November 4th, 2016
One of the most exciting parts of the creative process is the opportunity to tell stories. With each custom order we design, we hope to portray something that is uniquely yours. For some clients, this means lots of color and floral graphics; for others, it might be clean lines and a neutral palette. Regardless of your style or taste, we love the task of illustrating your journey! A custom-designed map as a Save the Date or insert in your wedding suite is a fun and unique way to invite friends and family into the story you’re writing. It shows them where you’ve been, where you’re going, and how they get to be part of that journey.
The elements and purpose of a map are entirely up to you. It might serve as a guide for your wedding guests, providing a brief orientation of your wedding weekend. It might also chronicle your relationship through significant moments and the places that landmark them. It might do both! Whatever your story, we’d love to hear it and help you share it with the ones you hold dear.
Fun elements you might include: Hometowns, where you met, first date, first kiss, proposal site, wedding/reception venues, honeymoon, or really any memory that’s special to you!
If you’re interested in a map for your save the date or as part of your wedding suite, visit our save the dates page. We would be honored to help tell your story – contact us today!
August 19th, 2016
Tucked somewhere in the hills of Tennessee, a foggy lake resort provided the perfect backdrop for a Jane Austen-worthy romance come-to-life. Emily and Matthew’s April wedding struck the perfect balance between timeless and bold. A love for Pride and Prejudice and family traditions at the lake inspired the vision for Emily’s wedding. This combination threw not only a first-class party, but also emulated the whimsy of being “completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy.”
The Happy Couple’s Names: Emily and Matthew Smith
Wedding Date: April 30, 2016
Location: Four Seasons Resort – Center Hill Lake – Smithville, TN
Tell us “your story” in a few sentences.
Matthew and I both graduated from the University of Tennessee where we met through a mutual friend, Corbin Taylor. Although we met several times throughout college, Matthew is very quiet, and we never really talked. It wasn’t until Matthew moved back to Nashville after a year in Atlanta in August of 2014 that we randomly met again and began to talk. Our first date was at the 12th South Taproom followed by a trip to Jeni’s ice cream. We bonded over our love for Tennessee football and Matthew’s willingness to try new things: snow-skiing, water-skiing, and all things lake. He then proposed to me in November of 2015 at the lake.
Pick three words to describe your wedding.
Romantic, whimsical, fun.
We chose to feature your wedding, which means we love your style! Tell us a little bit about your wedding aesthetics (colors, inspiration, personal style, etc).
Most of the inspiration came from the location. I grew up going to Center Hill Lake with my family every weekend, no matter what the season. It’s a very special place for my family, and it’s where Matthew chose to propose to me. So a lot of the rustic details were inspired by the lake itself. I also wanted it to feel romantic and elegant, and one of my other favorite things is Pride and Prejudice. So the theme of the wedding became a sort of Jane Austen meets rustic lake wedding.
The colors were chosen based on what flowers I love. I thought the contrast of bright pinks would look stunning against all the natural greenery at the lake. There are accents of gold, because it’s such an elegant and warm color. The bridesmaids’ dresses are navy because it’s such a universally flattering color that is almost like a neutral with all the bright colors against it.
My personal style is a unique mixture of classy and whimsical. I wanted the wedding to have a sense of timelessness, but also to have bold elements that might surprise people.
What was your favorite detail from the day?
Oh, that’s so hard! One of my favorite “fun” details was our groom’s cake topper. We had it hand-made by a lady in Hong Kong. It looks like I’m dragging Matthew off the golf course. As far as my favorite pretty detail, it’s definitely the invitations. They set the mood for the wedding, and people still tell me how much they loved them. They perfectly captured the mood: fun, beautiful, and unique! Plus, we carried over the wax seal to our escort cards, which were absolutely gorgeous. They ended up being the inspiration for so many other details including our cake, where they hand painted a replica of our custom crest.
What’s one thing you wish you would have known before you started wedding planning?
I think it’s good to have people around you throughout the wedding planning process to keep you grounded. Matthew was always reminding me that in the end, it was about us getting married. And my parents were great reminders that some things are just out of our control.
Tell us why you love EOH custom paper lovelies!
Emily was such a joy to work with throughout the whole process. She was able to understand our vision and work with us to perfect every tedious detail. The invitations were so amazing that we ended up recruiting her to make our menu board, our programs, signage for around the wedding, bar menus, and our escort cards. Everything was finished quickly, and she kept us updated throughout the whole process. My heart would leap for joy when I’d see a proof in my inbox.
