Rustic Texas Ranch Wedding

Jan 25th

by: Sammantha

Happy Friday! I am so so SO excited to share today’s beautifully rustic wedding, full of southern charm and elegance. These incredible photos from Kristin Shyla Photography are filled with the sweet story of Natalie and Matthew’s day! My favorite part though? Pony Creek Ranch has some furry friends that can interact with people-which means Natalie and Matthew were able to have deer hanging out with their guests! I can’t get over what an amazing atmosphere these two created for their big day! But enough gushing from me- enjoy!

From the bride Natalie:

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

My mom and I planned the entire wedding ourselves- so she was the biggest help along the way by far. We didnt have a wedding planner, but we did have the help of my God Mother who has planned several large events at her ranch which is where we got married (Rehearsal Dinners, Weddings, etc.)

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

We were definitely on a budget so that was one factor to consider when we were determining vendors. However, we tried to splurge in certain areas like food & band and get exactly what we wanted. Then tried to cut back in other areas that weren’t as important to us- like transportation company, rentals, and even our Save the Date card (we sent an electronic PDF out to our guests emails)!

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

The venue was such a special place for me. So that is probably at the top. I also, loved how easy going and fun the environment was. Everyone was having a great time no matter if they were dancing, sitting at a table in the pavilion or out on the Safari Ride looking at animals.

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

I had always wanted to get married outside and have a rustic but elegant wedding. I grew up going out to Pony Creek Ranch, so it was the perfect place for us to have our wedding. The ranch itself is very unique and “one of a kind” so I was thrilled for all of our guests to be able to experience it. As far as the decor…I wanted to incorporate antlers, burlap and galvanized metal to achieve a rustic elegant look. The ranch has several deer that they have raised and now the deer love being around humans. It was really neat to have them out and about during the ceremony and reception. The ranch also has many different species of African animals, so we provided a “Safari Ride” to our guests during the cocktail hour to go see the animals and take a tour of the ranch.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

My one biggest piece of advice is to not have a year long (+) engagement. Planning a wedding is a stressful time. Whether you think you are an easily stressed person, or not all at… you will get stressed and you don’t want that to take a toll on your relationships with those you are closest with (fiance, mom, friends, etc.)!

Now didn’t that wedding just sweep you off your feet!? There are so many details I just absolutely love in this wedding but the couches and area rugs outside, the signs that were hand-painted by family members, and of course the champagne bar are a few of my favorites!

What fun and awe-inspiring details are you planning to have at your wedding? I can’t wait to hear all about them!

Cheers! xoxo, Samm

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Kristin Shyla Photography / Reception Venue: Pony Creek Ranch / DIY Goods Designer: Murchison Dry Goods / Catering: The Riverhouse Grill

Classic Tiffany Blue & White Virginia Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 1 Comments

Jan 25th

by: Carlee

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They say Virginia is for lovers and it’s hard not to fall in love with this sweet wedding from Lauryn Galloway Photography. Set in Historic Richmond, Connie and David’s adorable celebration is full of Autumn’s explosion of color, local details (love the vintage Richmond Dairy milk bottle centerpieces!), pops of “Tiffany” blue, and a hint of sparkle. The bride, Connie, is here to give insight on planning her big day:

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

I was unbelievably lucky and had a ton of help from several different sources. I had my 3 closest friends (and without them I know that the wedding would not have been finished), my Husband was so amazing, patient, and understanding because he knows how much of a perfectionist I can be. My family – my Brother and my Mom, and also a couple of my vendors more specifically, my photographer who was able to calm my silly fears, and my caterer.

