Interview with Laura Hooper of Laura Hooper Calligraphy

In the age of social media and digital everything, more and more couples want something beautiful, handmade and unique to commemorate their special day. There has been a renaissance of the art of handwriting in recent years thanks to master calligrapher Laura Hooper. We sat down to discuss her beautiful art and business!

Laura Hooper – via lhcalligraphy.com

Calligraphy literally means “beautiful handwriting” in Greek. First appearing around 600 BC in Rome, calligraphy was a highly regarded form of artistic expression, later used to adorn the pages of sacred religious texts. In China, calligraphy was the most revered visual art form, valued above painting and sculpture. With its focus on speed, streamlined methods, and sleek minimalist design, the modern age sought a new way communicate words on the page. Print and typefaces were introduced and soon handwritten letters were replaced with ones generated on a typewriter. Today, notes, no matter how important, are often reduced to a quick text or email. Despite this digital age, we’ve definitely noticed this trend in the wedding industry and were actually introduced to Laura’s stunning hand calligraphy work through a Real BB Wedding.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - Engagement Photo - via usmagazine.com

Planning & Inspiration

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: It’s Going To Be A Royal Wedding Like Never Before

by Kate Murphy

After much speculation, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement. Prince Harry kept the proposal traditional and intimate, getting down on one knee over a chicken dinner at their cottage. Taken by surprise, Meghan said “yes” before he even had a chance to present the the ring, which was custom-made using his mother Princess Diana’s diamonds, and a central stone from Botswana, a place of special meaning to the humanitarian couple.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – Engagement Photo – via usmagazine.com

We couldn’t be more excited! And we’re certainly not alone on this, but Prince Harry and Meghan come across as different in comparison to other famous royal pairings. Perhaps it’s because he is the younger, more rebellious prince who got caught doing the same stupid things we did in college. Maybe it’s because she’s an American actress we already know from a popular television show. They seem relatable and down to earth, more like a couple you’d see nestled in a booth at a pub than seated side-by-side on thrones.
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Planning & Inspiration

Interview with Linda Sergeant of Far and Away Luxury Destinations

by Kate Murphy

Linda Sergeant is a prime example that professional success comes from setting goals, hard work, and staying true to your beliefs.

Linda Sergeant – via farandaway.us

After years of working in the travel, Linda realized that people wanted a more hands-on approach to vacation planning, something that the industry was sorely lacking at the time. She saw the opportunity, jumped on it, and in 2005, founded Far and Away Luxury Destinations, which specializes in personally-tailored experiences for clients.

Ask anyone who loves to travel, and they will tell you visiting new and far off places is all about the ‘experience.’ Seeing popular tourist sites and eating favorite local dishes are just scratching at the surface. Using her expertise and global network of contacts, Linda dives deep into a place to pinpoint its unique offerings, and matches them with her clients’ individual interests, tastes, and desires. They come away with an unforgettable experience that is life-changing and full of meaning.
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Amnesia Roses - via theflowermonger.co.uk

Planning & Inspiration

B&B Blooms in Spotlight: Amnesia Rose

by Kate Murphy

“Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.” With so many quotes about the romantic beauty attributed to the rose, the words of poet Katherine Lee Bates rank as our favorite. Not all roses are the same though, and each type has its own singular allure.

To inaugurate B&B Blooms in Spotlight, a blog series devoted to our favorite wedding flowers, we are going to talk about the amnesia rose. In recent years, this bloom has caught the admiring eye of the wedding industry and become very popular with our own brides. What makes the amnesia rose so special is its unique lavender, beige and green tones, which give the flower a lovely ‘antique’ look. For this reason, they are the perfect floral feature to showcase in a vintage style wedding.
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Katie Rotio - via katherineelizabethevents.com

Planning & Inspiration

Interview with Katie Rotio of Katherine Elizabeth Events

by Kate Murphy

The saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” By the time Katie Rotio began planning for her wedding, she was enjoying success as a custom wedding stationery designer for her business Katherine Elizabeth Events.

Katie Rotio – via katherineelizabethevents.com

Katie’s wedding was set to take place in Massachusetts in November – not an ideal situation for a bride-to-be who desires local fresh flowers to decorate for her special day. Instead of giving up on her floral fantasies, Katie took matters into her own hands, literally, and taught herself the art of making paper flowers. She spent night after night making roses and calla lilies to create her entire wedding décor – one bridal bouquet, eight bridesmaids bouquets, 21 boutonnieres, and over 171 single flowers for the centerpieces! Needless to say, her guests were stunned by the whole presentation.
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Bridal Jumpsuit by Theia - via brides.com

Planning & Inspiration

From Runway to Real Way: Reception Bridal Looks You Have Got To See

by Kate Murphy

You love your wedding dress and can’t wait to wear it down the aisle. But if we are going to be honest, it is not comfortable and the thought of wearing it all through the reception is almost unbearable. Well you are definitely not alone! More and more brides are changing into a second outfit for the reception. These looks are still head-turners with a bridal vibe. But they are also a little less formal, offering freedom to relax, move around with ease, and dance the night away!

We had so much fun choosing our favorite gowns from New York Fashion Week Fall 2018. Showcasing a plethora of gorgeous creations, many designers turned out ensembles that would be perfect to wear as a second number and we bookmarked them all!
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Planning & Inspiration