Wedding Planning Advice: Set Your Guest List & Budget First!

Mar 7th

by: Lauren

“You must set your guest list and budget first. I know that is super boring, but it must be done in order for the rest of the planning to be fun and easy. Otherwise you could end up in a mess.”

– Janice of Bellwether Events

email: janice@bellwetherevents.com | phone: 703.851.9622 | website: http://www.bellwetherevents.com
twitter: Follow @bellwetherevent | facebook: “Like” Bellwether Events!

location: Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC | type: Event Planning | style: Classic, Eclectic, Modern, Vintage | price: $$$, $$

Eco-Friendly & Eclectic Wilmington Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 3 Comments

Mar 6th

by: Lauren

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I am loving today’s eco-friendly wedding from Keepsake Memories Photography! With eclectic, travel-themed details, and some absolutely fabulous graphic design elements, this wedding is full of fun and tons of great inspiration!

From the bride, Jen:

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

I had a great team on my side (Kickstand Events) from day one. Courtney and Kate took all my wacky, late night emails and made them into the most perfect day.

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

My husband and I divided wedding planning into two parts-what was most important to me and what was most important to him. From there, we each focused on our “big” areas. For me, it was the overall design. For him, it was the food. It took the wedding planning from “being all about the bride” to something that could really showcase our style, likes, and dislikes-as a couple. People left our wedding knowing the two of us a little better.

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

I think our wedding inspiration evolved along our planning process. We were most inspired by the Edward Sharpe song “Home,” in particular the line that goes “home is wherever i’m with you.” From there, we were able to tie in our love for travel, using that as a theme to tie our elements together. You saw touches of that in everything from paper airplanes in the succulent centerpieces to suitcases for the card holders. At the end of the day, we tried to look for elements that were just “us.” We did a favorite dessert-ice cream sandwiches-instead of cake, a fun table with all kinds of games & toys to entertain all the little ones that our friends have had along the way, and favorite song lyrics that the signs that the flower girls and ring bearers carried down the aisle that later decorated our reception space.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

The best piece by far was the giant A & J that my husband surprised me with. He secretly ordered them off etsy, got them to our planners, and arranged for them to be hung behind our “altar”-all without me knowing! It was the sweetest surprise ever! And the best part-they’ll decorate our home for years to come. I also got a fabric bouquet from Etsy, another great memento to keep forever! My husband’s mother passed away about a year before we were married and I was able to incorporate some of her brooches into the bouquet. The handle had some of the pieces from her charm bracelet, one of which was my husband’s baby picture.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Stay true to yourself. It’s your wedding day, fill it with pieces that make you truly happy. And everyone says it-but it’s so true. Savor every moment on the day of. It will be done and over with before you know it!

Oh my goodness I love Jen’s advice- stay true to yourself. Couldn’t have said it better myself! I love how Jen and Adam used a song and their own lives as their inspiration. And that escort card display- I LOVE it!!

So if you were to pick a song to be inspired by for your own wedding, what would it be?

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Natalie Childress of Keepsake Memories Photography / Decor & Coordination: Kick Stand Events / Bride's Bouquet: Cultivar / Invitations & Stationery: Alexandra Nicole Designs / Catering: Chef Kyle McKnight / Cake Baker: Imaginary Cakes / Ceremony Venue: The Atrium / Reception Venue: 128 South / Bride’s Dress: Casablanca / Bride’s Shoes: Bloch

Science Themed Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION 20 Comments

Mar 5th

by: Lauren

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Have you ever thought about having a wedding that truly reflects you and your fiance? We all know that’s what details are all about, and when I was talking to Staci of Unique Weddings & Events about personalized wedding details one day, we started talking about how cool a wedding between two people who met in science class would be! So we decided to create some science themed wedding inspiration to reflect just that! We teamed up with some fabulous Tampa Bay wedding vendors (including Kismis Ink Photography, A&P Designs, and Michele Renee Hair & Makeup) and the local science museum, MOSI, and the result was this amazing “Science of Love” wedding inspiration shoot!

