Kai Kai Farms Vow Renwal Inspiration
Pulling up to the sweetest farm and unloading buckets of flowers and branches into a breezy screened in pavilion is not the worst way to spend a Saturday. It is an uncharacteristically cool Florida afternoon, with no sign of storm clouds. For the next couple of hours we are able to design on a seculded farm not too far from home.
Can I describe my perfect day to you? It goes a little something like this: Exiting the highway and entering a long stretch of road flanked on either side by farm land that seems to go on for eternity. Pulling up to the sweetest farm and unloading buckets of flowers and branches into a breezy screened in pavilion. It is an uncharacteristically cool Florida afternoon, with no sign of storm clouds, and music is being excitedly played through various speakers. For the next couple of hours I'm installing branches and vines overhead, putting the final touches on a poppy-filled centerpiece, creating boutonnières with accents of broccoli flower, and filling vintage ceramic bud vases with textural bits such as astilbe and astrantia. The day is topped off with a little photo shoot and a delicious meal is served up as part of an on-going Farm Suppers series. Flowers, open air, a cool Florida afternoon, a gourmet meal, wine, and a full day shared with close friends. Yep, I'd say that perfectly describes a perfect day.
See more from this day featured on Ruffled.
Photography | Jessica Bordner Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Desiree Dawn Events
Venue | Kai Kai Farm
Tent, Chairs, Lighting | Sperry Tents
Linens, Glassware | Classic Party Rentals
Vintage Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Music | Keith Michaud
Valerie + Ryan | Flagler Museum Wedding
During one of our meetings, when trying to decide on the direction to take for their ceremony decor, Valerie came right out and said, "I want Lilly's Jungle". Of course by Lilly she meant Lilly Pulitzer, and that told me all I needed to know. I wanted to pull those words into not just her ceremony decor, but into her entire wedding design. I wanted to make sure we played with color in a bold way, that we showcased a variety of greens that felt timeless and a bit Floridian, and I wanted to make sure the flowers leant themselves to playful movement and plenty of whimsy.
Designing with Valerie's style in mind was such a sweet joy. Every time I enter a wedding's design I think about my clients. I think about the pictures they've shared with me, what they've worn when we've met, the venue they've selected, and the words they tend to use when describing their style.
During one of our meetings, when trying to decide on the direction to take for their ceremony decor, Valerie came right out and said, "I want Lilly's Jungle". Of course by Lilly she meant Lilly Pulitzer, and that told me all I needed to know. I wanted to pull those words into not just her ceremony decor, but into her centerpieces, bouquet, her candle votive holders, and even the corsages. I wanted to make sure we played with color in a bold way, that we showcased a variety of greens that felt timeless and a bit Floridian, and I wanted to make sure the flowers leant themselves to playful movement and plenty of whimsy.
Valerie's wedding design also proves that it doesn't have to be peony season to make a lush and colorful impact. A February wedding can make a bold floral statement, it just may take a little poppy and amaryllis to do the trick.
Photography | Shea Christine Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Simply Couture Weddings
Venue | Flagler Museum
Ashleigh + Ben | Delray Beach Wedding
Ashleigh and Ben traveled to the states from Australia to tie the knot. Ashleigh loved the natural beauty of the oceanside estate, but was also drawn to a neutral and romantic garden style. Romantic, loose and overgrown garden details provided a perfect marriage of seaside + garden. Which, if you ask me, really is the best of both worlds.
I still remember the day Ashleigh contacted me. Ashleigh and Ben were traveling all the way from Australia and planning a destination wedding at a family member's estate in Delray Beach. I had to catch my breath. First of all, Australia is basically where all of the incredible creative things ever created come from. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but I will spend hours on end scrolling through Australian wedding publications and will lurk Australian creatives on instagram until my eyes turn red. Second, she mentioned Delray Beach which just happens to be my hometown and a major source of sentimental material for me. I was hooked, I was attached, and I was so ready to dive into a creative adventure with these two.
