What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

As a graphic design major in college I started collecting copies of Martha Stewart Weddings for design inspiration (and of course to daydream for my future wedding) years before I met my husband. I pulled a lot of inspiration from those magazines and all of the incredible wedding blogs, but I found Real Simple Weddings helped me start the planning process. Hiring Antonia Christianson as my coordinator was the best decision I could have made, and finding out she is a sorority sister didn’t hurt either! As a super detail oriented bride I followed her checklist and timeline religiously!! I genuinely trusted her team and knew that every detail of our wedding would be flawless with her in charge. 

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

Zach and I have very different personalities, I’m the serious one and he’s the goofy one. It was very important that we found vendors that meshed with our personalities. We chose each of our vendors because they were very honest with us, they truly cared about my vision and they were genuinely invested in making our day perfect.

Did any of your vendors do anything special for you before, on, or after your wedding day that you would like to share?

Our photographer was simply spectacular, from the first time we talked on the phone I knew that Kristin and I would be friends for life! When my contract arrived in the mail and I saw her detailed packaging I knew I had made the right choice! Shortly after our engagement session Kristin sent me my very first monogrammed wedding present that turned into my “wedding tote” for all of my paperwork and inspiration. Even though my monogram didn’t change it was incredibly exciting for me to know that the B was for my married name!!

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

It is incredibly hard for me to choose my ONE favorite thing about our wedding!! Everything was perfect!! If I had to choose one thing I would say my favorite thing was our private last dance. Having that last few minutes to just take it all in with my husband was something I will never forget.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

First, find someone you trust to coordinate your wedding day. You will be so thankful when the day arrives and you can just sit back and relax!! Second, splurge on your photographer! Long after the day is over and for generations to come your photos will tell the story of your wedding day. 

I must say, those are some EXCELLENT pieces of advice Emily! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding insight with us! And thank you to Antonia Christianson Events for planning this beautiful wedding and Kristin Byrum Photography for sharing the photographs with us!

I love the elegance and simplicity of the centerpieces… and those bouquets are GORGEOUS, aren’t they?! I absolutely LOVE the orange and gray together… what do you all think of it? Are any of you planning a wedding using orange or gray?

Vendors who made it all happen…

We’re starting off with one of our Every Last Vendor members, Laura Ann Miller Photography, who is the sweetest person and an absolutely FABULOUS photographer! :)

In case you haven’t noticed yet, one of my FAVORITE details is the table number. I don’t know why, but it just is! For this table number, I created it around the fringe & layers theme that I had for the whole shoot. I simply used different sized strips of tissue paper (as I will explain for the “place-runners), adhered it to a piece of cardstock, which I also attached to a plexiglass plate (you can just do the cardboard- I just had to weigh it down a little), and put a cut-out cardstock number on top of it!

Vitalic Photography sent over some gorgeous images…

Did you notice the slight “ombre” effect of the centerpiece containers? Catherine of Layers of Lovely did an amazing job with flowers, painting containers and vases in all different shades of blue, teal, and aqua. I loved that she gave me extra little vases too- I was able to “prettify” a few of the more plain areas throughout the shoot! Oh, and here you get a good glimpse of what I like to call “place-runners”… kind of like placemats, kind of like a runner… keep reading for more of a description on them!

Along with the fringe and layers inspiration that I had for my design, I also wanted to include a few tassels in the mix too. Of course I had to have some sort of seating detail at the table, so I attached placecards to tassels and tied them to the arms of the ghost chairs! [A little hint for the tassels... I used crepe paper for them- you know, the rolls that you can buy at the party store. It gave me the perfect width and was a little more sturdy than tissue paper.]

Ah, escort cards… another one of my favorite details ever! :) Alicia of A&P Designs added fringe to the edges of the escort cards that she created, and I created this ladder-and-fringe-garland backdrop for them. I attached the cards to the garland using painted clothespins, which I had also written the table number on. Essentially, the *realistic* concept would be that you would have several rows of a garland like this, guests would walk up, find their name (easily, because your cards would be in ALPHABETICAL order, and the clothespin would tell them what table they’re sitting at!

I was so lucky that the lovely model already had a pair of aqua heels… how perfect is that?! I always love a good pop of color under a dress, and especially this one by Claire La Faye! The detachable ruffle train made this dress the perfect choice for the shoot… especially when paired with the fabulous look of bright makeup and a fun, eclectic crimped hairstyle! And with Stella & Dot jewelry and a hairpiece custom-created by Carlee Sizemore, our bride’s look was complete! Oh, and how AMAZING is the vintage furniture by The Wooden Trunk?!  

