Cody Krogman Photography

​Requests come my way for guidance, inspiration, themes and design for upcoming weddings. To create fascinating themes, I ask questions to better understand my client’s desires and then visualize and curate celebrations representing their hopes and dreams. A wonderful example of a thoughtfully designed celebration was recently featured on the cake and lace website through a styled shoot. With the Roaring 20’s as inspiration, each and every detail was chosen to highlight this themed wedding and ensure it was memorable. 
As a preferred vendor of the Warwick Allerton Hotel Chicago, I knew that the Tip Top Tap’s ballroom was the perfect setting for this themed celebration. The Allerton was built in the 1920’s and the Tip Top Tap was known as a fantastic nightlife scene during the Jazz era. The architectural features, picturesque windows and modern elements set the stage for an incredible backdrop.  Choosing to hold a celebration in a location that had welcomed Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball was the perfect way to make sure this wedding was filled with the laughter, sophistication, smiles and romance that had long existed in this iconic destination.
I selected red, black and ivory colors for the décor. These hues were immediately seen in the ballroom’s more contemporary elements. The gorgeous, modern and eye-catching floral valance complemented black window treatments gathered with a red tasseled sash. The black and ivory geometric patterned carpeting added interest. This sophisticated color palette was also highlighted in the celebration’s traditional elements; floral arrangements with ivory hydrangeas and red roses, the intricate details of the ivory tablescape with touches of golden decorative pieces and the ivory place settings with gilded highlights. 
The focus of every celebration is, of course, the bride. Considering that the 1920s were one of the most dazzling decades of all time, the pieces we selected showcased that era while keeping today’s modern bride in mind.  Through her ivory Jazz era inspired gown, opera length gloves, black stole and crystal hairpiece we ensured all eyes were on her. We placed a set of black and white mink stoles on the back of the head table chairs, adding to the festive era-inspired styling. The signature makeup of the decade was a smoky eye, lightly blushed cheeks and red lips. This beauty look added the finishing touch to her glamorous style and made her the showstopper in what was known as the location-to-be during the 1920’s.
I hope this styled shoot sparks some thought as to how all of the elements come together to create a wedding theme your friends and family will never forget. I also hope that this creates curiosity about how you can combine each feature to represent the theme you have selected.
I love working with couples to ensure that each and every detail is representative of the theme while also adding touches of your personal style so that the wedding is reflective of YOUR hopes and dreams.
link to online Cake and Lace publication:  http://cakeandlace.com/red-ivory-and-black-gatsby-esque-wedding/

Cody Krogman Photography
Sometimes opposites attract.  Or, as another saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. When glancing at this couple it was immediately evident they are the perfect partners for one another.  Through their full-of-life smiles, dedication to one another, expression of their love of art through their tattoos and appreciation of eclectic accents and vintage style - check out the groom’s jacket - it was easy to see why they are a perfect pairing. 
To express this through their want for a fresh and unique wedding, I ensured that the perfect partnerships of vendors were established.  This allowed us to create the balance of romantic and modern elements the couple desired. It was crucial to help them find the right florist who understood their love of color.  It was important to select a bakery who listened and created a beautiful gold gilded cake signaling their bright future.  It was beneficial for them to find the right photographer who captured the special, touching and fun memories they will cherish for years to come. 
As a wedding planner one of my favorite things is when it all comes together.  I love seeing the couple’s vision evolve into reality.  I love when the bride’s eyes light up when she sees the space transformed into what she wanted for her wedding day. I love when the flowers, the subtle décor, the table settings, the lighting and the venue all complement one another.  At this celebration in particular, I love that we placed the couple’s vintage cloisonné pheasant birds at the head table. They had purchased these ornamental pieces during their travels throughout China as a memento of their journey through such an amazing place. Traditional Chinese culture shows pheasants to represent beauty and good fortune. The pheasant is known to encourage creativity and enhance energy. This symbolism fits this bride and groom perfectly. 
Birds of a feather really do flock together. 
To learn more about this celebration, see lovely photos from the day and review the list of vendors who created the perfect partnership please visit Burnetts Boards by clicking https://burnettsboards.com/2018/09/empire-wedding/

