DESIGN BLOG
IRA + LUCY FEATURES
Justin + Cole's McCall Wedding
Justin + Cole
SEPTEMBER 10 2016 | BLACKHAWK ON THE RIVER | MCCALL, ID
“I got you
I got everything
I’ve got you
I don’t need nothing
More than you
I got everything
I’ve got you”
DESIGN PLANNING
A sneak peek into the planning process, detailing the focal fire pit that is a big feature on the property grounds. Justin really wanted to do a s'more area with some of her favorite throw blankets. It was a big hit! As the sun set and the air cooled down, many guests stayed warm by the fire, enjoying a cold beer and celebrating with the newlyweds.
Megan + Kaleo's Estate Wedding
PRIVATE ESTATE WEDDING | EAGLE IDAHO
OUR STORY
from the bride
“Kaleo and I started dating when we were 16. Nearly ten years later, I was given the opportunity to marry my Polynesian quarterback, my high school sweetheart. During our high school days, there was a specific song that Kaleo would always play for me. It was called ‘On This Day,’ by Junior Maile. He use to tell me, ‘I’m going to play this song when I propose to my wife.’ Little did I know, years later that song would be playing for me as Kaleo led me out onto a candlelit balcony, asking me to dance with him before getting down on one knee. A few short months later, I sat on that same balcony overlooking the setup of my dream wedding, with Junior Maile himself in person setting up to play our song as I walked down the aisle.”
OUR WEDDING STYLE
“Designing our wedding was most certainly a challenge. I had always dreamed of a classic, black and white wedding, full of femininity. I wanted the delicate touch of white and blush pink flowers mixed in, with pretty antique and vintage pieces that I had collected over time. But, I also wanted to incorporate hints of Kaleo’s Hawaiian heritage. I had to find a way to carefully blend our two worlds into one. Kaleo’s family comes from the island of Oahu. If you have ever been there, your eyes have laid witness to the most breathtaking, lush, green mountains that tower over the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. With that being my inspiration, I decided to incorporate large amounts of greenery into my decor, along with some deep blue accents. Bamboo-inspired Chiavari chairs were added to the natural island feel. Vintage mirrors, gold and silver thrifted vases, and my bridesmaids’ antique clutches were some of my favorite feminine details. The most special part for Kaleo and I both, however, was the soft and beautiful Polynesian music from Junior Maile.”
Custom Design Boards, Schematics and Details! Part of the Ira + Lucy Experience! Invites by Paperie + Pen
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 planning challenges. 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. - Bride, Megan
Cake: Amaru Confections Bakery // Calligraphy: Inkling Calligraphy // Catering: Open Table // Design & Coordination: Ira & Lucy // Dress: Margene’s Bridal // Floral: Blooms Flower Studio // Hair, Makeup, Nails: Two Rivers Salon and Spa // Invitations: Paperie & Pen // Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse // Photography: Nate Perkes // Rentals: Tates Tents & Events // Rings: Simmons Fine Jewelry // Shoes: Ted Baker // Videography: Mark Keysor Videography // DJ, Lighting: VCI Audio
Emily + Isaac's Southern Charm Country Wedding
STILL WATER HOLLOW | JUNE 20TH 2016
Emily and Isaac met while working on a Ranch together. We infused the wedding with details from their love story, focused on Emily's southern roots and their shared loved for the country life. The wedding was planned utilizing our virtual meeting tools, so Emily's mom could be part of the exciting planning process, even though she was in Virginia. Our favorite details.... Emily's stunning Hayley Paige wedding gown, Isaac's candid reaction to seeing her for the first time, the cotton and the ceramic piggy place card holders - a nod to the incredible dinner!
“If I know what love is, it is because of you.”
VENDOR TEAM
Ira + Lucy Full Coordination + Design
Just So. Event Floral
Still Water Hollow
Open Table Catering
Stevi Raff Cakes
Hair by Shawna Hines, Bride + Bridesmaids HMU
Stephanie Mballo Photography
VCI Audio
Tates Tents and Events, Chair Rentals, Dishwater
La Tavola Fine Linen Rentals
Hayley Paige Wedding Gown
Katie + Craig's Warm Springs Wedding
ST. JOHN CATHEDRAL | WARM SPRINGS | JUNE 25TH 2016
“To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that’s everything.”
“..they are so happy..and so of course we are so happy. What a wonderful wedding. You were incredible and you are so gifted at what you do. Have anyone call me anytime if they want to visit with a past, very particular “mother of the bride” …my reference will be shining and for very good reasons. Thank you for making the day go so smoothly and so beautifully. While we did this for Katie and Craig, I can’t help be pleased when the compliments keep rolling in..the food, the flowers, the décor, the venue, the staff, the music, the …….you should be very proud! Cheers to you Heidi…our love and admiration for a fantastic job so very well done.”
