My Wedding Report

In order to keep up with the huge list of blogs I read I use Google Reader.  All of the newest posts are delivered straight to my reader and it’s easy to keep track of them.  I hesitated to start Google Reader, but now I love it, other than it’s harder to comment all the time now.  I’ll often “star” my favorites for inspiration, tutorials or just useful information. As I went through my “starred items” the other day I began to notice a certain theme in some of the posts. Lately I’ve just been loving any sort of wooden detail. There is just this rustic charm to using wood slices, branches and signs throughout the wedding.

Here are some of the wooden details that have caught my attention lately.

It would be such a unique detail to use wood slice platters during your cocktail hour.

Ritzy Bee

The details of this cake are so sweet with the carefully placed branches and birdies sitting atop a simple tree stump.

Green Wedding Shoes

I love bird houses.  I think their charm could make for the perfect escort card table display.

Carrie Patterson

Never can get enough hand painted wooden signs leading the way.

Snippet and Ink

I never would have guessed something as simple as branches with ribbon could be so endearing when carried by a child.

Carrie Patterson

These escort cards are simply adorable.  Even better? There is a DIY tutorial!

Oh So Beautiful Paper DIY Instructions on {scissor variations}

Even having wood in the accents of a venue adds so much personality to a wedding.

Once Wed

I would normally not say wood is appetizing, this cake looks scrumptious!

Once Wed

This picture is from one the design blogs I read.  I could see this organic wooden table being perfect for the lounge at your wedding and then being reused as your coffee table at home.

Apartment Therapy

And of course the wooden theme carries beautiful into paper, whether it be a background or graphics of trees or branches.

Hammerpress via 100 Layer Cake

I thought this was an appropriate way to sum up my wood inspiration. Doesn’t Kathryn from Snippet and Ink always have something that just goes perfectly?

Snippet and Ink

What sort of details have been standing out to you lately? Do you ever pick up on a certain theme after awhile?

Anyone know where to get some good wood slices from?

Sometimes I go on overload with all the amazing wedding inspiration and ideas that are out there. For our wedding I definitely had some ideas of what I wanted, but had been struggling with how to put it together. Our venue has this beautiful rustic Tuscan feel with gorgeous outdoor greenery. For the wedding we want it to be rustic and simple with lots of whimsical and romantic details. Now I see lots of things that fit into those criteria, but still end up all over the place when it comes to colors and feel.

When I first started blogging, I “met” Anne from The City Sage blog. Anne is so helpful and supportive and it has been such a pleasure getting to know her. Anne has this amazing eye for design and always finds the most inspiring images. When she offered awhile back to create an inspiration board for our wedding, I jumped at the opportunity. I told Anne about what I had envisioned and different things that I liked, but I was having a hard time putting it on one board. Anne just sent me the inspiration board over the weekend and I LOVED what she put together. I wanted to share it with you all because I am just drooling over all the images.

Row 1: Karen Collins via This Is Glamorous, Cox and Cox via Simply Natural, French Style via This Is Glamorous, Ami McKay via Desire to Inspire
Row 2: Emilie Inc., Jose Villa, Ditte Isager, Rebecca Thuss
Row 3: Tim Evan Cook, Lucas Allen, Braedon Flynn via Once Wed, Paul Lowe
Row 4: Marie Claire Maison via Coco and Kelly, Martha Stewart Weddings, Hello Handmade Paperie via Snippet and Ink, The Knot

Part of what I love about Anne’s blog is the beautiful imagery and emotion she evokes with her words. When I asked if she would be willing to let me post the board, I also asked for a quote to describe her work. Here is what she had to say…

“Miss Duckling* came to me with a color palette of white, grey, navy, french blue and raspberry, and she wanted a stronger idea of how the palette should guide her as the wedding comes together. Miss Duckling has a very refined aesthetic sensibility but she’s also one of the friendliest brides you’ll meet in blogland–so I really wanted her inspiration board to reflect this balance of sophistication and approachability.

