Embellished Weddings

Floral Fun

There’s no denying that an aisle lined with floral pieces is effortless and beautiful. Whether it’s a basket full of baby’s breath, a crisp white carnation pomander ball or roses in a mason jar, an aisle lined with florals will be blooming with anticipation.

Rustic Chic

Not wanting to spend a fortune on ceremony décor? Opt for something DIY like personalized paper cones or tissue poms. Hang them on the side of every other row.

Candlelight Vows

There’s nothing more romantic than candlelit vows. Oversized lanterns create a simple, modern look. Add depth with several heights and shapes. What’s great about this option? It’s stress-free!

Aisle Say

Using initials and symbols is a unique way to express the personality of wedding and sets the ambiance of a heartfelt ceremony.

A Pop of Color

What we love about bringing your wedding colors into your aisle décor is that your guests get a little taste of what’s to come with your fabulous reception décor!

all photos retrieved from Style Me Pretty

images via polyvore.com

Do you want to make a bold statement in your wedding design? Neon colors have been showing up everywhere from the runway and style magazines to home decor. These playful neon pink, orange, and yellow accents can bring a delightful pop to any wedding.

Choosing a bold trend you love for your wedding is a great way to create a modern feel and a memorable day, but remember that all trends pass, and you will keep your wedding photos forever. While it is inevitable that any wedding planned today will look dated on 20 years (and is that so bad?), some trends will stand out more than others. Choose what makes you happy today, while keeping in mind how you will enjoy your wedding mementos in the future.

Neon hues are pretty happy colors for a joyous day, don’t you think?

Cake toppers. It’s one of those tiny details that are usually forgotten until the last minute. As wedding planners, one of our favorite aspects of a wedding is the element of surprise. Sure, we know the design and flavor of the cake before the wedding, but a dessert table is something we swoon over every time! What’s fun about having a cake topper is that you can make something so traditional unique.

Love the idea of a classic white cake? Drape flowers down the cake to make it your own. The cake baker can usually make sugar flowers, but if you want real flowers, then opt for the same or similar floral scheme as your bouquets or centerpieces.

amyraephotography

This couple used their wedding season as inspiration for their cake, using apples and leaves to create an autumn look.

Brides.com

We love the idea of incorporating hobbies into wedding design like this origami cake!

Brides.com

You can make cake toppers as personal or general as you want. These L-O-V-E blocks are super simple, but oh-so-adorable. Though we’ve exhausted monogramming, placing initials on your cake is another special way to personalize your cake.

Brides.com

Weddingcuts.com

Check out some of our other favorite cake topper ideas!

Etsy

Etsy

Etsy

Whether it’s a responsibility that is handed over to your groom or a family member, or if you’ve left the task to your cake designer as a special surprise, what’s truly great about cake toppers is that they require little time, effort and stress!

Nothing symbolizes that forever kind of love better than taking your groom’s name. It’s the thrill and excitement of saying “I do” that makes you want to shout it out, so why not do it!

The sky is the limit when it comes to customizing your wedding and monogramming is the perfect way to display you and your groom as a newly married couple.

Placing your initial(s) on a dance floor, cake, sweetheart table, favors, etc. can transform your wedding into a one-of-a-kind event. Check out a few of our favorites:

This couple brought their classic taste to the country by placing their initial on a rustic barn door. The white curtains with twinkle lights gave it an oh-so-romantic look.

Amy Rae Photography

Hanging letters from doors is an adorable trend that the Embellished Weddings team adores! In many cases, guests have been to local venues on more than one occasion, so it’s a nice treat for them to be welcomed by you, your groom and your families when they first walk inside.

c. ward photography

A sweetheart table is the perfect place for “Mrs.” and “Mr.” signs. Hang hand-written or wooden letters over the back of a chair with ribbon or string.

Amy Rae Photography

An ice sculpture is something extra that couples use to spice up their food tables, and we love it! It can be as simple as a single initial or extravagant like this one. Use lighting to spotlight the sculpture so it doesn’t go unnoticed.

holliB photography

For many brides, finding gifts for her wedding party is a difficult task. Providing your maids with something comfy to wear on the special day like these cute towel wraps is a great option! Other common day-of, monogramed outfits include oversized button downs, jumpsuits or white tanks.

Kevin Paul Photography

Using a monogram as a cake topper is a great way to customize your white wedding cake. Add monogrammed napkins to dress up your cake table.

Kevin Paul Photography

Racking your brain for favor ideas? We love these customized coffee cups. It’s the perfect “pick me up” after the delicious cake. Set them in a basket next to your coffee bar for guests to enjoy on their way out.

