Rustic Southern Wedding

This bride is after our wedding loving hearts with her Southern wedding which she designed all herself. We love when brides handcraft their own style and design into their wedding day. If you love rustic and vintage details as much as we do, then you will fall in love with this beautifully styled wedding. We can not help to notice that the venue location is the perfect match for this gorgeous couple and their rustic wedding.  All the lovely details are captured by Jarrett Hucks Photography, who is a new photographer featured on BHL. But for sure will not be the last time, as we are in love with the stunning images and want to share more! For now, start off your Monday with this super romantic wedding and see why we are so obsessed with this stylish bride’s DIY details.

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From Jarrett Hucks Photography...

Sydney, a fashion merchandiser and quite the creative person, took it upon herself to design and decorate all things surrounding the atmosphere of her ceremony and reception. Most everything was handcrafted or up-cycled for a very unique wedding experience. One of my favorite things that she had done herself, was an old Globe that she had repainted depicting different things in New York City where they were taking their honeymoon. The train depot itself has a very rustic vibe with plenty of elegance still to be had. Many of the original elements are still in playing at the train depot including the loading doors and ticket station. With hardwood floors and brick walls, it makes for a very dark interior without lighting, but the rafters being covered in twinkle lights helps create a very dreamy atmosphere without the heavily inflated prices of many venues with this type of character.

 

Photographer: Jarrett Hucks Photography

Venue: Myrtle Beach Train Depot, South Carolina

Sneak Peek of TLC’s “Something Borrowed, Something New” Season 3 Episode 5

Is it Friday already? That gets us excited because that means it time for a brand new episode of TLC’s SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW.  We have really enjoyed each episode so far this season. Have you? If you have not checked it out yet, then you must go back and watch them!

If you are a SBSN (SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW) newbie, then let us tell you a little bit about this amazing show. This show follows a bride’s journey to find the perfect wedding dress for her big day. However there is a twist!  The bride will have to choose a new designer bridal gown, or a fashionably redesigned family heirloom. Who will help the bride find something new and something borrowed for her special day? Each episode is hosted by designer Kelly Nishimoto and stylist Sam Saboura, who will work with the bride to help choose between two dress options. Kelly will turn a special, previously worn gown into a gown which is for the time, venue, and personality of the bride. The bride will also have a chance to work with Sam in shopping at a bridal salon to find a brand new stylish dress. What happens next? The bride will have to make a very important decision and choose between a one-of-a kind dress and a newly fashionable piece. Will the bride choose her mother’s wedding gown, or find something new and unique to her? Which one will the bride choose?

Tonight’s episode features bride-to-be, Amber Joi who has worn a few pagent gowns in the past, but never a wedding gown.  She is looking for a dress that will compliment her regal venue and easy to dance in all night.   Amber is not sure that her mom’s dress (which is handmade by her husband’s grandmother), has all the glam she is looking for. Will Sam find her the perfect dress for her wedding day, or will Kelly wow her with a remake of mom’s bridal dress? What gown will Amber walk down the aisle in? You will have to tune in tonight and find out!

TLC

TLC’s Something Borrowed, Something New is on tonight at 10ET/PT.  So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight.

Here is a clip from tonight’s episode:

Top Five Tips for the Perfect Engagement Selfie

You said yes- congratulations! After you’ve calmed down and called the most important people in your life, it’s time to release the news to the public. It may be tempting to spill the beans as soon as you are officially engaged, but waiting can sometimes be a good thing. Take some time before uploading a blurry ring picture to really perfect your engagement selfie and it’ll pay off tenfold in likes.

Check Your Nails

Yes, focus is going to be on your new favorite piece of jewelry but you’re going to want to make sure your fingers are looking good too. Do a quick swipe under your nails to pull out any dirt. If your nails are chipping, do a quick fix with a layer of darker polish over your existing polish. It doesn’t have to be a new full manicure, but it shouldn’t look sloppy. You’ll look back on this picture a lot, you want it to be awesome and beautiful.

Mattify Your Face

If you’re going to be smiling in the shot, mattify your T-zone so you don’t look oily or greasy. You want to remember your natural happy glow, not that you get oily when the weather changes. Do a quick light swipe of an HD powder or a spray of a mattifying face sealing spray.

