The Unexpected Joys of Planning a Savannah Wedding

Okay, so it’s no secret: as amazing as the process is, sometimes wedding planning can be stressful. You’ve been there, we’ve been there. It wouldn’t be fair to pretend like sometimes bringing your dream day to life can’t get a little hectic. That’s why over the years we’ve learned to take the time-- and encouraged our I&B couples to take the time-- to embrace the unexpected. This is especially true of the unexpected joys… and when you’re planning a wedding in the finest city in the south, there are just so many joys to be had! 

Try new and interesting foods. 

Looking for the perfect wedding caterer? You’re in luck. Savannah just so happens to be one of Georgia’s culinary hotspots. We’ve got everything from your standard southern fare to coastal delights that are sure to wow the crowd. We’ve even got a growing vegan market! Turn your hunt for the best buffet into an opportunity for a productive date night. Go ahead, try something new-- your taste buds AND your guests will thank you! 

Discover new places. 

I’m feeling a little guilty to admit it, but even though I’ve lived in Savannah for almost eleven years, there were still SO many amazing places I didn’t even know existed before I started working at I&B. Like, hello… Soho South? So cool. The Roundhouse? Freakin’ mind-blowing. The Wyld Dock and Bar? DELICIOUS. 

Don’t be afraid to turn your venue selection process into an adventure. Go for a picnic at Wormsloe before you decide to have your ceremony beneath the swaying spanish moss. Grab a drink at Pinkie’s before taking an evening stroll around Savannah’s Historic District… you never know which square will inspire you most. 

Options, options, options. 

Have we mentioned that Savannah is chock full of options? Duh, yes, but in case you need some more…

Going for glam? Try the Mansion on Forsyth, full of glittering chandeliers, priceless art, and classic Savannah charm. Is your vision quirky and boho chic? Soho South Cafe’s mismatched chairs and door wall installation-- yes, an entire wall of EPIC DOORS-- might be what you seek. If you love our year-round beach weather, you might be interested in a ceremony at Tybee’s own Tybee Island Wedding Chapel. 

The possibilities don’t end with venues, either. Savannah’s got you covered in the food department, too. Want kickass catering? Try Zunzi’s or JThomas. Non-traditional desserts? Rise Donuts or Baker’s Pride. Amazing custom cakes? Vanilla & the Bean or Wicked Cakes. Food trucks? We got ‘em. Seriously, we could prattle off amazing vendors all day. This is just the beginning! 

Savannah’s kinda artsy fartsy-- and it’s awesome. 

Everywhere you turn, Savannah’s full of design inspiration-- we are the home of the Savannah College of Art and Design, after all. Whether you’re touring St. John’s Cathedral, with its vaulted ceilings and stained glass, or gettin’ your drink on in front of the epic parrot mural at the Perry Lane Hotel, there’s plenty of wedding design inspo to be found. Snap pictures of your favorite art at the Telfair and create a color palette you love. Press a fallen flower and find similar shapes for your bouquet. 

Not just haunted… but full of history! 

Calling all self-proclaimed history buffs! If you love a location with LOTS of culture, Savannah is just the city for you. Savannah is one of the best places on the east coast to have a vintage wedding-- because your venue will be just as vintage as your inspiration! 

Founded in 1733, we’ve been around for a hot minute… and so have some of our favorite venues. If you want your ceremony space to be a monument to your truly historic love, check out the GA State Railroad Museum or Old Fort Jackson. You won’t be disappointed.

Savannah is SUPER budget friendly when planning a wedding. 

Got big city dreams but a small town budget? Plan a wedding in Savannah. Compared to many of the larger wedding destinations on the east coast, Savannah is diiiiiiirt cheap. It might get unbearably hot and humid in the summer (something to consider BEFORE booking that outdoor venue), but man… you can’t beat the cost of living in the south. 

A jack of all trades… and vacation must-dos.

If there ever was a place with something for everyone, Savannah is it. If you’re visiting in hopes of planning your Savannah wedding, we encourage you to take in all the city has to offer. Take in the nightlife after an afternoon spent on the beach. Rent a kayak and take a trip down the Ogeechee. Go shopping for all of your DIY projects on Broughton… and don’t worry, if you get lost (or need a recommendation), go ahead and stop a local. We’re always happy to help. 

What brings you to Savannah? Let us know in the comments down below!

{Vendor Credits} Photography: Gina Vogel Photography // Gowns: Ivory & Beau

I&B Bride: Kate

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ivory & Beau? 

