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Posts tagged ‘julie bunkley’

Jan 25

Chapel from Street-1
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Weddings at The Waters {Pike Road, Ala}

I am pleased, honored and crazy excited to announce that Invision Events will be the preferred wedding planner for The Waters in Pike Road, Ala! This gorgeous community just east of Montgomery, Ala. has been thoughtfully designed to give a real southern lifestyle to its residents. And because of this, it has played host to some of the most beautiful weddings around. Please contact me at 334.209.5134 or info@invevents.com for information on our packages for weddings at The Waters.

The Meeting House One of the first buildings you see when you enter The Waters is the Meeting House. Set on Chapel Hill and overlooking the entire community, the Meeting House can hold up to 250 people for a wedding ceremony. I love the classic design and the simple lines that it has. It’s one of those buildings that stands out for it’s beautiful simplicity. Oozing traditional Southern charm. Basically, my ideal spot for a wedding ceremony.

The Marina A long pier leads out to twin boat houses that gives your guests a different experience of the lake. Room for a band and dancing and also for dining, an amazing evening on the water is easy to create. Rehearsal dinners or receptions have all enjoyed this spot to perfection.

The Pavilion Beautifully situated overlooking the sparkling pool and Lake Cameron’s white sand beach, the neighborhood pavilion offers the perfect outdoor space for a rehearsal dinner. And the adjacent outdoor kitchen makes it easy for your caterer of choice.

I invite you to learn more about this amazing community and event spot. It’s rare that I see a venue that has so much to offer. It’s beautiful, simple, southern – perfect! And, ask about our wedding packages written specifically for weddings at The Waters. Until next time…. XOXO, Julie

Jan 18

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Karen and David: A Summer Wedding {Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga} {Auburn, Ala}

When I first met Karen, it was clear that this wedding would have a different focus than the flowers or the invitations or food or anything else. It would absolutely be completely focused on the happiness of the couple, the blending of families and enjoying their time with their closest friends above all else. I was so excited to be asked to be her wedding planner.

Karen and David’s love story is wonderful. After being widowed with triplet daughters (yes, you read that right – triplets – and they are adorable), Karen was lucky enough to meet David and fall in love. And, it’s not hard to see why David would fall for her. Karen’s personality is infectious. Bubbly, happy, sunny – all words that come to mind about her. I mean, she teaches Zumba and you know that a Zumba instructor has to be high energy. Karen was very focused on simply enjoying the day. So, it was up to me to help pull her vision together while making sure that she was able to enjoy the love and togetherness of her wedding weekend.

They decided that they wanted to have a smaller ceremony and then a larger reception. To do that, they chose the Chapel at Callaway Gardens for their ceremony to get away from things just a little bit and then moved on to the reception at the Moores Mill Country Club in Auburn. It was one of the sweetest summer soirees I’ve ever been a part of.

So, of course, we had to turn to Rob Smith of FlipFlopFoto to photograph the day just perfectly. Always lovely! I’m so glad I can share the photos with you here. Many, many congratulations to Karen and David! Y’all were so great to work with and I wish you nothing but a lifetime of happiness! Until next time….. XOXO, Julie

The girls waiting for the cake to be cut. Classic!

Dec 28

New year, new design

I’m not usually one for new year’s resolutions. I never really have been. But, I have decided that I needed to get more organized this coming year. To most people, that would mean organizing their office (I should do that), their closets (that too), their entire house (okay – you got me). But, to me, it means organizing my online life. That is a tall order for a business owner these days. Between a website, blog, Facebook, Tumbr, Pinterest, etc. there is much to be done. Because I put a lot of effort into my blog, I decided to start there and work out. So, I found a new design, added a few new pages and in general got a little more put together around here. What do you think?