Upgrade to a Couplie

It may be a little harder to wrangle and coordinate, but an engagement couplie is probably the most appropriate use of a couplie. We love the classic kiss shot with the ring featured- it’s a romantic way of telling the full story all in one picture. You can also get creative with how you both end up in the shot- make it fun, and make it you!

Filter Wisely

No one actually goes #NoFilter- especially not for such an important selfie! Pick something that is well saturated and doesn’t blur any edges. You want your ring to sparkle against your skin, so it’s important you flash a natural glow to contrast. Avoid anything that softens- you want to emphasize the sparkle! And don’t do black and white, it drowns out the whole picture.

Caption Accordingly

Yes, the “He liked it, so he put a ring on it!” is cute, but it’s been done. A lot. Try a little harder and come up with a caption that more fits you as a couple. Mention how long you two have been together, maybe hint at how the proposal went, or do a cute play on word on your names (if applicable- don’t push it). Be creative, be fun, and make it personal. Those little steps go a long way.

 

Washington State Winery Wedding

If tradition is your thing, then you will love this gorgeous wedding located in a beautiful vineyard in Washington State where two traditions come together. She is from Italy, and he is from Israel, and together they share their love and culture with friends and family.  This wedding has so many details which we love and can not stop swooning over. Thanks to IJ Photo for capturing all the lovely details that we can not get enough of.  We love the wedding party colors from the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the winery wedding details, the stunning florals, and the breathtaking venue tying it all together.  But there is one fabulous detail which really has our wedding loving hearts in full gear. The stylish and modern cake stands out in this wedding. It compliments this modern and rustic wedding so perfectly. A cake should be eaten, but this one is too pretty to eat, (and we love sweets!).  Before you head out the door, make sure to set some time aside for this lovely vineyard wedding. Go ahead and grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the pretty details.

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From IJ Photo...

Itay and Lian planned two weddings, one here in USA and their second a month later in Israel with Itay’s family. Their wedding was a delicate blend of cultures and a long awaited event. After 10 years together this perfect pair came together at the Novelty Hill Winery to celebrate their union. This relaxed pair combined traditions from both of their heritages and religions to create a unique celebration that highlighted their unique love. 

 

Vendors:

Photographer:  IJ Photo.

Reception Venue: Novelty Hill-Januik Winery

Cinema and Video: Aaron Horton Productions

DJ: Bamboo Beats

Transportation: British Motor Coach

Floral Designer: Lola Event Floral & Desigm

Dress Store: RK Bridal

Cake Designer: The People’s Cake

Top Five Wedding Wishlist Items

Make a wish- it’s 11/11! You remember the old superstition that you can make a wish on 11/11, right? Well we (not so) secretly still love it. Speaking of wishes, we have five things that you should keep on your wish list while you’re planning your wedding!

Wedding Planner

Obviously we’re a big advocate for hiring a professional for the occasion. Our very own Editor-in-Chief, Niloufar Gibson is one of the best wedding planners in Southern California is and lives and breathes weddings. If you’re not out in sunny SoCal, ask around, check yelp, and ask your venue if they recommend any wedding planners. Wedding planners will make your life a million times easier and make it possible for you to actually enjoy your whole wedding process. Wedding planners also usually know the best vendors to work with, so you’re immediately well connected before you even get started.

Full Coverage Photography

It may be cheaper to just get stills from the day of, but you’re going to want to remember all your friends and family from the moment they all get into town. If you can afford it, splurge and have photography going from your welcome party (if you’re doing one for out of town guests), your rehearsal dinner, your final night out, all that fun stuff. Also if you can, opt for a tester video or a highlight reel from your photographer. Stills can do some serious justice, but you’re going to want to really look back and watch your big day.

Big Girl Panties

You know how a good bra or your favorite pair of undies can make you feel a million times better? Don’t skimp on the lingerie- if you can, go big! It’s not just about looking good after the ceremony- it’s about how your body is shaped under your dress and how you feel in it. The right lingerie can make you look leaner and more fit than an ill-fitting set of lingerie. It can feel like a more silly splurge, but it can seriously change your entire silhouette. If you’re not the type to usually splurge on lingerie, now is a better time than ever.

