Ira + Lucy Featured In Oregon Bride Magazine

IRA + LUCY FEATURED IN OREGON BRIDE MAGAZINE!

Featured

Oregon Bride Magazine

We can finally let the cat out of the bag! We are so happy to be featured in Oregon Bride Magazine's Best of 2017 Issue! This feature means a lot as it's been so important to me and our brand that we are recognized as a PNW Wedding and Event Planner. 

Hope you enjoy the images from our shoot and be sure to check out the magazine, out now on shelves! Thank you to the awesome team of Creatives (listed below).

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PORTLAND INSPIRED

We were drawn to Portland’s beautiful architecture as it truly speaks for itself. This styled shoot at Adored Vintage focused on bringing out the truly imaginative, creative and natural talent that we love about the Portland scene. Keeping to neutral tones to accent Portland’s unique structure. The Oatmeal tone velvet with natural Tuscany linen napkins accented the ceramic pottery details and romantic gold elements. 

Textures were the focus for this tablescape with simple two tone vases, soft romantic hues and lush local floral elements. A tablescape is an experience for your guests. Run your fingertips over the soft velvet linen, the rough and smooth ceramics, the glassware, brass candlesticks and acrylic chairs. A tactile dream!

Acrylic chairs are a beautiful modern take on special event seating. Modern or classic and even with old world design style, they work! Showcase that beautiful linen and table design with a chair that only enhances the experience.

The brides dress, a stunning design from Alexandra Grecco,  reflects simple elegance with contemporary lines and movement. The silhouette while simple in design; mimics the dramatic architecture surrounding St. John’s bridge with a mirrored deep V neckline and stunning mid-thigh slit. Complementing the modern design is a delicate golden maple leaf crown from Melinda Rose Designs.

The cake was kept simple to compliment the signature cocktail and focus on texture mimicking the ceramic details and adorned with natural floral elements

We adore simple elegant design. Timeless. Classic. Unforgettable.

"SLOW AND STEADY"
SIGNATURE DRINK FROM ARCHIVE BAR

“As a nod to Portland’s unique history and innovation we created a customized botanical cocktail. “Slow and Steady” is a fortified wine based cocktail that is infused with Rosemary, Dry Vermouth, Apple Brandy, Lavender, Lemon and Sea Salt. The result hits you in waves – rosemary in the nose, herbaceous up front, followed by sweet apple, with a lightly salted effervescent finish.”

— Archive Coffee and Bar

VENDORS

Ira + Lucy Creative Director, Designer, Stylist + Decor Items
Film SLF
Film Photography | Kendra Elise Photography
Digital Photography | Peyton Lind Photography
Models | Jessica and Jonnathan
Hair & Makeup | Kirstie Wight
Floral Design | Dear House Collective
Dream Cakes
Archive Coffee and Bar
Rachel Jacobson Calligraphy
Adored Vintage Studio
La Tavola Linens
Gown | Alexandra Grecco
Veil and Crown | Melinda Rose Design
Ring By Angeline
Acrylic Chairs | The Party Place

Featured in Oregon Bride Magazine, Best of 2017

Hiring a Wedding Coordinator and What That Means For Your Wedding Day

"Getting Ready"

BLOG SERIES | PART 1

I'm going to bounce around a bit in the next few blogs about why hiring a wedding coordinator or planner is a benefit for you. It'd make sense to start with discussing planning, vendor negotiations, logistics etc, but we're going to jump in first with chatting about your wedding day, in particular, the getting ready part.

As your Wedding Coordinator and Designer I want nothing more than to know that my Bride and Groom are free of stress, relaxed, being pampered and know that everything is handled so that they can enjoy their time with their closest friends and family as they prepare to walk down the isle. I adore this image of our Bride, Megan, as she and her bridesmaids look out the estate windows overlooking the property and watch as our team hustles around the property setting up. We are submitting Megan and Kaleo's wedding for publication, but I realized that some of these behind the scenes pics don't make publication galleries, but they are also such a HUGE part of what we do. These images are awesome in telling the benefits of having a coordinator. Here is our bride with her best friends relaxed and enjoying seeing it'll all come to life.

When I sit down with couples, and often those consultations include the Mother of the Bride, when we start talking about what are their hopes, how they envision their day I always hear about what the bride and mother want for what happens BEFORE the ceremony. I want you to think about that as well. For my own wedding, I didn't budget for a wedding coordinator and that is with major regret... instead my sisters, mom, aunts and even grandmother were not with me in my hotel room helping me prepare for the happiest day of my life. They were out in hot summer temps running around trying to set up our wedding. They were dealing with stress and vendor frustrations and trying to figure out how to set up the wedding decor to fit my dream I had worked hard planning... They then had to rush into the bridal suite moments before the wedding to day they loved me and to quick change into their dresses for their part of walking down the isle... REGRETS.... When we first started many of my couples didn't hire a coordinator, instead they just hired us to set up the wedding and leave. Ohhhh.... how many times did I see the repeat mistakes that I had made... frustrated, exhausted, irritated, hurt moms, friends and family members who, yes, had volunteered to set up and were happy to volunteer... but, they had no idea what amount of work and stress they had signed up for AND what they would miss out on come the wedding. It is VERY rare for it to go otherwise.

A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME

Instead, what I had wished happen and what all of my clients share they desire is a different experience. Instead, you, the bride, are surrounded by your closest girlfriends and women in your life that are there with you in a peaceful and joyous state. Refreshments and small bites are available to keep each of you comfortable and relaxed. It's a quite time to give gifts to your bridesmaids if you wish. You can share quiet time reflecting on your vows and relationship and what this day means to you and your family. Your best friend and mom can help you into your gown. If you have a summer or winter wedding, you can all be indoors in a temperature controlled environment. You're not just feeling your best as you have your hair and makeup done, but so are these incredible women you cherish. Megan gave each of her bridesmaids a special clutch. They laughed, they enjoyed watching the set up, they helped one another dress. It was peaceful and perfect. Megan's mom then helped her into her gown. A moment that we talked at the very beginning about being a priority.

