Sarah and Travis Get Married

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  It's a time when I talk about something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm reflecting on a wedding we coordinated this past May!

On a beautiful day in May, Sarah and Travis had the most magical wedding and reception.  I had worked with the couple for almost a year getting ready for their big day and the planning paid off.  Their wedding was beautiful!  Let's take a look ~

Photo credit: Rachel Myers Photography

Luckily, my friend TW came into town to help pull off this event.  People often ask what we do when coordinating a wedding and the answer is whatever it takes to make the day a dream come true for the bride and groom!  For this wedding, we did many of the paper products like invitations, menues, programs, welcome sign, table numbers, etc., etc., etc.  

Sarah chose The Jewel Box at Forest Park in St. Louis for their ceremony venue.  It was a great decision!  The botanicals made the most beautiful background for their nuptials.

As the guests trickled in, they were welcomed with the beautiful music of a harpist, Sonja Westberg, and violinist.  It set the stage for the wonderful event about to happen.  

Programs were available at the entrance ~

After an exquisite wedding ceremony, everyone traveled to the reception site at the St. Clair Country Club in Belleville, Illinois.  The bride did a quick dress change into her reception dress and we were ready for the evening!

In place of a traditional guest book, guests were asked to leave a message on the mat of a picture of the Jewel Box.  I personally love this idea!  

Guests could drop their cards in a vintage mailbox ~

We also had welcome table set up with pictures of the bride and groom's parents and grandparents wedding pictures.  

Everyone could find their table from the seating chart displayed in the lobby ~

Inside the reception area, the flowers by Flora Milou transformed the space into something magical ~

An element I love to do at weddings is creating a little basket of essentials for the ladies restroom ~

Another element that's becoming very popular at weddings is creating a QR code for guests to share their pictures.  This is such a great idea!  Sarah used Never Miss Moments.  We shared the code on the menus and had on signs at the bar.

Desserts at receptions have been all over the place lately, but I have to say I love a good old fashion wedding cake.  Sarah and Travis's cake was gorgeous and delicious!

The party was taken up a notch when the light sticks came out!  Everyone loves these things!

Light Sticks available HERE

I can't thank my two wedding buddies enough for all their help pulling off the decorating, organizing, glueing and everything else needed to make this wedding a success.  Thanks Eric and TW!

Good luck Sarah and Travis!  I wish you a lifetime of happy memories and blessings.

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Nicolette and Timothy Get Married

Happy Thanksgiving!  Thanks for popping in for Thinking Out Loud Thursday, where I talk about something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today for Thinking Out Loud Thursday, I'm reflecting on how thankful I am when couples put their trust in me to pull off their weddings!  

On a crisp fall day in October, I had the honor of witnessing Nicolette and Timothy tie the knot after months of working with them to plan their big day.  It had been a joy to help them navigate the wedding preparations and planning!  

They had a first-class set of vendors and I would recommend working with any of them!

VENDOR CREDITS 

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY: Brianna Rose Photography 
PLANNER / COORDINATOR: Penny Struebig
VENUE: Haue Valley
BRIDAL GOWN: Mia Grace Bridal
GROOM ATTIRE: Men’s Warehouse
BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Revelry
FLORIST: Carley Jeans Floral
HAIR ARTIST: Beauty Haus 4061
MAKEUP ARTIST: Alison Sivagnoli
CATERER: The Hawthorne Inn
CAKE ARTISTS: Sweet Spot Cake Shop
Desserts: Sling N Scoops
DJ: Applause Productions

I often get asked what's included in my planning package.  The answer is I help with whatever the couple needs!  With Nikki and Tim, my help began with addressing the envelopes for their wedding showers and designing their wedding invitations.  The invitations turned out beautifully!

Their wedding venue, Haue Valley, is one of my favorites in the St. Louis area. When renting this space, it comes with an elegant house for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready, a special area for the groom and groomsmen, and outdoor spaces for the wedding ceremony and photos. Haue Valley also has a supply closet full of items like candleholders, table numbers, vases, and a slew of other reception necessities you can use at no cost. It's amazing!

The couple decided to share their vows with each other privately before the ceremony.  One of the things I'm a huge fan of whether you're sharing your vows in private or publically at the ceremony is using vow books.  I cringe when I see a bride or groom open up a folded piece of paper or pull out their phone!  Vow books - that's the way to go!

