Before those of you in the States run off to your Thanksgiving Eve festivities, I highly recommend getting a bit inspired by this backyard wine country wedding by Bustle Events. Because around each and every corner of this pretty party there is something that will make you eyes light right up! John+Louise Weddings was there to capture it all, and they were even nice enough to fill the full gallery with even more pretty inspiration!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We wanted our wedding to be relaxed and fun like a family reunion, but still be elegant and special enough for the guests we had flying in from all over the world. We chose to get married on the property of very close family friends, a place I had spent countless hours growing up. The deck we danced our first dance on was the same deck where my sister and I and all the kids in the family performed the musical Les Miserables and it’s where we hunted for eggs every year.

For the ceremony we asked my uncle to take a short course at the county offices so he could marry us. We processed and recessed to instrumental versions of some our favorite songs played by the children of the property owners, guys I grew up with and fondly call my “brothers of the heart.” The setting was very simple. Just oak trees and our nearest and dearest.

The fact that we live in Germany and we were planning this all by email and Skype made it even more important to have the comforts of home at our wedding. Early on we knew we had to have Mexican food, because ironically it’s one of the things we miss most about America. One of our favorite local restaurants, Zin, made the best carnitas we’ve ever had. We had cozy blankets and pillows along the edge of the dance floor and served chocolate chip cookies, lemon bars, Mexican wedding cakes and cupcakes made by another family friend for dessert.

As a little shout-out to Germany, we set each place with a gingerbread cookie decorated like they have at fairs and festivals, with German sweet nothings like “sweetie” and “treasure” written in frosting. We also had simple signature cocktails that seemed to get the party started. Stuart’s was a gin and tonic made with Hendrick’s gin and a cucumber instead of a lime. Mine was a shot of gold tequila with an orange slice dusted with cinnamon instead of a lime. It’s something I first saw in Germany.

Wedding Photography: John+Louise Weddings / Floral Design: Floral Theory / Event Design + Event Planning: Bustle Events / Vintage Rentals: Heritage & Craft / Rentals: Hartmann Studios / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Estate

This west coast wedding is one part vintage, one part whimsical and a whole lotta gorgeousness wrapped into one adorable outdoor fete. Erich McVey Photography captured the day to absolute perfection and I’m still trying to figure out what my favorite details are…but rounding out the top three are definitely the blush colored bridesmaids dresses (can we ever get enough of that gorgeous hue?), the adorable DIY backdrop for the dessert table, and those pretty-pretty invites. Find your favorite detail here in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Chris and I worked at the same high School. We both had just gotten out of long relationships (he was married, I was engaged). At the time I worked in the attendance office and Chris was (and still is) a teacher. Chris isn’t really someone that stands out in a crowd, he’s pretty quiet and when he does talk it’s very thought out and important so when I started seeing him appear in the office I definitely noticed him, it was kind of out of character for Chris to be in the office so much. He started randomly popping his head into my office to say “good morning Kristy” or “hello.” I was thinking to myself “who is this guy and how does he know my name?” It started to happen more and more frequently but I started to like it and one day while I was at work I emailed a co-worker and expressed my interest in him and told her what he had been doing.  A couple days later Chris and I both were in the main office at the same time, we were talking with a few other ladies and Chris touched my hand, as soon as he left my co-worker turned to me and said, “he is going to ask you out!” I asked why she thought that and she said it was because he touched me. I was thinking you’re crazy! Later that day I went over to another office to cover someone’s lunch. Chris stopped by while I was there and asked for a piece of paper, I said “sure” and went about my way with answering the phone. As soon as I got off the phone he handed the piece of paper back to me. I unfolded the paper while he was standing there watching me. The note said….”Will you go to ice cream or coffee with me sometime? Circle Yes or No.” Just like the notes you pass when you’re in middle school or something. I circled yes (of course!) and handed it back to him with a big grin on my face. And that’s how our love story started. To this day, I carry the note in my wallet with me every day. Little did I know that one day that note would be the start of our happy life together.

The day started off to a very calm relaxing start. I stayed the night along with my three bridesmaids at The Grand Hotel Salem, Oregon. My matron of honor Alisha Burgett was the hair stylist and make–up artist for the day (her salon: Haute Society Salem, Oregon). We spent the morning getting ready, drinking our Starbucks, and appreciating the beautiful blue sky and sunshine that was upon us. At about 1:00pm we headed out to the venue still very calm and relaxed. I was just happy the day was finally here! When we arrived to The Log House Garden, Mindy was getting the tables set up- laying out the crushed gold linens, Rebecca was setting up the beautiful floral centerpieces, and things were in full swing. Before I knew it I was in my wedding dress, the bridesmaids were looking gorgeous in their soft pink chiffon dresses and we were toasting in our room just minutes before it was time for the “first look.”

Chris and I were able to share a very special moment alone in a shaded area that was surrounded by beautiful scenery. For a moment it felt like there was no one else around but just the two of us. Within a blink of an eye (or at least it seemed that way) we were walking back and forth on a gravel road to get the perfect shots with the wedding party and family- in front of  a red barn, metal shed, and a beautiful bright green yard surrounded by dozens and dozens of flowers with an orchard behind us. From there it all seems like a blur. I remember standing at the end of the altar with my father, looking down the aisle covered in beautiful white and pale pink rose petals, and the entire wedding party standing under the large gazebo. Chris had a huge smile on his face and I felt like I was glowing! In front our closest friends and family Chris and I said our “I do’s” in a beautiful garden ceremony, set in Keizer, Oregon on July 9, 2011 at 4 O’clock in the afternoon.

