{Sneak Peek} Lauren & Tristan

Happy Friday!  Do you have big plans for Superbowl Sunday?  I'll be honest- I'm only in it for the party food & good company.  Everyone has been speculating whether or not there would be snow for the big game but it looks like it will just be really cold.  Speaking of snow, here is a sneak peek at next Wedding Wednesday:

  
All week long I've been waxing poetic about the beauty of snow on a winter wedding day.  But what about snow on a spring wedding day?!  Well, let me tell you, it's quite beautiful too.  Anything can happen in Colorado!  & the happy couple handled the surprising weather like troopers.  Tune in next week to see every snowy spring detail!

In case you missed it, check out this week's stunning Bohemian Rustic British Columbia Wedding.

Enjoy your weekend!

Photography: Elegant Images- Colorado

{weddings} snowy romance

Oh my snowflakes, how moody & romantic is this snowy winter wedding?!

On Tuesday, I highlighted how even a touch of snow can add such beauty to a winter wedding.  I had this image saved for that post then decided it was oh so incredible, it had to stand on its own.  In all its snowy winter glory!

Photography: James Christianson via

{weddings} hello, winter weddings

Winter is here in all its glory!  All its cozy, romantic glory.  We're already several beautiful snowstorms into winter in my little corner of the world.  & with winter, come one of my very favorite things- winter weddings!

You may or may not realize that winter weddings are my absolute favorite.  I find winter so romantic because my husband & I met, got engaged & got married in winter.  While winter weddings are getting more & more love, I still find the coverage a bit short compared to the other seasons.  I even find the winter wedding submissions for this blog are few & far between.  Grab a cup of salted caramel hot chocolate (my new love!) & be prepared to enjoy lots of winter wedding magic in the coming weeks!  


Photography: Carmen and Ingo Photography via

{Holidays 2013} snowy days

Hello there!  Thank you SO very much for your patience.  I'm feeling much better & I've somewhat caught up on my holiday to-do list.  I've missed everyone & I can't wait to catch up on your blogs!  As I write this, we're getting our fourth (!!!!) snowstorm in two weeks.  Our Christmas tree is twinkling in the living room window as the snow swirls in the background which is becoming a common sight.  Quite pretty & cozy!  We're not expecting anything major, just a few more inches to keep our little world white & beautiful.  It's just the perfect day to curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate & catch up with the rest of the world.  The scene above is from earlier today when Beagle Bailey & I had to venture out for a walk in our local park.  We both agree that the warm, comfy couch is the place to be today.  I hope today finds each of you happy, healthy & cozy too!

Photo: Koru Wedding on Instagram 

how about a blanket?

Our Winter Wedding celebration continues!

Yesterday, I wrote about the fur/fake fur stole as an absolute essential for a Winter Bride to look fabulous & stay warm.  Of course, I adore a creative Bride who has her own ideas for looking awesome & keeping toasty! 

To stay warm & dry on her winter wedding day, this savvy Bride grabbed a black umbrella, a striped blanket & tall boots.  The Bride wouldn't let a little snow ruin her plans for outdoor photos.  The results are charming!  

&, if I've said it once I've said it a million times, a good attitude & bright smile will ALWAYS make for great photos, no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.  In this montage, we don't witness the huge smiles but photos like that wouldn't be possible without a sunny attitude.  Maybe a positive attitude & a big smile are the true, must-have essentials for your wedding day!

Photo by Sarah Culver Photography via

Hello, Winter?

Old Man Winter, you have really, truly disappointed me this year.  One measly snowstorm?  Come on, it's embarassing at this point.  If I did my job so poorly, Koru Wedding Shoppe would be out of business.

Yes, my dears, my winter-loving heart has been broken in 2012.  Now luckily for my winter wedding loving-heart, there has been plenty of snowy wedding goodness to keep my heart beating.  Naturally, I must share my wintery favorites with you!

A  kiss is just a kiss, unless it's a kiss against a snowy backdrop:

Why not romp through the snow on the joyous day of your winter elopement? 

A little walk on the winter wedding wild side:

And this is one beautifully accessorized winter Bride (the cardigan, the necklace, the boots!)

 

I heart winter weddings SO much.  I have a little more winter loveliness to share next week, then I promise to move on to spring weddings.  Tell me, what is your favorite wedding season & why?

