Join us for our FALL Fashion Show on Saturday, September 23rd!
 
Wedding and Event Design

Wedding and Event Design

It makes us so happy to see all the design elements of your wedding come together seamlessly. We want your vibe to transcend every moment!

What happens when you work with us? Many brides are surprised to learn that the first thing we do is set up a consultation. We can’t possibly begin to bring your wedding vision to life until we have made that personal connection. We want to hear everything! Send us a Pinterest board, bring your photos, and all the ideas…dream big and then let us handle the details.

This process should be fun and exciting! Let’s talk about your wedding hopes and inspiration. Are you coastal? Boho? Elegant? We will help direct you on theming and weave in gorgeous, statement features to make your wedding truly unique and personal. Struggling with color palette? Few things bring us more joy than selecting just the right hues for your season, venue, and style!

Bridal florals and bouquets

Lindsay Hackney Photography

We’ve got you covered on all the moving pieces too. Our event designers know exactly where your signage needs to be placed, how many centerpieces you really need, and what can be repurposed after the ceremony. When you leave, we want you to feel completely psyched and confident that every detail is taken care of.

We always meet a few weeks before your big day to confirm all the details—date, venue, headcount—and make any necessary adjustments.  Our team also works directly with your venue to ensure everything is set to perfection—every last detail. You won’t have to do a thing!

Wedding Event Design

Lindsay Hackney Photography

Are you ready to hear more? How can we help? We only have a few dates left for 2022 and we are already booking 2023!

Contact us soon to schedule your consultation!

Meet Dianne

Meet Dianne

 

 

It’s Dianne’s turn! Get to know the determined heart & soul that’s behind the Only Prettier Design Team.

Dianne is a co-owner of OPD along with Heather. She’s an old soul, thoughtful and the hardest worker you’ll ever meet. 

As a co-owner she juggles a thousand tasks a day including wedding floral proposals, arranging jaw-dropping bridal bouquets, running staff meetings and managing all the details that go in to running a small business, and merchandising our little boutique in Norfolk,  . . . just to name a few.

She has a way of making everyone she meets feel right at home, an internal drive that never stops, and a God-given ability to make all things beautiful. 

Keep reading to hear Dianne’s answers to our staffs’ interview questions. Again…. All unfiltered and unedited. 

Tell us a little about your kids.

I have four boys, all under the age of 4 – Jake, Cole, Rhett and Bryce. My house is full of monster trucks, baseballs, dinosaurs, footballs, race cars, snapbacks, and guitars. My kids are outside from dusk until dawn when the weather is nice, and can curl up and watch the day away when Fireman Sam is on. 

I go through 7 boxes of cereal a week – yes 7 – and two of them don’t eat cereal yet, and 28 bananas – again two of them don’t eat the banana yet. 

I’ve realized in the past few months, when its time for pick up games of 3 on 3 – I have to play, and I made myself the designated hitter for backyard wiffle ball. These boys are the sweetest, toughest, and most determined little souls. They test my patience when they need to turn their ears up, and then melt my heart when they run to give me a hug. 

Have you always had a thing for flowers?

Nope. Not at all…. When I was getting married, I had one request – no roses. I was adamant that there were none. My husband knew early on, if they are traditional flowers, I wouldn’t love them. I love texture, detail, uniqueness, and imperfection in flowers. I always remind myself as I arrange – let the flower be. We try so hard sometimes to make it do what we want, but when we just let it flow, that’s when we see the true beauty in the flower. When I began working on OPD, I made a commitment to stay true to the vision I had and to deliver on making things prettier through all things floral.

 

What do you consider to be your superpowers? 

I used to say that I had a photographic memory – then I had four kids and lost it. HA!! I would say that I am a master multitasker. I manage many things daily, and some days I even wonder myself how I keep it all straight. I ask myself, what can I take off my plate and the answer is always nothing – because my plate makes me who I am. Lastly, determined. I am as determined as they come. If someone says that I can’t do something, you bet that I am going to prove you wrong. It might take me a little while, but I will not quit! Ha!

What is your favorite product? 

Anything Beautycounter.

My Simplified Planner – I can’t live without it.

Sojourner Leather Co earrings from the store. Literally wear them everyday.

And my new blowdryer.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you bring? 

Is this a trick? Totally my family if they aren’t with me.

