landlocked bride™ | midwest + mountain west wedding inspiration

Gina holds a soft spot in my heart. I met this good soul of a person in December 2010 at the Making Things Happen workshop at Watercolor. Besides that workshop being one of my greatest experiences of 2010, it was also a spot where I met so many wonderful people. People who share the same feelings as I about weddings and marriage. Which should be not surprise as to why I love Gina so much.

And, she just so happens to be holding a fun giveaway, what she calls her “You + Me Giveaway.” In other words, a lifestyle shoot giveaway.

So, what’s this giveaway involve? Take it away, Gina:

You and Me can represent so many different types of relationships. You and your husband, your child, your puppy, your best friend, etc. The real authenticity of the plain words “You and Me” really make me happy, so what if I give away a session that captures just that…your version of You and Me.

Like I have mentioned before, it is so important to me to have a connection with who I photograph, so I want to get to know what your “You and Me” is all about. Tell me your “You and Me” story. I want you to explain what you think is important about your “you and me”? What do you cherish? What is unique? What do you and your “me” do for fun? It doesn’t have to be a novel, just tell me your story. Get creative. Have fun with it. Again, your “you and me” could be a number of things.

What do you need to do to enter the giveaway?:

1. Your “You & Me” story. Emailed to Gina at gina at ginazeidler.com, please title “You and Me_(put your name here)”
2. Along with a photo of your “You & Me” in the same email.
3. Share this post at least once either with your friends via Facebook (Be sure and link to Gina Zeidler so that she can see your post! Like the page and Comment on her giveaway blog post to let me know you’ve posted) or on Twitter (again Be sure and link to this blog post and mention @GinaZeidler) Or both if you are that awesome.

The winner will receive a lifestyle session shot by Gina based on their “You and Me” story. She would love to shoot on Valentine’s day somehow, although it’s not a must (but it could totes be a fun date or gift to give someone). The deadline is January 21, 2012.

The Rules:

1. Contestants must live in or travel to Minneapolis/St.Paul for the photo shoot OR if out of the area/state the winner would be responsible for travel.
2. Event photography, Extended families, and large groups are excluded from this giveaway.
3. All entries must be received by January 21st, 2012 at midnight.
4. The session will be shot before May 1st, per the photographer’s schedule.
5. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
6. This does not apply to a session that is already booked with Gina Zeidler.

I cannot help but love the balance of the majolica blue against the softer hues of the peach and burlap. Those secondary colors really help to warm up the blue.  Plus these colors are a great foundation for the addition of some sage greens or soft yellows.

row 1: White Loft Studio / Poppy Love Weddings via Wedding Chicks; Kate McPherson via Style Me Pretty;  Brea McDonald / Maine Seasons Events via Style Me Pretty; Punch Portland; Memento Designs via Intimate Weddings
row 2: The Nichols; True & Wesson; Jose Villa / Flowerwild Events & Weddings via Style Me Pretty; Kate Osborne via Style Me Pretty
row 3: Etsy; Martha Stewart Weddings; White Loft Studio / Poppy Love Weddings via Wedding Chicks; Google; Adrienne Maples via Style Me Pretty

Personality is so important in any wedding. It presents the opportunity for a couple to show not only what is important to them, but personalizes the event making friends and family feel comfortable. I never tire of hearing how a couple makes their wedding theirs, and Laure and Patrick don’t disappoint. From the vendors to the locations, everything has a personal tie to them making each aspect of their wedding memorable.

Lisa Dolan Photography

From the Bride:
We had been together for 4 years when we got married and had known each other 13 years by the time the big day arrived. As we watched our friends get married over the last few years we had been to at least 30 weddings by the time it was our turn. We had really become professional wedding guests! From attending so many events, that often times blended together, we were determined to make our wedding unique, feel like us and most of all fun!

