Every time I open an e-mail to see that a client wants to book I take a minute to do a little dance and sometimes add a squeal. When Shelly sent me that e-mail it was no different, however it was followed by immediately going to work due to the wedding being less then 5 months away (they put my skills to the test).

When talking design with Shelly I liked to tease her that her favorite word was neutral, which James confirmed when they were furniture shopping for their new house. In a venue like The Ivory Room neutrals, with a few pops of black, and gold glitter accents turned out to be heavenly.

With all the gorgeousness that took place that day, nothing was more so then seeing these two recite their vows.  I feel so blessed to have been a part of their day and even more blessed to have new friends

Shelly was such a laid back bride, who had such an infectious smile, and her beauty is BEYOND as you can see above. Her dress was from her home town of Cleveland and that gorgeous bouquet was created by the ever so talented Amy of Posy.

Shelly and James had their “first look” at the new Downtown Columbus Hilton. The modern sleek decor made a great backdrop for some of their photos.

If you follow this little blog of mine, then you know I’m not a fan writing. Words are not my thing so to describe all the pretty of their ceremony would not be sufficient. I will let the amazing photos of Henry Photography do all the talking for me.

Oh my heart, that cake was a dream! As soon as we booked the Ivory Room, I knew I wanted to play with the open beamed ceiling. I went to the ridiculously talented Cindy with Enticing Icings with the crazy idea of suspending the cake, she took on the challenge head on! Not only did she create this lovely cake but made the suspension herself (did I say she was talented?).

We had so much fun coming up with signature drink names. We had a blush champagne with a swizzle stick for a Shelly Temple which was Shelly’s nickname as a child, a lemon cocktail for a lemonaitis to play off their newly shared last name, and a blue martini with a lemon garnish in the shape of a horn since James currently plays for the St. Louis rams.

One of my top 3 favorite moments of wedding days is doing a room reveal with my clients. I always say that the night before a wedding is like Christmas Eve for me, I can hardly sleep with excitement and this moment above is me opening presents. The amount of hard work from both myself, my vendors, and my clients all coming together for one big reveal, ahhh I love it!

**if you want to check out Shelly and James super adorable engagement session click here.

Having a preferred list of vendors has been huge for me and I truly could not have done this wedding without them.
Photographer: Henry Photography 
Cake: Enticing Icings
Venue: The Ivory Room
Florals: Posy
Videography: True Video 
Stationary: By Invitation Only
DJ: Matt Ryan www.mattryandj.com
Ceremony and cocktail hour: Shaw Brothers
Rentals: Event Source, Wildflower, and La Tavola
Makeup: Alison Feamster
Hair: Friend of the bride
Suits: custom made Aster and Black

 

 

 

 

 

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My list of favorite things about a wedding is about a mile long but on that list you would find wedding traditions. Something about having a tradition that is done by generation after generation is heart warming. Back in 2009 I had the chance to plan a Macedonian wedding and LOVED learning all of the traditions of a Macedonian wedding. Since I enjoyed learning it so much I was thrilled when I met Nilli and Jason and they asked me to help plan and design their Persian wedding! I tried hard not to butcher the pronunciation of their customs and Nilli and her family were oh so gracious while I learned.

Planning was done mostly by Skype since Nilli and Jason live in Boston. They were adorable together and I truly enjoyed working with them. I always like incorporating things into the wedding day that are personal to the couple and their story. For Jason and Nilli it was “rocks”. Jason asked Nilli to be his girlfriend by writing on a large rock back in 2004. Seven years later he went back to that same rock to write will you marry me? How sweet is that?! We had guests sign their best wishes to Jason and Nilli on river rocks that they can now place in their garden back at home.

Another favorite part was watching the Persian dance. If you follow us on Instagram, you may remember my sneaky assistant posting a picture of the father of the bride dragging me on the dance floor to give it a try, I wasn’t that good hehe.

You can see more of their day and some of my favorite things, including a game of ISPY all below.

