If you’re like me, you get bored of seeing the same pieces at every single retailer, and that’s why I love shopping this little secret… Bloomingdale’s 100% Exclusive capsule. My skirt, for example, is Vince Camuto… but you’ll only find it at Bloomingdale’s.
Friends… let the bachelorette weekend begin! My sister and I arrived in beautiful Seaside, Florida yesterday around noon to an absolutely perfect day. Sunny skies, balmy temperatures, ocean views… we don’t ever want to leave!
We decided to go a day before everyone else arrives for a fun sister night. After all, it’s just been the two of us all of these years, and this IS our favorite place in the world! We’ll take any extra time we can get here, together. :)
We decided to get all dolled up for dinner at a place we’ve been dying to visit, Pescado. I have been dying for an excuse to debut this gorgeous lilac wrap skirt, and it was the perfect occasion!
Y’all heard me gush about my new-found love for the Bloomingdale’s Loyallist rewards program just a couple of weeks ago, and as if that’s not reason enough to become an instant Bloomie’s fan, let’s talk about their 100% Exclusives line! Just like it sounds, this line is comprised of pieces from well-loved brands that are completely exclusive to Bloomingdale’s.
If you’re like me, you get bored of seeing the same pieces at every single retailer, and that’s why I love shopping this little secret. My skirt, for example, is Vince Camuto… but you’ll only find it at Bloomingdale’s.
And that’s not the only line of exclusive Bloomgindale’s pieces you’ll find. Some of my very favorite designers, Ted Baker, BB Dakota, Kate Spade,BCBGMAXARIA,Wildfox, and my recent obsession AQUA, all carry exclusive pieces you won’t find anywhere else at Bloomingdale’s.
So the next time you’re on the hunt for a little something special that not everyone else will have, you know where to head! (Here, that is, if you’re looking for the link.)
Now, I’m off to get this bachelorette party started! I absolutely can’t WAIT to bring y’all along on all the fun!
Love from Florida,
Kate
Thank you, Bloomingdale’s, for sponsoring this post.
The process of wedding planning has been a learning curve, to say the least! I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what goes into making a wedding happen, but actually planning one? Heavens. I now look back at my naive little pre-engaged self and smile. How was I…
The process of wedding planning has been a learning curve, to say the least! I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what goes into making a wedding happen, but actually planning one? Heavens.
I now look back at my naive little pre-engaged self and smile. How was I to know that the stunning events I saw in the pages of magazines didn’t simply pop up overnight? Sometimes ignorance is bliss, right?
Teasing, teasing of course! As I’ve mentioned before, I have truly loved this season. And the reason I genuinely believe I’ve loved it so much (and not felt completely stressed the entire time) is because of the incredible vendors I am lucky enough to have on board for me and Andrew’s big day!
You see, stunning weddings don’t simply pop up overnight, as I once assumed. It takes a village. No, not even a village, y’all. An army. And today, I’m excited to be partering with WeddingWire to talk about how to you can select vendors who are going to enhance your wedding planning season and make your day one to remember!
If you are a bride-to-be, I hope these tips help you assemble a team that makes your entire engagement season, along with the wedding itself, memorable and wonderful. If you are nowhere close to getting married, I hope these tips stay in the back of your mind so you can hit the ground running when the time comes! And to those of you who have walked this road before, I hope you’ll share tips on how you selected the vendors who made your wedding day!
Let’s dive in, shall we?
how to choose your wedding vendors
INTERVIEW YOUR MARRIED FRIENDS
When it comes to selecting wedding vendors, my opinion on the best place to start? Your friends who have done this before! I’ve found that the one thing more important than a vendor’s skill and delivery is the experience of working with them. Wedding planning can be a hectic, highly emotional experience. Trust me, you want vendors who you enjoy working with!
So start by asking your married friends what vendors they loved working with. Then, ask if there were any they didn’t enjoy! This inside info is worth it’s weight in gold, and is by far the best place to start.
