Weddings

The Couple: Shannon and Daniel The Wedding: 08.04.12 - Dos Palos, California What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Nostalgic, rustic, joyful What was your wedding color palette? We used soft, natural colors: creams, browns, greys, pinks, peaches What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? It meant a lot to me (Shannon) for us to get married at my grandparents’ ranch home. It’s where I learned how to swim and how to drive, and it’s where my parents and grandparents both were married. Daniel and I tried to honor both of our families and history at the wedding, and because we were inviting people to a family home, we wanted our guests to feel comfortable and relaxed. We made sure to have good food and picked out wines from our favorite wineries, and all of our guests left with a jar of my mom’s homemade jam. Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? Our favorite moment of the day was immediately after the ceremony when our pastor announced as Mr. and Mrs. Clark. We were finally able to look out at all of our friends and family who had come to support us and share in our day. It was such an amazing and beautiful moment of feeling loved, excited, and immensely joyful. Getting a day-of coordinator was one of the best decisions we made. She was able to put everything in motion and made sure that everyone was able to just relax and enjoy the day. Katie Hund of Wylie Weddings was professional, accommodating and understood our vision for the day. She also doubled as our florist and did our beautiful flowers, which brought tears to my eyes when I first saw them because they were just what I envisioned. What piece of advice would you give to a bride planning her wedding today? Decide right away what the most important wedding elements are to you. We prioritized food, wine and lighting. Invest in the “must-haves” and then you can negotiate the rest of the details. And most importantly, make sure to take time investing in yourself and your relationship with your fiancé during your engagement. Do pre-marital counseling, go on fun dates together, and spend time with family and friends. The Wedding Team: Photographer: Kate Miller Photography Event Planner: Katie Hund of Wylie Weddings Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Bride’s Grandparent's Private Ranch Officiant: Pastor Ron Youngdale of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Invitation Designer: Brian Jensen of Wylie Weddings Catering: Anne Sanchez Espana's Southwest Bar and Grill Florist: Katie Hund of Wylie Weddings Wedding Cake: Old Tyme Pastries Wedding Dress: Pronovias Bridal Accessories: Shoes - BHLDN, Jewelry - Judith Ripka Jewelers Bridesmaids’ Apparel & Accessories: Dresses - J. Crew Groom & Groomsmen Apparel & Accessories: Vera Wang collection from Men’s Wearhouse Hair Stylist: Becca Eyre of Inspirations Salon Makeup Artist: Christa Schonenberger of Makeup by Christa DJ: Sugar Ray Cartwright Live Music: Lynn Sampson Jazz Favors: Homemade strawberry and apricot jam made by Shannon’s mom Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Thank you Shannon and Daniel!

