You know when people say it’s a small world? Well, it really is. Upon first look of this fete from Shannon Moffit, the Bride looked strikingly familiar to me. You see, on my very own honeymoon four years ago, my husband and I met a couple staying at our hotel. We ended up spending a bit of time with them and afterward I stayed connected with Michelle on social media. This beautiful Bride is her twin sister. And oh, is she a stunning Bride! Their Charleston affair will surely dazzle you with its classic details. See it all unfold below.

From Shannon Moffit Photography… Colleen and Justin met on the back patio of Old Glory Bar-B-Que, a now-shuttered restaurant in Georgetown, Washington D.C., that was once a hot-spot for the early-20s crowd. The pair had a steadfast long distance relationship for many years until finally getting the opportunity to settle down and tie the knot.

Colleen and Justin are quite an adventurous and joyful couple. They love to travel, laugh, and spend time with family–so it was only fitting that they host their destination wedding in one of their favorite cities, historic Charleston, South Carolina. Colleen and Justin’s wedding reflected the character and vibe the city has to offer–warm, welcoming, and sophisticated.

Colleen wore a custom Elizabeth Fillmore wedding gown two different ways; she was able to remove a skirt layer and the cap sleeves for a sleeker nighttime look. She also wore embellished Dolce & Gabbana heels and carried an understated bouquet of white hellebores. The groom also changed his look from his military uniform to a white tuxedo, just in time for their rooftop cocktail hour.

The couple chose to have their reception at The Dewberry, an old federal building repurposed as a luxury boutique hotel. The space echoes Charleston’s historic charm and architectural grace with a quaint walled garden and intimate ballroom–complete with herringbone floors and a breathtaking brass and crystal palmetto chandelier.

Some other details include: a letterpress invitation with custom pineapple embossing and envelope liner, suede lunchbox gift bags with engraved whiskey stones and Yeti koozies for groomsmen, and rattan chargers, modern gold table numbers, and white poppies, tulips, and cotton on the family-style tables at the reception.

To further prove how adventurous and fun this couple is…they spent their honeymoon skiing and relaxing in The Dolomites (Corvara and Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps) and Kitzbuhel, Austria.

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Photography: Shannon Moffit Photography | Floral Design: Branch Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore | Invitations: Sapling Press | Ceremony Venue: Saint Patrick Catholic Church | Reception Venue: The Dewberry Charleston | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Kate Spade | Catering: The Dewberry Charleston | Makeup and Hair: Lashes And Lace Makeup and Hair | Band: Andy Masker Band | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals

When we consider who to ask for wedding advice, we think of planners, designers, parents, and maybe that one friend of your mother’s—you know, the one who is always polishing up her silver and hosting some ‘little party.’ We call our friends up for wine and hope they’ll divulge stories from their own planning days. And we maybe only rarely think to ask grooms for advice—our own groom or any other. After all, guys don’t really have strong opinions about the wedding planning process, right? Au contraire. Take it from these real grooms, who have lived through those planning days and are the wiser for it. After reading their advice, we guarantee it: you’ll want to call up your guy to tell him you love him (and maybe even get his thoughts on cake flavors. ‘Tasting date soon?’ xoxo).

Photography: Dear Lovers 

1.    Offer emotional support

When asked if they had any advice to share with other grooms, our interviewees agreed: the most precious gift a groom can give is his presence. A bride may not necessarily need her groom’s opinion or creative input—but she will always long for his support, and find rest in the reassurance that he is standing there beside her. “Do whatever you can to ensure that she has a peaceful space [in you],” urges real groom Talyn. “I found that listening and offering myself as a sounding board was pivotal.” Mark echoes this idea of providing a safe place to work out problems; the planning process, he notes, provides “a perfect time to prove how supportive you can be for years to come.” The planning process is placed on the pathway to marriage and, viewed rightly, is a rich training ground for married life. All of the traits we value most in marriage—deep trust, abiding love, and unwavering faithfulness—have ample room for expression in the planning process.

Photography: Almond Leaf Studios

2. Help her stay organized

If emotional support is key, that doesn’t mean that grooms should just sit idly by and offer platitudes about how it’s all going to be ok. Real, practical help is the way to a bride’s heart, and help with even the simplest organizational tasks can be a saving grace. “When your fiancée thinks of a question she needs to ask a certain vendor,” notes Mark, “write it down. Chances are,” he continues, “she’s juggling 72 different questions and could use some help keeping them organized.” Take notes, dear grooms, and think of little ways to keep things tidy; upload timelines to your Dropbox account, put meetings in your calendar, and save vendors as contacts. Even these small tasks demonstrate your love and care.

Photography: Amelia Soegijono

3. Tackle the guest list

When it comes time to formulate a guest list, it shouldn’t be up to the bride to make all the cruel cuts. Talyn’s candor is refreshing; looking back on the process, he says, “don’t do what I did and just say, ‘Yeah babe, I’m just going to invite my friends and family…’” Instead, he encourages grooms to take full responsibility for at least 50% of that list, and handle it without complaint. After all, the absolute last thing a bride needs to try and determine is “which one of your old football teammates” makes the cut.

Photography: Sposto Photography

4.  Express interest—even if you don’t have strong opinions

Even the savviest, most self-possessed bride has (she will freely admit) dreamed a little about her wedding. “While this day is exciting for us grooms,” notes Mark, brides “have been dreaming of it for years and years.” (Easy, boys—it’s not like we spend our free nights polishing our tiaras and Pinterest-ing. Not every free night, anyway.). Talyn admits that grooms “don’t really care about centerpieces” like brides do– or seasonal flowers or the height of the tapers and nuances of color palette. But do you know what grooms do care about? Their brides. It isn’t about perfecting the table design, says Talyn; it’s about what a privilege it is to be a part of her life and innermost dreams, and “if she asks for your opinion and involves you in the discussion, take advantage of that opportunity.”

Photography: Heather Payne

5.   Serve one another

One of the sweetest ways our real grooms approached wedding planning was as an opportunity to serve their brides. The planning process, reflects Talyn, “is a time to become as selfless as you possibly can be.” In its most ideal form, the planning process is an incredible exercise in service; as grooms place their brides’ hopes and dreams before their own, they make tangible those promises to support her. Talyn puts it nicely: “This service will also speak to her heart and let her know just how much she means to you.”

Photography: Kati Rosado Photography

6.  Hire a dream team

When you hire a dream team of vendors and planners, you essentially give your bride the equivalent of consecutive spa weekends. For the sake of your wedding planning, your health, and happiness, surround yourself with an experienced team of vendors, and trust them implicitly. This will free you up as a couple to focus on your marriage and leave your wedding in your vendors’ capable hands. When it comes to selecting vendors, says Mark, “The more organized, the better” and if you choose professionals who “keep an open line of communication, you can rest much easier.” Talyn likewise emphasizes the importance of hiring an experienced vendor team:

Photography: Jen Huang 

7.  Handle the Rehearsal Dinner

At this stage in your relationship, you may share finances, and you may not; your family may be contributing to the wedding expenses, and then again maybe not. Regardless, a groom’s offer to handle the rehearsal dinner will forever be gentlemanly—a timeless, classy gesture. Mark puts it simply: “The rehearsal dinner should be taken care of by the groom. She’s already got more than enough to deal with.” So, with a little help from her best friend or mom, plan an alfresco dinner or book a chic restaurant, and treat her to a gorgeous last night of being engaged.

Photography: Valorie Darling

8.  Reconcile yourself to the fact that it will be stressful

When pressure mounts and things go wrong, it’s easiest to just admit it: wedding planning is stressful. Saying it out loud can feel like surrender—suddenly the weight is lifted. Once you reconcile yourself to that fact that planning is difficult, you free yourself up to find solutions– and maybe even encounter grace. “Stresses will inevitably come,” admits Talyn, “There really isn’t any way around it at times.” But viewing the planning process as an opportunity to serve Jordan, his wife, brought him back time and again, he says. Looking at wedding planning through the lens of his faith and his love for Jordan, Talyn found that “even the most mundane and tedious tasks” could be made in the service of something higher.

When your plans get snagged on a difficulty, look for a growth opportunity. And take a moment to reaffirm all that you know to be true– your love is so capable of surviving this, and that love is expanding and deepening and enriching with every trial you overcome.

Photography: Esmerelda Franco

9.  Find your problem-solving style

If anything, wedding planning comes with a kind of built-in couples’ therapy. The planning process illumines personality traits— conflicts as well as strengths—and gives a couple the opportunity to find a shared voice and problem-solving style. Mark found that, while he and his fiancée Nikki have very different styles, they should get jerseys, cause they make a great team (s/o to the readers who are old enough to mentally sing that last part):

“I feel like all of the stresses happened internally. No matter what situation created the stress, everything is dealt with between the couple and/or family. I’m the type to laugh these situations off, much unlike my fiancée. You’ve got to find a balance and deal with everything together. We are in the process of building the foundation for our life and future family. From here on out, we have to work as one.”

Photography: Jeremy Chou Photography 

10.  Make it about her

Our grooms stressed again and again that the wedding was about their brides. According to Talyn, “this is her day… As the groom, your level of involvement is dependent upon the dreams of your bride.” Throughout the course of your marriage, you’ll take turns focusing more on one another’s plans and dreams. The guys say that a wedding is one of those times, and supporting their bride came as no sacrifice.

