There are so many opinions expressed when a couple decides to have a court house wedding;

“ Is she pregnant?”

“Well it should be, this is her second marriage you know”

“ Oh, they must not be able to afford a big wedding”

“ Good for them, save the money and buy a house”

“ Aww they must be really in love”

“ How Bold!”

Hi! I’m Sadia, fashion and bridal stylist. Whatever your reason is to have a court house wedding, you do not have to compromise your style. As a professional stylist, I have a few tips about choosing your look:

1. Scout your location

First thing you should do is make a trip to your local City Hall or County Clerks office, whatever they call it in your city, and scout the lobby area and the surrounding areas of the building for photo opportunities. This can help determine the look you might go for. If neither area is great for photos, choose a photo location (your photographer can also help) and this will give you more freedom to choose your look. Now you can determine which category you fall into and pairs well with your proposed photo location: Traditional, Boho, Romantic, Modern, Edgy or Glam.

2. pick your outfit length

Next decide what length do you want your dress to be: short, midi or long? Or do you want to wear a jumpsuit or suit? Are you keeping with tradition and wearing white or opting for a color? So many things to decide! A detail that is usually missed is what is the style of your future spouse? The goal is to blend your styles together to create a magical look for the day. I always say, your partner is your best accessory! Make sure they compliment your look.

3. Decide on budget

We are saving money on the ceremony, yes? So, what are you spending on your clothes, shoes, accessories and bouquet? Are we on a budget or going all out?

4. be true to you

Finally, always stay true to your style, who you are daily. This is not the time to be someone else and wear a “costume”. Your wedding look should be a direct reflection of who you already are! The photos will last forever so make sure you will recognize yourself.

I’ve gathered a few images that represent the styles I’ve mentioned above. Where does your style fall or is it a combination?

Traditional: Satin, classic timeless, feminine

Boho: lace, slip dress, effortless

Romantic: Tulle, lace, ballgown, bows

Modern: Sleek, sophisticated, structured

Edgy: color, unconventional, pant suits, tuxedos, jumpsuits, non-traditional

Glam: Shiny, feathers, sexy silhouettes, drama, beading

If you ever need help shopping for your wedding day look or simply want to have a wedding gown expert be with you on your wedding day (Day of Wedding service) stop by my website www.idoidoidony.com and I’d be happy to speak with you! Be sure to follow me on Instagram @sadiaseymour.

Happy Planning!

Sadia Seymour, Author

Since she was 8 years old, Sadia had the fashion bug. While also a stylist, she is currently an instructor at FIT (her alma mater). The New York native empowers students to follow their fashion dreams and you’ll probably find her busting out her dance moves backstage

While many bridal store owners are flying back from Barcelona right now, we’re still reeling from the fashion at NY Bridal Market. 

If you don’t know what that is, it is a week (in April and October) where many bridal designers that are based in NYC and the surrounding areas show their newest collections to their retailers. Store owners/buyers fly in from around the country to order the samples that they will have available in store for brides to try on. There are other markets similar to this in Chicago, Los Angeles, and as I’ve already mentioned, Barcelona.  These events range from a room with racks of dresses all the way to a glamorous fashion show similar to fashion week. 

Every season we like to track the most common trends to see how real brides wear the trends in the next year. This year there were a few very distinct details that we have to tell you about!

1. Color

   We saw so many colors this season! Black wedding dresses are in the top of google searches as always, but this season many designers played with pastels and water colors (Ines Di Santo was one of my favs!)

