jenna laine weddins LLC

Jenna Laine Weddings: Charlotte and John

Getting the opportunity to plan weddings for families is a rewarding career, but it becomes even more personal to me when I have known the family for over fifteen years. This sweet bride is the little sister of one of my best friends from high school, so making sure her wedding day was spectacular was a top priority for me and my team. Showing the reception space to Charlotte, John and her parents before all their guests entered was one of my favorite parts of the entire weekend. I loved seeing their reactions to the hanging greenery boxes over the dance floor, the perfect pop of fuchsia in their flowers and their magnificent cake display. Seeing them happy and watching them dance the night away with friends and family was a rewarding experience and we thank the Gill family for trusting us with this special occasion. Scroll down to read some advice from Charlotte on planning your wedding and what her favorite part of the day was and of course at the bottom we have some gorgeous photo from Laura Rowe Photography!

Tell us your story.

John and I met during our senior year of college at Vanderbilt University. We knew our relationship was something special pretty quickly. We dated long distance for a year after graduation, but I soon returned to Nashville for law school, and the rest is history!

Photographer: Laura Rowe Photography

Photographer: Laura Rowe Photography

What was your favorite detail of the wedding?

That’s so hard! I loved the flowers. I was a bit nervous about them because I didn’t trust my aesthetic “vision,” but Wildflowers did an incredible job—they were better than I could have ever envisioned! I also wrapped a rosary around the bouquet that John had made for me while we were dating.

If you could give advice to another bride in the process of planning her wedding, what would it be?

It will all get done! Just enjoy what a unique season of life it is.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

I loved being able to spend time with my mom! She’s amazing!

Tell us your overall thoughts and takeaways from the day.

John’s and my wedding was more amazing than I ever could have imagined! I’m not one who always had her wedding mapped out, so I often got overwhelmed with all the decisions. I was (and am) so grateful for Jenna’s experience and expertise.



Vendors:

Florist: Wildflowers Fairhope, Rental Company: SOHO Events and Rentals, Venue: The Grand Hotel Point Clear, Cake: Couture Cakes, Lighting & Draping: Willow Bridges, Wedding Coordaintion and Design: Jenna Laine Weddings, Photographer: Laura Rowe Photography, Videographer: The Wild Soul Films, Photo Booth: Magic Memories, Hair and Makeup: March Hair, Bridesmaids: Bella Bridesmaids Mobile, Calligrapher: Southern Calligraphy

Meet Leslie

Leslie grew up in Helena, Alabama and graduated from The University of Montevallo with a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics. After teaching High School math for two years she and Justin, who is active duty Coast Guard, were married and began moving with the military. The first station was Charleston, SC where Leslie was able to intern with one of the city’s most exclusive wedding planners. Knowing that this was the career path she wanted to pursue she applied and was hired on as an associate planner with a company in the next duty station of Key West, FL. After a four year tour there, the Coast Guard brought the Gilberts to the eastern shore where she joined the Jenna Laine Weddings team. 

Leslie and Justin live in Fairhope with their three children, Cohen (4), Kerrigan (2) and Baylor (8 months), and two dogs, Ace and Maggle. When not planning, Leslie can be found at home playing in the yard with the babies, or on a weekend getaway to see friends and family.

Photography Credit: Aimee Reynolds Photography

What advice would you give to brides?

Be honest and open about the budget- Planning will be a much smoother process if you have been honest about your budget and what aspects of the wedding are most important to you. Wedding vendors aren’t trying to swindle you (despite what you read in online articles) and if you have a good planner on your side you can likely avoid some back and forth, and stress by being upfront about your expectations.

Do you prefer indoor or outdoor wedding receptions?

Outdoor! I love the unpredictability and the ability to make the space your own. Everyone interprets the space differently and you aren’t usually boxed into the “normal” by the walls and outlets an indoor venue provides.

What detail do you feel is most overlooked by brides?

Trash-It’s not a glamorous answer but practically, every party creates trash. It’s important to have a conversation ahead of time with your vendors as to where that trash will go and who is responsible for it at the end of the evening. This can also extend to your bridal suite, a lot of brides use the honeymoon suite in the morning to get ready and then end up coming back to a room that has junk everywhere, designating a person to straighten up after you clear out for pictures will really help you enjoy the honeymoon suite that night.