As I compiled the images, navy blue fell by the wayside and it became clear that French blue would provide the bridge between the two qualities I sought. French blue can be utterly luxe–as on a piece of Royal Copenhagen porcelain–or humbly radiant, as in the petals of a cornflower. Cool white and soft grey set a serene foundation, and bright raspberry provides a playful pop. I also considered the outdoor setting of Miss Ducklings’s ceremony and allowed snippets of green foliage to sneak in. The result is an inspiration board in which continental elegance meets garden romance. I can’t wait to see where Miss Duckling goes from here!”

Aren’t those images just beautiful? I especially love the bouquet and cake! This board definitely puts together so many of the elements that I want to infuse throughout the wedding. Thanks so much to Anne for putting this stunning inspiration board together and for your sweet words above!

Have you also had a hard time allowing your vision to come together? What do you do to find unity in all the ideas and inspiration out there?

Sorry my posts have been slow this week, there is a lot going on! I will fill you all in on the details of everything very soon, so thanks for being patient with me.

One of the things I’ve been working on is researching florists for the wedding. I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to flowers, so I’ve been slowly learning and researching more. Yesterday I was reading WeddingbeePRO and came across this great post by Nancy from Nancy Liu Chin Designs. She broke down all the different components of flowers that you need and how to best research what you looking for. She also talks about how to approach the florists.

Here’s a blurb from the post:
“A floral arrangement is a hand crafted, custom product and it varies in price. The components in pricing wedding flowers are:

- Creativity
- Quantity and Quality
- Seasonality of flowers
- Color of the flowers
- Holidays - supply of certain flowers during peak holidays increase
- Fixed costs of a business
- Labor and design costs
- Delivery and setup
- Materials
- Props, Rentals, Containers, Supplies
- Customer Service
- Exclusivity of a Designer
- Travel Costs
- Location”

This was exactly what I needed since I’ve been researching florists recommended by Courtney and other sources all week.

I wanted to know more so I commented on her post with this:
“Thanks for sharing all this information. I’m currently researching florists and had no idea where to start when I contact them. Would it be a good idea to send an email and answer some of those questions when I initially contact the florist?”

Sure enough I check my email later in the day, and Nancy had emailed me back! How amazing is that? I was so surprised and grateful! Here is what she said:

“IMO, I think that all brides should do some research. Go to the websites that I recommended. Look at the flowers. Flip through magazines. Get some idea of what you are looking at.
Then search the florists in your area. Look for the details. Pinpoint 3 to 5 florists that you want to meet. I personally think that meeting with more than 3 is just too many. When I got married, I saw 4 people and that was confusing enough. I might have contacted 5 but I only made an appointment to see 4 of them. And frankly, I could have only seen 3!

Finally, if you really really like a florist, try to build a great relationship from the beginning. Don’t try to “nickle and dime” them. Because just as you have a choice in selecting a floral designer or florist, they have the right to work with whom they want. It’s one of the hardest lessons in life but one I learned early. Be kind. Be nice. Be direct. If you cannot afford the florist that you want, be honest with them and tell them where you need to be. Make them try to find creative solution but don’t do it in a way that they think you are negotiating.
Also, try not to pick the florist that you want b/c of price unless they meet both of your criterias….I have had many friends who select their florist b/c of price, not because of their creativity. It took more energy to explain what they wanted in the end. Ultimately, they might have gotten the flowers at a great price but the look was just not right.”

Thanks Nancy!!

All photos from Ritzy Bee Blog

Looks like I have some work to do right? I’m definitely using Nancy’s tips and I will keep you updated with how it goes. I just thought I’d share the useful information and show you just how awesome the wedding blog community can be when you ask a question.

Have you found your florist? What was helpful in your search?

Alright, let’s be real how many wedding magazines have you bought thus far? I am not even sure I can count. Plus, I “inherited” a pile from one of my best friends who got married shortly after our engagement. I definitely have my favorite magazines. I’ve found that some magazines are so full of advertisements and other random things that they aren’t too useful. The websites and blogs I’ve discovered seem to be more useful and original than what I find in magazines. But I still can’t resist when Martha Stewart Weddings comes out along with some others.

