One thing about me is that I absolutely love to travel. When Amy and Jamie reached out about having me fly down to Mexico to create live guest sketches at their destination wedding, I was 100% on board! It was such a fun weekend filled with love and laughter in paradise! I’m so glad to share their incredible day with you. 

Amy and Jamie’s Mexico Destination Wedding 

Amy and Jamie knew from the start that they wanted a destination wedding in Mexico. Their blended family includes six kids (three from each side), and they’ve visited this resort on their family vacations. Between their love of the beach and the sentimental value the area holds, it was a no-brainer that they should say their vows here! They decided on Finest Playa Mujeres thanks to an amazing past visit, and I think they made a fantastic choice.  I absolutely LOVED this resort, and it would be amazing to go back one day.

The entire weekend was so beautiful. The resort itself was incredible, with delicious drinks, friendly staff, and gorgeous beach views. I truly felt like I was in paradise! Amy and Jamie started the weekend with an all-white welcome party, which was so much fun. I attended as a guest, and since they wanted to keep my illustrations a surprise until the wedding, I spent the evening chatting with guests who began taking guesses at my role! Many guessed dancing or singing, but they were pleasantly surprised to find out my real contribution to the wedding!

Personal Touches 

When planning their intimate destination wedding, Amy and Jamie knew they wanted to really personalize their wedding day. Even the smallest details were customized and well thought-out. Guests were welcomed to the resort with custom luggage tags, and custom shotglasses filled with tequila served as the escort cards! One of my favorite details was the cocktail napkins with their text conversations printed on them. And of course, I created a sketch of each guests’ outfit which served as both a fun activity and a wedding favor. 

Live Illustration with SamiaLynn Designs 

Jamie and Amy hired me for four hours of custom sketching, which was the perfect amount of time for their intimate wedding. They opted for hand-drawn sketches over digital illustrations, which always adds a fun personal flair. It was such a great day at Finest Playa Mujeres, and I’m so glad I got to enjoy it with them!

If you’re planning a destination wedding and want a unique, custom experience for your guests, let’s chat! I absolutely love visiting new places with my couples, and I would thrilled to be a part of your big day.

As you browse the internet for wedding planning ideas, you may come across the term “wedding brand” or “branding your wedding”. And while in some cases this may be referring to a literal cattle brand with your initials – that’s not what we’re talking about. 

A wedding brand is similar to a business brand; creating something that would be recognizable as yours even out of context. More than just an aesthetic, these are often built around consistent motifs, whether that’s a crest, font, colors, or specific style of illustration. In the luxury wedding world, we’re starting to see these pop up more as people focus on custom designs.  

So whether you’re an engaged couple looking for ideas or a planner looking to expand into the luxury market, keep reading for everything you need to know on branding your wedding!

The Key to Wedding Branding is Consistency

A clear wedding brand should start well before the wedding day, and be continually reinforced. Simply putting a custom crest in one spot isn’t branding! Remember, the goal is to have someone see a design and know immediately that it’s connected to your wedding. While the visuals don’t need to be repetitive (we love seeing different versions of a single motif) they should be sprinkled throughout your wedding, starting with the stationery you send out before the wedding day. So, where exactly can you incorporate these branding elements? We’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite ways below. 

Ways to Incorporate Your Wedding Branding

Custom Stationery

Possibly the most important and easy way to incorporate your wedding branding is through custom stationery. Stationery is one of the few tangible items guests receive from your wedding, and it’s also the first preview that they will have of your wedding aesthetic, so it’s important that we introduce them to the brand at this step. You can incorporate illustrations, crests, fonts, and colors that are part of your branding before they even walk in the door. 

Welcome Boxes

Another great way to incorporate your wedding brand is through guest welcome boxes if you have guests coming in from out of town. These small boxes can be filled with anything you’d like – snacks, beverages, travel guides – and can be easily branded via the box itself or any stationery you may include inside. We’ve even seen guests order custom water bottle wraps with their branding on them! 

Signature Scent

A new element we’re starting to see in wedding branding is a signature scent. Whether you and your partner have a preexisting scent that you love, or you opt to create one together, there are so many places that you can incorporate your scene throughout your wedding! From adding a spritz to your invitations to lighting a scented candle at your head table and offering scented lotion in the restrooms – this is a great way to incorporate another sense into your brand experience. 

Signs & Decor

Wedding day decor is crucial to solidifying the wedding brand, but it’s also where things can start to feel too repetitive or overwhelming, so it’s important to be selective about your branding elements. For example, your bar menu can contain illustrations in the same style as your wedding invitations. A custom illustrated menu or signature drink sign can pull your food and drink aesthetic together. The fonts on your table numbers should match those on the seating chart and ceremony program. If you opt for a custom crest, order a custom vinyl for the front of your bar or dance floor! Working with a wedding designer will help make sure that all of these elements feel balanced and provide the aesthetic you’re looking for. 

Wedding Favors

The last way you can incorporate your brand into your wedding day is through wedding favors. We love seeing custom koozies or something edible with a custom design that matches your wedding. Or, if you’re looking for something to really stand out, you can hire a live guest illustrator! Whether the illustrations themselves fit your brand (the same style as your invitations and bar menu) or you add branding elements around the border or on the back of the card, these are favors that your guests won’t soon forget. Plus, they are incredible keepsakes that make the best wedding favors!

Brand Your Wedding with SamiaLynn Illustration & Design

At SamiaLynn Illustration we love working with our couples multiple times throughout their wedding planning process, from Save the Dates to Live Illustrations and everything in between. If you’re planning your wedding and want custom illustrations with consistent style throughout your experience, we’d love to work with you! You can head to our contact page to reach out. 

Wedding Stationery is one of the few tangible items from your big day that couples hold onto. And in our modern world where even photos are rarely printed, these small pieces of your day are something you’ll want to look back on fondly in decades to come. Whether you’re interested in a custom illustration or just trying to sort out what paper goods you need for your big day, this guide will walk you through all the most important stationery pieces for your upcoming wedding!

Pre-Wedding Stationery

A lot of your wedding stationery will be sent before your wedding even happens! Invitations and Thank You cards for your engagement party will be first, followed by Save the Dates (Couples love our Illustrations - It's a great alternative to a photo and is 100% custom to you both as a couple!), Wedding Shower invitations and thank yous, and finally, invitations for your bachelor or bachelorette parties. Additionally, you may want day-of paper goods for each of these events like signs or place cards. These small details really help elevate the design of all of your pre-wedding events. Keep in mind that items like these will add up, so it’s important to budget for these pre-wedding paper goods. 

The Wedding Invitation

Arguably the most important piece of wedding stationery is your wedding invitation suite. This sets the tone for your wedding design and gives guests a glimpse into what is to come. They also include all of the most important information for your guests! Your invitation suite is usually made up of multiple items, including the primary invitation card, details or insert cards, and an RSVP card and envelope, which are all mailed together in a primary envelope. When mailed, these invitations can cost more than a standard letter, so be sure to head to your local post office in person with an invitation so they can weigh them and let you know if they need to be hand-sorted. 

Wedding Day Paper

On your wedding day, there’s a variety of different paper goods that will help communicate with your guests and serve as decor. During the ceremony, you may want a welcome sign, ceremony program, and vow books. For the cocktail hour and reception, you’ll need escort cards or a seating chart, menus, bar signs, and even a guest book! The options are truly endless when it comes to adding little touches of stationery and paper throughout your day. If you are looking for paper that really stands out, check out all of our customized options! And if you have a vision you haven’t found yet, reach out. We love to create custom pieces!

