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8 Tips for Grooms to Get the Most Out of Their Wedding Day Before Saying “I Do”

June 12, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

There’s so much attention given to ensuring brides feel their best on the morning of the wedding, so we want to make sure grooms know how to make the most of their wedding day, as well! There’s really no better way to kick those pre-ceremony jitters than by spending the entire morning with your best guys. So, take a cue from the bridal party tradition, and make an event out of getting ready together. Here are 8 tips for making the most of your wedding morning so you’re feeling and looking your absolute best all day long!

Start Your Day Early

Even if your wedding morning isn’t packed with tasks, we highly recommend you start the day early so you’re not feeling rushed at any point. As much as you might want to, this is not the day to sleep in! You’ll need all the time you can get to cross everything off your list while stilling allowing some buffer time to account for unforeseen events or complications. If you’re not sure where to start, use the bride’s getting-ready timeline as a guide, schedule every activity for a specific time, and be conservative with assuming how long each activity will take. Make sure to give a copy of the schedule to all your groomsmen beforehand so they can plan ahead and be on time the morning of the wedding. To save time in the morning, make sure to have everything packed that you’ll need for the wedding day and the honeymoon.

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Eat a Big Meal

This should probably go without saying, but you definitely should plan to eat a big meal with your guys before the ceremony. This might be the last time you can eat until the reception — and even then you might not get to eat as much as you’d like while being pulled for conversations, photos, and dancing. So, either hit up your favorite breakfast joint, have food delivered to your getting ready venue, or get everyone involved by whipping up a hearty meal together. Balance is key, so make sure it’s packed with protein to keep you full all day. And don’t forget the coffee!

Get Active

After you’ve fueled up and before you dive into the getting ready process, take some time to get moving and to work out some of that nervous energy. Plan a touch football game, throw a frisbee around, or head to a nearby driving range to hit a bucket of golf balls. This is the perfect time to clear your mind, get high on those endorphins, and get into a positive mindset that you can carry throughout the entire day. Keep in mind: if you’re planning to get super active and sweaty, make sure you have access to a shower so you can clean up before the ceremony!

Distribute Gifts

If you didn’t give out your groomsmen gifts at the rehearsal dinner — or you wanted to make it a more personal experience — make sure to set aside time the morning of the wedding to distribute gifts. DLM Supply has gift ideas from dozens of brands that would fit any personality, from wallets to watches and everything in between. We also have a list of the best Etsy groomsmen gifts if you’re looking for even more ideas! Try to choose gifts that are personalized for each groomsman and that can either be worn for the wedding or used frequently after the wedding day.

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Get Groomed

Now that you’re feeling your best, it’s time to make sure you’re looking your best. If you want to give yourself and your groomsmen an extra relaxing treat, hire a barber to come in and give everyone a straight-razor shave. The bride and bridesmaids aren’t the only ones who deserve to be pampered! If you’d prefer to keep it low-key, you could also pick up specialty shaving kits for everyone to use themselves.

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Get Dressed Early

As a general rule, you and your groomsmen should start getting dressed 45 minutes to an hour before you’re needed for photos. It’s better to be ready early than to feel rushed at the very end, and we guarantee you won’t regret leaving that much time to get dressed. The best case scenario is that you have extra time to take photos with your groomsmen. But, in the event that you have forgotten something or a button pops off your jacket, you’ll have plenty of time to send someone to find or fix your attire. If you’re looking for style ideas, make sure to take a peek at these 2018 groom style trends (and shop the links below).

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Take a Few Moments to Yourself

While most of your getting ready time will be spent with your groomsmen, it’s a good idea to schedule a few private moments for yourself at some point before the ceremony. Whether you take this time to hand-write the vows you typed up on your phone, double check your honeymoon bag, or go into a quiet space to pray or meditate, giving yourself time to reflect and mentally prepare for the day ahead will help you feel grounded and present before the rush begins.

Raise a Glass

Once you’re all ready to go, the final thing to do is raise a glass to you, your wedding day, and the guys who will be standing by your side. Pick up a bottle of your favorite liquor — or break out that fancy bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion — and take a shot just before you head out the door. It’s officially time to get the party started!

The Talented Team:

Photography – Shay & Olive
Styling and Home – Unique Unique Design
Casual Wear – Rye 51
Formal Wear – Austen Dor
Gifts – DLM Supply
Calligrapher – Whiski Designs
Cigars and Humidor – Grapevine Cigar Shop
Catering – Ferals BBQ

 

Now that you know how to make the most of your wedding day, find out how you can get involved in the wedding planning process from start to finish!

