Two Be Wed » Inspiration

Life & Craft Workshop

Ashley Joseph — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:52:06 +0000

The inspiration for this styled shoot for the Life & Craft Workshop was drawn directly from the rugged ranch land while maintaining elegance with florals inspired by the Dutch Masters style. We incorporated metallic accents and touches of leather to create a masculine and sophisticated look. With a deep fall color palette, mixed metallics, and a subtle nod to Ralph Lauren’s ranch home in Ridgeway, the outcome is “ranch-refined” and distinctly Texan, a blend of Southern and Western in one aesthetic. Check out Southern Wedding’s feature for more photos from Luke & Cat.

The whole photo shoot became a masterpiece of the finer things of fall including the fall foliage perfection by Bramble and Bee that made up the bridal bouquet and table centerpiece and the fig inspired invitation suite and cake by Emily Reeves Calligraphy and Sugary and Chic.

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Photography: Luke & Cat Photography/ Style and Design: Catherine Duffin and Abby Mejia of Two Be Wed / Calligraphy: Emily Reeves Calligraphy / Dress: Hayley Paige from Now and Forever Bridal Boutique / Floral Design: Bramble and Bee / Rentals: The Foundry / Place Settings: Bering’s Hardware / Cake: Sugary and Chic / Hair and Makeup: Hey Lovely Makeup

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Dark to Light

Ashley Joseph — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:00:08 +0000

Sometimes thinking outside the box can pay off in spades. When Dana contacted us about this concept we were excited for the challenge to work on something that pushed our creative boundaries. This modern minimalist design that we lovingly know as “Dark to Light” was a breath of fresh air to style and design and we loved working with all of the vendors involved. From the acrylic invitations with glow in the dark ink by Nib and Pixel, to the hanging tulips and contrasting bouquet by Flower Power Productions, we just can’t get enough, and in case you can’t either you can head over to Mod Wedding for more!

Talk about FIERCE! We have to give a shout out to Hey Lovely Makeup for our model’s bold and gold flecked look! And that black and white cake was a creation unlike any we’ve seen before. Layer on layer of awesome by Buttercup Bakery.

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Photographer: Dana Fernandez Photography / Styling and Design: Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed / Florals, Candles and Candlesticks: Flower Power Productions / Invitations and Calligraphy: Nib and Pixel / Rentals: Swift & Company / Film Lab: The Find Lab / Cake: Buttercup / Makeup and Hair: Hey Lovely Makeup / Plates: A Finer Event / Linens: House of Hough / Gown: Elizabeth Dye

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Minimal Mod Rustic

Ashley Joseph — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 20:29:53 +0000

We love finding inspiration wherever we can, and this photo shoot idea originated on a recent trip to Round Top, one of our favorite Hill Country Destinations! The muted palette was pulled from a locally found tumbleweed – sand, honey, chestnut, rose and wild blue, allowing the outdoors to really shine! The Prairie was the ideal location to capture the open fields and rolling hills that we love about the Texas countryside. More of our modern rustic shoot is featured on Burnett’s Boards!

Each detail had a rustic feel with a minimal modern design – naked cake adorned with fresh greenery, natural linen stationery adorned with romantic script, tea-stained napkins and a full eucalyptus garland to anchor our tablescape. Wild lush greenery was the star of our floral design by F.Dellit Designs, with pops of minimal soft blooms.The Cascada gown from BHLDN was modest in design but full of movement and beauty. Overall a modern nod to the raw beauty of the countryside!

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Photography: Sharon Nicole / Styling and Planning: Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed / Floral Design: F. Dellit Designs / Dresses and Jewelry: BHLDN / Makeup: Glamour Express / Hair: Style It Up / Cake:Dolce Designs / Stationery: Artful Designs by Rachel Nieman / Location, Furniture: The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell in Roundtop, Texas.

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Gingham Garden Glam

Ashley Joseph — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 20:18:51 +0000

Inspired by the bold pattern of gingham, we set out to bring some extra glamour to this preppy staple. Set in the beautiful gardens of River Oaks Garden Center, this styled shoot brings together the classic garden style and adds some whimsical romance. Knowing that gingham is bold all alone, we used in sparingly in statement pieces that would really pop: backdrop, napkin, invitation, and cake. Our gals at Blush and Vine chose bright hues of red, pink and fuchsia to add a vibrant modern edge to the classic style. The tablescape was kept minimal to not outshine the garden landscape and really highlight the pop of gingham in our custom napkins, however the Louis Ghost chairs did all the magic for us – it was the perfect compliment for our pattern napkin and the right amount of modern! Hand painted touches including the stationery, cake and cookies emphasized the whimsical romance we aimed to capture. Head on over to Grey Likes Weddings to gush on more details!