2. Short dresses

A big conversation right now is second dresses, particularly short dresses. Many designers are coming out with entirely new collections of short dresses for the party look, but many others have included a shorty or 2 into their standard collections (hello, elopement people!). My favorite way to see this done is with a closed overskirt so you truly get 2 looks in 1! This is typically the most cost effective way to get a second dress as well, but short dresses are also popular for other wedding events like the engagement party, rehearsal dinner/welcome party, or day after brunch

3. Drop waist

In the same way jeans are dropping low in street style again, so are the waistlines of bridal gowns! You’ll see this in two different ways, a basque waist which is a v shape (think “Bridgerton”), or a standard straight drop waist. We are seeing these in every variety from just slightly lower than the natural waist to so low you’re concerned about what could be seen A La Lady Gaga at the Academy Awards this year

4. Sheer

Many brides have become more and more concerned with the weight of their wedding dresses. Personally, I blame Covid because we wore athleisure for over a year and now many of us still work from home at least a few days a week in casual clothes. The heaviest part of a dress can typically be the lining. Removing the lining not only takes physical weight away from the dress, but also visual weight. Being able to see slightly through the dress gives an airy look like the dream scenes from a movie

Which of these trends would you consider including in your wedding look? Or DM me on Instagram and I’d love to discuss!

PS- Have you seen the sketches I did of Berta’s new collection this season? They’ve been featured in the online magazine Wedding Day Match! Click here to check it out

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Want to know a trend that’s been gaining traction for quite a few years now?

Eloping.

It used to be viewed as “defiant”, done on a whim, or for those that don’t care about a big party. Well, that last one might be true for some couples, but if the pandemic taught us anything about weddings; it’s that some couples actually got to live out their intimate wedding or elopement dreams without being judged (FINALLY).

What is NOT true about all elopements, is that it doesn’t take planning. Some actually want to plan out their special day like any other couple: booking a photographer, scouting locations, and ordering your dream outfit months in advance. But, where do you start?

I thought the perfect person to ask would be Carrie Rogers of Carrie Rogers Photography, an incredible photographer who specializes in elopements and loves to travel with her couples wherever they want to be married. So here are some things you and your fiance should go over while planning:

let’s start with the legalities

Remember, legally binding yourself to another human is a requirement to being actually married. The “wedding” is the fun part. So, like any marriage, you need a license. These requirements vary by city, state, and country so be sure to check into this thoroughly and complete proper paperwork before the day of. Aside from any documents that might be required, you’ll also probably need:

• An officiant to conduct the ceremony

• A witness (or two) to sign the license

  Another option is to get legally married at a courthouse before jetting off to your elopement location. This is a much easier option for those that want to get married internationally. Even couples that have big weddings do this as well just for the convenience.

  Carrie says, “Even if your ceremony isn’t on the same day that you sign your license, it doesn’t mean your elopement is any less special or real. Your wedding day is more about committing yourselves to each other than signing a piece of paper!”

you need a budget

Or maybe you’re one of those lucky people that don’t and I love that for you. However, for the other 99%, do your research into the things & experiences you want and the places you’d like to go, how much they cost, and carve out a rough budget based on your priorities and what’s feasible for you both. Don’t rule something out just because you think it will be out of reach, get quotes first! Here are the major money points to consider:

• Flights, rental car / gas

• Accommodations

• Attire + Rings

• Location permits and fees

• Marriage license

• Vendors (Photographer, Videographer, Florist, Hair, Makeup, etc.)

• Food / Drinks

• Activities and Excursions

  Carrie says, “You’ll be surprised at just how amazing your day can be, while still spending less money than you would on planning a bigger, more traditional wedding. This is your WEDDING DAY. It deserves to be everything you want.”

imagine your dream day

When it comes down to it, you want your wedding day to be special and the whole point of an elopement is for it to be an intimate moment between the two of you (and possibly a few close loved ones), so why not make it exactly how you dreamed. Where do you feel your best and your happiest? What do you and your fiance like to do together or go together? Do what feels right for YOU.

Note: Want more tips on how to include your family/friends in your elopement? Carrie has a blog post on that right here.

Carrie says, “One of the biggest steps to planning your elopement is having a vision for the day that feels authentic and meaningful to you. Take this vision with you as you finalize all the details of the day.”

