Sneak Peek!

Fine Art Bridal Boudoir

"As if you were on fire from within.
The moon lives in the lining of your skin."

Pablo Neruda

Veronica Sheaffer Design Studio

Are you ready for some gorgeous sneak peeks from the fine art inspired‪ boudoir session we recently created with Jennifer Munoz? This is my personal favorite form of boudoir - enhancing the soft tones, romantic curves, textures and lighting. It's about evoking emotions and telling a story. I'm smitten over the gorgeous delicate lingerie line from Veronica Sheaffer, Chicago's premier design studio! How dreamy! The lingerie paired incredibly well with the handcrafted crown and hair adornments by Naturae Design.

Introducing Naturae Design

How in love are we with Naturae Design, specializing in hairpiece and design created with antique and precious materials. Each piece is handcrafted by maker and designer Daniella van den Huijssen. "Fascinated by the history of precious heirloom and her love for nature she came across an antique Myrtle crown and Naturae Design was born. Every piece is inspired by natural elements made by a combination of the best in antique and modern craftmanship. Gold and silver plated pieces and precious stones are wired and soldered by hand so that each piece holds its fairness through long periods of time. The designs are perfect for a bride to be as well as being able to wear in daily life." source

Fine Art Boudoir

So, how does a bride like yourself or newlywed experience a Fine Art Boudoir session? First, contact Jennifer Munoz to start the process! She has Boudoir packages available and will walk you through your personalized options. Jennifer and I can then work close together on creating the atmosphere you desire, utilizing the vast array of items in our carefully curated collection of furniture and accessories. This is a beautiful option as a private and personal gift for your groom.

Thank You Creative Team!

Jennifer Munoz Photography
Ira + Lucy, Creative Designer & Vintage Furniture + Accessories
Still Water Hollow
Naturae Design Crowns & Headpieces
Veronica Sheaffer Bridal, Lingerie
Blush by Jamie Rose, Makeup
Shawna Hines, Hair
Sugared Memories, Tarts
Sarah Pearl Studio, Calligraphy
Alex Foster, Model
Blooms Flower Studio, Florals
LaNeige Bridal, Veil
Molly Loughran, Assisting, Ira + Lucy
 

Merry Christmas

REAL COUPLE WHITNEY + TIM
TAMARACK RESORT | ARLING CENTER

IRA + LUCY COORDINATION, DESIGN + RENTALS

Yesterday we needed to focus on some much needed family time, so I avoided the computer and instead baked up a storm, gained 15 pounds, played Star Wars video game with the hubs, played Transformers on the floor with Jagger and then had friends over for a fun evening. Like many of you I have a hard time resisting the urge to hop on Instagram and indulge in some visual eye candy and to my surprise saw Two Bird Studio announced the debut of one of our couples, Whitney and Tim's, Tamarack Mountain Wedding. Merry Christmas! I'm so excited to share with you! Stay tuned for the images coming soon! I can't wait for you to see more of the details.

"Piper" Pews Sneak Peak Part 1

It feels like Christmas around here! The radio station is set on Christmas tunes when we are running errands out and about, the tree is up, the house is lit with green and red classic lights and  we have already started watching our favorite Christmas movies. The Wights love Christmas. We love the magical feeling, the joy, and the hope that this time of year and reflection brings our family. Jagger, our "almost 4-year old" is quite excited and insists on yelling at every "Mall Santa" that he wants Optimus Prime (smack head!). 

Well, we have an update on the "Piper" antique church pews! Our "elves" are hard at work and have one of the pews cut down from the 15 foot original size down to the new 8-foot custom size. I'm very excited about these, which you can obviously tell. The next steps are my favorite - the transformation that happens with sanding and stain and finish makes a world of difference and makes a piece from neat to WOW! Stay tuned for the reveal! For now, here is the teaser of them in progress! 

Also, we have had some questions about cushions for the pews. Yes, we salvaged the old cushions are are going to reupholster them into a neutral finish. This is a great option to add on to your rental order, especially if you have elderly folks sitting in these for your ceremony. 

