We heart Austin.

Amy and I know and love some pretty awesome photographers. It's true. We are privileged to know or have worked with some wonderful, talented (and bonus, handsome!) men who are so good at what they do, and I would like to introduce you to one of them.

His name is Austin Oie, and he should probably shoot your wedding. The best part about him (you know, aside from his talent) is his attitude. No matter what he's doing, Austin is an incredibly chill person. He will make you laugh and feel comfortable in any setting. Austin shot my most recent headshots and he also took Amy and I out on our very first AELO promo shoot (over a year ago, woah!).

He has a fabulous ability to capture moments like these:

(I don't remember what was so funny, but I bet it was inappropriate. Ha.)

Austin also knows how to have fun, and he's one of the most genuine guys I know. It's so important to connect with your photog on your wedding day, and Mr. Oie is one of those guys with whom you can feel an instant connection. He, like AELO, is just getting started and I cannot sing his praises enough.

His work is very unique and unbearably cool.

(Bible B-Sides, Sinnerman Ensemble)

(Cabaret Vagabond: The Holiday Spectacular)

(Dead Man's Party)

To get in touch with him and check out his work, check out his website and become a fan on Facebook!

stay fab,

carolyn

Veil swoonage.

If there was any doubt that Amy and I were made to be in this together, it can now be erased. I blogged this AT THE SAME TIME she was blogging hers below. HA.

So in addition to her pretty blog below, Here are a couple of sites (who are friends of friends) where you can purchase the gorgeousness that is the vintage birdcage veil:

This is from Seamstress of Avalon:

She does some really beautiful stuff, and her prices are extremely reasonable. I like her a LOT. And it's not just bridal! She has a ton of really cool hats and things too. Check her out.

And this is from my brand new obsession, Love Lulu Mae:


Stunning. I'm throwing a fit all over this website. I want it all. Vintage glamour at it's finest. Yes, please.

(Thank you Denita and Brianna!!)

stay fab,

care

Vintage Birdcage Veils

As a bride, I secretly wanted to be the kind of girl who could pull off this look. But I'm just...not. You have to have the right personality. My friend Jaci is getting married next year, and she is totally the girl who can pull off this look. I think it's super classy but funky and unique - a great alternative to a traditional veil.



This is awesome, but you have to be careful not to look like you're in mourning...



I can't wait til we have a bride who can pull this off:



If you don't think you're a "veil girl," look into the birdcage.

The loving are the daring. - Bayard Taylor

I do love a good proposal. This happened on the set of Scrubs...and it's just wonderful.



Aw.

Thanks for the link, Roboto.

carolyn

Green diamonds!

Not literally green, but environmentally friendly ones! Brilliant Earth "believes that high quality, fine jewelry need not come at a great human or environmental cost." It's a very cool concept, and you can bet the diamonds are GORGEOUS. If you're looking to get engaged, or just need some beautiful jewelry for your wedding day, Brilliant Earth is a pretty cool way to go.

Something blue!
They also do beautiful unique wedding bands:

And yes, I did go ahead and create my princess cut vintage art deco filigree 1.01 carat diamond ring with contoured delicate antique scroll.

Not...that I've thought about it or anything.

stay fab,

carolyn

A great Chicago Venue...

Our second wedding, coming up this Saturday, is at a lovely restaurant in the city called Salvatore's. I always love a venue that allows the couple to hold both their ceremony and their reception in the same place, with a cocktail hour in between to switch the room. It's so convenient for everyone involved and really allows the whole evening to flow nicely.

Salvatore's has a classy, vintage-Chicago feel - great for the couple who is looking for an intimate affair with their family in friends. Their staff is very pleasant and helpful. We'll show you more after Amanda + Andy's wedding!

Loungin' around...

Okay, completely lame blog title, I know, but I couldn't help myself (that would be your fault, Mom).

When we coordinated the Salvage One wedding, the best part about it was the aesthetic and the furniture. No one wants to sit on a banquet chair (or even a Chiavari chair!) all night. That's why I love the idea of lounge furniture for your reception.

Lounge furniture, while costly, can add so much to the depth and drama of your event. Also...COMFY! If you have friends like me, you know they're wearing their best stilettos to your glam wedding. And of course they can be taken off, but...hello, outfit? So for the gals who refuse to compromise style for comfort, lounge furniture is a brilliant plan.

Also, Granny may cut a rug for a while, but a nice place to sit and nurse a Bloody Mary would also be welcomed, amiright?

Okay, so that's all a bit frivolous, but really, having a place where people can sit in groups and talk really adds to the comfort level/awesomeness of your reception. Guests will truly appreciate your thoughtfulness, and it also really adds to the design:


Everyone loves a good tree, right? The best part about the furniture is that it's generally innocuous, so it can be designed any way you like. Look at the contrast you can get with simple lighting. Above is cool and chic and below, it's soft and romantic. But the furniture is practically the same.

If it's in your budget, it is well worth it to ask your venue if they have rental furniture. There are also rental companies you can go through. Definitely a way to spice up your reception and create conversation, both during and after the event!

stay fab,

carolyn

Waiting patiently...

I know you're all bouncing in your seats waiting for us to blog about Meghan + Ryan's wedding. Don't worry - we're bouncing too. We're just waiting for photos so we can share the story properly! And we have Amanda + Andy's wedding next weekend, so hopefully you'll get to hear about both in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned!

Amanda + Andy

We'd been trying to meet with Amanda for MONTHS when we finally sat down with her. Her busy schedule and our busy schedules didn't quite mesh, so we weren't sure we would get to coordinate her wedding. Finally though, we DID get a minute to meet and all of the sudden, we were booked for February 20th!

We can't wait. She's quirky and hilarious and in love with R-Patz (don't worry, she's out of the love-for-teen-vampires closet - as am I, for that matter), and her wedding at Salvatore's is going to be beautiful!

Oh, and did we mention that they're GORGEOUS? Here's a couple of their engagement photos from Andrew Collings. Wow.


I want her hair. Not that a curly red-haired girl isn't subject to ridicule, but I'd die for natural curls...


*squeak!* So pretty!
Andy also planned ahead when he proposed way back when and got a shot of it! A man who will go down on his knees in the snow? Yep. Marry him.


Sigh. I love this job.

stay fab,

care