Choosing your location

Since elopement is all about NOT having the pomp and circumstance of a big wedding (which, TBH, is centered around guest experience), location and experience are the main parts of your big day. Do you want to go back to a place that is special or sentimental to you and your partner? Do you want to discover somewhere new together? Wherever you decide, make sure it’s your happy place. Here’s what to consider:

• Scenery: where are you? At the beach? On a snowy mountaintop? Hiking through fall foliage or red rocks?

• Accessibility: How strenuous do you want your wedding day to be? i.e. hiking up a mountain in a tight mermaid dress. If you’re inviting guests who might have mobility issues or are older, take into consideration when researching locations

• Privacy: if you’re outdoors and in a public space (hiking trails, parks, landmarks, etc), your intimate moments might be surrounded by strangers. This can be distracting and chip away at the romantic idea you had in your head. Carrie recommends choosing a weekday or sunrise time to avoid crowds and allow yourselves to have a more private ceremony.

• Weather and time of year: regardless of where your location is, seasons should always be a consideration. Even warm weather places have rainy or stormy seasons. Example: desert places are best during the spring and fall to avoid extreme temperatures. Definitely be a little flexible on the date so you can get your most ideal weather scenario out of the location you pick.

Carrie says, “Your wedding day will feel like a “full circle” moment as you add a significant milestone to all the other special memories of that place. On the other hand, choosing a location you’ve never been to before means your wedding day memories will forever include experiencing that place together for the first time. This adds a new element of excitement to planning that really can’t be beat!”

picking a date

Speaking of weather, this is a major factor when picking your elopement date (see case in point above). If you’d rather get married on a date that has more significance to you, pick your location around that instead! But if you want your wedding on February 14th and you hate the cold, I would not suggest picking the Northeast of the US as your wedding location.

Carrie says, “Make sure you consider all the other factors that go into your day when making your final decisions.”

the big one: vendors

Obviously, this will look different for everyone depending on how you want your day, but here are a few vendors that most couples will need to hire:

• A photographer: just as with any other niche market, picking someone who specializes in elopements is ideal. Ultimately, you want someone that you get along with, who makes you feel comfortable, and that you love their editing style. The whole point in hiring a professional photographer is to get your most special moments captured while you look and feel your best, so make sure they’re the right one for you. Remember, they’ll be with you ALL day (or more).

• An officiant: We discussed this in the “legalities” section at the beginning, but if you want to get legally married on your wedding day you need to hire an officiant. Otherwise, you’ll need to get legally married prior and then whoever you’d like can conduct the ceremony. Fun fact: Carrie is ordained and has officiated her couples weddings before!

• Hair and make up artist(s): It’s your special day, why not look your absolute best? You deserve it. We have a whole blog post on hiring for hair and make up, click here to read.

• Florist: Again, this will depend on what kind of day you’re planning, but having a bouquet is always lovely!

Carrie says, “I encourage you to think first about what your DREAM elopement day looks like, estimate the costs of that (reach out to vendors for quotes), and THEN compare that to your financial situation. If you need to adjust your priorities, that’s okay!”

Elopement attire

This one’s quick, but still wanted to emphasize that you should always pick your dream outfit! Just because you’re not getting married in front of 200 people or have a traditional venue, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to get married in something special. This is your wedding, wear what makes you feel your best and brings out your most confident self. It’s also important to note that you should consider location and weather when packing for before and after the ceremony: proper hiking boots, rain jacket, extra clothes, etc.

Carrie says, “These little details are pretty easy to take care of towards the end of your planning, but don’t forget about them.”

As we always say on this blog, you do you, boo. Your day is exactly that…YOUR DAY. I think one of the reasons I was so excited to do a blog post about Carrie is because of how much she encourages couples to do what’s best for them and makes them shine in the most authentic way. She says, “This is the day you and your partner commit yourselves to each other and you’ll look back on it for the rest of your lives! There are no rules here, so have fun with your planning and make your day exactly what you want it to be.”