BEFORE

From 15 feet to 8 feet! 

Stay Tuned for the Final Reveal!!!

• Antique Church Pews Rent for $100 each 
• Quantity Available 6
• 8-foot length
• Ivory/white cushions add-on $10 each
• Holiday Special 15% off all pews through Monday November 30th 9pm

Designing with Vintage Church Pews Inspiration

via pinterest

via pinterest

via pinterest

Ira + Lucy On Rocky Mountain Bride

Real Wedding Feature

Brie + Kasey
The Barn at Mader Farm, Genesse Idaho

Featured on Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine

I will admit that I was that girl, the one who started planning her wedding when she was six years old. I dreamt of the man I would marry; what he would look like, his voice, and the things he would say to me standing up in front of our friends and family. What I didn’t realize at six years old, is that love surprises us when we least expect it and there’s actually no way to dream up or prepare for just how amazing it is going to be someday. I realized early on in my planning that what I was drawn to most were the little things, which is why I hired a designer. I wanted someone who understood the importance of every little detail and who would make all the little elements come together into a complimentary big picture. For the nonbelievers out there, I promise you actually can make a boho-chic, rustic, country barn wedding work! It just takes one amazing designer! - Bride, Brie

GETTING READY

THE FIRST LOOK

The smoke from nearby wildfires threw our plans for a loop! Bride, Brie had planned for a surprise grand exit at the end of the night for Kasey with a helicopter flight leaving their reception, but with the smoke as bad as it was, early in the afternoon we received a call that it was a no go.... Here is one reason we love Brie so much, this bride was bummed, but determined and was willing to go with the flow and adjust plans as needed. Instead, we bumped up the schedule for photos and decor and had the helicopter come for the "First Look". The pilot was ok with that option since it would be lighter during the day hours and not be a safety issue. Welcome to make'n it work! Brie was whisked away to a hidden location as the helicopter landed on site at the venue and boy was Kasey surprised! The pilot then flew Kasey around to find his bride. Brie, walked up the rolling Palouse hills to greet Kasey. It was incredibly awesome! Thank you Kiwi Helicopters for making it happen!

Brie sent me pics of the guys attire less than two weeks before the wedding and I encourage her a big NO on black ties and sent her ideas for bow ties for the gents! They rocked those bow ties! There was just no black in anything else in the design elements. In a rush, since we were on crunch time I sent Brie some options and together we figured it out and ordered them in time for the wedding! I say, they look might dapper! P.S. The Tie Bar has a ton of options and not bad prices! The Groomsmen wore "Opulent" style in champagne. Kasey wore the Sand Wash Solid in Brown.

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CEREMONY

Brie envisioned draping on the the tree and really wanted white, but it just wasn't feasible. As I shopped around for draping with the little amount of time we had, I landed on this gorgeous lavender and taupe/gray subtle floral print and it was EXACTLY what I wanted! It pulled in the bridesmaid dresses, the purples in the groomsmen shirts and the floral details and helped blend the gray and taupe details throughout the wedding design. AND it was in the clearance section and made getting the whole bolt of fabric feasible with the budget! SCORE! This is a snippet of the design board we presented to Brie and Kasey to help them envision the design elements. We focus on tangible, accessible items that will be part of their wedding decor.

CUSTOM DESIGN BOARD

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RECEPTION

The Barn at Mader Farm, is an incredible venue. The historic barn is a dream to design with! We used lighter linen to brighten the space up and featured greenery chandeliers. Beautiful sheer drapes billowed down the sides of the entrance and were sashed with silk ribbon and greenery. Kara, with Just So. Event Floral worked some serious magic on the centerpieces, featuring artichokes, dahlias roses and greenery - some of the bride's favorite flowers.

Brie and Kasey own a Coffee business and we had to incorporate this personal element into their wedding. We featured this rustic old industrial cart (available in our rental items), added some greenery and Brie made these darling coffee bean to-go bags for their gift favors. Brie's bridesmaid did the water color lettering.