From start to finish this was a friends and family affair. We had our rehearsal dinner at Franco which is owned by our good friend Tom Schmidt and enlisted another good friend Lisa Dolan as our photographer. Our invitations were designed by a friend and printed by family, and even our desserts were made by a local baker and close friend, specifically to our liking! We had close and personal relationships with almost everyone we worked with which made the planning a lot less stressful.

Over the years we had attended more than a few weddings that came off as a bit rigid and high strung, and we knew we wanted a laid back affair in which everyone could laugh and enjoy themselves. We chose the Maya Café in Maplewood for its unique style and charm. The back patio is an old fishing boat with a deck built around it which became the dance floor. The white tent provided a warm and inviting space for our family style dinner (custom-designed by chef Rafa Hurtado), and the myriad of Chinese lanterns strewn throughout the tent dotted the space with pops of color. Box of Nerves (also friends of ours) played crowd favorites and sing along songs which provided a relaxed yet engaged ambiance throughout cocktail hour and dinner.

After dinner the music was turned over to a DJ and the party really took off. Our friends and family are such hilarious, amazing people that we thought it appropriate to give them the stage to karaoke their hearts out. Needless to say it was the highlight of the evening… so many friends and family taking turns to serenade the crowd and the laughter never stopped. It was a perfect day!

Ceremony Venue: St. Margaret of Scotland | Reception Venue: Maya Café | Photographer: Lisa Dolan Photography | Band: Box of Nerves | Florist: Walter Knoll Florists | Tent: Universal Rentals | Bakery: Cakes by Caroline | Seating Chart: Liz Sage | Programs, Invitations and Reception Décor: Alou Design | Handmade Signs on Head Table: Linda Plum | Wedding Gown: Saks 5th Ave | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Warehouse | Hair Stylist: Malia Salon | Makeup: Looks by Lisa | Transportation: St Louis Transportation

Fall colors make me swoon. While there are beautiful colors in the Spring and Summer, nature really shines in the Fall. Those oranges and reds and yellows? They are just stunning. A perfect way to transition into the dormant Winter.

I have a soft spot for Fall engagements. Maybe its because my own engagement session and wedding were both in the Fall. But it’s mostly because Fall is my favorite season. It’s when the rich colors start to come out of hibernation.

Katherine Salvatori Photography

The ceremony is my favorite part of a wedding. Sure, the flowers and reception decor are pretty, but the ceremony is where the heart is. It’s where everything starts. And, Christine and Brian made every effort to let that same sentiment be known. With personal details and cultural elements, I would have loved to have seen this ceremony in person. And, it’s probably the only time I have featured so many photos from a ceremony, too.

Anda Marie Photography

From the Bride:

Brian and I are ‘Sconnies’ to the core. We were both born and raised in Wisconsin and are alumni of the University of Wisconsin. Despite the fact that work and school pulled me to Atlanta and Brian to Seattle, getting married in Wisconsin was a no-brainer; we wanted our wedding to have a true Wisconsin vibe to it. However, we are also both very true to our cultural roots (Brian is Jewish and my father is Iranian), so incorporating traditions from both sides was paramount. The end result was a fantastic mixing of cultures and traditions that turned into a great party!

The O’Brien Barn was an ideal spot for the wedding, from the beautiful loft upstairs to the extremely friendly cows outside. We topped off our Wisconsin touches by serving brats for dinner and handing out cheese curds as favors. Many of the Jewish and Iranian traditions were included in the ceremony itself, which turned out to be one of our favorite parts of the wedding day.

Although we had planned the wedding long-distance, we knew it was important to enjoy the day stress free. Cherry Blossom Events assisted with all the details, which was the best decision we could have made! From the absolutely stunning floral arrangements to the incredible cake, we were thrilled with how the barn was transformed from an empty space to the most perfect and charming scene for our wedding.

The number one piece of advice that we both received before the big day was ‘make sure you enjoy your wedding!’ And I can honestly say that we both had an absolute blast!