I was adamant about “doing my research” with every single vendor we selected, so I looked at both personal recommendations and ones I found through other sources. The vast majority of vendors we ended up selecting for our big day were the ones personal friends recommended from the get-go. It just goes to show!
BE AN INSTAGRAM SLEUTH
I have gained a whole new level of respect for Instagram throughout the wedding planning process. You see, on top of being a mindless place to scroll, it’s a total goldmine when it comes to sourcing wedding ideas and vendors!
My advice? Take to the Instagram search bar and type in location-relevant queries like #DallasWedding, #DallasBride, #DallasFlorist, etc. It won’t take you long to find tons of wedding-related accounts, from photographers to rental companies to venues, and so much more!
Try finding a wedding photographer in your area and see if they tag any vendors in their images. (Most do!) This will quickly lead you on a wedding rabbit trail, and will let you discover tons of vendors in your area. Then, once you find a vendor you’re interested in (a florist, let’s say) click on their tagged images to see more of their work!
Over the past few months, I have loved consistently doing this with our ceremony and reception venues, as well as our florists. It’s so much fun to see what others are doing, and a great source for serious inspiration!
USE THE WEDDINGWIRE VENDOR PORTAL
Throughout my Wedding Wednesday series, y’all have heard me go on and on about my love for WeddingWire! It has been such a helpful resource in every stage of my wedding planning experience, from registering to staying organized and so much more. And in terms of finding a band for me and Andrew’s big day, another tool in the WeddingWire aresenal, the wedding vendor directory, saved. the. day.
Let’s back up a bit. One of the things I’ve always been the most excited about for my wedding, and one of the things Andrew and I really wanted to prioritize, is an incredible wedding band. Both of our families love to dance, and we want our reception to feel like a huge party!
Since Andrew and I have both been to so many weddings, we decided it could be awesome to do something a little bit different in terms of our band. So, we decided to book a fun band we both had seen and loved in our college years and make it a surprise for our guests.
As the months went on, however, the excitement I initially had about this band started to turn into anxiety. They are truly amazing (and I’m sure some of y’all have seen them before) but let’s just say I started to worry that they wouldn’t fit the “vibe” we were going for with our reception. I would seriously spend so much time every day worrying about how we could pull it off, and finally realized the stress of it all just wasn’t worth it.
So a couple of months ago (about four months away from our wedding) I made the decision to start from scratch and go the more traditional route. Since we were just months out, I was terrified there wouldn’t be any fabulous bands available! (Especially considering the band is one of the very first things people book.) I immediately pulled up the WeddingWire vendor directory and started the search!
The great thing about the WeddingWire vendor directory is all of the filtering options! I was able to sort by category, price, and location, read reviews (which was SO helpful) and even contact the vendor directly by requesting pricing. I reached out to tons of bands, and heard back within a day or two from all of them! Much to my happy surprise, there were plenty of options available on my date. Whew!
I ended up finding the perfect fit for our big night, and I absolutely can’t wait to share more about the band soon! They’re even better than I could have hoped, and I can’t wait for them to make our evening so much fun!
One of the things I began to notice as I met with different vendors is that the wedding industry is a little world in-and-of-itself. When you think about it, it makes complete sense. Every Saturday, wedding florists, photographers, bands and hair and makeup artists end up spending a lot of time together!
So, odds are, the vendors you meet with have their own opinions and experiences with other vendors outside of their own specialty. For example, your florist may really enjoy working with a certain lighting company. Your wedding photographer may have a makeup artist recommendation whose looks translate really well on camera. The point is, ask them for any and all recommendations. After all, who better to ask than those in the industry?!
MEET WITH VENDORS IN PERSON
When it’s all said and done, the best way to get a feel for whether or not a vendor is a good fit for you is through an in-person meeting. Are they prompt and punctual? Did they make you feel welcome? Were they excited about your event and did they capture exactly what you’re looking for?