“I know Patty said thank you, but I wanted to echo that sentiment. Obviously, we are pretty fond of Katie and Craig. You really made their special day perfect. You, and your staff, were wonderful to work with and fun to be around. Taking all those organizational tasks off our hands allowed us to relish the occasion, what a blessing.”
“You are really amazing. You are passionate about what you do and you poor your whole self into it. My favorite comment was that people ‘could really feel the love’ during the whole event! Isn’t that the coolest?
Some other comments:
“They moved a LOT of people through the event and it never felt like it”
“ The decorations were incredible”…people were so impressed with every detail…
Loved the farm tables
Loved the bars
Loved the pics
Loved the table settings
LOVED the tent
Loved the DJ
“The food was remarkable” – everything here was perfect and people were wondering how you fed so many without any food being dry or cold. Wow. “The staff was really professional and worked so hard”. Everyone was jealous of the ear pieces. “There were a lot of photographers. Those pictures are going to be amazing” –”
It's with bittersweet emotions that I share Katie and Craig's beautiful wedding day! It took almost a full year's work to plan, design and manage their wedding and I have come to care very much for Katie and Craig and their families. I consider myself extremely blessed by the clients and the friendships formed from the relationship we build and so sometimes when it's all over.... it can be a little sad. I know that the emails and texts and meetings will become memories, but they are cherished memories. Katie and Craig have thee biggest hearts and are two of the most kind individuals I have ever met. This was truly a labor of love! Thank you Katie and Craig, Patty and Derrick, Teresa and Jeff... thank you for sharing this intimate and cherished time in your family's lives with me and allowing me and my team the honor to create a remarkable and memorable wedding I know we will all cherish. Blessings! - H
VENDORS
Ira + Lucy Wedding Coordination and Design
Let It Shine Photography
Just So. Event Floral
Open Table Catering
Stevi Raff Cakes
VCI Audio, Sound and Lighting
Tates Tents + Events
La Tavola Fine Linen
Behrens Artistry
The Grove Hotel
St Johns Cathedral
Boise Shuttle Service
Boise Township Tours
2nd Shooter, Vlad, Radion Photography
Makayla + Mike's French Garden Wedding
Makayla + Mike
Fourth Street Gardens | June 3rd, 2016
“You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
’Cause I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you”
Ira + Lucy
Custom design boards
As part of our "Enhanced Day of" Package we provide design assistant to three selected areas of the couples' choice. Makayla and Mike asked for special attention for their Head Bridal Party Table, The Ceremony Alter and the Cake Feature.
Below is a snippet from the Custom Design Boards we created for the Head Table concept, featuring a romantic floral print linen from La Tavola Fine Linen, pulling in the blush tones from the wedding color palette. The Bride and Groom sat in our "Kelli Jean" french victorian settee for their special seating and the rest of the wedding party looked lovely in the cross back chairs we sourced from Tates. Each place setting had our Honey Harvest rattan charger and a blush napkin. French vintage blush stemware added some whimsy and antique brass candlesticks and candles set the tone for a dreamy garden tablescape. The floral design by Lemon Blossom Designs was stunning!!!! Those peonies were quite the statement and so dreamy! I finished the settings by adding classic china with blush accents for the Bride and Groom place settings.
“YOU Heidi, are a AMAZING. Tell the whole team too! Yesterday was seriously PERFECTION, we had so much fun and got to enjoy time with each other and our families and guests because of you!! Thank you thank you!”
Sammie + Beau's Boho Wedding
Sammie + Beau
Still Water Hollow | April 29th, 2016
Yet everything that touches us, me and you,
takes us together like a violin's bow,
which draws one voice out of two separate strings
- Rainer Maria Rilke, "Love Song"
The Design
Custom wedding design by Ira + lucy
Sammie shared with me a love for moody jewel tones and wanted to be sure it didn't feel too "girly" or too "country rustic". We focused on giving some boho vibes and playing up the jewel tones with a softer blush hue in the mix to add some depth to the palette. Pheasant feathers were a must for Sammie and Just So. Event Floral did a beautiful job incorporating them into the Bridal bouquet and Groom's boutonnière. I pulled away from a country vibe by adding a dramatic textured black and white print linen, from La Tavola Fine Linen, for the large head table. Adding vintage brown bottles, brass candlesticks with black tapers, gold geo shapes, air plants and ferns helped create a WOW focal point. Last minute, I decided to surprise Sammie with stunning calligraphy place cards from Sarah Pearl Studio. I requested them on black paper with torn edges and white text to add to that edgier vibe I wanted.
Authentic Mexican Equipale chairs made for the perfect Bride + Groom special seating and after dinner we pulled one out for the garter toss! I'm so excited about these new chairs now a part of our rental collection! The Honey Harvest Rattan Chargers pulled in the warm wood hues seen in the chairs, the brick backdrop and flooring.
