The Engagement Edit: Q&A with Kaitlyn of Kait & ko.
In addition to her super-chic Instagram feed, we can’t get enough of this Midwestern bride-to-be’s fashion and lifestyle inspiration.
Photo: I Heart Paris Photography
Please welcome Kaitlyn Schletzbaum of Kait & ko. as our next blogger in the Engagement Edit series! In addition to her super-chic Instagram feed, we can’t get enough of this Midwestern bride-to-be’s fashion and lifestyle inspiration.
Name: Kaitlyn Schletzbaum
Blog: Kait & ko.
Location:Kansas City, MO
Wedding Date: June 3, 2017
WW: Welcome, Kaitlyn! We are thrilled to have you join our Engagement Edit series. You have been engaged since July 2015, what has wedding planning been like thus far?
KS: Thank you! Wedding planning thus far has been such a pleasurable experience. Since we have an atypical engagement lasting nearly two years, I have been sure to take advantage of this one time in my life I will have a fiancé! Now that we have finally met the six-month mark (how time flies?!) I feel as if I am really planning. I booked the church and the venue last year, but now it is time for the fun part: the details. We are talking invitations, centerpieces, and cake, where I can really make my Pinterest board come to life, to an extent!
WW: We’ve seen the (amazing!) photos! Could you tell us about your Parisian #JustSaidYes moment to your fiancé?
KS: It was perfectly imperfect. Kohlmann and I were blessed with the opportunity to travel to England to visit some family friends. While across the pond as they say, we decided to sneak away to France for a romantic getaway. We arrived late in the evening to Paris, so we quickly retired for the evening, but not before Kohlmann noted we had to be looking prim and proper by 6 o’clock in the morning. Of course, I had set my alarm for 4 a.m. to hop in the shower, and by 4:30 the electricity went out . We had zero electricity. None. No hair dryer, no curling iron, not even a peep of light through the window. It was complete and utter darkness in the entirety of the hotel and as far as I could see down that lively street of France. Thankful for iPhone flashlights is quite the understatement. I attempted the ‘nearly’ blind make-up challenge while I twirled my hair around my finger in attempt to obtain a decent ringlet and praying my locks would air dry frizz-free. At 6, the power snapped back on and Kohlmann and I were on the next metro toward the Trocadéro to meet the photographer, surprise! Before I knew it, Kohlmann was on one knee spilling his heart with the most beautiful diamond I have ever seen, and the rest is history!
I have to give credit where credit is due, Kohlmann did quite the bout of research stalking my “Soon-to-Be” Pinterest board (yes, he does have his own account) to find the perfect ring. He could tell you more about cut, color, and clarity than your average jeweler! Of course, he was also sure to ask my Daddy’s permission. Lastly, he made sure my nails were painted. I had chipped my manicure prior to arriving to Paris and Kohlmann tirelessly attempted to make an appointment at a beauty salon in the tiny town of Cockermouth, England. When that failed, he invested in a bottle of nail polish at the train station and I painted my nails on a bench while waiting for departure. Photographer, manicure, and Daddy’s permission, Kohlmann managed to successfully conquer the triple threat every girl dreams of!
WW: Do you have any advice for other couples who get engaged abroad?
KS: My advice to the future groom is to plan ahead! Go big or go home, this is a once in a lifetime experience, so make it something special. If you are already planning to propose abroad, you are most likely aiming to create a special moment that you and your lovely soon-to-be fiancé will never forget. Do your research, find the perfect location, and of course the perfect photographer. Also, make sure your “plans” (a.k.a. the plan you tell your lady) for the big day ensure she will look her best! To her, not to you, because you always think your future bride is beautiful. I know I would have been a teeny bit (read: very) bummed if my nails were chipped or not done (gasp) for our #justsaidyes photos!
Before you two leave on your adventure, scheme with her mom or very best girlfriend to invite her for a pampering featuring a mani/pedi a few days prior to departure. Kohlmann, my fiancé, is a part-time photographer for Kait & ko., so he is fairly comfortable in knowing whether or not a particular ensemble would warrant an Instagram post from me, so he was able to guide my outfit choice the morning of when I asked him the dreaded question, “babe, what do you think of this dress?” However, if you are a tad bit uncomfortable with this responsibility, this is where her besties come in, again. They can help guide the perfect proposal outfit. Lastly, go with the flow and do not stress too much. This will be her most favorite moment with her favorite person, so remember that she will always look back fondly on this time in your life. No photo-bombing birds (take a looksy at my proposal photo!), rain showers, or oblivious tourists can ruin your day.
Photo: Steven Michael Photography
WW: Ok…back to wedding planning! Hooray for a June wedding! Did you find any of your vendors on WeddingWire? If so, which ones?
KS: Yes! I found my photographer on WeddingWire. I filtered through literally hundreds of photographers on WeddingWire. You know, when you just sit there mindlessly scrolling for hours? That was me. The original photographer I had dreamed of doing our engagement session and wedding was booked over two years in advance and I was convinced I could not find anyone more perfect. This actually was quite the blessing in disguise, because Steven Michael Photography fit our budget and style flawlessly!
WW: Have any wedding planning tools on WeddingWire been especially useful to you?
KS: The checklist is my absolute favorite tool. I am quite the type A personality,so I love having every little detail right at my fingertips. It is completely customizable, too! No engagement party? No problem! Just delete it from the list. The checklist keeps me on my toes and reminds me to meet deadlines! Plus, it is just so satisfying checking off an item from the list.
WW: How do you balance your blog, a full time job, and wedding planning? Any advice for busy brides-to-be?
KS: Early bird gets the worm! Lucky for me, I am such a morning person. Miss Marley, my puppy, may deserve some credit (or blame) for this, but in general I find that I am most productive while others are getting their final hours of beauty sleep. My routine consists of early morning final touches to my blog post followed by publishing. I tend to my social media accounts, respond to emails, and plan out my day prior to 8 o’clock.
My other secret: delegate. When I first started my blog, I was also just beginning the real wedding preparation. I had transitioned out of the casual Pinterest roaming and into the real-deal, decision-making preparation. I try to limit unnecessary stress by accepting help from my close friends who wish to be involved in the wedding! One of my bridesmaids offers to coordinate a bridal party brunch to finalize details about showers and parties? Lovely! Mom researched some bakeries in Kansas City and scheduled some tastings for next month? Perfect, check it off the to-do list! Recognize that your loved ones want to be a part of your special day and they are more than capable of taking those pesky little tasks off your hands.
Lastly, multitask. One of the many concerns of mine which first debuting Kait & ko. was that my studies and friendships would suffer. How wrong I was! Being so busy has naturally eliminated my not-so-desirable habits of Netflix binging and long, long afternoon naps. Further, one of the biggest blessings of my blog is the ability to spend quality time with my brother, my closest girlfriend, and Kohlmann while adventuring out into the streets of Kansas City and St. Louis in search of the perfect white backdrop for photos. Kohlmann has developed quite a techy side and has become my go-to resource regarding camera settings and editing applications. Only a few relationships with some of the ‘girls’ has suffered…Gossip and Gilmore, that is.
WW: You are a self-professed lover of neutral hues - will this be your main color palette for your wedding day? How else do you plan on incorporating your personal style?
KS: OF COURSE. I want to stick to my personal style on the most important day of my life. The theme for the wedding, just like in my everyday life, is sophisticated, chic, and simple. I think for myself and for every bride, incorporating your personal style into your wedding day will occur organically. Remember, it is your day! Have an open mind and ear to the advice and opinion of others, but know when to put on your headphone and blast “Going to the Chapel”, and have your and your fiancé’s dream day.
