{Engagement Session} Seaside Love & Sweet Spots - Hailey & Taylor

Happy Day dearies! How about a little seaside love to get your week started off on the right note? Dee and Kris Photography, a talented destination wedding duo, captured the cutest couple, Hailey and Taylor, in the sleepy, romantic coastal community of Capitola, CA on the Monterey Bay. This intimate beach town, known for its wharf, is reminiscent of the Mediterranean coast of Italy and a quaint French village all rolled into one. Taylor rocked it with some old world style to match!  I love how Dee and Kris took full advantage of all the beautiful backdrops and hidden sweet spots; it's hard not to come away with some amazing shots of Hailey and Taylor, who just radiate love and life!

Photo Credit: Dee and Kris Photography submitted through Two Bright Lights

Thanks to Dee and Kris for knocking our socks off with this flirty and fun engagement session. To see more of their good stuff, you can catch up with them on their Facebook Fanpage. Leave a comment below and let them know what you think of this love story!

And after you say hi to them remember to head over to dLA's Facebook Fanpage for more great wedding ideas and inspiration photos! 

Make it Happy,

Baby's Breath Wedding Decor - Small Flower, Big Impact

A Fresh Perspective on Baby's Breath Weddings

My husband gave me a gorgeous bouquet of roses for our second anniversary, sweet pink and white, surrounded by, I swear, an entire field of baby's breath. I thought, what a useless little flower, no smell, the blooms are tiny, the stems are weenie.  What is the point? Yet baby's breath weddings are all the rage these days - rustic, backyard, barn, practical, and vintage weddings are all bursting with this dainty, understated flower.

Photo via Mother and Daughter Wedding Chatter

There is something elegant and rustic, romantic and simple about a baby's breath bouquet or centerpiece; it isn't pretentious, over the top, or demanding of anyone's eye. Brides and florists have figured out that when bundled together, this filler flower transforms into a delicate, romantic cloud of little white kisses.

Photos via Wedding Girl

Baby's breath is inexpensive, making it a good choice for a budget wedding decorations and is visually striking when used in large volumes. Gathered and used in clusters, the new found appreciation of baby’s breath is a welcomed addition to the modern wedding world.

Photo via Wedding Girl

Photos via Sweet Sunday Events

Photo via Bridewell Blog

Photos via David and Sanna's Wedding

Photo via Elizabeth Ann Design

Tips from the Wedding Pros

• Always confirm with your florist the quality (size) of the baby’s breath as they are most definitely not all created equal! Some blooms are large and full, while others are smaller and more green than white. 
• If you’re using Baby’s Breath as a bouquet flower, keep in mind that even though the blooms are light and airy and take up lots of space, the stems themselves are very skinny. Make sure to ask your florist to add in some additional stem pieces to ‘bulk up’ where you’ll be holding.

So I take it all back, Baby's Breath is no useless flower; it is delicate, fresh, totally romantic, and best of all a good bang for your buck! What baby's breath wedding decorations would you consider including in your wedding? Leave us a comment about other under appreciated florals or accents that you think should take their rightful place in the wedding mainstream. 

Have a gorgeous day,

Join our Facebook Fanpage, follow us on Twitter and Pinterest!

 You can also sign up to receive daily inspiration and goodies by your email!

1950's Retro Engagement Shoot with Aimee and Jason

Love neon lights, red leather diner seats, Classic Coke and antique cars? Then have I got the couple for you! I'm super in love with this retro engagement session of deLovely Affair's guest blogger Miss Aimee and her sweetie Jason. She says "As a couple with a love for all things classic, retro and unique, we thought channeling our passion for the 1950’s would be a perfect way to encompass what the two of us are about vs. having a nice set of pictures."  I would say they accomplished both with the help of Nikki Lanoue Photography of Bridgewater, MA. 

I have a serious thing for neon lights and this shot just tickles me pink! Happy Days somehow comes to mind or maybe that classic 50's movie Grease! 

I simply love those red leather booths to go along with Aimee's fierce shoes!

Location: Fast Freddie's Diner in Hampton, NH

 These retro cars are the bee's knees over at Mantown Motors in Danvers, MA

 And then a final stroll down the boardwalk in their hometown of Newburyport.  This is an engagement shoot with all the fixin's and perfectly tailored to this one of a kind couple.

