No one knows handmade better than the folks at Etsy.com, so you know that their Flickr stream, Etsy Handmade Weddings, is going to be a goldmine for any couple working on a DIY wedding. The stream is populated by users’ own wedding pictures, and you’ll find inspiration for everything from clothing and decorations to favors and flowers. (The dress pictured at right was handmade by the bride; took her seven months!) Some pictures might even give you ideas for unique camera angles to suggest to your photographer.

Last summer, we selected Jessica and Scott Nelson (at right) to grace the cover of our summer/fall magazine. Now, we’re planning our winter/spring 2010 magazine, and we’re looking for another cover couple! If you were married in Southern Maryland, you’re eligible to enter! Just send us two pictures from your wedding by Dec. 2, 2009. We’ll put our favorites up for vote, and the winning couple will be on the cover of the magazine and win lots of fun prizes. Find full details and entry form here.

In the spirit of “The Wedding Planner” comes the Hallmark Channel’s “Flower Girl,” the story of unluck-in-love florist Laurel (played by Marla Sokoloff) and her grandmother (played by Marion Ross) who hasn’t given up on finding the right guy for Laurel. Along the way, Laurel meets several brides – one who has the most detailed “inspiration board” you’ve ever seen and another who’s relying more on her gut feelings to plan her wedding. How will Laurel choose between the men in her life? Find out when the movie premieres this Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel. Open a bottle of wine and stay in!

The cover picture contest for our Winter/Spring 2010 magazine is right around the corner! To enter, you’ll need to send us two vertical shots of the bride or the bride and groom, so start sorting through your pictures to find your favorites! We’ll be posting more information soon, including an entry form and photography release. Have you entered in the past? Drop us a line, and we’ll check to see whether we still have your photographs on file.

If you celebrated a vegan wedding in 2009, the folks at VegNews Magazine want to hear from you! They’re looking for eight couples to feature in the 2010 vegan wedding issue of their magazine. You must have been married between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009, and the deadline for submissions is Dec. 1. Find all the details here.

When it comes to letting your guests know where the festivities are, Sharpie markers and poster board are things of the past. These vintage-inspired handmade signs come in a set of three: one with your names and wedding date on it and two with the words of your choice, such as “Wedding” or “Reception.” Whether you display them separately or together, they’re a unique way to tell your guests where to go!

Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick is breaking ground on its new Tuscan-style events building this Saturday (Nov. 7), and you’re invited! Bring your shovel to help the vineyard start work on its new building, which will overlook the vineyard and accommodate up to 260 guests. The festivities start at noon, with the groundbreaking at 12:15 p.m. Stick around for an open house with refreshments and appetizers by Maryland Country caterers. Wanna go? RSVP to info@runningharevineyard.com. (Get directions here.)

Source: The Knot.

If you’re dreaming of a Halloween-inspired wedding but you don’t want to decorate with ghosts, pumpkins and candy, go gothic instead. You’ll find plenty of inspiration online, from Gothic Martha Stewart to The Knot’s Gothic.Weddings.com. Visit both sites to satisfy your dark side with cake, attire, décor, and bouquet ideas, and read about real Gothic weddings. See even more real Gothic weddings at OffBeatBride.com.

Planning a Halloween wedding is more than decorating with jack-o-lanterns and encouraging guests to come in costume. Take your theme one step further with these creative details from Better Homes and Gardens. From fun drinks like bloody martinis and eyeball punch to offering a photo-op with the grim Reaper, your guests won’t see any of these fun ideas coming! Complete with instructions and recipes.

Source: The Chronicle-Telegram

Here’s one way to celebrate a Halloween wedding: dress as vampires. That’s what one Ohio couple did when they married earlier this month. The groom arrived in a hearse in a coffin and was carried to the altar by pallbearers. The bride’s maid of honor was dressed like the bride of Frankenstein. Their wedding location? A haunted house, of course!