SHOP THE LOOK

• Sweetheart Seating, "Giselle" Tufted Highback Settee
• Vintage White Table, "Chloe" Table
• "Penelope" Church Pews
• Vintage Brown Bottles
• Mercury Glass Votives
• Vintage Brass Candlesticks
• Wood Cut Slabs
• Vintage Jewelry Case

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A FEW OF OUR OWN PICS WHILE SETTING UP

V E N D O R S
Photographer: Bethany Small Photography  Venue: The Barn at Mader Farm  Planning + Design: Ira + Lucy  Floral Design: Just So. Event Floral  Videography: Sure Shot Video  Wedding Dress (Designer): Maggie Sottero  Wedding Dress (Store): Heartfelt Bridal  Hair: Halo Salon  Makeup: Laura Henderson Makeup Stationary: Mini Wishes

Tis The Season!

SHOP SMALL
HOLIDAY EXCLUSIVE!

RENT 10 IRA + LUCY SIGNATURE FARM TABLES
Get 2 additional farm tables free

 AND...

15% Discount off our vintage church pews

SIGNATURE FARM TABLES

If you've been following our Instagram, then you know some exciting updates for our rental inventory! We have handcrafted farm tables in the works for our 2016 clients, designed to seat 5 on each side! When we first introduced farm tables to the Idaho event market, they were nabbed up left and right and well loved. However, we found that we kept wishing we could seat more at a table then what those first designs allowed. So, our new tables will seat 5 on each side comfortably and feature a more classic leg that is a little more elegant than the traditional farm table style. We have pictured below the concept for what we are currently working on in our "Santa" shop. We will have pictures this winter showcasing these beauties!

*Farm table concept image via Pinterest featuring classic table legs

These tables rent for $100 each, so now is a great time to reserve yours! You'll be saving $200!!! We already have bookings for the collection (15 tables total available), and hot wedding dates are going quickly!

• Handcrafted Signature Farm Tables Quantity Available 15
• Seats 5 on each side
• $100 each rental price
• Special offered through November 30th 9pm
• Rentals require 50% non-refundable retainer to reserve
• Rental payment and contract must be received by 9pm Monday, November 30th 2015
• Cash, Check and Credit Cards accepted

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

15% DISCOUNT OFF CHURCH PEWS

You heard right! We have 6 antique pews added to our rental inventory as well! Our "Elves", aka carpenters, are hard at work refurbishing antique pews we just purchased from one of the oldest buildings in Nampa! We are beyond excited for these! Check out some of the serious eye candy for design concepts:

EXAMPLE OF BEFORE+ AFTER FROM OUR "ELVES"

BEFORE

AFTER

ira + lucy antique pews "before"

BEFORE

The pews are being cut down to 8 foot lengths to better accommodate wedding design and logistics. We will also be reupholstering the separate pew cushions in a neutral tone, a great add-on if you want some extra cushioning. Pictures coming this winter!

• Antique Pews Quantity 6
• $100 each normal rental price
• 15% Discount until November 30th 9pm
• Cushions add-on normal $10
• Cushions also 15% Discount
• Rentals require 50% non-refundable retainer to reserve
• Rental payment and contract must be received by 9pm Monday, November 30th 2015
• Cash, Check and Credit Cards accepted

Guest Post - Wedding Welcome Gifts

I am so happy to introduce you to Jamie, the gifted gal of custom gift packaging! I found Jamie on Instagram and immediately reached out to her! As a wedding and special event planner and designer it's important to me to offer our client's new and fresh designs and concepts. When it comes to those of our clients planning destination weddings, wedding welcome gifts are even more of a must-have. Jamie has some awesome tips to share with you today!

