I don’t know about you, but when I start planning a wedding the first thought that comes to mind is, “how is this going to be different than any other wedding?” Being the lead designer on our team I am also particularly sensitive to ensuring the couple’s individuality is also represented in their special day. I believe each couple should stand out from the crowd. I mean… It’s you, it’s your day it shouldn’t look like any other. Let’s look at 6 truly unique wedding invitation ideas below!

Personality meets style starting with the design phase. Our process begins by getting to know what our couple client likes their interests, hobbies, even home décor. (Because, what better way to understand your personality than getting a glimpse into your home.) Taking all the information we have plus looking at Pinterest boards or inspiration pictures, likes and dislikes, chosen venue and desired experience we start at the end and work our way to the beginning. Meaning, we create the entire vision of the day from what champagne will be served, to lighting, time of day, entertainment, weather, florals, colors, etc. Then we move into the details like signs, invitations, name cards and save the dates. 

Which brings me to designing invitations that are as unique as you and give your guests a WOW first impression of your wedding day. Below are my favorite invitation ideas for making a fantastic and memorable first impression that is all your own. 

1.) Get Artsy
What better way to have a one-of-a-kind invite than one created by a fine artist? This is absolutely one of my favorite invite ideas because you can be as opulent or simplistic as you like and the art may be used for your welcome sign, menus, place cards, thank you and more. 

2.) Mini Book
There is nothing more unique to you than your story so share it with your guests in a mini book invite. Include pictures of you along with event details all in a keepsake style invite. To be honest we had a hard time finding an example of this specific idea (which should tell you how unique it is!). So we did this little mockup to give you a better idea of what it would look like. Keep it simple and small, include personal photos, and the wedding details. A 2×3 book is only $4.96 from Walmart and you can include your entire love story!

3.) A Sprig
Elegant wedding invitation with sprig of lavender 
I am an absolute gluten for fresh herbs and flowers and for my BoHo couples this is my top pick for giving your guests a sneak peak at either what’s on the menu (slip in a sprig of cilantro or rosemary secured to your invite with jute). Or, the vibe of your nature inspired celebration (lavender, grass, baby’s breath sprigs tied with a simple ribbon). Try to keep the sprigs small and tight so they don’t make a mess of your guests counter when they open the invite.  

4.) A Sprig + Eco Friendly
Eco-Friendly wedding invitation with plant seeds
Etsy is a great resource to use. These are only $0.93 each!
Take it a step further and send your invite on plantable paper! 

5.) Venue Inspired
Wine bottle label wedding invitation 
Labels can be found on Etsy and we suggest Trader Joes, or Costco for inexpensive wine choices unless it is in your budget to send a bottle from your winery.
I know, how vague! But here is what I mean, if you are getting married at a winery send a cork, a wine bottle, a bottle opener. If you are getting married on the beach, send a treasure map, a beach survival kit with sunscreen, glasses, sun visor each with another piece of info or message in a bottle. 

6.) Puzzle Pieces
Wood puzzle piece wedding invitation 
I fell in love with blank puzzles from Amazon because you make it into anything you want and when you share it the activity is fun to unravel the mystery. We used these last Christmas to give a ski trip spread out among lots of little gifts. 

In todays world of Pinterest Weddings, and Instagram styled shoots it can be difficult to find truly unique wedding details for your day. It feels like everyone is doing the different versions of the same basic ideas. Hopefully these 6 truly unique wedding invitation ideas helped you get started on the right path. Need some invite inspiration or wedding design help? Send us a note!

6 Truly Unique Wedding Invitation Ideas

Weddings by Leigh is a Las Vegas based mom and daughter team helping couples with everything they need to plan their dream wedding. We are a couple’s source for custom tailored style, design, vendor selection, ensuring a flawless wedding day that guests will never forget.

In a world where wedding planning has become anxiety ridden, complex, and confusing, we offer one-on-one planning support suited to fit our couple’s exact needs. Our custom tailored planning and coordination packages guarantee your big day will have that highly professional, supportive, sophisticated touch exactly when and where you need it. 

