Mike and I met when he was relocated from Galveston to Austin after Hurricane Ike. We met while working at the same hospital and we had our first date at Stubb’s music venue and saw a Ben Folds concert. Mike proposed to me in June 2010 on the beach at my family’s summer home on Cape Cod. The proposal was romantic, thoughtful and a complete surprise! We knew almost immediately that we wanted a small and intimate wedding to share with our close friends and family. We are both very close with our families and given they are on different coasts, mine on the East Coast, his on the West Coast, we decided our home city of Austin, Texas made for the perfect place in the middle to have our wedding. Mike and I both have a very traditional and classic style and found that Barr Mansion’s organic and vintage feel made for a perfect venue! We were very fortunate to have family support in planning our wedding and especially my mother and brother who helped in making our vision come to life. We had envisioned the beautiful glass artisan ballroom to be transformed into an environment that felt enchanted and whimsical. We chose to have both our ceremony and reception in the artisan ballroom as we feared our guests, especially those from the Northeast, would melt in the Texas heat! The details were our favorite part as we incorporated personal photos from our travels and engagement session. The table assignment cards were displayed in a box containing the same sand from the beach where Mike proposed. My bridesmaids wore vintage pins on their dresses and I had used family heirlooms as part of my something old, new, borrowed and blue. Mike and I had our first dance to the Ben Folds song, “The Luckiest”, and we did a break out dance to Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” to display our crazy dance moves and set the tone for a night of dancing! We felt that our wedding was a true reflection of who we are even down to our wedding attire. Overall, we loved every minute of our wedding and will forever cherish the many moments that were captured by our wedding photographers, Jona and Jerry Blackwell! Photographer: Forever Photography Studio / Floral Designer: Last Petal / Lighting: ILD Lighting / Make-Up: Maris Malone Calderon / Hair: Jen Hoover / Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas / Cake: Barr Mansion / Wedding favors: Cake balls from The Mixing Bowl / Wedding Gown Designer: Siri from Unbridaled / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Burberry / Special Jewelry: Austin Diamond District / DJ: Texas Pro DJ

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Austin, Austin Diamond District, Barr Mansion, burberry, Casual Elegance, Color Palette Blue White, contemporary, DIY Favors, Forever Photography Studio, Hugo Boss, ILD Lighting, J. Crew, Jen Hoover, Last Petal, Maris Malone Calderon, Modern, Siri, Stuart Weitzman, Texas, Texas Pro DJ, Unbridaled, Vintage Chic, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Paper Divas, Wedding Photography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

Sitting down together at the beginning of our 13 month engagement, we thought that there would be plenty of time to leisurely plan the most unique, intimate, and perfectly personal wedding of all time. Now, here we are, a year later, and after  spending endless hours browsing Etsy and eBay, driving all over Northern California, and overcoming all of those personal differences that we didn’t think we had, we can sit back and share our story.

I am married to the most amazing guy, and the memories that we share of our wedding day are sublime. What made it so good? The planning involved in creating the perfect picture. When you think that you’re totally overdoing it with the details or feeling exhausted because you can’t remember the last weekend that you didn’t spend organizing, coordinating, and designing, don’t stop. Looking back, we’re so happy with the way things turned out, proud of the hard work, and especially thankful for all of our vendors and friends that helped make it happen.

The proposal came as a complete surprise to me while enjoying an August sunset at the edge of a spring-fed lake on an old Vermont farm. Andrew had spent summers there growing up, and we both felt so peacefully at home walking down the dirt road, past the big, red barn and through the gangly apple trees that probably hadn’t been picked in years. That week was a romantic utopia and ultimately inspired the theme for our wedding a year later.

First, we needed a venue. Many of our closest family and friends didn’t live in California, so planning the guest experience was important.  Because we had such a clear vision of what we wanted, finding the place was not easy. Driving all over the Bay Area, we became distraught over the prospect that we’d fail at our first wedding planning attempt. One venue was too eccentric, the next didn’t have a barn, another was too far away, “Oops! How much did you say?!” And so on. It came down to our final destination for the day at a little place with a barn in Kenwood, CA. When we got there, the entrance to Kenwood Farms and Gardens was unassuming (retrospectively, a plus), but the next five minutes would become a memory that neither of us will ever forget. Walking in, we saw cute sitting areas with vine laden trellis, a bridal cottage, slightly rusted early century farm equipment on display, a converted equestrian barn, cutesy pond with fountain, redwood pines, a beautiful garden…little apple orchard?! Neither of us said a word as I hugged Andrew with tears in my eyes, thinking “this is it.”

After the venue ordeal, my memory is a blur of a thousand details and ideas. My mother and I spent a whole day making strawberry jam for party favors, my sister and one of my bridesmaids letter pressed the invitations and programs, a close friend baked cake pops for the candy bar, my mother hand-stitched the ring pillow from a picture I found on the internet, and I spent hours with a very dear friend planning the day of coordination.

Over countless emails, a natural rapport was built between us and all of our vendors, but I’m especially elated with the relationship gained from our photographers; Emma suggested that we use a thumbprint tree instead of a traditional guest book, and it turned out beautiful. Our florist was such a pleasure to work with as she helped us craft insightful and passionate ideas about the “feel” that we wanted the flowers to portray.  It truly is a relief when a vendor expressively wants to figure out a way to fulfill your vision while staying within the original budget.

My advice to my “year ago” self would be the following: Create a detailed budget early, update it as often as possible, and then find vendors that work within your vision and boundaries. If you feel something isn’t right, it probably isn’t going to work on your special day and you will be disappointed.  Communicate as openly and passionately with your fiance, but remember you’re both in this as a team.  Adjust and be flexible as soon as your intuition gives you the uh-oh feeling that won’t go away. We chose the Sound Effect over another band mostly because of the price difference, but they were was absolutely perfect! Their professionalism carried us through a seamless ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception! Lastly, don’t forget to set some time aside that doesn’t involve planning to just be with your fiance. Go on dates and enjoy being engaged. You’re only going to be doing this once, so make the most of it!