Where to begin? The Save the Date to the Invitations and the wedding day. It's ideal to connect your wedding invitation suite from the first announcement to your wedding programs and wedding day signage. Begin with a master plan of ideas on lettering, designs, colors, paper color, envelope liners, calligraphy, stamps, paper weight, ribboning, wax stamps, vellum or inner envelopes....what?! "I have no idea what you are even talking about." 
Yes it's so much more than finding an online invitation company with a few choices or even a thousand choices. And again where are you to begin? 
Hiring an invitation company is probably the easiest way to organize your plan. I suggest Ceci New York or The Ink Cafe. Two very different companies but very reliable and personable in their approach to your wedding suite. Once they have your plan, you've made your decisions-gone to print...we now have the STAMPS. Of course these companies can assemble, stamp and send but some Brides enjoy some of this process.
Always take your assembled envelope to the post office to be weighed so that you have the correct postage.
                                                       Now I have a story about stamps:
One post office told my bride because her envelopes had a wax seal it made them a package. This meant each envelope would cost $3.50 each to mail. She almost paid that..but thought better of it and texted me to check it out. Of course I said no way.
Next, she went to another post office which told her they would not mail her envelopes. She just meant to ask them how much for each envelope but asked them "Can you send these?" The post office misunderstood.
Onto the next post office, close to tears, my Bride went to a third post office which told her they would cost .71 for each envelope but they did not have any of those stamps. And they tried to give her one floral stamp and one American flag stamp. Oh NO! She texted me at this and I told her they make 2 ounce stamps and no American flag needed.
                                                I dropped everything, went to a post office, purchased .71 stamps for her. 
I've never had a Bride have so much trouble with an invitation. I'm glad she texted me and I could help her. It all worked out but how exhausting-better than paying over $300 for mailing invitations. 
                                                                     The last text: "Glad we have you!"

LOVE. My world is surrounded by couples in love. So why does stress keep moving into their space? It affects their mood, their relationships, their work, their decision making. I watch this right before my eyes beginning with the initial consultation. And from there it's my passion and to alleviate the stress on all fronts, including from within. It's my decision this year to include an introduction to wellness with my packages. Healthy, happy on the inside and healthy, happy on the outside. Now who doesn't want that! 

​http://www.gotakealook.info/discover-isagenix.html

Shannon Lemp, owner of My Blush Events, is a destination wedding extraordinaire with a passion in event planning and creating a memorable wedding day experience. Shannon wants her couples to experience a wedding day that “is beautiful and carefree.”

​My Blush Events under Shannon’s leadership is uniquely positioned to help engaged couples hoping for a destination wedding to find the perfect location for their wedding. Shannon has built relationships all over the world and is quite the world traveler. So, after asking some preference questions, she already has the perfect location in mind and better yet can make it happen!  
 
Not only is the right location for the destination wedding important, but also determining the engaged couple’s preferences about style, romance, adventure, relaxation, and budget is essential.  Setting realistic expectations is a large part of the planning process while making dreams come true. Shannon says creating a working travel schedule for guests is very helpful and her team can conduct any needed research. The point is to make this whole process as worry-free and painless as possible. 
 
When it comes to top three considerations for every destination wedding, Shannon says choose a landscape you love, a location that reflects your couple’s style, and a realistic budget. If you don’t know where to start with these three things, call Shannon Lemp at My Blush Events to help you from planning, to coordination to design. 

You’re engaged! Congratulations!  What excitement awaits, yet some daunting decisions to make. Are you considering eloping?  I hope this blog helps you with that much-needed pros and cons considerations on whether to elope or not to elope.
 
First let’s just cut to the chase about cost. Undoubtedly the cost of a wedding means the rehearsal dinner, the wedding ceremony, the reception and all the comes with them. The less costly alternative is to elope.
 