We strongly value weddings as one of the most important events in a couples journey together. It is the foundation for a love that lasts forever. We want to help each couple achieve their forever love.

We are a team with a combined 30+ years of experience in planning and coordinating special events in Las Vegas and beyond. We guarantee, if you follow our planning and coordination packages you will achieve your dream wedding without the stress!

~Coordination and Planning packages available in Las Vegas, Southern California, & Beyond. Contact Us today for a personalized quote~

With the right eye and an understanding of lighting, amazing portraits can be captured just about anywhere. 
With Agnes and Travis this was a perfect moment to take some amazing photos in a very busy location that is absolutely important to the two of them. They were willing to show up at the right time for proper lighting (I came with lights in hand just in case since overcast was off and on) during a very busy time on this specific trail. You'd never guess that in this moment the public was just about everywhere. 

These are amazing moments. When you can simply envelope yourself into the world of each other and see that nothing else matters. This is love! and I love Capturing it!

For more photos of this session contact me. 
For any personal quotes on your wedding or elopement message me

Amazing photos Just about anywhere!

The Story of a Photographer

I am a father of 11 children! Yep... you read that right. I have 4 little one's in Heaven and the other 6 are here giving me life and laughter and a little frustration along the way(haha) and one on the way!! 

I've always been the artistic type since I was a child. Sketches, paintings, music and almost anything to do with creating has been a part of my life. From my father oil painting in the garage to my uncle running around with his film camera taking street photography, art has been a part of my life.

I first picked up a semi-pro camera when I married my beautiful wife 10 years ago to capture these moments in our life that fly so fast. I began self teaching myself by assisting local professional wedding photographers and made the move into professional gear. With the miraculous technical advancements of Social Media, people began expressing their love for my art and things began to move forward.

Fast forward up to today and I can't get enough. 

I love capturing Love in all it's forms. Engagements, weddings and families touch so many parts of my personal life. Each session is a literal reminder of this amazing life that I live.


I would love to offer my skills to capture those moments for you as well!

Walking through Tamory Hall for the first time, we knew we needed to create a shoot in their space. It just so happened in the next few weeks we had two vendors reach out wanting to collaborate on a design at Tamory Hall! From there, all the details started falling into place. My design goal for this project was to create a modern and urban event. I wanted to create the dancing vibe from table to dance floor, so I incorporated flower vases inspired to look like disco balls and iridescent champagne flutes. A lot of times wedding designs can begin to look the same (all beautiful of course), but with this shoot I wanted to stretch my horizons with design. Using a darker color palette and architecturally interesting pieces helped me achieve my goal. For the shoot date, we originally had it on the books for April 2020, but as we all know COVID hit in March. With safety and best outcome in mind, we made the decision to postpone the shoot until we could all meet safely while bringing our best game to the table.

As wedding planners, COVID brought a whole new level of planning and coordinating. One part of the industry taking a large hit was wedding dances and music. How would it be possible to social distance AND throw an awesome dance party? If you are like me, I LOVE to dance, but my level of confidence in my dance moves peaks when I am in a crowd of people. The idea of having to boldly bust a move while six feet apart did not sound appealing to me. I wanted a balance of safely getting groovy while not giving a personal recital to those around me. My brain started whirling with the idea of only doing line dances, but we ran into the issue of still not everyone knowing the moves in order to participate. We needed awesome music paired with easy to learn in the moment dance moves. Then it hit us - JUST DANCE!

JUST DANCE pairs simple dance moves with awesome music. It plays easily on a screen and over a sound system. A DJ could even coordinate their own mixes to the dance moves!! At Tamory Hall, there are multiple TVs available for use at any event. Most venues have this option because they host private events and corporate events. By having each TV playing JUST DANCE, guests can jam out, follow the dance moves, or make up their own while social distancing. Just because COVID impacted your wedding day doesn’t mean you have to give up on your initial plan. COVID just forced us to become more creative and tap into our ability to adapt as humans.


