Simply Lavish Weddings & Events | 2015 Wedding Trends

What are the wedding trends we have our eye on this year? 

Well there are many buy my favorite will have to be the creative couple. We are really seeing couples now infusing more of there own personalities into their ceremonies and reception. It's all about branding. Couples are really focusing on having their guest have a fun time. I say if a person has thought of enough of you to take time out of their day/weekend to come spend with you and witness the two of you become one (some travel for your event and some will even bring a gift!). They deserve to have a great time!!

Here are a few trends we have our eye on for 2015

Food Extravaganza

Food and drinks will be taking center stage this wedding season. We're talking doughnut stations, mini drink stations doubling as escort card stations, vegan and gluten-free stations. A lot of people are becoming more health conscious these days, so couples are wanting to tap into that too, and accommodate all of their guests.

Bridal Jumpsuits

This season's runway wedding dress designs are more playful and dressed down. Jumpsuits, separates and menswear-inspired styles, like these ones by Houghton, Delphine Manivet and Theia are giving the traditional bridal look a new edge that's a bit celebrity inspired. There was an overwhelming amount of hoopla over Solange Knowles cream jumpsuit.

Yes there is an App for that! - Wedding Planning Assistance
Couples today are more tech savvy and want the convenience of everything at their fingertips. You don't need to get all of your bridesmaids together to tie bows on wedding favors anymore. Instead, lots of couples are enlisting wedding planning help through apps like TaskRabbit to take on any small to-dos, TouristEye to help plan the honeymoon itinerary, and The Knot Wedding Planner app to find and get in touch with all of the right wedding pros. Being a wedding guest is easier this year too. All of the major registries make it easy to buy gifts straight from your phone, and Uber and Lyft ensure guests don't have trouble finding a ride at the end of the night.

Dress #3

Why have one when you can have three? Brides are becoming more fashion forward and couples are wanting to party into the wee ours of the night. Instead of weddings having the customary two parts (ceremony & reception) the afer-party is being added into the mix.  So the bride's wants to change into something even more festive. So imagine a beautiful ball gown for the ceremony, a sleek sheath for the reception and then a short, minidress for the after-party. I know it sounds like a lot, but sometimes a girl just can't decide!

Unexpected Wedding Venues
More couples will look to unexpected spots for their wedding venue, like castles, private estates, museums and. The best part about a unique venue choice is you don't have to go overboard on all the décor -- you can let the space speak for itself. Keep in mind that if you go this way, the logistics may be trickier than they would in a traditional wedding venue.

Photo Credit:  Fernbank Museum

Creative Wedding Photography

Gone are the days of the couple and their bridal party attendants taking photos only at the altar. I'm so ecstatic that photographers are continuing to push away from that more and more. Can you say boring?? Photographers are getting more creative in mostly at the couples request.

Happy Planning,

DeVonda Manning

Welcome Spring!

Oh, friends.  I'm so sorry I've been slacking on this blog! This is a classic example for what happens when you don't take the time to pre-blog & you've got lot & lots to do!  

We have had a pretty active winter this year. To say we welcome the warm weather is an understatement.  

Extra Extra!! A Houston Woman Has Married Herself

Have you heard? If you haven't you would have to have been under a rock because the internet is all abuzz about a Houston woman, Yasmin Eleby marrying herself. That's right no husband; just her.
Your're probably still saying to you. This can't be true.  Well I'm here to tell you it is!!

Let me give the back story. Yasmine made a vow/promise to herself that if she was not married by the age of 40 she would say "I Do" to herself - and that is exactly what she did. Now this was no simple and quick ceremony. Yasmine pulled out all the stops and what we would call here a "Simply Lavish" wedding.

Her wedding day took place on January 3, 2015. The wedding venue of choice was the beautiful Houston Museum of African Culture. Yasmine had 10 bridesmaids on hand, plus close family and friends were in attendance to witness it all. Instead of the traditional white, the bride wore a purple one-shoulder gown while her bridesmaids wore silver dresses. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her mother.

There are sources citing that Eleby expressed interest in honeymooning in Cambodia, Laos, and a jazz festival in Dubai.

I do want to note that it is not legal to marry yourself, so your ceremony would be more of a spiritual ceremony.

Take a look at some of the photos from Yasmine's special day.

FASHION FRIDAY | WINTER FASHION | NORTH CAROLINA WEDDING PLANNER

What is your favorite winter style?

The only reason I look forward to winter (other than Christmas) is the ability to wear sweaters endlessly.  I LOVE them! So yes, winter style for me is all about a good sweaters, tall boots, and a heavy coat. Got to keep warm!!!

Photo Credit: 1. Curves and Confidence 2. Luula 3. Crafting In the Rain 4. Her Campus 5. NY and Company  6. Fashion Inspiration Blog 7. Make Book Cover 8. Piace Boutique

What is your favorite winter style?

2015 PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR: MARSALA

The color Gods have spoken, the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year is…… Marsala.  It seems they decided to go in a new direction. In the last few years we have had such vibrant and bold colors such as Radiant Orchid, Tangerine Tango, and Emerald. Marsala just screams warmth and I’m definitely OK with that and I think it’s a beautiful twist to a fall wedding. 

To some, when you think of Marsala, you think of food and/or wine but the Pantone Color Institute thinks differently.  “Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability.  Marsala is subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth.” Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute.

As you see in the collages below, Marsala is a very versatile color and pairs well with spring and summer combinations such as spring greens, summer blues, yellow and blush. It’s also good to note that it translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings, and interiors. 

Photo Credit:  Pantone, Google, Tulle and Chantilly

So how do you feel about Marsala being the 2015 Color of Year?

Happy Planning,

DeVonda Manning

Celebrity Wedding (Surprise!): Ludacris & Eudoxie

Just over the Christmas holidays, all of social media was buzzing as rapper, Ludacris instagramed a photo of him proposing to his then girlfriend Eudoxie in an elaborate airplane stunt. You see, Ludacris proposed from mile high. That's right, he waited until the got up in the air and then got down on bended knee. He directed her to look out the window, where she  saw that he had projected the words, "Eudoxi Will You Marry Me" on the grass below, leaving his bride to be surprised, overwhelmed, and nearly in tears.  His caption on his instragam post was, "She didn't say Yes, She said Hell Yes!!"

Fast forward to Jan 6, 2015 and cyber world was buzzing once again. Now we've all received an update with news that Ludacris and Eudoxie actually are MARRIED. It seems that he had an even more elaborate day planned than she thought or we thought.  The details as we have it are that, shortly after popping the question he surprised her with a wedding, they went to dinner, and then he had a beautiful white wedding gown (picked out by his mom) waiting for her at home when they returned. They got married right then and there.

So this latest event begs the question. How would you feel if your fiance' surprised you with an impromptu wedding?

Happy Planning,

DeVonda Manning

Ashley + Gavin | Engagement Session | DAGS Photography | Washington, D.C.

Ashley & Gavin are an adorable couple who met while attending a conference for law students back in 2009. (They're both attorneys). We have loved working with them planning their late Spring wedding in Raleigh, NC at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science.

These engagement photos are extra special to the couple as they were taken by Ashley's sister who is an upcoming photographer (DAGS Photography). The photos are so sweet and really showcase their love for one another. We can't wait for their wedding day!