Also, I ran across this fun little video that I put together years ago. I think I was just wanting to play around with my new Mac and the video software that it came with. I never really did anything with this video besides posting it on Facebook a few months ago. Maybe if I find the time, I’ll do another one. But, in honor of the new year coming up and the organizing that I’ve been doing, I’m putting it here and hope you enjoy it. May you have a safe holiday and many great wishes for a wonderful new year for you!

Until next time… XOXO, Julie

Dec 21

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Weddings, Pets and a Merry Christmas!

I’m winding down for the year as most of you are. I only just got my holiday cards out. For the third year running, my lovely puppies are featured on our cards. I know I’m biased, but they are so cute! Bless them for putting up with everything I make them do all for a great Christmas card. I promise, no one was harmed in the making of my cards. That I know of.

It has made me think about how much pets are a part of families and I thought I would touch on the subject of how to include your pets in your wedding. As a blanket statement coming from a wedding director, pets in weddings are bad ideas. If you think children can be wild cards at a wedding, a pet is that much worse. I have done several weddings where dogs were a part of the ceremony (my own sister’s wedding included), and while nothing has gone wrong, I still can’t say that I would recommend it.

If you do want to have your dog with you at your wedding, there are some ways to it. So, here a few tips for such a situation.

1. Make sure that you have someone designated to watch your dog throughout the entire day. Like a handler. Just to make sure that they are well taken care of. That includes having a nice set up for them during the reception. Have a room in another area just for them to relax in and have some treats.

2. Definitely include them in your photos! I can’t think of anything cuter. But, be considerate. If it is hot outside, make sure you have plenty of water. It’s only nice.

3. Think about including them in other ways. One of my clients had custom stamps made for their invitations with the photo of their cute pug, Ollie. Since Ollie wasn’t able to make it to the wedding, they wanted to make sure that he was included in their day. He also got a mention in the wedding program. I thought it was great!

I hope that you are able to include everyone you love in your wedding day. Just make sure you are as considerate as possible to your pet and to your guests. And, to wish you a wonderful Christmas holiday, I give you Invision’s unofficial mascots – Oliver and Annie. Just so you know, Annie (the brindle) hates when I do Christmas photos. She hates it. Oliver (the black and white) could be a professional dog model. Many thanks to my dogs for putting up with my photo ideas once a year. And, also thanks to FlipFlopFoto for indulging this dog-momma’s need for cuteness and taking such great photos of my kids. A very Merry Christmas to you all! Our dogs are adopted retired racing greyhounds. They make fabulous pets and there are so many that need good homes. If you want to know more, ask me or go to www.adopt-a-greyhound.org4EXARDC8EDVS

Dec 14

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Kelly and Joseph – Married!

Happy blog day! Another wedding to feature! Kelly and Joseph had such a sweet wedding in Auburn. I was so happy to serve as their wedding director. With a July wedding date, Kelly had the good sense to have everything inside. Good thing too. It rained off and on the entire day.

But, it didn’t bother Kelly one bit. She was one of those brides who was just visibly happy about getting married. And, she ate it up. Also lucky for her, she had hired Rob Smith of FlipFlopFoto to take care of capturing her happy day.  Obviously, she was in good hands. So, without further ado, enjoy Kelly and Joseph’s wedding day.

Until next time… XOXO, Julie

Dec 7

Dali Photo Shoot on SMP_Photographer Sanderson Images

The Art of Calligraphy – from guest blogger Moya Minns of MM Ink

A few weeks ago, I posted about the great art of wedding calligraphy. I have come to seriously appreciate (and by that, I mean love) this small, but amazing, part of weddings. And, this week I have asked calligrapher extraordinaire Moya Minns of MM Ink to be a guest blogger. Moya has been responsible for making some of my favorite invitation suites (Katherine and Chris, Brooke and Tom) be complete with her gorgeous work. Beyond the wedding invitation calligraphy that she has handled for my clients, she is highly sought out elsewhere. Her “featured in” list reads like a who’s who list of the wedding online and print industry – Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings, Inside Weddings and Brides Atlanta. Just to name a few. I have loved working with her and hope that you enjoy her work and thoughts as much as I do.

