Love Letters from CJ

As a wedding planner and venue owner for nearly two decades, I’ve seen a lot of different weddings. If I could only give couples ONE piece of advice, it would be something to the tune of:

Don’t be afraid to do you.

Weddings are steeped in tradition, and while some of those moments may hold special meaning to you as a couple, it’s ok if they don’t. And if something else — like including your pets, toasting with a special drink, or featuring meaningful music — is important to you: let’s make it happen!

If you’re looking for ways to make your wedding feel one-of-a-kind, I’ve combed through some of my favorite weddings from over the year to showcase 8 wedding day details to make your day unique and personalized:

Cheers To The Couple:

It’s always fun when couples use their food and bar menu to show off their personalities with items such as custom cocktails named after their hometowns. At Chloe and David’s hunter-green wedding, their guests, from around the country, were able to enjoy wine made in David’s Upstate New York hometown.

The Dream Dress:

So many aspects of Jewel and Joey’s wedding day were unique, from their boho-inspired floral arch to the fact that Jewel wowed guests with not one but two bridal looks. One of which was dreamed up by the bride herself. Jewel’s bridal look brought serious goddess vibes with her bespoke gown by designer Lis Simone. The custom sleeves Jewel dreamed up to add her romantic boho flare were added by Nashville bridal alterations queen Karen Hendrix.  And the result was one seriously stunning bride!

A Grand Exit:

Ethan surprised his bride Jessica with a vintage getaway car from Matchless Transportation. After their May ceremony, the couple snapped some stunning photos in the car and later left their reception in style.

Put A Positive Spin On It:

When Catey and Paul started planning their Spring 2020 wedding, they didn’t anticipate a global pandemic. And while their day was a bit different than they originally planned, they didn’t regret a thing. The beauty of the day was brought to life in the small, significant details. From the hand-sewn face mask, created from the same exquisite lace used on Catey’s Inbal Dror wedding gown. This simple detail put a positive spin on an unavoidable hiccup!

Gifts That Keep On Giving:

From koozies to fans, sunglasses to shot glasses, many couples want to give their guests a small parting gift to remember the night. Throughout their day, Lauren and David included many special moments with their loved ones. The couple wrote handwritten notes to each other to read as they got ready, ahead of their first look. Before Lauren’s “first look” with her groom, she shared one with her dad and gifted him an embroidered handkerchief to remember the day.

Quirky Grooms:

Most people are focused on the bride’s accessories, but a groom with extra special touches is always a fun twist. At Liz and Connor’s late summer garden wedding, Liz accessorized her satin, fit-and-flare gown with a sparkly belt and Badgley Mischka heels. Her groom wore a gray suit from Joseph A Banks and personalized socks featuring their adorable dog’s face.

Pups Welcome:

At CJ’s Off The Square, we’re dog-friendly and love when our couples include their pups in their big days. Jessica and Eric pick CJ’s Off The Square as their perfect destination wedding. The New York City couple enlisted their bulldog Sargeant as their ring bearer. And he was dressed to impress!

Show Off Your Roots:

There’s nothing cooler than seeing two families come together and I’ve witnessed some culturally-rich ceremonies that are remarkably unique. Kalee, Aaron, and their families ensured heartwarming personal touches were felt throughout their big day. The groom’s family is from Hawaii, so the couple paid homage to traditional Hawaiian culture by incorporating Hawaiian wedding traditions into their ceremony and reception. Aaron’s mother even surprised the couple by performing the Hula just before dinner!

Find more inspiration, for “green weddings,” “intimate weddings,” “ or “boho weddings,” for your day on our blog or on Pinterest.

XO,

CJ