*NOTE* I am a lover of formality. Especially in dress. The more formal the better. While I tend to take a “there are no rules anymore” attitude when it comes to weddings, level of dress is not something I compromise on. Why? Because there is nothing better than a man in a classic tux. Like James Bond. And what woman wouldn’t want to go to an event as James Bond’s date? Exactly.

First, get over the notion that it is rude to ask your guests to wear a certain level of dress. If you have dreamed of and planned a glittering night for your guests, then ask them to dress the part. That is part of the evening. It is how you have intended them to enjoy it. It is all a part of the big picture. Much like how I feel about “clean” vs. original song versions on iTunes. Just download the original. It is how the artist intended it.

Now, on to those pesky terms: black tie, white tie, black tie optional, etc. What do you do with that? Well, let’s go through them.

White Tie

This is the most formal of all dress codes, worn to evening events after 6 o’clock. I have yet to attend a white tie event. I am kind of sad about that. In the case that you are invited to the next state dinner and you aren’t quite sure what white tie means, know that the dapper fellow will be wearing black tails, white waist coat and white tie. Gals, long formal gowns, please.

Black Tie

This is the less formal evening dress code. Basically, your classic tuxedo is what you are looking for – i.e. James Bond. There are a lot of variations on the tux these days. However, technically, black tie means black bow tie and cummerbund or vest. In most places, you can get away with a tie and vest. But, if you are going to a really nice event that notes black tie on the invitation, stick to the classic bow tie. Just trust me on this. Ladies, again, long formal gowns.

Black Tie Optional (Invited)

This is a very ambiguous term. I have actually counseled people to not use this on their invitation. Mostly because it is very confusing. Really, this is the politically correct way of saying, “I really want you to dress up, but I don’t want to offend anyone by asking them to do so.” Like I said before. Get over it. Just ask for what you want. If you get an invitation that states black tie optional or black tie invited, know that your host expects you to dress up. So do it. Pull the tux out, wear a long dress. Maybe not one that is Oscar material, but you get the idea. Yes, you will be okay if you don’t wear a tux or if you prefer a cocktail dress. I personally believe that it is better to be overdressed than under-dressed. Just my two cents.

Semi-formal/Cocktail Attire

Guys, dark suits. Girls, cocktail dresses. Easy peasy.

What if the invitation doesn’t say what to wear? Well, this is where you interpret based on time, style of invitation, location, etc. I always err on the side of semi-formal dress for any wedding that doesn’t specifically say what to wear. Guys, a well-tailored suit will do amazing things for you. Unless it is an afternoon wedding, beach wedding, etc. where it will clearly be less formal, always do your part and dress nicely. It is one way of being respectful of your hosts and the importance of the event.

If you’d like to get some bullet points on what to wear, see Emily Post’s thoughts here. It’s not rocket science. But, always helpful. Here’s to being well-dressed – always! Until next time… XOXO, Julie

A little about the wedding: Whitney and Cliff chose the gorgeous Christ Anglican church for their ceremony and the Mobile Museum of Art for their reception. Even though it was St. Patrick’s day, no green was seen at the wedding (except the money dance…). While I could talk about the red tones or the little birds that were used as a motif through out the wedding, it is actually the mood that I was especially hit by. Of all the weddings I have ever done and all the brides that I’ve worked with or just been around, Whitney was the happiest bride I have ever seen. Absolutely ecstatic to be getting married. And, you better believe that it carried through to the rest of the wedding. Cliff, a quiet guy, was clearly taken with his beaming bride. And nothing makes me smile more than my clients being happy.

So, here’s a glimpse into one of the happiest days that I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of (photos by One Fine Day Photography). Whitney and Cliff, it was so great to work with y’all and I couldn’t be happier for you guys! Congratulations!!!

Until next time…. XOXO, Julie

This year, I was most excited to see the design scheme that would be showcased. Since it is a mock wedding, they have the unique ability to take a design and follow it all the way through. Last year followed the trend of the vintage wedding. This year, I don’t know if I could actually name their theme. Although, pink was definitely their main color. And textures. Paper, fabric, etc. Texture was important. All well-thought out and executed perfectly.

Of course, Lindsay and I had a fabulous time. I am happy to share some of the official photos from Rustic White Photography. Can’t wait until the next NotWedding! Until next time… XOXO, Julie

This time, I’m focused on the engagement photo shoot. Now, I’m a sucker for great wedding photography. But, engagement shoots are especially fun to me. It’s where you can devote the time to calm down, relax and just enjoy being with your fiance while a pro photographer captures your love in a casual, every day life type of setting (if you so choose). Full disclosure: I have had absolutely nothing to do with any of the photos that you are about to enjoy in this post beyond the fact that the folks in them are my super awesome clients having a ball with a few of my favorite photographers that I get to work with and subsequently brag on. I did not style these shoots. I did not even attend these shoots. I am simply admiring them and hopefully encouraging others to have fun with their engagement shoots as well.

