Posted in: rustic wedding
We've been featured again. This time it is the cutest blog in the United Kingdom.
Our styled shoot was put together by some of the most talented friendors around. We love our network and community in Des Moines, Iowa.
Don't miss out on any of the beautiful inspiration.
We have more amazing news to share with you!!! Leah has joined the Mostly Becky family in Des Moines and we are pumped!
This year we have been so blessed to be able to grow our team here in Des Moines. After many interviews, we knew Leah was in the running right away. Her eloquent demeanor and inquisitive questions, we knew she was a very bright girl. Her upbeat personality, sweet words, and eagerness to learn solidified our impression of her. She was lovely from the first second. But, that isn't all. We knew she was family oriented, a hard worker, and eager to learn! (Gosh, we do love that!)
Leah or more commonly known as, Nook Nook. (I mean how cute is that?!) <3 Teaches dance and her dance students call her this, so you can too. ;)
She loves Mac n' cheese, pizza and Pitbulls. If she could eat anywhere in Des Moines she would pick Blaze for pizza and Jethros for mac n' cheese. But, she eats more than comfort food! She loves cantaloupe and strawberries, too!
She loves to travel!! - I mean, of course she does! Her favorite place to travel is NASHVILLE! - YES!!! We love Nash, and Denver, and NYC... well, you get it. She is a perfect fit for us!
If you find her at Starbucks, she'll be drinking a strawberry drink. I mean, she does love strawberries so... her current favorite Strawberry Acai Refresher.
She loves Michael Kors purses. - (we think that is a great choice!) We cannot go a day without our purses, but Leah cannot go without mascara and perfume. - Staples if you ask us! ;)
We are just so happy to have this sweet spirit on our team. Keep up with her on Facebook & Instagram.
There are so many places when planning your wedding that can save you tons of money to make sure no matter what budget you have, you can stick to it! AND still have that Pinterest -worthy event.
Where you get married makes a lot of difference on how much you spend. Here are a few things you can do to help reduce that price!
Our bride got married in her parents backyard! Photo by Maria Glassford Photography
Look into the option of a public park for a ceremony. A lot of parks will allow you to use the space for a small price and typically have very beautiful settings! Want to save even more, get married on a weekday or in the "off season." Dependent on your climate, there will be an in-season rate for most spaces due to the demand. Check your schedules and if an "off-season" wedding date works for you do it!
Photo by Hunter Ryan Photography
There are lots of sites that will create templates for beautiful invites, RSVP cards and thank you's. If you want to save a little money look into a template and make a few changes to make it unique to you. These sites usually have great rates on printing as well! If you do have talented friends who can create a unique design for you. Just simply upload the file and print! These options come with paper options so you can really create something nice, for a great price! Check out Vista Print, Minted, Basic Invite, Etsy or even Wal-Mart!
Our bride got her dress at a sample sale! And she didn't even need it altered! Photo by Brooke Pavel Photography
Sample sales! Did you know that boutique wedding dress shops have sample sales ALL THE TIME! They will carry sizes 10-12 in store and these can be altered! These dresses, have been tried on, but NEVER WORN! These sample sales allow bridal gown stores to clear and update inventory, and they have to do this often. So, make sure to check them out! And you can always buy off the rack at places like David's Bridal or a local consignment store.
So, don't write them off quite yet.
Okay, so there are so many options with flowers, how do you actually do it yourself? We recently had a bride have all her neighbors, aunts, & grandma's grow potted plants in certain pots and in certain colors. She only ordered bouquets for her bridal party for the wedding day. She used the potted plants for all the filler decorations including everything at her ceremony. Flowers are so beautiful, but usually get thrown away or donated after just a few short hours of enjoyment. Choosing to make a few changes with the flowers, you can save lots of money. AND after the event let your guests take them home! It's great for the environment and provides a party favor at NO EXTRA COST!