Photography: Heather Payne 

11.  Expect things to go wrong—and try to maintain perspective when they do

“The most challenging part of wedding was the day of the actual wedding,” admits Talyn. The best course of action, he continues, is to “root yourself in peace as much as possible. Things will go wrong, and that’s okay.” Such a peaceful, grounded approach will not only benefit the groom but also the bride who has placed her trust in him. Speaking of which…

12.  Shield her from problems the day-of

When it comes to the day of the wedding, the guys stressed that grooms should vigilantly guard their brides’ vision and wedding day experience.  “Don’t let petty issues even go near your bride,” insists Talyn. “She will be getting ready and will be going through all of the emotions of the day… and she does not need to be disturbed.” If the cake delivery is late or seating issues come up, then calmly notify your coordinator—don’t alarm your fiancée. Allow her space to dream and breathe and be in this moment. If she can be spared from knowing about the problem, dear grooms, please spare her.

Photography: Simply Sarah Photography 

13.  Savor the little moments

Even the most challenging periods of planning are braided with beautiful moments. The difficulties can seem unrelenting, but suddenly something beautiful breaks through. Maybe the sunlight shimmers through days of rain and uncertainty. Or you walk by your wedding tent, and are overcome by its glowing white beauty. Or you lock eyes across the rehearsal dinner table and remember the reason for everything. Glimmers of hope—however faint—are always there for those who look.

Talyn remembers one such moment the day before his wedding. He and his fiancée had just finished the last bit of wedding prep and decided to steal away for a quick coffee. (A bit of backstory—the couple has a long history with coffee. The local coffee shop played host to their love story and all its stages– meeting, courtship, and proposal.) Over midnight cappuccinos, the realization finally set in. “I just remember soaking in the excitement…we were about to marry one another! The anticipation began to build and it felt like we were kids again.” That simple coffee together, says Talyn, helped the couple hit reset and to restore their excitement in everything. Always look for the littlest moments of joy, and savor them completely.

Photography: Mariel Hannah 

14.  Fall more deeply in love

Realize that wedding planning, like any great challenge, has the potential to bring a strong couple closer together. In wedding planning, you will find a tangle of conflicts, misfires, family dynamics, and moments of beauty that are not unlike those belonging to married life. These things can overwhelm you, or cause you to turn to one another for solace and understanding. Mark says that he never realized the depth of his love for Nikki was until their love was tested; reflecting back, he says:

“A year ago, when I finally got on one knee, I thought I was head over heels in love and 100% ready to spend the rest of my life with her. Throughout this year, I’ve only fallen more and more in love seeing how determined and strong-willed she is. It really is a hectic time, and she has absolutely rocked it.”

Photography: Ashley Ludaescher 

15.  Remember: it’s about a marriage, not a wedding

It may sound cliché, but if you focus exclusively on the wedding, you will almost always find reasons to be overwhelmed. Focus on your marriage instead, and wedding day problems tend to fade. None of those plans are as important or sacred as this commitment. Talyn adds to this idea:

“You’re not there to perform for your friends and family. You’re there to commit yourself to your bride… Remind one another that stress will happen and things may go wrong. But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that the two of you will step into a covenant with each other.”

No matter what the planning process looks like, it’s leading you to a life together—and isn’t that just the best thing.

Photography: Erika Parker  

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Jen Huang Photography

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Sposto Photography

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From rustic elements, vibrant florals and lush greenery to bold red details, gold accents, and a multicultural ceremony, these two days couldn’t be any more different, yet perfectly tied together. The Tuscan Wedding was put to the test to style Ashley and Saurab’s intricate two-day affair at Villa Medicea dil Lilliano in the Tuscan hills including a true Indian ceremony! With details trailing from one day to the next, Pure White Photography was given two of the most picture-perfect days filled with intimate moments and memories along with some seriously gorgeous floral designs by Flowers Living. Get lost in Tuscany and check out the full gallery for even more of The Tuscan Wedding’s stunning two days of absolute bliss!

From The Tuscan Wedding…On the 17th and 18th of May, Villa Medicea dil Lilliano served as the most perfect backdrop to Ashley and Saurab’s two-day wedding celebration, capturing their love story and adoration of color extraordinarily. The breath-taking styling by The Tuscan Wedding ensured that the couple was able to enjoy every single second of their magical celebrations surrounded by their most loved. Ashley and Saurab dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding nestled amongst the vista of the Tuscan landscape, with the romance of Tuscany stealing their hearts and sealing their marriage. 

Without a doubt, one of the central styling aspects of this stunning wedding was the floristry design provided by Flowers Living. On the first day, the beautiful bride chose a bouquet to contrast her crisp white dress, with vibrant colors providing a real ‘pop’, finished delicately with a bright magenta satin ribbon for the real wow factor. Saurab’s eye-catching orange buttonhole flowers sat perfectly nestled against his navy suit, and the bridesmaids shone with their bouquets of delicate foliage, wrapped with a soft white satin ribbon, perfectly designed to complement the bride and groom. The floral theming even extended to the bridesmaid dresses, with a gentle cascade of florals featured as the dress print. It’s these tiny touches that really set this wedding apart from others, with every aspect carefully curated and designed.

With photos captured by the astoundingly talented Purewhite Photography, Ashley and Saurab have a wedding album filled to the brim with breath-taking photos of their two-day celebration. From loving photos of the happy couple, through to beautiful memories of their guests enjoying their special days, Purewhite Photography made sure to capture all of the most intricate memories laced with happiness and joy for the couple to cherish.

The second day of celebrations showcased a traditional Indian ceremony, with Ashley’s amazing wedding henna and bright red sari the stars of the show. The styling was bold and exciting, with bright florals and golden accents standing center stage. The Tuscan Wedding’s ability to show such different styles really stood out, with the two-day celebration providing guests with captivating scenes set in totally different styles.

With such an awe-inspiring venue, The Tuscan Wedding team knew it was important to create a style that was timeless and elegant, to allow the touches of the Villa Medicea di Lilliano’s architecture and dressing to really stand out. From fountains to fairy lights, the venue is the perfect backdrop for a wonderful wedding.

The timeless and elegant wedding décor designed by The Tuscan Wedding for the first celebration was filled with greenery, soft, subtle and sublime. With rustic wooden table names, wooden barrels filled brimming with vibrant vegetables for the chefs, and woven baskets filled with flowers, there was no aspect overlooked by The Tuscan Wedding to make sure this really was an amazing affair.

The chefs from Galateo Ricevimenti crafted an exquisite meal for the guests, with wine poured into beautiful crystal glasses sourced by The Tuscan Wedding. The unforgettable celebrations were set to the sounds of Leonardo Martera, DJ, where the guests danced until the early hours laughing with delight. Bathed in lighting designed by Almaproject, the bride and groom and their guests were truly in the spotlight of love. The wedding celebrations were a wonderfully special project to work on, and the styling and organization orchestrated by The Tuscan Wedding made sure that Ashley and Saurab had the most perfect wedding that they had always dreamed of, settled within the stunning scenery of the Tuscany Hills.

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Photographer: Purewhite Photography | Wedding Planner: The Tuscan Wedding | Florist: Flowers Living | Cake: Galateo Ricevimenti | Reception Venue: Villa Medicea di Lilliano | Catering: Galateo Ricevimenti | Lighting: Alma Project | DJ: Leonardo Martera | Ice Cream: Miss 500

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We often hear of stories where an heirloom ring was passed down and therein is full of sentimental value. But this Bride’s engagement ring was custom crafted by her Groom-to-be with her Mother’s memory in mind. It’s the sweetest story and you can read it all below, alongside Cavin Elizabeth‘s stunning imagery of their engagement session.

From Cavin Elizabeth Photography… Brieze and Peter, who live and work in San Francisco in the medical and technology fields, traveled to Palm Springs for their La Quinta Resort engagement photos. They get married at the Miramonte later this year and were in town for a tasting. Because they got engaged at La Quinta, I suggested it as the perfect location for their engagement session.

As you can see, Brieze’s ring is such a showstopper. Not only is it striking and gorgeous, it also has a very sentimental story behind it. Brieze’s mother Beth was a fine jewelry designer and had planned to design her daughter and son-in-law’s rings. Sadly, Beth passed away last April and was not able to create the jewelry for the loving couple. In her honor, Peter designed Brieze’s engagement ring with a carat count that matched Beth’s birthday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ring with a story that made me teary eyed until I saw Brieze’s. Her ring holds so much beauty in every way.

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Photography: Cavin Elizabeth Photography | Film: Goodman Film Lab | Planner: Josefina Events | Hotel: La Quinta Resort & Club | Beauty: Dishwater Blond Salon | Bouquet: Coachella Valley Floral

When you take a look at today’s soiree, your initial thought is that this could have taken place on the beach, but in fact, it occurred a few steps away in the beautiful ballroom at Casa Del Mar! The bride and groom, who wanted each and every one of their guests to feel like a part of their day called upon Simply Natural Events to put together their laid back, yet extremely graceful day. White velvet linens and classic blue and white tableware brought the elegance, while Wisteria Lane Flowers brought the timeless, beach vibes with a mix of blush pink and white florals arranged ever so perfectly. Check out the full gallery here, photographed by Krista Mason Photography to see a bride full of smiles!