I could spend time going into a few points for you to think about when it comes to your engagement shoot. But, that is for another post. Right now, I just want you to sit back and enjoy these lovelies. Until next time… XOXO, Julie

Brittany and Justin – Lucky Photography
These two are so cute! I can’t wait for their Wetumpka, Ala. wedding in May. It is going to be beautiful!

Adding a stop at Toomer’s Drugs for some lemonade during the shoot? Genius. And super cute! War Eagle!

Kristi and Josh – MJ Gillespie Photography
Their wedding here in Auburn, Ala. is just around the corner! It is going to be such a lovely affair. Seriously. Just wait for the photos.

Ellen and Ryan – FlipFlopFoto.com
Oh my goodness. I have been in love with these photos since they first appeared on Facebook (see them here). I have had such a great time working with Ellen and her family. Their rustic chic wedding at Children’s Harbour is coming in June. Get ready!

Rachel and Sean – Chanterelle Photography
These two gorgeous people are already married (remember their awesome wedding in Pike Road, Ala.?). But, I am still in love with their engagement photos. And, yes. They own a gym together. A couple that works out together, stays together. And looks hot together…

Filed under: Inspiration, Weddings Tagged: atlanta ga wedding, auburn al wedding, Auburn Alabama wedding planner, Chanterelle Photography, columbus ga wedding, columbus georgia wedding planner, columbus wedding planner, east alabama weddings, flipflopfoto, Invision Events, Invision Wedding Design, invision wedding planner, julie bunkley, Julie Lowry, Lucky Photography, matt gillespie, mj gillespie photography, mobile al wedding, montgomery al wedding, montgomery alabama wedding planner, montgomery wedding planner, montgomery wedding planning, rob smith, wedding in alabama, Wedding planner ]]> http://invevents.com/2012/03/14/engagements-captured-auburn-opelika-al-wedding-planner-columbus-ga-wedding-planner-montgomery-al-wedding-planner-wetumpka-al-wedding-planner/feed/ 0 383083_10150381165799114_247896564113_8149289_1289520790_n invisionevents 302682_193498174066212_174192225996807_440741_1012255712_n 375923_193498290732867_174192225996807_440747_1514006335_n 417696_10150628789904151_42037604150_9326892_2047970745_n 383083_10150381165799114_247896564113_8149289_1289520790_n 296402_10150381165834114_247896564113_8149291_1190642502_n 311351_2426993119722_1398372820_32890038_496863455_n 296174_2426992119697_1398372820_32890034_996916995_n 315734_2426992919717_1398372820_32890037_1178855346_n http://invevents.com/2012/03/08/auburn-al-columbus-ga-montgomery-al-wedding-planner-jennifer-and-scott-a-bold-and-colorful-wedding-callaway-gardens-pine-mountain-ga/ http://invevents.com/2012/03/08/auburn-al-columbus-ga-montgomery-al-wedding-planner-jennifer-and-scott-a-bold-and-colorful-wedding-callaway-gardens-pine-mountain-ga/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:48 +0000 Julie Bunkley http://invevents.wordpress.com/?p=1655 ]]> This is another one of those weddings that I’ve loved and, for some reason, I’ve never done a post on the blog about. So, I thought I would start the new year off with a great wedding!

I was honored and really excited when Jennifer asked me to be her wedding planner. She and Scott chose Callaway Gardens as their destination wedding. Jennifer had a great vision for her wedding and wanted to use black and fuchsia as her colors. Very bold. She let me be her editor on the design and we decided that there would be no white in the wedding at all except for her dress. Black chairs, black table cloths, colorful flowers. But, she would be the only white.

It is always a little risky to go bold. But, with a garden setting, I think Jennifer’s vision came together flawlessly. One of the things I liked the best is that all the black that was used in the wedding as a backdrop allowed the flowers and any other accents pop completely. And, it made Jennifer, in her dress, stand out above all.

Beyond the fun and bold design, Jennifer and Scott were very focused on making sure that they and their guests enjoyed the day to its fullest. I have seen a lot of weddings. I can say that they had a BLAST. Their guests had so much fun. Again, that makes me more happy than anything.

So, enjoy the photos taken by the wonderful Delaney Holliman Photography. Another congratulations to Jennifer and Scott! I smile every time I look at your photos!

