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. 

New Year, new trends!

To be honest though, I’ve never been a fan of “trend” lists as I’ve always believed that if you like something you should go for it regardless if it’s “in” or “out”. That being said, it’s great to stay in the loop of what people are gravitating towards each year and can be a source of inspiration. So, 2024 couples, are you ready? Here’s the ultimate trend list for everything you’ll be seeing this year in weddings:

For themes/aesthetic

• Retro. Think: disposable cameras, vinyl, film photography, and vintage decor

• Themed parties. Think: specific dress codes, themed entertainment, blow outs for welcome parties/rehearsal dinner

• Color, color, and more color! Think: glassware, decor, florals, and tablescapes

• Prioritizing the guest experience. Think: entertainment (like artists. Hi, it’s me), fashion switches, something special at cocktail hour

• European aesthetics. Think: French chateaus and Italian palazzos

For florals

• Like we said before: COLOR (the bold kind)

• Increase in texture and variety. Especially those sticking with more neutrals, variety will help give florals depth

• Non floral accents. Think: moss, fruit, veggies, and mushrooms (fruit patterns are also going to be big!)

• Modern vases in contemporary shapes with glass or ceramic

• Going truly all out with florals. It’s a great way to transform a space!

think green!

More and more couples will be opting for eco friendly options. We just spoke all about this in a previous blog post, so check that out here!

For food & drink

• Mocktails (Pro tip: do 2 signature drinks and make one a mocktail!). Also be sure to get a drink sign to go with that.

• Paired drinks per food course so the whole experience is curated!

• Personalized menus. Your food and drink experience should reflect each of your personal interests as well as your theme!

• Farm to table food. I say again: hello, sustainability

• Centerpiece desserts. Instead of one big towering dessert piece, couples are opting to go horizontal and have it double as decor

• These previous trends that will only continue to grow stronger: extensive dessert options and late night snacks

For your registry

• One of a kind items. Think: custom portraits (get that here!), personalized china, boxes, etc.

• Straight up cash

• Experiences. Either during the honeymoon (zip-lining, tours, etc) or in their town (cooking classes, concerts, etc)

• Brand items. Think: Dyson, KitchenAid, Caraway, Our Place, etc

• Pet items! The majority of couples now live together (and buy their homes) prior to the wedding so a bit of the registry can be dedicated to the other household members

We can’t foget: fashion!

• Bold florals. Mostly aimed at guest/wedding party outfits

• Back to classic wedding gowns. Think: satin A-lines, full tulle skirts, and beaded bodices

• Party dresses. Think: short beaded dresses, fringe, and bows

• Suits…for everyone!

• Custom grooms suits. Think: perfectly tailored, standout color from groomsmen, fun colors

• Evening gloves (all kinds). Think: long satin, tulle, beaded or with pearls

• Multiple outfits. Yes, this has been a growing trend for years, but now it’s more common than ever to have a different look for the ceremony, reception, and after party.

Happy New Year and engagement season! Let us know in the comments, which trend are you most excited about?

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Weddings, just like any other large event, produce a lot of “waste”. But like….a LOT of it. According to the Green Bride Guide, about 400-600 POUNDS (or 181-272 kg for you non-Americans) of waste is accumulated PER WEDDING and The New York Times estimates around 57,152 kilograms of CO2. This isn’t to say “skip the reception”, but there are ways to be more eco-friendly when planning. Here’s how:

Reduce the amount of paper goods

Weddings go through a ton of paper, from the invite suite to programs/menus to signage. The easiest thing you can do is simply reduce to the bare minimum of what you need (I mean, honestly, no one needs a ceremony program and your save the dates can be via email). However, if you insist on having a lot of each of these things, it’s recommended to print on “seed paper”. Yes, paper that is literally made of seeds so when it’s planted or thrown out, it’s reincarnated into plants or is at least biodegradable. For signage, you can rent chalkboards or glass and have a calligrapher write out what you need and then it can all be cleaned and returned post-wedding.

go local

A solid majority of wedding waste comes from importing. From food to flowers to vendors, there’s a lot going on. By selecting local (and seasonal) food, wines, flowers, and vendors, there’s less transportation and you get to support local businesses. Bonus: the food will taste better and the flowers will be prettier. Speaking of blooms, you can reduce the amount you need by taking the ceremony arrangements and reusing them at the reception. Win for the environment AND your wallet (flowers aren’t cheap, ya’ll).

