{monday's mantra}

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We drove down to Orange County (for the second weekend in a row) to celebrate with family, and now I am so ready to stay home for a little while. To say that I'm exhausted is an understatement, and I haven't been feeling well for the past few days. But that doesn't matter; I'm looking forward to getting stuff done this week! I guess that's a good thing?

Anyway, here's my mantra for this week...

I've been getting really frustrated by people these days, but what else is new? I guess I'm just really tired of people expressing their opinions on things in a negative or judgmental way. So this week, I'm going to try and let it all go. People will think what they will, and all I should be worrying about is myself and my own choices. I don't need to justify my life to anyone. 

If you're interested, I've created a wallpaper version of this week's mantra! You can download it here. 

What's your mantra this week?

{spring at home}

I wrote a post this week already about finding my personal style for my closet, but if you've read this blog for any amount of time, you know that I did the same for my home. We threw out a lot of our Craigslist furniture last year, and filled our home with intentional pieces that represented us as a couple and a family. Since then, I've loved being at home. It's comfortable and warm and pretty and I'm always looking for an excuse to just stay home on a Friday night. 

It's finally starting to feel like spring around here though, and since I redid our apartment during the fall, I obviously needed a few pieces to make things a little bit more cheerful and fun. I was really impressed during a recent trip to Target, and their new spring items were exactly what I was looking for! My living room has a lot of blues and greens, but I knew that I wanted to add some yellow to add a little sunshine to the room. Not only that, but I love the way that their new Threshold line combines both metal and wood, creating a soft, farmhouse feel. 

Of course, Olive is loving the new pillows and blankets too!

One of my favorite, easy ways to display all the fun candles that I'm obsessed with is to just put them in mason jars. They're inexpensive, but cute and you don't see them everyday in the home! I like rotating out my candles for the season as well, both by color and scent, and Target has a great selection of candles for the spring too! I'm looking forward to opening a bottle of wine tonight, lighting a few candles, and just enjoying being home. 

It’s Time for Springtime.

Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions 

expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

{on finding your style}

You may know that last year, I did something that I've been wanting to do for a long time: I threw out ninety percent of the clothes in my closet. It was a huge deal for me; up until then, I'd been somewhat of a clothing hoarder, if you will. A lot of the clothes and shoes and accessories that sat there had been accumulated since high school, and I rarely threw anything out. Eventually, I realized that I had a problem. My closet was overflowing, and yet I didn't feel beautiful or confident in anything I wore. 

It was a process, but since then I've built my closet back up to something that I'm honestly proud of. I don't necessarily want the clothes that I wear to define me as a person or a woman, but we all have our own priorities and values in life, and my personal style is one of them. 

I've been asked in the past what my secret is, and before I didn't really think that I had one. Not one that was especially deep or new, anyway. When I thought about it more, however, I realized that I have shopped by one rule since starting this new project, and it's really revolutionized the way that I choose what to buy and what to keep on the rack. 

I know I've mentioned it before on this blog, but growing up, I wore a lot of hand-me-downs and clearance items. It was necessary, and I'm SO thankful that I had decent clothes to wear at all. This mindset was somewhat ingrained in me, and it was hard to shake that feeling of, well, it's a great deal so I might as well buy it, that I knew so well. When I started making decent money as an adult, I still purchased clothing off the clearance rack, even if it wasn't necessarily me. That resulted in a bloated wardrobe that wasn't cohesive at all. 

So, what's my number one shopping rule? The one that has really allowed me to define my style organically, and without making lists or writing down what I think I might love, in concept?

It really seems so obvious, doesn't it? But how many times have you seen something in a store that was kind of cute, and you might, someday wear it? And you wouldn't normally buy it, but it was on sale for (insert some random percentage here) and you just couldn't pass up the deal? I can't tell you how many times I've done that, and the result is really just something else that you've wasted money on, that will end up at Goodwill with the tags still on. 

I think by limiting yourself to items that you love (not necessarily that are your style, because I think that comes later), rather than price, you're able to create your own, perfect style. It also forces you to work with items that you may not have gotten in the past, because you didn't think it was you. Does that make sense?

In the past year, I've learned that I really love bows, that hot pink works better for me as a signature lip color, and that it's next to impossible for me to find a pair of pants that fit me really well. Among other things.

I hope it's okay with you, but I thought I would start sharing more about my personal style, for all areas of my life. Consider it my next exercise in defining who I am. 

