Writing a wedding brief, or how to start planning your wedding
In a former life, I worked in advertising as a strategic planner. Planners are responsible for articulating the client/brand goals in a way that is compelling to the creative team (who will ultimately create the creative product) and in a way that is compelling to the audience (the people who will ultimately consume the work/the people who you want to communicate with). I think a lot about the creative briefs I used to write and how the format can be adapted to be a really useful tool for couples planning weddings. With SO much inspiration and so many ideas floating around, it’s good to focus, focus, focus. Hopefully asking yourself these questions and committing your answers to paper will help you focus your efforts and energy during your planning.
What’s the one thing we want to remember?
What’s the one thing we want our guests to remember?
We’re standing at the altar and we turn around to look at the congregation, these are the people we hope to see…
Three words that describe us as a couple…
If we imagine the look and feeling of our wedding, we’d use these three words to describe it….
These are the things we can’t live without. They’re mandatory….
Our budget is…
Now, go pick three images that match up with your vision for your wedding. Not 300. 3. They can be of anything…interiors, food, clothing. Use those three to remind yourself of where you’re going when you’re in inspiration overload.
photo of Katie and Max’s wedding by Jodi Miller Photography
Katie & max in Southern Weddings V4
We had so much fun working on Katie and Max’s wedding, and we’re just loving seeing it in print in Southern Weddings. We’ll save the details behind this backyard affair until later in the year when we do a full post with some of our favorite images captured by Jodi Miller Photography. In the meantime, see more over here in their gallery. 
Photography by Jodi Miller Photography; Planning & Floral Design by Merriment; Wedding Design a collaboration between Merriment and the Bride & Groom!
Southern Weddings V4 – Williamsburg Wedding Inspiration
We’re so honored to not only have a featured wedding in the latest issue of Southern Weddings Magazine, but to have also contributed to an editorial shoot that appears in the magazine.
On a hot and steamy day last June, my lovely assistant, Danielle, and I packed up and headed east for Williamsburg, where we met Sierra and Emily from Southern Weddings Magazine and Katie Stoops for a shoot at Colonial Williamsburg.
There are so many beautiful spots for weddings at Colonial Williamsburg. We shot at one of the Colonial houses on the property, and, although that particular house is not available for events, a few houses on the property are available for rental for wedding weekend lodging. Just imagine spending your wedding weekend with friends and family in an historical house on the Colonial Williamsburg property…so cool! You might also consider The Williamsburg Inn on the property for your wedding as well — gorgeous, classic location.
I love this favor, and it’s something that is super, super easy to recreate. We made poppers and filled them with peanuts as a nod to Virginia, which is known for its yummy Virginia Peanuts. Moya Minns with MMInk calligraphed the names, so the favors could do double duty and also function as place cards.
We imagined a couple named Susannah and Gardner Lowell, and developed a story around the two, imaging that both grew up in Virginia and met while attending William and Mary. Our fictitious couple returned to the town where they met to celebrate their wedding with friends and family. Although you can just barely see it in the image above, we incorporated a drawing of the campus’ Crim Dell bridge on the wine label. Crim Dell is also known as lover’s bridge. It’s said that if two lovers cross the bridge together and kiss at the crest of it, they will be together forever. Love that story…
This shot was a happy accident. We intended to shoot the table in a garden, but just as we finished setting the table and placing the flowers, black clouds moved in. We literally had seconds to move the table before the heavens opened. In the end, the alternate location really worked, don’t you think?
Classic never goes out of style, which is one reason why we really adored helping bring this story to life. Thanks to the Southern Weddings team for having us! We had a ball! And without further ado, the fabulous people who made this story happen…
Photography by Katie Stoops; Styling & Floral Design by Courtney Spencer of Merriment, assisted by Danielle Hines; Hair & Makeup by Avenue 42 Designs; Flowers provided by Fifty Flowers; Bridal Gown “Arabella” by Christos; Location, chairs, flatware; cake, petits fours, tarts and ham biscuits – Colonial Williamsburg; Invitation & Program designed by The Lettered Olive with calligraphy by Elizabeth Porcher Jones; Linens - La Tavola Linen; Glassware, plates and some silver trays- Festive Fare; Monograms, menus, place cards, popper wraps, drink sign – Moya Minns of MMInk; Coaster and wine label – Magpie Paper Works; Beau Bar sign – Chocolate Butterbean; Bride’s shoes (“Forbes” by Nina) & colored bridesmaid dresses from Bella Bridesmaid; Ivory bridesmaid gowns by Saja
earthquakes, hurricanes, and showers! oh my!
Hey ladybugs! Sorry for the radio silence last week. We were without power for most of it thanks to Irene, who nearly caused us to re-imagine and relocate my baby shower due to power outages and general havoc. But the shower prevailed and went on as planned. Power came back to hostess Emily’s house just in the nick of time and we were able to celebrate baby girl Connally, who we’re expecting in early October. Here are a few snaps from the weekend.
It was a late afternoon party, so my friends served small bites — tea sandwiches, cake, to-die-for macarons from Petites Bouchées, yummy cream cheese olive spread, fruit and crudités.
We ordered napkins from For Your Party and chose a font for “baby spencer” that matched one of the fonts we used on the invitation. (We sent the pink tulip blossom invitation by Linda & Harriet Paperless Post).
We served sparkling ginger-orange punch and regular (mama-friendly) ginger orange punch sans the sparkle.
Given the weather we’ve endured, last weekend’s weather was a welcomed relief. With a respite from the rain, we set up tables in the backyard, covered with custom chevron overlays made from fabric found at u-fab (love that place!). We ordered coral and white linens from La Tavola, while the other rentals (chairs, tables, glassware) were delivered by Classic Party Rentals of Virginia.