Photo 1 via; Photo 2 via; Photo 3 via; Photo 4 via

Koru Kate Finds: Simple Pleasures

Last Saturday, this winter-loving girl finally got what she had been not-so-patiently waiting for: SNOW!  We received about five inches of the white, fluffy stuff, just the perfect amount to turn our city into a winter wonderland.  It wasn't enough to bring the world to a halt with closed stores & such.  But RZ & I decided it was enough to bring our world to a halt. 

We bundled up & headed outside with our Beagle Bailey for a fun, winter walk:

Beagle Bailey wasn't thrilled at first & spent the first five minutes trying to convince us to go back inside.  The humans prevailed.  Once we got to the snowy park, he really got into the spirit of things.  He was running & jumping in the snow like an excited puppy.  Adorable!

He even humored me by posing in the snow for the perfect winter photo: 

It was the most fantastic winter afternoon with RZ & our pup.  Lots of smiles & laughter.  The fun lasted long after we headed home:

The day grew colder & colder until night fell while we stayed warm & cozy inside.  We did little except nap, read & relax.  Dinner called for a delicious meal delivered from a new restaurant & entertainment was watching a movie by candlelight.  I loved every last moment.

In day-to-day life, I'm guilty of getting caught in the hustle & bustle by constantly working towards my latest goal or lusting after the latest shiny, new object.  It's so easy to forget the simple, wonderful pleasures like a lazy day spent with my husband & our pup.  Today's Koru Kate Finds is Simple Pleasures- find them & enjoy them!   

First Look, snow-style

When I was a Bride planning my Winter Wedding, there was not a lot of inspiration to be found in wedding blogs or magazines.  Spring, Summer & Fall weddings were clearly favored. Thankfully, two years later (wow, where did the time go?!), Winter Weddings are getting more of their well-deserved time in the spotlight.  Here at Koru Wedding Style, I will never tire of featuring Brides & Grooms enjoying their Winter Weddings.

How about a Winter Wedding gem like this?

Such a stunning black & white image of a Bride & Groom sharing their First Look in a snowy landscape. This Winter Wedding delivers big time!


Photo by Alison Conklin via

Take That, Blizzard

If you've hung around Koru Wedding Style long enough, you know I'm a big fan of winter weddings.  Clearly as a winter Bride, I'm biased.  But with fun photos like this, can you blame me for loving winter weddings?

Snow + Smile + Sass = Delightful Winter Wedding Magic.   

A little backstory: this is a wedding day blizzard.  Not just some pretty snow.  A blizzard!

The way I see it, there are two options when faced with a wedding day blizzard.  You can scream, cry & curse the wedding weather gods.  Or you can keep smiling & make the best of it.  Clearly, this wise Bride chose the Option Two.

The Bride slapped on her snow boots, grabbed her umbrella, hitched her dress & made a beeline to the church to marry her Groom.  & did some high kicks on the way!  Ah, the true spirit of a gracious Bride.
 
Brides of all seasons, remember that anything can & may happen on your wedding day.  The key is how you choose to handle it.  Don't let anything ruin the beautiful day you say "I Do!"  

Photo via

Snowflake Smile

Winter Brides may not be able to say their vows in a beautiful garden or stroll among fields of lavender for photos.  But Winter Brides can have fun too, despite the cold & snow!  Don't believe me?  Just look at this Bride's joyful snowflake smile!

Photo via A Practical Wedding

Dear Hero, Merry Christmas

I began crafting holiday cards this weekend but before I started the cards for our friends & family, I made one special card.  I don't know the recipient personally.  I will never meet this person.  Yet this person is my hero.


I crafted this card with care, appreciation & love for our U.S. military servicemen & women.  Penned to "Dear Service Member," my card included heartfelt thanks & holiday wishes.


I sent my handmade card to Holiday Mail for Heroes, a wonderful organization that collects & distributes the holiday mail to U.S. military service members, veterans & their families throughout the United States & the world.  Imagine how much an extra dose of holiday cheer & gratitude may mean to brave soldiers protecting our freedom, many of whom are far from their home for the holiday season.  Thanks to the Red Cross & its partner Pitney Bowes, now we have the golden opportunity to shower our heroic, deserving military men & women with some extra love & attention during 
the holiday season.   


Sounds good, yes?  It's easy to show your support & send holiday cheer to our military.  By Friday, December 9, simply send a signed card or letter to:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

For more information, please visit Holiday Mail for Heroes.

I was inspired by Chandra of Oh Lovely Day to participate this year; I hope this post inspires you to send a card!

Card & Image (apologies for low light!) by Koru Kate

Are We There Yet?!