Creating time for the bride and groom allows flexibility. Here, we were able to have the officiant take some one on one time with Megan and Kaleo beforehand to review any ceremony details. This also alleviates any last minute stress about the ceremony flow and specifics. This reassurance can calm nerves and allow the bride and groom to enter into a headspace that is more relaxed and able to take in the moment better.

And we're not JUST talking about the girls. The guys too, should be hang'n out, relaxed and enjoying some guy time and not stressed about anything else. Kaleo and his best friends played air hockey, ping pong, watched some football, enjoyed snacks and refreshments. This also allowed our photographers to have time to shoot getting ready pics for both the gals and guys without issues.

Think about how you want to feel on your wedding day, especially in the moments leading up to the ceremony. Who do you want with you? What kind of environment do you imagine? A Wedding Coordinator makes this happen. We work hundreds of hours leading up to this moment to bring that vision to reality and maybe even better! Stay tuned for more of this blog series!

FROM THE BRIDE...

"I want to start off by saying that I was always the girl who NEVER needed a wedding coordinator. I knew “exactly” what I wanted my wedding to look like, and I’ve always been a natural planner, so why would I need someone’s help? Once upon a time I even dreamed of being a wedding planner myself, so I felt like planning my own wedding would be a piece of cake. A few weeks in to the planning stage and my head was spinning while trying to find 300 of the perfect chairs, a task that I thought would be so simple. Turns out, planning your own wedding isn’t easy. Pinning gorgeous photos to your “Fairytale” pinterest board may be a dreamy no-brainer, but it doesn’t work that way in real life. It’s a lot harder than one might think to pull together a luxurious seating lounge or take 50 of your carefully thrifted bowls and vases and turn them into collaborative centerpieces. And lets not even get started on the not so obvious details- linens for breadbaskets, reserved seating signs, extension cords??? There is more that goes into planning a wedding than I ever could have imagined. 

I first contacted Heidi because my mom wanted to hire someone who could take the stress off of the wedding day set-up and tear-down. But after hearing about what she could offer in the coordination department and after seeing the beautiful work on her site, I could not help myself but get lost in the idea of having someone rescue me from my never ending planningchallenges. Right from the moment that I met Heidi and her assistant Molly, I felt like 300 pounds were lifted from my shoulders. They knew exactly what needed to be done to make my dream day come true and they were just as excited about it as I was. They gave me a strict to-do list and a firm deadline to make decisions while they got busy calling vendors and pulling together the seriously impossible. They put together a vision board that was absolutely perfect for me and finally I was able to start enjoying the whole process. It wasn’t long after that when I told my mom the best thing I had spent my money on so far was my wedding planners. They worked like crazy making sure that I could have everything that I envisioned for my day. Not only did they make the planning process so much easier- they made it so that I could spend my wedding day focusing on all of the important parts. The night before my wedding I was able to go home and relax and get my rest. The morning of my wedding I was able to spend the day with my bridesmaids and my mom at the salon getting our hair, makeup, and nails done. I didn’t have to worry about a thing but just showing up and looking pretty. I knew without a doubt that their team would have everything under control and that everything would get done just how I wanted it and in plenty of time for my walk down the aisle. I didn’t stress. My family didn’t stress. Everyone was able to enjoy the day just as they should have. 

I look back at my dream of becoming a wedding planner and I can’t imagine ever thinking that it was something that I could do. It takes a special kind of person to not only be able to work that hard, but to want it so much for someone else. Heidi is that person. That is what her team stands for and I couldn’t be more grateful that I chose them to help me with my wedding." - Megan
 

Nate Perkes Photography
Ira + Lucy Wedding Design + Coordination
Open Table Catering
Blooms Flower Studio
VCI Audio
Tates Tents and Events

Marsala Pantone Color of the Year 2015

It's been announced! The Hot Color for 2015 has been predicted to be Marsala, an earthy red-brown and sophisticated tone. Similar to burgundy and maroon, I know many of you think Marsala will only fit fall and winter season weddings. Here, I have paired this bolder tone with the soft romantic hues I know so many of you love. Peach, blush, dusty rose and gold all pair wonderful with Marsala. Marsala encourages design to layer tones and I LOVE that! I always encourage our couples to broaden their original color palette and not just use two or three, but to layer them. If you adore this color, but are worried it will dominate, take some of these ideas as inspiration. A pop in your floral design, perhaps some stunning after the wedding lingerie, invitation liners, or a breath taking vintage sofa for your bridal portraits or memorable lounge at your reception. There are so many lovely options! We'd love to hear your feedback on this year's choice! I'm still partial to 2013's Emerald, but I think I can be persuaded with this elegant hue.

Photo Credits: Dahlias flickr.com mellow_stuff, Plum and Peach wedding bouquet by Kate Foley Designs, tablescape Paula's Healthy Living, Blush Gown Alexi Shields Photography and Boca by Design, Arch Eric Ronald, Cake Photographer: Megan Pomeroy and Cake: Le Cupcake, Invitation Suite Plum and Gold wedding invitations by Sage Nines Event Production, Pink Astilbe - Bohemian Barn wedding by Braedon Flynn, Vintage Sofa Brown Dress with White Dots, Gold Escort Cards Linen Escort Card Display-Snippet and Ink- Lisa Lefkowitz, peach heels Snippet and Ink,Floral Design Chair Ben Q. Photography