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Photography: Sarah McKenzie Photography / Style and Design: Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed / Floral Design: Blush and Vine / Paper Products: Nib and Pixel / Cake: Hannah Joy’s Cakes / Cookies: Mrs. J’s Sugar Cookies / Linens and Napkins: House of Hough / Glassware: Recollection Vintage Rentals / Place Settings: A Finer Event / Ghost Chairs: Johanna Terry Events/ Venue: River Oaks Garden Club / Hair and Makeup: Adorne Artistry / Dress: BHLDN

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Groomsmen Gift Ideas

Ashley Joseph — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:00:14 +0000

Men can be hard to shop for, and in a world where the options are endless for bridesmaid gifts, sometimes we need a little help coming up with ideas for the fellas. We went on a search for some fun and unique ideas that won’t break the bank and will cause high fives all around. With the help of the website Groovy Groomsmen Gifts, and some local favorites, we rounded up 6 ideas that will be perfect gifts for your big day!

Photo by Joe Goger Photography

1. Vintage Cuff Links

Vintage Cuff Links are a great option for an eclectic gift that can be used for the wedding and beyond. You can choose different cuff links for each groomsman based on their personality and they will serve as a great keepsake after the big day! We found some great options at the local Houston Heights store, Manready Mercantile and there are plenty to choose from online!

Photo from Manready Mercantile

2. Monogrammed Leather Travel Bag

This leather travel kit is a great gift for the groom and his groomsmen. All the leather is genuine and soft, and the silver plate monogram is a nice added touch for customization. The compartments are roomy and you can even stand your shampoo and conditioner upright because of the style of the bag! Check out Groovy Groomsmen Gifts for this overall excellent product!

Photos from Groovy Groomsmen Gifts

3. Ties and Bowties

You can’t go wrong with gifting your guys a tie or bowtie. Just like the cuff links, this is something they can utilize on the wedding day and after. The options here are endless, but we recommend you have fun with it! This is a great place to incorporate color and personality into the groomsmen attire. Whether you find them at your favorite department store, or have them customized, this gift is sure to add some style.

Photo by Two Pair Photography

4. Glassware and bottle of favorite liquor

This gift is pretty self explanatory. If your group of guys enjoys a nice cocktail or a beer or two, glassware along with their beverage of choice is a practical gift that will be appreciated by all. We came across all kinds of options on Groovy Groomsmen Gifts including personalized decanters, whiskey stones and beer mugs.

Photos from Groovy Groomsmen Gifts

5. Handwritten letter with a picture framed from childhood, junior high, college, or recent years

Sentimentality isn’t only for the ladies, tell your men how much they mean to you with a thoughtful letter that reminisces on your times together, and thanks them for being there for you. Go through your old photos from high school and college, or dig up something from your childhood. This is something that the guys will be able to look back on for years to come.

Photo by Love Lee Photography

6. Grooming day

Sometimes gifts are great ways to drop a hint, and sometimes men love to be pampered as much as the ladies do. Treat your man or his groomsmen to a personal shave, hair cut, or even a MANicure. There are multiple shave shops in Houston that are definitely worth checking out, such as Cutthroat Barbers or The Boardroom Salon. Or you can gift him with his own shaving kit like the one we found at Manready Mercantile.

Photo from Manready Mercantile

Do you have any ideas? Share them in the comment section below!

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Afternoon Bike Ride

Ashley Joseph — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 16:30:10 +0000

While we are in the business of creating beautiful and meaningful weddings, we are also believers of having our couples create a marriage that is more amazing than what we design for their special day. One way that we recommend keeping marriage fun and exciting, is to never stop dating your spouse! Dates don’t have to be extravagant or expensive, just the two of you making time for each other and remembering what it was like to fall in love. Strolling around a new part of town, making a new recipe for dinner, or taking a bike ride are all great examples of ways to spend time quality time together. We loved collaborating with Cottage Hill Magazine for this photo shoot and having the opportunity to work with some very talented vendors such as Ashley Monogue and Bramble and Bee. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day or a sweeter couple to bring this date idea to life. You can see more on Cottage Hill’s online journal.

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Photography: Ashley Monogue / Vintage bicycles: Bourbon & Bloom Vintage Rentals, Recollection Vintage Rentals / Hair and Makeup: Hey Lovely / Floral Design: Bramble and Bee / Styling: Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed

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Well Plated

Ashley Joseph — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 19:00:55 +0000

The “Well Plated” feature in the new June issue of Houston Brides Modern Luxury showcases how to incorporate fine china into your wedding tablescape. We teamed up with some amazing local wedding vendors to show a couple of different options for using fine china in your wedding design – whether you use the same pattern or mix it up! Our part of the assignment was to focus on mixing and matching patterns, and we had so much fun developing a color scheme and design theme based off of Bering’s wide selection from their wedding registry options.

