{Wedding Planning Advice} Time, Help, and YOU!

Mar 1st

by: Lauren

“Give yourself plenty of time to plan everything. Take help when it’s offered. Be sure to find a style that fits YOU and don’t just do something because it’s trendy. If you and your fiance’s personality is infused throughout your wedding, it will be best wedding ever!”

– Leslie of Elizabeth Scott Photography

Elizabeth Scott Photography
email: leslie@elizabethscottphotography.com | phone: 704.557.6392 | website: http://www.elizabethscottphotography.com
twitter: @leslie_keener | facebook: Elizabeth Scott Photography Page

location: Charlotte, North Carolina | type: Photographer | style: Classic, Vintage | price: $$

Thursday Tips: Wedding Details Inspired By YOU!

Category: WEDDING PLANNING 6 Comments

Mar 1st

by: Lauren

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One of the biggest reasons for why I love details so much is because they are the perfect way for a couple to infuse their personalities and lives into their wedding. Gone are the days of the boring-favors-that-you-throw-away-on-your-way-out-of-the-reception and the sign-your-name-on-the-line-guestbooks. Everyone is recognizing that weddings are just so much better when they reflect the bride and groom… and the details are the key to this!

So now you might be thinking that you and your fiance don’t have personalities or lives that are interesting enough to have these awesome and unique details for your wedding. I know, I know… I thought the same thing! The difference between you and me though is that my husband and I weren’t able to completely infuse US into our wedding because we just didn’t know how. But YOU can, because I’m going to tell you! :)

Photo by ELV Photographer, BRAUNphotography

So first, here are a few questions to ask yourselves. Don’t base your answers on what you *think* would translate into great details. Answer based on you and your fiance’s personalities and your life together!

1. How did you meet?

2. Do you have any special dates you have gone on, things you do, or places you frequent?

3. How did your fiance propose?

4. What are your careers? Hobbies? Passions?

5. Favorite foods, flowers, games, things, colors?

Photo by ELV photographer, Josh McCullock Photography

Okay, so now that you have the answers to the above questions, you can create a sort of story of your relationship and your personalities. Next, you’ll want to take a look at the bits and pieces of your “story”, and see how they will translate into details! The following details are all excellent things that can be customized to reflect your personalities and story…

– Overall theme of your wedding

– Save The Dates, Invitations, Stationery Items

– Welcome Bags

– Attendant Florals (bouquet stem wraps, items incorporated)

– Ceremony

– Guestbook/Sign In

– Escort Cards

– Favors

– Food & Drinks

– Centerpiece/tablescape elements (table number, items in centerpieces)

Photo via ELV Planner, Bellwether Events

Ummm, yeah, so you get that the details are just about EVERYTHING, right? ;) Well, it’s true. The details ARE just about everything for a wedding. That’s my point though. Sure, you can be inspired by other people’s weddings and the awesome posts here on ELD and all over the blogosphere, but the best inspiration of all is going to be YOURSELVES! It is YOUR wedding after all!

So now tell me what you’ve come up with! Anything in particular that you’re thinking of doing as a detail that is inspired by you and your fiance? Need help, advice, or just someone to tell you it’s a great idea? I’m here to help! :) Comment here or send your questions/thoughts via the ELD Q&A Page! Or if you REALLY want some major help with your details, email me… we just might be able to work something out! :)

Modern Elegant Red, Pink & Gold Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION 13 Comments

Feb 28th

by: Lauren

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So remember when I went to St. Louis back in December? And how I was so freezing cold?! Well, this inspiration shoot is the product of one of my freezing cold days there! I was able to work with my good friend Katie of Simply and Forever to design and style this modern, elegant inspiration shoot for you all. Because let’s face it- I honestly, can’t go anywhere without doing an inspiration shoot nowadays! ;) Katie brought in some fabulous St. Louis wedding pros, some of which included ELV paper pro Ten Four Paper, the amazing Laura Ann Miller Photography and the venue we shot at, Kuh’s Farm!

My favorite part of this shoot is that we designed it to be a reflection of the Simply and Forever brand- a little something that I like to call a “branding shoot”. We paired red, pink and gold with a modern and elegant style to bring the Simply and Forever style and brand to life. From gilded bud vases and trefoil-shaped elements to olive oil favors, Simply and Forever was clearly evident in every aspect- just like a bride and groom’s personalities should be incorporated for a wedding!

Oh and did you catch the trefoil-shaped table number and Mr & Mrs signs? And the escort cards on the glasses? Of course details like that are always my absolute favorite things!! :)

I was SO excited to be able to meet AND work with other ELV pros on this shoot- I wish I could do it all the time!! Be sure to check out the ELV listings for Laura Ann Miller Photography, Simply and Forever and Ten Four Paper!! And a big thank you to everyone for coming out in the freezing cold rain to create this gorgeous shoot!

