From A Wedding Planner: What I Loved about our Wedding Day, and What I Would Have Done Differently

May 9, 2018 Abby Giffin

Heirloom Event Co. | Elawa Farm | Photo by Maria Harte Photography

This month Mike and I celebrate our one year wedding anniversary! One year feels like both a lifetime and the blink of an eye all wrapped into one. From planning our wedding to buying our first home, expanding the business and introducing new planning resources, it has been a really full year in some hard and beautiful ways. Today I’m giving you an honest look back on my own wedding day one year later.

Wedding Planning Basics Video Series // The FIRST Thing You Should Do to Start Your Planning

May 1, 2018 Abby Giffin

Heirloom Event Co. Wedding Planning Basics Series

Hello Friends! Today I’m kicking off a brand new series here on the blog.

The Wedding Planning Basics Series walks you through the five most crucial elements at the beginning of your wedding planning journey!

The heart of Heirloom is about creating an engagement, wedding celebration and LIFE that are right for you. This series is packed full of my philosophies, best tips and action steps on just how to do that. As an even better treat, each post in this series includes a totally free video from me walking you through each one of these tenets.

Browse A Category

January 7, 2018 Abby Giffin

Heirloom Event Co. Blog | Weddings Category

Heirloom Event Co. Blog | Planning Category

Heirloom Event Co. Blog | Business Category

Heirloom Event Co. Blog | Personal Category

Hey Abby // How To Make A Seating Chart Your Wedding Guests Will Love

May 22, 2017 Abby Giffin

One of the best compliments I received from our wedding was that our family and friends felt like they had great conversations over dinner and were able to meet new people they had a lot in common with. Carefully selecting the seating arrangements at your wedding can foster new bonds and relationships between the people in your life, allow your guests to have a fun and lively dinner together, and kick off a GREAT party.

Here’s my three-step formula for making the perfect seating chart:

A Life Lately Update!

May 19, 2017 Abby Giffin

It’s been a bit since I’ve posted an update about the happenings here at Heirloom and for life in general, so I thought this rainy Friday afternoon might just be the perfect time to catch you up! I have a steaming cup of tea next to me in my office and multiple dogs sleeping by my feet.

So...a few big things have happened in the last few months:

5 Tips to Create Beautifully Personalized Wedding Welcome Bags

April 5, 2017 Abby Giffin

5 Tips for Personalized Welcome Bags // Heirloom Event Co.

Welcome bags are most certainly my love language! Creating a special welcome for your guests who have traveled for miles and carved a weekend out of their schedules is a lovely way to say thank you. But, it doesn't have to be complicated. A few creature comforts go a very long way. Today Molly from Flour & Fig is sharing some great tips on how to thoughtfully welcome your guests in a beautifully personalized way!

Hey Abby? // Can I Use An Electronic RSVP?

March 6, 2017 Abby Giffin

So here’s the deal. Traditional wedding etiquette stipulates the only way for guests to RSVP to your wedding is through a paper response card. This will always be a very beautiful way to collect your guest responses and is the right choice for many people. However, electronic response collection is gaining popularity for ease of use and is no longer considered tacky when done well. As with many of your wedding decisions, the best choice will be based on individual factors and what’s most important to you. Here are some reasons paper vs. electronic may be YOUR best option:

5 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Paper

February 22, 2017 Abby Giffin

Bespoke wedding paper is a great way to incorporate some meaningful custom detail into your big day—uniquely highlighting your personalities and memories together. A beautiful invitation suite can also double as a frameable keepsake to adorn your walls long after the wedding.

If you're looking to create customized paper for your event, here are a few ideas for inspiration:

How to Plan Your Wedding With Style and Substance

February 20, 2017 Abby Giffin

Weddings are a wonderful time to bring together family, friends and acquaintances to share in the experience of your marriage. They also are large scale events with a lot of moving pieces and a short time frame. The mentality that it’s “just one day” often leads people to choose items for their wedding that feel disposable.

“It all gets thrown away tomorrow, so it doesn’t really matter” - This statement makes my stomach turn.

Hey Abby? // How To Plan Your Wedding When There Are Bigger Things Happening in the World?

February 2, 2017 Abby Giffin

Today’s Hey Abby post is slightly different. No specific logistical question to answer or decor item to comment on. I wanted to talk about something else that seems especially relevant right now. When you’re engaged and in the thick of planning, you just want to shout from the roof about all.things.weddings! The beautiful silk ribbon you found, or the welcome cocktail you selected feel like the biggest victories of your week.

But what happens when there’s something bigger going on in your life? It might be things that are happening in the world in general, or in our political arena that you feel incredibly passionate about. Or it might be something much more personal, such as a family member struggling with illness, the death of someone close to you, or other loss.

Tips for Hiring and Working with a Videographer

January 5, 2017 Abby Giffin

Heirloom Event Co. // Tips for Hiring a Wedding Videographer

Are you looking to hire a videographer? This post is jammed packed with great insights from BOTH the client and vendor perspective!

