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Posts tagged ‘Wedding planner’

Mar 14

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Engagements: Captured

I’m deep into the start of wedding season. I’m actually spending the week in my hometown of Mobile, Ala. getting ready for Whitney and Cliff’s wedding this weekend. Thus, I’m going to play the “I’m really busy” card (read: slacker) and do another photography post (read: low effort).

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…

Feb 22

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The Handmade Wedding: An Etsy Roundup

Handmade items, especially for weddings, seem to be more appreciated than ever these days. Knowing that it was made specifically for you or that there are very few of them around – it is very attractive. Enter Etsy. This lovely site has become the go-to spot to find original items from individuals who make these items simply because they love what they are doing. The variety and amount of things to find is amazing. I always keep this site handy for my client’s either for specific items or simple inspiration.

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!

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!

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!

Jun 22

Floral ideas from Jess Margeson of Frou Frou

Hello readers! I am way excited to introduce you to my very first guest blogger! After my post on DIY wedding projects (see it here), I immediately thought of our own local crafty genius, Jess Margeson of Frou Frou, Inc. Jess gives her own touch to events on various scales. She can tackle true craft projects such as a life size tree made entirely of paper for an escort card display at one of my favorite weddings we’ve worked on together – or my one of my favorite weddings period. Or, she can handle fresh floral arrangements. She has a crafter’s heart and a southern bent – a killer combo! So, I asked her to chime in on some things that she has been inspired by for events and weddings. She was so kind to want to contribute and I know you will like her ideas. So, please enjoy her crafty musings today. -  xoxo, Julie

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By: Jess Margeson – Frou Frou, Inc.

You could call me a fool for fruit.

I have (with reckless abandon and little regard) added to fruit to almost everything my crafty little hands have touched this summer. I would say it’s the summer season that has me in this state but to be honest, it’s really a year-round obsession.

I love the idea of mixing mediums, so naturally this combination peaked my interested. Fruit not only adds bold pops of color but also brings in that ever elusive element of texture. And thus it’s the mixing of textures and mingling of mediums that take a design from pretty to pretty fabulous.

Check out the following for ways to bring this festive idea to ‘’fruition’’. Excuse the bad pun ;)

The Inspiration: Color Contrast

For Jessica’s spring wedding, the bride knew she wanted to play up the color pink. What better way to do this than to place pretty pink tones against the crisp coolness of Granny Smith apples? Petite bouquets comprised of spray roses, garden roses and antiqued hydrangeas sat in marked contrast to the backdrop of green apples stacked in clear glass cylinders. Set against the green of the grass surrounding Moore’s Mill Country Club, the effect was subtle but still surprising. And perfect for a summer soiree. *photo by Tristan Cairns

The Inspiration: Organic

Green apples were once again the focal point in this low arrangement used to mark guest tables at Oakbowery Plantation. The heavy emphasis on the color green paired perfectly with the lushness of this outdoor setting. *photo by Lucky Photography

The Inspiration: Lemon Yellow
When bride Morgan told me she wanted her primary color to be a ‘’lemon yellow’’ I immediately knew fruit would play a part. For her festive summer wedding at Fountainview Mansion, the vibrant palette popped against the coolness of the pool and subtly of the surrounding landscape. Lemons were the theme and the result was a zesty combination of cobalt blue and vibrant yellow! *photos by FlipFlopFoto.com

The Inspiration: Something Blue

Bride Erin requested a classic look, centered around the color blue for her summer wedding. Like Morgan, her wedding was also held at Fountainview Mansion so we knew the blue of the pool would be a focal point. To set off the blue of the hydrangeas, I once again turned to my old friend-the Granny Smith apple. The crispness of the green was a bold contrast to the classic coolness of the blue and the combination was perfect in this lush outdoor setting. *photos by Carson Studios

Jun 15

Peyton and Tyler – Married!

This wedding makes me smile all over! Peyton and I knew each other through a mutual friend as we all were in the events industry here in Auburn. Peyton planned events for the College of Science and Math at Auburn University. So, when it came time for her own wedding, Peyton was smart enough to know that she couldn’t handle the day all on her own. To be sure, she is one of the most detail oriented people I know and I loved following her progress in her planning. But, she decided to ask me to oversee her wedding day activities and make sure they all went as planned.

I was thrilled to be her wedding planner! Peyton has great taste and working with someone in the industry who knows events from a different angle is kind of a treat. We both knew the vendors well, we both knew how things should go. It was great! It was a warm wedding in July. But, things were perfect as guests gathered for a beautiful ceremony at Auburn United Methodist Church and then for the wedding reception at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art. A Toomer-tini greated guests (homage to Auburn’s Toomer’s Drugs Lemonade), station dinner and dancing on the patio. My husband, Dallas, served as my dutiful assistant that day and we had a blast. It was more than clear that Peyton and Tyler were happy, happy, happy!

So, here are the highlights from their wedding. It was gorgeous! Thank you to Greg Johnson of Greg Johnson Photography for the wonderful photos. Congratulations you guys!