Post-Wedding Stationery

Once your wedding day has come and gone, you’ll need one final – but incredibly important – piece of wedding stationery: Thank You cards! These are the final touchpoint most guests will have with your wedding day and the piece that will tell them just how much you appreciate their attendance. We recommend ordering these when you order your invitations, so you have them ready to go after your big day. That way, once you are home from the Honeymoon, you won’t have to remember to buy them. 

Wedding Stationery By SamiaLynn Illustrations and Design

Here at SamiaLynn Illustrations and Designs, we offer tons of options for custom wedding day paper and stationery. Whether you’re looking for an illustration of you and your partner, your rings, or your wedding venue, we can design the perfect piece of art for your big day. We also love working with full stationery designers for a truly bespoke experience! We can work with your designer to create one-of-a-kind artwork that can be used on all of your stationery products. For more about everything we offer, head over to our contact page to set up a free consultation. 

Hello! Sam here 👋🏼 . As your resident artist, I’m super excited to bring this topic to you so let’s chat beautiful options for your big day!

As we’re all aware, art comes in many styles. This can be more traditional like painting or in the form of food decoration or photography. Whichever is your preferred medium, art is a beautiful way to show self expression and style. Also, as more and more weddings focus on guest experience, this is great way to get creative and wow your guests. So let’s dive in to a few specific ideas:

1. hire a live painter

   This is the most obvious idea, as it concentrates on the traditional idea of “art”. You can hire an artist to come to the wedding and paint a scene from the ceremony, first dance, etc. They usually spend a few hours on it on site and then will finish it up back home in their studio. This is the perfect blend of a memento (for you as the couple) and experience as guests will love seeing this come to life throughout the night.

   Option number two, is a live guest artist. This is what I personally specialize in and guests absolutely LOVE walking away with a custom piece of art created just for them. I have an entire blog post going over how all of this works, so check that out here.

2. custom place cards

Piggy-backing off of the point above, getting custom place “cards” for your guests is another way to gift them something personal. I would say this is a better option for the rehearsal dinner or welcome party as opposed to the wedding, but that really depends on your guest count and budget. These cards or place settings can be anything from custom sketches to mini embroidered hoops to personalized letters. I personally love this option as it acts as the wedding favor as well instead of gifting something generic that they don’t want anyway.

3. Interactive guest book

I will scream this from the rooftops for the rest of eternity: SKIP THE TRADITIONAL GUEST BOOK. The likeliness of you reading it ever again after (maybe) your first anniversary is very low. So, why not have an option that you’ll actually be able to see and admire after the wedding day? Guest “book” ideas can honestly be giving people anything they can write on, but if you want to be able to display this with pride in your home afterwards, signing art is going to be the way to go. Such as: a custom illustration of the two of you with (or without) your date underneath on canvas or oversized paper with plenty of space for guests to sign around it (click here to learn more about this). Or even something special carved out of wood or etched on glass.

We also did a blog post on the many guest book alternatives. Click here to look into more options.

4. portrait photographer

This is a very new option that I am SO excited is starting to trend. Imagine instead of a photo-booth, you had an actual photographer taking family/couples photos in that cute little sitting/backdrop area you already know you’re going to have somewhere (or at cocktail hour!). Because there’s nothing like a professional making sure you look best in photos. Plus, the photographer would gather guests’ info to send them the photos post-wedding. Wins all around.

5. Get literal

For all my fellow creatives, this one’s for you. If you want a little nod to your artsy side, here’s a couple options:

1. Mini easels and canvases as table numbers

2. Pantone cards for your seating chart (or table numbers)

3. Hand-painted veil or dress/outfit

4. Grazing table with food on (unused!) paint palettes

6. Painted food

Don’t worry, it’s still edible! If you want a more “temporary” art direction then go for the cake. Watercolor cakes are absolutely gorgeous and can really bring a non-traditional, romantic vibe to the dessert selection. Not having a cake cutting moment? Get famous paintings replicated on a bunch of mini cakes!

7. get it on paper

When all ideas fail, you really can go all out relying on your paper goods. It’s a great way to kick off your wedding journey as the invite suite will be guests’ first peak into your style. Here’s a few options:

1. Get an illustrated map to introduce guests to your area for the weekend (especially if your weekend activities are split between multiple venues)

2. A watercolor or pencil drawing of your venue for the envelope lining

3. An illustration of the couple for the save the dates or thank you notes

4. Food illustrations for a buffet sign or individual menus

5. A custom drink sign for your signature cocktails

6. Chocolate cards aka a delicious chocolate bar inside a custom decorated card aka the sweetest take home favor for your guests. Shoot me an email to learn more and get a quote!

As I usually end most of my blog posts, I love reminding you that your special weekend or day is just that: YOURS. So make it as unique as your love with your partner and let your personality shine through art. I would love to know, which idea did you like best? Tell us in the comments below!

Happy Planning!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Weddings are that special day (or weekend, or..week?) that you can really have your personality as individuals, and a couple, shine through. There are so many special touches you can add to any aspect of the events to wow your guests and have them saying “oh that’s SO them”. From the invites to the food to the reception entertainment, there’s a million options and sometimes, it’s the little things that make the difference.

So how do you decide? Let’s break these ideas down by personality or traits:

The foodie

Splurge on a 7 course meal or specialty food stations for a buffet. Bonus points for corresponding wine or drinks! I attended a wedding at a guest with a multi-course dinner and I can confirm it was the best thing ever. Need wine pairing recs? We go over all of this in a blog post! Click here to check it out.

The Fashionable One

Pretend like you didn’t see this one coming: live guest illustrations! Photos are always nice, but custom art as favors is the icing on the fashion cake. Click here to learn more about live sketching.

The Influencer

Hire a content creator! It’s a great way to get all your phone coverage for you to post later, without having to worry about it on your big day. Have more questions about content creators? We have a blog post about that too, just click here to read.

The Boozy One

Cocktail hour idea: have a tasting! Wine, liquor, beer, whatever goes with your food or wedding theme. This idea also works great for a welcome party if you’d prefer a smaller crowd.

The "Extra" One

Go all in on a grand entrance or exit (forget the sparklers or confetti). Arrive in a carriage, leave in a boat, skydive into the ceremony, use a smoke machine down the aisle, pick your “extra” level and go for it. Or take a page out of the Southeast Asian wedding book and arrive on a horse or elephant (but be sure to check with your venue first).

The Kid at Heart

Two words for you: Bounce House. Yes, wedding bouncy houses are a thing and they look SO FUN. They come in all white and you can add extra florals around it for a special touch!

The Fearless One

Another trend that I’ve been seeing around: tattoo artists. We’re talking real, permanent actual tattoos. This idea is obviously for a very specific type of couple, but maybe you can add a temp tattoo station for those guests who…aren’t quite as adventurous?

The Eco Enthusiast

Nothing drives crazy a green movement follower more than being wasteful; and from that standpoint, yes, weddings can produce a LOT of waste. So why not cut down on that a bit? I’ll list a few ideas below, but the one I think is the most innovative is “seed paper”. Paper made out of actual seeds so you can plant and water them when you go home and look at that your place card turned into tulips. Here’s more:

• “Paperless Post” save the dates (honestly, this is just easier for everyone)

• Use local blooms

• Reuse said blooms from the ceremony and bouquets into the receptions space

• Pick a menu with seasonal, local ingredients

• Rent, borrow, or thrift outfits, linens, and decor

• Use biodegradable confetti or balloons

• Hire a bus or shuttle for transportation to and from the venue

• Plant a tree for your unity ceremony

The Dancer

This is fun for both you and your guests because everyone knows you’ll probably have the best music for the dance floor. But aside from that, why not do a choreographed dance with your new spouse? Or during parent dances. If you don’t want to do it yourself (or are unable), hire professionals! Guests will love the dinner entertainment. Take it a step further and get dancers that relate to your cultural background.