Chapstick, sunscreen, water haha. I have no idea.

Would you rather go a day without food or without the internet? 

Umm, if you know me, you know I can’t go a day without food. I will go days without the internet and do not try and touch my food!

What are a few things that most people don’t know about you?

I actually went to college for Sports Medicine. I love NASCAR. I refuse to fly over an ocean. I hate to travel unless its to Charleston, SC. My wedding was in a magazine. I have no clue!

Who is your Role Model?

Who my kids think I am…. I try to be that everyday

Would you rather skydive or swim with sharks? 

UMMM neither … never in a million years … not even for a million dollars. I’ll wait on the ground with your cocktail and on the dock with a drink in hand.

What’s your favorite flower? 

Hellebore and Honeysuckle

Are you an early bird or night owl?

Both – but lately I am neither (I really have to get back on track) I guess if I had to choose I’d say I’m an early bird.  

What’s been the most exciting moment for Only Prettier Design?

Oh gosh! This is hard. Opening party at our first store.

The day that I saw OPD up on the P7 board at Gillette Stadium.

The day that we drove Nessy home.

Do you have a favorite Mantra?

I have a few:

GIVE ME STRENGTH WHEN I AM STANDING AND FAITH WHEN I FALL

It’s a Kip Moore song and its tattooed on my foot .. I basically live by

this and remind myself of it daily. – Faith when I fall is on my foot.

–  And   – 

JESUS I TRUST YOU

My mom circled this in her Jesus Calling book. I found it when we moved her into hospice and it kept popping up day after day. It was a message that I was meant to find and has taken me through each day since we lost her. This is also a tattoo I have. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Advice for Planning your Wedding During COVID-19

Advice for Planning your Wedding During COVID-19

Advice for Planning Your Wedding During COVID-19 

Do you have a wedding planned for 2020 or 2021 and are wondering what you should do? 

Based on White House advisement, the safest and recommended choice is to postpone your ceremony. We know it’s a tough pill to swallow so we’ve pulled together our top 5 pieces of advice to get you started in rethinking your big day. 

  • it’s okay to feel all the feelings. We know the countless hours of time you’ve poured into creating your perfect day. the decisions. the emails. the big dreams and small details that you’ve tirelessly poured over… all to have it turned upside down. This is not what any of us wanted and we want to let you know that we feel for ya! it’s okay to feel frustrated and disappointed. In a matter of days, everything we thought we once had control over has been flipped upside down and we’re all finding our new normal. In this time of uncertainty, don’t be afraid to reach out and lean on those closest to you for support, encouragement, or even a virtual shoulder to cry on. 
  • Stay positive & remember what your day is all about. Take a deep breath. You can do this. While we know it’s not easy, this may be a great opportunity to really remember what is important, to pause and reflect on what this special day means, to prioritize what matters most, and to even laugh at how memorable this pandemic is making your special day. In the midst of fears, sickness, and a global unease, love will endure. You are celebrating union & commitment and that’s just the dose of positivity that we all need right now.
  • Connect with your vendors ASAP. These are unprecedented circumstances, and most vendors like us are able to work with you to postpone your event to a later date. That being said, many vendors are already booking up for 2021 and any open dates are filling up fast. The best plan is overcommunication. Let your vendors know what you’re thinking, and check with them to find out what your options are.  
  • Create a communication plan for your guests. Traditional wedding etiquette has just added a chapter. Change the Dates! If you’ve already sent out save the dates to your guests and need to modify the date, check out these fun change the date cards from Minted or create your own using Canva (one of our all time favorite tools). It’s okay if you don’t know all the new details yet. Just let your wedding guests know what you can, and which channels you’ll be using to send further up-to-date communication.
  • Be flexible. It may be time for plan B and maybe even plan C. Many brides are making the hard decision to move their wedding dates, and sometimes it’s a moving target. The key to keeping your sanity in all this, is to hold your date loosely, knowing that plans may change… again. Another option to consider is separating your ceremony and reception. Elopements are getting a lot of hype these days and rightfully so. With a smaller scale format, you’re able to splurge on all the gorgeous wedding details that matter most to you like a decadent mini-cake or the flowing bridal bouquet of your dreams. Whichever route you decide is best for you and your guests, remain flexible and open to thinking outside the box.