Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

A Few Major Reasons Why Eloping Is Beyond Worth It

Elopements are such a beautiful way to tie the knot. And thanks to incredibly talented vendors like weinprovence and Wepagency, not even a little bit of style has to be sacrificed in order to have the truly unique and intimate elopement of your dreams. Allow today’s gorgeous Château Martinay editorial to inspire and get your creative juices flowing (yup, the same chateau where Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner got married!) Don’t miss out on the full gallery, captured by Tamara Gruner Photography for all the details!

From wepinprovence… As Covid-19 is turning our world upside down we want to stay positive and remind us of the beautiful things in life such as planning your wedding day. In times of healthcare and economic crises planning your own wedding can get challenging. You might be torn between hosting a large wedding in your home country or just elope to a special place with the most important people in your life. While we are all under lockdown, now is a good time to plan your very special day. And today we would like to focus on elopements. Elopements allow for a more intimate wedding with your closest family and friends enjoying a long weekend at a special location. You will be able to host a welcome party, arrange a tour, plan for your rehearsal dinner, your wedding and the brunch after your wedding day in one or two locations while spending time with your loved ones.

To plan your special wedding weekend it’s important to hire a local wedding planner, who can navigate you through choosing your wedding location and your vendors. Your planner will take care of your wedding budget and since it will be a smaller wedding you will be able to spend more money on location, flowers and decor, food and photographer / videographer instead of spending it on the mass. Choosing your elopement location is key to your unforgettable wedding day and some of my favorite European locations are France, Italy and Spain. Although right now these countries are hit very hard by the Covid-19 pandemic it is important to look positively into the future and still plan your wedding in one of those countries if you are a huge fan of Europe. It’s exactly now that countries who got hit hard need our economic support after the pandemic is over. Let’s not abandon them. Let’s be grateful and let’s thank these countries for always having their doors open for all of us, visitors. Now is the time to give back and support local businesses even more! And to remind you how beautiful an elopement in Provence, France could look like we would love to share this incredibly stunning wedding celebration at Chateau de Martinay.

You might recognize the name of this gorgeous chateau! Yes, it’s the chateau where Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas said ‘YES’ to each other in June 2019. Though we didn’t see much of their wedding location we want to highlight in these images all the pretty nooks and corners of this chateau at which you can plan your wedding weekend. Let’s just start at the incredible chateau entrance – it’s the perfect place to set up your intimate wedding ceremony with a grand entrance. Our talented florist Celine from Flower by Celine framed the chateau entrance door with foliage in deep reds, blushes, pinks and greens, which can be used on a fall wedding day. Classic French chairs were the perfect match for this romantic wedding ceremony, from where the wedding guests cheered our Newly weds after their ‘I do’s!’. Our bride, Savannah, wore a stunning Inbal Dror wedding gown, while Rodolphe looked very handsome in his black tux. Planned by our favorite Provence planner, Stephanie from WEP in Provence, and styled by the very talented Carrie Moe from Type A Society, this wedding ceremony couldn’t have been more perfect.

While the chateau entrance can be used for your tented wedding reception at large guest numbers we chose the dinner to take place at the grand tree alley on the side of Chateau de Martinay. If you remember this was the location Sophie and Joe Jonas said ‘I do’ to each other. But we wanted to create an intimate atmosphere. And this is just one example of how you can make use of different parts of the pretty chateau. Pops of colors were used to reflect the love for life and colors for this intimate wedding table. A turquoise table linen stands out in the same way the flower centerpieces do. Deep reds, pinks and blues pop out. The table is framed by a fun foliage of different colors to create an even more intimate feeling in open nature. The wedding cake reflects a fun play of whites, blues and pinks. And just as the colors of the flowers on the reception table pop out those fun pink flowers stand out on the cake as well. What would be a wedding celebration without a grand exit? For that, our bride changed into her breathtaking Berta Bridal blush gown. Rodolphe and Savannah both exited the chateau in an old-timer, but not in a classic black or white old-timer. It was a fun green one, again reflecting the love for color. And here, our fabulous florist, Celine, filled this old-timer with colorful hydrangea. Truly an unforgettable site and a wedding celebration! Follow along our elopement gallery and start dreaming and planning your own very special elopement in Provence, a place in France, which allows you to dream endlessly.

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A Bosc Pear – AKA the Wedding Color Palette Inspiration We Never Knew We Needed

Did you ever think a Bosc pear could be the perfection inspiration for your wedding color palette? Neither did we. Luckily, the creative geniuses at Willow & Ivy Events figured it out. Leah Erickson Floral brought their vision to life with dreamy, mustard blooms (trust, they’re swoon-worthy)… Head on over to the full gallery captured by Sarah Harris Photography to get out of the typical blush and green wedding box and into something completely new and fabulous.

From Willow & Ivy Events… This wedding inspiration was born out of a love for the rich color of a Bosc pear. The designer, Alex of Willow & Ivy Events, wanted to explore the mustardy-brown color of this unique fruit as it is not a hue that is typically tapped for wedding designs. The rich, bold color allows for a crisp juxtaposition with white, a classic wedding color. Sarah Harris Photography captured the whole dreamy set up with her light and airy style; it was the perfect match for this shoot!

Alex knew she needed a luxurious linen that fit the color scheme perfectly and she found just that from Party Crush Studio. The velvet mustard linen is perfect against the white brick backdrop of The 101, a killer space in historic Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. The tabletop rentals from CORT Party Rental stand out against the bold linen and the stunning tabletop florals from Leah Erickson Floral tie everything together. You can even peep some Bosc pears of the table to represent the inspiration behind the shoot. The organic floral arrangement style of the centerpiece gives the table the perfect amount of whimsy and the delicate florals on the wall installation behind the table add that perfect little touch. For Michaela’s attire we went for a soft, feminine approach.

The flowy gown featured detachable sleeves with delicate lace – a trend we see becoming big in 2020! – that really highlighted her tattoo sleeve. For Adrianne we went a little more rock n roll with a deep v cut jumpsuit and white jacket. Adrianne’s messy pony showing off her undercut was also curated to be a little more edgy when compared to Michaela’s flowy ethereal curls, both by Tousled & Lovely. Both had soft, subtle makeup by Bethany Yackel Beauty that allowed for their natural beauty to be the star. And don’t miss out on those rings! Anueva Jewelry created some stunning, unique bling for both ladies featuring diamonds and colored gems. Instead of giving Adrianne a traditional bouquet like the one held by Michaela, Leah created an amazing crawling boutonniere that appeared to be growing up her jacket lapel. This shoot also featured an adorable little furry friend, Kip! Leah created a floral bandana for Kip; a unique play on a floral collar. And don’t forget the cocktails! W Design Shop, who created all of the amazing paper goods and invitation suite, made a Hers and Hers cocktail sign which featured two drinks that were totally within the color scheme of the day – a John Daly and an Amaretto Sour.

A Lavish Ombre Floral Runner and a Bold Color Palette at Balboa Park

“Ombré is out of style”… said no one ever. We don’t know about you, but we couldn’t be happier this trend is here for the long haul. Today’s stunning editorial from I Love You More Events features a gorgeous auburn gown, a floral ombré runner by Bloom Theory that will take your breath away, and a secret garden venue. Head on over to the full gallery from iamletreuo photo to see all the inspiration.

From iamlatreuo photo… Today’s bold, joy-filled editorial is abounding with romantic florals in an array of attractive ombré tones, glasses of sparkling champagne glistening in the warmth of the sun, charming desserts enjoyed under the blue sky made for a celebration that embodies the saying that ‘simplicity is the essence of happiness’…. Nestled among deep canyons of Gold Medallion trees you can discover towering Italian Cypress’ in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

A true Californian gem home to many natural landmarks and attractions; however, our story takes place in a secret garden where fragrant sweet roses allure you to walking pathways, sightings of humming birds & butterflies all incased in a private Eden better known as the Casa del Rey Moro Gardens. The inspiration for this shoot came from a poem entitled ‘Everything Is So Simple’ by Jose Martí about the simplicities of life’s expected interchanges and coming into the age of maturity by acceptance, which was beautifully engraved on paper by: Shop by Kari Winters in Spanish to stay true with the aesthetics of the Venue. Three members of this project during the design lost loved ones and I felt it was only appropriate to ask that their names be included in the suite and as table guests for their legacy to be honored and left with us always.