Make it biodegradable

We already went over having seed paper for the paper goods, but we can do more. If you’re planning on having confetti or balloons (looking at you, bridal shower balloon arch), make sure they’re the biodegradable kind. There are even eco-friendly fireworks! Regular fireworks work up a lot of smoke contaminating the atmosphere, but the eco option is clean burning and uses a nitrogen based fuel which emits very little smoke.

Reduce fumes

Speaking of smoke, let’s talk about transportation. There’s a few different things that can impact this:

1) Provide a shuttle or a bus to/from the venue from your hotel blocks: less cars at the venue and everyone can drink

2) Have your ceremony and reception at the same venue (your guests will also appreciate this)

3) If you’re having a destination wedding (aka a location where you know everyone has to travel), keep the guest list as small as possible. Weddings produce 75 times the CO2 emissions of an average in-town wedding just off of guest travel alone.

rent & borrow

After you make a list of all the things you need for the wedding, go through and highlight everything you could possibly rent (your planner will have contacts for this as well) for your linens, decor, dishes/cutlery, or even outfits (tuxes and bridesmaid dresses). Next, see what you can buy second hand at a thrift shop. This could include welcome party/rehearsal dinner/after party outfits, decor, guest “book” options, or jewelry. Lastly, what could you borrow from a relative or close friend? This could usually be accessories like jewelry, shoes, or a veil. Or signage and decor (you would not believe the amount of stuff people accumulate from their own weddings and would be happy to let you buy/borrow!). Won’t know until you ask!

Interested in thrifting for your wedding? We have a whole blog post about it! Click here to read

give back

Lastly, find a way to off-set your wedding carbon footprint. First, use this calculator to determine how big your footprint will be. One bride I read about in the New York Times donated money to a non-profit that plants trees and others donate to other non-profit green organizations. You can choose vendors and venues that use more sustainable methods such as solar panels, insulated walls/window, biodegradable materials, and LED lights. Some companies even plant trees just for spending money with them (hello, Capital One Travel!). But my favorite (simple) way is to plant a tree for your unity ceremony. It’s the “greenest” thing you could do and it’s integrated into the wedding day. You know what they say about birds and stones.

So, go forth and plan…sustainably. Even if you’re not able to do much, every little bit helps. There’s about 2.5 MILLION weddings a year, so if each couple just did one or two things more eco-friendly, that’s a lot of impact. What will you do for yours? Let us know!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Weddings are (and should) be unique to the couple themselves. You choose your wedding party, who’s speaking or giving toasts at the ceremony or reception, the theme, etc. But in certain cases, to bring your vision to life, you have to involve the guests and give them direction. Do you want gifts? Is there a specific dress code? Are kids allowed? These are all things that need to be indicated in your invite suite, but can sometimes be awkward to write out. I’ve asked Kate Turner of Kate + Company (the QUEEN of luxury weddings) to help guide how to properly phrase certain requests in the most sophisticated way possible:

How to say "kid free wedding"

To communicate a "no kids" policy at your wedding, we recommend using your invitation envelopes to guide guests. You can use inner and outer envelopes, addressing the inner envelope to the family (Mr. and Mrs. John Smith) and the outer envelope with the couple's given names (Suan and John). By listing it this way, clearly without the kids names, it's a red flag that this is adults only! For your RSVP card, include a "number of guests attending" area. Most guests will understand and respect this rule. If needed, handle exceptions on a case-by-case basis. While you can include the phrase "Adults Only" on your reception card, we don't recommend it.

How to say "no gifts" or "money only"

It’s important to remember while giving a wedding gift is common practice, no one is actually required to buy you a wedding gift so indicating any registry details on a wedding invitation could be interpreted as rude and is a big etiquette no-no. We recommend allowing for word-of-mouth on your gift giving preferences. However, if you want to list something it's more appropriate to do so on your wedding website.  We recommend the verbiage, "Your presence at our wedding is a present enough! However, if you'd like to give well wishes with a gift, we'd appreciate you considering cash or gift cards to your favorite store. This will help us achieve our dream of turning our house into a home / taking a once in a lifetime vacation / etc. For your convenience, we've linked some of our registries below. Thank you! Sarah and Paul".

How to instruct color palette or specific themed dress code

We love being direct here so there's no confusion. Typically an attire preference is listed on the reception card. Typically you'd indicate "All Pink Attire Preferred" or "Black Tie". If you need to give more detail, we recommend moving this to an FAQ's section of your website! Two important things to remember here: (1) Black-Tie is only for events after 6pm and (2) part of being a gracious host is allowing your guests to be comfortable. Being too strict with a dress code may be a financial challenge for some of your guests causing them to forego attending your events. If that's okay with you - great! If not - make it easy on your guests! 

