November 2017 - Wedding Coordination + Decor

November 26, 2017November 26, 2017

Tips + Tricks | Guest Book Ideas

The day of your wedding can F L Y by. There is so much to do, so many people to talk to, and so much to enjoy, all wrapped up into a small amount of time. One way to ensure that you remember your special day forever [even though we already know you will never forget marrying your B E S T friend], as well as involve your guests in your day, is by having a guest book to capture the “day of” memories. Historically, wedding guest books were simple books with blank pages for guests to sign a note of well wishes for the newlyweds. Throughout our time as wedding coordinators, we have seen lots of C R E A T I V E guest book options that stray away from this tradition, and make it a little more E X C I T I N G. We thought we could put this all into a TIPS & TRICKS article for our favorite people!

WOODEN TREASURES
Jumbo J E N G A: First of all, who doesn’t love Jenga? With the latest craze of “jumbo” size yard games, we’ve had a few previous couples [Anne + John & Amy + Sas] who had their guests sign a note to the bride & groom on each piece of their game. Now, whenever they play Jumbo Jenga, they are reminded of their special day, and the people that celebrated with them!

Photo by: Marc Andreo Photography
Photo by: Emily Theisen Photography

Shadow box [with wooden pieces]: Shadow boxes are another C U T E way to get your guests involved. A few of our couples have used a shadow box with a small hole in the top, and little wooden circles [Emily + Kyle], or hearts [Amy + Kevin], for guests to sign, and then place in the shadow box. This keepsake would look G R E A T anywhere in your home.

Photo by: Narvold Photography

Letter at Last: Now that you & your partner [most likely] share the same last name, another F U N idea is to purchase or create a wooden letter with the first letter of your new last name, and have your guests sign it. That way, you can use it as a decoration in your home, and always know that you are surrounded by the L O V E of all your wedding guests for years to come.

S P E C I A L State: Whether it’s the state you are married in, or the state you’re living in, another idea for a guest book is to have a wooden cutout of the state of your choice. We had a couple do this [Rachel + Brad], and it turned out B E A U T I F U L L Y.

Photo by: Eileen K Photography

Decorative wooden sign: Purchase or craft a wooden sign with your favorite custom quote, and have your guests sign a note on your it. Maggie + Corey decided to do this, and the finished product was nothing short of A M A Z I N G.

Photo by: Justin Mark Photography

ANNIVERSARY IDEAS
Let’s W I N E about it: Do you and your partner love wine? If you answered yes, this guest book idea is P E R F E C T for you! Purchase some wine bottles, and update with cute labels for your 1 year, 5 year, 10 year, etc., anniversaries [you can find A D O R A B L E ones on Etsy] that guests can sign. We had a couple do this [Kristina + Derek] and guests could not stop commenting on what a fun way it was to celebrate the anniversaries to come!

Photo by: Whitnei Abel Photography

S I M P L E, but perfect: Add a mason jar with popsicle sticks for guests to sign a note on. Have a sign next to the mason jar explaining to guests that you and your new partner plan to read these sticks on your first anniversary, and cherish them for years beyond.

PHOTOS TO CHERISH

Photobooth B O O K [of memories]: If you have a photobooth at your wedding, opt to have the machine print out T W O copies, and have a blank guest book where guests can paste in their photobooth memories and sign a fun note to the happy couple.

Photo by: Asher Marie Photography

Oh S N A P! [Polaroid Cameras] – Have a few Polaroid cameras on a table, along with a blank guest book. You can have guests paste their snaps into the guest book, along with a note that you will cherish forever. If you wanted to enhance this photo station, consider adding a rustic frame with string and clothespins [hey – Rustic Elegance has one to rent!]. We had a couple [Andy + Stephanie] use polaroid cameras, and we are sure that those memories are still F U N to look at!

Photo by: Agape Moments Photography

MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Hobby Decor: If there’s something love to do as a couple, try to incorporate that into a fun guest book idea. For example, we had an A M A Z I N G couple [Kate + Nick] who love to kayak, so they decided to find small paddles and have their guests sign the paddles [what a F U N keepsake!].

Photo by: Ryan A Stadler Photography

W A N D E R L U S T: If you love to travel, think about having your guests sign a globe. We haven’t seen a couple do this, but thought it would be a U N I Q U E idea for anyone with the itch to explore the world. You could even pair it with a cute sign saying “You mean the W O R L D to us!” [punny, we know!].

Quit H O R S I N’ Around: Do you have a love for animals like Christine + Jeremy? This C R E A T I V E couple decided to have guests sign a saddle, to further embellish their love for horses [& we loved how special it was to them].

