Wedding Planning Advice: Make A List!

Jan 24th

by: Lauren

“Make a list of all the different aspects of the wedding and spend some time as a couple rating them in order of importance. Then budget accordingly and hand off the responsibility for things that don’t matter to you as much. When my husband and I were planning our wedding, this exercise helped us realize what parts of the wedding we cared the most about (the venue, fun design elements and photography), and allowed us to recruit family to help with other things.”

– Abbey Hepner Photography

email: abbey@abbeyhepner.com | phone: 253.777.3488
website: http://www.AbbeyHepner.com | facebook: “Like” Abbey Hepner Photography

location: International, Seattle, Washington | type: Photographer | style: Modern, Vintage | price: $$

Lavender & Rustic North Carolina Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 8 Comments

Jan 23rd

by: Lauren

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I love everything about today’s lavender and rustic wedding from Leigh Pearce Weddings– I was smiling the whole time while laying it out! From handmade signs and an adorable first look, to gorgeous lavender accents and a ribbon wand sendoff- this southern wedding is full of personality, love, and fun- and Liz Grogan was there to capture it all!

From the bride, Susan:

I knew from the very beginning that I would need help with the planing process. I had a basic idea of what I wanted, but I was lost on where or how to start. I hired Leigh of Leigh Pearce Weddings to help me come up with a design plan, as well as help with vendor recommendations. She was a life saver and so many people kept commenting about how relaxed I seemed during my engagement. Is there really any other way you would want to be?? On the wedding day, it was almost magical how things came together. I was able to relax and enjoy the day.

I made an instant connection with the two most important vendors for a wedding: my wedding planner, Leigh and my photographer, Liz of Liz Grogan Photography. Both of these ladies made me feel so at ease and relaxed throughout the entire wedding process. After doing engagement photos with Liz, I knew our wedding pictures would be fabulous and it was great hearing all the other vendors say they loved working with Leigh.

My favorite thing about my wedding was having the people who loved and cared about us there to celebrate. It was such a wonderful feeling to say our vows and know that we had the love and support of those present.

I’m an English teacher and knew that I wanted to incorporate books into the design. It was so much fun to take a small thing like a book and see how we could incorporate it into the wedding. The escort cards were placed in a card catalog and books were used in all the centerpieces. We also decided to use animal and horse bookends with the books; we were in a barn after all!

One reason we choose Adaumont Farm as our venue is because I wanted my now husband’s personality to be a part of the wedding day as well. I entered the ceremony riding in the back of a classic pickup truck and served food family style, just like they would on a farm.

Understand that the wedding is about you and your fiance and focus your planning around that. Sometimes I would get carried away worrying about other people and how they would view certain details, but then I had to realize that if my fiance and I liked it that was what mattered most. Also, hire a wedding planner!! It can be so overwhelming and they make the process manageable and fun.

Susan’s advice is absolutely perfect, and what I say all the time- if you like it, then have it!! And hire a planner! :)

I think my favorite thing about this wedding might be the awesome card catalog for escort cards! The chalkboard signs and table numbers are all pretty amazing too though…

What’s your favorite detail from this southern wedding? Will any of you be having a fun escort card display like Susan’s card catalog?!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Leigh Pearce Weddings / Photographer: Liz Grogan Photoraphy / Reception Venue: Adaumont Farm / Flowers & Decor: Just Priceless / Catering: Painted Plate / Cake Baker: Maxie B’s / Rentals: Triad Event Rentals / Invitations & Stationery: Ashleigh’s Fine Paper / Hair & Makeup: Carla White

USS Sequoia Bridal Portrait Session

Category: INSPIRATION 5 Comments

Jan 22nd

by: Lauren

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With the inauguration happening yesterday and all of the presidential talk, I thought today would be the perfect time to share this beautiful bridal portrait session that took place on the USS Sequioa! Planned and designed by Bellwether Events and photographed by Kurstin Roe, this bridal session is filled with historical beauty!

From Janice of Bellwether Events:

When I first met Abigail over lunch at Washington DC’s Southwest Waterfront we spent a few hours discussing her many wedding plans and ideas. One of the things we talked about was that she wanted to a bridal portrait session before the wedding. She asked me if I could think of a unique, historical place to do the shoot. Here in DC, we have a plethora of historical locations. And most of them, except for the most exclusive places, have been photographed time and time again. So as I gazed out over the Washington Channel, I saw the perfect idea: The famous presidential yacht, the USS Sequoia, docked just blocks from where Matt and Abigail live. Commissioned in 1925, it has served every administration since, and hosted the most notable of history’s foreign dignitaries. The Sequoia may be the most important piece of Americana not owned by the government, with a large collection of presidential photographs and original memorabilia. My husband worked on the southwest waterfront for fifteen years, so we had a connection to the Sequoia’s captain, who graciously welcomed us aboard in the early hours of an April morning.

After some brainstorming, Abigail and I settled on a loose Edwardian theme to blend with the style and decor of the yacht. We each picked up props here and there over the months preceding the shoot, some of which made second appearances on the wedding day. We knew that we wanted to do a completely different hair and make up look for the shoot than was planned for the wedding. We took the same approach with the bouquet, requesting a cascading style, but otherwise letting the floral designer surprise us with her choices. We were blessed with a beautiful, sunny morning on the water, and a stunning yacht at our disposal. Admittedly, the shoot ran long because we kept stopping to look at the historic photos and artifacts on the ship. One just can’t help but feel the nearly 90 years of previous events all around you. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and many photos from the shoot were on display at the wedding.

I love the idea of doing things a bit differently for the bridal portraits instead of exactly the same as what you have planned for your wedding. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have an amazing location like a presidential yacht!

Brides, are any of you planning on doing bridal portraits? What’s your plan- will you be doing something fun and different like this bride did?

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Kurstin Roe / Design & Planning: Bellwether Events / Venue: The USS Sequoia / Bridal Bouquet: Growing Wild / Hair & Makeup: Josephine Love / Garter: The Garter Girl / Parasol: Bella Umbrella

Modern & Glamorous Emerald Green Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION 3 Comments

Jan 22nd

by: Lauren

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Happy Tuesday everyone! We’re starting today off with some fabulous modern, glamorous wedding inspiration from Lemiga Events and Claudia McDade Photography! When you pair emerald green with a black and white pattern and gold accents, the result is absolutely beautiful!

I love the black and white pattern used on the vases! And this is yet another example of how chic and gorgeous emerald green is- loving it as the color of 2013!

So tell me- what do you think of using patterns in wedding design? Are any of you planning on using patterns in your own wedding decor?