The reception started with guests being escorted to their table with a custom bottle of wine that matched all of the stationery leading up to the wedding. As you walked into the open air reception site you heard either Tom Petty or Country music playing in the background and saw hanging candles, flowing ribbon, gold crushed linens, and beautiful soft blush toned flowers on each table. I wanted the wedding reception to be calm and relaxing, not over done so people could take in the beautiful scenery around them. My wedding was a complete success.

My theme was very whimsical, soft, with elements of vintage. I got a lot of my inspiration from wedding websites (June bug weddings and Style me Pretty) and really went running with my theme when I came across a picture of a bouquet I loved on one of the websites. My one DIY was the back drop for the cake/sweets table. I wallpapered a large piece of wood and my matron of honor helped by spray painting the items we glued to it. We were literally finalizing this piece up until the day before the wedding. At one point I almost bagged the idea but I had already come so far that we weren’t turning back and I’m so happy we didn’t. It was one of my favorite pieces of the wedding. I loved that I was able to create a theme with the save-the-dates to the invitations, and then it carried into the wedding. It was very important to me that people could pick up the theme of the wedding when they received their invitations and everything just flowed so well. The flowers were phenomenal. I ended up spending more than I had wanted but it was worth it in the end. I was pleased with the outcome and they really made the reception site look stunning.

Wedding Photography: Erich McVey Photography / Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals / Floral Design: Rebecca Butler of Belle Fleur Floral Designs / Venue: The Log House Garden / Wedding Planner: Mindy Woodard of Class Act Event Coordinators, Inc. / DJ: Northwest Mobile DJ Service / Ceremony Music: Brandon Correa (string quartet) + Madison Hall / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Shoes: ECCO / Bridesmaid Shoes: Dolce Vita / Bridesmaid Dresses: Donna Morgan / Stationery: Megan Ward of Red Pearl Designs / Wedding Cake: Kalie Cannon of The Cake Shoppe / Necklace: Mother of the Bride / Headband: Friends / Belt: Marisa Bridals

Thank goodness this couple didn’t let a little rain storm spoil their outdoor Idaho nuptials.  After all, they spent so much time, energy and love to create their perfect, magical wonderland filled with fun DIY details and sweet vintage decor.  Jennifer Morrow Photography and Kamriell Welty Photography brought all that magic to life with their lovely images.  Click here to see them all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Brock and I met while we were both attending Washington State University.  After our first date, we were history! I can’t believe how fast Brock swept me off my feet! We knew we wanted to spend our lives together.  After two years of dating, we were engaged on the top of the Seattle Space Needle. It was so special.  I am the type of girl who has been planning my wedding since I was little. However, it is difficult to have high expectations when you have a low budget. My parents had been on staff with a missionary group called Campus Crusade for Christ for 25 years and had just started a non-profit organization. Although we didn’t have all the money in the world, we did have a very large network. So much of our decor was either lended, given to us, or made.

We really wanted the guests to get an ‘experience’ as they attended the wedding. We wanted them to feel the magic, to wonder what was around the next corner, and to truly feel like they got to know Brock and I by the end of the event. The perfect place to do this was at my uncle’s new and upcoming event center called Wild Heart Springs in Wilder, Idaho. This place is absolutely beautiful and charming. Wild Heart Springs is jam-packed with four different open meadows, a waterfall, a charming covered bridge, a huge event center, and the most breath taking chapel that I have ever seen overlooking the river with a light house to top it all off.  As the guests arrived, they drove down a long dirt road that had signs sporadically placed with sayings such as: ‘All you need is love…’ and ‘Love is all you need’. After the guests had parked their cars they began to walk through a meadow where we began to set the mood with Chinese lanterns hanging through out the field, an old vintage door was leaning against a tree, and a sign was posted ‘Through the meadow..’. Once the guests had crossed the meadow the next signs guided them to the next destinations: “Over the bridge..” and “Happily Ever After Starts Here”.

I think what made the wedding most special were the special DIY projects we had made and the personal touches that were added. So many of the decorations used were personal items that were special to our family. Even the food, cake, and cake pops were made by friends and family. As the wedding was ‘shabby chic’ inspired, we used both of my grandmas’ doilies to decorate. Almost all of the decorations has been made by my family, my bridesmaids, or myself which made it super special to walk around the event and be reminded of the sweet memories that were made while putting together the big day. I was so pleased to see how it all came together.

We wanted it to feel romantic, elegant, but also feel relaxed. Although the day started out as beautiful as it could, unfortunately, a huge rain and wind storm came while the ceremony was taking place inside. However, that didn’t stop our guests from enjoying the mashed-potato martini bar appetizers outside, which was inspired from my husband job who works for Simplot (potatoes). Almost all 400 guests stayed through the whole rainy reception to witness the cake cutting, first dance, my sorority sisters’ wedding song to me, and the huge dance party afterwards. To end the night right, Brock and I left on a John Deere tractor to head out on this new life adventure together.  Looking back on the wedding, I can only smile. It was nothing but pure bliss and excitement.

Wedding Photography: Kamriell Welty Photography + Jennifer Morrow Photography / Floral Design: Southside Floral / Event Design: Joie Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Wild Heart Springs / Invitations: Homemade / Bride’s Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG / Wedding Cake: Don Steinke

This vintage chic Louisville wedding is just what the doctor ordered this Thanksgiving Eve. It’s sweet, it’s simple, and it’s full to the brim with adorable ideas that you can recreate for your own big day. Whitney Rae Photography captured all the details of the day, including the gorgeous florals in vintage bottles and mercury glass that were designed and created beautifully by Jaclyn Thomas Design. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Zach and I were high school sweethearts and on the day we wed, we had been together for over 6 years. As far as the wedding goes, I’m not even sure where to begin. I remember every thing, every detail as complete perfection. Almost the moment after Zach proposed I began my search for the perfect venue. I had a distinct vision in my head of “simplistic beauty”. I wanted to be married outdoors, I knew that detail was for sure! After a lot of searching my mom found this lovely place located in Prospect (about 15 minutes outside of Louisville) called Gingerwoods. It was a newer, mostly unheard of venue located on a windy road lined with trees and fantastic views of grazing horses every direction you looked. It had been a church at one time, and when the church moved elsewhere, someone bought Gingerwoods and “re-touched” a few details, but they were still sure to leave loads loads of charm.

