We have been featured on Catch My Party!

We have been blessed to have our Great Gatsby Inspired styled wedding photo shoot featured on Catch My Party! Welcome back to the Roaring 1920s, Flappers, the Great Gatsby, Prohibition, Dance Halls, and After-Hours Entertainment! Enjoy!

https://www.catchmyparty.com/parties/the-great-gatsby-inspired-styled-photo-shoot

party recap

I decided to host a styled wedding photo shoot for the Eagles Aerie 555 in Akron, Ohio. My friend is the current President of the Ladies Auxiliary Group for the Aerie. The group was planning the 96th Anniversary of their organization, and asked me to assist with planning their event. We decided to hold the photo shoot the day before the Anniversary Party. That way we could use the same decor, and showcase the talents of the vendors involved in both the photo shoot and the party.
We decided on a 1920’s, Great Gatsby inspired theme for the photo shoot, with a classic color palate of black, gold, and white. There was a great mix of modern and vintage elements, especially in the fashions and accessories. Our fabulous models were Lauren Simpson, Chula DeJesus, and Brynn Eiffert.

• THEME Great Gatsby
• GUESTS 3
• LOCATION Eagles Aerie 555, Akron, Ohio

party highlights

• WHAT PEOPLE ATE We had a fabulous three-tiered Art Deco styled cake, in shades of gold, black and white. White feather plumes and a custom cake topper completed the decadent look. We also had custom designed sugar cookies that captured the feeling of a Roaring 20’s party.
• WHAT PEOPLE DRANK In the 1920’s, Prohibition was in full effect around the USA. For our styled photo shoot, we created a drink menu that included champagne, Gin Rickey, Old Fashioned, and the Sidecar. The Eagles Aerie 555 in Akron, Ohio, offers a full bar for private events.
• DESSERTS We had a fabulous three-tiered Art Deco styled cake, in shades of gold, black and white. White feather plumes and a custom cake topper completed the decadent look. We also had custom designed sugar cookies that captured the feeling of a Roaring 20’s party.
• ACTIVITIES / GAMES After-hours clubs were very popular during the 1920’s, and many were very glamorous. We were inspired by such movies as “The Great Gatsby” and “Harlem Nights”. We had games of chance set out including blackjack, poker, a money wheel, and several decks of cards for those that did not wish to “gamble”.

