Wedding Signage

Signs can be both practical and beautiful- a creative way to extend the theme of your wedding, while getting the job done of directing your guests. Here's the low-down on ways to use signs for your wedding day.

Outdoor wedding locations often benefit from signs to direct guests where to go. Use them to point your guests towards the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and more. Having a rustic, beachy theme? Use driftwood and white paint to evoke the seaside. Simple woodsy charm more your style? Have your stationary company design signs incorporating your wedding flowers or other symbol.
Chalkboards are all the rage on the wedding scene these days- they fit with a variety of wedding themes and locations- from farms to wineries. Use a chalkboard to tell guests which table their sitting at, what the menu is for the evening, or as a fun prop that guests can personalize in a photo booth!
Fancy, personalized signage can add to the elegance and feel of your glamourous wedding. Use signs to let guests know about your signature drink at the bar, or to instruct them to take a favor home at the end of the evening. Signs can designed to fit any theme- I love the one in the lower righthand corner above that looks like an old-style movie poster! It's subtle enough not to be tacky, while still evoking a specific style.
Graphic designers are geniuses these days, with all kinds of technology at their fingertips and all kinds of creativity in their heads. So go crazy with signs- we love them!

(click on the above image for photo credits)

2011 Wedding Trend: Rustic Chic Weddings

Last year, backyard weddings gained popularity as brides looked to tie the knot at home. This year, the location has expanded, and the feel of a "rustic chic" wedding has been more clearly defined. 2011 brides are looking to evoke the feel of down-home goodness and barnyard fun, while still maintaining an elegant air to their special day. How can you get the rustic backyard feel for your wedding day?

Location: The easiest way to bring a certain feel to your wedding is to reflect it in your ceremony and reception location. Consider local farms with gorgeous barns, wineries that offer their facilities both indoors and out, or old farmhouses that have been turned into bed and breakfasts all may be willing to host your wedding.

Decor: Subtle touches in your decor can reflect the rustic feel- try using chalkboards as your table numbers, or to detail the menu for the evening. Also, clotheslines are a very "barnyard" way to display anything from your placecards, to photos of you and your new hubby. I also like the idea of mixing in photos of other loved ones' wedding days- like parents, grandparents, friends, etc.Photos: How to get the rustic feel in your wedding photos? Let's go back to location. :) When exploring the area around your ceremony and reception location, look for things like abandoned barns, old style wood or metal bridges, farmhouses- even a tractor in a field can make your photos feel more rustic! Using a field as a background can do the job, but adding these extra "props" can really enhance the feel. Just make sure you ask permission first before you use someone's personal property in a photo.

Food: One of the most fun ways to make your wedding rustic chic is through the food you choose to serve. Instead of the standard "steak or chicken" choices, consider homestyle fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and other home-cooking specialities. Consider using local vendors to provide homemade goods- and serve iced tea and lemonade to cool your guests during the ceremony. And for dessert? One of the biggest trends we've seen for wedding dessert is PIE! Having a buffet of different-flavored pies can definitely remind your guests of being down on the farm- while still being delicious!

(All photos nabbed from the photo galleries over at Style Me Pretty)

Meet the Planners

Like our new header? :) Well we have our lovely and talented photographer friend Lindsay DeDario to thank for both the photo and the graphic design work- so thanks Lindsay! And as part of a renewed effort to keep up on blogging, I've decided to get a little more personal with our business blog. Nothing too crazy, but I think it's important that readers feel connected to the writer- just like I think it's important for brides to feel connected to their wedding planner. A wedding planner isn't a "behind the scenes" vendor, as maybe a florist or invitation designer might be. A florist is an important part of your special day, and their work is on display for everyone to see- but you don't spend countless hours with them pouring over details until your eyes go blurry. Sure, it's great if you and your florist click personally. But is it a neccessity? Probably not.
However, we feel that it is important that you click with vendors like your photographer or wedding planner(s). Why? Well, you probably WILL spend hours pouring over details with them! Plus you spend your entire wedding day with them by your side. And wouldn't it be more fun if you actually liked them? And wouldn't it be easier to hand the reigns of your big day over to someone you respected and trusted and knew that they just "got" you? We think so too. :) And while a face-to-face meeting can never be replaced, a blog is a little slice of personality, and maybe this blog will help a bride out there get to know us better as she's searching for help to make her wedding day perfect and stress-free. If that's you- hello bride! This is us.

It was bit windy the day we did our photo shoot- made for some fun hair situations. :) Stay tuned for more one-on-one, up close and personal chatter from both myself (Liane) and my partner Julie. And tell us what you think- is it important to "click" personally with your wedding vendors?