2014: A Year in Review, HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE + 11 DAYS OF WEDDING GIVEAWAYS

Oh my goodness gracious this is it. The very last day of 2014. Anybody else feel as if this year went by like a lightning bolt?! I mean it seems like it was just yesterday Adrienna + I were signing the papers to start Ivory + Beau. Wow... not going to lie at all I just started tearing up when I wrote that. Thank goodness Adrienna isn't here to see me crying because she would most likely just laugh at me... I guess maybe that sums up the way I feel though. Happy tears of course, no sad tears here, maybe just a bit of relief. We did it. We made it through our first year. It wasn't always pretty, it wasn't always easy, but it was so worth it. We learned so much about well... everything. About running a business, about opening a business, about social media, about wedding planning, about how to be try and help each other stay organized, about client relations, about accounting, about each other and how to work well with each other. Gosh, we did it. And it brings it all back to those moments of doubt not just from yourself but from your dad, from that colleague who you thought was a friend, from some of your very own best friends. Those people who once doubted you and you proved that you could make it. Maybe you haven't reached the top of that mountain yet. And you haven't made it yet. But yes I am about to quote Miley Cyrus... it's the climb. And we are climbing along. And we accomplished some things but we have so far to go. And that's alright. Because every moment we spend working is a moment spent living our dreams and living what we love. And there are going to be future struggles, future mistakes, future setbacks but we are going to just keep on climbing, keep on dreaming, keep on going and keep on hustling as hard as we can while enjoying every moment of it. So... as I reflect back on 2014, I want to share some of my favorite pictures from weddings and styled shoots we did along with some of the publications we were featured in. This year was so good to us and here is to 2015 being even better than 2014. We've bruised our knees and fallen down but we've gotten back up, learned some lessons and we are ready. 2015 we are so ready for you. Let's make this a great year. Huge thank you to every single friend, vendor, boyfriend, and most importantly, client who has supported us, worked with us, helped us hang up curtains, found their dress from us, hired us to plan their wedding, etc. We would not be where we are without any of ya'll. So here's to 2015, we are ready. Now for some lovely pictures, enjoy!! And we wish you all a very happy and safe New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!!! (I'll be enjoying Skinnygirl Cucumber Refresher's on my friend's rooftop watching fireworks... yup, gotta start the New Year's off with not just some of your best friends but with healthy low calorie cocktails of course..!!) ;)

**Also, tomorrow starts our 11 days of wedding giveaways! We have some awesome vendors who are giving away some amazing wedding goodies so make sure and come back tomorrow to enter the drawing! These giveaways are leading up to our 1-YEAR Anniversary Party on January 11th from 1-4pm! If you are local we would love to have you come join the party :: there will be treats, goodie bags and our signature cocktail, Ivory + Beaullinis!!! RSVP here! 

1. 24 weddings + 9 that we did all the florals for. That is the most we have ever done in a year!! And it was soo good. Busy of course but so good and so much fun!!! And we are so excited that we have already booked 21 weddings for 2015 with some seriously amazing couples!!

2. 14ish(!?) styled editorial shoots (not including all the styled shoots that our dresses were featured in!) We love getting the chance to get creative and come up with unique and different styled editorials to show off not just our dresses but our design ideas!! Plus, it's always such a blast getting to work with new vendors to come up with fun ideas.

3. 54 online features of our styled shoots, weddings, dresses and shop featured on wedding blogs, 2 e-magazines, 4 magazines AND our very first feature in a book!! Plus, we made it onto Ruffled's Best of 2014: DIY List!!!! Check out the full feature here! It is always so rewarding to have our work published.. it makes every bit of hard work and sweat worth it!!

Anyway, cheers to 2014 and cheers to 2015 being even better! Wishing you all a very happy New Years!!!!! We will see you all next year!! xoxo, N+A

{Photo Credits} Shannon + Steven, photography by Izzy Hudgins // Amanda + Nick, photography by Jayne B Photography // Melanie + Nicholas, photography by From Jen's Lens // Liz + Josh, photography by Teresa Earnest //  Leslie + Brad, photography by Loverbee // Tiffany + Sean, photography by Izzy Hudgins // Larissa + Adam, photography by Two Chics // Emily + Matt, photography by Rach Lea // Brandy + Matthew, photography by Jade + Matthew // Amber + David, photography by Lytle Foto // Kathleen + Brendan, photography by Jeff & Mollie [Styled Shoots] Calligraphy + Horses, photography by Allison Kuhn // Lowcountry Wedding, photography by Rach Lea // Southwestern, photography by Mackensey Alexander // Botanical Hipster, photography by Izzy Hudgins // Super Southern Bridal, photography by Rach Lea // Bridal Editorial, photography by Izzy Hudgins // Elaya Vaughn Bridal Editorial, photography by Alexis Sweet // Eco-Chic Lindee Daniel Bridal Editorial, photography by Mackensey Alexander // Gems + Rocks, photography by Mackensey Alexander // Moons, Stars + Tarot Cards, photography by Mackensey Alexander // Oddities, Skulls + a Boa Constrictor, photography by Rach Lea // Donuts + Horses, photography by Two Chics