From Simply Natural Events…We wanted to create an environment that was timeless and elegant, but not too stuffy. The couple wanted their guests to feel like they were part of the wedding — like it was their day too — so we added all sorts of fun elements, beginning with a great band and an interactive photo booth. It was a destination wedding for most of the guests, so the couple wanted to leave them with a taste of California on their way out, which came in the form of a late-night snack courtesy of In-N-Out.

From the Bride & Groom…

We fell in love with Casa Del Mar and really wanted to embrace the elegance of the hotel combined with beach vibes. We wanted our wedding to feel timeless and elegant.

What attracted you to your venue? Was there any significance in selecting your venue?

We loved the ballroom of Casa Del Mar, the color is beautiful. We love the whole hotel and it was a dream to have our wedding there. We also loved being on the beach and having an ocean view!

Let’s talk wedding decor: How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception?

We wanted to keep the decor simple and beautiful. We mixed round tables with white velvet linens with natural wood farm tables. We used lots of candles to create a romantic feeling. My favorite part was using blue and white plates to match the menus.

What were the florals like at your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?

I loved the flowers so much! The flowers were white mixed with blush pink and greenery. The farm tables were draped with garland and mixed with the same white and pink flowers from the bouquets and lots of candles!

Did you personalize the day in any way?

We had our favorite cocktails passed during cocktail hour, old fashioned and French 75. In-n-Out burger for a late-night snack. I walked down the aisle to Can’t Help Falling in Love.

What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

So much! My dress, the flowers, table settings! The first look with Nick was amazing! The speeches and dancing with my new husband! Getting on stage to dance to Sweet Home Alabama at the end of the night as well :)

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Photography: Krista Mason Photography | Wedding Planner: Simply Natural Events | Florals: Wisteria Lane | Cake: The Butter End Cakery | Stationery: Poeme | Entertainment: Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment | Hotel: Casa Del Mar | Beauty: Nicol Artistry | Bride & Bridesmaids Fashion: Kinsley James Couture Bridal | Cinema: ByDesign Films | Photobooth: Pixster Photo Booths | Rentals & Decor: Stage Labs | Rentals & Decor: Archive Rentals | Rentals & Decor: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals & Decor: Dish Wish

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Wisteria Lane

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From lush garden roses and crawling ivy to the classic getaway car, this wedding inspiration is the definition of timeless romance. With the stunning backdrop of Kestrel Park and the Santa Ynez hills, Kaleb Norman James Design worked in bold combinations of color and texture to a more traditional palette. If the full, fragrant arrangements didn’t bring enough floral texture, the bride’s dress by Alexandra Grecco featured hand embroidered appliqué that caught the sun soaked California light perfectly in every shot. Take a look at the full gallery below for all the floral goodness!

From Kaleb Norman James Design—The inspiration for the design came from the beauty & color of early spring floral—the fragrant lilacs, the lush garden roses & of course, everyone’s favorite: peonies!

The soft tones of lavender and blush mixed with the peach and orange tones created this colorful combination that is vibrant, yet soft, romantic, but bold!

The dress brought everything together, with the perfect shade of peach to compliment the flowers and contrast with the beautiful surroundings of Kestrel Park.

For the getaway car, I wanted to add some kind of adornment that wasn’t just floral and came up with the idea of filling the back the convertible with beautifully wrapped gifts, which of course had to all match!

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Videography: Our Story Creative | Dress: Alexandra Grecco | Cake : Lele's Patisserie | Venue: Kestrel Park | Attendee + Guest Floral Designer: Petal and Posy | Bride Model: Jenna Richards | Car: Santa Barbara Speedster | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Groom Model: Hello Gorgeous Models | Jewelry/Veil: All About Romance | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | MUAH: Jen Lagers | Paper Goods : Grey and Cake | Photographer Host/Photographer: Maria Lamb | Photographer Host/Photographer: Amanda K Photography | Planning, Design, Floral: Kaleb Norman James Design | Rentals : Theoni Collection | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Rose Floats: The Wild Posy | Styling Boards: Locust Collection | Workshop Venue: Kestrel Park

My  love affair with shiplap is still going strong thanks to a gorgeous West Coast number that puts a fresh modern twist on the idea of farmhouse. Masterminded by Blackband Design, this bright white space is grounded by simple barn style black lighting and pops of indigo throughout. And if the shiplap doesn’t get you then the outdoor lounge certainly will. See the full tour captured by Tessa Neustadt right here.

This open floor plan and fun interiors make the perfect home for family get togethers and entertaining! From the funky demilune sofa in the living room to the custom reclaimed table in the dining room, this house is anything but traditional. We took its Modern Farmhouse architecture and added a twist!

 A cool and relaxing master bedroom creates the perfect retreat, but wait until you see the Master Bathroom. The Blue Tumbled Limestone flooring is beautifully paired with honed Carrara Marble. This modern farmhouse resides in Newport Heights, California. Home build by Graystone Custom Builders.

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Photography: Tessa Neustadt | Design: Blackband Design | Builders: Graystone Custom Builders

Today’s wedding wasn’t solely a union between the Bride & Groom. For Kaprisky and Jose, it was a day of love for their entire family (including their three sweet children). A marriage wasn’t the start of their family journey, but more of a celebration of the beautiful life they’ve built together. AIRE DE FIESTA and Coordinate Cuba made sure their destination fete went smoothly, while Ayenia Nour documented every moment for a collection of memories they can enjoy for years to come.

From the Bride… Jose and I met and dated in Anchorage Alaska while in high school. We come from big families—all immigrants, constantly seeking change so we ended up in Alaska. We lost touch after I moved back to Massachusetts after my freshman year, years went by and we had yet to reunite but I always had this feeling. About eleven years ago, I went to New York to visit a friend, I wanted to switch it up and needed a change of scenery. I was coming off an uptown train when I saw Jose. It was a love that never faded or changed–it was patient and waited for us. Ten years later we were celebrating our anniversary in Havana, Cuba where we got married surrounded by our beautiful children and family.

Jose proposed in November 2017 just after we bought our first home. It was a whirlwind since then trying to plan a wedding on top of raising three children, working full time and renovating our home. A small destination wedding made the most sense for our hectic schedules. We’d already been together for many years and done the whole kids and house thing, so a wedding was just the cherry on top, something for us to really celebrate the life we’ve built together. My new last name would be Castillo (castle in English) so it was fitting to create our hashtag of #BuildingCastillos (building castles). That’s exactly what we have been doing, building our foundation stone by stone. Building Castillos! We knew our ceremony had to be in February (our anniversary month) and if we were going to spend so much money on this wedding it’d better be somewhere warm. With our Dominican background, our destination had to be in the Caribbean. I absolutely could not deal with our relatives complaining otherwise and the kids needed distractions which the sun always provides. An intimate ceremony made the most sense to us–a week long getaway for us and our favorite people. Havana was always on our bucket list to travel so without a moment of hesitation we decided to get hitched in Cuba and it was perfect.Traveling to Cuba may seem scary as an American but you can still travel under specific visas. We traveled under the “support the Cuban people” visa which is quite perfect for those travelers who want to know and understand the Cuban culture. Under this visa, you would support Cubans by staying in Airbnb’s, eating at none government owned restaurants and purchasing at none government owned stores. We created an itinerary and went on tours, beaches and bar hopped right through the Airbnb website; amazing experience! Cubans are full of love and culture and are eager to help. The friends we made during our stay will always remain close to our hearts.

My cousin recommended I contact with a photographer named Ayenia Nour and we started planning the wedding immediately. It just felt right—almost like I met Ayenia when I was supposed to. Ayenia listened to our story and was so excited with us every step of the way. We checked in from time to time and she made sure all our questions were answered without hesitation. We built a relationship and we still keep in touch. Ayenia introduced us to Mariam Gonzalez from Coordinate Cuba who, hands down, is the best destination wedding planner anyone could ever have! There is not a more powerful duo than a bride and her planner and we were it. Her attention to detail and professionalism goes a long way. We fell in love and booked our wedding location prior to seeing it in person. Crazy! La Guarida had a rustic and glamorous look that we loved. We needed every part of our wedding to speak a story. Our love has never been simple, it’s changed and grown as much as we have as individuals. On our visit in July 2018 our decision to have our wedding in La Guarida was affirmed as soon as we walked in. I felt it in my bones, this was the place we were meant to get married.

Jose has an old soul and is attracted by all things antique and vintage. I wanted to make sure our invitation suite reflected his vintage style. I found calligraphy writer on Etsy, Hannah Yoder. We chatted for a bit via email as we went back and forth on what I envisioned. Hannah knew exactly what I wanted and even sourced homemade paper from Share Studios for our unique invitations. Combined with a stamp seal from Stamptitude and Hannah’s design, our invitation suite were better than what we imagined. The flat lay photos were perfection which included many trinkets and items I sourced at local antique shops and of course a ring box from The Mrs. Box. Some of the flat lay photos display a piece of the fabric used to make my dress which set well with the beautiful ribbon from Silk and Willow. It was all so special.

I started looking for a cinematographer in January 2018. I found a Miami based company, Dream Light Visuals, who have worked with couples in Havana. I reached out to them and was put in contact with Junior Garcia and his wife Vanessa. I love a good power couple. Another perfect match only sweetened by Junior’s Dominican heritage and Vanessa’s Cuban descent. The wedding was in good hands. Every detail and every person needed to speak to who Jose and I are. We are people of the people, supporters of our culture and admirers of growth. Coming from a family of immigrants is the central point of our story, it’s influenced who we’ve become and the opportunities we’ve received. Junior and Vanessa add a sexy Caribbean vibe to their work which Jose and I fell in love with. Our conversations always included our elevated voices to the point where I would screech with excitement with all of his wonderful ideas. I will for sure miss it!