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Intimate Industrial Vancouver Wedding at The Pipe Shop

June 12, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

When Natasha and Jamey went looking for an industrial space they could transform into their dream wedding venue, they found The Pipe Shop on the Vancouver waterfront and immediately fell in love. One of the couple’s main goals for their wedding was to create a home-like feel, which Petite Pearl Events accomplished by setting up cozy lounge areas, designing modern tablescape set on farmhouse tables, and finishing off every area with lush greenery and white accent flowers arranged by Celsia Floral to give the feeling of a laid-back dinner party. Elizabeth Stanley Design also created a for the ceremony using copper pipes and a backdrop for the guestbook portrait area using a wall of grass and a laser-cut monogram created by Blushtype Modern Calligraphy & Design. All of the natural and modern design elements brought the industrial space to life, and Daring Wanderer captured every unique facet of this wedding beautifully.

The Couple:

Natasha and Jamey

The Wedding:

The Pipe Shop, Vancouver, Canada

Initially, we thought of having a smaller and more intimate wedding. However, once we realized how many friends and relatives were willing to travel from far and wide to attend our wedding, we decided to show them the best time and throw a really fun party. We tried to focus on having amazing food and good music in a beautiful space.

While we absolutely loved the whole wedding, the most special part for Jamey and I was the first look when we got to spend a few moments alone. That’s when it felt like it was all really happening. At the very end of the night having our very closest family and friends all crowded in a hotel room, singing and dancing until 3 AM was also surreal.

I couldn’t have created this magical day without my amazing wedding planner, Margot from Petite Pearl Events. I would have loved to DIY a lot more if our wedding was local, but since that was not logistically possible, finding someone who could execute our vision from long-distance made the whole process so much more enjoyable. It felt like we really planned it and got the day we wanted, but really we hardly had to do any work!

To personalize our wedding, I stamped little toss bags filled with eucalyptus to represent the fact we met in Australia. I also painted the artwork that was used in our invites and our monogram. Jamey, of course, entertained our guests with members of his old band at the reception! We also made welcome gift boxes for guests staying at the hotel, which included some of our favorite snacks, tourist info, and Advil for the morning after.

For our ceremony, we wrote our own vows, which were special, and worked with our officiant, Paula, to create a truly meaningful and personal wedding ceremony. We had all our siblings walk down the aisle with our parents in addition to our bridal party.

We wanted the place to feel like we were inviting people into our home balanced with having a modern stylish party. We love vintage wood and mixed metals. We have lots of antique-inspired elements in our home and wanted our wedding to reflect our personal style. So, we made sure to have comfy seating areas with couches and coffee tables with our favorite music playing in the background. Overall, our decorator and wedding planner did a phenomenal job translating our thoughts into the end product. Good food and a good party with ambiance were what we were going for and that’s exactly what we got!

For our favors, we stamped little muslin bags with our initials and filled them with homemade Sri Lankan Love Cake, which paid homage to my heritage. It’s also just a delicious treat Jamey and I both love!

We had an amazing menu prepared for us by Forage Catering. Some highlights were our passed appetizers that included a risotto station with mushroom risotto finished in a parmesan wheel, which was really entertaining for our guests and tasted delicious. We had an amazing cocktail called “The Garden” as our featured drink, which had elderflower liquor, gin, and white grape juice. For dessert, we had lots of different treats and some amazing Neufchatel cheese puffs with gin-soaked berries.

Processional – Medley of “Fun Times in Babylon” by Father John Misty, “Mykonos” by Fleet Foxes, and “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, played by Peter Wang on piano
Recessional – “Of Monsters and Men” by Little Talks, played on the piano
First Dance – “Walk the Line” by Ben L’Oncle