The Traveler

As an avid traveler myself, I LOVE this as a theme. Plus, there are a ton of ways to do it:

• Make your invite suit into a passport with boarding passes

• Create your table numbers based off all the places you’ve traveled together

• Make a map as your escort wall

• Use an atlas and polaroid photos for your guest book

• Thrift vintage trunks and globes as decor

• Speaking of globes, get a minimalistic or chalkboard one and use as a guest book

Which of these do you identify with the most?

Let us know in the comments below what special touches you added to your wedding! We’d love to hear from you.

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Is your calendar sending you notifications that your wedding anniversary is coming up? Does that reminder send you into a spiral about what to do to celebrate and how to show your partner all that these last 365 days has meant to you? We know the feeling, so we wanted to share some of our ideas with you for you to book mark for when you’re ready!

I want to start by saying that a heart felt card is never a bad idea! If that is the only gift you can give, great. If it sets the tone for the main gift, even better!

1. A custom sketch

Did you know that I not only sketch AT weddings, but I can also sketch from one of your favorite wedding photos? Order a custom sketch for a new perspective on your wedding day, proposal, or engagement shoot, and more art for your partner to hang on your walls! Also, in case you weren’t aware, the “traditional” first anniversary gift is paper. So there you go!

2. Wedding Cake remade (not frozen from a year prior)

I’m not sure who decided that the best wedding tradition is to eat year-old frozen cake, but I would like to request an upgrade. Connect with the bakery that made your wedding cake and have them remake the top tier so you can enjoy the cake as much (if not more) than you did on your wedding day. 

3. Add on to the rings

Nothing says love like fine jewelry! Kidding (but not really). Add to the stack with a new ring - just like trees gain rings to show their age, so can your marriage! 

4. Private Picnic

If you have been on TikTok you have seen how beautiful and romantic a private picnic can be! Your partner is bound to ask if you are going to re-propose (AKA this would be great to combine with the updated ring stack). If you live in NY state we have a great connection- The Garden of Era Luxury Picnics which you can find on Instagram here: @thegardenoferapicnics.  If you live in the DC metro area this is the host for you: Luxe Picnics @luxepicnics.d.m.v

5. services

If you’re less of a “physical presents” and more of a “doing” kind of couple, here’s a suggestion: house cleaning services while you take them out to their favorite lunch and spa. Nothing makes an “act of service” love language spouse melt like doing something that they probably would have had to do on their own. Extra points if your spouse doesn’t have to decide who, what, where, or when!

Which of these anniversary gifts would you like most??

Let us know in the comments below what your favorite gift you’ve received was! We’d love to hear from you.

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Lauren here 👋🏻

Recently I was filling out a questionnaire for my wedding photographer and one of the questions was “what type of unity ceremony will you be including in your ceremony?” And I panicked because I hadn’t considered any of my options and we are a month out from the big day! If you are engaged or about to be, let me share some of our findings so you can plan better than I have!

1. The Celtic knot

Using a ribbon, rope, or scarf, this tradition shows the physical as well as spiritual bond that marriage represents through tying the couples’ hands or wrists together. Quite literally “tying the knot”. In ancient Ireland, this ceremony is also called “hand-fasting” and be tied together while you recite your vows.

2. Combining sand

This tradition is perfectly placed at a beach wedding so that you can use sand from the beach you are getting married on. It also works for blended families if you would like your children to be represented in the unity of the family. Sam went to a wedding where the couple each brought sand from their respective home countries.

3. lighting a candle

The unity candle is typically lit by each partner holding their own candles and lighting the third candle together, symbolizing two people becoming one. 

4. releasing a lantern

Best done during a dusk or night ceremony, this symbolizes sending your love out into the universe. Some like to put notes or vows inside as well!

5. The lasso

Put around the neck or head- the wedding officiant will wrap a garland of your choosing around each partner’s neck in an infinity symbol during the ceremony and then after it is removed the garland can become part of your home to be a constant reminder of your never ending love.  Traditionally, floral garlands are used in southeast Asian ceremonies, and around the head (attached with a ribbon) is usually seen during Greek weddings.

6. Pouring paint on a mini canvas

This is similar to the idea of pouring sand, but instead creates art for the walls of your home. Pick a color to represent each of you (and potentially a color for your children if they will be a part of the wedding). Combining the colors will show how two are becoming one on that day. 

7. Combining drinks

If art is not your thing, find what is! Do you like drinking wine together? Or is tea your comfort after a long day? Combine each of your favorite flavors to become one. 

8. Planting a tree

This is a great way to visualize your love growing and becoming stronger over the (many) years. Also, a great option for the more eco friendly couple!

9. The time capsule

You can add in wine, letters, objects*, and open it on important anniversary. This could be something that just the couple participates in, or the rest of the guests could be included if you’re having an intimate ceremony. Having memories to be reminded of years down the line will bring you back to the day you said “I do”.

*If you want a couple’s illustration to add to your box, just click here!

10. Jumping the Broom

This ceremony symbolizes jumping into your new life together and sweeping away your past so that you can start new as a married couple. 

Which of these ceremonies would you choose for your wedding? But most importantly, which one do I choose?!? Let me know in the comments!

Lauren Allen, Author

Lauren is a bridal consultant and self-published author, with a background in celebrity styling and bridal make up artistry. You can find her with an oat milk cappuccino in the morning, and a glass of Cabernet at night, her real passions. Lauren is based in Kansas CIty and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here

Custom wedding (specifically bride) illustrations were the very first custom offering I ever started created. It’s now grown into all sorts of custom illustration offerings including couples, friends, family, etc and I love offering all sorts of options so everyone can find what they’re looking for! However, when it comes to custom, the process can be a bit more confusing than simply buying an art piece and I get the same common questions over and over so let’s do an official FAQ on how to order a custom wedding illustration:

who are custom sketches for?

Literally anyone and everyone as art should be! The whole point of ordering a custom piece is to have something special that you can connect with before or after the wedding day. And they make great gifts as well because who doesn’t love something custom made for them? Here at SamiaLynn we are inclusive and not here to judge. No matter who you married or who you’re gifting to, everything is an option.

can you sketch [insert your idea here]?

It’s the number one question I receive and my favorite answer this always: “when you can draw, you can draw anything!”. If you have a specific art style in mind, I always ask for example photos so I can let you know whether or not that’s a style I can accomplish. If you love the way I draw already then I can draw you anything you’d like! This is your vision, I’m just here to make it happen

does it have to be an exact photo of what i want?

Absolutely NO! If you do have an exact photo you’d like me to draw, that’s amazing. However, most of my clients want to “build” their custom piece so aside from the people/pets/background you want to be the focal point, feel free to send me any inspiration photos, or photos for specific poses, clothing, scenery, etc. These photos also, by no means, need to be professional, but if you’re getting a sketch of any clothing that has a pattern or embellishment (lace, beading, etc) on it then I will need clear/close up photos. If it’s a wedding dress and you know the designer, you can always let me know and I will look up the gown if you don’t know the exact style number or name.

how does the process work?

