The Design Grove

The Design Grove Has Moved!

2009-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to announce that The Design Grove has officially moved to a new blog! Same content, same author, different layout and better overall! If you didn't see yesterday's post, it explains a little bit about the new blog, Every Last Detail.

Head on over to Every Last Detail for today's post, and don't forget to add the new feed to your blog reader subscriptions!

The Design Grove is Moving!

2009-12-06T09:47:00.003-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen a few tweets about a new blog! Since I started The Design Grove, I've progressed in my style as well as professionally. I decided that I wanted to have a blog that would coincide with my future business name, but still achieve the same level of inspiration for brides. Therefore, Every Last Detail was created.

Every Last Detail, (ELD for short) will provide inspiration, ideas, and insight for brides, just as The Design Grove has done. I believe that the whole look and feel of a wedding or event is created through the details, and I will of course cover every last one of those details!

There are some new aspects to ELD that The Design Grove didn't have, such as a "Resources To Love" section, listing great blogs and vendors. Working in the event industry, I've learned a lot, and I will also be sharing some of the tidbits that I learn. My ultimate goal is to help brides have the best wedding that they possibly can, and Every Last Detail will help them do just that!

So get ready for the official launch tomorrow! Change your blog reader feeds, and if you haven't subscribed to The Design Grove, be sure sign up for the updates for Every Last Detail!

Rocker Chic Bridesmaid Necklaces

2009-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

You may remember a recent Real Wedding that was featured by K&K Photography. I was absolutely in love with the jewelry that the bride and bridesmaids were wearing, and I was searching all over for them! Well, I recently found out that the bride, Lacey, actually made the bridesmaids' necklaces! I think those necklaces achieved the "vintage rocker" look perfectly and were stunning in photos, so I definitely had to share this find!

Lacey began her jewelry company, Pink Lacey, based on the inspirations from her travels and experiences while on the road singing back up for a music artist. An especially intriguing aspect of her designs is that they're all designed with guitar picks!

Several music artists, such as Miley Cyrus and Faith Hill, are wearing Pink Lacey too! Pink Lacey jewelry is perfect for a rock-and-roll wedding! Some of the pieces would make great holiday gifts as well! Be sure to keep this gorgeous jewelry in mind for your rocker chic friend, or for yourself!

What To Expect When You're...Planning a Wedding: Budget

2009-12-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

No, I haven't been reading the book, "What To Expect When You're Expecting", but for some reason while writing this post, those words just came to mind, and they have a nice a little ring to them! But it's true. Some couples have no idea what to expect when they're planning their wedding. Yes, you have the lists and recommendations, but those things still don't prepare you for what you about to embark upon.

Photo by bobbi+mike

Since we are now in what is known as the "Engagement Season", I've had a few friends get engaged already, and some of them are telling me that they have no idea what to expect while planning their wedding. So this is a continuation to a previous post, "What I Didn't Know As a Bride That I Know Now". In this previous post, I wrote, "Bottom line- do your homework. It’s okay to shop around, but know WHAT you’re shopping for and the quality of the product/service."

So now for some help with some of that homework!

Budget: Every wedding needs to have a budget. Even those really ridiculously expensive weddings have a budget, it's just really ridiculously huge. If your thought process is that you don't have a budget, you do, you just don't know it yet. Try to get a ballpark range of the maximum amount that you would like to spend. To do this, you want to look at the things that take up the majority of a wedding's budget:

Food
Venue
Photography
Decor

Food and Venue: These two things are most likely combined if you are having your reception at a traditional wedding venue. However, if you're having your reception at your parents' house, you may not immediately think about the need for tables, chairs, and linens on top of needing a caterer. The food and venue for a wedding will usually comprise approximately 30-50% of the budget.

Photo by Studio222 Photography

Photography: With photography, you get what you pay for. It's that simple. Photographers do so much more work than just those 8 hours on your wedding day. They spend hours editing photos, making sure they all look juuuuust right. So when you're looking at pricing packages of photographers, keep in mind that you're also paying for the many, many (up to 20-30) hours that they take to make your photos look amazing. The quality of the service that you receive will indeed reflect the amount that you pay.

Decor: Decor can mean different things to you depending on the type of wedding that you want to have. Just about every wedding will need bouquets and boutonnieres, although there have been more non-floral substitutes popping up nowadays! Then there are centerpieces for the tables, and decor for the ceremony if needed. Once again, you get what you pay for. If you want a huge, tall floral centerpiece, you're going to be spending more money than if you have a small low centerpiece. Decor also includes lighting (which makes a HUGE difference in any space) and draping, which surprisingly isn't too high cost. Anything that you can think of to create the "look" of your wedding would be included in the decor.

Photos by Elizabeth Messina, via kiss the groom

With all of these elements considered, you can then decide which one means the most to you. If you would rather have great photography and a backyard barbeque reception, then you can allot more of your budget to photography and less to food. Whatever is more important to you and your fiance, budget more for that particular element!

So first things first, establish your budget. I know it's such an awful word with a negative connotation, but believe me, you will be thankful to have a set number as your guide.

If you get stuck or have any questions, leave a comment or email me, and I will be more than happy to help out! Happy budgeting!

Real Wedding: Chic Is In The Details

2009-12-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Orlando photographer Lori Barbely sent over this wedding, and when I saw the details, beautiful venue, and the glowing bride and groom, I was in love! An event at any type of artistic venue like the Maitland Arts Center is always sure to be amazing, and this wedding is certainly one of them. Oh, and the Blackberry addicted bride...a girl after my own heart (except mine is an iPhone...same idea though)!

I think those streamers are my favorite thing about this wedding! What a great idea for a send off! Thank you Lori for sending over these beautiful photos! Check out more of Lori Barbely's work on her website and blog...it's all so gorgeous!

Rustic Fall Wedding by Studio 222 Photography

2009-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

You may recall the Sneak Peek of this wedding that I posted a little over a month ago. When Becka of Studio 222 Photography posted more of the photos, I couldn't wait until Wednesday for my usual Real Wedding post!

As I wrote in the Sneak Peek post, this wedding was the very first wedding that I coordinated on my own, so it holds a special place in my heart. It definitely helped to have the amazing photography duo of Studio 222, and of course the wonderful bride and groom, Sarah and Roger.

Sarah wanted a rustic fall wedding, and it was all that and more- complete with pumpkins, mason jars, haystacks, and of course a Gator game! The DIY elements that Sarah and her family put together completed the whole wedding. And let's not forget about the beautiful venue, Black Diamond Ranch and Country Club. It was absolutely beautiful, the weather was great, and everyone had a great time!

Sarah recently did "Interview With a Newlywed" with Studio 222 for their blog-what a great idea! You can see the interview here, plus there are a few more photos from this wedding! Thank you to Becka and Nate for being such amazing photographers, and to Sarah and Roger for allowing me to be a part of this beautiful wedding!

DIY Illuminated Table Numbers

2009-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Even though the holiday crafts are beckoning to me, I thought we needed some wedding related DIY goodness today. For some reason, I absolutely love table numbers, and when I saw these, I thought, "Why didn't I think of that?!"

These illuminated table numbers were featured on the Intimate Weddings Blog and were made by Tuppence of Momfetti. Tuppence used these as her table numbers and they came out beautifully! The elegant paper combined with the glow from the candlelight adds instant intimacy to any event.

Photos via Intimate Weddings Blog

The full instructions can be found {HERE}...it seems easy enough! (I actually almost got up to make some for myself, but then I realized that I didn't need table numbers anymore.) These would also be great for some sort of themed party. You can easily change the look of them depending on the font, shapes and paper you use! Plus, they're functional and are a perfect way to add some decor to your event! Who else is loving these table numbers?

Black Friday? What Black Friday?

2009-11-27T09:45:00.003-05:00

I've never been the one that wakes up at 4 AM to go shop Black Friday deals. It must be my mom's fault, because she never wanted to partake in the post Thanksgiving deal finding. But why participate in Black Friday when you have the internet?! Most internet retailers are now offering deals over the weekend, as well as on Monday, which has been dubbed "Cyber Monday".

These are just a few of the stores offering deals online:

Oh Amazon.com. It's a shopper's heaven. You can find just about anything, and it's usually at a lower price than you will find in stores. Plus, they're having Black Friday AND Cyber Monday deals. I got a $400 Garmin last year for $199...amazing, right? And they have that great Wish List feature, so you can tell your family, and make them do it too!

And of course Overstock.com is having deals for this weekend as well!

I recently found the yokomono Studio on a blog, and they have some great bags and home goods! Everything is 20% off for this weekend! Here is the Multi Pockets Pouch that I'm loving...

Ann Taylor Loft is having a special Style Steals deal lasting until Sunday. Sweaters and jeans are all under $29!

I know these are just a few of the stores offering deals, and there are a ton more online! However, after seeing some of the deals at clothing stores, I just might have to stop in to try some things on. Other than that, all of my shopping will be done online this year! What other stores are offering great deals online? Did anyone hit the stores for Black Friday this year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T13:19:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to say....

I'll be back to regular posting tomorrow, with the start of the Friday's Finds Gift Series! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

LOVE: Modern White Wedding Decor

2009-11-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

I recently helped out with a photo shoot that some awesome local wedding vendors put together, and I am completely in love with how everything came out! (You may recall my excitement over the sneak preview.) MMD Events created the design and decor, and Limelight Photography photographed the shoot.

I had never really seen anything like this, and I KNEW I had to share it! Everything was all white and modern, with clean lines, lots of candlelight, and hints of sparkle. I actually made the origami cranes that were part of the shoot too! A chandelier of the cranes and crystals was created, and I'm so excited that I had a part in the creation of something that beautiful! This decor would be perfect for a winter wedding at a modern venue, such as an art gallery or museum. However, if the decor is done right, you can achieve this look at just about any venue, and of course at any time of year!

Thank you to Limelight Photography for these gorgeous photos! MMD Events puts together some amazing and original decor...it's so much fun to work with them and see empty spaces transformed into beautiful events! Decor makes SUCH difference in the look and feel of a wedding. This all white decor is modern, yet classic, and elegant, but fun! So who wants all white decor like this now?

Rustic Red and Orange Inspiration Board

2009-11-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

This is the last week of Fall, so I wanted to do one more fall inspired inspiration board! This combination of red and orange is so incredibly rustic and chic. The red and orange details pop beautifully against wood and the typical fall brown. A wedding with these colors is definitely going to be a lot of fun! Serve lemonade or cider (depending on the weather) before your ceremony. Have the reception in a large barn, just outside under the stars, or in a clearing between tress. How cool would it be to have lights strung from tree to tree?

Row 1: Barn, Cake, Bouquet
Row 2: Table, Aisle Post, Bride
Row 3: Centerpiece, Escort Apples, Mason Jar, Mason Jars

I just love the rustic feel of the red and orange flowers, combined with a lot of wood. And of course mason jars are my favorite. You simply can't have a rustic wedding without mason jars! What do you think of these colors for a rustic wedding? Are there any other colors you would use for a rustic event that aren't brown?

It's Been 6 Months!

2009-11-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

I just realized that today marks 6 months since my husband, Schuyler, and I were married! It's been a wonderful 6 months, and the time has FLOWN by! From making our house into a home, changing to the same last name, and a complete 360 change in my career path, it's been an amazing start to our life together. I just wanted to mark this little milestone in our new life together and share a few of my favorite wedding photos!

All photos by CvB Photography

I wish we had more fun photos of the two of us, but thanks to Florida weather, we were rained out of our 3 hours of shooting time! You can see more details from our wedding in some of my very first blog posts. I can't wait for what else is in store for us!

