Mr.’s mom and I met with our first florist. It went pretty well I guess, although she didn’t really talk pricing a whole lot and that’s what I was hoping to get out of it. She had us sit down and look through all these books that looked like they were from the late 90’s to bookmark what we liked (for reals, totally not inspiring at all). I bookmarked a boutonniere and that’s it. So, instead, I took out some pictures of what I am looking for. We discussed the types of flowers that I’d like to have…dahlias, ranunculus, roses, stock, hydrangea, (peonies if available), poppies, anemones, lisianthus, to name a few. Still trying to go with that rustic Mediterranean feel…

We have these urns, vases, and candle holders at Pottery Barn that I love and think would look great with flowers { images via Pottery Barn }:

The one in the middle is the one I’d like…otherwise, there are these pillar holders that I think would look beautiful with flowers dripping off the sides instead of candles:

I would love to do a centerpiece that isn’t just one piece but a couple different pieces together like these tables:

This one is a little too girly…just note the setup

{ photo by Erin Hearts Court, via Once Wed }

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Well, I’ve shown EAD a lot of my wedding: the bridal party, the ceremony, and the flowers, to name a few recent posts.  What I haven’t shown you yet is any of the work that went into the week of the wedding!

One of the realities of a DIY wedding is that it’s a significant time investment, and could easily drive many a bride crazy, especially the week of her wedding.  However, the DIY details also definitely made our wedding: it kept it from becoming a cookie-cutter shindig, which was my biggest nightmare.  For any of you brides considering doing your own flowers, I thought I’d give you a sneak peak into what went on behind the scenes with the centerpieces and bouquets:

The sustainable centerpieces actually only took about 30 minutes (with 2 great helpers!) to complete all 24.

They were made up of live herbs, soil, and green moss.  The herbs were all replanted after the ceremony, and it’s so cool that reminders from our wedding are growing in people’s gardens!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

With 11 months to go and the school year right around the corner, I’m a bit more antsy to make some more decisions about the wedding. I’m not talking about cake flavors or napkin folds or anything, but I feel like it might be good if I had SOME sort of idea of what this whole shindig should look like, right?

I’ve spent hours upon hours looking at beautiful weddings and have bookmarked hundreds of inspirational images or articles that I’ve loved (I know y’all feel me), it really is just too much fun! But how do I choose what I actually would like at OUR wedding? I find it insanely challenging to take all the elements that we love and put it into one cohesive look for our wedding. We just like too much of this stuff. All you creative people out there…too much coolness!! I think the biggest challenge of all is making sure that everything blends in with the venue itself. How do these wedding stylists do it??

Enter Beth Helmstetter (and on my birthday too!). I have been absolutely obsessed with inspired by this wedding since I saw it a week ago on Style Me Pretty (see also II, III, and IV). It fits our secret garden meets Mediterranean rustic vibe perfectly…AND there are succulents!

Photography is by Steve Steinhardt and the event was designed by Beth Helmstetter.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Have you heard of StudioWed yet?  It’s a fabulous place where you can meet many of Atlanta’s best wedding vendors all in one spot.  And what do you get when you put together the best of Atlanta’s wedding vendors?  Gorgeous tablescape inspiration, that’s what!

Meet the Summer Romance table, styled by Michelle at Lemiga Events.  This table has it all.  Peaches?  Check (it’s Atlanta, after all).

Soft yellow flowers, lemons, and blue glass accents?  Check.

Stunning calligraphy?  Check.

Here are the vendors who made this design come together:

Photography & Lighting: Blue World Studios
Table Design:  Lemiga Events
Stationery:  Smock Paper via Luxe Expressions
Calligraphy: Debi Zeinert
Flowers:  Tulip
Linens:  I Do Linens
Rentals:  Event Rentals Unlimited
Wedding Cake:  Sweet Sensations

Tablescapes provide such awesome inspiration - I hope this brought some Summer Romance to your day!

xo,
E.

Hello, dear readers!  Sorry for the long break.  I’m getting ready to start up a business here in SoCal (DIY brides, let me know if you need a hand with DIY wedding flowers…it’s the basis of my biz!) so it’s been a bit crazy ’round here!