Like I mentioned in the previous question, we’re building this piece together and go through it step by step! After you send over photos, descriptions, ideas, etc, I will work on a super rough draft for you to approve the layout. If we’re working through multiple ideas, I will send those over at the same time so you can pick which one you’d like to go with. From there I’ll send you the final lines and you’ll approve it or request changes before I fill it in with color and details.

What if i don’t know what i want?

That’s totally fine! I love bring a vague idea to life! We’ll just go over what you’re generally looking for, who you might be gifting it to, and your “why” behind the order. Talking it out always brings the right answer to the surface.

Can i pick the illustration size?

The default size for custom wedding illustrations are 11x14”, but all sizes are certainly available and are custom quoted so feel free to ask!

What is the turn around time?

For custom illustrations, an approval of the rough draft is required before I will complete the order and ship out. The faster the approval, the faster the completion. Typically, I can ship out within 1 week of the order, however, if I have a number of orders to complete it could take up to 2 weeks. First class USPS domestic US shipping is included in pricing which (depending on where it’s going) takes roughly 3-7 business days. Rush rates for both creation and shipping are available for an extra fee.

where can i buy a custom sketch?

I sell custom illustrations through my website and Etsy. Items available through samialynn.com are only shipping in the USA and Canada right now, but hopefully will go international soon! If you’re not in the US or Canada, or would like to ship elsewhere, you can purchase through my Etsy shop here

how do illustrations ship?

All regular sized illustrations are shipped in a plastic sleeve with chipboard in a non-bendable envelope along with a piece of cardboard for extra sturdiness to ensure the paper stays flat. All custom, non-framed illustrations come wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon. Orders larger than 11x14” are shipped rolled up in a tube. Option to add a free gift message if it’s being sent directly to the recipient!

i have more questions!

I’m always here for you! Just send an email to samantha@samialynn.com and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Hope to hear from you soon!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

We are pretty deep into wedding season right now, and my TikTok has been flooded with wedding content. I love it! One trend that I have been seeing more than ever (thanks to social media, not because it hasn’t been happening) is incorporating vintage wedding dresses into your wedding. Most of these dresses are the brides’ moms’ (or grandmothers’) dress, but this could be done with any family members’ outfit, or just a beautiful gown you found at Goodwill. Today I wanted to share with you a few ideas of what to do if a vintage gown happens to land in your wedding wardrobe:

1. Tailor it to you and wear it proudly!

Almost 35 years ago, my mom wore her moms’ wedding dress. She changed the fitted sleeves to puffy sleeves and opened up the neckline which I questioned my whole life until looking at bridal trends while planning my own wedding. I never believed that huge sleeves and satin dresses could be so popular, but here we are again. Take the wedding dress that was given to you and don’t be afraid (with permission of course) to make it your own! This can also apply to a veil or other wedding looks/accessories.

2. shorten it

Take the sentimental vintage dress and shorten it to wear for your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or reception look! This is such a great way of including a special piece from a family member’s wedding day while having your wedding day be about creating memories of your own.

3. Add a slit and party all night!

Sort of the same idea as shortening, but with any vintage dress you may have, never forget you may have the option of adding a slit and turning it into your reception/after party dress! You’ll typically be able to create a slit if the dress is fitted and is there’s a seam somewhere in the front or it’s a ballgown/A-line silhouette with the extra fabric you need. By using this option you will have entered into marriage with your something new, but you’re celebrating your marriage with memories of the past.

4. Use just a little something

If you don’t want to wear the dress as is, or if it’s too damaged and fragile to wear, you can take pieces of the dress (like lace appliqué) and include it into your wedding day. Depending on how much lace you have, it can be added to the waist, bodice, sleeves or hemline. Other fabrics can be used to create sleeves, bolero/cropped jacket, or shawl. A big way would be to use the lace for your veil, and a small way would be to sew a piece of that dress to the inside lining of your dress, or make it a part of the flower girls’ dress. You could also wrap your bouquet in fabric, or use some of the fabric as a pocket square (if you or your fiance are wearing a suit)!

Save this post and use it as a reminder to preserve your wedding dress! Even if you choose not to use any of these ideas on your wedding day, a family member 20-50 years down the line might and I know they would appreciate you putting in that extra effort. Looking to have a custom gown designed? Let’s chat! Just click here.

Happy dressing!

Lauren Allen, Author

Lauren is a bridal consultant and self-published author, with a background in celebrity styling and bridal make up artistry. You can find her with an oat milk cappuccino in the morning, and a glass of Cabernet at night, her real passions. Lauren is based in Kansas CIty and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here

Sketch created for “The Honest Planner” by Susanna Richardson

In loving memory… 

The hardest part of getting older is saying goodbye to people you love. When you are getting married you are reminded that those you have lost will not be there with you in person on your wedding day and let me tell you… it sucks. 

My sister and I are both getting married this year (my sister a few weeks ago and me in a few months) and there have been countless phone calls about how we would do anything to have our Pa around for just a little while longer so he could see us enter this next big stage of our lives. I’m not going to lie, I am getting a little choked up just writing this. 

I know we aren’t the only ones deeply missing someone on our wedding days, so today we wanted to share a few ways to keep their memory alive on your wedding day and forever after. 

I’ll save a seat for you

Save a seat for your loved ones in the front row of your ceremony. Decorate the seat with flowers and either a photo/ sketch of them or a sign with a note saying “In loving memory of those who cannot be here today but are forever present in our hearts”

Click here for a custom person sketch

I’ll always remember you

Have SamiaLynn illustrate your wedding photos to include those who have passed and will not be photographed with you on your wedding day. This is a great way to forever embed them in the memories of your wedding. 

Click here for the “Family Group” Illustration

Click here for the “Wedding” Illustration 

To all who couldn’t be here today

If you and your fiancé have loved and lost too many people before your wedding day, set up a table at your ceremony in memory of all of those who could not be with you on your big day. Include framed photos of them, florals from your other centerpieces, and even some candles to bring attention to the table.

To have and to hold

Hold your loved ones close to you as you walk down the aisle by including a memento from them in your bouquet. This could be a small charm or locket attached to the florals, or using a small amount of fabric from their wedding dress to wrap your bouquet together. I have also seen some beautiful examples of this, but sewn to the inside of your wedding gown. 

For those of you who are having to choose one of these options, I am sorry for your loss. You are so loved and including these little details in your wedding will remind you of that for the rest of your life.

Lauren Allen, Author

Lauren is a bridal consultant and self-published author, with a background in celebrity styling and bridal make up artistry. You can find her with an oat milk cappuccino in the morning, and a glass of Cabernet at night, her real passions. Lauren is based in Kansas City and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here

Lauren here! 👋🏼

As we have talked about a few times now, l am a 2023 bride and wedding planning has become a second job for me. I must admit, this might be my favorite job even though my first job does allow me to play with beautiful dresses everyday. One perk of wedding planning is that I get to see things in a new perspective, especially all of the offerings on samialynn.com!! Obviously I have studied Sam's website multiple times as I've been writing these blogs for years now, but the selection didn't fully hit me until planning my own wedding. That being said, here is my list of "must hire Sam for this ASAP” for my wedding planning needs.

1. Signature drink print

   We will be having his/hers cocktails and everything is more fun illustrated instead of just printed. Plus, there’s multiple layouts to choose from! Or maybe we’ll just go full custom. Stay tuned!

