Steampunk Wedding Toppers

The artist at Builder’s Studio has just the retro tech, robot bride and groom (complete with retro ray guns), you’ve been dreaming of...all your Star Wars-loving life. Many of his grooms are tall, thin and dapper, dressed in the latest tuxedo tails in dark bronze, with silver white shirts, fancy copper bow ties and tall top hats! The brides wear bright silver gowns and carry freshly made bouquets of finely detailed, real metal gear flowers on metal stems. With few noted exceptions (boutonnieres and bouquets), they're all made of futuristic painted wood and range from $99 to $355.

Love the tiara!

Maya Hansen Corsets

Ivory damask brocade corsets with satin and velvet trims straight out of a French aristocrat’s wardrobe. What flirt could resist the antique laces, bow-trimmed garters, and drapes of pearls across the bust of these heart shaped corsets by Maya Hansen. Maya became a corsetiere in 2006, studying corset techniques, patterns and textiles from the beginning of the 20th century and designing them for flat-tummy and tiny-waist-loving women everywhere.

Pink Wedding Cakes

This lovely pink cake, courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings, quotes Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famed love sonnet to her husband, “How Do I Love Thee?” just as beautiful today as when she put pen to paper over 200 years ago. The paper garlands -- dotted with ribbon flowers and bows, add a sweet finishing touch to the lovely pale pink fondant tiers of this almost-too-precious-to-eat wedding cake.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

I’ll Still Be Loving You

When you hair has turned to winter
and your teeth are in a plate,
when your getter up and go
has gone to stop and wait—
I’ll still be loving you.

When your attributes have shifted
beyond the bounds of grace,
I’ll count your many blessings,
not the wrinkles in your face—
I’ll still be loving you.

When the crackle in your voice
matches that within your knee
and the times are getting frequent
that you don’t remember me—
I’ll still be loving you.

Growing old is not a sin,
it’s something we all do.
I hope you’ll always understand—I’ll still be loving you.

C. David Hay

Victorian Courtship

Courting in the 1890s was nothing short of...tricky. A gentleman interested in a young lady might try strolling along the same street every day when she might be walking, or attend church services where she worshipped to try to catch her approving glance. Once contact was made an elaborate flirting protocol, even more exhausting then having your 27 inch waist cinched to a tiny twenty two in a stiff Victorian corset, began with this small but necessary piece of equipment.

Fan slow—I am engaged
Fan with right hand in front of face—Come on
Fan with left hand in front of face—Leave me
Fan open and shut—Kiss me
Fan open wide—Love
Fan half open—Friendship
Fan shut—Hate
Fan swinging—Can I see you home?

The Young Ladies’ Journal, 1872