Overlooking the gardens intimately rests an inviting table scape fit for a regal gathering paired with trickling tapers, fresh fruits, a lavish ombré partition of florals courtesy of Bloom Theory Design, to delicate paper welcoming guests with timeless elegance. The most delectable looking white cake from Peggy Laio, topped with sugar blooms beckoned our affinity with florals, in soft shades of pink and ivory placed by a classic wishing well. The bride wore a stunning gown by Carol Hannah, just perfect for the splendor of the venue’s charm. We wanted to tie in a bold complementary color to complete the color palette that gave the artful illusion of trees subtle changes. The details found in the hint of iridescence with a romantic yet soft and classic hair and makeup beautifully styled by RProMakeup Artist & Hairlogy1121. While the groom looked incredibly debonair in a classic Black Tux anchored with a cognac velvet bow tie for the finishing touch. No matter what season of year you find yourself at Balboa Park, you can most assuredly fall in love in the breathtaking garden setting, the sempiternal architecture to the tranquil sounds of its pooling fountain, which all provide the most charming backdrops. The environment conveys such a timeless romance with historical descriptions guaranteed to leave you feeling inspired…

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A Whimsical Marie Antoinette-Inspired Editorial in Soft French Blue Hues

To say we’re sad to be missing out on romantic European summer vacations this year is the understatement of the century. Luckily, we have beautiful styled shoots that we can live vicariously through, like today’s stunning Marie Antoinette inspired editorial in France from Manna Sun Events and Stella Yang Photography. Head on over to full gallery for a sea of french blue hues and steal-worthy whimsical details.

From Stella Yang Photography… Teaming up with Manna Sun Events and Ahles Fleurs, we flew to Paris for this wedding shoot and had an absolutely luxurious experience which was filled with elegant European charm.

As we entered the front gate of Château de Villette we were blown away by its stunning beauty. Surrounded by two lakes, a magnificent cascade fountain, a glass green house and orangery, this French chateau is perfect in every way. It has been one of the most remarkable chateaux in France since the 1680’s. The design inspiration came from the dreamlike interiors of the chateau, specifically the shade of French blue in the reception room.

The florist used soft blush, purple, and white blooms in a great mix of organic pastels. This soft feminine color palette was a perfect addition to the whimsical and romantic Marie Antoinette inspiration. Elopements have become very popular among our couples. With COVID-19, more couples want to have smaller weddings, but still filled with luxurious details and to provide great experience for the guests. With this beautiful shoot we want our couples to see that elopement can be designed with such style and beauty.

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The Heritage Collection

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Unique Wedding Lighting Ideas That Will Seriously Impress Your Guests

If you’ve seen enough weddings, you’ll know that lighting can truly transform a space and that a lack of it can leave your reception feeling…well, lackluster. Not only does light serve a purpose of allowing guests to see in the dark, it also creates your reception’s ambiance. If you’re looking for unique wedding lighting ideas that will seriously impress your guests, gather your inspiration below!

Plan for Sunset and a Successful Migration of Guests

Adding beautiful glass lanterns to your space can be done in a way that strategically shows guests where to go for their next event. Plus, during sunset, the glowing light that leads guests from cocktail hour to dinner will be so magical!

Make it Rain

I think these twinkle lights that mimic rain speak for themselves! How dreamy!

Light it Up

For tented weddings, you have so much room to play with unique lighting setups to make the space feel romantic and truly alive! Plus, you can use string lights to cover the poles in the tent from the inside so all guests see is the gorgeous fabric, lighting, and everything beautiful underneath.

Lights in Many Shapes and Sizes

The two weddings below both beautifully lit the space with shaped lights. Not only is that unique, it also further enhances the design of the wedding.

Janine Licare
Jada Poon

Let Your Lights Frame Your Layout

I can’t not include my own wedding in this roundup. One of my major must haves was a maypole style set of market lights that met in the middle of a round bar. I also wanted smilax to hang from the lights so they wouldn’t look too bare and would provide more romance to the space.

This wedding took a similar concept of framing the space by using twinkle lights. It totally looks like stars!

Lighting Makes a Statement

For these weddings, the lighting elements are larger and thus very much a part of the décor design. They make a beautiful statement while also illuminating the space.

Anna Roussos
Mikki Platt
Lacie Hansen

A Spectacular Display of Light

Fireworks totally count as lighting, right? Even though they’re brief, fireworks will light up the sky and your guests’ eyes. There isn’t much more you could do with light to seriously wow your guests than fireworks!
Vasia Weddings

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Photography

Jenny Quicksall Photography

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When an East Indian Wedding Meets an Italian Villa – Magic Happens!

When this gorgeous wedding is only one of the FIVE events planned by Events by Satra held in celebration of the most beautiful couple – we can only imagine how incredible they must have been, because let us just say… this day is a total jaw-dropper. For starters, the couple and their bridal party donned traditional Hindu wedding attire that never ceases to amaze us with its sheer beauty. Not to mention the gorgeous al fresco reception on the front veranda of Villa Montalvo, a venue you’d never believe isn’t actually somewhere in Italy. The day’s festivities were made even more breathtaking by Madolin Flowers’ arrangements, captured perfectly by Michele Beckwith Photography! Before you go, don’t forget to check out the full gallery of pretty!

From Michele Beckwith Photography… Tara & Ishaan’s wedding day at Villa Montalvo was one of five extraordinary events held over a long weekend. They wanted their wedding day to be relaxed and elegant with a touch of rustic. Tara exquisitely hand made gown was in a blush pink, and her groom’s ceremony outfit was made to match.

Soft colored flowers and fruits were intricate to overall Floral design envisioned by Amanda Terpstra of Mandolin Florals. Their invitation was also hand-painted illustrating and explaining the couple’s other events over the weekend, such as the Sangeet and their Sikh ceremony the day before. The couple and their planner Satra Zarghami were inspired by the venue’s beautiful architecture, especially their ceremony location on the property, the Love Temple Garden.

Guests were treated to a traditional Hindu ceremony full of meaningful rituals, as well as traditional vows and a ring exchange. Cocktail hour was held in the courtyard where a caricature artist drew the guests and their signature cocktail had ice cubes with the couple’s monogram.

Dinner was served al fresco on the front veranda, where guests shared a gourmet meal of exotic spices and comfort food.

And for the grand finale, in lieu of cake the couple had an ice cream cart parked inside the breakfast room of the villa!

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Setting Up Your LBB Portfolio

We are so happy to have you as part of the Little Black Book community. WELCOME! While your portfolio automatically populates when signing up or renewing, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to setting up the anchor of your membership for success.

First things first: you have two ways of editing your portfolio. In order to view the portfolio as a reader sees it, go to the SMP website and type in your business name in the search bar. You can edit the front end of your portfolio in real time. It is possible to edit your portfolio via your internal dashboard as well!

PROFILE IMAGE

The profile image is the square thumbnail image appearing on the listing page and also translates to the circular image on your portfolio page. To add a new profile image, simply click on the “Upload Profile Photo” link that shows up in the profile photo section. You can then choose an image from your local computer and simply hit open. The new profile photo should now be displayed on your portfolio page. In an effort to simplify listings, all listings now use the profile image as their main image in the Vendor Guide. It may take up to 24 hours for your new image to be updated in the Vendor Guide.

COVER IMAGE

The cover image is the image at the top section of your portfolio page. If you need to change this, simply click on the “Upload cover photo” section on the page. Then, click where it says “Click Here To Upload Image” and select an image from your computer.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The contact section is one of the most important sections of your portfolio page. This is how brides can reach out to you, check out your website and your social network pages. To the right, when in the Edit section of your portfolio, you will see a form where you can input all social accounts. We recommend that you fill out all parts of this section for best results. Don’t forget to click ‘Save Changes’ when you’re finished!