What’s your favorite trend of 2018?

My current favorite wedding trend is bold colors-the jewel tones- with simple architectural details in bronze or gold. I love to see an unexpected linen and colorful flowers and bridesmaids dresses that actually have the couple’s personalty versus a “safer" option.

How to Assemble Your Wedding Invitations

Today we thought we would address a common question we get from our clients, “How do I stuff my wedding invitations?” Wedding invitations can include the invitation, response card and envelope, maps, reception cards, accommodation cards and sometimes detail cards regarding a welcome party, after party or farewell brunch. With all these pieces, I can see why someone who is stuffing invitations for the first time may be a little confused, but don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks.

Photographer Sarah Kate Photography

Photographer Sarah Kate Photography

Step 1: Lay your invitation down words facing up. *if you decide to use tissue, place the tissue on top of the invitation. Traditionally tissue was used to keep the inks from bleeding onto the other items, but these days people tend to forgo the tissue due to the upgrade in inks and other types of printing.

Step 2: Place the reception card onto of the invitation (or tissue) face up.

Step 3: If you do not have any additional inserts skip to step 4. If you do have additional enclosures such as a map or accommodation card stack those wording up on top of the reception card. The particular order of these items does not matter, just layer them largest on the bottom and smallest on the top.

Step 4: Lay the response envelope with the flap facing upwards. Tuck the response card with the wording side up under the response envelope flap.

Step 5: Place all the items in your stack inside your inner envelope. When your guest open the envelope the words should be facing them.

Step 6: Place the inner envelope inside the outer envelope. When your guest open the outer envelope their names on the front of the inner envelope should be facing them.

Photographer: Dragonfly Photography

Photographer: Dragonfly Photography







Jenna Laine Weddings : Katie & Trent

Photographer Elizabeth Gelineau Photography

Last February, Katie and Trent were blessed with a perfect Spring like day at the Grand Hotel. They opted to do a first look under the hotels gorgeous Oak Trees, followed by an intimate ceremony along the bay and a fun filled reception inside the newly renovated Magnolia Ballroom. We love the soft color palette and loose garden style arrangements made by Wildflowers Fairhope. Working with Katie and her mom to plan this wedding was a dream, they really trusted our team and because of that were able to enjoy the entire planning process and their special day.

How did you two meet?

Trent and I met at a brewery in Athens, Georgia thanks in large part to my dog, CoCo. Her leash got wrapped up with Trent’s feet, we started talking, and the rest is history!

What were your favorite details of your wedding?

Having our wedding monogram on everything from our invitations to our welcome boxes and koozies was my favorite detail. It was a sentimental way to tie everything together since we plan on using the monogram on our Christmas cards and stationery for years to come.

What was your favorite moment of the day?

My favorite moment of the day was following the ceremony when Trent and I had a moment to ourselves. We took some portraits with our photographer and ate a private dinner prior to entering the reception. After planning and dreaming of this day for so long we finally had a moment to sit back and soak it all in.

If you could give any advice to brides currently planning their weddings what would it be?

First of all, I highly recommend all brides higher a planner or at the very least a day of coordinator. The last thing you want to be worried about on the day of your wedding is logistical things, like when is the cake going to be delivered? Jenna was a complete delight to work with throughout the planning process, but she also made sure our wedding day ran smoothly. Also, I tell everyone I know who is planning a wedding to trust their planner and vendors. It’s so easy as a bride to get bogged down in every little decision you have to make-what color should the napkins be, how many tables do we need, etc. Don’t stress yourself out over those little things. Your vendors know what they are doing, so trust them and them for advice.

What was your favorite part of the planning process?

My favorite part of the planning process was getting to spend quality time with my mom. She was just as excited (if not more) as I was about our wedding. Our trips to Fairhope to meet with Jenna and our other vendors are some of my fondest memories with her.

