sean and beka
We are planning an intimate candlelit ceremony followed by a fun and formal outdoor reception. Our color scheme is black, white and pink, with accents of silver and apple green. We're going for a spring-time vintage feel; here are our ideas.
If you're looking for our married/for sale bio, please visit it here!
To read more about our wedding with more photos and recaps, follow my blog at www.fromdiamondstovows.blogspot.com!
style
Here is a lovely style board from Zenadia that perfectly shows our colors and the syle we are going for. So gorgeous.
This board shows the elegant vintage feel we're going for.
Here is a gorgeous palette of black, pinks, and greens.
I love how black and pink can look so modern but feel so classic. And I really love stylemepretty for putting these boards together.
Here's a classic style board from Snippet and Ink
the ceremony
The ceremony will begin 25 minutes before sunset, and we're planning to use candles exclusively. We have two 65-pound boxes of candles sitting in the closet! This next photo is from MrsAnayisnin's fabulous winter wedding.
More candles-- where the boxes and boxes of candles come in.
I have a bunch of pink suede napkins and I really like this look for the mansion staircase with candles.
We love this look for either an altar or welcome table.
the reception
Centerpieces
We love the submerged fruit look with flowers on top; we would change this to green apples instead of lemons and pink peonies rather than the white flowers featured here.
I love this arrangement of apples and peonies.
I have similar green and pink suede napkins and I like the flowers and candles with them in this photo from a wedding reception.
I love the fullness and simplicity of these centerpieces, especially if they were alternated with candles down a long, rectangular table, rather than being used as traditional centerpieces.
These are full and lush and so vibrant. I love them.
We love this idea of using green apples for place cards, maybe with printed ribbons instead of these white cards.
Serving pink lemonade was Sean's idea. These glasses are adorable-- the picture is from stylemepretty.
We plan to do a table similar to this with photos of family members from their own weddings, and our engagement pictures.
the bride
The Dress
After eight hours, five dress boutiques, and 46 dresses, I finally found it! Now I'm trying to decide whether to add straps to help keep the dress up. I also think I'm going to have the chapel-length train hemmed up to sweep-length.
I've been deliberating between twinned spahetti straps, single spaghetti straps or a thicker strap, but recently Miss Cherry Pie over on weddingbee.com altered her gorgeous dress to have a deeper "v" in the back, which made the straps look even better. Check it out:
So that's another option. It wouldn't actually be as drastic an alteration as it was for Cherry, because my dress already has a slight "v" in the back. It would just flatter the straps a little more.
The Veil
I have never really liked long gauzy veils, I feel too confined in them. What I really wanted was a birdcage veil so I contacted Melody Ginn of birdcageveils.com and we customized a birdcage with a vintage-feeling diamond and pearl broach.
Here are some pictures that Sean took for me as soon as I opened the packaging-- excuse the messy room and pajamas! I'll put up pictures of the broach soon.
For other brides' reference, this is 18 inch (chin length) Russian netting. French net veils have very prominent dots, and after looking at a lot of birdcages, I felt that less prominent dots looked better in blond hair. (Yes my hair does look red in these pictures; no I don't have any idea why... odd).
The Hair
I haven't figured out yet how I'm going to wear my hair, but here are several styles that I've noticed.
I love how sleek this look is.
I love the volume in this style and I like the side-swept bangs.
Lately, I'm really loving these styles. I unfortunately can't remember where I found these pictures but they are gorgeous. Especially since I'm also wearing a birdcage veil.
Close-up view...
and a gorgeous back view.
The Makeup
I love Reese's makeup in this picture.
Kate Hudson's makeup is gorgeous here.
This bride's makeup is also gorgeous, I can't remember where I found this photo.
Pictures from my first makeup trial:
Before (with messy hair)
After (still with messy hair!)
Please ignore the messy closet, I was in the middle of moving.
the bridesmaids
I chose nine designs from the same designer in black satin for my girls to choose from (the photos are clickable for a larger view). Here they are:
People always say that different hem lengths and shoes makes the pictures look bad, but I think this picture shows how great it can look. It's a much more interesting look than matchy-matchy.
I just recently purchased five pink pashminas as it may be chilly out once the sun sets. This picture is exactly the same color as the pashminas I purchased, and I love the way the girls are wearing them. Side note: I would credit this photo if I knew who it belongs to-- if you know, please give me a heads-up.
the boys
Sean picked out some gorgeous green ties for the boys to wear. We're thinking no vests-- this picture is from the pink and black bio of tuxes without vests. Imagine a green tie.