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Daring Wanderer
Event Planning – Petite Pearl Events
Venue – The Pipe Shop
Floral Design – Celsia Floral
Catering – Forage Catering
Cake – The Cake & The Giraffe
Officiant – Paula Cline
DJ – Jeremy Baker at Spin the Black Disc
Stationery – Cornwall Stationery
Makeup Artist and Hair Styling – Nadia Albano Style Inc.
Wedding Dress – Mikaella Bridal
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Adrianna Papell
Groom’s Apparel – Indochino
Groomsmen’s Apparel – H&M
Copper Backdrop, Portrait Studio Backdrop, and Candles/Votives – Elizabeth Stanley Design
Guestbook – Adam and Kev
Lase-Cut Monogram – Blushtype Modern Calligraphy & Design
Vinyl Decal – Feelin’ It Decals
Plates, Cutlery, and Napkins – Pedersen’s Event Rentals
Tables – Rental Network
Chairs – BOLD Event Creative
Lounge and Portrait Studio Furniture – Bespoke Decor

 

Congratulations to Natasha and Jamey, and a big thanks to Petite Pearl Events for sharing this … wedding at The Pipe Shop with Junebug! Want to see more from Junebug member Daring Wanderer? Check out this delightfully handmade Normandy wedding at Chateau le Mont Epinguet!

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Whimsically Minimalist OKC Wedding at the Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery

June 11, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

Jessika and Patrick put a whimsical twist on their modern wedding at Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery. Their one-of-a-kind love called for a one-of-a-kind wedding – especially Jessika’s bridal style! We are obsessed with her floral crown crafted by The Wild Mother, not to mention her gorgeous custom cape by OKC Bridal and Pageant Seamstress. Looking like a queen, Jessika stood next to her groom and the two exchanged custom designed wedding rings designed by Patrick at Naifeh Fine Jewelry – swoon! This Oklahoma City wedding was captured by Rachel Photographs who photographed the day in such a fresh and modern way.

The Couple:

Jessika and Patrick

The Wedding:

Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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SHOP THIS LOOK

 

I was very inspired by Solange and Alan Ferguson’s wedding by their elegant and minimal style, to say the least. I was intrigued by her cape. It made me feel like a goddess on my day in all white (even the flowers). 

Our first look pictures were our favorites! We took them on top of a rooftop bar called The O Bar in the Ambassador Hotel in Midtown Oklahoma City. The weather was perfect and we were so ecstatic and in awe of each other that it felt like it was just us two. That moment was captured so perfectly.

The best advice we can give is:
1. Whether you know exactly what you want or are one to go with the flow, being flexible is key. You never know what will happen.
2. Think about your guests while planning! It’s not a party if no one is having a great time.
3. Always have one or more people that you can rely on to help you from planning to day of to after party (or clean up). Whether you decide to hire a planner or plan the wedding yourself, extra support always helps!
4. Lastly, be sure to eat all throughout the day of your wedding or have a plate made for you during your reception and make time to eat it. If you don’t, you may not get to eat at all!

The ceremony was unexpectedly the most memorable part for both of us. We were expecting a quick ceremony and then we could party because we just wanted to be married already, but that wasn’t the case. It was a small ceremony that we shared with our close loved ones, our mom’s walked us both down the aisle, and it was filled with emotion and support. We both cried, it was beautiful!

Our photographers, Rachel Photographs, were calm and cool which was just what we both needed on such a wonderful and stressful day. They were professional but still made everyone feel comfortable. They made Patrick and me feel like celebrities!

The Wild Mother worked with me through the creative stages of picking the right florals, holding my hand and walking me through the planning process.

One of our main focuses was to be sure that our guests would have a blast. Also, we wanted to have our family and friends involved as much as they could. I am an only child and Patrick is the youngest, so we wanted to go out with a bang and make everyone let loose and enjoy the celebration.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Rachel Photographs
Venue – Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery
Floral Design – The Wild Mother
Catering – Joey’s Pizzeria
Cake – Uptown Grocery
Officiant – Ernest Odunze
DJ – Sound by Scott
Stationery – Wedding Paper Divas
Makeup Artist – Gaby Robinson
Hair Styling – Desirv Beauty
Wedding Dress – Nearly New
Bridal Accessories – OKC Bridal and Pageant Seamstress, The Wild Mother, Betsey Johnson
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – ASOS
Groom’s Apparel – The Wardrobe Modern Menswear
Groomsmen’s Apparel – The Wardrobe Modern Menswear
Rings – Naifeh Fine Jewelry
Rentals – Marianne’s Rentals
Favors – Ingrid’s Kitchen

 

A big congratulations to Jessika and Patrick on their whimsical wedding, and thank you to Rachel Photographs for sharing it with Junebug! For more creative Oklahoma weddings, take a look at this edgy high-fashion wedding inspiration at Great Salt Plains State Park.

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