While we’re chatting about your social, did you know that over 50% of couples hire their vendor team after discovering them via social media? Yep, that’s how important social media is in today’s wedding industry landscape. Here are a few quick tips to check over your own:

Make sure your Instagram profile is a business account. This gives you a contact button, analytics, and more.
Make your “about” section
Highlight your BEST work and think about the overall aesthetic of your grid as a whole!

ABOUT

Every portfolio has a bio/about area where vendors can write a description about their work and specialty. To add a new description or update your existing one, simply type in the designated area. Unsure what to write? Here are a few tips:

Show off a bit of your personality! Inquiring couples love to feel a connection with their vendors.
List any of your recent awards, accolades, or publications you have recently been featured in. This gives you a bit of quick credibility.
Tell us a little bit about what inspires you as an artist and wedding vendor – the aspirational bit gives an inquiring vendor some context into why you create the work that you do.

REARRANGE AND SORT GALLERIES

Scroll to the lower section of your portfolio and you’ll find the Featured Galleries section. The Featured Galleries section is a crucial part of your portfolio as couples love to do their due diligence and fully research (aka swoon over…) your work! There are two types fo Featured Galleries:

Previous features: these show up with a “Featured” banner.
Uploaded galleries: you can upload these yourself.

You can choose which 9 galleries you’d like to publicly display to readers! You can also sort the galleries to choose in which order they display. In order to change the selected 9, you must click ‘edit portfolio’ at the top of your portfolio, scroll down to the gallery section, and star and unstar the galleries. Click the three dots to the left of the gallery to drag to the position you choose.

If you do not have 9 galleries uploaded, no worries. We do recommend at least 3 to fill out one row! You can either upload full wedding galleries or you can upload galleries grouped by category (i.e. Bridal Portraits, Reception Details, and Wedding Ceremonies for example). Let the brides and grooms stalk you ;)

ADD A NEW GALLERY

To upload a new gallery, simply click the pink button titled “+ New Gallery” on your portfolio. This will take you to a new “Collection” submission form. Please note: as with all of our submissions, the form autosaves! Once you’ve uploaded your images, entered in vendor credits, rearranged the images as you see fit… the gallery is ready to go.

One more thing: the description box is not required for portfolio galleries. A typed description will not show up on your gallery.

What makes a great collection of Featured Galleries for your LBB portfolio? Simple! Anything extremely beautiful that shows off your work in the best light. The number one piece of advice we dish out: put the work out there that you want to get back. This means show off your best work that most closely aligns with the type of work you want to continue doing or do more of.

CHANGING HEADER IMAGE FOR A GALLERY

Click into the gallery you’d like to edit. You can scroll through the images and select ‘Gallery Cover’ in the top left hand side of the screen.

WHAT ELSE?

The most important thing about your portfolio is that you keep it fresh and updated. We recommend popping in occasionally to freshen up the about section, display your newest and best work, and make sure the contact/social info is up to date.

One last tip is to make sure you both show off your LBB Badge on your site (access this via your Vendor Dashboard > Settings > Badges) and also link to your portfolio! This improves the Google rank of your LBB portfolio and encourages couples to hop over and see your work on SMP if they’re browsing your website.

Photography: Lynette Boyle Photography | Photography: Madix & Co

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Lynette Boyle Photography

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Horseshoe Altars Are Quickly Becoming Our Latest Obsession, Here’s Why

Today’s wedding at La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes is a black and white affair tailor made for the timeless bride with a serious sense of style. The adorable couple tied the knot surrounded by a horseshoe altar made of delphinium, snapdragon and lush roses from Royal Bee Flower Co. – if you don’t already know about horseshoe altars and all their beauty, prepare to fall in love. The entire day went off without a hitch thanks to Susan Dunne, included a surprise performance by Tahitian dancers to bring a taste of their honeymoon destination to their wedding. For all the inspiring details from their day, check out the full gallery – captured by Taryn Grey Photography!

From Taryn Grey Photography… The wedding took place at La Venta Inn, Palos Verde. It was a small destination wedding for a lovely couple from Texas. As stylish as Britny is she wanted a black and white themed wedding. Britny hired Weddings by Susan Dunne to help her tie her stylish and dream wedding together. She then knew she had to have Taryn Grey to capture a night to remember. There were so many beautiful details from the horseshoe altar which incorporated delphinium, snapdragon and lush roses and rounded type of blooms and a river of lush garden boxes down the aisle.

Reception tables were adorned with a mixture of low and elevated arrangements, vintage black pressed glassware and a mixture of tapered and votive candles which were provided by Royal Bee Flower and Co. They surprised guest with a small performance of Tahitian dancers to give a small taste of their where they’d be traveling for their honeymoon. They finished off the night a late night snack which was hand made pizza fired up in a ceramic stone oven.

The Meet Cute: The couple met at Aaron’s alma mater, Mizzou. Britny’s best friend was dating Aaron’s fraternity brother at the time. The two had a chance meeting while Britny was visiting her friend in the Summer. The rest is history and now after a couple years of dating they have decided to get married.

The Proposal: The couple took a trip together to their now favorite place, San Diego. Britny thought that the proposal was going to happen on their hike at Torrey Pines. Each time they would get to a look out point she was sure that it was going to happen. She even swears that she saw an outline of a ring in his pocket. When it didn’t happen that day she was a little thrown off. Fast forward to the next day when the two are in Palm Springs. They took the aerial tramway up the to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Britny thought it was odd because Aaron had a huge bulge in his jacket pocket. When she asked Aaron what it was, he told her that he brought an extra pair of socks because it was cold in the mountains. Needless to say she did not fall for that answer and had a pretty good idea that it was the ring box. Because neither of them did much research, Britny was completely unprepared for the 1 mile hike in the snow in her flip flops. They got to the first look out point and there was not much of a view, so of course Aaron did not want to propose there. Instead he insisted that Britny hike further to the next point, to ensure the perfect view. They finally got to the next spot and while Britny was enjoying the view, Aaron called her name for her to turn around. There Aaron was on one knee and ready to propose. Aaron said that he wanted to propose high up in the mountains so that they could be as close as possible to Britny’s recently deceased father, Randy. Neither of them remember much else of what was said, however they know that Britny said yes and that is all that matters.

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Weddings by Susan Dunne

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Find out Why This Venue Is One of the Most Popular Wedding Locales in California

A ceremony lined by Sycamores, cocktail hour in the garden, a reception by the estate and epic golden hour portraits in the fields… I mean does it get much dreamier than that? Luckily a place so beautiful exists at Kestrel Park in Santa Ynez. If you haven’t already fallen in love with this one-of-a-kind wedding locale, allow today’s shoot from Sposto Photography and Ann Johnson Events to seal the deal, complete with breathtaking burgundy and cream blooms from Plenty of Petals. The full gallery is an absolute must, my friends.

From Sposto Photography… This shoot was greatly focused on the home located on the property. Ivy covered with a gorgeous brick work arch, this tutor-style abode was the perfect backdrop for our intimate dinner setting. From the grooms’ gorgeous burgundy friar tux suit to the incredible table top decor, we wanted to bring as much of the Kestrel home alive in the design.

The Ceremony site took place in the Sycamore ally on property which provided a beautiful natural environment inspiration for the couple and their guests. A small cocktail lounge by the barn served as an inspiration for the couple to have some private time away from their guests with a glass of bubbly.

Seniman Calligraphy did a lovely job creating a paper goods suite adorned with a hand drawn illustration of the Kestrel home in beautiful burgundy ink and it was all tied together with the incredible floral installations of Plenty of Petals.

