{STYLED SHOOT} Moons, Stars + Tarot Cards

So excited that we finally are sharing this styled shoot we did at one of Savannah's newest + hippest venues, Cohen's Retreat!!! We are pretty much obsessed with this venue. It is unique, has awesome furniture, and amazing interior design. We are also extremely excited that we get to be a part of our first wedding here this fall for our clients, Amber + David!!! Anyway, huge thank you to Mackensey Alexander for capturing all of the details of this shoot, which was inspired by art nouveau, stars + moons and tarot cards. 

Beyond Beautiful by Heather did hair and makeup for our lovely models and we love how funky and fabulous they looked!! Our bride wore a Sarah Seven gown and our bridesmaid wore a Veronica Sheaffer dress. All the accessories modeled by them are by Jaclyn Jordan. The ceremony backdrop was a craft project that Adrienna + I DIYed in the shop one day... with lots of rhinestones... Our reception table was styled by Amber Veatch using chargers + silverware rentals from her new company, Set Event Rentals. We borrowed chairs from Savannah's newest vintage rental company, Rentiquity and other decor was from Simply Southern Wedding. The flowers were designed by Madame Chrysanthemum. Kaitlin Slattery did all the printable designs and the handwritten calligraphy and last but obviously not least since it was seriously delicious was the cake by Lulu's Chocolate Bar... which we of course devoured minutes after Mackensey was done photographing all the details of our shoot!!! Anyway, we hope you enjoy looking at all the loveliness!! And huge thank you to all the vendors who participated and collaborated with us!! 

{Vendor Credits} Photography: Mackensey Alexander // Styling + Ceremony Backdrop: Ivory and Beau // Wedding dress: Sarah Seven, available at Ivory and Beau, Veil and headpiece: Jaclyn Jordan, available at Ivory and Beau, Bridesmaid Dress: Veronica Sheaffer // Hair + Makeup: Beyond Beautiful by Heather // Flowers: Madame Chrysanthemum // Venue: Cohens Retreat // Chargers + Silverware: Set Event Rentals // Table Styling: Amber Veatch // Chair Rentals: Rentiquity, other rentals from Simply Southern Wedding // Calligraphy: Kaitlin Slattery // Cake: Lulu's Chocolate Bar

{STYLED SHOOT} Unholy Matrimony

I must say this is by far I think the most badass shoot we have ever designed + styled. I cannot in the least take credit for all of this because this was an amazing collaboration between Adrienna, myself + our freaking awesome and super creative interns, Alison Uzmann + Shelby Bittinger!!!! This shoot honestly started as a rockabilly shoot that my friend Rachel Thomas was to be modeling in + one day while crafting in the boutique we were talking about wanting to not do rockabilly but something dark and different. And with that a shoot with a theme loosely described as "weird animals, dead skulls, badass, rock and roll, and funky" was born + seriously huge thank you to Rach Lea for being down to photograph this without having even a clue what we were up to and also to Sean McNally at Cinemobius for capturing this shoot on video!!!

And with that we scrounged around town for the coolest skulls + decor pieces and were super pumped when Graveface Records + Curiosities and Paris Market were willing to lend us some awesome nick nacks, such as a taxidermy fox, lots of skulls, cool animal coffee mugs... And Alison even searched her parent's house for some funky elements and brought us awesome small glass vases in deep shades of purples + reds and some more skulls. Alison + Adrienna put together the florals using lots of funky floral pieces such as purple leaves and twigs. All these weird funky pieces sat atop a table linen made out of spanish moss. Each place setting included DIY plates by us with silverware from Paris Market. For our bride, Rachel, we knew we wanted her in something funky and the asymmetrical hem dress by Faith Thornburg was perfect with one of our Twigs & Honey veils. Her faux hawk with brides was done by Milan Day Spa and her makeup by Lindsey Wirht-Jones. Simon's Formal Wear dressed up our groom, Alex, in suspenders, a top hat + bow tie... his dog even got a bow tie too. Snake did not get any attire though... we figured it was cool err scary enough by itself? Hmm... anyways. Lulu's Chocolate Bar made an AMAZING naked chocolate cake that was so ridiculously delicious I can't even describe this cake in words. Think chocolate + blackberries + goodness + heaven + oh my gosh can I eat cake from Lulu's Chocolate Bar every single day? But seriously. Our intern, Shelby, designed the awesome invitations with the fox + fox butt... and my favorite, those fox masks. And to answer the question I know you are dying to ask... yes, we listened to What Does the Fox Say during this photo shoot. Thanks again everyone!!!!!!