Collaborators:
Venue - Tamory Hall
Photography - Justin Meyer
Design & Coordination - Elizabeth for MostlyBecky
Florals - Emily Weaver for CamBam Floral
Desserts - Whitney Leighton for Little Blackbird Bakery
Calligraphy - Anna Bowser with Scripted by Anna
Decor Rentals - Borrow My Vintage
Dance Floor Rentals - Pella Rental
Hair & Makeup - Maggie Sturgis
Skin Care - Amy for Emberglow Tanning
Bridal Accessories - Lexi for Indiecords Co.
Linen - BBJ Linen
Menswear - Dakota at Skeffington’s Formalwear 
Bridalwear - Asos Curve
Party Favors - VanVeen Chocolates
Hand Sanitizer - Foundry Distilling Company

COVID-19 DANCE FLOORS

A wedding planner and event consultant with over 10 years of experience in Iowa, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Minnesota, Mostly Becky Weddings and Events has organized over 600 wedding and events. Mostly Becky Weddings and Events includes 5 planners spanned across 6 states, and they love to travel and visit anywhere our couples are. To help bring your wedding vision to life, Mostly Becky Weddings and Events will work alongside you and provide the most exceptional customer service, timeline development, design with amazing communication.

From the rehearsal dinner to the wedding ceremony and reception, the team at Mostly Becky Weddings and Events aims to provide you with organized and time-sensitive guidance for every step of the way. They offer various types of services for all weddings, including destination, double, eco-friendly, elopement, military, religious, and non-religious. Couples can choose to hire someone for day-of coordination, full planning, or partial planning, depending on their needs. Additional services include:
+ Event design
+ Referrals
+ Timelines
+ To-do lists

There’s a lot of things to consider when deciding how much time you’ll need your photo/video team with you on your wedding day. Here’s some questions to ask yourself:

Are you doing a first look with your bridesmaids?

Are you doing a first look with the father of the bride?

Are details shots of your venue, invitations, and decor a big priority for you?

Do you have a large wedding party/family?

Are your spaces for getting ready, the ceremony, the photos, and the reception at different locations?

Do you have a lot of extra games or events planned for your reception that you want captured?

Is it a priority for you that your photographer stays till the very end of your reception?

If you answered YES to most of these questions, you're probably going to need to purchase a wedding package that offers more hours of coverage on your wedding day!

These are questions I go over with all my brides during their initial consult call to decide just how much coverage they need. 

I’m always happy to share my experience and my opinions with my couples but at the end of the day I want you to get the coverage that fits both your budget and your day and I’ll do my best to help you make the most educated decision possible! 

The hardest thing about getting married is that many times you haven't done it before. So you really need the wisdom of the people around you and specifically your wedding vendors who bring their expertise to the table.

I never want my couples to purchase more coverage than they need. If they do it makes it seem like I steered them in the wrong direction or tried to take advantage of them. That's just not my heart. If you want to capture a few really special moments and are not concerned with all the extras, then the last thing I need to do is wander around not taking photos for four extra hours or taking so many photos that it stresses YOU out just because we pushed you into the bigger package. That sounds like a lose-lose if you ask me.

Hire wedding vendors that you trust to honor your wedding dreams and make the day what YOU want.

Follow me on instagram @taylorraesphoto for more wedding tips, encouragement, and beautiful images of well-loved people!

Deciding How Much Photography Coverage You Need on Your Wedding Day

Hi I'm TaylorRae! My husband, Josh, and I work together to provide a joy-filled photo and video experience on your wedding day. We're based out of Arizona and Oregon and specialize in Intimate Weddings, Elopements, and Engagement Photo and Video.

We understand that capturing moments is so much more than taking photos but making the people in those photos feel beautiful, loved, and valued from behind the lens. We seek to capture authentic joy in forever images of well love people and YOU are so loved. We specialize in providing an incredible client experience from our very first email to the expedited editing process and all the fun in between. We bring drinks to your engagement session and bust all the moves at your wedding reception. We couldn't NOT have fun if we tried. Most importantly, we LOVE marriage. A wedding is so much more than the day you sign a contract and throw a party. It's the first day of your marriage; a commitment to a lifetime of laying down your life for your spouse and we care deeply about that mission. Every wedding day is so important to us for that very reason and we're honored to be asked to capture the first best day of your life.

As someone who is planning to get married, it is easy to forget about the wedding venue.