As that detail was crossed off the list it was time to think about decor. I was so afraid my simplistic touch and small budget may be mistaken for unfinished, and that is when I remembered a distant friend of mine had just started a small design company. I asked if she would be willing and she dove right in! Believe me when I tell you, she did everything! I call her my fairy god mother because she made my dream a reality. She did complete design of the reception flowers, our bouquets and boutonnieres, she even did the arch we were married under (which she surprised me with on the day of). We were inspired by table numbers that we had seen on SMP months before and even did a DIY project of our own to re-create!

After all of these details were put together, the day finally arrived. I had never seen the sky so blue or so crisp, it was a perfect day for our wedding! One of the most special things about that day was getting ready at the salon I work at, surrounded by all my co-workers that I know and love. They surprised me with mimosas and took such great care of me, being with them for that portion of the day was truly special. Once 6 o’clock arrived it was time to marry my best friend, we were surrounded by only our closest friends and family. After our ceremony, guests were escorted up to a tented deck for cocktail hour while Zach and I took pictures. Right before it was time to head into the reception, a video played of Zach and I through the years, after that was played, we were announced in. This by far, was the best moment of the night. People stood and clapped, some even with happy tears, and welcomed us in. We had never felt so much love in one room!

We are interrupting (or more like prettying up) your lunch break with the most darling Music City fête by A Delightful Day Event Planning. You don’t mind a little interruption, do you? How could you when it looks so darn lovely? Pops of pretty yellow and loads of southern charm apparently makes for a whole lotta pretty! Don’t forget – there is even more from Chris & Adrienne Scott, Photographers in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…From the moment Jeff and I got engaged, “operation wedding” was underway…from stocking our house with any and all wedding magazines to perusing blogs for inspiration, and building my own wedding planning portfolio of ideas, we kicked it into high gear. From our love of throwing parties and entertaining friends and family, Jeff and I had an exact vision of what we had envisioned our wedding looking like…timeless, understated elegance with classic tones of black and ivory with a fun summer punch of color, a perfect bright and bold yellow that screamed happiness and fun. I was even more thrilled to see how enthused Jeff was to participate…mostly for the food and cake I do believe, as he left other details up to the pro’s—my Mom, Mary Alice Sublett (our fantastic wedding planner, and me).

The background for our wedding was Scarritt Bennett Wightman Chapel, a historic church set on Vanderbit’s campus in the heart of Nashville. Unfortunately, with a waiting list for what seemed to be a mile high, we booked our wedding date 16 months in advance so we could have a summer wedding with plenty of time to plan and not stress. For our ceremony, we wanted a service focused on love, faith, and our friends and family. My favorite part of our ceremony was when our pastor asked for our bridal party to surround us and pray for our marriage, then followed in the Lord’s Prayer. It was just a small detail that had such a profound impact on us and I’ll never forget the emotion that came over me standing there with the most important people in our lives reading our vows to one another…a day every girl dreams of.

Then the real party started—we hired a local trolley to usher our bridal party around town complete with cocktails and music to get the reception underway. Once we arrived at aVenue, we were announced and everyone started to let loose to the musical stylings of Scat Springs Band—a local favorite around town for any and all Motown music. For me, the reception was like seeing a masterpiece complete for the first time. aVenue is a warehouse that was renovated as an event venue—think exposed brick, hardwood floors, and very simple. However, once our team of vendors worked their magic, it was a completely different atmosphere…romantic with lots of ivory chiffon fabric draping from the ceiling to the floors, market street lights and up-lighting to create depth and light, a custom gobo featuring our monogram as the backdrop on the stage, and gorgeous florals with different centerpieces on each of the tables for an eclectic feel. And the chiavari chairs, I could never forget the one thing I begged to have…they were perfect. The transformation was complete and it was the wedding I always hoped for.

Before Jeff and I were ever engaged, I just “happened” to stumble upon Joni AKA Chocolate Butterbean through a wedding website. As soon as I ventured to her website which showcased her gorgeous invitations suites and custom wooden signs, I knew I wanted her to design our invitations. This was the most important detail to me of our wedding, as to me the save the dates and invitations set the tone for your event. Not only did she design the most gorgeous and vintage-style southern suite I had ever seen, but she helped create a custom monogram for us to use on a number of items (invitations, napkins, gobo for the stage, etc) and it’s something we can keep forever.

As both Jeff and I were raised in Tennessee, we wanted to incorporate southern traditions into our wedding as much as possible, but with a twist. From a Jack Daniel’s groom’s cake to placing Tennessee-branded products into our out-of-town guest bags including Goo Goo Clusters, Spirit of Nashville postcards, and homemade Tennessee jam cakes, we wanted to provide our guests with little indulgences to make their stay more comfortable.

Looking back, our wedding was everything I had ever hoped it would be, and much much more. It was perfect and it made me know that 16 months of planning had paid off…the fun, the stress, the crazy and hectic scheduling—I wouldn’t change it for anything as I know it was the single most important day of our lives. Being able to throw a fun celebration for our friends and family was just icing on the cake!

