Fun Fact: This year is going to have more weddings than any year since 1984!
If you have not locked in your venue yet you can probably prepare to wait until 2023 to get married and just enjoy all of your friend’s weddings until then. Many of the weddings happening in 2022 are actually just 2020 weddings pushed back! Couples are tired of planning and replanning their weddings, and this means that decor will be simple and every detail will matter. Today we have put together some of the strongest trends that you will see in 2022.

Terra cotta and Sage

These colors (separately) will be flooding your Instagram and Pinterest feeds. We are seeing organic earthy tones combat the modern simplicity of the wedding signage and decor. This color palette is also a reflection of current social trends such as the “green” movement, self care, and intensional living

Clean but Bold

Non embellished wedding dresses are ready to be a statement piece. Your wedding dress sets the tone for the entire day and will be the centerpiece of most of the photos. Brides are realizing the importance of letting the dress show off her natural beauty while also showing off her personal style. This also applies to decor, as more couples are opting for minimalist looks with solid colors

Large Weddings

Micro weddings are out and huge bashes are the way of the future! We have all been stuck inside for long enough that guests are ready to party and couples are itching to go all out. Virtual RSVP’s will be blowing up in order to keep all of the guests organized, so be sure to take a look at the wedding website

Vow Renewals

Many of the weddings that are happening are actually vow renewals! The pandemic made couples either fall in love quickly and deeply (life is short), or skip the traditional reception all together, so there have been many elopements over the last couple years. 2022 is the year that we finally get to all celebrate the love together!

“Special” tuxes

This trend has been in the works for a while, but this year there’s definitely an uptick. The white dress has always been the “stand out” outfit, but more and more people are opting to wear something different than their wedding party, grooms want to feel special too! We’re seeing more creative suit options (colors, patterns, fabrics) and they’re even getting more involved in the planning (finally!)

Cheers to a new year of love and celebrations! We can’t wait to bring you more amazing wedding content. Have something in particular you think we should write about? Let us know in the comments or send us an email here

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Second to the dress, your ceremony backdrop will set the vibes of your wedding and has the ability to make or break your theme. This will also be what surrounds you and your new spouse in the “first kiss” photo we all dream of hanging on our walls forever. Many people end up taking this on as a DIY project, so don’t procrastinate starting this part of the decor! Today we have put together some inspo for you based on your venue choice. 

Outdoors/Scenic Views

If you are getting married in a forest or a lush mountaintop, you will be saving a lot of money on flowers and decor! We recommend framing the focus point with a simple arch or geometric shape made of either steel or wood that you will be standing in front of in that first kiss picture.

Statement building

If you chose your venue based off of the architecture, use your favorite part as the ceremony backdrop! This could be the fire place, the staircase, or even the front door. Whatever drew you to that location in the first place should be the most photographed and shared. 

Open concept space

If you have nothing but a blank slate to work with, you get to be as creative as possible. Start from the ground up with candles, pillars, flowers, greenery, anything to create a statement. It might feel overwhelming trying to fill the space, but keep in mind that all of the pieces can be moved around to decorate for the reception during the room switch (this is also the part where it’s super helpful to have a wedding planner or designer).

Country Club

If you are getting married anywhere that other people could potentially be walking around your ceremony location, we recommend creating some sort of screen as your backdrop. This could be as crazy as an old door with chipped paint, or as classic as draped fabric surrounded by flowers.  This type of solidity really defines the space

The most important thing to remember is that your ceremony backdrop will be the center of many of your wedding photos, as it’s not only a big piece of your special day, but also the first impression of your decor style to guests and will define the theme of your wedding more than anything else. It is also good to remember that any decor you use for the ceremony can be repurposed for the reception. You don’t want all of that creativity to go to waste! We’re all about repurposing here.

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

It’s always great to learn from the pros, but sometimes it’s nice to hear from someone who has just walked the same path that you are currently on. Today we are sharing advice directly from our brides about what they found most surprising when planning their wedding.