 A few beauties from PT Photographie…

The ladder-and-fringe-garland backdrop that I used for the escort card display also served a dual purpose as a backdrop for the amazing cake by Gimme Some Sugar! I’m all about killing two birds with one stone when it comes to wedding details, and this worked out absolutely perfect! [Note: The fringe garland is actually made of felt and was made by the Etsy shop Ally & Aidan.]

Fabulous detail shots by Larissa Nicole Photography…

Oh and I HAVE to point out my favorite flowers ever… ranunculus. Seriously, the best flowers EVER! ;) And see those fringe tulips too? Even the flowers went along with my fringe theme! Awesomeness!

 And last but certainly not least, some beauties by Christi Falls Photography…

So now I get to finally explain my “place-runner” to you all! These babies were literally my babies. (Not to mention that I was traveling with them for nearly a week before even getting to Vegas… I’m still quite proud of the system that I devised to keep them from getting crinkled!) I wanted to do something a little bit different than what you normally see on tables. I love placemats, but I’ve done those before. And I love runners, but with what we were planning on for the centerpieces, I knew that a runner wouldn’t be seen too well. I wanted something that would sort of “define” the placesettings and also be a part of the tablescape… and so, I created “place-runners”! 

Using measurements from the table, I added a bit to each end so it would hang over the edge of the table. I used wrapping paper as the base of the place-runners, and cut them to the size that I wanted. Then, using various sized strips of tissue paper in my colors, I folded, taped, glued and fringed… adhering the pieces to the wrapping paper base. And yes, it took me FOREVER… I definitely wouldn’t recommending doing exactly this for a wedding, but I’m sure a version of it with larger sections would be easier. About 12-14 hours of folding, taping, gluing and fringing, I had my “place-runners” that incorporated the layers and fringe design elements of the shoot!

I have to give a big huge thank you to the photographers who sent me their detail photos, Laura Ann Miller Photography, Vitalic Photography, PT Photographie, Larissa Nicole Photography, and Christi Falls Photography! Aren’t they all amazing?! And isn’t it so cool to see how they all have different styles and got different takes on the details?

Hopefully all my detail descriptions will help some of you use these details as inspiration for your own weddings! If you have any questions about anything you see here, please leave a comment! And please do let me know what you think of everything! :)

To see the full vendor list from this shoot, please go to the full feature here! :)

It was an absolute honor to design and style this shoot for attendees of the Simply Bloom Workshop. I must say… this is my favorite shoot that I’ve done so far! So in case you haven’t noticed yet, I design all of my inspiration shoots around a main “theme”. The theme that I decided on for this modern shoot was layered and fringed. I created all of the details and elements with the aim of providing you all with realistic, modern wedding inspiration. From the paper products and the flowers, to the “bride’s” hair and dress, I made sure that elements of layers and fringe were all throughout this shoot- and Simply Bloom Photography was there to capture it all beautifully! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it- minus the dust, that is!

And I definitely HAVE to share what I put together for the workshop attendees’ goodie boxes too, because I think they would make excellent favors or welcome boxes! :)

So there you have it! My modern, eclectic cobalt blue and plum inspiration shoot! But that’s not all! I’ll be posting a few more detail shots from attendees later on today, complete with explanations of the details and some tips to help you create them yourself!

And when I say that this shoot was a labor of love, I definitely mean LABOR! I am so very thankful that my husband was able to come to Vegas with me- despite being sick- to help out! I would not have been able to do this shoot without him- so Schuyler, even though you don’t read my posts… thank you! :) And I also have to give a big HUGE thanks to everyone who contributed to this shoot- especially the Las Vegas vintage rental company who was SO incredibly helpful, The Wooden Trunk! Thank you all!

So what do you think so far? Do love the bold colors as much as I do?! Keep an eye out for the details post later today!

Vendors who made it all happen…

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

There really is no one person. I was surrounded by friends and family that helped every step of the way. The morning of, my bridesmaids and groomsmen stepped up and were doing everything from flower arranging to table settings and hanging décor. My father-in-law made the bamboo huppah and assembled it on the beach. I really could not have done it without any of them. And they all had the chance to calm me down during the few mini meltdowns I had during set-up time.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

Obviously price was important, but I think it was really just word of mouth recommendations and the initial feeling I got when communicating with my vendors. Many of them were friends, friends of my parents or came highly recommended from work colleagues. And I have to say I put a lot of faith in that and it all paid off. Trust your gut and don’t be afraid to say no or ask for a more personalized package. The worst they can do as a vendor is say no, but if you don’t ask you will always wonder if you could have gotten a better deal.

Did any of your vendors do anything special for you before, on, or after your wedding day that you would like to share?

