Archive for the ‘Wedding Inspiration’ Category

The Importance of a Wedding Day Itinerary

April 27th, 2011

{image source} by Sandra Downie {a hanle Contributor} How many times have you attended a wedding and the Bride ends up running late or the passenger van hired to shuttle the guests didn’t show up on time. Or what about the time the cake designer got lost and the Bride couldn’t find her number to [...]

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by Sandra Downie {a hanle Contributor}

How many times have you attended a wedding and the Bride ends up running late or the passenger van hired to shuttle the guests didn’t show up on time. Or what about the time the cake designer got lost and the Bride couldn’t find her number to find out where she was. These are small examples of why Wedding Day Itineraries are important to keeping everyone on track and vendors accountable for their actions. Start your itinerary out with when the first vendor plans to arrive. Usually this would be hair/makeup providers and make sure each vendor being used throughout the day is on the list. Next, make sure on the itinerary the contact person, arrival time and phone number is listed next to each vendor. For the florist, ensure the time is listed for arrival time for the bridal party flowers, flowers at the ceremony site and flowers at the reception site. For the photographer, ensure all times are listed showing when they will arrive for pictures while getting ready, formal shots and receptions arrival. These are tips that will keep everyone sane and happy on the big day!

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oh Martha!

April 20th, 2011

How we adore you! Review on the Martha Stewart Wedding Issue by Sam Hamilton {a hanle Contributor}

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How we adore you! Review on the Martha Stewart Wedding Issue
by Sam Hamilton {a hanle Contributor}

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The Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses Trend

April 11th, 2011

{image source} {image source} by Sandra Downie {a hanle Contributor} Have you ever been in a wedding where you had to wear a wedding dress that just wasn’t right for you…the color, the fit, the style. Well thank heaven for the mismatched bridesmaid dress trend! I love this trend as I think this makes for [...]

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by Sandra Downie {a hanle Contributor}

Have you ever been in a wedding where you had to wear a wedding dress that just wasn’t right for you…the color, the fit, the style. Well thank heaven for the mismatched bridesmaid dress trend! I love this trend as I think this makes for a happy and enthused bridal party. It is very pretty and chic to have your girls wear dresses in the same color tone, but in a style that fits their body type. Or you can have them wear the same color, but in a style that fits their personality. The bonus of all this is that your bridesmaid will most likely pick a dress that they will be happy to wear to another celebration/party because it just says “me”. This is a trend we will be seeing much more of, especially for those Brides planning DIY Chic weddings!

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Review of Anthropologie BHLDN Wedding Collection

April 9th, 2011

by Sam Hamilton {a hanle Contributor} Hello everyone! I’m pretty sure every single wedding blog out there reviewed the new bridal collection from Anthropologie, BHLDN. The collection took me a while to really look at and I felt like to form an honest opinion, I needed to take the day and let it soak in. [...]

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by Sam Hamilton {a hanle Contributor}

Hello everyone! I’m pretty sure every single wedding blog out there reviewed the new bridal collection from Anthropologie, BHLDN. The collection took me a while to really look at and I felt like to form an honest opinion, I needed to take the day and let it soak in.

And it has!

My verdict? It’s a definite hit, with a few misses.

Overall, I’m in love. The textures alone in the gowns and dresses are stunning. I love that they played with that. The vintage details that have been added to the dresses truly give the “out-of-grandma’s-attic” feel, albeit, for a hefty price. Yes, these gowns are GORGEOUS, but as with anything from Anthropologie, very expensive. I think that might be the collection’s biggest downfall. I, of course, didn’t expect this collection to be super affordable, but I also wasn’t expecting the price tags currently attached to the dresses and accessories. Two of the weddings gowns offered are $600, a few at $1,000 and the rest can go up to $4,000, which isn’t bad. However, the bridesmaids/special occasion gowns start at $200, most average $350, and some go up to over $1,000. Unless you’re having a platinum wedding, I don’t think the majority of these dresses are affordable for most bridesmaids, sadly. I also wasn’t fond of the bubble-hemmed dresses, which seemed outdated (and not in a classy vintage way!) The accessories, I thought, were priced most outrageously, unfortunately. I found the jewelry pieces, especially, to be way, way overpriced, even for Anthropologie. A lot of the jewelry pieces seemed very simple and not quite as unique considering the price tag. I feel like the brand really took advantage of the “bridal” association with these pieces and really jacked up the prices. However, some of the cover-ups and shoes I thought were decently priced and well worth the cost.