   Click here for the “Signature Drink” print

2. Custom group illustration

   My sister and I are both getting married this year so I love this as a gift for my parents after! Another great group option is for the wedding party

   Click here for the “Family Group” Illustration

   Click here for the “Wedding Party” Illustration 

3. Live illustration

   Who wouldn't love to leave a wedding with a sketch of their fabulous outfit to remember the evening by? It’s the perfect mix of entertainment and guest favors

   Click here to inquire for live sketching

   Click here for the FAQ blog post on live art

4. Wedding planning stickers

   I actually gifted these to my sister when she began to plan her wedding and she has been loving the organization and decoration! And this isn’t any old sticker set, these are actual customized with your wedding palette, skin tone, dress style and more.

   Click here for “Wedding Planner Stickers”

5. Custom makeup bag

   How cute would it be to show up to our honeymoon with an illustration of our wedding day to keep in my beach bag?? Also makes a great bridesmaid gift my friends would actually use

Click here to add a “Cosmetic Bag” to your cart*

*Please note the listing above does not include the custom illustration

6. Custom Veil

Perks of having a friend with a fashion degree. Sam and I have something special planned for my veil to go with my dream dress and we cannot wait to show it to you after my wedding in November!

Click here to learn more about custom veils and fill out the form

Readers, please tell me how Sam made your wedding perfect and unique! And if she hasn’t made something for you yet, what are you getting?!

Lauren Allen, Author

Lauren is a bridal consultant and self-published author, with a background in celebrity styling and bridal make up artistry. You can find her with an oat milk cappuccino in the morning, and a glass of Cabernet at night, her real passions. Lauren is based in Kansas CIty and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here

When it comes to wedding planning, there are countless decisions to make and I am here to add to that list!

Not only can you make decisions on what to do with your boutique, what gifts you give to your friends and family, what signature drinks to serve and how to decorate your wedding, but then you have the option to customize them! Don’t know where to start? We have made a list for you of just a few of the things that can be customized before, during and after your wedding! 

Turning your bouquet into resin art

• Cup Coasters 

• A block or shape used solely as decoration 

• Framed 

• Trays 

• Wine stoppers 

• Ring holder 

We have a whole blog post on this: click here

Wedding favors

• Custom labeled wine/champagne bottles 

• Cookies decorated with the wedding date/colors/names 

• Koozies 

• Shop from local bakeries and store in personalized bags

• Sweets with custom labels 

• Custom match books

Need more favor inspo? Click here for the blog post

Signature drink presentations

• Custom drink stirrers 

• Custom cups 

• Drink toppers 

• Water bottles with custom labels 

• Napkins with your name/ wedding date/ artwork

Wedding day decor

• Welcome signs 

• Signature drink signage 

• Escort cards/walls/tables

• Table numbers 

• Guests welcome bags 

• Food or drink menu

If you’re looking to inject more personal touches into your big day/weekend, I’m here to help you with all that artwork and leave the stress behind! Send me a message and let’s get started on custom drink signs, guest books, favors, or live illustration entertainment.

How are you going to customize your wedding?

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

If you’ve been a long-time follower of this blog, you know that we’re ALL ABOUT mementos. But, we’re also about repurposing too. I mean, you poured a lot of time, energy, and money into this wedding, you might as well be able to keep something from it besides your new spouse!

You’ve probably already heard about options for preserving your gown, but what about your wedding bouquet? There’s so many creative options for making it a timeless piece so let’s dive in:

1. pressed in a frame

I recently met Hana Willow Design at a wedding show and was immediately obsessed with her work. Did you know you could get your entire bouquet dry pressed into a glass frame to hang on your wall? To me, this is the best keepsake for your beautiful florals. Don’t want a hanging piece? That’s fine too! Artists like HWD can also take small pieces from your bouquet and turn them into pendants

Note: I did not get paid for this plug, I’m just genuinely obsessed with her work!

2. put in resin

There are approximately 1 million different ways to use resin, but here are a few ideas for your florals:

• In a block: a way to keep the flowers 3D and makes for a gorgeous focal decor piece. There are so many size and shape options, you’re bound to find one that will work in your home

• Coasters: get some of your smaller flowers pressed in or do one big flower for the whole piece, it’s totally up to you

• Jewelry: what a beautiful and unique way to keep your special bouquet with you on a regular basis! If you’re someone who prefers something “functional” over decor, this option is perfect for you

3. a 3d frame

If pressing your voluminous bouquet flat is a horrifying concept to you, let me introduce to you a 3D frame. You’re still able to hang it on the wall, but it will have more depth. You can also make it into a table top!

4. Ornaments

There are a couple different ways to go about turning your flowers into an ornament. You can dry them and stuff them into an empty, clear ornament. Or this is another great option for resin if you’d like to press them flat. Just keep in mind that resin objects do get heavy so your ornament will have to stay at a certain size

5. a TERRARIUM

Terrariums aren’t just for living flowers, just dry your bouquet and arrange how you’d like! You could have them in a tall, rounded glass terrarium with a wooden bottom (think ‘Beauty and the Beast’ rose vibes), in an octagon with metal edges, or in an open bowl with rocks or marbles at the bottom. Terrariums are perfect for basically anyone because they come in all shapes and sizes! The options are endless

Florals are a big part of many peoples weddings, so you should be able to do something with them afterwards! The options listed above are all great avenues to explore and be sure to have an idea picked out BEFORE your big day so you can get them over to the right person before the bouquet wilts or browns.

Which preservation option is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Custom client sketches created for Joy Abendmode Bridal

Many designers are seeing that even within their collections, brides all have unique needs with their wedding dresses. Customization options are typically the answer for “this dress is perfect but…” when dress shopping.  We all have parts of our bodies that we would prefer to show off and parts that we would like to not call attention to and your wedding dress should be the perfect balance of your style and comfort. The option of customizing your gown will also allow for you to have a unique twist on the samples’ style. Today we wanted to tell you about some of the standard customization options you will see while wedding dress shopping so keep reading!

Lined vs unlined

Many bodices (and some skirts!) on bridal gowns right now are sheer or unlined. This is to give the illusion of a smaller waistline and to take away some of the bulk that the lining could create. You will most often notice an unlined bodice in an ivory gown as opposed to a dress with a colored underlay like champagne or nude as those colors will blend in with many skin tones

Sparkle tulle vs regular tulle

Adding a light layer of shimmer to gowns through a sparkle tulle within the gown has been popular over the last few years. This can be a love or hate addition to the gown which is why many designers are now making this addition optional in many dresses.

Speaking of tulle, many companies will let you add or remove fabric layers to make the skirt fluffier or more slim. Never hurts to ask right?

Slits

We have been seeing more and more brides ready to show a little leg on their wedding day which means adding slits to all different types of dresses. Being able to have the option of slit or no slit means that you can decide if that is the look for you or not

Note: for more fitted gowns, it’s easier to sew up a slit than it is to create one due to the bit of extra fabric needed. So if you want to make the decision later in alterations, order the gown WITH the slit

adding straps or sleeves

You will see these added to many gowns as brides have over and over again shared a desire to draw attention to her collar bone and away from her arms. One thing to remember is that off the shoulder (or straight) straps can be added to any strapless dress to give it a brand new look. You can even add a cap sleeve or long sleeves to cover your shoulders!

Pro tip: if you want the best of both worlds, make the straps removable and you can take them off when it’s time to party at the reception!

