Organic Coastal Inspired Clearwater Beach Wedding

Category: MEMBER FEATURES, REAL WEDDINGS 0 Comments

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Feb 20th

by: Lauren

Friends, I’m not quite sure any of my words are going to do this gorgeous Clearwater Beach wedding justice. Not only because of it’s beauty, but because it’s my best friend’s wedding!

My best friend Meg has been one of my biggest cheerleaders in these 9 years of Every Last Detail, so naturally, she knew exactly what to do when her fiance, Ralph, slipped a stunning (morganite) engagement ring on her finger. She knew that she needed to invest in a wedding planner right off the bat, so she turned to the V List to find someone who would be a perfect fit for her. Amber Veatch Designs was Meg and Ralph’s match made in wedding heaven, and it was such an honor (and relief) to know that her wedding day would run by someone who I know and trust. Okay, enough of my sentimental gushing!

Meg and Ralph knew right away that they wanted their wedding to be near- and inspired by- the ocean. A color palette filled with varying shades of blue set the tone beautifully for their organic, coastal inspired day. Seaglass, driftwood, and travel were integral parts of their wedding day look, all reflecting things that reflect the two of them. Rental pieces from ELD favorites Reserve Vintage Rentals and Treasury Rentals provided just the right amount of detail, and Meg was made even more beautiful (which I thought was impossible) thanks to the team of Lasting Luxe. Oh, and we can’t forget the hidden touches of Disney throughout the day- see if you can spot them!

I’m so excited to share Meg and Ralph’s day with you, as captured by Rachel Burkhart Photography, just a week shy of their 1 year anniversary! (Oh, and yes, you may spot me in a few of these photos… and I definitely had to include a capture of me and my baby girl with the beautiful bride!)

Tell us a little a bit about your wedding.

We wanted a casual yet classy wedding that reflected our relationship, and that’s exactly what we planned! Our theme was a blend of coastal and organic, with nods to Disney and travel. We held our ceremony at Sand Key Beach and then had the reception at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, which I think is a hidden gem in the Tampa Bay area. To keep the casual beach vibe going, we used 4Rivers Catering and served a BBQ buffet, which gave people more time to dance the night away with the amazing Matt Winter Band.

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip?

I really wanted to make sure our wedding embodied and celebrated our interests, so that was most important to use. We were also very budget-conscious. In terms of vendors, we prioritized and splurged on a wedding designer/planner (who helped us SO much), photographer, and the band.

What were your favorite parts of the day?

Every. Single. Moment. I loved getting ready with the most important women in my life– we had so much fun together. Having my mom help me get into my dress, just the two of us, meant a lot to me. It also allowed me to do a “first look” with my grandmother which was so fun. Then the First Look with Ralph was simply wonderful and amazing… I was so happy to finally see my soon-to-be-husband. Having time alone before the ceremony relaxed us a lot, plus we got to share funny stories from the morning, which led to lots of laughter and funny photos. We loved, loved, loved our 9-minute ceremony. Our friend Dan did the best job personalizing our ceremony, making everyone laugh, and getting us married! Walking into the reception and seeing how beautifully it all came together brought tears to me eyes. Amber did the best job. We loved having our best friends give such hilarious and meaningful toasts. I’ll never forget dancing with my grandfather — it was such a beautiful part of the day. And, of course, the party aka reception with all our friends and family was a blast. We’ve never had more fun in our lives!

Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.