{something charming}

I think we all go through identity crises sometimes, and that is most definitely true if you have a blog. I mean, remember that time I decided to stop blogging about weddings on Wednesdays?  Oh, and if you haven't noticed, I changed my design. Again. 

I love blogging, so much, but I just feel so strange these days. I have so many things I want to blog about, and I'm so excited to share it all with you! I just have this problem where I don't want to do something unless I do it perfectly. I know that's not really the best way to live life, but that's just how I am. That being said, I think I'm starting to figure it out. It all feels like it's kind of falling apart, but maybe that just means it's falling together?

I know what I love. Maybe I should just stick with that.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

{the flower fields}

Robert and I made our way down to San Diego over the weekend for a conference mini vacation. We live about four hours away, so it's far enough to be a nice getaway, but close enough to still be convenient. On Thursday I was researching things to do while we were down there, and I came across the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. I just knew that we needed to make a stop on our way when I found out that ranunculus, one of my very favorite flowers, bloom in the spring!

We had an amazing time this past weekend, just exploring the city together and seeing friends and family. On Friday we attempted grilling our own steaks at the Gaslamp Strip Club, and then hung out at a dueling piano bar. Saturday was sunny enough to buy new swimsuits and lounge by the pool for a while before an amazing two hour spa session, and Sunday we got to see Robert's dad. By the time Sunday night came around, we were too exhausted to make the trip all the way home, and had to make a pit stop at my parents' house to stay the night. I guess that's the sign of a good weekend!

Have you ever been to the flower fields in San Diego? We're lucky enough to have a few other flower farms in Santa Barbara, so I have a feeling I'll be making that trip sometime soon too!

{a charming studio space}

I've been hinting at it for a while now here on the blog (and have pretty much confirmed it all over social media), but I am BEYOND excited to say that...

We're getting a studio space!

I'm collaborating on the space with some of my favorite weddings vendors and friends in the area, including Amy from Stella Bloom Designs, Kat and Leo from Leo Evidente Photographers, and Emily from Anna Delores Photography. We got the keys last week, and yesterday we sat down to do a brainstorming session.

It isn't really much to look at (yet), but we're hoping to get it all cleaned up this weekend so that we can get it painted next week! And once it's all pretty and painted, then we can move some of the furniture that we've already been collecting in.

Sometimes I feel like it has been a long time coming, and sometimes it feels like we did it so fast. But I can't wait to share this next chapter and journey with all of you! I promise it's going to be a fun one.

You can always follow me on Instagram if you want to see our progress as it happens!

{spring patterns}

It may be the first day of spring, but it doesn't actually feel like it here. It's still a little chilly, and I didn't really have the best day. But maybe that just means I'll have to create the feeling of spring myself? For every season, I always love changing up my home a bit and bringing the season and weather inside. Winter means a lot of white and soft colors, but I'm ready to brighten things up around here. Not only does that mean bright colors, but mixing and matching bold patterns is another way to add a little something fun to our space. 

ikat pillow // yellow pillow // curtains

I haven't always felt comfortable mixing and matching patterns, mainly because I've just always questioned my judgment. Lately, however, I've been more confident about it, and I've always loved putting different colors together to see what works best. One of my favorite ways to match patterns and colors is to find a pattern with multiple colors in it already, and find auxiliary pieces that use only one of the colors in a different pattern.

As soon as I saw that first ikat pillow up there, I knew that I wanted to find a few other items that incorporated those colors. The patterns on the other pillow and the curtains aren't too bold, but they definitely add a little something interesting to the overall feel, don't you think?

It’s Time for Springtime.

Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions 

expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

{on wedding costs and priorities}

Elopement or DIY or barn or Oscar de la Renta? What does it matter? Image above via Snippet & Ink.

Last week I posted a link to the Knot's list of the most expensive places to marry. The reaction that I got from most people was Oh my goodness, that's [insert negative word here]. I know that people don't mean to be offensive or anything like that, but I feel the need to explain something anyway.

Just because you don't want to/can't spend X amount of money on your wedding doesn't mean that someone else shouldn't be able to. It's the same as judging someone on the house that they purchase or the clothes that they buy. The beauty of living in this country and in this time is that we have the freedom to choose our own values and priorities. For some people, that may mean spending more on their wedding than you would on yours. And that isn't a bad thing!

I'm not entirely sure when weddings started getting a negative stereotype, but my goal as a wedding planner is to reverse those negative stereotypes. I would NEVER commit my life to something if I didn't believe in it, and I truly believe that weddings can be (and should be) something true, pure, and beautiful. We're celebrating love in a way that celebrates the couple getting married! Unless there is an abusive or obviously dysfunctional relationship, that can never be a bad thing. 