Since they were traveling such a far distance, their wedding was incredibly intimate with only 20 people in attendance (and we all know how I feel about small intimate weddings - give me all of them!). Ben's aunt graciously opened up her home to their nearest and dearest and was such a champ when a mini-monsoon decided to hit during setup. The ceremony was moved indoors meaning our large wood arbor found its new home right in their formal living room. Like I said, champ.
Seeing a forecast of windy, sideways rain/downpour pop up on your phone the day of a wedding is never an ideal situation. It affects timing, portraits, alters setup locations, and can leave many couples upset and bummed. However, some of my favorite pictures and moments from weddings we've been a part of happen when storms strike. The soft overcast beach portraits with Ashleigh and Ben are everything and wouldn't be what they are without the crazy storm that decided to invite itself to their wedding.
Ashleigh loved the natural beauty of the grounds, but was also drawn to a neutral and romantic garden style. We pulled in blue tones through privet berries, blackberries, and navy centered anemones to pay tribute to the gorgeous ocean surrounding the estate, while keeping the larger blooms fluffy and in shades of white and blush. Vines and branches were incorporated to add those loose and overgrown garden details providing a perfect marriage of seaside + garden. Which, if you ask me, really is the best of both worlds.
Photography | Finding Light Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Cake Design | Chic and Sweet Artisian Cakes
Catering | Silver Sac
Coral Cove Inspiration Shoot
There's something so sentimental and classic about a beach wedding, and this shoot was no exception. We wanted the florals to be loose and romantic while still speaking to the natural beauty of the ocean and it's surroundings. Every creative involved truly embraced the vision and brought so many beautiful moments to the day.
True collaboration can be hard to come by. To me, collaboration is finding a group of people who challenge and influence you, working together to find a vision everyone can stand behind, and then letting that talented collective do what they do best. Of course there are the hiccups, the unexpected rain storms, the near meltdowns, and the sore muscles. But when you find a group of people who can look at you sweaty and near tears, jump right in and offer a hand, and even a hug, you walk away feeling so fulfilled and grateful.
For me, this Coral Cove inspiration shoot is a perfect example of how wonderfully a collaboration can work. I was first connected with Teresa of Jose and Teresa Photography through a few of my fellow Social House members. She was looking to rebrand her website and was hoping to pull together a collection of photos that spoke to her own style.
I love how every detail came together. The florals were loose and romantic while still complimenting the natural beauty of the beach. The table top accents reminded me of my favorite parts of the beach - whispy pink clouds, fragmented bits of sea glass, and found treasures. My favorite floral detail has to be the clay-looking eucalyptus pods used in the arbor's design. They offered the perfect amount of natural contrast against the more romantic blooms used throughout the bouquet and centerpiece.
Beach weddings don't need to be full of starfish and sea shells. I love how we as a group were able to showcase a fresh and romantic approach to a beach wedding that allowed the natural beauty of the beach to act as a soft and complimentary backdrop.
Photography | Jose and Teresa Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Rentals | Coco Prop Shop
Planning | The Golden Pineapple Event Co.
Stationery | Every Little Letter
Bridal Gown | Wildeflower Boutique
Models | The Hip Suburban
Cake | Cloud 9 Bakery
Hair + Makeup | Beauty by VM
Carey + Brendan | Williamsburg Inn Wedding
Designing for our clients is always an adventure and a rewarding journey. But designing for a family member, for your sister, that is about as rewarding as it gets. Carey asked for fall inspired colors that were refined and brought the surrounding gardens into their historic colonial venue at the Williamsburg Inn.
Designing for our clients is always an adventure and a rewarding journey. But designing for a family member, for your sister, that is about as rewarding as it gets. Carey asked for fall inspired colors that were refined and brought the surrounding gardens into their historic colonial venue at the Williamsburg Inn. So, we loaded up the car (boarded up the house - because Hurricane Matthew was making a determined effort to hit our home in South Florida), and headed off to Virginia for some fresh fall air, family time, and inspiration.
I wanted to make sure her centerpieces and bouquet felt freshly gathered, so we sourced plants from the area, combining interesting textures with bold blooms such as peonies and dahlias. In order to bring the lush greens of the grounds in, we designed half of her centerpieces primarily with various and texturally interesting greens and added touches of floral accents in shades of blackberry and goldenrod. The remaining centerpieces incorporated larger focal blooms in shades of blush, burgundy, ivory, and blackberry.
