How sweet are these maids all decked out in complimentary hues of pastel chiffon?  They are a perfectly pretty welcome to the rest of this adorable, vintage-inspired Barossa Valley wedding by Stills Photography.  Instead of coming up with a traditional wedding theme, this lovely couple took their lucky guests on a journey through the South of France with French champagne, loads of lavender and yummy macarons.  The details are just as precious as can be and you can see them all in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…That we married the people we love. We placed a lot of focus on the finer details, as well as serving amazing food and wine to create a feast for the senses. The small touches; we bought and arranged the flowers ourselves to create a rustic feel. Nothing was too polished nor “perfect”. We planned every detail together, which was an amazing bonding experience. Also having a children’s choir for the ceremony added an emotional touch to the day, they sang “Canon of Praise”, “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “Everybody’s Free” from the movie “Romeo and Juliet”. Their beautiful voices’ filling up the church was very emotionally moving. Another aspect that we loved, that our wedding wasn’t just one day. It was located in the Barossa Valley, which two hours from our city so we created a three day celebration which we shared with our closest friends and family.

The concept was not to have a theme, but to have a feel of a journey to the South of France, drawing inspiration from the region in which Steve proposed. The invitations were actually postcards of Roussillon (our engagement location) so the minute our guest received their invitations; they got an introduction to the journey we hoped to take them on. We chose a selection of French Champagne and French wines as well as traditional food from the Luberon Valley. The Barossa back-drop, with vineyards, gardens, the quaint country church as well as seasonal produce allowed us to achieve this theme. We incorporated a lot of rustic elements at the reception venue such as vintage suitcases and vases of lavender which added to the Provencal feel.

After the wedding our friends and family described our day as “honest and heartfelt”, which was the biggest compliment and exactly what we aimed for. Our MC Matt Gilbertson was given creative licence and was absolutely hilarious. The speeches were heartfelt, the food and wine experience was perfect and everyone was dancing and having a ball! We felt like our guests were emotionally invested in our special day, it was a beautiful intimate dinner party, rather a text-book wedding. We realise now, more than ever, how lucky we are to have such loving friends and family who helped us create and celebrate a day we will never forget.

Wedding Photography: Oz Spinello of Stills Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Marc Scarborough of Totally Weddings / Flowers: Wholesale + Groom’s Mother / Ceremony Location: St. Michael’s Gnadenfrei / Reception Location: Moorooroo Park / Invitations: The Bride + Cath Dew of Dew Designs / Shoes: Vintage / Wedding Dress: Jesus Peiro / Wedding Cake: Muratti Cakes and Gateaux / Hair + Make-up: Meisha Wright + Cain Rumbelow / Planning Resources: Kim Kerton of Yours Personally

I can’t even handle this adorableness. There is something about stop-motion that makes me nostalgic (maybe because of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer?), and puts a huge goofy grin on my face. Well, this Save the Date video from Mallory Berry is just the reason why I love them so much. Seriously can this get cuter? Correct answer: No it cannot. But don’t just take my word for it – take a little looksee for yourself!

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From the Bride…I wanted to share my Save the Date video. It was created by Mallory Berry. She’s based in Arkansas, and I live in California the amazing thing is the stop-motion object videos can be shot on location in Arkansas without  ever even meeting! Mallory was super great and all of our correspondence was via email which was super convenient for me.

Videography: Mallory Berry

I haven’t been able to think of anything but pretty pink peonies since the moment I laid my eyes on this lovely Toronto affair and I am definitely NOT complaining.  In fact, my mind has been nothing but completely consumed by all things this wedding, thanks to the beautiful blooms by Pink Twig (I mentioned the peonies, right?), a gorgeous wedding gown that I more than adore and stunning images by Dave & Charlotte Lifestyle Photography.  It’s definitely one swoon-worthy moment after another in this fabulous soiree and I am more than happy to spend my day in the gallery, gazing at all of the lovely.  Join me there for even more!

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From the Bride… We looked at quite a few venues and vendors, and the plans for our wedding started to take shape as soon as we found our ceremony and reception locations. Our wedding ceremony was held at the beautiful Holy Rosary Church in Toronto, ON, where Marco’s parents were married 35 years earlier. Our reception was held at the historic waterfront, Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, and our pictures were taken at The Toronto Music Gardens. It was important for us to have our wedding pictures taken in a location that provided great views of the city where we met, fell in love, and call home.

The flowers were extremely important, and they helped to create the romantic, classic and elegant look we wanted for our wedding. Even though we were having a summer wedding, I was really hopeful that peonies, my favorite flower, would be a part of our day. We worked closely with our florist, Pink Twig, decided that the color scheme for the day would be “Peony Pink and Silver.” Tanya (our florist) suggested that we select flowers that mimicked the look of peonies, such as large dahlias, lush poms, and soft garden and spray roses, in the event that peonies would be out of season by the time our wedding came around. Thankfully, our florist worked miracles, and was able to get enough peonies for the bouquets and centerpieces. I was thrilled when she contacted me with the news, and I couldn’t have been happier and more excited about how beautiful they looked when she delivered them. I attached my mother’s engagement ring, (a blue sapphire) to my bouquet as my “something old, borrowed and blue.”

Marco’s brother Massimo organized much of the music for the day. He composed several songs for our wedding, including an Ave Maria played during the ceremony and a Psalm which was played during the signing of the register. Our “favorite” wedding “moment” was our first dance! Even though all our loved ones were surrounding us, it felt like it was just Marco and I in the room. When we looked back at the pictures I had no idea everyone in the room was standing up with tears streaming down their faces. It was such a wonderful and beautiful moment. (The song-“You and Me” was an original composition by Massimo) Best surprise of the day: Marco’s Tony-awarding winning cousin, Tony Spinosa, surprised us at the reception and sang Elton John’s “Your Song”! We are still so overwhelmed by all the love and generosity that our guests showed us. Marco and I will always look back on our wedding day as the warmest and most amazing celebration of everything that is good in our lives!