This picture is from fab photographer Jessica Claire and shows how great and classic these tuxes look without vests. Again, picture a green tie rather than these yellow ties.
the flowers
This rose bouquet is so simple and so stunning. I love bouquets that don't look "fussy" and I like how open and lush the roses are when they're in full bloom like this.
I LOVE this bouquet so much.
This next picture shows another option. I really love the look of bridemaids carrying candles but I've heard that sometimes it burns their hands. If we can figure out a way to do this with no burns, we may go this route. If not, pomanders, parasols (if the ceremony is outside), or the traditional bouquets are also options.
Anyone who loves pink peonies should check out the bio of Mrs.Erin-- these bouquets are gorgeous.
We love how different pomanders look and are planning to have the flower girls carry them. Maybe the bridesmaids as well?
Here is a great photo of the bridesmaids with parasols. If the weather is nice and we're able to have the ceremony outside, this would be lovely in the rose garden.
the menu
We both love chocolate in all its shapes and forms, and since ours will be a late evening reception, we've decided to forego a cocktail or dinner reception in favor of a full array of desserts. Right now we're in the process of choosing cheesecake flavors that we'll offer in addition to the traditional wedding cake. We're also thinking that we will offer brownies and the ever-popular candy buffet.
Here are some ideas of dessert buffets we like.
Another dessert buffet picture...
Here is a picture of a traditional cake we like; we would switch out the yellow for black piping and change the flowers to pink varieties.
Here's a great candy buffet photo from lamaddalena's bio.
This candy buffet looks very fun and festive.
our diy projects
We are having so much fun creating projects for our wedding! Whenever we get tired of it we'll just stop, but for now here's our list of projects that we're planning to tackle!
I love this tissue wreath from a wedding featured on stylemepretty. I'm told they're very easy to make; we'll see!
We just recently purchased 38 pink paper lanterns, half light pink and half dark pink, and 20 white paper lanterns. We'll string them up between the trees since it'll be dark during the reception.
Ceremony Programs-- here are a couple options that we like. In the end, we'll probably end up making whichever one is easiest, as we won't make them until close to the wedding day.
I also really like this look, it's different from all the layered or booklet-type programs.
I really like these pew cones-- I don't know if we're doing any sort of send-off but these look really great. They could also hang on the chairs down the aisle and according to DIY Bride, are easy to make.
Door hangers for the mansion bedrooms where we will dress. The bride's room is huge with two dressing areas and a massive bathroom. Good thing since there will be a bunch of girls getting ready in there!
These adorable examples are from MrsAnayisnin's bio. The groom's room is just down the hall from the bride room, slightly larger but with a less ornate bathroom.
I found these great hat boxes at Hobby Lobby and Sean has taken on the project of gluing them together and cutting a slit in the top so they can function as card boxes.
If we don't do the apple placecards, we like these stamped placecards from Martha Stewart, especially since our invitations are hand-stamped and embossed.
how the story began
We were good friends who fell in love and then started dating. Three years, three continents, three different universities in three different cities, three weddings, three funerals, and millions of phone calls, letters and emails later, we're getting married.
It was very important to Sean that the proposal be a surprise, and it was perfect. He even thought ahead to have a friend hiding to take pictures. We had designed the ring together almost a year before, but I didn't have any idea it was happening that night until he was down on one knee with the ring in his hand.
In fact, I was so surprised that he had to ask me three times before I could finally squeak out an answer. Which, of course, was yes.
The ring that started the planning (sorry the picture is blurry, I took it with my camera phone the same night).
people we like
Note: these are reveiws of national vendors. If you are one of the girls on my local board and would like reviews of local vendors, feel free to shoot me an email.
I have recommendations of the people we're using who we like, as well as other people we met with who we do/do not recommend. Happy to share if you want it.
--Melody Ginn
Melody and I are in the process of designing my veil. She's been great to work with so far, sending me veiling samples to determine which color best matches my dress, and she has the largest array of veil styles I've seen. Her website is www.birdcageveils.com.
UPDATE: My veil arrived yesterday and is gorgeous. I highly recommend Melody, she was very quick and her work is lovely.
--Linsey at Face Time Cosmetics
Linsey is the founder and C.E.O. of Face Time Cosmetics, where I got my Beauty in a Box makeup-- she put my order through herself, checked in to make sure I received it and is genuinely sweet. My makeup arrived two days after I ordered it. Her website is www.facetimecosmetics.com
--Michaels and Hobby Lobby
I know, odd to include them in the list, but several brides have emailed me asking where I got the stationary, embosser, etc. for the invitations. I did most of my shopping at these two stores, although I purchased the linen cardstock at an adorable scrapbooking store that is now out of business.