With Hurricane Matthew headed along the east coast, heavy rains called for an indoor ceremony. Large urns of fresh rosemary were used to define the ceremony space and filled the room with the scent of fresh herbs. You immediately felt as though you were outside in a brimming garden and quickly forgot about the surging rains.
I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason, and if it hadn't been for the threat of a hurricane, and the rains that come with it, Carey and Brendan wouldn't have these gorgeous and dewy couple portraits. As they strolled through the garden they remained huddled extra close to one another under a clear umbrella - because all great romances have a rain storm or two intertwined.
Congrats Carey and Brendan! We are so beyond happy for you two, and know that your life will be filled with a lot of love, boardgames, and laughs. Love you so much and thank you for allowing me to create some pretty moments for your big day.
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Photography | Hyer Images
Planning | Night and Daye Events
Venue | Williamsburg Inn
Band | Six Stylez
Jennifer + Beau | Flagler Museum Wedding
We absolutely adored working with Jennifer and Beau. They were a couple with incredible taste - I mean hello, they selected The Flagler Museum as their wedding venue - and they were both filled with so much love for each other as well as their family and friends. Here are just a few of the moments we loved from their big day!
This week we received a few sweet things in our email and mailbox. One was a gallery full of breathtaking images, the other was a sweet handwritten card from our couple which includes the magical line: "When I opened your gift, I actually said you were my spirit sister- cocktails and candy? LOVED IT!"
We absolutely adored working with Jennifer and Beau. They were a couple with incredible taste - I mean hello, they selected The Flagler Museum as their wedding venue - and they were both filled with so much love for each other as well as their family and friends.
Jennifer and Beau wanted to create an evening that left their guests feeling cared for and free to move about the night, all while enjoying a delicious spread of food, bumpin' live music, and the gorgeous Palm Beach waterside views that surround The Flagler Museum.
I will remember these two for years to come and will always look back fondly on our time together. They challenged me, they welcomed me into their planning process and their love story, and left Glen and I feeling like such an integral part of their journey and wedding day. I even got to drive Jennifer to her first look! 100 layers of tulle and all in my front seat. No amount of June Florida rain and humidity could damper that moment.
From the couple: "Thank you sweet Jenny for all your help in planning and the beautiful florals. If anything went wrong on Saturday, we had no clue. You were always there when we needed something and I'm going to miss our emails! The flowers and garlands looked and smelled amazing. So again, thank you for everything before and on our wedding day. Finding you and Port + Palm Co. was pure luck but we were the lucky ones. We hope you remember us and our wedding as fondly as we'll remember you!"
Thank you for trusting us and being such a gracious duo. I can't wait to visit Boston someday soon, share a cocktail and stories of marriage. Cheers you two!
Floral Design + Coordination | Port + Palm Co.
Photography | Shea Christine Photography
Venue | Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
Ceremony | Royal Poinciana Chapel
Cake Artist | Earth and Sugar
Catering | Chez Gourmet
Hair + Makeup | Kiss This
Rentals | Atlas Party Rental
Transportation | Molly's Trolleys
Videography | Illuminate Productions
Band | Bay Kings Band
The Perfect Pinterest Wedding for the Perfect Price | Wedding Planning
There’s a BIG difference between quaint and inexpensive. In fact, “quaint” can end up being rather pricey — your Pinterest board has been built from images of weddings ranging anywhere from $20,000 to $120,000. The picture perfect weddings you see on Pinterest can be quite costly, and were created by a team of professionals. So how much does your picture perfect Pinterest wedding actually cost? Let’s crunch some numbers and find out.
VENUES
Barns. Historic Hotels. Open Fields. Historic Gardens. Museums. At least one of these venues has popped into your wedding inspiration Pinterest board and it is a beaut. The pictures are stunning and the venue truly sets the scene, creating the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and reception. Venues are tricky, and something I advise every bride nailing down at least a year before the big day. Your budget will be affected greatly depending on the venue’s base cost and amenities.