Check out Miss Aimee's post discussing her super fab 50's engagement shoot and offers tips for other brides-to-be! Thank you again to Nikki Lanoue for these amazing photos.

What ways are you owning your engagement shoot; making it stand out from the rest? Leave us a comment below - we wanna know! As always, you can find up on FACEBOOK and follow up on TWITTER.

Have a deLicious day,

Engagement Session: Doing it Your Way with Style!

Guest Blogger: Miss Aimee

Photography: Nikki Lanoue Photography

So many people want to commemorate each step and each moment on the way to planning their wedding; and I don’t blame them. I’ve always been the person who likes to not only create new milestones but also document those everyday joys that happen throughout our lives. 

I must admit, I was never a big fan of “engagement photos.”  The mere idea brings me back to those awkward prom photos: you’re smiling yet they tell you where to place your hands, how to put your feet and look anything but natural. However, if you’re like me and sort of shy away from those posed, unnatural images, I'm here to say: take a risk on your engagement shoot and do something different.  If you incorporate more of you and your fiancé’s actual “selves” into the photos, you will come away with commemorative photos that are more about what they should REALLY be about, both of YOU.

We are a couple who likes to live outside the box and we have a passion for all things classic, retro and unique. We thought channeling our passion for the 1950’s would be a perfect may to have our “happily ever after” photos (as we liked to call them) encompass what the two of us are about vs. having a nice set of pictures.

Through this process I learned a lot and for those future “to be” engaged couples here are a few key points I’d love to share:

Incorporate YOU in the photos. There isn’t a standard when it comes to photographing this milestone. Think about what you two are about as both individuals and a couple and incorporate that flair and style into the pictures.

Location is always key, try to think outside of the box. There are the standard beach photos, at home photos, on the pier photos but realize, there are so many great original venues and locations (like this colorful E-sesh at a local carnival) that would be fresh and unique spots for engagement photos. Don’t hesitate to contact restaurants, diners (like in our case), boutique stores, hotels and others; more often than not these venues would love to be a part of your special day and with a little credit, you’re on your way to a great creative space for your backdrop.

Weather, if you plan on taking outdoor photos always make sure you plan ahead in case Mother Nature isn’t working in your favor that day. It’s always great to have at least two indoor spaces for a backup in case of rain, snow, and especially wind. I can tell you from our experience that a picture with hair across your face is not one you will be printing to frame, why waste the shot?

Clothing, spice it up! It’s always important to be yourselves in these photos but for a handful of shots, maybe opt to do a wardrobe change, a bolder top, dress or even an accessory. You would be surprised how great you may look by thinking outside the box. Is there a theme to your photos? (such as our 1950’s inspiration) Now is the time to dive right in and play the part!

Most of all have fun! Some of the best photos are the ones that catch you in the candid moments, when you think no one else is watching. For me, one of the most disappointing things I came across in my search for photo inspiration was all the staged photos couples had in their sessions. I think some suggestions from your photographer are key but when your hands and bodies appear stiff and too posed, it can take away from the real genuine feeling of the photos.

 

All in all it’s about you two! I think as long as you have the man of your dreams all the rest should and will fall into place; all else they say is just an accessory.


Are you planning a super personal engagement session? We'd love to know what you are doing differently! Leave us a comment before and we will share it with our other readers on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. Join us there if you haven't already.


Happy Engagement! 
Miss Aimee

{Guest Post} Planning a Unique Vintage Wedding

Art Deco Gal’s Guide to Planning Your Unique Vintage Wedding 

Once upon a time, the ‘something old’ in that familiar wedding adage may have meant an inherited brooch sparkling on a shoe teamed up with a brand spanking new, budget-busting, blingtastic dress. More recently, a global trend has taken place with more stylish brides choosing to reject the shiny new and instead rediscover the charms of the past with a full-blown Vintage wedding theme. Vintage, it would seem, has become the new black, evoking the beauty and glamour of days gone by.