In the pile of magazines there is one that has stood out to be the most useful, readable and practical. Real Simple Weddings has to be one of my favorite finds since I started wedding planning. It’s like an easy, dummy-proof wedding manual. They just came out with their 2nd issue (I think they publish once a year) and it is just as wonderful as the first.

One one of the best things is that Crate and Barrel is the only advertiser in the pages, so the publication is clean and easy to read.

From engagement to reception to flowers, the magazine is divided into every area you possibly plan for your wedding. There are most common questions for each area, like budget, bridal party flowers and then useful charts. For a non-flower knowledge person like me they have a super useful chart that breaks down type of flower with its colors, seasons, durability, cost etc.

For those that like lists and charts, they have charts in the magazine that can also be downloaded online. There is suggested lists for registry, photo must haves and vendor questions.

One of my favorite features in general for magazines and blogs is “Real Wedding,” which are throughout the this issue as well.

All Photos from Crate & Barrel

I’ve given a copy to all of my friends who have recently gotten engaged because I think its such a great start to your planning. I kind of use it as a reference and for some extra tips as I reach different areas of the wedding process. Also, go check out the Real Simple website for more tips, downloadable checklists and ideas.

Have you gotten a copy yet? What has been your favorite planning tool find?

It is so important to be able to step back and ask for help when we need it. It is what will keep us sane in life and from going on overload. (This is my inner therapist talking, it is a whole different ballgame taking my own advice) This same concept of asking for help applies to wedding planning. Since I already shared with you about my amazing coordinator, I want to fill you in on why I thought it was so important to find someone to help with that day.

I love event planning. I’ve been doing it for years and Mark has as well. Before deciding to become a therapist I thought seriously about wedding planning. I couldn’t wait to plan my own wedding if for no other reason than I would get to plan a major event and all its details. However, I knew that I without question wanted a day of coordinator.

Why is this? Experience. Two years ago Mark and I helped plan our best friends’ wedding. It was a backyard wedding in Malibu and it was beautiful! The wedding reflected them as couple with Beatles ceremony music, Sprinkles cupcakes, DIY centerpieces and floral and trivia during dinner. I was a bridesmaid and the stand-in wedding planner and I don’t think I sat down once that day. I didn’t get a chance to soak in all our hard work or catch up with out of town friends. Even if something wasn’t going on I was anticipating the next moment I would be needed or a vendor was coming to ask me one question or another. Now this was totally okay. They were on a $10,000 budget and I loved being able to give that gift to my friend. However, I learned that you can’t do it all as the bride and if one of your guests does it they won’t be able to truly relax and enjoy the celebration.

I’ve heard similar experiences from friends and stress falling onto mother of the bride, bridesmaid or some willing friend. No matter how organized and on top of it you are, the day will be hectic and things will need to be taken care of.

I’m also a perfectionist (hey I admit it) and have a hard time just trusting someone random to take care of all the details and things I care about. I’m this way for group projects in school, planning events and probably even more so for my wedding. I knew that in order to FULLY let go of the control and trust another person to handle all the details I would need a professional that I trusted. Thus I found Courtney from Joyful Weddings and Events. If for some reason I couldn’t plan any part of my wedding I would without question have picked Courtney to do it for me. I trust her taste, abilities and talent, which means I will gladly hand the details over for the wedding when the time comes.

I ended up choosing the month-of package with Courtney after meeting with her. Courtney helps me create the time line for the wedding, contacts all my vendors for arrival time and last minute details, does a final walk-though with me at the site, gives vendor referrals and I can email or call her with any questions along the way. What a relief!

Do you absolutely have to hire a day of coordinator or planner etc? No. I know that it can be way out of budget for people and I think its a personal choice. You have to look at yourself and the people around you and evaluate what is best. For me personally, I knew that I would be much more relaxed and happier being able to hand the details off or I would not let go and worry all day. My mom is the same way and I didn’t want that to happen for the wedding. For me and our budget, finding someone to help was a major priority and I was willing to sacrifice other things.

