Baby New Year/Little Ones | Merrily Wed Wedding Design & Planning

Dec 30, 2011

As the end of this year draws near, I have little ones on my mind.  Maybe its the tradition stemming from the Greeks of using a baby to signify the new year or more likely its my own new little baby that we were recently blessed with, but either way, I have been drawn to the cute and adorable images of the smallest members of the wedding party from weddings past.  I couldn’t resist sharing a parade of photos of some of the babies that we have had the joy to see in ceremonies and hang out with at the receptions.  They sure keep us on our toes as to what they will do next!

How often I have seen a little flower girl’s gaze of awe upon the bride moments before the ceremony as she is surrounded by her bridal attendants putting on the finishing touches…  This ‘awe’ has had many faces from curiousity to  admiration to a dreamer of when one day they will be a bride themselves.  Such is part of the circle of life, little flower girls who grow up to be beautiful brides.

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The unpredictability of little ones adds that spontaneity and character to your wedding ceremony that will always make it uniquely yours.  How we watch with holded breath, but simulatneously love, when the ring bearer decides to chuck the ring pillow or if the little ones impulsively decide to add their own dance rendition to their walk down the aisle or if they decide to stand, sit, squirm anywhere but where they rehearsed the day before…

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Head wreaths for little flower girls have always been a favorite and a great compliment to the floral basket.  Magical floral wands are super popular now too for them to wave their blessing of love down the aisle…  Little boys or little girls can ring a bell to capture your guests’ attention – like they haven’t already – announcing the bride cometh.

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Besides ringing a bell and verbally announcing “Here Comes the Bride” – have bell ringers put a new spin on this by carrying a sign instead along with the ringing bells or go it alone with just the sign.  Don’t forget the backside – room here for another message from Just Married and Thank You to be used later on in some well planned photo ops.  Clever Etsy artists have lots to choose from here. 

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Alternative new ideas for ring bearers include using ring pillows that are anything but soft and cushy… these can range from floral embellished to a wooden box, burlap or other organic elements or even something as personalized as a skateboard with the rings tied to it as one of our ring bearers did last summer.  If you have a musically-favored little guy or gal (and no stage fright), they could even play a little ditty on their instrument as they walk down the aisle creating a whole new role for this little one.

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Either way – Baby New Year or my new little baby – I am glad to relive and share these wedding moments with you starring the little ones that can not only steal hearts, but also make the forgettable unforgettable. 

Have an extra special and Happy New Year!

ew ideas for ring bearers include using ring pillows that are anything but soft and cushy… these can range from floral embellished to a wooden box, burlap or other organic elements or even something as personalized as a tied to it as one of our ring bearers did last summer…  If you have a musically favored little guy or gal ey xxx

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The “www” of Weddings – Wow With White | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings

Dec 13, 2011

We all know that color is a lot of fun and can invoke a range of moods but what if you are drawn to fresh, pure, perfect white?  White instills a feeling of innocence, purity and perfection.  A calming feel that is simplistic in nature.

If you tend to favor the “uncolor” over splashes of vibrancy, how do you keep your wedding fresh, memorable and maybe with a little wow factor?  Let’s be honest, using all white can be slightly yawn-inspiring.  By adding a little (or a lot) of texture, you can make a visual impact and a lingering impression.  Lace and floral rosettes are a couple of options that are making a strong statement today in the world of white. 

Lace is delicate, imparting an unique elegancy since the softness of lace is always romantic.  From vintage lace to modern, think beyond the wedding dress to create a unique wedding style with this fabric from intricate and delicate to bold and solid.

 

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From invitation accents to hidden antique garters to wrapped votives and mason jars, lace can show up in unexpected places and add a little spice.

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Then there is The Cake!  Oh, how do we love lace touches on the wedding cake and especially when it emulates the wedding dress!

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Floral rosettes literally bring added layers of texture to a white wedding style.  Rosettes can be used everywhere from back-drops to the table decor to your hair.  Rosettes also can be made out of a multitude of materials (fabric, fondant, paper) which is great since they can be used in a range of budgets.

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And we can’t forget The Cake!

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These are just two ideas to provide a little White Inspiration for you!


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Mason Jar Manifesto | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings

Nov 7, 2011 | 2 comments

Back to the basics.

In this challenging economic time when friends can lose their jobs with no warning, homes taken for granted are anything but, and filling your car with gas can result in reshuffling your whole paycheck…  the wedding world seems a little behind.  Jonas Peterson, an Australian photographer, eloquently summarizes why two people choose to make a public commitment and reminds us about the real reason for the day.  Hint – it is not for the details (even though we love them)…

I think his post, also copied right below, is a worthwhile read for everyone.

