Wedding bouquets are an essential part of your wedding, and every bride knows what she wants on her special day. There are various styles, flowers, and arrangements that go in to the bouquet. Each one epitomizes the look of the wedding and can be personalized to fit the bride’s style.

Spring/Summer

A great way to make your bouquet look beautiful and still blend naturally is to go with colors of the season your wedding is in. If you have a spring wedding, use pastels or lights colors that would be seen during the spring. Go for hardy flowers that wont wilt (sunflowers, dahlias, lilies or hydrangeas) if marrying in summer or in a humid climate.

Image via turningpoint2.tumblr.com

Image via disneyweddingsblog.com

Image via Pinterest

Fall/Winter

 Even though colder seasons might not bring spring blooms, deep reds and oranges reflect the beautiful changing of the leaves and colors of the season. Whites, grays, and reds are also gorgeous colors to capture the essence of winter.

Image via borrowedandbleu.com

Or, consider mixing things up and choose a bouquet that is full of succulents and lamb’s ear.

Image via Brides.com

Image via Style Me Pretty

Charms

Charms are a beautiful way of personalizing your bouquet so that it is more meaningful to you. A beautiful way to do this is to attach pictures of loved ones; maybe some that have passed or could not be there for your special day. Some brides also choose to attach a pin from their sorority or another important organization to their bouquet.

Image via etsy.com

Image via Pinterest

Nonfloral

Another unique way to create your bouquet is to use something other than flowers. These types of bouquets can be an outlet of creativity for the bride. You can personalize them however you like – color, size, fabric, pattern – and they will last forever.

Image via stylemepretty.com

image via littlemisssarcasm.wordpress.com

Image via The Knot

We loved researching the various types of bouquets that you can use for your wedding! Whether you choose big springy blooms, muted and soft winter succulents or vintage brooches, remember to pick one that is true to your personal style and wedding style!

Ashley Jones, owner of Shutter Sweet Photography, is here to tell you why you should invest in a wedding album! Keep reading to learn her personal and professional thoughts on the subject.

Why should you invest in a wedding album? 

Before I answer that question, we must agree that photography is one of the most important investments of a wedding celebration. The ability to freeze precious moments in time is a gift that can keep on giving long after the day is over if done well. The raw emotion, special memories, the documentation of events and details – all of this captures the story of your day and allows you to share it with others. As memories fade, your photography will be there to reconnect your mind and heart to bring you back to that look, the kiss, your first dance, and the other moments you can relive over and over again as you look through your photos.

When my husband and I got married, the album was something I wanted to cut from our package. I had never seen one done well and thought they were old-school, tacky and overpriced, but my parents bought the package and really wanted to give us the album. Fast forward 7 years… I am so thankful I have that album. There are certain images that take me back to the butterflies I had in my stomach, the peace I felt during our outdoor ceremony, the fun I had hanging out with friends. The album sits on a shelf in our living room. I never take it out unless we have friends over and they request to see it, which is maybe once or twice a year. However, when I do open it, I get to relive those moments and share our day with friends who didn’t know us then. Where is my disc of images? Somewhere tucked away in my office that has never seen the light of day. Have I framed any prints? No. Do I look through thousands of photos from our wedding on my computer? No. Do I gather friends around my computer to show them photos from our wedding – even just the best ones? No. Will I pull my album out years from now to show future friends and our future kids? Absolutely.

Because of my own personal experience, I include a wedding album in every single wedding package we offer – no negotiating. I’m a professional storyteller, so it would be silly for any of my clients to walk away without a storybook album. And it’s not just any album – it’s a custom designed album where the images from your wedding determine the storyline, layout and size. The quality is top of the line, crafted by hand, and will outlast any shutterfly book for generations to come. Even though we live in a digital society, there’s something unique and special about seeing things in print, feeling the quality in your fingers, and sharing that experience with others. With my background in graphic design, it’s something unique that I love to put together for my clients. No two albums are the same. The storybooks reflect the personality of the couple, the colors or theme from the wedding, the series of events that took place that day. It’s a gift we love giving our clients – and most parents will request a copy for themselves too!

So the questions was why should you invest in a wedding album? I think the real question is why don’t you want to? If it’s because of the quality or type of album, maybe you need to look at other photographers. If it’s because of price, think about what you would pay for the ability to have a hand-crafted album to show your grandkids of your wedding that still looks as good as it did the day you bought it. Think about the value of having a book you can flip through to relive your wedding day on your 10th, 30th or 50th wedding anniversary. My hope is that every couple will have a wonderful album to share as they grow older together and can be taken back to the day it all began.

