Here’s a little bit of inspiration to guide you through your journey of finding the right floral decor for your wedding reception.
Images Courtesy of California Wedding Day
Hollywood Vintage Glam
Nicole + Daniel’s Shabby Chic Lace Wedding Invitations
I absolutely love working with my brides and love the relationship I build with my couples and their families. Nicole is an absolute doll! I love it when we’re given a bit of direction (pink and shabby chic vintage) and then we’re allowed to go with it. We created the wedding invitations, RSVP cards, and custom wedding postage to match the invitation. We used a little bit of calligraphy to address the envelopes for mailing.
Irma Green of Simply Shabby Chic Event Planning coordinated their wedding. It was so much fun!
A couple of weeks back we showed you the video by R&C Films. You can check our past post about it here.
The lovely Melissa Gilden of Melisa-Gilden-Photography captured the wedding day.
What a beautiful wedding and I’m so THANKFUL to be a small part of it!
Dan + Nicole Highlights
Congrats to Nicole and Daniel on tying the knot!! Nicole is such a doll and it was great having the privilege of creating their wedding invitations. This video created by R&C Films captured some of their beautiful moments. Listening to Nicole recite her vows brought tears to my eyes! If anyone is considering or wondering how nice it might be to create an artistic, cinematic film of your wedding then head over to R&C Films or their Facebook page and check out what they have to offer.
Tactfully Asking Your Parents For Money
Forget that old rule that weddings are paid for by the parents of the bride. That time has passed. As the marrying age has gone up, so has the amount that the couple contributes to their own nuptials. And while parents on both sides still often contribute, don’t automatically assume that they will give you carte blanche for your wedding.
Then comes the “fun” part of asking the parents if they are interested in contributing. Don’t make one person do all of the asking. Each one of you gets to ask your own parents.
How to Ask Parents for Money
First of all, you should ask to have a conversation with your parents. Don’t spring it on them! Ask, “When would be a good time to talk to you both about whether or not you’d like to help cover the cost for the wedding?” Ask first if they would like to contribute, not how much they want to contribute.
Show your parents ideas of the type of wedding that you are looking to create, how much it will cost, and how much you and your fiancé(e) can contribute. Then ask if they would consider contributing a set amount to fund a specific part of the wedding in lieu of giving you a gift. And don’t expect them to have the money right on the spot. Tell your parents to take some time to think about it because weddings can be expensive.
Regardless of their answer, make them feel comfortable with whatever they decide. Remember, this is your event, not theirs. They shouldn’t have to go into debt for your wedding day, no matter how important you feel it is to have a designer gown or a full five-course dinner with open bar for everyone you know.
The best attitude is to appreciate when anyone contributes in any way at all–whether it’s helping you plan and prepare or giving you money to help with costs–Be grateful.
A Fabulously Grand Wedding – Ofelia and Jose
Ofelia and Jose were married this past July at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and the reception was held at the beautiful Hotel Rosedale. Ofelia was such a fantastic bride to work with and her wedding invitations reflected her personality perfectly! She was two months away from her wedding when she contacted me and she was just getting around to ordering the invitations. It’s not like she was sitting around daydreaming. If you recall from my past post on her bridal shower invitations, which you can check out here, she was preparing to graduate from Cal State, purchasing a house, starting a new job and planning a wedding! Talk about staying busy.
I got to know her very well during our initial meeting and was very impressed by all that she was juggling. Ofelia didn’t really have a theme but she knew she wanted her wedding invitations to be simple but beautiful. She liked bright bold color and after listening to her tell the story of their journey together and the planning she was able to check off her list I was able to pull together from those elements. We began to focus on the important detail that kept popping up in her wedding planning, Gerbera Daisies! Some say *Gerber* some say *Gerbera* but both names refer to the same South African beauties. Ofelia thought she didn’t have a theme but it was right there reflected in her bouquet, the wedding cake, her centerpieces all had Gerbera Daisies incorporated into them. The beautiful pictures that follow are courtesy of Rick Juarez Photography.