DIY Holiday Decor: Ribbon Wreath

2009-11-23T05:23:00.000-05:00

This week officially starts the holiday season for many people, but it's kind of hard for me to get in the "spirit" when it's still 80 degrees outside! So, to start getting in the holiday spirit, I thought I would share this DIY piece of holiday decor that was found on iDIY.

Via the long thread

Using grosgrain ribbon, some scissors, and a a foam wreath form, you can create a homemade wreath! The full materials needed and instructions can be found on the long thread, and step-by-step photos are here on Weddingbee. Use whatever color you want, or combine different colors to make a multicolored wreath. The wreath isn't really exclusively holiday-ish, so you can even use a color that matches the decor in your house and have it hanging year-round!

Via Weddingbee

If you're looking to add some decor to your wedding, these are great for a rustic wedding! You can hang different sizes of these wreaths from trees or off of fence posts.

I'm going to be starting my holiday crafting this weekend while I'm at my parents' for the holidays, and this wreath is at the top of my list. There will be more DIY holiday decor items to come...I've been accumulating them! Has anyone ever made any other type of holiday decor? Or used something like this in their wedding decor?

Give Your Wedding Cake a Bit of Style

2009-11-20T07:58:00.006-05:00

Starting next week I'm going to be posting gift ideas on Fridays, because I always have the hardest time thinking of gifts for people, and I've found a couple of good ideas through some various blogs! And since a week from today it will be "Black Friday" (I can't believe it's already here!), I figured it will be appropriate to kick off the holiday posts then!

For today's Friday Finds I wanted to share Raise The Cake with you. Raise the Cake is a cake stand studio, creating beautiful cake stands and even cupcake stands too! Since the cake is often one of the focal points of the room, you want it to be as gorgeous as possible, right?

A cake stand is something that a lot of brides don't think about, but it makes a huge difference in the display of the cake. Your cake baker may have their own cake stand to provide you with, but it will most likely be something gold or silver, and that's it. You can have a plain white cake, put it on one of these cake stands, and it won't be plain anymore. Or you can have the cake design and the cake stand match, so then the stand just looks like another cake tier! A great solution if you want the look of a large cake but don't have the budget to have a huge bottom tier. Whatever way you use one of these cake stands, it will be a gorgeous addition to the display of your cake!

*All photos via Raise The Cake

They're all so gorgeous, right? No matter what the theme of your wedding is, there is sure to be a cake stand to match! You can order from the Raise the Cake Collection, design your own by choosing the fabric, ribbon and "bling", or have one completely customized for you. These cake stands are such a wonderful way to add a bit of decor to your cake! Who's planning on using one of these beauties for their wedding?

What I Didn't Know As a Bride That I Know Now

2009-11-19T07:00:00.005-05:00

I’ve been in contact with a few new brides lately, and I found myself giving them a great deal of advice. I then realized that it was basically what I didn’t know as a bride that I know now. I learned through reading blogs and working in the wedding industry, and basically just educating myself. However, as a new bride, the first thought usually isn’t to educate yourself…it’s to grab the newest wedding magazine and start flipping through it, marking the pages of things you like. That’s not a problem at all…revel in your engagement! You have to know what you like and what you want!

Photo by Todd Pellowe

I was the first out of my friends to get married. There were so many times that I thought, “Gee, I wish I had some sort of warning or preparation so I could’ve known about this!” Therefore, I thought I would do a quick list of some of the major things that come to mind that I wish I had known when I was bride.

1. BLOGS! As I’ve said before, I had no clue about what wedding blogs were, how to find them, and what information they had! Photographers’ blogs, inspiration blogs, planners’ blogs are SUCH great resources! I found SO many great ideas and inspiration on blogs…the only drawback was that I found blogs too late in my planning and I couldn’t do half of the things that I wanted to. So you’re on a great start by reading a blog!

2. Weddings are expensive. Just know that and be prepared. There are ways to have a great wedding without “breaking the bank”, but definitely know the running price for services. Do your homework. I was in shock when I found out what the price of an average photography package was. And so were my parents. But that was because we had no idea about what photography (and everything else wedding related) entailed. When we met with other (much better) photographers and saw the difference in pricing, things started to make a bit more sense. Bottom line- do your homework. It’s okay to shop around, but know WHAT you’re shopping for and the quality of the product/service. (More details on this in another post later)

3. You can plan your own wedding AND have a wedding planner! I thought that I wouldn’t be able to put my own touch on my wedding if I had a planner. Then I realized that it was incredibly beneficial to have someone who knew the industry, knew vendors, and would be able to handle everything on the day of. You’re still planning your wedding. A wedding planner just helps you implement the plans! If ANYTHING, a day-of coordinator will be some of the best money you spend, because you will be able to avoid so much stress on your wedding day!

4. You aren’t limited to only using vendors that are local. I didn’t know this, so I only looked at vendors that were in the town that I was getting married in. Little did I know, most vendors are willing to travel! Of course it depends on how far they are traveling, but there is always a way. If there is a vendor that you want to work with who doesn’t work exclusively in your town, you can most likely still work with them! It never hurts to ask!

5. Custom paper goods. Having custom invitations made is the best thing ever. You can get invitations exactly how you want them, to match your theme, style, or color scheme, for the same price (if not better) as the ones out the big giant books. AND they look ten times better, are totally custom, and no one else will have ever received the same invitation previously (which has happened in a few occasions to my parents). There are SO MANY cool ways to have invitations made too! Why wouldn’t someone have custom invites made? Oh wait, if you’re me and find out about custom invitations the MONTH that invites are supposed to be ordered.

Via Oh So Beautiful Paper

I learned about most of these things a little too late in my wedding planning process, which is why I felt the need to share them with you all. Of course there are more things that I wish I had known, but these are the major tidbits of information that I thought were crucial to share! My wedding was awesome, but I think it would have been even better if I had known about these things sooner!

I hope some of these tips can help you have the best wedding imaginable! Does anyone have anything else that you’ve learned along the way that you would like to add? Share it in the comments section!

Rock and Roll Elegant Wedding by K&K Photography

2009-11-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

Today's wedding was sent to me by Jeff and Ana of K&K Photography, another amazing husband and wife photography team! I've had the pleasure of recently meeting both of them, and they are the sweetest people and so much fun!

When I saw these photos, I was in a trance, scrolling through all 29 pages of the photos and drooling over them the whole entire time. The bride's style, the happiness of the bride and groom, the ceremony...everyone about this wedding is amazing.

Okay, kind of obsessed with this necklace.

Jeff and Ana shared some of the details of the ceremony: "The ceremony took place at the beautiful Cuban Centro Asturiano Theater. Each guest had a custom playbill entitled, “A Concert of Love” and it was chock-full of fun facts about the bride and groom, the different acts of the wedding/show, and even a “Who’s who in the cast”! The procession of the bridal party and the lovely bride started from the back of the theater up to the stage. The ceremony was broken into sections, and each section was followed by breathtaking performances by friends and family. We found it hard not to set down our cameras and be swept away by the art and beauty. It felt like we were watching a broadway show more than a wedding."

I've never heard of a ceremony like this! Jeff and Ana documented it wonderfully...it's like watching a movie! If you're wanting a different take on the ceremony, this is amazing!

The reception was done in a black in white color scheme, and of course had touches of rock and roll added to it!

This wedding was truly amazing! The rock and roll elements added a bit of fun, but it was still an incredibly elegant event. And I'm still loving the bride's necklace! Thank you to K&K Photography for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

Sunset Inspiration Board

2009-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

The inspiration for this board is the photo of the sunset below. The pink and orange in a sunset is such a beautiful showcase of nature, and wonderful color theme for a wedding!

Using orange and pink in a wedding can be done in various ways. As with any color scheme, the tone of the colors can also determine the tone of the wedding. A bold orange and fushia would be perfect for a casual outdoor beach wedding, but they will also be perfect for an elegant ballroom event. The same can be done with lighter pastel shades of orange and pink. It's of course all in the details and how they're presented!

Row 1: Bouquet, Sunset, Parasols
Row 2: Centerpiece, Fushia Bridesmaids
Row 3: Cake, Escort Cards, Lighting
Row 4: Reception, Bouquet, Candle

I LOVE the pink and orange parasols! And the lighting design! I've never seen anything like that! So many cool things can be done to create a sunset themed wedding! Any other ideas? Share them in the comments!

My Paper Cranes in a Photoshoot!

2009-11-16T22:03:00.003-05:00

When I was going through my blog reader, I stumbled upon this photo board on Limelight Photography's blog, said, "oh that's pretty", and then I realized it included some of my handiwork! I got excited and had to share it!

This photo shoot was designed by MMD Events, a company that I work for, and they asked me to help out with part of the design. What part is that, you ask? Well, paper cranes. Yes, I taught myself how to make paper cranes. Four tutorials and lots of folded paper later, I can now make paper cranes in my sleep! It was so much fun to teach myself a new skill! And now to see not one, but two photos of my work is so exciting!

Paper cranes included, the photo shoot turned out beautifully! The white, the crystals, the sparkle, the lighting! Limelight took some amazing photos, and I absolutely love the white and sparkle factor! Hopefully I'll be posting some larger and more close-up photos soon!

DIY Letterpress? Yes Please!

2009-11-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Everyone knows how much I love letterpress, and when I heard about this giveaway on iDIY, I was jumping out of my chair with excitement! iDIY is giving away Lifestyle Craft's L Letterpress to ONE special winner! If you're considering doing your invitations yourself, take a look at this wonderful new letterpress machine!

Photo via iDIY

Letterpress is an intricate process, since it's done by hand, one-by-one, piece-by-piece, but it's gorgeous and it adds a special element to whatever you're letterpressing! You can use the L Letterpress to make invitations, thank you cards, business cards...whatever your heart desires!

Photo via iDIY

Don't you want to be able to do beautiful letterpress on your own?! The contest ends this Wednesday at 11:59PM EST, so go over to iDIY and get your entries in to win this amazing contraption!

Add Some Fun to Your Photos With Smitten Sticks!

2009-11-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

After yesterday's post about photo and smile booths, I thought I would continue it a little by sharing these amazing Smitten Sticks!

Photo via Smitten Sticks

Smitten Sticks are handmade paper expressions, mustaches and the like, mounted on a stick for easy handholding. They’re simple, playful and perfect for creating those fun moments just begging to be captured, whether it’s during a wedding, birthday party or any other celebration rife with photo ops.

Photo via Smitten Sticks

Smitten Sticks are the collaboration of Edyta, a wedding photographer, and Vana of Le Papier Studio. Edyta was forever on the hunt for creative, quirky and clever props for her brides and grooms to incorporate into their wedding photos. It dawned on her that in order to get the quality and aesthetic that she and her clients demand, she’d just have to make them herself! She had the inspiration and Vana was the perfect partner to make her vision come to life. Together they created these great props that are showing up all over weddings and parties!

Photo via Smitten Sticks

You can get your hands on some of these Smitten Sticks by going to their Etsy store and purchasing a Smitten Stick package! And lucky you, Smitten Sticks has teamed up with Southern Weddings Magazine for a giveaway! It ends today at 11PM, and all you have to do is make a comment about what makes you the happiest in life!

Who wants to use some of these Smitten Sticks in their photos?

Wedding Photo Booth Options

2009-11-12T08:21:00.006-05:00

Photo booths have been popping up at weddings all over lately! It's a great way to provide something to entertain your guests, and it's a great ice breaker too! And of course you can capture some of the memories of your wedding with the photos. There are several different ways that photo booths can be done, but no matter which one you choose, they're all incredibly fun and everyone loves them!

