Eventfully Yours

Kiana & George - Real Wedding Sneak Peek

I spent the last week getting all the final details in place for Kiana and George's wedding.  I just wanted to show a few photos, before I get the real deal photos from the photographer of the day Mr. Ron Page of Ron Page Photography.  Ron and his team got pictures of every moment of this wonderful wedding and I can't wait to see the final results!

I also got an opportunity to work with other wonderful local vendors.  I have to give kudos to the food and beverage staff of the Sheraton of Independence.  They definitely went above and beyond on this wedding, even when a few issues threatened to throw a monkey wrench into the plan.  Tim, Karen and Sara, you guys rock!  Tracy of The Petal Parlor provided the beautiful corsages, boutonnieres, and bouquets.  DJ Ricky Ruckkus kept the guests dancing into the night after eating the delicious cake by Baraona's bakery.

Enjoy this little sneak peek, courtesy of my iPhone!

Friday Find! - Part 2

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I love the work done by Fete New York!  I really missed seeing Jung Lee and her team on Whose Wedding is it Anyway, so I am so excited that starting tonight on TLC at 10:00pm EST, she will have her own show, Wedded to Perfection.  Set that TiVo or just tune in! The above video is from the Today Show where Jung and her husband share some great money saving tips for decor.

FYI: I have not been paid for this endorsement, I just really love her work!

Celebrity Wedding Style You Can Steal

associated press

By now, everyone has seen the one beautiful photo of Salma Hayek and her husband, Francois-Henry Pinault.  I always like to look at celebrity wedding photos and see how I can assist my clients with recreating the look or coming as close as possible without the big budget.

The first thing that stands out in the photo are the large glass cylinders with the submerged flowers.  You can recreate that look easy, but beware that the larger the glass cylinder, the more expensive they become.  You can have smaller ones as centerpieces on your tables, the place card table, you name it. 

The other element that struck a cord with me was the mirror on the side of the groom.  Using mirrors along the walls of your reception or ceremony venue will create the illusion of more space, especially if your space is small.  It is also adds to your lighting.  Please note that I'm talking about the floor length  mirrors with the ornate frames.  Be sure that the mirror you use matches your decor.  If you are having a more casual affair, then mirrors may not be for you.  The use of mirrors will add an elegant simple touch to your affair.

 

Stop Dissing the Carnation!

I know, I know the title was a bit much, but I wanted to grab your attention.  Let's face it!  When you think of wedding flowers, the last one you think of if you think of it at all.  But, don't count it out.  The carnation can be just as sophisticated as the calla lilly or elegant as a rose.

Granted, a lone carnation is not saying or doing much, but a gang of carnations... Now, that is saying something.  Take a look at the following creation by Eddie Ross, simply using carnations, an Oasis floral foam sphere and a candlestick.

 

How awesome will that be in the middle of a place card table!  Check out the rest of Eddie's post about carnations, Beauty In Numbers and see what other magic he worked.

Carnations come in a wide variety of colors and also take well to floral paints.  The price of the carnation is also quite economical compared to some others.  Taking all that into account, during your next meeting with your florist toss out the notion of using some carnations in the floral design.  Depending on your florist, after their initial shock, show them Eddie's post and go from there!

Incorporating Step-Parents into Your Wedding

Weddings are a time to be happy.  A time to celebrate love and family.  This is true for most people.  Sometimes, things can get difficult and couples can find themselves in the middle of a nightmare.  Blended families pose a tricky situation, especially if everyone is not on good terms.  Here are some suggestions for including step-parents, even if the relationship is not all warm and fuzzy.

1.  Say it with words:  Add a special acknowledgment in the ceremony program with their name.  This gives them recognition at the wedding and something your step-parent can cherish for a long time.  If the relationship is less than stellar, there is no need to go overboard.  A simple, "Thanks for being a part of my life..."

2.  Put them on the floral list:  Make sure your step-parents have the appropriate floral hardware, a boutonniere or corsage.

