Location: Brooklyn, NY, US Event Date: Aug 03, 2018
Client Info
Name: ♀Cherina Booker & ♀Tossea Wilson
Album Story
Tossea and Cherina had a boho chic wedding at Deity Brooklyn wedding venue. I hate to say it, but it’s not often enough we see don’t see African American couples who are LGBTQ getting celebrated the way their families supported this couple. We are extremely proud of the couples who believe love is love and are open to sharing their connection with everybody. Tossea and Cherina added a gorgeous rustic arch complimenting the venue’s exposed brick to create both boho and chic. We must mention that their arch was made DIY by their mom’s who were a huge role in this wedding! What made Cherina and Tossea’s wedding extra special and unique was their table decorations. They used items such as little metal taxi cabs, Obama mugs, a Buddha statue and more little things on each table to represent their backgrounds and who they are. Their memorabilia was a special way of connecting to the couple.
Location: Temecula, CA, US Event Date: Nov 05, 2017
Client Info
Name: ♀Erin Hersh & ♂Justin Hersh
Album Story
Justin and Erin exchanged vows at the stunning Mount Palomar Winery in Temecula, where Three16 Photography captured their gorgeous celebration. With an outdoor ceremony overlooking the rolling hills of beautiful Southern California wine country, and an indoor reception amidst hundreds of wine barrels and a ceiling draping with elegant fabric, this romantic modern winery wedding was one for the books!
Erin got ready with the help of makeup artist Sheena Riley and the hair experts at JMC Hair Studio. Her sweetheart lace wedding dress was from Vows Bridal Outlet and had heads turning all day! Erin handmade her stunning white and red bouquet with sola wood flowers, and included her grandmother’s handkerchief. (Who would have thought this gorgeous arrangement was made from WOOD?!) Many of the details throughout the day were DIY and they wanted to take some things off their plate before wedding day, so she decided on making the bouquets ahead of time! Another DIY detail that Erin included in her day was the display of 1,000 origami cranes. Her maternal grandmother came to the states when she was 18 from Japan, and it was important to her to honor this part of her heritage. According to Japanese lore, folding 1,000 origami cranes is truly a labor of love. The time and energy put into creating these symbolizes the patience, trust, and dedication necessary to sustain a happy marriage. Paying homage to the majestic crane, which mates for life and is said to live one thousand years, the couple ensures their own fortune of good luck and a long and happy marriage.
The bridal party matched the color theme of the day, with bridesmaids dressed in cornflower blue gowns, and groomsmen wearing all black and matching blue ties. The groom, Justin, awaited his soon-to-be bride in an all gray suit from Nordstrom.
After the gorgeous outdoor ceremony, the party continued inside the Mount Palomar’s barrel room. Beneath grand chandeliers and twinkling lights, they danced the night away to music from G Sharp Entertainment, enjoyed dinner from Once Upon a Wedding catering, and treated themselves to cake from Sugar Divaz Bake Shoppe. Everything came together perfectly thanks to the help of coordination from the event staff at Mount Palomar.
Location: Oak Glen, CA, US Event Date: Aug 05, 2017
Client Info
Name: ♀Macee McCreery & ♂Matthew Erbes
Album Story
High school sweethearts Macee and Matt were together for 7 years before tying the knot with a mountain backdrop at Serendipity Gardens in Oak Glen, California. Their vision for the day was to play off the romantic garden setting by adding simple, bohemian greenery and DIY decor to create a minimal yet elegant feel. Macee made all the wedding signs, menu cards, table assignments, candle holders, and invitations herself. King protea was the flower of the day; from the bouquets to the invitations, the distinctive flower brought in a pop of color and texture. Creating a special yet simple bridal look was very important to Macee, as she typically doesn’t wear makeup or dress up. She nailed it with a classic lace dress with buttons down the back, a sparkly hairpiece and an understated veil. Macee was great at taking everything in stride on her wedding day. For example their guest book was set to be two magnum champagne bottles, but the bottles were left out in the sun and ended up exploding before the ceremony. The groomsmen improvised, grabbing scraps of wood from around the garden for the guests to sign.
Q1: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A1: My wedding day was everything I planned it to be. I didn’t have a specific theme, but I wanted the feel to be garden, romantic. I envisioned blush, with hints of gold and champagne. My husband and I wanted our day to be traditional, but also different than other weddings our friends and family had been to. We made our wedding different my choosing to have my husbands cousin marry us. It made our day that much more special.
Q2: Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A2: I had a year and four months to plan our wedding. That meant everything was going to be DIY! I made most of our wedding signs, menu cards, table assignments, candle holders, and invitations. For the reception, we chose to have most of our decor very simple. This meant greenery from our florist, and simple flowers to put into the greenery.
Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A3: The florals were my favorite part of the entire day…besides marrying the man of my dreams! I told the florist that we wanted a bohemian look, but also very romantic and simple. We chose to use Protea in much of our decoration, and the bouquets. This flower made everything pop. The Protea added elegance to our simple wedding.
Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A4: We absolutely loved the ice-cream vendor, A La Minute. Our guests raved about the creaminess of the icecream, and how it was the best tasting ice cream they had ever tasted. The ice-cream helped to cool our guests as the night came, and helped to keep our dance floor full of life!
Q5: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A5: My wedding day look took a while to come up with! I was very indecisive with looks and accessories, as I don’t dress up or do my makeup very often. It was hard to imagine myself on my wedding day, and how I wanted to be seen by my husband. The bridal shop, Ladies & Gents gave me many tips on choosing my dress, and I can’t thank them enough for all their help! As for the groom, my husband looks great in everything! I had been seeing the navy tuxes all over Pinterest(of course!) and I loved the look it gave-plus it was different than the normal black you would see at every wedding.
Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A6: Matt and I met in high school through mutual friends. I can’t say that it was love at first sight- our love grew slowly. Matt graduated from high school and moved to go to college, and I remained in high school. The distance actually brought us closer together. As for the proposal, we went to Pismo Beach, CA for a small weekend vacation. I didn’t think anything of the weekend, as Matt and I had been dating for 7 years at this point, and I didn’t think marriage was even on his mind. That night, as we were getting ready to go to dinner, I slept onto our balcony to see the sunset. Matt followed me and said he had a late birthday present for me. I opened the box and saw a heart necklace. I was partially disappointed because I wanted the engagement ring, but also because I have like twelve heart necklaces! I said thank you and started to put it back in the box, but Matt said to turn it around and read the back. I turned it around and it had the date and said, “Today is just the beginning” As I finished reading, I looked at him and he was on his knees with my ring! I couldn’t believe what was happening, and I couldn’t tell you anything he told me!! It was a perfectly simple engagement!
Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A7: The most anticipated part of my wedding day was having my sister walk me down the isle. Growing up in foster care, my sister was like both of my parents. Having my sister give me away was very emotional, and something I will never forget.
Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
A8: I would say to do what makes you and your fiancé happy. In the end, the day is about your relationship. Your day should reflect your life together. Take advice and comments from family and friends, but you will regret not doing what you ultimately wanted. Also, don’t sweat the small things! Its hard to do in the moment, but you have to remember that at the end of the day, you and your fiancé will be married-and thats ALL THAT MATTERS!
Location: Spokane, WA, US Event Date: Aug 30, 2018
Album Story
Bohemian inspired bridal styled photo shoot. A delicate gown with light summer sleeves, intricate lace, and soft illusion. The peacock chair was treated with greenery and soft, blush pinks that cascade into an ombre effect. The bride’s flower crown and bouquet compliment the same style of ombre colors from late summer pinks into soft whites with greenery.
Your wedding might not be for another six months or even year, but it’s the busiest and most exciting time of your life. We get it. The last thing that’s been on your mind is what holiday gift to buy to every special person in your life. Not to mention, the last thing you need is added stress.
here are a few stress-free items (in no particular order) for all the busy brides to buy their loved ones this holiday season that are easy, meaningful, and fun!
An Amazon Prime Membership
For those loved one who haven’t hopped on the Amazon Prime train yet, this gift could totally be a life changer. At only $99 per year, he/she could receive all of their personal needs (electronics, groceries, etc). Added bonus – all of the extra perks including free two-day shipping!
The Gift of Sleep
Sounds funny, right? But seriously, the gift of sleep is probably the most coveted gift out there. let’s be honest, how many of us actually get the recommended eight to ten hours a night?! Holidays are already stressful enough within themselves, and lack of sleep without a doubt amplifies that stress. Try buying your parents a new mattress! Did you know they’re supposed to be changed every seven to ten years?! Your parents probably have the same one they did when you were born and it might be the cause of many sleepless nights. Buying a mattress has never been easier.
You can purchase a luxury mattress from the comfort of your home and it will be delivered and rolled in a box! How cool? This might be your parents favorite (and unique!) gift to date.
A Food Subscription
A healthy food subscription. The average person gains eight to ten pounds over the holiday season . Yikes. Not to mention, who as the energy to meal prep after the holidays OR the money to buy healthy groceries?! A great gift option is to buy a month (or week… budgets are tight during engagement season, we know) subscription to a healthy food delivery service such as Blue Apron or Hello Fresh. These meals are fast, easy, and most importantly, healthy.
Gym Membership
A great gift for all of your other bride-to-be friends. The best gift to burn off all the holiday food and kick start the New Year! Trendy workout classes are all the talk these days. They’re fun, energetic, and empowering. Usually people want to try classes, but don’t want to drop the cash every month. Try buying a month at one studio for your family/friends who you know have a certain favorite workout or ClassPass is a great option for a variety of different workouts. Orangetheory Fitness, CycleBar, and Pure Barre are some personal favorites.
Happy holidays (and shopping!), beautiful brides. Remember to relax during the holiday season and enjoy special time with family and friends. All of these items can be purchased with the click of a button without stepping foot in a store. Don’t let holiday stress you out during the best year of your life.
Bonus: These items double as great gifts to also put on your personal wish list!