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

That is an interesting question that really has several answers as it changed through out our progression to the day of the wedding. Initially it was price because my Husband and I paid for the majority of our wedding and didn’t want to start our marriage out with debt from the wedding. After talking about a few things we decided that there were a few aspects of the wedding that were the MOST important to us and knew that we were going to have invest a little more money into than we originally expected. For example, both of our families are Italian and we knew that if our food wasn’t good or there wasn’t pasta mixed in there somewhere, we would hear about it. Plus, you are inviting your closest family and friends to celebrate with you. You need to feed them well! Also, the photography and someone understanding our vision was very important to me. We met with another photographer who was extremely nice and competitively priced however, I knew that on the day of the wedding I would feel like I would have to check after each picture to make sure it was what we wanted to see and have for years to come. I knew that Lauryn understood what I had in mind, she understood our style and theme, and most importantly could make the crazy people in my wedding party and family listen to her! I knew that she could take control of things and I wouldn’t have to worry about it for a second that day and just enjoy our day!

It was well worth the extra money to have a professional taking care of things for you on this super important day rather than someone you don’t trust. I am in sales and know how important it is to be able to trust a vendor, follow through with promises, etc. and so that is what I was looking for in my vendors as well.

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

My inspiration came from several places. First from our monogram that a co-worker of mine designed. I love how he captured my new last name and made it into something elegant and a symbol for us. I wanted it to be something that was recognizable for years to come and that was just for me and my husband.

My Husband and I love Richmond and we both love the look and feel of classic “old-timey” Richmond, so I definitely got a ton of inspiration from the milk bottles we used as our center pieces. Also, David gave me a Tiffany bracelet for our first Christmas together and so I thought it was appropriate to incorporate that color into the wedding (not to mention how amazing it is!).

Our ultimate goal was to make the wedding a reflection of just the two of us and the things we enjoy and to then share that with our family and friends.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

My favorite thing about my wedding was the fact I got to marry my best friend, this incredible man, and all of the planning and worrying, time and money spent had paid off. I loved that I was surrounded by the most important people in my life while I made the biggest commitment to the best person I have ever met. It was so special!

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

So much! But here are a few things: know what you want and try not to let others deter you from your dream wedding. It WILL in fact turn out better than you anticipated even after the million hours of time and planning you put in to things. A few things will go wrong that day but at the end of it, you are married to your best friend and on to the next chapter in your life and for that, you are extremely grateful and excited.

Also budget permitting, HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER! I wish I did – at least a day of wedding planner to make sure things run smoothly and you don’t have to worry.

Finally – enjoy the day. It goes by so very very fast and it’s one of the most incredible days of your life!

Great advice, Connie! I love that the Valentino’s decided to use a non-traditional color scheme for their Fall wedding. Is your wedding palette seasonal or are you planning something outside of the box? I’d love to know!

XOXO,
Carlee

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Lauryn Galloway Photography / Floral Designer: Vogue Flowers / Cake Designer: the Buttercream Bee / Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart / Reception Venue: Linden Row Inn / Makeup Artist: Faces by Joy / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade

Ask Lauren: How To Choose A Wedding Planner

Category: 3 Comments

Jan 24th

by: Lauren

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Hi again friends! I’m trying to catch up on my “Ask Lauren” questions, so if you’ve submitted a question, your answer is coming soon! And don’t forget- if you have a specific wedding question that you would like answered, go here to submit your question!

Photo by Studio222 Photography, via At Last Weddings & Events

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From Sarah:

Hi Lauren! I’ve read a lot of your blogs about the benefit of having a wedding planner, and I definitely agree that having one will make my life (and wedding planning) much, much easier. I’m having trouble, though, deciding on a wedding planner. There are SO many to choose from! Can you offer some advice on how to choose a planner, and what questions to ask? I’m assuming it’s important to hire a planner who has done a wedding at my venue, right? And I’ve noticed pricing is all over the place, how do I know if I’m getting a good value? What kinds of services should they include? I’d appreciate any insight you may have! Thank you!

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Hi Sarah!

Thank you so much for your question! You’re definitely on the right path just even knowing that you need a wedding planner. It certainly will make your life so much easier while planning!

When it comes to deciding on a wedding planner, there are a few things that I suggest paying attention to:

Personality

You are going to be spending a lot of time with your planner, sometimes talking to him/her multiple times per day even. You want your planner to be someone that you would be friends with. Often times, brides do actually become friends with their wedding planners after their wedding. I don’t blame them- you spend so much time together! But personality should be the absolute first thing that you consider when choosing your planner.