After all, it is one of those optional things that you assume can be settled for later on, but in fact, it should be one of the first things you consider.

Almost every aspect of your wedding, from the lighting to the number of people you can invite, is tied up to your choice of venue.

Unless you live in a big city like New York or Washington, the problem is finding the perfect venue is never easy. If the venue is perfect, the price may be out of your budget.

However, compromises will always have to be made, but you don't want to compromise on what matters.

In this article, we'll look at how to choose a wedding venue but feel free to get creative if the situation calls for it!

Speak to Your Wedding Planner
Before you start searching for wedding venues, it is always good to speak with your wedding planner first. Wedding planners do this for a living, and so they are more familiar with the capabilities of various spaces, layouts, and locations.

So, if there is a quirk about the space that could make what you want very challenging, the wedding planner will point it out, which will save you loads of time and frustration.

couples preparing for marriage

Choose a Venue Based on Your Vision
You always want to choose a venue that will fit your aesthetic or the look that you have in mind. For instance, if you're going to plan a modern wedding, then consider art galleries, warehouses, or a well-designed restaurant maybe.

However, if you want something that incorporates nature or natural elements, then choose one of the many outdoor venues near you, like ranches, parks, and backyards.

How to Choose a Wedding Venue

How Long is Your Guest List?
We alluded to this earlier, but knowing how many people you will invite makes shortlisting a venue easier.

It will save you from ending up with a venue that's too small for your guest list. Many couples make the mistake of underestimating how many people will be at their wedding; that's why it is so important to have this conversation early on to avoid future headaches.

How to Choose a Wedding Venue

Know Your Budget
Now, this goes beyond just knowing how much renting the wedding venue is going to cost. You also need to factor in in-house catering, which is generally a per-plate charge. Then there are floral designs and décor, which will add to the cost of the venue.

You want to start with knowing your total budget and then what the design will cost you to execute. Now, if adding that on top of the cost of the space tends to take you over budget, then you either need to find another venue, i.e., one that's more affordable, or perhaps scale back your design. You might want to have a list of priorities, too, just so that when you need to scale things back to fit it within your budget, all the low priority stuff can be eliminated first.

Don't make the mistake of choosing your venue first and then realizing you need more money for all the other stuff. If anything, it could end up meaning that you are well beyond your budget, which then requires you to scale back other aspects of your wedding.

How to Choose a Wedding Venue

What is Included?
Now, if you are considering full-service venues and a place where you can bring your décor or vendors, you still need to price everything out. Consider what the venue will provide in terms of items, i.e., linens, chairs, tables, etc.

However, get an estimate from your local rental company to see how much of a price difference there is compared to the quality you're being offered.

Venue-provided items are often more basic like banquet chairs, white linens, standard flatware, etc. So, if you pay more to rent the items, it could fit in better with your vision.

Start Early
Finally, never leave searching for a wedding venue for the last few weeks. You want to start as early as possible, then book as early as possible so that everything else can follow soon after. It goes without saying that the sooner you plan your wedding, the smoother everything is destined to move.


We also hope you enjoyed this article on how to choose a wedding venue. If you did, make sure to check out some of our recent blog posts below as well.

How to Choose a Wedding Venue

Hi! We're Jacobo & Helen, the founding members of Shopdeluxy.

On our wedding day, we received a lot of truly breath-stopping gifts. Most of our guests showed up with just about the same boring gifts (which we never ended up using). After our wedding, we had come to realize how much thought and care it takes to find the perfect wedding gift. Even when you have made a great choice of a wedding gift, the price tags could discourage you. So,we decided that we would make Shop Deluxy into a brand that caters to deeply affectionate wedding guests. What you have is magic that is bound to continue to kindle a smile in the hearts of your friends and family for years to come.

With our Mr & Mrs products receiving hundreds of positive reviews, you could be our next satisfied buyer! What are you waiting for? Shop with us and spread the joy of giving!

Your order supports our small family-owned business.

Our blog is designed so you can inspire couples with your real wedding, event or just share your knowledge. All you have to do is sign up and head over to " My blogs" and start to create your own. 