Kevin Paul Photography

Stationery is an important part of the planning process, so be creative! There are many ways to personalize your invitations. A crest is a great design element that can be used as a monogram throughout your wedding.

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There’s no doubt you will spend countless hours (with your helpful planner, of course!) planning the night of your dreams, so don’t hesitate to make it unique in every way possible.

Hiring a wedding planner is a fantastic idea for keeping your engagement period relaxed and fun as items on the lengthy to-do list are checked off. A professional planner can take the stress out of preparing for your Big Day by taking on much of the responsibility for coordinating details and keeping your plans on track. However, there are some things only you can do, like determine your wedding budget (and make sure you stay within it), and create a guest list (and count RSVPs).

For those things, thankfully, you are not on your own. Brides.com has developed several online planning tools that will help you calculate your budget, track your guest list, build a wedding website, and more. These free tools are sure to banish the last of your planning anxiety by simplifying potentially overwhelming tasks.

brides.com

How easy it is to be a bride these days! For most all of your planning needs, there’s your experienced wedding planner. For everything else, there’s the internet.

It’s a bride’s duty and delight to make her bridesmaids feel special, beautiful and comfortable on her wedding day, but sometimes this special task makes it difficult to step outside the box when it comes to wedding attire. Now that summer is approaching, it’s the perfect time to play with colors and style. One look we just can’t get enough of is skirts!

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Pastels and color blocking are two color pallet trends that are ideal for the skirt option. Use one color for all your maids, or let them pick different shades or styles.

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Pair them with simple white blouses or knit tanks for a relaxed look. Opt for a chunky, bold necklace or belt for that something extra!

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For a more formal wedding, choose a special fabric like silk or a skirt that’s beaded.

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Let’s face it. When it comes to wedding attire we like a lot of choices, and with variety comes lots of opinions. So, to save the stress and loss of sleep over what decisions to make, try to focus on what a bridesmaid really is–a true friend. The important thing is to have fun and remember to be true to yourself!

The sweets and eats at your wedding reception are just another opportunity to display your unique style and personality as a couple. Think that a wedding requires a standard buffet or a 3-course meal served at banquet tables? Think again. Elegant wedding food can be offered in creative, non-fussy ways.

If you are having a small outdoor wedding, consider preparing picnic baskets and blankets for your guests to lounge on the lawn and enjoy the reception.

image via weddingchicks.com

image via sarahjaneblog.com

Food trucks are very popular, and are known for their ability to quickly serve large numbers of people. Food on wheels comes in every variety: from tacos to ice cream to french cuisine, and can be a big hit at your wedding reception. Surprise and treat your guests with a street vendor!

image via theflirtyguide.com

image via theflirtyguide.com

Or, you could go with carnival-inspired food selections to match a festive theme. Pass trays of small bites that are popular at fairs like chicken and waffles, corn dog poppers, french fries, popcorn, funnel cake, or cotton candy. An interactive cocktail station where guests create their own spiked snow cones or cotton candy martinis could be a fun addition.

image via weddjngchicks.com

Have fun with your catering decisions, and take the opportunity to enhance the atmosphere of your wedding. Most importantly, be sure to choose food that you like to eat — it is your wedding, after all!

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While planning a wedding, many detailed brides overlook an optional element that can be a treasured part of wedding memories for decades to come: a videographer. We all know that choosing the right photographer is a very important decision, and a videographer will capture those same moments…but in motion. My husband and I watch our wedding video every year on our anniversary, and re-living all the sweet and funny moments it is one of our favorite traditions.

For the past several weeks we’ve been highlighting some of our favorite Oklahoma wedding photographers, and so now we’d like to introduce you to some talented wedding videographers.

Jody Wickersham is an award-winning professional videographer based out of Oklahoma City. He started Glorious Day Films in 2008, and demand from discerning brides quickly grew for his high-end artistic approach to wedding films.

Jody absolutely loves shooting film and video, and considers it an art-form. H expertly fuses visual and audio elements, which take on a life of their own and seem to transcend reality, connecting with the viewer on an emotional and spiritual level.

Jody feels it is an honor to be a part of such a special and intimate moment in your life, and help tell your story. His presence at your wedding is discreet, capturing intimate moments without drawing attention.

If you think you’d like to hire a videographer for you wedding. contact Jody to talk about the Wedding Packages offered by glorious Day Films.

My best friend’s wedding is in June, and I’m so looking forward to it!