My photographer was really wonderful in accommodating my budget and needs and has been really flexible with me. She and her husband are a wonderful team and they were there for me every step of the way. I will definitely be using them in the future for family portraits, maternity shots, you name it.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

My whole family being there with me. I know it is a special day, but not all of us come from perfect families and there are a lot of minefields that have to be considered/avoided when planning a wedding. It was a blessing that all my family could be there to celebrate with us and that everyone had an amazing time. After the overwhelming joy of marrying the person I love most in this world, there was nothing better than dancing with my father and seeing my brother and mom speak to each other and hug after almost 12 years of silence and separation following my parents’ divorce. The joys I experienced that day were beyond my dreams.

 What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Take a breath, slowly blow it out and realize what the day is all about. It’s not the favors, the food or the flowers. It’s you and him. Together. It’s about love and joy. Try and focus on that when you find yourself bogged down in decisions about seating arrangements and table linens. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, goes wrong, etc. you will be married to the person you love. It’s that simple and beautiful. Enjoy it!

Excellent advice- thank you for sharing Kaitlin! And thank you to Loving Legacy Photography for capturing everything so wonderfully!

Hmmm, I think I’m loving the cake the most. Although, the whole color palette just kind of steals my heart away. And I love that the bridesmaid dresses were all different- that’s my favorite thing right now!! How about you all? What do you think of the colors? The bridesmaid dresses? How many of you are planning on having a DIY wedding?

Vendors who made it all happen…

I also really love when a couple gets in a few outfit changes. It adds a certain celebrity to the whole thing. :) Tell me, did you choose a fun activity for your engagement session? Are you planning to? I’d love to hear your ideas and experiences!

Thanks to Jordan Weiland Photography for sharing these fun, meaningful, and beautiful shots with us!

xo-Kristine

Vendors who made it all happen…

We started the week off with a chemistry-themed wedding where the bride and groom poured two clear chemicals together to create another blue chemical! Kind of perfect since they were both chemists, right?!

Photos by Emily Takes Photos

 Then, we had a vineyard wedding, where the bride and groom placed letters to each other inside a crate with 2 bottles of wine. They nailed the box together, vowing that if they ever had hard times, they would open the box, read the letters, and drink the wine together.

Photo by Aaron Watson Photography

Both of these ceremony ideas are awesome, right?! And exactly the kind of details I love to see! Have any of you decided on what you’ll be doing for your own ceremony yet?

Man, if only we all had a garden like Kim and Michael had for their wedding in which to marry! It’s such an incredible backdrop for their ceremony, and made for the perfect First Look location. And, it absolutely helps that the sun was shining and the greens were so vibrant. Their wedding reminds me that although the perfect location makes the perfect backdrop, so does the couple and their unconditional love. And of course with that, your wedding photos will be full of so much life- much like these from (once like a spark) photography!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

My mom was amazingly helpful in planning the wedding. She is very organized and detail-oriented like me so we were a great team. Even though there was a great deal of work to be done, we had a lot of fun in the process. I will miss those late night phone calls going over every detail. I couldn’t be happier with how the day turned out, and I really have my mom to thank!

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

Other than a sense that our styles were similar, definitely personality. I was already in love with the photography I had seen from “Once Like a Spark,” but meeting with the photographer Carla Gates sealed the deal. I felt completely comfortable, it was like having coffee with a new friend.

Did any of your vendors do anything special for you before, on, or after your wedding day that you would like to share?

Our caterer, Mark Shine from Designed Events, was so accommodating. Our first impression of him was great. He really made our “menu tasting session” special – he accommodated 8 very-opinionated family members in the tasting and set up a beautiful table in an art gallery with a very nice ambiance and glasses of wine for the group. It’s those special touches that made all the difference.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

Our ceremony really represented us as a couple. I am Catholic and Mike is Jewish, and we decided to have an interfaith ceremony in the gardens of the Cummer Museum on the St. John’s River. Our ceremony was designed by us, and highlighted both cultural and religious backgrounds. We had both a priest and a rabbi officiate the ceremony and they were both open and supportive in making sure everything was personal and meaningful to us.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

1. I highly recommend doing a “First Look”– it’s a very romantic and personal moment between you and your husband and the pictures are to-die-for! I definitely cherish those moments from our wedding day, and I love having those amazing shots to look back on because you can see in both our faces how special it was.

2. Your wedding should be a reflection of both you and your husband, so make sure to include his style and taste in the making of the details. My husband loves sweets, so the biggest layer of our wedding cake was his favorite flavor – Black Forest cake. He also picked out a great play list for the band, which had all of the guests up dancing the whole night.