This post isn't in regards to one comment in particular. I'm being honest when I say that I've heard it from at least a dozen sources, including personal friends and family, in the past week or so. I'm sure they know what they're saying, but I have to wonder if they understand what it means to me as someone in this industry when they do. 

Weddings are my job. They are my livelihood and they are my passion. Again, I wouldn't commit myself to something unless I honestly loved it, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to make money or a living off of what I do. I have to! This is literally how I provide for my family. And saying that someone shouldn't spend $100,000 on their wedding because you wouldn't do that is insulting to me. It makes me wonder how much you really support me, or people like me who try to make a living doing what they love. Because let me tell you, the majority of us, myself included, make barely enough to live, even if we do weddings that reach into the six-digits. 

I guess what I'm saying is, let's just all be a little more understanding. Any wedding is important and valuable and legitimate, regardless of how much it costs, because it results in a marriage. That's the true point here.

{about wedding wednesday. again}

Here's a sneak peek at another inspired shoot I did with Leo Evidente Photographers and These Buds a Blooming! 

I've already admitted to all of you that Wedding Wednesday can be a difficult post for me to write. I got so many great questions from all of you, and I so badly want to answer every single one! The thing is...I get burnt out from wedding stuff sometimes. And that expectation that I write a post every week with wedding advice is really getting to me. I so wish I could, but when I'm working on wedding stuff day in and day out, sometimes I just need to take a break and focus on me.

When I started my blog almost three years ago, it was very much about me. And then I started my business and it was all about weddings. Trying to find that balance has been kind of difficult. 

I don't want to stop talking about weddings, because it really is such a big part of who I am! But I also don't want to start putting a ton information out there that has nothing to do with what this blog is and how it relates to me as a person.

Instead, I'm going to try and merge the two aspects of my life, the personal and professional, in a more organic way. I'll share anything you want to know! Email me if you have a specific question, and I would be more than happy to answer. Something Charming, however, is my creative space, and I need the flexibility to be myself. Being organized all the time can be exhausting! It's a process, but I think I'm getting there. 

I want to start posting more tutorials and printables and things, but I also want to share more about my life and not feel so guilty about it. I've tried to fit this blog into some arbitrary box that I've created, but it just doesn't work. So, I'm letting go of some of the structure and getting rid of Wedding Wednesdays. There will no longer be a weekly link up, because it can be difficult for me to  keep up with. I do promise that there will be more wedding topics in the future, and maybe I will decide to bring the weekly series back eventually. But for now, I'm going to focus on other things. Hope that's alright with you.

{featured on grey likes weddings}

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I'm sure you know by now that I was featured on Grey Likes Weddings! I don't necessarily want to freak out every time I have a feature, but it's still really exciting for me. It's only March, and I've already had my third feature of the year! 2013 has definitely had its ups and downs so far, but overall it's been a really good year. I'm so thankful, every day, that I get to do what I love. I truly never imagined that I would be where I am today, and I only have you to thank for that!

You all have been with me from the beginning. There are definitely days when I wonder if I should keep going; if it's actually worth it. But then I remember all of the amazing connections I've made, and I realize that my support system is so much bigger than I think it is. So, thank you.

That being said, go check out my feature! I'm so excited for this one!

You can see the full post here.

{i am not a hipster}

Things I love: glitter, Kate Spade, and bows.

A few weeks ago, I went to this really amazing wedding show-type-thing called the Cream. Maybe you've heard of it? Basically, a whole bunch of incredibly creative people come together to put on a non-bridal show, if that makes sense. When you get these vendors together, you get a gorgeous venue full of eccentric details and lots of pretty. 

I can't lie, I get jealous of a lot these people. How is it that they are so much farther ahead or more creative or just cooler than I am? I look at the things that they do and I am seriously amazed. Part of me thinks that yeah, I can do that. Honestly, I don't doubt that I could do that. But then I come back down to earth, and realize that maybe I don't actually want to do that.

I am not a hipster. These people love being ahead of the trend, but sometimes that trend is just so far out there. Yeah, everything neon is fun to look at sometimes, but my brides aren't exactly clamoring for lime green accents with their midcentury furniture. 

I don't want to say that there's anything bad about designing things like this. I already said that I get jealous when people are that creative! I just have to say that it's not me. 