My wedding dress was the only detail I did not struggle with. Contrary to many brides, I knew exactly what I wanted. In the start of my wedding dress hunt, I’d gone to a traditional bridal boutique where I was encouraged to buy something simple and timeless. I think that was just code for white and boring. I still ended up buying a dress I wasn’t in love with, but I just kept going back to our story… the complexity, our history and who I was. This wedding was just for Jose and I to begin with but I lost sight of that with my dress. My wedding dress meant everything to me. I needed something with more meaning—so I sold my first dress six months before our wedding and enlisted a local designer named Yanell Galva. She made the dress I imagined my children wearing. I didn’t tell anyone except my sister that I’d changed dresses. My mom would’ve had a heart attack, but I knew that I needed to trust my gut. In the end I wanted to surprise them all! Yanell is a young woman who grew up in the town where my children were born and who also has a Dominican background. She’s a spiritual woman with a hip rock flare who’s soft spoken and so gentle. We connected immediately and she took my vision and ran with it! Yanell also kept the dress a secret and worked around my schedule for fittings and updates. She worked diligently through most nights and made sure I was aware of every detail. Did I mention this was her first wedding dress? When I mentioned I trusted my gut, I meant it. Yanell listened to what I wanted, and I trusted her from start to finish. Her craft is genius.

(continue reading the Bride’s story below!)…

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Upon our arrival to Havana in February, we had an agenda and knew exactly what to do and what to expect. I spent my days drinking Guava juice and eating ceviche with my gorgeous family. Our wedding was a dream to say the least. I couldn’t have been calmer. I’m pretty type A so everything was very organized because dealing with three kids means I don’t have time for any more stress. Our ceremony and reception were breathtaking. Michel Valdes from Aire De Fiesta Cuba is truly a master at his work. From our ceremonial large archway to the mojitos being served upon guest arrival, Michel understood my attention to detail. The different unique chairs was definitely a vision I had and Michel made it happen. Jose and I love greenery and Michel was a bit nervous when we told him less flowers and more greenery but it all turned out beautiful! I wanted to create an experience for our small party (26 people to be exact), one they’d live with for as long as I did.

Meeting Jose meant learning to lean on someone else. My wedding day served as the biggest test in trust. All this preparation and planning leading up to a day entirely out of my control. And you know what? It was complete bliss. My wedding was the least stressed I’d ever been. I had so many people in my corner who wanted to make sure I had the best day possible. I’m a mother and it’s hard to find those selfish days where I can think about myself for a change. If I hadn’t of had my sister with me that day I probably would’ve melted. She ran around me in every which direction to make sure my dramatically and dreamy long veil was always sorted. Umm…my veil was 200 inches by the way! Heather from Sash + Veil knew I meant business when I requested a drop veil made with 200 inches of her silky soft material. It was a vision!

Our first look was out of a storybook. We first saw each other at the Plaza Catedral. I walked towards Jose with our children standing close by. I saw our eldest daughter Paris crying and couldn’t hold back my own tears. Jose was in love with me. I wasn’t just the luckiest woman in the world, I was the luckiest mother. I could not have ever imagined us getting married without our children present. It didn’t make sense to us. There is everything Jose and I want to teach our children but for myself, as a woman, I wanted to show my children what it means to fall in love with someone who deserves you and how to accept the love you deserve. Jose loved my dress and made sure to tell me exactly why when he first saw me.. Swoon!

I planned to walk down the aisle alone until we factored my veil in, then my sister volunteered to walk right behind me, and I got to walk into the next phase of my life with all the support I needed. Brides say they never hear the music being played as they walk down the isle because they’re so nervous. I heard every chord. I Could Fall in Love by Selena was played by a Cuban quartet who almost understood the support I needed. I could fall in love and I could have the wedding I always dreamed of as a little girl. I just needed to have faith, the rest was quite simply a dream.

Jose and I could barely get ourselves together to speak our vows. It was so emotional, and everyone was ugly crying as Jose said his vows and Spanish and I said mine in English. We made sure to follow Dominican tradition and include the exchange of thirteen arras. Each arra (coin) represents a value we will share with each other. Our children were all involved with the ceremony as this was as much their wedding as it was ours. Our reception was unreal! It was located on one of La Guarida’s rooftop terraces which has an amazing view of Havana. We walked in and danced our first dance to a live band playing Juan Luis Guerra “Burbujas de Amor”. A Cuban band playing a Dominican love song, it couldn’t have been better. We were presented with a 10-course meal of the finest dishes from La Guarida and it was ALL so delicious! I’m a trained dancer so of course I changed into something livelier to keep up with the musical night. The sexy white fringe jumpsuit from Meshki did the trick and Jose could not stop staring. Mission accomplished! Our small wedding was the perfect mixture of everyone we needed. Heels were thrown aside to accommodate the endless dancing that ensued. We were all drunk uncles in the end: pretending the band was ours and owning the Havana night like it was our last.

Photography: Ayenia Nour | Cinematography: Dream Light Visuals | Event Planning: Coordinate Cuba | Dress: Yanell Galva | Shoes: Vince Camuto | Groom: Kapris Castillo | Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein | Agate Name Cards: Inloftcalligraphy | Bride: Kapris Castillo | Brides Jumpsuit: Meshki | Daughter Milan's Headpiece: Lika Bridal | Daughter Paris's Headpiece: Gilded Shadows | Daughters Dress - Milan: Kalipso Co | Daughters Jumpsuit - Paris: Jay Godfrey | First Look Location: Plaza de la Catedral - Havana | Getting Ready Location: Casa Oliver | Glam - Also my good friend: Landy DeLaCruz | Homemade Paper: SHare Studios | Invitation Suite: Words of Grace Design | Lace Robe: Studio Chantilly | Red dress from video: Revolve Clothing | Restaurant: La Guarida Havana | Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Son's Suit - London: Joseph Abboud | Teaser Video Dress: Revolve Clothing | Veil: Sash Veil | Wax Stamp: Stamptitude | Wedding Design: AIRE DE FIESTA

Planning a wedding in five months might seem daunting to most, but for Somia and Jared, a short engagement was their wish from the start. With the help of their amazing planner, Ang Weddings and Events, that wish was made possible in the most beautiful way. It was a day full of tradition, smiles and the prettiest reception dripping with sparkling details. See it all captured by Heather Waraksa and Kiss The Bride Films below.

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From the Bride… As soon as Jared proposed in early April while we enjoying the cherry blossoms in Washington DC, we knew we had to get to work since we wanted to get married within the year. The first – and most important decision was finding a wedding planner who would be able to help us pull this off. I hired Tzo Ai Ang of Ang Weddings and Events who was spectacular throughout the whole planning process. She made it all so easy and fun despite our crazy work schedules and neither one of us actually living in New York City.

Jared and I visited the Rainbow Room and after seeing a few other venues the same day, we knew as soon as we stepped off the elevators on the 65th floor that it was the perfect location for a city wedding. It is timeless venue with various spaces, each with it’s own unique setting. We chose a romantic color palette that worked well with the natural lighting and tied the three different spaces together. The florals for both the ceremony and reception were beautiful white and pink tones with a lot of greenery. To make sure we had uninterrupted views of the city, I asked Sierra of Poppies and Posies to build a floral structure from the ground up to be the statement piece of the ceremony room. She extended this theme throughout the venue at the escort card and sweetheart tables.

After deciding these key details, I went to Pakistan with my family to find my dress. As a Pakistani American, I had dreamed of wearing a traditional Pakistani wedding dress ever since I was a little girl. I went to designer, Zara Shahjahan’s bridal studio in Lahore because her style is timeless; her designs are classic with a modern twist. After visiting the studio, I decided to wear two outfits. For the ceremony, I fell in love with a sharara – pearly white raw silk wide leg pants and a long sleeve knee-length top with beautiful blue, pink, and gold embroidery. I paired this look with traditional polki (uncut diamonds) jewelry. Zara’s style is timeless; her designs are classic with a modern twist. For the reception, I selected a lengha choli – a full skirt with heavy silver embroidery worn with a short sleeve top. Both looks made me feel so confident, beautiful, and comfortable – something that was very important to me from day one of wedding planning.

Our Nikkah (ceremony) was full of love, laughter, and happy tears. It was performed by a family friend who has known me since I was a child, Imam Zaid Shakir. He spoke about how love is a universal language across all races, ethnicities, cultures, and ways of life. This is beyond true for an interracial couple like Jared and me.

After the ceremony, our guests enjoyed amazing food, crowded in line to use the MirMir photo booth, and took in the beautiful views of the city. Jared and I started the night dancing to Dream a Little Dream of Me while the original Rainbow Room dance floor rotated beneath us. We toasted our guests while we cut into the elegant cake designed by Ron Ben-Israel. The night ended with us dancing with our families and friends to the Bollywood hit Desi Girl. Our wedding day was far more beautiful than we could have imagined and it was amazing to be able to bring our families and cultures together in such an iconic setting.

