Less than 150 Days Till Katie and Matt’s Big Day
With 150 days left till the wedding day, what does a bride in our modern Information Age do in preparation for her big day? Creates a save-the-date card, a website and a hashtag – but, of course! #ACoupleOfBucks
Katie was stressed about creating the save-the-date, having a tough time deciding whether or not to place an engagement photo as the focus or a different graphic related to the Fall country chic theme. She also knew that time was of essence and getting it designed, printed and sent out no later than 4 months prior to the wedding date was critical. After much fretting and procrastination, Katie finally pulled the trigger and went with an engagement photo. She also created the card herself to save time.
Katie chose Zazzle.com as the vendor to produce the cards. Zazzle.com is an online store where you can collaborate with makers & designers to make almost anything. It has easy-to-use templates to help customers create a variety of event planning and marketing collateral. In addition to artwork as the focus, the details of the day are important in producing a save-the-date card. Here is what Katie’s design looks like – fabulous! She is waiting for the printed product to be shipped – cross your fingers it is what she expects! 
The purpose of the save-the-date notice, the wedding website and the hashtag is to give guests enough advance notice about your date. Having this knowledge for one, assures guests reserve your wedding day on their RL (real life) social calendar. Secondly, when friends and family talk about your day through social media like FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, via the hashtag, all chatter, photos and links can be searched and viewed easily. The date, time and venue are the most important details to share at this point. Also, if the venue is in a busy region, if your date falls on a holiday or otherwise busy weekend and/or guests are traveling far (typically, 30 miles or more), you will want to suggest accommodations for them.
Again putting her creative skills to work, Katie designed the website and a hashtag. She went to theknot.com to produce a personalized wedding site. She had fun with this one, telling the “Matt and Katie” story and simply used the Knot’s boilerplate to fill in the blanks for their special day. The address is theknot.com/us/acoupleofbucks. She also had fun with the hashtag creation – #ACoupleOfBucks – Matt’s last name is Buck and before you know it, so will Katie’s – and that, my friends, makes a couple!
Phew, who knew wedding planning was so fun??!! We at Quincy Cellars are so glad to be a part of it!
Featured Couple, Matt & Katie’s Engagement Photos
Selecting a photographer to record the idyllic moments and poses of friends, family, fashion and sentiments among other memories is a critical step in a couple’s wedding day journey. Just like the venue, Katie’s mother gave photographer Kat Ritenour of Erie a resounding recommendation – and after speaking with Kat, Katie agreed Kat would be a perfect fit. (Aren’t Moms great?)
Katie says Kat is amazing because she is adept at both creating moments reflective of Katie and Matt’s personalities and likes – and, capturing them. Kat also knows all the right spots for outdoor photo opportunities and arranged for romantic landscapes to compose many back-drops characteristic of Katie and Matt. First they went roadside – literally, next to a highway which was surprising to the couple but once they experienced Kat’s magic in working with them, they were sold.
Being that Katie and Matt are amateurs at being photographed, Kat put them at ease and poignantly highlighted the fun-loving side of the couple. Next, the crew went to a cemetery and a friend’s backyard all of which resulted in stunning poses and refreshing candid shots once the set was final. According to Katie, Kat could make any place look like art! And Katie and Matt certainly are a lovely and captivating couple to portray.
As part of the overall wedding package, Kat Ritenour shot Katie and Matt’s official engagement photos some of which are seen here. She will also be shooting their entire wedding day including the preparation and reception.
Quincy Cellars welcomes new photographers and is excited to have Kat record this amazing couple’s storybook day on Saturday, October 22, 2016.
Matt & Katie – The Ring
Matt is a true romantic and amazes Katie again – this time, with the engagement ring. Katie has urbane taste and had not specified what she wanted in a ring but Matt listened. He “creeped” around and talked to Katie’s family without her knowing so that he could create an extraordinary ring.
First, he asked her parents’ permission to marry her. Being the gentleman he is, Matt also spoke with her grandmother upon which she gave him her engagement ring. Knowing Katie’s special bond with her late grandfather Matt was able to take the stones from her grandmother’s ring and arrange it in a token of love personally made for Katie.
Katie expresses her joy and states, “Knowing that my ring has the stones that were on the ring my grandfather selected and gave to my grandma means the world to me.”
Her grandfather passed away when Katie was in middle school 10 years ago and she still misses him to pieces. For many years she was his only granddaughter so she was royally – and justly – spoiled. The two of them spent lots of time together – as a high school principal in the Erie Area Katie’s granddad often brought her to extra-curricular events with him. As as special treat, when they were out and about, he would always stop at local donut shops to satisfy their love of donuts (by the way, Katie is having donuts at her wedding reception – yumsters!).
The engagement ring story gets better, Katie had no idea that Matt was working with the jeweler located smack dab between their workplaces at the time – on several occasions during his lunch break he sneaked to the jewelry store, praying she wouldn’t spot his car in the lot! Check out the ring and witness Katie’s pure awe in the proposal photo shown.
Come back to our blog regularly for Katie and Matt’s storybook tale – their big day culminates at Quincy Cellars October 22, 2016.
Matt and Katie – the Proposal
Some brides will say the most exciting part of getting married is the proposal – and from Katie’s perspective, hers was truly special.
First, Matt completely surprised her – she had no clue as to what he had planned nor if/when to expect it – can you say, romantic??!!
Katie and Matt live in the northern tier of PA, close to Bradford – sometimes known as God’s country. Their property has a lovely and scenic view on top of a steep hill overlooking the valley and town. One beautiful Autumn day last September, without suspicion, Matt asked Katie to hike up the hill to enjoy the colorful and picturesque foliage.
Once they reached the peak, Katie was bombarded with hugs and sweet nothings when suddenly she spied Matt pulling something out of his pocket … and, her heart stopped. Matt presented Katie with an exquisitely radiant ring and requested her hand in marriage. (Check our blog often and learn the beautiful story behind the ring.)
Katie immediately said YES. For someone who loves simplicity, this was an absolute perfect and amazing day for Katie (and Matt!).
Knowing Katie and Matt’s love for natural beauty and simplicity, it is no wonder the couple has chosen Quincy Cellars to celebrate their marriage together this coming October. We cannot wait to host their big day!
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