Wedding Photography: Dave & Charlotte Lifestyle Photography / Wedding Videography: New Leaf Cinema / Wedding Invitations, Programs, Menus + Favors: Zuccherowe Sweet Invitations & Favours / Floral Design: Pink Twig / Wedding Ceremony Location: Holy Rosary Catholic Church / Wedding Reception Location: The Liberty Grand / Bridal Gown: Madison Collection via Amanda-Lina’s Sposa Boutique / Groom’s Suit: Canali via Harry Rosen / Bridesmaid Attire: Enzoani / Groomsmen Attire: Calvin Klein / Wedding Photography Location: The Toronto Music Gardens / Make-Up: Collette Cormier / Bride’s Shoes, Veil + Flower Clip: Sparko Bridal Boutique / Wedding Cake: Irene’s Celebrity Cakes

I have never been to Greece, but if this stunning Santorini soiree is any indication, I would absolutely LOVE every minute of it.  Seriously… Does it get any more romantic than this?!?  I.  Think.  Not.  With breathtaking views, a stunning Vera Wang gown and image after glorious image by Anna Roussos, this wedding is literally overflowing with the romance and I am officially obsessed.  All designed and planned to absolute perfection by Weddings in Santorini, this is one soiree that is guaranteed to leave you smiling (and humming love songs) for the rest of your week.  Trust me, you don’t want to miss a minute of lovely, so join me in the gallery for even more and then stay tuned for an amazing film from Aegean Films below!

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The pretty just keeps on coming with this fabulous film by Aegean Films!  Enjoy!

From Weddings in Santorini… Newly engaged and visiting friends recently married at Lake Como, Evgeny and Masha’s eyes met again, this time over a Santorini coffee table book.  Just as when they met, something clicked. As soon as they could, they traveled to Santorini to scout for wedding locations. Masha became so excited while visiting a beautiful whitewashed church in Imerovigli that she turned to Evgeny and kissed him passionately. They knew at once this is where they would be wed. Evgeny and Masha followed their hearts to express their easy-going, fun personalities, Russian heritage and Greek location through their wedding.

Greek musicians serenading her with wedding songs met Masha, who wore her amazing, tailor-made Vera Wang gown, at the church. Inside the simply decorated chapel, women covered their heads with beautiful scarves in the Russian Orthodox tradition. They flew in their family priest from Russia to perform the ceremony in Russian in addition to Greek. After being showered with rice to symbolize fertility and prosperity, the newlyweds arrived at their reception overlooking the Caldera in a convertible Beetle. There, the mother of the bride greeted them holding a Russian brioche she had brought all the way from Russia! Following tradition, the newlyweds each salted and ate a piece of brioche. Then, they drank champagne and smashed the glasses, which in Russia symbolizes the couple’s luck in their future life together.

To celebrate their lightheartedness, the reception was awash with glowing lanterns and square glass vases filled with mini olive tree branches. Escort cards tied to wreaths of olive branches were worn as bracelets or crowns. Masha and Evgeny love ‘40s and ‘50s rock, so after changing into retro ‘50s clothes, they swing-danced all night! When it came time to cut the cake, which looked like three large pillows, one on top of another, Evgeny explained how it represented their style: when at home, the two of them like to lay in bed with lots of pillows! After a night spent celebrating, Masha and Evgeny spent the day cruising in the Caldera, where they swam in the volcano’s hot springs and enjoyed a saxophone sunset.

Wedding Photography: Anna Roussos – Photographer / Wedding Cinematography: Aegean Films by Vasilis Pasioudis / Floral & Event Design: Evangelia Mendrinou of Weddings in Santorini / Event Planning: Stella and Moscha of Weddings in Santorini / Wedding Ceremony Location: Anastasi Church, Imerovigli-Santorini / Wedding Reception Location: Thermes / Bride’s Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent / Wedding Dress: Tailor Made / Table Cards: Evangelia Mendrinou of Weddings in Santorini

This down-home, cute-as-can-be e-session by Six Fourteen Photography has put a big ol’ Texas smile on my face this morning. And I think it’s because the couple is just so gosh-darn cute! I love their combo of plaid button-downs, denim, and cowboy boots. Total Texas perfection. And talking about perfection, how about their mint condition 57′ Chevy? See that and more here in the full gallery.

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From Six Fourteen Photography…I shot some engagements for Kyle, Jessie and their ’57 Chevy in downtown Celina, TX. This thing is sweet. Although, he had to load it on a trailer and bring it with them because it shuts off every time they stop, and they live in Farmersville (about 60 miles from Celina).

Photography: Six Fourteen Photography

Pure romance. I’m a total sucker for it, and that is just what this Pelican Hill wedding is – pure, glamourous and chic, romance. I’m not sure if it’s all the soft pink, all the amazing little moments from Details Details & White Lilac Inc., the romantic lighting of the photos from Victor Sizemore Photography, or that custom gown, but whatever it is, I’m eating it up with a spoon. Soak up all the dreamy love from this wedding, and then meet me in the gallery, where there is even more, if you can believe it.

I met Jack Memorial Day weekend, in Austin, TX 2002. His fraternity has an annual convention and that year his university had hosted.  I never thought that two years later, we would meet again in San Francisco at the same annual event.  What began with long distance phone calls (from San Francisco to Dallas) and a first date meeting half way (in Las Vegas), turned into visiting each other once a month for two years.  Luckily Jack moved to Los Angeles and the traveling became easier.

In 2006, I started occupational therapy graduate school and was finally in the same city as him.  One lazy Sunday morning while watching a movie in bed, I started asking questions.  “Have you thought about getting married?” “It’s been 7 years…” “What are we planning on doing?”  He was very tight-lipped and giving me a hard time.  I honestly thought we were never going to get married, and then suddenly he turned and had the box. I was speechless.  It turned out he had been planning a proposal for months; I ironically pushed the surprise early.

Since all my family and friends are in San Francisco and Korea, and all his family and friends are in Houston, New York, China and Japan, we decided that we would make our wedding a destination wedding for everyone else.  We choose the weekend we met, Memorial day weekend, and wanted to treat everyone to a sunny California vacation.

Jack and I fell in love with the Resort at Pelican Hill from the time we walked through their lobby, it was a no brainer.  While I scoured wedding magazines and changed wedding colors every other day, I couldn’t pin down any ideas.  Michelle Weita at Details Details event planning was a blessing.   I wanted it to feel like a romantic travel experience and she found every perfect vendor to make it happen.  Joie Studio in Pasadena created vintage inspired train ticket invitations.  Sunny at White Lilac crafted gorgeous and romantic bouquets and the most amazing vintage inspired luggage escort table.  Everything on the wedding day was perfect.  Dancing was non-stop, hilarious speeches given by family, and even a late night In & Out truck.  Simply a dream come true.

