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Bridechilla Wedding Planning

Helping You Ditch Wedding Stress And Plan The Wedding You Want

Author

Kaila Cales

Kaila Cales

Bridechilla Blog

Awe-Inspiring Engagement Photo Ideas + Tips

by Kaila Cales May 21, 2019
written by Kaila Cales

Engagement photos are a lovely way to announce the next step of your relationship to your family and friends. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to get creative with a photo shoot and have some fun!

There’s no limit to what you can do. Your engagement photos should symbolize the love you and your partner share for one another. Find creative ways to incorporate important memories of your relationship––this can be anything from the books you bonded over when you first met, to your first trip abroad.

You also have the freedom to get quirky and maybe a little cheesy. After all, your photos should be as unique as your personalities! Use humor to add funny messages or vintage-themed photo props to give a sneak peek of your rustic chic wedding theme.

Before you dive in, it’s important to keep a few things in mind…

 kissing engagement image

Photo by Joanna Nix

Choosing Your Photographer

This is the most important element of your engagement photo shoot. Do your research to make sure you find the right photographer that matches your style. View their portfolio and double-check their reviews to confirm he or she is a good fit. Remember that it’s perfectly okay to say “no”. Your engagement photos should reflect your style as a couple and you shouldn’t settle for less.

Photographer looking at camera

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 

Your engagement photos should symbolize the love you and your partner share for one another.

Backdrop Colors And Texture

Background colors will play a significant role in the mood, tone, and style of your shoot. The background you select will also help determine your outfits. When selecting a color palette, a good rule of thumb is to visualize the season your wedding will take place. This is a simple way to hone in on the right colors and help you collect cohesive photos at every stage of your wedding!

Couple posing in front of a colorful wall

Photo by Caique Silva

Photo Location- Inside? Outside?

Will your photo shoot be underneath the palm trees of a gorgeous beachfront? Or, do you prefer the green, foggy look of the woodlands? Both beautiful and popular ideas. Some couples also find that staying local makes for a hassle-free experience. Keep the weather, elements and travel time in mind when selecting your location.

laughing friends

Photo by Katie Treadway 

Consider Your Attire

What you wear plays a major role in conveying the style and tone of the shoot. Take the time to explore with different color combinations and fits. Casual or formal, it’s up to you. Also, be sure to communicate with your expert photographer as they can give you ideas of what looks best on camera.

couple posing outdoors

Photo by Matheus Ferrero

Props + Poses

This is where the fun takes place. Come up with a different number of poses to get a variety of photos at the end of your shoot. Incorporate romantic poses, standing, sitting, and using various props. Don’t forget about the classic engagement ring selfie! If you’ve picked a good photographer, they’ll also be able to direct you to your dream style if you’re not sure how to pose.

If you’re looking for some props to use at your shoot, we recommend these super cute engagement photo props from Shutterfly. They have everything from comic book bubbles to rustic chic designs to fun props your pets can hold.
May 21, 2019
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Bridechilla Blog

A Southern Country Club Wedding

by Kaila Cales May 9, 2019
written by Kaila Cales

Dani and Sam's beautiful southern country club wedding in Greenville, South Carolina was perfect in every way! They incorporated so many incredible details into their day to make it just that much more unique and special. Things like a custom caplet on Dani's gown inspired by Game of Thrones to her unique little dragon ring, each and every detail was well thought out and placed with great care.

a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina

How did you meet?

"Sam and I met in college. We had the same friend group, and at parties, we always enjoyed each others' company and conversation more than anyone else's. We slowly became best friends and remained so for a very long time. Once one of us would realize our romantic feelings for the other, the other would start dating someone. The timing just never worked out, and we never admitted to each other how we felt. Finally one day, I was hanging out with Sam before I went on a date with a guy I had just met. I suppose that was the kick we needed, because once I got back from the date and went to hang out with Sam again, he told me how pained he was to let me go and admitted how he felt! The proposal was just as sweet. Sam took us back to one of our favorite romantic spots on the college campus. Our photographer hid in the woods and got some candid shots of the big moment. I was such an overwhelmed emotional mess, but her photos turned out great!"