We have also created topics which you can choose from that you feel your blog will fit best in. Couples have the ability to search each topic.

You can also add more then 1 photo to showcase your full event! Want to be featured on the top? Well the more people who heart your blog, will automatically push you at the top! 

We want to showcase your business, your work and who you are as a person! If we wrote your blog, all the grammer would be perfect, well its not about us, its about YOU! 

Now grab a cup of coffee and share some knowledge, event or a wedding you are just dying to share and share it here! Sign up for free!!

How to create your own So Hitched blog on our website!

Welcome to #sohitched A platform for couples and vendors who value simplicity and the overall adventure of love and life!  

So Hitched was born to create a community for couples and vendors to communicate and connect with one another, who believe in one another and who are ready to create magic together. You’re not just “a profile” in our eyes we're supporting your business, vision, goal that you brought to life. We want you to be yourself, don't be afraid to be yourself, we highly recommend it! We are working to help all your upcoming couples connect with the best vendors and get inspired and make your wedding planning a breeze with our new features!

At So Hitched, You can do the following:

- Explore
    - Need some INSPIRATION! We are showcasing our vendor's work where you are able to search by the category & vendor location. Save and get inspired through vendors' work!

- Blogs
          Create your own blogs! No need for perfect grammar, share your personal experience in the industry, share your wedding, styled shoot, or any event. It's your turn to shine! 

- #HASHTAGS! 
          You now can create your own #hashtags that showcase your services which will be searchable to couples when looking for specific needs. 
               Example: ( #photographer, #weddingplanning, #partialplanning, #elopementphotographer, #americanbbq, #flowergirlbaskets Ect...)

- Saved Vendors
         Create your dream team by hearting other vendors, their profile will be displayed on your profile and vise versa!

- Create your profile
        Tell the world about you! Vendors, you can showcase your work. Couples you can SAVE your favorite vendors to review for later.

- Locations
        You can now choose MORE than 1 location. By choosing additional locations, you will be in more than one location in search results.

- Packages
        Sharing your packages will give brides the insight into what services you provide. Adding your rates will display on your profile and generate better search results. 

- Reviews
      Send them the link in your "Review" Section for couples to provide a review or give yourself a review! Your profile will get notified when you receive a review. You are also able to reply! 

 Now, are you ready to take on the industry and your wedding day? SIGN UP! Follow us and let’s journey together! #sohitched

Oh 2020, we're so ready for you to die.

Here we go again, that hope we had over the summer fading away into dread of more restrictions and loosing that giant ass party wedding fantasy.

Take a breath. Breath it in deep and hold it firm for a second before releasing it.

There are millions of ways to get married, and I promise you that this is not the end of a magical wedding day. I promise from the bottom of my heart.  I've watched, and participated in the shattering of hundreds of couples dream days as COVID restrictions and the safety of our loved ones impacted every wedding I've been contracted for in the past year.

And the thing is, the couples that have had to switch gears, into this micro-wedding thing that has become super trendy have no regrets. They're happy, they're married, they have a beautiful glorious day to look back on.

Having helped coordinate, photograph and sometimes replan these weddings let's dive deep into the top 5 pieces of advice I have for y'all.

1) Step one: What are your top 3?
There are moments in life that require a little bit of thought, intention, and sort of a pause and let's work this one out. This is one of those things. Go to your place, your thinking place, and visualize yourself 30 years from now, 40 years from now, talking to your family or each other about the top 3 things you remember about your wedding day.

Those are your top 3 priorities that you won't let go of. These your hard and fast boundaries, the things you will not compromise on, and would hav regrets if your wedding day didn't involve them.

If restrictions don't impact your top 3 priorities, let's get to planning your wedding regardless of what might come. If current or impeding restrictions do impact your top 3 priorities, planning for 1-2 years from now might be your best option.

2) Is each guest worth $249?
When I found out the cost of an individual wedding guest, the average one in the US, I was shellshocked. What? We spend an average of $249 per wedding guest in the United States. I don't remember spending $249 on a boyfriend, let alone my third cousin I see once every decade. Consider whether or not you'd spend this on each of your guests or is getting the gallery after your wedding day how they should experience your wedding?

