Dynamic Color Combo--Young and Fun

A friend called upon me to do the flowers for her daughter's wedding just outside of Livingston, MT at a ranch on the Wine Glass Mountain.  The event barn where the reception was, is a family party spot where many country stars have performed for their private parties. 

I called on my friend Angela of Fresh Designs to help do the planning, so I could concentrate on the flowers.  Here is a sample of what came about!

Photo Credit:  Morgan Lamare Photography

Catering:  Zac's Montana Kitchen

Planning:  Fresh Designs

Rentals:  Montana Party Rentals

Flowers:  Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events

Grace Ormonde Wedding Style...yes. we. can.

photo credit to www.laurenbrownphoto.com  (1.)

I have always set my sights high in this business.  To be the friendliest, most organized, and consistent planner and designer in Montana.  Sometimes, I strive for perfection, even though in a perfect world, perfection still doesn't exist.  I am flattered by the magazine editors that have chosen our work time and time again to feature in their prestigious magazines.  We are pleased to announce that we have THREE, yes THREE photographs of our work that will be featured on Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine's on-line gallery.  It was going to be launched September 1st, but with the recent events of Hurricane Irene on the East Coast, it put their team behind.  I will be sure to shout it from the roof tops when it is actually on the site!  I am so thankful that they were all ok, and thankful for such an AMAZING publication!!!  Thank you for bringing our photos to life in your gallery.  We are grateful.

Lauren Brown has captured two images that caught the eyes of Grace Ormonde and staff. The first one, featured above (1.), is a styled shoot at The Woodlands that took place in the fall.  We used bamboo chairs and linen provided by Montana Party Rentals, and Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events provided the table settings, floral, and fine details that made the scene look urban-rustic.  The second photo by Lauren Brown, featured below (2.) was taken of a bridal bouquet designed by Leslie Lukas for her bride, Kendra Haugen, who was married at the Rainbow Ranch last year. Alexa Miller captured a photo that they loved as well.  (3.) featured at the bottom of this post was from a wedding at the Rainbow Ranch as well.  Grace Ormonde made a call out to designers and photographers looking for simple styling and modesty.  You just never know if your photo/design could be the next big thing!!!!

To be recognized by Grace Ormonde is beyond amazing!!!  I get to work with Montana's finest photographers.  So, I wanted to take a moment to thank them for documenting amazing photos for me and my clients.

Lauren Brown  www.laurenbrownphoto.com  (featured together on Grace Ormonde Wedding Style)
Melanie Nashan  www.nashan.com  (featured together in Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, BRIDES, and Modern Bride magazines)
Kene Sperry  www.eyeintheskyphotography.com  (featured together in The Knot)
Audrey Hall  www.audreyhall.com (featured together in Mountain Living and Montana Living magazines)

Others I admire and should be recognized:
Morgan Lamare  www.morganlamare.com 
Doug Loneman www.lonemanphotography.com 
Cali Sparring  www.calisparingphotography.com
Janie Osbourne  www.janieoweddings.com  (did her wedding flowers and LOVE her to pieces!)
Larry Stanley www.montanaweddingphotographer.com

There are so many photographers out there, and if we haven't met, be sure to give me a shout!!!  The above mentioned photographers are in my comfort zone, and I have worked closely with all of them.....so don't be shy, someone gave me a chance when I first started out in the business, maybe you deserve one!  I know there are more great photographers out there!  and more opportunities to get our work published, bringing attention to our great state and attention to quality vendors for brides and grooms looking for their dream team!

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com  (2.)

photo credit www.alexamiller.com (3.)

Disposable Wedding Cameras

I have been doing a little research lately, on...you guessed it, disposable wedding cameras.  I had always questioned the decision of my brides about having them.  I know the idea and concept of guests taking candid photos to capture those "missed moments", but it always has seemed that the little kid at the wedding gets a hold of it, and the end result is 27 photos of the floor.  And, you did just spend money on a quality, professional photographer, right?

SUPER CUTE STYLE, 27 exp.

http://www.mywedcams.com/ starting at 2.99.  The black and white above retails for $4.99

So, I am admitting, as a planner, I never really new what to do with them.  I mean, I knew what to do with them, but was so reluctant!!!  Do I put them on the fabulously dressed guest table that we spent months picking out the linen, flowers, and all of the fine details, only to cheapen the look by YIKES!!! a disposable camera?  Do I a decorate a special box or basket and print a cute note and stuff them in there, hoping someone notices them or knows what to do with them? 

None of the above!  I have finally figured it out. 