Let’s say you go with the open field option; there are a few hidden fees to be aware of: the venue fee, a dance floor, you’ll likely want a tent, or an alternative, if weather doesn’t cooperate, cutting cake by moonlight won’t cut it so add on some lights, if there are no bathrooms available on site you’ll need to provide a portable option, and before you know it… you’ve tacked on about $5,000 to create a functional event space.
More budget-friendly venues normally include country clubs and hotels. Venues that offer catering services, tables, seating, staff and a venue fee are going to be the most affordable option. The more you are able to get out of your venue, the more affordable it will be due to the fact that you are relying on one vendor as opposed to 5 different vendors.
CAFE LIGHTS
Cafe lights strung across a reception are beautiful and leave the space feeling as if fairies were involved in the decorating. If you’re dreaming of a reception strung with cafe lights get ready to write a check for about $500-2,000 depending on the size of the reception space and your location. Those fairy bulbs need to be anchored properly, rented or purchased, and installed by people who know what they are doing. You don’t want your first dance to be interrupted by a gust of wind blowing your string lights to the ground.
If you’re dead set on having cafe lights, try finding a venue that offers them in their rental package. This can cut down on set up and rental costs accrued from using an additional vendor. Consider lighting one small space with string lights that you can easily manage on your own. Maybe there is a gathering of trees by your cocktail hour that could easily hold a small grouping of lights that you are able to set up yourself.
A BAND
Bands bring a sense of ambiance and entertainment to a wedding that you won’t always get from a DJ. Bands interact with a crowd, play your favorite songs upon request, and can make you feel as if Mumford and Sons just decided to swing by your wedding. If you go with a band for wedding entertainment, plan on paying at least 4 people to play for about 6 hours, and which will bring your spend to about $1,500 – 3,000 depending on their equipment, travel, and popularity.
Aside from hiring a friend, I have had great luck finding bands, or solo performers, at local bars. Don’t be afraid to approach someone you see at an open mic night. Ask if they would consider doing weddings, and for their business card or email. I recently booked an incredible guitarist who I met at a small beer tasting event. His fee was $500 for 5hrs plus DJing services – for when the party wants to kick off their shoes and dance. Pretty great deal for essentially two services in one!
CALLIGRAPHY
I envy all you calligraphy artists out there. You’re able to take a common word such as “cake” and turn it into a work of art. Which is exactly why couples can plan on spending anywhere from $4 per escort card to $300 for a framed poster-sized program. How much would you expect to pay for a piece of art? These pieces are handmade especially for your needs, custom will always cost a little more.
There are so many pros to working with a calligraphy artist. You are getting a completely unique piece, and they will even work with you to develop a new font especially for you. The main con to going with a calligraphy artist is the price and it is often times outside a budget. Of course, there are plenty of digital fonts available that resemble calligraphy styles. Look into downloading a font and creating your own escort cards, envelopes, etc. My fiancé and I had a friend design a custom monogram for our invitations, bought a custom stamp through Etsy with all of our invitation information, and downloaded a font to create our rehearsal card. Grand total for 60 people came out to less than $200.
FLOWERS
Yes, you may have a beautiful home garden, however, that bouquet you’re dreaming of while in business meetings probably features peonies, dahlias, and garden roses. My job as a stylist is nearly impossible without the artistry of a florist. Flowers elevate everything, but can come in around $300 for a bridal bouquet. Factor in centerpieces, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, and flowers for the cake; you’re looking at $2,000 on the low end.
If that is way outside your budget, get creative. Talk with your florist and see what flowers are in season and easily found. Also consider doing your own bridesmaid bouquets and boutonnieres, or centerpieces composed of bud vases and candles, while saving the big money for the bridal bouquet and the arbor. Spend your money on those wow factor moments.
THROWING A PARTY FOR 100 PEOPLE
Here’s the real kicker: we have all thrown successful house parties, however when was the last time you threw a party for 100 people that was catered, had live music, was professionally photographed, held enough seating for everyone, and featured a fully stocked bar? When you break the 20-person mark on your guest list you start to get into the thousands. Venues that fit your entire wedding party, accommodations for 100 people share a meal together, and being serenaded by your favorite local band isn’t exactly “cheap”. Big weddings typically require a team and a big budget.