Catering by Rangel Catering
Couple’s Seating provided by Time of My Life Entertainment
50’s Inspired Wedding Dresses
Are Shorter Hemlines Making A Comeback?
So, you want to wear something new on your wedding day but you still want to have that vintage vibe, then your best bet is to go for a vintage inspired wedding dress.
There a some top designers that offer 50’s style wedding dresses. Stephanie Allin is definitely one of those designers.
These 3/4 length dresses are absolutely gorgeous. It speaks of an era that was all about understated elegance. All the while accentuating a woman’s curves in a very classy way.
Dresses via Stephanie Allin
sneak peek :: Adrianna and John’s Wedding Invitation
I’m excited to be sharing with you a little sneak peek of a wedding invitation set I had the pleasure to design recently. This is for the wedding of Adrianna and John.
Now while I can’t share the finished set with you just yet (but soon!) here is one of the designed pieces. Their chosen colors are absolutely stunning and work really well together; Sapphire Blue, Orange Flame and Silver. All metallic colors and a paisley print. I’m in love with their idea for wedding favors! Too bad I can’t show you just yet!
The picture below is from their engagement session captured by Daniel Boone photography and judging by his other work the wedding pictures are going to turn out fabulous! We can’t wait to see it! See even more of their adorable session right here.
Bride and Her Bridesmaids Bridal Shower Invitation
A Bright and Simple Design for a Bright and Easy-Going Young Lady
But first have to thank Linda Rangel of Rangel Catering and Events for recommending me to her client. Ofelia Caballero is one of the most easy-going brides I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Not only is she getting married but she’s a recent graduate of Cal-State. Her bridal shower invitation is consistent with the colors of her wedding. She’s getting married Saturday….so wedding invitation will be posted afterwards…Congratulations Ofelia!
Four Tips For A Destination Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
A rehearsal dinner is an intimate meal for the immediate family members of the bride and groom, and for members of the wedding party. A destination wedding, however, can add a layer of etiquette complexity. While the rehearsal dinner is usually small and relaxing, you may have to settle for a bigger-than-normal dining experience for a destination wedding—to make guests who fly in, possibly from very long distances, feel welcome. Applying etiquette rules to a rehearsal dinner for a destination wedding requires thoughtful consideration of everyone involved.
Tradition
Traditional wedding etiquette makes the groom’s family responsible for planning and paying for the rehearsal dinner. Additionally, traditional wedding etiquette includes only the immediate family and the members of the wedding party. This means that the bride and her family should not add people outside of this group to this special dinner without first consulting the groom’s family. At the same time, the groom’s family should remember that a distant great-aunt of the bride who took the time to come to the wedding probably deserves a seat at the rehearsal dinner.
Geography
Geography plays an important part in rehearsal dinner etiquette for a destination wedding. If the destination is outside of the United States or in Hawaii, the bride and groom should go the extra mile for the guests. So, the groom’s family should consider including extra guests at the rehearsal dinner to make them feel welcome.
Size
Destination weddings tend to be smaller, for the simple reason that fewer people can travel to the location. If the wedding does not have more than 40 or 50 people attending, it might be possible to include everyone in the rehearsal dinner. In fact, for destination weddings, the rehearsal dinner can easily be a relaxing experience, a “night before” party, so that everyone is ready for the wedding the next day. No, the rehearsal dinner may not be traditional, but as the wedding itself is not necessarily traditional, there is no reason not to bend the rules a little.
Considerations
Because destination weddings are more challenging for everyone—from the bride and the groom to the guests that attend—the rules for the rehearsal dinner sometimes change. For instance, the bride and the groom might offer to host the dinner instead of the groom’s parents, as a way to thank everyone for coming to the wedding. At the same time, the bride and the groom should not assume this responsibility without first discussing it with the groom’s family to avoid unintentionally insulting anyone.