With Lauren as my best friend, I knew personal details would be really important in making our special day feel like, well, ours. Traveling, Disney, and family are big parts of our lives, so I wanted to incorporate elements that reflected them throughout our wedding day.
We didn’t want a cheesy Disney wedding, and I struggled finding chic ways to incorporate our fandom. Luckily my wedding planner, Amber, helped me get creative with Disney decor without being tacky. We welcomed guests to our ceremony with a Walt Disney quote, nodded to Disney movies with our reception signage, and handed out Mickey-shaped rice krispie treats for our favors.
To celebrate our love of travel, we used globes rather than a traditional guest book and shared our favorite travel destinations on our table numbers. We even found cute Disney quotes related to travel to tie everything together!
With a demanding job and marathon training, I was very selective about the DIY projects I took on myself. I prioritized the ones that meant the most to me and aligned with my skills: I designed our invitation suite, table numbers, and all the signage. Originally, I thought I would make all the Mickey-shaped favors, but my (now) husband convinced me that was crazy. I’m so glad we worked with Sweetly Dipped Confections to bring those to life — looking back, there’s no way I could have handled that the week of the wedding!

Did you include any family heirlooms or special traditions?

Oh, yes! So many. One of my favorite details from the day is that I wore my Nana’s pearls in my hair. Dena from Lasting Luxe figured out how to make it happen, and I love how it looked with my dress.
My family is SUPER Irish so we had lots of little Irish elements: my grandparents gave me an Irish penny to wear in my shoe for good luck, my husband and I drank a glass of Irish mead that my grandparents brought over from Ireland years ago, my grandfather and I danced to “Black Velvet Band” by the Irish Rover instead of a traditional Father/Daughter dance, and my whole family did an Irish jig together at the reception.
We also celebrated my husband’s Jewish heritage by doing the Hora chair dance. To symbolize families coming together, we included the Irish Gaelic and Spanish words for “cheers” on our signage.

Oh, and I have to share what their planner, Amber, said about working with them:

They say when you know you know, and after a brief consultation over the phone with Meg I knew she was my kind of person. Her best friend is one of my friends, Lauren Grove of my favorite wedding blog, Every Last Detail. Lauren has a gift of connecting people and she knew what she was doing when she recommended Meg to contact me. Then I met Ralph and the fun began as we all worked together to create their travel, adventure, Disney, coastal-inspired wedding. I quickly picked up on the fact that they just loved to get out and enjoy life and don’t take things too seriously, it was an infectious vibe and everyone needs more of that in their life. Being able to showcase that in their wedding was a real treat.
Meg and Ralph love to travel, love the outdoors, the beach especially. They love going to Disney together, in fact that is where Ralph asked Meg to marry him (squeal!). Yes, some of the elements were a challenge to bring together and incorporate but I love a good challenge. We brought in their love for Disney in a lot of the signage, using quotes and through their favors. To incorporate their love of travel we used suitcases and globes as decor. Inspired by the water, the color palette was serene with soft monochromatic shades of blue and natural driftwood elements. It was so calming and care-free but still intentional and stylish.

I absolutely love all of the insight that Meg shared about their day! Meg and Ralph, thank you for letting me share in your day (both in person and here virtually)- happy 1 year anniversary you two!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photography: Rachel Burkhart Photography | Full Planning, Design & Flowers: Amber Veatch Designs | Accommodations: Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key | Ceremony location: Sand Key Beach | Reception location: Clearwater Community Sailing Center | Bride’s dress: The White Magnolia Bridal Collection | Hair and Makeup: Lasting Luxe | Transportation: Clearwater Jolley Trolley | Calligraphy and signage: Old City Calligraphy | Ceremony arch, farm tables, furniture: The Reserve Vintage Rentals | Driftwood chargers and candles: The Treasury Rentals | Driftwood chargers: Set Event Rentals | Entertainment: Matt Winter Band | Catering and cakes: 4Rivers | Mickey Mouse treats: Sweetly Dipped Confections

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Organic Coastal Inspired Clearwater Beach Wedding
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Do You Need A Wedding Planner?

Category: WEDDING PLANNING 20 Comments

Feb 18th

by: Lauren

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Today we’re answering a question about something that is close to my heart: “Do I need a wedding planner?”

Yes my friends- you NEED a wedding planner, you DESERVE a wedding planner, and you should have a wedding planner. Every engaged couple NEEDS a wedding planner. Planning a wedding is stressful, and no one should have to have any additional amount of stress than what they already have!