From Staci of Unique Event Design,

“Annie & Adam” met in college. As scientists, they wanted their wedding to represent the story of their relationship, hence “Science of Love” was created. A metallic color scheme combining copper, gold, and silver was set.The venue’s metal, glass, and concrete interior created an amazing contrast against the elegant bride. The bride carried an avant garde bouquet, combining orchids, lilies, and scabiosa pods. The exotic florals and frayed wire accents created an asymmetrical shape and loads of dimension. The groom’s boutonniere kept a masculine edge by combining the flowers with wires. For a unique take on a unity ceremony, the bride & groom poured vinegar over baking soda creating an overflowing, scientific reaction. A periodic table seating chart was used to guide the guests to their seat. Cocktail hour centerpieces incorporated dry ice and fire, and hors d’oeuvres included tomato soup served in test tubes and shrimp with sauce eyedroppers. Beakers and glass containers of floating candles led the way to the table setup on the first floor of the museum. A linen, replicating liquid copper, framed the tablescape beautifully. The table centerpiece was reminiscent of the design of DNA, with hexagon shapes and connecting tubes, atop a metal mesh runner. The table number looked like a typical piece of notebook paper and broke down multiple math problems with x = the table number. The stand alone menus were the major highlight of the tabescape resembling miniature 3-sided science project boards. A copper colored calla lily graced each napkin and hexagon placecards had the guests’ names noted like periodic table elements. For dessert, the mysterious chocolate balloon was featured. Warm liquid is poured over an edible sphere and as it melts, a chocolate dessert is revealed inside. The wedding cake was kept all white with metallic frayed wire accents and a wire heart topper. It had a backdrop of metal slats and was highlighted with exposed light bulbs above.

Little-known fact: I actually used to be a bit of a science nerd! So of course all of this science stuff kind of excites me. Plus, as someone who took classes and labs with her significant other, I definitely understand the meaning behind having a theme like science- it can end up being your life, and the thing that you share with each other too!

So brides, would you consider a specific theme for your own wedding? Do you share anything with your fiance that you would be able to theme your wedding around? The sky is the limit, because no matter what, it’s about what is defining YOU!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Kismis Ink Photography / Event Design & Planning: Unique Weddings & Events / Flowers & Decor: The Bride's Bouquet / Invitations & Stationery: A&P Designs / Catering: Puff 'n Stuff Events & Catering / Cake Baker: It's Icing on the Cake / Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee Hair and Makeup Artist Group / Bridal Salon: The Dressing Room / Linens: Connie Duglin Linens

The Accessories Guide for Men {Part 1}

Category: 1 Comments

Mar 5th

by: Yun & Kevin

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Alright guys, this week we’re focusing on accessories for men… man-cessories to be exact! This blog is, after all, called Every Last Detail so we wanted to highlight the small details that have a big impact on your look, as well as discuss the proper ways to sport these key pieces.

While it’s great that more and more guys are experimenting with style and fashion, we want to help you avoid common mistakes when it comes to how certain pieces are worn. These tips will work whether you are dressing yourself for an evening out or a wedding event, or planning your groomsmen outfits for your wedding.

Belts + Suspenders

There’s a reason why the term “a belt + suspenders” refers to redundancy…it’s because wearing a belt and suspenders is redundant! Both serve the purpose to hold up your pants and unless you’ve decided to bring back the Daddy Mac styles of Kris Kross (did we just date ourselves?), your pants should only need one or the other to keep them in place. But definitely do choose one or the other, because function aside, a belt or suspenders can really complete your look; and if you choose something with color, the extra little pop, even when glimpsed from beneath a jacket or below a vest always adds a unique statement to any outfit.

Tie Bars

It’s a tiny piece of metal simply clasped on your tie but sometimes it’s the small details that speak the loudest. These days tie bars come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and finishes. There isn’t any one right style of tie bar as that depends on your personal preferences, but there are few simple rules to remember when sporting one. First, your tie bar should never be longer than the width of your tie. Such a no-no! Next, placement of the tie bar — we often see guys wearing their tie bars too high or too low. Rule of thumb is to place the tie bar between the third and fourth buttons of your shirt. Finally, the tie bar is meant to hold your tie in place which means it needs to clasp your tie to your shirt, not just clasp the front end and back end of your ties together. Get these rule right and this little tie bar will help separate you from the crowd.

Socks

It’s a basic item of clothing. Everyone has them in their closets. But these aren’t your daddy’s brown, black, or beige socks we’re talking about! Socks are coming out from under their pant legs and enjoying their day in the sun. From high-end designers like Paul Smith to more affordable brands like Happy Socks, a creative pattern and color explosion has taken over sock design. So even if you’re not the most sartorially expressive with print and color in the rest of your clothing, don’t be afraid to let a little of your personality peek through with an awesome pair of socks.

Be sure to check back in with us in a few weeks when we continue with Part 2 of our accessories guide for men!

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Kevin + Yun are ELD contributors and are the owners of The Grunion Run Groomsmen Shop — an online shop for grooms and groomsmen looking for affordable, vintage-inspired wedding wear. They currently live in Los Angeles, CA with their precocious baby girl who keeps them on the move when they aren’t working to make guys everywhere look their handsome-best for their big day!