Whatever the decision is about the rehearsal dinner, the primary focus should be on relaxation and on making everyone feel welcome. Traveling to a distant location for the wedding is already difficult; add to this challenge that guests might feel awkward not knowing what to do while they wait for the wedding (particularly if the wedding is outside the U.S.), and hospitality is the key. The best decision might be for the groom’s family to arrange a small pre-wedding party or invite every guest to the rehearsal dinner.
5 Ways To Look Ten Pounds Thinner On Your Wedding Day
Five tricks for a longer, leaner you — minus the dieting.
I haven’t met a bride yet who doesn’t want to look her absolute best on her wedding day. It’s just so hard to keep to a regular workout routine. Fortunately there’s an article over on the TheKnot that gives a few shortcuts you might want to try out.
Flatter Your Figure
Though alterations will ensure your dress fits, choosing a wedding gown that shows off your best assets (and camouflages your less-than-fab spots) will make sure it flatters. Trying to hide your hips? Go with a romantic empire waist gown or a strapless, full-skirted style. Want to suck it all in? A corseted ball gown is a great option to show off your bust, whittle your waist, and hide hips and thighs. And if you want to show off your curves (or create some), try a mermaid-style gown. A good bet for every body type: an A-line silhouette, which fits at the bust and waist with a skirt that gently flares out from the hips.
Get a Good Support System
Undergarments that fit well are key to a sleek silhouette. To avoid the dreaded bra bulge and create the right amount of cleavage (nothing that will scandalize the grandmas!), get a professional bra fitting to be sure you’re wearing the right size. Then, buy a few bras — check the store’s policy, but you can generally return them with the tags — so you can try them on with your gown and find exactly the right one.
If any part of the lower half of your gown is fitted, invest in some good shapewear. Our favorites are made by Spanx — they’re lightweight, breathable, and come in tons of colors and styles. They’re also available in different materials, so you can find garments that won’t cling to your gown’s fabric but will still nip and tuck you in all the right places.
Stand Up for Yourself
Proper posture can make a big difference in how you look — and don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to stand at attention all day long. A couple of simple tips can keep you upright and looking svelte. First, keep your shoulders back. If you find your shoulders slouching forward (totally natural if you’re tired or nervous!), shrug them up toward your ears a couple of times to loosen yourself up and shift your shoulders back.
Second, try to keep your back straight. Again, the secret is in your shoulders — you should feel like there’s a straight line dropping from them to your hips. If one starts to get ahead of the other, shift yourself and realign. Remember, it’s not about standing still all the time — that’s actually more likely to make you slouch! Instead, shift your weight as it feels comfortable to do so, keeping the position of your shoulders and hips in mind from time to time.
Give Your Height a Boost
We’re not going to lie and say they’re comfortable, but wearing heels is one of the simplest ways to appear thinner. Think about it: Say you’re normally five feet, four inches and you weigh 140 pounds. Put on a pair of two-inch heels and suddenly you’re five feet, six inches — but you still weigh 140 pounds! It’s not just about having longer legs; heels instantly trick the eye into reapportioning your weight over a taller frame. Worried about foot fatigue? Skip the spindly stilettos and go for something with more support, like a wedge heel, and don’t push it too high — no more than three inches.
Strike the Right Pose
Your wedding photos are how you’ll remember your wedding day, so ensure you’ll remember that you looked fabulous! Keep your shoulders back, and flatter your jaw line by pushing your chin forward. If you can, keep your body slightly turned — you’ll look slimmer than if you’re facing straight at the camera. The most ideal look is to tilt your shoulders toward the photographer with your hips on an angle, which makes your waist and hips look instantly narrower.
Especially key for brides? Hold your arms slightly away from your body rather than pressing them against your sides. It can be tough (especially if you’ve been holding that bouquet all day!) but it makes a huge difference. While it seems like a lot to keep track of, don’t forget that you can practice! With all of those prewedding parties, you’re going to have your picture taken pretty often — take advantage so that on your wedding day you can give ’em your best shots.
Read more: How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner On Your Wedding Day