Your Needs, Their Services

Some brides have different needs than other brides do. And planners offer different services- comparing services and packages from different planners is like comparing an apple to an orange- it really just can’t be done. But the way to decide on a planner when it comes to services is to think about what YOUR needs are. Do you want someone to be your partner, help you design the details of your wedding, take your vision and make it come alive? Then you’re going to want to make sure your planner has design experience, and that they will include those services for you. Or perhaps you just want someone to take care of your correspondence, vendor appointments, and keep you organized and on track, but don’t necessarily need design services because you already have an awesome event designer you’re working with. Then go with a planner who has a focus on the logistics of the wedding day. Some planners do it all, but some do not. You’ll be able to tell based on what services they offer, but when you meet with them, tell them what you’re thinking you need, and they will tell you what they can do for you!

Experience

Experience is of course a big factor when choosing *any* vendor. And yes, you definitely want to make sure that your planner hasn’t just done one or two weddings before yours. Experience is the key to a good wedding planner. But it’s not totally necessary to require that they’ve done a wedding at your venue before. You will have meetings and walkthroughs at your venue throughout the wedding planning process, and a good planner will make sure that she/he is in attendance at those meetings, and familiar with all of the venue’s policies and practices.

Pricing

As I mentioned above, it’s really hard to compare one planners price to another planner’s, since they all offer different things. I don’t recommend that you strictly compare the pricing of your potential planners for this reason. However, I can tell you that according to a survey I conducted last year, the average price of a wedding planner was a little less than $3000. Of course this is a nationwide average, and depending on your location that average might vary, but it helps to at least have a ballpark range, right?

Out of all these things though, I highly recommend that you make personality the priority in choosing your wedding planner. But that’s just my own preference- I know if I were doing things over again, I would want to be able to be “friends” with my wedding planner. :)

Those of you who have wedding planners- what was the deciding factor that helped you choose your planner?

First Things First: Deciding On Your Wedding Style

Category: WEDDING PLANNING 4 Comments

Jan 24th

by: Lauren

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Hi friends! We’re on to step 4 of the “First Things First” wedding planning series: deciding on your wedding style! [If you need to catch up, just go here to see all the other posts!]

A wedding style is something that every wedding has. No, it’s not “stylish”- it is a style. I like to define a wedding style as something that describes a wedding’s look and feel. Often times a wedding style is an adjective- modern, elegant, vintage, rustic, etc. (You see many other styles here in the Wedding Style Dictionary!) When you hear those words, you think of a certain aesthetic, right? If you’ve noticed the Real Weddings here on ELD, many of them are categorized by wedding style. It’s because a wedding’s style is what defines it- plain and simple. A wedding style is a necessary part of wedding planning because it helps you to define all other elements of your wedding- venue, decor, type of reception, and on and on. Your wedding style will also help you when trying to convey to other vendors what your wedding vision is. Trust me on this- you absolutely WANT to define your wedding style!

Image via Morgan Gallo Events

Now how should you go about deciding on your wedding style? First, here are a few questions to ask yourself that will help you decide your wedding style:

1. Do you envision your wedding being outdoors or indoors? Along those same lines, what kind of venue do you envision your wedding taking place at?

2. What kind of “vibe” do you want your wedding to have? A casual barbecue, chic cocktail style, or formal sit-down dinner?

3. What kind of things are you drawn to? What is your own style like (clothing, accessories, home decor)? And your future spouse?

4. Is there anything in particular that you *have* to have at your wedding? Milk glass, mason jars, bunting, etc? (You’ll know if there’s something that you’ve always envisioned having at your wedding.)

5. Is there anything in particular that defines your relationship? Perhaps a favorite hobby, a shared career, or a love for travel?

Once you’ve answered all of these questions, you should be able to start defining what your wedding’s style is going to be. It can be one style, or it can be a combination of styles. I actually prefer a combination of styles, because it creates more specific vision for you and your designers- plus, I think that’s the most interesting way to design a wedding. :) Also, keep in mind that a “theme” can suffice as your wedding style- like having a wedding with a chemistry theme because you met in chemistry lab and are now both scientists. Weddings with a theme are always the best kinds of weddings if you ask me!

