Advice for Brides: How to stay organized while planning your wedding

                                                             Image from Southern Weddings Shop

Would you say you're big picture kind of girl? Or one who loves the little details?

Obviously you need both the small elements and larger frame of things to come together when planning your wedding. And whether you identify with the first or second description, there is a way to stay organized during your engagement and now want to pull your hair out!

I am definitely constantly looking at things from the macro perspective and this could not have been more apparent when we planned our wedding in 2013. When Dean proposed, I immediately because crazy obsessed with finding the perfect wedding venue - and photographer - such that I totally neglected the other, smaller details that also needed to be discussed and dealt with simultaneously during that time.

Having a fiance who is the opposite of you - in case, Dean is really, really great with all things details! - really helps to keep you on track. And having one place to store all your dogeared magazine pages, fabric swatches, receipts, timeline and vendor info.

Enter The Southern Weddings Planner.

                                                             Image from Southern Weddings Shop

Isn't she pretty??

Where was this when I needed it? Instead of a sleek, prepared gold and white binder, picture more of a watercolor mix of pinks, purples and blues with a painted cursive F for Fairweather on the front and you'll have an idea of what I came up and really loved using. However, if the SW Planner had been thought up, designed and for sale at the time of our engagement, I would have bought it faster than you can blink. And it would have saved me so much time and energy that I could have put into my planning my wedding, instead of designing a binder to fit my needs.

The planner is a perfect place to write down your weddings dreams and watch them turn into a reality. Not only will this beautiful binder help you stay organized and on track through the planning process, there is tons of incredible inspiration tucked throughout. Just a few of the meaningful wedding and marriage planning sections include:

First Steps After You Get Engaged
Planning for Your Ceremony
Dress Shopping Journal
The Gracious Southern Bride
Anniversary Gift Guide
Marriage Planning

If you don't already have a physical way to organize your wedding details and the big picture of the day, hop on over to Southern Weddings and order your planner! P.S. Check out my Instagram post for a fun Southern Weddings Planner giveaway!

I'd love to know - for all my engaged readers (or now married readers), what has been your favorite aspect of your wedding - or marriage - to plan for?

Dave + Leanne | Cloverdale Barn Wedding | Rustic Virginia Wedding Photographer

With the risk of sounding like Chandler of FRIENDS, could there be a more joyful couple?

Even the torrential downpour on the morning of their wedding couldn't stop Dave and Leanne from smiling as wide as the Shenandoah Valley is long. The exchanged vows at Winchester's Cloverdale Barn, tucked away in the under part of the barn, dry and cozy from any stray rain drops.

Sophisticated tones of blush and grey were sprinkled throughout their day - from Leanne's pale pink ballet slippers and the soft floral arrangements (that she made herself!) to her charcoal invitation suite and the groom and groomsmen's suits.

Leanne wore a stunning white gown with a flowing pink bow that cinched around her waist and tied in the back. The butt bow, as she affectionately referred to it, just made the dress even more elegant and stunning on the bride as it swished back and forth like a chapel bell. Ding, ding, ding.

With a promise not to lose them, Leanne borrowed her mother's gorgeous pearl and diamond earrings. Reminders of the lost earrings of fourth grade filled the air, followed by smiles and another promise to hold on tight to these borrowed jewels. Her mother's intricate lace veil complimented her bridal details just exquisitely, later on becoming a delicate backdrop for beautiful pink iced wedding cake.

After her mother and sisters helped Leanne slip into her white dress, the bride walked along the windy gravel path from the barn down to her waiting groom. They exchanged a First Look, taking in each other and holding on to the last fleeting moments of engagement that were making room for their nuptials.

Underneath the barn was transformed into a twinkly lit refuge from the somewhat still dreary afternoon. Friends from childhood, college buddies, family members and guests from across the states gathered into the secluded barn alcove.

The bride and groom asked twelve of their very best friends to stand beside them on their wedding day. So much love and support from these dozen was given throughout the day, just completely wonderful friends and siblings who truly were for the couple and wanted to celebrate their first steps of marriage with them.

Such a chic and stylish group! I love how the mismatched bridesmaid dresses come together so well in the photos. The groomsmen's ties are just the right amount of pink to really add a warmth to the overall look.

Here's to lifelong friendship and new beginnings!

To love, laughter and happily ever after.

The wedding celebrating continued on in the main level of the barn, where dozens of twinkly lights hung in the warm air and wrapped around beams as guests drank, ate and danced the night away.

Vendors:

Venue: Cloverdale Barn
Wedding dress: David's Bridal
Bridesmaid dresses: Varied
Groomsmen suits: Varied
Florist: DIY
Hair and Makeup: Cindy of SAS Studio
Cake: Agape Cake
DJ: Danny's DJ Service
Catering: Top Flight BBQ
Favors: Handmade BBQ sauce

Jonathan + Crissy | Sneak peek | Folly Beach Wedding Photographer

So much joy & laughter filled the day as Jonathan & Crissy became Mr. & Mrs. Etter!

This down-to-earth, sweet as iced tea couple exchanged vows & joined their hands in marriage on the warm sand of Folly Beach on - wait for it - 5/15/15. What a great wedding date for an incredibly great couple! And an incredibly great wedding date that's also conveniently easy remember :)

Sneak peek: Charlie + Laura | Bull Run Golf Club Wedding | Haymarket Wedding Photographer

From the moment Charlie saw his beautiful bride Laura during their first look on a tucked-away wooden bridge to their heart-warming exchange of vows & taking of communion together under the trees near the water's edge of Bull Run Golf Club, this wedding was sweet, meaningful & all-around gorgeous in every way. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas, y'all are such an elegant couple!

Featured: Meghan DeAngelis Lorenzetti of Kendall's Cakes on The DC Ladies

A few months ago, I had the privilege of working with The DC Ladies for another feature profile. This time with Meghan DeAngelis Lorenzetti of Kendall's Cakes! I've been blessed to been able to get to know this incredible baker even better since then as we've gathered for tea & enjoyed many a good conservation about baking, marriage, puppies (she & her husband Joe recently added the cutest little dog named Otter to their family!) & life.

To see more of the lovely cakes she's created & an inside tour of her adorable office space, check out the full profile on The DC Ladies website.