Monday, February 29, 2016

How to Tastefully Incorporate Your Sorority in Your Wedding

It’s the day you’ve always waited for and talked about with your sorority sisters.  You’ve experienced so many candle passings during your as a collegiate and you finally get the time to shine. Can you believe all the times you’ve talked about your sisters being bridesmaids in your wedding is finally a reality?

Since your sorority holds such a big place in your heart, incorporate it in your wedding. I’ve put together some ways you can share your love of your sorority during your big day!

How to Tastefully Incorporate Your Sorority in Your Wedding

1. Pin your sorority sister’s badges on your bouquet. They have walked with you during the ups and downs of your college career, now they can walk with you down the aisle on the most important day of your life.

bouquet

2. Add your sorority flower to your bouquet. Even if your sorority flower doesn’t match the rest of your bouquet, hide it at the bottom of your bouquet. Others might not notice that it’s there or what it means, but you and your sisters will, and that’s what counts.

How to Tastefully Incorporate Your Sorority in Your Wedding

3. Wear your badge on the inside of your dress. If you are anything like me, you hold so much love for our sorority in your heart. By pinning your badge on the inside of your dress it will showcase the love you have for your sorority.

How to tastefully incorporate your sorority in your wedding

4. Use your sorority flower as a center piece. Some sorority flowers have meaning behind them. My sorority’s flower is a pink carnation because its the longest enduring flower. What a perfect place to display it! Have your sisters sit together at your reception and make an elegant flower arrangement for the center of the table or place one flower at every seat.

5.Sing your sorority’s song. Your sisters know how special this day is to you and will probably make you the center of attention and sing your sorority song to you. Warning: tissues might be needed!

How to tastefully incorporate your sorority into your wedding

6. Flower pin. Let your wedding guests know the ones that were there with you during your crazy college years are. Honor your sisters with a flower to wear during the wedding.

sign reads: please take a yellow rose and pin it on your lapel in honor of your sisterhood with the bride

sign reads: please take a yellow rose and pin it on your lapel in honor of your sisterhood with the bride

7. Engagement Photos. If you and your husband are both greek consider showing your love for your letters in your engagement photos. You could always have your photos in your guest book or on easels for display.

How to Tastefully Incorporate Your Sorority in Your Wedding

These are a few of my favorite ways of to include your sorority in your wedding. If you have any other ideas I’d love to hear from you!

Photo Credit: CarolinaMrs Blog, Southern Weddings, The Angelos of Kappa Delta, Style Me Pretty, Pinterest

Friday, February 26, 2016

A Short and Sweet DIY For Your Ceremony Exit

Prepare your guests—and yourself—for a fun ceremony exit. These cones are perfect for whatever your toss-of-choice may be, from confetti to rose petals to mini pom-poms.
 
White rose petal confetti cones for wedding ceremony
Photo by Devon Jarvis
 
Planning on having your guests help out with a special ceremony exit (and a killer photo op)? Set out a basket of easy-to-grab cones at the head of the aisle, or place them on every two or three seats so they're waiting for guests upon their arrival. Include a note in your program, asking them to shower you in confetti as you make your way up the aisle as a married duo.

When you're thinking about what to put in your cones, take your venue into consideration. Some might charge a fee for confetti cleanup, or an outdoor venue may only allow environmentally friendly or biodegradable confetti to be tossed. Best to ask up front. Whatever you choose, one thing's for sure: you're going to get some beautiful action shots! Show us your DIY confetti cones by tagging your pictures with #theknotDIY on Instagram and Twitter!

The Knot template
ink-jet printer
double-sided paper
scissors
hot glue
stamp or stickers
confetti filler

1. Download and print our template.
2. Trace your paper into a 6-inch square and cut.
3. Measure 1 inch in on one edge.
4. Using a ruler to get a straight line, make a dog-ear fold, creasing from your 1-inch mark to the bottom corner of the paper.
5. Bring the opposite edge of the paper toward the crease, and secure in place with hot glue.
6. Apply your sticker or stamp over the center crease.
7. Fill with confetti or flower petals.