Before getting into any of the details, let’s talk about something… wedding planners aren’t just for daddy’s little girls, movie stars, and debutantes (no offense to any of those ladies) anymore! Forget what you see in the movies and on TV. That’s not real life. You planning your wedding and wanting to just elope because it’s so stressful? THAT is real life- and you can do something about it.

Having a wedding planner doesn’t need to be considered “optional” or a “luxury”.

I myself used to think this, so I immediately dismissed having a wedding planner… until I got so overwhelmed with planning my wedding that I actually looked into a wedding planner. Once I did that, I realized that planners really aren’t that expensive in the grand scheme of things, and if you find the right one, he or she is worth every penny!

Over the past few years, I’ve heard lots of reasons for why couples think they can’t have or don’t need a wedding planner. And honestly, most of these reasons are just things that couples tell themselves so they feel better about not having a wedding planner. So for today, let’s discuss these “reasons” for not having a planner that I hear so very often…

“I’m on a tight budget.”

Everyone is on a budget when planning a wedding. And most everyone is on a tight budget at that! But you know what? If you have a wedding planner, he or she will be able to HELP you with that budget. They will tell you what you need and what you don’t need (aka, that you don’t have to waste money on X, Y, or Z). They might even be able to pull a few strings here or there (not saying they WILL, but it does help to know someone).

And you know what else? When it comes to cost and selection, there are LOTS of planners out there. I’m sure you can find one that fits within your budget (just make sure you like them too- that’s a whole other post though!). If you need to, make it work- cut out 10 guests, don’t get those expensive bridesmaid gifts, or forgo cocktail napkins. I promise that it will be the BEST money you spend. And one other thing (speaking as a former wedding planner now)… I can’t even count how many times I’ve saved my couples money. Just saying.

[More on this: Lessons Learned: Hire A Wedding Planner!]

“I want to be able to plan my own wedding.”

Heck yes, of course you want to plan your own wedding- so did I! But you want the FUN parts of planning your wedding. Not the stressful/annoying/crazy parts. Like finding out pricing for rentals. Or getting vendors to call you back/respond to you. Or figuring out your wedding day timeline. Or receiving deliveries and overseeing setup, AND cleaning up.

If you have a wedding planner, you WILL still be planning your wedding. You WILL still have control over what happens for your wedding. I promise you- you will. It will just be you planning your wedding with more guidance, knowledge, and a directed focus. And on the day of… oh my goodness, you’ll be able to just ENJOY your wedding, let go of everything and enjoy your day! :)

[More on this: A Wedding Planner Does Not Plan Your Wedding… You Do!]

“I have a specific vision for my wedding and I don’t want to trust anyone else to execute it.”

Having a specific vision is all the more reason to have a planner! I promise you, if you have a planner that you connect with, he or she is going to understand what you are envisioning for your wedding. More so than anyone else, because they will know how to successfully make it happen for you. As far as having your vision reflect YOU, you would actually be surprised at how hard planners work to get to know you and make sure your wedding reflects you and your fiancé. :) If you hire the right planner, they WILL NOT force their own wants upon you for your wedding- they want it to be YOUR wedding, not theirs or someone else’s! [Note from my former wedding planner self: All of the past brides that I’ve worked closely with to design and plan their weddings, I actually now consider my friends (love you ladies!)- because we connected and I understood their visions. In fact, it was like we were on the same wavelength- even with some creepy ESP moments. ;)]

[More on this: What a Wedding Planner Really Does]

“I want to design/craft/DIY with my sister/friends/mother/grandmother while planning my wedding.”

Having a wedding planner will not take the joy and fun out of doing wedding-related tasks and projects with your family and friends. If that’s what you want, do it. Your planner will probably actually have suggestions or tips for whatever you’re doing! You can still design your whole wedding with your sister, or craft with your best friend, or bake cakes with your grandmother. You can absolutely have a planner even if you want other people to be involved with your wedding. :)

“My sister/friend/cousin just got married and she is going to plan my wedding.”

