down to earth

weddingFeaturing the photography of

maui creativedesign & photography

local vendor spotlightbakery bonanza2 of the best bakeries in akron/canton

invitationsflowersadviceand more inside

mint & metal

a wedding theme on a budget

‘how to handle wedding planningwoes’

stress-Free PlanningI t is possible !

PrioriTizedecide what elements of the day are Most important to you and make sure you get what you want in those areas. For us, it was having a non-traditional location, outside, and ensuring that our friends/family could spend the weekend visiting. That was goal no. 1. That was also the reason it took us so long to choose a date and a place. i couldn’t find what i wanted, but i was patient and wouldn’t compromise in this area. We waited and got JUst what we wanted, with added benefits!!

FoCUSi bet one of the problems when trying to include your fiancé in the planning process is that he’s never focused when you ask him for his input. We started off this way Justin would be in the middle of a video game or working, and i would expect him to provide input on bridesmaids dress colors. ehhem. not gonna work. so, we decided to shut ourselves in the house on a wintery weekend and made all the creative decisions together over pizza and wine on our living room floor. not only did we get everything accomplished but it was fun, flirty and memorable!!

SiMPLiFyyou may see all these cute little things on pinterest or on tv that you want to incorporate, like handmade napkin rings, handmade wine glass charms, and handmade chair covers...but be realistic in choosing which items to include. you don’t want to burn yourself out before you even get to the ceremony, and having a mile-long list of things to make and buy and prepare is a good way to do that. pick three of the most important little details and hand-make those. if you must have more, ask for help from family and bridesmaids.

book iTget the big stuff taken care of first before you try to incorporate all those little cute details. Book your dJ, your photographer, your venue and ceremony officiant as early as possible. Then all the little details can fall into place as the date approaches.

By Mallory Bair, photographeri chose the theme for this styled shoot based on the colors for spring. The concept was simple, yet fresh and unique. i used pinterest.com to help build ideas. if you haven’t jumped on the pinterest bandwagon yet, you’re missing out! putting together a ‘theme’ for a wedding can be a daunting task, but with tools like pinterest (used correctly). it can make for a simple and even inexpensive adventure. in addition to the color scheme, we incorporated the Mint & Metal theme by adding pennies and coins in little gold rimmed crystal along the center of the table. We had mint -flavored cupcakes and whoopie pies. even if you aren’t all that into doing an all out theme for your big day, a little pinterest research goes a long way to find something unique.

Mint, Metal & pinterest

maui creativeit’s all about design & photography in the name of love

We’re just two people who love each other, who started a business together. We’ve been loving it now for more than four years. We shoot weddings and engagements and mallory especially loves shooting boudoir photography. We also photograph families and our life on a regular basis.Our goal with everything, even in putting out this magazine, is to put beauty into the world. We do that through our business practices, through our photographs and our designs. Our clients love that we are young, in love and professional. check us out @ mauicreative.com - - m&J

The

PhoTograPherS

Photos by Claire roeth

real lovesUsan

& Jdsusan and Jd have been married for a little more than four years and they are the winners of a contest hosted by MaUi creative design & photography. Mallory and Justin, the photographers, hosted Jd and susan and several other wedding vendors at shady hallow country club for a day of sweets, wedding details and love!

Their moment happened just before study hall during susan’s sophomore year of high school – who said it can’t happen, right? They met and fell in love in high school, dated all through college, and six years later tied the knot on november 24, 2007.

susan and Jd agreed “being married has taught us so many things, and we’re always excited to share those with people.”

“We’re not models, but the opportunity to be for a day was fun. it was such a special day for us. We dressed up. We got to spend the day hugging and kissing and smiling, it was one of the best dates we’ve been on!” -susan and Jd said of their experience being models for a day.

Mallory and Justin of MAUI CREATIVE are looking for future models to take part in their next styled shoot. For more information follow them on facebook @ facebook.com/mauicreative. www.mauicreative.com

4 years laterWe asked susan what makes her and Jd such a charismatic and united couple, and she boiled it down to communication. “communication should bring you closer, show you something about him that you never saw before, or let the other person know you a little bit better. When you communicate effectively with one another, you change. you grow. you become more in sync. you become one. and that has made the best impact for us.” We all know, especially after planning a wedding together, that communication isn’t easy. susan says, “We Fight. We do it and we’re not afraid of it. couples usually swing to one side or the other on the pendulum of fighting – they crave it or they run from it. My suggestion is to do neither of those things – my suggestion is to embrace it. When you fight the right way…you’ll see that you always win – because you always draw closer to each other. We don’t play fair either. and right now you’re wondering how we’ve managed four years and some odd months without ripping each other’s hair out this way... Well, ‘not playing fair’ means doing the right thing even when it doesn’t make sense to us, responding with love, and choosing to treat each other well even when we don’t feel like we are being treated that way. Basically, we never repay the bad for the bad. if i’ve had a horrible day, and i come home and i’m downright mean…Jd doesn’t play fair – he’ll be sooo nice to me. same goes for similar situations if your hubby is in a bad mood…don’t play fair – treat him like it’s his birthday. give back better than you’re given. Whatever the situation, don’t play fair! it works, you’ll see it if you try even just once.”“i wish i could be sitting across the table from you with a fresh cup of coffee, or cocoa (whatever meets your fancy), and hear all the details of your (future) love story… But since that is escaping us for now, just know that i’m here to tell you that i have been blessed with an amazing story to share, and i’m hoping the same for you.”