Wedding photography: Victor Sizemore Photography / Event Coordination: Details Details / Flowers & Event Design: White Lilac Inc. / Hair: Jessica Blair / Makeup: Salon Eleven / Ceremony + Reception: The Resort at Pelican Hill / Wedding Dress: Custom at Shin Bu Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale / Groom Tux: Hugo Boss / Stationary: Joie Studio & Nida’s Boutique Invitations / Band: Powerpoint, De Bois Entertainment / DJ: Cerritos All Stars / Wedding Cake & Groom Cake: Filigree Cakes

Be-still my antique loving heart! This eclectic wedding was held at Salvage One, an antique and salvage store on the west side of Chicago and I’ve never in my life even thought about a wedding at an antique store but now I’m totally obsessed with the idea. It’s utterly brilliant! Olivia Leigh Photographie was on hand for the day to capture all the fun and pretty details including a traditional Brazilian square dance and a beautiful handmade piñata that guests got to take a swing at. Another totally brilliant idea. I could go on and on, but I’ll stop so you can gaze at the many gorgeous images waiting for you in the gallery.

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From Olivia Leigh Photographie…Keila and Dan are a truly amazing couple that both grew up in the Chicagoland area, met via online dating while they were both in grad school in the city, and then decided to move to Houston so Keila could pursue her career (pediatric cardiologist).

Both got ready at hotels on the north side, where friends and family enjoyed spending the morning reading their NY Times announcement (quite the coup for a Chicago couple, but so deserving for this incredible and self-made couple!). The ceremony was held at Bond Chapel at the University of Chicago, where Keila had studied. Not content with the usual set up of the church, they had the groomsmen turn around half of the pews so they could hold the ceremony in the round and have all their guests be able to see them. Keila is Mexican and Brazilian, and in honor of her heritage, Dan’s sister, a trained opera singer, sang the Brazilian standard Aguas do Marco for a portion of the processional. Other friends sang other processional songs, including Pride & Joy by Marvin Gaye, and then I Was Made to Love Her, by Stevie Wonder, for Keila’s entrance. Dan had known since they were engaged that he wanted Keila to walk down to that song, and it was truly a magical moment, filling the room with joy and laughter rather than just reverence.

After the ceremony, Keila and Dan were chauffeured around the city for photos by her uncle who owns an incredible vintage German car, which was so fun. Following the photos, we returned to their reception site, Salvage One, an antique and salvage store on the west side of Chicago. Here, guests sipped cocktails and Brazilian drinks amongst old doorknobs, street signs, and unique statues, and also ate fresh popcorn out of vintage-style popcorn boxes. The reception room was comprised of tables sourced from the store, creating a cool mismatched vintage look. Table assignments were on hand-lettered and typed signs strung by twine onto a mirror, named after their favourite coffee shops.

Guests moved out to the courtyard, where Keila’s uncle led all of the guests in a traditional Brazilian square dance. This was another unique and incredible moment, as pretty much no one had any idea what they were doing, but it completely broke the ice and was such a memorable part of the day. Upstairs, a lovely buffet was served and guests also partook in a Brazilian dessert table, filled with special sweets arranged by Keila’s aunts. Touching toasts were given on a stage, and before dancing occurred, a pinata that they had spent so long creating was hoisted to the ceiling, and guests were able to take a swing, based on how long they had been married. Another really unique and incredible moment! Such fun. After that, lovely parent dances took place, followed by Dan and Keila “wowing” the crowd with an incredible swing dance for their first dance. It was truly such an incredible day!

Wedding Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie / Wedding Cinematography: Studio 272 / Ceremony: Bond Chapel at the University of Chicago / Reception: Salvage One / DJ: Toast & Jam / Catering: J&L Catering

Get ready to get lost in this gorgeous Georgia affair captured by Matt Yung Photography. From the more than just a statement necklace to all the breathtaking florals by Edge Design Group – every last detail is worthy of some time spent oogling over.  It’s such fabulous inspiration for all you fall brides out there, and if you are itching for even more to inspire – there is even more in the full gallery of images!

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From Edge Design Group…Adrienne and Andrew met through work. Andrew was one of Adrienne’s customers. They had a work relationship for years until it turned more personal.

This southern elegant wedding was at Barnsley Gardens Resort. Organic textures and flowers were used to create a unique garden wedding. The bride’s bouquet was rich chocolate orchids with ivory roses and textured greenery. The ceremony aisle was lined with illuminated boxes and large copper lanterns surrounded by lush rich floral. Hanging votives nestled in the arbor added romance as the evening set. The reception took place in the Pavilion. Tall glass centerpieces of blooming branches decorated the table. A custom-made wrought iron cake stand completed the cake with petite accents of floral.

Floral Design: Edge Design Group / Wedding Photography: Matt Yung Photography / Venue + Catering: Barnsely Gardens Resort / Wedding Cake: Classic Cheesecakes / Muiscal Entertainment: Joel Rabe of Lethal Rhythms

This fun Chicago fete by Dawn E. Roscoe Photography is the perfect example of how you can start out with a theme or idea and, by infusing your own personality into it, create something totally awesome and unique!  This creative couple began their wedding plans with a farmer’s market theme in mind but by adding a twist they created a bright, colorful, modern celebration.  Every details is full of merriment and whimsy!  See them all in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…With Matt and I both being foodies, I immediately had a vision of a farmer’s market wedding: something a bit rustic, spring-like, colorful and full of life! I chose a multitude of colors: yellow, green, grey, peach, ivory and white. I didn’t want a color scheme that was too simple and wanted the yellow and orange/peach to stand out, as it’s Matt and my favorite colors. Lots of stripes, handmade custom details and something completely us. Through the planning process, I realized the farmer’s market was a good starting point, but I didn’t want barrels of fruits & veggies at the wedding. A few fruit crates, lemons, limes & clementines added whimsy and color and was just enough. Our florist was a total gem and immediately got the look I was going for.  I picked things that I found and liked; vintage french mason jars, a gorgeous Smith Corona typewriter, wine corks from a local re-purposed furniture store, a colorful cake and some beautiful rustic yellow frames from Etsy to incorporate into the wedding. We did the menus, hand-painted signs, table numbers and place cards ourselves which turned out to be very easy and fun to do.