party helpers

• KIMBERLY LEHMAN – LOVE, LAUGHTER & ELEGANCE: WEDDING & EVENT PLANNING
• Wedding & Event Planner Kimberly Lehman has been a wedding planner for over 25 years. Located in Canton, Ohio, she serves locally and nationwide. Kimberly loves to work with vendors and clients from all over, and bring creative ideas to life! For this styled shoot, she created the tablescapes, provided the tableware, linens, trio of fabric covered arches, wardrobe, accessories, and decor items. Kimberly has a large and varied inventory of unique clothing, accessories, and decorating items, that may be used by clients for their events.
  www.lovelaughterelegance.wordpress.com
• SANDRA JENKINS – President of the Ladies Auxiliary of Eagles Aerie 555 – Akron, Ohio
• Sandra contacted Kimberly Lehman about planning a party to celebrate a milestone anniversary for the Ladies Auxiliary group. Together, they decided to create the party theme, and the corresponding styled wedding photo shoot. Sandra wanted to collaborate, to show off the venue space for event rentals, and to generate more interest for the services that both the Eagles venue and Kimberly provides as an event planner.
  https://www.facebook.com/akron555/
• SAMANTHA SUNSHINE – TRAVELING PETALS Florist’
• Samantha is a relatively new floral designer in Northeast Ohio. When approached about creating the floral pieces for the styled photo shoot, she happily agreed. We gave her the color scheme of black, gold, and white, and the 1920’s Era to use for inspiration. She was given free reign in her designs, and she did not disappoint! We were blown away by her creations. She is a very talented designer!
  https://www.facebook.com/travelingpetals
• CARRIE THOMAS GRAHAM – INFLATED MOMENTS BY CARRIE Balloon Artist & Stylist
• Carrie is also a newer balloon artist in Northeast Ohio. When we talked about designing a balloon arch for the backdrop part of our styled wedding, she was all in. She literally went above and beyond with her designs! She created a dramatic balloon display on a large circular arch, adding in a boho silk floral swag for a contrasting accent. She also created a smaller, more traditional balloon swag, that was attached to the top of a trio of fabric covered arches. She can create anything with balloons to enhance any event!
  www.inflatedmomentsbycarrie.com
• JENETTE LAUB MCGIFFIN – OVER THE MOON BRIDAL Wedding Veils & Accessories
• Jenette is an incredible bridal veil designer! She has designed several custom pieces for styled wedding photo shoots. She has a shop on Etsy.com full of beautiful, unique designs. For this styled photo shoot, Jenette created a gorgeous sheer black cape veil, that was modeled by Lauren. It went so perfectly with her slinky black evening dress!
  https://www.etsy.com/shop/OverTheMoonBridal
• HEATHER KAY – MAD CELEBRATIONS PLANNING & PARTYFUNNALIA Cookie Artist
• Heather Kay is a woman of many talents! Most often, she will create amazing decorated cookies for a celebration of any size and theme. She has created custom cookies for several styled wedding photo shoots. We gave Heather Kay the theme and colors, and let her imagination run wild! Her sugar cookies were adorable, and very tasty! We received lots of thumbs ups from those that participated in our photo shoot.
  https://www.facebook.com/madcelebrations
• JULES – LIMELIGHT LETTER COMPANY Event Rentals featuring Marquee Letters
• Limelight Letter Company is another relatively new vendor in Northeast Ohio. When the concept of the styled photo shoot was first discussed with Jules, we talked about the speakeasy and after-hours club atmospheres, found in the 1920s era. Her large Marquee style lighted letters were a perfect fit for our photo shoot. She offers 3 and 4 foot high letters, that are great for weddings, showers, proposals, etc. They looked amazing in the photos, and our models had fun posing with them!
  https://www.facebook.com/people/Limelight-Letter-Co/100088714094974/
• ELISABETH PARK – STUFFED PASTRY Bakery and Pastry Artist
• Elisabeth is new Pastry Artist in North Canton, Ohio. Her confections are amazing and delicious! We had Elisabeth provide custom cupcakes for the Ladies Auxiliary Party, and the 3 tiered cake for the styled photo shoot. We gave her the Art Deco theme and color scheme of black, gold and white, and she ran with it! Bold color and style combined with pearl dots, feathers, and our custom cake topper to create a stunning work of art.
  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089337287264
• TERRANCE JONES – TJONES PHOTOGRAPHY Photography
• Terrence Jones is a talented photographer in Northeast Ohio. He took great images that captured the spirit of our styled photo shoot! Great to work with, and a very energetic personality!
  https://www.tjonesphotography.com/
• LORI FUNG – PAPER TRAILS TO YOU Graphic Design & Printing
• Lori is a gifted graphic designer in Western Pennsylvania. She creates all kinds of digital and printed products, from invitations and signage, to decals and vinyl prints. When we chatted about creating the invitation suite for the styled shoot, Lori asked lots of questions about style, colors, and relevant information needed to print various pieces. She created a custom invitation, response card, another card with wedding details, place cards and menu. These were printed on black card stock with gold trim and gold and white lettering, in a Art Deco style. The overall effect was gorgeous!
  https://www.facebook.com/papertrailstoyou
• CHULA DEJESUS, BRYNN EIFFERT, LAUREN SIMPSON Models
• Chula and Brynn are a real-life couple! Aren’t they too cute together? Chula has modeled for many projects, including styled wedding photo shoots. Brynn has professional model training, and that talent shines through in the photos. Lauren has also modeled several times for styled wedding photo shoots. Chula and Brynn had not met or worked with Lauren before this styled photo shoot, but there was instant chemistry, as seen in the glamorous photos.

Our Pride & Prejudice inspired styled wedding shoot is featured on the Plans & Presents blog!!

We are so excited that our Pride & Prejudice inspired styled wedding photo shoot has been featured on the Plans & Presents blog! I absolutely love the 2005 movie version of Jane Austen’s classic novel. When the opportunity came up to plan a Regency styled photo shoot, I jumped at it. We produced this photo shoot on the same day as our Bridgerton themed shoot, also featured on the Plans & Presents blog. It was a lot of work to pull those both off in the same day, but the results are gorgeous! We had a gorgeous location, the Tudor House on the Portage Lakes near Akron, Ohio. I hope you enjoy!

https://www.mrspandp.com/styled-shoots/a-beautiful-regency-inspired-wedding-shoot-channeling-pride-prejudice-and-pretty-grey-and-yellow-details/

A beautiful Regency inspired wedding shoot channeling Pride & Prejudice and pretty grey and yellow details

AUGUST 1, 2022 STYLED SHOOTS

Today I am thrilled to share a beautiful Regency inspired wedding shoot channeling Pride & Prejudice and pretty grey and yellow details.