Rental: Renting an actual photo booth is one of the options you have if you want a photo booth at your wedding. Your guests just press a button to take 4 poses of pictures, and they take the photos home with them as a reminder of how much fun they had at your wedding! You can also get a guest book of all of the photos that your guests take- a great alternative to the traditional guest book!

Photo via Tampa Shutterbooth

Photographer: If you don't have it in your budget to rent a photo booth, you can always have your photographer set one up! Talk to your photographer about having an assistant man the "smile booth" station and take photos of your guests! You can make a cool backdrop for the booth, or just use a pretty corner at your reception. To add even more fun to the photo booth concept, you can add props or a sign for guests to write a message to you and your new husband!

Photo by Pure Photography by Lindsey

Photo by Our Labor of Love

Via Swanky Tables, by Studio Booth
(This can be rented from Studio Booth, or if you're ambitious, I'm sure it could be made!)

DIY: If none of the above options are viable, you can always create a DIY photo booth! It may not be a "photo booth", more like a photo station, but your guests will still have fun! There a few ways to do a DIY Photo Station. You can provide a few cameras for guests to take photos of each other. You can even go so far as to buy a remote for the camera and set up a camera stand. Another option would be to buy a Polariod so guests can just take the photos home, or you can have them paste the photos into a guestbook!

Via The Bride's Cafe

No matter which way you choose to do a photo booth, guests will have a blast with it, and you will have great memories from your wedding! Who's planning on doing a photo or smile booth at their wedding?

Fun and Gorgeous Engagement Photos in Naples

2009-11-11T05:23:00.000-05:00

Since there was so much engagement talk last week, I had a few more amazing engagement photos that I wanted to share!

Astrid of Astrid and Rene Photography, a husband and wife photography team in Naples, FL, sent me these gorgeous photo boards of Sarah and Mike's engagement shoot. Astrid wrote, "Sarah and Mike really put the 'F" in fall and fun! Their wedding is this Saturday here in Naples, on the beach and then at Grey Oaks." These photos were shot in Sarah's neighborhood! It's beautiful, I would have never guessed it was a neighborhood!

They definitely look like they're a fun couple! I absolutely love photos with pets, and even more so, I'm loving the light in these photos! I can't wait to see their wedding photos! Thanks for sharing Astrid!

Blue and Brown Inspiration Board

2009-11-10T08:05:00.003-05:00

I've always loved the combination of blue and brown. It's so serene and calming- it reminds me of a spa for some reason. However, my inspiration for making this board came from the invitation suite below, by Brown Sugar Design. The colors are slightly muted and not too rich, giving it sophistication and at the same time a casual feel.

I'm a firm believer in color schemes being able to work in just about any setting. It all depends on how you use the colors and the tone of the colors used. I think with brown and blue, a pale combination would be best for a Spring wedding. However, using deeper hues of brown and blue would be an excellent combination for a Fall or Winter wedding!

Row 1: Cake, Invitations, Cupcakes
Row 2: Bridesmaids and Bride, Bouquet, Programs
Row 3: Boutonniere, Bridesmaids, Cocktail Table, Centerpiece
Row 4: Dress, Table setting, Bouquet

What an elegant combination of colors! I'm partial to the pale blue with a cocoa brown, but the rich blue and brown is great as well!

DIY Monday: Tin Can Lanterns

2009-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

These tin can lanterns are perfect for a rustic outdoor wedding at any time of year. I can imagine these lanterns lining the aisle of an evening ceremony or the walkways outside of a reception, instead of using the paper luminaries that are commonly seen. They would be especially great now, since with the time change it's now dark by 6:00 PM!

Via Intimate Weddings Blog

You can go over to the Intimate Weddings Blog for directions on how to make these lanterns. They seem simple enough! It basically involves a pattern, something to poke holes through the can, and spray paint in your choice of color.

What a great way to recycle cans and be able to reuse them! These would even be great to use as holiday decorations with holiday patterns and colors. Whatever event you decide to make these for, they're a great addition of candlelight and decor!

A New Take on Engagement Photography: Surprise Proposal Photos

2009-11-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Normally, engagement photos are taken a few months after getting engaged. However, innovative proposing boyfriends, with the help of photographers, are putting a whole new meaning to engagement photos!

These engagement photos that I speak of are known as Surprise Proposal photos! Thoughtful boyfriends have a photographer conspicuously capture photos of them proposing! I know guys are always trying to think of innovative ways to propose, and this is a great idea! What better way to preserve the memory of the proposal, and have an impromptu engagement shoot literally RIGHT after getting engaged!

Sharon Bushman is a photographer in New York City, and she actually specializes in Surprise Proposal photography! How amazing is that?! Enough of my blabbing about photography and engagements, I'll let the photos speak for themselves!

Apparently Central Park is a very popular place to get engaged! However, you don't have to be in New York just to do one of these, I'm sure any photographer would love to do a surprise proposal shoot!

I just LOVE this idea of capturing the VERY moment of getting engaged! The emotions are so incredibly organic...there are really no words for it! And it would be great to send the photos to friends and family to announce your engagement!

Has anyone had one of these shoots? If not already engaged, what would you think if your boyfriend set this up as part of his proposal?

Part 2: Congrats! You're Engaged...Now What?

2009-11-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

[Continued from Part 1 of "Congrats! You're Engaged...Now What?"]

I decided to split up this post to prevent any of you new brides from getting overwhelmed with the first steps of planning your wedding. It's a whole new experience, and it is SO much fun! (Warning: You will spend HOURS looking at photos of decor, flowers, dresses, cakes, etc, etc, etc) These next recommendations involve taking the steps towards making your wedding come together.

Hire a wedding planner and establish a budget. I include both of these steps in one because it really is incredibly important to have a wedding planner involved in your wedding. Now, you can't really do much of anything without knowing your budget. There are resources online, such as TheKnot and Brides.com to help with planning your budget, but a planner can also help you understand the costs of everything that a wedding entails. Whether it is just for consulting, planning the entire event, or just for the day of coordinating, I can't even imagine what a wedding is like without a planner being involved. (And that is the honest truth speaking as someone working in the wedding industry, not as a wedding planner.) I will delve into the need for a planner more in another post, but for the time being, you can read this previous post or check out this article by Melissa of Masterpiece Weddings.
Find your venue. The venue decision of course hinges on what kind of wedding you decided you wanted in Step 2. However, the urgency of finding a venue could depend on your location. If you are getting married in an area that has plenty of venues, you can take a little bit of time to look around. It is recommended to have your venue booked at least one year in advance. If you are in an area that only has a few venue options (such as my hometown), I would recommend booking a year and half in advance if you can, because the dates will fill up fast! But don't forget to consider the type of wedding that you envision as well as your budget!
Book your photographer. This step and the previous step can be interchangeable, depending on the amount of time you have, the level of importance you put on photography, and the availability of venues. However, photographers also book up to a year and half in advance! If photography is something that is important to you, you should start your search now! Be sure to read these previous posts on choosing your photographer, and don't forget that you aren't limited to only choosing a photographer who is in the same city as you! That's something that as a bride, I didn't know!

Via La Dolce Vita Studio

These are my recommendations of the things that should be done pretty much within the first few months of planning your wedding. And don't worry, it's normal to do a lot (booking venues and photographers far in advance), and then have a lull of planning activities. The online resources with checklists are helpful, but not completely inclusive. If you have a wedding planner, she will provide you with a list of things that need to be done by a specific month, and it will also include details that are commonly overlooked.

If you ever have any questions, need advice, or need someone to bounce ideas off of, please feel free to email me or leave a comment! Welcome to the world of planning your wedding!

Congrats! You're Engaged...Now What?

2009-11-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

The winter is one of the most popular times for couples to get engaged. It could be the cool weather, making people want to have an excuse to snuggle more or the idea that a sparkly ring would be THE perfect Christmas gift, who knows? I was one of the couples that fell into that popular statistic, but it really was the perfect time. It was a few days before Christmas, and my whole family was already around to celebrate! We hardly had to make any phone calls to share our news! (And we finally didn't have to hear, "So, when are you guys getting engaged?")

Studio222 Photography

You've gotten through all of the excitement and well wishes, told everyone you know, and now you just can't stop looking at that shiny new bling on your left hand! What do you do next? What are your first steps towards planning your wedding?

If you're like me, you'll want to start planning the next day and buy a ton of bridal magazines, and then spend way too long looking at wedding dresses. However, you could just be incredibly overwhelmed and not even know where to start! I've compiled a list of some of the things to do upon your engagement.

Start thinking of a date. It's one of the first questions that everyone asks, and it's the very first thing that should be done, since you really can't do anything else until this is decided. (It's very difficult to reserve a venue and book a photographer without your date!) When choosing your date, remember to consider your favorite time of year, favorite holidays, work schedules, the weather, or maybe even your anniversary.
Consider WHO you and your fiance are as a couple. Your wedding should be a reflection of the two of you. It's a celebration of your love and your new life together. You want it to be amazing, of course, but you don't have to conform to what an everyday wedding is. Stop and think about what you truly want your wedding day to be like. Decide on what type of wedding you want. If you don't know where to start, look through some wedding blogs and magazines to get some ideas of different types of weddings. Take a look at this article by garter designer Julianne Smith for more insight into this topic.
Start your guest list. You are now entering new wedding territory. You really need to know how many people you will be having at your wedding before going any further. Both establishing a budget and booking a venue will require taking into account the number of guests you will have. And of course the type of wedding that you decide on will also help to determine the guest list. For example, if you want to have a destination wedding, you probably won't be having 250 guests.

There are of course more steps, but I'm saving those for Part 2, which will be posted tomorrow. These are just the baby steps that need to be taken in order to start planning your wedding! Have fun!

Farmer's Market Engagement Shoot by Studio222 Photography

2009-11-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

A lot of people are going to be getting engaged in the next couple of months...I know of 2 from this week alone! I'm going to be doing more features on things that are engagement related to help the newly engaged couples along the way, so what better way than to start with a gorgeous shoot!

I love this engagement shoot by Studio222 Photography! Becka and Nate shot Megan and Justin at the Winter Park Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning. It's kind of like "a day in the life" of Megan and Justin! What a wonderful way to have an engagement shoot! That's exactly how it should be...just like you're living your life, doing something totally normal for you, and photographers just so happen to be there to shoot it! Perfection!

I think it makes for super fun photos to be doing something or be somewhere interesting! What are some other ideas of things to do for an engagement shoot?

Inspiration Board: Whimsical Red

2009-11-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Red isn't just for Christmas and Valentine's Day anymore!

The wedding I had this weekend was a Venetian Masquerade Ball theme, with red and gold decor accents. The red and gold together was beautiful and incredibly elegant. Red is usually associated with a more formal and elegant event, especially when paired with black. I thought I would take a different twist on the use of red for brides planning Spring and Summer weddings!

This inspiration board showcases red combined with lighter colors, which gives an event a fun and casual feel- perfect for an outdoor Spring wedding! When you combine red with white, gray, aqua, or any other light color, a fun and whimsical theme is created! Add different elements of decor, and you can make it more elegant or more casual...it's completely up to you!

Row 1: Escort Cards, Invitations, Cake, Shoes
Row 2: Centerpiece, Bouquet, Thank You photo
Row 3: Centerpiece, Chair Menu, Tablescape
Row 4: Reception Decor, Pie Favors

I think the red would be great for a "preppy" wedding too! What do you think of this color palette for a whimsical wedding? Are there any other combinations that you think would work well also?

