We love Pinterest because it fills a void for us 70s/80s gals now that paper magazines are going the way of the telegraph. Or maybe they are fading away more like David Hasselhoff: they know the writing is on the wall, but they’re still trying REALLY hard. But unlike The Hoff who bounces around from one pun to another, at least magazines still have a solid home in doctor offices. As long as public spaces still need a way to transmit germs, magazine subscriptions will survive.
Anyway, remember dog-earing the page of the prom dress you wanted, tearing out that dreamy picture of Scott Baio to kiss every night before you went to bed, or clipping out that recipe for peach pie with plans to impress your boyfriend? Pinterest is just like that! Minus the clutter, paper cuts, and embarrassing Scott Baio confessions. But there is a dark side to Pinterest. While you KNOW you have to be a freak extraordinary to make the glossy pages of a magazine layout, Pinterest dupes you into believing mere mortals created those beautiful pins. You can really start to feel inadequate.
Did you pick up on my use of “dupe”? Yeah, that’s right. Some of the most gorgeous images and projects on Pinterest are created by talented professionals with actual training. This is what I always comforted myself with . . . until now.
I just went to the most gorgeous wedding straight out of a Pinterest feed, orchestrated by a normal human being. By normal, I mean she isn’t a designer or a party planner. She is however, insanely smart, beautiful, and talented (as you will see from the photos) so maybe normal isn’t the right word. Let’s just say she isn’t a professional. She just should be.
Her first step was to burst out of the box, origami it into a swan, and kick it to the curb when she selected her location: the Delaware Agricultural Museum. I am not going to lie. My family’s initial reaction was “what?”
We had been there on a second grade field trip so we had visions of the festivities taking place in the cavernous metal hanger somewhere between the combines and the Smokey the Bear statue; while praying they would be far removed from the creepy dehydrated apple head dolls. Oh, but we were there on a rainy day and never saw the village where beautiful backdrops like a covered bridge, a lovely river, and a windmill abounded. And wait for it, there was also a blacksmith shop and general store. Did you just hear Pinterest’s head explode?
But did the bride book this beautiful location and yell, “Check!”? No. No she did not. She took Pinterest to school and taught it a thing or two.
Go back up to that photo of the covered bridge. Those aren’t garlands of pennants hanging from the rafters. Those are congratulation, birthday, and Christmas cards sent to them from family and friends. Go ahead and get all of the “awwwwwwwws” out of your system, I’ll wait.
On second thought you should save of those warm and fuzzies for these touches:
like the family blessing . . .
and the childhood pictures of them scattered across the candy table.
There were special touches everywhere!
The bridesmaids’ bouquets of paper flowers totally tricked your eye until you got up closer.
She had these lovely embroidery hoops stretched with fabric and lace decorating the dance floor.
There was cotton candy hanging from a clothesline in front of the general store.
The head table staging was simply gorgeous.
The children’s table gave a jaunty nod to The Sandlot. “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!”
And indeed, the bride killed it with every detail. There wasn’t just one wedding cake, there was a bevy of scrumptious cakes set amongst old textbooks.
Doesn’t it feel like she even planned for the sunbeams to stream just so? The details! The details!
But the displayed Family Blessing should clue you in that the bride and groom cherished family as the most important detail of the day. During the ceremony, they released dove shaped balloons in memory of the groom’s sister.
They personally served their family and attendants dinner, and did better then any couple I have ever seen talking with each and every guest. They also showed their love spreads outside their circle to those who need it the most. Instead of favors, they had each person pick one of two selected charities for a donation from them. Even if you’re immune to the charms of the Pinterest magic, that has to impress you.
And if their altruistic hearts didn’t make you weak in the knees, how about a picture of some beautiful children? Okay, some of them are no longer kids, but they are some fine looking cousins.
And I have to include one of my family. We’re in front of the blacksmith shop for goodness’ sake!
And while we’re speaking of family and cousins, sometimes you just have to grab one and take a picture with Smokey. I was super glad we had access to the museum, too, even if I did have to shuffle quickly past the creepy dolls.
Now go forth and check us out on Pinterest! And if you don’t know what a apple head doll is, I’m sure you can find one there. It’s easier than looking through old magazines.
xoxo, Ellen
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Incredible! Almost as cool as the fantastic you pulled off for BlogU!
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You are too kind! Mwah! This bride and her family REALLY impressed me! Ellen