Carrie is originally from a small town in Missouri, but is now based in Southern California where she lives with her partner and two adorable kitties. She frequently travels all over CA, as well as the Western USA and internationally, to capture those special and intimate moments for her clients. I highly suggest you follow her on Instagram @carrierogersphotography and grace your feed with all her gorgeous photos. If you’re looking to learn more or book her for a session, check out her website, www.carrierogersphotography.com.

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.

I’m probably one of the few people who look forward to destination weddings. I love to travel and usually just see it as an opportunity to go somewhere new and appreciate that I have friends who think the same way.

For the couple though, planning a wedding IN town can already be overwhelming so many don’t even want to consider elsewhere. Well, friends, it doesn’t have to be that way as long as you’re organized. First of all, you should be hiring a planner (we talked about that in a previous post) but I’ve also recruited destination planner Gabby Pinkerton from ‘Cause We Can Events to give ya’ll a few things to consider when you’re starting to plan your destination wedding:

1. Marriage licenses

Getting a marriage license in another country can be really hard! I always recommend having a legal ceremony back home and doing a fun ceremony abroad. If you don't want to tell your friends and family that it's not actually the "real ceremony" have your officiant bring their own made up marriage certificate. No one needs to know!

2. Plan for wrinkled clothing

I like to bring a portable steamer to help steam the wrinkles out of your dress, tux, jumpsuit, you name it!

3. Tipping protocol

Not every country tips (and some even consider it an insult)! Read up on local and cultural best practices when it comes to tipping your vendors. This also applies in the general sense that your country of choice should match your personal preferences

4. Sim cards and cell phone plans

Your current cell phone plan may not work abroad. Be sure to call your provider before leaving to choose a plan that works best for you for contacting your vendors and keeping guests in the loop. I also like to download WhatsApp so that I can "text" vendors over wifi instead of through my phone provider. It's free!

Gabby and her team are based in Nashville and are a full service wedding planning company. But they’re more than that, they’re here to make your adventurous wedding dreams come true. They keep it personal and unique to you and your S.O. (there’s a reason I like them so much!) so check them out at www.causewecanevents.com and view all the gorgeous photos on Instagram @causewecanevents.

Happy Planning!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Just about a year ago we wrote our first blog post about micro weddings. Before that we had never put the two ideas together besides just for elopements. Now that traditional weddings are a possibility in the near future, many brides are still opting for a micro size because they realize it fits their needs more than a large wedding. If you’re on the fence about which direction to go, we wanted to share some of the perks of doing a micro wedding that can’t happen for a traditional wedding (hint: it revolves around quality)

1. You can actually spend time with all of your guests

If you have 250 people at your wedding you will either spend the entire reception saying hi to every person for one minute at a time, or you will eat, drink, and party, and not see anyone at all 

2. Better food!

If you’re only feeding 20 people instead of 200 it’s easier and more cost effective to get a better quality meal for you and your guests. Plus you have more of an opportunity to get the exact menu you want

3. Go family style

If you only have a handful of people you can have one long family style table rather than many smaller tables. This will mean one set of (quality) decorations where you can go all out rather than distributing decor throughout a huge venue

4. The venue can be all you

You are no longer stuck with a hotel ball room or reception hall with bad carpet and white walls. With a smaller guest count you can take them to your favorite restaurant or rooftop, museum, or cute garden in your neighborhood. Let your personality shine through from the moment your guests step foot into your ceremony and reception 

5. Create an experience, not just an oversized dinner and ceremony service

If you are working around less people, you can make your wedding into a full weekend experience if you want to (hello destination locations!). Cancel any of the old school traditions that don’t feel like you and your partner, and create the wedding that represents your future marriage to its fullest.  This could be through elaborate table cards or escort walls, personalized gifts, or entertainment!