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Photography: Heather Waraksa | Event Planning: Ang Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Poppies & Posies | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes | Stationery: Bella Figura | Jewelry: Neemar Jewels | Hair and Makeup: Beautini | DJ: Beat Train Productions | Favors: Candlefish | Audio: Bentley Meeker | Calligraphies: MaryEllen Seidman | Ceremony and Reception Venue: Rainbow Room | Dates: Bateel Dates | Desserts: Edible Arrangements | Gowns: Zara Shahjahan | Live artist: Event Painting by Katherine | Photobooth: Mir Mir | Rentals: Luxe Event Rentals | Rentals: Party Rental LTD | Strings: Sterling Strings | Video: Kiss The Bride Films

“People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel”…and boy do today’s nuptials give us all the feels! Tyler and Alisha were married at Alisha’s family home which itself is extremely meaningful, BUT if that wasn’t enough, both the bride and grooms parents performed the ceremony! (You can grab a tissue now!) Meredith Jane Photography was called upon to capture it all, and did she ever! From intimate moments to unforgettable ones, she certainly got some forever shots! Amy McLaughlin Lifestyles brought the couple’s vision to life filling the space with farm style chairs, a beautiful hardwood dance floor and the perfect mix of ivory florals and lush greenery. Take a scroll below, and be sure to check out the video by Anecdotally Yours.

An interview with the bride…

How/when/where did you first meet? We met in Washington D.C. at a job interview in 2014. Turns out we both got the job offer and the rest was history!

How/when/where did the proposal happen? Tyler planned a beautiful fall day date that took us from Boston to New Hampshire. Ending the day with a proposal at the Mt Washington Hotel and followed by a surprise engagement party at our house with all of our friends and family.

What was the vision for your wedding, the style/color/scheme? How many guests? Our vision was for a clean and natural wedding with a focus on family, food, and music! Our colors were white, gray and green! We had 250 of our very closest family and friends.

Why did you choose your wedding venue? It is our family home that holds a lot of special memories for us and it is where I always dreamed I would get married.

Describe the ceremony, what made it unique/special: Our ceremony was performed by our parents, which was extremely meaningful. They each wrote vows that they asked us to commit to and we felt there was no one better suited to help us make the best decision of our lives!

Describe the reception, what made it unique/special: Our reception started with a dance party and ended with a dance party! Our guests were on their feet boogieing from the moment we went into the tent and it was the best thing, EVER!

Describe the flowers used for floral arrangements. We wanted whites and greens and Amy did a beautiful job mixing Peonies, roses, and others to provide stunning texture in all of the floral arrangements as well as 100’s of feet of green garland used to dress the tent!

What was the inspiration for your wedding cake? We had donuts and assorted desserts, no cake!

Describe the favors for guests: We did personalized matchbox!

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Photography: Meredith Jane Photography | Cinematography: Anecdotally Yours | Event Planning: Amy McLaughlin Lifestyles | Floral Design: Amy McLaughlin Lifestyles | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Azazie | Catering: Timothy S. Hopkins Catering | Hair: Carbon Salon | DJ: Hi-Fi Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Indochino | Bride's Gown: Pronovias | Rentals: Peak Event Services | Rentals: Sperry Tents Seacoast

It was love at first sight when I first laid eyes on this California home designed by Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors on MyDomaine. Bright, airy and full of fun touches, it’s everything I want in my future home. In fact, I’m ready to move into that playful pink bedroom today, like right now. But for now, I’ve settled on pinning every image of this gorgeous space. See your new dream home below.

From MyDomaine… Los Angeles–based interior designer Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors can do no wrong in our book (get familiar with her work, and we’re sure you’ll agree). In her latest project, the interiors visionary steered in a new direction that we can only hope to see more of: rock ’n’ roll. Decorating a new home for fashion trend forecaster Susan Anderson and her husband Timmy, a music producer, head of A&R at Capitol Records, and co-founding member of Ima Robot, the designer had the opportunity to mix her signature California-eclectic look with the edgy, fashion-forward accessories her clients had collected over time. The result? Laid back, boho, and impossibly cool.

“Our goal was to create a casual California aesthetic with rock ’n’ roll undertones,” Susan tells us. “We wanted a house that felt similar to the way we dress—lots of white, black, and leather—with a bohemian print direction.” With crisp, white paint and custom simple, solid sofas as a base, Lewis layered in vintage kilim rugs and pillows (both staples of her work) to ground the space and infuse a bit of pattern and worldly flair.

Her greatest discovery, Lewis tells us, was the black-and-white striped rug in the family room. “It was divine intervention; I was looking for one for months before I found it,” she says. “Sometimes this is how the cookie crumbles; it’s the last-minute finds that make the space amazing.”

Giving that rug a run for its money is a beautiful collection of furniture, both vintage and new, with lasting style. We love the midcentury black leather armchairs in the living room and the sycamore and leather bar stools in the kitchen, which were handmade in a studio in Philadelphia. “I didn’t want it to feel too serious or over-upholstered,” Susan tells us. “I also wanted to invest in great pieces I can take to the next house if we ever move—à la the leather safari chairs [in the master bedroom].”

Thoughtful choices in lighting, including fixtures by Apparatus Studio and Workstead, both New York–based makers, and Robert Ogden for Lostine, punctuate every room.

With the groundwork laid, Lewis did a remarkable job of bringing the space to life with a curated selection of the Anderson’s personal mementos and vintage music memorabilia. To the blind eye, it just looks cool, but for the Andersons, it makes the stunning space feel like home.

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“The thing I loved about working with Amber is that she used all of our accessories we’ve collected throughout our marriage—a jackalope from a trip to Aspen, rock ’n’ roll posters I got as gifts for my husband, and lots of Hermès accessories I collected on fashion trips,” Susan says. “I feel like we had a great collaboration between cherished items I already owned mixed with her style.”

Photography: Tessa Neustadt | Photography: MyDomaine | Interior Design: Amber Interiors

When the bride is from California and the groom is from Connecticut, their wedding decor was the perfect marriage of coastal details and classic East Coast style. They exchanged vows under a towering arbor teeming with greenery at Rancho Valencia with 13 bridesmaids and 13 groomsmen standing by their side (now that’s a bridal party!) Thanks to Shannon Leahy Events, the day went off without a hitch! Head on over to the full gallery captured by Lacie Hansen to see all the magic unfold.

From the Bride… Griffin and I met the old fashioned way (before the age of internet dating) at the only bar at our college, USC. We both ended up in line alone – on a Monday no less – and were then serendipitously introduced by a mutual friend. It took a series of rather fortunate events for us to begin dating (including griffin losing his ID and my roommate finding it) and in two weeks we were inseparable. We have been ever since. We continued to date all throughout college, spent time doing internships in both New York and Barcelona, made it through law school, and the treacherous Bar Exam. We made it through losing grandparents and beloved dogs. If you ask anyone, they barely remember one of us without the other. We both say we knew each other was the one in about a week.

It was the month of our seven year anniversary (and also Griffin’s parents 28th wedding anniversary) when our families took a trip up to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. We stayed in this amazing cabin by the water – the perfect time of year when we could still go boating with a light sweater on the lake and sit outside for happy hour, after the scorching heat of summer but before the torrential downpour of snow that was to come. Griffin proposed on the dock outside Westshore cafe in the company of both our families at sunset on the Sunday of our trip – toasting with champagne to finally make it official after a long day of hiking and a cheese plate was our perfect beginning of the next chapter. For our wedding, we always knew we wanted to get married at Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. My family had grown up heading down to Del Mar Beach every summer and the quaint yet sophisticated beach town has always had our hearts. Coupled with my dad’s love of tequila (the Pony Room at RV has one of the largest selections in CA) and we knew it was the perfect place to make our almost a decade long relationship official.

Griffin grew up between Greenwich, CT and Jupiter, FL so we definitely wanted to incorporate some of the more traditional east coast classic elements into our wedding decor. We went with a simple white, green, and natural linen look with lots of rattan and matte black elements to create a classic country club feel mixed with coastal California elements. Our goal was simple, chic and classic (but without feeling stuffy) – striped linens, loose greenery, an open tent to let the night sky in, and a monogrammed dance floor in a sleek black and white pattern. The food was also extremely important to us, as one of our favorite pastimes as a couple is trying new restaurants and exploring new types of cuisine when we travel. We achieved this with individual cheese and charcuterie plates for each guest before dinner, which was preceded by a ceviche bar and Spanish tapas passed around. The day before the wedding, while the groomsman and my groom played a special golf round, I held a private yoga class for all my bridesmaids in the spa and yoga pavilion on property. The yoga and fitness center is another reason why we chose Rancho Valencia for our wedding. The pavilion reminds me of being back in Bali (which was a special memory as my late Opa was from Indonesia).

Immediately after classes guests are greeted with fresh green juice and cold towels – what more could you ask for! The weekend was also kicked off with a welcome party at the Hacienda on property, complete with skinny spicy margaritas, an Abandanado tequila tasting bar (flown in from Mexico by my dad personally), a personalized corn hole (which featured our wedding crest), a flatbread station, and a make your own welcome bag gift station. Guests were free to choose from some of our favorite items- mini Casamigos tequila bottles, personalized golf balls (an ode to Griffin’s second true love), coconut water to refuel from a long match of tennis on property, goldfish, rice chips, and our beloved mini dark peanut butter cups. On the night of our reception, after an amazing night dancing to Impulse from West Coast music, we surprised our guests with a Havana, Cuba themed after party, complete with fries, queso, and mini Cuban sandwiches to end the night. With fedoras on and “Havana” by Camilla Cabello blasting, our hearts will forever be happy and full remembering this unforgettable weekend.