“Remember to factor in vendor gratuity when thinking about money and budget”

              -  When getting a quote from your vendor, make sure to add whatever gratuity you choose to before deciding if they are in your budget. Nothing sounds worse than having to pull cash out of your honeymoon fund the week of your wedding to fill gratuity envelopes for all of your vendors. Plan ahead and you will thank you future self! 

“Florals are more expensive than you might expect” 

                - Trader Joe’s has spoiled us with beautiful bouquets of flowers for just $8. Your wedding flowers will take up much more of your budget than most people expect. These flowers will be hand selected and arranged just for you, including all bouquets, corsages, centerpieces, and ceremony backdrops. There are ways to cut costs like renting/buying silk flowers, getting married in a garden that is already covers in flowers, or (the most time consuming) putting together your own flower arrangements. 

“Planning a surprise elopement (where family comes and they just don’t know it’s a wedding) is maybe as stressful as a traditional wedding, just way cheaper”

            - Doing this will insure that you have minimal opinions being thrown at you at all times, but it also means you have to do everything by yourself (or hire a planner to help!). This is something that you will have to decide what is most important to you. If you thrive on surprises this is definitely for you!

“Vendors can easily take a week to get back to you with initial info (before even booking).”

               - Start reaching out to vendors as soon as possible so that you have as much time as possible to break down all of the details. The best vendors book up very far in advance and have a never ending stream of communication happening with their current and future couples, so you have to give them some grace if you hope to be one of the couples they are giving all of their attention to. 

“When COVID happens 3 weeks before your wedding date, don’t try to reschedule.  Just cancel and elope”

               - She said what she said 🤣 (don’t forget to have us sketch the beautiful memory for you after to gift to anyone who couldn’t be there!). Obviously, everyone’s situation is different, but definitely do not knock this option.

“I was really happy to have done premarital counseling!”

                - Some churches require this if you choose to get married there,  but counseling is never a bad idea! Even if you already live with your significant other, choosing to legally bind yourselves together is still a huge change. Having a 3rd (non bias) party can help sort through things you two might never have thought of! Being mentally prepared for this would start your marriage off on the right foot.

“Do whatever the fuck you want for your day.  Don’t invite people for the sake of it.  You can have the humblest and lowest budget wedding, but a good photographer and videographer will make it look like a million dollars”

                 - Before reaching out to any vendors or making any plans, the most important part of wedding planning is to decide what is top priority to you. For many people it’s the photographer, or the entertainment, or the dress. From there you decide what to cut costs on. The easiest way to dial back is by shrinking the guest list! There are so many pieces of your wedding are charged on a per-person basis, so less people = less money spent. We like to think of it as “if I wouldn’t want to take you to dinner on a regular basis, I don’t want to pay for your dinner at my wedding (respectfully)”.

Add your tips in the comments below to help other others that are getting married! 

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

So much time is spent in the last few days leading up to the wedding trying to decide who will be at what table. Opinions will be coming from everywhere, and the final atmosphere of your wedding will all be dependent on making sure the right group of people are sat together for dinner.

You don’t want to put all of that hard work to waste if no one can figure out where they are supposed to be! Having an escort card wall/table will make it fun and functional for your guests to find their seats so we put together 10 ideas to make sure the escort wall is one to remember:

1. A drinks wall

Champagne, mini margs, either in a salted shot glass or mini patron bottle with straw, any other drink that goes with the theme: this is a fun way to get the party started and set the tone of the reception. 

2. Moscow mule mugs

They can fill them up at the bar or take them home to make their own cocktails!

3. Mini records

Show your mutual love of music by putting your guests’ names on a record with their table number. Chances are that most of the selfies will be taken with this wall as their background!

4. Paper flowers

Use these to really anchor your color scheme and create a statement piece in the wedding. 

5. Plants/flowers in mini vases

If flowers are important to you, this is the perfect way to share that love with each of your guests. Get their names calligraphed on the vases!