3) There are no rules, and the worlds greatest excuse: COVID.
Yes, there's all these wedding "traditions," but an event put together, that you're investing a lot in, for YOUR love should be about YOU. It's not about any of the traditions you don't want, or don't care about, it's about what YOU care about, and YOU want. You've got the world's greatest excuse to do whatever you want for your wedding day too — COVID. Lean on it, abuse the privilege of being able to say "we're not doing a bouquet toss because of COVID, sorry."

4) Have a backup plan
Have a plan C, D, E, F, and G — and be ready to activate the plan when needed. Let your vendors know what your plan B's are in advance of having to go to Plan B. When you're comfortable and ready to downsize your wedding, it'll feel like less of a shock, less of a rug getting pulled out from underneath you.  You'll be prepared for any restrictions coming down the pipeline.

5) Don't let this stress you out or take control of your life.
Your wedding day should be magical, so let it be. Get that hot air balloon, ride in on that pony, but don't let stress about this day keep you up at night. Make your day, whether it's a courthouse elopement, or a social distanced wedding in the mountains as special as you want it to be. The world is your oyster and you have every opportunity out there to make your day special, don't let COVID stop you from doing that.

How to Downsize That 200+ Wedding to Your Fantasy Micro Wedding

Based on Block Island year round, Eli Holmes Photo + Film is the only Block Island wedding photography and videography company.  Eli focuses on natural movement, authentic moments, and ensuring that your day runs smoothly and you enjoy every second of it.  Infusing film into digital work, Eli likes to get creative with timeless, and modern techniques, film, and creating experiences for couples and their guests.

We are an inclusive, anti-racist business and are welcoming of all races, genders, sexualities, and religions.

In the course of the years that I’ve been photographing both couples and families one thing stands the test of time.If you don’t take portraits normally, you’re going to feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. 

However, this is not something to fear or lose sleep over! 

The biggest fear I hear is looking bad for your engagement portraits. Not knowing how to pose or where to look is so concerning that I’ve had several couples have so much anxiety over it that they couldn’t sleep.

You almost forget that you have hired a professional photographer for this!

One of the greatest tips that I can give  is to just be yourselves. It can be hard to remember this or even accomplish this when you have someone with this huge camera pointing a lens at you.

For this reason I always start the session off with something fun! Running together, playing hip bump, or a number of other options.The main thing is to just break the ice and HAVE fun!!

Below are some basics that are essentially foundations for all posing techniques. If you don’t remember them in the moment, that’s ok. It’s my job to give you subtle reminders!!

Keep moving:

Number one on my list is to keep moving. Whatever it is the photographer is trying to accomplish, moving back and forth or creating the same looping action over a short replay is perfect. Today we have such better technology than when cameras were first invented that we can capture you in the moment. That is always the goal. To capture you in the most natural motion and environment possible. 

Keep talking

Keep talking is a key component that I use as well. Whether it's talking with your photographer or your significant other, try to keep the conversation going. I typically like to throw out random jokes (yes sometimes lame dad jokes haha). For instance: “Why do melons get married? Because they Cantaloupe” 

Ok ok... don’t laugh too hard. The conversation and smiles keep the action going and help calm your anxieties about “posing” 


Foundational poses:

Foundational poses are exactly what the title sounds like. They are some very basic posing that we can build off of. Something as simple as holding hands side by side and smiling at each other can help lead us into several different poses that are simple but beautiful. 


Another foundational pose is called the T pose. Typically the shortest of you is the soon to be Mrs. She faces the camera straight on. The taller of you will stand next to her right shoulder and face the camera at a 90 degree angle so that her shoulder is in your chest. Wrap arms around each other and interlock fingers with opposing hands. From here we already have a loving pose showing unity with each other and an act of love (hug). We can move forward from here to leaning on his chest, or his forehead leaning on your head while you look at the camera and he simply closes his eyes. We can even move on from here into a dance move where he spins you away and back again. The options are endless!

With just these tips alone you can have the MOST AMAZING engagement portraits. 

Just remember the key note here… Be YOURSELF. No matter who you are! 

