Style It: Ceremony Sign

Ceremony signs are one of my favorite wedding details. I think they are one of the most special decorations you could have on your wedding day. Whatever you choose to do with that altar, make it a true reflection of you. I get lots and lots of emails about my ceremony sign, and even more emails about those fabulous doors. So how do you achieve the look? And where does it all come from? So here it goes!

Style It:

It is so easy to style a fabulous ceremony sign for your wedding day. Check out what you need to make it happen!

{Our Wedding} Featured

Over the past few months I have seen our little wedding pop up here and there. It is fun to see what people are saying about it and how they arrange the images and all that. So I thought I would post a few of the spots that I have seen our little Holman Ranch wedding.

First our photographers posted a little something. Then our wonderfully amazing planner Shannon Leahy posted a few words about us and the wedding. And of course Ian's proposal was featured on Wedding Chicks. Oh and did you see our feature in Exquisite Bride's Magazine?

Other sites included:

Our Wedding Video

Today is finally the day! After almost 5 months, our wedding video is done. I'll start out by saying that when the time came to make the decision about the videography, I was really really lost. I was a few weeks away (short notice, I know!) so the idea of shelling out even more money didn't seem like a very fun idea. I did a bit of surveying and everyone that spent a lot on their wedding video said it wasn't really worth it. I wasn't getting a feeling that it was a must-have item.

When the wedding was over, the only thing I wanted to do is look at video coverage of the day. Pictures worked, but I wanted to see everyone, hear the speeches and just watch it all over again and again. That was the big reason that I decided video is very important. Ya maybe I won't watch it ALL the time, but at least I have it to watch again and again, show kids, etc.

So I went the craigslist route. I paid a few hundred dollars for a guy to shoot it, and I paid to get it edited. Luckily for me I have a friend, Matt Cross, who is an incredible editor because most videographers won't even touch footage they didn't shoot themselves. And I can see why. The footage we had to work with from the shooter was, well.....not good. Literally you could easily throw away so much of it that you wouldn't be able to actually put together a video.

Matt took the footage and worked it like crazy. You can tell he is really passionate about having a great product even when that is really hard to do. Baring in mind the coverage we had, he created this 7 minute video of our wedding.

So the lessons for today are two-fold. 1 hiring a wedding videography is more important than you might think. Anything is better than nothing. Second, if you have an incredibly professional videographer, the product will turn out amazing no matter what (although I would never recommend going my route with the super cheap craigslister. That just wasn't worth it!)

And just in case you missed this: here is Ian's wedding speech.

{Our Wedding} DIY Holman Ranch Wedding Part 2

:: View Part 1 of our wedding ::

So how did you like part 1 this morning? I am here again with the reception side of our wedding. Let me just saw that there are TONS of details packed into this one. And that credit goes to my amazing planner/stylist Shannon Leahy Events. She took all the inspiration from my head and created something far better than I could have imagined. I couldn't believe the work she and the other vendors (Floral Theory and even my cake lady) to excede every possible expection I could have possibly had for this day.

So here goes the second half of my day. I hope you enjoy :)

My amazing husband had something amazing up his sleeve. A cute proposal during our wedding. Wedding Chicks featured the film so you can see exactly how it went down!

Wedding Photography: Jason + Anna Photography / Cinematography: Matt Cross / Floral Design: Floral Theory / Event Design: Meeeeee! / Event Planning: Shannon Leahy Events / Venue: Holman Ranch / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: DIY, Ian Silber (The Groom) / Vintage Rentals: Milk Glass Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet (“Uma”) / Bride’s Shoes: Chinese Laundry / Bridesmaid Gifts, Clutches: Oatmeal Lace Designs

{Our Wedding} DIY Holman Ranch Wedding

Wow, do you know how hard it is to post your own wedding? I have a hard enough time narrowing down the weddings I feature, and those I am not emotionally invested in. This was crazy and I apologize in advance for throwing SO much at you in one post. I didn't realize how much I put into this wedding. Every photo I saw there was something that I had to put my hands into and DIY.

I can't say my wedding was perfect and everything I hope and dreamed for, but I will say that it was one hell of an event and I loved every second of it anyway. I have received so so so many amazing compliments from guests telling me how absolutely amazing everything was. People have said that this was by far the best wedding they have ever been to and will remember it forever more. Even one of the staff said it was the best wedding they had ever been to. And though that doesn't mean anything in comparison to what this day was about for both Ian and I, I am incredibly happy that I could show the people I love the most a good time and give them a chance to enjoy themselves.

Our wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty a few weeks back, and here is another feature including some of my favorite photos of our day.

Let me just saw that there are TONS of details packed into this one. And that credit goes to my amazing planner/stylist Shannon Leahy Events. She took all the inspiration from my head and created something far better than I could have imagined. I couldn't believe the work she and the other vendors (Floral Theory and even my cake lady) to excede every possible expection I could have possibly had for this day.

My amazing husband had something amazing up his sleeve. A cute proposal during our wedding. Wedding Chicks featured the film so you can see exactly how it went down!

Wedding Photography: Jason + Anna Photography / Cinematography: Frame 44 / Floral Design: Floral Theory / Event Design: Engaged & Inspired / Event Planning: Shannon Leahy Events / Venue: Holman Ranch / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: DIY, Ian Silber (The Groom) / Vintage Rentals: Milk Glass Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet “Uma” / Bride’s Shoes: Chinese Laundry / Bridesmaid Gifts, Clutches: Oatmeal Lace Designs

Featured on The Wedding Chicks :: With a Film

Remember how I said there was a surprise proposal at our wedding? Today is the day we are showing that off! The film is featured on The Wedding Chicks with a few images from our wedding. I'm so excited for you all to see it! Thanks so much to The Wedding Chicks for the wonderful feature!

Oh and in case you missed our wedding feature on Style Me Pretty, check that out as well. Our Wedding was a lot of work, but SO worth it :)

{Featured} Our Wedding on Style Me Pretty

I have been very hush-hush about these little babies up until now but I am very excited to finally them off. This morning our wedding is being featured on Style Me Pretty!

And this is one of my favorite photos from the day.

I have to take this chance to thank you to EVERY reader who has supported me, helped me and been there for me during the wedding planning process. There were challenging times and this blog really helped me get through it. And I must give a huge thank you to each and every one of my vendors. IN-CRED-IBLE.

That said, Engaged & Inspired is staying right where it is despite the wedding being over. In fact, we are re-designing, re-launching and offering up so many more amazing features, services and ideas than ever ever before. And we will be dishing the dirt on all things our wedding from now on, which I can't wait for. Next week I'm talking table numbers...exciting.

Oh and if you want to find out where I got certain things or if you want to purchase something, Shop Our Wedding or check out my Etsy Shop, or simply get in touch {e-mail: allison@engagedandinspired.com} and I will help you out. My dress is for sale on Smart Bride. Oh and if you need a little extra help tackling all this wedding stuff, let me help you. {Get the deets on that}

Last but not least, OMG is this a big day for me!, we released the deets on The Lab! WOOT WOOT!