smile.  I know you've all heard me gush about her many times before, but there is truly not a bad word to be associated with her.  In addition to being an immensely talented photographer, she is one of the most lovely people you will ever meet, a sparkling soul - beautiful inside and out -  further evidenced as she is offering this amazing opportunity to one lucky Sparkle & Hay reader! 


A LOVE shoot with the someone or someones you love, from your family to just your spouse or partner, your furry friends, your children or...child to be!  The winning entry will receive a one-two hour lifestyle photography session  with Anna Sawin of Anna Sawin Photography and one 8 x 12 archival print of your session created of your favorite image.  Your creative ideas and input are welcome and encouraged.

But before I tell you what you need to do to win I just couldn't help myself by show off some of Anna's work from a recent holiday wedding!!!

::sigh:: I just adore Christmasy weddings!  SO... how do you have the opportunity to win this amazing opportunity?!

1) Please leave a comment below telling us who you LOVE and why you would like to have a love shoot with them (or if you are not in the CA/RI/MA area, who would you gift a love shoot to)  Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not a blogger friend connect user!

& for extra chances to win...

2) Follow Sparkle & Hay & Anna Sawin Photography on twitter and tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win a love shoot with @annasawinphoto from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay, "like" this post link, and share this post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

You have one week to enter & the lucky winner will be announced on January 2nd!!!  Good Luck!!

Details/Stipulations (there had to be a few because this lady is all booked up for 2011!) The shoot will take place in the greater Mystic-Stonington-Watch Hill area at a mutually agreed-upon date in 2011, and will likely be scheduled for a weekday afternoon or evening. Please allow a minimum of six weeks to schedule your session. *This session may be used by the winner or transferred as a gift, a gift certificate can be presented upon request.

This is such an amazing opportunity for a lucky couple/family/pet out there and I'm so honored to be able to offer such a giveaway.  Anna - thank you from the very bottom of my heart and a special Merry Christmas to you!

Time to Wrap... Rustic Chic Style

In my dreams my gift wrapping would look something like this...

and packages like this...

simplythenest

Unfortunately this will not likely be my reality - but they are oh so pretty to look at aren't they?

On the Eleventh Day of Rustic Chicness...

**& our winner is KATE! Who is going to be feeding her new husband bites of chocolate & peanutbutter cake from these adorable forks! Congratulations Kate! I'll be in touch with details soon!*

Ok, I have to take a deep breathe before writing about this giveaway because I am SO.BEYOND.EXCITED.  I had the privilege of working with the lovely Rita from Beach House Living as she custom made a matching set of Mr & Mrs Forks & Bride + Groom hammered spoon for us to use at our wedding (which was 2 months ago today already -wow how time flies!).  Our forks & spoon were from a set called Milady, a classic which was introduced in the 1940's, and Rita spared no detail and even wrapped them up in a beautiful burlap carrying case complete with muslin flower with a little sparkle. (This was on top of being packaged in vintage stamped french paper! ::swoon::) I just adored using them on our wedding day, as Dan & I fed each other the first bites of our wedding cake (no icing in the face smushing allowed!)

To say Rite is a sweetheart is an understatement, this further proved when she offered to giveaway a custom set of MR & Mrs Forks to YOU - a Sparkle & Hay reader!!!

I know - are you squealing right along with me now?!  Since Christmas is quickly approaching, and as I am so excited, I'm going to extend this giveaway entry for more than just the 2 days;  for these forks you will have until Tuesday December 27th to enter.  Here's what to do!

1) Visit the Beach House Living Etsy shop and leave a comment below telling me what flavor cake you'd like to eat with these forks!    (please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not a blogger friend connect user!) 

& for extra chances to win...

2) Follow Sparkle & Hay on twitter and tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win the  custom Mr & Mrs Forks #giveaway from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay & Beach House Living, "like" and post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

And that's it!  Good Luck!!!