If you have questions about wedding albums, please contact Ashley at Shutter Sweet Photography. She would be more than happy to answer specific questions and help you with anything you need. 

This week I have the pleasure of introducing one of our incredibly talented planning teams, Lemiga Events, to all of you! Michelle Gainey is the owner and lead planner of Lemiga Events and she also owns StudioWed Atlanta. Michelle has been a leader in the wedding industry in Atlanta for years. The busy mom of 2 girls and savvy business owner fortunately has help in the form of her great design and planning team! Read our interview below to learn more.

Meet the Team (images courtesy of Harwell Photography)

Q&A with Michelle Gainey:

Where are you based?
Atlanta, GA

Where did the name, “Lemiga”, originate?
I had the vision of one day expanding my business to a team and I did not want my business name to revolve solely around my name. Therefore, I took the first two letters of my name – Lelene Michelle Gainey and came up with LEMIGA.

What type of events do you specialize in? Do you do corporate? Social gatherings? Mainly weddings?
Mainly weddings, but we also do social gatherings like birthday and anniversary parties.

What is Lemiga Events style?
Classic Glam

Harwell Photography

Janet Howard Studio

Janet Howard Studio

Carter Elite Studio

Janet Howard Studio

Janet Howard Studio

What do you love about working with couples?

I love being able to walk with them step by step in their wedding planning journey. I love seeing them grow together as a couple and being able to make their wedding vision come alive.

Project Duo Photography

What is your favorite part of the process?
When they see the magic on the day of their event and they have the smile that says it all,  I know I’ve exceeded their expectations.

What is your favorite Atlanta Venue?
How could we possibly choose, there’s just so many fabulous venues in the Atlanta area!

Do you also do destination weddings? Where?
Yes, pretty much anywhere they client wants!

Lemiga Wedding in Paris. French Grey Photography

How do I follow you?

We’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Where can I contact you?

Our office is conveniently located inside StudioWed. You can email us at info@lemiga.com.

 

Floral trends are booming this spring and summer, and weddings are surely no exception.  Want to learn what is on trend for your 2014 wedding?  Well, look not further.  We have tracked down your top 4 categories of floral designs for this year, and you don’t want to miss this!

The Produce News  has dished out 4 fabulous ways to incorporate trendy floral designs specifically to your own style, taste, and need.  When choosing a floral trend to incorporate into your wedding, consider the bouquet, centerpiece, or even your cake.  The options are limitless.  Whether you are trying to spice things up, keep things cool and classy, or incorporate a vintage feel into you wedding, there are many gorgeous options that will leave you feeling inspired.  And trust us, there is something for everyone!

1.  “Confetti”

For those looking for bold pops of color, this category is calling your name.  Try to incorporate colors such as bright hues of purple, pink, orange and green.  When choosing specific flowers, consider gerber daisies, poppies, and dahlias.

“Miranda” Garden Rose by David Austin Roses

Image from June Bug Weddings- Stephanie Cristalli Photography

Image from 100 Layer Cake blog- Swoon by Kate photographer

Image from Wedding Chicks- Ryan Bernal Photography

2. “Grand Lodge”

This next category is dedicated to those who favor flowers with a more neutral “earthy” tone.  Creams, earthy greens and blues, and beige tones are just a few colors to name.  Hydrangeas, lilies, garden roses, and dahlias are examples of types of flowers that fall into this simple and soft floral trend.

Image from Pinterest

Image from Hostess with the Mostess

Image from Rustic Wedding Chic blog

3. “Revival”

Looking for a vintage look when searching for you floral theme?  We’ve got great inspiration in this next category.  The “revival” trend includes soft pastel colored orchids, peonies, and lilies, just to name a few.

Image from Wedding Chicks- KT Merry Photography

Image from Colin Cowie Weddings

Image from Pinterest

4. “AquaCulture”

This last trend focuses on the idea of all things aquatic.  With colors ranging from indigo, turquoise, and lilac, this trend of flowers will add a “cool” twist into your wedding.

Image from The Knot

Image from Pinterest

Image from Colin Cowie Weddings

Image from Pinterest

We loved learning about the latest floral trends for 2014! We hope you now feel inspired and ready to call your florist! Happy planning!