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Wedding Planning 101 – Good Morning Bride!

July 12, 2012 | editorial team

Wedding Day Preparations, Photo by Stefano Choi | Junebug Weddings
Photo by Stefano Choi

So, today’s the big day! Whether you are an early bird or you enjoy a slow morning, the time has come to start your momentous, special, once-in-a-lifetime wedding day! We know you’ve planned for every detail of the big event to be flawless, but we want to make sure that you’ve planned to ease into it with a little you-time, a lot of pampering, and a few special moments that begin before the time stated on your invitations.

Wedding Day Preparations, Photos by Cheri Pearl and Sam Hurd | Junebug Weddings
Photos by Cheri Pearl Photography and Sam Hurd Photography

It goes without saying…but you got eight hours of sleep last night, right? Before leaping out of bed from all that good rest, take a deep breath and let the joy of the day fill your heart. There is so much to look forward to – the first time your fiance glimpses you in that dress; your friend that flew into town last night that you never get to see often enough; the huge hug that Grandpa will give you, and twirling around the dance floor all night. Have a quiet cup of tea or coffee, savoring this amazing morning!

Wedding Day Preparations, Photos by Gene Pease | Junebug Weddings
Photos by Gene Pease

You’ve been planning, anticipating, and getting ready for so long, that you might have forgotten that you are supposed to stop the preparations now and ENJOY the day! For some, that’s easy. For others, you might need some sort of activity that signifies a break in the march toward the wedding. You’ve actually arrived!

  • Start the morning with some yoga, a meditation session, or a massage. A relaxing, centering activity can be calming and restful, and will set the tone for the rest of the day.
  • How about a wedding day breakfast with your girls, or even your parents? Some brides love the chance to treat their friends to a fun morning meal, sharing the giddy excitement of the great day to come. It also is a nice time to spend a few last moments with the people that have nurtured and supported you, before they send you off on the next phase of your journey. It can be fun to give them a few more moments of knowing you are all theirs!
  • While I’m not about to suggest a serious workout session (I’m allergic to those even under the best of circumstances), a short walk in the crisp morning air can clear your head, get your blood pumping, and might be just the thing to get you energized for the day!

And that breakfast thing? Make sure to get some protein for long lasting energy that will sustain you throughout the festivities.

Wedding Day Preparations, Photos by Dan Stewart Photography | Junebug Weddings
Photos by Dan Stewart Photography

Now, it’s time to get down to the business of getting beautiful!

  • Gather the women you want with you to witness your transformation into a bride. You can all enjoy the pampering and intense girl-time together.
  • Designate one area of your gettng-ready room for everyone to put their belongings, in a tucked-away location. Your photographer will probably take pictures at some point in the process, so you’ll want things neat and tidy.
  • Schedule in lots of time for last minute hair and make-up adjustments, fastening the hundreds of gorgeous buttons on the back of your dress, and a quick protein-filled snack before you head down the aisle. You don’t want to be rushed or frantic at any point of the day, and things do usually come up!

Wedding Day Preparations, Photo by Bryan and Mae | Junebug Weddings
Photo by Bryan and Mae

After your enjoyable, relaxing start, you’ll be at your best throughout this incredible, memorable day. Enjoy every moment!

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Elegant and Rustic Wedding at HammerSky Vineyard – Beverly and Banjo

July 12, 2012 | editorial team

Ooooohhhh! I love this one! Beverly and Banjo describe their nuptials at the spectacularly scenic HammerSky Vineyard as a rustic wedding, but it is just so much more! The sunny, soft shades of yellow mixed with the palest smoke grey was sophisticated. The gorgeous summery flowers were lush and romantic, and the sunset over the vineyard, captured by Mike Larson, perfectly ethereal. All of it combined? Elegant, natural, and oh-so-happy!

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

The Couple: Beverly and Banjo

The Wedding: 9.4.11 – HammerSky Vineyards – Paso Robles, CA

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

What three adjectives best describe your wedding day? Rustic, Memorable, Amazing

Was there a decor theme that ran through your wedding? What was the inspiration for that particular idea and how did it reflect you as a couple? We definitely wanted to go rustic and have a homey family backyard affair with a few romantic notes. The exposed long dark wooden tables set the tone for the whole theme and brought the look of the reception area together. We aspired for a relaxed affair with our closest family and friends.

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

What were some of the different ways you used decor elements to create the beautiful, cohesive event you were envisioning? We used the color palette of grey and yellow to create a fresh and lively garden event in the midst of the vibrant vineyard. We used dark wood, bright flowers with a lot of succulents, and billy balls! We also added a last minute accessory of chandeliers to our ceremony which created a romantic backdrop along with the amazing view of the HammerSky Vineyards. The long market string lights that went across the reception table gave it an intimate feel and much needed ambient lighting. Paired with the spotlights around the vineyard that lit up after sundown, they made it feel like an enchanting event.