On the Tenth Day of Rustic Chicness

* and the winner is... Lindsey! Who loved the burlap ring bearer pillow! Congratulations and I'll be emailing you soon! *

Oh Miss McKay... where do I begin?  A sweet, lovely, talented designer and seamstress McKay's Oatmeal Lace Designs beautiful clutches are taking the wedding world by storm! 

100% customizable, the clutches are the perfect, Perfect, PERFECT gift for any bride, bridesmaid, or friend you want to honor with thanks for helping with your wedding.  Trust me - all of my bridesmaids received a custom clutch as a part of their thank you gift for being in the wedding!  It was such fun choosing special fabrics for each of the girls (the outter fabric was the same on each, but insides we personalized!)  Not only does she make clutches, but her line has expanded to pins, ring bearer pillows, and baby items!  Love it all!

This lovely lady is offering you the opportunity to win a special giftcard to her shop to put towards the custom item of your choice!  

You're probably pretty well versed with the entry rules by now but just in case... here's what you have to do to win!  (note, you do not have to do all 3 to enter to win!)

1) Visit the Oatmeal Lace Designs Etsy shop and leave a comment below telling me what your favorite item in her shop is! (please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not a blogger friend connect user!) 

& for extra chances to win...

2) Follow Sparkle & Hay on twitter and tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win the @oatmeallace #giveaway from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay & Oatmeal Lace Design, "like" and post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

And that's it!  Good Luck!!!  The lucky winner will be announced Friday (Christmas Eve!) morning at 10am (est)!

Happy Winter

Just a quick hello to say Happy *CuddleUpWithTheOneYouLove and SnuggleByTheFire with ACupOfSomethingSweet&Toasty* Winter!

Cindy Cieluch Photography via Swatchbook Weddings

On the Ninth Day of Christmas

**We have a winner!!!** Congratulations Olivia! I will be emailing you soon!

Today I'm delighted to introduce you to the most fantastic little shop there is - My Sparrow.  (You may recall I've sung their praises before, like on this Thursday Purseday post).  Socially & ecologically responsible and super stylish, My Sparrow is the most fun online shop and I often find myself getting lost in its pages, each image or item provoking new inspirations for home, style, & event decor. The creative genius behind the brand, Christina, has so wonderfully offered 2 of my favorite products to giveaway: Mini Zinc Initials!

I purchased an E & D a few months back, which we incorporated into our wedding day decor, and now smile daily when I see them perched on the edge of a shelf in the corner of our kitchen! 

Now for the fun - what do you do to win!

1) Leave a comment below telling me what 2 letters you would like! (please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not a blogger friend connect user!) 

& for extra chances to win...

2) Follow Sparkle & Hay on twitter and tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win the @mysparrowcom #giveaway from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay & My Sparrow, "like" and post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

And that's it!  Good Luck!!!  The lucky winner will be announced Thursday morning at 10am (est)!

p.s. a Very Special Happy Birthday to Marissa; a fantastic friend, amazing bridesmaid, and drop-dead-gorgeous 2010 bride! xoxo

On the Eighth Day of Rustic Chicness...

 ** & We have a winner!!  Congratulations to Melissa! I'll be in touch soon!**

Today's giveaway is especially near and dear to my heart - why you ask? Because it is what we chose to "giveaway" to our dear guests as our wedding favor!! Nicole over at The Caramel Jar cooks up the most melt-in-your-mouth, perfectly balanced flavored Fleur de Sel Caramels and I feel so so lucky to be able to share her delicious treats with you!

As sweet as the delectable candies she HAND MAKES, Nicole has offered one lucky reader a 1/2 lb of Fleur de Sels in a Wax Bag.  These treats are made fresh the day they ship (& they are so good that people have already booked her up for Christmas shipments, so the winners shipment will go after Christmas).

Before you enter, I just have to warn you - these are addicting - so please enter at your own risk!!