How to Create Wedding Welcome Gifts on a Budget
Marigold + Grey

I work with a lot of clients who have large budgets that allow for them to do custom welcome booklets to go inside the welcome gifts. However, I also work with clients on a tighter budget where we have to get creative. In these situations, a small insert card with a simple welcome message does the trick.Sure, we all wish budget didn’t play a role in planning a wedding. But of course, that isn’t reality. Today’s post is all about how to create wedding welcome gifts on a budget. It can be done! And yes, they’ll still be well-balanced, thoughtful, and will undoubtedly set the tone for an amazing wedding weekend.

Packaging

Opting for a custom tote bag or high-quality box or basket is a way to quickly use up your entire budget without even taking into consideration the contents that go inside. Instead, opt for simple packaging so you can allocate the majority of your budget to the gift contents. Sturdy kraft gift bags with handles, gable boxes, two-piece gifts boxes, and even small-sized jute totes are great budget-friendly options!

Image via  The Knot

Color Scheme

You may not have a huge budget but the gift can still look well put-together. Consider adding a splash of color, especially one from your wedding color palette. Guests will appreciate a little sneak peek of what color your bridesmaids are likely walking down the aisle in or a hint about what your bouquet may look like!

Mainstream Snacks

Instead of opting for ALL locally-sourced, artisan, small batch goodies for the gifts, go a little more mainstream with your choices and you’ll save some money. Sure, it isn’t QUITE as personal as choosing items that are made locally but in the end, your guests will still get their “something sweet” and “something salty” and will love you for it.

Personalized Items

Typically when I’m designing custom welcome gifts for my clients, they always want personalized items. This can still be done on a budget. They key here is not to go overboard. Rather than high-priced personalized totes, buy inexpensive water bottles and pay for a batch of customizable labels to wrap around the water bottles. Or, print your names and wedding date on the gift tag. Either way, stick to one portion of the gift rather than personalizing everything.

Hydrate

No matter what, there’s nothing worse than checking into your hotel as a guest and finding that bottled water isn’t included. This is why it’s crucial to provide your guests with water upon check-in. Standard bottled water is fine but if you want to up your game, consider sparkling water. Sure, the glass Pellegrino bottles can be pricey but Perrier now makes sparkling water in a smaller-sized can and the pricing is very reasonable.

Image via Style Me Pretty

At the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts. Decide on your budget and figure out a way to work within your budget. Don’t let the budget cause you to procrastinate. Or worse, cause you to cut the welcome gifts altogether. Treat the gifts like any other portion of the wedding planning. Decide what you want to spend and then get creative within those parameters. When your guests thank you for taking good care of them, you’ll be so glad you did!

Jamie Kutchman

Founder, Marigold & Grey

Web: http://www.marigoldgrey.com

Blog: http://www.marigoldgrey.com/blog

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/marigoldgrey

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marigoldandgrey

Welcome to our NEW Website!

I'm so so excited to share our new website with you! It has been something I've wanted to do for some time. I loved our old site, but it just felt too "cutesy" and didn't do a great job at presenting our portfolio. I wanted to have something that showcased our work with more visuals and truly spoke to our craft. We would love to hear your feedback! Thank you to my hubby who helped bring this all together! Truth be told, there was just not enough time during the crazy wedding season to work on this big of a project, but Fall is here and that means a new chapter!

Ira + Lucy continues to provide Wedding and Special Event Coordination, Design and Rentals! We look forward to hearing from you! Be sure to connect with us for your complimentary consultation! Currently, June is booked solid and May is almost filled up as well. HOT DATES ARE GOING FAST! We limit how many weddings we take on each season, so don't delay.

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Tips On Designing Your Wedding Invitations

We welcome Guest Blogger, Bryan Passanisi, with Shutterfly, today for some great tips on wedding invitation design! Shutterfly has some great budget-friendly resources for those of you on the hunt for wedding invitations! I first became familiar with Shutterfly from my sister who has been using this company for creating photo books of her children each year. I'm so jealous because I have yet to finish mine and Jagger is almost 4! I have a lot of catching up to do! Be sure to check them out! They have a lot of really awesome and creative ways to add details to your wedding OR make great gifts for your family.