Mona & William Gorgeous Adelaide, I am always refreshed and excited to see weddings in one of my favourite cities in Australia. Mona and William had the most beautiful, peaceful and special wedding day filled with their love story and the love of their family and friends. Mona tells the story of how they came to be. “After cringing over my friend Anyssa’s suggestion that her brother (who I’d never met) and I would make a great couple, I quickly forgot about the idea. Little did I know that she was also making similar suggestions to her brother. Fast forward to two and half years later, and long distance relationships across London, Israel, the US and Australia, and it turns out that she may just have been right!” The quietly elegant photographs today are by Whitewall Photography. Mona chose a gown by Rapsimo Bridalwear while William wore a suit by Joseph Uzumcu. The couple met before the ceremony. Carrick Hill was chosen as the venue for the wedding, Mona remarking, “We had both our ceremony and our reception at Carrick Hill in the Adelaide foothills. Our ceremony was held in the beautiful gardens behind the historic house, and the ceremony was in a marquee set up beside the house. We walked down the aisle to “Sea of Love” by Cat Power.” Of their photographer, Mona says, “When I first stumbled upon Scout from Whitewall at a local design fair, I instantly fell in love with his dreamy wedding pictures. I had found the perfect photographer, but unfortunately at the time we were planning on getting married overseas. Luckily though, our plans changed, and Whitewall were one of the first people we got in touch with! Scout made us feel so comfortable and relaxed throughout the whole day and we had so much fun with him as our photographer that it was a sad moment for us both having to say goodbye to him and his cheeky smile at the end of the night. The pictures were exactly as we remembered the day to be and he captured some really beautiful moments that we will cherish forever.” Poppies Flowers styled the loose, unstructured floral arrangements for the wedding. The reception was held in a marquee on the property. Mona remarks, “The table settings were DIY and super easy. I purchased hessian and lace which were cut up to fit as table runners for the three long tables and scattered with votive candles.” “Our place cards doubled up as wedding favours which were also DIY. They were little brown paper bags filled with macarons and sealed with white paper doilies and small wooden pegs. Even though I was putting them together the night before and morning of the wedding, they were a lot of fun! Also, we were so incredibly lucky that my brother who is an amazing graphic designer helped create our invites, ceremony programs and menu cards.” Sugar and Spice Cakes made three wedding cakes with ruffle icing. The Mac Factory created scrumptious macarons for the wedding guests favors. Of their first dance, Mona says, “Our first dance was to the Louis Armstrong version of “La Vie En Rose”. We didn’t practice at all leading up to the wedding and on the night we just enjoyed being in that moment.” Congratulations Mona and William! Thank you for sharing your day with us! Thank you also to Whitewall Photography. for sharing today’s images with us! Photographer: Whitewall Photography / Bride’s Dress: Rapsimo Bridalwear / Bride’s Shoes: Wittner / Groom’s Attire: Joseph Uzumcu / Hairstylist: Gang Hair / Makeup Artist: Ali Stewart / Flowers & Decor: Poppies Flowers / Venue: Carrick Hill / Ceremony Officiant: Ruth Singh / DJ: Adelaide Professional DJ's / Favors: The Mac Factory / Catering: The Food Business / Cake Baker: Sugar and Spice CakesPhotographer: Whitewall Photography / Bride’s Dress: Rapsimo Bridalwear / Bride’s Shoes: Wittner / Groom’s Attire: Joseph Uzumcu / Hairstylist: Gang Hair / M

Hive! We did it! The Pandas are now married and it was a beautiful, beautiful day.  It was a gorgeous June afternoon and it went by with a blink of an eye. Guest picture Was it perfect? Well, no…but it was pretty darn close. I am still glowing from all of the love and excitement. It was an amazing experience and I just love seeing all of the guest pictures rolling in. I know I’ve been evading discussion about my dress, so I feel like I should make a note of it here. I guess from the very beginning, I had a gut feeling that I would end up wearing this—it’s Wtoo Olivia! After looking at these pictures, I can’t believe I ever doubted my choice! It was absolutely perfect! I just love the flowy layers. (Guest picture) I am supposed to be packing for our honeymoon right now, but instead I really wanted to come and share a few sneak peeks with you. It was such a thrill to see everything coming together. Guest picture This is my ANTM pose. I don’t think I’m cut out for the modeling world… (Guest picture) I have so much more to share with you guys, but unfortunately it will have to wait until after we get our pro pics back. Looking forward to sharing our beautiful day with you all!

Surprise! It's Paige Lowe -- our lady who took her own engagement photos. I told you she'd ROCK that ombre dress. Paige says: The day and the dress were perfect (minus not exactly fitting, big girl + little dress = keyhole open back cuz it wouldn't button...but I kinda dug it!) (also minus the photo booth company completely failing and not working at all --- OH WELL!) Other side note - I had my 15 year old INTERN take these photos, it was a HUGE learning experience for her and I got to walk her through every step (and edit the photos myself, big plus). huge huge huge exposure and experience for her, and a HUGE budget cut for us! #umhelloamazingphotos #radinteren Tune in to 100 Layer Cake first thing tomorrow morning for tons more photos/dets. I'll tell you a secret: The dress is gorg, of course, and the images are gorg, but THE WEDDING THE WEDDING THE WEDDING.

…that is the question…which Mr. Waterfall and I have debated way too much over the course of our engagement. Guys, this is much worse than the Great Chiavari Battle! Remember my wedding vision that I’ve had since I was a little girl? Yeah, that one. It didn’t include satin or taffeta; it included tulle, layers upon layers of tulle. And while most of my wedding vision has evolved beyond my five-year-old self, that particular element has remained constant. Sure, I can appreciate the beauty of lace, chiffon, and organza, but I dream of tulle! One small problem: Mr. W’s vision did NOT include tulle, at all. As in, he hates tulle as much as he hates Chiavaris! Maybe more! I realize that I’m the bride and the dress should really be about me and what I want and what makes me feel beautiful…at least that’s what every bridal consultant would have me believe…but Mr. Waterfall’s opinion matters to me! I’ve dreamed of his reaction when he first sees me coming down the aisle, and ideally it would look like this: Image via Michelle Newell Photography Image via Joie Lala Photography I definitely don’t want the look on his face to be anything like this: Images via via gifsforum.com Am I exaggerating? Probably. Have I seen that expression on Mr.B’s face before? Yes, when I showed him my dream dress, the Sherbert Lazaro: Image via Lazaro Bridal I know, right? What is wrong with boys’ taste sometimes? What is there to hate? Well, according to the mister, it looks like netting and it’s way too poufy. He might as well have stabbed me and my dream of tulle right in the heart! This dress is so freakin’ gorgeous! And while it wasn’t exactly affordable, it represented everything I wanted in a dress: layers of soft tulle, a beautiful sweetheart neckline, and a beaded sash around the waist. I really wanted to take Mr. Waterfall’s opinion into account, but it would just be sooo much easier if he liked the things I like. So, I did what every (ir)rational bride would do: I became increasingly obsessed with the idea that he would hate whatever dress I chose and that I would not get the perfect first-look reaction I had been dreaming of. I even cried about it a few times and even had a nightmare where he took one look at me coming down the aisle and ran out of the church… Spoiler alert: I did end up getting a tulle dress, and Mr. W has been warned, so he can wrap his mind around the tulle. I wanted so badly to pick something he would love; I even tried on satin (Mr. Waterfall’s fabric of choice), but nothing made me light up like tulle. We talked about it, and ultimately he just wants me to be happy and love whatever dress I’m in, and he will love it regardless, because I’ll be the one wearing it (his words—isn’t he the sweetest?). Did your groom’s opinion influence your dress choice? What fabric are you most partial to?

I interrupt the scheduled honeymoon recaps to bring you news of a long-awaited chop. That’s right, folks, my locks were hacked off the Tuesday after we returned because I just could NOT take it any longer. (Haha, no pun intended and when I caught it, I laughed.) As a reminder (you know, in case you weren’t tracking my hair length on your own…), here’s how freaking long and annoying my hair was before the scissors got involved: Slight spoiler! Hair on the wedding day BM Tiny Dancer and me being the fools we are at the rehearsal dinner (there was a whole Celine performance, oh yeah). This picture serves absolutely no purpose but to show you how long my hurr was. MOH Mem and me at the rehearsal dinner Drum roll please… Day it got chopped—still in my work uniform. I was so fed up I went straight there after my shift. At the New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees, and Boys II Men concert with MOH Mem and her sis the night it got chopped…had to crimp it for my boy bands! On my way to work… Another pre-work selfie…for documentation purposes, of course Out with BM Tiny Dancer, who said to me that I can be married and in love but I CAN’T be old I have to tell you, hive, I could not WAIT to share this with you. Only you guys would appreciate something as mundane as a haircut—it’s the POST-WEDDING CHOP, for goodness sakes! This is not something to be taken lightly. Although, to many, it’s like “Oh…you got your hair cut…” whereas in my head I was all !!! I GOT MY FREAKIN’ HAIR CUT. I know you all understand. This was pretty much a momentous occasion. It took me the entire length of our engagement (yup, almost exactly one and a half years) to grow my hair out as long as it was. Mr. PT was begging me not to cut it so I held out through the honeymoon, but after 10 days of it being messy, windswept, full of humidity, and heavy I was OVER.IT. I showed him a picture in a magazine of how I wanted it and he said it wasn’t “so” bad—his main concern was mom hair. BOYS. I am happy to report that I am pleased as pie (is that the saying?) with my new ’do. It’s super low maintenance, which is perfect for summer (especially Pittsburgh summer) and it’s fun. It’s out of my way and has reduced my getting ready time by 15 minutes, and really, when it all comes down to it, the more I can sleep, the happier I am. True story. We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Watch out!  Katie and Joe’s rock ‘n roll real wedding is one for the books. These two meant business when they set out to plan a retro-inspired event featuring polka-dot everything (Katie’s favorite) and Joe’s perfectly suited, graphic design paper goods.  The pair poured themselves into planning and with the help of the team at The Barn at Twin Oaks Ranch, their dream wedding was brought to life! Photographer Liz Chrisman says, ‘Katie and Joe march to the beat of their own drum, and that was most definitely reflected in their off-beat, fun, rockabilly wedding.’  We couldn’t agree more! Katie’s passion for polka dots started with the bridal party attire.  From the wedding dress to the bridesmaid’s frocks, all of their vintage-chic attire was sourced from Etsy designer Pixie Pocket.  As for the invites, the very talented groom whipped up these rock ‘n roll paper goods in black and red to set the tone. Of the ceremony, Katie says, ‘A moment that will always be special to me was while we were saying our vows. All day long it was supposed to rain. The sky was gray and the sun was hidden. I was terrified that this would be the death of my dream outdoor wedding.  Of course the barn had planned an inside move if needed, but I was still nervous. The rain held off and when it finally started to drizzle while Joe and I were exchanging our vows under the arbor, the rain sprinkled in a perfect circle around us. The trees were shaking off collected drops in such a manner that it looked planned! After the trees cleared their branches, the sun jumped out from behind a cloud and shined right on us. It was seriously like something out of a movie.  Although we had dated for six years prior to our wedding, this was proof that rain or shine- we were meant to be together.’ The themed reception continued in a chandelier and candle-lit barn.  Naturally, the place settings were adorned with polka dots, black and white stripes and poppies peppered the bold red reception tables, and guests got temporarily tatted as the night went on!  The thing that made Katie and Joe’s wedding really perfect for them, however, was that family and friends from all over Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Florida were able to take part. Photos by Liz Chrisman Photography • Bride & Bridesmaids Dresses by Pixie Pocket • Makeup & Hair by Megan Freeman • Reception Venue, Coordination & Flowers: The Barn at Twin Oaks Ranch • Paper Goods by the groom, Joe Osborne • Catering by Fat Daddy’s • Cake by The Cake Place • Temporary Tattoo Favors by Buttonhead • Reception Entertainment by William Blackart

Designing for Commercial Printing The vocabulary lesson is over—now it’s time to figure out how to get the best possible results from whichever printer you choose for your wedding stationery. Maybe you’re going with a local commercial shop, the nearest FedEx/Kinko’s, or maybe you’re getting ready to upload your files to one of the many online print-on-demand services out there. Regardless of who you choose to print your stuff, there’s one rule that is universal: Garbage In = Garbage Out If you give your printer 72 dpi clip art you yanked off the web (or paid the minimum on a stock image site for the smallest file size), it’s going to look like pixelated crap when it comes off that press, and there’s nothing anyone can do to fix it. If you don’t allow for a bleed in your design, you’re going to either end up with a white border around your image or some of the printed area cut off—and that might include the words if you’re not careful! And if you give them files of the wrong color mode, the colors you so carefully picked on your computer monitor are very likely to look very, very different. To avoid those unfortunate situations (and a whole host of others like them), here’s some tips on setting up your files correctly for commercial printing. Just to give you an idea of how close you can cut it—any more than one insert, though, and you’d need to make your invitation smaller. 1. Start with your envelope and work your way backward from there. While it’s true you can make your own envelopes, it’s a lot easier to buy them and they come in so many wonderful colors these days it’s a shame to let all of that go to waste. That said, they only make envelopes in certain sizes, and if your invitation, save the date, or RSVP is slightly too big for the target envelope, you’re going to have to buy the next size up. This can mean anything from your card swimming in an over-sized envelope to paying more postage than you need to. So if your printed piece needs an envelope, make sure you find out the size of the envelope available in your color, and design around that. A single insert needs to be at least an eighth of an inch smaller than the envelope (though a quarter inch is better—it’ll certainly make it easier to stuff later), and the more pieces you want to include the smaller the overall size needs to be to for the envelope accommodate the thickness. Another thing worth thinking about: If you have any intention of lining your envelopes, do yourself a favor and look for A-style envelopes as they feature a rectangular flap instead of the pointed flap of the Baronial-style envelopes. That flap style means a lot less in the way of fiddly cuts. CMYK (left) vs RGB (right) 2. If it’s color, it needs to be CMYK. Anything you see on a screen or monitor is in RGB and uses light to adjust the colors blended from the red, green, and blue values present. This visible light spectrum is amazing and can give you over 16 million distinct color variations. Gorgeous, right? And most of the time your home printer prints those exact same colors, even if you have separate tanks for each of the four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). Commercial presses, on the other hand, work in CMYK, and CMYK is limited to a measly one million colors, give or take, and that’s where problems set in. There’s no foolproof method (though there are plenty of strategies) to convert an RGB file to print in CMYK and retain the same brilliance of color you see on your RGB monitor. Yes, it’s frustrating, but them’s the breaks. (Now, I will say, some online printers prefer RGB because of the equipment they use. It’s easier to convert from CMYK to RGB, though, so I still stand by designing in CMYK to give you the best possible options.) In a program (like Photoshop, for instance) that supports CMYK, it’s as simple as choosing Image > Mode > CMYK when you begin your document. Unfortunately, the more consumer-level a product is (meant for home use and not

Photos: Jason Walker and Shannen Norman of Ira Lippke Studios (top); Courtesy of De Beers (bottom) While every wedding is romantic, certain soirées add an extra degree of warmth and intimacy to the proceedings making it an event to remember. Enhance the vibe of your special day with wedding jewelry: A pink gold and diamond heart pendant achieves a traditionally romantic feel, while diamond drop earrings are a royally glamorous way to show your love. We asked the lovely ladies behind 100 Layer Cake to share their favorite pieces from the De Beers collection for a classic. Read about their picks below, and visit the complete slideshow to see more sparkling jewelry ideas for a modern and a classic wedding. 1. "Wear your hair up to show off these pretties and add a major touch of glam." —100 Layer Cake Style J2FQ02Z00W, Eternity Drop Earrings, $4,000, De Beers 2. "Dainty and sweet, this diamond heart pendant is perfect for your wedding day, or any day for that matter." —100 Layer Cake Style J5DD35Z00K, De Beers Diamond Heart Pendant, $2,000, De Beers 3. "A delicate and simple piece, great for everyday." —100 Layer Cake Style J3HA07Z00Y, Azulea Bangle Yellow Gold, $2,800, De Beers 4. "The organic shapes in this beauty have such a delicate, lyrical quality about them. It's perfect for the bohemian bride." —100 Layer Cake Style J1FW02Z00K, Adonis Rose Band, $3,700, De Beers You Might Also Like: Browse all engagement rings and wedding bands Yellow Gold Wedding Bands for Women Princess-Cut Engagement Rings We Love!

Jennifer is selling a Haute Bride pearl hair comb. She is asking $25. Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee Classifieds, and you might see it featured on the blog! Other great items for sale: Ivory cathedral length cut-edge veil, asking $150 Dennis Basso sweetheart mermaid gown, size 0, asking $2,200 13 vases, asking $30 40 blue Moroccan lanterns, asking $100 per set of 20