Craft a Perfect Wedding



Craft a Perfect Wedding | Holly Burns & Sean Slinsky; September 5, 2009, private home

The inspiration for my wedding last September came from a vintage globe I found at a flea market. Not only had my now-husband, Sean, and I traveled a lot together and spent part of our relationship on different continents, but also the vast majority of our 55 guests would be flying in from around the world to see us tie the knot. And so a theme and palette were born: we took the turquoise of the globe and combined it with our love of travel and all things vintage.

When you’re pulling together most of the details yourself like we did—Sean is a graphic designer and created all of our paper products, while I’m the crafty sort who loves do-it-yourself—remember foremost that continuity is everything. So stick to your theme and colors and infuse the event’s elements (setting, printed goods, serving materials, flowers, wardrobe, and more) with both. When it comes to palette, trios seem to work best, with a bolder color balanced by two neutrals—we added charcoal grey and gold to the headlining turquoise. Don’t be afraid to use the strongest color in unexpected places: The chunky turquoise earrings I wore with my traditional white dress were one of my favorite details of the day—except, perhaps, for the turquoise shoes peeping out from under it! Pick a font with flourish for your printed materials—ours is called Feel Script, and we used it on everything from the invitations to our crossword puzzle and our restroom signs—but complement it with something more simple and understated. Keep things consistent by using this pairing everywhere.

As for surviving all the DIY? First, delegate. My mother made our cake, my youngest brother and dad played our first dance song, my other brother bought pashmina wedding favors on his way in from Singapore, and my sister put in countless hours of manpower. School these helpers in your theme and palette, but be hands-off enough to enjoy their assistance. Next, manage your time and tasks to the letter. Plan what you can realistically take on in the hours you have and enlist others—pros or pals—for the rest. And last? Have fun! It’s your party!


Vendors

Banner: Sara Woodward
Butler card map: Blick Art Supplies
Catering: by Culinary Concepts, California
Car: Cory Price, California
Crossword puzzle software: Eclipse Crossword
Cufflinks: Etsy seller Bella Moda Artist
Flowers: wholesaler
Font: “Feel Script” from Veer
Glassine bags: Michael’s Arts & Crafts
Heels: Nine West
Heirloom miniature portrait on bouquet: paternal grandmother’s
Paper and cardstock: Cards and Pockets [www.cardsandpockets.com and www.paperandmore.com]
Photography: Erin Hearts Court
Salted caramel recipe: Epicurious
Stationery and printed materials: Sean Slinsky
Turquoise earrings: Etsy seller Frolik & Frufru
White paper lanterns: Asian Ideas
Wedding design: Holly Burns


The Wedding Row

July 29 2019
Happy Monday, friends.  We are sitting down with our cup of coffee and with lovely Kelly, the owner of Paper Meets Pearl, a one-stop shop boutique wedding and event planning company based in the...

July 26 2019
It’s confirmed: Heather and Chuck absolutely let the dogs out. The pet lovers (and now newlyweds) met back in Gainesville, Florida, while in veterinary school. Chuck was getting his PhD in animal...

July 25 2019
These days, it’s pretty common to meet your S.O. on a dating app, but Tanya and Joe met in real life, sans any electronics. Can you believe it? While checking out a new store opening in Crown Town (...

July 24 2019
Back again, but this time it’s official! We fell hard for Abby and Grant’s love story back when we shared their engagement session a few months back. For a refresher, their romance began when Abby...

July 23 2019
Not everyone is fortunate enough to meet their future spouse as early as middle school, but Caroline and Robert sure lucked out. Although these two grew up together, they only began dating after...

July 22 2019
Alicia and Cameron, Maryland dwellers, may not live in our zip code but they certainly know how to throw a shindig, Charleston-style. We will get to that bit later but for starters, how about a...

July 18 2019
Now this is a wedding story full of fun, food, and … fish. (Wait for it. You’ll see.) Arkansas natives Elle and Miles met in college and dated for four years before this groom seriously reeled in a...

July 17 2019
After meeting online and sensing that this could be something special, Carolyn and Jeff found themselves falling head-over-heels IRL. Four years later, the duo vacationed in Grand Cayman for the Ritz...