Photo by: Kolorblind Photography

OTHER NOTABLE IDEAS:
F A M I L Y First: Another idea that we have seen from a few couples [Kailee + Derek & Katie + Danial] is having guests stamp their thumbprint on a family/friend tree! This is another keepsake that would make for G R E A T home decor, and memories for a lifetime.

Photo by: Melissa Jopp Photography

Photo by: Tim Larsen Photography

Photo by: Tim Larsen Photography

P I C T U R E S Q U E paintings: If you and your partner love art, or are looking for something different from the rest, consider providing a painting of something special to you, and having your guests sign it. Amy + Sas did this with a picture of the barn they were married in, so they won’t ever forget the place where two became O N E. Mel + Chris also opted to have guests sign a cartoon picture of them [& their adorable pup] that will look G R E A T in their home.

Photo by: Marc Andreo Photography

Photo by: Asher Marie Photography

Staying C O Z Y [& warm]: As we work with couples in MN/WI with G R U E L I N G winters, Lauren + Drew opted to have guests sign quilt squares that would be made into a wedding quilt for them to use [how adorable is this?!]. We are sure that it still keeps them warm in their hearts too!

Photo by: Levi Tijerina Photography

Guest books are a F U N + M E M O R A B L E keepsake to revisit the details from your special day for the rest of your lives. As a couple planning your wedding, choose something that shows your personality, and have your guests add their special touch. We absolutely adore all of the creative ideas that we have seen throughout the years at Rustic Elegance, and continue to be A M A Z E D by our couples and what they come up with each time.

November 19, 2017November 20, 2017

Paige + Steve | Camp Chaos

Paige + Steve were such a F U N – L O V I N G couple and we loved working with them in order to create their perfect day.

They hosted their wedding at their family cabin in Wisconsin, that they have named “Camp Chaos” [fun!]. 8.26.17 had forecasted rain, so we began setting up everything inside, despite the couple’s true wishes to have their ceremony outdoors. Last minute, it looked like the rain would hold off, so with the help of the groomsmen & Rustic Elegance team, we were able to move all of the chairs outside and were able to make the couple’s wish come true! The wedding party for this wedding was H U G E [9 on each side which made it so F U N]. The reception was held inside a tent, which the cocktail hour and dance were held in the barn. The decor inside of the tent was S T U N N I N G, and included homemade centerpieces by the bride’s dad. He took trees from their property and sliced them, making wood runners for all the table [all so beautiful – what a talent to have!].

Paige + Steve opted to rent their head table from us [and it turned out to be P E R F E C T in the space!]

Despite a little rain throughout the rest of the night, friends & family were able to enjoy a night of good food, dancing, and I C E C R E A M. Paige + Steve chose to have MN Nice Cream as their dessert vendor for the night. It was so fun! They bring in their ice cream truck and a variety of flavors. Kellie tried vanilla ice cream topped with cookie dough, oreos, and topped with glitter for a B E A U T I F U L touch. MN Nice Cream has homemade ice cream and all guests get to pick their own toppings – such a fun way to provide endless options for guests to choose from. After everyone was full from ice cream, the dance floor was packed as Rick with Flow Event Group had the music P U M P I N G. As the dance continued, guests were able to enjoy s’mores by the bonfire.

The look when you see your future W I F E for the first time that day [l o v e].

The men wore some A M A Z I N G suits with fun patterned ties – a F U N combo!

And the ladies with their mix-and-match D R E S S E S were the definition of #weddingpartygoals

On to the ceremony setting – elegant G R E E N E R Y with simple decor = P E R F E C T!

The couple had a F U N guest book with their engagement pictures for guests to sign – a keepsake they will keep F O R E V E R!

The reception decor was G O R G E O U S [love the added touch with the lighting in here – thanks to We’ve Got It Covered!]

We L O V E the way that our rented table looked as the head table

Dancing into the night as newlyweds – thanks for letting Rustic Elegance be a part of it!

Paige + Steve – we are still reminiscing over the B E A U T Y that we saw on your wedding day. Your love for one another is truly extraordinary, and we want to thank you for choosing Rustic Elegance to be your Day of Coordinator!

Special thanks to Kate Becker for sharing these A M A Z I N G photos with us for the blog!