How To Gracefully Answer Wedding Planning Questions at the Holiday Table

November 21, 2016 Abby Giffin

Graceful Holiday Questions // Heirloom Event Co.

This week so many of us will be sitting down to holiday tables with friends, relatives, in-laws, friends of friends, and likely some people you’ve never met before, all who want to know the details about how your planning process is going! Here are some tips on how to navigate the questions gracefully without ruining your favorite side dish (#teammashedpototes!).

Hey Abby? // Should I Include a Bouquet and Garter Toss?....and some thoughts on Wedding FOMO.

November 7, 2016 Abby Giffin

Hey Abby // Should I include a Bouquet Toss?

Hey Abby,
I can’t decide if I should include a bouquet/garter toss in my reception. It feels like an antiquated tradition. I’m worried my single girlfriends won’t like being called out, and I always hate watching the garter toss as a guest. But I don’t want to miss out on anything or look back and regret not doing it.

Hey Abby? // Should My Wedding Party Get A Plus-One?

October 31, 2016 Abby Giffin

Heirloom Event Co. // Should My Wedding Party Get A Plus-One?

Hey Abby:
When I’m determining my guest list, should I include a plus-one guest for the members of my wedding party?

Oh, the hotly debated plus-one guest conundrum. I’ve seen even the most aligned couples and friends become vastly divided on this topic.

City Vs. Country Wedding Inspiration

October 27, 2016 Abby Giffin

City Wedding Inspiration // Heirloom Event Co.

My life is a constant pull between city life and country fantasies. Having lived nearly my entire adult life in large cities, I'm so comfortable strolling down city blocks and hustling through train turnstiles. And yet, every free day I get, I find myself in the car driving out to the country to just feel like I can breathe again. The constant grass is always greener situation.

Some of my clients know immediately which feeling they want for their wedding, and others are right there in the same struggle of city lights over country charm.

So which one is more your style? City or Country?

How to Plan Your First Look

October 26, 2016 Abby Giffin

Image Credit: Nancy Marie Photography

There are many factors that will go into your decision to have a first look or not. Consider your personal wishes, the wishes of your partner, the schedule for your day and how you’d like to spend the hours leading up to your wedding.

If you decide that a first look is right for you, here are some tips on how to pull off a great one:

Room to Wedding: Vol III

October 25, 2016 Abby Giffin

This morning's Room to Wedding edition is inspired my a children's room! Yes, you read that correctly. A deeply fabulous children's room for sure! From the home of Christine Dovey, originally seen on Style Me Pretty Living, I loved the mix of subtle patter and texture and the soft pops of color.

Hey Abby? // Can I mix metal tones at my wedding?

October 24, 2016 Abby Giffin

Hey Abby:
Should I mix metals tones in my wedding design, or should I stick with all one tone?

This is a question I get ALL the time! There’s a deeply rooted seed that we learned somewhere in our mother’s or grandmother’s closets that metals are not meant to be mixed and all of your jewelry must be either gold or silver. So when we’re faced with the bevy of options out there in metal tones for wedding decor, we panic. Can I have silver chargers and brass candlesticks?! What about brass serving trays and silver flatware? Why on earth are there so many metal options anyway??

Birthday Reflections

October 19, 2016 Abby Giffin

Today I celebrated my birthday with a funfetti cake and homemade pasta dinner.

Simple and beautiful, and the exact slow down I needed this month. With a bit of chaos swirling around in the middle of a busy season of life and business (which seems to just be always), my birthday has always felt like the personal equivalent of New Year’s Day. A blank page on a year that’s filled with possibilities. Except I’ve always liked it better than actual New Year’s Day because it comes without the hype of competing with everyone else’s resolutions. So I thought I’d share a little more about what I’m looking forward to in this upcoming year both personally and professionally:

Wedding China Round Up

October 18, 2016 Abby Giffin

Registering for wedding china isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you love setting a beautiful table and want a set of your own to pass down and add to your collection, it's a beautiful way to add an heirloom to your life. I was fortunate enough to inherit some beautiful floral patterns from my grandmothers. Here's a round up of some current pieces I love:

Hello! I love working with couples to create beautiful wedding experiences, hot cups of tea, and searching out distinctively stylish inspiration for life. I married my favorite person and we're currently fixing up our first home and loving on our three dogs. I believe in thoughtful connections and real life tangible beauty you can hold in your hands.

Hey Abby:When I’m determining my guest list, should I include a plus-one guest for the members of my wedding party?

Hey Abby:Should I mix metals tones in my wedding design, or should I stick with all one tone?

Hey Abby:
When I’m determining my guest list, should I include a plus-one guest for the members of my wedding party?

Hey Abby:
Should I mix metals tones in my wedding design, or should I stick with all one tone?