Ceremony / Reception Venue: O’Brien Barn | Photography: Anda Marie Photography | Event Planning: Cherry Blossom Events | Florist: Beauty Blossoms | Caterer: State Street Brats | Cake / Cupcakes: Carl’s Cakes | Ketubah design: Urban Collective | Bride’s Jewelry: Something Jeweled | Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Blonde Chick | Hair Stylist: SoJo Blau | Cupcake Fondant Leaves: Emily Luu Cakes | Rentals: Event Essentials | Music: Jukebox Bandstand

Kristine Aletha Weddings
Chicago, Illinois

Kristine is one of the sweetest people I know. Adorable, too.  I met her when we both attended the ISS Experience in Chicago back in October 2011.  I was excited to know we had a mutual friend, and a ton to chat about. I only wish we lived in the same city because I’m pretty sure she’d be a close friend.

She has her master’s in marriage and family therapy and a love of weddings. A perfect combo if you ask me.  And, she recently kicked off the start of her wedding planning business which also focuses on the importance of marriage preparation – a step that most couples opt to skip. I’m so excited to continue to watch her business grow, and hope you Chicago couples give her a ring.

Where are you located and do you travel for weddings?
I am based in Chicago, IL and I serve clients living in the Chicagoland, Northern Indiana, and Northwestern Michigan areas. I love traveling and it’s even better when it’s for a wedding! I actually love planning weddings in California since that’s where I’m from and where all my friends and family still live.

What is your biggest inspiration when planning and / or designing a wedding?
By far my biggest inspiration is the couple—their story, backgrounds, histories, and personalities. I like to know what’s meaningful to them and their relationship and incorporate those details into the design of the wedding. I believe that a wedding should show off and celebrate the story of the bride and groom and it should be their styles and tastes that are featured. I love tradition and the idea of incorporating a family heirloom or hand-me-down but I’m also a fan of throwing tradition aside and doing something completely new and different!

What got you interested in event planning? Did you start out in weddings?
I suppose I’ve always been drawn to event planning as I am absolutely a planner by nature. Most of the positions I’ve held have had some organizing/managing component to them. But I actually got started in weddings from a completely different angle—Marriage and Family Therapy, in which I have a Master’s degree. The more I worked with couples, the more I realized that preparation for marriage should be at the forefront of every engaged couple’s mind. Starting Kristine Aletha Weddings was the perfect combination of my passions: planning and counseling. I truly believe that both the wedding and the marriage require careful planning and preparation.

What do you think sets you apart from other vendors in the industry?
While I’d like to think it’s my incredible planning and organizing skills, I know that many planners are just as Type A as I am! I think what really sets me apart from other vendors in the industry is my background in counseling and the unique combination of wedding planning and marriage preparation I am able to offer my clients. Helping couples plan beautiful weddings is one of my top goals but it is my true desire to help them prepare for a loving, lasting, and fulfilling marriage. And, honestly, when you have that kind of mindset as a bride and groom-to-be—that the wedding is a celebration of the marriage—you’re better able to handle the stress and pressure that come with planning and truly enjoy your engagement.

What is one quirky thing about you that people don’t know?
Oh gosh, one thing? I’m actually really silly and goofy. I’ve been told people’s first impression of me is quiet and poised, which I’m actually quite flattered by, but I can also let go, be rambunctious, and act like a teenager all over again. Why not, right?!

When you’re not busy planning weddings for couples, how do you like to spend your downtime?
Actually, my husband and I really enjoy working on projects around our home—that’s been something consuming our time lately. We both love home design and finding new inspiration for our (tiny) Chicago apartment. I really love traveling and dreaming of the next place I’m going to visit but I also love just sitting at home watching a movie or reading a book. Although, chances are, if I’m not planning a wedding, I’m probably busy blogging about them!