Couple Marries Mid-Flight in Surprise Airplane Wedding for Mom Battling Cancer

Kristy and Jim Airplane weddingJim and Kristy surprised her sick mother by getting married 35,000 feet in the air on flight 461 from Los Angeles to Seattle. Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography 
 
Love was in the air somewhere over Oregon when flight attendant Kristy Larsen and her husband Jim married in a one-of-a-kind airplane wedding on Alaska Airlines Flight 461 Friday, February 19.
Bride Kristy, who first met Jim in a Seattle coffee shop while she was on a layover, had been working for the airline for 11 years before taking to the skies to wed her fiance. Sharing with The Knot that they not only took a leap by getting engaged on Leap Day, February 29, 2012, the pair went to even greater heights for their airplane wedding last weekend!
But Frees it in Time photographer and friend of the bride Christina Frees told The Knot that planning a speedy airplane wedding isn’t an easy task. “Getting permission for this type of wedding is rare and hard. Last time our airline approved someone to get married in flight was another one of our flight attendants over 20 years ago!” She added, “We work for the best airline, with the best crews and it really took everyone’s help to pull it off.”

Bride Kristy holding bridal bouquet during airplane wedding
Kristy held a bridal bouquet of pink, purple and white flowers on her wedding day. Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography
Kristy called the planning process “tricky,” adding that Alaska Airline inflight supervisor and friend Rita Daniels was an asset in procuring permissions. She helped make sure the ceremony ran smoothly so Kristy could celebrate at 35,000 feet with her close friends and unsuspecting passengers on the sold out flight!

“I had 11 days to plan which included coming up with the idea, getting permission from Alaska Airlines, designing and making my shoes and accessories, coordinating tickets and getting medical approval for my mom to travel,” Kristy told The Knot.

Airplane wedding vow exchange

With the blessing of the Captain, the bride and groom were married by pastor Scott Wetzel. 
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

The bride’s mother Billie Jo had been receiving treatments for lung cancer while living in Los Angeles. She was able to not only witness her daughter’s wedding, but also travel to Seattle to see where her daughter lives with Jim and how she works in airplanes. Christina shared that the wedding was a secret for Billie Jo saying, “I think she reacted the way everyone on the plane did. With shock and joy! I believe her words were ‘pretty spectacular!’ There were tears, laughs and lots of hugs.”
“She was VERY excited and said, ‘That’s my Kissy!’ My family’s nickname for me,” Kristy told The Knot. “She says, ‘I am super pleased to see my girl so happy.'” Contrary to other reports, the bride shared that her mother was doing well adding, “She is strong and improving. She’s had positive results from the new alternative immunotherapy treatments for her lung cancer.”

Airplane wedding champagne toast

Kristy and Jim shared a toast with flight 461 passengers after their wedding ceremony. 
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

Calling on not only her chosen wedding guests of flight attendants and Alaska Airlines supervisors, the bride cleverly devised ways to transform the airplane into a wedding venue with the help of its 165 passengers. “The passengers were amazing! People love a love story and a surprise. This obviously had both,” the wedding photographer said. “They were asked to hold tulle down the aisle, chocolate roses, and were given bubbles for the walk back down.”

Airplane wedding aisle
Passenger helped create a wedding aisle for the bride and groom and blew bubbles after the ceremony.
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

“I have never photographed a wedding where the people attending the wedding didn’t know they were going to be part of such an emotional and intimate moment,” Christina told The Knot. “None of the 165 passengers knew the couple and everyone was so excited to share in their love. It was so amazing to see people come together to celebrate a beautiful love story and touching moment with Jim, Kristy and her mom Billie Jo.”

Thankful for the receptive rows of spontaneous wedding guests, the bride also exclusively shared with The Knot that her favorite memory of the day was, “Seeing the passengers so engaged and enjoying themselves. You could feel the happiness, love and joy spreading throughout the cabin.”

Airplane wedding passengers
Passengers aboard flight 461 from Los Angeles to Seattle helped Kristy and Jim celebrate their wedding
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

“Well….and the shoes!” the bride added. “I really enjoyed designing and most of all wearing them.” The shoes in question are custom white pumps dreamt up and painted by the bride to resemble the Alaska Airlines airplane, complete with blue heels with a green stripe, and rows of tiny windows. Kristy said, “I loved people’s reactions to the shoes!” The Knot certainly can’t get enough of this unique airplane wedding detail, too!

Airplane wedding heels
Kristy told The Knot that she “loved” peoples reactions to the airplane wedding heels she designed 
herself. Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

Despite the “short notice plan,” photographer and flight attendant Christina leapt at the opportunity to capture her friends Kristy and Jim’s location-less wedding. “I didn’t find out the location was a plane until the week before!” she said. “I love planes as much as I love photography and feel really comfortable in that environment so I knew it would be a challenge, but one I was happy to take.”
Much like planning an airplane wedding, navigating the cabin of a sold out Alaska Airlines flight that’s been transformed into a wedding venue proved to be quite the experience. The photographer grabbed an open jumpseat on the sold out flight and prepared to shoot the airplane wedding in its less-than-ideal photographic conditions.

