Behind the Scenes Wedding: Erica and Jimmy

To say that a wedding is a joy to be at is one thing, but to say that a couple is a joy to be around is a completely different scenario. Erica and Jimmy were just that - an absolute JOY. 

I worked alongside Sharon Taylor on this one and ended up so pleased with the finished details. For those of you that don't know Sharon, she is an interior designer in the Springfield area who happened into designing weddings and did them well. After deciding to focus entirely on interiors, she asked me to help manage her last wedding planning experience. Bittersweet! Be sure to check out more of Sharon's work on her blog. 

Erica and Jimmy were wed at Wesley United Methodist Church and danced the night away at their reception at The Veridian. While they had an awesome photographer in Andrew Bowser, here are a few behind the scenes shots from setting up, to seeing it happen, to saying goodnight. 

Enjoy! 

Okay this will always CRACK ME UP!! Transporting the arbor to the reception site at around 7:30AM 

Set up crew! Erica's mom, Alice, and her aunts were there from beginning to end helping with set up and doing the whole tear down. That is some family love! Here they are hanging glass orbs (that held tea lights) and large crystals in front of the front windows. 

After much craziness we finally managed to get this arbor inside for the photo booth set up! Things came apart that PRAISE GOD fit back together. 

Getting drape to drape right can be tricky. Especially if it is a lightweight material like the voile we used from FM Stores. Please notice the twine I have in my mouth in the pic on the left... WHAT A FREAK!  haha 

Erica loved the idea of a draped photo booth area and I did too! I am pretty obsessed with how it turned out and might just set the whole thing up in my living room so I can feel like a queen at all times. 

As favors, the couple gave out handmade glass ornaments with their names and a photo on the tag. They were each unique and very pretty! 

Mmmmm Ozark Mnt. Popcorn for the popcorn bar! 

A few props of mine and a few props of Sharon's :) 

Chair belts, linens, chargers, and florals all by SB Bon. 

We designed the menus that went at each place setting and here is the proof...

And here is the real deal! 

The head table was SIX 6ft. banquet tables put together (in rows of three, side by side) to make a huge italian style seating arrangement. Erica and her friends collected wine bottles since her engagement to use as a gorgeous candlelit centerpiece. 

Awesome aunts hard at work on the cocktail hour area!

Escort cards were shimmery shells with guests' names written in gold pen. 

Erica used this oversized chalkboard of Sharon's to write a welcome on. We LOVE that she used a wedding hashtag for guests to tag all of their photos. So much fun for the couple to look at in the airport the next day :) 

Photos before the wedding are my favorite. Andrew Bowser capturing the moment! 

This wedding party was seriously too much fun!!

Sometimes a bride needs a little girl to girl photo primping :) Unless he has lived in a woman's body, there are some things not even the best guy photogs see!

Don't miss the black satin ribbon on the bridesmaid bouquets! Such a pretty detail.

We also designed the ceremony programs for the wedding. Here is the proof for the front...

 

And for the inside. It was a longways folded program. 

All lined up and ready to start! 

I'm grabbing the ushers to man the doors so I can be on full alert for any mishaps! Obviously there were none :) 

Ta Da! Everybody made it to their spot :)

Andrew Bowser getting the kiss! 

Sweet Erica saying hi to a little admirer on her way back to the bridal suite. Intern, Lynlee, probably about to usher her along... pictures then guests!  

Back over to the reception while guests are downstairs enjoying cocktail hour, and the cake has arrived!! All catering and cakes done by Patty Wingo with Simply Delicious... and boy was it delicious! 

Candles lit and the head table is looking snazzy! 

Everything is lined up, turned on, lit and ready to go. 

Pretty cute right? And YUMMY! Guests were loving it. Crowd fave = Cookies and Cream

Last minute details with Steve, the DJ from Travel Tunes... he was awesome. Perfect blend and EVERYBODY was dancing the entire night! 

Lynlee, our new intern did an AMAZING job. Erica and Jimmy's wedding was her first to work! Lynlee, you rocked it! 

The happy couple :) 

MANY Blessing to you two and thank you, thank you, thank you for being so much fun to work with!! Mr. and Mrs. Ballard ladies and gentlemen! 

Behind the Scenes Wedding: Emily and Chaste

Emily and Chaste were wed on May 4th, a day you usually assume will not have snow....

Well bless their little hearts, there was! They made the absolute best of it and the sun peeked out at just the right time to get some gorgeous outdoor photos. Of course, you will have to wait to see those from Aaron Clark Photography because I was still running around like a chicken with my head cut off lighting candles (and fire pits), hanging chandeliers, doing sounds checks, rallying children, and trying not to get a run in my hose... pretending assuring all that the day would run smoothly.

Nonetheless, it actually did :)

During the set up, ceremony, and the reception I snapped a few pics from my view of things.

Earrrllyyyyy morning on the day of the wedding and here I am about to head out to set up the reception. 

So usually you would get to see the reception location after the ceremony, BUT I did all the set up and styling for the reception the day before and morning of so here it is. 

Emily made all of the paper flower centerpieces herself and the guests LOVED them. There was even a venue worker who asked to buy one after the wedding! 

Moving an entirely outdoor reception inside left us with some extra tables (not to be confused with extra space haha) that did not have centerpieces. I was glad I had brought some spare ruffled round linens and that the venue had tea lights up for grabs! 

From picnic tables on the lawn to all indoor tables and fire pits on the patio!! Here are a few patio shots before the extension cords got taped down and the fire pits were lit... and obviously before the sun set. 

 The patio wrapped all the way around the clubhouse and had a great view... even with the fog, snow, and rain :)

Entryway to the chapel side one...

and side two...

The arbor made its FIRST indoor debut you guys! I actually thought it looked really nice with the wood of the chapel and made such a focal point during the ceremony. 

See what I mean.

Emily and Chaste chowin' down on some alfredo and lookin' super cute and in loooovee.

{another fun side note... Chaste made the table set up they are seated at}

Made the girl of the hour take a pic with me during a dance break :)

Stay tuned for their "Real Wedding" post when we get some pics from their photographer! 

Vendor Spotlight: Alec Vanderboom Photography

Alec Vanderboom Photography 

I have to give credit where credit is due. Alec has always been one of those people that has inspired me to not settle. He has an adventurous spirit which just draws people to him. Whether in pursuing career ambitions, or moves that might have been scary, he always has made me feel confident in my abilities and creative (even in his creative genius presence). 

This vendor spotlight goes out to him. 

These first few shots are from a wedding I had the privilege of helping Martha Wright (Gracious Occasions) with this last fall. Lauren and Bud were a blast and had some great taste. Their wedding was featured on Green Wedding Shoes - nice job Alec :)  

Something that I love about Alec's photos are the way that he captures moments so perfectly that you can feel like you are there. I love the moments of these photos. 

Each one of Alec's pictures tells a story and it just so happens it is usually one that most people want to be a part of! To learn more about his work or to contact him about taking photos of you, visit his website at www.alecvanderboom.com. 

Trend: Napkin Bow Place Setting

We've all seen it alllllll over Pinterest - The bow tie napkin. This trend is getting spread all over the place and brides and party throwers galore are jumping on the bandwagon. 

Here is the photo of our main Pinterest perpetrator. The one responsible for this napkin mayhem! 

Not only is this particular fold becoming a trend, but bows and napkins are combining all over the place to dress up plates, picnics, and place settings.

Here are a few more pics of the trend duo.