a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina

Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

"Nearly all of the decor was DIY! My aunt is the craftiest woman I know. Her and my mom put together the candy station, photo booth station, signs, and all the reception floral arrangements. By making everything DIY, it allowed us to include lots of personalized touches. I'm a scientist, and my love is being in the lab. All of the floral arrangements were placed in Erlenmeyer flasks instead of vases, and we stored the candy at the sweets station in glass beakers."

a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
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Insert Image
Insert Image

Did you personalize the day in any way? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

"We used the dragon theme quite a bit and incorporated my love for science.  My husband is a software engineer and a bit of a tech junky. Instead of opting for the traditional, formal invitations, we sent out fun invitations with cute bride/groom robots on them. Sam and I initially became best friends over our love for superheroes and comics, so the photo booth station had lots of superhero props."

a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina
a southern country club wedding in south carolina

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

"Besides marrying Sam? Probably the father-daughter dance. I love my daddy. Every since I was a kid, he taught me what proper music and real talent was. When he drove me and my sister around, we'd always be singing the classics like the Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, Doobie Brothers, Eric Clapton, etc. Dad even named me after an Allman Brothers song (Sweet Melissa. My legal first name is Melissa and nickname is Dani). We naturally chose the Allman Brothers' 'Blue Sky' to dance to. It was especially emotional since Gregg Allman passed away just weeks before our wedding. During our dance, Dad and I sang the lyrics to each other through tears and all, just as we always have."

a southern country club wedding in south carolina

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?

"Don't try to tackle it all at once! It will overwhelm you. Make weekly goals and focus on ONLY those goals that week. Also, no matter how picky you are, don't be afraid to ask your fiance for help. Just be direct and specific. They will likely appreciate your instruction so that they can feel useful."

Dani and Sam's Rockstar Vendors

Photographer: Jessica Hunt Photography

Venue: Holly Tree Country Club

Floral Designer: Simple Stems

Cake: Sugar & Spice Bake Shop

DJ: Complete Weddings & Events

Hair & Makeup: Jordan Hair & Makeup

Dress Store: Boutique of Dreams

May 9, 2019
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Bridechilla BlogStyled Wedding Shoots

Game of Thrones Inspired Wedding Shoot

by Kaila Cales April 18, 2019
written by Kaila Cales

With the premiere of the newest and last season of Game of Thrones last weekend, we thought it was only fitting to showcase some lovely Game of Thrones wedding inspiration! These wedding vendors are big fans of Games of Thrones, and couldn't help but notice that a lot of trends may have come from this series - the long sleeves, the organic dramatic florals, and even the braids! 

Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas
Game of Thrones inspried wedding editorial in Texas
Game of Thrones inspried wedding editorial in Texas
Game of Thrones inspried wedding editorial in Texas
Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas
Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas
hand of the king boutonniere

Sonia with C. Baron Photography says "Naturally with the last season upon us we wanted to pay homage to one of the shows that has inspired a lot of us. We already knew there was a castle in Texas that we could use so then our wheels started turning. We wanted a non traditional gown that still looked amazing but reflected the "time period" of this fictional world."

Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas

 Florist, Elemental Floral Events, came up with the most beautiful colors to liven up the space. As for the cake, Edible Moments ran with the mother of dragon idea and came up with an incredible dragon egg of our own! 

Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas
dragon egg wedding cake
Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas
Game of Thrones inspired wedding editorial in Texas

Add in all the metal dinner pieces, DIY egg centerpieces, and candles and you have yourself a wedding worthy of Game of Thrones! All of these little elements came together and created a little piece of Westeros here in Texas! 

Game of Thrones inspried wedding editorial in Texas

Rockstar Vendor Team

Photo & Video - C. Baron Photography

Venue - Newman's Castle

Event Design - Sweet Tea and Linen

Invitation Design - My Urban Invites

Floral Design - Elemental Floral Events

Cake Designer - Edible Moments

April 18, 2019
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Bridechilla Blog

Destination Wedding in Costa Rica

by Kaila Cales April 11, 2019
written by Kaila Cales

Trisha and Cary have known each other for over 10 years. They finally began dating 5 years ago and now here they are - ready to say ‘I do’! 

They had been to Costa Rica a couple years ago and absolutely loved their visit. After working with Susan La Reau the fabulous wedding planner and visiting Arenas del Mar, they knew this would be the perfect place to start their new adventure together.

wedding dress hanging on door
purple orchid flowers in vase
bride's custom blue accessories
bridesmaids in custom robes
groom's reaction to first look at wedding
bride and groom photos in destination wedding in costa rica

To make their wedding even more memorable, Trisha and Cary had several special wedding details including beautiful agate stones with the names of their guests inscribed on them.