Custom Projects
Sammie is going to school full time for nursing and truly, just didn't have the time or capacity to plan a wedding. Not to mention, just a few months before the wedding, her original venue canceled all their booked weddings, so we had to scramble to move the wedding to a new venue. At that point Sammie gave me full rein and told me to just take total creative and logistic control and pull her wedding together. It was pretty incredible to be able to have so much creative freedom and then get to surprise Sammie and Beau with all the little details we planned for them. The week of the wedding Sammie and her Mom wrote me in a panic that they forgot about a ring bearer pillow! So, I chatted with Kara, the florist and we put our minds together and I created the ring pillow and she made the flower girl baskets to match!
Farm House Tables
Our NEW Farm House Tables making their debut!!! They were incredible and made for the perfect special seating for the reserved family tables! Aren't they gorgeous pushed together for a dramatic tables cape and they pair beautifully with Tates new cross back chairs.
Team Member Pic by Peyton! Cake by Stevi Raff, Design Ira + Lucy
Ira + Lucy Team Member Pic, by Peyton. Sarah Pearl Calligraphy. Just So. Event Floral
“I’ve just been crying since last night and still can’t stop. I am in absolute awe. Thank you just does not do it. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude... I don’t have the words to thank you. That wedding was something out of my wildest dreams. You guys are miracle workers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!””
This was one of those "get you in the feels" weddings and couple. When Sammie and I first met in person there was an immediate connection, one of those God moments where you know you were brought into one another's lives for a bigger purpose. I won't got into the specifics, as it's personal for both Sammie and I, and we don't need to get too weepy eyed in our blog, but I'll forever feel connected to Sammie and giving her her dream wedding was a joy. I know all the vendors went above and beyond to love on this couple and I couldn't be more proud of our team and showing why we do what we do! To bless others! Love you so much Sammie! xoxo
VENDOR TEAM
Ira + Lucy Full Coordination + Design
Just So. Event Floral
Still Water Hollow
Open Table Catering
Stevi Raff Cakes
Hair by Shawna Hines, Bride + Bridesmaids HMU
Bridal Makeup, Blush by Jamie Rose, Bride's Sister-In-Law
Radion Photography and Blue Chip Media
VCI Audio
Tates Tents and Events, Chair Rentals, Dishwater
La Tavola Fine Linen Rentals
Plum Pretty Sugar Robe, Gifted to our Bride
Vera Wang Gown, David's Bridal
Bridal Beauty Essentials
Real Wedding Week
The Day Before the Wedding
Guest Post from the Bride's Professional Makeup Artist Blush, By Jamie Rose
As you can imagine we are quite busy! It's the day before our first big wedding of the season and it couldn't start with a sweeter and more deserving bride. Sammie's wedding is going to be full of black, white, and hues of purples and a pop of blush for a romantic boho wedding. One of the special moments planned is Sammie's soon-to-be-sister-in-law, Jamie, will be doing her bridal makeup look. Jamie is a phenomenal makeup artist and has thee most adorable french styled boutique in Boise, Blush Luxury Beauty Boutique. Jamie was a doll and sent over some of her professional Bridal Beauty Essentials!
Here are some key beauty items every bride should be carrying in their clutch for the big day, and a couple other products that will keep your skin radiant for the big day!
1. Lollia Little Luxe Perfume: Just the right size for your bridal clutch, super delicate and soft scent is the perfect accessory to have on hand throughout your big day!
2. Blotterazzi: The ultimate bride essential! A chic mirrored compact with two blotting sponges, made of beautyblender® material, for beauty touch ups on the go. Takes away unwanted shine and leaves your wedding makeup perfectly in place!
3. Lip Gloss: We love all lippies especially Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss. It’s important for a bride to always carry a lip product with them for touch-ups throughout the day. Lots of kissing that day and your lips need to be on point for your photos!
4. MIYU Hydrate Me Tea: It is crucial weeks leading up to the wedding to get lots of sleep and hydration so your skin can have the perfect glow on the day of the wedding! One of our favorite ways to hydrate is this amazing beauty tea infused with green rooibos, goji berries, rose petals and snow pear essence. An irresistible way to hydrate parched complexions!
5. Aurelia Revitalize & Glow Serum: This miracle serum will leave your skin luminous, dewy and smooth... The perfect product to use everyday but especially the week of the wedding for that extra glow!
All items are available at Blush! Be sure to go visit her and let her know Ira + Lucy sent you! I think it's time I make a stop in as well for some of my must-have items! xoxo
Be sure to follow us on Snapchat @IraAndLucy and Instagram for sneak peeks of tomorrow' wedding!
Banner image by Ampersand Studios
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
services
WEDDING DESIGN
WEDDING COORDINATION
DESTINATION WEDDINGS
CORPORATE EVENTS
DECOR RENTALS
FARM HOUSE TABLES
FINE LINEN
SPECIAL EVENT PLANNING
BUSINESS COACHING