I like pink peonies and navy stripes and Kate Spade. I prefer my home to be warm and full and comforting (even if that means cluttered) rather than minimalist and concrete. I love Taylor Swift, and can't deny that I'm really tired of that Lumineers song. 

These shouldn't be a bad thing, but this industry can get kind of ruthless sometimes. If you aren't with it, you know? I love planning things for other people that are their style, but what about my style? Should I be ashamed if I see another blogger or indie wedding designer on the street when I'm wearing my anchor skirt and white button up shirt? Because I think I'm cute, but that doesn't necessarily make me cool. And I think that's kind of sad. 

It all goes back to that comparison thing. You've heard the saying...Comparison is the thief of joy. I won't deny that I compare myself to others. It's kind of difficult not to when you're constantly surrounded by people with a serious eye for detail, and you're held to a higher standard of creativity. I wish I felt like I were able to cultivate my own tastes and style, rather than follow along with someone else. 

I need to learn that it's okay. I am not a hipster. I'm not anything or anyone other than Joelle Duff, hair bow aficionado and a damn good wedding planner.

{monday's mantra}

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was eventful, to say the least, and I may or may not have had more fun in the past two days than I have in a long time. It involved lots of wine, karaoke, killing bugs with my bare hands (true story), a gay bar, and my best friend spraining her ankle. See, eventful and a lot of fun (minus Carrie's sprained ankle). 

Anyway, I'm ready to tackle this week with a positive attitude and a lot of energy. Every week I say that I'm going to catch up on work and things, but I never do. There's just always SO MUCH to do! I guess that's a good thing...it means that work is going well!

What's your mantra this week?

{five things}

It might be cliche to say, but time really does seem to be flying by right now. How can it already be the end of another week, and the middle of March?! So crazy. This week was good...tiring, but good, and I'm ready for a break. Looking forward to getting lunch with a client-turned-friend today (she's in town to run the LA marathon this weekend!), spending time with some of my favorite photographers tonight, and then going out with some my best friends tomorrow night! It's been way too long since we've had a night out, and I'm really looking forward to it!

I may be stuck in a cramped apartment for now, but this weekend I'm dreaming of the amazingly beautiful home I'll own. Someday.

1 // Bravo to the Everygirl for bringing attention to something I know all too well. It's nice to know that I'm not alone sometimes.

2 // Are you registering for Alt San Francisco today? I still haven't decided if I should or not!

3 // Here's a great infographic on Twitter engagement from IFB.

4 // Have you seen T's new music video? I used to hate this song, but I definitely get why people love it so much now. It's catchy! I may not be 22 anymore, but I have a feeling I'll be listening to it while I'm getting ready on Saturday night to go out with my friends...

5 // A look at the most expensive places to marry in the US. Also, the myth of the "simple wedding." 

Oh, and I'm sure you've heard by now that Google Reader is going away in July! If you're looking for a new way to follow your favorite blogs, Bloglovin is a great choice. You can follow Something Charming here!

Happy weekend everyone!

{my real home}

I've been stressing over a lot of things lately, but one of my main issues right now is how messy my home is. I've been too busy to really do much cleaning these days, and I feel bad that my husband has to deal with it (though he doesn't seem to mind much). I also feel embarrassed, even if nobody is coming over or seeing it...I guess that's part of blogging. We put our best selves out there, but it's not always the truth. Margaret posted the other day about her "real life", and it got me thinking...am I just embarrassed about my home because of what people might think if they saw it?

I don't have the perfect home, at all, in case you're wondering. I hate our apartment complex, which is old and not very pretty to look at. I've tried to make the inside of our apartment look pretty, but I just don't always have time to keep it clutter free. I may be organized with my business, but I don't always have time to keep my own life organized. Don't believe me?

My poor dog has to share her favorite seat with a table, at least until I get my office space to store it at (which is happening sooner rather than later). Not only that, but I still haven't put back up the curtains that fell down the other day, or taken down my already pathetic Valentine's Day decorations...

There are a lot of things contributing to my stress these days, and I think a big part of it is just not prioritizing. Having a home that I like to be in is important to me, and I've spent a lot of time and money getting it to that point. Not only that, but my messy home kind of symbolizes my personal life in general right now. Business-wise, things are going amazingly well! But I think I need to re-prioritize things a bit, and get my personal life in order as well. I know that my home won't always be neat and clean, but I can at least try a little bit harder. I can work harder on making dinner for my husband and I, and focus on our relationship a little more, because that's the one that matters. If that means turning the computer off at six every night, then that's what I need to do.

