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?

Lately I have been doing a lot of research on florists and flowers. I’d say in all of wedding planning, floral is definitely one of my weaknesses. I have a hard time keeping plant alive (I’ve had a bamboo plant since August and I am thrilled…). I don’t really know names, seasons, color varieties etc. Since I basically have no baseline knowledge I’ve been looking for pictures online.

I’m really starting to lean toward the idea of clustering multiple vases and vessels that hold the flowers. I love the variety of textures and sort of eclectic/rustic look you can achieve.

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Obviously the color and types of flowers in these pictures are all over the place. I’ve been leaning towards raspberry flowers for the bridal bouquets that can pop against blue dresses. However, there are some cornflower blue colors that could go nicely? I’ll save types of flowers for another post, until then send me your suggestions

I could see collecting all sorts of blue mason jars and/or china to put flowers in and having them clustered at the different tables with lots of candlelight.

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Do you have any advice for my lack of flower expertise?

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?

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.

Well I am having some technical difficulties with some of the pictures and posts I wanted to share today. But not to worry, I can share with you some pictures that I have been collecting for ideas and inspiration. I’ve told you before that we want a simple, rustic look with touches of whimsical and romance throughout. I picture lots of personal DIY details, lanterns, ribbon, flowers not overly “done,” candlelight, moss and rustic wooden frames.

Weddingbee

The Knot

Once Wed

Once Wed

Martha Stewart

Once Wed

Ritzy Bee

These are some of the first images I collected and I continue to brainstorm. We need to balance the simple and rustic with the romance and whimsical. Our reception is a ballroom but with exposed wooden beams and iron chandeliers that have this rustic Tuscan feel. So there is some formality to our venue amidst all its rustic charm.

What do you think? If you haven’t checked out my color palette post be sure to do so. You can kind of see some of the ideas that are forming so far that we need to ultimately pull together. I love your feedback and comments so please give me your opinions and ideas.

Grad School Update:
I just turned 2 papers in and now have 2 finals to go. I finish my finals next week and then it will be a busy month of checking things off the to-do list before I start my last semester of graduate school. Be ready!