If you have any further questions or would like to book a session feel free to message me here!

How to pose comfortably for your engagement photos.

Maybe you want to do a first look with your partner, maybe you don't but either way, a first look with your family and friends is a MUST.

The whole getting ready portion of wedding days is meant to build energy and momentum. Bringing in your family and close friends for a first look with both persons getting married helps build more of that energy and emotion.  I love sliding in a little 10-5 minutes with each person to meet their family before walking down the aisle.

The trick to both successful first looks and building even more emotion walking down the aisle is to always have something extra to add for walking down the aisle. Wait for the boutonniere, wait for the bouquet, wait for the veil, just something small. 

Wedding days move fast and having this moment with your friends and family is critical. It's the moment you'll hear the sage old advice one of your parents has been waiting to give, or share a prayer circle with your close friends and family.

Ideas for a First Look with Family Members

Oh hey! 

This question gets asked a LOT in photography groups and I'm here to set that record straight. Posing for same-sex couples isn't different from hetero-presenting couples.

The best thing you can do, for all couples, is always ask what they're comfortable with, who's more comfortable leading, and move them organically and authentically as prompts guide natural positions and gestures.  Posing for same-sex couples doesn't differ.

One of my favorite things to do before a session is to ask for Pinterest boards that the couple has saved for their engagement session or wedding day. If they don't have one, I ask that couples create one from images on my website/blog/client site. This gives me a good idea of the vibe they are going after and what direction to take things.

Posing for Same-Sex Couples

Are you a bride ballin' on a budget but have dreamt of your wedding day since you were little? Where do we start? Here are three ways that you can elevate your wedding day without spending too much money! 

Invest in Florals

Investing in real blooms and greenery can elevate your bouquet. After all, this is part of the center of attention right? Elevating your wedding bouquet not only brings all of your floral dreams come true, but also allows for your beautiful dream wedding to come to life. Investing in your wedding bouquet can set the stage and overall vibe for your wedding day. If you have a little bit of wiggle room in the budget after investing in your bouquet, I highly suggest putting more money in greenery for the table settings. This can elevate your reception space and also creates a little pop of green here and there!

Invest in Florals

Detail shots have become a staple in the wedding industry. Detail shots include your invitation suites, your something blue, loose florals from your wedding (more on this later), your jewelry, your shoes, and so much more! Personalized stationaries not only elevates your wedding day flat lay, but also sets the stage for your guests upon receiving their invitations! Your wedding day invitations can become a remembrance and souvenir of the most important day of your life. After all, it's the day that you vowed your forever to the love of your life!

Invest in Stationaries

This one is a big one, and it does not cost you a dime! Okay, it's your big day. All the planning has been done and everything looks perfect... until Uncle Bob shows up in his dad shirt and cargo shorts, paired perfectly with the slippers he wears to run errands at Target. Is this the photo that you'd look back on in twenty-five years and admire? The answer is no, not really. We love Uncle Bob and we want to make sure he's looking ravishing in your family photos! After all, these are what will be hung on mom and dad's walls! Implementing a dress code for your guests ensures that your wedding photos and overall vibe of the wedding stays elevated. High-end family portraits in conjunction with your high-end feeling wedding day... now that's the vibe we're definitely going for! You can include dress code information in your invitation suite! It's as easy as that!

Implement a Dress Code

Three Ways to Elevate Your Wedding

Capturing your raw and unfiltered moments is what I live for! The love and passion that you and your hunny shares captivate me and I cannot wait to document your love story! I live to capture your cheeky smiles, your contagious laughter, and those small and in-between moments that often go by unnoticed. It is my goal to preserve your story and document your wedding day the way you envision it being told! 

I grew up on Disney movies where she finds her prince charming and they lived happily ever after. I live to romanticize everything. From the way you two walk hand in hand, to your first kiss as husband and wife, I am here for it all! I am engaged to the love of my life so I know wedding planning can get overwhelming. I'm here to be more than your photographer. I am here to be your friend, your ear to listen, and to be your biggest supporter as you embark on this amazing journey called marriage. So, let's jump on a zoom call (or a coffee date if you're a coffee addict like I am), and let's chat about your happily every after!