6. Boarding passes

All aboard the love story that is the reason everyone has gathered. This would be especially great for a destination wedding or one with a travel theme.

7. Fortune cookies

Your fortune will obviously be bright on your wedding day, so share that positivity with your guests (and give them a little snack at the same time!)

8. Food table/wall

Donuts, cupcakes, cheese, lemons, etc: anything edible is always a hit in group events. It will also keep everyone occupied while you and your newly beloved take any last minute photos. 

9. Mini charcuterie boards/boxes/cones

To be saved for midnight snacks back at the hotel after a long night of dancing at the reception!

10. Bookmarks

A little token of your passion for reading can both help your guests to find their seats as well as hold their spot in the next book that desperately don’t want to put down. 

Keep in mind that many of these options can double as wedding favors! We love a multi purpose wedding element. Use the escort card wall as a statement piece in your wedding decor.

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Planning a wedding requires a collaboration of creative minds, willing hands, and endless amounts of love. The friends and family that come together to turn your special day into a dream come true work tirelessly for you, and sometimes it can be hard to show them how much that means to you. Today we wanted to share some inspiration to help you show the love that you feel on your wedding day. 

The Bridesmaids

The team you choose to have next to you when you say “I do” will go through a lot with you during your planning process. They will plan many parties, listen to you complain about your future mother in law, and buy a dress that they will most likely never wear again. Traditionally the bride will buy her girls the jewelry, and/or hair and makeup services for the day of. If you’d like to do more, a customized jewelry case or travel bag would be a great edition that would be used again and again. 

The Groomsmen

Although the guys are typically less involved in the details of wedding planning, they are still a very special part of the day. Just like the girls typically get their day of jewelry, getting the groomsmen quirky matching socks can make for some incredible pictures. You can also make lasting memories with custom flasks that they will most likely start and end the party with!

Family

Who can forget your parents?? They not only raised you to be the person who the love of your life fell in love with, but they most likely put the most heart (and probably paycheck) into your wedding planning. What they would appreciate the most is something sentimental. A SamiaLynn custom illustration is the perfect gift to keep the memory of such a special day alive forever!

This would also be a great idea for other special people like your grandparents, aunts/uncles, or anyone else that contributed to your big day. 

The Flower Girl and/or Ring Bearer

The cutest little balls of chaos that will walk down your aisle… (unless your dogs will be joining you that day!). Your wedding day will be a day that they most likely will not remember, but will be reminded of  time and time again, including when you attend their weddings years down the time. One of the best things you can gift these kiddos is reception entertainment like a coloring book and special snacks. And then later you can gift them embarrassing pictures of them running around in their underwear when the fancy clothes get too itchy!

So many times in wedding planning it can be easy to get caught up in paying vendors and deciding on your wedding registry. You don’t want to forget to choose personalized gifts for the people who love you enough to make your day absolutely perfect.

Have you already found the perfect gifts? We’d love to know in the comments!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

One of the core traditions in a wedding is handing out favors at the end of the night. If that sentence alone doesn’t trigger a memory of pastel Jordan Almonds, have you even been to a wedding??

There are beautiful meanings behind this traditional treat, but it does now feel slightly over done and old fashioned. Today we want to share some updated and modern favor options that your wedding guests would actually be excited to bring home with them. 

Polaroid photos

Set up a photo area with Polaroid cameras and let your guests go wild. They will love being able to go home with something to keep the memories alive with their fellow guests

Assorted candies

Set up a mini candy shop at your reception and let’s your guests fill up their own bags to bring home. No matter how old the guest, everyone will be reliving their childhood dreams all over again 

Shop local

Support a small business by buying and sharing their product as your wedding favors. This could be local honey,  pastries, soap, books, olive oil, the list goes on. For holidays it can be ornaments or hot chocolate mix

Go green

A popular choice nowadays is mini plants (or seeds)! Whether you choose succulents, air plants, or cacti, most guests (who aren’t plant killers like me) would love to add more green to their collection