How to invite people for the reception only and not the ceremony

An invitation is technically two parts, the larger piece invites guests to witness your marriage at the ceremony. Then there is an insert that invites them to the reception. If you are inviting some guests to BOTH events and some guests to the reception only, you will first need a stationer that's good with variable data - that's key! Next, you'll need two variations of your main invitation. Variation One - follows standard protocol and invites guests to your ceremony, includes the date, time, location. Variation Two - the main insert will actually be an announcement and not include the time or location. Then these guests get the same reception insert. 

How to explain a "British style" wedding aka morning ceremony then evening reception

This is actually very common in our marketplace (midwest USA) because most Catholic weddings are similar - late morning or early afternoon ceremony followed by a gap and then evening reception. You'll simply use the main invitation to invite guests to the ceremony indicating the time, etc. Then a reception card indicating the details of the evening portion. If more explanation is needed, we'd suggest pushing this to your wedding website. 

Kate is a luxury wedding and event planner based in St. Louis, MO, although the company does execute events all over! As this boutique-style team specializes in the most luxurious of wedding experiences, they do only take on a limited number of events a year (aka your guest experience is guaranteed to be elite). Kate + Co has been featured in all the top industry publications, including Brides, Martha Stuart Weddings, and Vogue Weddings.

Kate prides herself with being surrounded by the best teams and has a true passion for creating gorgeous events that reflect the unique style of each couple. When she’s not commanding a room flip, you’ll find her playing tourist with her kids and husband.

Even if it’s just for gorgeous inspiration, be sure to follow Kate on Instagram @kateandcompany and check out her website at www.kateandcollc.com.

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

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

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

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

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

If any of you have also been living on Bridal TikTok these last few months, your head is also spinning with ideas for your wedding! Besides learning how to politely tell your guests to leave their little ones at home, and how to save money (but absolutely not time) by making all of the floral decor yourself, we have also learned how to step out of the expected to make your wedding day memorable for you and your guests. 

1. Welcome surprises! 

We all know that weddings never start exactly on time, which means that guests are usually left empty handed and mingling with strangers, unsure of what to do or where to stand. On Instagram we saw a recommendation to have guests put their drink of choice with their RSVP so that they could be handed a cocktail (or mocktail) upon arrival. GENIUS!! You could even have a little charcuterie board ready for guests to snack on while they are waiting for you to get all of the final touches taken care of without being rushed

2. Ceremony backdrop! 

The background of where you say “I DO” is a place for countless customization options. This could be a wall of flowers, a photo backdrop, a metal arch with flowers and greenery placed strategically. Just having your officiant and a few flower arrangements behind you is a thing of the past. Choose a backdrop that will represent who you are as a couple (and what type of decor you will decorate your house with because these pictures will be hanging on your walls forever). This is also an amazing way to bring in small businesses to your wedding day! This may feel like 1 of the million decisions you have to make, but to whoever you hire to create this backdrop, this will be their main focus. Hire a professional if you want it to be memorable! 

3. Photo ops! 

We all love a photo booth, but sometimes they can give us flack backs to our awkward prom date or a children's birthday party. Make your guests’ photos Instagram worthy by commissioning a custom photo background! This could be a huge floral backdrop, a sketch of you and your fiancé so it feels like you in every picture, or even just a print that is inspired by your other stationary. Your guests will line up all night to get a picture with the perfect background and lighting, so don’t forget a ring light to make sure they look amazing. Click here to order yours!

4. Your gown!

Even your wedding gown can be customized from head to toe if you are willing to put in the trust and imagination that it would require! If that sounds like a lot, you also have options of customizing dresses that you order from bridal salons. Some designers have customizing options when ordering like lining/unlined, extending/shortening the train, adding/removing sleeves. If the designer can’t make changes when creating the dress, there are also a lot of customization options that can happen in alterations. A tailor can build up a dress to make it more modest by ordering extra elements from the original dress, they can lower the back of the dress to show off your curves even better, or they can add beading to make the whole dress shine under the lights of your reception. You could even have a veil custom made to match your gown! Just keep in mind the changes that you want to make when considering your budget for your dream dress! 

What are you going to have customized to make your big day special?? Let us know below!

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