DIY Monday: Stir Sticks

2009-11-02T10:13:00.003-05:00

For this week's DIY project, I thought some stir sticks would be a fun and easy project to do! Stir sticks will add instant pizazz to the drinks served at your cocktail hour or bridal shower! They may be small, but they will definitely add A LOT to the look of your event!

Via Style Me Pretty

{Instructions from Abby: So, all you need to do is print this template out on 80lb card stock (try Paper Source). Using a 3.5″ hole punch, cut out the circles. Then using either a small amount of glue or some double stick tape, adhere them to corn dog or popsicle sticks (corn dog sticks are a little bit longer). Voila!}

Via Bridal Party Tees Blog

{Click on the link above. You can save the templates and change the wording yourself in Word or Photoshop!}

Via PrintYourParty's Etsy Shop

{The stir stick designs above are $10 for the template, and can be color customized for $5-10, depending on how much customization you would like done! Take a look at the options, they're super cute! You just download your custom labels, print them out, and cut or punch out (using a 1.5 inch round punch) to your heart's content!}

Via Style Me Pretty

{Another stir stick project from Style Me Pretty! The materials needed and step-by-step instructions can be found at this link. They're a bit more than just cutting out circles, but they look great!}

I'm imagining a photo of several drink glasses in guests' hands, with gorgeous stir sticks in them! It may be something small, but it can add a huge amount of pretty detail to your event! Is anyone planning on using stir sticks like these at their wedding or bridal shower?

Friday's Finds: Free Printables!

2009-10-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

For some reason, I've been thinking about paper goods lately, and these free printable designs came to mind. I thought I would share some of the printables from that past few months that have been seen around the blogosphere! These are designs that are available to be downloaded (free of charge) for you to print on your own! They are a mix of wedding-related and life-related, so everyone can enjoy and use them!

{Wedding Invitation and Response Card Set via The Wedding Chicks}

{Thank You cards via Color Me Inspired}

{Fan Templates via Color Me Inspired}

{Lists via Leo On the Loose}

*You can now also purchase note pads of these lists at the Vale Design Paper Goods Shop!*

{Notecard Set via Ruffled}

{Bride and Groom signs via Lucky and Lovely}

There are of course many more free printable designs around the Internet, these are just a few that caught my eye! If you want something more customized, you can always enlist the services of a designer! There are quite a few out there that specialize in weddings...if you need some referrals, I would be more than happy to help!

I hope you enjoy these free printables! I have some of the lists by Vale Design, and they surely play a part in keeping my days organized! Are there any suggestions for other free printables that would be useful?

Fun and Bright Letterpress Invitations

2009-10-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

I LOVE letterpress, and if you don't know what letterpress is, let me explain. It is basically the best thing EVER to happen to paper. If you're a technical person, you can read about letterpress as it is defined by Wikipedia. In layman's terms, it's when the design and ink is pressed into thick, luxurious paper, creating a beautiful piece of paper artwork.

Letterpress is usually reserved for very elegant invitations. Now I'm seeing more letterpress invitations using brighter colors and more design. They're all, of course, still incredibly elegant, but a pop of color always adds a bit of fun to anything!

These invitations by Louella Press have it all- gorgeous letterpress, colors that pop, a great design, and super fun wording!

Photos via Louella Court

It would brighten anyone's day to receive beautiful and bright invitations like these in the mail! I know I would be replying with the "Wouldn't Miss It" and "Aces" selections!

Has anyone ever received a letterpress invitation or card? OR is anyone considering letterpress invitations for their wedding?

Real Edgy Wedding by Leigh Taylor Photography

2009-10-28T08:00:00.003-04:00

I try to keep an eye on local photographers' recent work, and Leigh Taylor is one of the photographers that I've been "watching". I love photos that exude the personalities of those being photographed, and these certainly did just that.

The bride and groom's edgy style is evident throughout all of the photos, and I just LOVE the bridesmaids' dresses! Take a look and see for yourself! Enjoy Leigh's beautiful photographs!

I love the red with purple accents- it's classic with a touch of edginess! And the bridesmaids' dresses- are they not the best?!

Click on over to Leigh Taylor's blog to see some more of her awesome work (and her great blog design-I love it!). I promise, you won't be disappointed! Amazing photography Leigh!

Inspiration Board: Aqua and White Backyard Beach Wedding

2009-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today's inspiration board is a little personal for me- it's probably the most time I've ever spent on one! My best friend moved to Hawaii at the end of February, shortly after she got engaged. Since she has been so far away, she's put the wedding planning on hold for the time being, but we have discussed a little bit of what she wants. She recently made a comment about wanting an inspiration board when the time comes to start planning, so I thought I would do a sort of "first draft" for her!

She wants an intimate beach wedding, with the reception ideally in the backyard of a home on or near the beach. Her vision is something clean, simple, and fun. The colors of aqua and white immediately came to my mind. Aqua and white are so very simple, and at the same time incredibly pretty and modern.

Row 1: Sign, Ceremony, Reception
Row 2: Table Centerpiece, Reception, Table Setting, Dress
Row 3: Tiki Torches, Reception, Shoes in the sand, Barefoot in the sand
Row 4: Aqua drink, Centerpiece, Bouquet

I'm loving the simplicity and casual feel that the combination of aqua and white exudes! An intimate backyard reception will be so much fun- it'll be like a big family dinner. I know that's the feel she's going for-spending her wedding day with those closest to her and her future husband.

Now I can't wait, and I'm getting excited all over again! But I will be containing my excitement until she gives the "word". Until then, I'll have this inspiration board, and probably a few more! Hope you all enjoyed it!

DIY Monday: Fall Family Tree

2009-10-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

Since this is the last week of October, I thought I would end it with this pretty DIY project. Laurie Cinotto shared this craft with The Bride's Cafe as an alternative to displaying family photos at a wedding. This fall family tree would make a wonderful piece of decor at a wedding, but it would also be incredibly functional as a piece of home decor!

Via The Bride's Cafe

It could even be revamped a little bit! The possibilities go on and on-small palm branches for a beach wedding, or willow branches for a spring wedding. Add some Christmas tree branches, different colors and shapes of ornaments, candy canes, or snowflakes, and voila- you have a new holiday decoration! Full instructions and more photos are on The Bride's Cafe.

Using something like this would also be an excellent way to do escort cards! I see escort card displays being integrated into the decor of an event more and more, and I love it! Is anyone thinking of using something like this for their wedding or event?

A New Take on Bridesmaid Bouquets

2009-10-23T07:00:00.002-04:00

If you want an alternative option to bridesmaid bouquets, here's a new take on them for you! I saw this earlier in the week through a link someone posted on Twitter, and I think it's such a fun idea! You can give your bridesmaids colorful and fun pinwheel bouquets to carry instead of flower bouquets!

Photos via Rule 42's Etsy shop, by Jeret Slack Photography

Pinwheels would be such a fun theme for a wedding, bridal shower, or any party! The pinwheels could be part of the centerpieces and if you have an outdoor wedding, the aisle could be lined with them. For the sendoff, guests could hold pinwheels instead of sparklers! How fun!

Hostess With the Mostess

These photos are from a birthday party, via Hostess With The Mostess, but it's a great portrayal of the use of pinwheels in an event! What are your thoughts on the pinwheels? I'm definitely envisioning an outdoor garden wedding with pinwheels abounding and guests having loads of fun!

New iPhone App for Brides

2009-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

The iPhone keeps finding ways to make people's lives more productive! BRIDES Magazine has launched Brides Dressing Room, an iPhone app that is the first digital shopping concierge for brides!

I had to download it to see how it works, and it's probably going to cause a problem for my dress-loving self. For some reason I always have the urge to put on a wedding dress! You can browse through wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses from several popular designers. You can choose how to want to browse: by style, designer, details, or price. The photos are excellent, and you are even given a description and price range for each dress! When you find one that you like, you can email it to someone or yourself, or find it at a store near you! You can even schedule an appointment, but I didn't experience that feature as there aren't any stores near me. We'll have to take their word for it I guess!

If you're a bride, and you have an iPhone, there is no doubt about it that you should download this new app! It's free, so there's no reason not to. Even if you already have your dress, it will come in especially handy when looking for bridesmaid dresses! Wouldn't it be great to show your bridesmaids the style you're thinking of when you're with them and get their opinions right away (instead of waiting on an email response from them)?

You can find it at the iPhone store by searching "brides", or here on the internet. I hope some brides and bridesmaids will find this new app to come in handy! Enjoy!

Start 2010 With a Beautiful Calendar

2009-10-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

There are less than 3 months until the new year 2010, and I've been seeing lots of pretty calendars floating around the blogosphere! I thought I would share some of them with you all so you can snatch one up for yourselves before all of the beautiful ones are sold out!

A Little Hut, $26

Egg Press, $16

Linda & Harriet, $30
{This one is my favorite! It's letterpressed and on the reverse side of each month is a post card! How cool is that?!}

Parrott Design Studio, $28

Daisy Princess Paperie, $15-16

A special thanks to Paper Crave for sharing all of these, among all of the other amazing paper goods they find! Plan to start 2010 with a beautiful calendar to keep your wedding planning and life organized! And if you don't end up starting the year organized, at least your wall or desk will look pretty!

Sneak Peek of This Weekend's Rustic Fall Wedding

2009-10-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm particularly excited about sharing this wedding because it was the first wedding that I coordinated on my own! The fact that it was shot by the amazing duo of Becka and Nate from Studio222 Photography adds to my excitement as well. They were awesome to work with, and I'm so glad Sarah and Roger chose such amazing photographers!

Now, a few little tidbits about Sarah and Roger: They're high school sweethearts, and they met at the same school my husband and I met at, at pretty much the same time. They are incredibly laid back and fun-loving, and it was a total gift to be able to help them enjoy their wedding day!

I'm sure you're wondering where this gorgeous scenery is. Sarah and Roger chose one of the most beautiful places in Florida to get married, the Black Diamond Ranch. It is certainly a hidden jewel in central Florida. You would never even know that these photos were taken in Florida!

This is just a "sneak peek" (hard to believe, I know!) of the wedding and I can't WAIT to share more gorgeous photos with you all! Thank you Becka and Nate for these amazing images!

Inspiration Board: Modern Gray and Chic Pink

2009-10-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

Gray is one of my absolute favorite colors, which I'm sure many of you know by now. Gray is so very modern, and pink is so incredibly chic! The two colors together would make for a very stylish event!

Row 1: Bridesmaid bouquet, Chair covers, Calligraphy

Row 2: Cake, Bridesmaids and Bride, Drink and flower
Row 3: Shoes, Bouquet, Table decor
Row 4: Decor, Invitations

I wish I had seen the versatility of gray sooner...aka a year ago when I was planning my wedding! Don't the colors come together perfectly? Is anyone else currently sharing my love for all things gray?

Delphine Press Letterpress Sale!

2009-10-19T12:11:00.003-04:00

I absolutely love letterpress, and when I saw that Delphine Press is having a 25% off Fall Sale on all letterpress orders, I HAD to share it with everyone right away! The sale ends October 31st, so if it's time for you to order invitations, take a look! Click on over to Delphine Press and take advantage of this deal to get some amazing letterpress paper goods!

DIY Monday: Pumpkin Decor

2009-10-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

I coordinated my very first wedding on my own this weekend! It was a rustic fall theme (Pictures to come soon via Studio 222 Photography!), and it thankfully got cooler the day OF the wedding, so it truly did feel like fall! That being said, I was surround by pumpkins being used as decor for a considerable amount of time this weekend. Therefore, I felt it appropriate to do a seasonal DIY post just for pumpkins!

Photo Credit

Now of course you can go the traditional route and carve your pumpkin. There are stencils that you can download and print out, or you can even create your own!