Nikki designed her programs and we also had tissues on hand for the guests' happy tears.  These items were handed out as guests were seated for the wedding.

The guests were led to their assigned tables with escort cards.  These were also handed out as the guests arrived.

One of the things I noticed at the wedding rehearsals is the worry on the grandparents' and parents' faces when we talk about where they are supposed to sit.  A few weddings ago, I started putting their names on their seats.  When I tell them that their name will be on their chair, you can see the relief flood in!

Kids in weddings always make me nervous.  The ringbearers in this wedding were pros!  They did an excellent job carrying the signs we made for them down the aisle.

Each guest had a wedding favor at their place setting.  It was one of the coolest favors I've seen - a scratch-off lottery ticket!  We placed them in sealed envelopes with a little note on the front and back.

Everyone's sweet tooth was satisfied with the several options for dessert that were available.  If the bread pudding served by the caterer wasn't enough, you could indulge yourself at the dessert table full of cannolis or get some ice cream at the adorable ice cream cart.  

The bride and groom had a wedding cake just for them.  It was gorgeous!  

We placed it front and center on their sweetheart table.  They cut the cake when they walked in and we whisked it away.  

After everyone had gone through the buffet line, the bride and groom quickly visited every table and got a picture.  This is a great way to get a picture with everyone at the wedding and thank your guests for sharing in your special day.

We also had a QR code that guests could use to share their pictures with the bride and groom.  What a great way for them to get those candid shots they might otherwise not have seen!  We placed signs at the bars and other various places around the reception.

It was a pure joy working with Nikki, Tim, and their families at the wedding!  Nikki was a beautiful bride and you could see the love she has for her groom.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Siesener!  Here's wishing you years and years of happiness!

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Isabel and Matt Got Married!

Hello friends and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I talk about something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm thinking about the wedding of Isabel and Matt that we helped with back in March.

Photo Credit:  Chosen Photography

We were introduced to Isabel and Matt from another wedding we did a few years ago.  I love getting referrals!  From the first time we met Isabel and Matt, I knew this was going to be a fun wedding to work on!  They were also using some of my favorite vendors:  Carol Genteman Floral Designs and Chosen Photography.

With every bride, I wait for the moment they have a little breakdown.  We always get through it, but I brace myself for it to happen.  Isabel never had a single bridezilla moment!  She was the dream bride from start to finish.

I also had so much fun working with Isabel's mom!  She lives out of town but was still able to participate in all of the wedding fun.

When I say we "help" with a wedding, you might be wondering what that means exactly.  I meet with the bride and groom (and sometimes other members of the family or wedding party) to get an idea of how they want their wedding to feel.  Then we put together all the paper items like save-the-dates, invitations, table numbers, signage, escort cards - basically all the little details that make up the wedding.  We have several meetings along the way to make sure all the details are in good shape.  When the big day arrives, we are at the venue sitting up and making sure before the wedding begins everything is perfect!

Isabel and Matt were using the very traditional black-and-white color palette.  Their wedding invitations turned out so classy!

All the out-of-town guests staying in their hotel block were greeted with welcome bags.  I love doing welcome bags and think it's such a nice thing to have for your guests.

One of the things I love slipping in the welcome bag is door hangers.  These are so easy to make and fun to have on hand to put on your hotel door the night of the wedding.

Families don't need to stress out over which chair they are supposed to set in if they know their names are on the seats.  These were made using my Silhouette machine and glue dotting them to the back of the chair.  So easy!

Here are some of the other detailed items we put together for Isabel and Matt's big day ~

Isabel and Matt also contracted with Alpha-Lit to set up their name in lights.  It was a wonderful backdrop for pictures and added a special flare to the reception area.

In honor of Isabel and Matt's puppy, guests were able to take home a bag of treats for their canine companions.

Another detail not to be overlooked is the bathroom.  I love putting a basket of goodies in the bathroom for those little emergencies that might happen.  

Thank goodness we didn't have any emergencies when they danced the hora!  Seeing them up in the air on chairs made me a tad bit nervous!  LOL

Here's to the newlyweds!  May their journey together be filled with endless love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.  Cheers to Isabel and Matt!

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