For better or for worse,
there is SO MUCH that goes into planning a wedding. Even if you think you’re a
“chill yogi bride” and you don’t want anything over the top, preparing for “I do’s” (in our case, destination I do's) is no small feat. After going through the process I am wiser for it.
And I have lots of info and tips, not to mention pics, to share.
First Up:
The Vendors
Surrounding yourself with
consummate professionals is important. Just as important? Surrounding yourself
with people who have personalities that jibe with yours. Handpicking the crew
who surrounds you on your wedding day is basically as important as picking your
bridal party. These are the people you spend precious time with on your big
day, and if you choose wisely, they can actually help you relax on a stereotypically
stressful day.
And even the vendors who
aren’t in your hotel suite on the big day are certainly a big part of your life
leading up to the wedding. Justin and I logged many hours emailing and
conducting calls with our vendors because we didn’t enlist a wedding planner.
But regardless of whether you hire Colin Cowie or choose to go at it on your
own, you want people who get you and are working with you, not just for
you.
My wedding day hair
stylist was completely laid back and cool. She was the epitome of calm yet
somehow worked quickly and efficiently to get my hair, as well as the coifs of
those in my bridal party, looking great.
My makeup artist was
beyond sweet and supportive. She really listened to my (not very
well-articulated) vision. We totally bonded and her kind words as well as her
amazing work left me feeling giddy.
Our photographer? I like
to think that we’re literally BFF. Carlie Statsky works as a team with her
husband Gabe, and they’re basically the coolest, kindest, most fun couple to
ever exist. And their work? The amazing photos here and in this post speak for
themselves! Justin jokes that I’m too obsessed with Carlie and Gabe, but I’m
perfectly comfortable being obsessed with our photogs/new best friends and all
our wedding day vendors.
I had one easy phone
conversation with our florist and I emailed her my Pinterest boards and she nailed our décor details from the get-go. We met Julie Stevens in-person briefly
a few months before the wedding and she showed us some spot-on mockups. I
remember saying to Justin, “Julie Stevens just gets me.”
Justin and I had tons of
email back and forth with the wedding specialist at The Carneros Inn, Brooke
Baglietto. Brooke is the point-person for every single wedding at TCI and she
knows her stuff. She kept us on track throughout the months leading up to our
wedding, and she answered every single planning question we had. There were about
a million. And on the day of our wedding? Justin and I were able to relax and
really enjoy ourselves knowing Brooke was at the helm.
Heidi was a last minute
addition to our vendor team, recommended by Brooke when I realized upon arriving
in Napa that my humongous tulle and silk wedding gown was completely wrinkled.
This should’ve come as no surprise, considering I had crammed the dress into a mere
carry-on piece of luggage. After treating my gown so poorly I wanted a
professional to salvage its shape, not to mention its gorgeous tulle flower
details. Heidi was completely booked the week of our wedding, but she kindly
allowed me and Justin to come to her home late one night so she could work
after hours on my dress.
A special thanks to the
wonderful people who just get me (and
my hubby) and made all our wedding dreams come true.
A (& J)
[Photos by Carlie
Statsky]
My makeup artist was beyond sweet and supportive. She really listened to my (not very well-articulated) vision. We totally bonded and her kind words as well as her amazing work left me feeling giddy. simple black shalwar kameez for ladies , black suit design salwar kameez ladies ,
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