Vendors:
Caterer: Mama’s Catering
Bartender: With A Twist
Rentals: Briggs
Decor: We’ve Got it Covered
DJ: Flow Event Group
Photographer: Kate Becker Photography
Videographer: Flow Event Group
Desserts: MN Nice Cream
Bathrooms: Biff’s
Coordination: Rustic Elegance

November 13, 2017November 13, 2017

Nicole + Dan | Bloom Lake Barn

At Rustic Elegance, we work with couples across MN & WI to help their weddings run smoothly and so that they don’t have to worry about the details, and get to E N J O Y their perfect day [no matter what comes in the way]. Nicole + Dan were nothing less than an amazing couple, and were equally great to work with. Kellie was the lead planner for Nicole + Dan, and knew from her first meeting with these two lovebirds that she was going to love working with them.

The wedding was at Bloom Lake Barn & we absolutely L O V E this venue. Adam & Monique are so easy to work with and we had four weddings in our 2017 wedding season at this venue, all which ran perfectly. We would highly recommend this venue to any couple looking for a barn venue.

As the girls were preparing for the wedding, Nicole and her girlfriends got henna tattoos for the day [which led to A M A Z I N G photos]. 5.28.17 was a day where we weren’t sure exactly what mother nature was thinking. We started their ceremony outside, but it started raining in the middle of their ceremony, so we I M M E D I A T E L Y implicated our backup plan and moved the ceremony indoors. This move created such a thrilling experience for all involved [us included] and created an intimate ceremony unlike any other wedding. Their grand entrance into the reception was led by a drum line [what a fun way to enter as Mr. & Mrs.!]. The guy friends along with the bride & groom entered into the room and met up with the girl friends who were in the middle of the room, and then did a fun group dance while the other guests watched. This was a super cool way to enter and brought some F U N energy into the reception to start off the night.

Nicole + Dan: T H A N K – Y O U from the bottom of our hearts here at Rustic Elegance for giving us the opportunity to work with such an amazing and fun-loving couple like you two as your Day of Coordinator! We are so thankful to work with clients like you, and hope that your life as newlyweds is nothing short of A M A Z I N G.

H U G E shout-out to Tim Larsen Photography for sharing these amazing memories with us and capturing it all on camera!

Vendors:
Venue: Bloom Lake Barn
Caterer & Bartender: Unique Dining Experience
DJ: Transmission Music
Florist: Ivy Rose Design
Photographer: Tim Larsen Photography
Videographer: Alma Video
Desserts: Muddy Paws Cheesecake
Makeup: Makeup by Aleah
Coordination: Rustic Elegance

All smiles with these two – we just L O V E the love they have for one another!

Having fun pre-ceremony with their friends made for some more smiles + C U T E photos!

Kellie even snagged a picture with the B R I D E [so cute!].

The details from this day were simple + so E L E G A N T!

U H – O H! The rain decided to make it’s way to Bloom Lake Barn in the middle of the ceremony – the couple along with the help of friends + family helped move the ceremony inside!

Now – time to finish the ceremony I N S I D E [rain, rain, go away!].

M A R R I E D + loving it!

More of the G O R G E O U S details from the day…

First dance as newlyweds – L O V I N G it every step of the way!

You two are A D O R A B L E – and we adored working with you!

November 5, 2017November 7, 2017

Round Barn Farm – Styled Shoot

As a wedding coordinator, we have some A M A Z I N G opportunities that come our way. One of such is being a part of a styled shoot. This fall, we were able to take part in a styled shoot at Round Barn Farm, and it couldn’t have turned out any B E T T E R! This barn is located in Red Wing MN, and features [absolutely] beautiful views of the Mississippi River Valley. The barn itself is a sixty foot high round barn, and is surrounded by greenery [fun fact: the barn was built in 1914 – W O W!].

We tried to think a little out of the ordinary for this shoot, and pair some non-traditional fall colors together, while still ensuring that they complement one another, and leave a romantic vibe in the air. We settled on burgundy, gold and black details which turned out to be S T U N N I N G.

The ladies spent their morning getting ready in the G O R G E O U S bridal suite at Round Barn Farm. JAK Beauty styled our models with some amazing make-up, while Hair Love worked on their hairdos [the outcome was perfect on all of the models – such a good T E A M!].

For this shoot, we were S O lucky to have the help of S O many vendors. The bride’s wedding gown was a feature from Bridal Accents Couture, and incorporated gorgeous lace embellishments. Fringe Boutique provided E L E G A N T gold jewelry for our ladies which added an extra sweet touch. The bridesmaids were outfitted in long, burgundy dresses in two different styles [tip: this style is I N – having your bridesmaids in different styles of dresses looks fun for pictures A N D ensures that everyone is comfortable in their dress!]. Also, because fall weddings can get a little C O O L in the MN // WI area, we featured fur wraps to keep our ladies heated during the shoot. The A D O R A B L E flower girl is wearing a simple white dress with burgundy accents [sash + floral crown] to complement the wedding color scheme. The groom was dressed in a traditional black suit with a burgundy bow tie [L O V E] and pocket square. The ring bearer wanted to be dressed the same as the groom, and the outcome is just too C U T E!

