Sketched Out- The Knot Magazine Fall 2011 Feature

It has finally arrived!! The Fall 2011 issue of The Knot Magazine.


(NOTEBOOK NEWS SECTION, P.40)

I was fortunate enough to be included in what I have come to beileve is the wedding bible for most brides.

So, whether you are married and in need of a bridal shower gift for a friend or getting married and want a unique keepsake for yourself run out to the nearest Barnes & Noble to grab yourself a copy.

Custom Baptism Gown Sketches

Think of it as the first step before she purchases her own Custom Wedding Gown Sketch!

Family heirlooms link generations of families in such a personal way. You may have grown up seeing your great-grandmother's baptismal gown in photos.

Treasured items like these, passed down from generation to generation, provide insight into the lives of our ancestors and a better understanding of our families history.

Now is a wonderful oppurtunity to preserve this special time in your families history with a custom illustration of the beautiful gown or outfit your little one wore on his or her special day.

"Hand down the gown, preserve the memory".

Gown Sketches for your ipad & iphone 4 cases

This is so great!! I must say I am having fun with the whole iphone case thing since my husband got me an iphone 4 for our anniversay. Love that husband of mine.

Well, I was browsing the large selection of cool stuff on Zazzle.com and came across custom designed cases for the ipad & iphone. I'm in!!


Just email me at mhveils@yahoo.com and ask me how I can put your Custom Wedding Gown Sketch on a case of your very own.

Custom Gown Sketch Note Cards

Coming Soon!!




Note Cards featuring your Custom Wedding Gown Keepsake Sketch. These matte white note cards measure 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" in size and are perfect for "thank yous" after your bridal shower or wedding. Sold in bundles of 20.

Check back to my shop Megan Hamilton Weddings soon for details on pricing and how to buy.

From "The City to Southern Living" Inspiration Boards

A bit more inspiration from the covers of the latest Spring 2011 additions of Brides Magazine, Southern Living Weddings, Wedding Magazine UK addition and Martha Stewart Weddings.

From "The City to Southern Living"

The use of black and white is always very chic and will be forever timeless.

Greens convey the fresh sense of renewal, perfect for Spring and a wedding in the great outdoors.

Unique Reception Sites in Pennsylvania

You're engaged, the date is set and the gown shopping has begun. Now it's time to start looking for everything else, like for starters, the reception site.

Some places may be booked only months in advance but other may take a full year to get into. Start looking early! Here are a few ideas for those Pennsylvania brides out there that would love to get married in a unique location.

A Day at the Museum-

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology
The Lower Egyptian gallery of the museum has room for 180 guest for a ceremony and feature a gigantic sphinx. The Chinese Rotunda will seat up to 300 guests. Enjoy a delicious menu of food made exclusively by the museum's caterer.
http://www.penn.museum/ for more information.

The National Civil War Museum
Located in beautiful Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, Pa. Their banquet room is great for a reception for up to 250 people. Not only are there great places to take memorable photos on the grounds but explore the history of the Civil War on this special day.
http://nationalcivilwarmuseum.org for more information.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Have your reception in the Railroad Museum’s impressive Rolling Stock Hall a unique and impressive venue. Located amongst scenic Lancaster County farmland which allows your guest to enjoy a weekend full of activities in the Lancaster area.
http://rrmuseumpa.org for more information.

Stop and Smell the Roses-

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Located in the Branywine Valley makes this site perfect for those with families in the New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvaia areas. Many different wedding packages to choose from along with a long list of locations throughout the facility. A great location for anytime of year.
http://www.winterthurweddings.com for more information.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
This unique venue is located in Buck's County about 2.5 miles from New Hope, Pa. Use the Captain James Moore Pavilion which holds up to 100 guests or hold your ceremony at the intimate gazebo in the woods with 20 of your closest friends.
http://www.bhwp.org for more information.

One of my Favorites
Cameron Estate Inn & Restaurant
I'm a bit partial to this spot since this is where my husband and I were married 6 years ago this coming May.
Located in the countryside of South Central Pennsylvania this space can be solely rented out just for you and your guests or the on-site facilities can be used for day of events like the ceremony and reception. The staff at the Estate has been planning weddings for 10 years and the menus they offer are just delicious.
http://www.cameronestateinn.com for more information.

Inspiation Board for Spring 2011

The spring issues of bridal magazines have been hitting the shelves since the beginning of the new year. Well, I can't say I haven't been inspired. Maybe I miss all the fun I had putting together my wedding, six years ago this coming May.

Putting together inspiration boards is always fun and very helpful when planning your own wedding. I've made many of these over the years while working in the fashion industry. If the big companies out there use the inspiration they find in magazines, why can't you!

Don't hide your clippings, swatches and tear sheets from magazines away in a binder. Pin them on the wall, tape them to a big piece of foam core or lay them on the floor of a spare room. You may have too many ideas to start, but seeing it all spread out in front of you will help you narrow down the best ideas and discard the ones that just don't seem to fit.

Make it fun, even your husband to be can get involved!


Here is the first of many Inspiration Boards I hope to add to my blog over the next year.

Vendors and Designers represented:

Dresses- Priscilla of Boston and Melissa Sweet, priscillaofboston.com
Save the Date Napkin- Ditto Paper. dittopaper.com
Paper Globes- Picture from Tomme Hilton Gallery, tommehiltongallery.com
Bouquet- Amy Osaba, amyosaba.com
Shoe- Kate Spade, katespade.com
Cookies- Rolling Pin Productions, rollingpinproductions.com
White Garden Rose Cake- Sweet & Saucy Shop, sweetandsaucyshop.com
Beaded Handbag- Unknown
Vintage Brooch- Megan Hamilton Weddings, meganhamilton.etsy.com

Coming Soon! The Honeymoon Tote

Turn your Custom Wedding Gown Sketch into a tote bag!! I'm calling my new addition "The Honeymoon Tote".

This is a handcrafted tote bag with your Custon Wedding Gown sketch proudly displayed on the front of the bag. Carry this tote on the beach with you while you honeymoon with your new hubby. Just another way to remember your special day and do so while lounging on the beach or at the pool.


The tote is made (not purchased from another retailer) in two sizes with heavy weight canvas and features a grosgrain ribbon accented handle. Your sketch is printed on colorfast fabric sheets and sewn into the bag. This allows you to wash the bag if necessary.

Brides, you can also have your gown sketched with your bridesmaid dresses and give each girl her very own tote filled with goodies to show how much you appreciated all their help on your special day.