Makayla + Mike's French Garden Wedding

Makayla + Mike

Fourth Street Gardens | June 3rd, 2016

“You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
’Cause I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you”

— John Legend, All of Me

Ira + Lucy
Custom design boards

As part of our "Enhanced Day of" Package we provide design assistant to three selected areas of the couples' choice. Makayla and Mike asked for special attention for their Head Bridal Party Table, The Ceremony Alter and the Cake Feature. 

Below is a snippet from the Custom Design Boards we created for the Head Table concept, featuring a romantic floral print linen from La Tavola Fine Linen, pulling in the blush tones from the wedding color palette. The Bride and Groom sat in our "Kelli Jean" french victorian settee for their special seating and the rest of the wedding party looked lovely in the cross back chairs we sourced from Tates. Each place setting had our Honey Harvest rattan charger and a blush napkin. French vintage blush stemware added some whimsy and antique brass candlesticks and candles set the tone for a dreamy garden tablescape. The floral design by Lemon Blossom Designs was stunning!!!! Those peonies were quite the statement and so dreamy! I finished the settings by adding classic china with blush accents for the Bride and Groom place settings.

“YOU Heidi, are a AMAZING. Tell the whole team too! Yesterday was seriously PERFECTION, we had so much fun and got to enjoy time with each other and our families and guests because of you!! Thank you thank you!”

— Bride, Makayla

VENDOR TEAM

Ira + Lucy Coordination + Design
Let It Shine Photography
Lemon Blossom Designs
Fourth Street Gardens
Blue Chip Media
Open Table Catering
Behrens Artistry
Tates Tents and Events
La Tavola Fine Linen
LaNeige Bridal
Mens Warehouse
Jeremy Wilson DJ
Brie Thomason 2nd Shooter
 

Sammie + Beau's Boho Wedding

Sammie + Beau

Still Water Hollow | April 29th, 2016

Yet everything that touches us, me and you,
takes us together like a violin's bow, 
which draws one voice out of two separate strings

- Rainer Maria Rilke, "Love Song"

The Design

Custom wedding design by Ira + lucy
 

View fullsize

Sammie shared with me a love for moody jewel tones and wanted to be sure it didn't feel too "girly" or too "country rustic". We focused on giving some boho vibes and playing up the jewel tones with a softer blush hue in the mix to add some depth to the palette. Pheasant feathers were a must for Sammie and Just So. Event Floral did a beautiful job incorporating them into the Bridal bouquet and Groom's boutonnière. I pulled away from a country vibe by adding a dramatic textured black and white print linen, from La Tavola Fine Linen, for the large head table. Adding vintage brown bottles, brass candlesticks with black tapers, gold geo shapes, air plants and ferns helped create a WOW focal point. Last minute, I decided to surprise Sammie with stunning calligraphy place cards from Sarah Pearl Studio. I requested them on black paper with torn edges and white text to add to that edgier vibe I wanted. 

Authentic Mexican Equipale chairs made for the perfect Bride + Groom special seating and after dinner we pulled one out for the garter toss! I'm so excited about these new chairs now a part of our rental collection! The Honey Harvest Rattan Chargers pulled in the warm wood hues  seen in the chairs, the brick backdrop and flooring.

Custom Projects

Sammie is going to school full time for nursing and truly, just didn't have the time or capacity to plan a wedding. Not to mention, just a few months before the wedding, her original venue canceled all their booked weddings, so we had to scramble to move the wedding to a new venue. At that point Sammie gave me full rein and told me to just take total creative and logistic control and pull her wedding together. It was pretty incredible to be able to have so much creative freedom and then get to surprise Sammie and Beau with all the little details we planned for them. The week of the wedding Sammie and her Mom wrote me in a panic that they forgot about a ring bearer pillow! So, I chatted with Kara, the florist and we put our minds together and I created the ring pillow and she made the flower girl baskets to match!

Farm House Tables

Our NEW Farm House Tables making their debut!!! They were incredible and made for the perfect special seating for the reserved family tables! Aren't they gorgeous pushed together for a dramatic tables cape and they pair beautifully with Tates new cross back chairs.

