This photo by a.h.p looks just like a postcard from an old movie. What a great engagement shot!

Congrats to all the brides out there who just got engaged. So glad you found us over here at IntimateWeddings.com. We’ve got lots of great stuff planned for 2010! Here are some photos to get you inspired.

I had to realign my jaw after seeing this photo by the WILDLY TALENTED UK photographer Gordon McGowan. And it’s from a real wedding! Look at that dress – not to mention the stunning architecture!

Jennifer and Scott got married at the Glasgow University Chapel.  Does a destination wedding in Scotland sound like a plan?

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To say adieu to yet another year, I thought it would be fun to reflect on some of this year’s wedding trends.

In 2009, we saw:

Birds. Lots of birds.

Peacocks, even.

And moustaches.

Candy. Yum.

Converse-All Stars.

Argyle socks and men pulling up their pantlegs to show them off in photos.

We heard the clickety click of typewriters used as guest books.

And Scrabble tiles reborn.

 We re-visited our childhood at carvival weddings,

ate french fries

and ice cream.

We embraced country chic with mason jars,

wheat,

haybales,

clothespins,

bicycle rides,

and  animals.

Handwriting was hot,

so was fruit,

carnations,

cupcakes,

and  trash the dress.

It was a year full of DIY,

dreamy, retro-inspired photos,

and second hand.

How many of these trends will stick around in 2010? What new trends are lurking on the horizon? Can’t wait to see another year unfold!

Photo One: Santa Barbara Wedding Chic; Photo Two: StyleatHome.com; Photo Three: AutumnWard.com Photo Four: Del Sol Photography

The last time I made paper cranes I was in my last year of high school. A friend of mine taught me to make them. They really weren’t that hard – just time consuming. I stuck them on my dresser along with other teenage trinkets (lip gloss, perfume, Ramones cassettes, paperback version of The Catcher in the Rye, retainer, pack of gum, letter to ex-boyfriend.)  Before long they were buried and forgotten. Too bad I didn’t think to hang them from the ceiling!

Paper crane garland is so beautiful and a wonderful DIY touch to any wedding.

Here’s a video tutorial on how to fold paper cranes:

To learn to put them onto the string, hop on over to So Your Engayed for this tutorial on paper crane strings.

Photo One: Christine Meintjes; Photo Two: One Love Photo via So Your Engayged; Photo Three: Kirsten Ellis Beaux Arts Photographie via PolkaDotBride.

These look delicious, but they’re not for eatin’! They’re for that decadent bath you’re going to take when you can catch an hour or two for yourself.  Check out the full tutorial over at Craftster.org.

While you’re enjoying your cupcake bath, why not exfoliate with some homemade neapolitan ice cream bath scrub. Find the recipe here.

And when you’re done your bath, you can try out the handmade lip balm that you just made . Here’s a great tutorial on how to make lip balm.

BTW, wouldn’t all of these homemade bath goodies make for wonderful shower favors for the gals?