All in all, the details and wedding plan worked because I had Matthew by my side. He was he best partner I could’ve asked for and helped me along the way. Not did he execute projects, but being there for me when I got stressed out. Torrential weather conspired against us the day of the wedding and flooded our reception space. Our florist, venue and planner moved everything, and although it changed the flow of the evening…it taught us a lesson, you can’t plan for everything! Our photos are proof that the day was all about the love we have for each other (and that we had an incredible photographer!) Planning is wedding is unexplainable to someone unless you’ve done it. Don’t stress about the details, but follow your gut and make it completely you. Focus on the love you have between you and your future spouse because nothing else matters.

From Dawn E. Roscoe Photography…Due to the inclement Chicago weather during the wedding day, the couple wanted to do an After The Day shoot to capture some additional couple pictures around the venue where they were married. Our locations were all neighborhood spots that were special to the couple including a local ice cream shop (Margie’s), a wonderful artifacts warehouse (Architectural Artifacts) and a beautiful local garden right near Chicago’s Metra train line. Marni and Matt dressed up once again for the shoot, and were all smiles once again!

Preparation: Holiday Inn Merchandise Mart / Ceremony + Reception Location + Catering: Ravenswood Event Center / Wedding Photography: Dawn E. Roscoe Photography / Wedding Planner: Sweet Pea Wedding Studio / Floral Design: Beth Tarrant of Anna Held Florist / Wedding Cake: Swedish Bakery / Jam Jar Labels: GersonCurse / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay Bridesmaids / Hair: Christin Stevens, Art & Science Salon Chicago / Make-up: Rachel Gore, R&K Chicago Bride / Band: Upbeat Band / Jewelry: Edera Jewelry / Bride’s Shoes: Shoes of Prey / Hair Accessory: Nova of Love

I have developed a serious crush on this charming St. Petersburg soiree by Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. and I don’t see it ending anytime soon.  But, who could blame me?  With a wedding like this one, it would be impossible not to be head over heels in love.  From the stunning orange and navy blue color palette to the amazing florals by Redman Steele Florist to the fabulous museum location, I am one smitten blogger.  Not to mention the bride’s gorgeous gown and fabulous sparkly shoes.  Yes.  Please.  Lucky for us, Lauren Pauline Photography was there to capture every amazing moment, so be sure to join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Stonehouse Events & More, Inc.… Here is a gorgeous wedding of Jennifer Tylman, the American to George Keatinge, the Aussie. It was a beautiful Catholic church ceremony followed by a reception at the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts.  The head table was lined with a mirror runner bursting of gorgeous flowers.  The theme for their wedding was Eat, Drink and Be Married, which is exactly what the guests did!

The tables were named after wineries and the name for each table was actually displayed on a bottle of wine!  The mother of the bride had so many special surprises for her daughter, every moment was even more special and it was so fun to witness each unveiling!  The lighting with the GOBO of their names was a huge surprise as well as the horse and buggy for their exit! Guests held glow sticks for the bride and groom to walk thru at the end of the night. The night was full of LOVE and the perfect day to begin the rest of their lives together!

Wedding Planner: Cindy Stonehouse of Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. / Wedding Photography: Lauren Pauline Photography / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Raphael Catholic Church / Wedding Reception Location: Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg / Horse Carriage: St. Petersburg Carriages (Formerly Surrey’s at the Pier) / Lighting: Bay Stage / Catering + Wedding Cake: Olympia Bakery / Floral Design: Redman Steele Florist / Ceremony Music: Praise Band / Cocktail Hour: Meredith Coffman, Harpist / Band: Synchronicity / Transportation: Ambassador Limo / Hair : J. Con Salon / Bride’s Hair: NaNash / Make-up Artist: Shirley George / Stationery: Not From a Box / Valet: Courtesy Valet

New York City was just MADE for engagement sessions or at least it seems that way when you lay your eyes on a fabulous shoot like this. Lucas Tingle + Melissa Howlett of Winding Violets had us at Hello with all of these pretty images and Central Park, the Highline and the fabulous citiscapes of NYC are but an added bonus. Get your Big Apple lovin on in the full gallery!

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From Winding Violets…Kristin and Matt have been living in New York City for 3 years; they are the perfect New York City couple: smart, sexy, & sophisticated. Both Kristin and Matt moved to the city independent of one another, him from Connecticut & her from a small town in Ontario, Canada (Kingston).

Kristin and Matt met in New York and fell in love with each other and the city. They now live together on the Upper East Side near Central Park. Central Park has special significance for Kristin and Matt, as it was the site of their first date. Matt thought it would be a romantic idea to take Kristin skating on Wollman Rink. They spent a lovely evening circling Wollman with the city lights filling the Manhattan night’s sky. Matt did walk away a little emasculated, as Kristin has done some competitive figure skating in her past, so she showed him up a little. He should have known better though, taking a Canadian skating?

Following Central Park, we visited The High Line for sundown. The High Line is a relatively new feature of the great City of New York. Chelsea doesn’t have a proper green space, so the city thought it would be a great idea to renovate the old elevated train line that runs through Chelsea into a boardwalk/park. The High Line over looks the Hudson River and runs from 30th to 13th on the lower West Side. They maintain some terrific details that subtly remind the visitors of the train line that once ran where they now walk. Next time you’re in New York City, make sure to visit The High Line for yourselves it’s quite beautiful.

Photography: Winding Violets, Lucas Tingle + Melissa Howlett / Locations: Central Park + The High Line / Her Shoes: BCBG / Dress: Calvin Klein / Necklace: Tiffany & Co. / Earrings: DeScenza Diamonds / His Outfit: Astor & Black / His Shoes: Cole Haan / Watch: Citizen

Elegance, pure, simple and just the way we like it, is in full swing throughout this lovely Boston wedding.  The beautiful ballroom is perfectly decorated with gilded details and unexpected touches like the fun keys found as part of the escort cards.  Unique Weddings by Alexis really brought the pretty in full force when they designed this beauty and Grazier Photography magically captured every delightful moment.  See them all in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…Matt and I met in high school. We first started “dating” the summer going into our sophomore year.  Since we didn’t have cell phones back then to exchange numbers or text messages, poor Matt had called about 15 other Ryan Families in the phone book before he got to the right one to ask me out on our first date! Thank goodness he didn’t stop after just a few wrong numbers!  We were inseparable throughout high school. Back then, even though we were young, we were smart enough to know we had something special.  We knew we would get married some day. It’s written in our yearbooks! We moved into our first place together in Charlestown about 3 years ago.  Charlestown is such a beautiful part of Boston.  We fell in love with it right away and it will always hold a very dear place in our hearts as it is where we started our life together.

