Fab Blog

I have a secret.  It’s not a really big secret… but… I get ideas from other planner’s and designer’s blogs!  Phew… glad that’s out.  I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve, but inspiration to make things personal for each client comes from anywhere and everywhere.  It is no secret with sites like Style Me Pretty and Snippet and Ink or Elizabeth Anne Designs, we’re all helping each other out with inspiration.   My personal favorite place to draw inspiration is from photography blogs of wedding photographers.  Many of the pictures used on the big bridal blogs are great, but a lot of them are straight from a Martha Stewart Weddings photoshoot and I like to see the real thing.  Nothing puts you closer to the real thing then actual detail shots from incredibly talented photographers.

Here are some of my favorite (outstate) photographer’s blogs… wipe the drool from your mouth before it hits the keyboard!

fab.kirsten fab.find, fab.inspiration, fab.style

Something that has been around for a long time but hasn’t really been as popular as it is today are the “Save The Date” announcements.  Fondly referred to in the wedding world as STDs.  Don’t worry, these are the fun kind of STDs and besides, the p.c. term for the other kind is STIs.  Did I really just put that in a wedding blog?  I digress…

[a personal fave from MarthaStewart.com]

Save the dates are a great way to show off your engagement pictures or show off your crafty side and clue family in about the exact date of the wedding.  Don’t worry, even after they’re sent you’ll still get a lot of “do you have a date yet?” and “when is the wedding?!”  At that point you can kindly refer them to the beautiful piece of graphic art that should be prominently displayed on their fridge.  People have done everything from a postcard with either a picture or monogram on it, to magnets, photobooth strips, and even fake plane tickets for destination weddings.

[faux plane ticket Save the Dates found at Brides.com]

What is the point of an STD?  They are meant to announce the date of your wedding and give guests accommodation information.  Simply sending a picture of yourselves with a date stamped on it isn’t enough.  The pros suggest you add the following to your announcement: 

[ ArisingImages.com]

 My favorite kind of save the dates are ones that use the unique photos your photographer took from the engagement session.  Remember they don’t necessarily have to show your face as long as your names are stated on the announcement.  Sometimes those pictures have the most impact!

[magnet save the date from MagnetStreet.com]

When making a magnet or something that doesn’t allow all the pertinent information to be on the same item, make a flat or folded card with all the right information and attach the magnet or picture to it. 

If you’re trying to go green ( and by green I mean environmentally and monetarily cutting back) you can always do save the dates via email.  This works great in a tech savvy world, but just know that some traditionalists don’t like it.  You could skip the tree products and the expense of stamps to easily design something like the last two pictures shown above and attach in an email with all the information or you could try to send them out from some of the following websites:

Have fun making them and if you have any fun ideas or designs you’d like to share with the world, send them my way and I’ll post them here!

fab.kirsten create, fab.paper, fab.style, save.the.date, to-be-weds, totally you

I was so very happy to get to work with Leah and Lamont to coordinate their 9.12.08 wedding!  Leah and Lamont live in D.C. and had the added stress of planning their wedding long distance.  They did a great job handling all of it and their day could not have been anymore beautiful - both in wedding and weather.   Not only are they awesome to be around, they make a great looking couple too!  I had a ton of fun getting to know the families of this couple and the best sight of the night was Leah’s mom getting down to some Shania Twain.  Thanks for the opportunity, Leah and Lamont! 

The colors were chocolate brown, ivory, and crimson.  Beautiful flowers by Alissa of I Do Flowers.

 Lamont designed their monogram which they used in different places at the ceremony and reception.

The perfect little surprise!  She didn’t make these… They came like this.

See… I told you they were ridiculously good looking.  Photography by Barclay Horner.

I love this picture.  Almost time…

Classic.

 The too-adorable shoes made by Luichiny.

Leah and Lamont chose to have individual cakes as centerpieces.  Each cake had their monogram and some flowers to decorate them.  Cakes by Gail Geist.

We used a chocolate colored pintuck table runner to add a splash of color and if you look close you can see their awesome table numbers!  Molly, their dog, struck some model poses with monuments and landmarks around D.C. and each table had a picture of Molly in a new place.  She’s got a future in the biz.

I love the simple way they chose to decorate the head table as well.  A few runner placed vertically, then covered with lots of red rose petals and votive candles.  Leah and Lamont also had a small two tiered cake they cut.

They have a ton of great pictures, but this one is definitely one of my favorites.  It shows off Leah’s gorgeous gown and how much fun they are having  as she and her dad danced to “Rainbow Connection” as sung by Kermit the Frog (well, and Bill here as well).  It’s also a great shot of the ceiling draping done by Jennifer Ernster at Sitting Pretty.  

The new Mr. and Mrs. really cuttin’ loose.  Thanks again, you guys!

The Vendor List:

fab.kirsten coordination, fab.weddings, the Marrieds