Their sunny wedding day has me wishing it wasn’t a rare, but rainy day, in Denver today! What wedding photos are you most looking forward to at your wedding?

xo,
Brit

Vendors who made it all happen…

When is the right time to… have an Engagement Party?

 I asked around about this, because I myself had my engagement party a year before my wedding, but I’ve seen them occurring just a few months before the wedding too.

My “research” has indicated that if you’re going to have an engagement party, it’s best to do it about a year before your wedding. Think of it as a way to sort of “kick off” your engagement. In a perfect world, I would suggest doing it soon after getting engaged so you’re REALLY celebrating… it could even be before you set a date! It’s also a good idea to have an engagement party if you’re planning on having a long-ish engagement- hence the year prior to the wedding suggestion.

Photo by JUSTIN JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY

Planning your wedding in less than a year? I say still go for the engagement party… as long as your wedding isn’t like 4 months away. If that’s the case, you have way too much work to do and you won’t necessarily have time for an extra party!

Who hosts the engagement party? Traditionally it’s the bride’s parents, but the party can also be hosted by the groom’s parents, your friends, or other family members. Engagement parties hosted by friends are always fun… I can’t wait for my best friends to start getting engaged so I can throw them parties! ;)

As for whether to even have an engagement party… well that is entirely up to you, your fiance, your friends, your family, etc. But I will leave you with this little thought… EVERYONE loves a good party. ;)

So now how about you… have you had an engagement party? When did you have yours, and who hosted it? For those of you who haven’t had one yet and still have some time before your wedding, do you want to have an engagement party?

“When it comes to wedding invitations, they are really so important. Invitations can get your guests very excited when you do something unique and different. If you open a standard old boring invitation, you are telling your guests just that – your wedding is going to be standard. So why not put a little more of the budget towards invitations and do something very fun and unique and make your guests say ‘Wow, I can’t wait to go to this wedding’.”

- Tifany of Gourmet Invitations

Gourmet Invitations

email: tifany@gourmetinvitations.com | phone: 586.201.3120 | website: http://www.gourmetinvitations.com
twitter: Follow @gourmetinvites | facebook: “Like” Gourmet Invitations!

location: Internet, Michigan | type: Paper Products | style: Eclectic | price: $$

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

The planning process was all me, but Shawn Cosette at Beehive Events portrayed my vision flawlessly and beyond my expectations.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

I wanted to work with people that were not only willing to work hand in hand with me, but people that were not afraid to step outside the box.  I knew I wanted a chic vintage feel, but with some key touches that were a little unique.  Everyone was amazing at helping me create it!!!

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

I don’t know that any bride could have been happier with her wedding.  But a few things did stick out in my mind:

The venue.  Until you take a trip to Veritas Vineyards in Afton, VA, you will never know how truly breathtaking the view is.  What more could you ask for than all your friends and family witnessing the love you have for each other while taking in the scenery of the Shenandoah Valley!  Add in the unforgettable décor by Shawn Cosette and poof!  The dream you have always envisioned as a little girl has come true.

The ceremony.  Rev. Claire Goodman helped Leigh and I come up with a special wine ceremony during our vows.  Prior to our wedding Claire asked us to write a letter to each other (not read them) and fill a wine crate with two bottles of wine.  During the ceremony, we put our letters into the box and symbolically hammered it shut.  The reason for this was if our marriage ever endured serious hardships in the future, we promised to sit down together, drink the wine and read the letters that reminded us of how much we loved each other on our wedding day.  Well, we have almost made it through year one, and that crate has not been opened yet!

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

There were two pieces of advice given to Leigh and me before our big day that we have held close to our hearts and would love to pass on.  The first is to make sure you not only enjoy every minute of the planning, but on the day of your wedding-the two of you step back from the crowd for a minute and take in the fact that all the love in that room is for you.  Your wedding day can be a very overwhelming experience, and you always want to visually remember that one very special moment.

The second piece of advice was to always remember you are a team.  It is hard for Brides to realize sometimes that your special day also includes your husband!  But their opinion does count too, and in the future as long as you stay a team; sometimes against parents, sometimes against friends-you should be able to endure anything. 

Thank you to Stephanie for sharing her insight with us, and to Aaron Watson Photography for sharing his images so we can all be inspired! :)

I’m always a fan of the bolder color palettes like the pink and navy in this wedding… but I think the Mr & Mrs signs at the sweetheart table win my pick for favorite detail! You all know I love my Mr & Mrs signs! Although, I do love the bottles of win sealed up in a crate with letters too! ;) How about you all… what’s your favorite detail of this wedding? And what do you think of the colors, navy and pink? Will any of you be using those colors?

Vendors who made it all happen…