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20 Wedding Planning Tips From Real Brides

September 9, 2015 | Junebug Weddings

from-blogger-to-bride-20-tips-real-brides Photo by Focus Imaging Photography

I am officially less than one month away from saying I Do and boy are those nerves starting to kick in! I decided to bring together some of my favorite bits of advice from real Junebug brides to help with the stress. I love everything these brides have to say, because it’s genuine and honest. If you’re a real bride reading this post or you’re currently planning your own wedding, feel free to comment below with your own two cents!

1. “Simplify, simplify, simplify! Make it “YOU” but remember, less is more! Never lose sight of what the day is really about. Enjoy the process and have gratitude for each step of the way.” – Jessica from Michigan

rustic wedding at Woodstock Farm in Bellingham, Washington, photos by Michel M. Waite Photography | via junebugweddings.com Photo by Michèle M Waite Photography

2.“One of my favorite parts was making our invitations although I could not have done it without my new brother-in-law’s help, he is pro with Illustrator. The best advice I can give people that want to do something like make their own invites or napkins or a sign is to jump in and do it and when you get in over your head ask for help! It’s amazing how much your friends and family want to help.” – Jessica from Washington

3. “The biggest piece of advice I could give is to NOT STRESS. No matter what happens, just leave it up to the cosmos to straighten it out. It will get straightened out! On my wedding day, it rained and rained and my hair just frizzed up so quickly! My hair was super straight before I got there and the minute I stepped out of the car, it got wet and frizzed up so much! But I didn’t worry. I didn’t worry either where they were going to move reception. My reception was supposed to be outside in the cafe gardens. I had no backup plan and luckily, there was a tent set up for another event and I got to be underneath the tent facing the ocean! I also didn’t worry about the ceremony. It was raining so much but the minute it started, it stopped raining and the rest of the day was magical! If I had gotten upset, sad, mad, etc, I would’ve ruined my own experience. I look back on that day and smile from ear to ear at how perfect it all was. It didn’t go as planned 100%, but it went and was the best wedding it could’ve possibly ever been.” – Stella from Florida

natural green and yellow wedding at Yandida Station, Australia, photo by Studio Impressions | via junebugweddings.com Photo by Studio Impressions

4. “An obvious piece of advice is to keep the main thing, the main thing. This is easier said than done. I am referring to the love between the bride and groom. Choose the few things that you will not compromise on, for example my thing was my wedding dress, and then everything else you can work through one by one.” – Rachel from Australia

autumnal backyard wedding in Granite Bay, California with photos by Kris Holland Photography | junebugweddings.com (19) Photo by Kris Holland Photography

5. “For those in the throes of planning – lean on your community! We could not have done it all without the amazing support we received. On the recommendation of a friend, we also spent a weekend away a few weeks before our wedding to focus completely on writing our vows, talking about what we were hoping for from our marriage, and our excitement about it all. It was a very, very special time and highly recommended!” – Kristin from California

6. “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Attention to detail is important, but there’s no point in stressing yourself out over every tiny detail. When the day comes, you won’t care about if you picked the perfect guest book or if the cake has three tiers or four; you will be too busy getting married and enjoying the day!” – Megan from Canada

7. “The biggest success was that our family and friends had a great time. We spent a year planning for this one day, and to see everything come together perfectly in the end was priceless.” – Rachel from New York

8. “Plan ahead and don’t let your budget determine the wedding you will have! Yes, you have to work within the limitations of the budget you set for yourselves, but you don’t have to settle… get creative with how to use the money you do have. We spent hours making our own wine, cutting corks, painting plywood, chalkboard, hand painting burlap sacks to hold our party favors, and rummage sale shopping to find silver platters for the centerpieces. You may end up putting in a lot of time, but you will end up saving money. And in the end those are the things that everyone appreciates! And in the end we had a lot of people who helped us with making it work! Because of planning ahead we had very little work to do in the days leading up to the wedding. It was great to go into the wedding weekend with little stress and be able to relaxed and enjoy each other – that’s really what it’s all about anyway!” – Jessica from Washington

bright yellow and orange summer wedding in Atlanta, photo by Paperlily Photography | via junebugweddings.comPhoto by Vue Photography

9. “Just have fun! Put your event in the hands of good professionals and go with it!” – Genya from Atlanta

10. “My advice would be to enjoy it! It will get frustrating and overwhelming at times and you will get tired of making decisions, but in the end everything will work out in one way or another. When it gets frustrating and overwhelming remember that you are marrying your best friend and then you get to celebrate with the ones you love. It’s awesome!” – Jessica from Texas

11. “Treat your wedding day like what it is. It’s a day that marks a new chapter in your life. It’s not a fairytale, it’s not a perfect day…it’s an experience. Henry David Thoreau once said “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” This applies to life as much as it applies to your wedding day. If you want to have a good time you’re going to have a good time no matter what happens (a family member actually fainted at the altar right in the middle of our ceremony) and if you want to nit pick and complain about how things are not going the way you want them to go then you’re going to spend the whole day nit picking. You have the power to choose how your wedding day turns out. Make the choice to have a wonderful, fabulous day and treat everything that happens as an experience. That’s what we did and boy did we have a blast!” – Erica from California

