Mini Obsession: POLKA DOTS!

Lately I've found myself drawn to all things polka dots...don't ask why. Perhaps I was deprived of them as a child? Possibly. The whimsical nature of polka dotted items add instant "fun" factor to any event. Mix and add different colors, and perhaps some gingham and floral patterns, and you've got yourself a fun soiree. Check out some of my love's below and the reason for my new-found addiction.

Hope you enjoyed all the loveliness. Have a safe and happy new years all!

-Christina

Rain Isn't Always a Dreary Thing...

Not going to lie, I teared up a little after seeing this. To try and not lose any effect, I will tell the story of this romantic proposal just as the photographer did. Get ready for the happy tissues.

After watching the ducks for awhile, a couple came strolling down the walkway, hand in hand.


Only to stop on top of Bow Bride. He held her hand, kissed her, and talked for a few minutes.

Then it happened...

She was shocked, let out a scream, and forgot that she was holding onto an umbrella.



They held, and kissed, and said sweet nothings to each other. They were on cloud nine!

And then it sank in...




All credit and imagery compliments of Shay Stevens.

Guest Book Alternative: Custom Skateboard Deck

Freakin awesome!! A refinished skateboard deck that has a picture of the couple (secured with resin), and room for their fam and friends to leave words of wisdom and ♥. In my opinion, this beats those boring old traditional guest books. HANDS DOWN. What a cool way to leave a memory of your special day hanging in your house. Let me know if you need some DIY instructions.

xoxo, Christina

Would You? A Bride In Black...

Bethany & Doug were married in Nashville, TN. The bride wore a black Betsey Johnson dress. “My dress was a big deal,” she began. “I had originally purchased a vintage inspired white dress and the bridesmaids were going to wear black but I kept thinking about a photo I had seen of a model bride in black that our photographer had used as an ad for her studio. I really wanted to wear black but I was having a hard time finding one that didn’t look goth, since that’s not my style at all.”

So in the end, Bethany wore black and her bridesmaids wore white! She told her bridesmaids they could wear any white dress they wanted so they all picked their own, “I was lucky that none of the bridesmaids had bought their dresses before I found mine, so it was okay with them to get a white dress instead of black. I am so happy that I went with the black dress because it was exactly what I wanted! I wanted my bridesmaids to have something that they liked and would show off their personal styles. I had chosen each one for different reasons including their different personalities so their dresses came from everywhere from a vintage shop to Bebe.  They also picked their own shoes after I asked them to choose different colors. They also wore hair pieces that I had made for them as part of their thank you gifts.”

 “I would call our wedding theme ‘random’ (as did Doug when I asked him!)” the bride continued, “That’s also how I would describe us. I am happy to say that we don’t really fit into a category. We had elements that were vintage, eco-friendly, rockabilly and modern.”
“I was inspired by so many different places, it’s hard to know where to start. I definitely kept Rock n Roll Bride bookmarked and checked back often.  I was originally looking at a lot of mainstream wedding magazines when we first got engaged but they were a little ridiculous.  They make everything look so easy when really a lot things that they feature are pretty difficult and mostly way too expensive, so I put them down and started searching the internet for things that Doug and I liked and tried to incorporate them.”



“Etsy is full of inspiration.  So many times I would be browsing a category on and find something that was similar to what I wanted but that I could make my own.  Really, I just tried to keep my eyes open and whatever I saw anywhere that I liked I tried to figure out how to put it in the wedding.”


So the question remains, would you? I think this bride has pulled off the impossible and looks fantastic while doing it. She knew exactly what she wanted and went for it! All stigma aside, a wedding is what YOU envision. Who knows, your "crazy" idea may end up just as awe-inspiring...Cheesy, but just like Nike says...just do it. All credit and photography for this blogpost goes to the amazaballs Rock n' Roll Bride.

Brides & Tattoos: Taboo or Art?

Question: what comes to mind when you see guy or gal...(or to keep this wedding-related, a bride) covered in tattoos? Are you repulsed by the amount of ink or do you appreciate the beauty of it? I personally go for the latter. Body modifications, including but not limited to tattoos, are a form of art that represents a persons individuality. The beauty a of tattoo is that it is permanent, and most of the time they also serve as a reminder of some part of your past. Unfortunately, society tends to frown upon anything that doesn't fit into this so-called ideology of the "norm". This bothers me immensely.