{Vendor Credits} Videography: Cinemobius // Photography: Rach Lea // Styling, Concept, Florals, Bridal Gown + Veil: Ivory + Beau // Gown: Faith Thornburg // Veil: Twigs & Honey // Groom's Accessories: Simon's Formal Wear // Skulls + Fox: Graveface Records + Curiosities // Other Skulls, Apothecary Jars, Silverware + Coffee Mugs: Paris Market // Cake: Lulu's Chocolate Bar // Hair: Milan Day Spa // Makeup: Lindsey Wirht-Jones

{STYLED SHOOT} Winter Rustic Shoot at Brockington Hall

It's crazy to me that I'm just now getting around to blogging this winter rustic styled shoot considering this photo shoot took place in the dead heat of the summer... This shoot was so much fun to be a part of!!! My favorite part about this shoot was that the hanging centerpiece installation was actually inspired by my living room one night... I have a furry sheepskin rug with a ghost table on top of it with a brown tray with antlers as handles + was inspired to turn that into a centerpiece and so this shoot was born. Everybody thought I was crazy for hanging those acrylic planks over the table but oh my gosh I was so happy that it worked and didn't fall over + collapse!!! Thank you to Melissa + Lee at Brockington Hall for letting us take over their venue again for the day!! Rach Lea did an incredible job capturing all the details! The bride, fellow wedding photographer, Amanda Nicole Miller, was made up by Dollface by Jules and dressed in a gray Vera Wang for David's Bridal wedding gown. She also rocked a furry jacket by Adrienna McDermott, of Ivory + Beau. Kiwi Fleur made the pretty bridal bouquet + the adorable little floral halo for the flower girl and Art POP Balloons provided the large tassel balloon. The dessert table was filled with a cake by Lulu's Chocolate Bar, macarons from Maison de Macarons, and chocolates from Cholatat by Adam Turoni with a vintage cake stand from Lillian's China. This shoot was also featured on 100 Layer Cake! Thanks again to all the vendors who made this happen!!!  

{Vendor Credits} Photography: Rach Lea // Styling + Hanging Installation: Ivory + Beau // Venue: Brockington Hall // Cake: Lulu's Chocolate Bar // Hair + Makeup: Dollface by Jules // Dress: Vera Wang for David's Bridal // Fur Wrap: Adrienna McDermott // Bouquet: Kiwi Fleur // Macarons: Maison de Macarons // Chocolates: Cholatat by Adam Turoni // Balloon: Art POP Balloons // Vintage Cake Stand: Lillian's China

{STYLED SHOOT SNEAK PEEK} Southwestern Boho + GRAND OPENING PARTY

We can't believe it's only 3 days until our Starry Night Themed Grand Opening Party!!!! Check out the Facebook Event + RSVP... we hope to see you all there!! We will be having Chris, from All About You DJ our event, Heather of Beyond Beautiful will be making over our models for the fashion show, Kiwi Fleur is providing some floral arrangements, and Gigi's Cupcakes is bringing us some goodies!!! PLUS... we have a SUPER fun handmade photobooth + some silly props just for fun!! We cannot wait to showcase our bridal gowns that we are bringing to Savannah for all you beautiful brides!!!!! 