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Sposto Photography

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3 Legal Mistakes Photographers Make

Everyone, meet Magi. You might already be familiar with Magi’s gorgeous wedding photography work, but this multi-talented lady is also a lawyer. A wedding photographer with a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law? What a brilliant combination and we’re so thankful she’s here to share some incredible insights into the legal side of things. Magi also provides 1-1 legal services which is a complete luxury to know someone with both wedding industry knowledge and one to make sense of all the legal jargon that you might not be able to sort through!

THREE LEGAL MISTAKES PHOTOGRAPHERS MAKE

As a wedding photographer, it’s probably a safe bet that you consider yourself a creative and got into the industry because of your love for composition, lighting, styling, and connecting with couples. Which means that dealing with the legal side of running your business might make your head spin. Sound about right? What do you need to know if someone tries to sue you because they don’t like your photos? What if your associate photographer breaks his ankle at a wedding he’s covering with you? Where do you even begin!? Don’t stress. As both a barred attorney and a wedding photographer myself, I’ve got you covered. Here are the three mistakes most commonly made by photographers – and how to avoid them.

1. NOT USING LAWYER-COMPOSED CONTRACTS

When you run a wedding photography business, contracts aren’t just a good idea – they’re essential. Not only do they protect you, but a thoughtfully composed contract makes expectations, services, and deliverables clear from the get go. This means your client knows exactly what they’re signing up for and can communicate any questions, concerns, or priorities before officially enlisting your services. Sounds ideal, right? Happy clients are good for business.

But hiring an attorney to create a custom set of contracts for your business can be extremely cost prohibitive for a small business owner, especially when you’re just starting out. It feels like a catch 22, but there is a solution – contract templates. Whether you need an NDA, a release form, terms and conditions, a GDPR-compliant privacy policy, an independent contractor agreement, a full service contract, or an individual clause, a quick Google search will instantly populate a plethora of template options to purchase and download.

When choosing a legal template to purchase for your business, make sure it is written in easy to understand language (legalese is a headache for you and your client – do they even know what they’re signing!?) and presented in an organized fashion. Remember, these contracts aren’t just fail safes for your business – your client needs to be able to understand the terms so they can enter into the agreement with confidence. Additionally, make sure it is customized and comprehensive for you as a wedding photographer. For example, your contract should include detailed policies that cover location limitations, cancellations, rescheduling, weather, harassment, safety, force majeure, and other emergencies.

You also need to consider your source. It is never acceptable for a layman to provide legal counsel. You wouldn’t go to the owner of a clothing boutique and ask him to give you a medical treatment plan for your high blood pressure… Even if his mother is a pediatrician. That seems obvious, right? Likewise, you shouldn’t purchase contracts from anyone other than a barred attorney; bonus points if the attorney’s expertise is on creative, small businesses (let’s chat!). Why? Laws and regulations are ever-changing and require a full-time professional to stay up to date on them, and contracts require specific language and meticulous composition. Not only will a document written by a non-lawyer leave you and your business at risk, but creating and selling a legal template as a layman is a massive liability for their own business. My advice in a nutshell: Steer clear.

Instead of using an unqualified source for your legal contracts, purchase one from a currently practicing lawyer who understands the needs of a wedding photographer. Because it was so hard to find comprehensive, affordable, legitimate contract templates, I decided to fill the gap and create some myself, which are available at MagiFisher.Com/shop.

One final tip: Whether you use my templates or someone else’s, make sure you revisit them yearly with your attorney to make sure they stay up to date with current legal best practices.

2. MIXING BUSINESS & PLEASURE

This one is pretty straight forward – and it’s actually really easy to do! Keep your business accounts separate from your personal, even if you don’t have a single employee. Why? Mixing your expenses is not only a bookkeeping nightmare (Was that gas charge on the debit card in April for my personal use or for traveling to the Smiths’ wedding?), but it also puts you at risk for losing the liability protections of your LLC. And I’m talking ALL your accounts – checking, savings, credit cards, Paypal, Square, etc. All you need is an EIN (employer identification number), which you can apply for online directly through the IRS website and will receive immediately.

3. BEING UNDER INSURED

There are three types of insurance your wedding photography business needs – liability, professional liability, and equipment. Here’s a quick breakdown of what these mean: General liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage (i. E. A client sues you because they slipped on the step of your studio and broke their ankle during your consultation session), professional liability insurance covers against financial loss (i. E. A client sues you because they’re unhappy with the services you rendered), and equipment insurance protects the gear essential to doing your job (i. E. Your camera lens gets scratched by a rogue branch incident during an outdoor wedding). Try reaching out to the company that provides your personal homeowner’s, renter’s, or auto insurance as a first quote or reach out to a trusted local insurance agent who can help point you in the direction of a company who specializes in policies for small business owners.

MAGI FISHER BIO

Magi is a lawyer, educator, photographer, storyteller, traveler, and entrepreneur. Her journey has taken her from photographing professional surfers while swimming in some of the world’s most epic waves to receiving a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law. If she’s not photographing a wedding with her husband, Scott, in a remote locale, managing her team of Associate Photographers at Magdalena Studios, or providing legal counsel to creative business owners via Magi Fisher, she’s probably eating an acai bowl, chasing her pup, Arti, around the beach, or watching SVU reruns in her bungalow.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This information is made available for educational and general informational purposes only; it is not legal advice for an individual case nor does it guarantee any future result. This material may be improved upon or updated without notice, and Magi Fisher will not be held responsible for any outcomes as a result of this education. Do not act upon this information without seeking individual advice from a lawyer licensed in your state. You understand that viewing this information does not establish an attorney-client relationship between you and Magi Fisher.

Magdalena Studios

An Intimate Lake Como Wedding at Hotel Villa Cipressi Thats More Romantic Than the Movies

From the bride’s princess Lena Berisha gown to a sparkling ceremony on Lake Como, to the pergola covered reception – the amount of breathtaking beauty in this wedding is truly endless. Don’t mind us, we’ll just be sitting here for the rest of the day drooling over Julia Kaptelova Photography’s flawless pictures, especially those stunning floral arrangements from Il Florista. Keep on reading for words from the bride telling the story of their special day, including her favorite moment, that happened to be one she never even planned for.

From the Bride Darya… Our little Italian wedding. We were always fond of all things Italian, despite never being there before. My husband and I could not imagine a better place to celebrate the beginning of our life as one. And so, when we found the most charming Hotel Villa Cipressi, we instantly knew it would be the place to remember. With breathtaking views of Lago di Como and the Botanic Garden encompassing the villa, we decided to go with a simple yet classic wedding style that I believe allowed us to experience the true taste of Italian culture.

The sunny outdoor terrace on the shore, with a string quartet and bouquets of roses was the most magical place to say the most important words: I do. After which we wondered to the cool shaded paths of the garden with our talented photographer Julia Kaptelova and her team to capture the euphoria of our special day through her lens.

To those who are in the midst of planning their weddings, the success of your wedding depends on how comfortable you feel around your photographer. My hubby and I were extremely lucky to instantly connect with Julia, whose humble character, work ethic and ability to guide us through the process left the most delightful imprint on our hearts.

On a hot mid-September day, nothing brings more joy than refreshing bubbles of prosecco, a light lake breeze on the elevated terrace with spectacular views and enchanting classical music. In the spur of the moment, Elisabetta from Prelude Musica asked Ryan and I to dance for our guests during the cocktail hour and, I must say, my first thought was “the first dance is planned after dinner” but the atmosphere was so compelling that we could not say no. And so, my favorite memory of our wedding was a dance I never planned for.

We wanted to make sure our guests knew their presence was equally important to us. Therefore, one long table Italian-style for the reception was the perfect solution for a small family-like wedding. A charming pergola, soft sounds of the fountain and warm string of lights created an intimate ambiance which became the main ingredient of an unforgettable Italian wedding.

This Historical Charleston Venue Is Complete With Its Own Magical Secret Garden!

Will we ever tire of charming Charleston weddings? Ummm, NOPE – we can’t get enough! Today’s gorgeous wedding planned by Wildflower Inc. satisfies all our southern cravings. From a romantic ceremony under endless strings of Spanish Moss to a timeless tented reception every classic bride will love. Lucky for us, Hannah Lane Photography was there to capture all the inspiring details of this beautiful day at Governor Thomas Bennett House – head on over to the full gallery to see the magic unfold!