Until next time… XOXO, Julie

This wedding was no different. Jamie Keating, owner of one of my very favorite venues – RiverMill Event Centre in Columbus, Ga., – and executive chef of JK Culinary (amazing food… seriously), called me to help him out on a wedding day that seemed to have him pulled in too many directions. Of course, I was only too happy to help direct the wedding. I love his building, his staff (hey Beth!), his food, his style of event production. It is all flawless. At any rate, I was gladly pulled into one of the most fun weddings I have been a part of in recent memory.

Allison was one of those brides that had pretty much everything under control, except the actual execution of the day. She wasn’t flustered about anything. She knew exactly what she wanted and knew that it would come out great. She just needed some help keeping people in line that day. Although, it wasn’t that difficult of a job. Her wedding party was so much fun it made the day go together easily.

Beyond the fun of the wedding, I also got the chance to work with Matt Gillespie of MJ Gillespie Photography. I have been watching Matt’s work on Facebook and elsewhere and have been admiring it. So, I was thrilled to see him in action. And, as you will see below, he did not disappoint! I am so excited to show off his work here, the wonderful venue that the RiverMill is and the love and fun nature that Allison and Chad had throughout their entire wedding.

Many thanks and congratulations to Allison and Chad! I loved working with you and if the tone of your wedding is any indication, your future together is sure to be filled with fun and love! Until next time…XOXO, Julie

The call came from my friend and local boutique owner, Beth Witten of The Blue Shoe. Beth’s store is one of my favorites for accessories that are just a little bit different. And, if you are familiar with me at all, you know that I can be a bit predictable in my every day dress. I tend to stick to very basic items and then use my jewelry and other accessories to jazz things up a bit (but, just a bit – can’t get too crazy). By no means do I consider myself a fashionista. Now, given the right budget I could be. And maybe someone who isn’t fond of 4″ or higher heels (ringing me in at 6′ 1″ or taller on any given day) could pull off more trendy looks. Let’s face it folks – 6 foot 1 inches doesn’t do patterns very well. Thus, my love of wearing a solid color. Or, no color at all. Call me self conscious, but I feel like anyone that tall doesn’t need to grab people’s attention by wearing obnoxiously in-your-face fashion choices. I digress…

Anyway, I usually turn to Beth to help me accessorize for certain occasions. My earrings and bracelet combo at Carnivale would be thanks to Mrs. Witten – for example. So, when she called me with this idea for a fashion week here in Auburn, I was intrigued. She was fresh off a trip to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York and wanted to continue the energy here in our lovable, yet sleepy little town. This local fashion week isn’t quite the Lincoln Center monstrosity, but it will be featuring and promoting the local shops that work very hard to bring new and exciting fashion choices to our area. Some local designers and artists. Some that the local retailers have searched out to bring to their customers.

So what exactly is my role? Well, I will be the principal blogger and Twitter gal for the events (me, a fashion blogger… ha!) and hope to shed some light on the wonderful stores and owners that are here in our town. Follow the blog here – itdoeshappenhere.wordpress.com. And, like the Facebook page here. And follow us on Twitter at @aufashionweek.

Before I go, here are a few of the stores, sponsors and designers that are involved. Find the schedule of events on the blog – here. Until next time… XOXO, Julie

The Retailers – The Blue Shoe, Ellie, Spa Auburn, Fun and Fancy, Starzz Boutique, Jane Sweet Jane

The Sponsors – The Blue Shoe, Spa Auburn, Starzz Boutique, Invision Events, Society South Magazine

The Designers – Eric Michael, Marcia Shelly, J’Envie, Mudpie, Shannon Shafer Jones, Jane Randall Jackson, Kerri Halpern (Madstone)

I’ve been browsing Etsy quite a bit recently. The weddings I have coming up this season are just screaming for those personal touches. I have stumbled across a few things that I think are super fun and I thought I would share a few here. I totally recommend that you take your own trip through Etsy. It’s one of my faves! Until next time… XOXO, Julie

Clutches from Yensew – I always love a stylish clutch to complete an outfit. And, your wedding day should be no exception. This one caught my eye because it is the perfect blend of glamorous and simple. And, a little something blue in the lining! And take a look at the other options for bridesmaid gifts.

Ring bearer Birds Nest from Rachel Walter – I have never been a big fan of the ring bearer pillow. Anything else that a little boy can carry would be fine. And these little nests are so cute. And so perfect for an outdoor ceremony. Just something a little different.

Love Birds Cake Topper from Lollie Blossom Studio – To keep with the nest theme, I saw these birds and thought they were so wonderful. Not cheesy. Simple. Understated. Really cute!