However, when wanting to use your pumpkin for a nice bit of decor, I think stenciling a design onto the pumpkin would be great! Twig and Thistle recently posted a link to a tutorial from Better Homes and Garden of "How to Make a Stenciled Pumpkin" using a doily.

It's so very pretty, so if you haven't already carved your pumpkin, try this out! My husband unfortunately demolished our pumpkin and made pie out of it already, so if you try it out, let me know!

Now if you REALLY want to use pumpkins for decor, these glittered pumpkins are amazing!

Via Martha Stewart

My bride from this weekend used some of these as decor elements, and they were so pretty! They would be perfect for a Halloween party! You can find the tutorial here on Martha Stewart's website.

Does anyone have any other ideas for how to use pumpkins as decor?

Using Balloons in Photography? Oh Yes!

2009-10-16T07:00:00.002-04:00

Something that I thought never belonged at a wedding is now incredibly stylish and chic- when used in the right way. Balloons have been popping up all over weddings and engagement photos, and I'm loving it! These balloons aren't used exclusively for decor, they're used more as props. And of course bigger and rounder is better!

Via C is for...Charmed, by Boutwell Studio

Sarah Maren Photography

Tammi Nowak Photography

Via Green Wedding Shoes, by Bella Grace Studios

Via Green Wedding Shoes, by Caroline Tran

Via The Knot, by Erin Hearts Court

Via A Cup of Jo, by Max Wanger

Do these photos make you want to get a giant, brightly colored balloon and take pictures or what? Is anyone thinking of using balloons or any other prop for their engagement or wedding photographs?

Ideas for Asking Your MOH and Bridesmaids

2009-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

I had a new bride recently ask me for some ideas on how to ask her friend to be her Maid of Honor. So then I got thinking, asked some Twitter friends, and did some searching. I wish I had known about these ideas when I asked my bridesmaids! Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of these ideas! Even if you're not asking your friends to be in your wedding, some of these ideas would be a nice, thoughtful gift too!

The first idea I had was a cute card saying "Will You Be My Maid of Honor?" or "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" There are a lot of really nice cards available that you can send or give to your potential MOH or bridesmaid. You could also send some flowers along with the card, or even send flowers by themselves with a little note attached!

Card by Tori Higa

Card by Tori Higa

Card by loriruedi on Etsy

Another idea is to send or give your potential bridesmaids a cookie! There are several companies that make the most amazing cookies!

Weddingish

Bella Regalo

Another idea for a way to ask your maid of honor or bridesmaids is to just take them out to dinner, together or individually. You can give them a gift of some sort if you want to, but I'm sure just asking them will be enough of a gift! If you want to take a fun spin on a get-together, you could send them on a scavenger hunt, arriving at the final destination where you ask them to be a part of your wedding!

It's always fun to plan something like asking your friends to be by your side on your wedding day. Do you have any other fun ideas? Share them with us!

Trash the Dress by CSE Photography

2009-10-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

I met Caroline and Evan of CSE Photography at a recent event, and they are the sweetest people ever. I don't know what it is about those husband and wife photography teams, but they are amazing, as is their work!

When Caroline sent me this awesome Trash the Dress photo shoot the other day, I knew I would be sharing it with you all! The photos look so very high fashion- it must have been so much fun! Just what a Trash the Dress photo shoot should be!

Beautiful, no? Thanks for the amazing photos Caroline and Evan!

Has anyone done a Trash the Dress, or is planning on doing one? I personally can't bring myself to do it because I love my dress so much!

Inspiration Board: Green and White with Pink Accents

2009-10-13T08:47:00.004-04:00

I started off making just a green and white inspiration board. Green and white together is so elegant and classy, however, I was feeling like it needed a bit more fun. So, lo and behold, green, white, and pink! When adding an accent color to a color palette, it not only kicks up the color, but it can also add a whole new feel to your event! This combination can be preppy, modern, or elegant, and it all depends on where and how you use the accent color.

Row 1: Invitations, Tablescape photo by Our Labor of Love
Row 2: Wedding cake, Centerpiece, Suit and boutonniere
Row 3: Bridesmaid flowers, Centerpiece, Bouquet
Row 4: Decor, Bouquet and Cummerbund

A green and white wedding with pink accents is a wonderful color palette for a spring or summer wedding! Are there any spring or summer brides considering using this color combination?

DIY Menu Wheel

2009-10-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

When I saw this very cool DIY project, it immediately went on my list of things to share with my readers!

Photo via Design*Sponge

Anna of Rifle Design created this incredibly fun menu wheel! Since this is a somewhat time intensive project, it would be ideal for a small wedding. However, it would also be a great idea to just put one or two at a table! It would be a great icebreaker for your guests too!

{The instructions, along with detailed photos, can be found on Design*Sponge.}

I would love to host a dinner party where I could make a few of these! I'm thinking of perhaps making these for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, in the appropriate colors. Anyone have an event coming up that you could make these for?

Friday's Finds: Coordinating Bridesmaid Dresses

2009-10-09T11:49:00.004-04:00

I had to share this great style inspiration board that Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book employee made!

Style Board found {here}

These dresses are all from JCrew, and the thing I love the most is the combination of the prints with solids. A combination like this makes for an incredibly modern and chic look for bridesmaids! I love the different fabrics together too. It's something that I've always thought would be a great idea, but I wasn't sure how it would look together! It looks amazing!

It seems that bridesmaid dresses are becoming more and more stylish now. How great is it to have a bridesmaid dress that you can REALLY wear again?!

Is anyone using a combination of prints and solids for their bridesmaids' dresses?

Gorgeous Wedding Cakes

2009-10-08T07:00:00.002-04:00

When people attend a wedding, there are usually certain things that they expect to see. One of these things is of course the cake!

Wedding cakes often become the focal point of the whole reception. The design of the cake usually coincides with the theme of the wedding, so they are commonly integrated into the design and decor of the event.

Here are some gorgeous cakes of different styles for you to enjoy...too bad we can't REALLY enjoy them!

{Chic and Classic Cakes}

All of the above cakes by Sweet and Saucy

{Innovative and Modern Cakes}

Above cakes by KB's Kake Kreations

From The Knot

Cake by Sin

I hope these amazing cakes haven't made you crave cake too much! I know I'm fighting off an urge to have some sort of sweet!

Love Captured Beautifully by Our Labor of Love

2009-10-07T07:00:00.002-04:00

For today's photography feature, I wanted to share some beautiful photos taken by Our Labor of Love. Our Labor of Love, aka OLOL, is a husband and wife photography team based out of Atlanta.

You'll see why I love OLOL so much. They capture the love and emotion of couples in a truly beautiful way.

Photos of Melissa and Colby

Photos of Crystal and Ben

Photos of Peggy and Matt

Aren't they all so beautiful? It's like a breath of fresh air to see so much love captured in a photograph! Well done OLOL, well done!

Our Labor of Love also does Smilebooths at some of their weddings. If you haven't seen one of these before, take a look! They're becoming so popular to have at weddings, and are so much fun! Be on the lookout for a post about photo booths at weddings soon!

Inspiration Board: Navy and Lilac

2009-10-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

Navy is such a classic color to use in a color palette. It can be paired with just about any other color and be incredibly elegant.

While making this inspiration board, I was feeling inspired by the coming fall season and the jewel tones that are popular for the cooler months. The combination of navy and lilac is accented beautifully by white, and the three together would make for an extremely chic and elegant event!

Row 1: Bouquet, Reception decor, Navy suit
Row 2: Cake, Bridesmaid with bouquet, Bouquet
Row 3: Shoes, Coasters, Centerpiece, Escort cards
Row 4: Centerpiece, Reception decor

I love the way navy can create an elegant event when combined with just about any color! One of my favorite combinations is navy and yellow, so there will most certainly be an inspiration board for that coming soon!

So, readers, what other colors do you like with navy? Please share them with me! I would love to know your opinions!

DIY Decor: Pom-Poms

2009-10-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

I'm still in wedding decor mode from the amazing wedding I helped with this past weekend, so it seemed fitting to share one of the trends in wedding decor I've been seeing!

You may have recently seen a lot more tissue paper pom-poms being used as decor at weddings. These fun and whimsical decorations are also perfect for a bridal shower or baby shower! Thanks to Martha Stewart and her tutorial on how to make them, tissue paper pom-poms are becoming a common decor item! It's a wonderful DIY piece of decor to add a pop of color to an event and it's also such a fun element!

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo from Style Me Pretty

Photo from Style Me Pretty, by Katie Anderson Photography

Photo from Rock, Paper, Scissors

You can also get a pom-pom DIY kit from the Prost to the Host Etsy Shop! You can save yourself the time of cutting and measuring, but still put the poms together!

Photo from Prost to the Host

Are any of you planning on using tissue paper pom-poms for an upcoming event, or have you? I can't wait to have an excuse to make them!

Fall Wedding Season Begins!

2009-10-02T13:43:00.004-04:00

So it's now October, and in the wedding industry, it's the start of the Fall wedding season! My first official wedding with the company I'm apprenticing with, MMD Events, is tomorrow and I'm so excited!

Here are some of the photos from a recent photo shoot that MMD did the decor, design and floral work for! Design and decor of weddings is something that I adore, so when I saw the photos that Limelight Photography did of MMD's work, I had to spread the beauty!

Gorgeous! The pink is so chic, and that centerpiece is amazing! So whimsical!

Look at how much draping and uplighting can do for the design and decor of an event! Wonderful work MMD and Limelight Photography! [Go to Limelight's blog for extended vendor information.]

I'll be doing another post in the next few weeks all about decor and design for events. In the meantime, I'm sure I'll be posting some TwitPics of upcoming weddings, so follow me on Twitter to keep a look out for them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

*All photographs by Limelight Photography

Wedding In a Week Giveaways!

2009-10-01T07:00:00.004-04:00

In continuing with the giveaways, I thought I should let everyone know about The Broke-Ass Bride's Wedding in a Week Giveaway! If you haven't heard of it, it's a great opportunity to win some AMAZING wedding related things!

BAB is giving away almost everything you can think of that is wedding related- from garters to a workout program to hand drawn maps!

The giveaways have been going on since Monday, but each one of the contests are open for 72 hours! So head on over to BAB and win some amazing stuff!!

"Fall" in Love Letterpress Giveaway from Ma Joie Press

2009-10-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Everyone knows how much I love paper goods, and I love letterpress even more! So, when I heard of the giveaway that Katrina of Ma Joie Press is doing, I of course had to share the opportunity! I love sharing any opportunity to have some great paper products!

The giveaway is for… A free letterpress wedding invitation suite! Amazing! Take a look at these gorgeous designs!

Found *here*

To enter, just go to the Ma Joie blog and comment on this post. All you have to do is tell Katrina how you “fell in love” with your significant other! Easy enough right?

Go ahead and visit www.majoiepress.com or Katrina's etsy store to see more designs from the MJP wedding line.

Go on and enter and good luck!

Real Yellow and Grey Wedding by Stephanie Williams

2009-09-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

I fell in love with this wedding shot by Stephanie Williams one design element after another. First, it was the paper products. Then I saw the bridesmaid dresses. And then the wedding dress, which just so happens to be by my favorite designer, Pronovias! Then I discovered that the theme was yellow and gray, with accents of red. So I of course {swooned} over this wedding! It's so casual and chic, and I just had to share it!

I am loving yellow, in case you couldn't tell. And that veil is amazingly gorgeous! I don't think I've ever seen anything like it! {Twinge of jealousy}

Gorgeous work Stephanie!