Anyway, we have been crazy busy this year so far getting everything prepared and ready for the opening. This past weekend we styled a Southwestern Boho themed shoot with amazing photographer, Mackensey Alexander!! The image below is what we used for our Savannah Weddings Magazine advertisement - so be sure to watch out for it in the upcoming issue!!!! For the shoot, the absolutely gorgeous model rocked two of our Sarah Seven gowns + was made beautiful by Mandy Boyd + Jessica Mock from Dollface by Jules!!! Thrive Cafe Catering made delicious Southwestern inspired treats and desserts for our food table and Anissa of Urban Poppy designed a gorgeous bouquet and centerpiece. Melissa Hagerty provided us with some beautiful paintings that we used as place mats (seriously check out her work - it is gorgeous). This was also a really fun shoot because we had a ceremony musician AND a faux officiant. Yay to Randy Cuba who rocked the guitar + Woody, Adrienna's boyfriend, who rocked the Bible even while being super sick. Our freaking awesome and super hard working interns, Shelby and Alison, helped out and made the majority of the dream catchers we used for our ceremony backdrop (which are now hanging up in our boutique). Also, featured in our shoot was our handpainted Southwestern inspired table! 

Anyway, again just have to say seriously HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE who came out for this shoot... it was pretty much freezing outside. The ceremony backdrop was by far the hardest part to put up because it was just so freaking windy but Woody, Shelby and Alison helped bring it all together getting crafty with some fishing line + logs... and acting as human poles. I think all of our toes were completely numb, and even when I told people they could leave because I just felt so damn bad about how cold it was they were all serious troopers (especially Adrienna + Woody who had fevers)... It was so fun putting this all together + I cannot wait to share the rest of the images from the shoot with ya'll!!! WE LOVE ALL YA'LL WEDDING VENDORS. 

{Vendor Credits} Photography by Mackensey Alexander // Styling + Ceremony Backdrop by Ivory + Beau // Flowers: Urban Poppy // Food + Desserts: Thrive Cafe Catering // Hair + Makeup: Mandy Boyd + Jessica Mock from Dollface by Jules // Dresses: Keats and Cascade by Sarah Seven // Artwork: Melissa Hagerty // Ceremony Musician: Randy Cuba // Officiant: Woody  

SIMPLY PUBLISHED: The Knotty Bride

The Knotty Bride is by far the funniest of all the wedding blogs. I would highly suggest adding this to your reading list of blogs if you don't read it already. The author is hysterical and always writes the best most entertaining posts while featuring some awesome weddings and styled shoots.. oh and boudoir. This is by far the best place to check out ideas for boudoir sessions for your man. Anyway, today we are super excited to share with y'all that we got our first feature on The Knotty Bride!! Our handpainted Southwestern turkey feather backdrop was featured on The Knotty Bride on the 27th for Thanksgiving!!! Make sure you go on over and check out the rest of the shoot!! [Fun Fact: The faux bride was a bridesmaid in one of our weddings this past October!!] 

{Photo Credits} Photography: Izzy Hudgins // Venue: Roundhouse Railroad Museum // Backdrop: Ivory + Beau // Food: Form // Cake and Desserts: Lulu's Chocolate Bar // Video: Munn Brothers // Style: French Knot // Hair + Makeup: Dollface by Jules // Bridesmaids Attire: Custard Boutique // Gown: Sarah Seven from The Sentamentalist// Menswear: Civvies // Jewelry: Zia Couture // Furs: Gaucho Savannah // Paper Goods: Miss Pickles Press // Wholesale Flowers: Fifty Flowers // Table Settings: World Market

SIMPLY PUBLISHED: {Weddings Unveiled Blog} A Romantic Garden

Ooh so excited to share that today a styled shoot both Adrienna + I helped out with prior to our partnership is featured on Weddings Unveiled Blog!!!!! Adrienna handmade all the bridal accessories and I helped by creating a paper floral backdrop for this styled shoot with Amber Veatch Designs and Andi Mans in St. Augustine, Florida at the Sanchez House. My favorite memory about this styled shoot is that the drive down was when Adrienna and I first started brainstorming Ivory + Beau and how to make it happen! Yay and huge thank you to all the fantastic vendors who participated in this romantic garden styled shoot: Sweet n Flour, Simply Bridal, Shea Hopely Flowers, Dishie Rentals, Amanda Hopcraft, Beachview Event Rentals, Small Bites, Chirp Paperie! Ya'll rock! And make sure you go on over to Weddings Unveiled Blog to check out the full feature!!! 

