Fresh Florals For Spring

We seldom see weddings at Bread & Chocolate that do not incorporate flowers in some shape or form. We are no experts on florals; however,  we've been inspired by some past spring weddings and we’ve done our research. We have curated a selection of colorful, in season flowers for your spring time “I dos.”

Absolutely loved the florals from this May wedding. Florals done by Camille's Floral Shop. Photo take by Bekah Taylor and edited by Ruthie Eileen Photography.

Absolutely loved the florals from this May wedding. Florals done by Camille's Floral Shop. Photo take by Bekah Taylor and edited by Ruthie Eileen Photography.

Spring is the season for flowers! For your arrangements and bouquets think soft and natural, with an organic focus. However, be bold with your color choices take advantage of the variety of color options and nontraditional buds, they will add dimension and upbeat energy while also being different, flexible and unique. 

Photo from a shoot done by Sj2 Photography feature in Trendy Bride.

Photo from a shoot done by Sj2 Photography feature in Trendy Bride.

Tulips
A classic selection especially for a spring wedding. Tulips come in a variety of soft and bright colors to match any color scheme you wish. You can opt for an entire bouquet of these elegant flowers or incorporate them with other spring time blooms.
Meaning: declaration of love, honesty, happy years, memory

Succulent centerpieces from an early May captured by Grace Pulver Photography. Arrangements done by Camille's Floral.

Succulent centerpieces from an early May captured by Grace Pulver Photography. Arrangements done by Camille's Floral.

Succulent and Cactus Accents
Add these non traditional floral picks to your bouquet for a pop of soft green or purple. Succulents and cacti can complement a number of other botanicals, so it's easy to incorporate these blooms into any bouquet or centerpiece. Because these buds or stems are not as fragile as your regular wedding flower, they are extremely easy to ship, making them easily accessible for your spring time nuptials. 
Meaning: enduring harmony

This gorgeous wedding was captured by Bekah Taylor Photography and florals done by My Simple Soiree.

This gorgeous wedding was captured by Bekah Taylor Photography and florals done by My Simple Soiree.

Peonies
Unlike succulents or cacti, these fragrant blooms are a more traditional pick. These soft and delicate flowers are often imported year around and are most accessible from April to June. Peonies come in a variety of colors and look beautiful as full blooms or as unopened buds. 
Meaning: beauty, welcome, bashful

Photo from a perfect early April wedding captured by Vina Sananikone.

Photo from a perfect early April wedding captured by Vina Sananikone.

Hydrangeas
This fragrant and full flower that can stand on its own is at the height of it’s season in March. These flowers come in a range of colors from white to deep purple.
Meaning: devotion, remembrance, boastfulness

Captured by Bekah Taylor Photography and florals done by My Simple Soiree. Cake by Bread & Chocolate.

Captured by Bekah Taylor Photography and florals done by My Simple Soiree. Cake by Bread & Chocolate.

Anemone
These flowers have a striking jet black center, which creates an interesting contrast to their light petals. Their petals are very delicate and sometimes nearly translucent and come in a variety of cheerful colors. In season from October to May, making them a great selection for an early spring time wedding. These anemone’s look beautiful garnishing our naked cutting cake.
Meaning: expectation, protection

Photo from an April wedding. Florals by Camille's Floral.

Photo from an April wedding. Florals by Camille's Floral.

Greenery
Did you notice all of the beautiful greenery in each picture? Pantone's color of the year for 2017 is greenery so expect to see a lot of organic, vibrant greenery throughout the year! 

Photo from a fun early March wedding taken by Lexie Williams Photography. Boquet done by Camille's Floral.

Photo from a fun early March wedding taken by Lexie Williams Photography. Boquet done by Camille's Floral.

Whether or not you're planning on getting married in the spring, we hope that this post has inspired you! We encourage you to shop locally, to support other small businesses like ours! 

5 Ways To Relax & Unwind

 

Planning a wedding can definitely be stressful! During the process, it’s so important to make time for yourself. We hate the word “bridezilla,” but if you don’t focus on your own mental and physical health, it can definitely head in that direction. Whether your wedding is over a year away or two weeks away, make sure to find some time to relax and de-stress. 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to unwind:

 

Plan Ahead and Delegate

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” - Nelson Mandela

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed about planning your big day, but remember, planning ahead, staying organized and asking for help are great ways to share the burden of planning such an extravagant event.