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Photography: Lacie Hansen | Videographer: Aaron Novak Films | Floral Design: Botanicamuse | Ceremony Venue: Rancho Valencia | Reception Venue: Rancho Valencia | Hair & Makeup : Chiali Meng | Lighting: DJ Chris | Band: West Coast Music | Band Sound: Design Sound | Dance Floor: Barker's | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Paper: Studio Luzance | Planner & Designer: Shannon Leahy Events | Rentals: Folklore Vintage Rentals | Stylist: Maradee Wahl | Tent & Rentals: Town And Country Rentals

When the favorite guest comment is “You’ve officially ruined weddings for other people”, you know you’re in for some serious beauty. That’s exactly what this French fete from Alexandra Vonk and France Wedding Planner is—beauuutiful. For a travel-loving duo, their destination wedding at Château de Chantilly was the perfect way to celebrate their union. Take a peek, you might just be adding this venue to your list after this.

From the bride… We love to travel the world, so we knew it had to be at an international destination, otherwise, if we kept it local, we’d probably end of just going to city hall in NYC! Once we narrowed it down to France, we had initially thought we’d do it in one of the wine region’s of France because we love wine, specifically wine from Bordeaux, but we got married at the Domaine de Chantilly near Paris. The first time we saw pictures of the venue, it was aerial drone footage, and we immediately fell in love. We were also looking at other chateaus in France, and also considered going down to the South of France for the wedding, but ultimately decided Chantilly was it for two reasons 1) the team they have in place running the property, Nicole, Celine, Chef Julien, they are true professionals and went above and beyond to accommodate us during the site visit and ultimately during our wedding weekend 2) the location of Chantilly was ideal for us because 90% of our guests were flying into France, and being that it is only a 20 minute drive from CDG Airport and 40 minute drive from Paris, we didn’t have to worry about our guests having to take another plane/train to get to the final destination.

There is also so much history behind Chantilly, and the fact that it has the 2nd largest painting collection in all of France, next to the Louvre, was very enchanting. The property actually has a few originals in place there, and the will of the last person who lived there states two things 1) the paintings can never leave the property, so to see some of these original work of arts, you must go to Chantilly 2) the paintings in the room where we had the reception, they are not allowed to rearranged, therefore, when you look up at the walls, you’ll notice the paintings are not hanging in size order and look a bit scattered, but it works!

We wanted to go with a elegant and classic look and feel. We added some pink to the wedding, for a pop of spring color. For the flowers we worked with Laura Le Cam, owner of Oz Home. We were definitely a bit nervous because she mainly spoke French, but with the help of our wedding planner, we were able to get our ideas across and Laura delivered at the end of the day. The floral arch and the florals during the reception were beautiful, they complemented the outdoor ceremony space and rooms they were in very well. Because the venue is already so beautiful, we wanted something that wouldn’t detract from it, so we were very focused on a classic style.

We designed the wedding invites, menu’s, name cards ourselves and had it printed by our friend who owns his own commercial print shop.

My Netta BenShabu dress was also custom designed, we actually took ideas from two different dresses that she designed and combined it into one. When I placed the order for the dress, I actually never had the chance to try on the final product as it had yet to be designed, so I ended up putting on two dresses at once to be able to see the combination of it. When the dress arrived, it was close, but we still had a fair amount of work to do, the seamstresses at Wedding Atelier did a phenomenal job getting every piece of detail I asked for, in place (including essentially building out a new upper back for the dress with applique that they had to go back and order from the designer after the dress initially arrived).

Francis’ ceremony and reception dinner jackets were also both custom designed, working alongside our good friends / designers / owners of Monsieur Brunold. They happen to be French and transplanted to the US ~8 years ago. When you order jackets from them, they have it completely built in France, then shipped back to NYC. They are so easy to work with and know what their customers want. Francis’ reception dinner jacket was purple paisley since purple is one of his favorite colors.

Chef Julien’s team from the michelin star restaurant at the Auberge designed and made our cake. Again, we did not have the luxury to taste the exact cake being that we are NYC based and did not have a chance to go to France the month before the wedding, but it was DELICIOUS! We do not like fondant, they did a wonderful job with a butter cream strawberry cake.

Favorite Moment… Walking down the aisle to Kevon (from Shine Live Band) singing Hallelujah during the ceremony. I actually heard him rehearsing about an hour beforehand as we were getting ready at the Auberge, and when I first heard it, it gave me the chills. His voice is so beautiful, soothing, yet powerful. He sang it with so much grace, I could listen to it over and over again. Also, it rained about half an hour before our ceremony started, I saw it coming down as we were finishing up our final touches in the Auberge and I felt really deflated because our ceremony was set up to be outdoors and we made the call the morning of that we would chance it and have it outdoors. Luckily, by the time I was heading over to the ceremony it stopped. The moment I began walking down the aisle and set my foot onto the white carpet with my mom by my side, I felt a lot of heat on my right arm, that’s when I realized the sun came out, the timing could not have been better!

Favorite Crafted Detail… This is actually an (un)crafted detail, about half an hour before the ceremony, it began raining and I was worried the guests would be all wet, so we sent a mass group text message out to all the wedding guests, asking them to bring umbrellas with them to the ceremony 15 min before every one was supposed to show up. Because they did so, the umbrellas got integrated into some of our wedding photos and it was beautiful. It made the pictures much more dramatic and added a nice flair / vibe to the wedding. Luckily, by the time the ceremony started, it stopped raining!

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Advice for brides-to-be:

– For any brides-to-be who plan on going abroad with a destination wedding, it can be stressful with the time zone difference and not physically being able to visit vendors at your leisure, but having a wedding planner who knows the local market / speaks the native language, doing your own research online using social media tools such as Instagram and having Skype calls with your vendors can really help pull things together.

– I’d also suggest applying the 80/20 rule (if it’s 80% there, the 20% is often a nice to have) when you’re in the final stretch of planning, obviously we all want everything to be perfect as we envision on the wedding day, but it is true, there are many small details that your guests will often not realize and/or remember when looking back at your wedding day!

– Lastly, it is incredible how our vendors from Alexandra (photographer), Ben (band), Tatiana (hair & makeup), Alex and Federico (videography), Rachel (wedding planner), Nicole and Celine (Domaine de Chantilly) all pulled together to create such a beautiful event for us. We are so grateful that everyone was professional and able to work together, meeting each other for the first time during our wedding weekend.

Photography: Alexandra Vonk Photography | Wedding planner: Rachel Kaplan | Flowers: Laura le Cam | Wedding Dress: Netta Benshabu | Ceremony Venue: Château de Chantilly | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Groom's Attire: Monsieur Brunold | Getting ready venue: L'auberge du Jeu de Paume | Hair & Mua: Tatiana Medved | Scans: Richard Photo Lab | Shoes Bride: Gianvito Rossi | Shoes Groom: Guiseppe Zanotti | Video: Alex Sofo Wedding Films | Wedding Dress Boutique: Wedding Atelier

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Alexandra Vonk Photography

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Inspired by the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Paris, The Olana brings that old-world romance and delicate charm of France to the Lone Star State! This stunning shoot planned by Ivory & Vine Event Co. will transport you straight to an enchanted Parisian garden in Spring thanks to Something Pretty Floral‘s gorgeous arrangements at every turn, teeming with blush and cream blooms. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the swoon-worthy details captured perfectly by Stephanie Brazzle Photography.

This editorial session at the Olana was inspired by the architecture of the venue itself. Formally known as the Champ D’Or, The Olana was built to honor the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Paris.

We kept the venue at the heart of our design when concepting color palette, floral and rentals – the intricate wood carvings in the wall panels, the luxurious texture of the Parisian-inspired furnishings and the grand scale of the building inspired each element from our stationery suite to the place settings.

Something Pretty Floral provided lush, garden-inspired floral to evoke the feeling of a Parisian garden in springtime; incorporating soft, romantic blooms and lush greens. Our gown, the Amanda by Maria Farbinni, was a stunning gown laden with a gorgeous train and many intricate details like hand-sewn feathering and a dramatic, plunging neckline.

Maitee Miles transformed our bride with natural, glowy makeup and a loose, whispy updo. Our stationery suite from Sarah Ann Designs included sophisticated sketches of the venue, and many other gorgeous elements including a rich velvet envelope liner, and handwritten calligraphy. Our rentals provided by Perch, Top Tier and La Tavola helped to heighten the sense of luxury via neutral, linen-backed chairs and heavy, textured dishware. Our couple enjoyed spending time in their vintage 63 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, provided by Blue Diamond Limousines. Each of these elements was photographed in stunning vignettes by Stephanie Brazzle, who utilized the natural light of the grand windows at The Olana to elevate each image.

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photographer : Stephanie Brazzle Photography | Event Planning: Ivory & Vine Event Co. | Floral Design: Something Pretty Floral | Wedding Dress: Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon | Stationery: Sarah Ann Design | shoes: Bella Belle | Hair and Makeup: Maitee Miles | tux: The Black Tux | Transportation: Blue Diamond Limousines | Venue: The Olana | Wedding Venue: The Olana | Designer: Maria Farbinni | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Top Tier | Rentals: Perch Event Decor Rental

Elopements are on the rise, my friends and today’s editorial from Maricle Kang and Everly Fleur is exactly why they look so tempting. The modern day elopement doesn’t need to me ‘running off’ to say your I dos; it can even be a celebration that begins at home like this inspirational story. Full of pure romance and charm, every detail that surrounds Georgia​ and ​Eloise’s union is of the sweetest sophistication.