Seersucker Ties from Divine Domestication – Remember the inspiration board I posted a few weeks ago that featured a preppy design? Here’s is a perfect variation on the navy and white: seersucker! I love these ties so much! And, please take a look at the awesome bow ties too. I would die to see a ring bearer in these.

Hand painted Floral Silk Dress by Tanja Design – Something about this dress hits me just right. Bridesmaids dresses have a really bad reputation. I don’t know that these dresses are for everyone’s wedding party. But, I really like them. Heck. I might buy one to wear on Easter…

Something Blue Statement Necklace from RiRi Jewelry by Naoko – One of my very favorite things to find on Etsy is handmade jewelry. I love that perfect piece that completes an outfit. And statement pieces for weddings have been more and more popular. Being a lover of the color blue and knowing that every bride needs her blue, I am going to go with this piece. Amazing!

I hope you enjoyed this little round up! Keep in mind that amazing pieces aren’t only found online. Etsy is just one of the fastest and most extensive showing of artists’ handmade items. But, browse your local boutiques. There are always amazing pieces to be found. As always, your wedding should reflect you and your style. I wish you a wonderful time completing your look with any and all little touches you find!

I will have to brag on the entertainment for just a bit. Adventure the Great was the featured band and there was also a performance from Ayinde Hurrey, a West African percussionist. The two performances couldn’t have been on more opposite ends of the spectrum, but they were so wonderful. Such an accurate portrayal of the types of artists that The Layman Group supports.

I had to admit that I felt like a proud mother watching the event unfold and seeing the guests enjoy everything that had been prepared for them. Executive Artistic Director, client and friend – Doc Waller – did his normal mastery of crowd involvement. His enthusiasm for his organization and passion for the arts at large is evident in everything he does. And, that is why I love working with him.

So, here are a few photos from the night. We all had a great time and hope to see everyone there next year! Until next time… XOXO, Julie

Doc and Ayinde having a great duet on the drums. A great performance!

Adventure the Great playing for the Masquerade crowd. It was awesome!

Me and Doc. Very rare to get us both to stop at the same time.

Some of the best gals around – Shelly and Channing. Couldn’t have gotten everything done without them!

The main crew. Such a fun group!

Some of my favorite masks of the night.

Me and my faithful assistant, Emily. So glad she could come as a guest to this one!

The weather does make for some interesting scenarios for other parts of your life. Primarily event and wedding planning. As much as I have been loving our current weather pattern, it seems that no one quite knows what to do with it. Does it mean that you should plan or incorporate outdoor activities with your already planned indoor event? Does it mean that your very wintery design needs to change to a more neutral one? Does it mean that it is okay to wear more “warm weather” appropriate outfits to such events? Well, I have put down a few thoughts.

First and foremost, don’t bet on having warm weather during the winter. Think of it as a special treat. But, design your event as though normal seasonal temps will be in place. With that, I don’t recommend a tented event in the winter months. Unless you are springing for solid flooring in your tent, or tenting over concrete, you can bet that the ground will not drain as you would like it to. From my experience, if there has been any wet weather in the week prior to an event, the ground just won’t drain correctly in the winter. Warm weather or no. Thus, all the traffic in and out of the tent to set things up, all the foot traffic during the event (heels anyone?)… It adds up to a bad – probably muddy – situation. Not fun. Also, the cost effectiveness of a tented event is drastically reduced when you have to bring in side walls and heaters and flooring, etc. to make such a tent venue worthy. Not that it can’t be done. Just use your dollars wisely.

Your absolute best bet is to find a venue that offers enough indoor space that you can plan your entire event to be inside. But, have the option of being able to use their outdoor space (patios, etc.) in the good fortune that you have great weather. If, and when, that good weather happens, move your cocktails outside. Add some high boy tables and one or two pieces of music outside. These are small pieces that won’t require a huge event layout or design shift. And, it won’t draw attention away from the main event that is going on inside. Just offers your guests a little break.

My main point is that when it comes to making changes to your event at the last minute because of weather, it is much easier and more enjoyable to do it because the weather is great instead of fighting the elements to make an event happen regardless of what Mother Nature brings. As with most things, none of this matters if money is no issue. But, that is rarely the case. Just spend your dollars wisely. It is always the best situation.

Until next time… XOXO, Julie

The featured photo is one of my favorite venues, Moores Mill Club Pavilion in Auburn, Ala. In the warm months, it is open air. In the colder months, there are clear walls to keep things warm but still give the feel of the outdoors. What a perfect venue! Photo by FlipFlopFoto.com.