Is there anything wedding related that you're LOVING right now? I would love to know!

Inspiration Board: Red and Brown Elegance

2009-09-29T07:00:00.003-04:00

Well my friends, Fall is coming! The first cold front of the season has arrived in Florida today, and that means...temperatures in the 80s! If you follow my tweets, I'm sure you've seen how much I long for cooler weather. And trust me, the difference between 80 and 90 degrees is tremendous!

I made this inspiration board with the coming season of Fall on my mind. Red by itself is chic, and when it's combined with brown, the two create a gorgeously elegant color palette.

Row 1: Dress, Decor, Flowers
Row 2: Bouquet, Invitations, Centerpiece
Row 3: Tables, Shoe Photo, Cake

Is anyone having a fall wedding this year or next year? What are your colors? I know at least one of my readers is having one in October! I can't wait for it!

DIY Favors

2009-09-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share an array of Do-It-Yourself favor ideas that would be good for a wedding, bridal shower, or even a bachelorette party! Just remember, when considering DIY, definitely think of how many guests you will have. Baking cookies for 250 people would not be considered fun a few days before your wedding! {Click on links for the tutorials}

These DIY favors can be used for the packaging to go along with a Candy Bar. With a candy bar, you'll be able to "kill two birds with one stone" with the added decor of the candy bar along with the favor of the candy!

Candy Tins

Via The Inspired Bride

Favor Packaging

Via Style Me Pretty

These next favors are other great DIY favor ideas. Don't forget to consider how many guests you will be having, because baking cookies for 250 people would take a very long time!

Via Thoughtful Day

Pie Pops

Via EAD and tutorial @ Luxirare

And finally, some favors that won't involve eating or baking.

Matchbooks

Via Offbeat Bride

Potted Herbs

Via Intimate Weddings

Also take a look at this previous post on Edible Favors for more ideas. Will anyone be doing a DIY favor for their wedding or bridal shower? Share your ideas!

Vintage Wedding Accessories

2009-09-25T10:03:00.006-04:00

To complete the vintage look for your wedding, the accessories are key. A vintage necklace, earrings, or veil can make all the difference if you're going for a vintage look.

Here are a couple of vintage accessories I've found on Etsy. There are a ton of vintage bridal accessories on Etsy!

These innovative vintage designs by Little White Dresser would be perfect for a Garden Vintage wedding.

Bel Canto Designs has pieces that are exquisite. Rhinestones and pearls are the key elements to these elegant vintage pieces.

I'm loving these necklaces by Mercury Jane Designs. The combination of classic pearls with some vintage dazzle is beautiful!

These veils and hairpieces by C.R. Boggs Designs are the perfect vintage accessory to add to your wedding day ensemble.

Of course there are hundreds more vintage accessories. Search through Etsy for more vintage designs. It's a great place to find the items you need to complete your wedding day look!

Vintage Lace Invitations

2009-09-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

Somehow this week turned into a Vintage Wedding week. I hope everyone's enjoying it!

Tifany of Gourmet Invitations posted this vintage wedding invitation suite at the perfect time! I literally gasped when I saw these on her blog. I have a special place in my heart for lace, so naturally I love these vintage lace invitations. Combined with these vibrant and beautiful colors, they're vintage with a modern twist.

The colors on these invitations add a bit of "2009" to the vintage design elements. I would love to see what this wedding ends up looking like!

How are you liking the Vintage theme this week? Are there any other themes that you would like to see featured?

Vintage Weddings by Jason Angelini

2009-09-23T07:00:00.004-04:00

I'm starting to really love the vintage themes, in case you couldn't tell! Going along with the theme from yesterday's inspiration board, this vintage themed wedding that Jason Angelini shot recently looks like it was so much fun! From the bride's birdcage veil to the groom's fedora hat, you'll feel like you've been taken back in time a few decades.

Jason did a wonderful job capturing the couple's love for each other and their vintage elegance!

This wedding didn't have the "official" vintage theme, but some of the elements used were gorgeous and vintage-like, so I thought I would share the beauty.

Jason Angelini is a photographer based in the Tampa Bay area. Check out his blog for more of his work!

What are your thoughts on the vintage theme for a wedding?

Inpsiration Board: Vintage Garden

2009-09-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

One of the popular themes being seen in weddings now is the vintage theme. Since there are many eras to choose from when thinking of "vintage", there can be many different types of vintage events. This inspiration board showcases a "Vintage Garden" wedding, complete with flowers, pastels, and of course gorgeous vintage elements.

Row 1: Green bottles; Gray Bridesmaid; Jar Centerpiece
Row 2: Place setting; Chandeliers; Invitations; Crystal Candelabra; Bride on staircase
Row 3: Bride and Groom; Bouquet; Tablescape

Any suggestions for other types of vintage themed weddings? I can think of a few myself!

Bridal Show Bliss

2009-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's Bridal Show season! This weekend was my first time on the other side of a bridal show, and it definitely opened my eyes to a few things.

One of the floral sculptures made by MMD Events for the bridal show.

Lets start with the different types of brides that I met. There was the bride who was in shock, overwhelmed, and didn't know where to start. The brides prepared with huge binders full of ideas, magazine clippings, and pictures. And the most common brides, in the middle of the extremes, who were calm, enjoying themselves, and there to find ideas and possible vendors for their wedding.

So amidst making these observations, I realized that there are many things brides should consider before attending a bridal show to make their time worth while.

Have an idea of what you NEED. Do you need everything from a venue to a cake baker? Have at it and peruse the show to your liking. If you need a cake baker only, focus on those vendors and get the most information you can. Feel free to of course go to other vendors as well, because you never know what you'll find!

Have an idea of what you WANT. If you've been toying with the idea of a planner, it doesn't hurt to talk to one. Talking to planner could make you aware of all of the things that you haven't yet thought of, including things that you would have to worry about on the day of your wedding. Use the bridal show as the chance to do that! If you would like ceiling draping in your ballroom venue, talk to an event design company. You never know, you might just get a complimentary consultation out of it! It's your wedding, and you want it to be the best it can be. Get all of the information that you need to make decisions wisely.

Have an idea of your VISION. Almost every bride has some sort of vision of what she wants her wedding to be like. It could be the colors, the time of year, the venue, or a specific theme. If you don't think you have a vision of what you want, just think hard about the previously mentioned things (colors, time of year, venue, specific theme), and it will come to you. Sometimes just the colors or time of year will end up being the "theme", such as Rustic Autumn or Romantic Garden Party. You can even mention some of those things to different vendors and I'm sure they will have ideas to provide you with.

It's quite alright if you've just recently gotten engaged and go to your first bridal show with no ideas or plans whatsoever. It could be helpful to you and give you a plethora of ideas. However, be aware that it may be overwhelming. Wedding talk (venues, dates, dresses....the list goes on and on) can certainly be intimidating.

Nonetheless, I highly recommend going to bridal shows. Try to go to more than one, since different vendors attend different shows. Definitely do your research, collect business cards, meet the vendors, and get a feel for the personalities of the different vendors too. Also, don't forget, there are usually GIVEAWAYS of all sorts at bridal shows! And the most important thing is to have fun!

And now, a few pretty wedding-related things to start off your week!

DIY Tissue Paper Flowers

Via The Bride's Cafe, by Leo Patrone Photography

Photo by Angela Anderson Photography

Santa Barbara Chic

Via Bride's Cafe Blog, by Stephanie Williams

Why I Blog

2009-09-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

I felt like sharing something about myself today, I hope you all won't mind. It's the answer to the question, "Why do you blog?" If you had asked me at this time last year about blogging, I wouldn't have had an answer because I had no idea about it! I knew that they existed, but I didn't know about the vast amounts of information, ideas, and inspiration (the three I's, how cute!) that were available through blogs.

In January (described in more detail here), I was told about Style Me Pretty. From then on, I was forever a member of the blogosphere. There are so many things that I would have done differently if I had been reading blogs earlier on in my wedding planning, as I've said several times in my blogging.

Photo from author's personal collection

I decided that when I returned from the honeymoon, I was going to start a wedding blog. But I didn't want to start a blog just because I was still in love with weddings. I started this blog because I want to help other brides, bridesmaids, mothers of brides, basically whoever is involved in a wedding! I want to provide tips and tricks to brides so their planning experience is fun and their wedding day goes smoothly.

I realized that I was one of the first in my circle of friends to get married, and therefore I didn't have anyone to go to for advice. At times, I know I was annoying my friends and mother with discussions of bridesmaid dresses, invitations, monograms, flowers, the list goes on and on. There were times that I felt like I had nowhere to turn for answers to questions about my wedding.

So brides, grooms, bridesmaids, mothers, fathers, whoever is reading: feel free to ask me questions! If you need some ideas, you can't decide on a monogram, invitations, centerpieces, whatever it may be, two heads are better than one! I would have loved to have someone to collaborate with on some of the decisions I had to make when planning my wedding. Leave me a comment, or send me an email. I will be more than happy to help!

Photo by CvB Photography

In my few months of blogging and connecting with others in the wedding industry, I've realized that I truly do want to help others enjoy their wedding day. I'm working to gain more experience in the wedding industry so one day I can physically be there to help brides have the best wedding day that is possible!

So, for my friends, family, blog readers, and anyone else who was wondering, this is why I blog! I absolutely love doing it, and I can't wait to share more with everyone!

What's Your Wedding Day Look?

2009-09-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Have you considered your "look" for your wedding day?

Some brides want functionality, and some want pure elegance. Many times brides want to make sure they look like they do every day. I agree- you don't want to look like a completely different person!

Photos by Ashley Brockinton Photography

You definitely want to consider the style of your wedding dress , since clearly that is a huge part of your "look". Also, think of where your wedding will take place, as well as the style of wedding you will be having. If your wedding is going to be in the summer and outdoors, you might want to consider wearing your hair in a loose up-do to stay a bit cooler. You want to be stunning and gorgeous on your wedding day, so be sure to consider all aspects of your wedding day to best achieve your wedding day "look".

Photos from TheKnot

The key to knowing what will be best for your wedding day look is to have trial runs. These trial runs are most beneficial to you when they are booked approximately 1 to 3 months before the wedding. You don't want to be squeezing in your hair and makeup trials a week before the wedding! If you've never used your makeup artist or hairstylist before, it's a good idea to have a trial run when you first book them. This lets you know what their style is like and whether or not they are capable of giving you the look that you want. (I personally had one makeup artist do my makeup for my engagement photos, and it wasn't exactly what I wanted. Thank goodness I did that, because I found an amazing makeup artist months later, and even had her do my makeup twice before my wedding day.) Trials will also help so you can be aware of how well the products will hold up. That way you'll know if you need to have some powder on hand or a bottle of hairspray nearby.

Photo via LM~Makeup Artistry

Photos by Kara Pennington Photography, via Kee To Your Heart

Now your hair and makeup probably won't look exactly how it looked for your trials, and that's okay! If anything, everything will probably look better than with the trials. It's definitely a huge help to the hairstylist and makeup artist (and the day's timeline) if they already know what they're doing to make you a beautiful, glowing bride!

Photo by Angela Anderson Photography

There are so many factors to consider when choosing your wedding day look, but remember, it all comes down to what will make you feel beautiful, comfortable, and happy!

{Check out these blog posts for extra tips on good makeup for photographs!}

An extra treat: WeddingBee is teaming up with Bare Escentuals to offer one lucky bride a makeup artist who will fly out on her wedding day. The makeup artist will expertly apply Bare Escentuals makeup for the bride and one attendant! In addition, two Weddingbee readers will receive a year’s supply of BareMinerals Matte Foundation! You can enter the contest HERE. The contest ends at midnight on Friday!