1) Leave a comment below telling me which part of the Fleur de Sel Caramel you like the most; the sweet, the salty, or the combo. (please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not a blogger friend connect user!) 

& for extra chances to win...

2) Follow Sparkle & Hay on twitter and tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win the @thecarameljar #giveaway from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay & The Caramel Jar, "like" and post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

And that's about it!  Good Luck!!!  The lucky winner will be announced Wednesday morning at 10am (est)!

On the Seventh Day of Rustic Chicness

**And our winner is the lovely Miss Paloma!!!! I'll be in touch soon!!**

Today's giveaway is for another one of my FAVORITE things ever.  period.  Essie nail polish in "Ballet Slippers".  This polish is on my fingers 95% of the time (including on my wedding day!) It is the most perfect, most flattering, lightest shade of pink I have ever seen in my life and I simply adore it!

Not too white, and not to rose, it is the perfect hint of blush - and now it can be yours too!  All you have to do is...

1) Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite nail color is?

& for extra chances to win...

2) Follow Sparkle&Hay on twitter and Tweet about the giveaway! Please tweet " I just entered to win the #12daysofchristmas giveaway from @sparkleandhay"


3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay, "like", and post about the giveaway on Facebook! (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)


And that's about it! Good Luck!!! The lucky winner will be announced Tuesday morning at 10am (est)!

On the Sixth Day of Rustic Chicness...

& we have a winner!!!  Amanda at The Vintage Mason!!  Congratulations!!  I'll be in touch soon! :)

You didn't think I could go through this entire giveaway without giving a coffee related gift now did you? Silly question!   I'm please to introduce you to the fabulously sweet Ms Danica of Morning Starfish.  Living on a sailboat in Hawaii with her (new!) husband, she creates these AMAZING coffee sleeves out of recycled burlap coffee sacks.

I have been loyal to using mine for months now, and have gotten a few to pass on to friends as well I just love them so much! Not only are they eco-friendly, and a great way to keep your fingers from getting scorched (or cold and wet) but they are too adorable!

So what will it take to get your hands on one of these pretty wraps?

1) Leave a comment below telling me what's in YOUR coffee cup (or tea, or cocoa cup) every morning!

& for extra chances to win...

2) Tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win a the #12daysofchristmas giveaway from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay & Morning Starfish, "like" and post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

And that's about it!  Good Luck!!!  The lucky winner will be announced Monday morning at 10am (est)!

On the Fifth Day of Rustic Chicness...

**We have a winner!!  Congratulations Kassi!!! - I'll be in touch soon!** xo

You may recall a few weeks back when I shared a few of my favorite picks from the oh-so-fabulous Le Chic Wedding Boutique... filled with tons of gorgeous hand-picked wedding decor it is a MUST visit for any bride planning her Rustic Chic wedding.   I am so thrilled that the girls over at the boutique were so kind to join in the holiday spirit and offer to partake in this giveaway - and especially with such a great item!  Ok, ok, I won't make you wait any longer!  On to today's giveaway!

A set of 12 large Rustic Table numbers!!  How amazing are these?! Does not get much more rustic than this! Perfect for your wedding either as table numbers or menu holders, or even great for your parties at home!  As each is handcrafted,  there is a 4-6 week shipping wait time.

So what do you have to do to be the lucky gal who takes these home? 

1) Leave a comment below telling me how you would incorporate these into your wedding or your home/party decor. (please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not a blogger friend connect user!) 

& for extra chances to win...

2) Tweet about the giveaway!  Please tweet " I just entered to win a the @lechicweddings rustic table number #giveaway from @sparkleandhay"

3) Become a Fan of Sparkle & Hay & Le Chic Wedding Boutique, "like" and post about the giveaway on Facebook!  (Please be sure to link back to the Sparkle&Hay fanpage so I can track your posts!)

And that's about it!  Good Luck!!!  The lucky winner will be announced Sunday morning at 10am (est)!