Flowers were such a hugely important part of my day (see here, here, here, here, here, and here!).  Since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved flowers…gardening with my mom, terrariums, patio gardening, arrangements…I love it all.  So I knew my wedding had to be lush with real, fresh flowers that also didn’t overpower the venue.  To accomplish this (without spending thousands of dollars–all of our flowers and materials cost about $500), I set about making spreadsheets, practicing bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres until my fingers were raw.  I went back and forth the entire 15 months on colors, flower types, roses or no roses… and had to settle on the heartbreak of NOT ordering my beloved peonies.  Just when I’d sorted through all of our wholesale flowers and found peace with my lack of peonies, my bff bridesmaid Lisa and I decided to run to a nearby Whole Foods to pick up sushi for lunch…and there they were.  Right by the entrance, a rack full of beautiful, blooming peonies…on sale.  We grabbed as many as our little arms could hold, and I couldn’t have been happier.

My bouquet, which consisted of the peonies, vendela roses, dahlias, veronica, button mums, freesia, and fringe tulips.

We planted all of our herbs for the centerpieces that week.  We also used them to line the rainy windows when we had to move the ceremony indoors!  The scent of the verbena and lemon thyme was so soothing.

A shot of the table settings with the beautiful table runners handmade by my amazing mother.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

While I am in the middle of planning our wedding for October, I am also a full time wedding planner.  To be honest, I get much more excitement and joy out of planning for other brides than I do planning my own wedding!  I think it’s because I don’t get stressed when it’s someone else’s wedding.  I am much more confident in my abilities as a planner than I am when it comes to making decisions for our wedding.

We were recently involved in the planning of a backyard reception after the couple were married in Vegas. The reception had a very simple budget and one goal: to celebrate their love with their closest friends and family. I believe this goal was definitely achieved!

Months leading up to the reception, clear wine bottles were collected, washed and labels removed in order to serve sweet tea…

Hundreds of hours were spent creating these lovely paper roses for the centerpieces…

{Read the rest of this entry…}

It has been literally for. ev. er. Since I posted one of my tabletops. Shame on Manda. Bad, bad Manda. Sorry about that guys! It’s not for lack of photos or lack of trying… it’s just the time! But, you can only love me now because here come two [well, one kinda two] tables right atcha!

I became obsessed with the cool, modern pallet of poppy pink, yummy warm orange against a stale, slate grey backdrop. The 3 together became absolutely drool-worthy! I knew I wanted to use poppies “sprouting” from grass for the centerpieces and the idea of a dual centerpiece became equally appealing to me. Two trays, the same size, shape and color. Filled with grass, then poppies bursting out towards each place setting. Fabulous. Of course, what’s better than having a bud and budlet tucked into each napkin! I chose to do a modern style long plate [which I love], with a modern take on the classic “menu fold” napkin that we all see these days- wrapping the plate. I did a salad plate above each place setting and to the right, leave the glasses lined on the left. So modern, simple and chic. That’s what I’m all about. LOOK at those classy flutes! Ugh, it’s love!

I chose a different colored flower for each napkin. That may be THEEE best part about buying poppies: it’s a mixed bag of color. SO organic, natural, and wild!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

FINALLY… the reception!  You read awhile ago about the process of choosing my floor plan, and saw the layout of my reception.  As you may recall, we chose two 24′ estate tables, and here is how the centerpieces shaped up!  I was pretty much in love with them, so excuse the gratuitous amount of photos…

{Jessica Claire}

{Jessica Claire}

{Jessica Claire}

{Jessica Claire}

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Using found objects in your wedding can a) save some serious money and b) give your wedding a completely unique look!  Tin cans are something we all use in everyday life, so how about incorporating them into your wedding?

To create the look below, first gather tin cans, remove their labels and wash thoroughly, filing down any sharp edges.  Using decoupage glue or very high tack double-sided tape, cover the tin can with wallpaper, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or fabric scraps.  As you see in the photo below, you can also use craft tools to crinkle your paper for a different look!  Arrange flowers, and voila - easy and inexpensive DIY centerpieces!

{brocantegirl’s flickr via Beach Bungalow 8 and She Walks in Beauty}

If you are feeling especially crafty, you can also sew fabric tin can covers.  A good tutorial can be found {here}.