2010 ended with a blizzard; 2011 starts with another six inches of snow. It's quite beautiful, nearby Columbus Park shown here:


Bailey adores the white stuff which results in long, wet, cold walks:


And makes me look forward to our Hawaii honeymoon more & more! Here is our honeymoon travel information, so beautifully packaged:


We are counting the days until we are relaxing as newlyweds on a warm, picturesque beach!

Too Much

Ask me about our wedding & I will most likely reply, "Winter White Wedding." Whites, creams, champagnes; simple & sweet. I'm very careful not follow in the footsteps of Marcy & Dan & describe a "Winter Wonderland Wedding" which brought them a wedding day blizzard. I'd like just enough snow for pretty photos but not so much our guests have a tough time traveling. In my ideal world, we have a beautiful dusting of snow on our winter white wedding day. Is that too much to ask?

Just imagine us posed here in snowy Church Square Park:


Or here, walking among the quaint, brownstone-lined streets & snowy trees:



Or perhaps here, coming down a staircase of snow swirls:


Oops, how did this photo get here?! I couldn't resist adding this photo of my cute boy Gucci when I came across it searching for the other winter pictures. Sadly, we won't be posing with Gucci (how I wish!) on our wedding day but I hope to snap some wedding photos with our new boy Bailey.


Who knows, maybe a snowy wedding day is too much to ask, although it would be really, really cool. Our wedding day will be perfect no matter what!

The Proposal

"We shall walk hand in hand into every day of our lives." ~author unknown

Engaged: I'm engaged!

The perfect proposal deserves the perfect description. To be honest, everything I have started to write just doesn't seem to do everything justice. The best I can do is provide a sweet image taken moments after the proposal & pair it with a great quote. I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite quotes (featured here in January) as we held hands & walked along the secluded beach moments after our proposal. Inspired by that lovely quote, we paused to take this photograph. The photo & the quote seem to convey everything for me.

I started this blog to share things that inspire me & my wedding business with you. Now I can also share the things that inspire me & our wedding with you. As a wedding planner & a Bride, I can only imagine how exciting things are going to be in the near future. Please follow me & enjoy the journey!!!

Real Wedding: Let It Snow

A blizzard doesn't stop this beautiful Bride! Check out her Ugg boots!

A sparkly winter wonderland reception at Crystal Plaza

The New Mr. and Mrs. smiled & laughed throughout their wedding day

February 12 is an incredibly special day for me. On February 12, 2006, I planned & coordinated my first wedding for Koru Wedding Shoppe. I was blessed to work with an amazing couple, Marcy & Dan, on their winter wonderland wedding. To top it off, Mother Nature brought us a blizzard on Marcy & Dan's wedding day. My first Koru wedding, my first Koru couple & my first wedding day BLIZZARD! What a day!

The "Let It Snow" wedding was a success, mostly due to the grace of Marcy & Dan. A raging blizzard might rattle the nerves of the best Brides & Grooms, as you can imagine. After all, I have witnessed Brides & Grooms flip out over much less pressing matters, such as ceremony flowers being delivered late or one reception table bearing the wrong chargers. Once I confirmed the church & the reception hall were open so the show could go on, Marcy & Dan didn't bat an eyelash over the snowstorm. Maybe the guest list would be smaller, maybe the transportation would consist of my Jeep, maybe the church flowers would be late, etc (none of these things happened). They didn't care as long as they became Mr. and Mrs. They smiled, laughed & loved their way through their wedding. I tell all of my Brides & Grooms about Marcy & Dan as a lesson not to sweat the small stuff. As long as you get down the aisle & exchange vows, just relax, let go & have fun!

As a planner, I learned much from this wedding. First, this wedding taught me that I can & will handle everything & anything that is thrown my way at a wedding. Everyone comments about my calm demeanor at weddings. I have the confidence that I can navigate any problem after dealing with testy Mother Nature. Bring it on! Two, a talented vendor team is of utmost importance. If Marcy & Dan's fabulous vendors hadn't stepped up to the plate, I would be here writing about a complete disaster of a wedding. When one transportation vendor dropped out due to the snow, another one saved the day. I couldn't have done it alone & it was a relief to know each vendor was willing to go the extra mile in the snow. Make sure you trust all of your vendors to work for you, no matter what happens.

For more photos from "Let It Snow," please visit Koru's Gallery. A big "Thank you!!!" to Joshua Zuckerman Photography for the glorious photographs.

Marcy & Dan, Happy Fourth Anniversary! Cheers to your continued Happily Ever After~