Design by FH Weddings

I actually didn’t have a wedding style (mind you, I was also a totally clueless bride). But I think that’s why I wasn’t happy with how my wedding turned out. I didn’t have the right words to describe what I wanted- I just had colors, and a vague idea in my head that I didn’t know how to convey to my planner and designer. If I had been able to put definitive words to my wedding style and use that to describe my vision, I believe that things would have turned out much better. It was while working with brides that I first “discovered” how beneficial defining a wedding style is. A bride would tell me she wanted something “unique”. Well “unique” doesn’t really narrow down the options for me, so after asking a few questions, I’d find out that what she really wanted was something modern and eclectic, with a focus on sailboat elements. Now THAT is a wedding style!

Another tip for deciding on your wedding style- look at your pins on Pinterest. Yes, I know you just started planning, but I also know that chances are pretty good you’ve been secretly pinning wedding things. ;) (I won’t tell.) But take a look at what you’ve pinned, and see if there is a similarity among the pins- it could be colors, a style, or a theme. Sometimes you can define your wedding style without even having to think about it, and luckily Pinterest is a great visual tool for that! (A note on Pinterest: *Really look* at your pins. Weed out the things that aren’t quite as appealing to you once you start putting things more into context for your wedding.)

Image via Myrtie Blue

And finally, if you’re still totally clueless about your wedding style (which you might possibly be), enlist the help of a professional. Perhaps you’ve always wondered what exactly a “wedding designer” does- this, my friends, is one of the things that they do! There are so many amazing wedding designers out there. Designers whose JOB is to help brides define their wedding style and design their weddings around it. And those weddings are always AMAZING. (PS- even if you DO know your wedding style, you can definitely still hire a wedding designer!)

I’ve written a few other posts about wedding styles that might help you out:

Wedding Trends VS Weddings Styles

Weddings Have Styles Too!

Why You Need To Know Your Wedding Style

What’s Your Wedding Style?

Photo by Rustic White Photography, Full Feature Here

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And now for some excellent tidbits of advice from The V List professionals…

“When you and your fiancé are deciding your wedding style, be you, not someone else. You’re not creating a magazine spread, you’re creating a look to a wedding that makes every guest think “that’s so them!” What’s important to you? What do you love? What are your hobbies? What do the two of you enjoy doing together? Use that as inspiration!” – Emily of Emily Grace Design

“Don’t do something just because it is a popular trend! Choose your style because it reflects who you are. You want to look back in twenty years and know your wedding was so very you.” – Samm of Imprint Cinema

“You should choose a style that works for you and your fiancé and reflects your personality and personal style. It is important not to copy ideas and wedding trends just because they are popular. When you look back at your wedding photos in 10 or 20 years, you want them to capture your taste and personal style, and not what was popular/trendy now!” – Kelly of Just Save The Date

“Decide on your general style aesthetic first, prior to choosing a venue or any vendors, as your general style will influence these decisions. Are you modern. classic or rustic, vintage or preppy, etc.? Once you’ve decided on the “big picture” of your style, then look for venues and vendors that will complement that style and start fleshing out the smaller details such as specific fabrics, flowers, and decor pieces.” – Cassie of Flaire Weddings & Events

“Every wedding I plan is completely unique as every bride and groom have their own style. I want to help my clients focus in on what is really important to them and when guests walk into the wedding they see the bride and grooms style in the decor, details and even down to the food!” – Nicole of NK Productions

“What does your favorite restaurant, friend’s apartment (that you so envy), or coffee shop look like? Are they unified in decor and “look”? What is important to both of you? Relaxed or formal? Take a look through your closet, what colors are you often drawn towards? Don’t compare your wedding to others and make your guests think “that was so them” when they leave. Think of time of year too and embrace leaves for fall or pinecones for winter!” – Kristi of Markit Photography

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Brides! I want to hear from YOU now- have you defined your wedding style? What is it? I would love to know! :)