West Virginia countryside estate with photos by The Oberports | via junebugweddings.com Photo by The Oberports

12. “Stay true to yourself throughout the entire process and incorporate things that mean the most to you as a couple even if it’s not traditional. I would definitely recommend hiring a wedding planner especially if you are planning from a distance! Don’t cut your budget too much when it comes to photography! Over the past few months I realize more and more just how important that decision was. It’s the one thing that you will look back at over and over and share with your loved ones. And of course throwing such a wonderful party and showing all the out of staters just how beautiful my home state of West Virginia is!” – Katie from West Virginia

13. “Find a beautiful venue (lots of light) and keep it simple. Invest your money into a good photographer!!!” – Chelsea from France

Angola, Africa Wedding with Photos by Melissa Jill Photography | via junebugweddings.com Photo by Melissa Jill Photography

14. “Delegate, and remember you can’t do everything.” – Berta from Africa

15. “Plan what you can and then just roll with it. Things are bound to go wrong, and it’s how you respond to those mishaps that will make your day either miserable or very enjoyable. The biggest success was that we had plenty of food and plenty of alcohol — people don’t like to be hungry or thirsty, and if you don’t have those basics down, the party will be set on the wrong path from the start. If dancing is something you’re interested in, make sure the DJ or the band completely understands the vibe you’re trying to create for the evening. We had both a fantastic DJ and a fantastic band, and they helped get the party started and they kept it going!” – Nora from D.C.

16. “Keep it simple and enjoy the whole process. The style of your wedding should be about the both you, add little pieces for him and his family as well as you and yours. Take a few moments together to step away from everyone and just watch during the reception! ENJOY IT!” – Micki from Wisconsin

navy and pink nautical wedding at White Bear Yacht Club, Minnesota, photos by Geneoh Photography Photo by Geneoh Photography

17. “I know it’s not possible for everyone, but we had a longer engagement which allowed us to reserve all the specific vendors we wanted. It’s amazing how quickly venues and people get booked. So I think that was a great success. Having wonderful vendors made our day run super smooth and helped create the look and feel that we wanted. Also, just staying really organized is helpful. One of the best gifts I received when we got engaged was a Russell and Hazel wedding organization binder. I used that binder till the day we got married and it was a life saver!” – Molly from Minnesota 

18. “If you’re planning a wedding far away from home, just remember that you won’t be able to delegate to relatives or bridesmaids… which means you need to be much more organized. Don’t leave “small things” to the last minute; you will end up doing most of it yourself the day before the wedding.” – Kim from Oregon

vintage inspired garden wedding in Ireland, photos by Savo Photography | via junebugweddings.com Photo by Savo Photography

19. “Try not to get too carried away with DIY and stick to a few projects. I originally wanted to take on the flowers and cakes and I’m so glad I opted out in the end. Be practical and use the expertise of family and friends should you still want the homemade, personal touch. Take time researching your vendors. There is lots of amazing talent out there and don’t be afraid of the highstreet or shopping online. Most of all follow your heart, choose things that reflect you as a couple and make you happy, as it should be the day of your dreams.” – Orlaith from Ireland

20. “Remember what your wedding day is truly about- celebrating your love as a couple. Enjoy each other, have fun, and remember that it’s OK if everything doesn’t go as planned.” – Brittany from North Carolina

I think the bottom line is to remember why you’re getting married in the first place and just enjoy your wedding as much as possible. Sounds easy, right? I think we all put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we’re planning something for months on end. You build it up a lot in your head and it’s very easy to forget why you signed up for it in the first place. As long as you do the prep work, have a good attitude, and have some helping hands, you will have the wedding day you always dreamed about. Next time on From Blogger to Bride, I’ll be helping us all out with an easy-to-use wedding-day timeline. Happy wedding planning, Junebugs!

xoxoCarrie5

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Sophisticated Australian Wedding at Fraser’s Kings Park

September 9, 2015 | Junebug Weddings

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A great planner can transform any venue into the wedding of your dreams. Thanks to a team of Perth’s exceptional wedding professionals, Olivia and Stephen’s wedding at Fraser’s Kings Park was exactly the Hampton-inspired celebration they envisioned. Cathrin D’Entremont Weddings carefully selected neutral decor elements that, when paired with a stunning floral design by Natural Art Flowers, couldn’t have been more sophisticated or romantic.

The Couple:

Olivia and Stephen

The Wedding:

Fraser’s Kings Park, West Perth, Australia

The Inspiration:

Our modern day Hampton themed wedding was both classical and romantic with a hint of tradition and sophistication. From the soft furnishings, our flower arrangements through to our neutral colour palette. It was an amazing day and one which we both will treasure.

Stephen and I wanted our wedding to have a sentimental feel with a lot of personal touches. Our stationery was designed by Ceci New York, a classic, elegant design which help set the tone and style for our special day.

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The Moments:

If we had to choose just one moment then it would be the time Stephen and I took to spend together just before our reception. We had some photos taken overlooking Perth’s skyline, it was an amazing sunset and a very special moment for us both.