Valentine’s Day might not be for another month, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of a saturated palette full of reds, fuchsias and blush pinks. With these colors you can go modern by using white as a base, or stick to a more classic look by using golds and roses.

row 1: Jodi Buren via Martha Stewart Weddings; Jodi Buren via Martha Stewart Weddings; BHLDN
row 2: Angie Silvy Photography via SMP; Johnny Miller via Martha Stewart Weddings; Bella Figura
row 3: Martha Stewart Weddings; White Lilac via Lovely Little Details; David’s Bridal

With a new year and a world of awesome ahead of us, Landlocked Bride is looking for an Editorial Intern to join our team!

Landlocked Bride regularly features real weddings, inspiration boards, vendor spotlights and an array of other wedding-related topics. The editorial intern will be tasked with researching topics to blog, preparing blog posts, making updates to the vendor guide and assisting the editor, Brit, with maintaining the overall integrity of the blog site.

Our ideal editorial intern:

• is obsessed weddings and the wedding industry!
• knows his / her way around the wedding and design blogosphere.
• is proficient in the WordPress platform.
• has a strong design aesthetic.
• is reliable and a self-starter; motivated.
• has his / her own computer and reliable internet access.
• 
knowledge of Photoshop is a plus.
• college education or degree in design, communications, creative writing, or marketing is a plus.

Candidate will be working remotely, but will regularly collaborate with Brit via email and Skype, and will require an average of 5 to 10 hours of work per week by contributing 1 to 2 posts per week. If you are Denver-based, you will have the opportunity to meet with Brit in person and tag along to networking events as we see fit. Internship requires a minimum 6-month commitment. College credit is not currently offered, but hope to in the future.

To apply:
Please email your resume, a writing sample, link to any work samples, a link to your blog and why you think you would be a great fit for the Landlocked Bride team to: hello {at} landlockedbride {dot} com. Please put “I Wanna Blog with Landlocked Bride” in the subject of the email.

The position will remain open until the ideal candidate is found.

Classic Colorado in this post for you. Emily and Mike both live and work in Breckenridge for the Breck Ski Resort. So, it is clearly fitting they decided to have their engagement photos while hitting the slopes. Something I have always wanted to do (although, I’m pretty sure I’d fall one too many times).

And, kudos to Jason for capturing these photos while snowboarding himself.

Jason+Gina Wedding Photographers

This wedding has so many personal and unique details (and ideas), it makes me want to plan another wedding of my own. Since the couple loves books (and Jon is a writer), they carried their love of books and reading out throughout all of their decor. And, in lieu of a traditional guestbook, they used a large map and had guests share travel ideas and suggestions. Something they can share on a wall in their home – genius!

And, my favorite part? The ringbearer’s little speech. How cute is he?!

Bryan and Mae

From Bryan and Mae, the photographers:
Brittany and Jon’s wedding day was unique and beautiful. These two cherish the people around them and threw a big wedding to celebrate with them all. Jon is a writer and they are both lovers of books, so their wedding was themed around “story”, their story and the many books that have impacted them. Their ceremony was at Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids, an aged theater with cozy red seats and a beautiful marquee. At their reception, each table was numbered as a chapter and books were everywhere. Escort cards were also bookmark favors for guests to take home with them, with the calligraphy done by the bride’s twin sister. They also love travel (they honeymooned in Greece!), and incorporated that into their wedding design as well. Instead of a guest book, they had a map on the wall that guests could pin travel tags to with a little note and travel suggestion. It was a great idea and now they have a great piece to hang on their wall to inspire future travel plans. It was a lovely celebration!

Ceremony / Reception Venue: Wealthy Street Theater | Caterer: Martha’s Vineyard | Bakery: Nantucket Baking Co. | Floral Designer: Horrocks | Photographer: Bryan and Mae | Wedding Gown: Allure | Bridesmaid Dresses: ModCloth | Hair Stylist: Hair Technique | Calligrapher: Molly Jacques Illustration | Transportation: Grand Rapids Trolley Co.