A few months ago I mentioned I was starting my own wedding planning and coordination company. Take a peek at my first wedding with Rachel & Joe at Vineapple Cafe in Brooklyn Heights a few weeks ago! (Check out the rest of the website, too!).
Photo by Zack DeZon.
Among the many decisions about the flow of the day's events was the one to do a "first look" portrait session -- a chance for us to see each other and shake some nerves prior to the ceremony. Not only did this session provide us an opportunity to spend some private time together (albeit captured on film...er...pixels), but it was actually a very practical move that enabled us to join our guests that much sooner after cocktail hour. I just love the variety of images we have from this special time just prior to the vows; celebrating our last moments together as an engaged couple. Highly recommended! Just be sure to have some tissues on hand (for both of you!).
Photos by Eleise Theuer.
I started this blog in fall of 2009. I can't believe that was two years ago. We are nearing the 6 month mark of our wedding day, and I've been looking at these wedding pictures for months. It's been SO HARD picking out my favorites, but I've narrowed them down to a few...hundred...or so.... :)
Way back when I was thinking about what it might all look like I created a mood board. Okay, many mood boards. I worked with the colors already present in the Cavalier Hotel. Teals, blues, golds. Pinks and whites. Amazing fabrics and wallpapers. Black and white tiled floors. It didn't take much to turn it into a fabulous party space. Especially when our focus was on keeping it classic and insuring our guests ate well and had fun!
Let's just say we were both absolutely amazed with how everything looked, felt, and how much fun it actually turned out to be. Here are a few detail shots from April 30, 2011, including glimpses of my dress and "something blue" shoes, the cake, the vintage owl bank that we used as a place for our guests to leave us a bit of advice for our married life ahead, the vintage chalkboard we used at the bar, and oh, the gorgeous flowers!
All photos by Eleise Theuer.
I am gearing up for my sister's wedding shower this weekend back home and have been having fun planning various activities and decor elements with my mom. I got the idea to do napkin rings for some kind of occasion after seeing the how-to across various blogs. So easy and cute!
I tried them with both soft, light-colored tissue paper as well as heavier metallic tissue paper. The results are both amazing but strikingly different. The lighter colors appear weightless and pretty; the metallics have a structural element to them that is really cool. Given this is a couples shower for both Amanda and Tom, maybe we'll use a little of both! Can't wait to post how it all turns out.
Instructions (from Martha Stewart):
Napkin Rings
1. Stack four sheets of tissue. Cut a 10-by-5-inch rectangle, going through all layers. Make 3/8-inch-wide accordion folds.
2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, slip over center of tissue, and twist to secure. Trim ends of tissue.
3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.
4. Bend wire into a loop to fit around napkin, and twist end around loop to secure.
Note, for the above I adapted her directions a little bit, making them 6 x 6 squares, not 10 x 5.
Pinterest. It's been blogged and tweeted ad nauseum but that's because it's so freaking useful. Especially for those who are bringing a vision to life -- whether you are planning a party, redecorating your home, or strategizing about your new fall wardrobe.
For more snippets of inspiration check out what I'm pinning here. I find it a nice complement to this blog as it allows me to capture ideas in almost a "pre-" phase before they become true ideas, fully gelled.
We took a number of pictures prior to the ceremony inside one of the parlor rooms at The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach. I love this image.
Photo credit: Eleise Theuer Photography.
Happy Sunday!
More sharing! Up this week is this image of my bouquet. The "brief" to my florist, Patrice at Bloom the Art of Flowers in Norfolk, was that I wanted romantic, lush spring flowers like peonies, ranunculus, anemones. She added in the sweet little freesia (which matched the men's boutonnieres); and the lambs ear "greens" were the perfect complement.
Photo credit: Eleise Theuer Photography
What if you have a heart for gold and white but your date is in the summer? It can often come down to textures and materials that make the difference. Think light and airy over heavy and dense. Think about adding another pretty color to the mix that softens the weight of metallics -- pinks, lavenders, corals and earthy greens all work well, among others. I made this board thinking about a special family member who is on her path to planning a golden summer wedding, herself!