We were so thrilled to work alongside the Sullivan family! If you don’t know this family, you are missing out. They are joyful, honest, encouraging, and continuously pour hospitality and generosity over everyone they meet. Their love for the Lord is evident in the grace with which they love those around them. Thank you for being a cheerleader of EOH from early on. Thank you for sharing your zeal for life with us. Thank you for showing us how to truly celebrate the big and small seasons of life. We count ourselves as blessed to know you. I think you can tell by the fist pump and 4-wheeler covered with twinkle lights what a great duo this is — wishing you many more days full of golf afternoons and lake parties!
Vendor Information
Dress: The Dress Theory Nashville
Accessories: Garter: handmade from my mom’s rehearsal dinner dress by Alterations by Tu; Earrings: BHLDN
Venue: Four Seasons Resort & Marina
Photography: Nyk & Cali Photography; photos of invitation suite by Cassidy Carson
Wedding Planner: Naomi Vivian of At First Blush & Co.
Paper: Emily O. Holmes
Flowers: Claudia Armstrong
Caterer: Temple Catering
Cake: The Frosted Affair
Groom’s cake: Dessert Designs
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Flatware & Linens: Southern Events
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Kennedy Blue Olivia dress in Navy; Necklaces from MignonandMignon
Groomsmens’ Attire: Men’s Wearhouse; Groom’s bowtie & groomsmen’s pins: Brackish Bowties
Make-up: Amanda Paige Gros
Band: Stretta Band
Videographer: White Heart Wedding Films
February 25th, 2016
We have the privilege of getting to walk alongside some inspiring, growing, and dynamic creatives as we navigate the small biz world as creators ourselves. In our blog column, In Good Co., we want to feature some of these artists and share a little of the story behind their craft, how they create their work, and what makes them tick as a artist.
As featured in some of our past holiday posts, we are thrilled to finally interview Olivia Terrell, jewelry maker and creative, who places intricate art and care in every handmade piece. Her simple products are eye-catching, bold, yet dainty. We truly admire her amazing creativity, joy for life, and depth. We feel like Olivia was one of the first artists developing the minimal look that is at the peak of design and style today. What makes her unique is her desire to merge past influences with her present ideas and designs. Check out her past lookbooks before you continue reading! We can’t wait for you all to get to know Olivia and her more about her story, craft, and passions!
What is your story?
As far back as I can remember, I was always drawn to anything that required working with my hands. Whether it was handmade gifts for family, arranging flowers (weeds) in the backyard, or obsessing over friendship bracelets, I was in love with making things for other people to enjoy. I was and still am interested in the source of objects; where a particular object comes from, how it’s made, who made it, etc. I think once i figured out that I could form something that could then be worn or serve a utilitarian purpose, I was hooked on the idea. I learned traditional metalsmithing techniques and received my B.F.A. from the University of Georgia in Jewelry and Metals—Yes, you can study cool things like that in college!
What is your craft?
I am a jewelry designer and maker. I create every piece from beginning sketch to final product, which I love because, for me, the process is just as important as the end result. I work mostly in brass, gold and silver and create pieces that toe the line between fashion and art. Jewelry is such a sentimental art form that often carries a story—like wedding rings or your grandmother’s old locket—so I hope to create pieces that are simple in form, but tiny statements or conversation starters.
Where do you find inspiration?
I think about inspiration in two ways: there’s the active and passive ways seeking of inspiration. By passive, I mean that I find a lot of inspiration just in my daily life walking around New York City, taking in all the sights, smells, sounds, etc. Architecture is a big one for me. I love buildings and industrial materials. But I think that is just a product of having lived a city lifestyle for the last several years. I wasn’t particularly drawn to urban landscapes until experiencing them, and now I can’t seem to separate the forms I am creating from my everyday life. When actively seeking inspiration, I set aside times to allow myself to be a sponge. During these times I usually stay away from things like social media as I find they can cloud my creativity, initially. Don’t get me wrong, Instagram and Google are wonderful tools, but I think it’s a healthy practice to not solely rely on the internet as a source of inspiration. I visit museums, libraries, parks, and more. I people-watch. I sketch. I take a lot of photos. I eat good food. I do things that give me energy.
Favorite EOH paper?
I have received a lot of Emily’s invitations and Christmas cards in the mail over the years—it’s hard to pick one! She designed my bridesmaids’ lunch invitation (many moons ago), and I always loved it! I have also been swooning over some of the more recent wedding invitation suites done with watercolor. They are so beautiful!
Thank you so much Olivia for sharing your story with us! We are so thankful to partner with small business owners who share like-minded big dreams and love paying attention to the tiniest of details. To learn more & see additional photos of her collections, visit her site here! OH, and check out their sweet little casa on Design*Sponge – they were featured last year when she and her husband, Andrew, lived in Spain!! Great taste in every area of life!