Other popular customizations

• Dress color (most are offered in at least 2 different colorways)

• Raising or lowering of the neckline

• Extending the train

• Adding or removing buttons

• Adding or removing lace/beading

• Adding an overskirt

  Pro tip: it’s not necessarily a customization, but if you’re buying a lace gown and want extra lace for your veil, flower girl dress, or to make sleeves/bolero, be sure to ask how much the designer will sell it by the yard!

At the end of the day, what can or cannot be customized will vary depending on the company. However, your bridal stylist will be an expert in the changes (or there’s always a way for them to inquire) that are possible with the designers you are trying on, so make sure to ask a lot of questions! You might be surprised what can be done.

Have you gone dress shopping yet? What kind of custom changes are you interested in making for your dream dress?

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

We all know that a man’s best friend is his dog. But a couple with a fur baby?! Nothing can come in between that family! Sometimes that connection can be lost while planning a wedding, but we want to make sure that you can include all of your important family members on your big day whether it’s in person or in the details. So let’s get into a few ways you can do that:

Give them a job

1. Have your four legged baby be the ring bearer by tying the rings to his collar and let them him strut down the aisle. 

2. Include your pet in the wedding party and have her stand with one of them. 

3. Any sort of meet and greet with the guests is always appreciated (and if it’s not you have invited the wrong people….kidding but not). And just remember that’s it’s OK to hire a dog sitter for the day so your pup can come and go as needed for the day to make sure that everyone is happy!

Stationary & decor

1. Have an illustration of your furry friend made and include that in your invites, on custom napkins, or topping of drink stirrers. Etsy is a great place to find all of these customization options!

2. Include your pet in the cake topper either alone or showing off the whole family!

3. Have your live painter paint your pet into the day whether or not they could attend the actual wedding

The life of the party

1. We all know that you have canceled or avoided plans with people so you could spend the night at home with your pets at least once, so make sure they are unmissable at the reception by naming your signature cocktails after your fur babies. 

2. Take over the dance floor with a large cutout of your pet to pass around the dance floor. Or include a cutout of them as a photo booth prop!

You also can’t forget the endless options of framed photos of your pets at the wedding as table numbers or just scattered around the venue. No matter what you do, we want to know how you have included your pets into your wedding day!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

The dress (or jumpsuit), jewelry, your mom's veil that you've loved for forever…and don't forget shoes! Styling your wedding look, or for the other wedding events, can be overwhelming (hello wedding planning) and sometimes you need a starting point. Lucky for you we have professional fashion stylist, Yoko, here giving all the tips to help make your special outfit as unique as you are.

How to start building your wedding look:

Your main outfit is #1 (dress, jumpsuit, etc). After that should be the veil (if you’re choosing to wear one) as the dress and veil go hand in hand. Determining if you’re wearing a veil will help you in deciding your other accessories. As a general rule of thumb, the jewelry style should match the dress. Example: if your dress has pearls on it and no crystals/rhinestones, then skip the diamond earrings and go for pearls or simple metal pieces

Speaking of veils:

If you choose to have a veil or cape, think of it as an enhancement to your style on the big day. This means picking something that compliments the vibes of your dress without overshadowing it. Also, consider your hair style since that will determine where the veil will start or what part of your cape/dress will show (it would be a shame for a gorgeous, detailed back to be covered by long hair). Try on as many different veil styles as you need to see what works best with your dress (pro tip: if you’re choose a long veil, make sure it extends past the train of the dress). Cape vs veil? Definitely pick one or the other, wearing both doesn’t work well together.

Get personal with your style:

It’s always fun to add your own personal flare on your special day (I mean, this day is about you). This can come in many forms but a few examples would be hats, statement jewelry, choosing a jumpsuit or mini dress instead of the traditionally long dress, fun sunglasses, or going for sneakers or flats instead of heels. And feel free to custom these things too, like getting your name down the back of the shoes, initials as earrings, or a quote across the veil (Hailey Bieber style).

Peep the examples below!

Maybe you don’t want ALL the things:

And that’s ok! If you get easily overwhelmed by accessories (or just don’t like them in general) the best thing to do is base your pieces around the dress. Most importantly, the neckline. Understanding the style of the dress is really helpful and can be a natural guide to balancing out your look to prevent everything from clashing. The diagram below is my favorite!

For the minimalists:

It’s all about the details. Choose shapes and clean lines that are flattering and make you feel your best. It’s fine to have some embellishments that you want to stand out! Perhaps it’s a bow detail, a veil, or a cape. For accessories and shoes, pick something classy and comfortable since you’re going to have everything on for the better portion of the day! The shoes can also be your statement piece, but you don’t have to go too minimal. Have some fun! If something like a tiara or headband is something you’ve always admired, go for it

For the maximalists:

For the bride that’s more “extra”, the key is figuring out which piece is the one thing you want to stand out most, then build everything else around that. For example the dress: is it the silhouette? The sparkle? The intricate beading or lace? Maybe you want a clean dress and the accessories are the statement. It could be anything, but make sure there’s a good balance

If you’re wearing an heirloom piece:

Find ways to incorporate the piece into your wedding look (instead of building everything else around that piece) works best for many people. Especially as heirlooms can come in so many different forms. If it’s a gown you can have it restored or use just a few pieces from it. If it’s jewelry you can choose a gown with a neckline that will make it stand out properly, or you can decorate your bouquet with it! If it’s a shawl/shrug, wearing a more simple gown would compliment it beautifully. Another idea is to incorporate the heirloom into one of your other looks like for the rehearsal dinner or day-after brunch

Yes, you can have a stylist on your wedding day:

You can have a stylist help you from the start of the process, all the way to the big day. They will accompany you to every wedding salon appointment and help select the perfect gown and accessories. They’ll can be with you on the day of too, or hire them for just the wedding day only. A day-of stylist will be there to steam, bustle, and save the day from any fashion emergencies (believe me it happens). Similar to a stylist at a photoshoot, we’ll be there to assist through out photo time, holding your train so it stays in pristine condition for the ceremony, and ensuring you look picture perfect. You should feel like you’re being taken care of and catered to for the entire day

Yoko has worked as a stylist on some amazing campaigns with big fashion brands, celebrities, and editorial shoots. Her content is definitely something that will liven up your social media feed so be sure to follow her on Instagram @iamyoko.j and click here to check out her website.

Yoko J, Author

Yoko is a fashion stylist born and raised in Philadelphia, but you might as well call her a New Yorker. Starting out in the industry as a model, she realized she loved styling more. When she’s not running from photoshoot to photoshoot, you’ll catch her in a pair of converses binge watching anime with her cat, Mina.

Bridal veils have been around longer than any of our family wedding albums that are currently collecting dust at your grandparent’s house. There is just something about adding a veil to a white dress that SCREAMS wedding. What’s not talked about enough though is the brides that want a more subtle nod to the tradition. As wedding professionals who have worked with many brides before, we have heard time and time again that a veil just doesn’t feel right when tried on with the dress (or they just don’t like the concept all together). Today we wanted to share some alternative options to a veil that will still make a statement without necessarily blindly following tradition.

A Cape

Capes come in many shapes and sizes these days. The traditional twist to this is that almost all capes are made of tulle just like veils! Some capes clasp in front of you and cover your shoulders, some attach to the straps of your dress like wings. The details options on your bridal cape are endless, you can stick to plain tulle, or add anything from sparkles to lace to feathers

Caesar Style Veil

This is technically still a veil, but with a twist! Instead of one comb at the base of your head, this has two separate combs, but with tulle draping between the combs and down your back

Flower Crown

If you are a nature/BOHO type of human a flower crown is for you! Often times your florist can actually create this for you using the actual florals from your wedding. This is a great way to incorporate your wedding colors into your bridal look. You also have control over how dramatic this look becomes with how voluminous the crown is (and if you have long hair you can weave a few flowers in!)