OR

“My sister/friend/cousin/mom/aunt has done other weddings and is going to plan my wedding.”

Okay, so this can only apply if your sister/friend/cousin/aunt/mother/grandmother IS a wedding planner. ;) [And mind you, if they are, they’ll probably make you hire someone for the day of the wedding so they can enjoy it- in fact my friends have already insisted that I NOT work at their weddings.] So other than that situation, you want to be able to ENJOY your planning experience with your family members. You don’t want to butt heads with your mom or hate your sister/friend by the end of the planning process. In the case of someone who has recently gotten married wanting to help you, sure, take their suggestions on what vendors they used for their own wedding, but that’s really as far as you need to go. Plus, wouldn’t it be better to have fun with them during your wedding planning instead of stressing them (and yourself) out?

And then there’s the DAY OF the wedding. You want your sister/friend/cousin/aunt/mother/grandmother to ENJOY your wedding, right?! I guarantee you they want to enjoy it too! (Take it from me- I’ve planned friends weddings before, and it’s no fun to have to sit on the sidelines and be the wedding planner when everyone else is having fun!) And you don’t want them spending the day of your wedding (or the day before for that matter) schlepping things all around your venue, overseeing setup, calling vendors, dealing with messes, etc etc. It’s hard work friends… you don’t want to wish that on any of the people you love. ;)

[More on this: 7 Things Wedding Planners Do (That BRIDES/MOMS/AUNTS/FRIENDS Can’t)]

“My venue has a planner.”

So here’s the thing- most ALL venues have coordinators, but they aren’t wedding planners. The truth of the matter is that they’re there for the venue. They are there to handle logistical matters for the venue, therefore needing to have a relationship with you. Their concern is the venue, as it should be, since that is who pays their paycheck. When it comes to actually planning you wedding? The only thing they’re going to do is handle things having to do with the venue (like what appetizers you want served at cocktail hour, or when you want dinner to start). They won’t make appointments for you, help you design your wedding, assist you in choosing your stationery, or create a timeline for your whole wedding day. They’re going to be there on the day of your wedding, but they won’t be there when you need them to bustle your dress (and then fix it when it breaks), hold your bouquet, tell you when to cut the cake, or put your overnight bags in the limo. In fact, many of them go home after the cake is cut. So please please PLEASE don’t consider a venue coordinator as an excuse for not having YOUR OWN wedding planner. (PS- my venue had a coordinator too… she was gone as soon as guests were done with dinner.)

[More on this: Wedding Coordinator VS Venue Coordinator]

“I really really really can’t afford a wedding planner.”

Okay, well if you’ve weighed the options and you really can’t afford to have a wedding planner help you with the full planning of your wedding, there are alternatives! Many planners have smaller packages available- “partial” planning so to speak. This is always a great option if you’ve already found your venue and hired a few vendors but need help with logistics, design, etc. Can’t afford that? Move on to another option… “Month Of” planning (sometimes known as Day-Of, which is actually a big fat LIE because no one can walk into a wedding on the day of and know what’s going on). This will at least ensure that you have all your ducks in a row for the wedding day. You will have help in creating your wedding day timeline, confirming your vendors, and most of all, handling everything on the day-of the wedding! So if you can’t spring for a planner, at least have a coordinator!

[More on this: Can’t Afford A Wedding Planner?]

Oh and one more thing- with how hard you are working in your fabulous job that I know you have, why on Earth would you want to add ANOTHER FULL TIME job to your workload? There is a reason that wedding planners exist. Wedding planning takes a lot of time, so why not leave it to someone who knows what their doing- and whose job it already is?!

I know the biggest thing that it comes down to when deciding whether or not you need a planner is money. Yep, everyone is on a budget, I know that. But the thing is, a planner might not be as much as you think they are. Sure, there are some planners that charge a lot, but there are also some that don’t charge as much. You have lots and lots of options out there when it comes to planners- it won’t hurt anything to look around and inquire with planners about what their packages and costs are. When it comes down to it, a wedding planner’s goal is to help YOU plan your wedding.