Ginny Rogan penned the buffet cards and drink tags in a pretty shade of orange on scalloped, white coasters re-purposed for the project. Meanwhile, I arranged celosia, zinnia, dahlia, billy buttons, marigolds and snapdragons, much of which I found at the South of the James Market that morning.
Deanna Miller of LOL Richmond was on hand to capture the fun (and my massive bump). She made an amazing photo booth backdrop with hand dyed dollies. There’s my sweet mom posing below with my friend Anna’s cuter-than-I-don’t-know-what baby. My mom is clearly loving getting practice!
Major thanks to all of my friends who celebrated with us this weekend but most of all to Elizabeth, Sarah and Emily for hostessing. You girls are the best! xo
With this post, it’s probably time to tell you that I’m going on a modified posting schedule. Maternity leave will begin soon and will extend through the new year. I will pop back here from time to time with news. I have a few fun stories that I am just dying to share with you, but I must wait until October when some of our work will be published that we haven’t been able to show off just yet.
making a design outline
I think the most challenging thing about designing a wedding is feeling overwhelmed by ideas and projects you want to accomplish. A good way to tackle design is to think about your event in three parts (or four if you’re moving from the dining tent/dining room to a separate area for dancing & dessert following dinner). The three parts are, ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.
Because I live by lists, I put one together outlining of all of the places your design can come to life – of course every event is different and you may need to modify the list to suit your event.
You’ll want some repetitive elements throughout the three parts of your event to create some cohesiveness, but each does not have to look exactly like the others. This event featured on Snippet and Ink is a good example. Part one (the ceremony & cocktail hour) and part two (the reception).
corey & gray on the bride’s cafe
Thank you so much to Janie from The Bride’s Cafe for featuring Corey & Gray’s wedding today! I hope you’ll pop over and check it out!
harvest thyme herbs
When I’m not planning and designing weddings, I work as a stylist, doing floral and prop styling. Here are a few images captured by Jeff Greenough for the current issue of Virginia Living at Harvest Thyme Herbs in the Shenandoah Valley (breathtaking country over there in the western part of Virginia). Philip and Diedre, two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, own Harvest Thyme Herbs, where they grow all of the produce you see here. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to work on this story!
looking back at 2010 part two
More highlights from 2010….earlier this year, Janie and I worked with Leo Patrone on this story that appeared on Style Me Pretty.
I attended Saipua’s little flower school last January!
Caught up with my favorites at the b list conference in DC. Photograph by Kate Headley.
Attended the opening of the J. Crew bridal boutique on Madison Avenue and stood in the same room as Ina Garten. The same room as Ina Garten.
Teresa and Paul were married at Tuckahoe Plantation. Photography by Meghan McSweeney.
While Sarah and John were married earlier in the year at Lewis Ginter’s Blomeendaal House. Photography by David Abel.
Katie and Ralph were married at The Mill at Fine Creek. Photography by Jennifer Colina.
And, later in the year, Kristen and Davis also celebrated at The Mill. Photography by Jennifer Colina.
We hosted a baby shower for my bestie, who’s due any day now. Photography by Ana Valentine.
Missy and Steven celebrated at The Science Museum of Virginia. Photography by Casey Templeton.
And, sweet Audrea and Aaron held their reception at Westwood Country Club. Photography by Tom Daly.
Thank you especially to Emily, Danielle, Caitlin and Brittany who helped to bring all of 2010′s events to life! Love you girls! Can’t wait to see what 2011 holds!
looking back at 2010 part one
2010 has been such a blessing. I feel so lucky to work in this industry with such creative people and fun clients. Let’s look at a few of them…
Above: Natalie in Forest Hill Park for her bridal portraits photographed by Katie Stoops. That was such a gorgeous day, and Natalie was obviously a stunning bride.
Above: Leslie + Jarrod at Lewis Ginter’s Bloemendaal House. Leslie designed the silhouettes used throughout her wedding. And those little pies? Baked by none other than the fabulously talented Jenny West at Sweetest Thing Bakery. Photography by Katie Stoops.
These little flowers at Natalie’s wedding were so popular I’m tempted to take orders. They hung on the wall behind the band at Crittenden Studio. Natalie’s husband is a musician, so they held special meaning and were a big surprise to the bride and groom who had no idea that we’d been cooking up this scheme with Natalie’s mom all along. Photographed by Jennifer Colina.
Ashley and Paul’s classic Richmond wedding captured by Don Mears Photography. Ashley was so thoughtful — she wrote a note to each guest who attended her wedding that we displayed on place settings in the Empire Room at The Jefferson Hotel.
Leslie again. This time with bridesmaids, her mother and me. All of us with laser-like precision and determination buttoning her gown before the ceremony. Crochet hooks are your friend. Photography by Katie Stoops.
Logan’s sweet wedding at her parent’s home in Ware Neck, Virginia. It was a magical night, made even more magical by the golf cart we piloted throughout the evening (necessary when you’re setting up an event of this size on a sprawling plantation). Photography by Worthington Photography.
Our story for Nonpareil Magazine published early in the year. What the story in the magazine doesn’t tell you is that my spaniel ate a stack of these cookies while we broke for lunch. Fail. Baking by Jenny West of Sweetest Thing Bakery. Photography by Katie Stoops.
Megan and James’ wedding reception took place in a beautiful Sperry tent at a private farm, owned by friends of the family, while cocktails and dancing took place here following dinner. That’s the team installing more than 1500 feet of crepe paper. We installed pretty bistro lights here as well.
Part two coming tomorrow…
