Blog - Page 5 of 9 - Sacramento Golf Weddings

Add Something Special to Your Thank You Notes

Congratulations! You’re a newlywed! Now that you’re back from the honeymoon and you’ve opened all your gifts the next big thing to do is start writing those wedding thank you cards. Technically you have 2 weeks post-shower and 3 months post-wedding date to get these out.

I recently attended a wedding. A few weeks later, as expected, I received a card in the mail. I fully expected the standard thank you note, but I was surprised to find a super thoughtful addition inside the envelope.

There was a printed photo of me and my husband dancing at the wedding… The handwritten note was written on the opposite side. What a great idea! With photo prints costing less than they ever have, why not skip the custom thank you cards that are bound to end up in the waste bin and opt for a more personalized, special touch?!

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite ways to thank your guests…

SHARE A MEMORY
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Photograph by Kaboo Vang of Kaboo Photography

Include a picture of you and the guest(s) from the wedding day. They may not have taken photos themselves and now they’ll have a special memory of the day to hold on to.

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Photograph by Lyndsay Undseth Photography

Did you have a photobooth at your wedding? Include a great shot of your guests from their photobooth session.

ADD A SPECIAL TOUCH

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Photograph by Tra Huynh of Two Twenty Photos

Did you take a group shot of all your guests at your wedding? Shadelle and JR did and it’s one of my favorite pictures from their wedding.

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Photograph by Carlos Almanza of Xsight Photography

As did Alyssa and Scott. So adorable and would make the perfect touch as a liner for your thank you notes.

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Photograph by Alisha Cole of Colehearted Photography

Consider using your thank-you notes as an opportunity to show off your first pictures together as husband and wife. Our recent newlyweds Nicole an Mark did just this, by having their photographer snap a photo of the two holding a “thank you” banner—so be sure to ask if your photographer can’t do the same. If you go this option though, keep in mind how long it will take to get your photos back from your photographer and how long it will take to receive your order and then write those thank you’s.

Which of these amazing wedding thank you card ideas will you use for the big day? Let us know!

Happy Weekend

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Photograph by: Kaboo Vang

Happy Saturday. I hope you have an amazing weekend and can’t wait to see you back here next week for more wedding inspiration and fabulous love stories!

Fun links to get you to Monday:

Hands up if your other half is also your bestie…

This is just the loveliest thing…

Score on your wedding dress…

Plus, three past posts you may have missed:
* Vendor Spotlight: Kaboo Vang photography
* Budget friendly wedding cake ideas
* Five Ways to feature Pantone Colors of the Year in your wedding

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.

Vendor Spotlight: Kaboo Vang of Kaboo Photography

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Choosing a photographer to capture your wedding day and the events leading up to it can be a challenge. The perfect fit includes the right mix of talent, personality, and the artistic style that best expresses who you are as a couple. Allow me to introduce you to a talented photographer who has PLENTY of style and personality. Here is what Kaboo Vang of Kaboo Photography has to say about wedding photography.

What led you to wedding photography?
I always did enjoy being the +1 to my friend’s weddings. I enjoyed the energy and just the meaning to the whole wedding day. That, for your whole life you wait to meet someone and then invite your closest friends and family to witness your forever love.
After 5 years of portrait and fine art photography, a friend approached me to do her City Hall wedding. This was going to be the first time I was going to be behind the camera and not the crazy guest in the pictures. Yes, I was nervous, but I was eager also and ready.
The day came and it was chaotic, didn’t go as planned, but in the end the bride and groom had a great time and I got to witness the love from beginning to end. The most rewarding part was when they saw the images, they were so happy and thankful for capturing their special day. And that was all it took for me to start with wedding photography. The smile and warm words from my clients at the end of the day, just confirms that I did my job right, because I truly believe that in the end, all you have are the memories and the pictures.

How long have you been a photographer?
I have been a photographer for about 10 years.

What do you love most about being a photographer in the Sacramento area?
What I love most about being a photographer in Sacramento are the beautiful venues and natural backdrops. We are so central to the vineyards, ocean, mountains, and many more. I am able to continue to create a variety of images, because there are so many beautiful options. It really is a photographer’s dream.

What do you love most about photographing weddings?
I love photographing all the beauty that is happening in a wedding. Honestly, I am constantly smiling being the camera because it is enchanting.
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If you only had 3 words to describe photography style/aesthetic what would they be?
Capturing loving memories

If you could tell a soon-to-be bride and groom one thing about photography on their wedding day, what would it be?
Smile and just have a good time. We will take care of capturing the memories for you.

