Art Nouveau Garden Wedding Projects

Two of our best friends got married back in October!

Because the bride is insane, she made all of her own floral arrangements at the last minute. Apparently, people are more talented and stronger than me. Look at her bouquet!

{Source: Tyler Core Shoots People}

While I couldn't help with flowers, in true, I-wish-that-I-was-still-engaged Tina form, I helped the bride-to-be out with some other projects. Basically, I said, "Give me whatever you don't want to do yourself." I took a few vacation days and spent them in crafting bliss. Here are a few of the projects that I worked on.

{Source: Tyler Core Shoots People}

I'm so pleased with the programs, which quite literally came to life in about two hours the day before the wedding using some scrap paper that the bride had.

{Source: Tyler Core Shoots People}

{Source: Tyler Core Shoots People}

I didn't "make" these bells, but I did pick them out to decorate the church and reception hall. I added the ribbons in her wedding colors.

{Source: Tyler Core Shoots People}

I made a few Welcome signs for the church and the hall.

The bride bought me a Silhouette SD in the spring as a thank you gift for helping her out. I had hoped to use it on some of her wedding projects, but her invitation design was too intricate to cut en masse. I surprised her with a bride and groom banner. The groom's family friend offered to help me hang them and spent about 20 minutes manipulating them and taping them to the awkward chairs with my green painter's tape. I didn't have the heart to move them.

{Source: Tyler Core Shoots People}

Each guest was greeted with a chocolate. I wrapped them in tissue paper and a slim piece of paper with a "thank you" message and the instructions for the couple's flickr page.

The bride found these great images of old Chicago posters. We used them as table markers for the place cards.

Catching Up: June - Becoming a DoC

My favorite day of the entire year was the day that my friend and I served as Day of Coordinators for fellow blogger Nicole's wedding to her husband, Tim.

{Source: S1 Photography}

I sat on this post for a long while (obviously) because I wasn't sure what to say about it. To say that I enjoyed the honor of being someone's Day of Coordinator (DoC) is an understatement. It was one of the most exhausting (it was very, very hot), emotional (I teared up when I saw the bride in her gown), and fulfilling days that I've ever had at a paid job. Granted, I had a very, very decisive and organized (yet very laid back) bride and two of the kindest, most gracious families that I've ever met as my clients, so my job wasn't THAT tough, but the day still had its random blunders to deal with it...and dealt with them we did.

I'm not sure what the future holds for me, re: coordination, but I certainly hope that I can find the time to pursue this avenue a bit more. There are a few things that I wish I could have done differently and plenty of things to learn, but it's a challenge that I was totally made for. (I hope that Nicole agrees!) I remember texting Andy during the mass - "I love DoCing!" We'll see what the future brings!

P.S. Nicole's photographer, S1 Weddings, is the artist behind one of my favorite local wedding photos of all time. I think that the bride looks fierce in this photo. I wish that I was her.

{Source: S1 Weddings Web Site}

P.P.S. I got to ride in the famous Holiday cab on the way to the final walkthrough with Nicole and Tim. It was decorated for the 4th of July.

The Unbride's Save the Dates

I can't believe that the blogosphere hasn't made a bigger deal about The Unbride's t-shirt save the dates. As always, she's the coolest.

Images: The Unbride

Speaking of cool brides, this afternoon I attended the wedding ceremony of the new Mrs. Dan, Tara from In This Instance. First of all, she looked BEAUTIFUL. Gorgeous. I had never met her before and she's definitely a hot chick. Her and Dan were both beaming during the ceremony. And she did a fantastic job at the venue. Her tabletops were gorgeous. I can't believe that she made those tablecloths herself! It was so fun seeing all of the blog posts and e-mails coming to fruition.

Real Wedding

I saw these pix on delish and am jealous. I'd be screaming as the boat launched and have to wear a life jacket.

Images: NY Times

Check out the article about their wedding in the NY Times. This guy's pretty Type A for such a footloose and fancy free wedding. Their story was stressing me out as a I read it. But that could have been because the NY Times writing style makes even the most trivial story sound complex. I do love how every word links to its definition though. Today I had to look up "coxswain."

P.S. Her dress is pretty, no? (Wink, Wink)

Hot Red 'Do + Birdcage Veil + Feathers

I just saw this wedding on Tales of a Female Husband. Check out the hot red 'do and be-feathered veil on this bride. I wish that I could pull that hair style off, but I hate the way my hair lies in pix when I wear heavy bangs with a ponytail. She looks awesome. And I love how she wears the veil/headpiece throughout the evening. There's no way for me to do that with mine. I am jealous.

I love her wife's tux and white shoes. It looks like a fun wedding.

Images: Circle Photo

Always the Last Kid in the Pool

I finally had time to set up a Google Reader last night. Oh. My. God! I should have done this three years ago. This is going to be so, so much better for my Internet Explorer History and Temporary Internet Files directory at work. (Just kidding, coworkers!) This is the best thing since sliced bread.