How did you meet?

From the Bride… We both played on opposite teams in a co-ed soccer league in Northern Virginia, and because of a rain-out, played two games back to back nights. In a twist of middle-school style shyness, we both inquired about the other to our teammates. Through mutual friends, they relayed our shared interest in each other and encouraged us both to attend a birthday party that weekend. We struck up a conversation there and the rest is history.

Tell us about your first date!

Our first date was at a Mexican spot in Arlington, VA. With mariachi band and all, we shared our love of travel, future goals and dreams, and of course, our passion for soccer over chips and salsa and margaritas. We both had so much fun that shortly after, Rachel put her Baltimore Ravens fanhood aside for a Sunday and went with Tim to cheer on his Giants against the local Redskins, complete with a pre-game run to the popular Italian Store for some subs and Baltimore-sourced Berger cookies.

How did Tim propose?

Rachel’s family typically takes an annual trip, and in 2017, the destination was one of Rachel’s favorites, San Diego, a place she and Tim had vacationed before. On the first full day of the trip, Tim ended it down on one knee on the cliffs of Torrey Pines state park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where Rachel said yes! Before that, he had taken her on an adventure of scavenger hunt-type clues leading her to a helicopter tour of the city, shopping and a manicure, and a mystery limo ride to the park (she won’t let Tim forget that she had to hike 1/4 of a mile in heels on the dirt path to reach him!). Each clue had coordinates tied to a significant location of our relationship, with the final being the spot Tim proposed. We ended the proposal eating a delicious dinner at Mister A’s overlooking the city skyline to cap off an incredible day we will both never forget.

What do you love to do together?

Our love of soccer initially brought us together, and we continue to play – now on the same team-for exercise and fun in North Carolina, where we now live. We both love to travel and have been to many places together both domestically and internationally, trying new food, exploring new cultures, and activities. Some of our favorite return spots include San Diego (obviously), Breckenridge, and Kiawah Island / Charleston area, where we got married. Locally, we love exploring the Triangle, whether its catching a Durham Bulls game or a show at the local performing arts center, or trying all the great food spots in the area especially NC barbecue). Board game nights are competitive and intense on occasion. We love spending time with friends and family, and staying active via biking nearby trails and hiking with our rescue dog Cooper.

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Rachel grew up with her older sister and parents in Ellicott City, MD. She graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she played soccer and majored in biology. She also got her BS in Nursing at Marymount University in Arlington, VA (where she and Tim met) and ultimately took the job she still has today at Duke University Hospital as a NICU nurse working with premature infants. She loves garlic bread and binge watching Friends in her free time. Tim, the oldest of six siblings, hails from a town not far from the Jersey Shore in Holmdel, NJ. Tim graduated from Georgetown University, majoring in Accounting and Finance, and started his career in consulting with PwC after graduation. He now works in an internal consulting role with Wells Fargo. Tim loves anything chocolate and peanut butter and trying improve his woefully poor golf game when the opportunity presents itself. Tim and Rachel rescued their dog Cooper from the local APS in Durham in 2016 (test baby) when they first moved to North Carolina, and are now expecting their first real baby boy, in early May. We can’t be more excited to start our family.

What was your favorite part of the wedding?

It’s nearly impossible to pick the favorite part of the wedding. We loved everything about the whole day: the venue was stunning, the southern tapas selections offered the perfect taste of Charleston and the décor was magical with the lanterns hanging from the huge oak trees with Spanish moss. Even the weather for a late August wedding was perfect, there was even a breeze! But if we had to pick one, we both loved the ceremony itself being surrounded by family and friends in an intimate garden setting exchanging the vows we wrote ourselves.

Do you have any advice for other couples planning their wedding?

Preparing for a wedding can be exciting and daunting. We had a few key takeaways after going through the process ourselves:
Hire a planner! It was the best investment of the whole wedding. We did a partial planner, which helps after you’ve signed a lot of the big contracts. It is great peace of mind and allow you to enjoy the celebration with your friends and families. Google sheets will be your best friend, from budgeting, planning, guest lists, open task items, and more. Staying organized and creating a plan up front that you can share with others like your planner, family, or bridal party will be a life-saver. At the end of the day, it is your big day together, so it is important you both as a couple decide what you want. There may be a lot of people with opinions and suggestions but it is important the two of you to determine what your non-negotiables are, commit to making those happen, and not feel the need to appease everyone else if its not what you want. It can also be helpful to assign family members tasks/projects to lighten some of the load – it helps them feel more a part of the big day and you can focus on other things on your list; we were fortunate enough to have our brother in law design our snap chat filter, map and timeline for the welcome bag, programs and table assignments etc. Surround yourself with great vendors and communicate your vision for the day. Great photographs and videography will preserve your memories forever, especially when things go by so quickly. Enjoy the journey!

How did you decide on Governor Thomas Bennett House?

We initially considered our current home location of Raleigh/Durham (NC), but didn’t quite find what we were looking for after touring some venues. Next we explored Charleston. Rachel’s family has vacationed in nearby Kiawah Island for years and Charleston represented a particularly appealing choice, for its charm and history, food scene, and more. After looking at several other venues, we immediately fell in love with the Governor Thomas Bennett House. It’s historic architecture, quintessential southern gardens, and downtown location provided the perfect venue. We loved the ability to use the garden space for the ceremony, the veranda and the house for the cocktail hour, and the tented patio/lawn for the reception. There was even a secret garden! It was great to have a spacious bridal suite to have hair and make up done and relax pre wedding. The location was conveniently close to many hotel options for our guests, and we were able to bring in a caterer that we really wanted. It embodied everything we loved about Charleston, and was something we were really excited to share with our friends and family.

What makes your wedding special, highlighting the details and ideas you think were most important?

We’ve already highlighted some of the things that we loved about our day. The venue was incredible, the food menu amazing, and the DJ provided lots of fun. A lot of what brought everything together were the little details and personal touches that everyone pitched in on. Rachel’s dad helped carve out wood placeholders for the name plates. Our wedding planner provided us with beautiful hanging lanterns draped from the Spanish moss trees and also shared some other neat decor. Rachel’s mom found fun pineapple flip flops (an ode to Charleston) and attached size tags to them so the women could rest their feet on the dance floor. Our brother in-law helped designed all the welcome cards and a personalized map as part of our welcome kits, and Tim and Rachel’s mom helped assemble them. Rachel designed a speciality drink we named after our dog (who could unfortunately not be there with us), and bought a neat chalkboard sign to document the drink menu. Having all these collective contributions come together for the big day made it even more special and made us feel really loved. The fact that we had Hannah (our photographer) and Shawn (our videographer) to capture all those small moments and details meant we could relive it over and over again. We are forever indebted to them for the awesome job they did!

Anything else you want to share with us?

Our wedding day wasn’t without its own drama. Tim had forgotten to bring his brother Jack’s suit to South Carolina (he serves in the military abroad), and so it required some last second hustle from Tim’s dad and Jack to get a replacement one at one of the local Men’s Warehouse the morning of the wedding. Thankfully the bride didn’t find about the little snafu until after the ceremony! Lesson learned – triple check your checklist, and also don’t stress if everything doesn’t go perfectly to plan. You get to marry your life partner and that is awesome!

A Breathtaking Mountain Top Summer Wedding at Cedar Lakes Estate

The elevated camp setting of Cedar Lakes Estate in New York proved to be the perfect place for Sam and Billy’s romantic summer nuptials. The two married under a rustic arbor adorned in blush blooms and greenery from Faye and Renee Floral and Event Design. Kaleidoscope Weddings left no detail unturned, read on for all the special touches and don’t miss out on the full gallery for all the can’t-miss moments from their day, including the sweetest four-legged wedding guest – all taken by Emily Wren Photography!