Do you think of bountiful bouquets and lush greenery? Perhaps you think of little gold dinosaurs and pretty persian rugs. Maybe it’s our wacky Instastory shenanigans that bring a smile to your sweet little face. It goes without saying, then, that we might not be your idea of an average bridal shop… so it comes as no surprise that not-so-average future I&B bride Kate came here to find the dress of her dreams. 

Sure, the silhouette of the Sophia gown by Jenny Yoo might be traditional, but the watercolor floral fabric is anything but. I mean, how badass is this gown? This dress is only made cooler by the sneak peeks of Kate’s amazing tattoos. We’ve got ink envy over here.

As if I&B Bride Kate couldn’t get any cooler… she had her reception at one of our favorite venues: the Wyld Dock & Bar! It really doesn’t get much better than newly-married marshside portraits. 

These two are so playful; there were so many pictures of them just laughing it up. We love it when a couple’s true personality shines through in their portraits-- it’s so obvious that they’re madly in love! 

Congratulations again to our I&B Bride Kate! The I&B team is so honored to have been a part of your special day. 

{Vendor Credits} Photography: Christine Hall Photography // Gown: Jenny Yoo Collection @ Ivory & Beau

DIY: Napkins & Tassels

Planning weddings is something I am very passionate about. I love it. I love all the details, love all the pieces, love seeing it all come together. So it should come as no surprise that planning Alex and my wedding is really ridiculously fun. I have loved creating and dreaming up a vision for every little thing. It's like being hired for your dream client because you can finally do all those weird, crazy ideas you have been wanting to do. And last night I was a crafting machine and finished up 1/2 of our DIY napkins with tassels so thought I'd share a lil sneak into just one of the many details that will be handcrafted for our big day!! 

THE INSPIRATION

If described in a sentence our wedding is Southwestern meets Jurassic Park meets Boho... if that makes any sense whatsoever... Our color palette is inspired by the colors in our home -- all the shades of blues, pops of oranges, lots of neutrals, bold black and white patterns, greenery and lots of neutrals.

Our guest tables will be a combination of wood tables and then round tables with a camel linen from Beachview Event Rentals while some of the high boys will have these amazing 'Indigo Batik' linens from Nuage Designs. So while the high boys have that indigo color, the guest tables were lacking the pop of blue that I really wanted to tie it all together. I of course fell in love with these Shibori napkins from La Tavola but what I didn't love? The price tag... So back to the drawing board I went... or should I say... Hobby Lobby. Where I randomly ran across shibori fabric that was exactly the pattern I loved and the price? I think for the whole bolt was around $48. Unfortunately it wasn't quite enough so I did end up going back and getting a turquoise print for the rest of the napkins. I will add in here for a minute I considered hand-dying and creating shibori napkins, but then reality sunk in and the amount of time that would take was just too much for me. Whereas cutting squares out of fabric seemed much more manageable for my busy schedule. [If you are interested in Shibori DIY -- this link has a great tutorial!]

So napkins, check. But I wanted another splash of color... so that's where the tassels come in. With any craft store pretty much carrying all the colors of the rainbow, it was the perfect way to add another splash of color that fit with the theme/style/vision. 

THE HOW

This is the quite possibly one of the easiest DIY project ever. The tassels are a tad time-consuming but a mindless task that I found quite enjoyable while catching up on Narcos and 13 Reasons Why... 

Supplies: 

• Fabric in a pattern/color/texture you like
• Scissors (that aren't dull...)
• A lot of yarn in colors you like

Directions: 

STEP ONE: You can be as precise as you want with this step but I took a more simple approach. I folded the fabric in half length-wise and cut. Then I did that again. So I had 4 long strips.

STEP TWO: Once you have your long strips you need to cut the napkins into squares. I just used one of the strips to get the right size then copied that x198 more times. I think roughly the napkins ended up being about 16x16', which is technically a little smaller than your standard napkin but we are having tacos out of a truck so formalities aren't really are thing...

STEP THREE: To make the tassels I used my hand so that they were roughly the same size. Hold one end of the string with your thumb and then wrap the yarn 10 times.

STEP FOUR: Cut the yarn at the same place where you are holding the other end of the string so that the yarn ends at the right spot. 

STEP FIVE: Cut a small piece of yarn and tie at the opposite end of where you are holding the two ends to secure the top of the tassel.

STEP SIX: Cut another small piece of yarn and tie this around all the yarn about 1/4 of the way down from the top. 

