Resource Interview Series: Hitch'd

I am really excited to share this source with you all! Takara from Hitch'd is in today to tell us about her website that I truly think will be an awesome tool for brides! 

1. First and foremost, tell us a bit about yourself and what your site is about.
Thank you for this sweet honor to be a part of your interview series Melina. I'm a follower of your blog, which I think is a great resource for couples planning their wedding!

Let's see, a bit about myself. Well, I'm an American wife and new mother , currently residing in Tokyo. I've just created Hitch'd, a digital service for collecting wedding favorites and creating wedding stationery on-demand. We believe wedding planning shouldn't cause headaches :).

2. What is the inspiration behind the site?
I was inspired to create Hitch'd because I noticed among my friends getting married, a need for a better way to collect wedding inspiration and create simple and beautiful stationery for their wedding day, online. Having just experienced similar challenges planning my own wedding, it was a problem I personally understood and thought I could create a solution for.

3. What is your favorite feature of your site?
For our inspiration community, Hitch'd Stash, my favorite feature is definitely the privacy of stash and our guide to planning. I love social networking and technology, but it's nice to be able to gather your wedding thoughts and ideas privately without input from your entire twitter and facebook friends list. Also, most couples once they're engaged, have no idea where to begin planning. We've created a simple guide to help couples find their wedding planning feet and confidence.

For our stationery designer, I really love our day-of-stationery creator. It's perfect for adding last minute touches to your day without causing a creative headache or hurting your wallet.

4. What is your favorite source for finding wedding inspiration? Which type of inspiration is your favorite? (fashion, decor, wedding photography shots, etc.)
Well I think pinterest is a great resource for seeking out wedding inspiration. When planning my wedding, I found that I was most inspired by photos from real weddings. I often sought out online resources like wedding blogs to find photos of real weddings.

5. What are you most excited about once the site launches?
I am most excited about gathering feedback on how to make it better. We've intentionally kept our first release, very basic and simple in order to gather feedback on things people want. So I am excited to listen to what our community needs and grow Hitch'd from there.

6. What is your favorite thing about weddings?
This will probably sound really corny but, what I love most about weddings are the exchange of vows. Since marrying the love of my life four years ago, every wedding I've attended since then has made me tear up during the exchanging of the vows. I'm such a crybaby! I think it's the part of the day that puts it all into perspective and it's the part that matters most.

7. What is your piece of advice to brides?
The biggest piece of advice I have for both brides and grooms is, when in doubt, default to the most simple solution and move forward. I noticed that it was the tiny details that often held up our wedding planning progress. So, we began defaulting to the most simple solution and that was extremely helpful. (Note: Most simple doesn't imply the cheapest.)

Thanks Takara! I'm so excited to see the launch of this resource! Check out the video for more of a peek!

In case you missed previous interviews: I Do University, Something Borrowed NY, and Confessions of a Thrifty Bride

Pickle: How to Look at Real Weddings

The Pickle: If you are a bride who loves to read wedding blogs, you may be feeling like "How on earth do I even begin to use all that I am seeing?" It can be overwhelming.

The Solution: Don't be discouraged. I have a 5 step guide to help you navigate all those gorgeous weddings you see on your favorite blogs! Get a notebook and pen next time you look at one, because you are going to be armed to make those real weddings work for you!


1. Focus on the Small Picture
When you see the weddings, you see the big picture. You may love it but you don't want a carbon copy of that wedding. However, it doesn't hurt to take a few things. Look for the little details that make you say, "That's so me!"

Source: heygorg.com via Melina on Pinterest

2. Photographer Style
Many wedding photos look great, but sometimes you might see a featured wedding with photography that is so gorgeous! If a particular wedding sticks out to you because of the the photography, look up that photographer. If you can afford to bring that photographer for your wedding, look into it. If not, maybe contact that photographer and see if they know anyone they would recommend in your area.

By Alexi Shields Photography via Two Bright Lights

3. Photography Poses
Some poses are so cute and romantic, fun and flirty, if any wedding photo pose sticks out to you, make sure to note it and let your photographer know.

Source: southernaisle.com via Melina on Pinterest

4. Beauty Style
Make those real weddings a sort of look book. Look at the hairstyles, the make up, the shoes (sometimes you can see the designer of the shoes!)

Source: melissajill.com via Anna on Pinterest

5. Be Inspired
Whether it is the love story if it is shared, the feel of the colors, or seeing the love and emotion in the couple's eyes and faces when you look at the photos, let yourself get lost in it. Appreciate the love, and be thankful that it will be you soon behind the lens of the camera celebrating your love. :-)

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He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

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