Rentals: SOHO Events and Rentals Florist: Wildflowers Fairhope Location Grand Hotel Resort and Spa Photographer: Elizabeth Gelineau Photography Cake: Couture Cakes Hair and Makeup: Becca Townley and Danna Smith Studio BM Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids







Meet Jenna

Owner and Executive Planner of Jenna Laine Weddings, LLC

Jenna Laine Rachal grew up in Fairhope, Alabama. She graduated from Bayside Academy and attended Auburn University. She then graduated from Auburn in May 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and certification in event planning then moved to New York just a few weeks later. While attending Auburn, Jenna worked under the marketing and events director at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art for three years, which is where her love for wedding and event planning began. In New York, Jenna interned and worked with several top marketing and event producers, one of them being event designer Matthew Robbins Design. In late 2012, Jenna moved home to Fairhope to open Jenna Laine Weddings, LLC., formerly known as Weddings and Events by Jenna Laine. Her first year in business Jenna planned 8 weddings, now almost six years later Jenna Laine Weddings produces around 50 beautiful weddings a year!

What’s your favorite part of planning a wedding?

My favorite part of planning a wedding is the design. I love making each event unique and special for our clients. My favorite design element is the tablescape. I love a full place setting, custom place cards, a beautiful centerpiece and glowing candle light. I also think a patterned linen really goes a long way in elevating the overall wedding design.

Favorite wedding trend for 2018?

I think 2018 has brought a lot of texture and color to tables. The linens have beautiful patterns and feel, such as velvet, one of my favorites. I have also seen a lot of colored tapered candles, you can’t go wrong with a standard ivory or white, but adding even a subtle grey really adds to the overall look of the table.

Florist: Wildflower Photographer Rae Leytham Photography Napkins Chapel Farm Collection Rentals SOHO Events and Rentals

Most overlooked detail?

Lighting and a stage facade are my two biggest details I always try and get brides to work into their budget. Lighting can really change the entire feel of a room. Just adding soft amber lights around the edge of a ballroom can transform the space into a more intimate setting. Also, pin spotting your centerpieces and focal points, such as floral chandeliers or the cake, really make those elements pop, especially in photos.

A stage facade can come in many forms. You can rent a simple white facade or go with a ‘living’ boxwood facade or something patterned. Any of these options help to dress up the dance floor and hide the bulky black stages. At first thought you may not understand the necessity of a stage facade, but when you get your photos back you will.

Lighting: Willow Bridge, INC Florist: Jenn Sanchez Flowers Photographer: Sarah Kate Photography

What do you do when you aren’t planning weddings?

When I’m not planning a wedding I can usually be found at home or walking in our neighborhood with my 3 (almost 4) year old daughter Maddie, and husband Josh. My husband is a firefighter, which puts him out of the house for 24 hours or sometimes 48 hours at a time, so when he is off shift and I am home I try and close the computer and enjoy our time together. We live near several playgrounds, so most afternoons we take a family walk to the park or down to the water.

Finding the Perfect Bling.....I mean Ring!

Today's post is all about engagement rings, and what better day than Valentines day to talk about pretty diamonds!  No guy wants to go to the jewelry store without some knowledge about rings and what his future fiance likes. It's a big investment so you want to make sure its perfect and with so many options for cut, color, and styles it can be a bit overwhelming.  My friend Aimee, owner of Aimee Reynolds Photography, and I took a day trip to Stowe's Jewelers in Fairhope, Alabama to get a little insight on finding the perfect ring that will have her saying “I Do.” 

Budgeting for the Ring:  First, its important to note everyone’s budget is different, so you need to set one that you are comfortable with.  It may be helpful to ring shop well in advance of your ideal proposal date so you have time to save up. Also, keep in mind that most jewelers can work out a payment plan for you to pay off the ring over the course of several months. Beautiful rings come in all price ranges. Today while at Stowe's Jewelers we looked at rings that ranged from $1,500 up to $40,000.00. 

The Four C’s: Cut, Clarity , Color and Carat. Every guy should brush up on the four c’s prior to ring shopping. This will help to ensure you know the product you are getting is worth the price tag. Here is a brief description of the four c’s;

Cut: We often think cut refers to round, oval, pear, cushion, but the cut of a diamond is really about how well a diamonds facets interact with light, aka its sparkle. Even if a diamond has a perfect clarity and color it can still apear dull if the cut is bad. 

Clarity: The clarity of the diamond refers to its inclusions (blemishes) on the inside or outside of the diamond. The purer the diamond the more the value. 

Color: The color evaluation of most diamonds is based on the absence of color. A perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of water. The clearer the diamond the higher the value.

Carat: Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. The higher the carat, the higher the price. 