When creating a dream Pinterest wedding for 100 guests, you can plan on your final budget coming in around at least $30,000 for the venue, rentals, music, florist, your attire, catering, an open bar, hair and make up, a wedding planner, invitations, favors, and a stylist. With less guests you can plan on lower costs for your rentals, florist, caterer, bar, invitations, photographer, and favors.
Am I saying that these things are not worth the money spent?
On the contrary, weddings are incredibly special events and deserve the time, attention, and the personal details you are pinning on a daily basis to your dream board. Early on in the planning process create a budget your feel is reasonable and includes all of those details.
It is amazing how quickly the smallest things, like escort cards, add up in the end. One of my favorite parts of being a wedding planner is getting creative. No two weddings are alike and each presents new challenges and new dreams to bring to life. Believe me, you can send invitations to 100 people for $150, it is possible to find very affordable alternatives but you have to be willing to get your hands a little dirty, negotiate and research.
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Ivory and Beau | Destination Wedding Savannah
The dress. Some of my favorite wedding stories stem from brides explaining how they knew their dress was the one.
“I tried it on one day and was feeling kinda “eh” about it. But I kept thinking about that dress months afterward. So, one day I had the day off from work, took the train to BHLDN, tried on a slew of dresses, got a few weird looks from the sales associates because I was alone, and kept coming back to the one I had originally felt iffy about. I slipped it back on and knew it was the right one. I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I had them wrap it up and took a train ride back home with the perfect dress.“
-Caitlin, Washington, DC Bride
“I didn’t have the slightest bit of emotion during the dress finding process... everything looked lovely and honestly, I didn’t think I was going to have a “moment”. My dress wasn’t even on display, it was hanging in the back and I happened to see it. When I tried it on my eyes welled up. It was truly a “say yes to the dress” moment.
- Vanessa, Florida Bride
Finding the right dress can be stressful, a full day event, or in my case one that happened when my Grandma pulled her wedding dress out of a suitcase. Jenny Does Weddings recently visited Ivory and Beau, a bridal boutique located just outside downtown Savannah, Georgia, and had the opportunity to meet the owners and spend time among sparkly, geometric, and fluffy pieces of art.
Adrienna and Nicole are at the head of Ivory and Beau, and welcome visitors from a front desk draped in sequins. Immediately, upon entering, I knew they were my kind of girls. Their style is eclectic, girly, rustic, and edgy with a touch of vintage, and the dresses lining their walls directly reflect that style.
“We offer a lot of smaller scale designers, we love offering colors other than white, and do our best to partner with nontraditional bridal designers.” Co-owner Adrienna fully admits she is the more girly and glitter friendly of the duo, while Nicole tends to lean toward designers featuring geometric patterns and structural details.
“We do a lot of Savannah destination weddings, I would say about 80% of our brides are not from Savannah.” With prices ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, brides can feel confident visiting the shop and finding the right dress for the right price. “We can even do custom, we do our best to partner with designers we meet at shows who are located everywhere from New York to Los Angeles.”
When asked who their favorite designers are right now, “Hayley Paige has great structural elements in her dresses,” Nicole mentioned while pulling out the tulle skirt with horsehair flounces. “I’m loving Sarah Seven’s designs, we have brides who will travel hours for her dresses,” Adrienna added.
While their personal styles may be more bohemian than traditional, they have a wide range of styles and options available. I had my eyes on a few separate pieces that allow brides to pair a top with a skirt of their choosing, and the dresses that featured intricate beading along the shoulders and back. From simple and classic to a dress with a harness, Nicole and Adrienna are unafraid to bring in new silhouettes if they know brides are searching for it.
I’ll admit, I am pretty happy I avoided the pain of trying on 8 heavy dresses while propped on a pedestal in front of my family and friends until the right ratio of tulle to lace landed on my body. But if my Grandma had thrown her dress away and I was left with nothing but my mother’s dress from the 1980’s, I would have been ecstatic to walk through the doors of Ivory and Beau and try on dresses until I knew I had found the dress.
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