SIMPLE, CLASSY STYLE, 27 exp.

http://www.myweddingfavors.com/ $6.99 more colors available



The only way that I see these being "a cool" thing to do at your wedding, is to include them in your GUEST WELCOME BAGS as your guests arrive for your wedding weekend .  You  know, the ones that go to the hotel or resort where your guests are staying  to warmly welcome them???  or, the following fun ways to incoporate them into your reception......
Here are a few cute ways to make it happen:

1.  Instruct your guests that you want pictures of them enjoying their vacation and wedding related activities.  Encourage them to take photos along the way, and bring it to the wedding to finish off the roll and leave it in a special basket on the gift table.  You can always post the photos on a site like flickr or facebook and direct them to the site after the wedding is over.

2.  Make a wedding scavenger hunt for your guests.  Type up a cute and fun list of things they must see while they are on vacation.  Such as: take a picture with the dinosaur at the Museum of the Rockies, or show off your vacation wear...or take a picture from the zip line at Big Sky Resort, then finish with a photo of you and your new husband kissing.  Tell them the guests who get the most creative will get a fun surprise after the wedding!  Be sure to take a photo of yourselves, indicating who the photographers were of that particular camera!!!

3.  Personalize it even further by instructing your bridal party and family to get photos of people that are really special to you.  My brother took photos of all the couples at my wedding kissing.  Now, that was a surprise when we developed the photos later, and memories I will always cherish!!!

4.  If you are NOT going to do welcome bags for your guests, use the concepts above at your wedding reception to make it more interactive for your guests and to get the results that you are looking for. This would be a great way to have a photo booth at your wedding, too. 

I hope these ideas get you started on a new way of thinking and bring new life to those disposable cameras!  Now I LOVE them!!!

Custom Camera, $5.99

http://www.wedcams.com/

Leslie Lukas, regular contributor of BRIDES magazine

http://www.leslielukas.com/

copyright 2011



Getting ready for Ever After Bridal Event

As I get ready for the Ever After Bridal Event, my friend Mindy Schroder stops by to say hello!  She is an amazing novice photographer, shooting everything she can.  Well, she always has her camera with her, and while I was busy working, she was taking these BEAUTIFUL photos.  This is also a brand new camera she got for Christmas!  I am in LOVE with the photos she takes!

Here is a sneak peak as to what is in store at the bridal event on Sunday as seen through Mindy's camera!!!

This first picture excites me because it showcases how I lay all my goodies on my design table in layers to make sure it all is going to flow together.  And a bonus...Mindy captured a neat reflection in the mirror~

The "3" is a table number and the apothocary jar will be used like a "wedding wishes" jar at the event tomorrow to capture potential client information...

A deeper look at my inspiration table....

A trick that I will be sharing "using foliage in your table scape design"....

Metal lanterns from India...we like to place moss in the bottom and use a battery "flicker" candle in ours!

I have been growing these paper whites since December 14th or so.  I kept them in a really cold location, but with proper light, so that they would be perfect for the Ever After Event....

You can follow Mindy's work at http://ladybugfamily.wordpress.com  

Styling shoot....creating a memorable montana wedding

I recently had the privileged of doing a styling shoot at the Double T River Ranch with a fist full of talented event professionals.  My goal for this styling shoot was to show a table, beautifully set, in three different versions.  Here is a bit of that hard work in action. I will price each look out in a future post.  You can see by each photo, the use of different materials.

 

Lauren Brown and Leslie Lukas-collaboration

Details, Details, Details!!! Oh, it's so fun to plot and create new ideas and combinations to use as design inspiration for weddings and events! I had the privilege of working with one of Montana's top photographers, Lauren Brown, on a recent shoot that we put together to freshen our portfolios and have a lot of fun in the process! Thanks to Elsa Campbell of the Woodlands for the use of one of the most gorgeous venues for our location and to Montana Party Rentals for allowing us to use a few rentals....A special thanks to Lauren for making it look so effortless and for putting together these inspiration boards!

Holiday....i love the hand stamped table cards that were created to greet our guests and the punch of color from the jewel pink rose. This typically would have been on the boring side without them! Rules need not apply for Holiday!!!



Winter Scene...winter wheat from my families farm and white winter berries help achieve a diverse use of natural materials with interesting textures that don't compete with the wild table cloth...for a simpler look, one could have just used all white flowers in a clear vase for immediate distinction and definition between cloth and decor. This looked completely amazing in the stunning setting of the woodlands...and it left your eyes pleasantly seeking out each pleasant detail.



Fall Flair...I love the fall colors in this story. The red increases the vibrancy of the other materials, making each element POP!