Ulrika, 34 & Emil, 34

Öregrund, a small picturesque town in Sweden.

Wedding Date: May 20, 2010

Number of Guests: 10 (Emil’s parents, sister and partner, Ulrika’s mother, father and wife, brother and Emil and Ulrika’s two sons Axel and Isak).

Wedding Cost: $12,000 USD

Wedding Ceremony Location: Öregrunds kyrka

Wedding Reception Location: Hotel Floras Trädgård, Öregrund

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We chose an intimate wedding for different reasons. At first we felt different about how big the wedding should be. Ulrika wanted a bigger wedding and Emil preferred a small one. Afterward, Ulrika felt very lucky that they went for a small wedding. It was so great! Small, perfect and one of the happiest days in our lives. Another reason why we chose an intimate wedding was the lack of time to arrange a big wedding. With two small kids, a house and full time jobs it’s difficult to find the extra time.

When I was in my twenties and living at home I remember my dad buying me a heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day. It was his way of cheering me up about not having a boyfriend.  That’s the kind of stuff my dad did.

He was – and is – an expert at making people feel better.

When I was a kid he always managed to get me to stop crying. No matter how big my sobs. In my tumultuous teens, after break ups with boyfriends or quarrels with friends, my dad could always console me. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I knew he deeply cared about me. No matter what.

But it’s also his cheery disposition. My dad radiates cheerfulness. He doesn’t do grumpy.

There are two other special dads in my life; my father-in-law and my husband. They’re amazing men, and exceptional fathers. I am so fortunate to have these guys in my life – and so are my two daughters.

Here’s to you wonderful dads of the world! I hope you know how much you are loved!

Photo: Pinning the boutonniere on my day on my wedding day, September 1, 2001. (Was it really that long ago!)

I love this idea from Martha Stewart! Simply write your guests names on doilies and place a clear plate over them.  Clever! If you’ve got a thing for doilies, don’t forget to check out the doiley cupcake wrappers and doiley envelopes.

Photo: Martha Stewart via Emmaline Bride

There is a reason that this recipe for Banana Crumb Muffins is the #1 recipe on Allrecipes.com. There is a reason that out of more than 5,000 reviews, it has five stars.

One word: divine.

I have made these muffins MANY times! They are pure buttery, sugary, bananafanafofana bliss – especially with a cup of tea. My girls and my husband LOVE them too.

They’re so good, I think I will immortalize the recipe as an illustration for They Draw and Cook once order in my recently flooded art room is restored. (Thankfully our insurance is covering the new floor!)

What does this have to do with weddings? Nothing. It’s all about sharing a damn good recipe with my readers. And you scoring some MAJOR brownie points with your man.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 bananas mashed

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg lightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter (at room temp.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly grease ten muffin cups, or use cupcake liners.

In a large bowl mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together banana, sugar, egg and melted butter.

Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. (I got the vintage muffin tins at Value Village. No Teflon for this chick!)

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles course cornmeal.

Sprinkle topping over muffins.

Bake for 18-20 mins. Pour a cup of tea and bliss out!

Dangling flowers are one of the latest trends in wedding decor. I have no idea how well they stand up to the heat in a summer wedding, but what a great look! Here are some of my favorite images of dangling flowers.

Photo 1 collage: Olivia Leigh Photography; Photo 2: Geoff White; Photo 3: Heide Museum of Modern Art; Photo 4: Pretty Chicky; Photo 5: Sweet Paul; Photo 6: Intimate Weddings; Photo 7: Intimate Weddings; Photo 8: Givers Log

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