Images were captured by Karen Menyhart Photography with planning by Kimberly Lehman of Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning, and the collaboration of a fabulous creative team.

Kimberly says of the shoot…

The era of Jane Austen is wonderful, and I absolutely adore the 2005 movie adaptation of the classic novel, of Pride and Prejudice.

Bearing this in mind I wanted to bring to life the romantic story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

We had the perfect setting at The Tudor House on the Portage Lakes, in New Franklin, Ohio.

Once a private residence, this venue is now used for social events and weddings.

Beautiful scenery and timeless interior design provided a memorable setting for our styled wedding photo shoot incorporating the 2021 Pantone Colors of the Year, Ultimate Grey and Illuminating, we worked with amazing vendors to create a tribute to this iconic romance.

Design 

My team needed to find a venue that would set the perfect mood of Regency England.

Since I did not have a castle nearby, the Tudor House was dreamy, and storybook perfect.

There are lush gardens and grounds to wander through, and the rooms in the mansion are straight out of a romance novel.

We chose the conservatory for the setting of our tablescapes. The room has a large stone fireplace, flagstone floor, and many tall windows that fill the space with tons of natural light.

We incorporated the colours of our palette  to create a soft, romantic setting for the intimate wedding celebration.

Stationery Suite & personal details

We had the loveliest invitation suite created for this shoot by Michelle Mospens Studio to give an insight into the day.

The invitation featured silhouettes of Lizzie and Mr. Darcy, and hand-deckled edges.

The envelope liner and response card featured watercolor illustrations by the artist.

Other lovely decorative details included a sheet of hand drawn illustrations of the characters, a small plaque placed on the fireplace mantel with a quote from the novel, and a pendant necklace that featured a small section of print with the names of Lizzie and Mr. Darcy.

Wedding Wardrobe 

Our wardrobe choices were kept as close to Regency Era fashions as possible.

We dressed Sammy in a long creamy white Empire style dress, with a subtle textured fabric, and cream chiffon ruffle trim.

We accented her dress with a bright yellow satin ribbon sash, yellow slippers, and an off white shawl.

She also wore pearl jewelry and a jeweled comb in her upswept chestnut locks.

Her ring was a bezel set stone in an antique gold setting and her wrist Gauntlets and handbags were by Lorili Design

To compliment Cyrus was every inch the dapper gentleman, in his burgundy double breasted coat, grey pants, and snappy navy blue cravat.

He completed his stately look with tall black riding boots, and black felt top hat.

The Florals

Our florals for this styled shoot were gorgeous and created by Dietz Floral Studio.

We wanted to capture a fresh, sunny look, with lush blooms from the garden.

The dining table centerpiece was comprised of yellow ranunculus and butterfly ranunculus, white mums, astilbe, yin yang, and button mums.

Some of the same blooms were also used in the two smaller arrangements framing the cake on the dessert table. Lizzie’s hand-tied bridal bouquet contained the same florals, and also included white tulips. Absolutely beautiful design!

Cake & Sweet treats

The cake for our Pride and Prejudice theme was amazing! Stephanie Blackmon created the stunning three tier cake, covered in a soft grey shade of fondant icing.

The silver mirrored cake topper featured an iconic quote from Mr. Darcy, “I love you most ardently”.

This is one of my favorite quotes and it conveys such a depth of emotion.

Finally, sprigs of greenery en wreathed the delicate yellow and white roses and white Cosmos flowers at the front of the cake, completing the gorgeous confection.

Rachel Martinez created custom decorated sugar cookies to match our theme. Decorated with yellow and white flowers and greenery, these cookies were true works of art.

One cookie featured the quote, “You have bewitched me, body and soul”. Other cookies featured beautifully scripted “Mr. & Mrs.”, and the date of our shoot. Everything looked too good to eat!

The Tablescape 

We had two lovely tables for our Pride and Prejudice theme. The dining table was set for an intimate gathering of six.

The The table was covered in a silver grey linen, and a lustrous gold satin table runner, with tassels at the ends.

The chairs were covered in silvery grey, and accented with fluffy yellow chiffon sashes.

The table settings combined gold charger plates, vintage china with hand painted grey and yellow roses, and vintage linen napkins with embroidered white daisies.

The glassware was an elegant mix of amber wine glasses, smokey champagne glasses, and amber dessert bowls.

Creamy white candles glowed in vintage gold mercury votives, and a pair of tall antique pewter candlesticks.

The silvery compote bowl held a large floral arrangement of golden yellow and white blooms and greenery, straight from the gardens.

The cake table was nestled in a corner of the conservatory, flanked by tall windows overlooking the estate grounds.

Dressed in a silver grey linen, and a vintage yellow topper with delicate floral and scalloped embroidery.

The stunning cake was placed in the middle of the table, surrounded by vintage gold mercury votives, and two small floral arrangements.

To serve the cake and cookies, we placed antique china, hand painted with daisies, alongside vintage yellow napkins embroidered with daisies.

Finally, the happy couple could toast with stemless wine glasses, which read, “His Lizzy” and “Her Mr. Darcy”. So very charming!

Shoot Vendors

Venue: The Tudor House on the Portage Lakes

Photography: Karen Menyhart Photography

Event Planning and Design: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

Stationery Suite & Artwork: Mospens Studio

Linens, Tableware, Decor, Wardrobe and Accessories: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

Wrist Gauntlets and Handbags: Lorili Design

Florals: Dietz Floral Studio

Cake Artist: Stephanie Blackmon

Cookie Artist: Made by Martinez

Models: Sammy Kay Smith as Elizabeth Bennet / Cyrus Moore III as Fitzwilliam Darcy

Our Bridgerton inspired styled wedding photo shoot is featured on the Plans and Presents blog!

Hello, Bridgerton Fans!! Like many of you, I have been OBSESSED with this show since it first aired on Netflix. Season one, with the characters of Daphne and Simon, completely enthralled me! I enjoyed the show so much, and rewatched it several times, that I was inspired to create my own interpretation of the show, in a gorgeous styled wedding photo shoot. We had a large cast of enthusiastic characters, and amazing vendors that brought this vision to life. Thank you to Alison Tinlin, of the Plans and Presents blog, for featuring this amazing collaboration! Enjoy!!

https://www.mrspandp.com/styled-shoots/a-beautiful-regency-inspired-wedding-shoot-channelling-bridgerton-and-pretty-blue-details/

Today I am thrilled to share a beautiful Regency inspired wedding shoot channelling Bridgerton and pretty blue details.

Images were captured by MP Photography with planning by Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning, and the collaboration of a fabulous collaborative team.

Kimberly of Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning says of the shoot…

Is there anyone who has not yet seen the Bridgerton series on Netflix?

I absolutely love this television series, based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn, and Shonda Rhimes and her production team have created an amazing show based on the books.

As we delve into the second series streaming now, we celebrate the magic of the first season, with the storyline featuring the romance of debutante Daphne Bridgerton, and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.

It is an enchanting and gorgeous modern interpretation of the Regency Era in England, during the social Season.

I wanted to capture the essence of the aristocratic members of the Haute Ton, and the romance of Daphne and Simon.

We had the perfect setting at The Tudor House on the Portage Lakes, in New Franklin, Ohio.

Once a private residence, this venue is now used for social events and weddings, and it had the beautiful scenery and timeless interior design provided a memorable setting for our styled wedding photo shoot.

Incorporating a soft colour scheme of blues and greys, we worked with amazing vendors to create a tribute to this iconic romance.

I’ve been a fan of Regency Era Romances for many years, and so this provided the inspiration.

The glamour and elegance of the age provides the perfect setting for love stories among the members of polite society.

There were specific rules and events for those seeking to marry, and heaven help you if you were caught in a scandalous situation.

The Tudor House was the perfect setting for our styled wedding shoot.

We made use of several rooms like the formal dining room, breakfast room, the formal parlour that featured lots of beautiful woodwork and large windows and fireplace, and the lush grounds around the estate.

In the series, the Bridgerton family members are often dressed in a soft colour palette of blues, greys, lavenders and pinks.

I wanted carry that theme through our shoot in some of the wardrobe pieces.

As there was an ensemble cast for this styled shoot, we kept the wardrobe as authentic to the Regency Era as possible.

For Daphne’s wedding gown, she wore a vintage Empire waisted, white satin gown, with chiffon overlay skirt, and lace detail. Her look was accented by a soft blue paisley satin shawl with fringe.

Her hair was swept up, and accented by a lovely pearl and diamond tiara.

Her handsome Duke, Simon, wore a classic black suit, with white shirt, dark cravat tie, and silver waist coat.

His tie was accented by a gold pin with emerald stone, very similar to the one worn by the Duke of Hastings in the first season of the series.

For Daphne’s second look, her “going away” outfit, we put her in an Empire waisted, cream coloured gown with delicate blue floral embroidery and blue velvet ribbon trim.

Her pelisse was a lovely blue shade to match her gown. We added long gloves, and a matching reticule and parasol shade to complete her look.

As our Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, Elliott made a dashing impression.

He wore a striking ensemble of grey slacks, dark blue dress jacket and matching vest, white shirt and red cravat tie.

His love interest, opera singer Siena Rosso, played by Charli, looked ethereally lovely in a long blush pink.

Grecian style chiffon gown with matching shawl. Her dark curls were swept off of her face by a matching chiffon scarf.

Sarah, our lovely titan-haired aristocrat, glowed in an emerald green satin gown, with elegant black trim, and black pashmina shawl.

Her accessories included an emerald tiara and earrings.

Her gentleman, Gerry, was very dapper in black pants, white shirt, burgundy and silver vest with chain detail, and a silver cravat.

The lovely Cait, who may or may not have been impersonating Lady Whistledown during our styled shoot, was radiant in a gold satin gown, trimmed with ruby red ribbons and roses.

Her curly brunette locks were accented by a pearl trimmed band.

She also wore a matching yellow lace shawl, red slippers, and a beautiful cameo pendant on a red satin ribbon.

Sammy looked timelessly elegant in silver slipper satin gown trimmed with royal blue lace appliques and satin ribbon sash.

She wore a matching silver shawl, and a delicate silver tiara to complete her look.

Her gentleman, Cyrus, was looking every inch the nobleman in his outfit.

He wore grey pants, tall black leather riding boots, a white shirt, navy blue cravat tie, and dark red double-breasted coat.

All of the accessories such as gloves, jewelry, and tiaras, were from personal collections.

We had a very stylish group in attendance for the wedding of Daphne and Simon, the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, indeed!

We wanted to match the beautiful florals with our soft colour scheme, and the feel of being freshly gathered from the garden, and these were created by Dietz Floral Studio.

Daphne’s bridal bouquet was comprised of the same flowers as the table arrangements, with the addition of white lisianthus.

Definitely a romantic look for our Duchess of Hastings.

One of the most central pieces to the Bridgerton series is the printed gossip column, written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown. Of course, we had to include a copy of the scandal sheet in our styled shoot!

The invitation suite, personal vow books, and dinner party menu were all created by Michelle Mospens Studio.

Michelle had also hand-painted several designs of blue and white ginger jars on canvases, that fit so well with our table linens.

As Daphne’s character plays the pianoforte in the series, we added a small antique piano music box to our details.

The reticules were created by Laurie Wallick of Lorili Design, especially for this styled shoot.

We had two very distinct tables for our tribute to Bridgerton.

I also wanted to carry that theme through our shoot in the linens for the tablescapes, and some of the décor and detail items.

We set up the cake table in the morning room, or breakfast parlour, of the Tudor House.

There are several large windows, allowing lots of natural light and an amazing view of the lake just beyond the grounds of the estate.

This vintage garden table was covered with a silver grey linen, and two table runners, with a royal blue flocked velvet pattern, were crossed on top.

The  stunning cake by Sarah’s Sugar Cookies was placed in the middle of the table, and surrounded by linen napkins in silver grey and royal blue.

The silver laser cut names of Daphne and Simon were added to the table, along with a pair of antique cut crystal toasting flutes.

Our formal dining table was dressed to impress for the guests of Simon and Daphne.

The table and chairs were draped in silver grey linens. A square overlay with a royal blue flocked velvet design was placed diagonally across the table.

The chairs were tied with matching royal blue flocked velvet sashes.

The place settings were very elegant, with silver grey napkins placed under the fine white china that was banded with a silver Greek Key design.

On top of each place setting, we placed a small silver container with a clear dome cover, with mints inside.

Custom laser cut place cards by Chrissy Lane Designs, with the name of each guest, were added in front of each mint container.

The glassware included the traditional coffee cup and saucer, a smoky wine glass, and a clear champagne flute with a royal blue band.

A pair of black metal scroll work candelabras flanked the centerpiece, illuminating the table with long creamy taper candles.

The floral centerpiece was lush and full in a large silver patterned bowl, with garden blooms such as white lilacs, garden roses, ranunculus and Queen Anne’s lace, blue thistle, delphinium and tweedia in shades of blue and white, to complete the grand design of the table.

This was all perfect setting for a sweet beginning to marriage for the Duke and Duchess of Hastings.

Shoot Vendors

Venue – The Tudor House on the Portage Lakes

Photography – MP Photography Studio

Event Planning and Design – Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

Stationery Suite & Artwork (Invitations / Vow books / Dinner party menu) – Mospens Studio

Florals – Dietz Floral Studio

Cake Artist –  Sarah’s Sugar Cookies

Cookie Artist – Made by Martinez

Cake Topper & Place Card Names – Chrissy Lane Designs

Linens, Tableware, Decor, Wardrobe and Accessories –  Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

Wrist Gauntlets and Handbags – Lorili Design

Models – Fox Kaye as Daphne Bridgerton, Duchess of Hastings

Daniel McKinnon as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings

Charli St. Joan as Siena Rosso

Elliott Kreim as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton

Sarah Riddle / Gerry Vilk / Cait McNeal/ Sammy Kay Smith / Cyrus Moore III

We have been featured on The Budget Savvy Bride!!

We have been blessed to have our Owl & Pussycat styled bridal photo shoot featured today, on The Budget Savvy Bride!!

https://thebudgetsavvybride.com/poem-inspired-styled-shoot/

 

POEM INSPIRED STYLED SHOOT

#Bridal styled shoot #vintage #wedding inspiration

This styled bridal shoot was based on Edward Lear’s classic poem, “The Owl and The Pussycat”.  The walls of the cafe are decorated in fantastic chalk art, and there is such a whimsical woodland vibe throughout the entire establishment. Enjoy this Poem Inspired Styled Shoot! Xoxo, Jessica

POEM INSPIRED STYLED SHOOT

SUBMITTED BY: KIMBERLY LEHMAN OF LOVE, LAUGHTER & ELEGANCE: WEDDING & EVENT PLANNING

What was your design inspiration?

I have always loved the classic story of “The Owl & The Pussycat”, by Edward Lear. I recently came across a beautifully illustrated children’s version of the story, and I knew that I had to bring this story to life. In the neighborhood in Akron, Ohio, where I work, there is the most charming cafe. The decor is very eclectic and whimsical, and owls are a prominent feature. There are fantastic chalk murals on the walls and a handcrafted tree in the very center of the cafe. I knew this was the perfect location for this styled shoot. There is also a wonderfully casual patio outside of the cafe, that beckons you to sit and stay a while. I also wanted to incorporate the literary aspect of the project, so we wandered across the street to the library, and took some shots in the reading garden, and inside among the book stacks.

Describe your flowers.

Since the cafe is so colorful and whimsical, I wanted to keep our floral look soft, with muted pastel colors. The bridal bouquet is comprised of lavender, blue, and pink silk hydrangeas, and pastel silk roses. The boutonniere is a large pastel silk bloom that looked wonderful against Conner’s dark blue suit. I created a rounded centerpiece of the same silk hydrangeas and roses as the bridal bouquet. For a little depth and contrast, I also added large blush silk peonies. This arrangement was placed in my grandmother’s antique soup tureen, and then placed on top of my vintage white cake stand, with a decorative floral edge. We also used some of the natural greenery and wood elements found in the cafe as decor.

Describe your cake.

The cake, created by Debbie Wright of Cake Wasted, was a magnificent three-tiered confection! The three round tiers were each decorated in a shade of blue or green, to represent the ocean in the story. She added several beautiful handcrafted flowers to accentuate the gorgeous cake. The cake topper, created by Katie Meek of Meekly Yours, was a charming rendition of the owl and the pussycat sailing away for a year and a day in their little boat.

Tell us about your attire choices.

Our male model, Conner, wore a slim fitting blue suit of his own. I added a bright yellow silk tie that had little sailboats embroidered on it to go with the theme of the shoot. He also donned adorable owl-framed glasses, that looked so cute on him!

For Sammy Kay, we had 4 different looks. The first was a lovely flowing bridesmaid gown in a color called “desert rose”. This gown set off Sammy’s neckline and beautiful creamy skin. The bridal gown was an ivory lace sheath dress with an embellished empire waist, cap sleeves, sweetheart neckline, and sweep train. She looked amazing in it! The second bridal dress was a tea-length vintage design from the 1940s, sheer with an overall lace design. The final dress was also a vintage design from the 1950s. It was a day dress, deep rose in color, and had an overall lace pattern. The neckline was trimmed with matching satin piping. Sammy Kay added vintage gloves, hats and jewelry to complete the overall look for each outfit.

Please describe any handmade, DIY, or personal items.

There were several handmade items provided by vendors for this amazing photoshoot! Michal Elaine Johnston created a beautiful painting with colors featured in the original inspiration board. Katie Meek of Meekly Yours, created the cake topper, round wooden sign, and table number. Jodi Kennedy of Pink Tomato Creative hand made several of the decorative items, like the large banners, and paper goods.

We used my grandmother’s antique soup tureen as the display container for the floral centerpiece, as well as other sentimental items from my personal collection like vintage books, gloves, and figurines. We also displayed a poster of The Owl & The Pussycat, which had been mounted on a multicolored backdrop, and framed.

Describe the tablescape elements.

We had two tablescapes, one for the cake, and one for the dining table. The cake table was covered in delicate pink table linen, and the gorgeous wedding cake was placed on an ornate antique gold pedestal cake stand. We added gold mercury and small blue glass jar votive candles, and the children’s book of “The Owl & The Pussycat.”

The dining table was covered in a gorgeous blush pink petal tablecloth. Behind the table, we had our bride and groom models seated in magnificent high backed chairs, covered in white leather. The place settings were layered with gold beaded clear glass charger plates and ivory bone china with gold rims. We also used vintage floral china, and gold flatware. The stemware included cut crystal glasses with gold rims and smaller amber aperitif glasses. White and pastel linen napkins completed the look. The place cards were handmade paper boats with sails, as a nod to the boat in the story. I created a rounded centerpiece of the same silk hydrangeas and roses as the bridal bouquet. For a little depth and contrast, I also added large blush silk peonies. This arrangement was placed in my grandmother’s antique soup tureen, and then placed on top of my vintage white cake stand, with a decorative floral edge. We also added a few small owl and cat figurines, and gold mercury votive candles.

VENDORS

Photography: Stacey Long    • Venue: A Walk in the Park Cafe • Event Planning: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning • Floral: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning • Stationery: pink tomato creative • Wedding Cake: cake wasted • Bridesmaid Dresses: Doreen Leaf Designs  •  Headpiece: Doreen Leaf Designs  •  Model: Sammy Kay Smith • Model: Conner Moore • Laser Engraving: Meekly Yours • Bakery: A Walk in the Park Cafe • Wedding Dress: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning • Fashion: English Rose Vintage Oh • Tableware: Millers Party Rental • Cake Topper: Meekly Yours • Paintings: Michal Elaine Johnston • Handmade Items: pink tomato creative • Tableware: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning • Submitted via: Matchology

Happy 4th of July! We have been featured on the Artfully Wed blog!!

Happy 4th of July, Everyone!  We have been blessed to have our 1940s War Bride and Groom styled photo shoot featured on the Artfully Wed blog today!!  Thank you so much to all of our vendors and models!  We couldn’t have done it without you!  Enjoy!

PATRIOTIC 1940S STYLED BRIDAL SHOOT

As a wonderful tribute to Love, Laughter & Elegance’s Grandparents and friends who have served in the military, this styled bridal photo shoot captured the classic feel of the many whirlwind marriages of WWII and took place in the historical MAPS Air Museum in North, Canton Ohio. With photography by Imagine It Photography, it is easy to be transported back to 1940 where romantic stories and crisp fashion were ever present.

From Love, Laughter & Elegance: “I have always been fascinated with the fashions and hairstyles of the 1940s, as well as the wartime romances and whirlwind marriages. My father’s parents served during that time. I knew that my grandmother was a WAAC. I have a black and white picture of my grandmother in her uniform, working at one of the local military service clubs. I wanted to capture the feelings of that era, and pay homage to all that served. I wanted to use multiple models, with one more casual wedding look, and one more glamorous. Since many young men of the day had only their uniforms to wear for weddings, I kept the same look for our male model throughout the photo shoot. Our decor choices were styled in classic red, white and blue. Those worked really well with our venue, a military museum filled with vintage airplanes, and other historic items.

I did a lot of research into the clothing of the era. I wanted two distinct looks for our female models, one more casual, and one more glamorous. Our first model wore a pretty blue day dress with red Mary Janes,red-trimmed gloves, a fetching red hat and matching jewelry. Her wedding ring set was my grandmother’s. Our second model, Lauren, we turned into an Old Hollywood siren. The dress had lavishly embellished cuffs and a dramatic open back that was edged in thick sparkling braid trim. There was a detachable train, and we added a cathedral length veil for more drama. Lauren’s jewelry was all sparkle.  Our male model wore a vintage Army Air Force uniform, which fit well with our venue. The Air Force did not become its own distinct military division until 1947.”

As for the extras, decor, flowers, and accessories needed to reflect a simpler time. All flowers used in the styled shoot were very reminiscent of those from the 1940’s – large, lush arrangements, that often were full of garden flowers like anemones, carnations, and lots of greenery. The baker created a simple 3 tier cake, covered in fondant, and adorned with small white flowers and patriotic ribbon with a cutout cake toper themed with a very popular song of the era. The tablescape was topped in classic red, white and blue and personalized with some very symbolic items of the time like Classic Coca-Colas with vintage striped paper straws, Cracker Jacks, simple class jars, coconut macaroons and WWII propaganda posters.

Photography:

• Imagine It Photography
• Venue: MAPS Air Museum
• Event Planning: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning
• Event Design: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning
• Floral: Dietz Falls Florist
• Stationery: A Pink Sunset
• Videography: Joseph Testa Productions
• Wedding Cake: Gearhart Custom Cakes
• Sweets: Annie’s signature sweets
• Linens: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning
• Makeup: Summer Knight
• Jewelry: Susie Kays Design
• Veil: A brides design
• Wedding Dress: Madeleine Fig
• Decor Items: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning
• Props: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning
• Candy Buffet: Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning
• Paintings: Michal Elaine Johnston
• Handmade Items: Melissa Walker
• Model: Lauren Simpson
• Model: Sammy Kay Smith
• Model: Joe Morales
• Wardrobe Styling: Eric Myers
• Hair: Angelyse Trammell
• Wedding Dress: Madeleine Fig
• Veil: A Brides Design
• Groom’s Attire: Eric Myers
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Sammy Kay Smith
• Submitted via: Matchology

Day of Wedding Coordination Giveaway!

***Special Announcement!***

We are giving away a FREE Day of Coordination Package to one Lucky Couple! May be applied to any wedding in 2017 or 2018. All you need to do to enter, is send us a brief essay of 300 words max., of why you should be chosen. Please email entries to lleweddings@aol.com.

Contest is limited to weddings in Ohio, and immediate surrounding states. Entries must be in by midnight, April 1st, 2017. Winners will be announced by April 3rd, 2017. Those who are not selected as the winner of the Free Package, are still eligible for an offer of a discounted price on above stated package, or any other services that we offer. Good Luck!

Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

We have been blogged! With Joseph Testa Films

We have been blogged!  This time, with one of our videography partners, Joseph Testa Films.  We first met Joe on Facebook, chatting on several occasions in different wedding planning and industry-related groups.  When the opportunity came up to plan a destination wedding for one of our couples, Azia and Hondo, on relatively short notice, Joe and his wife Peggy happily agreed to assist us with videography for the wedding.  They did a fantastic job!  We highly recommend Joe for all of your video needs!

Since then, we have collaborated at several bridal shows, and often promote special deals with each other, in order to maximize value, while not sacrificing quality of service, for our clients.  We also co-administer several wedding message groups together on Facebook, providing planning advice and resources for brides and vendors.

Recently, Joe sent us a short questionnaire, using the answers to create a feature about our business.  Below is the link to the post on Joe’s blog.  Enjoy!

http://josephtestafilms.com/love-laughter-and-elegance/

Engagement Season Special! $1000

Engagement season special!

Full Wedding Planning Package for $1000!! Good for 2016 weddings.

Call us at 330-313-6030 or message us for more details.

Offer ends Feb. 15th, 2016.

Newly Engaged? Let us help you celebrate!

 

Happy Engagement Season Everyone!!  We are willing to bet you know someone who is now sporting something very sparkly on the third finger of their left hand – a gorgeous engagement ring!  With so many styles to choose from, each ring is a unique representation of love.  

So…..we are dying to know……who got engaged over the Holidays?  Please share your proposal stories with us!  If you give us permission, we would like to post them to share, so all may know of your love story.  

There is also still time to create a wonderful proposal with New Year’s and Valentine’s Day just around the corner.  We would love to help you set a romantic scene for your once in a lifetime question.

We also would love to assist you in all aspects of planning your dream wedding!  From a free initial consultation, to sending you off on your honeymoon, we can cover all of the details, and take the stress and worry from you.  That way, you can enjoy your engagement and dream wedding as you truly deserve!

Start the process by contacting us today.  We can’t wait to meet you, and share a drink to celebrate with you!  Cheers!

Phone:  (330) 313-6030

Email:  lleweddings@aol.com

 

Photo credits:  Brass Key Photography, and Love, Laughter & Elegance: Wedding & Event Planning

Come see us this Friday at the Rivercrest Farm’s Bridal Open House!

Please come meet us at the Rivercrest Farm’s Bridal Open House!

Friday, December 11th, from 6-9pm. Located in Dover, Ohio.

We will be there along with other great wedding vendors.  We will also be offering a great special with Joseph Testa Films for wedding planning and videography!  Hope to see you there!

Check out the event on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1025535530830484/