SIMPLY INSPIRATION: Hushed Commotion Bridal Accessories + a Holiday Party

Holidays are coming up. Which means holiday parties are also coming up. Which means time to purchase a new party dress? Maybe some sparkly heels? Glitter tights? All of the above? Last year we styled a mini bridal accessories shoot with Mackensey Alexander and Beyond Beautiful by Heather at Ships of the Sea Museum. We wanted to come up with some stylish ways for brides to re-use their bridal accessories during the holidays. One of my favorites was this pearl and sparkly sash by Hushed Commotion. To shop our bridal accessories click here to schedule an appointment!!

Happy Holidays ya'll! 

{Shopping Guide} Champagne Sangria Dress via ModCloth // Hushed Commotion Callie Sash available at Ivory + Beau // Soft Steps Heel with Lace via ModCloth // Play the Party Clutch via ModCloth

SIMPLY HOLIDAYS: Gift Guide for the Cats + Dinosaur Lover

Today I interrupt our regular wedding & bridal blog posts for a very random post that is kind of related to Ivory + Beau in the sense that we love cats and dinosaurs. I mean really love cats and dinosaurs. That being said, do you love cats? We love cats. I mean really love cats. I mean we love cats so much that on a day when we are avoiding work you can probably find us looking at funny cat pictures or videos. Love love love cats. Love cats so much that if you were to friend me on Facebook you would probably find my feed filled with my friends posting funny cat pictures all over my Facebook. Its a real serious situation. We just love cats. But the thing is we also love dinosaurs. And I may have started this gift guide focused on cats but then I kept running across the most adorable dinosaur lover gifts and just had to make this for the cats AND dinosaurs lovers (i.e. Adrienna and me). And I mean if you have ever been to our shop you will know we love dinosaurs considering Wilbur is our mascot and we have gold dinosaurs everywhere hidden. So today here to share my Christmas wish list, I mean my gift guide for the cat + dinosaur lover friend. We all have one. And if you're friends with Adrienna and myself well then, you are just so lucky because you don't just have one you have two. So here are my top picks that I love. Meow. Rawr.

1. Cats Enough for Now Wine Stopper from ModCloth? See the thing is I love wine and I love cats. So I love this. And want this. And if it doesn't magically appear in my stocking well I may be buying one for myself. Just saying...

2. Year of the Critter Cat Calendar. We must of course continue the tradition of having a cat calendar in the shop. Last year we had an I Could Pee on This calendar but this year I'm thinking this one would be the perfect one for our wall.

3. Paleo in Comparison Cookie Cutters. Cutest cookie cutters ever. Rawr.

4. Born to be a Wildcat Pillow. I love funny statement pillows and think they are so fun when in small doses. Such a surprise. Maybe for that guest room or on the couch with all those other fashionable throw pillows. Or maybe just a special pillow designated for your cat so that your cat doesn't get fur over every other pillow the way mine do. But really? Ask any cat owner and they will tell you that you can never have enough pillows.

5. Jurassic Perk Socks. I don't feel like you can ever have enough socks. Especially when you are a skirts & boots girl like me. I love all my high socks that I rock under my Frye boots. They are just the best. Especially since my toes are always cold. I guess its a ginger thing supposedly, being sensitive to temperature and all. But yeah, I love my socks. And I also find it hilarious to give my nephews funny socks. I don't know if they think its as funny as I think it is but thats okay. Smiles are contagious.

6. Brunch-osaurus Shaker Set. Okay you don't even know how hard it is for me to stop myself from buying these right now. No really, they are in my shopping cart on ModCloth as we speak. But I keep telling myself, no Nicole. Now is not the time of year that we buy adorable brontosaurus salt shakers for ourselves but rather this is the time of year we think about giving our friends and families gifts instead. Must. Not. Purchase. This.

7. Fine Dino-ing Bowl. Who can ever have enough bowls? I use bowls for everything from cereal to feeding my cats to put jewelry in to eating spaghetti.

8. Don't Mew Look Cute Earrings. I am all about wearing jewelry that is doning my favorite 2 animals and these earrings are no exception. Adorable, pretty and meow.