Team Member Pic by Peyton! Cake by Stevi Raff, Design Ira + Lucy

Ira + Lucy Team Member Pic, by Peyton. Sarah Pearl Calligraphy. Just So. Event Floral

“I’ve just been crying since last night and still can’t stop. I am in absolute awe. Thank you just does not do it. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude... I don’t have the words to thank you. That wedding was something out of my wildest dreams. You guys are miracle workers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!””

— Bride, Sammie

This was one of those "get you in the feels" weddings and couple. When Sammie and I first met in person there was an immediate connection, one of those God moments where you know you were brought into one another's lives for a bigger purpose. I won't got into the specifics, as it's personal for both Sammie and I, and we don't need to get too weepy eyed in our blog, but I'll forever feel connected to Sammie and giving her her dream wedding was a joy. I know all the vendors went above and beyond to love on this couple and I couldn't be more proud of our team and showing why we do what we do! To bless others! Love you so much Sammie! xoxo

VENDOR TEAM

Ira + Lucy Full Coordination + Design
Just So. Event Floral
Still Water Hollow
Open Table Catering
Stevi Raff Cakes
Hair by Shawna Hines, Bride + Bridesmaids HMU
Bridal Makeup, Blush by Jamie Rose, Bride's Sister-In-Law
Radion Photography and Blue Chip Media
VCI Audio
Tates Tents and Events, Chair Rentals, Dishwater
La Tavola Fine Linen Rentals
Plum Pretty Sugar Robe, Gifted to our Bride
Vera Wang Gown, David's Bridal
 

Bridal Beauty Essentials

Real Wedding Week
The Day Before the Wedding

Guest Post from the Bride's Professional Makeup Artist Blush, By Jamie Rose

As you can imagine we are quite busy! It's the day before our first big wedding of the season and it couldn't start with a sweeter and more deserving bride. Sammie's wedding is going to be full of black, white, and hues of purples and a pop of blush for a romantic boho wedding. One of the special moments planned is Sammie's soon-to-be-sister-in-law, Jamie, will be doing her bridal makeup look. Jamie is a phenomenal makeup artist and has thee most adorable french styled boutique in Boise, Blush Luxury Beauty Boutique. Jamie was a doll and sent over some of her professional Bridal Beauty Essentials! 

Here are some key beauty items every bride should be carrying in their clutch for the big day, and a couple other products that will keep your skin radiant for the big day!  

1. Lollia Little Luxe Perfume: Just the right size for your bridal clutch, super delicate and soft scent is the perfect accessory to have on hand throughout your big day!  

2. Blotterazzi: The ultimate bride essential! A chic mirrored compact with two blotting sponges, made of beautyblender® material, for beauty touch ups on the go. Takes away unwanted shine and leaves your wedding makeup perfectly in place! 

3. Lip Gloss: We love all lippies especially Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss.  It’s important for a bride to always carry a lip product with them for touch-ups throughout the day.  Lots of kissing that day and your lips need to be on point for your photos! 

4. MIYU Hydrate Me Tea: It is crucial weeks leading up to the wedding to get lots of sleep and hydration so your skin can have the perfect glow on the day of the wedding!  One of our favorite ways to hydrate is this amazing beauty tea infused with green rooibos, goji berries, rose petals and snow pear essence.  An irresistible way to hydrate parched complexions! 

5. Aurelia Revitalize & Glow Serum: This miracle serum will leave your skin luminous, dewy and smooth... The perfect product to use everyday but especially the week of the wedding for that extra glow! 

All items are available at Blush! Be sure to go visit her and let her know Ira + Lucy sent you! I think it's time I make a stop in as well for some of my must-have items! xoxo

Be sure to follow us on Snapchat @IraAndLucy and Instagram for sneak peeks of tomorrow' wedding! 

Banner image by Ampersand Studios

Still Water Hollow

Redefining the Wedding Experience

We are so pleased and excited to introduce you to Still Water Hollow. An unparalleled wedding and special event venue nestled within the natural beauty and authentic setting of the beautiful Idaho countryside, perfectly designed to capture the essential elements of a remarkable and memorable event space. The craftsman barn and grounds are a dream, custom designed with your event in mind. 