And I am adding to my Friday Favorites Post from yesterday. I have a:

Favorite Wedding

Julie and Kaori featured on Snippet & Ink

Their venue, their couture, their flowers, their personalized invitations, their bold colors, their minimalist bridesmaids...everything was perfect. What a great combination of rustic* and elegance.

Image: Leah McCormick via Snippet and Ink

*Isn't it odd how a rusty old truck sitting in a lot is sometimes trashy and sometimes charming? Talk about your fine lines.

My Friend Sarah's Wedding

My friend Sarah (trix) was married in 2006. She let me help with all of her paper projects. It was so fun! I am still bummed that she didn't submit it for a Knot Pick. I think it would have been a sure thing. In honor of DIY Month, here are a few highlights of our projects. I'll have to post some highlights from her shower too. We had a pink and brown theme. It was so fun!

Invites

I don't have any pix of the invites, which are in storage with my photo albums. They were brown Envelopements with pearly pink paper. One of the above logos (forget which) was mounted on the front on pearly ivory paper. I believe that all of the inserts, like the map shown below, were also on the pearly ivory paper.

Dresses

Check out how perfect our dresses look together. The florist had ordered all of the wrong colored flowers, but Sarah was a roll-with-the-punches bride. Not that she had much choice, as the florist burst into tears when Sarah pointed it out. I don't think you could tell that our fuchsia flowers were unintentional.

Programs

The programs were printed on ivory paper and hand tied into pink and brown 5" cards from Paper Source. I ended up having to take them to Kinko's for printing. (Long, bad story) A wonderful manager saw the finished product and noticed a little black smudge (which I think came from my work printer at work) and threw a fit. She reprinted them and then cut them for free...which saved like $200. I actually cried with joy when she called me. I HATE cutting.

Her Pretty Cake

Apparently, Sarah and I share a thing for dots and circles. ;) I think that her cake was adorable. Andy ate like four slices and was sicker than a dog at the end of the night. Apparently buttercream and gin don't mix.

Table Numbers

The table numbers were printed on 5" inch stickers from Paper Source and mounted on 5" square cards stood sideways like a tent. This project was the hardest one. I had to manually measure the center of each sticker and tape it to an 8.5" X 11" inch sheet of paper before printing. And it didn't actually print straight each time, so I had reprint them or cut them down to even them out. I was so tired at the end of the project that I didn't make myself one to keep. And then was too busy dancing at the reception to nab one from the table.

Table Numbers

The place cards were printed on pink circle labels from Paper Source and then mounted on brown place cards, also from Paper Source.

Menus

I don't have the fonts anymore, so I can't open my menu files. (I HATE VISTA lately. I should have gotten XP or a Mac.) The menus were about 7/8" X 9 1/4". They printed on ivory paper with pink and brown font.

Sarah Alair Photography

Our photographer, Sarah Alair, shot a wedding featured in this month's Knot Chicago magazine. I don't think that the photos that The Knot selected do her work justice. The work displayed in her studio and the hallway leading up to it, both of which are adorable, is really good. Also, she created a photography package within our budget, which always wins points.

Images: Knot Chicago Magazine, Winter 2008

Sorry for the crappy scans. My printer is under the end table, so I have to sit on the floor and work with the small space between the lid and bottom of the table. Come ooooon, lottery win! Mama wants a condo big enough to fit a desk.

While we're on the subject of photography and video, does anyone have a reference for a good, affordable videographer? The guy that my friend referred me to flaked out. He called me once and then never followed up.

Brides of the Round Table

(I have another crack-of-dawn day at work tomorrow, so I am posting my Wednesday post tonight.
THANK GOD THIS PROJECT IS ALMOST OVER! Send happy thoughts 8-5 CST. We'll be in the pilot presentations.)

I can't top thinking about this real wedding featured on Style Me Pretty on Valentine's Day. The bride's teal shoes and gown are both fab, but the circle ceremony just blows me away.

Photo: Style Me Pretty

Andy and I are trying to design a sweet, intimate ceremony that goes against the grain. I'm tossing around a few ideas, but nothing is nearly as unique or cool as this! I wish that space wasn't such a premium at our venue because I'd totally be a copy cat. Hats off to this cool chick!

Dress Envy

There is a new dress that I'm on the mad prowl for:

Photo: Venus bridals

I discovered it today it in a "Real Wedding" article in the Knot Chicago magazine and just love it. I've already e-mailed the manufacturer and have some follow-up e-mails out to the salons that they recommended trying. I'm hitting Macy's after work tomorrow for some more humiliation, I mean, to try on some more dresses. (fingers crossed)

Also, check out the "Real Wedding of the Week" featured on the knot.com site. I actually had this article saved to post at a later date. 1) The bride is so wonderfully creative. 2) It's at our venue:

http://www.theknot.com/keywords/ch_528.shtml

Speaking of the the Knot, don't forget to vote for enjoy/Mimi's entry in the Real Wedding Awards. I was out there the other day and her's seems like a winner hands down!