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

Where did you choose to hold your wedding, and how did the location influence your decor decisions? We chose HammerSky Vineyards because it was such a relaxed, quaint, unpretentious, and rustic vineyard location. It is what a vineyard should be! A barn and the beautiful rolling hills with old oak trees as a backdrop was the catalyst for the décor. Of course, this was all highlighted by a perfect sunset that rested along the rolling hills.

Beverly is from Southern California and Banjo from Northern California so the area of Paso Robles, in the middle of the state, was perfect for our destination wedding. We made our wedding a weekend event for our friends and family. A day of wine tasting in the country side to relax was just the perfect prelude to our wedding day. Onsite at the vineyard is a century old farmhouse that we stayed in with some of our close friends for the wedding weekend.

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

Looking back, do you have a favorite project or successful decor idea from your wedding? Tell us what you loved about it! It was definitely a huge project finding our wedding team since this was a destination wedding, but in the end we found the best people in the area who made us so comfortable in our wedding choices. Because of our amazing team we had such great response from our guests. They haven’t stopped talking about how relaxed they were with the great company, beautiful vineyard, tasty eats, soulful music, awesome sunset, delicious wines and the all-around charming experience. Our photographer, Mike Larson, and his team along with videographer Joel Vanz, are the best in what they do. They captured our special day and the unforgettable moments leading up to it.

Our favorite project was the time spent together with Beverlys parents at Paso Robles early in the year on a rainy day to sample the cakes, taste the wine from different vineyards and pair them with Chef Charlies delicious creations. Food is our passion, and wine is our obsession, so it was a perfect day.

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

 

Elegant Yellow Wedding at HammerSky Vineyards - photos by Mike Larson | Junebug Weddings

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Mike Larson
Event Planner: Allure Event Designs
Ceremony and Reception Venue: HammerSky Vineyards
Videographer/Film Maker: Joel Vanz
Officiant: Barbara Koenig
Invitation Designer: Umbrella Tree Design
Catering: Chef Charlie
Florist: Allure Event Designs
Cake: The Cakery
Wedding dress: Nina Lamanna
Bridesmaids apparel and accessories: BHLDN
Groom and groomsmen apparel and accessories: John Varvatos
Hair and make-up: Isabel Nunez
DJ: DJ King James
Live music: Tini Grey
Transportation: Ride On
Dance instruction: Stella Collins
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Lighting: Kramer Entertainment

Thanks for sharing your lovely wedding with us, Beverly and Banjo!

Readers, be sure to check out our Yellow Pinterest Board and the yellow section of our Image Gallery for more of the sunniest color!

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Hello Junebug Readers! We’re So Happy You’re Here!

July 11, 2012 | editorial team

Hey there dear Junebug readers! It’s been a while since we took a step back from all the wedding planning posts and just said hello, so I thought we’d take a moment today to do that today…

Life in the Junebug offices seems to go a million miles an hour, but we never lose sight of how grateful we are that you are here, reading, commenting, and sharing your wedding planning experiences with us. We adore the community we have at Junebug, and are so incredibly grateful that your allow us in to your wedding planning adventure!

There are all kinds of exciting things going on behind the scenes that we’ll be able to tell you about in the next few months, but the first one is that we just finished a revamp to the design of our monthly Love Letter, so it’s all freshened up and better than ever. Our bridal e-newsletter showcases the most popular recent posts from our blogs, directs you to our giveaways and includes exclusive wedding style tips only available to subscribers. Sign up today!

Another is that you may have noticed a new voice on the blog recently. The amazing Alexa Johnson has joined us as a blogger on What Junebug Loves, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her here as part of our growing team. Alexa has impeccable style, a heart of gold, a hilarious sense of humor, and loads of wedding experience (she’s also an incredible wedding florist), so this gal is the real deal. Keep an eye out for her blog posts, and you’ll see what I mean!

Are you on Pinterest? Junebug’s on Pinterest! Along with many, many, many of you, this is our new obsession. We’re pinning all kinds of gorgeous imagery to help you with your wedding planning, and we’d love for you to check out our boards! Of course we also spend lots of time on Twitter and Facebook, so if that’s where you like to hang out too, let’s connect! And if you’re the busy type who can rarely escape her inbox, sign up for our RSS feeds via e-mail! They’re a fantastic way to keep up with our blogs with zero effort involved. Our daily posts will arrive in your inbox and you can read them right then and there. No muss no fuss. Check it out for both What Junebug Loves and Photobug!

As you’re planning your wedding, don’t forget to use our carefully chosen Wedding Planning Hotlists – they are filled with the very best wedding planners, designers, photographers and other wedding professionals, who we’re extremely careful in choosing for our trusted recommendation lists. We take applications, check references, and only invite experienced wedding professionals who we believe in and are proud to recommend to you.

We’re working hard to bring you the very best in wedding inspiration and wedding planning resources, and like I said earlier, there’s lots more to come! I hope you’ll stay tuned as we launch our new projects and keep striving to help you plan your weddings with ease.

Thanks again for being Junebug readers!

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