Ira + Lucy Still Water Hollow's
Preferred Coordinator and Designer

We have a special history with Still Water Hollow, both of our families entering the small business world in the wedding and invent industry about the same time. It has been an incredible journey of growth, hard lessons and constantly being beside one another's side to encourage and uplift one another. I am so excited to see the Gray's dream of a barn come to life! Almost 4 years time, we have come to know and value the unique qualities of Still Water Hollow and are honored to be the preferred Coordinator and Designer for their couples. Read Still Water Hollow's review of Ira + Lucy.

“Still Water Hollow offers professional capabilities to execute seamless weddings within a truly unique event place. Still Water Hollow events are distinguished by our commitment to personalized service and we offer a range of services to make your journey to marriage meaningful and significant, including wedding design and coordination”

— Still Water Hollow

Tonight I'm working away on custom schematic floor plans for our Still Water Hollow couples. I can't wait to get my hands on designing in their new space. Right now we are deep into the planning, but there is nothing not quite as exhilarating as bringing the vision to life! Our first wedding in the barn hall is this Spring! The grounds are breath taking and now we have even more to enjoy with the addition of the barn hall! Stay tuned for sneak peeks of this gorgeous wedding!

Video | Mr PM Productions
Image | Rosie Nary Photography

Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine's Regional Debut

You know when something so meaningful happens to you that you actually don't want to share it with the world just yet, instead you want to hold onto it for a little while longer in your own quiet and safe space and take it all in? That's how I have been feeling about the debut of Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine's regional launch featuring the big editorial I designed for them back in October. It's been a journey getting to this place and I never want to lose site of my gratitude or faith in what my dream and goal of Ira and Lucy is. I've been experiencing a ton of emotions leading up to this week and finally holding the magazine in my hands and seeing my work on actual magazine pages, it's surreal! Thank you Rocky Mountain Magazine for this incredible opportunity. Every single page is beautiful and it's an honor being party of such a gorgeous collection!

Magazines will be hitting the shelves any day now! In the meantime, if you are anxious to see this gorgeous magazine and start getting some fabulous design and planning tips you can head to the virtual magazine, but for reals, you really do need a hard copy! It's stunning! 

Hiring a Wedding Coordinator and What That Means For Your Wedding Day

"Getting Ready"

BLOG SERIES | PART 1

I'm going to bounce around a bit in the next few blogs about why hiring a wedding coordinator or planner is a benefit for you. It'd make sense to start with discussing planning, vendor negotiations, logistics etc, but we're going to jump in first with chatting about your wedding day, in particular, the getting ready part.

As your Wedding Coordinator and Designer I want nothing more than to know that my Bride and Groom are free of stress, relaxed, being pampered and know that everything is handled so that they can enjoy their time with their closest friends and family as they prepare to walk down the isle. I adore this image of our Bride, Megan, as she and her bridesmaids look out the estate windows overlooking the property and watch as our team hustles around the property setting up. We are submitting Megan and Kaleo's wedding for publication, but I realized that some of these behind the scenes pics don't make publication galleries, but they are also such a HUGE part of what we do. These images are awesome in telling the benefits of having a coordinator. Here is our bride with her best friends relaxed and enjoying seeing it'll all come to life.

When I sit down with couples, and often those consultations include the Mother of the Bride, when we start talking about what are their hopes, how they envision their day I always hear about what the bride and mother want for what happens BEFORE the ceremony. I want you to think about that as well. For my own wedding, I didn't budget for a wedding coordinator and that is with major regret... instead my sisters, mom, aunts and even grandmother were not with me in my hotel room helping me prepare for the happiest day of my life. They were out in hot summer temps running around trying to set up our wedding. They were dealing with stress and vendor frustrations and trying to figure out how to set up the wedding decor to fit my dream I had worked hard planning... They then had to rush into the bridal suite moments before the wedding to day they loved me and to quick change into their dresses for their part of walking down the isle... REGRETS.... When we first started many of my couples didn't hire a coordinator, instead they just hired us to set up the wedding and leave. Ohhhh.... how many times did I see the repeat mistakes that I had made... frustrated, exhausted, irritated, hurt moms, friends and family members who, yes, had volunteered to set up and were happy to volunteer... but, they had no idea what amount of work and stress they had signed up for AND what they would miss out on come the wedding. It is VERY rare for it to go otherwise.

