Handmade Orange, Yellow and Blue Wedding

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Nov 6th

by: Lauren

Full of color and unique handmade elements, today’s orange, yellow and blue wedding will have you absolutely awestruck. From the amazing photography by Chaz Cruz Photography and gorgeous seaside location, to the charming DIY centerpieces made by the bride’s sister and mom, everything about this wedding planned by Swann Soirees was absolute perfection…

From the bride, Jaymi:

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

I am so lucky that the person that helped me the most through our planning process was my husband. I also had a ton of help from my wonderfully creative sister and mother but when it came down to every last little detail, my husband was there every step of the way. Since we had been together for ten years before getting engaged, the wedding was something we had both been thinking about for quite some time. It was important to both of us that we stay a team throughout the planning process so the wedding would reflect us as a couple.

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

We felt it was really important to work with vendors who were open, understanding and flexible. We had a very specific budget and very specific expectations for our wedding and our vendors were on the same page every step of the way. If something was unrealistic or just plain crazy, I felt confident that our vendors would be honest with me and that was very reassuring. It can become very overwhelming very quickly during the planning process and having such professional and experienced people to work with was just a relief. When you spend so much time planning such an important day, you want to do the planning with people you can trust and rely on like you would your best friend or family.

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

Since both of us are from California and spent a majority of our life at the beach a coastal location was a must. Scripps Seaside Forum had the exact look we were going for, ocean views, modern architecture, and a laid back yet formal look. The inspiration for the look of the decor didn’t come to light until my bridal shower. My sister and mom created the most beautiful garden party full of whimsical decor and hand made custom center pieces. I was so in love with the look, we decided to carry that theme over to the wedding. The guest at the shower and the wedding really enjoyed the mason jars filled with pictures of me and Daniel throughout our last 11 years together.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Get a planner and make sure to hire professionals instead of the friend hook up. As much as saving money is important to most brides, going with a friend or a friend of a friend is always risky. In the end it was better to have our friends as guests of the wedding than having our friends provide a service. For instance, several people suggested a friend they know who took photos and who could give us a price. This could have saved us some money but then we would not have these amazing photos from Chaz Cruz. Every single photo was pure perfection. And thanks to the very talented Chaz’s suggestion, we met Brenda and the ladies of Swann Soirees. Getting a planner was the best thing we could have ever done. I thought my type A OCD was going to be enough to handle our wedding but I was so wrong. It can become overwhelming very quickly. The second we hired our planner, a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders and the planning process became fun again. If nothing else, your planner can help you prioritize what you really want and need. I was able to spend my entire day enjoying the wedding instead of worrying about timing and payments and just the stress of it all. My husband and I are eternally gratefully to the ladies of Swann Soirees, we absolutely could not have done it without them.

Goodness, nothing can top that fabulous advice from Jaymi!

I just love everything about this wedding. The simplicity of the decor, the personality, the colors… what is your favorite part of this wedding?!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Chaz Cruz Photography / Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Swann Soirees / Reception Venue: Scripps Seaside Forum / Flowers & Decor: Floral Occasions by Janna Hatch / Lighting: Pro Motion Entertainment / Linens: Buckboard Catering / Invitations & Stationery: rlenedezigns / Bride’s Dress: Alfred Angelo / Hairstylist: PaperDoll Salon / Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic

Making Wedding Trends Your Own

Category: WEDDING PLANNING 4 Comments

Nov 5th

by: Joelle

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It always kind of amazes me how I can just jump on Pinterest, and find about ten thousand things I want to write about for ELD. I remember signing up for Pinterest over two years ago, and now it’s an almost obligatory wedding planning tool. It’s fun, that’s for sure, but it can also be dangerous. I feel like I can take one look at Pinterest, and see several trends and just plain pretty ideas that will likely be gone the next day.

But I’m not here to talk about using Pinterest for your wedding planning. I’m here to talk about the wedding trends that come and go every day on our favorite blogs, websites, and Pinterest, and how to make them your own.

As a wedding professional, one of my jobs is to come up with the next best thing. There have been some really enduring trends, and then there have been some that just seem to fizzle out- and thanks to Pinterest, we see them all. But I think having these trends continuously pushed out to the world on blogs and then perpetuated on Pinterest has become dangerous. Wedding professionals, and even brides, constantly feel this need to have something bigger, better, and yes, sometimes even crazier. Rightfully so though, because when using all of the trends that are out there, the result is often a hodge-podge of ideas that aren’t fully developed. Just pulling together several trends without any rhyme or reason for why they belong in a wedding doesn’t create a cohesive, charming aesthetic.

So I guess the big question is this: if you want something that is timeless, classic, and still unique to you, is it even possible to flush through the endless trends you see on blogs and Pinterest?

The answer is YES!

Image by Melody Melikian Photography via A Glamorous Pink, White, & Silver Engagement Party

(One of the most popular images pinned from ELD in the past month.)

I think the number one rule when utilizing trends is to use them sparingly. I love huge number and letter balloons just as much as the next person, but you may want to reserve them for just a few photos, rather than using them as table numbers (and thus seeing them in every photo). Floral crowns are BEAUTIFUL! But if you don’t want to overdo it, you may want to stay away from anything too large or too colorful, and maybe just wear one for the ceremony or the reception. I always say that a wedding should be a reflection of who you are, at this point in your life. Sure, if you incorporate trends there may be things that look dated in your photos, but there IS a way to utilize trends to make something timeless.

Regardless of the trend (or trends) you want to use for your wedding, it’s essential that you look at the big picture. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Remember and repeat this: Just because you see something on Pinterest doesn’t mean you have to use it. If there’s something you like, perhaps there is an adjustment you can make so that it fits better with the style and tone of your wedding. Pinterest should be used as a source of inspiration, not as a step-by-step guide for replicating things to have at your wedding.