I looked to Style Me Pretty, Etsy and other local blogs for inspiration and ideas.  Every detail fell into place.  It had all the charm and romance we had hoped for. It was a grand celebration after a very personal and beautiful ceremony.  Having the wedding in the Oval Room at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel was far more special and significant to Matt and I than one might initially think. Almost ten years to the day, in June 2001, Matt and I had danced the night away together at our Senior Prom in the Oval room at The Fairmont Copley.  We had told each other then how much we loved each other but I don’t think either of us would have guessed that we’d be dancing there again at our wedding some day. It was a beautiful reminder of where our journey started and how far we’ve come together.

Standing next to Matt while he thanked our guests for sharing our wedding day with us and thinking how lucky I was that he was now my husband.  Then watching him sing his heart out with the band to one of his favorite Bruce songs, Glory Days! RC Uplighting set off the most amazing confetti bomb over the crowd as Matt was jumping off the stage at the end of the song.  It was priceless!! And lastly… The sun coming out that day.  My grandmother whom I was very close with had passed away shortly after Matt and I were engaged. Throughout our entire engagement I would pray to her for help and guidance through the planning process.  The weather report said the wedding day was going to be overcast with chances of thunderstorms all day and night.  Luckily the rain held out the entire day and at 5:30pm on the dot, the sun came out!  I’ll never forget being on the Trolley, passing the Public Gardens on the way to the church and the sun coming through the clouds. It was amazing and as I tried to hold back tears I looked at my Mom and told her I had asked Nanny for a little sunshine.  She came through like always!

Venue: Fairmont Copley Plaza / Church: St Mary’s in Charlestown / Wedding Planner + Designer: Unique Weddings by Alexis / Wedding Photography: Grazier Photography / Wedding Videography: Artistic Wedding Video Group / Wedding Cake: Cakes to Remember / Lighting: RC Uplighting / Florist: Bella Floral Design / Linen + Chair Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Hair Stylist: Kristine Collines / Make-up: Lynne Avallone / Invitations: Blush Design Studios / Bridal Gown: Priscilla’s of Boston / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bridal Reflections / Men’s Tuxedo: MW Tux / Jeweler: Barmakian / Favors: Sweet Cupcakes / Band: Kahootz / Bagpiper: Ed O’Callaghan / Transportation: Beantown Trolley, Brush Hill Tours / Rehearsal Dinner: Wine Cellar at Mooo Restaurant

We are seeing more and more modern backyard weddings and I, for one, am totally on board with this trend. There is something about edited, well thought out details mixed with an intimate backyard gathering that just play together so nicely. Jagger Photography snapped all the goodness and did so with an eye for insanely gorgeous shots. See it all here!

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From the Bride…I like to believe that things happen for a reason. Justin and I originally planned to have our wedding at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park followed by a reception at a local restaurant. Then that restaurant closed down 4 months before our wedding day. We could have had a major meltdown, but somehow I knew this was a second chance to make our big day a true reflection of our laid back DIY style. We dropped by our friends’ house a few weeks later to ask them if they would let us borrow their amazing backyard. I was so nervous! But they said “yes” without even having to think about it. My dream of a backyard wedding was really happening, and I knew without a doubt that it had to come with a gourmet food truck. We found Vizzi Truck’s dreamy food at a neighborhood event in Venice. None of our guests could stop raving about the delicious food. Besides, you can’t go wrong with truffle popcorn!

I’m also proud to say that the women in my family are unbelievably talented. They contributed to so many elements of the overall look and feel or our wedding. My brother’s wife designed our save-the-dates and invitations, my sister created all the beautiful flower arrangements even with the vague descriptions I gave her, and most talented of all is my mom for making my wedding dress. I had a vision for my wedding dress from the very beginning, but our tiny dress budget made it impossible to just purchase one from a store. My mom spent over a month sewing it, while my sister-in-law and I worked together to design the dress. Best of all, it was made out of a silk fabric my mom picked up from work (she’s a seamstress) years ago, so my dress was free.

Justin and I try to live a eco-friendly lifestyle, so naturally we tried our best to lower the environmental impact of our wedding day. As lovely as paper goods can be, we chose to send our save-the-dates and invitations electronically. Our decorations came from yard sales, thrift stores and all the fabric elements that I sewed together came from factory scraps that my mom brought home from work. When my mom brought home a striped denim fabric a year ago, I immediately fell in love with it. I tried to include it wherever I could – the bow on my veil, the boutonnieres, my bouquet wrap – even though I only had about a square foot of fabric.

Ceremony Venue: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park / Reception Venue: Private Residence / Wedding Photography: Jagger Photography / Hair + Make-up: Helen Thai at Lips2Lashes / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Ana Marie Palanca / Caterer: Vizzi Truck / Florist: Sister of the Bride / Band: The Brothers Landau / Wedding Dress: Mother of the Bride / Veil: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Me Too / Groom’s Suit: Theory / Stationery: Lori Fujikawa

What does it look like when it’s the wedding photographer’s turn to get married? Apparently completely unique and full of style. And who do they hire to capture their big day when they step out from behind the lens? – J. Cogliandro Photography. After gawking at these images can you blame them? It doesn’t hurt that the gorgeous Tuscany serves as the backdrop, but every detail is equally as delightful – and you can see it all in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We met, 5 years and 3 days before the wedding, at a pub through a mutual friend, (who went onto be our best man) We got engaged in a wind-swept beach in New Zealand at sunset, just over 18 months ago. I am a wedding photographer myself, based in London and photograph weddings most weekends, and just felt I wanted something a little different from what I see each weekend.  I knew I wanted something outside, which counts England out as you just can’t guarantee the weather, (mind you, we have since found out the same can be said for Italy!!!) My cousin who lives in Italy got married there a few years ago, and I loved the informality of everything, and more to the point I loved the food – so much nicer than wedding food in the UK.  I spoke to my aunt saying I would like to find a venue where we could have the wedding that also did accommodation so everything was in the same place, and she said she knew just the place.  I went to visit in the February, and it was perfect.  Ben and I went out again in June, both instantly loved Inalbi, had a look at several others, then decided we were wasting our time as the first one was perfect!  I also loved the idea of having a destination wedding, as a lot of my guest would be traveling from the US, and it meant that everyone was staying in the same place, and you could spend time with your guests either side of the wedding, and so on the wedding day there wasn’t the pressure to socialize with your guests, so you could spend more time doing photos and enjoying the wedding aspect of it.