Diamonds- your Other Best Friend

Yes, there’s one specific piece of jewelry that you’re going to be flashing all day, but you shouldn’t tone down the rest of your jewelry. Borrow or rent some fun jewelry that you wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to wear. Often times in larger cities there are some jewelers that will rent out pieces for a few days with a credit card on file. It can be worth it to go ahead and factor in a jewelry budget.

Honeymoon

You should try to factor this into your budget off the bat- a honeymoon is some serious business. With the cost of weddings always going up, it can be easy to just push it back and do a honeymoon when you can afford it, but you’re going to want some alone time after the wedding. At the very least, you can take a short weekend or few days after the wedding, stay in a hotel, and just enjoy being married. It can be a harder thing to plan and budget for but if you can pull it off, it’ll be totally worth it.

 

Eco-Chic Fall Inspired Wedding Styled Shoot

Mondays can be a drag and super hard to be excited about. But when we have something lovely to brighten up your day, starting your week just became a bit more easier. We love the fall season with its beautiful colors,  brisk cold weather, and all the fall smells in the air. But at BHL headquarters in Southern California we rarely get to experience a true fall season and all the pretty details it brings. That is why today we are in love with this fall inspired styled shoot from  ‘Cause We Can Events.  Every single detail of this styled shoot is absolutely  amazing. From the stunning bridal bouquet, the elegant and chic tabletop, and the gorgeous bridal gown; it all wraps up into perfect fall wedding day.  If this was not inspiring enough, it is all eco-friendly too. Yep, you can give mother nature some love and compassion while still keeping with a fabulous design. So, if you are planning a fall wedding and you want to go green, then this can be your first stop for ideas and inspiration. It has inspired us so much that we kind of want to crawl through the computer and take a seat at the charming table and sip on some apple cider.  Enjoy fall and Happy Monday!

 

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Inspiration of the Styled Shoot from Cause We Can Events…

I wanted to show brides that having an eco-friendly wedding doesn’t mean it has to look frumpy! For this Eco-Chic Wedding we had dried flowers instead of fresh in order to conserve water, candles made out of recycled wine bottles and a dress that was sustainably made! 
 
 
Vendors:
Location: Private home/vineyard in Manhattan Beach, CA.
Dress: Celia Grace
Candles: Piece by Paz
Model: Ella Newman

Top Five Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Photo Booths

One of the most fun modern staples of weddings is photobooths. They’re fun, easy, and a fantastic souvenir for all of your guests to take home. Photo booths are becoming pretty commonplace now, but they can be a little difficult to navigate while you’re shopping. No worries- we’re here to help!

DO Know What Kind of Photos You Want

Not all photo booths spit out four action shots- these ain’t your mall’s photo booths. There are a multitude of different kinds of photo booths that create all sorts of fun and different photos. There are booths that create gifs that are emailed to you, 3D photos made from two images, sticker photo booths, and of course the classic photo booths. Shop around different photo booths in your area and really think about what you want, and what you want to offer your guests.

DON’T Forget The Space

You really can’t just stick a photo booth in a corner of your venue- you need to work it out with the venue coordinator. You’ll need power, power cords, room for set up and breakdown, and in some cases for instant uploads, a solid internet connection. You don’t want to be dealing with putting the photo booth in the right place while you’re busy putting on your wedding dress. You’ll also need to deal with the flow of the room and put the photo booth in a convenient spot that doesn’t interfere with anything else going on.

DO Timeline the Photo Booth

You’ll need to know how much time the company needs to set up and how long they will have an attendant for. You’ll need to know if they have enough attendees to cover any breaks or if there will be any gaps in service (some states have restricting labor laws that require employees to take breaks a few hours into a shift, even if they want to waive it). You’ll also need to know how long they’ll need to break down after the wedding so if they’re there longer than you are you can warn the venue. You probably won’t need it that long, but it’s good to give the venue a heads up.

DON’T Settle Fast

You shouldn’t settle for anything in general, especially not anything for your wedding. Take your time to shop around before you settle on one vendor. Narrow down what kind of photo booth you want (our first ‘Do’!) and from there, see who offers it in your area. There’s bound to be a few different companies that offer a similar service. Meet with everyone and figure out who you like the best, who can do the best deal, and who puts out the best product. Take your time and pick the booth that works best for you.