A little note: As you may have noticed above, this shoot was designed to be a reflection of the Simply and Forever brand- a little something that I like to call a “branding shoot”. For vendors, it’s a beautiful thing- photos that are 100% totally and completely their brand- plus, they’re great for ads! :) I absolutely LOVE doing them, so if you’re a wedding pro and you’re interested in a branding shoot, let me know!

So now tell me… what’s your favorite part of this shoot?! The colors? The details? The paper goods? There has to be something that YOU love as much as I love the details!! :)

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Laura Ann Miller Photography / Planning & Design: Simply and Forever / Invitations & Stationery: Ten Four Paper / Reception Venue: Kuh's Farm / Flowers & Decor: The Special Event Florist / Rentals: The Aries Company / Linens: Sitting Pretty / Cupcakes: Whipt Cream / Design, Styling & Details: Every Last Detail

Elegant Pink & Green Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 2 Comments

Feb 27th

by: Lauren

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Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had great weekends! I have some fun news… I’m out of the office today shooting some last bits and pieces for the next “season” of ELD TV!! I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen a new episode, and you can 100% blame that on me and having a ridiculous schedule. But the good news is that I think you’re going to love these next episodes! (If you haven’t seen any yet, you can catch up HERE!) But anyways, today I have a fabulously elegant pink and green wedding from Limelight Photography for you all! The lovely bride Ashley was kind enough to share her wedding insight with us too, so enjoy!

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

My mom, Tami Albanese, has a sense of style and taste like nobody I have ever met. She knows exactly what will and won’t work together, and I have to say- she has rubbed off on me quite a bit during the wedding planning process. I think I took her ideas during the decorating process and added my own style and touch to things to make it more of a “me” feel. Even though my mom and I had a lot to do with the planning/decorating of my husband and I’s wedding we couldn’t have done it without my wedding planner, Jackie Ross from Table 6 Productions. She was amazing and definitely helped out when we were stuck or when we were unsure of an idea. She came up with a lot of great ideas that my mom and I didn’t think of as well. To sum your question up me (Ashley) my mom (Tami) and my wedding planner (Jackie) planned the wedding together as a trio for a whole year.

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

There were two things I was mainly looking for when it came to deciding who to work with for my wedding…

The most important aspect for me was how I felt with them, I had to get along with the people I decided to work with I wanted to be able to feel comfortable when talking to them and when sharing ideas back in forth for the wedding. Some people you just automatically hit it off with and some you don’t and thats okay you keep searching.

The next thing I looked for in wedding vendors was there style. I wanted to make sure we had similiar styles yet that they had the ability to push me a tad with some ideas, but definitely not push me out of my comfort zone. I wanted to still feel like it was my wedding and not anyone else’s wedding. I wanted my guests to walk into my wedding and feel a sense of who my husband and I are. I think we nailed it!

Did any of your vendors do anything special for you before, on, or after your wedding day that you would like to share?

Through the guidance of my wedding planner and my own searching I without a doubt had the best vendors in my area- I truly believe that. I am sure a lot of people say that, but I think it shows in my pictures and in how my guests felt when they left my wedding. I can’t pinpoint one exact thing that a vendor did that was extra special because the whole experience with all my vendors was amazing. They are top of the line. I truly am blessed with the way everything turned out. I am beyond thankful for all of them.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

Of course marrying my husband lol but I would have to say the decor. I think the way everything we decided on for the decor came together so beautifully with the venue, flowers, color scheme was absolutely breathtaking. The venue was at The Don CeSar which is a resort that has a “old world” feel to it, and I think it really helped to make the decor and flowers look amazing.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

I will forever say this advice to every one of my friends and family who gets married in the future….

“Hire a Great Wedding Planner!” That was the best decision I made – hiring a wedding planner. I actually got to enjoy the wedding planning process as well as my wedding day. I didn’t have to stress or worry about anything whats so ever, and if something did go wrong, I didn’t know about it. To this day, I don’t know about one thing that went wrong at my wedding. In my mind it went off with out one single problem. It was the most amazing day and I got to enjoy every single minute of it. Those memories will last me a lifetime.

Well I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty much the best advice ever! ;) Thank you for sharing with us Ashley, and thank you to Limelight Photography for sending her wedding for us to enjoy as well!

I am just loving the pink and green with the elegant style! It’s such a fun, modern take for an elegant wedding! So tell me- how many of you are planning an elegant wedding? Will you be having bright, bold colors like this one with the pink and green??