I'll probably be blogging about this a little more in the upcoming weeks and months. Finding that balance between my personal and professional life is really one that I'm struggling with, but it's really so important that I do. To me, it's non-negotiable.

{what i'm reading v.3}

I don't know if you all like these posts or not, but I do like putting them together. I'm reading 52 books this year (maybe more), and it would be nice if I could share that with someone. I'm averaging about two books per week right now, which is really good! So I thought I'd start putting out a "What I'm Reading" post every month or so. Sound okay?

I've read all three books in the Thoughtless series, and as much as I loved them all, I'm glad they're over. As soon as I found out that the series was a love story about a rock star, I couldn't help myself. But the protagonist is way obnoxious, and I'm definitely over it. This last one was a great way to end the series.

I also read the last book in the Delirium series, Requiem, and was really disappointed. I absolutely loved the first two, and was so excited for this one to come out! They're making the books into a television series, and I think it's starting in the fall. If you like young adult love stories set in a dystopian society, like Hunger Games or Divergent, you'll probably like Delirium too. And even though I didn't like the last one (I really didn't like the ending), it's still a great series.

The series that I'm OBSESSED with right now though is the Mortal Instruments. I've probably mentioned it already on my blog, but I really do love these books. I can't actually read them all at once though, which is kind of strange. I'm enjoying taking my time with these, and reading other books at the same time. I'm in the middle of the fourth one right now, and it's nice to drag them out a bit.

Have you read any of these books? What do you recommend I start next?

{busy week}

I mentioned on Monday that this is going to be one busy week. Well, at least the past two days have been busy, which is why I didn't have a chance to put Wedding Wednesday up last night! I was coordinating and styling a photo shoot all day yesterday, and didn't get home until about eight. I basically made dinner and passed out until nine o'clock this morning. So, needless to say, I needed the rest of the night off. 

That does make four inspired shoots already this year, one of which has already featured on Style Me Pretty! I can't wait to share with you the others, and let you know where they end up. 

{an easter table}

Disclaimer: Someone needs to remind me to look for a dining room that gets better lighting when we start looking for a new apartment...

If you're anything like me, you find yourself at Target at least three times a week. And every. single. time. I just have to get something that isn't on my list. I've been especially loving their adorable spring line right now. That's why I was so excited when I was asked to create my perfect Easter table using some of the things I've been eyeing at Target. 

Their new home line, Threshold, was perfect for this. I'm absolutely loving the natural linens that I got, as well as those pretty orange vases. I paired it with some pretty pink mercury vases I bought at Target, and smaller mercury votive holders I already had (I'm obsessed with mercury glass these days). It's simple, but still pretty, I think. Understated, but perfect for spring!

Just in case you're wondering, "Bubby" is my brother. Yes, he's 24 and I still call him Bubby.

I'm really looking forward to incorporating a lot of these pieces into my regular spring decor! I think that's why I loved these vases so much; they're versatile, so I can put them out even when I don't have a table done up. I'm excited to use them for Easter brunch at my parents' house though!

It’s Time for Springtime.

Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions 

expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

{monday's mantra}

I had one lazy, wonderful weekend, let me tell you. I didn't have to cook (Red Robin is always a good idea), and we rented two movies to watch. I even put on a vacation responder for my email for part of the weekend, which was an amazing idea. I think I might need to do that more often. 

After last week, specifically Friday, I really needed to take a break. Thankfully, I'm feeling much better today. I have a photo shoot and lots of ideas and projects that I'm working on right now, and I couldn't be more excited about it! Here's to hoping that this week is better than the last! 

What's your mantra this week?

{five things}

First of all, I want to say thank you all so much for the sweet words on this post. They really mean a lot to me. I'm feeling a lot better, I guess we all just need to break down every once in a while. I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend with friends, and meeting new people at the Cream.

Did you see my wedding featured on Wedding Chicks yesterday!?

As always, here are five things for your weekend:

1 // It may be raining this weekend, but I'm making these cucumber margaritas as soon as it gets hot outside!

2 // My new goal is to be featured on Snippet and Ink. I'm loving their weddings these days, especially this one.

3 // Yes and Yes always has some really inspiring and interesting stories.

4 // This has to be my other favorite wedding of the week. Also, what do you think of Style Me Pretty's new design?

5 //  Loving this gorgeous kitchen! It's kind of the opposite of my dream open and airy kitchen, but it's beautiful nonetheless.

Happy weekend everyone!

{the truth}

{via}

The truth is...

...I'm exhausted.

The truth is...

...I'm afraid to write about my feelings on my blog these days. 