SIMPLY PUBLISHED: {Every Last Detail} Bold Dramatic Blush + Black Wedding Ideas

Eeek! Ivory + Beau was featured on Every Last Detail yesterday! Pretty excited since this is our first shoot to be featured under the new business name instead of Simply Savannah Events! So it's extra special... and even more special because I have met Lauren, the author of ELD, before. Lauren was a speaker at the Cultivate Workshop in Jacksonville, Florida in 2012 hosted by Flaire Events that I attended as Layla's assistant. I can still remember being so in awe of Lauren. I mean here standing in front of me was someone who took her passion and made a career out of it. She was living what she loved everyday and working for herself. She was someone I seriously looked up to and so it is a dream come true to have my work featured on her site!!! I hope you will go on over + check out the feature of our Bold dramatic blush + black wedding inspiration shoot that was at Brockington Hall! Huge thank you to all the vendors who helped out: Shannon Christopher, Beyond Beautiful by Heather, BleuBelle Bridal, Thrive A Carry Out Cafe, Laura Lavender + In Any Event! And huge thank you to Lauren for featuring us on your site!! 

SIMPLY PUBLISHED: {DIY Weddings Magazine} Vintage Affair Savannah Style

I am so thrilled to share this feature with you guys today! This styled shoot at Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda Academy was featured in DIY Weddings Fall 2013 Issue! This shoot was my first collaboration with Tori of Ever Thine Vintage Rentals. Tori is such an inspiration to me because she's so successful, so creative and so young... so getting to know her has been awesome! She started up a vintage rental company not long ago and it has quickly grown into something amazing with the new opening of Wed Augusta!!! So anyway, when she told me she was coming to Savannah for a styled shoot with Luke of Lone Pine Photography I quickly said I want to play too!! Everything turned out so beautifully and so it was great to be a part of. Especially great because Tori has probably the cutest little boy ever, who is my boyfriend for life whether or not she will allow it. And even more especially great because Gigi's Cupcakes + Maison de Macarons provided lots and lots and lots of sugar. I mean... I think Tori will forevermore call me the skinny fat girl because I think know that I ate about 5 mini cupcakes, 7 French macarons, and then a few lot more mini cupcakes. This is reason #74 as to why Nicole needs an Herbalife coach to keep me on track (shoutout to Serwaah!) But seriously, it's no exaggeration trust me... I am the biggest sugar monster ever. Anyway, enough about my love for sugar... for more from the shoot go here! And in the meantime, hope you'll enjoy the feature and then go check out the entire DIY Weddings Issue here! 

Huge shout out also to all the incredible vendors who helped make this happen: flowers from A to Zinnias; Jessica Mock of Dollface by Jules; Cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes, cake from Holli's Cakes, and macarons from Maison de Macarons; Bethesda Academy; dress from J'adore Bridal; and last but not least, other rentals from Savannah Special Events! Thanks for lending your time to put together some pretties and I hope we get to play again soon!! 

{Photo Credits} DIY Weddings Fall 2013 Magazine by Lone Pine Photography

SIMPLY PUBLISHED: {STYLE ME PRETTY FLORIDA} European Wedding Inspiration

Eeeeeek!!!!!!!!! So excited to share this with ya'll!!!! I always get so excited when I see something I've worked on being featured on one of my favorite wedding blogs, and today is no exception!!! Our styled shoot at the Sanchez House in St. Augustine that I shared on the blog here a few days ago is being featured on Style Me Pretty Florida today!! Make sure you go on over and check it out!! Thanks for all the vendors who made it possible!!! 