Airplane wedding flight 461 passengers
Photographer Christina Frees said the passengers were “amazing” and supportive of the mid-flight 
ceremony. Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

“If you’ve ever been on an airplane you know the lighting is bad! Like ’70s school bathroom bad,” she joked. “I prefer to shoot in natural light and there was none to be had in that environment. It’s also not the prettiest location.” With a 22-inch aisle, a full cabin and low lighting, Christina explained, “It was a challenge but so fun!”

“My goal was to use my 85mm fixed lens to get beautiful close-in shots focusing on the emotion of the bride and groom,” Christina added. She managed to capture beautiful shots of the bride and groom walking down the airplane’s aisle, getting married by friend and pastor Scott Wetzel, and sharing priceless moments with Billie Jo and the rest of the cabin.

Airplane wedding arrival in Seattle
The bride and groom were greeted at their gate with signs and balloons in Seattle. 
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

When the plane touched down in Seattle, the bride shared with The Knot that the airline had created a special welcome at the gate complete with congratulatory signs, balloons and flowers. “The following day we had a wedding reception in Snohomish, Washington for friends and family,” she shared.

Airplane wedding couple eating cake in airport
The bride and groom shared a piece of cake at the airport. 
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

Though the couple are waiting for things to settle down a bit before venturing off to Iceland for their honeymoon, Kristy did reveal one regret about a project she hopes to start working on soon. “I am designing custom fabrics to add comments, wishes and names of the ones who witnessed our ceremony into a memory quilt,” she said. “My only regret was not giving [the flight passengers] a way to stay in touch and share their pictures, videos and thoughts with us.”

Airplane wedding exit
After the wedding, Kristy and Jim held a reception for friends and family. 
Credit: Christina Frees/Frees it in Time Photography

So, if you happened to be on the momentous flight and witnessed Kristy and Jim Larsen’s airplane wedding, share your experience with the couple by using their unique hashtag #weddingflight461. We can’t wait to see what others caught on camera from throughout the cabin!

Thursday, February 25, 2016

They Saw The Sign! How Real Brides Knew He Was About to Propose


signs he's about to propose
Photo: Mary + Roy
 
Normally, your man's pretty smooth, but when it came to popping the question? Well, not so much. Whether he was acting completely out of character or he just straight up let the cat out of the bag himself, here is how real brides knew a marriage proposal was right around the corner. Eek!

He planned a surprise trip for us
"I love my fiancĂ©, but bless him, he's the opposite of a planner! So when, out of the blue, he booked a surprise trip for us and it wasn't my birthday or our anniversary, I knew something was up. I discovered where we were going and assumed he'd propose when we got there. Shocker, he did! I never let him in on the fact that I had it all figured out though." — Jessica 

He splurged on an expensive bottle of champagne
"We were heading out of town for a weekend ski trip, and as we were leaving I heard him tell his sister pretty loudly that he'd bought some nice champagne since it was going to be a special occasion. Then he turned and smiled at me and gave me a little wink. Clearly, he wasn't trying to keep it a secret!" — Devon 

His emails said it all
"Okay, I know I shouldn't have done this, but I snooped through his emails and saw several exchanges between him and the jeweler. I had a vague idea of when the ring would arrive, and sure enough, the weekend after it did he wanted to take me out to dinner at my favorite restaurant. At that point, I was positive a proposal was coming, however, it didn't happen that evening! Instead, he took me to a rooftop lounge in the city for lunch the following day and we grabbed ice cream and strolled through the park afterward. Once we reached the fountain, he got down on one knee and popped the question. Best day ever!" — Lindsay

He asked me when he should propose
"Clearly we're not very traditional at all! We went ring shopping together, and I picked out the exact one I wanted. After that, he asked me when he should propose. Of course, I told him it was up to him, but he knew the sooner the better. It took a few weeks to get the ring, and then a few days later we were engaged!" — Colby 

He wanted to drink special occasion-only beer
"I first got suspicious when he planned a weekend trip for us, but it's not like it was that out of the norm. However, when he was adamant about bringing his backpack everywhere we went (apparently it had the ring inside) and he wanted to drink some super rare beer he had packed for us, I thought this must be it. He only saves that particular beer for special occasions, and sure enough I was right; he proposed that weekend." — Ellie 
 
The mail gave it away
"I was onto him as soon as we started getting mail from a diamond jeweler! I don't think he realized that once he bought the ring he was also on their mailing list, and since I'm the one who always gets the mail I was like, okay he's definitely going to propose now. I kept my mouth shut, and about a month later he did. It was torture waiting though!" — Andrea

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

The 12 Best Bouquets Of The Year

The 12 Best Bouquets Of The Year

The 12 Best Bouquets Of The Year
Your big day bloom search officially stops here. We’ve scoured the internet to bring you the 12 best bridal bouquets of the year. From lush flowers to eye-catching accessories, you’re not going to be able to take your eyes off of these fabulous floral arrangements.