All of these flowers were planted by the bride's mom or grown in her garden! Photo by Val Marlene
Our bride offered her guest a traditional Italian Cooke Table Photo by Brian Davis Photography
Our advice..SKIP IT! As a wedding planner, we box up more unused party favors at the end of events than ANYTHING ELSE! Although, you want to thank your guests for coming to celebrate with you. Wedding favors are not as appreciated by your guests as you may think. But, if must give something to them. Make it editable. People love food and they will eat any treat you leave for them. But, if it doesn't look like it's going to fit in your budget, scratch it!
Did you know this wedding cheesecake is from Sam's Club? Photo by Val Marlene
Years ago, wedding cake was the only thing served at a wedding reception. So, many couples chose to create an elaborate cake to share with family and friends in celebration. But, now most events will feed guests, cocktail hors d'oeuvres and dinner. Wedding cakes can be expensive. So, look into other goodies! Serve donuts, or frozen cheesecake from your local grocery store. These are plenty of desserts that taste incredible and no one will ever know how much you saved!
And as always, ask your wedding planner. They can always help you navigate what is really important to invest in on this special day.
Guys, did you know Winterset, Iowa was so stinkin' beautiful? In the flat farm land of Iowa I think sometimes when we see hills, valleys and mountains, we don't know what to do with all the beauty!
TAKE A LOOK!
This wedding was such a special event for so many reasons, but mainly because we get to brag on our ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE Wedding Planner, Heather. Remember her? Heather worked closely with Geena & Holden in the pre-planning stages AND she took on this event SOLO! WHAAAAA??
By Heather Helgren
Holden and Geena’s wedding was nothing short of a fairytale. When I drove around the many bends and hills of the Winterset, Iowa countryside, I knew that it was going to be unique.
The best element about this wedding was the venue. It was a sweet, beautiful acreage with vast valleys and scenic views. The barn wasn’t perfect, and that is exactly what I loved about it. It complemented not only the couple’s vibes, but also the wedding party’s. I knew this when I noticed that the groomsmen chose to camp right outside the Air BnB in a small tent. I loved that. They didn’t mind “roughin’ it” just a little bit. So when I walked into the barn for the first time, with the dirt floor, exposed wooden beams and dusty windows, I thought to myself, “this is perfect.”
Even when I met Geena, I knew that she had a simple elegance about her that radiated natural beauty and grace.
Her intimacy with her family further confirmed why she loves Holden the way that she does. She chose to wear her mother’s wedding dress, and she was positively stunning.
Holden’s relationship with his family and his groomsmen was something to be admired as well. I mean it with all my heart when I say I honestly loved working with the wedding party and their families. They were extremely encouraging and had “go with the flow” attitudes that wedding planners don’t find that often. They always approached me and asked what they could do to help. When I looked stressed out or about to lose my mind, they would joke with me and be my comedy relief. These people were selfless, helpful, and even had a sense of humor that could make the hardest of hearts crack a smile. The wedding wouldn’t have been the same without them.
Another unique element about the Rasmussen wedding was the culture that they incorporated into it. It was important for Geena’s family to express their heritage by presenting a bride piñata and groom piñata during the reception. Laughs erupted the entire barn as the blindfolded bride attempted to break the groom piñata, and the blindfolded groom tried to break the bride’s using a broomstick. Even the bridesmaids and groomsmen took at few swings at them! The joy and cohesiveness within their friends and families is clearly unbreakable (pun intended).
I loved this wedding. The vendors were wonderful and talented (Up In Smoke BBQ was phenomenal!), the scenery was beautiful, and the guests were supportive and encouraging. It’s weddings like these that make me grateful to do what I do. It’s weddings like these that make the hours of sweat and problem solving all worth it.
I am thankful to be working for Mostly Becky, and I am even more thankful for the people that I meet along the way.
-Heather Helgren
And AS ALWAYS this beautiful day would not have been possible without the hard working vendors we had the pleasure to work alongside. Thank you for all you do!
Bridal Wear- Dornink Bridal
Tent- A to Z Rentals
Portable Restroom- A King's Throne
Chairs & Tables- Breeding True Value
Linen- Party Depot
Photography- Alexander Michl Photography
Venue - The Barn at Lone Oaks Farm
Wedding Planning & Coordination- Mostly Becky Weddings & Events
Catering- Up in Smoke BBQ