Dress: J. Crew, Shoes: Nina, Flowers: Saipua, Invitations: Minted, Decor: Etsy
A few weeks ago I indulged in one of my favorite exercise routines -- a 5 mile walk from my home in Murray Hill to the Upper East Side and back. I say indulgent because it enables me to walk past all kinds of amazing shops in the 60s and 70s on 3rd avenue and Lexington. Home stores, shoe shops, clothing boutiques, candy stores -- what's not to love? This walk makes me giddy.
I swear they have the best flowers at the delis in this neighborhood. So much variety; colors and blooms I've never seen before. I vowed to make another trip soon with the intent to purchase a few of the beauties of the day and try my hand at a deli-made bouquet. Seriously -- they sell these at the same place you buy cold cuts and beer. I love New York!
I used a leftover watch of fabric from my wedding dress and a few pins from one of the bridemaids bouquets (now drying on my wall) to wrap the hand-tied nosegay.
When the day was through and we packed up our belongings, a critical task remained. What to do with the flowers! We took all of our table arrangements to a nearby nursing home and our altar pieces went home with my new mother-in-law.
I did save one sentimental task: to hang each of our bouquets (mine and the two bridesmaids') to dry.
I'd read a little bit about bouquet preservation but the idea of keeping the flowers locked in time under a glass dome didn't appeal to me. I like that now nearly 6 weeks after the big day I can look at these flowers (also now slightly worn in) and be thankful for that weekend and even more excited for the moments still ahead of us.
What will you (or did you) do with your wedding flowers?
It's been hard to know what the right next post should be after something as amazing and surreal as ones wedding.
I am so thankful for so many things, especially the sheer bliss in the days that followed the big day. We reveled in the feeling that we had really pulled it off. Something that fun, that filled with people we care about, that "perfect" wedding that was everything we imagined -- and all the things we never could have imagined we'd feel during that special time.
I think it's because our definition of perfect emphasized everyone just having a really relaxing, fun time. We didn't want anything to feel overly scheduled. We didn't want it to appear as though we had focused on frivolities. So we made it that way. We focused on the fun.
We had a key requirement -- a solid level of quality from all of our vendors. I can HIGHLY recommend the following folks if you are planning an event of any kind in the Hampton Roads area:
Planning & Coordination: Weddings by Michelle. In a word -- amazing. They worked with me for more than a year (we had a very long engagement) to help bring the ideas I had on paper to life in a seamless, natural way. I can't say enough about Michelle & Kim and wish I had another reason to work with them again! They are simply the best.
Ceremony, Reception & Catering: The Cavalier Hotel. The space was classically Southern (we used the Raleigh Lounge & Porches in the old Cavalier on the hill); the food was outstanding. The entire staff was lovely to work with.
Photography: Eleise Theuer. She was everywhere while also being totally under the radar -- I can't wait to see the pictures!
Cake: The Magic Cupboard. Simple, beautifully crafted, delicious.
Flowers: Bloom the Art of Flowers. Gorgeous variety, lush arrangements.
Make-up: Kim Porter. She did a fabulous job enhancing everyone's beauty!
Lighting: Blue Steel Pro Lighting. I can't say enough about how the lighting enhanced the mood. Loved it.
DJ: Arch Entertainment, DJ Seamus. Kept us dancing -- so easy and professional to work with.
We also imported a couple of folks --
Hair: My friend Daniel from Salon 2b in NYC created my stunning updo.
Band: The Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans performed during the second half of the reception. We've known these guys for a long time and they were kind enough to come up to play the wedding. Amazing performance, so much fun. See them if you are ever in the Big Easy!
This special group of people helped us make the day all that we wanted it to be.
It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway -- the greatest ingredient was the collective of friends and family who came from all over the country (and even a few from Mexico) to share this weekend with us. We could really feel the joy and positivity from everyone and that made it so very special. We loved it.
This picture captures how I've been feeling lately. <Courtesy the amazing ladies at Saipua in Brooklyn.>
I think I've found my floral palette. Gorgeous!!!
