Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A DIY Winter Wedding

Oh I am so excited to share yet another beautiful wedding with you! This one was so full of romance and love and all the things you cannot create with your hands but everything that happens in the heart.
When the couple came up to me last year and when we had our first meetings I was already getting quite excited because I loved the style and direction this one was going to have. Very rustic, winter, warm wedding. I was impressed by their ideas and what they liked. I have known both of them for quite a few years but you don't always see their taste in such things that much. I love it when I plan weddings and the couple gives you a lot of freedom but knows exactly what they want and what they don't want. That's what makes it really easy to work with plus they were so amazing to work with.
As they decided to do the reception at Elemenz (yep you heard right - I used to work there) I knew every little detail was going to be planned and executed by us - DIY in its truest meaning.
So to get us started I created a pinterest board for the two of them and put together an inspiration board so we had something to work with.
When you know that every little detail of the wedding is going to be DIY it is even more important to not get lost in all the little details and lose sight
So here's a little tip for you: Think of the wedding as a cone. Start with the big things like date, location, invitations, concept and work your way towards the little things like who lights the candles, who picks up the flowers, etc etc. That way you are making sure you don't forget anything.
Now depending on the length of your engagement try to set realistic time frames for when certain things need to be done like 6 months, 3 months, 1 month, 20 days... etc. That helps you to stick to deadlines and gives you a little pressure when you see a deadline approaching. It also allows you to "forget" about things which don't have to be done until later so that you can work more focused.

Now for Alex and Sara it was very clear that they wanted a cozy, warm and rustic winter wedding with lots of wood and candles. As there are lots of trees in Elemenz it became the guideline for everything from invitations to decorations (I mean who doesn't love trees?).

Obviously the invitations had the tree on them as well. I will not talk about the importance of invitations as I feel like I stress that every single time but really we have the perfect example here: Tree on the invitations and then that theme was carried out into every little detail as you will see later.
 The ceremony was set in a beautiful old church from the 19th century. The church was built in a neo-gothic style. It has somewhat become a trend to only focus on the reception, the party of the wedding. I personally think the ceremony is very important. That is what the whole wedding is about. There was a little reception right after the ceremony outside in front of the church with fire and marshmallows and hot wine and punch.
The dinner reception was like I said held in Elemenz where it is super cozy and warm. The location itself already is beautiful and add some customized decorations and details to it and everything fits together nicely.

 
 
 
 

Like I said before this was a complete DIY wedding. All the details and all the decorations where done by Alex's godmother. The Monday before the wedding the whole wedding party came together to set things up and decorate everything. For months she had been gathering wood and branches and even trees to make everything look the way it did. Also on that Monday we all brought decoration elements we thought could work and then on the spot decided for them or not.
All the food was home cooked (meaning a couple from our church) and the whole service staff were voluntary helpers from their connect groups or friends who wanted to support them on their big day.
All of these elements gave the whole wedding a very personal and very intimate touch. Everybody knew each other and worked together. I believe that is a very beautiful thing.
The bride is part of our praise and worship team and at the reception she sang a song for her new husband. I think everybody's heart just melted.
One of my personal highlights was their dance. It was one of the most romantic wedding dances I think I have seen this far.
Having been part of their journey and having the privilege to plan their wedding has been an honor and a blessing and they added their hearts and their personality which made this day absolutely unforgettable.

xoxo

Ramona

Monday, February 24, 2014

Sneak Peek

Hello hello.... here's a little Sneek Peek of what is coming later this week - "A DIY Winter Wedding" and let me tell you it was a beautiful and very romantic day and I am head over heels about the two of them. They are amazing.

xoxo

Ramona

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Thursday Tunes

Oh acoutic music, guitars, beautiful voices - all the things which make my heart melt. Combine that with a cause for changing the world and you definitely have me hooked.
I have posted The Lone Bellow's music here more than once and today I am sharing a cover of the song "For what it's worth" which they did for the ONE Organization.
Awesome music, awesome video. Can somebody please take me on a mountain and play the guitar and sing for me?



xoxo

Ramona

Monday, February 17, 2014

A Lights and Vintage Bridal Shower

This past Saturday we planned a Bridal Shower for one of my best friends. She is going to get married in a month and I am so excited for her.
The interesting thing with this party was that lightning didn't hit and inspiration came like it usually does but it happened in the process of just bringing some things together. But once the invitations were set the whole thing started flowing and we were able to create a beautiful shower for Tanja. The goal was to make it look beautiful for her, to honor her and set an atmosphere that she would like.

Tanja loves vintage things and second hand clothes and simple, natural decorations. The most important thing for her was for her best friends to come together and share food. Of course we wanted this to be in a nice setting.
As usual the invitations had to give you and overall idea of the direction to the party. So I decided on a simple chalkboard design with lights strung across it. We put these cards into brown envelopes and painted the lights on them as well. These lights kind of became a theme for the whole party.

We used vintage suitcases as decorations and to put the favors and presents for the bride to be in. The favors were navy colored bobble hats.
In an old vase we put simple branches where we hung pictures of Tanja with us, just her or other people. On top of that we made cards where guest had to write down a memory with Tanja and she had to guess who wrote it. The two elements created somewhat of a look on the past, where she had come from and her journey to where she is now.
On a chalk board we wrote down beautiful character traits of her and in an old vintage typewriter we inserted a letter from her fiance.
Every party needs something of a photo wall to remember moments of that night and to add to the vintage touch we used the instax mini 8 to make Polaroid pictures. They turn out so nice and it is a lot of fun to take pictures with it. We kind of did it the same way as in this bridal shower. Guests then pasted these pictures into a book and wrote some nice words to the bride to be.
It was a beautiful, very relaxed bridal shower with good food, friends and some nice little details that added to the overall feel of it.

I believe we don't always need a ton of decorations or the most fancy things. Anything that is done with love, a little thought and a concept that is thorough will look beautiful.

A nice party is about making the guest feel loved and welcomed. The main ingredients for that are good food, nice lighting and just the right background music. Add to that mix some decorations and you're set.

As usual feel free to pin and check out some other Events here.

xoxo

Ramona

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Thursday Tunes

I have been listening to John Marc McMillan a lot lately because I found this video and awesome song. So I thought I'd share it with you for 2 reason: 1. The song is amazing with such a great message and 2. the video is awesome and creative and I loved watching it over and over again.

So. enjoy it.


xoxo

Ramona

Monday, February 3, 2014

Not that kinda girl


Sometimes I go out or I meet people and I think I have to be a certain way, talk a certain way. And when I talk, be alluring, quick-witted, funny, mysterious. You see these things in other people, in movies or books.
And then I am not like that and I try to prep talk myself into it until I realize I am not that kind of girl who throws herself at a man or answers in alluring, super-witted ways.
And then in retrospective I realize I should not even try. I am me, I am a nice person, sometimes a bit weird, oversharing and awkward, but also full of love and with a heart to make you feel warm and welcome, loved and to help you be you. I am a deep and emotional thinker and I cry when I see beautiful art or listen to beautiful music. I talk in circles. But most of all I am in love with Jesus and that's what will be there always and forever.
So there you have it. That's me. And that's all I can be. So if you want to get to know me. Do. Talk with me. Don't be afraid to come up to me. I'll be myself and hope you will too.

xoxo

Ramona

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