From Maricle Kang… This is a story between two people who simply fell in love and eloped in a way ​that​ reflect​s​ their character​s​ and personalit​ies​. All the details, from the​ ​dress, ​florals, to the location, stationery, and the cake, were all inspired by modern minimalistic ​chic. ​We wanted to feature clean lines, lucite decor, and an overflow of fresh greenery to showcase the concept. ​

The day started in the morning at ​their ​apartment where the couple, ​Georgia​ and ​Eloise got ready for​ ​their elopement. ​We wanted to capture those little moments and interactions between them, like chatting on the bed, kissing each other’s forehead, having breakfast at the dining table, and casually chatting at the kitchen counter. It is those moments in our daily lives that define who we are and​ ​develop the love ​we have with one another.

​​Getting ready is both the most exciting and nervous time of the day and we wanted to capture ​their anticipations getting into their bridal outfits separately. They love contemporary designs, Georgia dressed in ​bridal separates, a top and a pant, and ​Eloise dressed in a ​modern ​cocktail dress ​​with pockets​, accessorized by minimalistic jewelry by Kara Yoo. The couple exchanged their vows ​in front of a white chapel structure ​at Bear Creek Park​. ​It was decorated with ​sophisticated color palettes, ​white floral​s and​ greeneries​. And ​the white and beige backdrop created sleek lines and a minimal background to the overall ceremony. We used the same backdrop for our stationery flat lay. The design of stationery was to feature bold text and a monochromatic colour scheme for a modern event. They celebrated with champagne, their favourite macarons, and a​n elegant​cake ​afterwards. After the ceremony, we took some couple and individual portraits to remember the day. ​

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Photography: Maricle Kang | Stationery: Liza Child | Ceremony Venue: Bear Creek Park | Jewelry: Kara Yoo (@karayoojewelry) | Hair & Makeup: Alisha Hopps | Bridal Separates: Keira Danniels & Karen Merrifield | Cake & desserts: Cake By Nicole | Dress & Veil: Luxx Nova | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Model: Danielle And Chris From Richards Models | Model: Olivia Noella | Studio: Pipe Shop | Styling & Floral Design: Everly Fleur

Get cozy loves… this home tour is jam packed. Packed full of the most perfect modern farmhouse inspiration, that is. It’s not a room or two kind of tour, it’s a whole house and exterior, including a kitchen, dining room, great room, mudroom, laundry, pool and patio, stairwell, den, three bedrooms and bathrooms. Whew! Every inch of it is gorgeous. AND it’s all designed by a designer who I happen to have a huge crush on—none other than, Mindy Gayer. It’s realllly hard to pick a most-loved moment in this home, but I’d have to go with the serene stairwell. Dreamy right?! What’s your favorite room? Have a look at the full gallery captured by Kyle Monk and then come back to let us know in the comments! Oh, and join us on Instagram today as Mindy takes over!

From Mindy Gayer Design Co.… We were brought onto the project a little later in the design build process; the house was already under construction and we stepped in after a change in the design direction. However, taking the project on mid-build was a dream because it gave us a blank canvas to dream up the perfect modern farmhouse that the Client was envisioning all along.

We worked closely with the Client in achieving the look of their modern farmhouse through the selection of all lighting, hardware, wallpaper, flooring, furnishings, window coverings, paint colors, poolside finishes and furniture, etc.

Both the Client and I sought out to give their home a light and fresh aesthetic, while still remaining timeless and reflective of the California lifestyle. With all of the sunny days we have here in Southern California, and the incredible natural light that pours in throughout the house, we knew we wanted to play up the effect that clean, white walls and neutral finishes provide.

We prioritized keeping the look & feel of the home light and bright during the entire design process, while incorporating a monochromatic palette.

For the exterior, they chose classic board and batten siding with a standing seam metal roof, iconic for many farmhouse-style homes. Barn Doors were used in lieu of standard interior doors for the Pantry and Master Bedroom Closets. The finishes were intentionally kept simple and minimalistic throughout, including subway and field tiles, classic oak hardwood floors and one of the biggest focal points in the home…their staircase!

Once we had a classic palette in place with all of the hard finishes, we started layering in patterns and textures with the use of patterned wallpapers, fabrics, furnishings and accessories. Designing a home from scratch gives you the ability to think of each layer and step of process as an opportunity to step back and determine what is still needed to make a space pop and feel more cozy and livable.

We loved layering in these textures throughout. We typically start by anchoring each room with lighting selections, and then move on to wall coverings, fabrics, window coverings, cabinetry hardware, rugs and artwork.

The fun thing with this home is our Client’s willingness to create a distinct look for each room. With that, each room stands apart with a chosen wallpaper that sets the tone and texture for the space, after which we layered in bedding, linens, furnishings and accessories in varying patterns and textures to add a bit more interest. No two rooms are alike, but all work together seamlessly with little pops of fun in each space. And by keeping to a neutral palette, we were able to include a mix of subtle patterns within each space while still making the home feel timeless.

Our Client’s really desired a home that was inviting year-round, and one they didn’t have to fuss or worry about things with getting “lived in.” They love to entertain as well, so big open spaces were a must! Take a peek at their outdoor living space…it’s a dream!

One of the best part about being a Designer is seeing your blank canvas come to life after months and months of dreaming up every little detail, which if you’re lucky, your Clients come to love even more than they thought they would!

Seeing this modern farmhouse take shape and evolve, room by room, was such a fun process. And as everything started coming together, meeting by meeting, piece by piece, we had the incredible privilege of watching the property start to evolve into a home that the family had dreamed about for years! A place they had dreamed about making memories in, growing their young family in, and calling home for countless years! Being part of this beautiful project was a dream!

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Photography: Kyle Monk | Architect: Mark Gross, Assoc. | Custom Builder: Pinnacle Residential | Design/Build Consultant: Houzz | Interior Design: Mindy Gayer | Landscape: Art Guy, BGB Landscape Architects, Inc.

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Truth be told, just about any color palette plays out beautifully in sunny Southern California. But today’s pink-y, peach-y, mauve & buttercup yellow goodness would work anywhere, anytime of the year. I’m already predicting that this fete will be plastered all over Pinterest and I don’t doubt that it’ll be front and center on many of your wedding boards for late 2019 and 2020 weddings. A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production mastered this day, along with Lavenders Flowers on blooms. And our dear friend Natalie Bray created works of art with her breathtaking images. What are we waiting for? Let’s dive in!

From A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production… Addie and Richard reached out to me to help them plan their wedding celebration and make sure everything came through on the day of the event. Inspired by their love for Japan, Addie and Richard wanted the design of their wedding to be simple, yet still romantic and elegant. She dreamed up a color palette of warm neutrals, grey, taupe, dusty mauve, peach, blush, and pink. Janelle Wylie of Lavenders Flowers used wild greenery, twigs, and dried blooms mixed with fresh garden roses and other seasonal blooms to create textures throughout the wedding. She created a whimsical bouquet of loose blooms and assorted greenery, all wrapped in hand-dyed silk ribbon. For the ceremony Janelle created beautiful arrangements in the Japanese art of flower arranging known as Ikebana that grew for large urns. At the dinner tables, she created smaller Ikebana centerpieces in ceramic and marble vases, accented with smaller budvases of delicate blossoms. For a romantic touch, taper candles provided a soft glow to the space.

With their love for food, Addie and Richard chose Anqi by House of An to host their wedding reception. Their guests feasted on five full courses and enjoyed a beautiful dessert display. To accompany dessert, Mr. & Mrs. Creamery provided fun ice cream pops for guests to enjoy along with a yummy cake for the couple to cut into. The couple danced the night away with their guests for an unforgettable evening.

From Natalie Bray Studios… I had the honor of getting to know Addie and Richard over the course of a year. Their love is inspiring and has a special place in my heart. The day began with Addie looking stunning in her gown from the White Flower Boutique. It was hand painted with delicate floral details and a gorgeous neckline. Her hair and Makeup looked flawless by Ting and bouquet from Lavenders Flowers was just work of art.

Richard wore a classic tux and looked very classic. Together the two of them shined. The couple also chose to do their first look in traditional Korean Hanbok attire that was a perfect way to bring their heritage in their wedding day. Japan is a special place for Addie and Richard, which inspired the design for the reception and all the florals. Anna from A Good Affair did a fantastic job making the day run seamlessly. It was a beautiful winter day and I could not be happier to know this amazing couple.

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Photography: Natalie Bray Studios | Event Planning: A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production | Floral Design: Lavenders Flowers | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Invitations: Fabulous Fancy Pants | reception : Crustacean Beverly Hills | Shoes : Jimmy Choo | Film lab: The Find Lab | Hair and make-up : Ting Makeup Hair | dessert: mr and mrs creamery | dress boutique: The White Dress | headpiece: BHLDN | menswear: Armani | ring box: The Mrs Box

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Natalie Bray Studios

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For these two, an Ancient Spanish Monastery was where the wedding bells rang, and the day was filled with family, friends and all of the elegance you can imagine! Erika Delgado Photography captured every intimate moment from the ‘I Do’s’ inside a small chapel to the couples first dance surrounded by their guests. Soco Alicea planned today’s fete alongside Ever After Floral Design, who together created the most beautiful and fitting to the venue centerpieces. Take a peek below and get swept away in Erika’s photos and the old-world charm of this romantic wedding day!