The florals throughout the day were nothing short of P E R F E C T! Studio B did a fantastic job tying in burgundy, red, and purple arrangements throughout the day. The bouquets even had blueberries [so C R E A T I V E]. Hanging amaranthus were also used throughout the day to add more of the burgundy pop to our shoot.

The Round Barn Farm is seemingly B E A U T I F U L by nature. For decor for this shoot, we decided to focus on this natural beauty outdoors, and keep the ceremony sites decor simple. The fun thing about the Round Barn Farm is that they have 2 ceremony site locations to choose from when planning your S P E C I A L day, so we wanted to showcase these outstanding options. For ceremony site #1, We’ve Got It Covered used G O R G E O U S white draping to frame the site, and add a nice simple touch to the ceremony backdrop. We also utilized some of the hanging amaranthus on the ceremony draping, and tied black sashes on the backdrop and chairs for another simple touch. Studio B created a hanging floral ball with burgundy blooms, as well as simple greenery for the couple to stand underneath. Love Letters designed a F U N chalkboard sign at the end of the aisle for added decor [which we A D O R E D]. For ceremony site #2, We’ve Got it Covered used simple elegant white draping on a large tree, paired with an adorable chalkboard [again by the talented Love Letters] at the end of this aisle as well.

On to the R E C E P T I O N! For this, we styled two different tablescapes – one for guests, and one for the head table. The guest tables featured burgundy, cream, and gold color schemes. The chairs were accented by a burgundy + lace sash to further complement the romantic theme. For the centerpiece features, we used gold lanterns with cream candles, gold floral vases, birch table number holders, floral watermark table numbers + menu cards designed by the great Ink Well Minneapolis, and a burgundy table runner. We also added burgundy blooms, berries, and a subtle amount of greenery compliment our color scheme throughout the tablescape.

For the head table, we used M O R E greenery, as well as a few more black accent details, like plate chargers and napkins. For the head table backdrop, we used burgundy draping with greenery hanging from birch branches. A long garland with gold votive candles was used to center the burgundy bouquets and gold pillar candle holders.

For the reception decor, Adagio Djay Entertainment added some A M A Z I N G up-lighting to the dance floor, and we were ready to dance [all night long!]. We also featured some cozy couches for guests to sit on in the bottom level of the barn, which were rentals from the Rustic Elegance furniture collection. We’ve Got It Covered added some extra draping for a nice finishing touch to this area.

And last, but D E F I N I T E L Y not least, our dessert featured a stunning burgundy tiered cake designed by Miss Sara’s Cakery. The top tier was even painted gold to go with the theme. She also provided amazing wedding themed cookies and other small desserts placed on stands and trays to fill the dessert table [which was an old horse wagon situated inside the barn].The dessert stands + platters featured are rentals from Rustic Elegance, and are great options to add a little more rustic decor in to your special day!

As previously stated, we are S O lucky to have the opportunities to work with some amazing vendors [listed below] at this styled shoot, and we absolutely cannot W A I T to help couples with their Day of Coordinating at the Round Barn Farm.

P.S. Thanks to Jeannine Marie Photography not only for these outstanding photos but also for help putting the amazing details of the day into the above words for our post.

Venue: Round Barn Farm
Photographer: Jeannine Marie Photography
Planner & Decor: Rustic Elegance
Décor: We’ve Got It Covered
Florist: Studio B Floral Designs
Make-Up: JAK Beauty
Hair Stylist: Hair Love
Desserts: Miss Sara’s Cakery
Print/Design: Ink Well Minneapolis
Chalkboard Art: Love Letters
DJ: Adagio Djay Entertainment
Lighting (barn): Adagio Djay Entertainment
Videographer: The Great White Dress
Catering: A’BriTin Catering
Bride Dress: Bridal Accents Couture
Groom Outfit: Savvi Tuxes by Bridal Accents Couture
Flower Girl Dress & Ring Bear Outfit: Bridal Accents Couture
Accessories: Fringe Boutique
Bride/Groom Models: Ali and Shane Ewy
Bridesmaids: Hannah and Angie
Flower Girl/Ring Bear Models: Aubrey & Javin (future Mrs. & Mrs.)