Popular Wedding Ring Shapes

Oval: Below the ring in the center of the display is an oval cut center stone. It is 2.71 ct accented with .61ct diamonds and .55ct of sapphires in a platinum setting. 

Cushion Cut: The ring on the top left is .74 cushion cut diamond accented with .50ct of diamonds in a platinum setting.  

Round: This is probably the most popular shape of all three. The top right corner is a 1.51ct round diamond accented with .45ct diamonds in the platinum setting.   

Three of the more popular cuts, round, cushion and oval. 

Three of the more popular cuts, round, cushion and oval. 

Popular Wedding Ring Styles

Antique Rings

Antique rings are usually easy to identify based on their ornate feel and ‘different’ settings. This one pictured below is a 14K Yellow Gold Setting and .68 ct diamonds. 

Antique Engagement Ring 

Antique Engagement Ring 

Oval Morganite

Morganite is a beautiful stone that will help those working within a tighter budget. This ring pictured below is 1.03 ct., .28 ct worth of diamonds accents and a 14k Rose Gold Setting. Rose Gold is also a very popular setting for 2018. 

Morganite and Rose Gold Engagement

Morganite and Rose Gold Engagement

Halo Rings

Halo rings became very popular about five years ago and still remain a top seller. The halo ring below features 1.0 ct worth of diamonds in a 14kt white gold setting. 

Halo ring and wedding band

Halo ring and wedding band

Colored Diamonds

Colored stones are a big trend right now. We have seen pink, blue and yellow all make for beautiful and unique engagement rings. One of the most popular colored diamonds, and one of the most expensive, is the canary diamond. This ring features a 1.02ct canary diamond, accented by .46cts in a platinum band. 

Canary Diamond Engagement Ring

Canary Diamond Engagement Ring

Traditional

You can never go wrong with a traditional ring like the one featured below. This 4 prong ring features a 1ct diamond with a white gold setting. 

Tradtional solitary diamond ring 

Tradtional solitary diamond ring 

Custom Rings

Stowe's also loves working with clients to design custom rings using all new diamonds and settings or turning family heirlooms into new one of a kind rings. The picture below is a custom ring designed and created at Stowe's Jewelers. It features at 2ct diamond with .25 carat baguettes flanking either side set in a platinum setting.

Custom Ring 

Custom Ring 

Horice and Joyce Stowe opened Stowe’s Jewelers in 1959.  Fifty-nine years later it continues to thrive under the ownership of their daughters Beth Fugard and Peggy Wiggins. Stowes specializes in fine jewelry with a wide range of prices, custom jewelry design,  fine china, crystal, silver and many other serving pieces. 

We hope everyone has a happy Valentines Day and best of luck to all the guys out there proposing to their favorite girls! We hope to hear from you in the coming day so we can help you plan your dream wedding. 

 

 

Best,

Jenna Laine Weddings, LLC

251-517-9530

info@jennalaineweddings.com

www.jennalaineweddings.com

 

 

Vendor Spotlight- RHR Media

RHR Media

Part of our 2018 blog resolutions is to connect more with our local vendors. Each month we are going to post a vendor spotlight to educate you on their journeys as small business owners and give you a more in depth look at their services. 

For our first vendor spotlight we connected with one of our favorite videographers Robbie Reynolds. Robbie is the owner of RHR Media, one of the fastest growing wedding film companies in the southeast. In 2014, after two decades of working with video as a hobby, and photographing hundreds of weddings, Robbie decided to begin this new adventure. We hope as you read through this post you learn a little more about RHR Media and be sure to watch the beautiful wedding video below featuring one of our 2017 couples. 

RHR Media Logo.PNG

Tell me a little about the services you offer? RHR Media offers three basic products: the highlight film, short film, and ceremony edit. Our highlight film is more like a music video, while the short film is significantly longer and more cinematic. The ceremony edit is simply the wedding ceremony in its entirety. Our pricing ranges from $2,500 to $4,800. Occasionally, clients want something outside of these packages, and we are more than happy to customize a product to fit their needs.

What do you love most about wedding films? There are so many things I love about filming weddings. The phenomenal vendors we get to work with, the uniqueness of each wedding, the creative outlet, and the constant opportunity for growth and improvement all make this more like a fun hobby than an job. But, what I love most about filming weddings are the clients. I constantly hear nightmare stories about working with Bridezillas. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I haven’t even come close to having an experience like that. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed to not only work with so many amazing couples and families, but to form friendships that continue to this day. When a bride or family member contacts me days after seeing their film for the first time, and says they can’t quit watching it…..when they tell me they cry every time they see it, that’s what I enjoy most about filming weddings.