You CAN have a wedding planner. You NEED a wedding planner. You deserve to have an amazing, stress-free wedding, and so yes… you DESERVE a wedding planner! :)

So, now that all of that is out in the open…

Do you have a reason for why you think you don’t need a wedding planner?

Share here, maybe I can shed some light on it for you! And any wedding planners reading this, if you have any other reasons to add, please do (with the explanation too of course)!

A version of this post was originally published in February 2012, and it has since been revamped and updated.

An Elegant Burgundy North Carolina Wedding

Category: MEMBER FEATURES, REAL WEDDINGS 0 Comments

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Feb 13th

by: Lauren

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We cannot get enough of today’s sweet North Carolina wedding in shades of reds captured by ELD favorite Mikkel Paige Photography! We love Ashli’s classic bridal look with a sleek off the shoulder gown and lace trimmed cathedral veil. It pairs beautifully with the muted red bridesmaid dresses and red and white bouquets. For florals, deep red anemones and greenery were the stars, with greenery flocked stairs and chairs and a boxwood photo display backdrop planned by Viva L’Event. The result turned Rock Springs Center into the romantic event of their dreams.

Joe & Ashli | Rock Springs Center from Light Cannon Films

From Mikkel:

The sun was so golden and shone on this beautiful couple’s wedding day all afternoon. I was SO excited for their wedding, knowing how amazing Ashli and Joe were from months of working together and an incredible Cherry Blossoms engagement session in Washington, DC. They’re such sweethearts, down to their core, and I wanted the day to be perfect for them. And it was! They had a killer team – with Stephanie and Kristin from Viva L’Event at the helm – and everything was very picturesque.

This girl from North Carolina and boy from Chicago met online in the nation’s capital, and had their first date at a bar in the city. After just a little more than two years of dating Joe popped the question after a private dinner at home complete with flowers and home cooking.

I always ask couples what they’re most looking forward to on their wedding day in my contact form. Ashli found me on Instagram and when asked, replied: Being engaged, planning the wedding with my fiance, using teamwork and silly moments to work through challenges, and thinking about the future. I’m?certain that’s one of the best replies I’ve ever read. And that describes their partnership perfectly!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photography: Mikkel Paige Photography // Planner: Viva L’Event // Venue: Rock Springs Center // Church: Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church // Gown: Love Couture Bridal, Anne Barge // Hair + Makeup: Wink // Hair Accessory: Veiled Beauty // Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids, Jenny Yoo // Groom’s Tuxedo: Suit Supply // Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: The Black Tux // Flowers: Your Perfect Day // Calligraphy, Mirrors, Wax Seals: Mason Dixon Designs // Cake: Wedding Cakes by Sue // Cake Topper: Goose Grease // Band: The Shakedown // Videography: Light Cannon Films // Invitations: Don Zegler // Rings: Judith Hanau // Bride’s Earrings: J. Crew // Trolley: New Bern Tours

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An Elegant Burgundy North Carolina Wedding
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Glamorous Red and White Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION, MEMBER FEATURES 0 Comments

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Feb 12th

by: Lauren

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If it is drama and glamour you dream of, prepare to be wowed by this stunning red and white wedding inspiration from the amazing photo team Rudy & Marta Photography! Plus, with it being just 2 days until Valentine’s Day this color palette is quite fitting, don’t you think?!

Taking inspiration from a bold red floral print gown, Everlasting Events and team created a glamorous wedding shoot in bright red and white that is sure to make a statement. Lush florals in red and white, created by ELD favorite Events by the Flower Studio, and an organic, free flowing bouquet will take your breath away. We love the unique take on the circle backdrop, with draping and paper flowers that is utterly romantic. The cake by Cake & Bake is a masterpiece, with layers of unique textures and designs in metallics and red that almost looks too good to eat!