How to choose what accessory fits your style best

Veils, blushers, and clips.. oh my! 

Iowa Wedding Hair and Makeup Artist Samantha Dixon Hello Darlin' Glam on location bridal hair and makeup des moines Rollins Mansion Iowa wedding venue
photo courtesy Daryl Batt Photography
Picture this- you’re relaxing on a week night after a long day, scrolling Pinterest trying to find the perfect hairstyle for your upcoming Iowa wedding. Then it hits you, you never thought about if wearing a veil is the right choice for you. Well not to worry,  I’m here to help make that decision a little bit easier. 

The tradition of wedding veils dates back to ancient times. Brides were wrapped from head to toe to represent the delivery of a modest and untouched maiden. It was also believed that a veil hid the bride away from evil spirits wanting to stand in the way of her happiness. They were typically out of fashion throughout the 17th & 18th centuries. Only returning to popularity after Queen Victoria’s wedding ensemble when she married Prince Albert in 1840. Today’s veils are typically just another accessory in defining a bride. 

Iowa wedding hair and makeup artist Samantha Dixon on location bridal hair and makeup des moines Rollins Mansion Iowa wedding venue
So how do you decide if it’s the right bridal accessories for your wedding hairstyle? 

To begin, I would suggest having an open mind, especially if you are undecided. Try a few on when trying on bridal gowns and then again at your fittings. It just might make all the difference between you being simply stunning in a white dress and you feeling like a bride ready to marry your best friend. There are so many options when it comes to veil types. 120” cathedral, birdcage, fingertip length, tiered, blusher, mantilla. The list feels endless, so it’s important to really consider all the options. 

Some other factors to consider when deciding if a wedding veil is right for you;

1. Your Wedding Theme
 Are you having a wedding true to traditional roots or are you wanting to buck tradition  and go modern / alternative?

2. Your Wedding Location
Where are you having your ceremony? If you are wanting to have moments of nuptial bliss on a beachfront property, you’ll need to consider the weather. High winds and humidity can not only cause troubles for the typical whimsical fabrics veils are made of, but instead of a cascading trail of delicate fabric and elegant beauty in photos.. you may just end up looking like a wind blown superhero with a cape. 

3. Your Dress
I definitely believe you should have your bridal gown picked out far before deciding on a veil. But often times a veil is a long time family heirloom passed down through generations and a dress must be chosen around the veil. Either way, it’s important to make sure the veil compliments your dress and doesn’t compete with it.  For example- if your dress is more detailed with beading and lace, opt for a simple tulle veil or maybe go for a jeweled hair clip or other accessory instead. 

4. Your Personality
At the end of the day, is a bridal veil really YOU? One of the biggest things I advocate for as an on location wedding hair and makeup artist, is staying true to yourself. It’s so easy to succumb to the pressures of what others want for you on your big day. The very last thing you want to have is regret that you made the wrong choice, especially when it comes to your bridal beauty decisions. 

If you still are undecided, chat with your hairstylist. If you have yet to choose your Iowa bridal hair and makeup artist, feel free to reach out. I’d love to chat more with you!

Wedding Veil or No Veil.. What’s right for your big day?

Whether you are newly engaged or in the middle of planning the Iowa wedding of your dreams... Hello Darlin' Glam knows just how to help you! With over a decade of experience and 1,000 + real life hands on bridal interactions, Samantha has perfected the art of bridal hair and makeup.

From your very first inquiry to the moment you sit in her chair, every detail is perfectly planned to ensure a totally relaxed bridal affair.  Weddings are Samantha's truest passion and it's safe to say she is a bit obsessed with what she does.  Take away the stress of getting your wedding party to the salon, let Hello Darlin' Glam come to you. Added bonus?  You get to soak in every second of beauty rest before your nuptials!

Throughout her career, Samantha has helped brides navigate all the overwhelming beauty decisions like how to choose the right hairstyle or ensuring your makeup will last all night. No matter what your concern, Hello Darlin' Glam has the expertise to put them all to ease. 

Check your date availability and let Samantha guide you through the bridal beauty planning process!

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