The truth is...

...I feel like I'm constantly on the edge of something amazing. 

The truth is...

...I also feel like I'm constantly on the edge of a panic attack. 

For the past few days, it's been ugly outside. Cloudy and grey, but not the kind of ugly that's relaxing or comforting. It has put me in a funk, and I couldn't figure out why the weather has been affecting me so.

It just started raining, and it hit me. I burst into tears. Maybe my soul needed that release, just like the sky did. 

I'm okay. I think I am, at least.

{featured on wedding chicks}

It's been a good week so far! I got to release my new font yesterday, and today one of my favorite weddings from 2012 is being featured on Wedding Chicks! Definitely go check this out one. There's a little lamb, which makes it kind of adorable.

You can see the full feature here.

{joelle charming: the font}

So, if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you'll know that I can't keep a secret for long. A few weeks ago, I dropped hints that I was going to be releasing a font of my "fake calligraphy" and I'm so excited to say that...it's finally here!

After quite a few revisions, I have to say that it's almost perfect. I say almost because, well, my handwriting itself isn't perfect, and I wanted to keep that going with my font. I did work with someone to get this created, and she really did such a great job. I'm so happy with how it turned out!

The font actually consists of two separate fonts, "Joelle" and "Joelle Charming." The first has the basic letters, both uppercase and lowercase, without the flourishes. The second, "Joelle Charming" has all the lowercase letters with the flourishes (the letters at the bottom of the image above). You'll want to experiment with these flourishes, and play around with using the second font in conjunction with the first. Both include the uppercase letters, as well as all numbers and punctuation. 

Disclaimer: I tested and am primarily using this font using Photoshop. I can't guarantee how it will turn out in Word, or any other word processing software!

Terms:

This font is for personal or business (desktop) use only. Fonts cannot be transferred to another user without purchasing an additional license. You may use the licensed font to create an image on any surface, such as paper, web pages, photographs, print items, and any other surface where the image is a fixed size. 

You may provide the font to a graphic designer or printer, only if they agree to use the font for your work only, agree to the terms of the license, and keep no copies of the font upon completion of your project. 

You may not give the font, or make it accessible, to any third parties. Also, you may not embed the licensed font into software or hardware products, in which the purchaser of the product will use the font, and you may not resell the font in its original form. This use requires a commercial license, in which you may contact me for more information.

***Update November 4, 2013 :: I'm not currently selling all of my fonts through Etsy, so you can view and purchase them all here!***

{wedding wednesday: event rentals}

As a wedding planner, a big part of my job is coordinating the rentals and making sure that there are enough tables, chairs, linens, etc. Getting rentals together can sometimes be left out, since it isn't always as obvious as, say, hiring your photographer. It also depends on whether or not your venue includes rentals in their site fee. They really are one of the most important elements of your wedding, however, since you'll obviously need a place for your guests to sit and eat. It's essential that you account for every single thing you'll need, which can be daunting. I want to give some tips today for getting your event rentals together, however, so it's not so stressful. 

{via}

Even if your venue offers rentals for you to use, you'll still want to find out exactly what is included. If those white cotton tablecloths just aren't your thing, you can bring in specialty linens if you'd like, or do your own custom vintage place setting. Don't feel as if you have to use everything your venue has to offer, just because it's there. Mixing and matching items from multiple places is a sure way to create a personalized event that reflects the taste and style of you and your fiance.

You'll also want to ask your caterer or the vendor providing the bar what is included in their fees. Some caterers include a table and linen for the buffet, and some require that you provide it on your own. The same goes for the bar: some companies will provide the bar itself, along with all glassware, and others don't. You'll want to coordinate with these vendors before you put your final numbers in with your rental company.

If you're in Southern California, here are a few of my very favorite rental companies:

Town & Country

Pretty Vintage Table

Party Pleasers

Found Vintage Rentals

Casa De Perrin

YEAH! Rentals

La Tavola Linens

Oh, I also wanted to provide you all with the spreadsheet that I use (modified a little) when figuring out my rentals. Often I'll create multiple options for my clients, so they can compare the cost of different types of items. It has sections for each element of your wedding (i.e. ceremony, cocktail hour, check in, reception, cake table, etc.) so hopefully you won't forget anything!

You can download a copy of the spreadsheet here.

There are no real rules for Wedding Wednesday, I just ask that your post be wedding related. It doesn’t need to be the same topic that I’m posting about. I also ask that you try to visit a few other blogs to say hi, and I would love it if you would use my button (found here).