{STYLED SHOOT} Green Garden Shoot in St. Augustine

I am so excited to share this styled shoot I helped out with for a few reasons. For one, it was with 3 ladies I have been wanting to work with for awhile now (plus several other amazing ladies that I got to meet and collaborate with!) And secondly, it was my first time ever going to St. Augustine, Florida and the little day trip with Adrienna was a blast!!! Plus the drive down there is absolutely gorgeous driving along the coast. I'm sad we didn't get to make it down to the beach because it looked so divine, but I guess that just gives me an excuse to go back... maybe next time with the fiance?? Anyway, this shoot was a long time coming. I talked to Andi Mans probably over a year ago about possibly collaborating on a styled shoot. And I've known Amber Veatch for a little over a year and a half and have always wanted to collaborate with her too. So... when Adrienna McDermott approached me about doing a styled shoot featuring her handmade bridal accessories I thought to myself... let's confuse the crap out of everyone and bring 3 people with names starting with "A" together for an inspiration shoot. 

And so the green garden shoot at The Sanchez House in St. Augustine, Florida was born filled with gorgeous florals by Shea Hopely, vintage chairs from Beachview Event Rentals, a tablescape designed by Amber Veatch using Dishie Rentals, floral inspired invitations by Chirp Paperie, and a paper floral garland inspired by BHLDN crafted by me... no surprise for all you who know how much I love to hang stuff. Making this was probably the most fun thing I have ever had in the house as far as Tigger is concerned. No really... I taped each individual strand onto our media station in our living room before tying it onto the wooden plank and trust me when I say he absolutely loved it. Silly cat always thinking my arts and crafts projects are for him. Amanda Hopcraft did our model's hair and makeup and our faux bride (who actually is getting married herself sometime soon) was rocking a dress and veil from Simply Bridal. The gorgeous collar necklace, fabric floral halo, champagne sash, and fuzzy vest were handmade by the talented SCAD student, Adrienna McDermott. Which brings me to my favorite part of this shoot. Every once in awhile I get these great ideas that everyone else thinks are completely ridiculous but for some reason people go along with me regardless. So when I came up with the fabulous idea of having our model put on the fuzzy vest and Adrienna approved, we got Andi to quickly capture the model rocking it! She was such a trooper because I know she had to already be hot as crap and that vest is not meant to be worn in 115 degree heat not including the humidity. 

Now to all the delicious treats!!!! The cake, large cupcakes, and shortbread lavender cookies were provided by Sweet n Flour and oh my goodness gracious were they oh-so-delicious. All of the treats Marisa made were gluten free and this probably also comes as no surprise but I think I ate every last one of those shortbread lavender cookies oh and of course I tried all of the cupcake flavors and the cake. Before the shoot we were a little nervous about that cake surviving the shoot but I must say I have to give Marisa major props for decorating a cake that is heat-proof and melt-proof. The pretty green macarons, mini cupcakes and pies and those mini shooters were by Small Bites. The shooters were my absolute favorite... I think I had 3. Maybe 4. Oops. You're probably thinking now no wonder Nicole loves styled shoots... she gets to eat pounds and pounds of sweet treats for free. Well, I'm not going to lie, it is very true. I have such a sweet tooth. I blame it on my dad who used to eat a large bowl of ice cream every night while I was growing up. Anyway, hope you enjoy the stunning photography by Andi Mans! 

Thank you to all the amazing ladies and vendors that helped out with this shoot! Ya'll were amazing!!!

{Vendors} Photography: Andi Mans // Tablescape Design/Styling: Amber Veatch Designs // Coordination + Backdrop: Simply Savannah Events // Venue: The Sanchez House // Flowers: Shea Hopely // Dress and Veil: Simply Bridal // Other Bridal Accessories: Adrienna McDermott // Hair and Makeup: Amanda Hopcraft // Dishes, Silverware, and Goblets: Dishie Rentals // Chair Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals // Cake, Large Cupcakes and Shortbread Cookies: Sweet n Flour // Macarons, Mini Cupcakes, and Shooters: Small Bites // Invitations: Chirp Paperie