Things to Think About When Designing Wedding Invitations

Invitations are one of the most important parts of preparing for a wedding. Not only do they notify your guests of the marriage and convey important information like time and place, they also set the tone for the rest of the wedding. It’s important to have a good first impression, but there are so many options out there for wedding invitation design that choosing the right style can be difficult. Here are a few tips that can help guide you as you create the perfect invitation.

Consider the Ceremony

First of all, make sure that the tone you pick for your invitation reflects the rest of the wedding. Are you hoping to have a fun, casual celebration? Or do you want a formal tuxedo and ballgown affair? More formal invitations look very different from more casual ones. The difference can extend from wording choices to the paper used—formal invitations tend to be on thicker, more expensive paper than informal ones.

Color Choices

Consider choices such as the colors and design of your invitation. Formal invitations are typically more limited in their palette; you may wish to stick with traditional neutrals such as cream, black, or gold. One color might be used as an accent or highlight. Less formal invitations, though, have a lot more latitude when it comes to the use of color—you can choose vibrant blues, bright yellows, or whatever combinations will match with your wedding theme. Try not to include too many shades, though, or else the invitation can come across as too loud; stick with a set of related hues or go for two or three contrasting shades.

Creative Shapes

If you really want to get creative, then experiment with the shape of your invites. Traditional invitations are rectangular, although elegant quatrefoils may be acceptable. If you’re having a less formal wedding, though, feel free to experiment with rounded corners, scalloped edge, or even circular or square invitations that reflect your personality.

Font Options

The font is important too. You’ll probably want some sort of script for a formal invitation, whereas nontraditional fun fonts such as Comic Sans or Informal Roman are a great choice for casual invites. If you’re having trouble choosing, a basic font like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Verdana can work well, although serif fonts usually have a bit more formality (and in some cases personality) than sans-serif ones do. You might even consider doing an invitation with mixed fonts, using script for the couple’s names and plainer fonts for the time and place, although it’s important not to make these two fonts drastically different or the invitation will look sloppy. Whatever font you choose, be absolutely certain that it’s legible at every size; some of the fancier and les traditional choices can be hard to read when they’re small and the last thing you want is an invitation that nobody understands.

Picture Perfect

Do you want to include a photo? Not all wedding invitations include pictures, but adding a picture of the happy couple gives you more opportunity to let your personality shine through. Black and white pictures tend to be more elegant and classic, while colorful photographs look more approachable and realistic. Make sure that you have a number of pictures of the two of you to choose from; this will help you find a picture where you both look your best. Try to find photographs that match the colors of the invitation so that the colors don’t clash.

Backgrounds

Also, determine how much the setting of the photograph matters to you; if all you’re looking for is a shot of the couple’s faces then the background won’t be very important. For other pictures, though, the background is an important component in the design of the invitation. You can choose a traditional setting like a garden, mountain, or beach, or you can go for modern city shots. If you really want to get creative, take your photos in unorthodox locations like art museums, graffiti-covered walls, or amusement parks. You can even choose to include night or evening photos rather than typical daytime ones.

Arrangement

Finally, determine how many photos you want to include and where you’d like to put them. If you have a lot of pictures that you like, you can choose to create a collage or have a single large photos with smaller insets. You can also pick a single classic photo and put it in a frame on your invitation. Another great idea is to take a single photo, blow it up to fill the whole page, and then use it as a background for the text.

Making it Great

Other considerations you should take into account while designing an invitation include the wedding theme (if you’re having a themed wedding), the wording of the invitation (formal or casual) and whether you want to include extras such as foil stamping, ribbons, or rhinestones. Whatever you end up choosing, make sure that the wedding invitation reflects the style of the ceremony, the personalities of the bride and groom, and—above all else—the love that you have for each other.

Bryan Passanisi is online marketer and writer living in Redwood City, CA. He graduated from The University of San Francisco with his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Bryan has managed a popular wedding blog and has created viral content. He currently is a blogger for Shutterfly.

All images provided by Bryan Passanisi, Shutterfly