vendorspaper allure

twigs & twinecanton, ohio

salvino Dolci Bakery

canton, ohio

encore Fashioncanton, ohio

shaDy hallow country cluBcanton, ohio

sweet mary's Bakery

akron, ohio

hair & makeupgaBBy Forchione,regency, canton

photographymaui creativecanton, ohio

paper allureinvitation design can seal the deal for your theme. it can also be pricey. We know, for the down-to-earth bride, that handmade, personalized invitations are a must!! The trend now is to collage, decopage or stamp your own. We love that. We’re frugal, but we’re also realistic. We’re here to tell you that addressing 100+ invitations, envelopes and return evelopes can be as daunting as losing those five pounds you’ve been trying to ditch for the past year.

our advice: seek professional assistance in this department!Whether you’re going for the handmade look or just want something personal, there are many ways to have designs that speak to your theme and style for a fair price.

Custom handmade invitations for every type of momentous occasion. For wedding days. For birthdays. For every unforgettable day.

stationery, hand-made details and monogramed goods all make your wedding day just that much more unique. you can scan Pinterest for ideas or visit someone like laura at Paper allure to help you come up with a design that matches your style and personality.

paperallUre.coM

twigs & twine is an extension of paper allure. Featuring full-service florals for weddings and other special events. Bouquets, centerpieces, bridal headpieces, and more, designed in your inimitable style with laura’s professional mastery. tWigs-tWine.coM

laura Woofter is owner/operator of paper allure and twigs & twine in canton ohio. her creativity is admired from coast to coast. she has constructed masterpieces for clients from l.a. to new york and everywhere in between. she’s designed for celebrities and royal and political personnel, along with all of her local, loyal patrons. laura recently announced that she will be working alongside

world renowned event coordinator david tuterra, who can be seen on the Bravo network. laura’s credits much of her success to the work of her team at twigs-n-twine and the ‘paper dolls’ at paper allure. With several press announcements, worldwide acknowledgments and awards obtained, laura’s heart remains local. step through the doors of paper allure and twigs & twine and it will become apparent, the passion she has for both paper and florals! it is a magical, undiscovered, sensational wonderland that laura erected from her soul!

“i enjoy creating one-of -a-kind masterpieces for those who deserve and appreciate the art of it!”

aBBy salvino, owner of salVino dolCi BaKeRY, speaks on her heritage and infusing it into her cottage business. “My family is heavily influenced by our italian bloodline, even though we do embrace our inner mutt since i’m, among other things, greek and german. i married my high school sweetheart, a full blooded italian, 10 years ago and so the italian influence continues. We’re parents to four children who are great at eating sweets”, she said. “italian cookies are my bread and butter. cupcake, biscotti, or something my crazy brain invents on the fly, they’re what make up salvino dolci. i’m known for my creative creations. pairing cocktail, wine and beer flavors with traditional baked favorites is one of my Favorite things. i also call myself the bakery on heels. i may have an obsession with shoes, so i’ve infused that into my business as well. My clients love that i deliver, that they can get a baked good JUst the way they want it; esquisitly beautiful and that doesn’t taste like pure sugar (and chemicals). i host a cooking show on Massillon cable tv, and i’m a food blogger!! wedding adViCe fRom the BaKeR: “to all of you knee deep in the wedding planning. remember where you came from... research the traditions that may have been lost over the years. embrace them. and bring them back! at my wedding, we had a huge cookie table with more than 1,200 dozen cookies. it is an italian tradition and ours were made by four talented generations of italian women in mine and my husband’s families. This tradition has slowly slipped away. The cookie tables have, sadly, been forgotten. pay homage to those who are part of why your love is what it is.”

sweets, salt & spice

salvinodolci.coM

salvino dolci bakery

The art of the

CupCake

With sWeet mary

sweet Mary’s bakery, ltd. is a made-to-order bakery located in akron, Ohio. mary hospodarsky, owner, says her mission is to “spread warmth and joy through baked goods done right, with the belief that quality ingredients combined with creativity, fun, and a sophisticated sense of taste make all the difference”

how does it work without a store? We asked mary how she makes it work, and she said “we insist on making our products strictly from scratch with organic and all-natural ingredients, just like mom taught us. We offer a wide variety of items including cookies,

cakes, pies, breads, rolls and yes, even chocolate truffles. We pride ourselves in our excellent customer service and attention to detail that keeps every customer coming back. While we do not yet have a walk-in retail location, with your continued patronage we hope to very soon!” sweetmarysbakery.com

These unique three-tier mini cakes are the perfect favor for the brownie-loving bride!!