From Emily Wren Photography… Sam and Billy’s romantic, early August wedding took place at the breathtaking Cedar Lakes Estate. For years, I’d been hearing about how Cedar Lakes has elevated the rustic, invigorating appeal of summer camp with its elegant and thoughtful design, but stepping on-site is like entering an enchanted world! Cedar Lakes Estate’s sprawling pastoral campus makes even a weekend getaway feel like a true retreat and Sam and Billy planned a weekend of wedding activities to take advantage of the venue’s many charms. On Friday, they capped off their rehearsal dinner with s’mores around a fire pit and a luxe, cozy lounge created by Faye & Renee perfect for enjoying the late summer air in style. On the day of the ceremony, Sam and Billy took portraits down by the lake.

The afternoon light fell softly through the tall pines that border the lake, resulting in a tranquility that complemented the beaming bridal party and family. Meanwhile, on the Mountain Top (a grass clearing with stunning mountain views) Faye+Renee laid down a carpet of petals leading up to a rustic floral arch where Sam and Billy were married. The effect was pure magic. When Sam walked down the flower-strewn aisle toward the arch, I thought of the fairy huts I used to build as a child. We made them as beautiful as possible in the hopes that the fairies would come down at night and have parties.

Radiant and ethereal in her sparkling gown, Sam absolutely looked like an envoi from another world. And the couple’s handsome dog Reese had a star turn walking up the aisle and back again with his newly married humans! After a joyful and moving ceremony, guests headed down to the open air Pavilion for cocktail hour. Two trees outside the Pavillion were decked in a gorgeous swath of greenery and dusky florals, cleverly pinned with escort cards where guests could find their seating assignments. Inside the barn, Faye & Renee brought the robust romance of August indoors, with generous tabletop blooms, candles that glittered like stars, and a jaw-dropping arrangement suspended from the barn’s high ceilings.

Heartwarming speeches, delicious family-style meals, and live music by Cafe Wha contributed to the exuberant mood that filled the spacious barn. A colorful classic layer cake from Milk Bar put a grown up spin on favorite childhood dessert–perfect for the elevated sleepaway camp vibes of Cedar Lakes Estate!

Congratulations, Sam & Billy, thank you for having us shoot your magical wedding weekend!

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This Is the Cutest Champagne Cart You NEED to Have at Your Outdoor Wedding

The talented team at Revel Wedding Co. brought a major dose of ballroom glam to the desert at everyone’s fave Arizona venue – El Chorro! With jaw-dropping views of Camelback Mountain, the ceremony will completely take your breath away thanks to Lux Wedding Florist’s extravagant, floral adorned chuppah. Plus, a champagne cart that’s about to blow up your Pinterest feed. Take a peak at the full gallery of details – all taken by Jamiee Morse!

From Jamiee Morse… A styled wedding set in the middle of the Arizona desert, from the moment you entered the ballroom on the El Chorro property you traveled to another world of modern ballroom glam, complete with invitingly soft touches. The wedding trends in Arizona have been shifting to a very dolled up version of what has always been in style: classic garden, whites and greens.

One of the many positive outcomes of a styled shoot is that the designers can create something that you’ve never seen before—something fresh that you didn’t know you were missing! This one specifically fashioned a wedding story too beautiful not to tell.

As you walked through the ceremony space, you were welcomed by the breathtaking view of Camelback Mountain. The ceremony design itself was conjured up many diagrams, drawings, and scratch papers later, and it was evident the time and dedication that was put into the details. Rounded ceremony chairs juxtaposed the square altar, and you couldn’t help but let your eye travel all the way around the space. Event Rents crystal chairs and Lux Florist’s white altar and impressive florals looked beautiful on the green lawn.

The same color scheme was recreated in the invitation suite by Be In Love Designs, arriving in a satin box stamped with the crest of the couples’ last name. Acrylic, white, and a soft olive colors were incorporated to foreshadow what was yet to come.

The patio awaited with plush lounge furniture from Prim Rentals and a Moët station for each guest to grab their champagne and find their escort card. A whiskey tasting was offered and, yet again, an amazing Lux floral moment behind the bar completed the look and experience.

The ballroom was dressed from head to toe in white—white ceilings, white drapes, and white flooring. Adding in two long tables in velvet olive linen from La Tavola Linen immediately conveyed elegance. The look was complimented with crystal chairs, glass candelabras and chargers, and modern glassware and flatware. A garden oasis of florals and greens dripped from the ceiling, complete with floral adorned fireplaces for when the sun dipped behind the mountain and the desert cool set in. And to tie the design back into the initial elements, Forevergram embroidered the dinner napkins with the same crest from the invitation.

The event finished with Old Town Scottsdale’s Ruze Cake House’s cake moment—glamorous simplicity in the form of 4,086 hand-placed edible sequins covering a four-tiered masterpiece!

The Bride and Groom’s attire was intentionally chosen last. Heywood and Ringo immediately understood the vision and custom made the Groom’s tux, and Schaffer’s Bridal’s sleek wedding gown coupled it perfectly. If we could describe this perfect combination in three words, it would be white, classy, and Jimmy Choo. (Okay, four words.)

The entirety of the wedding was captured by the talented Jaimee Morse who didn’t miss a detail—everything from the altar down to the sugar sequins! Her personality and photographic creativity added to the experience.

Each aspect of the design was carefully curated to create unforgettable moments at every turn. The ceremony could speak for itself, the cocktail hour weaved playful and sophisticated into one, and dinner exuded magic from its core. This styled wedding took El Chorro’s natural, lush, green desert beauty to the next level, reminding the everyday spectators of its purpose and potential. Reinventing what it means to be married in Arizona.

“Change the Date” Wording Templates to Steal If You’re Stumped on How to Politely Inform Your Guests

“Wow, what were we thinking deciding to say ‘I Do’ this year?” – said every couple who optimistically saved a date in the new millennium well before the world took a turn for the worse. They say that hindsight is 20/20, and given the circumstances of this global pandemic, it seems like 2020 really wasn’t a great year to bet on anything – weddings? Forget it! While we’d love to cling to wishful thinking that we’re on the back half of this outbreak, it’s just a little too risky for us, especially when gung ho guests, a healthy and happy couple, and a safe and secure soiree are high key points to the whole thing. So, if you planned a fall or winter wedding, then stick it out a bit more before you make a grand plan; anyone with days on deck for the summer, you should probably make the call to postpone or keep your guest list lean and mean with only your closest loved ones.

Granted, changing the date is more involved than simply sending out a card, but we’ve covered the majority of the CTD communication process already, so, for today, we thought it’d be helpful to share some inspiration for your inscriptions. Whether you want to be formal or funny, poetic or to-the-point, you can bring a lot of personality to your postponement announcement while still acknowledging the gravity of the COVID situation.

As much as we hate that so many brides and grooms are un-saving their dates at this time, we hope that anyone who has to make the heartbreaking decision to forfeit their first-choice can change the date with confidence, courage, and composure. We are so excited to have a brand new shop full of customizable Style Me Pretty-exclusive save the date cards that can be overhauled as creative change the date announcements. Our collection certainly has the pretty down pat, with photo and nonphoto options, gorgeous fonts and to die for flourishes, but the beauty also comes from the freedom couples have to make the already-stunning designs their own.

Check out five sample ways to word your change the date (if “Postponed” just doesn’t feel personal enough. #wegetit). For designs that don’t have enough personalizable space to include as much explanation as you’d like, feel free to use one of our equally-stylish + tailorable all purpose cards. Any of the headings and text box defaults can be erased to include your own notes like “more details to come,” “re-invitations to follow,” or “keep up with our wedding website for the latest,” so that guests know what to expect, particularly if you haven’t narrowed down the news on your nuptials yet!

If you want to be formal…

In light of recent events, BRIDE & GROOM (BRIDE & BRIDE; GROOM & GROOM) have decided to postpone their wedding date.
Please celebrate with us on X.Y.ZZZZ
Until then, stay safe and healthy!