It’s so important to meet with vendors in person because anyone can look good online and in photos! It’s how service-oriented they are that really counts.
True (and funny) story: I had a pretty comical experience with a florist I was initially super excited to meet with. I guess my budget wasn’t up-to-par with what they were wanting, because the whole meeting was a flop… from their tardiness, to where they sat us (the middle of their workroom, so awkward), to them not getting back to me for four weeks after the meeting. Needless to say, I pretty quickly got the vibe it wasn’t going to work out and continued my hunt!
On the other hand, I had meetings that I wasn’t initially crazy excited about go phenomenally well… where I really clicked with the person and felt so right about the decision. It just goes to show, you never really know until you’re face to face!
Well, friends, you know me. I’m not one to skimp on word count! So forgive me for such a long post. :) I just really want to provide as much helpful information as I can since the process of selecting wedding vendors can be so overwhelming!
I can’t wait to share our full vendor list after the wedding. We have been blessed with such an incredible team (y’all have already met a few, like our photographer John!) and I am so thankful for all of the effort and magic they’re putting into making this wedding the one of my dreams!
This top, y’all. I wore it yesterday and received so many direct messages about it! It’s light. It’s embroidered. It’s delightfully blousey. And it’s fifteen dollars. Cue the hallelujiah chorus! There’s nothing I love more than finding bargain buys (hence my love for Forever21, ASOS and the J.Crew flash sales)…
This top, y’all. I wore it yesterday and received so many direct messages about it! It’s light. It’s embroidered. It’s delightfully blousey. And it’s fifteen dollars. Cue the hallelujiah chorus!
There’s nothing I love more than finding bargain buys (hence my love for Forever21, ASOS and the J.Crew flash sales) and so when I came across this gorgeous embroidered blouse, I couldn’t buy it quick enough!
It’s the perfect spring blouse, in my opinion. Throw it on with white jeans or shorts for an effortlessly chic, put-together look you’ll be getting compliments on all day long. I know I’ll have it on constant rotation these coming weeks! (Heads up, it runs a bit large. I’m in a size small.)
Today is a busy one… because my bachelorette party is this weekend! My sister and I are flying to Florida tomorrow morning to get there a day early before everyone arrives. (And to eat at some of our favorite Seaside spots!) I am giddy at the thought of my closest friends and I being together for the weekend, and can’t WAIT to bring y’all along on all of the fun!
Just like that, we’ve made it to another Friday! And with it, a new roundup of the cutest new arrivals to hit the web. You know I’m not complaining! :) click directly on an image to shop This roundup involves lots of color, and I’m here for it! Starting with…
Just like that, we’ve made it to another Friday! And with it, a new roundup of the cutest new arrivals to hit the web. You know I’m not complaining! :)
click directly on an image to shop
This roundup involves lots of color, and I’m here for it! Starting with the stunning $13 scarf one of my dear friends wore to my bridal shower last night! It is even more beautiful in person, and I can’t wait to copy her look. (Told you I was going to post about it, Steph!)
Then, we have this darling pink dress! Even though it’s on the pricier side, it’s one that merits constant wear. So versatile, so cute, and absolutely perfect for graduation or sorority recruitment.
Now that we’ve covered all of the above, I just have to talk for a minute about my bridal shower last night! The hostesses, Dana, Tina nd Joyce, put on the most stunning, wonderful shower. Seeing so many friends and loved ones in one room made everything feel so real! I received a few requests for a post covering the showers Andrew and I will be having, so stay tuned. Now, for a day (or weekend!) of looking at all of the beautiful gifts and thank you note writing!
By now, I understand why people say wedding planning is a “full-time job.” My goodness… so many details! So many meetings! So many decisions! Things are really ramping up as we inch closer and closer to June, and it’s starting to feel like the to-do list will never be complete.…
By now, I understand why people say wedding planning is a “full-time job.” My goodness… so many details! So many meetings! So many decisions! Things are really ramping up as we inch closer and closer to June, and it’s starting to feel like the to-do list will never be complete. Any fellow future-brides out there relate?
