Wedding Planning Advice: Have Priorities & Be Flexible!

Nov 15th

by: Lauren

“Take a breath…it’s about to get crazy. Every bride has a priority for her wedding-photography, videography, food, location, etc. Whatever that is, go for it! Be flexible about your date if you have to. Remember, great vendors often book far in advance- if you really love a vendor, keep in contact with them so they know what’s going on.”

– Ben & Rebekah of Kallima Photography

email: details@kallimaphotography.com | phone: 850.980.1274 | website: http://kallimaphotography.com
twitter: Follow Ben on Twitter | Follow Rebekah on Twitter | facebook: “Like” Kallima Photography!

location: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee | type: Photographer | style: Eclectic, Modern, Vintage | price: $$$, $$

Yellow & Navy Rustic Ohio Wedding By BRAUNphotography

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 8 Comments

Nov 14th

by: Lauren

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Friends! This wedding I have for you all today from BRAUNphotography is absolutely gorgeous and FULL of rustic yellow and navy details! Not only that, but it kind of makes me love Ohio’s countryside! The adorable bride, Lynzie, is with us sharing some insight into her wedding, so sit back and enjoy!

What was your vision for your wedding?

For the wedding, we wanted to go more with a “feel” instead of a “theme.” We decided we wanted it to be a mix between vintage/rustic and elegant/classy. We wanted the day to be casual and intimate for us and our guests. We chose Quailcrest Farms because we felt like it went with the feel we were going for. We loved the rustic feel of the barn for the reception and loved the surroundings for the outdoor ceremony.

Describe the personal touches you put on your wedding. What was the most significant?

We wanted to do a lot of DIY projects for the wedding. One reason being to save money where we could, the other being to really personalize it. My family helped with details all throughout the day. We collected tons of mason jars from antique shops and yard sales to use for flower arrangements. We made paper cones to put petals in for the guests to throw. We made homemade jam for our guests as favors. My brother painted a tree for us to use as a guestbook and the guests left their fingerprints as leaves. He also created little chalkboards with different sayings on them for different parts of the wedding. We made banners, decorated jars, and so much more! A couple of my favorite things were the broach (which I clipped onto my sandals!) and handkerchief my grandmother gave me as my “something old” and also the little photographs of my grandfathers that have passed away that I had our florist attach to my bouquet.

What is your favorite memory from the day?

Lynzie – It’s hard to pick just one! The day was absolutely perfect. I would have to say walking with my dad and seeing Jeff as we came down the aisle. I loved seeing the emotion on his face and just knowing how excited he was!

Jeff – I really enjoyed when it came time for the portraits of just the two of us. I loved walking around the farm right after we were married, allowing the day to all sink in.

What advice would you offer to couples planning their wedding?

I would tell engaged couples to, as hard as it can be, try not to get caught up in the little things and worry about them. Have fun with the planning and everything will fall into place. Also, on the wedding day, stop throughout the day and take everything in. I remember doing this on our wedding day and just looking around and taking mental notes on what was happening at that moment. The day went so fast and I’m so glad I stopped to take it all in.

I love that advice- and of course any wedding with yellow in it is always going to be gorgeously cheerful! :) A big huge thank you to BRAUNphotography for sharing this awesome wedding with us!

I think the little flag table numbers in the centerpieces just might be my favorite detail from this wedding. How about you- which of these rustic details are you loving?

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: BRAUNphotography / Reception Venue: Qualcrest Farm / Flowers & Decor: CR Blooms / Catering: Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen / Ceremony Musicians: Nate Bebout & Jillian Van Duyne / Bride’s Dress: Ella Bridals / Bridal Salon: Bridal and Formal Wear by B / Bride’s Shoes: Sseko / Bridesmaid Dresses: ModCloth / Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic

Eclectic Alice In Wonderland Wedding Inspiration

Category: Inspiration Shoots 8 Comments

Nov 13th

by: Lauren

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I’m not usually a big fan of wedding inspiration shoots focused around a movie or story, but THIS one by Sarah Kathleen was inspired by “Alice In Wonderland”, and I LOVE it! With a hip, funky couple, bold, eclectic style elements, and lots of clocks, treats, and pink flamingos, everything about this is fun, gorgeous, and most of all- inspiring!