Overall, a stunningly beautiful collection that I adore. I really do. I hope that over time, they continue to develop this collection to include more styles at accessible price points for the average bride and her bridesmaids.

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The Power of Frugal Flowers

April 6th, 2011

{image Source} by Sandra Downie {a hanle Contributor} Can you imagine a wedding without flowers? I can’t! You don’t have to spend a big percent of your wedding budget on flowers to make a statement. Flowers arranged in a vignette or bought wholesale and done in a DIY chic way can make a powerful statement [...]

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by Sandra Downie {a hanle Contributor}

Can you imagine a wedding without flowers? I can’t! You don’t have to spend a big percent of your wedding budget on flowers to make a statement. Flowers arranged in a vignette or bought wholesale and done in a DIY chic way can make a powerful statement and this still allows you to be cost conscious. A wonderful idea for floral vases is to use mason jars or vases that you can find while scouring flea markets and thrift stores. Tied with a little twine or ribbon, these can make beautiful centerpieces. Want to save money on your bouquet? The power of one is amazing. Meaning one type of flower that you can buy in bulk and tied beautifully together is a chic and beautiful way to walk down the aisle in style. At the end of the day, your guests are going to remember the food and the fun, so spend your budget on feeding them well and entertaining them in interactive ways.

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Event Planners vs. Event Designers

February 28th, 2011

What’s the Difference? by Sandra Downie {Hanle Blog Contributor} Wedding Design by: Sandra Downie Event Designs Photograhpy Credit: Melani Lust Photography With all the wedding shows on TV, the magazines, the blogs…how do you really tell the difference between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Designer? OK so here is the breakdown. Event planners are [...]

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What’s the Difference?

by Sandra Downie {Hanle Blog Contributor}


Wedding Design by: Sandra Downie Event Designs
Photograhpy Credit: Melani Lust Photography

With all the wedding shows on TV, the magazines, the blogs…how do you really tell the difference between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Designer? OK so here is the breakdown. Event planners are all about the “logistics for the day”. Who is the DJ, when will the florist arrive? How many rooms do I need to block at the local hotel for the out of town guests? Event Designers are all about the “look and feel for the day”. Does this flower go with the rustic outdoor event the Bride wants? Is lighting going to make a difference in the ballroom? What color linens best look best for this type of venue? The Wedding Coordinators that work at the wedding venues are just fine for the day of your wedding but they work for the venue, NOT you and they don’t really have the background knowledge to make suggestions towards the over look and design aesthetics for your big day. Event planners are good for making sure everything is going OK the day of and for getting your vendors in order, but the beauty of an Event Designer is to ensure that your big day has a cohesive and well put together look. From invitations, to flowers to linens and lighting, Wedding Designers get to really reflect you as a couple and to help to tell your story the way you want it. Hope this helps making your wedding day decisions a lot easier.

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Choosing Red

February 11th, 2011

How to choose a Red Lipstick….by Samantha Hamilton a Hanle Blog Contributor

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How to choose a Red Lipstick….by Samantha Hamilton a Hanle Blog Contributor

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Do I Have To Send Out Save the Dates?

February 1st, 2011

by Sandra Downie The answer to this question is a resounding yes mam! Imagine this! You got engaged over Christmas. You have set the date for next fall of the following year. Only you and your parents know this information. On the other side of the country, one of your future guests, is planning a [...]

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by Sandra Downie

The answer to this question is a resounding yes mam! Imagine this! You got engaged over Christmas. You have set the date for next fall of the following year. Only you and your parents know this information. On the other side of the country, one of your future guests, is planning a once in a lifetime Thelma & Louis trip with her dearest friends. They figure the fall is best because it’s a pretty time of year. They are starting to look into booking hotels and rentals, and what kind of camping gear they will need. They have no plans right, so why not!  You think, hey I can wait until Spring time to send out my Save the Dates. So here is the dilemma. This is a very close aunt near and dear to your heart. She is making plans that won’t allow her to attend your wedding because she simply “didn’t know”. She wouldn’t be at fault, you would be. If you plan on having out of town guest for your wedding, it is even more essential to get those save the dates out in a timely manner. I suggest 6-8 months. This allows plenty of time for guests to change plans and to make sure financially, traveling fits into their budget. It’s just the right and courteous thing to do. Your guests will love you for it!

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