It looks like I have a brand new venue obsession and it’s a little piece of paradise called Nestldown.  Of course, I have this stunning affair captured by Courtney Lindberg Photography to thank for introducing me to all of its rustic splendor AND for gracing us with a big ol’ bundle of gorgeous, including beautiful blooms by Asiel Design, a dreamy color palette of orange and blue and one very awesome mojito bar.  Yummy.  All designed by the uber-talented bride, I could get lost in this lovely for hours.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Mike and I really cherished the opportunity to bring everyone we love to one place and celebrate. We aimed to create a day that celebrated love, family and friends with lots of personal details that personified us as a couple and that would be memorable for our guests. We started by choosing Nestldown, a private estate in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco, as our venue.  It is truly a magical place filled redwood trees, flowers, lakes and a magnificent barn affectionately known as the ballroom of the forest.  We chose a fun and summery palate of blue, orange and white to compliment the natural setting.

Mike and I love music and so the first thing we booked after our venue was acoustic guitar player, Tini Grey for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner and Pop Fiction, a fantastic band based in the Bay Area. The wedding party and groom walked to “Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World” by Iz Kamakawiwoole and I walked with my parents through a sea of smiling faces to the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”.  Looking at Mike at the end of the aisle smiling and waiting for me was such an amazing moment. We wrote our own vows and Mike’s uncle wrote and performed the ceremony beautifully.  After we sealed the deal with a kiss and Mike broke the glass we skipped back down the aisle to Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. All the songs we choose had special meaning to us.

We arrived to the outdoor cocktail hour in an old London taxi provided by Nestldown. Flavored mojitos were served in mason jars, adorned with old fashioned straws and custom tags announcing “Mojitos and Merriment!” Cocktails in hand, guests were treated to rides around the property on the Nestldown train and Tini Grey filled the late afternoon air with songs by some of our favorite artists Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra. There was definitely no shortage of food or drinks throughout the night. In addition to the mojito bar, we personalized our bar menu with our favorite wines from Napa Valley, beer we helped brew with our friend at Petaluma Hills Brewery and oatmeal cookie shots that were a guest favorite. One of my favorite touches of the day were the white chocolate covered strawberries waiting for guests at their seats with flags that said “life in unpredictable, eat dessert first!”

Other personal touches included a basket of flip flops for dancing, an antique birdcage for depositing wedding cards and using Lonely Planet’s “The Travel Book” as our sign in book. Inside the barn was a shelf with wooden letters spelling ‘love’ surrounded by mason jars containing photos of generations of couples from Samantha and Michael’s families. There was never a question that love was the theme of this night! Our food was all gourmet comfort food and included some of our favorites like sweet potato fries, brie grilled cheese with tomato soup, meatloaf sliders and gourmet pizza. For dessert we served cake pops, mini cupcakes and pies. Towards the end of the night we also had an ice cream truck show up and jumped on to serve our guests. After the final dance to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and lots of group hugs we made a grand exit through a tunnel created by our guests stretched arms. It was an epic celebration of our love that exceeded our expectations and gave us a lifetime of unforgettable memories.

From Courtney Lindberg Photography… After jumping in a pool with Sam & Mike to capture their engagement session underwater at a dive pool in San Fran I knew this couple was one of a kind.  When they told me that they had booked Nestldown for their venue, I was thrilled and knew it was the perfect venue for them to say, “I do!!”  Sam had incredible ideas about how to add personal touches to their wedding day that she brought together and designed.  She worked with one of my best friends Amber Moon of Pitbulls & Posies to create their invites and the papery for the big day, which added so much heart. All of the love they poured into their day made it a truly magical, one of a kind wedding.  The setting was stunning, the music was incredible, the details were impeccable, the food was delicious, the party was rockin, the guests had a blast, but most importantly it was a dream come true for a wonderful couple. Capturing their story through my lens was a great honor and pleasure.

Wedding Photography: Courtney Lindberg Photography / Event Design: The Bride / Floral Design: Asiel Design / Invitations + Papery Detail: Amber Moon of Pitbulls & Posies / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Nestldown / Day-of Coordinator: Nicole Lisanne Weddings and Events by Design / Wedding Dress: Martina Liana / Guitarist: Tini Grey / Band: Pop Fiction / Caterer: Thomas John Events / Cake Design: Sweet Tooth Confections / Ice Cream Truck: Aunt LaLi’s

Pretty, pretty, PRETTY! That just seems to sum up this soiree by the sea by Sievers Weddings oh so well. From the pretty pink shoes to all the perfectly preppy details, it is just the most fabulous dose of lovely for you this morning. But you don’t have to take my word for it – feel free to get lost in all the layers of lovely by exploring the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Simon and I have friends and family spread all across the country, so the wedding location didn’t really matter – people would have to travel no matter what. So, we thought why not have it somewhere truly spectacular – somewhere that would also encourage our guests to have a mini holiday as well. Port Douglas in Far North Queensland is truly one of the most relaxing little towns in the country. As soon as you start the drive up the coast from Cairns, all your troubles seem to melt away. We did two trips prior to the wedding to book everything in – and really, having it in a small town was almost easier in a way! Less vendors available means less trouble making decisions. All our vendors were fantastic and so laid back about everything…flying to Port Douglas from Melbourne in the few days before the wedding – we were completely relaxed about it all (okay, maybe a little anxious about getting my dress on the plane, but the airline was great and my worries quickly disappeared!)

The ceremony was perfect – our celebrant, Natasha Kollosche, was a star and made everyone feel very relaxed. We put a lot of thought into the service and tried to combine making it personal with a few traditions as well. Our favorite parts were when my mother read a passage from my favorite childhood book, ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ and when we quite literally ‘tied the knot’ with a hand-tying ceremony. Simon’s mother bound our hands for us. My song to walk down the aisle was an acoustic cover of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ (Elvis) by Eels. We walked back down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered.’