STEP SEVEN: Cut the loops at the bottom of the tassel so that the yarn is all hanging straight down. Snip and trim if some yarn pieces are longer than others so that they are all pretty much the same length. 

STEP EIGHT: Loop the tassel around the napkin and voila. Done. Oh and then just be glad your wedding photographer can capture a better picture than your iPhone picture... :) 

To see more behind-the-scenes and craft projects I've been working on check out the hashtag #MasonMatrimony2018 on instagram! Thanks for reading!!! xoxox, N

And... if interested in our wedding planning and event design services click below!! Not all our weddings are as "DIY" as mine will be and you can see more of our work here! 

Photo Credits: Tablescape with Indigo Batik Linen via Style Me Pretty // Shibori Indigo Napkins via Alice & Lois // Images of me crafting via my iPhone // Scissors & Yarn from Blick

A-to-Z Savannah Weddings: Belfair

There's something pretty spectacular about driving down a road with mossy trees lining the drive. This sort of vision is not something you would ever expect to find in my rainy hometown of Portland, Oregon so when I first experienced this it was nothing short of magic. And Belfair Plantation is the perfect spot to experience this sort of Southern beauty for a dreamy Southern wedding. 

BELFAIR PLANTATION

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BOARD(S): Our coming soon dress below from our newest designer, Nicole Spose, is the epitome of Southern bride to me. Classic, elegant, romantic, traditional, beautiful and just stunning. A very feminine silhouette, beautiful fabric, a full skirt. I can just picture it now... a Southern belle with her hair in a lovely updo, a veil over her face, walking down the Avenue of the Oaks... like a vision straight out of a Nicholas Sparks movie. TO me a wedding at Belfair Plantation should be classic and have details that fit that classic Southern touch, like simple understated stationary, soft pale blue details to match with the ballroom and of course every Southern belle needs pearls. 

At one of the weddings we did at Belfair there was a cigar rolling station out on the back patio and I thought it was simply perfect for the Southern wedding. Custom matchboxes from For Your Party would make the perfect favor for guests. I think a color palette that coordinates with the ballroom plus added soft metallics in soft golds, silvers look beautiful in the space with added touch of greenery. Bridesmaids of course need to match the classic look of the bride as well. A Belfair Plantation wedding is all about timeless details to be remembered.

Read on for some more details about this Southern plantation wedding spot...

THE WHERE: Belfair is a short drive (30 min-ish) outside of Savannah located in Bluffton, South Carolina. It is a private golf community and is a premium destination in the Carolinas. The Avenue of the Oaks is that dreamy drive I was talking about above, which are perfect for a wedding ceremony and lots of pictures with you and your babe. 

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BELFAIR: As if I haven't already described enough... I also really love the soft colors in the ballroom. Pale blues and a huge chandelier create a nice ambience. Outside of the ballroom is a nice outdoor patio area perfect for mingling with cigars and the entire space overlooks the golf course... perfect for watching the sun set over this Southern slice of heaven. 

PERFECT FOR COUPLES THAT... Want a Southern wedding that is a classic, elegant fete. This venue is great for a black-tie affair and if you are wanting a formal affair this is the perfect spot. 

BEST COLORS FOR THE SPACE: White, black, tan/neutrals, pale blues and soft blushes

I&B @ BELFAIR: Kelsey & Joey // Styled Shoot

---

Looking for a wedding planner, day-of/month-of coordinator, floral designer for your Savannah wedding at the Belfair? We got you. Click below to contact us for more details on our services! And thank you for reading!!

Photo Credits: Wedding Setup via Kelsey & Joey's wedding, photography by Stephen Atohi, featured on Carats & Cake [BOARD ONE] Betty Car via Lowcountry Valet // Dress available at Ivory & Beau // Earrings via Rent the Runway // Champagne Flutes via Beau Coup // Verdure Coruone Invitations via Minted // Pearl Bracelet via 1928 // Kieran Pale Blue Pumps via Lulu's // Cake via Hey There // Table Setting via The Bridal Guide [BOARD TWO] Seating Chart via Kelsey & Joey's wedding, calligraphy by McKenzie Does Calligraphy // Chandelier via Kelsey & Joey's wedding // Clutch via Rent the Runway // Bridesmaid Dress via Styled Shoot by Us, photography by Rach Loves Troy, featured on A Lowcountry Wed // Moscow Mules via Style Me Pretty // Bouquet via Burnett's Boards // Cigar Bar via Rach Loves Troy // Cigar Matches via For Your Party