A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME

Instead, what I had wished happen and what all of my clients share they desire is a different experience. Instead, you, the bride, are surrounded by your closest girlfriends and women in your life that are there with you in a peaceful and joyous state. Refreshments and small bites are available to keep each of you comfortable and relaxed. It's a quite time to give gifts to your bridesmaids if you wish. You can share quiet time reflecting on your vows and relationship and what this day means to you and your family. Your best friend and mom can help you into your gown. If you have a summer or winter wedding, you can all be indoors in a temperature controlled environment. You're not just feeling your best as you have your hair and makeup done, but so are these incredible women you cherish. Megan gave each of her bridesmaids a special clutch. They laughed, they enjoyed watching the set up, they helped one another dress. It was peaceful and perfect. Megan's mom then helped her into her gown. A moment that we talked at the very beginning about being a priority.

Creating time for the bride and groom allows flexibility. Here, we were able to have the officiant take some one on one time with Megan and Kaleo beforehand to review any ceremony details. This also alleviates any last minute stress about the ceremony flow and specifics. This reassurance can calm nerves and allow the bride and groom to enter into a headspace that is more relaxed and able to take in the moment better.

And we're not JUST talking about the girls. The guys too, should be hang'n out, relaxed and enjoying some guy time and not stressed about anything else. Kaleo and his best friends played air hockey, ping pong, watched some football, enjoyed snacks and refreshments. This also allowed our photographers to have time to shoot getting ready pics for both the gals and guys without issues.

Think about how you want to feel on your wedding day, especially in the moments leading up to the ceremony. Who do you want with you? What kind of environment do you imagine? A Wedding Coordinator makes this happen. We work hundreds of hours leading up to this moment to bring that vision to reality and maybe even better! Stay tuned for more of this blog series!

FROM THE BRIDE...

"I want to start off by saying that I was always the girl who NEVER needed a wedding coordinator. I knew “exactly” what I wanted my wedding to look like, and I’ve always been a natural planner, so why would I need someone’s help? Once upon a time I even dreamed of being a wedding planner myself, so I felt like planning my own wedding would be a piece of cake. A few weeks in to the planning stage and my head was spinning while trying to find 300 of the perfect chairs, a task that I thought would be so simple. Turns out, planning your own wedding isn’t easy. Pinning gorgeous photos to your “Fairytale” pinterest board may be a dreamy no-brainer, but it doesn’t work that way in real life. It’s a lot harder than one might think to pull together a luxurious seating lounge or take 50 of your carefully thrifted bowls and vases and turn them into collaborative centerpieces. And lets not even get started on the not so obvious details- linens for breadbaskets, reserved seating signs, extension cords??? There is more that goes into planning a wedding than I ever could have imagined. 

I first contacted Heidi because my mom wanted to hire someone who could take the stress off of the wedding day set-up and tear-down. But after hearing about what she could offer in the coordination department and after seeing the beautiful work on her site, I could not help myself but get lost in the idea of having someone rescue me from my never ending planningchallenges. Right from the moment that I met Heidi and her assistant Molly, I felt like 300 pounds were lifted from my shoulders. They knew exactly what needed to be done to make my dream day come true and they were just as excited about it as I was. They gave me a strict to-do list and a firm deadline to make decisions while they got busy calling vendors and pulling together the seriously impossible. They put together a vision board that was absolutely perfect for me and finally I was able to start enjoying the whole process. It wasn’t long after that when I told my mom the best thing I had spent my money on so far was my wedding planners. They worked like crazy making sure that I could have everything that I envisioned for my day. Not only did they make the planning process so much easier- they made it so that I could spend my wedding day focusing on all of the important parts. The night before my wedding I was able to go home and relax and get my rest. The morning of my wedding I was able to spend the day with my bridesmaids and my mom at the salon getting our hair, makeup, and nails done. I didn’t have to worry about a thing but just showing up and looking pretty. I knew without a doubt that their team would have everything under control and that everything would get done just how I wanted it and in plenty of time for my walk down the aisle. I didn’t stress. My family didn’t stress. Everyone was able to enjoy the day just as they should have. 

I look back at my dream of becoming a wedding planner and I can’t imagine ever thinking that it was something that I could do. It takes a special kind of person to not only be able to work that hard, but to want it so much for someone else. Heidi is that person. That is what her team stands for and I couldn’t be more grateful that I chose them to help me with my wedding." - Megan
 

Nate Perkes Photography
Ira + Lucy Wedding Design + Coordination
Open Table Catering
Blooms Flower Studio
VCI Audio
Tates Tents and Events

Starting 2016 Saving Money!