Do you travel for weddings or stay local? Not only are we willing to travel, but we enjoy seeing new places. We’ve been fortunate enough to work weddings in New York City, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Key West, Florida. With that said, when our travel is less than 120 miles in one direction, there are typically no travel charges added.

How would you describe your style of filming? My style of filming would probably be best described as Romantic Storytelling. I love to push the boundaries of traditional composition, adding subtle special effects, and color grades. But at the end of the day, it’s all about highlighting the couples story.

What are some tips for Brides as they search for a videographer? When selecting a videographer, there are several things brides should consider. 

  1. Hire an experienced, competent professional. All sorts of unexpected obstacles occur in almost every wedding. Nothing beats experience in dealing with these issues.
  2. Meet your videographer in person prior to the wedding if possible. Forming a comfortable working relationship in advance helps to quell the nervousness some people feel in front of the camera.
  3. As much as possible, avoid choosing a filmmaker based on price. There’s a reason for the drastic differences in what videographers charge. The best equipment in the world is useless in the wrong hands, but the most experienced filmmakers out there would struggle to produce acceptable wedding films with consumer grade equipment. We use very expensive cameras and lenses, audio equipment, lighting, hired assistants, licensed music, etc. These things are essential to producing high quality wedding films. You get one chance at a wedding film. Good enough, just isn’t good enough. 

From a planner stand point we can not stress enough how important wedding films are.  Photos are great, but there's nothing like hearing your vows over and over again as you grow old together or seeing loved ones on film who are no longer with you or reliving that funny first dance.  We are proud to say that all of our brides who chose to work with RHR Media are so happy with their finished products. Robbie and his crew do a great job capturing the essence of the day and the love shared between every couple. Below is a short clip Robbie did this past October of our bride and groom Hannah and Andrew. To see more videos you can check out his profile page on Vimeo 

Contact information for RHR Media:

Email: robbie@rhrmedia.com

Facebook: RHR Media

Website: RHR Media

Wedding Registry

Aimee Reynolds, owner of Aimee Reynolds Photography, and I walked through the glass doors of Stowe's Jewelers and were greeted by warm smiles, sweet southern accents and a long wall of fine china, crystal, and beautiful serving pieces. Aimee and I had so much fun playing with Peggy Wiggins, one of Stowe's owners. She shared some very helpful tips on picking the perfect pattern and how not to get stressed out over their huge selection. Here is what we learned;

1) One of Peggys biggest recommendations is to come into Stowe's and taking a look around, snap a few photos, and go home and think about it. This process doesn't need to be stressful, so she said its perfectly fine to take your time and think about the patterns, price ranges and various pieces you will need. 

2) To create a finished look Peggy always recommends putting a charger on the registry. A solid color, like silver or gold, is very versatile and will work with most every day, formal, and holiday china patterns. 

3) If you want to add some pizzaz or interest to a traditional setting pick a fun salad plate. It can add a little dimension and color to the setting without being so overwhelming. 

4) A popular trend here in the South is monogramming your china. You can monogram your salad plate in the center, or even your dinner plate on the outer edge. This is a neat way to make a traditional and simple setting a little more fun and custom. Below you will see a monogrammed bread and butter plate and a unique salad plate paired with a more traditional dinner plate and charger. 

5) Be sure to check out their every day china. These are the plates you will use for taco Tuesday, spaghetti night or morning cereal. One of the top selling brands at Stowe's is Casafina. These plates and serving pieces could easily be mistaken for hand made pottery. They are also dishwasher, over and microwave safe, which make them great for every day use.  

Stowe's Jewelers has been open for 56 years and specializes in custom jewelry design, bridal registry, engraving, and fine jewelry at every price range. Stay tuned for another post on Stowe's Jewelers featuring  some of their gorgeous engagement rings and a few helpful tips on picking the perfect engagement ring! 

You can visit Stowe's at ;

393 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope, AL

 

Jenna Laine Weddings, LLC

251-510-9530

info@jennalaineweddings.com