A Birdcage

A birdcage veil is the perfect way to add a vintage spin to your wedding day. The veils came into popularity during war times in the 40’s due to a lack of fabric, but is a distinguished style from the Old Hollywood era which is where you will find the inspiration all over Pinterest!

A Statement Bow

Bows in all forms are probably the hottest bridal trend right now. Many brides have opted to let a bow be their hair piece rather than a veil that covers the back of the dress. Many are still tulle, but others are covered in pearls or made out of other unique fabrics.

Tulle Hair Scarf

This inspiration feels very much like a beach wedding or a romantic Greece getaway. Just like you would use any silk scarf to hold back your hair and add the finishing touches to an outfit, a tulle hair scarf will work just the same! And the best part is that this could easily be a DIY project with a few strips of ivory tulle

Are you a veil person, or will you be incorporating one of these veil alternatives into your wedding look? If you do, we want to see your pictures so tag us on IG! Reminder: SamiaLynn does offer a custom design service. Whether you’re looking for a cape or your version of a veil, this can be made for you.

Click here to learn more!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Photo by Melissa Stimpson Photography

Wedding entertainment can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to make it and can come in many forms. For most people, they want their big day to have unique elements that their guests will enjoy. I mean, the whole purpose of booking entertainment is for your guests right?

My particular service is illustrating live and I’ve been doing it since 2018. I’ve had couples reach out with many of the same questions about hiring a live artist so I’m going to answer them all below!

1. What is live illustration?

A live illustrator or artist is someone that comes to the venue itself and creates artwork on the spot. Depending on the artist, this can come in many mediums such as painting, charcoal, markers, or more and can be done on canvas, paper, or products. Everyone’s process is different so be sure to do a deep dive into your artist’s work and offering before putting down a deposit.

2. Who is the illustration made for?

There’s 2 different options: individual sketches for the guests, or one big illustration for the couple/client. Guest illustrations are usually done quickly within minutes (varies from artist to artist) while one big piece is done for the couple to take home at the end of the night, or shipped to them post-wedding. If this is a corporate event, some clients like to have a full scene done to commemorate a venue or special date.

Note: some couples choose to have both! A piece for them and sketches for their guests. This option, of course, requires 2 artists.

3. What’s the difference between digital and paper?

Paper sketches are exactly how it sounds: illustrations drawn on paper with markers/pens/pencils (or whatever medium that artist uses). I use 5x7” (13 x 18 cm) paper and put them in plastic protectors. Digital sketches are still hand-drawn, but emailed to guests the next day. I also provide a link for guests to be able to purchase a physical print to be shipped to them if they’d like to order one. I can sketch at the same pace for both mediums, so the preference is really up to you and what will work best for your event!

4. What event can I hire an artist for?

If you don’t choose to have an artist at your wedding, most couples have a few events aside from the big day. This includes bridal showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinner or welcome party, bachelor/bachelorettes, and day after brunch. All of these are a perfect opportunity to wow your guests with a fun and unique favor for them to remember your special day or weekend.

5. How does it all work?

I can’t speak for other artists, but this is how I do it:

• I arrive at the venue 30 minutes prior to set up

• When someone wants an illustration, I have them put their name/email on a sign up sheet

• After they sign in, I take a photo of them (so they don’t have to wait around and can enjoy the event)

• I complete the sketch in the order on that’s on the list

• They come pick it up at the end of the night, or if the sketches are digital I will email it to them the next day

• If the couple/client chooses overtime, the guest will receive it after the event

6. You mentioned overtime, what is that?

I can only sketch so many people in the designated hours, so once my sign up sheet is full, I will cut the list off for the rest of the time that I’m there. Some quotes may include a limited amount of overtime. If the couple decides they’d like more guests to get drawn, they can pay a per sketch rate or have me stay additional hours. I will complete overtime illustrations after the wedding and ship it to the couple within a week or two from the invoice payment (US addresses only). All sketches will have guests’ names on them for reference.

Pro tip: put the overtime sketches in your thank you notes for distribution!

7. how long does this all take?

For individual guest sketches, most artists work at relatively the same pace which is 5-15 minutes per illustration depending on how many people are in the sketch and how intense their outfits are to draw. This works out to around 6-8 people (or 3-4 couples) per hour. For this reason, I do recommend hiring more than 1 illustrator if you’re having over 75 guests.

For a full scene illustration, it usually takes a minimum of 5-6 hours or more depending on the size and intensity. Some artists will finish by the end of the night and some will complete it post-wedding and work off a photo.

Hiring a live illustrator is the perfect way to memorialize your special day. Regardless if they’re sketching individuals or a big scene, your guests will love to watch the process and remember it for years to come. If you choose to have guest sketches, they’ll be leaving the wedding with a favor that they truly love, as it was made JUST for them. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Interested in live illustration? Click here to fill out the form and I can send you a quote! I will travel to wherever your event is (I love to travel!), however, please be aware that anywhere outside of Boston, DC, and NYC will have additional travel fees.

Check out these live illustration reviews!

“Samantha is an incredibly talented artist! I was lucky enough to have Samantha at my wedding in Red Bank, NJ for live illustration for my guests and she was fantastic! She has great communication throughout the planning process and even found another amazing sketch artist to join her for my wedding to accommodate the amount of guests I had. She is easy to work with and open to all of my ideas, even sketching the first dances! My guests have not stopped texting me raving about Sam and how much they love their sketches. This was the perfect addition to my wedding, to give my guests not only a memorable experience but a custom illustration that will last a lifetime!”

- Sarah, 2023 Bride in NJ

“Samantha was super friendly and great to work with for our Bloomingdale's Spring Fashion event. She was efficient in creating sketch illustrations for our guests! During the planning process, she was quick to respond and an overall great vendor to add to our list. Looking forward to doing more events with her in the future!”

- Karen, Event Coordinator for Bloomingdale’s in VA

“Samantha is nothing less than amazing!! She was one of our guest portrait artists at my wedding in 2023, and I have only positive things to say! She is so warm and friendly and her portraits all came out perfectly. We used these portraits as our guest favors and our guests couldn’t stop talking about how cool they were and loved their photos! 100/10 would recommend Samantha for any event or portrait you’re looking to get!”

- Kate, 2023 Bride in GA

“Samantha was great to work with while planning to bring her talents to our wedding day. At the wedding, guests raved about her beautiful sketches! She was a hit and we are so honored to have had her at our big day!”

- Ashley & Bob, 2023 couple in PA

“I cannot say enough good things about Samantha, or recommend her highly enough for any event! We were looking for an artiist to do live sketching at our wedding, and we found her website and impressive work online. Samantha was very responsive and so easy to work with before the big day, and on the day itself, she was truly one of the hardest working people at our wedding! Our guests raved about how they loved getting her sketches of them, and Samantha did a sketch of my husband and I as well, which we are currently having framed! Her sketches are incredible and were such a unique and special part of our day. She's the best!”

- Andrea, 2021 Bride in NY

“I had her at an event over Valentines day weekend and she was FANTASTIC. Rave reviews by all. She was the hit of the event. Thank you!”