If you are on a budget and there isn’t money, I absolutely believe that there are people who are more than willing to step up to the plate. As with all things there are so many untapped resources in your immediate network, you just have to ask. Just make sure you are as organized as possible and that duties are clearly assigned. (In the wedding that I was in this was not the case; plus some unexpected events such as the groom forgetting the rings led to more chaos…)

All Photos from The Knot

What about you? What was your thought process in whether or not to hire a day-of coordinator or even full wedding planner? Do you have a hard time asking for help and giving up control like me?

P.S. I think I need to devote a full recap to the wedding in Malibu. Just imagine lost rings, loose dogs, Sprinkles cupcakes, candlelight and Europe’s The Final Countdown playing in the background.

…Courtney from Joyful Weddings & Events is my month-of-coordinator!!

When I was looking for a day of coordinator I did lots of research to find vendors in my area. I emailed a lot of different people and met a few and talked with people I liked, but no one that I was really excited about or they were so far out of my budget there was no chance. (If you are an OC/SD person and want to hear more details about those vendors shoot me a message and I’d be happy to go into more detail)

Then I got an email from Courtney and she invited me to meet her at a bridal show she was doing in San Diego. I met her really briefly there and unfortunately couldn’t stay long, but based on her and her awesome booth I decided I wanted to meet with her again.

A great thing about Courtney is that she does weddings in both Orange County and San Diego, so I was able to meet her for coffee in Orange County after class one night. As we chatted back a forth at the local Starbucks I felt like I found a new friend! She seemed to just understand me and get what we wanted for the wedding. I loved hearing about her life, family and wonderful business. Our time flew by and at the end of it I felt like I had just found a new friend and most importantly someone I wanted on the team!

She knew all the wedding blogs that I mentioned and the different ideas that I had gotten from them. This was great, because I have gotten so much inspiration for wedding blogs etc. and some of the other coordinators I had met with had no idea what I was talking about. Another huge thing? She has a cricut!?! Yes I know, I’m a huge nerd. But I was so excited to find someone who actually knew what the cricut was and someone who could give me more ideas on how to use it for the wedding.

If you check out Courtney’s blog, you will see her amazing creativity and DIY projects for her own events. She has an awesome style that is fun, chic, whimsical and beautiful. Being a bride that plans on doing DIY projects, it was important that I find someone who also valued those details and believes in how they can make the wedding that much more special and meaningful. After meeting Courtney and connecting with her, I knew that I would be able to trust her with taking care of all my final details and that she would be able to handle of any crisis that happens that day. I felt like I could learn a lot from Courtney and that our wedding would be that much more special and memorable with her being a part of it.

Now for some eye candy from her wonderful weddings…

All Photos From Joyful Weddings & Events Blog

While I love wedding planning and wouldn’t give it up for the world, I know that if I had to choose someone to plan the whole wedding from start to finish, I would choose Courtney. I couldn’t be more excited to work with Courtney through this whole process and am thankful in advance that she will be putting up with me!

Aren’t you amazed by her work? If you haven’t yet check out her website and blog! Also, she just had one of her weddings featured in the latest Ceremonies magazine and on the WedddingbeePRO!

Now I know there are several of you that are wondering whether or not you need a day of/month of coordinator and if one is worth the cost. I want to give my thought behind that topic so I’ll try to share some of my thoughts in an upcoming post.

Just saw that My Wedding Report was featured on the InStyle Weddings blog, Style School this week! Check it out here! I’m excited to see that people are reading this blog and hopefully finding it helpful to their own wedding planning process. Thanks so much to Jessica for including us in your weekly round up!

If you missed the first time, we also were mentioned in a November post on Style School.

P.S. I’m going dress shopping again tomorrow! This time I’m taking the gang: my mom, Mark’s mom and my two maids of honor! Wish me luck and I’ll fill you in on all the details in an upcoming post!

The fact that I just put a sports picture on my wedding blog is pretty ironic considering I wouldn’t normally be a big sports fanatic. I watch games every once in awhile with my family or Mr. Ducky and can enjoy them. However, usually I’m doing something on my computer or eating some unhealthy snack that is out in honor of the game. I’m making an exception and posting a picture because: A) I’m from San Diego so “Go Chargers!” and B) I’m going to tell you a bit about my philosophy of picking my team for the wedding…

(To balance the sports photo and all the text I’ll just post some pretty pictures throughout as you read my rambles)

When I first began to think about who I wanted to work with for my wedding when it came to vendors, location etc. I thought about it as if I were picking my team. I’m not just picking people to work for me or paying for a simple service. I’m searching for a group of people that I want to work with during this crazy and stressful process that will be surrounding me on the day of my wedding. I’m searching for my team.