Until next time… XOXO – Julie

There is something extra special about a hand written note. It lets the recipient know that they are thought of dearly; and for weddings, a hand addressed envelope sets the tone for the wedding and all of the lovely details that await your guests. I fell in love with calligraphy because of its beauty, gracefulness and the ability to make letters dance on paper.

I really enjoy helping brides-to-be choose a calligraphy style that is the perfect complement to the overall look and feel of their special day. And I am happy to feature my Lola calligraphy style here on Julie’s blog! It is one of my favorite styles that I have created by first starting with great letter forms and altering beginning and ending strokes to achieve a unique and sophisticated style. I wanted it to have a romantic feel with a bit of drama to it.

And with that – here’s Lola!

Photo by Sanderson Images

Photo by Katie Stoops

Photo by Claudia Lopez

Dec 3

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Vintage Wedding Controversy! I want your feedback!

I’m putting out a call for your thoughts and opinions on the vintage wedding. I recently posted on the vintage wedding trend as a design choice. Ever since, I have noticed that everyone else in the wedding industry seems to have their own opinions on it as well. Every time I browse my Twitter or Facebook or blog reader, I’m seeing someone else speaking their opinions on the subject. Some love it. Some hate it. Some love parts of it and hate others. I re-read my own post and I saw that even I could clarify how I feel about it. So, I put it to you! Brides, wedding professionals, wedding enthusiasts – how do you feel about the vintage designed/inspired wedding? I’ll follow up with a post on your thoughts and more of mine. Leave a comment here, join the discussion on our Facebook page or email me your thoughts at julie {at} invevents.com. Looking forward to hearing what you think!

Until next time… XOXO – Julie

Nov 30

Asking folks to Save The Date

I’m not really sure when the Save-The-Date card started happening. Needless to say, it has definitely caught on and many folks feel like it is as mandatory as the actual invitation. It hasn’t quite reached that point, but it is definitely something that isn’t going away soon. So, here are some thoughts on how to handle your Save-The-Dates and some cute ideas of how to do them.

First off, let’s start by thinking about what the Save-The-Date is really used for in it’s most basic sense then we can move on to being creative with it. In general, a Save-The-Date is sent to folks who might have to plan way in advance to attend your wedding. If they live out of town and need to book travel, if they have crazy work schedules (I can relate) and need to block that day, or if they have other major events happening at the same time (is this a May wedding competing with graduations and other things???). But, basically, it is the out-of-towners that get the first consideration on the Save-The-Date.

To be able to even start to think about your Save-The-Dates, you have to know your guest list. Take a long look at it. Before you order up enough Save-The-Dates for every address on the list, you need to be realistic about it. If you are sending a person a Save-The-Date, then you really want them to attend the wedding. So, if you are looking at an invite list that might be longer than you wanted, you may want to edit a few addresses off the Save-The-Date list. Because, you can’t edit them later. Not everyone has to get a Save-The-Date. But, if you send a person a Save-The-Date, you have to send them an invitation.

Now that we know what a Save-The-Date is supposed to be for, what can we do with it that is creative? LOTS of things! It doesn’t have to be this way, but most Save-The-Dates include a photo of the couple. This is good because some of your guests may not know one of you. It’s nice for people to have a photo of the two of you before the actual day. And, some folks aren’t going to be able to come regardless of the time to plan travel. So, this can serve as an engagement announcement, too.

So, what to do for these Save-The-Dates? Well, I’m all about being creative with paper. I love thinking of new and fun ways to put your personality into print. Sometimes that is fun with your engagement photo shoot. Sometimes that is in the design as a whole on your Save-The-Dates. Regardless, I love the more fun ones. The ones that let your personality shine. And, I have to admit that I love a magnet. I may be one of the few people who doesn’t like clutter, but I LOVE a fully decorated refrigerator with notes and photos and all kinds of things. I have a collection of magnets from places I’ve been, Save-The-Dates, holidays, you name it. And, I love to post notes and invitations on the fridge. I keep Christmas photo cards on my fridge all year long. It makes me happy. It is the one place that everyone in the house pays attention to. So, I say, do a magnet if you can. Because, that keeps your wedding on peoples minds.