Jun 9

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DIY Weddings – The Crafty Post

It should go without saying that “Do-It-Yourself” and weddings go hand in hand. Weddings are generally thought of as a woman’s domain and I know scores of women that just love a crafty project. I, myself, have been known to tackle such a project. In general, I wouldn’t say that I’m a “crafty” person. I would probably have to search for a while to find my glue gun. However, I will definitely jump into an involved project if a – I can’t find what I want or b – I know exactly how I want it and it would be best if I just did it myself (my long suffering husband can attest to this).

I was thinking about my various projects (wedding related and otherwise) as I flipped through my current copy of Martha Stewart Weddings. This issue is dubbed their “DIY Issue”. I consider Martha Stewart the be all, end all of DIY and crafty genius. So, I was loving the issue. After a while, though, I got to thinking about how you can take DIY too far. As much as I love personal touches, I just want to explain where DIY needs to stop and someone else needs to take over. Not that Martha’s projects are too much at all. It’s just that many people can get caught up in the DIY spirit and really take on too much. I have spent some time thinking about it and the following items are my Rules for DIY.

1. Hands on projects must end before the wedding day. Whatever items you decide that you will be constructing for the wedding, be sure that they can be/are finished before the day of the wedding. For example, that means that I don’t agree with or suggest that you, or anyone who is emotionally attached to the wedding, try to take on your own floral arranging. Most flowers will need to be dealt with the day of the wedding. You don’t need to worry about anything other than making sure you enjoy your family and friends as much as possible on your wedding day. Not the flowers. So, what items would be eligible under this rule? Invitations, favors, custom decor pieces. Anything that isn’t perishable. My favorite DIY item is invitations. They have to be done and in the mail at least 6 weeks before the wedding. While invitations can be stressful, at least that stress isn’t adding to the wedding day its self. Your wedding director will be able to help you set out all the pre-made centerpieces, guest book, etc.

2. Anything that has legal stipulations that comes with it should not be considered DIY. Food, alcohol, sometimes transportation should be left to the professionals. Please. Self catering is the worst thing I have ever heard of. It will not help your budget if anyone gets sick and then sues you. Or, if you are careless with your bar. Weddings don’t need to have police visits.

3. Second-degree DIY. This what I call it when you have talented family or friends who you can call upon for various wedding duties. And usually, these are budget friendly. Our favorite, right? I am all about working the “friends discount” system. But, be careful what you ask for. Getting anyone that you are really close with to do wedding day activities (food, photos, directing, etc.) can mean several things. First, those friends/family won’t get to enjoy your wedding. They are working. No fun. Second, what happens when something goes wrong with one of those items? Now, you are dealing with someone you are close with and not just a hired vendor. It makes things very confusing. Personal story: I love it when my friends and family get married. Not only am I just over-the-moon excited for them, but I want to be as available as possible for them. I would handle it all for them if they wanted me too. But, when my best friends got married and asked me and my husband to be in the wedding, I knew that it would be a little difficult for me to serve as wedding director. I do have a team that could have stepped in when I was otherwise preoccupied. But, Joanna didn’t ask me to do this. Instead, she hired another group of directors to help her with her wedding day. And guess what? I had the best time ever at a wedding. My husband and I got to celebrate our friends’ wedding like everyone else. Of course, during the planning, I was available as her consultant. But, that day was strictly about our friends and being happy with them. It was the nicest thing ever.

Just to make plain that I am not anti-DIY, here is a list of things that were DIY at my own wedding: all printing (The envelope liner photo is from an old Martha Stewart. I did that exact same collage-type liner for my invitations), favors and dress. Yep. My mother (seamstress extraordinaire) made my dress. It was the best part about my whole wedding. We spent hours designing it (inspiration from a Carolina Herrera gown) and I am still in love with it – 7 years later.

So, have a good time making your wedding as personal as possible. Just keep these tips in mind to keep you from being too stressed out come wedding day.

XOXO – Julie

Jun 2

Budgets, Calendars and the Well Planned Wedding

thedecisivemoment.com One of my favorite ceremony designs for Brooke and Tom's wedding.

I am a Twitter follower of many of the wedding industry movers and shakers. You know them – Martha Stewart Weddings (@marthaweddings), Colin Cowie (@colincowie), Preston Bailey (@prestonbailey), Style Me Pretty (@stylemepretty) and others (FYI – follow Invision at @invisionwedding. Do it. Now). Come to find out, many of them were attending the Engage!11 conference this past week and I got to read all their fun tweets from the events. This conference focuses on the luxury wedding market. We are talking large budgets. And, it got me thinking. While any wedding vendor will tell you that they would love to have luxury wedding clients all the time (and I’ve had my share), I want to let brides know that they don’t have to spend a fortune to have a beautiful, gorgeous, personal wedding. Let me try to define the difference.