We all know how hard it is to pick out that guest list and choose the people who mean the most in your life that will add to the specialness your day. You will be paying a lot so that they can be there. I think it is just as important that vendors you work with will also add to your day. Your catering manager, coordinator, photographer, DJ and florist will all be working with you closely and who they are and their work will impact your wedding and you personally whether for good or bad.

I wanted to find people that would be on my team. Did I want them to be awesome and super talented at what they do? Absolutely! However, beyond that I wanted to find people that I felt like I could connect with and if I had just randomly met them outside of the wedding process we would probably be friends. You have to trust these people and be able to let go of the control you have held so tightly onto in the months of planning. I personally feel better handing all my details, photography etc. to someone that I trust and like. These people should add to your day and you need to be comfortable around them. Your bridal party is part of your team that you can lean on from support and trust; your vendors are another extension of that team.

I couldn’t be more excited about the people that are on the team so far! Each person is insanely talented and just an awesome person that I am enjoying getting to know.

I’ve told you that our wedding will be at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Well the catering manager, Tricia is one of the big reasons that we are there. From the time I met her I could tell she was on top of things and nothing was going to get out of control on that day with her in charge. She was really friendly and during our deciding process she was more than helpful helping me figure out budget. Also, she helped us secure the Aragon Lawn as our ceremony site when originally we weren’t going to be allowed to guarantee that particular spot.

Next week I’ll tell you about my AMAZING photographer and my INCREDIBLE month-of coordinator and why I think they are so wonderful!

Sneak peak of their insane talent…

A snapshot from my photographer:

A snapshot from my wedding coordinator:

Just looking at their pictures makes me more excited for having them on my team!

Have you gone out to get your copy yet? I think I already mentioned how excited I was to get the new Martha Stewart Weddings magazine over the break. I probably have way too many wedding magazines. However, I think that Martha Stewart has one of the better ones because it is filled with ideas, tips, diy suggestions and is not inundated with advertisements like many of the other ones.

Anyways I thought I’d pick out some bits and pieces from the different features that I really enjoyed and how I could potentially add my own touch to include them in my wedding.

I loved these pictures done with different color themes. The details and fun little items were so fun to pick out.

I was happy to see the feature on different things you can do with scrapbook paper. First of all I already have a bunch of it and second of all it’s an affordable way to add personal touches and use some DIY skills.

Table Numbers:

These were done by cutting the paper in half and then using a number stamp with gold ink. If I were to use this for my wedding I would maybe cut numbers out using my cricut and then frame the scrapbook paper to make it a little more sturdy.

Paper Flowers, Wrapped Vases and Runners:

I really like the idea of wrapping the vases and candle votive holders. For the runner I would favor using wrapping paper just for ease of use, but if you some paper you really want to use that would work.

Sweet Sensations:

How adorable are these little guys? The heart is so sweet. These would also be great for little shower favors to add some decor to the table.

Placemats:

I think this can give a pop of color to your table, especially if you don’t want to pay for fancy chargers or linens. I would choose a softer design so that it doesn’t over power the centerpieces. Another idea would be to paste the menu on this sheet maybe on a circle shaped paper under where the plate goes.

What were your favorite parts of the new Martha Stewart Weddings magazine? Later I’ll also share on some more ideas that gave me inspiration for our escort cards and floral details.

If you are just catching up go this Part I to hear about the first store I went to for wedding dresses. The next store we went to just opened up in North County San Diego a few months ago.

The shop is called Bliss Bride. The two owners, Jennifer and Anne are so sweet and I had a lot of fun working with them. I really felt special and they close down the whole store just for you. If you are a San Diego bride and looking for a smaller shop then this one is wonderful. Their dresses are higher end ranging from $2000-12,000 with the majority being between $3000-5000.

Once again: MR. DUCKY DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!

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