Featured Photographer: Studio222

2009-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

I loved this wedding shot by Studio222 Photography (said as two twenty-two) so much that I had to share ALL of it in it's beautiful photographical goodness.

Studio222 Photography is comprised of Becka Knight and Nate Robinson, an engaged couple very much in love who just so happen to be amazing photographers! Their photography is innovative yet traditional, providing a perfect blend of photography styles.

Go on and "scroll" through their newly relaunched blog. I love it, especially because it provides a look into who they are as people as well as photographers.

Similar to what occurred in our "party bus".

I LOVE these bridesmaid dresses!

It looks like everyone had a great time at this wedding! I'm sure it helped that Becka and Nate were shooting. I can't wait to meet them when they shoot my October bride's wedding!

Inspiration Tuesday

2009-09-15T08:46:00.005-04:00

I didn't have a chance to put together an Inspiration board, but I felt as if I still needed to provide some inspiration for today!

Color Me Inspired is a great new blog that Becka of Studio222 Photography and Trisha of Black.White.Bliss started! They showcase great color palettes, complete with gorgeous photographs and free printable items! It's such a great idea!

Head on over to Color Me Inspired for more beautiful inspiration and free goodies!

Red Carpet Wedding Contest from BridalTweet

2009-09-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

Christine from BridalTweet gave me the heads-up about this awesome contest they're having. I wanted to get the word out ASAP so everyone can have a chance to win!

BridalTweet.com announced a contest today awarding one lucky bride a complimentary rental of dazzling diamond earrings to wear on her wedding day. Each bride who joins BridalTweet.com before October 30 will be entered to win, compliments of Adorn Brides. The Red Carpet Wedding contest is their way of thanking brides for joining the BridalTweet wedding community. You'll rent anything from visual props to floral arrangements, table linens, head-pieces and sometimes even dresses, so why not rent diamonds for the special day!

If you haven't heard of BridalTweet.com, it's a wedding community that offers free wedding advice, exclusive offers, giveaways, information about local events, local vendor directories, and more. All BridalTweet.com members, including brides, wedding vendors, and wedding bloggers, can also share tips and information via chats, blogs, discussions, groups, photos, and videos.

With Adorn Brides, brides can have access to the very best in bridal accessories, regardless of their budget. Now brides can rent thousands of dollars of diamond jewelry for a fraction of what it would cost to purchase them thanks to Adorn Brides.

These are both great new resources to the wedding world! Take advantage of this great offer and join BridalTweet to enter the contest! How awesome would it be to wear a pair of these gorgeous diamond earrings!

DIY Decor

2009-09-14T07:00:00.002-04:00

I've had questions about ideas for DIY items, so I wanted to share some great DIY decor ideas. Every bride almost always ends up doing some sort of DIY project, whether it's for the bridal shower, bachelorette party, or the wedding. There's an urge that overcomes you when planning a wedding. You just HAVE to make something. And of course what better way to fulfill that urge than to make something useful and beneficial to your wedding? So behold, some great DIY decor ideas for you crafty brides (and bridesmaids, and mothers, and friends).

Ice Cream Sundae Buffet

Instructions found at Eat, Drink, Chic

Wishes Banner

Instructions found on Style Me Pretty's Style Circle

Stir Sticks

Instructions found on Style Me Pretty's Style Circle

Lighted Garland

By Anna of Rifle Designs, Instructions found at OnceWed

No-Sew Garland

Instructions found at paper n stitch

Any other ideas for DIY decor? Are you incorporating any DIY items into your wedding?

I'll be posting some DIY favor ideas next in the DIY series. Feel free to send over anything that you've "done yourself" for your wedding, bridal shower, or just any party! I'd love to see what everyone is doing!

Fall is Coming!

2009-09-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night, I experienced the first "nice weather" in Florida since April. Now, it wasn't cool, but it was bearable, as I didn't start sweating profusely just from being outside. To me, it was "nice weather".

This must mean that Fall is coming! With the impending arrival of fall, I've started to dream of running outside, bonfires, soup, the scent of cinnamon, jewel tones, grays, cardigans and sweater dresses! Of course I've been gazing at a few of these things, reinforcing the feeling that Fall is coming. I actually have been expecting to walk outside and feel a cool breeze, but for now it's just a breeze. Hey, I'll take whatever I can get!

Image found here

Photo via Yankee Candle

Ann Taylor Loft Fall Outfits

J.Crew

All outfits found at Dillards

What are you looking forward too with the coming Fall season?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Featured Designer: Emici Bridal

2009-09-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

When the designer of the gorgeous pieces of Emici Bridal, Marie, sent me some of her new work, I just had to share it all!

Marie designs original heirloom quality bridal accessories for today's bride. From ring pillows to hair accessories, only the highest quality materials are used in everything that she makes. Silk, luxurious laces, vintage or antique textiles, mother of pearl and anything else gorgeous is incorporated into the unique pieces of Emici Bridal. Every item that Marie creates is carefully constructed with great affection and the hopes that it will be enjoyed by brides and her family for years to come.

Head over to the Emici Bridal Etsy store and take a look at all of the beautiful items Marie has to offer!

Engagement Photo Fun!

2009-09-09T09:00:00.002-04:00

When I got engaged, I had hardly even heard of engagement photos. I thought it was just a few pictures that you took in a studio, and that was that!

When I started doing my wedding photography research, I was pleasantly surprised to find out what an engagement session really entailed. Different locations, outfit changes, seeing the true personality of the couple, and having fun- that's what engagement photos are really about!

An engagement session is a great way to get pre-wedding photographs (aka in normal clothes) and capture the excitement and love of your relationship. Your photographer should have some ideas of where to shoot if you don't already have some places picked out. It's always fun to have photos of the two of you doing something you enjoy, or even to include your pet in the session!

As I've been stalking phlogs the past few months, I've seen so many fun and different engagement photos! It makes me want to do another photo session...maybe a 1 year anniversary shoot?

Ashley Brockinton Photography

Cheyenne Schultz Photography

Millie Holloman Photography

Stout Photography

Astrid and Rene Photography

CSE Photography

I love the bicycles and the carousel! So much fun! Have you had engagement photos taken yet? Did you do anything fun and different for them?

{I must confess, I posted this at 9 AM on 9/9/09. I just had to.}

Inspiration Board: Purple and Gray

2009-09-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

Inspiration Board Tuesday! My favorite day of the week!

It's no secret that I'm in love with gray this year. I've held off on posting this inspiration board, but I just couldn't hold back my love for gray anymore!

The purple and gray color combination can be used in any season. It's perfect for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, but would also work wonderfully for a spring wedding! Using a dark purple exudes a sophisticated and classy feel, whereas lavender is great for a more modern event.

Row 1: Flowers, Decor, Cake
Row 2: Reception Decor- photo by Kristin Vining , Tablescape
Row 3: Dress, Suit, Invitations, Tablescape- photo by Jen Stewart
Row 4: Bouquet, Centerpiece, Reception Decor

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Happy Labor Day!

2009-09-07T08:18:00.002-04:00

I hope you all have been having a great weekend!

In honor of having the day off, I'm also taking the day off of posting.

This photo was taken at my wedding. Even though I look like I'm going to kill someone, I love the flag in the shot!

Labor Day Weekend Barbeque

2009-09-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

I guess my husband and I are what some people call "foodies". I blame it on him, because he loves to cook, and he's always coming up with new extravagant things to cook. (It makes my cooking seem incredibly below-par.) We sometimes find ourselves disappointed when we go out to dinner because we know we could have had better at home. Therefore, our recipe collection is forever expanding.

With this weekend being a "long" one, we're of course planning to barbeque this weekend. And since the summer is drawing to an end, I'm sure many people will be having their last summer barbeques this weekend! Why not end your summer on a tasty note and try some new recipes?

[For recipes, click on the links below photos]

Swordfish and Salmon Kabobs via Sunday Supper

Bay Area Burger

Enjoy the last of summer watermelon in a new way!

Tomato, watermelon, and basil skewers

Watermelon, feta, and basil salad via Sunday Suppers

*If you've never tried balsamic vinegar on watermelon, it's amazing! Make sure you use a good quality balsamic though, not too tart.

Of course you'll need some refreshing drinks to have. Try one of these classics-with-a-twist.

Italian Lemonade

White Peach Sangria

Finally, end your barbeque with a light, chilled dessert.

Strawberry and Angel Food Layers

Have a safe and great Labor Day weekend everyone!

Looking for Bridesmaid Gifts?

2009-09-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

In the past couple of weeks I've had several brides ask me for ideas on bridesmaid gifts. There are a lot of options to choose from, you just have to be aware of them!

You can go the traditional route and get your bridesmaids jewelery to match their dresses. However, you might want your bridesmaids' gifts to be something that they can use all the time! In this case, personality is the key to deciding on a gift for your bridesmaids. You can get each of your bridesmaids a gift suited to her personality that she will love. A good way to decide on bridesmaids' gifts is to ask yourself if it's something that YOU would want to have. If it's not, don't give it to your bridesmaids!

I've found a couple of things in my daily internet travels that would be great bridesmaid gifts...maybe even mother of the bride gifts too!

1. Coasters 2. Hinge Wallet 3. Purse 4. Letterpress Coasters
5. Flower Headband 6. Letterpress Notecards 7. Assorted Card Set

If you have several bridesmaids, your gift selections may be a bit more limited. I would suggest finding a gift that is on sale and buying everyone the same thing, or something similar. Write a note for each bridesmaid, attach it with her gift, and you'll have the same personal touch as a "personality matched" gift. [I had nine bridesmaids, so this is what I had to do. I found some great bags and other gifts on the American Bridal website- in the clearance section of course. Even though everyone received similar gifts, each gift had some sort of special personalization.]

Are there any other unique bridesmaid gifts that you've found? I'd love to hear more ideas!

Do You Know What Photo Retouching Is?

2009-09-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Ashley and Sam Brockinton, an amazing husband and wife photography team. They were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, among many other things. Words cannot explain how truly amazing they are and how much I appreciated my "learning/brainstorming session" with them.

Sam and Ashley explained things to me about photography that I had never even thought about. A little too often, I found myself thinking, "Wow, I wish I had known this when I was looking for a photographer!" I wanted to share some of this valuable information with you all so you can be more informed and knowledgeable when looking for your wedding photographer!

Ashley and Sam want others to be informed about photography as well, and they are always posting helpful information about wedding photography on their blog. The following is a post from Ashley and Sam's blog about Photo Retouching. Take a look at the video as well!

Retouching-what does it mean from ashley brockinton on Vimeo.

There are a lot of terms that get thrown around in our industry: many of them have completely different meanings to different photographers. Some of those terms include: second photographer, lighting assistant, photo re-touching, book/album, coffee table book and rights. Today, we want to look at photo re-touching.

For us photo re-touching is a three step process that takes about 10-30 minutes or more per image.

Step 1 - Basic lighting adjustments - color correction (white is white, skin tones are natural), cropping, overall exposure and highlight recovery (technical term meaning that with digital the whites sometimes get so white that you can't see any detail - this brings back that detail)

Step 2- We make you look great - skin re-touching is done here. We also clean up any dirt or distracting areas in the photo that just take away from the overall feel.