Any favorite wedding trends happening right now?
I always like to recommend photo booths for weddings. Guests love photo booths and have a great time with them. You also get to go home with all the funny electronic and copy images.

Do you have a travel policy?
Travel fee is dependent on the location of the venue and how many locations I need to travel. Typically, a travel fee is required anything out of Sacramento.

What makes your photography unique?
There are so many styles of photography, but I try to get to know my clients, therefore my clients will be comfortable with me. And when we are all comfortable, I can capture the true feelings of my and assist in the flow of the day. My job is not to just pick up a camera that day and click away, I have to capture all the effort that it took to make that day happen. Like the little heart shaped fabric that was taken from the mother of the bride’s wedding gown and sewn onto a bride’s under skirt. The homemade jam and label that the bride made for all the guests. The little trinket that the bride had attached to her bouquet, that belonged to her grandmother that had passed. I believe in not just the day, but the details.

Do you believe in the “first look” concept and why would you recommend to a bride and groom?
In the beginning of the day, it is really slow, but once the ceremony starts, the day flashes right by. I believe in the first look because it is such a precious time that allows the bride and groom to truly take in the moment, just with each other.

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Now go check out Kaboo’s work at Kaboo Photography & lose yourself in her gorgeous Sacramento area weddings.

Interested in hosting an event at the Pavilion at Haggin Oaks? Call Rebecca Kirtlan at 916-870-8597 for more information.

Love weddings and events and want to know more?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing!

Cheers to Saturdays!

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Photograph by Aperina Studios | Styling by: Amrit Dhillon Bains of Anais Events

It’s Saturday and I hope you all are having an amazing weekend. See you next week!

Fun links to get you to Monday:

Epic geeky themed weddings

the ultimate wedding crasher!

Your married! Now what?

This is too cool! Here’s what weddings looked like the year you were born…

Plus, three past posts you may have missed:
* Jacie and Eric’s beautiful rustic wedding
* Budget friendly wedding cake ideas
* Unbelievably stylish engagement party from Anais Events

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.

Budget Friendly Wedding Cake Ideas

Having a gorgeous and sweet treat to celebrate your wedding day is one of those must do things that most brides and grooms are excited about. That is, until they figure out how much a wedding cake actually costs.

A traditional wedding cake is expensive. For a multi-tiered cake from a professional wedding cake baker, you’re looking at prices being $2000 and up. I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s kind of a crazy amount of money to pay for cake (and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE cake).

Well, if you’re with me in thinking that $2k is too much to spend on a wedding cake, it’s time to get smart and find those ways to cut costs, but still have the wedding cake of your dreams. Ready for more budget-friendly knowledge? Read on!

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Cake : Cake Castle Bakery | Cupcakes: Icing on the Cupcakes

SMALLER CAKE + SHEET CAKE IN THE BACK + OR A TOWER OF CUPCAKES
This is perhaps one of the easiest wedding cake hacks out there, and is going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. Instead of creating a single extravagant cake that can feed all of your guests, have your baker create a smaller cake, which is meant to be for the cake-cutting & feeding a few guests. Then, have your baker create a simpler sheet cake which is hidden in the kitchen and cut up by the catering staff afterwards for all your wedding guests to enjoy.

It sounds simple, but this simple budget option can save you a huge chunk (sometimes even up to 50%) on your wedding cake.

This cake is from Safeway!!!
Photograph by Denise Reason of Photography for a Reason

LOOK IN UNEXPECTED PLACES — A SUPERMARKET, OR AN ETHNIC BAKERY
Just like anything with wedding planning, you don’t need to go the traditional route and look at specialty bakeries that only do wedding cakes. If your vision for a wedding cake isn’t completely extravagant, your local supermarket or even an ethnic bakery can do a beautiful job for you at a fraction of a wedding vendor’s cost.

I know it might sound like a stretch, but don’t be afraid to branch out! These people are also cake-baking experts, and your guests aren’t going to check and make sure that your cake came from a wedding cake specialist. One of our recent brides used Safeway for her cake and couldn’t have been happier.

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Photograph by Jessica Roman Photography
Cake by Ettore’s Bakery

DECORATE WITH REAL (IN-SEASON) FLOWERS

Consider using real flowers instead of having your baker make them from frosting. Not only does this look more stunning (in my humble opinion), just make sure you’re decorating with in-season flowers!

