This past weekend we celebrated my Bachelorette Party in the Hamptons. We had the. best. TIME! If you haven’t noticed from my previous posts, I am a sucker for monograms. My bridesmaids and friends spoiled me with so many personalized gifts, I just had to share! You can treat yourself to one of these with your future monogram or they are great gifts for your bridesmaids as well!

1. RahRah Design’s Circle Monogram Bandeau – $54 {bottom sold separately}

My sister got me this adorable monogrammed bikini to show off my future initials. RahRah is our go-to shop that features several suits in different colors with monogramming options in circle, script and diamond shapes. Bonus: their suits are also perfect to wear on your honeymoon!

2. Minnie & Emma Flamingo Phone Case – $59

We are big on themed parties, and one of the days we celebrated with our current favorite theme – a retro pool party! Flamingos are all the rage lately too, so this personalized flamingo phone case is an absolute necessity!

3. Daw’lens Personalized Hairbrush – $11

Don’t overlook turning ordinary items like a brush into something extraordinary! This monogrammed brush was a huge hit all weekend – it’s as cute as can be and reasonably priced.

4. Moon and Lola Monogrammed Necklace – $61

I love all personalized necklaces – whether initials, nameplates or monograms – and especially swoon for ones that come in a variety of acrylic shades.

5. Customized Tervis Tumbler – $30

Another one of my girlfriends had this adorable idea to personalize a Tervis Tumbler with “Mrs. Aschenbach”. We happen to have a local Tervis shop in the area, but Tervis also has an awesome online tool that makes it very easy and convenient to shop their personalized products online, too!

Throughout the wedding process, I have found selecting a photographer to be one of the tougher choices. My fiancé and I both wanted to go the traditional route and wait to see each other at the aisle. A first look is perfect for some couples because you have extra time to spend taking photos in multiple locations, time the sunset, etc. We narrowed down the criteria to choose our photographer to the 3 P’s:

Personality – Do your personalities jive? Are you and your potential photographer on the same page? Are they creative and go with the flow or quickly move through shot lists?  Push for the first look or let you choose? Photojournalist or poised style of photography?

Pricing –There are so many amazing photographers for all budgets. It’s important to remember your special day for years to come, but being realistic with your budget is essential. Your vendors, such as the venue, wedding planner, caterer, etc. are a great resource of who they have worked with and would recommend.

Products (albums, USB drive, etc.) – Nowadays, there are many packages and options. Do you want a traditional album included or an option to add later? Do you want all of your photos on a USB to print yourself? Do you want a website for you and your guests to view?

Which lead us to the photographer we chose: Paul Johnson Photography. This husband and wife duo are so talented and professional, while also being calm and comforting. They are familiar with our venue, which I realized is helpful for knowing the flow of the property and timing and also fit within our budget. We can’t wait for them to capture our big day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Paul Johnson Photography 

St Barts from FXF on Vimeo.

Wafer from FXF on Vimeo.

Wedding videography has made a comeback from the bad wrap they got in the 80’s. Talented videographers like Films by Francesco, Diego Pocovi, and other noteworthy videographers have turned wedding videos into creative documentaries.

Your wedding video tells your own personal story from getting ready, what your groom and groomsmen were doing while you were prepping hair and makeup for hours lol, the emotions when you are putting your dress on, his reaction to you coming down the aisle and just how fun your reception was all in real time versus still shots.

If you are on the fence, I can promise you will be happy that you have a wedding video to relive your special day in action.

The scallop pattern is effortlessly chic whether it is part of your home decor, wardrobe or wedding. The simple scallops wedding suite from Elsie J on Etsy is a subtle and classy way to incorporate a pattern into your invitation design. The cozy and classic Matouk Butterfield Bed Linens, available at Pioneer Linens, are the perfect bedding to add to your registry and the scallop bag, jacket or shorts are a great addition for a tropical honeymoon.

Iphone case: Zazzle // Pillow: CW Designs // Shorts: Boutique to You // Bedding: Matouk at Pioneer Linens // Bag: Asos // Vase: Jonathan Adler // Invitation: Elsie J on Etsy // Jacket: Topshop //

A nice escape from the wedding planning process, is dreaming of where you will be on your honeymoon. Visions of sandy beaches, tranquil water and a cocktail in hand is the perfect visual vacation. If you are heading to a tropical paradise like Anguilla, here are a few of my favorite items. What better way to celebrate your new initials than with a monogram suit from RahRah Designs! Sail to Sable’s versatile tunics can be worn by day as a bathing suit cover up and at night with a pair of white jeans paired with Tory Burch wedges. The must-have vacation tote is one of Hayden Reis’ bags made from lightweight and durable sailcloth.  New sunnies from the Bvlgari serpenti line and some bracelets from Alex and Ani to accessorize your look and you are ready for your honeymoon getaway.

Suit//Tunic//Beach Bag//Sunglasses//Bracelets//Shoes//Beach