Nilli looked stunning in her Lazaro gown. Above is a picture of the Persian Sofreh Aghd. One candle represents the bride and the other the groom, the mirror fate, honey to sweeten life, noon-e sagak to symbolize prosperity. Every single item on the spread represents something, if you are curious you really should look it up.

The beautiful cake was created by the Suisse Shop.
I love all the long tables we did with mirror table runners. The flowers were done by Flowers on Orchard Lane. And in case you were wondering we did have ivory cushions on the chairs haha. This photo was taken during set-up.The cookie bar was a HUGE hit with the guests, I couldn’t re-stock fast enough! YUM it’s making my sweet tooth ache just talking about it.

Wishing a lifetime of happiness for Jason and Nilli.
XO
-M

Special thanks to Red Gallery for the gorgeous photos.

 

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One of my favorite movies of all time is Sweet Home Alabama, oh how I wish I lived in the South for the sweet tea, accents, boots, and big country weddings. I may have not got my wish to live in the South but I did get my country wedding wish.

If this is the first you are hearing of AJ and PJ you must check out their country chic engagement session here. Amy and Patrick were so fun to work with, Amy would tell me an idea she had and before I could panic of where in the world am I going to find that she would say PJ is going to make it! They were the win/win couple, creative and crafty!

A Labor Day weekend wedding at their Walk This Way farm. The WTW insignia could be found throughout the details of the wedding. Having a tent wedding can be challenging with all the extra bits and pieces but Amy made it fun by creating their own bars, pole decor, and mason jar favors instead of renting glasses. Although the rain gave us a visit or two, we truly were blessed with a dry and beautiful ceremony.

Being a fashion lover, I let out a few squeals and had a few butterflies over Amy’s wedding wardrobe. Let’s start with the cocktail dress, she looked so chic in her short dress, black sash, and cowboy boots. Since we had a cocktail hour before the ceremony, it was the perfect dress for her to mingle with the guests in. Dress and hair style number two: this squeal was even louder because her custom made Joan Madison gown was to..die..for! Paired with gorgeous shoes and post-ceremony turquoise jewels, it was perfection. PJ looked like quite the rugged handsome cowboy in his suit paired with boots and a hat.

So let me see, am I forgetting anything? Amy’s creative, crafty, gorgeous, has great fashion……oh yeah and she can sing! From the first day I met them both I keep thinking what a cute and perfect match they were together. To see Amy sing to him and for him to pick her up the way he did at the end of their first dance, it was truly stuff you see in the movies. I was honored to be apart of their day.

Although I could go on for days about how unique, fun, and detailed this wedding was I am going to let the photos of the amazing Jacquelyn Poussot do the speaking for me. (p.s. for those of you who are looking for a photographer who also shoots film, she’s your girl).

Bonus points if you can spot me in the picture above

If you would like to see even more photos check out Jacquelyn’s blog post here.

Flowers: Posy Floral | www.posyflorals.com
Shoes: BHLDN & Corral cowgirl boots | www.bhld.com & www.corralboots.com
Columbus & Grand Lake Tent Rental | www.columbustentrental.com
Invitations: Fairest LJ on Etsy
Hair: Leigh at Phia Salon | www.phiasalon.com

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Can you even believe we are only 2 days away from Christmas!? The house is decorated, the gifts are wrapped, Lucas screamed visiting Santa, I think I’m ready for the big day! I can’t think of a better present then sharing with you all Michelle and Phil’s Christmas inspired engagement session with the amazing and talented Benjamin James.

The session took place at their apartment in the Short North. The apartment sits directly on top of Piece of Cake, which I think should be renamed a Piece of Heaven. From the artwork in the hallways, to the loft style layout with a bunk up above (any kids heaven), the place is unique and adorable.

I am having so much fun planning Michelle and Phil’s Art Deco inspired wedding. It will take place at the Columbus Museum of Art in August but until then get wrapped up in lights and enjoy this e-session.

Oh and have a Merry Christmas!! xo -M

This shot of Michelle laughing is one of my favorites. She laughs all the time and I love it! It’s so infectious.

I mean really? Could this be any cuter?! I think not.