3.  Allow them to greet guests:  At the reception, let them work the room, thanking guests for coming.

4.  Allow them to light the unity tapers:  If you are having a unity candle ceremony (or sand or rose ceremonies) as part of your wedding, have one of your step-parents do the honor of lighting a candle (or pouring sand, etc.).

If you found a way to incorporate your step-parents into your ceremony, please share how you did it, by commenting!

Get Hip to GetMarried.com!

If you are planning a wedding, you have no doubt heard of the television show, Get Married.  If not, I'll fill you in.  It airs on the Lifetime Channel and in the Cleveland, Ohio market it airs at 7:30am.  I know, thank goodness for tivo, dvr, etc. 

If you can't catch the show, do the next best thing and get your fingers clicking  to getmarried.com.  They have helpful tips and tools on just about everything from flowers to decor.  You can also search for local vendors in your area. 

I've attached a video from the florist of Ashlee Simpson's wedding and he shares samples of the quirky but very cute centerpieces that he created for her "Alice in Wonderland" themed wedding.

Simple Touches Add So Much

People are always asking how they can personalize their wedding. I am a big believer in weaving a common element throughout the whole event, from save the dates to your favors and so on. It not only gives your wedding a cohesive feel from start to finish but when your guests see that particular monogram or motif, they will immediately associate it with you. How can you do this? I have posted a photo of a project that I am working on today. They are table numbers for an upcoming wedding. The doves motif has played a big part in this wedding. They were included on the save the dates and invitations. Next they will show up at the reception on these table numbers and the cake! Did I mention the dove release after the ceremony? It is so easy to simply infuse your character and personality into your special day. Share with us anything you've done or plan to do to add simple touches to your wedding!

posted from my iPhone (sorry for the fuzzy photo)

The Afterlife of a Bridesmaid's Dress

Recently, as a I sat with a group of friends, we ventured upon the topic of the many bridesmaid dresses we all had in our closets.  Between the five of us present, there was a whopping 25 dresses in total!  Have said dresses been touched since the wonderful nuptials of the friend or family member?  NOPE!  So we started thinking about the afterlife of a bridesmaid dress and here is some of what we came up with.  Disclaimer: There may or may not have been libations of some sort served at this event, so don't judge us!

1.  Donate to an organization like My Fairy Godmother, here in Cleveland, that offers the items at little to no cost to high school students for prom.

2.  If it is long, cut it into a cool mini dress.

3.  Use the bottom as a skirt, yes cut it again!

4.  Use the fabric to make a fabulous dress.  Can you tell that there were a few not so attractive dresses in the mix?

5.  Use scraps of the fabric to create a quilt for the newlyweds.

6.  Use the fabric to create a seasonal flag for your yard.

7.  Use it to start a bonfire.

8.  Just put it in the closet and never speak of it again!

If you've been a bridesmaid, what did you do with your dress?  Please comment and let us know!

photo credit: www.realitytv.com

Oscar Fashions for Brides

All eyes were on Hollywood, Sunday night as the stars shone brightly in their designer duds.  In fact, let's be real...that's the only reason many of us even watch!  I wanted to highlight three of my favorite gowns of the evening that could easily do double duty as a wedding dress.  Leave a comment and let me know if you agree!

  photo credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

  photo credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

  photo credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com

Website Survey - We Just Need a Minute!

I promise, this will only take a minute of your time!  If you wouldn’t mind, please click on the link below and answer 9 quick, easy questions about different design aspects of wedding vendor’s websites.

Wedding Vendor Website Survey

We won’t record anything about you other than what state or country you are from - we don’t even ask for your email address so no spam or anything like that.

You will likely see this link on lots of other blogs and sites - this survey is being shared all over the blog-o-sphere so please take the survey only once.

If you have additional comments on the subject, please feel free to email me with those and I will share them with the other wedding vendors who are participating!  We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

(If you are a wedding vendor and would like to participate, just copy this post to your blog and email the link to emilie {@} emilieduncan {.} com - The results will be sent to you once we have closed the survey in March)