Megan Hamilton Weddings

The Knot Spring 2012

2012-01-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to say I have made it into The Knot magazine again! This is the kind of giddiness that just doesn't wear off.

At this point I am known more for my Custom Wedding Gown Sketches, but the gracious people at The Knot, loved a few of my headpieces made from found vintage objects which I had displayed at Bridal Market this past April.

I hope to make some time to design more and more accessories for my shop. Please keep an eye out for my vintage inspired pieces to pop up in my shop over the next year.

*Black feather & rhinestone headband (One of a kind) Retail $85.00

The Bride & Groom: Bridal Boutique

2012-01-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

Toward the end of last year I had an opportunity to work with a new bridal boutique called The Bride & Groom: Bridal Boutique & House of Tux out of Columbus, Mississippi. They were interested in having me design a logo for their new shop which will be opening February of 2012.

I warned them I'm no graphic designer, but they loved my sketches, and had total faith I would design something they would be proud to use for their shop.

Luckily they were pleased with the results and if you happen to be in Columbus, Mississippi looking for just the right bridal gown and attire for your entire bridal party, I hope you stop on by to check them out.

Wishing them the best of luck with their Grand Opening in February.

Bridal Buyer Magazine

2012-01-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

Well it's 2012 and It's been a while since I've done anything with my blog. I'm hoping to have a bit of time to start up again in the new year.

I'm happy to say the year is starting out pretty well. After having had my wisdom teeth removed on Jan 9th, not part of the good start to the year, I did have some sketches appear in Bridal Buyer Magazine UK. Very exciting that my sketches have made it across the pond in a publication.

I have been working with a Bridal Stockist called Village Brides in Reading, Berkshire, England to help them interpret their new line called Rosa Couture. The line will launch in March of 2012.

Sketched Out- The Knot Magazine Fall 2011 Feature

2011-07-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

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.

The Knot.com - Wedding Obsessions Blog

2010-12-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

A specail thanks to The Knot.com for including a small feature about my Custom Wedding Gown Sketches in their Wedding Obsessions Blog.

Please check out the link by clicking on Wedding Obsession Blog above.

Weddings Magazine 2011 Issue

2010-12-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting and waiting for the 2011 issue of Weddings Magazine to arrive. Since it is not published in this area, only Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Coast I was pleasently surprised to see the full magazine online and ready to view.

Flipping page after page I finally came upon what I had been waiting for, for months. Megan Hamilton Weddings, Custom Wedding Gown Sketch, has made it in the new issue. Yeah!!

Special thanks to Sam from Bliss by Sam Weddings , Wedding Consultant/ Planner for the Durham, NC area for contacting me and making this happen.

Beaded Beauties

2010-11-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

Well it's been quite a while since I have had the time or the inspiration to do some blogging. I am going to try to post something atleast once a week. So here it goes Week #1.

Leave it to Martha Stewart to inspire me. I was browsing through my huge file of clippings from old bridal magazines,"Keep everything" is my motto, you never know when it will come in handy, and I have happened upon some gems that should keep me blogging for a while.

BEADED FLOWERS! Beatiful to look at and a unique way to make something specail for your wedding that will stand the test of time. Your beaded bouquet can become the "something old" for the next generation.

(Clipping is from an old issue of Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine)
See first hand how to make these beaded beauties at http://www.marthastewart.com/article/beaded-flowers

OR
For those of us with no time or patience check out this etsy shop Budding Creations for her awesome beaded bouquets. Very reasonable prices and she's even having a Holiday Sale until Nov 30th.

My Sketchbook

2010-02-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be nice to showcase my Sketchbook of Custom Bridal Gown sketches and Bridal Gown and Tuxedo sketches I have done over the past few years. I will add more sketches as time goes on.

Please note the sketches you see are not my original designs. These are representations of designer gowns. If you are interested in having a sketch done of your gown please check out my web site Megan Hamilton Weddings. I would be more than happy to work with you to create a keepsake of your own.

Custom Wedding Gown Sketches make great gifts for: The Bride-to-be, Anniversary's, Valentine's Day, Birthday's or just because.

The Kindness of Strangers

2010-01-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

I have been lucky since the start of my business that I have had pretty excellent feedback from friends and family. Of course, you often wonder, are they just saying all that because they've known you for years or are blood related.

Well, this morning I recieved an e-mail from a fellow designer from Rangoli Jewellery in Dublin, Ireland of all places. She wrote to let me know that she had blogged about my Custom Wedding gown sketches.

It's always nice to get feedback from strangers and is definately a great way to start your morning read through of e-mails.

To show my appreciation I wanted to say thanks through my blog. So please check out
http://www.rangoli.ie
http://www.rangolijewellery.blogspot.com/
http://www.weddingcircle.net

Etsy Wedding Team Giveaways!!