Tattoos should not only be accepted in the workplace, but on brides as well. A lot of women feel pressure to cover-up their tattoos. Whether this pressure comes from family members, co-workers, or whoever...it's ridiculous. Covering a tattoo for your wedding is the equivalent if wearing a mask to a business meeting. Whatever your opinion may be, personal expression should forever be appreciated - not looked down upon. Stereotypes in general disgust me. As the old saying goes, "never judge a book by it's cover". But who really does this right? The first thing we do by natural human instinct is form 5-second opinions / judgments based on first impressions. Don't let looks fool you though. A gorgeous woman could very well be the devil in disguise...and the guy with head to toe tats could very well be more inclined to save your butt in a sticky situation, as compared to the generally well-liked "suit". Men and women who grow up without privileges live to appreciate the things they have and they learn to understand loyalty and compassion better than the spoiled rich kid who's had everything handed to him/her since birth. Tattoos represent an underground, a mini-culture of people who thrive on individualism and stray from all things PC.

After all the above ranting, what I'm trying to get across is this...be yourself, and don't be too concerned about what other people think. Tattoos and piercings are not trashy, who cares what upper middle class (snobby) folks think. It's YOUR body, do what you want to it. Express yourself and don't be ashamed. Body art is beautiful, and it's YOUR taste that matters. Too many people are concerned with what others are going to think that they spend years worrying their little heads off until eventually they lose it (and eventually say eff it) and start to do what makes them happy. Don't spend your time trying to live up to everyone's expectations, you'll never make everyone happy. As Dr. Seuss once said, "Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter!"

On a side not: hiding a dumb or embarrassing tattoo is another story. That tribal band you got on your 18th birthday should go bye-bye. No offense intended.

Flag Pennant Wedding Decor

They're kinda whimsical, they're kinda cute, and they're kinda becoming a HUGE trend in weddings. These string along pennant accents are used all over the place: as decor for a dessert or sweetheart table, lining the ceilings of reception halls everywhere, and as cake toppers. What makes these even more awesome is the fact that they're a CINCH to make and only cost a few bucks...go DIY'ers. At first, the simplistic look didn't quite catch my eye, but after seeing the plethora of ways possible to use this decor concept, I was sold. Popular banners I've been seeing are: draped over the candy buffet (love is sweet), bride and groom photos (i.e. wedding date 6.2.2012), on the back of the getaway vehicle (just married), draped over the sweetheart table, as cake toppers, swizzle sticks, etc, etc, etc! Check out the images below and see why I'm falling in love with this decor.

Engagement Photo Shoots. Are. Amazing.

Engagement photo sessions are delightful in so many ways. Capturing the love between you and your fiancee is an easy caveat. However, finding the right location and photographer is a totally separate issue. Then there's the question of what to wear, how to pose, what to do...yada yada yada. An experienced photographer should come prepared with several ideas and suggestions, but keep in mind that you will need to do some legwork yourself in order to translate your expectations into a reality.

As an avid (aka totally obsessed) blog reader, I am constantly saving photos that catch my eye, then categorizing the images in separate folders. Using Google's Picasa, it is simple then to create a collage of my fave photos. So here's my two cents when it comes to booking your engagement photo shoot:

Number 1: The key word of the day is FUN! Repeat, fun fun fun!

2: Bring a collage of pics that have caught your eye, that you may want to try and recreate. This will definitely help your photo taking pro understand what you envision and expect.

3: Bring a change of clothes in an attempt to keep your shoot from becoming stale. Think outside the box. Not a dressy girly girl? Try on a pretty skirt. Put on some bold earrings. Put a tie or cap on your man. Curl or straighten your hair. Better yet, try on a fancy headband, flowers, or feathers...go for bright red lipstick or blue nail polish!  Another classic idea is going all au naturel, which is completely timeless and beautiful right down to the very core.

4: Super freaking important! Find a photographer that you are comfortable with. Someone you can joke around with and be silly enough to experiment with ideas that may be a bit out of your comfort zone.

5: Color coordination is not important, but a colorless backdrop may prove to be disappointing. Pick your location(s) wisely, and see if your photographer is ok with hitting a couple different spots.

6: Think about how your photos will be used. For DIY save-the-dates, perhaps you will need to bring some signs or props of some sort (think balloons, sweet treats, mr & mrs signs, bicycle, umbrella, etc.)

As a closing to this post, I'll leave you with a few pics that have stunned, fascinated, and inspired me. Happy engagement photo shooting y'all!

Not-So-Ordinary Boutonnieres

This gallery by TheKnot.com was so intriguing and inspirational, at the very least. A personal touch, even in the smallest of details, allows your guests to get a feel for your love, your relationship, and your individual personalities. A personal touch adds charm to any event, and your guests will appreciate it without a doubt. This gallery captures several ideas, some you may cringe at, others are "jaw-droppingly" gorgeous. Depending on your own sense of style, of course. 