1. Lush blooms of ruffled pink peonies make for an incredibly romantic bridal bouquet. 
Courtesy of Jessamyn Harris Photography

2. Crystal pins are added to the throat of each blossom of this deep red bouquet of roses. 
 
Courtesy of Corey Ann Photography

3. A sweet palette of pastels makes for a beautiful bouquet that’s perfect for a garden wedding.
 
Courtesy of Vis Photography, Floral by Stephanie Grace Designs


4. Varying shades of purple flowers add texture and dimension to this bouquet.
 
Courtesy of  Christian Oth Studio, Floral by Belle Fleur

5. Pink roses get taken to the next level with this incredible crystal floral accessory.
 
Courtesy of Mick Cookson Photography

6. Calling all boho brides, this loose arrangement of beautiful blooms is just the thing for a free spirit.
 
Courtesy of Kristina Curtis Photography, Floral by Calie Rose


7. Classically elegant, you can’t go wrong with a crisp white cascading bouquet of roses and orchids.
 
Courtesy of Bamber Photography, Floral by Blossoms at Biltmore Park

8. Purple amaranthus drips from this bright and beautiful bouquet giving it an ethereal feel.
 
Courtesy of Color Me Rad

9. Flower petals are expertly constructed to give the illusion of one large beautiful bloom.
 
Courtesy of Dahlia Floral Design


10. Hypernicum berries add a fabulously fresh feel to this bouquet of bright blooms.


11. Soft pink peonies are accented with fragrant purple lilacs for a simply sweet floral arrangement.
  
Courtesy of Brklyn View Photography

12. Peonies are mixed with soft gray lamb’s ear for a wonderfully wintry feel.
 
Courtesy of Photography by Benamoz Ltd

-Melissa Hammam

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

5 Extra Touches To Make Your Affair Stand Apart

A box of necessities in the bathroom, from ibuprofen to mouthwash, shows your guests that their comfort is on your mind.
Colin Miller
In the history of entertaining, no guest has ever pooh-poohed a host who goes above-and-beyond the call of duty. Now it's your turn.
Enhance your legacy with these five easy ways to make your one-time role as a bride brilliant:

1. Weather or Not

Was it Proust (or a virtuosic bride from flawless weddings past) who said, "A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate the world and ourselves"?
If you're hosting an outdoor event, consider offering guests shawls to borrow should the weather turn a touch chilly, sunscreen or wide-brimmed hats should the sun come on too strong, or fans if the temp heats up.

2. Late-night Perks

When the dance floor is pumping and guests are nowhere close to calling it a night, offer passed trays of late-night libations and snacks. It entices your guests to stay longer and makes them love you all the more.

3. Kids Korner

Ah children. To have or to banish tots from your affair is one of the touchiest subjects that arises when selecting a guest list. A first-class solution: hire two babysitters to watch the kids while their parents (i.e. your nearest and dearest) party with you.
These caregivers can either watch the babes off-site or in a separate room at your reception locale. Either way, your guests will never, ever forget your magnanimity.

4. Transportation Nation

When your ceremony and reception are at different locales, help your guests make the transition from ceremonial to celebration mode by providing detailed (even escorted!) info on how and when to show up at the reception.
Too often, guests stand around milling about after the ceremony, unsure of the whereabouts or exact time to show up at the reception. So consider providing transportation, or put a detailed reminder as to their next step in your wedding program.

5. Don't Skip the Loo, My Darlings

Every single wedding guest will eventually make at least one trip to the bathroom. Don't neglect the opportunity to add personal touches to the one spot your guests may run to when they need something they couldn't fit in a pocket or a tiny cocktail-party clutch.
Here's a list of items to place in a basket in the corner of the appropriate WC:
  • Antacid tablets
  • Aspirin
  • Band-Aids
  • Bobby pins
  • Chewing gum, breathe mints, and mouthwash
  • Clear nail polish (for mending runs in nylons)
  • Dental floss
  • Hairbrush and comb
  • Hair spray
  • Hand lotion or moisturizing cream
  • Lip balm
  • Nail file and emery board
  • Pantyhose (one or two extra pairs for emergencies in neutral colors)
  • Pens and Post-It Notes
  • Perfume or cologne
  • Safety pins
  • Sanitary napkins and tampons
  • Sewing kit