I had a lot of sentimental things on me on the day: my great great grandmothers handkerchief, my great grandmothers necklace, my grandmothers broach, my godmothers perfume, the silk flowers my other godmother gave me from her hair on her wedding day when I was 7, my great aunt’s sapphire ring, mostly borrowed from my mum, covering my old, new, borrowed and blue.

The ceremony had to be moved at the last minute as it had rained so heavily the day before the chairs would have all sunk in the lawn, but actually it had a real intimacy that it wouldn’t have had if everyone had a seat.  I had written the service the week before, mainly based on the very traditional Anglican church wedding, which I always love, despite not being religious myself.  We included the hymn Jerusalem, as it was my school song, and really patriotic, and gives me tingles every time I hear it.  We had Shakespeare sonnet 116 as Ben is a Shakespearean actor. We had a reading from a childhood book of mine. I walked in to Marc Cohen’s “True Companion,” and we left to Queen’s “Your My Best Friend.” Before the service the dog who lives at the venue decided to join the bridal party, which I thought was hilarious, and then I came very close to tripping over him as we were walking back down the aisle. (beautifully captured by Dennis) My favorite part was the 2 little flower girls, walking down the aisle to Ben, and then they just kept going, up the path and away from the wedding. Very funny – proving that rehearsals are probably a good Idea!

Location, Catering, Wedding Cake + Desserts: Agriturismo Vecchio Borgo di Inalbi / Wedding Coordination: The Bride (Simone Germaine) / Wedding Photography: Joe Cogliandro of J. Cogliandro Photography + Dennis Orchard / Wedding Videography: Friend of The Bride, Alan Ward Collins / Floral + Decor: Alesssandra / Entertainment: Friends of The Bride + Groom / Wedding Gown: Angela Stone / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vivien of Holloway / Necklace: The Bride’s Great Grandmother’s / Wedding Rings: David Webdale / Groom’s Attire: Marks & Spensers / Hair + Make-up: Friend of The Bride, Audra Smith / Invitations: Love Wedding Print / Favors: The Bride / Beaded Hearts: Enigma / Fans + Parasols: Beau-Coup / Celebrant: Samuele Gallorini

This is exactly the kind of wedding that gets us all sorts of excited here at SMP. It’s modern, it’s fresh, and it’s full of pretty, pretty details. And the gorgeous images by Michael Simon Weddings totally have us in a tizzy and we’ve been spending quite some time in the gallery with this one! Join us, won’t you?

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…The vision of our wedding day unfolded in that we wanted it to reflect our sensibilities and style and yet be an amazing party. I’m from Memphis, TN  and have lived in NYC for 8 years. Wakim is originally from Haiti but moved to Morristown 20 years ago and then to Jersey City 6 years ago. We knew that to accurately reflect us we had to get married in New York City. And since I love the details of planning, it was the best option to allow me to be involved in all aspects of the wedding and amazingly for Wakim to be involved in all those details too. He was there at 9 pm meetings to screen photographers and he was there at 7 am in the flower district with the florist learning what hydrangeas, peonies and phaleonopsis orchids are and 98 percent of the time he had a huge smile on his face.

As soon as we walked into the lobby of Trump SoHo, my mother and Wakim both turned and looked at me and said “This is you” and they were right. The luxurious yet modern styling of the hotel captured everything we wanted our wedding to reflect. We’d both secretly wished to have an outdoor wedding but worried about the usual disappointment of the rain backup plan venue and thought that the SOHI room at Trump SoHo gave us that feeling of being at the top of NYC with its incredible walls of windows overlooking the city. From there, everything easily worked into our vision of quiet luxury. We knew there were small details that only we would notice but that would contribute to the overall experience of the evening.

Our biggest debate was likely whether to go with a band or a DJ. In the end, we settled on a DJ because who better to sing Michael than Michael himself at the end of the night. We, instead, brought in the live performance element for the ceremony with a jazz trio and the cocktail hour with a jazz duo.  We also wanted to make sure that the guests went home with a little something that wouldn’t simply hit the trash can or sit and collect dust and the idea of our gift boxes was born. We made sure it captured both of our hometowns along with our current city. At the end of the night, we’d had an amazing time and felt as if our guests had too. We loved that our photographer was able to capture the same spirit of the day that we’d experienced and every time we look at our pictures we end up saying “I want to get married again”.

Wedding Photography: Michael Simon Weddings / Flowers: Anthony Brownie Flowers and Events / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Trump SoHo / Invitations: Askew Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / DJ: DJ Herbert Holler / Bridesmaid Dress: Watters / Wedding Cake: Nine Cakes / Earrings & Bangles: TEJANI

We’re smack dab in the middle of another lovely Wedding Wednesday and this time around it’s an uber-charming DIY affair in Napa Valley that has captured our hearts.  With a breathtaking backyard setting, mason jars overflowing with vibrant purple blooms and paper poms dotting each and every tree, it’s hard not to love every. single. detail of this sweet, handcrafted affair.  Elle Photography was on hand to capture all of the gorgeous moments, so there’s an entire gallery of images just waiting to be adored.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Elle Photography… Tom and Milena have been sweethearts ever since they met in college over ten years ago. For them, it was never a question of whether they would get married, but when and where. Tom’s a grad student, so their budget was limited, but they still wanted to do a beautiful event.  Milena is a huge fan of Style Me Pretty, so she read this lovely site every day for inspiration. The couple ended up having an almost 100% “do it yourself” event — they married in Tom’s Aunt and Uncle’s backyard and his Uncle performed the ceremony.  Milena’s Mom did the flowers (Milena collected little vases and jam jars for almost a year before the big day). Rounding out the details was also a family affair, her Grandparents and Uncle built the photo booth, one of her bridesmaids baked the wedding cake, and another did her invitations. Tom’s cousin, Laura Monfredini, is “Elle” of “Elle Photography,” and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to shoot a family wedding along with her regular photography partner, Bill Hipps.

From the Bride… From the very beginning of the planning process, Tom and I really wanted our wedding to be a fun and relaxed day for everyone involved.   When his aunt and uncle offered their beautiful Napa home for the nuptials, we jumped at the chance.  From there, the idea of a vintage rustic backyard barbecue just developed naturally.  We really wanted to make this a personal event that reflected us a couple, and do as much as possible either ourselves or with our friends and family. Pretty much everything that could be handmade was handmade. The whole tone for the event was set by the invitations designed and created by my maid of honor, Jessica.  My mother and I spent the year before the event collecting jars and vases for the centerpieces, which she created, along with all the bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages. One of my other bridesmaids, Allison, created the large Alice in Wonderland-like flowers, and yet another bridesmaid, Elana, made our cake.  (With one wounded arm!)  Not only did these wonderful ladies, which I have known for a combined 70 plus years, help me create a beautiful event, they all came up the week before for a slumber party-like week of wedding prep.