Simply put, a boutonniere doesn't necessarily have to be a flower. Anything that is unique is special, even if only to the couple. Whether it's pom-pom's, paper flowers, mini Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurines, or a plastic Pac-Man....It's your day so use your imagination and let the creative juices flow!

DIY Project - Wooden Table Numbers

As a savvy spender (aka cheap, price aware, whatever you want to call it), I'm always one lookout for DIY projects that will save my clients a few extra bucks. As we all know, the cost of hosting such an elaborate event (perhaps the most important and detailed event you will ever host, ever)....quickly rises. Anytime a vendor hears the word wedding - I'm pretty sure dollar signs start flashing before their eyes. As a firm believer in the fact that newlyweds should not start out their life of matrimony in debt, DIY projects are my fave. Why pay the extra cash when you have the tools and skills necessary to "do it yourself!"

So enjoy... and continue to visit our blog for more projects and inspiration to help you as you plan your perfect day!

Materials:
- Downed wood (we chose Aspen since it is abundant in our neighborhood, and found a pile of downed trees just a few blocks away- it also happened to be the perfect size I was looking for)
- Chain Saw
- Dremmel with 1/4 inch straight router bit
- Ruler
- Pen
- Dark colored paint + Paint Brush

Step 1: Find your wood
Step 2: Use a pen and ruler to mark each increment where you want to make your cuts. You can decide how thick or thin you would like the wood to be, but we chose about 1 1/2 inches (this width enabled the numbers to stand alone or lean against something)
Step 3: Make your cuts. We found a chainsaw to be the most fast, effective way- but my cuts weren’t perfect. Please take care to adhere to proper chainsaw safety (proper eye protection is a must!)- I had my fiancee give me a lesson before we got started. (Note- wood will be grainy when cut with a chainsaw- I liked this look, but if you wanted something more refined you could add an extra step here with a power sander).
Step 4: Make sure you have enough wood rounds for each table.

Source: 100 Layer Cake (a very  awesome blog, check them out!)
Xoxo,
Christina Pectol
ENVY EVENTS
M: 253.468.5586
W: envyeventsco.com
Like us on facebook! www.facebook.com/envyeventsco

Step 5: Once you have enough wood rounds for each table number, take a dark pencil or pen and make an outline of each number on the round for you to trace with the dremmel.
Step 6: Use dremmel to “drill into the wood” along the numbers you’ve traced
Step 7: Use brown paint and a skinny paintbrush to paint in indentations.

Envy Events Portfolio: Angela and Rob

Check out these beautiful photos from Rob and Angela's Wedding. Envy Events delightfully acted as the primary event coordinator - and supported the bride and groom from "Will you marry me" to "I DO". Angela needed help creating her DIY invites, finding the reception location, securing all of her vendors (photographer, bakery, musician, rentals, floral) - and Envy Events paved the way so Angela could stress a little less. :) The reception was held at the charming Pantages Theatre in Tacoma, WA.

Check out the entire gallery here.

Photographer Must-Take Pics

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography

PHOTOGRAPHY: A BLOG ON "MUST-TAKE" WEDDING DAY PICTURES



It's always a good idea to bring along some ideas to show potential photographers what you have in mind for the style of wedding day imagery that you most adore. Here are a few images I've found that I think are creative, fun ways to capture your special day.

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TIPS:

Smile, have fun and be natural!

Think different! A different pose makes taking pictures more fun for everyone involved!

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The shoes, clutch and bouquet shot. Sometimes the smaller things become forgotten, but not if you remember to tell your photographer to get this shot.

The wedding dress and veil: A neutral backdrop works best. Anything that will take away from the simple yet elegant beauty of the wedding dress is a no-no.

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography

Be sure to ask for photos of the bride in her dress, with a view from the backside. Most pictures are taken with full frontal or side views, and this shot can unfortunately go overlooked.

Don't forget the bridesmaids dresses! And you might as well take as many pictures of those beautiful bouquets as well!
The ceremony before all the excitement begins:

Your bridal party spends a lot of time and effort in support and helping you to prepare for your special day. Make sure your photographer knows to take lots of photos of them as well.

The bride and groom exchanging vows and holding hands from afar:

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography

A close-up of a kiss underneath the veil will make for a special photo that you will surely cherish forever.

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography

Bride and groom out of focus with the bridal bouquet up close:
Most of the time the couple will be too busy to witness the beauty of their months of effort and planning to pull off the perfect reception, so it's a good idea to ask of photos of the decor and setup before the guests arrive.

Table centerpieces up close:

Your place cards...

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography

Let's not forget the champagne/cider toast. If your wait staff will be serving butler style, a perfect kodak moment has presented itself.

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography

The first bite of that delicious wedding cake:

Photo credit: iStockphoto, stock photography