Our reception was a real party – and the band was integral to this. I strongly believe live music is the key to a truly fantastic party and we had guests keen to ‘bust a move’ as soon as they were done eating! We also chose a buffet meal as the food quality at the Sea Temple was out of this world. Prawns, oysters, fish, meats, salads etc – it was never-ending! And the cheese platters and desserts were overwhelming! A few games we played included a garter relay for keen male guests (I was quite opposed to the garter toss) and of course the bouquet toss, but we made this open to all female guests. We also had ‘mad libs’ for guests to read out in order for us to kiss. We had a wedding ‘guest tree’ for everyone to ‘leaf’ their thumb print rather than a book, and we collected old photos of our ancestors’ weddings which everyone loved. A real favorite with the crowd though was the ‘shoe game’ which we actually saw at a Canadian friend’s wedding. We also chose to replace traditional gifts for guests with a donation. Far North Queensland had recently been hit by Cyclone Yasi so we put all the funds allocated for guest gifts towards the Queensland Premier’s charitable fund for victims of the Cyclone. We were far more comfortable knowing this money had gone to a  good cause than the usual trinkets.

Inspiration for the theme of the wedding was bit of a mix of the golf club location and the nautical feel of Port Douglas – it turned out quite preppy really! Our invitations and stationery matched this, as did the place cards which were origami sail boats (all hand made by us!). I’m not sure if my dress really suited the theme but it was incredible. I remember trying it on and knowing it was ‘the one’. I felt like an absolute princess and that skirt was unreal. One guest actually counted the layers of tulle! Simon wore a tailored suit by Hugo Boss and we felt it was just as important to invest in his outfit as it was for me. He says when arriving at the church, he felt like an absolute ‘rock star!’

We had a magnificent day, and week, which we felt really reflected our personalities. That would probably be my best advice to any bride – make sure you have fun and feel really comfortable with all your vendors and your plans. When we left the reception, we just couldn’t stop buzzing – all we wanted to do was repeat the whole day again! Who knows, we may even organize a ‘wedding reunion’ for everyone in a few years!

Wedding Photography: Sievers Weddings / Floral Design: Flowers n Lace / Event Design: Ward Benedict / Event Planning: Sea Temple Resort and Golf Club / Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s by the Sea / Reception Location: Sea Temple Resort and Golf Club / Invitations: ‘I Do’ It Yourself / Wedding Dress: Baccini and Hill / Wedding Cake: Cupcakes Port Douglas / Hair + Makeup: Rachael Gregory

This Vancouver engagement session by Bartek and Magda Photographers might be my most favorite ever.  I have no idea why everyone is dressed the same but I don’t care because it is so unbelievably adorable!  The Parisian-inspired black and white striped shirts paired with sweet ballerine-esque skirts would be perfect for bridesmaids too, don’t you think?  Click here to see all the cheerful moments in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Bartek and Magda Photographers…People like Bobo and Tin who have an undying love for each other is why we love what we do. It brings us such joy to photograph real love and these two have a connection with each other that is honestly hard to find. They are such honest and kind people with a great attention to detail, which is apparent in every frame we took.

Bobo and Tin wanted us to photograph them on their wedding day but also had us there the day before. When they would be dressed to match, playing games and just enjoying life before the big day! The grounds of Rowena’s Inn are full of great photo opportunities so we were in for a treat.

Photography: Bartek and Magda Photographers / Location: Rowena’s Inn on the River / Bride’s + Bridesmaids Shoes: TOMS

We love this e-session by Michael Rastall Photography because we get to see a softer, more rustic side of Chicago and also because we secretly can’t get enough of that fabulous blue and green skirt. I mean, really, how cute is it? But honestly, we love everything about this and are looking forward to seeing the images from their upcoming spring wedding next year! Click here for more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Jeff and I live in Chicago. It’s also the place we got engaged and where we will be getting married next spring. So, when it came time to take our engagement photos, we immediately knew that we wanted to capture our love in the city that means so much to us. Since our wedding next April will be taking place downtown, we knew that we would be getting a lot of images near and around some of the more recognizable Chicago landmarks. So, for our engagement session, our goal was to incorporate some of the city’s lesser-known, and far more rustic, venues.

Jeff and I love kayaking and being outdoors, so it was important for us to integrate that somehow into our photos.  Luckily, the Lincoln Park Boat House turned out to be both visually stunning and very welcoming toward us!  Our wonderful and creative photographer Michael Rastall helped make the entire experience truly memorable and we cannot wait to work with him again at our wedding!

Photography: Michael Rastall Photography / Location: Lincoln Park Boat House

This much we know, a photograph taken by Anda Marie Photography is like a romantic window into a couple’s Big Day and one that we could stare at for hours upon hours. And this window is boasting a view of garden nuptials mixed with the perfect vintage details in a knock-our-socks-off affair held at Camrose Hill Flower Farm. A flower farm! Does it get any sweeter? We think not. Head over to the gallery for more gorgeous images from this Minnesota wedding.

Click here to see the FULL wedding gallery!

From the Bride… Kohler and I met in college  when we sat next to each other in English class. He pursued me until I said yes to a date. We spent the next 12 years in and out of each others lives. I think we both knew we were sole mates and were destined to live our lives together! We both knew we wanted to get married somewhere close to OUR home of Minneapolis. We chose the city of Stillwater for the beautiful and historic charm. Kohler and I both wanted something classy, timeless, beautiful, elegant and most IMPORTANTLY something for our guests to simply ENJOY. It’s not hard to see why we chose Camrose Hill Farm as our venue. The first step you take onto this beautiful piece of property is simply magical! We  knew we wanted Anda Marie to shoot our wedding and all of the other vendors fell into place perfectly. With help from family and friends we planned and designed this wedding in 6 months. Having a  love for fashion and anything related to design, I loved every minute of the  planning and designing of every last detail!