For the winter couples

Send your guests home with a cosy blanket! Doubles as a useful wedding accessory if your ceremony is outside during the colder months. Personalize the wrapping with a custom ribbon or artsy paper

Let’s be honest here. The fastest way into anyone’s heart is through their stomach. Your guests will probably be happier leaving with a midnight snack than they would ever be with a koozie that has your wedding date printed on it

Most importantly, if you choose to do wedding favors, just make sure that they represent who you are as a couple!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Some of us have been planning our weddings since middle school, but there are still plenty of you out there that get engaged and have no idea what to do next. And many of us in the first category aren’t getting married any time soon… 

We have created a timeline for those brides-to-be that have a ring and no clue what to do next. Every wedding will be different, but this is the ideal step by step process to make sure you can have a stress-free I Do Day. 

Step 1

Enjoy being engaged! You can only call yourself a  fiancé for a short amount of time, so take as long as you want after the proposal to simply sit in the bliss of engaged life (even when people are asking you a million wedding questions 5 minutes after the proposal)

Step 2

Set your priorities and your budget. If you know what you are working with and what means the most to you, it will be easy to begin the search for vendors in your price point and be sure to do a little cost research before you start reaching out to vendors. If you’re hiring a wedding planner, now is definitely the time to do it so they can help with as much as possible

Step 3

Set the guest list. Depending on how willing you are to cut/ add depending on the perfect venue, this might go alongside step 2. We are here for the aesthetic though which means you see what the venue fits and you fill it accordingly. The most important thing to remember here is that nothing adds up as quickly as paying for people's dinner on your wedding night. The #1 way to save money on your wedding is to cut people from the guest list (the harsh but real truth).

Step 4

Location, location, location.  Venues book up extremely early so if your heart is set on a specific location you better act fast. This is especially important right now because you will still be competing with Covid brides. Typically booking your venue and setting a date happens one to two years in advance. Don’t rule out Friday weddings or “off season” months.

Pro tip: getting your venue for less than a year away isn’t always the best thing, even when available, because many of your other vendors will be booked already (photographer, band, etc)

Step 5

Say yes to the dress! It can take up to 8 months for a dress to be manufactured and then two to three months of alterations. You also don't want to be checking email constantly in the last few months before the wedding waiting for your dress to arrive. Order early enough to avoid stress and rush fees.

Step 6

Vendors! Hiring all of your vendors will need to happen 9 months to a year before your big day. This will include a caterer, photographer, videographer, band/DJ, and florist. By now you should have an idea of the overall aesthetic and color palette for the wedding. Also, don’t forget other vendors that might need a longer timeline, such as entertainers, stationers, or if you’re getting something custom created.

Step7

The finishing touches! In the last 6 months leading up to the wedding all of the big decisions should be made already. You are now left with sending the invites, planning the honeymoon (!), and day of transportation (if you haven’t done that already). A Cricut machine will be your best friend during this stage for decor and sign creation.  6 months is also the perfect time for your wedding party to order their outfits (they need time to get alterations too!).

Step 8

Organization. The month or 2 before your wedding will be the time that you start putting together all of the pieces that have been floating around in anticipation for the big day. Make sure you’ve scheduled out any beauty treatments and hair cuts, and the little things like place cards or wedding favors. This is also the time to get your seating chart in order.

Step 9

Delegate. If you’ve hired a wedding planner they will do this for you, but if not you’ll need to figure out “day of” timeline like hair/makeup, wedding party arrivals, steaming, time for breakfast, etc. and then assign people to make sure each of those things happen on time. You shouldn’t have to lift a finger on your wedding day!

Step 10

Deep breath. The morning of the wedding your goal will be to make sure your vows are written and that your glam squad is making you look like your absolute best. After that, whatever will happen will happen and is out of your control.