Looking back, we couldn’t ask for a better wedding experience.  It was remarkably stress free (for the most part!) and it gave us an opportunity to spend tons of time with all the people we love.  And to top it all off, everyone had a fantastic time!  We can’t think of a better way to start our marriage.

Wedding Photography: Elle Photography / Hair: Violet Vargas of Jane Salon / Make-up: Veronica Jeffries of Cezanne Skin Group / Catering: Kilted Pig BBQ / Day of Coordination: Elizabeth Potter / Wedding Dress: Rue La La

Okay. I’m always a huge fan of whatever Zoom Photography sends our way. She gets to capture the most amazing weddings. But I think this one might take the cake. Set in a crazy gorgeous California lavender field, the bride and groom got married surrounded by the ones they love, then they took a spin on a fantastic ferris wheel. Seriously? How cool is that? Renting a ferris wheel for your big day. I SO wish I could have opened my mail to find an invite to this wedding. I’ll be spending all afternoon in that fabulous lavender field with the ferris wheel, so when you’re ready click here to join me!

Ramin surprised Melissa with a proposal on her 30th birthday.  They had never shopped for rings, and Ramin had always been hesitant about even discussing that “grown-up topic.” With the stresses of serving as the trauma chief resident, Ramin had told Melissa he didn’t know if he’d even be home for a birthday dinner. Well, dinner happened and afterward they went for a walk on the pier at Chrissy Field with the glow of the golden gate bridge and San Francisco City skyline. Melissa was visibly shocked when Ramin lowered to his knee to propose.  First words out of her mouth:  “Seriously? For real? You want to marry me?”  After Ramin reminded her that she still did not answer his question, she replied with “YES!”

We both love the outdoors and while we love the mountains more than the city we felt San Francisco was special to us, the city where we met and started to build a life together.  We knew we were moving for Ramin’s job end of June 2010 and wanted to get married before we moved.   We also knew we wanted an outdoor wedding since that really reflects who we are.  The weather in San Francisco during June can be so unpredictable and cold so we had to look for venues outside of the Bay Area.

The Central Valley is where Ramin was raised and it is a side of California we both love but that most people don’t know or get to see.  At first viewing, Melissa knew it was the perfect venue: beautiful, natural, predictable weather, and convenient for all the out of town guests.  We wanted an intimate, relaxed, fun, festive feel to the wedding and loved the idea of a summer fair.

Instead of traditional place cards we decided to get creative and asked our guests to send us a photo with their response card.  We used the photos as their place cards at a hanging escort card display.  Table numbers at this display were accompanied by one picture each of Melissa and Ramin at those respective years (Table 1 = 1 year old, Table 2 = 2 years old, etc).  Melissa’s sister helped us put these together in the days before the wedding. On the day of the wedding guests were able to walk up to the display during cocktail hour and retrieve their place card as well as see all the fun photos that the other guests had submitted.  This was also a way for all guests to get to know each other.

Though both of us were raised in the states, Melissa is half Colombian and Ramin is Persian. We don’t care too much for convention, so we designed our own hybrid ceremony. In Persian tradition, we sat facing a symbolic “sofreh aghd.”  The Colombian/Christian elements included a small wedding party and inspirational readings by family (Bible and poetry of Hafez).  We held the ceremony in the lavender field facing our guests. Dr. Mehri Pirooz officiated in both English and Farsi. The “toor” that was held over us during the ceremony was loaned by very close family friends of 40 years. It was silken & crocheted, and  their 3 children were married under it as well.

We had a ferris wheel to go with the summer fair theme, we thought it would not only make a great backdrop for photos but would also be a fun treat for all of our guests.  A way to bring out the inner child in all of us!

Photography: Lauri Levenfeld, Zoom Photography, Second shooter Jessica Epstein / Location: Bear Flag Farm / Catering: Alex’s Catering / Floral Design: Sillapere Eco Events / Rentals: Hartmann Studios / Linens: La Tavola Fine Linens / Lighting & Power: Monkeyglue Lighting / Band: Wall Street Notable Talent Agency /Event Planning & Design:  Tina Reikes for Bear Flag Farm / Dress: Vera Wang, “Rita” from Glamour Closet

I am crushing hard on this Seattle wedding by Nickel Images.  Of course, I’m wild about the sweet, unique, DIY details that perfectly represented this adorable couple.  And I love that the groom picked the wedding colors (way to go!).  But I really, really love that they had a Molly Moon Ice Cream truck.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with Molly Moon’s ice cream I say hop on the next plane and visit the northwest immediately!  You will not be sorry!  OK, now that you know all about my dairy addiction head on over to the full gallery because there are so many awesome details awaiting!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Because of our incredible story, I felt we needed to decorate and create a day worthy of all that history.  I started out buying magazines and then realized that wedding blogs are the key–and much more budget friendly.  I would be lying if I said I hadn’t already been looking at Style Me Pretty before we had gotten engaged, and drooling over the latest posts while sipping coffee became my new favorite routine, all the way up through the week of the wedding…..and continues to be now as a married woman. Matt is in medical school so were definitely planning a budget wedding. We dreamed up a wedding that really represented us as a couple: fun, quirky, crafty, original, local, classy, and sentimental.  Matt picked our colors and I did a lot of flea market and goodwill treasure hunting to find budget friendly items to fit my eclectic vintage/travel/beach theme. We live in a unique area in Seattle and we wanted to include some of our favorite foods to share: Los Agaves tacos from the Fremont Market and we rented the Molly Moon’s Ice Cream truck.

Above all I wanted the focus to be our love for each other and those who have supported us, and not about a bunch of “stuff.”  So my goal was to keep anything that was material in the wedding as full of meaning as possible. Each vintage post card represented where guests sitting at the table were from, the sign from the street we met on was our guest book, a piece of driftwood among the tables was from our fifth anniversary trip in Alaska, and the conch shell on our table was from our trip to the Turks and Caicos.  Our ring pillow was Matt’s parents from their wedding, and Matt’s sister–my best friend–found my dress.  Perhaps one of the most sentimental details of the day though, was that our officiant was Matt’s grandfather.  To have someone marrying us that has supported us through our whole relationship and inspired us in his own marriage of over 50 years was incredibly personal and I will always hold that dear to my heart.

