Bella Bridesmaid

Me with the Elon Bridesmaids

Today I met with Cecily from Bella Bridesmaid, and she is just the best! Bella Bridesmaid is a wonderful, cute, boutique that specializes in bridesmaid dresses. They carry many designers, however Alix and Kelly and Lula Kate are exclusive designers to Bella Bridesmaid and their stuff is adorable! The wonderful thing about Bella Bridesmaid is that it continues to expand from city to city. You can order your dresses in your home city and if your bridesmaids aren’t local they can go get fitted at a Bella Bridesmaid in their home city and you can go from there! While they specialize in bridesmaid dresses they also carry ring bearer pillows from Heart Paper Soul, Letter pressed cards from Tallu-lah, broaches from the Haute Bride Collection, products from Miss Oops, and many of their designers carry men’s ties and bow ties!

As a Bella Bridesmaid bride, I can say that I had an amazing experience. I had nine bridesmaids so I was a little nervous about pleasing everyone! I went in with a vision and Cecily was able to show my bridesmaids and I various options to choose from, which made the process a lot easier! I think what sets Bella Bridesmaid apart is their customer service. It is by appointment only and they truly take the time to get to know you and your bridesmaids and what you are looking for. They always greet you with a smile and will do anything to help you and make the ordering process run smoothly. Once your order your dresses, they take care of the rest and you have nothing to worry about! I highly recommend Bella Bridesmaid when choosing dresses for your bridesmaids!
Xoxo-
Kate

Thanks Erica!

I had the privilege of going to lunch with Erica from Green Shoes Wedding and Events today. She was such a blast to talk to, and I really appreciate her taking the time to meet with me and give me some advice about the industry! Thanks Erica and I look forward to helping each other out!

Xoxo,
Kate

Wow Factor Cakes

Wowee Pops! They are delicious!

Last night I had the opportunity to go to an amazing event at Wow Factor Cakes. We were able to chat with Amy and other wonderful people in the industry while tasting her DELICIOUS cakes! There were various flavors to sample and they were all so good! I was able to taste red velvet, turtle, and one of her new flavors pink lemonade. Amy is extremely talented and all of her cakes are beautiful. Check out her blog to see some of her work as well as the adorable grooms cakes that she has been doing, they are fantastic! It was such a fun night, thanks Amy!

Xoxo,
Kate

Photo credit: Elizabeth Scott Photography

http://www.elizabethscottphotography.com/

Cunningham Photo Artists

I had the privilege of meeting Drea and Casey of Cunningham Photo Artists when I was working on a project. I had heard such wonderful things about them and couldn’t wait to meet them and see some of their fantastic work. From the moment I walked into their gallery and saw the beautiful pictures, I knew that I had to find out more! I sat down with Drea and she could not have been nicer telling me more about them as well as offering advice to a new planner in the industry. Read more to find out about this amazing photography duo!

Always having an interest in photographs and art, when Casey's career assessment test put "photographer" in his top three for best choices he happily convinced his parents that he should study photography in school. Drea started dating him at the same time and being an actress she was his first model and having a degree in theatre, she helped him with many of his first shoots as an assistant and sometimes glorified bag carrier. After their son was born, her interest in acting started to fall away and Casey needed more and more help with his photography business. Drea had been listening to his advice on photography for years so putting a camera in her hand with his knowledge and her directing background was a natural fit. Casey has been shooting solo or as a second shooter since 2000 but they have officially been together as a husband and wife duo since April 2006.
They think of their style as natural, timeless and authentic on the bohemian side of things. They prefer natural light and relaxing atmospheres but also adore the opportunity for more stylized work that allows the fine art to come out and play. It is most important to both of them that their clients are comfortable with us and themselves during the sessions. They never ask someone to do something or wear something that will make them look dated or not like themselves down the road. They are deeply rooted in the present but are always thinking about the future and the historical importance of what we create. Couples that hire them share the same sophisticated yet down to earth vibe that they do; they love good food, music and friendship and want their celebrations to be a warm and joyous gathering. Their clients also always say that photography is the most important thing to them or the second most important thing to them in planning a wedding or anything for that matter.
They offer many services such as hand holding, tear drying, belly laughing, and plain old friendship. They also create exquisite photographs that people love and hold onto like treasures. They are a full service boutique gallery business featuring all custom designs. They guide clients through the entire process of a wedding or portrait session by consulting them on their vision or the vision they hold for them, finding them their style crew, photographing them expertly, planning their final products and wall treatments just as an interior designer would and of course delivering those products for them to enjoy forever. Drea and Casey want to encourage people to live with their art and let it be a positive reminder each day of their blessings.
One last thought from Drea and Casey:
We would not be in this business if we did not have a deep love and compassion towards people. Our favorite part is not popping the shutter, but opening the client's heart to all of their own beauty.
They have been featured in print, on the web, and on tv!
Featured in print: Elegant Bride, Southern Weddings Magazine, Redbook, Martha Stewart Weddings, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, Get Married Magazine, Carolina Bride, Philadelphia Weddings, Philly Mag
Featured on the web: Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings Blog, Aisle Dash, The Wed Bug, Martha Stewart The Bridal Guide, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, Get Married.com
Featured on TV: Get Married TV
Please make sure to check out their AMAZING work on their website as well as their blog! I appreciate their kindness and look forward to working with them!
xoxo-Kate

Maps!

My dad got the cutest save the date in the mail, and of course I just had to know where it was from to share this adorable idea! It came from Kristen with One Lonely Apricot on Etsy. I got in contact with Kristen and asked her a few questions. Read below to find out more about how she got started and how to order these maps for your save the dates or even for maps in your hotel welcome bags!

Kristen started doodling as a child and when she decided to major in art in college, she kept a sketchbook of doodles as a way to relieve stress from her "real" art projects. She would draw everything with stick arms, cartoon faces, and clever captions--office supplies, fruits and vegetables, building--all personified. She started an Etsy shop to sell her photography a few years ago, and one day while browsing the Alchemy section of Etsy--where Etsy shoppers put in open requests for custom work and Etsy artists make bids on doing the work--she saw a request for an illustrated wedding map of California. She bid on it and won, and for the next month wondered what she’d gotten herself into (cartography, even in doodle-form, is hard work!). She finished the map and the couple loved it, so she then listed it in her shop as an example of what she could do, and the rest is history.
To begin each map, the couple sends her a list of the locations they'd like to include, the wording of their choice, and any other stylistic preferences they may have. Kristen then uses the internet to do research on their city, and her boyfriend assists her by plotting the locations into a Google map (her least favorite part, so she finally decided to start delegating!). She then draws each of the images by hand on paper, scans them in, scales them down, colors them in Photoshop, then arranges them using the Google map as a guide. From there, the couple tells her what edits they'd like to see and they do more drafts until they give their final approval, at which point the design goes to her printer. Kristen loves receiving the box of freshly printed postcards and seeing the design on paper for the first time! It's a magical moment.
Please make sure to check out these adorable maps on her Etsy site!
xoxo,
Kate

The Bachelorette Season Finale!

I have always had a heart for reality television, and have never missed a season of the Bachelor and Bachelorette. My friends are I love watching the first and last episodes of each season together so we can discuss who we like and don’t like and then cry together on the final show! We always have a blast and it is an excuse to get together, chat and drink some wine! My friends and I especially liked this season of the Bachelorette with Ali and fell in love with both Roberto and Chris! I hosted the final viewing party at my house, and decided to spruce things up a little and stick with the theme of the Bachelorette- roses and love! Here are just a couple of photos (thank you Erin McDermott :)) from the night which was full of laughs, tears, and good food!

Xoxo-
Kate

Erin McDermott Jewelry

Joyful Teardrop Featured in City View Magazine

I am so excited to feature a good friend of mine Erin McDermott! She is extremely talented and makes beautiful jewelry, and has a heart of gold! She has been such an inspiration to me starting I Do Details, and I could never thank her enough!
Erin has always had a passion for being creative and she was able to explore that even more when she spent a semester in college in NYC taking jewelry classes! She learned a lot and loved every second of it! She soon after began making jewelry! She sold it to friends and at the Saturday morning markets in Charlottesville, and Erin McDermott Jewelry took off from there! Her jewelry is AMAZING (as I have many pieces myself) and is all handmade using sterling silver and semi-precious stones. It is a perfect thing to give as a gift or keep for you! The joyful teardrop is one of my favorites that I wear all of the time, and I always get compliments!
She also specializes in bridal jewelry whether it is for the bride or bridal party, it is the perfect gift! Erin does custom orders all of the time, and takes the time to meet you, envision your style and create the perfect piece for your big day! Make sure your check out her website and blog. If you are interested in hosting a jewelry show contact Erin and she would be happy to chat details with you! Happy Shopping!
xoxo,
Kate

Pat's Cookies!

I love sweets, and for the past couple of years I looked forward to the holidays when my aunt would send these amazing and beautiful cookies! I have since come to find out that these cookies come from a wonderful woman named Pat! Pat started Patricia O’ Brien & Co in 2006 after the urging of several friends. She was finally persuaded to do it after one great friend opened her home to let her “test” customer reaction to her Christmas cookies. She baked approximately 1000 cookies of 6 or 7 different designs and her friend placed them on fabulous china platters on her beautiful dining room table. They mailed invitations to everyone they knew to come to the “Cookie Open House Sale.” In an hour and a half all the cookies were sold, her friend looked at her and said “Now do you believe me that starting a business to sell these cookies is a good idea?”

She has been baking cut out cookies since her children were small. She used to scour holiday baking magazines and was always interested in trying new techniques for decorating. She has collected cookie cutters from around the country and now has thousands of cutters in the kitchen and they only bake one recipe that’s been in her family longer than she has! They create many custom, special order cookies and they make their own cookie cutters so they can make cookies in virtually any shape and size. They love customizing cookies, especially for weddings – they do monograms, bride/groom names and wedding date or any other detail the bride would like.
I can say that we used these cookies for table decorations at my bridesmaid luncheon and they were a HUGE hit! My cousin used them at her 21st birthday celebration for table decorations and they looked AMAZING! Each individual cookie comes wrapped in a cellophane bag and tied with a beautiful satin ribbon in your choice and they always look perfect! Be sure to check out their website and order some of these delicious cookies perfect for any occasion!
xoxo,
Kate

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband Tom! Two years ago today we were married and were surrounded by all of our wonderful friends and family! I feel so lucky to be married to my best friend, who continuously shows me the meaning of true love! I look forward to the journey and all of the memories that lie ahead of us! Love you!
xoxo,
Kate

Picky Sticky!

 

So I had lunch with one of my favorite new mom’s and her adorable daughter Quinn last week and she told me about the cutest little thing that I had to share! They are stickers from Picky Sticky that you stick onto a onesie on your little one’s big milestones! They come in various colors and styles and they are adorable!!! Quinn is modeling her 1 month sticker from Picky Sticky, isn’t she just the cutest?? What a great idea for a baby shower gift or a gift for a new mom! Make sure to check them out!
xoxo,
Kate