- Brian Curry, event in DC

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

As someone with a giant sweet tooth, I was so excited to have Jen Essex guest write a blog post. Jen is the owner and head baker at Ruby Jean Patisserie, a Denver, CO bakery that specializes in buttercream cakes and confections that combine premium quality ingredients and flavors with modern style. Not to mention that all of her creations are downright gorgeous! So I asked Jen how couples are supposed to pick a flavor or design for their wedding? Check out her answers below:

You’ve said yes to your favorite person, the perfect venue and all the lovely details; now it's time to create your dessert experience. Your cake and desserts should be a reflection of you as a couple and go along with the entire vision of your wedding. 

How we start the process

When working with clients, we really like to dive deep into what your food love language is; helping us understand your likes and dislikes sets up our tastings for success. Questions we ask our clients are:

• What are your favorite flavors?

• Favorite travel destinations?

• What's your favorite ice cream?

  All of these help us create a unique dessert spread for you and your loved ones. 

Where we get our inspiration

We love to pull inspiration from all the sources. We will search your Pinterest board, your invitations, the dress, the flowers, the linens and create something unique for you and your wedding.

Examples of how we can incorporate you as a couple and details from your big day into your dessert experience…

• Maybe you are traveling to Italy on your honeymoon, so Tiramisu is a perfect thing to have on your dessert bar

• You're getting married in the mountains and evergreen is on your color palette, so we incorporate little touches of pine on your wedding cake

• The tables are the most romantic blush you’ve ever seen, so your entire cake is blush and adorned with the same flowers that are in your bouquet and centerpieces

• You fell in love with French Macarons on your first date, so gifting your guests French Macarons is the perfect little thank you. 

Same thing goes for your desserts and cake as the entire wedding, this is your day; choose things that you love. Our goal is to WOW your guests and make your events memorable.

Want to get in touch? Visit us on our website at rubyjeanpatisserie.com and be sure to follow on Instagram @rubyjeanpatisserie to see all our amazing custom creations!

Edited April 2023: Jen is no longer in the baked goods business, but she’s still a wealth of knowledge if you need any advice!

Jen Essex, Author

Jen is a classically trained pastry chef with a passion for all things sweet. When she is not baking you can find her chasing around her 13-year-old son, Liam and hanging with her husband Brandon and their two rescue puppies Olive and Teddy

Let me preface this post with one important caveat: I LOVE WINTER! Or rather, I love all of the snowy outdoor, light-filled indoor images and cozy, wrapped-up-in-your-favorite-blanket-by-the-fire feelings that winter gives me. Plus, the best holidays of the year happen during the winter months. Come on, Christmas, New Years, Mardis Gras, Valentine's Day?! All the best excuses to go over the top in decor, outfits, and parties! Which is why winter weddings are some of my absolute favorites to plan. In fact, you may see some of the below suggestions appear in my own winter wedding details in January 2023.

Below, you'll find my top five suggestions for unique winter wedding details. Each of them is tied back to a sense of wonder and love that winter brings to me and can be easily tweaked to be incorporated into your own wedding plans.

#1 Use Texture Everywhere!

Winter weddings are the perfect opportunity to use texture throughout your event design. Here are some ways to incorporate texture in your design:

• Linens - Think cozy, luxurious fabrics like velvet, brocade, and satin

• Florals - Mix dried or non-floral elements like pampas grass, feathers, or lotus pods, in with traditional florals like red roses and nontraditional florals like amaranths, scabiosa, or dahlia

• Tablescapes - Rent unique chargers, plates, and glasses that are house-made or antique

#2 Incorporate Color and Metallics

Even if you want a traditional winter wedding theme of Christmas trees and cedar boughs, still incorporate various shades of green with pops of red, gold, and silver in your color palette. Weddings have no color rules, but winter weddings especially have no color rules! You want Mardi Gras colors? Go for it! You want a dark, moody landscape? You do you, boo! You want a bright white with silver to reflect the snow? You shine, winter queen! Just make sure to make it tasteful.

• Linens - This is a great area to bring color to your event design! Can't afford to rent all those tablecloths? Think about adding a pop of color in your napkins or a runner.

• Florals - Some of my favorite florals that come in lots of different colors are amaranthus, English primrose, and dahlias.

• Tablescapes - Think about adding fun chargers to your tablescapes. These can either be rented or purchased fairly cheaply and are found in so many different patterns, shapes, and colors.

• Lighting - Using uplighting around your dance floor in a variety or colors or adding some metallic candelabras to your tables are a great way to add color and shine to your design. Check with your DJ if they provide uplighting, and candelabras can often be found at thrift stores for very cheap, though they may need a little elbow grease to make them shine again.

#3 Mulling Spices as Favors

Who doesn't love a good mug of mulled cider or wine? They smell and taste wonderful! Bonus: These packages are TSA-approved (for the out of towners) and easily DIY-ed. Add a personal touch with a custom sticker to close the bag or a recipe from the couple.

#4 Candle Place Cards

I recently saw a couple use votives with lit tea lights inside as place cards on the tables for their guests. The votives had each guest's name calligraphed on it, and a meal icon sticker was added to the bottom corner to help the servers, but was easily peeled off after. The candles added light, warmth, and ambiance to the tablescape while serving double duty as a place card and a favor! There are many options on Etsy, or you could DIY with a Cricut and your own votives.

#5 Serve a Retro Warm Winter Beverage and Holiday Dessert!

During cocktail hour (and only during cocktail hour because later people will be sweaty from dancing) serve your favorite warm winter beverage. Some of my favorites, including retro throwbacks, are listed below. Also, when it comes to dessert, fewer and fewer couples are incorporating a traditional wedding cake. Think about what your favorite holiday desserts are, and serve those on a dessert bar instead! See below for some of my favorite ideas.

• Warm Winter Beverages:

  • Hot Toddy: Whiskey, honey, lemon, and cinnamon

  • Tom & Jerry: A creamy, sugary rum-based concoction

  • Irish or Kentucky Coffee: Coffee with whiskey or bourbon

  • Cranberry Gin Fizz: Cranberries and gin

  • Classic Eggnog: Creamy, cinnamony, whiskey goodness

  • Spiked Cider: Cider with bourbon, whiskey, or scotch

  • Wassail: Citrusy, cinnamon, vodka deliciousness
    

• Holiday Desserts:

  • Peppermint Bark

  • Gingersnaps

  • Snickerdoodles

  • Custom decorated sugar cookies!

  • Fudge

When advising clients on their winter wedding plans, especially when it comes to the design details, I ask them to close their eyes - yes, just do it - and think of some of their favorite winter or holiday memories. What colors were there? Can you instantly smell or taste a particular scent or delicious dish? What was the light like - bright and reflective or dusky and candlelit? What traditions do you have in the winter - sledding, ice skating, staying warm inside with a book or movie? Then we take those memories and incorporate those details into their wedding day. Each of them is tied back to a sense of wonder and love that winter brings to me and can be easily tweaked to be incorporated into your own wedding plans.

For more tips, inspiration, and to learn more about All the Dainty Details, visit us at www.allthedaintydetails.com and be sure to follow on Instagram @allthedaintydetails.

Happy winter planning!

Leigh Maltby, Author

Leigh is the Associate Wedding Planner for All the Dainty Details in the DC area. She’s officially been in the wedding industry since 2017, but caught the event planner bug as a child. Between growing up in a military family that instilled a sense of service and a passion for creativity, Leigh is here to make all your wedding dreams come to life