 

Work out 

Not only is this a good way to tone up before your big day, but you end the workout feeling accomplished and strong. Frustrated that it’s past your RSVP date and there are still a bunch of guests who haven’t responded? Take out that frustration in a work out. Take a least 30 minutes a day to stop worrying about your invitations, your dress or your center pieces to take care of your body and your mind. We also suggest group classes or working out with a friend. Not only is this a great social activity but will also hold you accountable to go. If you’re in the Goshen area, we highly recommend LOL Health and Fitness and Spacious Heart Yoga.

 

Pamper yourself 

Who doesn’t feel so much better after a fresh manicure, nice long massage or a glowing facial? If your budget doesn't allow for the extra expense of the professional services, you could do most of the pampering yourself. A nice long bubble bath is so luxurious (and free!), doing your own nails can be a nice distraction from planning and there are plenty of DIY face masks out there that can be made with items from your kitchen. Treating yourself doesn't have to be expensive, but it's so important!

 

Do something creative 

We love a good crafternoon (afternoon of crafts)! You could DIY something that is totally unrelated to the wedding, such as a wreath for your new home together or filter through the thousands of crafts on Pinterest.

You could also invite a few friends over and knock out a wedding DIY that you’ve been meaning to cross off your list. We absolutely love these watercolor table numbers that Bread & Chocolate bride Megan had for her May wedding!

Photo by Bekah Taylor. Editing by Ruth Eileen Photography.

 

Focus on What's Important with Meditation

Take time for yourself. Meditation can mean different things for each person. Your form of meditation could be cleaning your home or going on a walk. Others like to sit in a quiet space and reflect or become mindless. There are some fantastic apps that you can download on your phone that can walk you through meditating.

The first one we recommend is Headspace. This app guides your meditation to help you with your focus, awareness, to relieve anxiety, and reduce stress. When you download you get ten, ten minute sessions and after those ten sessions are up you can subscribe ($12.99/month) and receive sessions in a number of topics such as stress relief, mental health, happiness, and appreciation.

The second app, a little cheaper in the long run, is Mindfulness Daily ($1.99 download). This app knows that you are busy (especially when planning your wedding), so it's created quick and effective ways to reduce your stress. The program includes 21 days of free mindfulness audio lessons and a “pause button” that helps you take a 15 second mindful pause whenever you are stressed or catch yourself on autopilot. 

 

When all else fails, grab a glass of wine and always remember the reason for the day!

Photo by Marah Grant

Photo by Marah Grant

 

Planning a wedding should be a fun and exciting part of your life! Make sure to take some time for yourself and relax. 

We're blogging!

Photo by Bekah Taylor 

Photo by Bekah Taylor 

Hi friends! Welcome to Bread & Chocolate’s blog! We are a beautiful event and catering venue located in the Historic Old Bag Factory in Goshen, Indiana. Bread and Chocolate is a small, family owned business founded in 1989 by Nadine Bechtel who focused on the concepts of simple food, fresh ingredients, elegant presentation, gracious service, and attention to detail. These concepts are still deeply embedded in the work we provide our clients.

We wanted to start a blog associated mainly with our most common type of event: weddings. Through the information provided in this blog, we will give you the resources to plan for your big day. We hope that the advice and information we offer you is helpful and that you are able to cherish the themes and values within our posts for inspiration on planning your wedding!

Photo by The Colagrossis

This blog will provide you with our professional advice and tips, etiquette, traditional and nontraditional ideas, trends and insight on vendors we love to work with. We will also be featuring past couples who have gotten married here in our space. It is our hope that by doing this, you can get ideas on how others have used our space and what advice they may have for both the wedding day and for marriage. If you are a past client and would like to contribute, please let us know!

If you are interested in hosting your wedding or any other intimate or corporate gathering at our venue on the third floor of the Historic Old Bag Factory, please check out the rest of our website. Feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment to see our gorgeous space.

Phone: 574-533-9876
Email: events@breadandchocolate.com