Photo by Simon Clubb

For me, styles of yesteryear offer a timeless elegance that some modern weddings would find hard to beat, so I decided to go vintage and opt out of a big fat white wedding.  I also felt hypocritical going traditional with my wedding; the virginal white dress, a veil covered face just weren’t me. Once we meet “the one”, are we suddenly expected to change our personalities and care about a big expensive ring, an even bigger white dress and spend a fortune because it’s our ‘big day’? 

Well, it would seem that we sistas are increasingly doing it for ourselves and turning towards alternatives – vintage weddings, arty, thrifty, personalized affairs,  DIY weddings, or a small service somewhere obscure, all seem to be exploding back into fashion. And going vintage could range anywhere from Rockabilly 50's to the Roaring 20's, Art Nouveau to Art Deco and everything in between!

Photo via One Wed

Whilst researching for my wedding, I did find myself combing through far too many cute, froufrou sites urging brides to spend the equivalent of a mortgage that seemed to dominate the wedding blogosphere. Thankfully, vintage wedding blogs are now appearing in droves, offering women a real alternative to the traditional budget busting white wedding. This can only be a positive move away from the traditional glossy magazine shoots, with the perfect decorations and reception, piling even more pressure on the bride. 

Here are some top tips for organizing your own budget vintage wedding that I discovered while planning my own celebration! Imperfections and all.

• Decide on a general theme and colours: Art Deco focuses on bold colours, strong outlines and geometric designs for example. This lends itself well to a striking motif for a wedding. The Fifties/Rockabilly styles call for lovely bright candy cane colours and cherry reds.

I love the Rockabilly boldness, the red pops and the hairstyles ROCK!

Photo via Sad Man's Tongue Rockabilly Bar & Bistro

• Pick your Location: Try to find a building from your time period, as it will act as a perfect backdrop for your wedding/reception. You could start by researching historical cinemas, cafes, restaurants, hotels or bars. It doesn’t have to be an expensive hotel or castle; sometimes there are little gems right under your nose! The right place will most likely still have internal architectural details from the period including designs on the walls and floors.

Union Train Station in Santa Monica, CA 

Photos via Ruffled Blog

• Design your Wedding Stationery: The wedding invitation sets the tone for your celebration, so you want it to be overtly linked to your vintage theme to prepare guests for the style of the actual event. You could select a simple invitation portraying signature designs of the era, or a single image of a person or people dressed glamorously in the clothes of the time.

A perfect example of classic an Art Nouveau wedding invitation suite.

Photo via Invitation Crush

• Be creative with decor- For my Art Deco wedding, I opted for a few relatively cheap decorations such as peacock feathers, mirrored vases, faux pearls, calla lilies, vintage handheld fans, paper parasols, old photographs of past family weddings in black and white supermarket frames and some retro champagne posters to name the tables, printed and laminated myself. Try vintage postcards or luggage labels as name tags.

Photo via WeddingBee

• Make a statement with your wedding cake: Use the cake to reflect your theme in an unmistakeable way. To save money, I would avoid going to an official wedding cake shop and go it alone;  t can be so much fun! You could simply buy or bake some lovely cupcakes and then add a fabulous unique topper.  My husband and I love cheese and opted for a black and white tiered wedding cake made entirely of fine cheeses from Somerset in England. We decorated it with peacock feathers and pearls and it was a real talking point, costing a fraction of the price of other cakes that had we had seen. Also look for period textiles or unique patterns of the times when choosing cake decoration.

An Art Deco Cheese Wedding Cake - classic!

Photo via Art Deco Gal

• Dress up! For a 20s style, look for drop waist wedding gowns with vibrant patterns or geometric designs. Designs can be sleeveless, have capped sleeves or long sleeves narrowing to the wrist for a slim fit. For that 30s look, at the end of the art deco period – women’s dresses were a bit more figure hugging, with a narrower waist but wider sleeves.

If your man wants to get into the spirit, he can wear a double-breasted suit with suspenders underneath! Also, a hat of some description is a must. If going for a 1950s style wedding, which is very popular – wear a short wedding dress (much cheaper too ☺) and groovy bright shoes – the possibilities are endless and your unique style can really shine through. Head pieces were very popular in the past, so go with a bird-cage veil, flowers in your hair or peacock feathers- a nice alternative to a princess tiara.  

