After a blog and twitter hiatus with the busy-ness of wedding season these past 3 months, I found my inspiration again with the Rae Leytham Photography mega-post of An and Harlen's darling wedding at Jackson's Steakhouse this spring. Congratulations An and Harlen, it has been a pleasure getting to know you these past 18 months and I wish you well in the years to come! Full planning and coordination of this wedding provided by Katie Parker.
Katie is headed to Florida this week to meet up with Sarah and Emily for An and Harlen's wedding in Downtown Pensacola! We're so excited to bring you all the glamorous details from Fiore of Pensacola and Rae Leytham Photography, stay tuned!
Photo Credit: Rae Leytham PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rae Leytham Photography
Many brides feel as if their “big day” must be picture perfect. They choose the theme and then the flowers, linens, dresses, centerpieces, etc match the theme perfectly. This of course helps to make the wedding beautiful, but what some brides forget to do is allow the event to reflect the personality of the couple to be married. Don’t worry; I’m not talking about choosing a different theme or drastically changing the wedding plans. How can you stay true to the theme of the event while still giving a little personal flair? I’m talking about the little things, your shoes, your entrance, the party favors, etc.
I’m sure you’ve all seen it, Jill Peterson, Kevin Heinz and their wedding party danced their way into their ceremony. Here is one bride who knew how to add a little of herself into an otherwise elegant ceremony. As a dancer growing up, she knew she wanted to incorporate this into her big day. Her fiancé, Kevin, quickly got on board and while both sets of parents were apprehensive, they knew it highly reflected the couple’s fun-loving personality, and the two were able to pull it off. Something like this adds no cost but does add a certainly memorable experience for everyone.
Another take on the unexpected wedding entrance is to go from the ceremony to the reception in a unique form of transportation. Rent an old car, hop on a Harley, get a carriage, or even (if you think your dress can handle it), get a tandem bike! If you are already going to spend money on a limo, then use the money for a ride that represents your personality, and your guests will love the unexpected touches which create unforgettable memories.
Not every personal touch has to be so elaborate, however. When you’re thinking about your wedding day ensemble, why not add a little flair to your favorite accessories? Instead of pearly white pumps which perfectly match your dress; get a cute, fun pair of shoes you know you’ll wear again. Shoes are hard to see in photos (unless you want to show them off) and if they match your colors, using fun shoes can be a great way to add a little personality to a white dress. If you’d rather stick with shoes that match your dress, then wear a funky piece of jewelry, or hair accessory.
Another great way to add a personal touch to a perfectly themed wedding is to think about how to relate the favors to the hobbies of you or your fiancé. Do you two have a favorite cookie? Give one out as your guests leave the party. If you two are the type of couple who loves the outdoors, why not make a trail mix bar for your guests? These are simple, fun little touches that remind your guests of the fun couple they are there for.
My mother and I often discuss starting an invitation company since we love paper crafts, are creative, and have a passion for weddings. However, we have yet to get up the resources to begin such an endeavor. So, in the mean time, I have been researching the history and industry of wedding invitations.
The basic etiquette of wedding invitations includes such guidelines as:
Thermographically printing or engraving invitations
Placing an inner envelope containing the invitation inside the sending envelope
Addressing the envelopes by hand
Placing the return address on the back flap of the envelope
Matching all wedding papers as well as coordinating the paper and printing with the wedding style
Avoiding sending RSVP cards – the response should, in theory, be hand written by the guest
Unique invitations from uncommoninvites.com
Given the basics of invitation etiquette, however, it is reasonable to alter the traditional to fit with what you envision for your wedding.
Anymore, printing invitations with matte ink is acceptable and can save money. Using an inner envelope is optional, too. And, though tradition leans away from RSVP cards, it is reasonable to send them. However, it may be smart to print the names of the invited guests on these cards so that guests who are less versed in etiquette do not improperly add more attendees to the guest list.
No matter how etiquette-traditional your invitations are, though, what your invitations look like will set the scene for the entire event. So, choose your invitation style based on your wedding style. Patterns, colors, and more can be customized to set the mood for your event. If your wedding will be colorful and casual, visit Finestationary.com to find invitation ideas. If you are looking for a more customized invitation style, equipped with inner envelopes and RSVP cards, Uncommon Invites offers creative, organized invitation ideas. Or, if you want to stick to a more customary invitation, Bellafigura is a great place to shop for letterpress invitations with colorful designs. Make use of your invitations as the first glimpse into your wedding, and your guests will be aware of what to expect from the event. Choose your wedding colors and/or patterns before you send invites, and utilize those colors in the invitations. Pay attention to font style and size, and make sure your invitations are legible and set the mood. A good invitation can say a lot about the feel of an event; so, enjoy shopping for the physical embodiment of your wedding scheme and you will be off to a great start in the wedding-planning process!
For an elegant, multi-purpose party, try a Wine and Cheese Soiree. (Perfect for an Engagement Party, Bridal Shower, Anniversary Party, or Retirement Party.) This theme is casual-meets-elegant at its finest, and the preparation and décor are simple! To start, select your favorite cheese and wine combos (for advice on delicious pairs, try thenibble.com ). Grab a few extras for a beautiful spread (nuts, chocolates, grapes, etc), and place them all on a slate tile (found at any Home Repair/Tile shop). The various colors in the cheeses, fruits and nuts are what make the platter so elegant. To add extra color, place a few sprigs of Rosemary or other garnishes. Images from: www.greenyourdecor.com http://www.thegreenhead.com/ http://www.plowhearth.com/welcome.aspThis platter could be on one main food table, or placed sporadically on small tables throughout the room. A possible arrangement would be to have small tables with a different wine/cheese pair on each one. After putting together the menu, you can label the types of cheese and various wines with cork place cards. The different wines can be showcased at various heights by using a cork stand.
The rest of the décor is easy but gives an elegant flair to an otherwise casual atmosphere. To start, lead the way to the party room with a themed twist on luminaries. Using wine bottles with candles inside gives your guests a hint at what’s to come while giving a beautifully unique pathway to the party.
Once your guests are inside, greet them with a room softly lit with low-hung string lights of round bulbs. This gives an intimate feeling and reflects the atmosphere of a European wine cellar. Continue the theme of the recycled wine bottles from the outside by placing several taper candles in wine bottles as candle sticks. Because wine bottles come in a variety of sizes, the candles will vary in height and will provide beautiful lighting at eye-level to compliment the soft lighting provided by the string lights.
Finally, to give your guests a memory of the occasion, provide a small cheese spreader as a parting gift. This not only reminds them of the party theme, but is something that a person could always use more of. To make it even more personal, purchase silver spreaders and have them engraved with the occasion’s purpose and date.
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