DO Work Out a Deal

Once you’ve got it narrowed down to the final few companies, do your research to work out a deal. Check out deal sites like Groupon and Living Social- deal sites almost always have deals for Photo Booths. You can look into what’s offered and call the companies to see if you can tailor fit a deal with them to what you want. You can even try to use that as leverage with a company you want to work with- bring up the deal to the company you want to work with and see if they can come down to a comparable price.

 

Mad Men Inspired Engagement Session

If you are a big fan of the popular show Mad Men like we are, then you will absolutely love this engagement session from  Love in Photographs. This gorgeous couple definitely knows how to show off their stylish, fashionable, and sophisticated looks.  There is something so classy and elegant about this e-session that has us totally in love. We LOVE the red Ferrari which brings this session up to a very glamorous level. And when you have a stunning couple like this one, then the Ferrari is not the only detail we are in love with This couple owns this session.  They were made for this urban and lovely setting.  How fabulous do they look? We think they look amazing! This session kind of makes us want to go back and watch more episodes of Mad Men, and get into the 1960’s era.  Take a look and get inspired with these fantastic images. You may want to sneak in an episode of Mad Men before starting your day.

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From Love in Photographs

Mona & Spencer, a super fun pair both filled with so much charm & wit! For their engagement session they wanted to have a Madmen inspired session; all glammed up in San Francisco with Spencer’s father’s 1975 Ferarri as a prop – and so we did!

Top Five Repurposed Halloween Items for Your Wedding

 

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Halloween is sadly over, and we’re a little heartbroken. But there is always a silver lining- the best sale is going on right now! Post-Halloween sales are in full swing and only have a few more days before they’re all picked over and done. If you have time, swing by the store and pick up these five awesome items that you can use for your wedding. And hey, if you get a wedding task done you definitely deserve that bag of chocolate. Or that big bag of popcorn. Or the gigantic novelty sized rice crispy treat. Or… actually buy all the candy you want, just be sure to get at least one wedding task done.

Mints

This may be easier to find since Halloween is more of a sweet treat holiday. Look for big bags of mints and you can repurpose them to be adorable wedding favors or to be laid out in dishes for guests. If you have the time and maybe some creativity, create custom labels and stick those over the skeleton logos and all that spooky stuff. If you can’t get away with creating all new stickers for the mints (they may be a funny size), find little glass dishes or bowls to pour your mints into. Serve them after dessert so your guests are ready to mingle with fresh breath.

Tiny Toys

Some stores will carry tiny toys as Halloween treats. If you can spy any of these, pick up a bag to have to entertain any younger guests. They may need something to preoccupy themselves while the grown ups are dancing. Our pick has been the little tubs of Play Doh to tie over little ones. Fun all-ages toys like this are perfect and parent friendly. Plus if you get them this time of year, it’s a cheap way to keep kids from crawling away or getting into trouble.

Solid Chocolate

If you have some time or are at least adventurous, you can pick up lots of solid chocolate and do some dipped creations. You may not be able to have the time or means to dip chocolate strawberries for everyone, but you should be able to pick up a bag to do treats for the wedding party. Just be sure you have solid chocolate only- anything with extra ingredients will alter the texture and may not settle right. Microwave a bowl of chocolate for two minutes- 30 seconds at a time while stirring throughout. Add some solid chocolate to the hot bowl and your chocolate will get down to around 85 degrees, which is perfect for dipping fruit, cookies, pretzels, anything you want. It’s a great little gift that’s easy to do and will be the perfect personal touch for your wedding party.

Faux Fabulous Jewelry

Swing by the costume section and look for old flappers, divas, and princess jewels. One fantastic trend we’re seeing is mixed media in flowers- draping jewels or strands of beads throughout large floral arrangements. One easy way to pull this off is to get a ton of cheap necklaces and break them apart as decorations. One of our favorite no-fails is to do pearls through lilies. Long strands of pearls broken up and weaved throughout lilies is feminine, delicate, and totally trendy.

Long Lashes

Our favorite beauty pick from Halloween is long lashes. Halloween is a big day for wearing falsies and they often put out special lashes just for the occasion. Shop the sales for long lashes that you could use for your special occasion. There are a lot this season that are similar to cobwebs- and they’re totally more sultry than scary. Pick up a few pairs while they’re on sale- lashes are great for your bachelorette party, wedding, honeymoon, and every occasion to come.