We happened to pick the best vendors on the planet; a lot of people have friends “vend” for them; we hired incredible local professionals and are lucky enough to now call them friends. Rachel and Matt Nickel of Nickel Images captured the essence of our relationship and the sentiment of our wedding day; they inspired me with their creativity and love for what they do, and for each other. Erin Hunt not only became a dear friend but she made me feel and look beautiful on my special day–and nailed everything I asked of her….can you say stress free?!  Rachel Bowes from Finch and Thistle carried out my dream wedding and created the most beautiful bouquets that brought me to tears, my favorite special touch: she included thistles to represent my “Scottish Boy.” Someone said that when they walked into our reception hall before the wedding, they simply saw love.  To me, there is no better compliment because at the end of the day, after the flowers, pom-poms and vintage finds were put away, love is what I was lucky enough to walk away with. And if my “vision” or decorations even remotely captured that, I did what I set out to do!

Wedding Photography: Nickel Images / Wedding Cinematography: Final Take Productions / Floral + Event Design: Finch & Thistle Event Design / Ceremony Location: Golden Gardens Park / Reception Location: Golden Gardens Bathhouse / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Hair + Make-up: Erin Hunt Makeup / Bride’s Shoes: TOMS / Wedding Dress: Mori Lee / Catering: Los Agaves / Dessert: Molly Moon’s Ice Cream

Milk and Honey Photography + Australia weddings = a swoon worthy way to start any day. Lucky for us, that is just how we are going to kick of this Wednesday! And boy is this one a backyard beauty! Fabulous personal touches, bridesmaid dresses the lucky ladies WILL wear again, DIY flowers, a wedding cake made by the groom’s sister – it’s a fabulous family-filled fête, and there is even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Milk and Honey Photography…Jacqui and AJ were married on the 5th of March 2011. Jacqui got ready at the Crown Plaza Terrigal and they were married on AJ’s family property. The wedding had a boutique-handmade feel with handpicked bouquets and bridesmaids carrying balloons instead of bouquets. The couple had a location shoot around the property with their bridal party, they also played a couple of games of croquet before heading to the reception on the same property. The wedding was a combination of cultures with both Jewish and Chinese traditions present at the ceremony.

From the Bride…How did the newlyweds meet? Is there any special story? We met through our dear friend Nat – one of Jacq’s bridesmaids – and fell for each other in AJ’s parents’ garden. It was very fitting that where we shared our first kiss was the very spot where we became husband and wife.

We wanted to incorporate all the treasured elements of our family life in our ceremony. The wedding included a chuppah – a Jewish wedding canopy with open sides representing the new home we were creating – breaking of a glass (another Jewish tradition), and a Chinese tea ceremony where we received “lucky money” from AJ’s side of the family! We also wanted everyone close to us to be involved in the actual ceremony, so we had eight special people come under the chuppah with us who each read a different blessing. As you can tell, we really love our family (!) so we also had a table of photos of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days. The most special thing of all though, apart from sharing the day with the people we adore, was that we organized and planned the whole wedding together and it was 100% “us”.

Bride’s Shoes: Karen Millen / Flowers: DIY + Sydney Flower Markets / Venue: Private Residence / Wedding Planning: The Bride + Groom / Music: Baker Boys / Men’s Suits: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shoes: Aquila / Bridesmaid Dresses: Fleur Wood / Stationery: Friend, Natalie + Ecocern / Wedding Cake: Groom’s Sister / Jewelry: Vintage Garden + Heirloom from Bride’s Grandmother / Wedding Photography: Anni Payne and Rose Punch of Milk and Honey Photography

Barn weddings hold a very, very special place in my heart. I wed in just such a structure a few years ago and can attest to the fact that barn weddings are out of control fun and rustic in a totally elegant and gorgeous sort of way. This Santa Margarita Ranch stunner is also boasting the fabulous styling of LVL Weddings & Events which never ceases to capture our wedding loving hearts and of course, the fabulous images by Jake Odening of Mike Larson Inc. This is a job well done for Team California and you can catch more of the gorgeous here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From LVL Weddings & Events…This fun couple from The Bay area had such a sweet and beautiful wedding. They both come from larger families and wanted to find a place they could have a fun celebration with all of their family and friends. Santa Margarita Ranch is absolutely stunning, the eclectic grounds and beautiful barn was the perfect backdrop for Danielle’s dream of a romantic day. Danielle and Eddie are so adorable, their love is so evident and Jake Odening captured every moment. They said “I do’s” under the picturesque tree and guests enjoyed drinks, popcorn and a strolling magician during the cocktail hour. The reception was breathtaking! One of my favorite details were all the DIY chalkboard signs used for the bar, directions and table numbers. Shoes were important to this couple, so they took the opportunity to have playful shoes that represented them. All the groomsmen received matching shoes to wear as well.

From the Bride…I had always wanted to get married  under a big tree. It just symbolizes family, strength and wisdom – all things you want a marriage to symbolize. Once we started shaping our big day we fell more in love with it. The Ranch had so many beautiful elements to it, from the garden with the vintage theater marquee, wishing well and windmill to the rustic barn with cracks that let romantic slits of dusk transform the wood into a breathtaking backdrop.  We were on a strict budget, so we decided to let the venue speak for itself and add subtle but impactful decor elements rather than over doing it. Romantic simplicity.

My advice for brides, don’t over do it. Being detailed is a must, but don’t start adding things at the last-minute for the sake of adding another element. Also, my inspiration board was key! I pulled pics from blogs and websites and compiled them into a PowerPoint slide. I shared it with all my vendors and it really helped them capture what I was trying to accomplish. And hire a coordinator! Having some one that knows you, your vision and is in charge of all the details allows you to enjoy your day. Heather had everything under control, running smoothly and was there to comfort and calm any nerves.

Venue: Santa Margarita Ranch / Coordination: Heather of LVL Weddings & Events / Wedding Photography: Jake Odening of Mike Larson Inc. / Floral Design: Panacea Event Floral Design / Catering: Black Lake Catering / DJ + Lighting: Kramer Entertainment / Photobooth: The Photobooth Experience / Wedding Dress: Oleg Cassini / Bride’s Shoes: TheHeadbandShoppe / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Selix / Groom’s Shoes: Sportsmart