Let’s walk thru these pros and cons one by one.  Most weddings have a lot of decisions to make as well as many unwanted opinions on which venues to choose, the food, flowers, which colors and on and on. The more people involved the more opinions good and bad. With an elopement those opinions are far more scarce leaving you to make your own decisions and more often together as a couple.  In short, FAR LESS stress and headaches along with less out of pocket.  Big pros for sure for newlyweds!
 
Now let’s think about who will be there on your big day. You typically just invite your closest friends and family or a few extra people. The downside is that this could cause hurt feelings and disappointment to those guests that can’t make that trip or perhaps don’t get invited to your more intimate affair. The pro side of this coin is that it can be easier on you to tell the family and friends you kept this very intimate and it fit in your budget. You could decide to hold a small party when you return or share your pictures with them giving them the opportunity to feel included.
 
Deciding on who you want there might be tough, but it might be an easy one depending on you!  One thought perhaps is that if it’s an easy decision, elopement is likely right you after all! Most couples I know will agree they have far more people at their big weddings they don’t know well. Surrounding yourself by those who matter most means they will likely be the same people who matter most at your 25th anniversary!
 
Now let’s explore what you imagined for your big day. Do you vision a gorgeous church wedding and that’s all that you can think of? Or do you imagine a beautiful landscape with a beach or mountains or loads of green space?  Or a justice of the peace? The choices really can be endless and unique. There really isn’t a con for the location for your elopement as the choice you make will fit the budget and your vision. Since we’re are exploring the pros and cons of elopement, the con here is that it is not a big soiree and less attendees means a lot less wedding gifts!
 
Privacy is another consideration for your wedding day.  It’s certainly not very private to conduct a ceremony on a public beach. But on the other hand, does it matter? Only you can decide. I have seen many of them and as a spectator, it’s uplifting and romantic! Imagine the backdrops for those wedding shots!   
 
I can’t very well explore the pros and cons without a couple of stories:
 
THE CON: Okay for those who prefer bad news first…One of my good friends married in Las Vegas and she was happy to do it. Saved her significant money and she could afford a trip too. But, she felt sad she didn't have the church wedding in front of family and friends. The big moment wasn't so big and not much to help capture the ceremony or share in it with loved one.  She regretted eloping because who mattered to her most didn't share in it. The location wasn't so special either. So, make sure to consider all the factors and the potential regret. 
 
THE PRO: Now the good story! Another couple who decided to elope were both on second marriages.  He is a carpenter and she a middle school teacher and both with children from previous marriages. They had the big weddings before and were looking for a special day that was more intimate in nature but did not have time to plan a destination wedding and trip. They decided to get married at the old court house in downtown St. Louis. They invited their parents, of course the children and they had just a few siblings and spouses. After the wedding, they had rented the horse rides and traveled around downtown. Later, they had tickets to the Cardinal’s ballgame. Everything they loved about St. Louis was a part of their day making the entire day easier on their busy lives, their budgets and made them very happy! I call that a win, win!
 
The last thing I will leave with is that memories are truly what you’re after.  Your wedding day should and will be special, but it goes by so quickly. Making your day truly memorable and uniquely special is the primary goal. How you achieve this goal is up to you. My passion is to make dreams come true while bringing our own boutique style approach. It’s uniquely yours, and yours alone.
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About Shannon: Shannon Lemp is an international wedding planner and stylist. Although St. Louis, MO and Chicago, IL are her typical hot spots for weddings and events, she loves to destination weddings as well! Ever thought of Iceland? She's been there too! Contact Info: Shannon Lemp,  Wedding Planner & Wedding Stylist shannon@myblushevents.com  314.398.2900

Visit my BLOG
  
MY BLUSH ELOPEMENT PACKAGES INCLUDE:
Photography: codynicholephotography, hair and makeup, and planning design production and coordination. ​

Here's a fun infographic to enjoy too! 