If you want to be playful…

We thought 2020 was going to be our year, but COVID had other plans.
2021, don’t let us down!
We’ll be saying ‘I Do’ on X.Y.ZZZZ and hope that you can still make it – we need you there!

If you want to go funny…

We’ve waited XX (bride or groom’s age, whoever is older) years to do the damn thing.
… What’s a few more months, when we can be building our tolerance for the open bar.
Can’t wait to see you! For now, stay home, wash your hands, and enjoy those PJs, because come X.Y.ZZZZ, you’ll be formal AF

If you want to use some punny prose…

We had our vows ready to go, but ‘for sickness and in health’ just didn’t hit right this time.
So, we’ve decided to put a pin in our wedding plans and celebrate once everyone can make it.
Stay tuned!

If you want to speak in rhyme…

Love is patient, love is kind, we changed the date
For peace of mind.
And while so much is still up in the air,
We’re crossing fingers that you’ll be there.
Save our new date – X.Y.ZZZZ

It’s really such a tumultuous time, and we wish things could be different for the couples who worked so hard for their 2020 weddings [and are now dealing with COVID cancellation fallout]. But once a new date is on the calendar, sending out an official ‘back in business’ bulletin is a great first step to feeling good about the future. Choose from a number of brand new Style Me Pretty-curated change the date cards, and for everything else you want to say to guests, be it a little or a lot, use one of our all-inclusive all purpose cards. Everything is shoppable on site right now!

Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.

Ways To Take You From Stuck To On A ‘Staycation’ This Memorial Day Weekend

From Alexa on our Style Me Pretty sales team!

The term staycation is also sometimes known as a holistay, is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within one’s home and does not require overnight accommodations.

Although you may be thinking, “why is this cheesy term for a low-budget vacation relevant at a time like this? With the lack of physical social contact occurring due to this viral outbreak, folks are looking inwards to their spouses, parents, siblings, children, extended or chosen family and close friends for comfort.

In addition, many are looking to improve their life in one way or another during this time. Whether it be their physical or mental health, hygiene, a home improvement, a closet revamp or a new package or subscription to look forward to. In times of despair we all look for ways to find hope and maintain a sense of positivity.

None of us can honestly say we aren’t dying jet away, germ-free, to some faraway beach where COVID-19 doesn’t exist to sip on a pina colada (or seven) right now but figuring out how to make yourself and your loved ones more comfortable at home right now can be (almost) as rewarding—plus much more realistic and practical. Taking a vacation at home isn’t easy, though, especially with the news on TV.

So a staycation must be done so intentionally. Adding a little more structure into the week and considering a few staycation ideas with your special someone, or your kids (who are going crazy at this point if they’re anything like ours!), can help ease the time away from school, work and other usual responsibilities you have on your plate.

A staycation, if done right, could feel rejuvenating, and leave you ready to head back out to the world! What makes a great staycation? It depends on what you want to gain from your time at home! Family bonding time? Home organization? Improved personal physical or mental health? An updated wardrobe? An improved beauty routine? A cozier home? Try these staycation products or ideas and consider how you can make some work at home.

Most importantly, commit to unplugging and indulging as much as possible!

1. Drive-In Movie Marathon

Can’t go to the movie theatre? Bring the movie theatre to you! Grab a sheet and your favorite series and take your adventure outside. You have the luxury of unending popcorn, multiple movies and you can almost guarantee that the seats are going to be more comfortable.

2. Backyard Camping Trip

A popular pass-time when the weather gets good is to go camping. Well, many of the parks are just in their first phases of opening up, or are closed altogether, but there’s something special about recreating the experience in your own back yard. Some might say it’s a right of passage.

3. Family Sports Tournament

We understandably missed out on many, many sporting events this season — so undoubtedly there’s a competitive edge urge that needs to be fulfilled in many families! Couldn’t watch the Masters? Set up a put-put course in your backyard! There are so many different games that you can play as a family and make it fun.

4. Make Your Own Tropical Oasis

No pool, no problem. The name of the game is alleviating heat, and there are many ways you can do that! From slip-in-slides to mini pools, you just need a hose and a good imagination! And a good cocktail.

5. At-Home Spa Day

Pamper yourself, you need it. Three days of unplugging from work mean three days to take care of YOU. This has been a tough time, no doubt about it, so taking care of yourself has never been more important. Use these three days to fully indulge in doing what makes you feel rejuvenated!

Photo & Cookies: Megan Warne

How to Market Your Wedding Business During COVID-19

We’re thrilled to introduce the lovely Tayler Cusick-Hollman of TAYLRD Media and Designs – THE wedding industry marketing consultant, branding expert, and PR guru. Social media expertise, copywriting, and brand strategy are all crucial activities for any small business owners to educate themselves on, but with a wedding specific spin? Invaluable. That is why we’ve loved chatting with and learning from Tayler and couldn’t wait to work with her for this informative series for our LBB vendors. As you’re taking it all in, realizing you’re ready for a whole brand overhaul, we highly recommend getting in touch with Tayler and her partner Gillian, a pro copywriter. Without further ado… we’ll let Tayler take it away!

HOW TO MARKET YOUR WEDDING BUSINESS DURING COVID-19

Running a business in the wedding industry has always been something that takes passion and persistence, and now (more than ever) they are keys to success. Because, in a time where things seemingly change minute by minute, your passion will keep your heart in the game and your persistence will keep your head in. But, even the most driven and inspired business owners can find themselves running low on fuel and confused about which step is the “right one” to take. And that is normal—there is no guidebook for a situation like this. However, this is the time to formulate a plan and find a roadmap to guide you. From making changes to your service offerings and reevaluating your projections to managing a calendar that is in a constant state of flux (and everything in between), there are a lot of ways you can be putting time into your business. Today, though, we are going to focus on a foundational piece that people seem to be questioning at the moment—marketing your business and how to go about it. If you are passionate and persistent as ever about your business but overwhelmed about which steps to take, read on for guidance on how you can market your wedding business in a productive and tasteful way.

Should You Be Marketing Your Business Right Now?

To answer the question that has been swirling around in your head for the past 8 weeks—yes. And, not because it is simply something to do, rather, because it is something vitally important to the overall health of your business. Inquires came to a screeching halt not that long ago and those weeks of being on the receiving end of a single message—STOP—were rough (to say the least). So, I completely understand the sense of overwhelm and why urge to just hit the pause button was strong. But, when it comes to marketing your business, it is always best to take a proactive approach as opposed to a reactive one.

We are starting to get out of the days where every couple who popped into your inbox was asking to reschedule their wedding and, now that some of the dust has settled (and people are becoming comfortable in their new routines), couples are going to start proactively looking at their own future and inquire about services again. Side (but important) note to help you feel confident about marketing your business right now: How much time are you spending on the internet these days? My guess is a lot more than usual because you have a lot more time on your hands. Couples and potential clients are doing the same and viewership on popular sites like Style Me Pretty are up an average of +37% across their top 7 vendor categories!

