SIMPLY WED: Terra + Justin {Guest Series} How to be a Better Guest

So... if you all follow our Instagram and Facebook you will know that in June I went to Oregon where I was a guest at a friend from college's wedding. Anyway, this just obviously sparked a blog post idea. So here it goes... My tips on how to be a better guest. Not that I wasn't a fabulous guest or anything but I mean... there are definitely things I think I learned being on the other side of things and I just felt the need to share my vastly increased knowledge with you all. And of course I wanted to share some pictures I took while there!

#1. Don't ever pick your shoes first. Okay maybe this is just a rule for real life everyday being a female. Well, it probably is. But seriously, do not ever do this. I went to Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah 4 times and Savannah Mall twice before leaving for Oregon. Then arriving in Oregon I went to Washington Square twice. The first time walking through all the stores I shop at twice. After leaving Washington Square for the second time I was seriously starting to get nervous... Actually you know maybe this tip should just be... Don't ever pick out blue studded funky ass shoes first and try to match anything to them. That was the real problem here. But still I was determined to wear these wedges. So anyway, thank goodness with a stroke of luck I found the perfect dress to wear to a summer wedding that matched these badass wedges perfectly at Nordstrom Rack. But never again will I pick the shoes out first because that was really stressful.

#2. Plan your transportation sooner then 45 minutes before the wedding. If the bride and groom do not have transportation for all guests I would highly suggest planning ahead. Unless you plan to drive yourself, taxis are great; however, if the wedding is 30 minutes away you obviously are probably going to want to carpool. And I would suggest coordinating this with whoever you are going to carpool with sooner then 45 minutes before the wedding. Makes things much less stressful when you aren't worrying that you will be arriving late.

#3. Put your phone away for the ceremony. This is one thing I am really proud of myself for. Although maybe I just put my phone away and wasn't taking pictures because guests got to have parasols and so the parasols in front of me were blocking me from taking any really good ceremony pictures. And I will admit I did snap one picture of the ceremony. Okay maybe two... err or four. Whatever, doesn't matter. I did really good by only taking a couple and then I paid attention to the ceremony. And ya know, the pictures I got aren't even good because the angles are all wonky so it just wasn't even worth it to take my eyes off the ceremony going on before me. So just put your phone away, enjoy the ceremony, because lets be real... their professional photographer is going to get a way better picture than your iPhone ever will.

#4. Don't forget to take a favor. I am seriously bummed about this one. Terra + Justin had the most adorable little bags with custom printed labels that were favors for guests to take peaches and apricots in and I completely forgot mine. I could have woken up to a delicious peach and apricot for breakfast. But no.

#5. Get a good night sleep the night before the wedding or take a nap. While I will say I don't regret this at all since I had a blast the day before at Terra + Justin's bridal shower... I will say that I wish I had either forced myself to sleep in longer than 6am (i.e. Savannah time for 9am) or taken a nap at some point during the day before getting ready because by 10pm I was exhausted and I wish I could have partaken in the after party events but there was just no way after filling my belly with a delicious family style meal, the most fantastic cake ever, and several kraft beers + red wine that I could even keep my eyes open at that point.

#6. Have the most fun ever and dance like a fool. This is not just my tip for being a wedding guest but really and truly my tip for being a human being with a pumping heart. I just think its so important that in any moment in your life you should try your hardest to make it the most fun ever. And I just really feel like if you feel like dancing like a fool that you should probably just do it rather than waste your life being embarrassed of how ridiculously weird you are because I'd rather be ridiculously weird than ridiculously boring. Party on kids.

Huge thank you to Terra + Justin for throwing an amazing wedding and for inviting me!!!! I love you both and am so so happy for the two of you and know you have so many fun years ahead of you!!!!!!!!!!! And Terra way to be the most gorgeous ever in your beautiful gown!!!! Hugest congratulations ever!!!!

<3 Sincerely, Nicole

SIMPLY ENGAGED: Terra + Justin

So excited for Terra + Justin getting married today in Hood River, Oregon!!! I first met Terra during sorority recruitment back in college. I instantly liked Terra from that first day and am so glad to have gotten to know her over the years and stay in touch after college as well!!! So happy for them and can't wait to experience being a guest at a wedding for once!! Follow us on Instagram for some sneak peeks!! <3 Congratulations Terra + Justin and thank you for letting me share your super adorable engagement photos taken in Portland, Oregon!! 

SIMPLY PLANNING: {How to be a Guest Series #1} What to Wear

It's been forever since I've really sat down and taken the time to write a long blog post, but I woke up this morning and just really felt like it was time to get back into it. So here it is... my first blog post about being a guest at a wedding. The inspiration for this post? I get to attend a wedding this June in Hood River, Oregon as a guest. Seriously guys this is a huge deal. I can't even explain my excitement at getting to be an actual guest and not be working. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my job and love working weddings but of course every once in a while I think, gee, look at how much fun those guests are having... all reunited from all over the United States... dancing together... laughing together... goofing off together... I want to be doing that. I am good at doing that tooooooo. Let me do that pleaaaaaaase. Can I? Just once? I promise just once will be enough?? And oh yeahh my dream came true. So here it is. My chance to go to a wedding as a guest and have a great time and just enjoy myself... and in an absolutely beautiful location too.

So that brings me to this... what does a guest wear to a wedding? Here are my top 5 choices from Rent the Runway:

My 5 top tips for picking out your wedding guest attire: 

1. Do not wear red. Just don't. Some may think its an old rule but I say just don't do it. 

2. Do not wear white... or any variation of white (ivory, tan, beige, champagne nude, you get the point.) Champagne is the new white. Well, mostly ivory is. And trust me, you don't want to blend in with the color of the bride. Even be careful when considering a pale gold dress... we have several pale gold shimmery gowns at our shop and the last thing you want is for the bride to be rocking something like that and you are matching the bride.

3. You are not going to a club. Keep it classy. No titties hanging out, no shorter than short dresses with your booty hanging out. Just don't do it. 

4. No crazy prints. Again, I just don't feel like it is appropriate to be standing out. Period.

5. Dress for the setting + the venue (or at least what you know of it.) Insert tip to bride + groom: use your wedding website to describe to guests the aesthetic of the wedding... whether its a casual low country boil or a black tie formal event, they at least deserve to have somewhat of an idea. I can promise you I would not wear the same dress to a low country boil where I will be shoving my face with corn on the cob + potatoes as I would to a formal event where I will be sipping fancy cocktails.     

Moral of the Story: You don't want to stick out in any way. This is not your day. Just like you wouldn't want a wedding guest stealing the spotlight on your day. So be courteous, wear something fabulous and still look great without trying to be the center of attention. 

If you liked reading this post then stay tuned! I'll be blogging throughout my experience as a guest at Terra + Justin's wedding this summer and including all sorts of fun tips for being a guest as well as sharing all the fun details of my trip!! Also, follow us on Instagram from daily posts of pretties + sneaks into my vacation!!!!! Happy Friday ya'll! 

{Shopping Guide} Rebecca Taylor Fuschia Pop Flirt Dress // Catherine Deane Tracy Dress // Lela Rose Floral Frame Sheath // Yigal Azrouel Sip of Wine Dress // Carmen Marc Valvo Rosette Envelope Dress