Itching to get started? Why not create a wedding mood board? They can be a super useful thing to send to florists, photographers, the bridal party and you can make your own online at the Dessy Group website or on Pinterest. This is after all, your wedding, and not a fancy dress party. Make sure to include little touches that only you and your partner hold dear for this is what will make your special day unique. 

When planning our wedding, we decided to make it all about us, incorporating some old and new traditions that fit our Celtic heritage but also embraced my love of Art Deco. I wore a gold satin dress and a peacock feather headpiece. We drank whisky out of a Quaich during the ceremony and had a cake made entirely out of cheese. We served up bacon rolls at the evening Ceilidh dance, where the men looked great in kilts. I did not agree to obey my husband, we didn’t have traditional pretty candy favours – instead we donated money to a cancer charity. No top table; just lots of small, round, sociable tables. A small rebellion, but it was our rebellion nonetheless.

Photo via Art Deco Gal

My final thoughts; when planning your vintage wedding - stay true to your ideals, don’t worry about mixing elements of the past with modern things you love. Just remember your strength as an individual, your love as a couple and your priorities; it is your life and your choice after all.

Happy Planning!

Art Deco Gal

PS. You can find out more about Art Deco Gal on our Guest Blogger page. Also remember to Like us on FACEBOOK and follow us on TWITTER for all the latest good stuff!

{Real Wedding Round Up} Epic Themes: Mad Hatter | Vintage Carnival | 1940's Safari

One thing we really push here at de Lovely Affair is the idea that YOUR wedding should be completely yours; a total reflection of your personality as a couple, your likes, passions, inspirations  This is one day out of thousands that will be all yours....so take it by the horns. I like to say, Be Epic. With this is mind, here are my top choices for this Real Wedding Out of the Box Round Up.

Bich & Justin's Culture-Mixing Mad Hatter wedding
Original post found on Offbeat Bride  - Thank yous all around for letting us share this wedding!

Take mini tops hats, a traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony, an Australian backyard, a Mad Hatterish theme and a Yoda pinata and you have a fabulously unique and incredibly personal wedding day, designed specifically and solely for the pleasure of this bride and groom....and maybe a little bit for the guests too. My favorite piece of advice from Bich: Take a chill pill and remember that NOTHING is important other than you and your life partner getting married on your wedding day.

Vietnamese Tea Ceremony

Photo Credit: Kwintowski Photography

You really don't wanna miss the rest of Bich and Justin's story and their photo gallery! Hats off to our first Real Wedding - a perfect choice to be featured on dLA, a little culture, a little international, a little bit a...a whole lota personality!

Lauren and Joe’s Vintage Carnival Wedding
Original post found on Green Wedding Shoes

Absolutely ADORE this super fun, well designed, recycled/vintage wedding that is so full of personality,  it is bursting at the seams. Captured by Paige Newton, bride Lauren is a handcrafting and thrift store maven. She says, "I’ve always loved making things by hand so my mom and I (with the help of a few others) took on the laborious task of making nearly 1,000 feet of bunting from vintage fabric that I collected from various estate and yard sales.” A marriage celebration with eco-friendly intention, the couple gathered as many recycled/vintage items as possible to avoid buying anything new. In the end, their goal to just be FUN made all the difference in a day they lovingly designed just for them.

Check out the rest of their photo gallery and DIY story. I love the originality and passion of pursuing a unique vision...I guess there is a reason they are in the dLA Round Up!

Laura & Parker's Safari Themed Forest Wedding
Original post found on 100 Layer Cake

"I Married Adventure" is the 1940's book that served as the primary inspiration for this super sweet safari themed wedding.  The couple was honeymooning in an exotic location and wanted to incorporate that into their actual wedding...the book covering the African adventures of Martin and Osa Johnson seemed a great place to start. Captured by onelove photography, this wedding has all the making of originality, personality and well...an epic wedding adventure.

You can check out the rest of their story and all their online photos over at 100 Layer Cake. Sometimes the best inspiration can be found in the paper pages of a book...yes a real book! :)

Hope you enjoyed this Real Wedding Round Up, Epic Style. Do you have a suggestion for our Round Up installments? We'd love to hear your suggestions!

Good with the good stuff!