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The Mason Jar Manifesto

It’s 4.47am when I sit down to write this. I woke up 30 minutes ago and couldn’t go back to sleep. I’ve been thinking about this for so long, but a couple of things lately have reinforced what I already knew.

The wedding train has derailed.

Put down those mason jars, store away that vintage typewriter and fairy lights and sit down because you need to listen. This is an intervention. The whole wedding industry has gone detail bananas and we need to clear a few things up.

– You! Over there! Step away from the hay bales and the Vintage Navajo rugs and come over here. Sit! Down! No, you don’t have to put lavender on the plates, you need to wake up!

We’re getting lost in details. The whole wedding industry is drifting away from what weddings are about and we’re all part of the problem – bloggers, photographers, planners and vendors – all hypocrites feeding the detail beast.

Strip it back.

Peel the layers off.

And start again.

At the center of every wedding we have a girl. Who fell in love with a boy. Or a girl who fell in love with a girl. Or a boy who fell in l… you get my point.

The rest is fluff.

If you read magazines and wedding blogs today, you’d think it’s all about the dress, the decorations, invitations or a million other things.

THINGS.

It’s not.

It’s about celebrating love, a manifestation of commitment, a gathering of friends and family.

Because you’re in love.

But if you visit many of the blogs today, you’d think it’s about other things. Heck, there are even themed shoots with no people. As if candles and old LP players on a blanket in a clearing in a forest make a wedding. Just add people. And maybe a groom. Or actually don’t, the wedding is about the details, remember? Details, details, details.

Strip it back.

Peel the layers off.

And start again.

Weddings are about people, it’s about commitment and celebrating love. It’s about you. Build on that and everything else will follow.

I am a detail person, so it’s not that I don’t like details. I love details. Details, details, details. Love them. I honestly do. I’ve worked with some of the best planners in the business and they’ve styled weddings to perfection, made details stand out and it’s always been great, because they’ve built on the couples, starting with who they are. And I actually like shooting details. A lot.

When I was younger I used to record mix tapes and give to girls I liked.

Every detail was thought out, every letter, every scribble, every word on that tape had meaning. I love me some details. I grew up in a house with vintage bottles and mason jars everywhere. That and rocks collected from oceans and fields. So I get the jar and bottle thing, I truly do. Throw in some rocks and I’m there. But remember what the wedding is about, why you’re doing this, that’s all you really need. Don’t stress out about building a fairytale wedding, perfectly crafted, every detail borrowed from somewhere else.

Look away from the blogs and magazines.

And look within.

Why are you doing this? What does it mean to you? Do you really need all that…stuff? And if you want stuff, are you adding stuff that actually means something to you? What do you want to remember from your day? The cake, the flowers, the dress from Hoya de la Poopy?

Or do you want to focus on that moment between you two? The boy? Who fell in love with a girl?

Strip it back.

Peel the layers off.

And start again.

Last night Rachel sent me this email after I posted their wedding. I’ll leave you with that.

Jonas,

I want you to picture Jeff and I squeezed in to our round chair, we don’t really fit and our dogs have been asleep at our feet for hours. It is very chilly here and the leaves are falling but we are reluctant to put on our heat yet. I say to Jeff, “let’s check your unemployed wife’s email, maybe we are about to get wealthy.” When I saw “it’s up” I stopped breathing. You reminded me that all that matters  is squeezed in that chair next to me.

This is the moment I have been craving and dreading all at the same time. It feels like a final celebration in a way to me. Like our last chance for you, nirav and us to take what we created together, between all of our hearts, and say to the world this is love, this is what’s important, this is the power of photography.

I am sitting here with this feeling inside that I felt before. I felt it when we sent that email off into thin air hoping to create something with you. I felt this when Jeff and I woke up in the middle of the night on our honeymoon in our little cabin (Jeff would be the first to tell you if you didn’t already have your ticket back to Australia I would have brought you on our honeymoon too) but picture us there and we are on an island in the middle of the ocean in the rain in a little cabin and i press my iphone on and it reloads your website and “One” is there. Jeff and I held each other and cried and cried and cried. You have healed parts of me. If that is not the measure of your success, I don’t know what is.

I love you.

Least we forget and here is a gentle reminder that LOVE is the meaning and reason behind it all.

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Luxurious Gown Fabrics | Merrily Wed – Lake Tahoe Weddings

Aug 18, 2011

One of the best parts of being a bride?  Trying on all the gorgeous, dreamy wedding gowns of course!  But wedding dress shopping can also be overwhelming with all the different shapes, fabrics, and styles to choose from.  Let us help – here is a little breakdown about the most popular fabrics and some of the silhouettes best for them…

Charmeuse:
Charmeuse is the lightest of all satins. It has a glossy finish that drapes and clings to the body.  Charmeuse works best in an evening gown or slip dress style.  If you are looking for a form fitting sexy dress then Charmeuse is the material for you!