Now for some nitty-gritty tips:

Always include the fact that a formal invitation will follow. Some folks don’t get wedding invitations all the time and they might think that this is it. So, make it clear that you will be sending them a real invitation. That’s the rules of etiquette. And, include a website about your wedding. If you don’t have one made, there are a zillion options to making one quickly. Like theknot.com has some great options. This is a great way for you to give all kinds of info about your wedding. Especially if you are having a destination wedding. People will want to know about where to stay, what there is to do in the area (maybe they will make it a mini vacay…), what all will be going on for the wedding itself, directions, etc. It’s just nice.

Until next time… XOXO – Julie

The photos are of some cute Save The Dates that I found on a simple Google Images stroll. I like the first one for its great personality. I know I have said I don’t like themes, but this is the one place that I say go for it. And, if you do an old Hollywood theme (like this is), maybe carry it through to the wedding by having a glam feel to the wedding? Not a theme, an ambiance… Just to be clear. The second is such a great way to do a destination wedding Save The Date. Highlight the awesome location. Ummm, who wouldn’t want to attend an Aspen, Co. wedding? I’m there!

Nov 23

A List of Wedding Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is upon us and I decided to put some thoughts down on what I am thankful for when it comes to weddings. Weddings are a lot of fun and there is a lot to like about a wedding. But, when you work in weddings, you will find things that you wouldn’t have become so aware of in any other line of work. So, here are a few small things that I have come to love and be thankful for all because of weddings.

1. Ranunculus. This little flower is so fantastic. It is delicate and pretty and complex. It comes in a whole lot of colors. I’m absolutely in love with it. I try my very best to sneak it into my clients’ floral design somehow. The florists that work with me a lot already know this about me. They even know what flowers not to mention as options because I won’t let it happen. Daises, lilies and alstroemeria to name a few. But, ranunculus makes me happy. Just the perfect dainty little flower. Unstructured and yet defined. Mmmmmm. I smile just thinking about them. Hubby knows that it would thrill me if he showed up with a bunch of ranunculus one day. Any season, any style of wedding. I can make ranunculus work. Love.

2. Pigs in a Blanket. I know what you are thinking. Surely, I (a wedding food snob) wouldn’t have something as casual as Pigs in a Blanket as an hors d’oeuvres option at one of my weddings. Au contraire! While there are a few times where these little bundles of goodness aren’t appropriate, more often than not, I am thrilled when I see these listed as an appetizer. I don’t exactly suggest it to my clients as an option right away. But, if they go for it on their own, I don’t try to talk them out of it. I love these little things so much, I could spend the evening in the kitchen with the caterer eating the left over piggies instead of the offered meal. Reminds me that I might want to make these for Thanksgiving breakfast…

3. Black and White Photography. After a wedding is over, one of the best things is getting the email or Facebook post that the wedding photos are ready to be viewed. As much as I am focused on the detail shots, the ones that get me every time are the super romantic shots of the bride and groom. And, more than likely, they are in black and white. I’m not quite sure why this is. Maybe a photographer could explain it better. All I know is that I like it. Any photos from my own wedding that I ordered (save for one) were all black and white. Call me crazy. But, I love it.

Such a cute shot by Chanterelle Photography for Lisa and Hunter’s wedding.

4. Cream Cheese Icing. I’m not sure when or how buttercream became the default icing for wedding cakes. It’s a shame that it has. People don’t know what they are missing in cream cheese. I personally think that buttercream is too sweet. Cream cheese icing is thick and rich and decadent. In other words, perfect! I have a rule that I always eat cake at a wedding. Seeing as how I am at a lot of weddings, I eat a lot of cake. And, the cakes that I remember as out-of-this-world have all been ones with cream cheese icing. Trust me. If I have outed myself as a non-food snob with the pigs, then I would have to say that I am a definite cake snob. Carrot, Italian Cream, Red Velvet… All cream cheese icing cakes. Who could argue with that list?