Photography: Alfred & Emma Photography / Floral Design: Violetta Flowers / Cake: Petaluma Cake Company / Entertainment: The Sound Effect / Hair & Makeup: Danielle & Angelica, Mes Amis Salon / Venue: Kenwood Farms and Gardens / Dress: Doreen, Maggie Sottero, from Rin’s Bridal / Shoes: Randall, Badgley Mischka / Swarovski Crystal and Rhinestone Hair Comb: Etsy / Swarovski Crystal & Rhinestones Bracelet: Lisa Bracelet, Sara Gabriel / Earrings: Nordstrom Crystal Collection, Nordstrom Rack / Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Wearhouse / Groomsmen Shirts & Ties: Nordstrom / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Ring Bearer: J.Crew / Ring Bearer’s Bow Tie: Nordstrom / Flower Girls: Charming Champagne, My Girl Dress / Flower Baskets & Mason Jars: World Market / Baby Ramona’s dress: Pink Princess / Table Numbers: Etsy / Address Stamp: Etsy / Sweet Love Sign: Etsy / Block letter names: Etsy / Wood Slices & 3 Tiered Cup Cake Tower: Etsy / Mr. and Mrs. sign: Etsy / Candy Bar Sign: Etsy / Thumbprint Tree: Etsy / Ring Pillow: DIY / Jam: DIY / Stationery: DIY / Pie Pops: DIY / Love Letters on Candy Bar: Cotton Bird Designs / Thumbprint Guest Book: Your Keepsake Co.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alfred & Emma Photography, Badgley Mischka, Barn, Barn Weddings, California, Color Palette Green, Cotton Bird Designs, DIY Favors, DIY Invitations, DIY Projects, DIY Stationery, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Dogs, Etsy, Flower girls, Garden Wedding, J. Crew, jam, Kenwood Farms and Gardens, Maggie Sottero, Men's Wearhouse, Mes Amis Salon, My Girl Dress, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Petaluma Cake Company, pies, Pink Princess, Rin's Bridal, Ring Bearers, Rustic Chic, Sonoma, Sunflowers, Swarovski, The Sound Effect, Violetta Flowers, World Market, Your Keepsake Co.
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog

{Click here to see the rest of this perfect purple wedding}

From Zenia Photography…

The day began at the Pacific Palms Resort where both Lesa and Eric got ready. When I met Lesa, she gave me a warm hug and Eric was a complete gentleman when I photographed his getting ready. The wedding ceremony and reception took place on his family’s property in La Habra Heights. Eric’s mom totally went all out, installing a gazebo and doing extensive gardening in order to get ready for the wedding. In her speech, she jokingly (and perhaps seriously) thanked her gardeners for their help. The property was not only beautiful but because it had a personal touch to it, I think it meant a lot more.

Eric’s brother serenaded the couple with a guitar and song at the ceremony and because Eric is in the Marines, their ceremony was completed with an Arch of Sabres. They had to kiss to pass. Lesa detailed their reception with “Lesa’s Lemonade,” and an unbaked mini pie (complete with instructions for baking) for their wedding favors. Lesa and her father’s dance together was one of the more touching father-daughter dances I’ve witnessed.

Vendor Credits: Photography: Zenia Photography / Invitations: Shannon, In the Now Weddings / Venue: Private Home / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Design and Coordinating: In The Now Weddings

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bridesmaids Dresses, California Weddings, Color Palette Purple, DIY Favors, DIY Flowers, In the Now Weddings, Marines, Zenia Photography
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Vintage Chic

From the bride…My name is Trish and my fiancé is Luke. and we came up with an idea to do a seed packet and matching pot for our wedding favor. He is an assistant superintendent at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Last summer they held the PGA championship at his course and he got the opportunity to work with such a prestigious event. The golf course is one of the top courses in the country and therefore they have their very own type of grass seed. So we decided to give our guest their very own sample of Oakland Hills Bent grass, something that he is very proud of. Since I’m a graphic designer I got to design the seed packet, which I enjoyed very much also. So our favor is a combination of something we both enjoy.

Materials
White card stock
Small terra-cotta pot
Seeds of your choice
Spray paint
Ribbon
Double sided tape
Scissors/Paper Cutter
All supplies were found at Michael’s Crafts

Instructions
1. We first started out by creating the seed packet design. I basically looked over other packets to get the dimensions. Our packet ended up being about 3” x 4”. I have attached the seed packet template for anyone that would like to use it.

2. Once the packet is finished we printed it on a white card stock, but any color works also. Cut it out.

3. Fold the packet up and use double sided tape to seal the edges. Leave the top open to put seeds inside. Once the seeds are inserted seal the top edge so those seeds can’t fall out.

4. On a covered surface spray paint the terra cotta pot, upside down, whichever color you choose. Let dry for 30 minutes. Set the pot right side up and spray the top and inside as well. Let dry for another 30 minutes.

5. Once everything is dry, you can wrap a ribbon around the pot for decoration.

6. Let your friends and family watch their new flowers, or in our case golf course, grow!

The beauty of this favor is how many ways there are to customize it. You could put seeds in for the flowers that are used at the wedding or any flower that holds particular significance for your relationship. You can also decorate the pot in any way that correlates with your wedding. Ours happens to be a black and gold theme, but if your having a rustic theme your could even leave the pots the original terra cotta color.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 257 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: DIY Favors, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, favors, Pots, Seeds
Post categories: DIY Favors and Gifts, DIY Projects, Wedding Favors & Gifts