OOTD: Steve & Em's wedding

2014 is going to be our year of weddings! Not only is there our wedding, but 4 couples we know are also tying the knot! For our friends Steve and Em's wedding on this weekend just gone, we road-tripped down just passed Sydney so we could help celebrate their big day! I took far too many photos, but wanted to share a few of my favourites here- I think they really captured the energy and love of the day!

I love that weddings are also a great excuse to doll-up! You can never be too dressed up at an event like this (as long as you don't wear a long white dress- fashion faux pas!), so I busted out my new pink facinator to match with this Summer dress and Ben's pink and purple! Lucky it was such an awesome party for my facinator, its already been retired because I set it on fire at the reception when I accidentally threw it into a candle! Awkward!

Dress: City Chic

Flats/Heels: Target

Clutch and Facinator: Target

(I may have been in a few too many Target's lately...) 

It can sometimes be hard to match up black accessories with a colour palate as pastel as this, but with the black trimmings on the hem and bodice I knew my wedges would work perfectly! Ben wore his pinstripe purple shirt accessorized with pink tie to match my facinator- cuteness! It takes a real man to wear pink and purple ;) 

This sparkly green clutch was a bargain buy at $18 from Target- I bought it on a whim, but I couldn't resist those gorgeous green gems! Turned out it was perfect for this outfit as well! Other than that I left accessories to a minimum, just wearing my normal locket necklace and rings. I figure that with so many colours I don't need any more bling. 

I adore this last shot of the four of us boogieing on the dancefloor! Hair's up, shirt sleeves are rolled and jackets off! We met Steve and Em while we were travelling around Thailand five years ago, we hit it off straight away and have been great mates ever since. I love that now we are all growing up and getting married- and still get to share that with friends like this!

What do you wear to a wedding??
Have you ever accidentally had a wardrobe malfunction?
(i.e setting your facinator on fire....) 

Today it became official. I really am getting married....

It doesn't matter that I've sent out save the date cards, that I've booked the reception or already promised over 15 grand to various suppliers. Today it became real. As I slipped into the first (of many) white gown, I suddenly felt more grown up than I ever have. And at that moment it truly hit me, I really AM getting married! As ridiculous as it sounds, it took ten kilos of lace, beading and taffeta for it all to feel real.

I've dreamt about my dress for as long as I can remember. Sure the image in my head has changed as I've grown up, but the feelings have always been the same: I'm full of love, happiness and surrounded by my family and friends. Up ahead is a (most likely bearded) man who wants to spend his whole life with me and it starts with this outfit. This dress. This day.

None of these made the shortlist, but I still wanted to share a few of my happy snaps from today. If you are on Instagram please check me out- there will be lots of wedding goodness in the next few months!

My beautiful bridesmaids: Liss, Emma and Libby <3

In seven months I walk down the aisle and marry the man of my dreams in the dress of my imaginations! Bring it on!

What does your dream dress look like?? 

Liv Gets Crafty: wedding silver

If you happen to be new here (hey! Hi! Hiya!!), I should probably start this post by telling you that next year I am lucky enough to be marrying the man of my dreams (check out our engagement photos here!). As I very quickly found out, weddings are actually ridiculously expensive and people weren't just overreacting. With this in mind, we are DIY-ing as much as we can to pinch the pennies! I want to have some gorgeous silver wear on all the tables as decoration , so we have been spending a whole lot of time tea set hunting! And low and behold- seek and gems shall be found!! We picked up this gorgeous set last weekend for $20 at the markets! Bargain!

Obviously they are in need of a good scrub and a bit of love, but I think polishing them up to their former glory (or as much as possible) is a big part of what makes vintage collecting such an adventure! I took some before and after cleaning piccys for my Instagram feed and have had a few people ask me what I used, so I thought it would be easier to just show you!

Being plated silver (like the majority you will find in op-shops/markets/thrifting) you need to be really careful with the chemicals you are using. Generic silver cleaner or tarn-off will literally start to rub away the shiny silver finish on your collectables and expose the metal underneath. Not so pretty any more are you tea pot!!!

So to clean them up as gently as possible, you will need:

- A large bucket/container
- Alfoil
- Bi-carb soda
- Hot water
So, to easily brighten up your silver and metal items, all you need to do is:

1. Cover the bottom of your container with alfoil- silver side up.

2. Add bi-carb soda to the foil

3. Add your item and pour boiling water over it until its fully submerged (if your item is particularly delicate or old, you can use hot instead of boiling water.

4. Leave in the bucket for 15-30 minutes and watch the tarnish fade away!

5. Some especially dark tarnished items may need a double or triple dip.

6. The items will come out with a slight white residue that buffs away to a perfect shine.

So that's it! Clean, shinny and restored silver plated goodies! And you may even discover an engraving like we did!!

Do you collect any vintage goodies???

Have you ever tried this cleaning technique before?? 

We got engaged!

Some of you have probably already seen on Facebook or Instagram, but I wanted to officially let you guys know that Ben proposed on the Full Figured Fashion Week White Cruise!!!

The night of the White Cruise was our eight year anniversary, we were dressed to the nines, cruising past the Statue of Liberty, a cocktail or two in hand and enjoying the sunset on the top deck of the cruise ship. I was so shocked and unbelievably happy when Ben dropped to his knee, that I burst into tears. These amazing pictures were snapped by Danimezza and we are both so thankful for her quick photography skills!

As you can see from the pictures I am pretty excited! The whole proposal was so romantic and thought out, I honestly feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Thank-you to everyone for all the well-wishes, I have been overwhelmed by the response from the cyber world and am honoured to be able to share this next adventure with you! Another huge load of thanks to Dani for these amazing photos- how many people can say they have pictures from their proposal night!!

I have a MASSIVE stack of FFFWeek posts coming up and we have just touched down into Orlando tonight- so there is much bloggy goodness to catch up on! And I have to catch up with all your blogs too!!! Chat to you all soon- your newly engaged Olivia xx (OMG that feels so good to say that!!! ;)