Even though it’s been so busy, I can genuinely say I have loved this process. And one of my favorite parts to date? Selecting our table setting!
When thinking through what type of china I wanted, I knew of a few things I did and didn’t want right off the bat:
DO WANT
something that makes me happy to see every day
something I can use every single day
something I will love for years to come
DO NOT WANT
china that sits in a drawer and never gets used
multiple sets (since andrew and I will have to pack and unpack for every residency and fellowship move)
Before even heading to a store to look at china, my mom and I talked a ton about these wants. The biggest thing I took away was her experience.
She, for example, has a set of beautiful fine china that she never uses. In fact… I don’t ever remember dining on it! Even though it’s lovely, it never made practical sense for entertaining since it’s so delicate and can’t be put in the dishwasher. Growing up, we would use her everyday china, and then holiday china for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Her experience, coupled with the fact that Andrew and I will be moving at least a few times in the coming years for his training, solidified my desire to register for one set of beautiful china I could use every single day, as opposed to a fine china I would have to worry about moving/breaking, and an everyday set on top of that.
When I finally walked into Ivy House (one of the local Dallas stores I’m registered at) to start playing with different options, a row of beautiful white plates with stunning, light blue monograms immediately caught my eye. The pretty, white style. The lovely, soft monogram. It felt so me!
I soon learned it was Sasha Nicholas, a line of beautiful monogrammed china! I about died when I learned that not only are there many different stunning monograms to choose from, but you can actually send in your own custom monogram to be used on the pieces! And since I want to use me and Andrew’s custom wedding monogram absolutely everywhere, it was a no-brainer.
Best of all… the white weave design I loved so much is machine washable! Needless to say, I immediately fell in love.
After mixing and matching with all sorts of different pieces, we landed on the perfect match:
(Look at the very top of the collage above to see what that combination looks like!)
We also selected some lovely Waterford crystal in the pattern “Lismore,” and Gorham silver in the pattern “Fairfax.” I love how elegant, simple and stately those pieces look!
I am absolutely obsessed with the end result, and am so excited for beautiful pieces I can use both every day and when entertaining in a more formal setting! It makes me giddy to think about all of the casual dinners Andrew and I will enjoy using these pieces, and the future formal occasions we’ll employ them as well!
If you hadn’t heard of Sasha Nicholas, like myself, you must check out her entire line here. She recently introduced a gold monogram option, and it’s just divine. Andrew and I are also registered for a few other of her monogrammed pieces including this monogrammed champagne bucket and this monogrammed serving platter. There are so many other beautiful things, I could spend all day looking at them!
This post is actually perfectly timed, since I have my very first wedding shower tonight! It’s a ladies entertaining shower, and I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate with my girlfriends and women from both sides of me and Andrew’s families. I’m also just a wee bit excited about what I’m wearing… this number!
It is so much fun getting to share this update with you. As always, thank you for reading! (And for your patience with this post. :)
Last week, I posted this Instagram. So many of you asked about the little white skirt I had on… and so today, I’m excited to share all of the details!
I’m a big Forever21 shopper, y’all. Online, that is. And during one of my weekly browsings, I came across this $28 white skirt. I ordered it immediately, thinking there was no way it would be as cute in person, but boy was I pleasantly surprised!
The price tag is great, the fit is ultra-flattering, and the entire look? So fun! Whether you’re a bride-to-be or are simply looking for an adorable skirt to wear this spring and summer, look no further.
Pair with a white top, like I did above, switch things up with a colorful blouse for a vibrant look, or style with black for a chick two-toned ensemble. So many options with a piece so versatile!
Usually, pieces this cute and at this price point don’t last long, but I’m thrilled to say that it’s still in stock in all sizes! (I’m wearing a S and found it to be a perfect fit.) So don’t delay and snatch it up here!
Love from Texas,
Kate
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