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Do you ever you get that feeling like it’s going ot be a good year? Well, I have been feeling like 2013 is going to be my year! The blessings have been pouring down lately and I’m beyond grateful. Another sign that it could be good year, Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2013 and it’s none other then emerald! Emerald happens to be the birth stone of yours truly (insert woot woots). I will be hoping and praying that I book a client who wants me to create an emerald inspired dream for her big day.

One planner who was ahead of the trend is Gloria Wong, She created this beauty…

 

See more under 2013 wedding trends, Creative Inspiration

Grab it and run!!! This was my first thought when Amy pulled out her custom made skirt for her engagement photos. Due to my morals of not stealing and my love for my client Amy I did not take the skirt. However, I have shown the pictures of this amazing engagement session to anyone who will look. The farm is not my personal style which is why being apart of AJ and PJ’s big day was so much fun! I cannot wait to share photos from their wedding day. Until then, here is a peak at their engagement session with the fabulous Jacquelyn  Poussot.

P.S.- AJ has a miniture donkey cleverly named donkey. I feel in love with him from Amy and I’s first consultation. You can obviously guess which is my favorite photo ; )

To see more of AJ and PJs e-session check out Jacquelyn’s blog

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October is a great month, starbucks brings out their pumpkin spice lattes, we get get to pull out all the fabulous fall clothing, and most importantly it is breast cancer awareness month!!

1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. With a statistic like this it is so important that we do our part to raise awareness and if possible some money so we can find a cure.

You can show your support in a multitude of ways. Bracelet, shirts, car ribbons, key chains, the pink ribbon merchandise is endless. I am happy to say you can even show your pink at your wedding! Favors, garters, cupcakes, donations, the list goes on and on.

Enjoy the inspiration…

Please visit the Susan G. Komen for the cure for more information or to make a donation

Sources: HC Tran photography, Samuel Lippke, La Gartier, Darcy’s Cupcake Creation

 

See more under Creative Inspiration, Inspiration board

It’s been awhile since I posted a Shoes Day Tuesday, I thought I’d come back with some sparkle

Photo:glitterwedding.com
Shoes: Jimmy Choo

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I am not a very good writer and when my emotions are involved I tend to even be worse, therefore, I was torn on whether to do this post for today. I wasn’t torn based on people judging my writing but on whether I would be capable of expressing my thoughts on today. With that said I will do my best…

Words cannot describe the devastation that September 11th 2001 brought to so many people and particularly families. Any time I see a photo or clip of that horrible day my heart aches. I was in Math class when the planes hit and 24 hours later I was in the heart of it. My experience of that horrible day is nothing compared to those who lost loved ones but it affected me in a way I will never forget. My dad and I jumped in the car hours after the attack and headed to New York, we wanted to help in any way that we could. My dad was able to get into ground zero before they cut off civilians from entering, he helped search for the missing. Meanwhile, I helped in one of the set-up camps. We had cots, helped serve food, and gave minor medical help to the firefighters and others helping with the search. The destruction, smoke, and people will forever be etched into my memory. The one story I wanted to share was one that I think about often… a man was brought into the set-up area by a few other men and I was told he needed to rest and eat. I learned while I was helping him that he had been searching through the rubble for over two days straight. I was looking at a man who was about to collapse but yet was determined to go back out there. I quickly said to him, you need to go home, take a shower, take a nap, see your family, and then you can come back. His response to me was no! Using common sense I made the comment “you will be more of a help when you have some strength back” and his response to me is one that I will never forget. He said “what kind of husband would I be if I go home and tell my wife that I couldn’t find her father” At that moment I just stood there, these weren’t all people just wanting to help, these were people searching for friends, co-workers, and family members. I obviously knew that before but hearing it said this way was different. I think about that man often and wonder about his families outcome. I can’t imagine the pain that not only this day brings but everyday to those who lost a loved one  on that horrible day. I pray for comfort and peace to those still suffering and along with the rest of the country I take today to remember.

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Happy 3rd Anniversary to my love. I am so proud of the man my husband has become the past two years. I love you xo

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