My favorite moment was at the end of the ceremony when our pastor announced us as husband and wife …. a.k.a  Mr. And  Mrs. Brandon while “At Last” played in the background and Kohler and I did a swanky little dance down the aisle. It was the moment I’ve waited for my whole life!

Photography: Anda Marie Photography / Flowers: Camrose Hill Flower Farm / Ceremony and Reception Location: Camrose Hill Flower Farm / Shoes: Nina / Bride’s Dress & Flower Girl Dresses: Nicole Miller from Che Bella / Bride’s Jewelry: A. Michele Boutique / Bride’s blue prep robe: Plum Pretty Sugar / Bridesmaids attire: (chose their own): BCBG, H &M, Max Studio, Cynthia Vincent, Only Hearts/ Makeup: Ashlea VanLiere of MAC cosmetics Orange county / Hair: Theo Nguyen / Groom attire: Banana Republic Shirt / Pants, Bow Tie: Nordstrom / Programs, Hair Flower, bean bags: Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer / Caterer: The Deco Catering / Event Rental: Ultimate Events /Candy Bar: bought candy at A Candy Store /Band: Midnight Moxy, midnightmoxy@gmail.com 

I’m head over heels for every last darling detail of this charming Fort Worth affair by Michelle Edmonds Photography, but it’s the story behind the day that has really touched my heart.  Because not only were these adorable lovebirds married in the backyard of the bride’s own family home, but the bride wore her grandmother’s vintage wedding gown and the groom wore his grandfather’s wedding ring.  And if that weren’t enough to bring the happy tears, they were even married under an arbor built by the father of the bride.  It just doesn’t get any sweeter than that.  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Cameron and I knew we wanted our wedding to reflect our personalities. We wanted it to be “us.” We are goofy nature-enthusiasts with a love of crafts and all things vintage. We are also very family-oriented and wanted our wedding to honor our family members who have always shown us great love and support.

We decided to have our ceremony and reception in the backyard of the house that I grew up in, in Fort Worth, Texas. I have great memories in that house and it made for a very intimate wedding. My parents worked tirelessly throughout the summer tending to their wonderful garden to make it picture perfect for the big day (we had over 70 days that were over 100 degrees this summer in Texas, so keeping the plants alive was a great challenge!). In addition to all of his hard work in the yard and help with crafts, my dad found the time to build a beautiful cedar arbor for us to be married under.

I wore my grandmother’s wedding dress that she wore when she married my grandfather in the 1950s and I carried a handkerchief that both my mother and sister carried on their wedding days. In keeping with our love of family and history, Cameron used his grandfather’s ring as his wedding band and we decorated the dance area with family pictures and old postcards.

Our wedding was in the fall so we used yellows, oranges, and deep purples in our color palette. We put together our own flower arrangements (using red rovers, sunflowers, daisy poms, and stock flowers) for a “just picked” feel and used a variety of glass jars, bottles, and vases that we had collected in the months prior to our wedding. To continue the fall theme, we had pumpkin-spice cupcakes… yum! Cameron and I worked together on most of the wedding crafts which we found by looking through wedding blogs and magazines. We made most of the decorations ourselves which gave the wedding a very personal touch. We created string lanterns to hang above our dance floor, memory vases to honor our family members that were no longer with us, rick rack boutonnieres, and cupcake stands from vintage plates and candleholders that we found at Goodwill. (It cost us only $13 to make three cupcake stands!)

As vegetarians and nature lovers, we wanted to make our wedding as environmentally friendly as possible. We had re-usable glass mason jars for drinks, vegan food, vegan cupcakes, and plantable wildflower seed paper for our favors.

We ended the night with a lavender toss as we made our way to my Dad’s 1957 Chevy (that the groomspeople decorated so well), surrounded by our beloved family and friends. It was a perfect day filled with love and lots of laughter that we will not soon forget.

Wedding Photography: Michelle Edmonds Photography / Event Planning: Chrissie Stuntz Events / Bride’s Dress: Vintage (the Bride’s Grandmother’s) / Bride’s Shoes: Liz Claiborne / Bridesmaid Dresses: Naughty Shorts / Flower Girl Dresses: vintagevalise / Groom + Groomspeople: Vintage Stores / Catering + Cupcakes: Spiral Diner / Cake Topper: ReadyGo / Favors: PulpArt / Ceremony Music: Jan Ryberg / Tables + Dinnerware: Taylor’s Rentals

This charming Mexico wedding by Brooke Allison Photography was just the lovely I needed to brighten my Wednesday morning.  With the casual, yet elegant vibe, gorgeous seaside setting, cute as can be florals and soft pink hues, I simply can’t stop grinning from all of the pretty.  Not to mention those fabulous heels, which have me crushing big time on their purple perfection.  I think I love them.  Believe me, you don’t want to miss a moment… join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Brooke Allison Photography… I am super excited to share Sara & John’s wedding with you! They are first year medical students with families that lived far apart from each other. They decided to make a destination wedding where guests could travel and enjoy some R&R with them and their families. Now Jade Resort provided a chic, Miami-vibe where bright colors met classic dresses.

Sara’s bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses were both from J.Crew and shared the same detail and cut on the top of the bodice. This was a really cool look for photographs and a beautiful way to tie them together.

Their decor was bright, fun and organized by Sara who packed and brought it all with her in suitcases! The night ended with cigars and typical shot-taking dances led by the bar staff! Overall, the day was highlighted by crystal blue skies, aqua waters and a gorgeous day of sun and sand!

