The Minute (Wedding) Guest List!

Weddings are exciting.  But deciding who gets to come?  Less so.  How can you possibly decide between both of your families and friends?  How do you choose who deserves an invite?  Well, I've made a handy infographic that will allow you to draft your guest list in 60 seconds, flat! 

Easy peezy, lemon squeezy! 

Until next time,

How many guests did you have/do you plan on having at your wedding?  Don't forget to subscribe to the weekly Plant Based Bride newsletter!

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Be sure to follow me on Instagram, @elizabethturn! 

Hello, October! 💀🍁 What are you most looking forward to in the month ahead? I’ll leave my answer in the comments! 🍂

What would you want fo sip from this mug? ☕️ Hot apple cider? Chai tea? Pumpkin spice latte? 🍂

Continuing on with my fall-loving basic-b self... here’s a fall gratitude spread in my @archerandolive morning sun square notebook! 🍂 What’s your favourite thing about the fall time? 🎃🍁🕯 Swipe up in my stories to see the blog post where I walk you through the steps to make this spread 🍂 and use my affiliate code PBB10 for 10% off your @archerandolive purchase!

If being a basic fall-loving candle-obsessed white girl is wrong I don’t wanna be right 🍂🕯

The rolling weekly... where all the nitty gritty planning goes on in my bullet journal ✍🏻 The left side is for day-specific events and tasks, and the right side is for a weekly task list. I have a dedicated video explaining the method on my YouTube channel if you want a deep dive! Tap the link in my bio and scroll down for the direct link to the video. What kind of weekly layout do you prefer in your bullet journal? Or are you more of a daily person? Or are you like my husband, using your monthly spread exclusively? I’m always so fascinated to see how different our bujos are to suit our individual needs! ✨ Notebook: @notebook_therapy gentle giant B5 - affiliate code PBB10 for 10% off! Paints: @winsorandnewton designer’s gouache Nail polish: @lightslacquer citrine

Get you someone who looks at you like Yoda and I look at each other 👁👄👁

A little teaser for you 👀 My October Plan With Me is up on my YouTube channel now! Swipe up in my stories to watch 💀

Rocking my newest @analuisany pieces ✨ what’s your go-to daily jewelry? My necklace is the Ciel Locket (soon to contain tiny portraits of my cats), my earrings are the Rox Small Hoops, Mini Twisted Hoops, and Milo Huggies, and the jewelry case is their new green velvet Travel Jewelry Case 💫 Get 10% off your purchase with my code “ElizabethT10” and curate your own unique look with fairly priced sustainable pieces from @analuisany ✨ tap the link in my bio or swipe up in my stories to shop! #analuisapartner #gifted

The inner cover of my new BuJo, a constant reminder that we can always start again ✨ 2020 has made so many of us feel like our lives are on hold, but even with everything being thrown at us we can find a way to persevere. It certainly won’t be easy, but the older I get the more I find that life is largely made up of these moments where we must choose the path we wish to take to overcome the obstacles in our way. Don’t wait for 2021 to get back to living. Choose to leap into your new beginning on your own terms. 2020 won’t defeat us. Even if you can’t find a way to take that step for yourself right now, take it for the good of someone else. I’m setting up a recurring donation to @rainbowrailroad - a Canadian organization saving the lives of LGBTQIA people around the world (discovered thanks to @canadasdragrace 🇨🇦). @blklivesmatter also deserves your donation if you have a few dollars to spare. Let me know how you’re taking a step for yourself or someone else to tip the scales of 2020 towards a net positive impact in the comments below. With kindness and action we can be the change and make the world a better place for all of us❤️

Enjoying the afternoon sun ☀️ how’s your Monday going?

Spent yesterday celebrating 6 years with my favourite weirdo ❤️ Here’s to 60 more, @jcabanaw ✨ Swipe up in my stories to see the step by step process of this spread in my blog post for @archerandolive ☺️ Would you ever use a square notebook for your BuJo? You can use my affiliate code PBB10 for 10% off this gorgeous square @archerandolive morning sun dot grid notebook and everything else on their site, too!