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Photograph by Ari Simphoukham
Cake and Cookies: Batter Up Cakery | Dessert Buffet: Christina’s Sweet Station

DO A DESSERT TABLE WHICH CAN DOUBLE AS YOUR WEDDING FAVORS
Give your guests the option of taking a cupcake, macaron, or a bag of candy home is the perfect way to not only give them something sweet (literally!) at the end of the night, it ensures your dessert table will be entirely eaten at the end of the evening!
View More: http://deeandkrisphotography.pass.us/brianaandsteven

Photograph by Dee and Kris Photography
Cake: Freeport Bakery | Sweets: DIY Labor of Love

Maybe you’re not a cake person. Or, maybe you decide wedding cakes just aren’t worth it after shopping around for the right price. Well, you’re in luck because there’s no wedding rule book that says you MUST have cake. Brides and grooms everywhere are getting creative and finding sweet treats for cake substitutes. Consider getting cupcakes, donuts, pies, or even a candy bar for your wedding cake. Seeing as these aren’t wedding specialty items, you’ll probably be able to pick up enough sweets to feed your guests at a fraction of a wedding cake’s cost.

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Photograph by Carlos Almanza XSight Photography
Popcorn Bar: The Popcorn Store

A recent couple set up a popcorn bar for their Hollywood themed wedding. How clever is that?

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Photgraph by Kaboo Vang Photography

DIY PART (OR ALL!) OF YOUR DESSERT TABLE
If you’ve got a friend or family member that’s a wicked baker and enjoys making sweets, use them! This is a great option for budget brides, as it gives you more flexibility in choosing flavors and what your cakes/cupcakes/desserts will look like. Chances are, your friend will also love helping out. Just make sure you give them enough warning and a nice thank-you gift when all is said and done!

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Photograph by Denise Reason of Photography for a Reason
Cake: Safeway | Cupcakes: Made of Honor!

Recent bride, Jacie was lucky enough to have her Maid of Honor, Jenna make all of her cupcakes for the day!

What are you doing for your wedding? The traditional cake or a table filled with desserts? Did you have any tricks for saving dollar bills on your wedding cake? Let me know in the comments!

It’s the Weekend!

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I want to wrap up the week with this pretty picture from a recent wedding I’ve been obsessing over. The dress alone makes me weak in the knees. Photographer Lyndsay Undseth sent over this lovely image of a recent Pavilion at Haggin Oaks wedding styled by Simple Country Weddings.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. See you next week!

Fun links to get you through the Weekend:

Secret to a long lasting relationship
This couple swapped bouquets for…. PUPPIES
Beautiful ideas for a unique first dance

Plus, three past posts you may have missed:
* Jacie and Eric’s sweetly rustic DIY wedding
* It’s holiday party time!
* Big fan of the First Look after seeing these photos

Have a happy weekend!

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.

Wedding Spotlight: Jacie and Eric

There’s lots to love about simple rustic weddings, right? Jacie and Eric’s big day incorporated a Pinterest inspired simple and rustic style, including burlap, lace and daises plus tons of super impressive DIYs. TONS. Take a look at all the shots by Denise Reason of Photography for a Reason below…

The romantic bouquets and centerpieces were from Strelitzia Flower Company and put together the morning of the wedding by the bride, her mom and girlfriends.

From the Bride: We had burlap table runners, chalkboard signs, crates, and mason jar centerpieces with burlap, lace, and daises. We also had yard games and a photo booth with superhero themed props. We snuck in batman cufflinks for the guys too! The vibe we were going for was relaxed and fun. Most important to us was that our family and friends enjoyed themselves!

From the Bride: Our favorite moment during our wedding day was finally joining each other at the alter. We have been together a long time and we were so excited to take this step together. When we went through our rehearsal, Eric could barely wait for the cue to take my hand from my dad. Eric’s favorite memory was watching me walk down the aisle. We were all smiles. My favorite memory was gazing up at Eric as he shared his vows with me. Eric usually likes to crack jokes with me so I was expecting some teasing, but his vows were so sincere and heartfelt.

On incorporating traditions into her wedding: My mom was such a sweetheart and she took care of all of this for me. For something old and something blue I wore my mom’s garter from her wedding. For something borrowed, I carried the family bible. My grandma first carried this bible down the aisle when she got married in 1952. Since then, all the women in my family have carried the bible down the aisle and signed it afterward. This was such a special tradition for me to be a part of. For something new, I wore pearl earrings and a pearl necklace, also a gift from my mom.

The yard games were definitely a big hit! We had giant jenga, ladder golf, and corn hole. A big shout out goes to my brother, Jeff, for handcrafting our corn hole boards. I also loved our DIY photo booth. We had tons of silly props and one of my talented bridesmaids, Christina, made a set of superhero masks. They were definitely a party favorite.