I’ll be honest. A wedding that has a large budget is really fun to work on. Why? Because. It’s a fantasy. It’s where you can fine tune design. It becomes its own thing. It has a life of its own. I get the chance to get lost in the art of floral design, be the paper snob that I really am deep down and marvel at exquisite designer gowns.

But I have also found that the beauty of a wedding has less to do with the amount of money you are spending and everything to do with the amount of time you have to plan it. There are lots of tricks to finessing a budget to get the things you want at your wedding. Plenty of DIY options on various wedding projects. But, regardless of what you are spending on it, if given the right amount of attention, even a budget wedding can be perfectly designed and executed. These are the weddings that are featured on wedding blogs. These are the weddings that are looked at for years and elements copied. These weddings might look simple and easy. But, believe me. Every single detail was thought about. It didn’t happen by accident.

I have planned weddings with all types of time frames and all types of budgets and I would say that to give really good attention to details, you need at least a year. Of my favorite weddings that I have done, I have had 15 months to plan. One thing that will help you a lot is knowing what you want and don’t want. That gives you the extra time and brain-space to be able to fine tune the minute details.

Regardless of how much time you have – hire a wedding planner! I know you would expect me to say that. But, it’s the truth. A planner/designer (and make sure they can do both) will help you keep all your elements working together. Give them the freedom to have an editing eye over the whole thing. Putting together the entire picture. That is where it all starts.

So, call me!

May 27

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Invitation School – Classic Winter Wedding

When last we met, we were discussing the brilliance of Leah and Nathan’s beautiful Auburn wedding (in case you missed it, see it here). Per my usual, I have the invitations from their wedding to dive into.

Some may wonder why I spend so much time blogging about invitations and wedding printing in general. Well, if you have never been through the process of picking out and designing invitations, editing wording, counting your guest list, etc. for a wedding, then take my word for it. Wedding invitations are the most involved parts of wedding planning. You are, in essence, putting your entire wedding down on paper for all your intended guests to see. And remember that some of those invited won’t be able to attend. So, your invitation is all they see from your wedding (until the fabulous photos of course). As an event designer, I’m big-time crazy about having the invitation reflect the event perfectly. And as someone who dreams of being a graphic designer in her next life, paper (and all that goes with it) is a near obsession.

With that out of the way, I will get back to the issue at hand. Leah and Nathan’s gorgeous invitations. With a December date, it is inevitable for a pseudo-Christmas theme to be proposed. That wasn’t quite what they were going for. Yes, they would have some trees in the decor, but that wasn’t really the bulk of their design. It was more along the lines of warm winter. Welcoming. Roaring fireplace (and it was roaring!). Sparkle. Vintage inspired. Am I describing this correctly? At any rate, getting my invitation in the mail was a treat. The warm ivory tone, the small and understated (read: perfect) tree motif, the gold accents. I knew what was to come on December 4.

So, here are some invitation pictures along with some wedding pictures to round it all out. Perfect photos by FlipFlopFoto. Of course.

It was a really beautiful wedding. Ms. Joni and Leah, you have flawless taste. It was such a pleasure helping you bring it all together. Congratulations again!

– Julie

Apr 17

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Lauren and JP: Art Meets Wedding {LaGrange, Ga}

I’m playing more wedding catch up. This particular wedding is one of my favorites. I’m always excited to work with the truly artistic. It’s so refreshing and lots of fun. It makes my job as a wedding planner so great.

To that end, I give you Lauren and JP’s wedding. Lauren is, quite possibly, one of the most artistic people I have ever met. Seriously. Graphic design, photography, sculpture, paint. You name it. I am quite impressed. Lauren contacted me to direct her fabulously artistic wedding and I was very excited.

A little wedding background: their wedding was taking place in Lauren’s hometown of LaGrange,Ga, where she had also finished her degree in fine art (note some of their photos done in the art gallery where her senior work was on display). Their wedding was relatively small: 80 guests or so. Ceremony at the Methodist church downtown and then reception at her parent’s house. It was a great setting. JP and his family were from Germany, so they had a several German-themed menu items and of course good beer. Lauren had been making origami cranes since she was a child. Kind of a habit almost. So, she decided to incorporate them into the wedding. The bright colors were chosen carefully as well. If there are any designers out there, they will understand when I say that Lauren chose the process colors CMYK as her color palette – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. An homage to her art training. A summer wedding. Bright, exciting colors. Happy, happy couple. It was a good wedding.

I will apologize in advance for the amount of photos that I am about to put up. But, I can’t stop myself. I had the good fortune to work with awesome photographer Matt Miller of Our Labor Of Love – a studio in Atlanta whose work I had been admiring for a while. They have a contemporary style in terms of wedding coverage. The style fit Lauren and JP to a T and one I personally love.

So – on with the show!

Believe it or not, there are some things that didn’t make into this post. Be prepared for the resuming of the posts about invitations and how they relate to the wedding – all coming up! Lauren’s printing was beyond. But, I think that you need a little time to take in all their wedding goodness. Happy Sunday!

Julie

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