A Night to Remember

I began working with Ashley + Andrew in June of 2018 (yes, it really has been that long!). I was the very first vendor they hired, which meant I got to help with venue scouting and booking my dream team of vendors to bring their event to life. This was the last wedding on my planning books, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close this chapter of my career. Being their event designer and stationer also meant that this wedding day is the perfect showcase for my next chapter.

When these two lovebirds are around, their smiles are contagious. They are the sweetest couple, and it was an amazing feeling to finally get them down the aisle. After two postponements, the day couldn’t have come soon enough. With anticipation rising and all the little details coming together, I could see the excitement in their eyes every time we spoke. Their first look was a long time coming, and it was such an emotional moment for both of them (okay, okay…I may have also teared up watching it from the sidelines!)

These two are proud cat parents, self-proclaimed nerds, and total sweets lovers – and we incorporated all of those little details into their wedding day design. It was important for Ashley + Andrew to tell their love story through their wedding paper (what a dream for me!). I illustrated a custom border design incorporating their two cats and delicate botanicals. Their main color was navy, which gave the illustrations a modern take on a toile-inspired feel. We used gold foil details, venue illustrations, a custom monogram inspired by their favorite game (Magic the Gathering), and a foil printed navy velvet envelope liner to make their invitation suite extra special. The insert was a stellar fold-out card full of illustrative details and a pocket for the reply card.

We lucked out with the most beautiful weather for a November day, and before the ceremony they opted for a first look with their parents outside the church. It was such a special moment for these two to share with the people who raised them. Their Catholic ceremony was filled with so much love, happiness, and excitement. Stunning flower arrangements adorned the pews and flanked them at the altar, and the rest of the church spoke for itself with its ornate carvings and grand ceilings. Smiles covered everyone’s faces as the newlyweds walked down the aisle.

The reception space was at the center of an already-gorgeous location, and we amped it up with greenery, white blooms, and fairy lights. Ashley + Andrew wanted their decor to play into their love for fantasy with an enchanted forest vibe. I designed a sweetheart table surrounded by whimsical greens, and as a nod to the upcoming winter we used frosted glass throughout their decor. Seeing Ashley’s reaction to the reception tent – one that we had been designing and dreaming about for literally four and a half years! – was a highlight of the day for me. It was such a wonderful feeling to bring their dream wedding to life.

To carry their stationery designs through the day, we created custom signage – shoutout to our production assistant Stephanie for weeding intricate designs in all of their frosted acrylic and frosted glass pieces (iykyk) – ceremony programs, menus, table numbers, a seating chart, and more. I even painted them custom artwork to create their own Magic the Gathering cards as an interactive guestbook, which was such a fun and special way to incorporate a big part of who they are. Once it got dark, fairy lights danced inside frosted vases showing off the sign designs, and guests got to take home custom cookie favors inspired by our invitations and wrapped in a bag printed with the recipe. The baker borrowed our wax stamp to create chocolate “seals” and brush them in gold as a wow-factor cohesive embellishment. Ashley + Andrew also included the cutest measuring spoons for their guests to take home, so they can recreate this recipe and think of the love shared on this day for years to come.

Guests danced the night away and enjoyed the unique touches Ashley + Andrew brought to the reception. A London-phone-box-style photo booth was a hit of the night, and instead of a traditional bouquet toss Ashley opted for a “cat” toss (don’t worry – no live cats were harmed in the making of this event). She threw a plush cat, and the lucky one who caught it had to be the next to adopt a pet from a shelter. It was such a sweet idea and added another element that represented the things that are most important to them as a couple.

While this day was all about celebrating Ashley + Andrew’s love story, it was also an emotional one for me. Closing this chapter of my career was bittersweet. I know that I’ve made the right decision and have ended up exactly where I belong. Stationery design is my true passion, and I couldn’t be happier with what I am doing, but Bloom With Us was still a huge part of my life. The business may be gone, but the impacts of each one of my couples will always remain. It was only fitting that my very last wedding happened to be with the couple I worked with the longest. I’ve watched their love story grow even through the time that I’ve known them. I was filled with so much joy to watch them finally embark on this next adventure – and now for myself to be able to leave Bloom With Us in the past and continue on my own journey.

Ashley + Andrew, you are two of the sweetest and most genuine people I have ever met. I am so glad that you got to have the Magical wedding day of your dreams, and I am honored to have been a part of making it happen. May your lives be full of love and laughter for all your years.

Vendor List:

Photographer: @samanthajayphoto
Venue: @porticoawbury
Invitations & Stationery: @amyelizabethartistry
Calligraphy: @allicatcalligraphy
Flowers: @marketfreshflowers
Cake & Baked Goods: @slbcakes_ubs
Live Music & DJ: @patandseankelly
Photo Booth: London Photo Booths
Catering: @peachtreecatering
Rentals: @maggpie_rentals
Printing: @czarpress
Custom Velvet Liners: @lottes_papery
Vintage Postage: @treasurefox
Venue: @porticoawbury
Lace Wax Stamp: @papelnco
Sealing Wax: @artisaire
Styling Mat: @oliveandoakmat

From the couple:
“Amy and her team are some of the nicest and greatest individuals to help with the wedding process. Andrew and I became engaged in 2018 and I immediately knew I wanted a wedding planner to help smooth over details. Amy has gone well above all expectations I had in not only setting us up with fantastic vendors but also personalizing our theme and giving us ideas for unique experiences for our guests. Definitely highly recommend! Absolutely stunning work. Between save the dates, invitations, thank you cards, and everything in between, Amy has stunning work that has a great personal touch to everything. Truly it made our wedding STUNNING and would not have been possible without Dragonfly working on so many items for us!”