Ira + Lucy Wedding Tips

brrrr.... it's cold outside!

So, last night we were down to 1 DEGREE!!! And today's high was only 12.... Brrrr it's freezing! But, then I found this HOT deal today out running errands! I'll be honest, I don't shop much at Craft Warehouse, I think it's too pricey there and I'm very selective on what I do buy and that is usually if I have a coupon. As a Designer and working my butt off trying to find ways to give you beautiful weddings, while thinking of your wallet I do love when I land on cost savings. AND I usually try to source items via wholesale outlets and other connections we have. So, today I found these Pashmina scarves at $5 each in a wide variety of colors.

This is a great option for buying in bulk! Have 150 guests? Estimate half are female and plan for only a portion of those guests will use a scarf. I'd suggest 50! Keep your receipt and anything that isn't used you can return.

PASHMINA

Pashmina is the finest type of cashmere wool. The textiles made from it were first woven in Kashmir. The name comes from Persian: پشمینه‎‎ / pašmina, meaning "made from wool" and literally translates to "Soft Gold" in Kashmiri -

Sure, you can find these a little cheaper on wholesale sites around $3.50 each, but I vote for the $5 option where you can see the colors in person and feel the quality! I say the peace of mind is well worth the extra $1.50! Plus, any you don't use simply return! Keep your receipt!

RECEPTION DETAILS

Drape scarves over your guests chairs, allowing them an option for warming up while toasts, cake cutting and other formalities are happening.
 
Jen Rodriguez Photography
 

BRIDESMAID GIFTS

Don't forget your girls! Take care of your bridesmaids and think through how to keep them comfortable while looking their best! 

 
Meagan Ramirez Photography
 

GUEST GIFTS

Place rolled scarves with customized notes and place in a basket, industrial metal crate, vintage apple crate or other design element that matches your decor.

 
Laura Murray Photography
 

Corporate Christmas Party - Mad Men Style

Mad Men Theme Christmas Party

owyhee plaza, boise id

We had a pretty fun time planning one of our corporate client's annual Christmas party again this year, but this time with a retro mid-century "Mad Men" style. I was up to my ears in mustard yellow and awful greens and it was oh so fabulous! Thank you Radion Photography for taking some pics of the event while we finished setting up.

Design Board

Whenever we have our hands on the design elements of an event we provide custom design concept boards for our clients. This is a visual representation we present focused on vignettes and special details ranging from floral, linen, and key furniture elements. This offers a great way to bounce ideas around with the client and fine tune the final comprehensive design plan.

Retro theme can easily get out of hand and turn into an overwhelming eye sore, so we focused on a specific color palette while keeping in mind we still needed to achieve a Christmas party vibe. We had classic black and white Christmas movies playing on the flat screen tvs around the space. White Christmas (1954 film) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946) are great options! 

Mid-Century Retro Lounge

We don't typically carry retro mid-century modern furniture in our rental inventory, however we have made some awesome local connections with speciality mid-century stores that carry unique pieces that will give us access to rent for our clientele! These mustard yellow office chairs were a great option in the color palette.

Just So. Event Floral focused the floral on unique geometric shaped vases and scored on finding some retro magazines that we placed in the lounge area. What's pretty awesome is that the doctors started browsing through them and found some medical articles that they were so excited about that they took the magazine back to the office to share with their colleagues. 

We custom designed the invitations and matching signage for the cocktails and menu.

At each Christmas party we try to feature a unique form of entertainment. Last year the client loved the photo booth experience. This year, they opted for the cocktail lounge vibe and we featured a phenomenal local pianist! He was a great fit and had the guests enjoying music well into the late hours of the night. Thank you Danny Beal for doing such a great job! P.S. The champagne gold tinsel trees were a huge hit and we kept getting asked where they came from - we found these on sale at Hobby Lobby!

Linen

I really had my fingers crossed for doing high end linen options from my favorite La Tavola Fine Linen rentals, but we had to opt for more budget friendly options, which still worked great! However, do note that linen can completely transform a space and take your event from cool to really a wow factor! Even if you just focus on splurging on the cocktail tables!