Some of my favorite details were the DIY decorations that I made with my mom and girlfriends. I couldn’t thank my mom enough for all the work she put into the wedding! The morning of the wedding we all got together at Haggin Oaks and listened to music as we put together our bridal bouquets. The centerpieces, gazebo, cake table, and party favor decorations were all part of our handy work. My maid of honor, Jenna, also made our must have chocolate cupcakes.

Remember that DIY means you have to actually do it yourself! Lol. Make sure to get a crew together to help you with all the last minute details. Your family and friends will feel special to have played a part in your big day. On another note, don’t let the stress of planning a wedding take away from the fun in your relationship. Learn when to put the wedding planning talk on pause and just enjoy your time together.

We were excited to incorporate some family traditions for our wedding favors. Eric’s dad, Randy, makes an amazing salsa and my Grandma Louise makes the most delicious apple jelly. It was fun to be able to share these treats with all our family and friends.

Musical Choices –
Processional: A Thousand Years (Instrumental) – The Piano Guys
Recessional: I Feel Good – James Brown
First Dance: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

We chose The Pavilion at Haggin Oaks because we loved the outdoor space! We were looking for the perfect amount of indoor/outdoor space to create a fun event for our family and friends to celebrate our big day with us. We knew we wanted to have yard games and dancing, and The Pavilion at Haggin Oaks had the perfect amount of closed off space for that. The garden lighting was beautiful, the white tent was gorgeous, and I surprisingly fell in love with the gazebo. The wooden benches were also the perfect touch for relaxing and playing yard games. Rebecca, Katrina, and Adrianna were also amazing site coordinators to work with!

Congratulations and Best Wishes, Jacie and Eric!

Vendors:

Interested in hosting an event at the Pavilion at Haggin Oaks? Call Rebecca Kirtlan at 916-870-8597 for more information.

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.

Hello, Weekend!

Welcome to the weekend, everyone! I hope you had a spectacular week full of wedding planning and inspiration! If you haven’t had your fill just yet, be sure to check out all of the awesome weddings and inspiration below….

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Photo by Carlos Almanza at XSight Photography and Video.

a few fun links for the weekend….

Unique wedding favors your guest will love.

Give. Me. All. Of Them. Chic new party dresses from BHLDN.

This is so pretty! A braided floral up-do for your wedding day.

There is NO proposal like a Beyonce Proposal….

Plus, three past posts you may have missed:
* Jin Sun and Ben’s simple and sweet affair.
* 10 ways to feature herbs in your wedding.
* Alyssa and Scott’s Hollywood Glam wedding.

Have a fantastic weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week!

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.

Wedding Spotlight: Jin Sun and Ben

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I know I say this at least once a week, but I just love this wedding. I really do.

Sometimes the most simple weddings, are the most special. And Jin Sun and Ben’s sweet minty blue wedding, was pretty special.

This wonderful pair who met while teaching English in Korea created an intimate celebration that was a sweet, low key affair with adorable DIY moments sprinkled throughout.

It was captured by the talented Doug Miranda Photography – and I’m so excited for you guys to see their dreamy portraits!
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onanian_wed_0082 Groomsmen and Groomswomen? Yes, Please!
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Nearly everything in the wedding was DIY. From the amazing seating chart, charming flower arrangements to the sweet candy table set up. onanian_wed_0413

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Processional: Vitamin String Quartet – Stay with me
Recessional: The Piano Guys – A Thousand Years
First Dance: K-Ci and JoJo – All my life

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Thank you both for allowing us to be a part of your day. Congratulations and best wishes, Jin Sun and Ben!

Vendors:

Interested in hosting an event at the Pavilion at Haggin Oaks? Call Rebecca Kirtlan at 916-870-8597 for more information.

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.

Hooray for Friday!

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Wow! Is it Friday already? Well, that week sure did fly by fast. If this week was a little too hectic for you to keep tabs on what’s trending in weddings, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with a few things that caught me eye, because hey — it’s kinda my job. Here’s what you may have missed:

“Savoring each and every day leading up to the wedding, because being engaged is just the beginning of so much happiness.”

Love at first site, DOES exist….

Now this is one epic wedding photograph!

To say Fiance or not… Do you use the F word?

Plus, three past posts you may have missed:
* Crystal and Lee’s pretty in pink wedding
* It’s holiday party time!
* Cobalt Blue and Peach wedding inspiration

Have a happy weekend!

Love weddings and events and want to know more?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest and never miss a thing.