{Shopping Guide} Cats Enough for Now Wine Stopper via ModCloth // Year of the Critter Cat Calendar via ModCloth  // Paleo in Comparison Cookie Cutters via ModCloth  // Born to be a Wildcat Pillow via ModCloth  // Jurassic Perk Socks via ModCloth // Brunch-osaurus Shaker Set via ModCloth // Fine Dino-ing Bowl via ModCloth // Don't Mew Look Cute Earrings via ModCloth

SIMPLY HOLIDAYS: Reindeer, Evergreen + Ice Caves

Merry Christmas + Happy Holidays from the ladies at Ivory + Beau!

xoxo, N

{Photo Credits} Bouquet via Style Me Pretty, photography by Nadia Hung // Bride + Groom in front of Cave via Green Wedding Shoes, photography by Benj Haisch // Evergreen Coconut Cake via Revel from A Daily Something // Hot Cocoa via Green Wedding Shoes, photography by Megan Hayes // Antler Table Decor via 100 Layer Cake, photography by // Table Setting via Ruffled, photography by Callie Hobbs // Bride + Groom with Reindeer via The Natural Wedding Company, photography by Sarah Falugo // Garland Decor via 100 Layer Cake, photography by Rachel Peters

SIMPLY PUBLISHED: 100 Layer Cake

Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving yesterday!!! I don't know about Adrienna (since she's up in Virginia) but I had a great time with friends and am more stuffed with delicious food than I can imagine!! Thank you to my friends, Krystal + Rob, who took me in on this holiday when I was unable to spend it with my family!!! Anyway, we are so excited that our handpainted Southwestern backdrop was featured on 100 Layer Cake this week for Thanksgiving!! Click here to check out more!!! Thank you 100 Layer Cake! 

{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 HOLIDAYS: Happy Thanksgiving!

Us at Ivory + Beau want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you are spending it with loved ones and family this year!! We wanted to take the time to share some things we are thankful for while also sharing one of our favorite DIY projects we did for a styled shoot!

Nicole is thankful for:
Finding Roo (baby kitten) and giving her home; Tigger + Winnie being welcoming and loving to baby Kanga-Roo; New friends and connections I have made in the wedding industry; The support of friends, family, and vendor friends during this new business endeavor; Thankful, gracious + happy brides who have been an absolute pleasure to work with; The bridal designers we picked up at New York Bridal Market who have been so amazing to work with; The SBAC for approving our business loan and being our personal cheerleader during this process; My dad for being my words of wisdom during every difficult situation I have encountered these past few weeks [and life]; My mom for being my personal spiritual guidance and guardian angel during every difficult situation I have encountered; The friends I have made in Savannah who make this city feel like my home; Adrienna for being 2 steps ahead of me at all times and for being an amazing business partner who is calm, kind, and amazing; Our interns for being freaking amazing; The opportunities I have in life to do what I love every day while being myself and while getting to design, create, and style new and different things; last but not least... I am thankful for every wedding blog, magazine, and publication that has shared my work!! xo, Nicole Rene

Adrienna is thankful for:
I'm thankful for grace and blessings. I've been so overwhelmingly blessed this year, and I thank God for everything I've been given. I can't believe at 22 I'm able to live out my dream of having a boutique, it all feels surreal still. I'm thankful for being surrounded by family and friends who support me and this business adventure. I'm thankful for being able to have gone to SCAD, which turned my life upside down in the most perfect way.  My kittys, for proving hours of entertainment and puurs and kisses. Nicole, for being crazy enough to open a bridal store with me. She has endless ideas that never cease to amaze me, and she pushes me to be better every day. I can't image any other person to be doing this with. Our new interns, for being so freaking fabulous. And for Woody, my amazing boyfriend, for constantly being there, even when I'm annoying, whiney and should be ignored.

{Photo Credits} Photography: Izzy Hudgins // Backdrop: Ivory + Beau // Food: Form // Cake and Desserts: Lulu's Chocolate Bar // Style: French Knot

SIMPLY HOLIDAYS: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Today I will be driving up to Greenville, SC to visit my family for good food and good company! Today I am thankful for my loving boyfriend, our little critters (Winnie & Tigger), my family that has supported me my entire life, my dad who is my rock that I can lean on no matter what & who supports me in every decision I make and gives me more than I deserve. I am thankful that I have a job that I love and makes me happy and that I have the opportunity to help couples make their wedding day one of the best days of their lives, and that I get to use my creativity and love for everything weddings while working. I am thankful that my boyfriend and I are getting a house and making a huge move in our lives, and I am thankful that I love Savannah as much as I do! I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving and are grateful for the things you have in life!


{Photo Credits} 'Give Thanks' via Ancoro Imparo