The written word was also an important element of their wedding. Not only did they have a special little wedding vow book, but also Trisha’s gift to Cary was a touching, handwritten book of all the reasons why she loves him. They also had their beautifully designed invitations on display.

For getting ready, the bridesmaids all had lovely, embroidered robes for before they donned their dresses and each bridesmaid wore a turquoise necklace. 

mom and dad walking bride down the aisle
bride looking at groom during ceremony
bride and groom pouring sand during ceremony
bride and grooming cheering after the ceremony

I suppose that all brides love their dresses and accessories but Trisha was especially in love with her dress, tiara, and veil and wanted good photos to remember them by. So the photographer said they had fun playing with her veil and getting some creative shots.

bride and groom photos in costa rica destination wedding
bride and groom photos in costa rica destination wedding
bride and groom photos in costa rica destination wedding
bride and groom photos in costa rica destination wedding
large group shot on the beach at destination wedding in costa rica

During the ceremony, the couple opted for a sand ceremony, representing their two lives becoming one.

At the reception, you can see the fun they had with their huge, wedding cake shaped piñata! For this part, Trisha donned her traditional Vietnamese dress. This was more comfortable for dancing, whacking at that piñata, and all around enjoying herself.

We loved this fun, colorful wedding full of culture!

colorful wedding reception details in costa rica
colorful wedding reception details in costa rica
bride and groom's first dance
bride and groom hitting pinata at their reception

TRISHA AND CARY'S ROCKSTAR VENDORS

Photographer: Kevin Heslin Photography

Venue: Arenas del Mar

Planner: Susan La Reau

Rentals: Eventos Boadicea

April 11, 2019
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Bridechilla Blog

Family Wins Free Elopement

by Kaila Cales March 26, 2019
written by Kaila Cales

Vancouver photographer, Michele Mateus, decided to run an elopement contest called Sweet Lovin' Weddings. It was her way of giving back to her local wedding community and creating an opportunity for a sweet couple to win their dream wedding day. She partnered with a number of amazing Vancouver vendors who also wanted to give back and make a couple's dreams come true. 

Michele says their winners, Sophia and Taylor, could not have been more perfect. This couple has been together for 7 years, since they were 19, and had just welcomed their third child in April. They had planned and cancelled their wedding three times as there was always something that came up. She said, "I feel like we have had so much pressure from our families over the 7 years we have been together to get married it almost has fallen completely off our radar because it feels like it would be more for everyone else and not us, who it really should be all about. I’d love to win this package and run away for the weekend with my little family and finally be able to say I share the same last name as my kids."

They had hair and make-up, flowers, coordination, decor, officiant services, videography, cake, limo services and photography all donated to the couple. 

wedding elopement ceremony
up close photo of unique wedding rings
I’d love to run away for the weekend with my little family and finally be able to say I share the same last name as my kids. 
dad and his daughters on his wedding day
pink and red floral wedding bouquet
bride reading her wedding vows
bride and groom wedding photos at golden ears provincial park

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house the evening of their wedding. It was pretty special. The vendors knew they couldn’t have asked for a more perfect couple (or in this case, family) to win their first annual Sweet Lovin’ contest.

bride and groom wedding photos at golden ears provincial park

How did you know eloping was right for you?

"I have always wanted to just elope with our girls. I am not a huge fan of huge traditional weddings, the thought makes me nervous, so a small intimate gathering is all I need."

flower girl playing on the beach
bride holding her bouquet
small wedding cake with gold foil and peonies
bride feeding groom wedding cake
bride and groom wedding photos at golden ears provincial park

Sophia and Taylor's Rockstar Vendors: 

Photography - Michele Mateus

Video - Capture Productions 
Florals - Blossom & Vine Floral Company
Officiant - Young Hip & Married 
Coordinator - La Vista Events 
Hair - Goddess Beauty
Cake - Jaconde Patisserie
Limo - Nite Owl Limo Services
Design and Decor - The Little Wedding Shoppe

March 26, 2019
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Bridechilla Blog

Quirky Brewery Wedding in Atlanta

by Kaila Cales March 19, 2019
written by Kaila Cales

Amanda And Matt one day both swiped 'right' while on Tinder in their new city Atlanta, Georgia, and as they say, the rest is history! After dating for sometime, Matt proposed while they were in Belgium together and after that they set out to plan their dream wedding day.

They have a special love for spending quality time together and good craft beer, so they decided to get married in their favorite place to go after work and on the weekends in their new hometown! Monday Night Brewing has recently opened Monday Night Garage, an event venue prepared to host parties and weddings in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Invitation Suite
Wedding dress hanging
Groom's St Patrick's Day socks
Monday Night Garage in Atlanta, Georgia

What was the inspiration behind your day? 

We chose our favorite craft brewery in Atlanta for our venue and themed our wedding around it. Monday Night Brewing was one of our first dates and we just keep going back, it has a special place in our heart. What better way to get married then at a place you love with amazing beer!  We asked all of our male guests to wear funky ties, a key theme of Monday Night. The brewery theme was strung through out our wedding invites, the barrel guest book, bottle centerpieces and hop boutonnieres! Our color palette was burgundy, blush, dusty blue, and navy. Our wedding style would probably fall under brewery, whimsical, quirky, industrial and DIY.

Groom waiting for first look
Bride and groom first look
Bride and groom's first look reaction
Bridal photo at Monday Night Brewery in Atlanta
Bridal party walking photo
Bride's bouquet
Bride and groom photos at brewery in Atlanta
Bride and groom photos at brewery in Atlanta

Let's talk decor. How did you style the ceremony and reception? Which parts were DIY?

We wanted the wedding to stay on a low budget and Monday Night really didn't need much decoration, but the little bits that were there, I made. All of the centerpieces were used wine and liqueur bottles we took from friends and parties which I then painted and placed greenery in. The ceremony had a balloon arch with some faux flowers placed in it, which we made through our side business, Amplified Balloons LLC. Other than that we really just let the venue shine, because it didn't need anything.  The ceremony was in their outdoor area with a brick backdrop. The reception was held in their chandelier room that had chandeliers covering the ceiling, a burlap wall, a picture frame wall, a moss wall, and barrels everywhere. What more could you ask for?!

DIY balloon arch for wedding
Wedding unity ceremony
Up close look at DIY wedding ceremony balloon arch
Bride and groom's first kiss
wedding reception at brewery
Simple, DIY wedding centerpieces
Monday Night brewery wedding

How did you personalize the day? What were some of your favorite details? 

The wedding cake was definitely a unique and fun part of our wedding. Instead of spending a lot of money on a cake, I made our own wedding cake shaped piñata complete with flowers and greenery. The cake was filled with gold coins, a throw to it being St. Patrick's day. We smashed the cake together to the song "Hit me with your best shot" and it was one of the funniest parts of that day. The piñata turned out to be way stronger than I intended, guess I am a better engineer than I thought!

Wedding cake pinata
Bride and groom smashing wedding cake pinata
groom smashing DIY wedding cake pinata

What advice can you pass onto other couples planning their wedding? 

If you are doing a DIY wedding, plan plenty of time for all your projects and enlist your friends to help out. You don't have to do it all on your own! It's great to have a budget but splurge on what matters. Photographers are so important, spend your money to get someone you love who does quality work! They capture all the moments you want to relive. Save your money on decor and money, not on photographers. It's totally possible to have a <$20,000 and end up having the time of your life with gorgeous photos, I did!

Bride and groom cheering glasses of beer

Matt and Amanda's Rockstar Vendors

Photographer - Jessica Hunt Photography

Venue - Monday Night Brewing

Design and Decor - Amplified Balloons LLC

DIY Florals - Afloral.com

Rentals - Unlimited Party Rentals

Makeup Artist - Vigilante Cosmetics

DJ - ​Disc Jockey Now

Bridesmaid Dresses - Azazie

Dress Designer - Essence of Australia 

March 19, 2019
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Hi, I’m Aleisha

Hi, I’m Aleisha

Founder of Bridechilla

I created The Bridechilla Podcast, Guides and Facebook Community to empower you to plan an awesome wedding day and put all of the wedstress and obligation straight in the Fuck It Bucket!
With 350+ episodes of Bridechilla, 3 Guides and hundreds of blogs, get started on your path to wedding planning zen!

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