All any of this really means is that you can control any part of your wedding to be exactly what you want, not just what is expected of you. Also, think of all of the money you would save overall with a micro wedding!! That is a huge perk, but we wanted to focus on the more fun side of wedding planning. If you are doing a micro wedding, what was the most exciting part of planning it? Let us 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. Get enough wine in her and she will tell you about her perfectly planned wedding. Just promise not to ask about the groom, that’s one detail she’s still working on. Lauren is based in Kansas CIty and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here

As we are all slowly coming out from a lock down with travel vouchers just sitting in our email ready to be put to use, we thought we would share some destination wedding inspiration today. In our last post we shared ideas for micro weddings since traditional weddings as we knew them are becoming a thing of the past, but why not take advantage of the smaller guest count and get out of your backyard? Unfortunately, some of these locations may not be accessible to us Americans for a while, but all the more time for planning! 

When planning a destination wedding we recommend having a go-to person with his/her feet on the ground that is able to speak directly to all of the vendors you will be working with for your wedding. This will probably be a wedding planner, or close family member that lives close to the venue. 

We have put together our dream destinations depending on what your preferred background may be for your nuptials. 

Mountain Views:

Washington state - We heard a rumor that you can get married in a tree house!

Tropical Paradise:

The Caribbean - Make life easy for your guests and you by planning the whole wedding weekend in a resort which will help the celebration last for days rather than just one night.

Mellow Mediterranean:

Amalfi Coast, Italy - I made the mistake of missing this stop on my last Italy trip, so now you need to go and send pictures!

Countryside Romance:

Ireland - This is where the real party is, a Guinness (or whiskey) toast for everyone! 

Exotic Adventures:

Bali - Culture, Beauty, and villas for days!

Change it up:

Pick a location where your family is from and explore the area! This could be domestic or international, the goal is just to get out of your neighborhood. 

*Don’t forget to get the paperwork side of wedding planning done before you leave if you’re choosing a location abroad. You will want to be legally married when you say “I Do!” *

Happy traveling!

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. Get enough wine in her and she will tell you about her perfectly planned wedding. Just promise not to ask about the groom, that’s one detail she’s still working on. Lauren is based in NYC and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here

As a bridal consultant, one of the questions I ask every bride is “how many people are you expecting at your wedding?” This would typically be answered in the hundreds. Now the response I get is, “well, we were planning for X amount, but now we are just wait to see what will be allowed.” And this is for weddings over a year from now! We are starting to think that micro-weddings may be the way of the future, so why not start planning for them rather than fearing them? 

What you’ll need: 

• A Dress:

  That is your preference if you’d rather order a white dress from Revolve, or pick up a more traditional dress at a bridal salon’s stock collection. Just remember that this will probably be the most photographed dress (or jumpsuit!) you will ever wear, so make sure you love it! 

• Flowers:

  Want to save money on a florist? Raid your local grocery store (or bodega if you are in NYC) and pick your own flowers! This could be a fun adventure for you and your mom/maid of honor. Pick a variety of options and then mix and match for bouquets and center pieces. 

• Backdrop:

  We believe it’s still important to have a great backdrop for your ceremony, even if only a handful of people sitting down to look at it. Just think of the pictures!! This could be anything from an extensive flower arch, or your family home’s front door decorated in the most romantic way possible. 

• Photographer:

  Whether this is someone that you trust with a point and shoot camera, or a professional with a face mask, you are going to want pictures of your wedding to fill your Instagram and the walls of your first home together. Don’t skimp out on the photos, they will help you share your special day with everyone in your life. 

• Borders:

  Don’t let your micro wedding feel empty just because you couldn’t have hundreds people in attendance. Enclose the area where you are having your reception to give it a more intimate feel. We love the idea of doing this with fairy lights or draped fabric!

Only invite the people you love most: Blood may be thicker than water, but put the people you love to sit back with a glass of wine with at the top of the list. Think about who will be sitting on your front porch rocking chairs with you 30 years down the road and invite those friends and family to join you for your intimate nuptials. 

Which wedding detail do you feel like you can’t live without while planning your Micro Wedding?

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. Get enough wine in her and she will tell you about her perfectly planned wedding. Just promise not to ask about the groom, that’s one detail she’s still working on. Lauren is based in NYC and her book “How to Be 23” can be found here