According to Bering’s Marketing Manager, Julie Shuford, ”more brides are mixing patterns to tailor their setting and personalize it to their style.” Forthe feature we used patterns from popular designers such as Robert Havliand, Royal Crown Derby, Herend’s, Mottahedeh, Bernaudaud’s, Gorham, and Waterford (just to name a few)! All of these designers and more can all be found at Bering’s.

The photo shoot wouldn’t have been complete without some finishing touches, including the paper products designed by Flash Paper Scissors and cake created by Dolce Designs. Inspired by the rich earth tones of the china, Flash Paper Scissors created a gorgeous suite as well as one of our favorite details, the menu that doubled as a place card! The cake followed along with the mixing of modern and traditional elements with it’s trendy shape and vintage china inspired design.

Thank you to all of the vendors who collaborated with us on this fun feature, and thank you to Houston Brides for including us!

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Photography: Kelli Elizabeth Photography / Florist: Bramble and Bee / Style and Design: Natalie Dawley of Two Be Wed / Stationery: Flash Paper Scissors / China, Glassware, Silverware: Bering’s Hardware/ Cake: Dolce Designs / Venue: McGovern Centennial Gardens / Linens: House of Hough / Rentals: Swift and Company

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Modern Industrial Deco

Ashley Joseph — Thu, 14 May 2015 16:00:36 +0000

Inspired by The Astorian‘s sleek industrial architecture and art deco touches, we set out to create an inspiration shoot that captured a modern and luxurious feel. One of our absolute favorite touches that really set the tone for the design, was the dress provided by Now and Forever Bridal Boutique. We knew as soon as we saw it, that this Hayley Paige dress was meant for what we were designing. The structure and design of the bodice, along with the flowing pleated skirt was the perfect combination of masculine and femimne. This carried over to our invitation suite provided by Bering’s Hardware. The lines on the stationery reflected the lines of the dress, and how could we resist the suite which was appropriately named “Gatsby.”

The amazing floral arrangements for the shoot were put together by Oui Floral. The designs included unusual and textural pieces that created a modern and architectural feel. The mirror and metal containers highlighted the industrial aspects of the venue. We also designed the table to be minimal and symmetrical, to where there would be nothing between you and the guest across from you, creating the ideal flow for conversation. This could be easily recreated on any long reception table. The most unique floral design was the groom’s boutonniere – nothing says like masculine like wrapped in metal.

A key element in the overall table designed was the hand selected, mix-matched china. We mixed two patterns from Bering’s, Robert Haviland Syracuse Taupe and Jaune de Chrome. While the Robert Haviland pieces provided an art deco inspired pattern, the Jaune de Chrome pattern was the perfect choice for a more masculine and industrial feel. This unique pattern is created by a special technique that combines rich, metallic glazes with refined colors. We had Sugary and Chic replicate this pattern onto the cake with an unusual shape to highlight the modern design and unique structure of the space.

Thank you to all of the vendors who helped bring this vision to life!

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Venue: The Astorian / Style and Design: Natalie Dawley of Two Be Wed / Photography: Joey T Photography / China, Flatware, Glassware, Napkins, Stationery: Bering’s Hardware / Dress: Now and Forever Bridal Boutique / Dress Designer: Hayley Paige / Hair: Aidah Sama / Makeup: Jennifer Aronson Makeup / Cake Design: Sugary and Chic Cake Boutique / Floral and Decor: Oui Floral & Events / Linens: Party Cloths / Models: Neal Hamil Agency / Chameleon Chairs: Johanna Terry Events

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Ashley + Matthew Proposal

Ashley Joseph — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:30:23 +0000

When your aunt is a talented wedding photographer, why wouldn’t you go to her for help planning your proposal?! Matthew approached Dana Fernandez Photography about two weeks before he was planning to propose to his sweetheart, Ashley, to see if she would be able to capture the special moment for them. An idea that started as a causal picnic along Buffalo Bayou, turned into a styled shoot in disguise! With the help of some industry friends, the “styled shoot” came to life in just a few days and was filled with special touches that turned it into the perfect backdrop for one of the biggest moments of Ashley and Matthew’s lives! What an honor to have their special moment featured on Style Me Pretty!

