special announcement!

Friends, I'm pumped that you stopped by because I have some very exciting news to share today!

As some of you know, my background is in event planning, as I worked for years in the restaurant industry. My experience working as an event planner was the foundation for my journey as a small business owner, and taught me everything I needed to know about forging relationships with clients as well as building a network of like-minded vendors. 

I cannot tell you how integral what I learned as a planner has been to my success as a stylist, as there are so many common threads between the two (especially working with brides and engaged couples). 

I've wanted to keep this site specific to my styling endeavors, but secretly, I've been taking on day-of coordination clients here and there since, well, before I quit my job in events. 

So, it's with great pleasure and trepidation that I tell you that I'm adding Day-Of Coordination to my list of services!

Don't worry, I'm not putting styling on the back burner! Above all else, I am a stylist first. I am simply choosing to no longer ignore a big part of what my clients want and need. Wedding styling is so much fun and day-of coordination isn't that far off - it still requires me to rely heavily on my stylistic eye.

So, there you have it! I'm currently taking on day-of clients for select dates through the remainder of the year and beyond - I would love to work with you! Feel free to reach out to allie@allisonkoehler.com for more info.

That's all I've got for you :)

xoxo,

aok

welcome to aok!

Well, hi! 

New year, new site! Welcome!

Why the switch? Well, I've been thinking about this for months. LRW has been a really important creative outlet for me, as well as a great way for clients and potential clients to view my work...but it just wasn't quite right. I've long since given up the title of "blogger"; truly, it just isn't for me. It didn't feel authentic, it didn't click with my creative journey, so to speak. When I let go of trying to fit into the blogger box, I realized that I had outgrown LRW. 

What I wanted, instead, was a site where clients and readers could come and immediately get a sense of who I am, what I do, and what working with me is like. I wanted readers to understand my style, and moreover, my style philosophy: dress better, break your own rules, everything matches, it's all good. It's all good. With that in mind...

I always knew I was going to change my name when Raven and I got married, so early in 2015 I decided to look into purchasing a domain that was just my new name: Allison Koehler. I knew it would no longer be a blog-facing site (I made up that term but essentially, I no longer wanted the blog to be the reason for the site, I wanted it to simply be a part of the site), and I knew I wanted to go in a completely different direction aesthetically. 

I had an idea for the logo in the middle of the night a few months ago. As luck would have it, I was in the midst of working with the incredibly talented Marci of The Bananaland on a photoshoot. When we were on set, I pulled her aside and gave her my idea and thoughts and she very graciously agreed to design the logo. 

Isn't it great? It's way better than what I envisioned, and with it I'm able to communicate immediately with all of you visitors: it's all good. AOK. Also, those are my initials, which I feel pretty chuffed about.

That, and the pictures! Which my good friend Julia Elizabeth captured for me. She took my idea, ran with it, and beautifully and epically captured the vibe I'm going with. 

So that's the reason for the change, and I'm really excited for what's to come! Never fear, I will still be blogging! Have a look around, let me know if you have questions / comments / etc. And thanks so much for following along!

xoxo,

aok

style me pretty feature!

Hi friends!

A wedding that is very, very near and dear to my heart is up on Style Me Pretty today! Check it out here.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for wonderful clients, amazing colleagues, and opportunities like this one. Thanks, as always, for supporting and reading. I'm going to go dance in the corner now.

ps: if you're getting married and want to know all about my day-of services, click here.

xoxo,

photos by Kelsey Combe.

weds-day: your wedding day

 

I love these shots by Julia Elizabeth from a beautiful wedding this summer. I always get asked what exactly it is I do on-site for weddings, and I love this little visual story that Julia so generously captured while shooting the above wedding.

Think of what I do as a hyper-observant assistant, or a mini Day Of Coordinator.

Some of my day-of on-site tasks include:

• coffee for the bridal party
• general errands
• dress steaming
• photographer's assistant (this one is huge)
• keeper of the things (aka my bag of tricks, aka problem solving)
• dispersing of final payments and tips

I like to tell people that you don't know you need someone to do all this until you have someone to do all this (me!). It's the perfect solution for clients on a budget who aren't working with a planner. I truly love being on-site for weddings and getting to work next to my clients and their other vendors.

Still want more of an explanation? Email me at allie[at]littleredswell.com.

xoxo,

all photos by Julia Elizabeth.

weds-day: my bag of tricks

Every time I have a wedding, I suit up with my backpack (I always need both hands) and a Mary Poppins problem solving bag. Have you heard of these little kits? Multiply that by 1000, and you'll get a sense of what I've got floating around in my bag. This kind of extensive inventory is a bit much to have on hand if you don't have a stylist working your wedding, but it's good to have a few key pieces with you just in case.

If you have a bridal party of any size, chances are you won't need to think about the following:

Chapstick

Tampons

Bobby pins

Makeup Brushes

Someone will likely have with them all the above. What's more, if you're having a wedding at a hotel, you can cross a steamer and / or an iron off your list.

Below are the items I have needed on my person for every wedding I've ever worked. If you're not having a stylist, I suggest adding these to the docket for the big day:

Lint roller

Scissors

Band Aids

Granola Bar + Water

Painkillers

Those sound obvious, right? Someone will surely have those items for the wedding day, you're thinking. It's not that someone has them, it's when someone has them. A lint roller during group photos (for crumb-covered suits), scissors for getting ready (2 weeks ago I had to cut the tag out of my bride's dress moments before she walked down the aisle!), bandaids for flower girls' new Mary Janes, granola bar and water for pre-first look jitters (brides never eat enough), and painkillers for anyone and everyone at any moment.

Here's a question: what item couldn't you have gone without on your wedding day? Any interesting stories you want to share?

OH! And if you want to hire me to style your wedding, shoot me an email here.

xoxo,

photo by Ashley Caroline.