Side note: Every time I start that sentence, all I can think about is the movie and that wonderful musical number… Love it!

I usually look at Pinterest and blogs from a “planner” point of view, but as soon as she asked me to be her Maid of Honor, I started looking from the “maid” perspective as well. One of the first images I came across was the picture below. I knew immediately that I wanted the photographer to capture this moment of us on her big day.

Since we’ve been spotlighting various photographers on the blog for the past few weeks, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few of those “must capture moments.”

If you choose to do without a First Look, here are two great moments to capture -

the bride and groom interacting without seeing each other…

… and that moment when he sees her for the first time!

If you’re playful and want to show your sense of humor, capture the bridal party sneaking a peek at a kiss between the bride and groom!

Or even better, your guests shielding their eyes from the smooch!

And if you’re feeling a touch sentimental, (and who isn’t on their wedding day?!) have the photographer capture the wedding rings of grandma, mom and the bride. What a special image to have!

So many photographers do a stellar job capturing the big and small moments of the wedding, but it’s always a good idea to have a list of must capture moments that you want from your special day!

(all images from pinterest)

You want to look fabulous on your wedding day, and that includes sculpting your hair into a style that makes you feel beautiful and will stay perfect for all of the photos and through the night. Whether you want something understated and naturally “you,” or something bold and unique for this momentous occasion, consider hiring a professional or enlisting the help of a talented friend to tame  your unruly mane and save your sanity on a day that should be stress-free.

Here are some hair “do” ideas for inspiration as you choose the look that best suits you:

image via projectwedding.com

image via latest-hairstyles.com

image via pinterest

image via pinterest

image via goo.gl

image via pinterest

image via herblog.com

image via pinterest

image via wedding-populars.com

image via tumblr.com

image via wedding-olivia.com

image via bit.ly

** For even more fabulous hairstyle ideas, visit Aisle Candy.

Each week we’ve been featuring one of our favorite wedding photographers, because we know that choosing the right photographer for your style and personality is important for capturing your wedding just how you want to remember it. Today we want to shine a spotlight on another of the best wedding photographers in Oklahoma.

Aaron Snow is a wedding and lifestyle photographer with a style that is fun, artistic, and real. He has a talent for capturing people in their best moments through his hands-off approach. He is known for his ability to see and use natural light to create his distinct images. Aaron has photographed weddings and events in 17 different states and even has international shooting experience. Aaron is a proud member of Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book as well as a distinguished advertiser with the Brides of Oklahoma.

image courtesy of Aaron Snow Photography

If you’re looking for a photographer who will give you a relaxed, individual experience and artistic photos of your wedding day, you can contact Aaron and rest easy knowing that your wedding day images are in the hands of an experienced photographer.

Most couples choose to have a wedding website to chronicle all the details from how they met to when and where they’ll wed – and of course, where their guests can find the perfect gift. Some couples include photos of their honeymoon destination, and there is always an online guest book.

These are all amazing features, but let me ask you a question… How many times a day do you use the Facebook app on your phone? What about Twitter? How many games do you download a week? There’s even an app to check your online banking.

Well, now there is an app for Weddings as well! Introducing the mobile wedding app by Appy Couple.

Style Me Pretty did a great post on the app today (excerpt below) and let me tell you, I think this is going to be a hit! Just think how nice it will be for guests to have all the information they need about your wedding at their fingertips. And you can even upload photos from your phone!

So all you brides-to-be, download Appy Couple now and give it a try!

The newest wedding blog on the block looks super cute and helpful. The girl behind Wedding Darling is also the creator of Dessert Darling, and she seems to know as much about planning an awesome wedding as she does decadent desserts.

A recent post on how to deal with thank you notes caught my attention. Between engagement parties, shower gifts, wedding presents, and more, the tower of thank you notes that need to be written and delivered grows quite high. This can be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan for tackling the task.

You want your friends and family to know that you genuinely appreciate their generosity, but you also don’t want to spend the first six months of your married life trying to complete all the notes. In addition to the pointers that Wedding Darling shares, I would add that it is very helpful (and considerate) to write thank you notes in small chunks as you receive gifts, rather than waiting to write them all after your wedding.

Check out Wedding Darling’s tips on handling thank you notes, and hopefully it won’t be a stressful part of your engagement and newlywed time.

Recently we’ve been sharing some of our favorite photographers, because we know that one of the most important decisions you’ll make while planning your wedding is who will capture every moment of your special day into something you can keep forever. This week we’ll continue taking a look at some of the best wedding photographers in Oklahoma.