Wedding Photography: Brooke Allison Photography / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Now Jade / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Zappos / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Table Number Stickers: Etsy

My dreams come true every day on SMP. All the pretty inspiration that dances in my head comes alive on my computer screen even better than I could have imagine thanks to talents like Love Is a Big Deal. For example, this bridal shoot? Simply gorg. That dress by Winifred Bean? Is beyond dream worthy. It’s a perfect way to get lost on a Wednesday, and there is so much more where this came from!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Love Is a Big Deal…We all wear it everyday, but this bride has never made cotton look so good! This field was the perfect backdrop for this romantic dress by Winifred Bean and beautiful Jannie Baltzer headpiece. The dress is light and lovely and can be worn so many different ways. Cover the shoulders or let the chiffon drape for a more whimsical look. The “Bridget” headpiece was the perfect accessory. This dreamy photoshoot is the definition of a pretty southern bride.

Wedding Photography: Love Is a Big Deal / Wedding Dress: Winifred Bean / Headpieces: Jannie Baltzer / Hair + Make-up: Christi Smith

I am in LOVE with the idea of an anniversary shoot. In love. And when that anniversary shoot was a surprise from the sweetheart of a groom, well I turn into mush. This handsome couple now has priceless and timeless images to cherish thanks to Katelyn James Photography, and we have a full gallery of goodness to get all mushy over! I do believe that’s a win all around!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Katelyn James Photography…David and Debbie were married 5 YEARS ago in New England and were not happy with their wedding images. So 5 years later, David emails me and asks if I would shoot a surprise anniversary shoot for the two of them. We spent an evening on the property of Misslewood, a gorgeous venue outside of Boston, and we relived their wedding day. It was beautiful and even thought this isn’t technically a REAL wedding, this style of is becoming more and more popular as couples are desiring more genuine, passion-filled images that modern photographers are producing.

Photography: Katelyn James Photography

It’s so hard to describe the feeling the bride gets right before she walks down the isle. It’s nerves, excitement, an extreme elation, a little bit of anxiousness, a little bit of calm, and a lot of butterflies. But until you’ve been there, or until you’ve been at the other end of the isle, waiting for your beloved, it’s impossible to really know what it feels like. But this film, from Studio Z Films, comes pretty stinkin’ close. The closest I’ve ever seen. Consisting of little moments throughout the big day of this lovely Cincinnati wedding, the film gives you that feeling – waiting to walk out into the isle and start the rest of your lives together. You’ll love it. But first, a few beautiful stills from Neysa Ruhl Photography, to wet your palette. Click here for more!

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Jenny and Jim: Cincinnati Wedding Film from Steve Zugelter on Vimeo.

Jim and I wanted our entire wedding themed around friendship and Cincinnati, which is how our love story all began.  Jim and I met at work and quickly became  good friends.  Our shared interest in sports, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, friends and living life to it’s fullest was hard to ignore and our friendship quickly blossomed into a love story.

As soon as we began planning our wedding we knew it had to be around the city we love and our friends.  Our invitations played a large part in informing our guest about our wedding weekend events and our passions.  Our custom made save the dates featured us on Cincinnati Reds Diamond Club seats and our custom made invites featured the skyline of Cincinnati.  We also wanted our rehearsal dinner to be intimate and promote our beautiful city – it couldn’t have been any better when we found our perfect rehearsal venue, Friendship Park.

We wanted a wedding weekend that was unique and special to us.  Our venues were extremely important.  We decided to get married in an old Cathedral that has since been converted to a venue to host events.  The beautiful floor to head stained glass windows, delicately painted ceilings, and collective bell towers decorated the interior and provided a warming touch.  Lush flower pots filled the red brick patio where guest had the chance to enjoy post ceremony cocktails.  As soon as the doors opened guest were wowed by the amount of candles we lined the church with.  With such a beautiful ceremony location the simple floral arrangements added a fresh scent and burst of purples, greens, and white.

We wrote our own vows and created a ceremony that was unique to each of us.  Embedded in my wedding bouquet was a locket with my Father’s picture so he was with me on my special day.  Our programs gave shout outs to friends and family, featured our aspirations as a couple, and even acknowledged our best canine friend Chili.

Our day was amazing, our wedding video was even more amazing.  It captures how special and unique our day was to us and our family. It captures the love that was in that room, how much fun Jim and I have together, and the overall theme of our lives – friendship.

Photography: Neysa Ruhl Photography / Makeup: BRIDEface / Floral Design: The Tulip Tree / Venue:  The Bell Event Center / Cinematography: Studio Z Films

Good morning, SMPers and welcome back to another wonderful Wedding Wednesday!  Yep, that’s right.  Today’s the day we say goodbye to those mid-week blues and hello to a morning, noon and night filled with EIGHT gorgeous weddings absolutely guaranteed to inspire.  And we have quite the lineup for you lovelies today… from traditional stunners to vintage soirees and everything in between, we’ve totally got you covered.  So, be sure to visit the galleries of each and every one of these fabulous fêtes for even more wedding goodness!

Up first is a backyard Tennessee affair by Ulmer Studios that has simply melted my heart with its charming DIY details and sweet, Southern charm.  And with the uber-adorable bride and groom crafting each and every moment of the big day themselves, it would be impossible not to fall head over heels for this vintage chic meets rustic affair.  From the ceremony benches to the pinwheel bouquets, their personalities are shining through every darling detail… and I can’t think of a better way to start the day.  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… We had so much fun using our hobbies and talents to make our wedding so “us.”  We knew from the beginning that we wanted every detail of our day to be a reflection of our passion for each other and for projects (we have some pretty talented family members and friends, too, who helped us immensely with all of our projects!).

