Bridal Fashion Week Favorites

 This past week has been Bridal Fashion Week in NYC and we have been LOVING following all of the designers' new collections for Spring/Summer 2014. Here are a few of our favorites! 

Anne Barge

Romona Keveza

Ines Di Santo

Monique Lhuillier

Reem Acra

Amsale

Vera Wang

Kenneth Pool 

Real Event: Enchanted Hills Open House

This Event was so much fun to be a part of and get to design. Athena at Enchanted Hills is a true joy to be around and if you are looking for a GORGEOUS outdoor venue in the Springfield area CHECK THEM OUT! 

Here are a few photos from the event and the NEW ARBOR we had built! 

View of a mock ceremony set up facing the pond.

The gorgeous, long stairway that acts as an aisle

Our new arbor!

We have it styled here with one of our chandeliers tied with a thick ivory ribbon, but if rented it can be styled with floral arrangements, lights, fabric drape... so many ideas! 

Some "Garden Party" themed centerpieces we designed

Flowers by Little Shop of Flowers

Stunning photo area with a stone walkway and waterfall! Rustic wheelbarrow chair is one of our rentals as well. 

Hospitable Home: Couch Makeover!

I am finally sharing my most exciting DIY project ever! I re-upholstered our couch you guys. Like me. Not a professional couch upholsterer specialist extraordinaire. ME! 

I LOOOOVED our couch in terms of comfort level. I am talking insanely comfortable. But this poor guy had been through the best and worst of my college days and was ready for a new mature and adult self. 

The thing about throwing a great party is that you always want your guests to feel 2 things: 

1. Comfortable and 

2. that they are having a better time than they would be had they not come. 

 A stylish but comfy couch is the best of both worlds; a place to relax, but also feel good in the environment. 

So here it is folks! Our couch before and after pics!

Before (blehhhh EMBARRASSING):

AFTER! A heavier ivory woven material with pillows out of black and ivory toile, stripes, light blue/turquoise florals, and solid ivories. 

Hope this gets you excited about entertaining in your home and making those "crucial" changes to enhance your party atmosphere! As always, for that extra help pulling it off, shoot me an email at abby@abbymitchellevents.com! 

Real Couple: Mandy and Ian

Meet Mandy and Ian! 

They are getting married July 6th at the Round Barn! 

A little about the Bride: Mandy, Engineering, Berlin (Germany)

A little about the Groom:  Ian Quinn, Manufacturing Engineer, St.Louis MO Missouri 

How did you meet? Common outdoor sports interests

How long have you been together? 1.5 years

What is the main thing that each of you are in charge of for the wedding, planning wise? Ian: Food, Music, Groomsmen. Mandy: the rest

If you had a “couple nickname” what would it be? Panda Power or Goofball Couple

What are your wedding colors? Earthy colors, a vintage country look (Wedding takes place in and around the Round Barn).

Are there any fun details about your wedding that you would like to share? German Wedding Traditions such as having the couple clip a large heart out of a linen and having the groom carry her through, Ceremonial ceramic busting by guests (for good luck and the couple cleans up to practice team work), Heart confetti’s cut from a Japanese-English dictionary, the dining ware is from “green” materials such as heart shaped palm leaf bowels, wooden cutlery and much more!   

Groom, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day? Um…..getting on with normal life, no more wedding planning J  And getting to spend the rest of my life with my beautiful German wife J.

Bride, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day Outside of marrying the one I love? Celebrating with loved ones, having people truly enjoy themselves enough to change their view of weddings as a time-wasting “must do”. Oh, and show off my craftiness via decorations!

Trend: Fancy Chairs

We have all seen the gorgeous chiavari chairs all over Pinterest being decorated to the nines in ribbons, ruffles, and glitz. I know they are fab, but at around $8 per chair to rent (without any extra snap) this trend is PRICEY! 

As a proud bargain hunter, the cost of some rentals for chairs and covers make me cringe, but even worse is the ugliness of some venues' chair options. Unlike most trend posts, I have added some great DIY tips and prices per chair for some innovative ways to turn your "church basement chair" into a great party prop. 

Here are some INSANE and GORGEOUS ideas that are out there now:

{Average Per Person Cost = $18-$20}

{Average Per Person Cost = $15}

 {Average Per Person Cost = $40}

{Average Per Person Cost = $15}

And here are some still pricey, but not gouging ideas:

{Average Per Person Cost = $10-$12}

{Average Per Person Cost = $15}

 {Average Per Person Cost = $10}

{Average Per Person Cost = $12}

And here are a few ideas to get your budget friendly mouths watering:

Gather chairs from your friends and neighbors for a family style, eclectic feel. 

{Average Per Person Cost = Some really nice Thank You notes}

Spray paint your own metal folding chairs to match your colors. Great for a more modern wedding. 

{Average Per Person Cost = $8}

Cheap fabric cut in strips can often be cheaper than rolls of ribbons. So find some yardage you like and get cutting! 

{Average Per Person Cost = $5}

If you splurge for chiavari chairs, simply add an easy printable with ribbon to backs of chairs. You can use this for place cards, a monogram, or just do the Bride and Groom. 

{Average Per Person Cost = $10-$12}

 

Last option - find a venue with great chairs that match your theme :) Easy right.