Purple & Green Waterside Washington Wedding

Dec 14th

by: Lauren

Happy Friday everyone! We’re starting today off with a beautiful waterside wedding from Melisa Draper Photography. Taking place at the groom’s parents’ home on Kitsap Peninsula in Washington, the bride, Krysta, and her mom put together some fabulous DIY details. Add in shades of purple and an absolutely gorgeous view, and you’ll have a wonderful start to your day…

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

Hands down, my Mom. She planned for every single detail and really helped focus my ideas. That is something that is vitally important when you’re doing so much DIY. My mom was essentially my wedding planner/coordinator. What really helped us the most was Pinterest… I couldn’t imagine planning a wedding without it. But the problem with Pinterest is that there is so much out there. You can only realistically do so much and really should stick with a theme.

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

Because of our sort of remote location and to keep costs down (everyone thinks doing a wedding at home is cheaper -it isn’t), we tried to find vendors in the area. We only had a few options for DJ’s, hair and make-up and rentals. We really liked the photographs Melisa and her husband Chris had taken at a friend’s wedding last year and thank god they were willing to travel! For food, we had a number of options, but really wanted to pick something that would be amazing. We ended up finding this great BBQ restaurant that caters (and can’t wait to go back!). For our cake/cupcakes, we found this woman who is absolutely amazing (and in the area too).

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

Initially we knew we wanted to incorporate a dark purple, because we’re both University of Washington alumni and a chartreuse green paired really well. I wanted something kind of vintage, but not over the top. Then I discovered all of these chalkboards incorporated into weddings and I think I went a tad overboard on that… But the detailed work kept me working (and sane) leading up to our wedding day.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

To both myself and my husband, seeing everyone there having such an amazing time and hearing afterwards how amazing everything was… The venue (which was the grooms parent’s house), our ceremony (which we wrote with our officiant, the groom’s aunt), our vows (which we we wrote), the food, the music, our departure by boat with wish lanterns… The wedding day is as much about the people you choose to attend your wedding as it is the bride and groom. We both just really had a blast.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

A friend of ours (actually one of our married groomsmen), recommended that you really just try to take in every moment, starting with the moment you get up and ending with going to bed. It helped me stay calm and stay focused on what the day was really about. At the end of the day, it’s about being married, not the wedding.

Such great advice- it’s important to remember to stay present during your wedding day! :) Also, did you catch that Krysta said that it’s not the most cost-effective thing to have a wedding at home? I hope you did!

Brides, are any of you planning on incorporating DIY elements in your wedding day? What kind of projects do you have planned??

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Melisa Draper Photography / Flowers & Decor: Botanikal Floral Design / Reception Venue: Private Residence

Wedding Planning Advice: Breathe & Take It All In

Category: 0 Comments

Dec 13th

by: Lauren

pinterest twitter fb stumble gplus

Wedding Planning Advice: Breathe & Take It All In via TheELD.com

“Plan, hire the right people, and then relax! Your wedding day will go by so fast so make sure to take little moments to breathe, take it all in, and soak in the emotions of your wedding day.”

– Michael of Michael Newman Photography

Michael Newman Photography

email: michael@michaelnewmanphotography.com | phone: 850.532.3334
website: http://www.michaelnewmanphotography.com
twitter: Follow @newmanmichael | facebook: “Like” Michael Newman Photography!

location: Florida | type: Photographer | style: Classic | price: $$, $

Red & White 1960s Inspired Seattle Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 4 Comments

Dec 12th

by: Lauren

pinterest twitter fb stumble gplus

My goodness do I have a treat for you all today! When this beauty of a wedding from Abbey Hepner Photography popped into my inbox, I fell absolutely head over heels IN LOVE! With bold hues of red, a 1960s-inspired “Mad Men” style, beautiful cotton-filled centerpieces, and homemade desserts, this Seattle wedding is absolutely amazing! It probably helps that the bride, Meaghan, is an event planner herself, so she knew exactly what she and her husband wanted! Meaghan was kind enough to share some of her insight with us today, so sit back and soak in all of this red and white beauty!

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

I checked out event and wedding blogs and used Pinterest a ton to save ideas that fit us. In terms of logistics, I treated our wedding much like an event for work, creating timelines and to do lists, as well as contact sheets, floorplans, etc – all of which were very much appreciated by the venue. We couldn’t have pulled off the wedding without the coordinating genius of my good friend Kiah, a fellow event production lady who pulled everything together day of. After planning our wedding remotely from NYC, my piece of advice is to take your friends’ and family’s offers of help; they honestly do want to help you and are fantastic resources!

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

I used my resources in Seattle as much as possible. Desserts were made by my family and friends; ceremonial arch was built by my dad and uncle from wood off of my grandmother’s property; photobooth was designed and programmed by my friend; flowers were done by family friends; invitations were designed by my childhood friend. The one person that was hired was my photographer, Abbey Hepner. I interviewed 4 different photographers, and she was the one that I could speak freely with, joke with, and she really seemed to get my vision for our wedding. She also used vintage film and polaroids, which was something I was very interested in using to capture our day. You should be able to tell the vendor what you want – or, if you don’t know exactly, you should feel confident to trust their opinion based on their portfolio and your interaction with them.

