Baci Designs | Jami + Eric's Wedding {Defiance, Ohio}

October 8th, 2011 was the best day in my life.

I got to plan my own wedding with the help of my talented sister, Amanda. As most of you may know, Eric and I's wedding date was not only special to us, but to both of our parents as well. October 8th was Russ & Deb Jesse's and Tom & Jane Guilford's anniversary as well. When Eric and I got engaged, Eric called the K of C Hall in Defiance to see if October 8th was open..and IT WAS!!! We knew it was fate :) 

Eric and I wanted to incorporate the special date into our wedding, well little did I know Grandma Shirley put Amanda in charge of getting a custom rosary made for me (Leaping with Faith did an amazing job!) and on the back of my cross there was Eric and I's wedding date and our parents!! It was perfect!!!! I also wanted to incorporate my grandfathers into our wedding because they both meant a lot to me and are no longer with us. I found a gorgeous vintage locket and put a picture of them in it. The rosary and locket hung from my bouquet and was close to my heart!!

Our photographer, Montana of Montography fromWauseon, Ohio did a fabulous job capturing special moments on our big day. One thing Eric and I knew we wanted were pictures having to do with baseball. Eric lives for summer AND fall playing ball at the park and I live to watch my husband do something he loves!! Eric gathered up his grandpa's old glove and an old ball bat to take with us on our wedding day (only in Northwest Ohio would that happen, ha). However, the props made for awesome pictures!!

I can't forget about my wonderful bridesmaids and groomsmen!!! They were super easy to pick and absolutely wonderful people to be part of our wedding!!! 

Eric and I couldn't been any more pleased with how the day went, everything was perfect :) 

Handpicked | Ruche Bridal Collection

It's no secret that I'm in love with Ruche, so when they recently released their own Bridal Collection my heart did a little flip!!  One peek at their To Have and To Hold Lookbook and I was in total love :o)  So I dove in to the collection and Handpicked my nine favorite pieces (what a rough life I lead, lol!).  Enjoy!

1)  Audrey - $249.99 - The perfect vintage silhouette!
2)  Hydrangea Dress - $145.99 - I would kill to wear this as a bridesmaid dress :o)
3)  Rose Pale Pink Dress - $58.99 - Simple, yet elegant - love it!
4)  Forever Fancy Rosette Bolero - $76.99 - I must find a way to incorporate this into my own non-wedding wardrobe, lol!
5)  Exquisite Adornment Clutch - $54.99 - The mint tone of this is fantastic!
6)  True Adulation Pearl Gloves - $24.99 - These would be the perfect addition to the Audrey. . .
7)  Just Because Heels - $99.99 - . . . as would these ;o)
8)  Ever Thine Taupe Fascinator - $42.99 - Heavenly!!
9)  Love You Open Toe Heels - $49.99 - I need to own these shoes, ASAP!

Another little bonus to add to this already amazing thing - Ruche also released the most fabulous Wedding Bliss Guide full of great tips, advice and DIYs!!!  The Bridesmaid Styling Tips are my favorite - I would love to see an ombré bridesmaid ensemble :o)

Wedding Trend Forecasting | Colors {Brights - Neon Green, Orange + Bright Pink}

Happy Leap Day!!

Continuing with our Wedding Trend Forecasting - today we've got the first of three gorgeous inspiration boards for you that incorporate the colors you're bound to see in 2012 weddings!  First up - brights!!

{Image Sources Clockwise Starting in the Top Left - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Black + Red Valentine's Day Inspiration Board

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I've put together an inspiration board for you all to gush over and enjoy with your special someone! :)

{Row 1}: via The Dressy Group, Betsey Johnson, GardenLeafDesign

{Row 2}: via Style Me Pretty, Expensive111

{Row 3}: via Pink Cake Box, CamisPaperie

{Row 4}: via MichSauce, CreativeJewellery, Martha Stewart Weddings

Handpicked | Bridesmaid Dresses

In honor of two of my best friends recently getting engaged (and being in the wedding mood), I am picking out nine different bridesmaid dresses for today's Handpicked!

1) Dessy Collection Style 2856 from Dessy.

2) After Six Bridesmaid Style 6639 from Dessy.

3) Organza Dress with Draped Bodice and Bubble Skirt from David's Bridal - Vera Wang, enough said.

4) Strapless Ruched Satin Ball Gown from David's Bridal.

5) Satin Strapless Ball Gown with Sweetheart Neckline from David's Bridal - I actually wore this for one of my best friend's wedding, it was so comfy and had pockets (very nice, so I could carry around my camera at the reception).

6) Claudia halter dress in silk chiffon by J Crew - All I can say is Stunning. 

7) Alexia Designs #4056 by Alexia Designs.

8) Alexia Couture #872 by Alexia Designs - I know this is a little different, but I love the black and white together in this dress.

9) Silk Dupioni Strapless Bridesmaid Dress by Ann Taylor.

Four Years!! {The Bridal Party}

I'm going to keep the Amanda and Ilario Wedding Par-tay going for a little while longer :o)  Right now its some of my favorite photos of The Bridal Party then we'll finish it up tomorrow with some shots of just the two of us and The Reception!!

I love, love, love the photos of my sister and I - we have the middle one framed on our gallery wall in our home because I love it so much!

My hubby is so handsome and our fathers look just as dashing in the photo to the right.  We have the photo of the men walking down the street framed on our gallery wall as well - love it!

There was never any doubt that our photographer, Sticky, was going to be an amazing father after seeing these photos of him and our flower girl,  Hannah. . . also, no doubt Hannah is going to grow up to be a stunning beauty!

The corn field may have been a bit messy, but the results were well worth it!!  Love, love, love :o)

Four Years!! {The Ceremony}

Today I'm continuing Ilario and I's Four Year Wedding Anniversary by sharing some beautiful details from our Ceremony - enjoy!

I love how beautiful my mom looks in this photo below and I can't get over how little my baby brother is!! Four years later and he's a handsome and strong young man, towering over all of us :o)

Now to explain the blue tongue that I walked down the aisle with - lol!!  Minutes before, I took a dissolvable mouth strip and it was the culprit - I love that the moment was captured because I probably wouldn't have remembered such a funny, random occurrence :o)

I can't express in words how talented my family members are when it comes to singing - my Aunt Sherril, cousin Sophie, Uncle Frank and Aunt Deb sang so beautifully on my wedding day, it's one of my most cherished memories!

I love my daddy!!  These photos can make me smile even when I'm having a bad day :o)

When I cry, I laugh - so throughout our vows I was simultaneously bawling and giggling :o)

Ilario and Uh-mana-dah Cursaro (yes, our priest said my name wrong because he was concentrating so much on Ilario's) - lol!!!

All of the photos captured of the children involved in our wedding are amazing - below our flower girl, Hannah, looks so sweet with her aunt Sarah (who I grew up next to) and my gorgeous nephew, Grant, is having his tie straightened. I LOVE IT!

Four Years!!! {Getting Ready}

Can you believe it?!?!?!  Ilario and I have been married FOUR years today!!!  I couldn't be more blessed to have found such an amazing man to spend my life with!

And since reliving that very special day is one of my favorite things (EVER!), I'm going to spend today and tomorrow showing you all some of my favorite details.  Right now, it's all about the ladies (and a few of the handsome men) getting ready.  All photos by Brandy J Photography :o)

My bridesmaids, flower girls and mom spent the morning of October 27th getting ready at a salon in my hometown, which unfortunately is no longer open :o(  My dear friend and hair dresser, Jen, flew in from Charlotte to do my hair while my cousin Kristie and another stylist at the salon helped out with hair as well.  I also was lucky enough to have the talented Jordanne Clyde doing my makeup and an Arbonne specialist working on the rest of the ladies!

I adore the moments captured in these next few photos - my sister is obviously making fun of me while helping put on my jewelry (lol!!), I'm assisting my cousin's little girl, Alivia, put the finishing touches on her flower girl dress and then Alivia and our family friend, Hannah, twirling in their gowns - LOVE!!

The photo of my garter is a very special one - my grandmother, mom and aunts have all worn that garter on their wedding days!!  Jami even wore it earlier in this month :o)

Once again, a few more of my favorite moments - I was having a little fun while the ladies were fluffing my crinoline and then my mom making my brooch (which I purchased in Charleston - where we were engaged!) look just perfect.

Stay tuned for photos from our ceremony!!

Wedding Wednesday | Christina + Eric 06.09.11

Today I have a beautiful Real Wedding by Alaina Carnahan from Ace of Images with Elizabeth Weddington of Studio Seventy-Nine as the second shooter!  I feel so lucky to have the work of such talented, and sweet :o), ladies!  Bonus:  I get to work with both of them at a wedding next weekend - yay!!!

Christina and Eric were married on July 9th at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan, Ohio with a beautiful, rustic reception following at the Williams County Veterans Memorial in Montpelier.  Their wedding was extra special because Christina's son, Josh, was the ring bearer :o)

Are you kidding me with that cuteness?!?!  Also, Eric's company Herm-TV Productions did the videography for the day!  It truly was a family affair ;o)

Now a little about the couple from bride, Christina:
We met while working together at a local TV station. We were inseparable and best friends.


He proposed at our new home after we went to check out “construction”. He asked me if I could see myself living there for quite awhile and I said, "yes". He said, "Since we're starting a new life here together. . . do you think you could spend the rest of yours with me?"

And now for the details of the big day:
The wedding was all planned around the ring. It’s beautiful, vintage and classy. We wanted the style to carry throughout the wedding look. The dress was found at David’s Bridal and definitely had a vintage flair.

The centerpieces were all made by us, as well as the cake table's wood platters.  The cake was made by a church friend and the cupcakes were made by a friend of my Mother-in-Law.  For the tall centerpieces, my mother-in-law glued hydrangea pieces to tree limbs then we washed river rock and stuck them in. For the short squares we bought fake hydrangeas and placed them in the river rock. Our florist was Gabe from Wonsetler Flowers in Bryan and he did the amazing pew decorations/bouquets, etc.

All Occasions Plus in Defiance took care of the hall decorations, including the beautiful hand-made chandelier which fit the theme so well. Stella Blue in Archbold was the caterer and Foxtunes Entertainment out of Stryker was the DJ.

Some words from groom, Eric:
The centerpieces were twigs and branches cut from my parents' back yard, Josh helped pick out the ones to cut. The wood planks for the cake table were cut from my grandparents' backyard tree that was a favorite climbing tree when I was growing up.


Jacob Rausch - my cousin - did the grandparents' memorial flowers.  He is an award winning floral designer who is a freshman at University of Toledo. He has fun doing it on the side as a hobby. and has worked for a florist during the summer.

Absolutely beautiful!!  A definite source of inspiration for brides-to-be :o)  Thanks for sharing, Alaina, and congratulations on your new life together Christina and Eric!!