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About Shannon: Shannon Lemp is an international wedding planner and stylist. Although St. Louis, MO and Chicago, IL are her typical hot spots for weddings and events, she loves to destination weddings as well! Ever thought of Iceland? She's been there too! Contact Info: Shannon Lemp,  Wedding Planner & Wedding Stylist shannon@myblushevents.com  314.398.2900

Visit my BLOG
  
MY BLUSH ELOPEMENT PACKAGES INCLUDE:
Photography: codynicholephotography, hair and makeup, and planning design production and coordination. ​

Hmmm, so not exactly sure what your “wedding vision or style” is, such as rustic chic (see Naomi & Zack), seaside elegant, bohemian romance, traditional, vintage, romantic, modern, or something altogether you?
 
Defining your style means taking a step back and looking at the two of you as a couple. Are you both more traditional? Love antiques? Love the beach? Quirky and eclectic or maybe just modern and clean?  I found a great website that provides a quiz for this very topic. Here’s the link. It might just help you figure out what suits you best!
 
So maybe you found that both of you are modern and simple. Now what? Well, classics are good with less fuss for example. Stemware is cleaner and simpler lines. Or perhaps focusing on incorporating colors in unique ways might a way to demonstrate your couple aura.
 
So, what are the hot colors for 2018 you ask? The colors range from deep purple to various shades of pink, with of course the “rose” pink being popular.  Grays are still in this year and are complimented with a butter shade or seaside blues. Note, no need to be beachy by choosing these shades as they can be incorporated for a serene and modern design. They key is to work with a planner or wedding designer who understands your vision, if you know it, and acts as your guide in making it all come together. Those DIY couples can certainly be creative on their own if they have the time. Time is often the challenge for my couples, and yes creativity may not be their top strengths or they just can’t create it all on their own.
 
I once worked with a couple who knew exactly what they wanted. They love the circus! It was a second wedding for both and they had many kids in their family so they also wanted to make it fun. The challenge was how to incorporate a circus theme yet not design it like it’s a kid’s event. Yes, I was up for this challenge and yes it worked my creativity wheels.  Incorporating the circus theme into the wedding invitations and the wedding program was a starting point. Of course, both required a very custom design. I engaged a local graphic designer and my clients were thrilled with the result!  The tables were also numbered allowing another use of the same design to tie it all together. We even had a giant Cracker Jack Box to hold the cards! It was a huge hit and certainly a statement piece! We made it come together, the guests were delighted at such a uniquely tailored wedding for my clients.  I did have a quick sigh of relief as I do making sure every wedding day is perfect, and this was no exception.  
 
The key to defining your wedding style is sort of like defining your couple’s brand. Like designing a logo perhaps for a business, the designer must first understand what you truly like, what you don’t like, what interests you, and of course what makes you both unique. A friend’s wedding may have been very lovely, but, you of course want something different and you should want a wedding designed for YOU.
 
Okay enough of why you should be unique and back to styling.  For example, rustic chic wedding trend is very popular right now. Vintage markets are a big hit throughout the country and its popularity is infusing weddings.  It speaks to being grounded, to being warm and inviting and less “fussy.” If that’s you, there are countless ideas for making this style work for you. How rustic do you go? Perhaps mason jars aren’t ideal for your drink glasses, but maybe they are perfect for floral arrangements? Hydrangeas look lovely in them! Creative thinking is all you need here and that’s my passion.
 
Even with classic or traditional, there are charming and personal ways to leave your mark for your wedding day. It could be something done a bit differently at the wedding or it could be sharing wedding stories you’ve collected from family memories and displaying them around the reception in beautiful ways. There are always ideas to make it more special and unique with every wedding style.
 
I hope my wedding blog sparks some curiosity about you and your partner and how you can make sure your wedding is ALL about you in a memorable and impactful way.  Do you want your guests to talk about your big day for years to come and how special it was? Weddings by nature are never something anyone forgets; HOWEVER, you can be sure that even the smallest of details are unforgettable …because that’s what you are!
 
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About Shannon: Shannon Lemp is an international wedding planner and stylist. Although St. Louis, MO and Chicago, IL are her typical hot spots for weddings and events, she loves to destination weddings as well! Ever thought of Iceland? She's been there too! Contact Info: Shannon Lemp,  Wedding Planner & Wedding Stylist shannon@myblushevents.com  314.398.2900.