Preparing for the big day is not a piece of cake. A lot of things should be done and should be considered and of course, have your cash and cards ready coz you will surely spend thousands of money as you purchase each and every item to complete and tick off different items from your long wedding checklist. But, wait! You don’t need to buy everything! There are actually several items that you can DIY instead of buying it in shops and stores.
DIY items doesn’t only help you to save money but also, can help you to bring out the creativity in you. Yes, DIY items may not be as good as the ones which are ready-made in shops and store but, what makes it more special is the effort given as you create these items. Are you excited to know the items that you can DIY instead of buying? Well, we have 15 great items for you.
1. Paper Cone Flower Tosser
Paper cones where you put all those flower petals for tossing doesn’t need to be bought. Yes, there are petal cones in shops and stores which are well made but did you check the price? For sure they are quite expensive. So instead of buying those paper cones, why not make them on your own.Just choose good quality of paper, fold it and make a cone out of it and viola! You now have a DIY paper cone that you can hang on every chair or place them in a basket and let your guests get one.
2. Boutonnieres For the Groom and Groomsmen
To make the gentlemen’s look complete, boutonnieres pinned on the left side of their chest shouldn’t be forgotten. Some florists would include the boutonnieres in the package but some doesn’t. If your florists does not include boutonnieres in their package, you don’t need to worry. You can actually make them by yourself using simple yet elegant looking flowers
3. Wedding Favors
Wedding favors are really quite expensive and it will cost a lot especially if you are expecting a lot of guests for your big day. Well, try to save money by making DIY wedding favors. Wrap some candies or chocolates or maybe tie a ribbon around the succulent pot, add some “Thank You” tag and now, your wedding favors are ready to go.
4. Guestbook
One of the things that you should have on your big day is the guestbook. Of course during the wedding, you won’t be able to notice who among your friends are present and who among the invited guests didn’t make it. Weeks before the wedding, try to make your own guestbook. Decorate the cover or every single pages of the guestbook, making it more personal.
5. Wedding Arch
Another DIY project that you will surely enjoy doing is your wedding Arch. You don’t need to buy one coz it will surely be too pricey. Instead gather your team and ask for their help! Together, create a wonderful wedding arch that you dreamed of.
6. Invitations
For sure there are already a lot of ready made wedding invitations to choose from and a lot of them surely suits and matches your wedding theme. But don’t you think having a personalized wedding invitation is more fun?Well, I can tell you it is! Stop patronizing those ready made items and start being more creative and artistic.
7. Wedding Sign
Ready made wedding signs are usually pricey especially the bigger ones. So, instead of spending quite a lot just for a wedding sign, try to have a DIY wedding sign instead. If you don’t have a good penmanship, ask a friend to do a calligraphy for you! For sure, your friend will never say no and it will be a big pleasure to help!
8. Flower Girl and Ring Bearer Accessories
Flower girl baskets, head dress and ring bearer’s pillow. These accessories completes your little guests’ attire. And these things can actually made by you! Various resources online can actually teach you how to make one. Aside from flower baskets and head dress, there are actually other flower girl accessories that you can make.
9. Photo Booth Props
Wedding reception will be a bit boring without a photo booth where your guests can be silly while wearing formal attires. But hold on! If you want to have a more personalized photo booth, why not make a DIY photo booth props? It will surely make your photos unique and is like no other.
10. Bridesmaids’ Hair dress
Aside from making sure that you’ll be the most beautiful woman during your big day, of course don’t forget to make your bridesmaids look extra fabulous. Prepare a hair dress for them . You don’t need to purchase them in stores. You can actually make them on your own! DIY bridesmaid hair dress!.
11. Table Centerpieces
One of the things that makes your wedding unique and different from other couple’s wedding is how you make it more personalized and how you show your personality through the designs and decorations. So why don’t you show off your personality as you design and create your table centerpieces? It will surely be more memorable than those provided by your coordinator.
12. Wedding Venue Backdrops
Part of having a DIY wedding is handcrafting some possible wedding decors instead of purchasing them in stores. One of the decors that you can possibly do on your own is the wedding venue backdrop. Making one is surely more affordable, plus, you can actually show your creativity and artistry as you design your own wedding venue backdrop.
13. Placecards or Table Numbers
Yes, you may ask your entourage to assist your guests to their tables during the reception. But for sure, your entourage isn’t enough to assist each and every guests. So, have a DIY placecards or table numbers to guide your guests.
14. Special Signage
Tired of the usual flower basket that your flower girl carries down the aisle? We have a solution for that! Create a special signage for your flower girls! “Here Comes the Bride!”
15. Wedding Cake Topper
Your wedding cake may never be complete without the Mr and Mrs sign placed on top. So, instead of buying one, why don’t you just create your own wedding cake topper? Instead of just a simple Mr and Mrs sign, why not include some of your most romantic photos? Guests will surely love to look at them.
Wedding is really expensive. But, you don’t need to spend a lot especially if you know that you can actually DIY some of your wedding decors and other necessary things for your wedding. It’s not just practical but also will help you show your artistic side.