I just LOVE the bold, eclectic style of all of this! I love showcasing inspiration like this, because I think perhaps sometimes brides shy away from having their wedding inspired by a movie or a book. But the thing is, if it’s what YOU love, sometimes nothing else will suffice. So friends, YES, you really CAN have a wedding inspired by your favorite book or movie! (PS: if you’re not brave enough to go for it for your wedding, there’s always your shower!)

What do you think of this Alice In Wonderland inspiration? Have any of you been inspired by a particular book or movie for your wedding?

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Sarah Kathleen / Flowers & Decor: Jenny McNiece Flowers / Reception Venue: The Dana-Powers House / Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals / Cake Baker: Sallyface Cakepops / Handmade Flowers: Glitter Farm / Styling: {ever after} artistry / Groom’s Attire: TuxandTulle

Elegant Blush & Gold North Carolina Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 10 Comments

Nov 12th

by: Joelle

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Happy Monday friends! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and to continue the start of this week off right, I have a gorgeous wedding from Indigo Photography for all of you! From the Bride…

I fell in love with the southern charm of the Duke Mansion immediately. From the classic black and white floors, elegant ballroom and grand porches, to the beautiful courtyard and gardens, I knew the Duke Mansion would be the perfect place to host the intimate, fall wedding I had dreamt of. I also knew it would be the perfect setting for the timeless and elegant wedding my parents envisioned. Since we were having a November wedding, I wanted the wedding to feel warm and intimate. We chose a neutral color pallet that included ivories, blush and soft greens with soft gold accents and a splash of eggplant.

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

Our wedding would not have been possible without the help of my mother and father. They were determined to give me the wedding of my dreams and were so generous throughout the entire planning process. They accompanied me on every dress fitting, were present for countless meetings with vendors, and spent hours researching weddings to find details that would fit perfectly with the theme of my wedding.

My parents hired Emily McCollin as my wedding planner. Emily was there to help arrange and finalize all the details and find solutions to any problems we encountered. Emily and her team took full control on the day of my wedding so my family and I could relax and enjoy the day. Many friends warned me that something would go wrong on my wedding day despite all the planning, but I can honestly say that there was not one detail that Emily let fall through the cracks. Our wedding was flawless. Hiring Emily was one of the best choices we made.

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

The most important thing for me was choosing professionals who I felt comfortable with. My wedding was the most important day of my life and I wanted to work with people who made me feel relaxed and worry free.

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

I wanted my wedding to feel intimate, romantic, and elegant. I fell in love with the southern charm of the Duke Mansion immediately. From the black and white floors, elegant ballroom and grand porches, to the beautiful courtyard and gardens, I knew the Duke Mansion would be the perfect place to host the intimate, fall wedding I had dreamt of. I also knew it would be the perfect setting for the classic and elegant wedding my parents envisioned. We chose a neutral color pallet that included ivory, blush and soft green with soft gold accents and a splash of eggplant. To achieve the elegance I wanted and compliment the height of the ceilings at the mansion, we used tall floral arrangements. We also used low floral trays and mercury glass vases down the center of the tables between the tall arrangements. Mixed into the low arrangements were cotton cocktail pieces, small eggplants, and Bartlett brown pears. It was a very unique touch and complimented our fall wedding in the South. I also wanted a very romantic feel, so we used candles everywhere! The up-lighting used at the reception was a soft gold during dinner, which complimented our flower arrangements. Once guests were on the dance floor, the colors changed from pinks to blues to purples.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

One of the most unique things about my wedding was my gown, which was completely one of a kind. It was a combination of two Rivini styles that I fell in love with. I was able to work with the designer, who designed a completely custom gown with elements from the two styles I liked. Not many brides can say that their dress is one of a kind! I was able to use the design of my dress as inspiration for the design of our cake. There was detailing at the bottom of the cake to mimic the beading at the waist of my dress and the fondant was draped over the cake to mimic the fabric on the bust of my dress.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

My advice for other brides is to enjoy it. The most exciting thing is getting to spend the rest of your life with the person you love. Your wedding is a day to celebrate this so relax and have fun!

Not only is the bride just beautiful, but everything just feels so elegant and charming, don’t you think? I really love the long table set up, and definitely that grand exit. What a way to end the night! xoxo, Joelle