A little reminder for you today ❤️ You are deserving of love. Yes, even if you don’t always love yourself. Or don’t love all of yourself. Or don’t feel loveable. Of course, finding a way to truly love ourselves is an important journey to take, but it is still a journey. It takes time. And it isn’t always linear. If you love yourself on Monday, but struggle to love yourself on Tuesday, should your family and friends and partner stop loving you starting Tuesday until you find that love for yourself again? Of course not. But we are constantly fed messages of “No one will love you until you love yourself.” Or “People will only love you as much as you love yourself.” These messages are harmful and untrue. We ALL deserve to be loved. Humans require love and connection to survive. And sometimes the only way to learn to love yourself is by looking through the eyes of someone who loved you when you didn’t even know how to begin. So today I want to remind you: You deserve to be loved. Just as you are, right now, today. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Keep looking where the light pours in 🌤 quote page in my September set up in my @notebook_therapy B5 gentle giant notebook. Use code ‘PBB10’ for 10% off and to support me and my content! ✨ Tap the link in my bio to watch my entire September plan with me including the process of this painting 🎨

One of my favourite reads of the month was The House of Styx by Derek Künsken ✨ La colonie has built a life in the inhospitable clouds hovering above the hellscape that is the surface of Venus. They live their lives in man-made habitats or native floating plant-like trawlers, surviving in any way they can despite the roiling storms, extreme temperatures, and acid rain. One family, les D’Aquillons, has sunk to the dangerous depths, cut off from the government’s aid and grieving their losses. Until one day a trip to the surface leads to a discovery that could change everything. The House of Styx is one of the most fully realized hard sci-fi novels I’ve ever read. La colonie has history. They have developed their own culture and hierarchy. They struggle to find meaning in the formless clouds above a planet that will do anything to end their lives. This novel explores grief and loss, gender identity and queerness, addiction and self-harm, and so much more. The characters are incredibly well developed and deeply flawed, and I found myself quickly getting attached. I was also pleasantly surprised that les colonistes originally hailed from Québec, as a bilingual Canadian myself. There is a dangerous beauty to the setting of this tale, and Künsken’s imagery captured my imagination from the start. I honestly can’t think of anything I could want from this story that I didn’t get, and I can’t wait to read the next instalment! Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Swipe up in my stories to watch my August reading recap and September TBR ✨ #netgalley #thehouseofstyx

Busy month ahead 🌲 What’s your focus for September? Mine is rest. I had a very hectic August and September will be packed, too, so I need to remember to take time to myself to rest and recover ✨

“Émile was no ancient priest or shaman, but here he was, a supplicant offering in Venus’s name, giving away one of their homes like a fatted bull, festooned in the fetishes of the goddess whose favor they sought. He was returning to the underworld he’d escaped in an effort to lift his family to the stars.” The House of Styx by Derek Künsken 🕊 And so my candle addiction intensifies... don’t mind me adoring this venus bust scented candle (and the sandalwood candle in the back, too) by @interlude_candles 🕯 #gifted I burned these while reading the last few chapters of The House of Styx, a hard sci-fi that takes place in the roiling clouds above Venus. Trust me when I tell you to run, not walk, to get a copy of Derek Künsken’s genius first instalment of the Venus ascendant series. Swipe up in my stories to read my full review on @goodreads ✨ Thank you to @netgalley and Solaris for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! #TheHouseOfStyx #NetGalley

Hello September 👋 I’m fully prepared for fall vibes and I am not ashamed. Have you set up your September spreads yet? Notebook: @notebook_therapy Gentle Giant B5 (get 10% off with code PBB10) Tap the link in my bio to watch this set up! 🌲

A heart of gold and a stardust soul ✨ what’s your favourite thing about yourself?

If I were a painting 🖼 inspired by @shirinatra ‘s #PaintingMeetsPhotoChallenge from last week. Check out my stories to see the stages of editing to get to this final result! What would you want a painting of you to be like? 🎨

I can’t believe August is almost over! ✨ What was the best moment of August for you? Mine was my 28th birthday and being made to feel so loved and special ❤️ I was thinking about where 18 year old me would have wanted to be at 28, and I feel like she never would have dared to dream to be as happy as I am. I am so lucky and feel incredibly grateful 🥰 thank you to all of you for being a big part of that! *I totally forgot while filming this set up to add the last few days at the bottom! I did little diagonal half days when I realized 😅

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

Have you ever woken up, looked at your closet full to bursting and thought: "I have absolutely nothing to wear."?  Me too.  How is it that you can own so many pieces and still feel this way?  Maybe you're like me, surrounding yourself with mediocre pieces and wearing your few favourites over and over again while avoiding the rest.  Well, enough is enough!  I am finally creating a capsule wardrobe and I couldn't be more excited to share my journey with you (and hopefully inspire you to follow suit).  Read on to learn how you can create the perfect, concise, wardrobe; full of clothing you love and want to wear every single day!

