It's been quiet over here on Ida Street. In fact, if you've been paying attention, you might have noticed things have changed. My last name changed, my url redirects to a new space, my facebook page has been unpublished, and I've shifted my priorities. I've grown.
For the past seven years and twenty-seven days, this digital space has been my blog – first named Magical Simplicity, then Ida Street. I've shared some very weird posts, really thoughtful ones, really questionable fashion advice, and really fun DIYs. But for the past two years, it hasn't felt exactly right. I left Cincinnati. I got married. & there was something else lurking in my creative mind.
I finally identified it as Ida Blooms. I am the sole proprietor of a floral design and workshop entity focused on empowering the DIY bride and making flowers an achievable, accessible way to build relationships. I archived all of Ida Street Blog into a single folder (it's under the far right tab, for now), re-purposed the Squarespace platform, and refreshed the logo. Why? Because my mentality remains the same.
Ida Street was a place to document my growth, to learn, to share, and to love. I'm still doing that, just, in a new form. So, this is my last post. I've been working on it for a year. How fitting to post it today, on Jake & my's first anniversary, as a testament to our wedding and the day my new life began.
Thanks for the great ride, friends. Stay in touch.
xox
Annie
Oh what a nightttttt.
Late December, Back in '63.
What a very special time for meeeee.
As I remember, what a night.
Ok, not all of that is actually right.
It was May 27, back in '17.
Ya, just (two months, errr four, I mean six... that is exactly) one year ago. Clearly, I've been working on this post for a long time. Ha!
But it WAS a very special time for me.
It was the day Jake and I got married.
It was the culmination of a lot of effort, by a lot of people. It was fantastic vendors, amazing individuals, and delicious food. It was a day of love, of emotion, of promise. It was my best friends, my family, and my guy.
It was the day I became part of a pair.
It was incredible.
But, that doesn't describe it well enough.
So here's the video & some pictures <3
My goodness, it is so fun to look back at these! I can't believe we've already been married for a year! My best friend and role model, Natalie Folchi of Folchi Creative, did us the great honor of photographing our wedding. I am so, so proud of her, and SO in love with the result. Her second shooter was my great California friend, Diana Lustig.
The video – oh dear lord, the video – was shot by Shane Harrison. The editing and resulting work of art was completed by one of my longest friends, Jenna Heaton.
Our cake was made by Cincinnati-based organic baker, Angie Phillips of Canteen Bakery. Our bouquets and flower girl crown were made by Katie Smith of Katie's Blooms. The rest of the flower arrangements, and even the boutonnieres, I assembled with my sister, sister-in-law, mother, and mother in law (FOrEsHAdoWInG). I got the flowers at bloomsbythebox.com and had them delivered the Thursday before our wedding.
Our caterer, Jeff Thomas of THE Jeff Thomas Catering, ROCKED THIS WORLD. He is an event planning guru and made our day absolutely us. Our donuts were by Holtman's, though I did have to tactfully avoid saying I was ordering for a wedding....
We held our mass at St. Stephen's Church. Reception was across the street at the Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum. This is a very special neighborhood for us, because Jake and I met just up the street, at my post-college apartment, almost exactly four years before our wedding.
My solo bridal shoot was held at the Queen City Vignette studios. This was also our back-up location for family photos, in case of rain. But luckily, the rain held, and we got to do those at Alms Park – in my old neighborhood of Columbia Tusculum (remember this blog post about the park, from a million years ago??).
My bridesmaids and I stayed at this gorgeous Airbnb in OTR the night before and morning of the wedding. Our makeup and hair team, Hannah Quirk and Chelsea Skurow from Salon Oakley, were dreams. The rehearsal dinner was at 50 West Production Works.
Our stationary (invites, save the date, programs, etc) was the work of my talented littlest sister, Colleen Butler. Our "Hooray" cake topper was a gift from my two sisters' etsy shop, Hickory Twine. We had a great DJ (DJ CEO) and a live band (The Suede Jackets) who kept us dancing all night... with the help of an open bar by the awesome folks at DEPS Fine Wine and Liquor.
The bridesmaids ordered their dresses from Azazie.com. They had 50-some options to pick from in the color, material, and length I chose. My dress (ha, the real one, not this dress that almost was) and shoes were from BHLDN. I used a service called Once Wed to buy an unworn resale of the dress at a discount. I got alterations done here, in San Francisco, by Marissa at Tailor Maid. My veil was borrowed from a neighbor :)
My mom's dress was from BHLDN and my Mother in Law's dress was from Dillard's. The boys' suits were Tommy Hilfiger, modern-fit in plaid. We got them at Macy's. Their tie clips, ties, and Jake's bow tie were from The Tie Bar. Their crazy animal socks were from SockShop in Haight-Ashbury. My adorable flower girl got her boho dress on Etsy. Our super stylish ring bearer got his suspenders and bow tie on Amazon. Did he rock his vans or what?
Three days before the wedding, when our forecast said rain, we worked with The Alleen Co. to get a lighted tent for our patio. Best decision ever. Our guests loved it out there.
There are sooooo many vendors, friends/errand-runners, volunteers, and loved ones that made this day possible. They each own a piece of our heart for making our day a dream come true. & to all you awesome attendees.........
Ohhhhh what a niggghtt.