Cozy Winter Engagement Photos + Dress Update!

First of all, an update for all you followers out there… I chose the dress!! I went whimsical and am so incredibly excited. I brought another bridesmaid back to the shop where I had originally seen the dress, to try to get a different perspective. I looked in the mirror and realized that I could search all over the state of California and not find anything that comes close to this dress. So (after a minor panic attack) I said, “let’s do it!” I’m really happy and excited about the decision! And now that I can stop thinking about (ok, obsessing over) the dress, I can think about other exciting things…

…Like our engagement photos! We’re taking them this weekend with Ken Kienow, in San Luis Obispo, California.

We booked Ken this fall and scheduled our shoot for the first weekend that we were all free. However, I was a little bit bummed that we wouldn’t be taking them in warm weather. I think I had always imagined taking photos on a warm and sun-kissed day.

Then, I realized how adorable a cozy fall or winter inspired shoot could be. There is something so romantic about this time of year, cuddling up with your honey and sipping coffee on a rainy day.

So we’re taking photos at a coffee shop and I’m really excited to capture that romance!

Here’s some cozy engagement shoot inspiration.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

And this is the sweater I bought from J. Crew. How perfect is this?!

 Anyone else do winter-themed engagement photos?

Dress Diaries: {Whimsical vs. Romantic} Sleeping On It

One thing you’ll learn about me is that I am a very methodical planner; I don’t make a lot of “gut decisions”. I consider my options, weigh them, make pros and cons lists….and then decide. My dress shopping experience has not been any different (as annoying as this has probably been to my mom and bridesmaids!)

A few weeks back, I found a fantastic dress, it had everything I wanted. But with this being such a big decision, I wanted to sleep on it. This past Friday, we went dress shopping again with the plan being to either solidify my love for the first dress, or to beat it.

Unexpectedly, I found another fantastic contender and now cannot decide between the two! I’m obviously not going to post them here (my fiancé reads these posts), but I’ve made some style boards that demonstrate the feeling of each dress.

One is whimsical and flowy…

Sources: Couple, Dining, Flowy, Bunting, Dress, Bridesmaids

The other is vintage and romantic…

Sources: Bouquet, Feathers, Kiss, Flowers, Vintage Belt, Outdoor Dining

As my wonderful MOH said, there are worse problems to have. Brides out there – how did you decide on your perfect dress?

I’ve also seen some gorgeous dresses online and on Etsy. Has anyone bought a dress online without trying it on first?

Sources: 1, 2, 3

The AdVENUEture

I know everyone has their priorities when they begin planning—finding the perfect dress, finding the most fantastic Mexican-Asian fusion caterer—but for me, it was the venue.

Dan and I wanted something casual, outdoor, maybe a bit rustic and definitely a place where all of our family and friends would be comfortable. Because we were so focused on making sure we had the perfect place, we ended up looking at quite a few venues over the course of our searching. It is easy to get swept away by gorgeous photos. Here were some particularly swoon-worth shots of venues we toured.

Thankfully, we ended up finding the absolute perfect place (more on that in another post). But over the course of the searching, I learned a lot about looking at venues that I would have never thought of. Here are the things we didn’t thinking about until we were knee-deep in the venue hunt, that might be worth considering.

1. Consider the overall experience. It is really easy to get caught up with the stunning photos many of these venues produce. And that is certainly important. But, when visiting a venue, imagine being a guest (I would even suggest imagining yourself as one of your more particular guests, like perhaps your Great-Aunt Carla).  What is it like when they are walking from the parking lot to the ceremony? Do they have to walk through mud or a field or climb up a steep hill? When they need to go to the bathroom, do they need to walk through the dark or wait in a long line for the one stall? We found some a-mazing barns, but just couldn’t imagine Mrs. Goldstein in her Italian heels walking through the dirt parking lot.

2. Consider how you can personalize the space. Some spaces will dictate the overall style of the event and not leave a lot of room for personalization. If you want to DIY and do lots of crafts, make sure it makes sense for the space. We chose a classically-styled space as it leaves us tons of room to make it our own.

3. Consider the details. When do you have to stop the music? Do they require you to buy their wine? This comes up frequently in Napa and Sonoma, where they have a lot of restrictions on end-time and alcohol allowed. Just know what you are getting yourself into.

4. Consider the unseen costs. I found a private estate that I absolutely fell in love with. But the thought of bringing in bathrooms, lights, generators, water or food prep equipment was more daunting than I was willing to deal with. Not to mention the cost.

Source:  Gardens at Peacock Farms, Santa Margarita Ranch, Dana Powers House, Tentadue Winery, Barndiva, Cornerstone Gardens, BR Cohn Winery, Avila Beach Golf Resort, Vine Hill House

 PS: I keep forgetting to post this, but if you want to see more inspiration for our wedding, follow me on Pinterest!

A Family Affair

With Thanksgiving literally just around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about incorporating family in to the wedding. I’m a firm believer that, while the wedding is about Dan and me, it is also very much about celebrating the people who got us here. If not for their love and support, we might not be standing up there together.

Because of that, we really want to do a lot to incorporate our family and friends in to the wedding. Here are some ideas that we are doing. Anyone have other unique ideas on how to bring family in to the wedding?

Display family photos. I love the look of displaying photos of grandparent’ or parents’ weddings. Such a great tribute and a pretty, vintage design touch.

Display engagement cards. Lots of people string photos up, but why not display your engagement cards?! I have a basket of beautiful and colorful cards all with the theme of love and celebration. Perfect!

Incorporate meaningful items. My mom still has her wedding dress from her (first) wedding and, while the dress might not be my style, she had a gorgeous cathedral veil with lace appliqué. Get the veil recut or dyed to match your dress and have the perfect “something borrowed”.

Can’t find a way to make it work in your look? How about somehow in the ceremony or decor? We’re thinking of using my mom’s veil for the chuppah. Here are some other gorgeous and personalized chuppahs, quilted with fabric from family heirlooms or signed by friends.

Have them officiate! We are having my uncle and one of our dearest friends split the officiate duties. Talk about a personal ceremony!

{Real Brides} Kim :: A Bold + Casual Bride

Time for our next bride! She has lots of bright colors, casual inspiration! Let's give her a big, warm welcome and offer her help in creating her causal and super fun wedding.

Name:	Kimberly Claytor
Age:	25
Occupation:	Advertising Account Manager
Wedding Date:	September 22, 2012
Venue:	The fantastic Vine Hill House in Sebastopol, CA
Planner:	Does mom and MOH count? :)
Photographer:	The talented Ken Kienow

About Me: Born and raised in the SF bay area, I now live in Oakland with my fiance Dan and work in San Francisco at an advertising agency. Dan and I were high school sweethearts (cue the "aww" and/or general shock)--in fact, we went to junior prom together! As someone who is typically described as organized, together and calm, I'm very excited for the wedding planning ahead! My favorite part of wedding planning is all the quality time you get to spend with family and amazing friends. It is such a good excuse to drink champagne!

Wedding Style: Dan and I are definitely jeans and t-shirt kind of people, so we knew from the start that we wanted a casual wedding. We like to describe the wedding style and vibe as the most fabulous backyard party you've ever been to. So great food, gorgeous flowers, and fantastic wine but all in a place where you can take off you shoes and put your toes in the grass. You probably won't see much bling at the wedding (besides my ring of course!), but instead soft, cozy and casual textures and materials.

Sources: Flowers, Tablescape, Happy Bride, Picnic, Invitation, Tablescape, Photos, House, Ribbons

I'm very exciting to share my wedding planning with you all! Please drop me a line with questions, comments or suggestions! Looking forward to lots more fun to come!