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a small, intentional, daily wardrobe made up of pieces you love, fit you and your lifestyle, and all work together.  For me it is comprised of 40 pieces (but you can pick whatever number works for you!) including tops, bottoms, dresses, rompers, shoes and outerwear.  It does not include workout clothing, audition and special occasion wear, accessories, and loungewear for around the house.  A capsule wardrobe is intended for a specific season (like fall) and is worn for 3 months, without any new clothing purchases!

The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to...

• Simplify your life.
• Reduce the amount of time spent deciding what to wear and increase the time available for doing the things you truly love.  
• Cut down on spending and get the full value out of your clothes.  
• Find your style and revel in it.

Sound good?  Then keep reading to learn how to create yours!

How to create a capsule wardrobe of your own.

ONE Get inspired.

Head over to your style board on Pinterest (I know you have one!) and take a look at the pins.  Is there a style that sticks out at you?  Which are your favourite looks?  What pieces show up again and again?  As you scroll through and analyze you will begin to get a sense of what your style aesthetic is.  It may be far from how you dress right now, or look exactly like your current wardrobe.  Either way, this is the style you're drawn to and what you should base your capsule wardrobe on, just so long as it fits your lifestyle!  You could even start a new board and pin all of your absolute favourite that fit the season you're working on to have all of your inspiration in one, easy to find, place.

Don't have a style board?  Feel free to look through mine!

Follow Plant Based Bride's board Style on Pinterest.

Also feel free to take a look at my Fall and Winter capsule wardrobes!

TWO Come up with 3 words that describe your style.

Or five, or twelve.  The number of words isn't important.  What is important is that you can describe your ideal style in a clear and concise way.  This will only help you as you build your capsule!  Try looking at the list below for some inspiration:

Now get out a pen and some paper and write down the words that describe your dream (yet practical) style.  Seriously, do it!  

THREE 'Tis the season.

Think about the season you're building your wardrobe for.  Is it winter in Canada?  Then you probably won't need any shorts.  Think about temperatures, weather like rain or snow, and the colours that you like to wear during that season.  Keep these things in mind as you choose your pieces!

FOUR Pick a number.

Next you want to pick your number of pieces.  I decided to go with 40.  This breaks down to:

• 17 tops;
• 9 bottoms;
• 3 dresses and rompers;
• 7 pairs of shoes, and;
• 4 pieces of outerwear.

Your numbers don't have to be the same as mine, and they may change slightly as you go, but I find it really helps to have a structure to work in while selecting your pieces. 

FIVE Go through your wardrobe.

Now it's time to go through the clothes you already own and make 5 piles:

• Capsule (love it, in season);
• Seasonal (love it, out of season);
• Maybe (unsure due to style, fit, cost, etc.);
• Donate or Sell (don't love it or wear it), and;
• Trash (too worn to be donated).

Go ahead and throw out your trash pile, separate your donate and sell pile, and store your seasonal clothing in a box under the bed or in a closet.  Then, collect your capsule pile and write down what you have by category.  How many items do you have?  What are you missing?  Is there something you need for your capsule hiding in your maybe pile that could do the trick?  If not, add the item to your shopping list.

Need more help sorting through your clothes?  Check out Marie Kondo's book on decluttering your life! (Click on the book cover to buy it on Amazon! This is an affiliate link.)

SIX Plan your capsule.

As you go through your items think about the overall cohesiveness of your wardrobe.  The aim is to have items that work with as many other pieces in your wardrobe as possible.  This can be achieved through colour palette or style.  I like to keep the majority of my wardrobe neutral, consisting of black and white, to allow for easier mix and matching.  Analyze your items for holes:  is there a sweater you need to pull together multiple outfits?  What about a pair of shoes that would make that dress and those jeans really pop?  Continue adding to your shopping list until you reach your golden number and have each piece you need to make your wardrobe work.  This step requires a bit of shuffling around to find the perfect combination of items that gives you the most bang (and outfits) for your buck!

SEVEN Shop.

Once you're happy with your list, it's time to shop!  Make a budget before you go to ensure well thought out purchases.  You're looking for items that are high quality, fit well, and radiate the style you're going for with your capsule.  Bring inspiration images with you and remind yourself of your style words each time you pick up an item.  Does it say what you want it to say?  Will it merge seamlessly with the wardrobe you're building?  Will it last through repeated wear for at least the next 3 months?