While my own carrot cake was undeniably the best ever, Billy Lee’s Italian Cream cake is right there with it. The first time I had the pleasure of this cake was at Megan and Phil’s wedding. Unbelievable.

So, there you have it. This is what I am thankful for in weddings. A little silly, I know. Still, all true. Before I sign off to go eat my weight in turkey (that’s a lie – I am probably just going to eat my weight in desserts), I wanted to share some of the real things that I’m thankful for this season. While this list could go forever, I know that I am most thankful for the people in my life. First, I’m so thankful for my family. I couldn’t make it without them. Honestly. I could go through life with no friends, but if I didn’t have my family I would shrivel up and die. My super supportive husband, my sisters who know me better than anyone and love me anyway, and my parents who are the best in the world. I couldn’t ask for more. But, I am seriously thankful for my friends, too. I am blessed beyond belief to have gained friends in so many areas and walks of life. I count myself lucky to call them my friends. And, I’m very lucky to call my clients and vendors that I work with friends as well. I know it’s not often that people get to work with their friends and I am very grateful for this. So, for everything else that I could go on and on about, this year I am focused on the people who I couldn’t do without. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving with the ones you love!

Until next time… XOXO – Julie

Nov 16

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The Trendy Wedding: Part 2

After my thoughts on wedding trendiness last week, I decided that I might take a few stabs at specific trends that I see. Like I said, everyone has their own taste and style, but if you find the way to edit it all together, everything should work perfectly.

The Vintage Wedding This is kind of funny to be talking about vintage as a trend. By its very nature, vintage should be the definition of un-trendy. Doesn’t the word “vintage” mean that it’s been around for a long time? We all know that vintage in the fashion world is great. There are just some pieces that will be amazing forever. I actually once met a girl who, after I complimented her on her purse, explained to me that it was part of the vintage Gucci bag collection that her grandmother had left her in her will. I have never met anyone so fabulous.

But, back to weddings. While I say that the vintage wedding is a trend, it isn’t the kind that turns me off. It is just a trend that brides want to use things in their wedding that reminds people of what makes wedding design so great to begin with. Some of those things would be the textures (lace dresses, distressed wood, etc), processes (letterpress invitations anyone?), colors (ivories, muted pinks), types of flowers (peonies, garden roses, ranunculus – aka the most amazing flower ever) – just to name a few.

The reason that I say that this “trend” isn’t off putting to me is that it utilizes so many great art forms that it is a joy to see it. Take letterpress for example (I’m about to get real paper-geeky on you guys). If you don’t know your printing processes, letterpress is how all printing was done back in the day. It’s a hands on process. A person has to physically work the press. Many companies that specialize in letterpress are using machines that are 100+ years old. It uses papers that have great textures. All of this makes me in love with letterpress! Vintage wedding or not. It’s just beautiful. And, since it is something that isn’t easily mass produced, it is definitely an art form. And that is just one example of vintage-inspired work for weddings. Take a browse through Etsy. You’ll see a TON of handmade, vintage styled items.

Before you think that you can just go hold your wedding in an antique store and call it “vintage”, think again. Tacky knick-knacks aren’t cool. But, well thought out attention to detail is cool. Personal touches are cool. The contrast between rustic and formal is cool. And thinking of all this made me think of The Not Wedding that I attended not long ago and a few other events I’ve been to recently. It is a trend that is alive and well! But, because it is vintage, it will be beautiful for many years.

Until next time… XOXO – Julie

The photo is from The Not Wedding by Donnan Photo. I really liked the contrast of the rustic/country feel with the metro loft location. Well done!

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