Happy Planning!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

We have been noticing a theme of “buck the tradition” with an aftershock of “wait, what am I supposed to do?!” So today we wanted to show you new ways to follow the traditional anniversary gifts. Also, who couldn’t use some good gift inspo? Sometimes it can be hard to find a gift that says 1,000 words AND will be used for years to come. 

Year 1: Paper

No need to look any further, SamiaLynn will make you a custom illustration of your wedding day, your honeymoon, or just a day with your fur baby. Make it extra special with a hand written note and you will have set the bar high for all other anniversaries.

Click here to shop

Year 2: Cotton

This is a great time to get essentials like a much needed clothing item or rug for the house. It would be an even better time to upgrade all of the linens in your house if you forgot to include that in your wedding registry! Some of us just keep rebuying the cheapest Target sheets every time our partner’s toe nails rip holes in the current pair or our hair products damage the color… one year into a marriage maybe things will be better… 😂 

Year 3: Leather

Everyone needs a nice bag to carry to work. A leather tote or briefcase will make you feel so powerful walking into the office every day. If you and your partner are looking for something more romantic, gift each other leather passport holders and plan a trip that involves stamping them! We are all about gifting experiences (and then customizing illustrations to keep the memories alive forever)

Year 5: Wood

This is another great excuse for gifting an experience. To fit the theme, we’d recommend doing an outdoor adventure! If this is not your thing, find a new piece of furniture, or even something as simple as a framed piece of art. 

Year 8: Bronze or pottery

You can go with the expected like a new set of dishes, or make it something fun and unexpected like getting your hands dirty in a pottery class. Obviously you can’t go wrong with gifting some beautiful bronze jewelry! 

Year 10: Aluminum or tin

This one does not sound romantic at all… but let’s personalize it and make it memorable. You can engrave photos, bowls, or even key chains. You could also take it more literally and create a gift basket out of things that come in tin jars like tea, lotions, candles. Make a spa day out of it!

Send this to your spouse for them to bookmark and reference every year!!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn

Being in the wedding industry has opened our eyes to the availability (or lack thereof) of LGBTQ+ friendly merchandise for all weddings. Sometimes finding variety outside of the Mr. & Mrs. selections can be hard if you’re not looking to custom order every part of your planning experience. Today we wanted to share with you a few of our favorite businesses that show their pride all year long with fun finishing touches for all wedding events. 

Psst…If you are looking for resources for inclusive wedding planning, lgbtweddings.com is a great place to start!

lgbtq+ shops:

The Peculiar Pelican

She creates custom wooden sign for your wedding day. The shop is filled with every possible wording your Pinterest has you dreaming about for your ceremony and reception. Some you might even want to take home as decor to remember your wedding day with!

Click here to visit

The Ritzy Rose

This team has the most colorful department for all LGBTQ+ including everything from coming out cards to wine bottle labels! Their signage is also timelessly beautiful. We’d recommend starting here for your engagement announcement and then ending with your flower girl/ ring bearer signs to walk down the aisle with. 

Click here to visit

Wild Nova

They have every version of ENgayGED attire you could ever dream of! From the moment you get engaged, they have a shirt for every occasion as well as always being prepared for pride. They even have Ally and “the future is fluid” shirts for anyone else who wants to join the movement.  Bonus: they’re environmentally friendly!

Click here to visit

Taylor Street Favors

Derek and David create the most beautiful cake toppers (and that is saying something because WOW cake toppers can be tacky) and even mini Mrs. & Mrs. cup cake toppers! It is also a great place to look for gifts for all couples. 

Click here to visit

Lifetime creations

This family run business follows through with their name by engraving glass that you will use for the rest of your life. Get you and your fiance Mr(s) and Mr(s) (or any verbiage of your choosing) champagne glasses to toast with on your wedding night and then again on every anniversary. 

Click here to visit

PS: If you live in the DMV area, Abiddoodle Productions has curated an amazing list of LGBTQ+ friendly wedding resources because you shouldn’t have to be the person that shifts the “norm” when it comes to planning your wedding

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn