Floral Inspiration {Succulents and Artichokes}

Our wedding is about 2 months away!  Yay!As the wedding is getting closer, the focus is mainly on all the little details. This past week we met with our amazing florist, Jan Dekker for a trial.  She put together an example of our centerpieces.  It was so great to see what she put together! She really understood my "vision" for the flowers and although I had some minor changes and feedback, I was ecstatic and thought they looked beautiful!

I would highly recommend to any bride meeting your florist for a trial of the flower arrangements if you can. It totally put me at ease!

Here are some of the inspiration photos I used when first meeting with Jan to design the centerpieces and bouquets:

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The overall look I want for the flowers is romantic but not over the top.  We also love the addition of the little succulents and artichokes! One thing I love about incorporating the succulents is that they are something that can be taken out of each centerpiece and planted. I don't have much of a green thumb but am hoping I can save a few for our home.

Next item on our detail to-do list is all the paper! Programs, place cards and miscellaneous signs. We fell in love with our vendor who did our invitations so we plan on going there in the next few weeks.

Until next week!

-Jess

Follow my wedding inspiration board on Pinterest!

Tweet me @jessdawnd 

Read my past posts here and here

This. Is. It.

I can't believe it's finally here. In 2 days, I will be marrying the man of my dreams and my best friend. It's hard to believe that after only 21 years of my life, I was fortunate enough to meet this incredible person. The last 6 years with Kyle have flown by, and I know the next 80 will go by in the blip of a second.

Style Me Pretty, photo by Studio Impressions

This week has been so overwhelmed by to-do lists, errands, and craft project that it's admittedly been difficult to take a few minutes to step back and relish in this incredible moment. I am grateful for these few minutes to reflect on what the past 27 years have meant, and the significance of those 30 minutes this Saturday where Kyle and I will pledge our love and fidelity to each other for eternity.

Snippet & Ink, photo by One Love Photo

Here's a confession... I've never told anyone. A friend took this photo back when I was 19 and I've stared at it ever since dreaming of my wedding day. Yes, I was wearing a tarp.

And now it's here. I can't wait to finally have my man and my moment. And a wedding dress that isn't a tarp.

See you all on the other side!

XOXO, Kalista

Setting the Mood {with Food}

Hi E&Iers! I'm back after an amazing long weekend in Southern California at fellow blogger Taya's wedding (aka my future sister in law!). It was such a great weekend filled with laughs, dancing, friends, family, new friends and new family, in a gorgeous setting...it was everything a great wedding should be. I could go on and on, but I'll let Taya tell you herself when she gets back from her honeymoon. :-)

Onto my topic of the week - food! You might remember my post, here, on finding a caterer who would work with us in making everything affordable, while still including the elements we really wanted - quality, local food, family style dinner, etc. Well, we finally found them and it was worth the wait! My favorite thing about the caterers we found was that the owner, and lead lady of this husband-and-wife-owned catering company, really listened to what we wanted and figured out where to cut corners and where it made sense to splurge a little.

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I am so relieved to have our catering booked! I believe food can really help set the mood of the day - the cuisine is just one more place to infuse your style as a couple. Loving how these weddings used food to help set the vibe of their wedding day.

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My advice to fellow brides out there is that if you are not finding what you're looking for and you are getting a lot of 'nos' to what you believe is a reasonable request, keep looking and don't give up! Ask lots of questions and reach out to new vendors until you find someone who is ready to have a conversation and work with you. I think it's also good to know what things you absolutely know you want and what things you would be okay not having. For me, I knew I wanted family style dinner, but I was okay giving up the filet mignon.

If you are getting married in the Gorge and looking for a caterer, check out Boda's Kitchen. Ask for Sirota Johnston, the owner and boss laday. She's awesome.

{E&I Bride} Courtney

Our readers really are the best. I mean come on, look at what one of our long time readers is putting together for her big wedding day! Good news is that she will be here each week blogging her journey to I Do! Introducing Courtney, our newest 2013 bride. She is tying the knot at the gorgeous Spanish Oaks Ranch on June 22,2013. Check out her Pinterest board for more inspiration from her bing day.

These two will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary 2 months before they tie the knot. How sweet is that?

Leave our girl some love and make sure to join us every Tuesday for her posts!

the {bridesmaid} proposal

I wanted to ask my bridesmaids to be a part of our wedding in a very special way.  That was something I thought of for a very long time.  I didn't want to just ask them verbally or give them a simple card, I wanted something more, something special that they would remember.  Of course I scoured Etsy for different ideas, but nothing seemed just right.  I found a variety of ideas on how to word the question.  But how to ask?

Source (from top left):Trimmings Shop, The Inspired Note, PaperEtiquette,Caffeine Colour

Bubbly, to me, always signifies celebration and is exactly what I like to drink with my girls.

Source (from top left): Daily Cup of Couture, Classy & Style, Zoie loves, Classy in the City, Everything Fab, Global Good Group, The Glitter Guide, Riches for Rags    

So, I decided to make the bubbly the way to ask them to be a part of the wedding!  I found different ideas of how to include champagne or wine in an invitation.

Source (from left): maddiegdesigns, Southern Fried Paper, Letter Love Designs, Pepper Lindsey & Co.

As a do-it-yourself girl {and bride}, I wanted to design the tags myself rather than outsourcing the project.  I'm new to photoshop & illustrator, but it was fun learning when you have a thoughtful gift in mind.  I had to go with my go-to pattern {polka dots} and my main wedding color {yellow}.

Source: me!

They turned out great & I couldn't have been happier!  Best of all, it really screamed me!  cheers.

Let There Be Light!

And lots of it! For our wedding we plan on keeping our decor very simple with lots of hanging lights playing of the natural beauty of our venue.

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 I really love the idea of also combing some lights with colorful streamers and ribbons.

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Since our venue is on the edge of a national park,we cannot have any open flames. Unfortunately means no candles, so we will have to get creative with other ways to add light.

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How did you get creative with your wedding lighting?

Adorn your Fete {Stylish Engagement Party Details}

In July, my mother threw us a beautiful engagement party. Every detail was perfect, and she and I had so much fun together creating personalized, detailed touches. Engagement parties are a fun time to begin thinking about all of the little details that will take over (your every waking moment for...) the next twelve months or so. In the weeks leading up to our party, I scoured Pinterest and Etsy for fun ideas. Here are a few of my favorites:

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And here are a few favorites from my own engagement party, last July:

Source: my mom

We had a blast making this fun banner. My mom is a ninja with scissors, let me tell you!

Source: my mom

These little flags look beautiful, but the petit fours were so delicious that they disappeared in about a minute. They were fun to make though--toothpicks, silver permanent marker, and scrapbooking paper. Easy! I will definitely recreate these in the future.

Have you had an engagement party yet? Did you incorporate any fun little details? I would love to hear about them!

He's Got the Look {Groom's Style}

Last week, I talked about picking out unique bridal accessories that can add a little somethin' somethin' to your bridal "look."  So I thought it might be fun for this week to be about grooms and their wedding look!

Doesn't it seem like their "look" is waaaay easier to put together than ours?!  It probably is; however, I thought picking out a tuxedo would be a breeze and surprisingly, it wasn't as easy as I thought! Going into the tuxedo appointment, I thought for sure that I didn't want the guys to wear vests. It just seemed too "prom-y" for me plus I was obsessed with this photo!  (The grey and the black, the ties, no vests....perfection!)

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Eric wanted to wear a vest and convinced me to go in with an open mind.  When he came out in his black tux with the black vest, I LOVED it!  So maybe it is a little bit like wedding dress shopping, sometimes, the style you thought you would hate ends up being just right for you!

The thing I have always loved about accessories is they can add character and personality to a rather plain outfit.  Here is a list of some accessory options I am loving for grooms right now!

Suspenders

Anyone who knows my fiancé knows that suspenders are not his style at all but I do love this look!

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Socks

Such a great way to incorporate one of your wedding colors!