From Erika Delgado Photography…The Ancient Spanish Monastery and it’s old-world charm set the scene for Carissa and Jorge’s wedding celebration. They were married in the small chapel and then dined and danced in the cloisters of the timeless building, which was incredibly romantic.

It was a fairly intimate event with their nearest and dearest friends and family, including their children who were important bridesmaids and groomsmen in their stunning bridal party. We absolutely loved the fusion of family and friends that played important roles throughout the day, which made for even better photo opportunities. 

About the Photographer…Erika Delgado documents beautiful weddings with her brother Alexander and her husband Joshua. The team is based in South Florida and NYC and together they offer years of experience with meticulous dedication and care in each of their projects. 

Erika’s work is described as “Timeless, Editorial and Authentic”; she is often recognized for being trustworthy, for her attention to detail throughout your experience with her, her joyful spirit and quality of customer service; Erika’s photographic works will evoke emotion and inspire. 

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Photographer: Erika Delgado Photography | Coordinator : Soco Alicea | Florist: Ever After Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Martina Liana | Cake: Earth And Sugar | Invitations: Minted | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Bill Hansen Luxury Catering and Event Production | Makeup: Natasha Gross | Hair : Jonahan Coutinho | Ceremony Music: L.R. Entertainment | Venue: Ancient Spanish Monastery | Earrings: Jenny Packham | Reception Music: Dj Gringo | Rentals: Dragonfly Rentals

Does a lakeside, ballroom, Grace Kelly-esque kind of wedding sound like your jam? ‘Cause that’s what we’re serving up today alongside Lasting Impressions Weddings and Trish Allison Photography. It was the Bride’s childhood wedding dreams come true—from getting ready in her home on the lake to saying I do in the church she grew up attending, all topped off with the most dazzling reception we’ve seen in a while. This beauty also happens to be one of our editors—go give her some love!

From the Bride… I grew up surrounded by lake life in Minnesota. So when it came time for my (now) husband and me to plan our wedding, it only seemed fitting to center it around the biggest lake in the Twin Cities – Lake Minnetonka. Throughout the planning, which was done from where we were currently living in San Francisco, I reflected on sweet childhood memories to inspire the day. Think popsicle-infused prosecco signature drinks, pictures taken on my favorite dock in downtown Wayzata, and a local specialty, walleye, served at dinner. The elegant nature of our venue, Lafayette Club, only elevated the evening with its jaw-dropping chandeliers, scalloped windows lake views, and an all-white exterior that exuded classiness as you walked with your champagne flute through the door.

I’ve always trended towards traditional taste, so I knew a country club on the lake would be the perfect venue to set the tone for the day. To complement the season, I adorned it in as much white, blush, and subtle pops of greenery as possible. (let’s just say our flower request was a tall order!) Other must-haves included a lively, 12-piece band, champagne passed on the hour, and scattered tea candles everywhere. For attire, my husband rocked a sharp velvet tux jacket (with matching velvet loafers to boot!) while I paraded around in a slim-fit Galia Lahav gown with a cascading train. All of this made it come together like a true Grace Kelly-esque fairytale.

We started the day by getting ready at my house, which was conveniently located on the lake the reception was held on. In between doing hair and makeup, the girls spent time sipping coffee on the deck overlooking the lake in their adorable matching floral robes. It was the perfect backdrop for a few candid photos!

Following a ceremony at my childhood church, we squeezed in bridal party photos on the docks of my favorite locale growing up – downtown Wayzata. The sharp black tuxes and blush bridesmaids gowns looked stunning against the watery backdrop, an ideal way to set the tone as we made our way towards the club.

Lafayette Club fulfilled the timeless look I had envisioned for my wedding with its all-white interior to greet guests as their vehicles pulled around the semi-circle drive-up. Along with this, came a chance for me to really play up the details. Think a floor-to-ceiling custom balloon wall in our wedding colors to prep the cocktail hour space for a night of fun. And signature his and her drinks, which including a Wisconsin Old Fashioned (where my husband is from) and a prosecco popsicle option for her (creatively titled a “Minnesota Meltdown”). On the dancefloor, I featured an enlarged, gold version of the custom monogram we had on our stationery suite, surrounded by towering arrangements of spring flowers on every table. A specially made donut wall continued our “light and bright” color theme, with goods baked up specially from our favorite Minneapolis donut store. An adorable local coffee cart was stationed next to the dance floor, which got its fair share of visits as the band commanded more energy with each passing hour.

Overall, the day fulfilled every vision of grace and elegance we had hoped for – with our own Minnesota twist – thanks to these special details. Nods to life on the lake surrounded practically every element of the day too, which seemed all too fitting for this Twin Cities loving gal.

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Photography: Trish Allison Photography | Planner: Lasting Impressions Weddings | Floral Design: Sadie's Couture Floral & Event Styling | Wedding Dress: Annika Bridal | Stationery: Paper Rock Scissor MN | Church: Our Lady Of Grace | Reception Venue: Lafayette Club | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Brideside | Catering: Lafayette Club | Band: Bluewater Kings Band | Tux: The Black Tux | Balloon Wall: Girl Friday & The Vintage Type | Coffee Cart: Coffee Cart (Coffee Catering) | Dessert: Glam Doll Donuts | Dress Designer: Galia Lahav

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Bluewater Kings Band

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We all know that vow renewals are a time to celebrate the milestones, the growth, the accomplishments and so much more that you and your S.O. have achieved together since saying “I do”, but not everyone knows exactly how to touch on so many years of beautiful memories while sharing your excitement for the future at the same time! Well, allow this gorgeous couple to seriously inspire you. With a little help from A. Griffin Events, this husband and wife managed to commemorate their past, present and future with every detail of their vow renewal ceremony on their 5th year anniversary. Head over to the full gallery captured by Madeleine Collins Photography to see the magic unfold!

From A. Griffin Events… What better way to embrace a move to a new city than by celebrating an anniversary? For their fifth anniversary, Ashley and Brett hosted an intimate vow renewal in their new home of Los Angeles, inspired by their Mediterranean honeymoon five years prior. Anniversaries are a wonderful opportunity to look back at the past and ahead to the future, which is exactly what we wanted to signify with Ashley and Brett. They hosted the vow renewal in their new city of Los Angeles, and Ashley wore the same custom wedding gown she wore on her wedding day, designed by Modern Trousseau.

Because a fifth wedding anniversary must be celebrated in style, Ashley chose to wear nude suede Jimmy Choo open-toe heels and her yellow gold halo solitaire diamond ring by Susie Saltzman, as always. In contrast, Brett wore a deep custom suit with a stylish, slim fit. In keeping with the high-fashion ensembles, Brett chose to wear his shoes without socks for a modern look. In designing this Mediterranean-inspired vow renewal, we pulled colors from memorable spots Ashley and Brett visited on their honeymoon. Aqua reminiscent of the Mediterranean sea, soft neutrals from the beaches found off the coast of Greece, bright white from the houses lining the Amalfi Coast, and touches of green found in the lush vines of Italian vineyards. Touches of gold representing the constantly-shining sun were added to tie the color palette together.

We first utilized the talent of Every Little Letter to create an invitation suite that included a custom illustration of Tuscan cypress trees and Italian ruscus. Softened with a vellum overlay and then sealed with the most romantic gold wax seal, the invitation suite was as romantic as Ashley and Brett’s love for each other. EverBloom Florals kept each floral element organic and whimsical, just as Italian vines grow loosely. We started with a ceremony backdrop that stood asymmetrically, like the trees of the Italian countryside. Ashley held a beautiful, loose bouquet of all of Ashley’s favorite flowers, including panda anemones with the softest navy center that picked up the navy of Brett’s suit. Ashley’s bouquet was tied at the base with a sand-colored silk ribbon that moved ever-so-softly in the wind. A large, loose compote arrangement drew the eye to the center of the dinner table with blooms sprouting playfully in each direction. 

Like the sea, an aqua velvet runner from BBJ Linen flowed down the center of the table, pooling slightly at the bottom of the table for a soft, romantic look. A custom vellum-topped menu with a gold wax seal picked up the gold in the flatware and gold-rimmed french-inspired china from Cherished Rentals. As another nod to Ashley and Brett’s time in France, Sugar Alkymi created a stylish cake inspired by the French Riviera, with almost wave-like texture and touches of gold foil. Because of their deep love for dessert, we added French macarons by Joy and Sweets in both white and aqua with gold foil. As a final detail, we added touches of smilax and small blooms for a wispy, romantic feel. Shortly after moving to L. A., Ashley and Brett made another large decision for their future: they adopted Benedict, their corgi puppy. Having fallen in love with him immediately, they knew they wanted a piece of their future in their celebration of their past. Holding the very important role of ringbearer, we adorned Benedict’s collar with touches of greenery (that he, as a puppy, quickly ate.)

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Photography: Madeleine Collins Photography | Florals: Ever Bloom | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Cake: Sugar Alkymi | Stationery: Every Little Something | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Ring: Susie Saltzman | Venue: Private Estate | Venue: Private Estate | Beauty: Olivia Madorma | Dessert: Joy & Sweets | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning/Design: A. Griffin Events | Rentals: Cherished Rentals