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So friends, tell me- what trends are you loving right now? How do you plan to utilize trends in your wedding, and how are you planning on making them your own?

Eco-Friendly Lavender and Mint Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION 4 Comments

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Nov 5th

by: Lauren

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This lavender and mint wedding inspiration from Alexis June Weddings and Cyrience Photography is absolutely overflowing with beauty! With eco-friendly, seasonal florals, antique china and jadeite, and maple syrup favors, this rustic vintage look would be perfect for a chic backyard wedding…

From Brandi of Alexis June Weddings:

The ‘Everything but the Bride’ series was created as a collaborative effort by Alexis June Weddings + Cyrience Photography as a way to showcase everything from the bridal party to a new spin on florals and favors.

Our latest inspiration shoot focuses on backyard weddings and finding eco-friendly, sustainable ways to incorporate florals and decor. Couples like to include special details on their wedding day that show off their style and personality, but so many times things are purchased brand new and then thrown away at the end of the day. It’s a shame to see it all go to waste. For the third part of our series, we used seasonal florals from local growers, which has less of an impact on the environment by having a smaller carbon footprint. The mismatched china and jadeite represent using family dishes and elements that have a very personal touch. The old photographs as escort cards is a great addition to a wedding and will spark tons of conversations as memories are shared. Including favors such as the jars of maple syrup, handmade from a local farm, and the fresh-baked blueberry pie (with locally grown berries) adds to the feeling of tradition and family.

We’re are so excited to share this series with Every Last Detail readers and can’t wait to show you what we are working on next!

Absolutely gorgeous, isn’t it? I love the color palette- it’s such a beautiful combination!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Alexis June Weddings / Photographer: Cyrience Photography / Flowers & Decor: Foxglove Floral Design / Rentals: Trunk Vintage Rentals / Filigree Picture Frames: Little Vintage Rentals / Reception Venue: Straw Hill Farm

Caribbean Destination Wedding Location: Saint Lucia

Category: SPONSORS 8 Comments

Nov 4th

by: Lauren

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Some of you might recall that I recently went on a trip to the island of Saint Lucia to learn more about the beautiful destination wedding location. It was without a doubt one of the most beautiful, unique, and friendly Caribbean islands that I have ever been to. I’m SO excited to share what I learned about destination weddings in Saint Lucia, as well as some of the gorgeous images that my friend Mikkel Paige captured of the trip!

While in Saint Lucia, I enjoyed the local European-inspired cuisine, experienced some of the best resorts on the island, and even attended a local “street party” that happens every Friday night. I’ll be sharing more about those experiences in another post, because today we’re talking about weddings- which of course are my favorite thing to talk about! I attended the Saint Lucia Wedding Symposium, which was affectionately and perfectly coined “Love Elevated“. In addition to learning about destination weddings from esteemed wedding professionals and industry experts, we were able to see the wedding options offered by Sandals Grande, and were also part of a “mock wedding” that took place at the historical location of Pigeon Island.

I’m pretty sure people were confused as to why I was picking up these gorgeous tropical bouquets and photographing them. Aren’t they beautiful?

Apparently this was the popular drink at Sandals Grande, so we just had to capture it…

I also had the opportunity to tour the amazing wedding locations of the resorts that I stayed at. First up is the Rendezvous, a boutique all-inclusive resort especially for couples, on the northwest coast of Saint Lucia, nestled in seven acres of lush tropical gardens on Malabar Beach. Weddings are complimentary for couples who stay 7 or more nights at Rendezvous, and possible locations include the beach, in tropical gardens, or even on an island!

I was IN LOVE with this giant tree that was in the middle of the property, not only because it was really old, but also because there was plenty of room beneath it- meaning it could definitely fit reception tables! Gorgeous I tell you!

And then we traveled down the coast to Soufriere in southwest Saint Lucia, where we toured the cliffside resorts of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain. These two resorts are connected to each other and have several different wedding locations, including Jade Mountain’s rooftop terrace or open-air restaurant, Anse Chastanet’s two beaches (one of which is private and only accessible by boat- AMAZING!), and even a colonial plantation, complete with gorgeous ruins in a lush forest.

Now that you’ve soaked up all of the stunning aspects of having a destination wedding in Saint Lucia, I’ve put together a few facts and tips for you (aka things that I myself would be curious about) in case you’re considering getting married in Saint Lucia:

– There is no “residency period” to get married in Saint Lucia

– You just need to be at least 18 years old and have proof of identity to apply for a marriage license

– Part of the Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia is located in the southwest Caribbean. The island borders the Caribbean Sea on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

– Residents speak mostly English and Saint Lucian Creole French.

– Airports are the George FL Charles Airport (SLU), a smaller airport near Castries, and Hewanorra International (UVF), a larger international airport near Vieux Fort.

– Transportation by way of taxi is readily available.

– The average temperature is 78.8 degrees, and although humid, northeast trade winds make for enjoyable conditions year-round. Rainy season is June to December.

– Many hotels offer wedding packages. You can book certain wedding services as part of a package, but don’t be afraid to ask about hiring your own vendors if you want. You should be able to customize your wedding in whatever ways you want to.

I’ve already told my husband that we will most definitely going to Saint Lucia to celebrate an anniversary or vow renewal- any excuse we can find really! It was a pleasure that everyone there was so hospitable and friendly, and I was absolutely in awe with the unique surroundings. Saint Lucia has more than just pretty surroundings- they have things to do, places to go, and people to see. If you’re thinking of having a destination wedding, you absolutely must consider Saint Lucia!

I absolutely have to thank Mikkel Paige for coming on this trip with me and capturing all of the gorgeous surroundings! I knew that I wanted to share beautiful images of what I experienced with you all, and thankfully I was able to do so because of her!

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