EIGHT Wear.

Hang up your capsule wardrobe and get the rest of your clothing out of sight.  You will feel a calmness descend over you (I guarantee it!).  Welcome to your new life!  Now comes the fun part: styling outfits!  You can take photos of the items you chose for reference or to upload to apps like stylebook to help with outfit building, or just wing it.  You can also take photos of each outfit you build to keep track of the ones you really love for reference as you build next season's wardrobe.  Enjoy your pieces for the next 3 months, then start planning for capsule #2 in the last couple weeks of the third month.

Be sure to check back to see my fall capsule wardrobe on the blog next week!

Until next time,

How do you feel about capsule wardrobes?  Would you ever try one?

Don't forget to subscribe to the plant based bride newsletter to get my fall capsule wardrobe post delivered right to your inbox! (Form at the bottom of this page)

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How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Date!

So you're engaged.  Congratulations!  Let the planning begin.  But how much time do you have to check everything off your list?  Choosing the wedding date is one of the very first things you and your fiancé should do.  But how do you decide?  Read on for the 5 things you can do to narrow the options down to a single, perfect, day!

ONE Make a list of special dates in your relationship.

When was your first date?  The day you became "official"?  The first time you said I love you?  Any of these dates (and so more!) would be wonderful to commemorate by holding your wedding on the same day, x years later!

TWO Take your budget into account.  

Keep in mind how much you need to save up for your big day.  Is it doable in 6 months?  Or is a year and a half more realistic?  Don't let your excitement outweigh practicallity - it's very hard to throw a wedding without any money!  Don't stress yourself out by giving yourself too little time to save. The wedding planning process is already intense enough!

Not sure what your budget is yet?  Read my article on setting a realistic wedding budget here!

THREE Rate the seasons from your favourite to least favourite.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Do you share a favourite season? Great!  If not, try a little math. Rate your favourite season a 1, next favourite a 2, and so on. Have your partner do the same. Then, add the numbers for summer together, the numbers for winter together, and so on again. It should look something like this:

Spring: 1 + 2 = 3

Summer: 2 + 3 = 5

Fall: 3 + 1 = 4

Winter : 4 + 4 = 8

The smallest number is a great choice!  You could also just compromise, of course, but no married couple ever has to do that, so there's really no need.  (Hopefully you detected all of the sarcasm is that statement.)  If you both really have no season preference, or are really bad at compromising, it may be easier to come at it from a design perspective first.  Think about your ideal colour scheme, venue, photos, decor, mood, attire, food, everything!  Does a theme emerge?  If you were to pick one time of year that fit with all of the aspects you both love, which would it be?

Not sure what you want your wedding to look like?  I suggest starting a Pinterest board and pinning images that jump out at you!  Check out one of my four (yeah, four!) wedding boards below for an idea:

Follow Plant Based Bride's board The Big Day on Pinterest.

Regardless of how you come to an agreement, knowing which season you'd like to get married in is a great help!

FOUR Where will your wedding take place?

The location of your wedding will, of course, have a big impact on which date you choose.  Getting married in Greece?  You probably won't pick the same day as if you were getting married in Northern Canada.  If you're planning on getting married or taking photographs outdoors, you'll want to pick a time in your preferred season that is likely to have favourable weather.  If you're planning on staying inside, you have a bit more leeway!

FIVE Think of your guests.

Are your guests coming from out of town?  Are you inviting children who are in school?  Is your best friend going away for 3 months?  Keep the people you care about most in mind when choosing the date.  Not only will they be thankful, but you will be too when more of your loved ones can RSVP yes!

---

Jason and I loved the idea of getting married on a day that was special to us, and what could be more special than our first date?  Since we had our first date at the beginning of September, and we both wanted an outdoor wedding and LOVE summer, it was a perfect fit!  We checked the date in our preferred year (about 15 months after our engagement to give us time to save!) and it fell on a Sunday.  Absolutely ideal for our dream brunch wedding!  I hope that these tips help you and your partner find your perfect wedding date, and wish you all the best with the exciting changes to come :)

Until next time,

How did you choose YOUR wedding date?  I'd love to hear about it!  Let me know in the comments below.  Don't forget to subscribe to the Plant Based Bride newsletter for updates on new posts about wedding planning!  Scroll down to find the form below the comments section!

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