Step 3 - Image is stylized. Now we add the feel to the image - editorial, vintage, black and white, high contrast, etc. Now, it's a piece of art - ready for the album, blog, website or your wall - either Facebook or your home ;-)

One thing we find terribly important is CONSISTENCY. Ask your potential photographer to see their last few weddings, a whole wedding that they recently shot AND check out their blog. Beware of several things:

1. Really touched up, great images on the website and average images on the blog.

2. Website pics from workshops. We should all be pushing ourselves professionally but one of my pet peeves is when photogs post on their website pictures from a workshop because someone else arranged most of the variables - location, model, hair, makeup, lighting and maybe more. Look for images that don't look like they're from the area and just ask where they photographed; I encourage everyone to share these images but my personal feeling is that these should be put on blogs telling about how the workshop was and where it was, etc.

3. Is that your work or their work? If you are looking into a studio that has multiple shooters and shoots multiple weddings, make sure you get to see the portfolio of the person who is shooting your wedding. Who does the re-touching; will they look like the albums you saw and the web galleries?

3. Online Galleries - they're almost always password protected. We have the ability to hide our sites as well as password protect, BUT we choose NOT to unless asked because we want prospective brides to view the real deal; that's exactly what we delivered last week, last month, last year, etc. If that's what you want, we can do that or better. Nearly all the weddings we've shot in the last 2 years are available or were available (they might have expired) online at www.ashleybrockintonclients.com - engagement sessions too! These galleries contain un-retouched proof images so you can see our consistency IN camera. To view consitency with our finished product check out our blogged weddings.

One last note: Professional printing makes a HUGE difference. Our monitors are callibrated to our pro lab. The colors and the consistency are awesome! This is so important because many clients are now receiving digital files and printing on their own. Every printer is different. Printing a digital negative file that has been fully re-touched and stylized on a drug-store printer is like buying the sports car of your dreams and never leaving the 35 mph roads in the suburbs. Wow great car, but if you really want to enjoy it you've gotta get on the open road.

Ashley Brockinton Photography

A Hip and Chic Photography Boutique

Specializing in Wedding and Engagement Photography/Portraits for the Fashionista in LOVE!

Location: Bonita Springs, FL

Servicing SW Florida and Beyond

The raw and retouched images compared to each other is amazing to see! I never had any clue about the extent of what can be done with a photograph.

A huge THANK YOU to Ashley and Sam Brockinton for sharing this information with us! Be sure to check out more of their exquisite work on their phlog! And you just HAVE to watch their "Meet the Brockintons" video! It's the cutest thing ever!

I hope this post leaves you more informed about what goes into photography. If you have any other questions or topics you would like covered, let me know!

Inspiration Board: Classic Black and White

2009-09-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

A black and white wedding is THE classiest color scheme there is. Black and white can be elegant, vintage, modern, or classy. It all depends on the details and how they are presented!

Row 1: Favor Boxes; Chandeliers; Invitations
Row 2: Cake; Bouquet; Ringbearer Pillow
Row 3: Bouquet; Tablescape; Tablescape photo by Astrid and Rene Photography
Row 4: Photo by SugarLove Weddings; Photo by Audrey Snow Photography; Dress

If you want a little more than just black and white, consider adding an accent color to give your wedding more of an edge. You could also use a black and white design, such as damask, throughout the elements of your wedding. A black and white wedding can be many things, but plain is certainly not one of them!

Wedding Options: Entertainment

2009-08-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Your wedding is a celebration of you and your fiance's love for each other. A celebration, of course, calls for entertainment!

*Photo by lanierStar Photography

The most common entertainment option is a DJ. A DJ is inexpensive and has the potential to provide a great deal of entertainment. They also are able to play all types of music, whereas a band can only play a few types of music. When choosing a DJ, make sure they have recommendations from other clients, because some may not be appropriate for a wedding.

Photo from author's personal collection, by CvB-Photography

A band has the immediate WOW factor in the entertainment arena. They are, however, more costly than a DJ. A good band will know the flow of weddings, and they will coordinate with your planner so they can emcee the event. They'll keep the dance floor packed and the music flowing. A band can add a certain something to a wedding with the live music and interaction.

If you can't decide between a DJ or a band, you can have both! Some weddings will have a band in the early hours of the reception, and a DJ later on to keep the party going. It's a great way to come to a happy medium if you're torn between the two.

Another option for entertainment is to have an instrumental group. This will provide a more formal feel to the evening. A string quartet is the most common instrumental group at weddings. Instrumental groups are a great option for a cocktail hour or a cocktail and hor d'ouerve reception.

Photo by Evrim Icoz Photography

An entertaining take on wedding entertainment that I've seen recently is dueling pianos. Now, you certainly have to be a piano lover, and your wedding guests will definitely have to be fun-loving. But what a fun way to interact with your guests and have a great time! I'm sure the pianos would play normal music and only duel at times that you specify or request. I would love to be at a wedding with this form of entertainment!

Photo via Jellyrolls Piano Men

There are many different ways that you can provide entertainment to your guests. Some are run-of-the-mill, and some are incredibly different! Whatever it is that you decide, make sure it's something that YOU will enjoy too!

Turning a House Into a Home

2009-08-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

"Turning a house into a home". This saying has been heard many times, for many years. But I recently experienced the truth in it. My husband and I lived together before getting married, but it felt like we were just living in a "house". We had no pictures on the wall and nothing matched. The house just didn't have any sort of ebb and flow to it.

So, I talked my mom into coming down for a weekend to help me turn our house into a "home". We spent a day cleaning every nook and cranny, and the next day we set out to hunt for decorative items for the "house to home" transformation.

We actually found most of our decor items at Ross. They had a great selection of decorative items! And cheap at that! We cleaned out Ross, and within a few hours, the transformation of a house into a home was complete.

Transforming my house into a home really played a hand in our transition into being married. The house, now our home, felt cohesive and more relaxing. It's amazing what a few pieces of matching furniture and things on the wall can do to a space!

*Image via Design Formula

Image via Decor Catalog

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

*Image via Canadian House and Home

Image via LeentheGraphicsQueen Etsy shop

Image via cpearson6's Etsy shop

There are so many options when decorating! You can use photos, framed prints, vintage plates, wall hangings, decals....there are a plethora of items that can be used to create decor.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for those who are trying to transform their house into a home?

Paper Design Details

2009-08-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

I have more custom invitation eye candy for you! I just love posting (and finding) paper designs... almost as much as I love making inspiration boards!

*Orange Blossom Ink

*Miss Pickles Press

The font on this invitation is absolutely luxurious.

*Brown Sugar Design

*My Personal Artist

*Minna Designs

Love these! A perfect combination of elegant letterpress with the
eccentricity of a pocket!

*Studio on Fire, via Green Wedding Shoes

Had to throw a little Save The Date action in the mix...these are SO original and innovative! They're made to resemble a menu for the food-loving couple.

*Marilyn and Moony, via Style Me Pretty

Hope you enjoyed these gorgeous and innovative paper designs!

Do you have a favorite custom paper design company? Leave a comment and share your favorite custom paper designer!

Wedding Options: Serving the Meal

2009-08-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

The food at a wedding is one of the most important aspects of the event. It's actually what most guests remember from weddings, so of course you want it to be memorable!

There are several options when it comes to the food for a wedding reception. There are different types of food and various ways for it to be served. The type of food served also coincides with the type of reception.

A casual wedding would usually have the food served buffet-style. Buffets are also appropriate for semi-formal and sometimes formal weddings. A buffet is a good way to go if you want to offer a variety of food options, and it is a good way to cut costs.

Photo by Rodolfo Arpia Photography

There are some innovative twists to buffets that have recently become popular in the wedding world. You can make a buffet of basically any type of food. A mashed potato bar is something that has been spotted at weddings.

Photo by 217 Photography

There can also be food stations, which is a very modern take on the buffet. Each food station will have an entree, and there will be a few for a variety of selection. Some examples are a pasta station, carving station, and seafood station. The stations can also feature different ethnic foods, such as sushi and spaghetti.

Photo by Joy Marie Photography

A new trend for buffets and stations is the dessert bar. Some feature just candy, with the guest filling up a bag or box as their favor. Some bars feature candy, cake, and other desserts, giving guests a large selection to choose from!

Via Amy Atlas Events, photo by Leanne Stamatellos

A fresh take on a more modern wedding is the cocktail and hor d'oeurve reception. This reception usually takes place at a time that would be too early for dinner to be served. The cocktail and hor d'oeurve reception can be formal, trendy, or a bit more casual. It allows you to be more creative and offer a variety of food. The hor d'oeurves can be set up buffet style or passed by servers. It's a great way to mingle with your guests and still have a great party!

Photo by Jennifer Schumacher Photography

Photo from TheKnot.com

Finally, the formal wedding reception with a plated meal. At this reception, guests have assigned tables, and it is a more elegant affair. The plated meal is served to the guests, and there is usually three or more courses served. It's nice for the guests, because they don't have to "work" to get their food.

Photo by Focus Photo Tahoe

Photo from Salted Butter

When it comes time to choose what kind of wedding reception and food you want to have, think about your own style. You want the food and drink that you provide to your guests to be of good quality. If they're going to remember the food the most out of any other aspect of your wedding, make it something to remember! You're essentially hosting a party, and you want your guests to enjoy it!

Inpsiration Board: Neutral Elegance

2009-08-25T07:00:00.001-04:00

The inspiration to create a neutral inspiration board came from the photo below that has bridesmaids in different colored dresses. I love the trend of having different colored bridesmaid dresses, but these go together beautifully!

A neutral color palette doesn't have to be boring and bland. Accent colors paired with neutral tones can add tremendously to the palette, and they can be displayed minimally or all over the event. Pale pastel colors, such as a light pink or pale yellow, paired with neutral tones make for an elegant and classy event. These color palettes can also be used for a wedding taking place in any season! If you want to have a beautiful and elegant wedding, consider a neutral color combination!

Row 1: Cake; Bridesmaids and Bride photo by Todd Pellowe
Row 2: Invitations; Tablescape; Bouquet photo by Ashley Brockinton Photography
Row 3: Tuxes; Reception photo by Todd Pellowe

Wedding Options: The Different Kinds of Weddings

2009-08-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

When the time has come to look for your wedding venue, you first must decide what kind of wedding you want to have.

Start with your wedding date. Is it in the Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? What will the weather be like? These aspects are crucial to consider when deciding on what kind of wedding you want to have.

The season of when your wedding takes place can also help you choose the theme and colors of your wedding. Some brides have an idea of what colors and theme they want before they even decide on a date. In that case, you can always let those decisions help you in your decision of a wedding date.

A spring or summer wedding usually has light, bright colors, whereas a fall or winter wedding has darker color tones. However, these are not rules or requirements. The color and theme of your wedding is completely your decision!

Via Delovely Designs

A good way to decide on a theme for your wedding is to jot down a few words that describe the kind of wedding you're envisioning. They can be adjectives, such as classy and fun, or nouns, like party and garden. Remember, your wedding should be a reflection of you and your fiance!

The final decision to decide what kind of wedding you should have involves the formality. The formal wedding is elegant and classy. The ceremony usually takes place in a church, the venue is a ballroom, and the decor is extravagant. The semi-formal wedding is also elegant and classy, with a touch of party. These weddings can take place in a ballroom, loft, museum, or outdoors. The decor of these weddings can vary depending on the venue. The casual wedding is intimate, and can be as formal or fun as you want. Casual weddings are usually smaller in size, and they are commonly held outdoors, at a home, or in a restaurant.

Via Style Me Pretty

Via Southern Weddings Magazine

All of these decisions are equally important in determining what kind of wedding you should have. Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way of choosing what your wedding will be like. These are just guidelines and recommendations. Your wedding needs to be reflective of your personality and your vision! Your wedding is up to YOU!

If you need any suggestions or want some help in deciding what kind of wedding you should have, send me an email or leave a comment! I would love to help in your planning journey!