Amanda Watson’s interest in photography began in high school when she took a class with friends. The experiences in that class sparked a passion for photography which has followed her for over eight years.

Amanda’s philosophy is that photography is so much more than a medium – it is an experience, an expression, a glance, an emotion, a story. Her vision is to capture more than just a pretty picture, but also to let your personality and style shine through each frame.

If you’re looking for a photographer who will give you a comfortable, natural experience and cherished photos of your wedding day, contact Amanda to book your wedding date.

We were so excited to be able to host a giveaway to win a personalized wedding hanger. Thank you to everyone that entered the contest, tweeted about it, and put something on Facebook. It was fun to get a lot of people involved!

I am even more excited to announce the winner of the giveaway!

Drumroll please….

#12 is Melisa Banks. Melisa, please e-mail me at amanda(at)embellishedweddingsok(dot)com and we can get everything organized so you can receive a FREE personalized wedding hanger in the mail!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about accessories. They really put the finishing touches on a look. The other morning I was already in the car before I realized I’d forgotten to put on a necklace. It was all I could think about any time I saw my reflection in a mirror that day. Is that a bit obsessive and over dramatic? Naturally, but it brings up an interesting point. What accessories will you select for your wedding day?

Now, for many brides, understated jewelry is the goal. After all, the most important piece of jewelry that day is on your ring finger. But lately, I have seen many brides go for more statement pieces. I encourage you to think outside the box…

If you have a one shouldered dress or alot of detailing on the bodice, a statement necklace might not be in your vision.

But what about a beautiful pair of earrings?

If you are going strapless, or have thin straps, consider a necklace that will compliment your dress.

There are some beautiful hair piece options out there, if that is something you want to try in lieu of the traditional veil.

And for the ladies who love shoes, your footwear is a great way to show off your personality a bit. I love these shoes from Kate Spade!

And if none of these ideas quite go with your theme, you can always mix it up a bit with a fun garter!

I saw this idea on Pinterest the other night, and I’m giddy over it. I have loved these monogram necklaces for a while now. Slip it on before you head in to the reception and show off your new initials!

Once you know the look you’re going for on your wedding day, have fun hunting for the perfect accessories!

If you’re looking for wedding-planning wisdom, the best place to look is to brides who’ve already planned their own dream wedding. Earlier this week Laura shared ten things she would do differently if she planned her wedding again. Today you can read about the ten things that she feels she did absolutely right.

Laura Tremaine is an Oklahoma girl living in Hollywood with her toddler daughter, infant son, and producer/director husband. In 2007 she designed her dream wedding weekend and married her sweetheart. This is her reflection on their Big Day.

“This list is just as important as my list of mistakes, because the things that you do right are ultimately what make it the day of your dreams. Assuming you’ve chosen the right groom and all that. If you can’t make it that far by yourself, this list probably won’t help you much. What follows are ten things I pat myself on the back over…”

Read the list on Laura’s blog, Hollywood Housewife.

Take Laura’s advice to heart, and follow your own heart, and your wedding day is sure to be full of things you would choose to do all over again.

*photo by Rob Garland

The best advice comes from those who have been there, and so what better place to gain wedding wisdom than from brides who have carefully planned and lived out their dream wedding?

Laura Tremaine is an Oklahoma girl living in Hollywood with her toddler daughter, infant son, and producer/director husband. In 2007 she designed her dream wedding weekend and married her sweetheart. This is her reflection on their Big Day.

“Even though I no longer have my tivo set for Platinum Weddings or Bridezillas, I can still talk about weddings for hours. The things I loved about my own or others, the things I should have done differently, the things one should always think about, the surprises, the memories, the priorities. I will probably be one of those wives who forces my husband to have vow renewal ceremonies every once in a while, just so I can throw a fun party again.

Not that a wedding is only about a fun party. Your vows should be the most sacred words you ever express to another, the commitment taken seriously. But I’ll tell you I wasn’t lying in bed night after night pondering my love for my fiance. No, my mind swirled with table arrangements and rehearsal dinner outfits and the bow versus no bow conflict. All the important things.

So while my wedding was truly the day of my dreams, there are a few things I would tweak if I could do it all over again. Our wedding was large and was a destination affair, so there was plenty of room for mistakes. Here are ten of the things I did wrong, and how I would do it differently…”

You can read Laura’s list on her blog, Hollywood Housewife.

Check back on Thursday for the ten things Laura would do exactly the same if she planned her wedding all over again.

*photo by Rob Garland