SMaLL bUSineSS iS big Lovemary’s passion for all things food and baking was passed down by her mother who inspired her to think big and never give up. after trying several majors in college (including microbiology, military intelligence, and russian) mary always came back to baking for stress relief, solace, and the joy it enabled her to share with others. Finally, in 2006 after much love and encouragement from friends, family and her future husband, she opened sweet mary’s Bakery to share her passion for baking with the world (or at least the greater akron area).

a wedding today isn’t complete without a tower of unique and intricately designed cupcakes. Just think, it’s all the deliciousness of the wedding cake but in an individualized form that’s much more pretty than a slice on a plate! Put the creativity in the hands of your baker, or diy if you’re good at it!

CuPakes are all the rage

culinary b l i s sFor Foodies everywhere!everyone knows that the best way to win over your wedding guests is to have an aMaZing menu. pick something close to your heart, something that resonates with your lifestyle. your guests will love the flare and uniqueness of the menu if it reflects your style as a couple!

shady hollow country club - open to the publicshady hollow is a golf and culinary-driven private country club in Massillon, ohio. The club is open to the public for banquets, weddings and private parties of all kinds. The club’s facilities and golf course offer a uniquely picturesque environment that every photographer can easily fall in love with no matter what the season.

While searching for a venue to house the Mint & Metal styled shoot, we couldn’t pass up shady hollow simply because of the friendliness of the staff. terri, the club’s general manager, is outwardly giving and energetic! The banquet and wedding coordinator Jillian Kessler, soon-to-be wife of the chef, was nothing short of wonderful. They have a very dynamic team working together to make awesome events!

shady hollow country club’s culinary team specializes in fine dining events and employs an award winning chef to personalize your experience. The freshest ingredients from local purveyors guarantee freshness that cannot be outdone. chef John olihan, shady hollow’s executive chef, has spent the last 18 years in the culinary field, winning numerous awards and developing a loyal following of foodies from the northeast ohio area. he’s not only a joy to work with, he produces picture- worthy results!

the photos:as you can see from the images here, dishes can range from modern to classic. Bottom left: Blackened chicken Mac & cheese with bowtie pasta, spinach and panko bread crumbs. top left; Braised Beef tenderloin and goat cheese. right;: cheeses, canapes, & ahi tuna with wasabi. yUM!

how to handle the wedding planning woes.Wedding etiqUette—FroM another angle.

if you’re the down-to-eaRth BRide that i am, you know that answering those beady little questions about dress colors and wedding cake flavors can really take their toll on your down-to-earth, happy-go-lucky attitude. Friends, family and even strangers have this innate notion to ask all the details about your wedding planning. and for some of us soon-to-be-brides, we get the feeling that they’re asking the wrong questions or on the contrary that maybe we’re focusing our creativity on the wrong detail. are we?should we in fact be figuring out the right color of fuscia in the satin bridesmaid’s dresses to match perfectly with the polka dots in the groomsmen’s pocket handkerchiefs? or should those interested parties be more considerate of our down-to-earth attitudes and ask more important questions, like if we plan to write own vows, or if we’ll be doing anything special for each other the day of the wedding?My friends and i decided it would be nice to see some etiquette from the other side of the wedding spectrum and also see how to handle those pesky inquiries.

don’t ask to be invited.

Acquaintances who aren’t invited to the wedding may keep asking about dates

and details.

What To say:

One way to handle this is to tell these acquaintances that they are

welcome to join the party after dinner, around the time dancing will start. Be sure to clear it with

your venue first.

1don’t talk price.

People like to compare. “How much was your dress? Well, I got mine for

$$$” It’s tacky.

What to say:

“I got a really good price” or “I found exactly what I wanted” It’s noone elses business what you

choose for your own wedding. If they’re invited, they’ll get to see

the whole package, but until then don’t give away all the

little details.

2lock it up.

When every conversation for months is about the wedding details or drama.

What to say:

Nothing. The best resolution is to not involve yourself in the conversation. Hopefully your

friend will realize that you’re not checked in to the conversation and will change the

subject. Don’t be that girl that assumes everyone is just as excited about their own

wedding (or yours) as you are.

3

down -to- earth

hair-and-

MaKeUpBy stylist

gabby Forchioneregency institute

canton, ohio

connectmallory@mauicreativedesign.com

for information

details -and-

accessoriesBy encore

Wedding phOtOgraphypackages starting at $2100

mauicreative.cOm

Photo by Claire roeth

wedding photography uniquely you and freshly styled, with love, by Mallory bair & Justin Mccrea