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

Kevin and I wanted to evoke a 1960’s feel – from attire to music to traditional comfort food. We also wanted everyone to feel comfortable and at home, and actively involved with our wedding. This is why I asked so many of our friends and family to contribute desserts for the dessert table, glassware for the centerpieces, and wedding photos for our wedding photo display. In terms of print design, my childhood friend Kendall Winterer designed our invitations, menus and programs, which were heavily influenced by the fonts and design affects of 50s/60s ads.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

Is it cliche to say the entire day? First and foremost were Kevin’s vows, which didn’t leave a dry eye in the house. Seeing Kevin on the rooftop for the first time was unforgettable as well. Walking into our reception to see so many of our friends and family all under one roof was such a wonderful way to celebrate. It probably is the only day in your life that so many people you love will be in one place at one time – so live it up!

And now for one of my favorite things about Abbey Hepner… a few of the Polaroids that she snaps throughout the wedding day!

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Know what you want, but be prepared for things to not go as planned. Be flexible – it’s going to be an amazing, fun, fantastic day no matter what! Find someone you trust to take care of everything at the venue the day of – leave yourself the luxury of actually ENJOYING your wedding day and not working it. Also, give your cell phone and all of your communication responsibilities to one of your bridesmaids. It’s hard but worth it!

Everything is amazing, right?! It all seems like such a fun, intimate wedding- I love being able to see that! And the 1960s-inspired style is absolutely fabulous- you can tell that it’s a true testament to Meaghan and Kevin’s own style!

Brides, I would love to hear from y’all- are any of you planning on having your wedding have a bit of a vintage vibe to it?

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Abbey Hepner Photography / Reception Venue: Sodo Park by Herban Feast / Catering: Herban Feast Catering / Flowers & Decor: Creative Colours by Patty / Invitations & Stationery: W Party and Print / DJ: Michael Stephens / Hairstylist: Gene Juarez / Bridesmaid Dresses: RK Bridal / Groom’s Attire: Macy's

Emerald Green Aviation-Inspired Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION 5 Comments

Dec 11th

by: Lauren

pinterest twitter fb stumble gplus

I am SO very excited to be able to share this emerald green, aviation-inspired photo shoot from ELV members Ashton Events, Justin DeMutiis Photography, and Malindy Elene today! First off let me just say that my oh my I am still in utter and complete awe of these images from Justin. The beauty that a photograph can convey is just absolutely stunning!

The inspiration for this shoot all started with a small Kate Spade box that I have sitting on my desk that inspires me in all kinds of ways. When I told Laura of Ashton Events that I wanted to create an inspiration shoot around it to inspire ELD readers, she didn’t even bat an eyelash and dove headfirst into planning and designing! Emerald green and white, metallic accents, and a modern, eclectic style (inspired by Kate Spade) perfectly suited our couple’s “story” of meeting on an airplane to Italy… making for the perfect “aviation” theme! Add in an air museum as the venue, beautiful florals by Botanica, and a fabulous cake from SweetCakes, and we had ourselves a gorgeous emerald green aviation-inspired photo shoot! (And no, we had no clue that emerald would be Pantone’s color of the year for 2013! So exciting!)

And you don’t want to miss this fabulous video from Indie Atlantic Films…

Aviation Inspiration | Kate Spade from Indie Atlantic Films on Vimeo.

A few words from the visionary of this shoot, Laura of Ashton Events…

When Lauren approached me with her inspiring Kate Spade box, I was thrilled to get in on the project! I immediately envisioned a bold, green pattern with a pop of aqua, and really wanted to keep a sleek, modern aesthetic throughout the shoot. During the design consultation with Botanica, Ian showed me one of their steel industrial tables. I immediately fell in love, and wanted to put it in an unexpected venue. The Florida Air Museum couldn’t have been more perfect. I always like to tie in some sort of depth to design, especially with a modern aesthetic, and the history & age of the vintage planes nailed it. The main pattern even mimicks the runway stripes!

The bar played to the swanky, polished style that I saw this couple having. Tying in the idea that they fell in love on a plane, I couldn’t resist bringing in an awesome cocktail area. All of the print materials had a similar lines to the main pattern, and gave a nod to aeronautics through the typefaces and design.

I also wanted to incorporate a touch of glam- and Malindy Elene’s Badgley Mischka dress took the lead! All of the glitter and sparkle from the shoot stemmed from the neckline of the dress. SweetCakes did a phenomenal job creating a cake that brought all of the elements together! One of my absolute favorite elements of the shoot was the shape of the napkins. I love how it echoes the infamous ‘Kate Spade’ bow. Second to that, the awesome glittered army men were a really fun, unique sendoff!

And did you see that there was ice cream with that gorgeous cake? Yep, totally ate that. ;) It was yummy and all, but I think my absolute favorite part of this whole shoot was the pattern that was used throughout everything- I’m definitely a sucker for patterns lately! A big huge thank you to all of the fabulous Tampa Bay vendors who made this shoot happen! And our couple too! You all did such an amazing job! :)

Brides, we sincerely hope this inspiration shoot will inspire you all to tell your own relationship’s story with your wedding details! Actually, I would love to hear from you all how you are planning on telling your relationship’s story- feel free to share what you’re planning!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Justin DeMutiis Photography / Planning & Design: Ashton Events / Cinematography: Indie Atlantic / Flowers & Decor: Botanica International Design and Decor Studio / Reception Venue: Florida Air Museum/Sun N' Fun / Cake Baker: SweetCakes / Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee Hair & Makeup / Bridal Salon: Malindy Elene / Bride’s Dress: Badgley Mischka / Rentals: Signature Event Rentals / Vintage Letters: Paper Street Market / Linens: Connie Duglin Linens

Exclusive ELD Vendors

Like the post above? Here are the Every Last Detail vendors that participated making this post beautiful! Featured vendors are hand picked and approved by Lauren. Get more information by clicking on them below: