The Wedding of Jaclyn and Julian
Bonnet Island Estates, Manahawkin, NJ

Outstanding Detail
Wedding planners are hired to take care of the details of the day and any emergencies that may arise. The morning of the wedding, the Mother of the Bride’s dress zipper ripped and was beyond repair. The Details of I Do staff was there to assess the damage and was set out to purchase a new dress. The MOB was relatively calm and the Details of I Do staff soon returned with two new dresses for her to try. Success! She looked beautiful and she was able to relax and enjoy her daughter’s special day. “The one thing most brides don’t get on their wedding day is a break. If you want to enjoy individual moments more and deal with questions and disasters less, hiring day-of help should be a high priority on your to-do list. The quality time you’ll gain is well worth the fee.” (Charli Penn, www.msn.com)

Planning Detail
One thing you cannot control on your wedding day is the weather; however you can prepare a backup plan. The forecast for Jackie and Julian’s wedding day was chance of scattered thunderstorms. The Details of I Do team and the BIE staff came prepared with umbrellas to escort the guests and bridal party to and from the chapel and to and from the cocktail hour reception. The vendors also all worked together in allowing for the photographer to capture the photos the couple had wanted. We kept track of the weather to see how fast it was passing over and were able to push back the opening of the reception to allow for some outdoor shots of the couple and bridal party.

My Favorite Detail
“Bonnet Island Estate combines the luxury of the present with the elegance of the past and is reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era offering a combination of 19th century grandeur and the modern amenities of today.” (www.bonnetislandestate.com) The estate allows guests to mingle around the premises with access to the entire estate throughout the evening. The guests were greeted at the chapel by a string trio, and then ushered to the cocktail hour reception where they enjoyed cocktails, appetizers and listened to a Caribbean inspired music. The evening then continued to the ballroom where guests would enjoy a night of dinner and dancing.

Photos courtesy of: Marie Labbancz, Art of Love, check out additional photos on on her blog here and here

The Wedding of Dorothy & Mark - The Imperia, Somerset, NJ

Outstanding Detail
Once again the lighting and décor set the tone in the Majestica ballroom at the Imperia. Coral and brown accents were used throughout the room. The table design included small vases filled with coffee beans and a single rose placed around pillar candles or larger arrangements of coral/pink roses. Linen rentals included coral satin seat covers, napkins and runners that were placed over brown overlays. The Chivari chairs from the rental company came with brown seat covers which would have coordinated with the color palette, yet the designers from Details of I Do suggested the coral seat covers, which gave the room a crisp, finished look.

Planning Detail
Couples are becoming more creative and looking for new ways to make their day unique. Dorothy and Mark accomplished this by having two wedding ‘cakes’ and they had special ordered cake toppers that resembled them and even had one of their dog ‘Max’. In order for the cakes to be equally displayed and allow for the guests to see the cake topper, the planners/designers from Details of I Do worked alongside the cake vendor to place the cake that would be used in the cake cutting in front of the sweet heart table with the cake toppers. The tower of cupcakes, that the couple also selected, was showcased to the left of the sweetheart where it was highlighted with a pin spotlight.

My Favorite Detail
Small details can create special moments in a couple’s wedding day. Dorothy and Mark were wed by the cascading waterfall on the private stone patio outside of the ballroom. The guests were seated under a white tent where they were being entertained by a string trio that would usher in the bridal party. The groom and groomsmen walked in from the side and took their place up front. The mother of the groom was escorted by her son and the bridesmaids followed taking their place up front waiting to welcome the bride and her parents. The flower girl and ring bearer were followed by two more flower girls that held a banner inscribed with four simple words, “Here Comes the Bride”. This had the guests oohing and aahing and cued them to stand for the bride and her parents were about to enter.

Wedding of Angela and Dodd - Nassau Inn, Princeton, NJ

Outstanding Detail
Angela and Dodd’s reception was held at the historic Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ. The couple’s vision for their wedding included the vibrant colors red and orange and an overall theme of wine, seen in their table number holders, table names and placecards. The Details of I Do team used red overlays as a base for the table design. The centerpieces were three small bunches of flowers in glass vases, picking up the colors of red, orange, yellow and white. The room was highlighted using yellow up lights around the room with each table pin spot lighted.

Planning Detail
Angela and Dodd wed at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Princeton, just a few blocks away from the Nassau Inn. The couple decided since the ceremony and reception were in such close proximity that they would forego renting a limo and walk to and from the church. This involved some extra planning: we had to allow for the walk through town and we had to make sure we knew where the groom, groomsmen, bride and bridesmaid were at all times. We sent one planner with the men and kept one planner with bride. The weather, which turned out to be very cooperative was also a lingering factor. It rained early in the day, and later cleared up to be a beautiful afternoon and evening. However, we were ready with umbrellas and various cars that would be used in case of inclimate weather.

My Favorite Detail
One of my favorite parts of Angela and Dodd’s wedding was not only the attentive maid of honor but the attentive best men. Dodd had selected two of his closest friends as his best men and they were not only there for Dodd but also ready and waiting for Angela with anything she needed. It was nice to see how much their friends cared for them and wanted them to enjoy this special day.

Photos courtesy of: life mosaic studios

What the Bride had to say
“For my wedding style, I wanted not to look like I look in real life. In my every day life, I wear no makeup and pick pretty classic but not trendy clothes. When I went dropping for my dress, I wanted a Princess Diana-like dress that really made me look like a bride. For hair and makeup, I went more dramatic than usual with lots of eye makeup and even some synthetic hair to make it look like I actually had hair! However, my true self did win out - sort of. I bought two wedding dresses - the big, fancy, heavy dramatic one for the ceremony and a simple, light, elegant dress for the reception. After all, I still had to be able to dance, move, and eat!!” - Kristianna

What the I do crew had to say
Although you don’t want to look like a complete stranger at your wedding I definitely think it is the one and only time for girls to really glam it up and have that red carpet moment that we always dream of! Also, if you want a princess look for your ceremony and photos but want to be able to truly enjoy your reception, slipping into a simpler fun gown is a great way to go! - Kristin

Photo Credit: janet lanza photography

One of our recent brides had one of the cutest details to personalize her wedding! She had miniature characters made as a cake topper of her and her soon to be husband and even the family pooch! The miniatures were created by Nicole Clark a fine arts designer who dables in wedding design, check out more of her work at www.nicolewong.com. You simply send a pic of you and your fiance and a photo of your dress and the grooms suit and describe how your hair will look and your bouquet and Nicole designs a perfect replica in polymer clay!

For more photos of this event go to: www.detailsofido.com/wedding_dorthy.html

Keep your eye out for our latest feature, Bridal Style! Hear how our real brides came up with their wedding day look and what inspired them!

What Maryam Had to say,
“There was never any mystery as far as my envisioned wedding look was concerned. From the moment my husband placed that engagement ring on my finger, I began searching for the perfect components to complete my vision: it had to be elegant, classic, and feminine, but still fresh and modern; a throwback to the past with a nod to the present. Such a daunting task was easily achieved when I slipped into an Anne Barge a-line mermaid gown of silk and French Alencon lace from Kleinfeld’s in New York. Along with a beautiful train with lace-scalloped detailing, the dress had a sweetheart neckline and tiny, off-the shoulder cap sleeves. In line with the dress, the talented Denise Perueu styled my hair in a soft, Hepburn-like updo with an antique diamond tiara-comb placed low in the chignon. I accented the jeweled hair piece with dainty diamond drop earrings and a baroque diamond cuff-bracelet. The Stuart Weitzman shoes I wore were white satin peep-toe stilettos with a white satin rose embellishment. Denise kept my make-up fresh, warm and glowing: she did a soft brown smoky eye accented with subtle bronze-gold eye shadow, glowing Nars blush, and a soft dusty rose-beige lipstick and gloss by Smashbox. I truly never felt more beautiful than I did that day.”

Maryam Truly captured the timeless look she was going for! Her Lace Gown was exquisite and very en vogue and her hair simply stunning swept up in a chignon. The overall look was soft and understated. Soft Smokey Eyes in neutral colors and a glossy lip gives brides a dramatic look with out overdoing it!

Photos by Jorg Windau

We created a complete stationery suite for donna and david to compliment the overall design of their wedding. Not only did the suite reflect the couples color palette but also mimicked the clean lines and modern designs of the event. From table numbers to menus, programs and place cards, no wedding is truly complete without custom stationery! Not only does it add a personal touch, it also truly reflects the individuality of each client! We also love to gift our clients with a very special detail, embroidered napkins and a table runner with the same design as the stationery suite we designed for them, a great keepsake for our brides. Stay tuned for more of our custom suites and see how they tie every event together adding both an overall cohesiveness and character! =”attachment” class=”imagelink” href=”http://www.couturepapers.com/”>See more letterpress stationary on couturepapers.com

The Wedding of Donna and David Lee - Manor, West Orange, NJ

Outstanding Detail
Donna and David’s ceremony and reception were held at the ever classic and elegant Manor in West Orange, NJ. The Details of I Do team met Donna last fall; she was a bridesmaid in Hanah and Bobby Kim’s wedding which was held on Princeton campus. The couple’s ceremony was held in the private gardens outside the Manor and the guests were invited inside where they would enjoy the cocktail hour and dinner reception. The tables in the ballroom were topped with centerpieces that were various sized square vases filled with branches and orchids. Once again the use of pin spots to highlight each centerpiece gave the room a finished and classic look.

Planning Detail
How can you plan for inclement weather? The weather is one thing on your wedding day that you have no control over. The important thing to do if your ceremony/reception is to be outdoors is to make sure that you have an alternate location just in case of inclement weather. Remember to let your vendors know what you would like them to plan for. For Donna and David, there ceremony was to take place in the garden outside of the Manor. However, the weather forecast the week before and on the day of the wedding was calling from 30-60% chance of rain. Donna and David did have another location reserved in case of rain. But with the help of the Details of I Do crew (checking on the weather every 15 minutes) and all the vendors; the ceremony went off outside without a hitch.

My Favorite Detail
My favorite detail of a wedding is when a bride and groom choose to do something a little different from the norm at their wedding. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, just a small detail can make a wonderful statement. For Donna and David’s wedding, David and his groomsmen, chose to wear matching black converse sneakers instead of wearing dress shoes.

Learn more about Donna & David’s wedding

The Wedding of Elizabeth and Steven - Hyatt Regency, Princeton, NJ

Outstanding Detail
Elizabeth and Steven’s wedding reception was held at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, NJ. The ballroom was transformed by the Details of I Do team into a fairytale garden with the colors of lilac and sage green. The centerpieces, both high and low, were exquisite. There were tall glass vases topped with draping arrangements of antique colored hydrangea, eucalyptus and other flowers that had small white lanterns hanging from them. The low centerpieces were white glass lanterns with hanging votives inside surrounded by hydrangea and eucalyptus around the base.

Planning Detail
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, working and communicating with the vendors is very important. It is crucial for the staff/vendors to work together in order for the event to run smoothly. For Elizabeth and Steven’s wedding, Elizabeth was surprising her groom with a groom’s cake that was decorated with Curious George (the groom’s favorite character). As it was a surprise, Elizabeth pulled me aside to make a last minute song request (Upside Down by Jack Johnson) that she wanted to be played during the cake cutting (Steven had been in charge of the music selection and had been contacting the DJ). With this information I went to the DJ, after the introductions, and made sure that the appropriate song would be played.

My Favorite Detail
My favorite detail at Elizabeth and Steven’s wedding were the elaborate draping centerpieces. They made such a statement in the ballroom; the minute you entered the room you felt like you had entered a garden, not just by the floral design but also the intense aroma that was given off by the flowers. Another small detail was the table numbers. The bride and groom, who were both literature majors, had decided to use authors’ names instead of table numbers for the guest tables. Guests would find books by that author at each corresponding table.

See more photos >

The Wedding of Angela and Dodd - Nassau Inn, Princeton, NJ

Outstanding Detail
Angela and Dodd’s reception was held at the historic Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ. The couple’s vision for their wedding included the vibrant colors red and orange and an overall theme of wine, seen in their table number holders, table names and placecards. The Details of I Do team used red overlays as a base for the table design. The centerpieces were three small bunches of flowers in glass vases, picking up the colors of red, orange, yellow and white. The room was highlighted using yellow up lights around the room with each table pin spot lighted.

Planning Detail
Angela and Dodd wed at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Princeton, just a few blocks away from the Nassau Inn. The couple decided since the ceremony and reception were in such close proximity that they would forego renting a limo and walk to and from the church. This involved some extra planning: we had to allow for the walk through town and we had to make sure we knew where the groom, groomsmen, bride and bridesmaid were at all times. We sent one planner with the men and kept one planner with bride. The weather, which turned out to be very cooperative was also a lingering factor. It rained early in the day, and later cleared up to be a beautiful afternoon and evening. However, we were ready with umbrellas and various cars that would be used in case of inclimate weather.

My Favorite Detail
One of my favorite parts of Angela and Dodd’s wedding was not only the attentive maid of honor but the attentive best men. Dodd had selected two of his closest friends as his best men and they were not only there for Dodd but also ready and waiting for Angela with anything she needed. It was nice to see how much their friends cared for them and wanted them to enjoy this special day.