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Fun socks don't have to be just for the groom either! What a fun groomsmen gift! I found a lot of fun sock options on BoldSocks.com and they are affordable ($9-$35)!

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Cuff Links

Eric and I are incorporating scrabble and other games in some of our wedding decor and we absolutely will be doing this! Love!

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Boutonniere

Cotton boutonniere?! Who would have thought!

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Lots of fun unique boutonniere looks! I am; however, questioning the penguin. I think there is a time and place for animals at a wedding. (Another blog post, maybe?)

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Is your groom wearing something fun or unique? Do you love/hate any of these looks?

Until Next Week!

Jess

Follow my wedding inspiration board on Pinterest!

Tweet me @jessdawnd 

Bachelorette Weekend {Girls Just Wanna Have Fun}

We are just 9 days away from the wedding and there is so much going on right now it's unbelievable. But let's just take a minute to focus on something fun, not stressful (like our rehearsal dinner caterer canceling on us 10 days before the event!!) Tomorrow I'll be heading up to Healdsburg to spend the weekend with 7 amazing women. Drinking wine, eating great food, relaxing by the fireplace. They each mean so much to me and have supported me through different periods in my life. I am so excited to get away with them for my bachelorette weekend!

C Magazine, photo by Lauren Ross

We rented a house in the Alexander Valley, just a few minutes outside of downtown Healdsburg. We're surrounded by wineries, so we'll spend our Saturday walking to a few wineries and tasting all that the Alexander Valley has to offer. We'll cook together and laugh together, and most importantly I'll have a chance to reflect on what's coming in the week ahead and refocus, now that I'm done doing the balancing act between work and wedding.

  Top left: Haute Living; Top right: Brides, photo by Amanda Marsalis; Bottom: Inspired by This, photo by Caroline at Tiny Water

I love these girls and am inspired in unique and beautiful ways by each of them. I hope that this weekend will honor every one of them, and kick off my wedding week with a bang!

Inspired by This, photo by Caroline at Tiny Water Photography

Is there anything particularly awesome that we must make sure to do this bachelorette weekend?

Only one more post to go. Eek!

{Real Brides} Kerri : Modern, Chic Simplicity

Hello Brides!  Thank you for welcoming me into the E & I family and for joining in on my wedding planning adventures.  I am looking forward to sharing my inspirations, the experiences that I have encountered so far and getting your input along the way.  I'll see you each Wednesday!

Name:	Kerri
Location:	Durham, North Carolina
Budget:	It's a moving target!
Age:	33
Occupation:	Interior Designer/Project Manager
Wedding Date:	March 16, 2013
Venue:	The King's Daughters Inn
Planner:	Me!
Photographer:	Rebecca Ferguson Photography

 Connect with Kerri on Pinterest

Source: Rebecca Ferguson Photography

Source: Style Me Pretty

About me:

Who would have thought that a northern girl would fall in love with a southern boy!  Clay and I met online, we had our first date on April Fool’s day in downtown Raleigh in 2011 and we have been teaching each other about the ways of the North and South ever since!  “Y’all” versus “Wicked”…BBQ versus Linguica…Mash a button versus Push a button…Over yonder versus Over there…Chicken on a biscuit for breakfast versus Egg and cheese on a bagel for breakfast.  Chicken on a biscuit for breakfast?!?!?!  I am working hard at better understanding the southern way of living and Clay has the patience of a saint…bless his heart!

Clay did make quite the southern statement though.  He proposed to me in Charleston South Carolina, in a beautiful little park, in front of a Confederate war monument!  (He really was romantic about it!)

Source: The King's Daughters Inn

Wedding style:

Our venue has become the focal point from which our wedding planning revolves around.  The King’s Daughters Inn is a boutique B&B with 17 guest rooms and the place where our guests will witness our ceremony, celebrate with dinner and dancing, followed by an overnight stay.  It is beautifully designed around the 1920’s Art Deco style and has amazing architectural details, custom headboards and gorgeous fabrics.  We have chosen colors, attire, flowers and food that complement the setting while at the same time infusing our personal style…a modern, chic simplicity.

Until next Wednesday...