The Couple Recommends:

Stephen and I would like to thank our Wedding Coordinator/Stylist Cathrin D’Entremont. Without her unique style, creativity, dedication, patience and passion we simply would not have been able to realise the vision for our wedding. Special thanks to Natasja Kremers our Photographer, thank you for capturing all of our special moments. We would also like to thank Gabby Fuller from Orielle, who went that extra mile to have Hampton Style furnishings custom made for our wedding. Proof the Band, who provided the music from our ceremony through to our reception, always keeping the dance floor full. Thank you to Natural Art by Rebecca Grace, for filling our day with beautiful floral arrangements. Special thanks need to be extended to Fraser’s, Executive Chef Chris Taylor.  The Dugustation menu you created for our wedding exceeded our expectation. We also need to thank Gus, your personalise service throughout the entire night was unforgettable. Last but not least Brooke Brodie, Fraser’s Wedding Coordinator, thank you for all your assistance in ensuring our day ran smoothly from start to finish.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Natasja Kremers Photography
Event Planning – Cathrin D’Entremont Weddings
Venue – Fraser’s Kings Park
Floral Design – Natural Art Flowers
Catering – Fraser’s Kings Park
Cake – Cake Love
Oyster Shucker – Oyster Shucker
Officiant – Pastel Blues Ceremonies
Photobooth – Vintage PhotoBooths
Lighting – Goldbass DJ Entertainment
Live Music – Proof
Videography – Urban Light
Invitations – Ceci New York
Makeup Artist – Creations by Kassy
Wedding Dress – Pallas Couture
Bridal Accessories – Kezani
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Pallas Couture
Groom’s Apparel – Parker & Co
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Hugo Boss
Rings – Musson Jewelers
Rentals – Orielle, Villa Kulla, Hire Society, Bride + Groom Store,
Transportation – So Cal Limos

Congrats to Olivia and Stephen on their sophisticated Perth wedding! For more impeccable wedding design by Cathrin D’Entremont Weddings, be sure to check out Emma and Matthew’s lush outdoor wedding in Australia.

xoxoNicole

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Scottish Wedding at the Boturich Castle + Video

September 9, 2015 | Junebug Weddings

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Chantel and Niall’s Scottish wedding was the perfect marriage of their favorite things: engineering and springtime in Scotland. CineMate Films and photographer Trendz masterfully documented the day as the two said “I do” in a gorgeous church ceremony before joining their guests for the first time as newlyweds at Boturich Castle. The DIY reception was filled with pastel petals and brightly colored candies, but the highlights of the decor were the handcrafted flower backdrop and the Lego cake by Happy Hill Cakes!

The Couple:

Chantel and Niall

The Wedding:

Boturich Castle, Dunbartonshire, Scotland

The Inspiration:

I would like to think of myself as quite creative so I wanted to make things that people had never seen before. I took inspiration from the many incredible floral displays I have seen online and I really loved the idea of having lots of spring flowers at the wedding (even though I knew it was May in Scotland, I wasn’t going to let the weather ruin the day). I wanted the theme to be spring flowers (with a hint of engineering!) and wanted to do this without blowing our budget. It was also very important to me to keep the wedding sustainable.

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The Moments:

Chantel: Seeing Niall at the end of what felt like the longest church aisle in the world, and knowing after 2 years of engagement, the moment was final on us!

Niall: The anticipation in the church, waiting at the front of the aisle, with my best man and seeing all our family and friends around us, waiting for the most perfect woman to arrive.

The Couple Recommends:

Our cake was the talking point of the wedding, a mix of classical wedding elegance and fun construction inspired LEGO, all of which could never have been possible without Emily. Emily was an amazing supplier, working with us from the very first moment we got in contact with her. She helped us realise our vision within the budget we had set and not only met our expectations, but exceeded them spectacularly!

Our photographer (Romain) was tremendous. He involved himself seamlessly into the day and long into the night. He was there to capture all the moments we wanted and his photos are fantastic. He was certainly part of the party and got on very well with all of our guests.

Simon and Gregg of CineMate Films worked on creating a beautiful wedding film without us even realising they were there! It was brilliant to see such a well edited and well produced film, the trailer has been a big hit with all of our guests.

The Wedding Team:

Videography – CineMate Films
Photography – Trendz
Ceremony Venue – St. Patrick’s Church
Reception Venue – Boturich Castle
Floral Design – Vanilla Rose
Catering – Castle Catering
Cake – Happy Hill Cakes
Ceremony Music – The Trossachs Quartet
Live Music – The Jiggers
Makeup Artist – IQ Beauty
Hair Styling – Lipstick Lashes and Locks
Wedding Dress – Daisy Bridal Couture
Transportation – Ecosse Classic Cars
Favors – Katie’s Handmade Tablet

A special thanks to CineMate Films for sharing Chantel and Niall’s Scottish castle wedding with Junebug! For more DIY wedding inspiration, check out Carine and Chris’ geometric inspired Irish wedding.

xoxoNicole

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