Knowing that most girls would love to be all dressed up and looking their best for their big moment (that was also to be captured on film), Dana played off the proposal as a last minute model cancellation for her “styled shoot” aka Matthew’s surprise proposal. Playing model, Ashley was able to get her hair and make up done by the wonderful ladies at Hey Lovely and not suspect a thing! When Ashley and Matthew arrived at the location, Ashley first noticed was the cute “Pinterest worthy” picnic set up, and as got closer she realized the blanket was covered in photos of the couple throughout their relationship. Immediately she had a feeling for what was about to happen!

Before she could take a breath, Matthew was down on one knee attempting the speech he had prepared, both of them in tears. With a huge smile on her face, Ashley said “YES!” before Matthew had even finished popping the big question. The couple toasted to their engagement out of Matthew’s parents wedding flutes paired with custom Buttercup Bakery macaroons as Dana captured a few irreplaceable photos.

More of how it all began from the blushing bride to be:

It all began one night I was watching the Texans beat the Jets and friends, who were in town for a conference, invited me to go out with them. I was reluctant to go out on a Monday night, but I had strong intuition that I should go. After all, it would be fun to catch up with old friends. Not knowing what fate had in store, I met my friends at Pat O’Brien’s piano bar where I spotted a tall, handsome man wearing a Texans jersey. I excitedly went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. I seriously just wanted to know if he watched the game (I swear!); the fact that he was super cute was just a bonus! For the remainder of the night, it seemed like we were the only ones in the crowded bar as we talked and were just completely in awe of each other.

Since that night, we have shared a countless number of adventures both big and small. From movie nights in with homemade pizza, cheering on our teams at sporting events, traveling to places like Disney World and Germany, checking out the new hot restaurants, to just running errands; all are amazing experiences with Matthew by my side. That is why it did not take me by surprise when we were asked to participate in a styled shoot one weekend. I thought it was just another fun day for us. Unsure of what exactly a style shoot entailed, I was just happy to help out photographer, friend, and Matthew’s aunt, Dana Fernandez. After getting my hair and makeup done we arrived at a park. We walked up to a romantic picnic set up- something that you would only see on Pinterest (not “real” life). “This is so cute!” I shrieked. I then noticed pictures of Matthew and I covered the blanket, and my heart skipped a beat. Before I could take another breath, Matthew was down on one knee and the biggest smile spread across my face. He started to give a speech, but we both just started to cry. I was so full of joy that I started to say “yes” before he even popped the question. We had a beautiful proposal/engagement photo-shoot to follow. The whole experience was perfect and a time I will always cherish. I am so blessed that this special day means we will continue our adventures through life together, forever!

We are so thrilled that we were able to be a part of this surprise picnic proposal and are looking forward to helping the couple plan their wedding! These adventurers are just getting started and we can’t wait to see where life takes them!

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Photography: Dana Fernandez Photography / Style and Design: Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed / Florals: Blush and Vine / Desserts: Buttercup Bakery / Hair and Makeup: Hey Lovely / Ring Holder: Anthropologie / Lab: The Find Lab

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Modern Love

Ashley Joseph — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:30:02 +0000

We put our own sophisticated twist on a beloved wedding color: mint. Every element was “mint” to be for the Modern Love shoot as it was all custom made and hand selected. We really wanted to capture how traditional items could be made new again with a fresh perspective. For example, choosing to use silver accents instead of gold allowed us to represent the types of items that would be passed down from a family member. The beautiful private estate used for the shoot was a huge source of inspiration and provided the perfect backdrop. The two large mirrors framing the table only added to the elegance, and Blush and Vine outdid themselves with the luxurious, loosely arranged centerpieces.

The one of a kind invitations designed by Lavender and Mint were first letterpressed on white stock, watercolored in a light mint and finished off with blush silk ribbon by Frou Frou. A custom monogram was designed and used throughout the table, on the menu, the ice cream cone wrappers, and even on one of the many small cakes designed by Sugary and Chic.

To add a modern approach to the traditional china place settings provided by Swift + Company, we positioned the flatware diagonally. This was inspired by two restaurants in Louisville who present their tables this way.

Using mint, blush and pearl for our color palette, we decided to add a contrast with black accents to modernize the design and allow it to really stand out. As a nod to the color palette we also incorporated the mint chocolate chip ice cream in the cones with the custom “Mint to Be” wrappers.

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Photography: Laurie Perez Photography / Style and Design: Natalie Dawley of Two Be Wed / Florals: Blush and Vine / Furniture, China and Rentals: Swift + Company / Cakes: Sugary and Chic Cake Boutique / Invitations and Paper Goods: Lavender and Mint / Illustration and Printing: Mesh by Alex / Calligraphy: Meredith Allison Calligraphy

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