Cotton:
Cotton is a breathable and comfortable fabric.  Cotton is not commonly thought of as wedding gown material but it does create very beautiful gowns.  It can be very easily manipulated so it can be in an array of dress designs.

Dupioni Silk:
Dupioni silk is thick with a slight sheen and a coarse, knobby finish.  Dupioni is a natural pure silk made from double cocoons.  Since Dupioni is a thicker fabric, it works best for fuller silhouettes and modified A-line dresses.

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Photos: Charmeuse: Alix & Kelly, Cotton: Chris Cole, Dupioni: Pronovias Rania

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Duchesse Satin:
Duchesse Satin is a classic wedding gown material.  Duchesse Satin is more affordable than pure silk because it is blended with rayon.  It has versatility because it works for full as well as straight gowns.

Lace:
Lace is a very delicate and decorative fabric.  Lace is typically made from cotton or synthetic materials.  Lace is commonly used in wedding gowns as an overlay on top of solid fabrics or even more lace.

Linen:
Linen is typically thought of as a more casual fabric because of its breathability.  Linen dresses are common for beach weddings but can also be perfect for a Tahoe wedding.  Linen can also be dressed up, depending on the cut and style, and used for more formal gowns.

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Photos: Duchesse: Jim Hjelm, Lace: Amsale, Linen: J Crew

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Silk:
Silk is the most common, cherished, and priciest wedding gown fabric.  Silk is a smooth natural fiber.  Silk threads are also woven in different fashions and combinations to create tons of other fabrics, such as satin, duchesse satin, charmeuse, chiffon, organza, and even tulle.

Taffeta:
Taffeta is crisp, stiff and a light-weave fabric with a slight rib.  It can be made from synthetic fibers or pure silk.  Taffeta is an ideal choice for ball gowns and A-lines because it adds volume without adding unnecessary weight.

Tulle:
Tulle the traditional material used for bridal veils.  Tulle is a fine mesh netting that is made from silk or nylon.  Tulle has become popular in bouffant skirts, Vera Wang popularized this ballerina-inspired skirt style. 

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Photos: Silk: Alix & Kelly, Taffeta: Liancarlo, Tulle: Vera Wang

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There are hundreds of different wedding gown materials and combinations available.  Hopefully this will help begin to simplify choosing the perfect dress for you.  The best way to find the “one” is to try on as many gowns as possible!

Bouquet Bridal Guide | Merrily Wed – Wedding Design & Planning

Jul 22, 2011

When it comes to florals, figuring out what type of bridal bouquet is the right fit for you can sometimes be confusing.  Here are some of the most common wedding bouquet styles and even here, this is just a beginning!  Size, color and composition are altered to make a custom bouquet that is unique just like you.  Some are more traditional, some formal, some casual, some colorful – these days you can incorporate almost anything into your bouquet – fabric, feathers, branches, succulents, berries…  Find which bouquet fits your wedding style!

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Biedermeier:
A Biedermeier is a small bouquet organized in alternating color hue rings, like a bulls eye. The rings can be composed of different types of flowers or the same type in two different hues.
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Cascade:
A cascade bouquet is the most formal and traditional choice.  It has greenery and flowers that flow down from the top.  The bouquet is very full at the top and some of the flowers hang down, to give a cascading effect.  This style was very popular in the 1980’s and 1990’s, but has recently been revamped with a more modern style.
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Freeform:
The freeform bouquet does not have a specific shape or structure.  Typically the freeform bouquet has both flowers and greenery and evokes a more natural feel.  The freeform is usually hand tied with ribbon.
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Freeform, Modern:
Full of color, texture and tons of details, the modern freeform bouquet can fit many wedding styles.  With multiple flower types and natural accents like succulents, this bouquet is fresh and modern yet stylish and natural.
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Lightship Basket:
A lightship basket is a bouquet of flowers and greenery that is carried in a basket.  The lightship basket can be decorated with ribbon or just a natural basket.  They are most commonly used on the east coast and carried by bridesmaids.
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Nosegay:
The nosegay is a round, uniform bouquet.  It is typically tightly wrapped with ribbon comprised of densely packed similar blossoms and greenery.  This elegant bouquet is very
popular with modern brides.
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Pomander:
The pomander is also commonly referred to as the kissing ball.  A pomander is a ball shaped bouquet that is suspended from ribbon.  It is typically carried by flower girls, junior bridesmaids, or is used as a ceremony decoration.
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Posy:
The posy bouquet is typically an all flower bouquet; they do not contain any greenery.  The posy is the one of the more common choices of modern brides.  The posy is most commonly hand-tied with ribbon.
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