Our reception took place in the exact location where we got engaged seven months before, and at our ceremony, guests sat on benches handcrafted by my lovely husband from tree stumps and gorgeous reclaimed wood. I made my own bouquet as well as my bridesmaids’ bouquets and the groom’s and groomsmen’s boutonnieres with paper pinwheels, twigs, wheat and twine. Barn wood was something of a theme, used for everything from signage to the table (also made by my husband) off of which we took communion during the ceremony. The groom also made the wooden cases for the water & soda displays as well as the casing for the restrooms that were outside. We kept things vintage/rustic with flowered table cloths, vintage blue glass mason jars, a table full of homemade pies, and a fabulous blue velvet couch as a prop for photos that we now use in our apartment.

Our invitation was the product of the talents of a friend, who sketched the tree, and a family member with a graphic design background who put the drawing and the words together. We are so in love with the way it turned out, and we were incredibly excited to give our guests a first glimpse of our wedding through our awesome invitation! We couldn’t have had a more perfectly fitting wedding, and we’re so thankful for the wonderful memories!

Wedding Photography: Ulmer Studios / Wedding Venue: Private Residence / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Maria Teige of JM Handmades / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Make-up Artist: Amy Lynn Larwig

This DIY wedding is almost too cute for words! I love all the unique touches they created to make their day special and memorable from the homemade signs directing guests to the sweet, fabric flowers carried by the bridesmaids and bride. And the film by Nathan Willis Wedding Films set to a fun remake of Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” is so fun and upbeat, you can’t help but watch with a huge grin on your face!

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From Nathan Willis Wedding Films…This wedding is one of the most unique weddings I’ve ever been to. From the snake skin cowboy boots worn by the groomsmen to the handmade fabric flowers, nothing about this wedding was normal, but it was absolutely perfect. The couple got married in Lake City, FL at a Methodist church that was built in the early 1800’s. The couple then had a huge dance party reception in their backyard that was loads of fun.

Wedding Videography: Nathan Willis Wedding Films

This is one cool-headed, quick-thinking couple.  Instead of letting the threat of Hurrican Irene put a damper on their New York City wedding day plans they made some speedy decisions, an impressive turn around and transformed what was supposed to be their rehearsal dinner into a magical, memorable wedding.  I am thoroughly impressed with how much they managed to pull of in a matter of a few hours but mostly with their totally awesome love for each other that is evident throughout this film by Ryan & Heidi Photo + Cinema.

From Ryan & Heidi Photo + Cinema…We recently filmed a wedding in New York City. It was supposed to be on the day Hurricane Irene was going to hit us. So, they were forced to have the ceremony a day early at the rehearsal dinner! They had family coming from Texas and India!!

Wedding Cinematography: Ryan & Heidi Photo + Cinema / Location: The Chinese Brasserie

It just dawned on us here at the SMP office that we haven’t taken you for a local blog tour in quite sometime and with thousands of you traveling this week to visit family for some serious turkey time, we couldn’t help but hop on the pre Thanksgiving travel bandwagon…Join us for a mini tour, won’t you? First up is this elegant and classic indoor fete by Robyn Rachel Photography and we’re all a tad bit jealous that we weren’t on the guest list for this one. Click here for the entire affair!

Moving on to a fun and festive Florida DIY beach bash by Dorothy Gautreaux Photography. Our local wedding blogs truly have something for everyone and you don’t have to be getting married in that state to steal all the swoon worthy inspirations! See the full post here.

We’re rounding out our mini tour with this stunning Aruba destination wedding by Alexandra Meseke Photography. The gold Gucci wedges, the deep blue bridesmaids dresses, and one cute flamingo all add up to one fabulous soiree. See the rest right here!

And just in case you’ve been living under a wedding rock, we have a fab line up of ten local blogs in California, New York, Florida, Texas, Destination, Illinois, Australia, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Canada guaranteed to inspire you for days, with many more to come.

This Long Island wedding was so perfect, it’s hard to believe this couple ever could have had something not so wonderful happen along the way (more on that below). I mean, the vineyard setting, with grapes hanging from the trees, the delish and I mean DELISH looking menu – courtesy of Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events, the beautiful photos from Doug McGoldrick (which they won due to their interesting back story – again more below), it’s all amazing. Amazing, amazing. Click here to check out the gallery of images, and then make sure to read what Doug had to say about these two special people and their big day!

And now for a little more of this fabulous affair from Love In Progress…

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From Doug McGoldrick … This was, the wedding to end all weddings. Friday night, a welcome party at a gallery, in Green Point, Long Island, Saturday a beach cook out party, and then Sunday an amazing wedding at the Bedel vineyard. Tons of fantastic details, lots of great light, and wonderful people. Some amazing vendors put together an amazing event. Lisa and Sam (the bride and groom) where the big winners in my destination wedding photography contest, they have a wonderful back story.

Definitely, definitely read their back story. It’s completely unbelievable.

Day of Coordination: Cloud Nove Events / Hair & Makeup: Amanda, Heather’s Salon / Ladies’ Lunch Catering: The Market / Limo: Rose Limo / Photography: Doug McGoldrick & Ariane Hunter / Videography: Love In Progress / Floral and Event Designer: Zhana Marcelin / Caterer: Leslie Russell of Marcey Brownstein Catering & Event / Cake & Desserts: mali b sweets / Transportation: North Fork Trolley & Sunrise Minivan / Officiant: Rabbi Darcie Crystal / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians: Carte Blanche / Tent: American Tent Company / Reception Entertainment: Cafe Wha band leader Adam Mason / Security and Valet: Platinum Executive Security / Venue: Bedell