What To Do Before Diving Back Into Your Marketing Efforts

I’m glad that you’re on board and feeling excited about picking things back up, but before you dive head first into the deep end, there are a few things you should do:

– Set course with a strategy – Weddings in the way we are familiar with are on hold at the moment, so how exactly can you be of service to engaged couples? Be sure to clearly define the services that will be most helpful to people in the near future and build your strategy around communicating that.
– Have goals to reach – The numbers behind your business likely got turned on their head, so it is important to know exactly the value in services you need to book in the coming months. Set milestones for yourself but do give yourself some grace and flexibility since we are all still on a crazy train.
– Hone in on your narrative – A lot of people are in a completely different emotional state at the moment, so you cannot speak to them like you are used to. Consider softening your tone so that you and your business are seen as calm and confident; acting as if “everything is normal” can come off as insensitive

Tips To Help You Market Your Business During COVID 19

There is no right or wrong way to market your business (ever, really) but there are marketing tactics that you and your potential couples might feel more or less comfortable with. So, as you work to build momentum around your business and services, focus your time and energy on the things that move the needle and that you can stand behind. If you want to take a more active approach to marketing your business:

– Start explicitly talking about how you can help and the services you provide. Now is not the time to dance around how you can help
Reach out to previous clients to get reviews and regularly share them on social media (you can even ask them to record a short video of themselves actually talking about what it was like working with you)
– Publish a free resource that demonstrates your expertise. You can do this live on social media, record an IGTV episode, or a more passive way would be to write a blog post
– Create a lead magnet and email list. You don’t have to continually market to the list you build but you can at least take them through a 3-5 email sequence. This historically hasn’t been something I recommend for wedding pros, but your sales cycles might be longer at the moment and, if you have more time with people, this is a great way of building trust
– Start using calls to action (CTAs) at the end of some of your social media posts. Encourage people to reach out and schedule that consultation
– Talk about your calendar to communicate your availability. Scarcity of product is one of the foundational marketing levers you have to pull on and if your calendar is filling up, people should now

If you want to take a more passive approach to marketing your business:

– Work on your SEO! In a time where you might not have a lot of control over things, you have complete control over how optimized your digital brand assets are. So, the first thing you should do is finally figure out what keywords are best to target for your business
Then, do an audit of your website. Can you work your keywords into your copy? Can you update any of the headlines on your website with them? Can you optimize any URLs? (Be mindful about doing the last one since updating URLs would mean breaking any established backlinks. You can set up redirects to mitigate that.)
– Use this time to build a backlog that you can drip out on your website over the coming months. If you can publish something new 1-2 times a month, you will be sitting pretty
– You can also use this time to start leveraging Pinterest as a marketing channel. Start by going through your portfolio and downloading the best detail shots from your best weddings and then get them uploaded onto your boards (optimizing everything, of course!)
Update your listing on Style Me Pretty with all of your best work from the past year! This might be where potential clients are formulating their impression of you, so make it a strong one

You’ve worked so hard at building your brand and business—don’t lose the momentum you’ve gained! Even though things might not be going as you planned (and you might feel defeated), you have a lot of influence over how well your business weathers this storm. Channel that passion and be persistent! And, 2020 can be as good at it can be.

Tayler Cusick-Hollman

Contributing Editor

Modern-Boho Wedding Inspiration That Was Tailor Made for the Free Spirited Bride

Complete with a laid back Santa Barbara vibe, today’s stunning styled shoot from Crowned Events is all the inspo every modern bride with a touch of boho flair will ever need to see. With its lush landscape and architectural magic, The Santa Barbara Historical Museum was the perfect setting to bring their vision to life. Of the Flowers created the most incredible boho arrangements that provided a pop of color to the neutral surroundings. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the inspiring details – captured by Ellie Koleen!

From Ellie Koleen Photography… Inspo/Venue: The Santa Barbara Historical Museum has so much character and architectural interest! When developing this concept, we knew we wanted to highlight some of those features- the neutral color palette with pops of peach, lush landscaping surrounding the building, terracotta tiling, wood beams and tiny details that feel like a glimpse into the past. Overall, we aimed to create an aesthetic that celebrated the design magic that is the Historical Museum, through a modern and playful approach.

Color palette: We created a color palette highlighting several earthy, natural shades- a mossy green, vibrant mustard yellow, muted burnt orange and deep burgundy/brown color complimented by subtle pops of blush pink, crisp whites and gold accents to keep it feeling fresh and modern.

Rentals: For our ceremony and dining chairs we select a gold, bentwood style. We love the way these chairs worked in contrast with the angular beams, tiles and overall rustic vibe of the museum. Their curved lines and matte metallic finish added a bit of glam, in a subtle way. To play up our modern aesthetic, we brought in a sleek white table, with gold legs. The tableware was kept simple yet intentional, including pale blush plates, a textured linen muted orange napkin, stemless beige glassware and gold flatware.

Florals: Because the majority of our design decisions highlighted our modern aesthetic and laid back Santa Barbara vibe, we wanted to use florals as our main statement piece- brining in tons of color, texture and an overall boho-playfulness. Of the Flower’s ceremony installation incorporated big succuclents and plants, highlighting the native landscaping, paired with bright pops of yellow and soft touches of pink. Our brides bouquet was full and diverse, utilizing unexpected textures. For our tablescape, Of the Flowers created two large arrangements that sat in terracotta vessels, comprised of large delicate blooms, Buddah’s hand and a variety of small textural accents that added tons of unexpected visual interest. Our centerpieces were paired with smaller vessels, that incorporated additional movement and whimsy to the tablescape.

This Is the Gorgeous Island You Shouldn’t Be Overlooking for Your Destination Wedding in Greece

Today’s lavender and blue hydrangea-filled wedding planned by Corfu Wedding Planner by Lorraine Young is satisfying all our European summer cravings. The darling couple tied the knot in a ceremony by the sea, the bride donning a knock-out, origami-inspired Victor and Rolf dress. The entire day was beautifully decorated by Rizos Garden’s pastel creations, in heavenly shades of purple, powder blue and pops of pink. The couple decided to incorporate a few meaningful Greek traditions to their wedding that truly made the day all the more special. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by Kostis Mouselimis, to see all the pretty!

From Kostis Mouselimis… What do you get when you blend a breathtaking origami-inspired Victor and Rolf wedding dress, Bella Belle shoes, a million lavender, and blue hydrangeas and a wedding ceremony by the sea? The most romantic and delicate wedding of the summer! Photographing Christina and Michael’s wedding was truly inspiring! These two were so in love and they made the atmosphere electric around them. Originally from Lebanon, Michael visited Greece on vacation and immediately fell in love with the country. He knew then that this would be the place where he would marry his loved one. He wanted to tie the knot in Corfu, a popular (for good reason!) destination for a wedding for its unique and cosmopolitan character!

The wedding planned by Lorraine Young of Corfu Wedding Planner was a true celebration of sophisticated details and romantic shades of purple, powder blue and pops of pink here and there! We started the day with a mini boudoir session and capturing all of the details Christina chose for her wedding day.

Our focal point was the sophisticated wedding dress that reminded us of a Japanese kimono out of origami paper with its breathtaking oversized bow! We loved the minimalistic yet extremely elegant approach of our bride to makeup and her overall styling, proof the less is more when it comes to wedding day chic! The ceremony was filled with all the greek traditions that symbolized the union of two people in love with the exchange of the rings, the shared cup of red wine, the wedding crowning and of course with tossing the rice!

The sea was the perfect backdrop to this and all the guests could not contain their enthusiasm for these two! After the ceremony, we captured Christina and Michael, now husband and wife, in the most glorious greek sunset.

Does it get dreamier? Actually, it does! After the ceremony followed a reception filled with flowers, champagne, and funky jazz tunes! What we loved the most? The milky powdery shades of the flowers, the glorious naked cake, and the hand-embroidered wedding favors! Christina and Michael’s wedding was truly beautiful! Not only because it was picture perfect but because these two were genuinely in love and could not wait to spend the rest of their life together! Don’t believe us? Their wedding portraits say it all!

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A Town & Country Inspired Engagement Dinner With a French Twist

A romantic, carb-filled picnic by the stream, a stroll through the charming Courtomer streets and an all-white welcome party at a jaw-dropping chateau complete with the most delicious french cuisine… talk about the perfect recipe for an unforgettable destination weekend. Whether you’re celebrating an engagement or your big day, allow today’s french fête to inspire you, with images from Lauren Fair and Julie Paisley, and design by Oleander.

From Lauren Fair Photography… The inspiration for Rebecca + Mark’s engagement session + engagement dinner was inspired by A Chic Weekend away from Paris, Market Strolling, Cafe and Normandy Cider / Countryside Picnic.

We also pulled inspiration from Ralph Lauren… We pictured Town & Country with a French Twist, giving our sweet real couple a delicious picnic full of local Normandy cider, apples, and French breads and cheese.

Following the shoot, we hosted a welcome party at our workshop continuing the theme and pulling in local veggies, an all white color palette and delicious French cuisine to celebrate!