2010-01-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

I'm giving away a Custom Wedding Gown Sketch through the Etsy Wedding Team. Check out the link below to see how you can enter to win.

http://etsyweddingteam.blogspot.com/2010/01/custom-gown-sketch-cake-flower-giveaway.html

Cosabella Lingerie Contest on A.Mountian.Bride Blog

2009-12-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Lingerie contest on

http://amountainbride.blogspot.com/2009/12/cosabella-lingerie-contest.html

Check it out and see if you can win something pretty!

It's Here! or There I Should Say!

2009-08-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

Rose Wedding Hair Comb on Whispering Pines Catalog website. http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/products/the-rose-wedding-hair-comb

Coming Soon to Whispering Pines Catalog

2009-08-14T13:29:00.001-07:00

So, who new, but one of the owners of Whispering Pines Catalog, Rustic Wedding, Rustic Decor and Things for the Cabin, was also a recent bride to be. She was searching etsy for just the right headpiece and stumpled upon my shop.

Lucky for me she fell in love with one of my designs and decided to add it as a selection to the recently added Rustic Wedding section of the website.

So stay tuned links to the site to follow soon.
http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/

Thanks Wed Savvy!

2009-08-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks Wed Savvy for including my dress sketches in their blog.

http://www.wedsavvy.com/2009/08/from-dress-to-sketch.html

Now on Twitter!

2009-08-06T12:44:00.001-07:00

So I broke down and decided to join the millions of those who use Twitter. Why not!! So please visit www.twitter.com/MHamiltonWed and give me a tweet so I can tweet you back.

A Few Blogs Worth Checking Out!!

2009-07-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

Lately a few nice bloggers out there have been gracious enough to feature me and/or my wares on thier own blogs. Awesome! And I thank them very much.

Wedding Gown Sketches-

I'm addicted to shows like Project Runway and The Fashion Show. I love seeing how the designers bring their sketches to life. It makes me wish I could sew and create amazing designs. I grew up sharing a room with my sister who is a total magazine pack rat (a trait inherited from my father I think). This spring, my parents boxed up over 10 years of Vogue, Glamour and W. None of us are total "fashionistas" but my sisters and I all appreciate the beauty of couture and design.So it is no surprise how much I love these Custom Wedding Gown Sketches from Etsy seller MeganHamilton.

Megan is a Moore College of Art & Design fashion design graduate who happens to just a town over from FI's family! With a photo of your dress (add a fabric swatch for extra oomph), Megan will create a design-style sketch and send it in a sleek black folder.I think these would be a fantastic gift for yourself or any of your bride friends. Or, if you have fancy bridesmaid dresses, a phenomenal gift for each of your girls! I know my sisters would LOVE something like this, so I'm definitely keeping Megan bookmarked. Her online shop also has some great fascinators and hair pieces. Also, check out Megan's adorable tooth fairy pillows and children's accessories at her blog The Wiggly Tooth Factory.

http://crosscountrywed.blogspot.com/2009/07/wedding-gown-sketches.html

Just Beachy Ring Pillow-

My project was featured on a new blog at inventingweddings.blogspot.com. Just click on the link and check out my pillow featured in a lovely collage called The Salty Sea Air.

CONTEST!!

2009-07-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

Win your very own Custom Wedding Gown Sketch-

So my first blog contest has been in full swing for almost 2 weeks now and people have been so nice, leaving wonderful comments and just plain excited to win.

Please see http://amountainbride.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-way-to-enter-dress-sketch.html to enter to win a chance to win one of my Custon wedding gown sketches.

**Only a few days left** So check it out!! Contest ends July 27th.

Custom Wedding Gown Sketch

2009-07-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

Pictures are great to remember your wedding day but why not a sketch of the gown you dreamed of since you were a little girl.

As a fashion design graduate of Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, PA, I took my degree to work in New York City.

I spent many years designing for companies like Macy's and David's Bridal using my illustration skills to sketch new designs season after season. Great designers like Vera Wang, Melissa Sweet and Monique Lhuillier have been giving sketches to their celebrity brides for years. Why not feel alittle like a celebrity too!

These sketches also make great bridal shower gifts.

**Look for the contest coming up this Monday July 13th on www.amountainbride.blogspot.com to win a chance to have a free sketch made for you or a friend. A $65.00 value.**

Welcome!

2009-07-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well I have a hundred things to do, why not start another blog. I figured since my headpiece business is just as big a part of my life as my Tooth Fairy pillows I might as well share with who ever will have me.

So welcome to my new blog for Megan Hamilton Weddings. Please visit my shop at www.MeganHamilton.etsy.com