We’re starting off the day on the right side of the bed here at SMP. Get ready to sail away to dreamland with this Georgia wedding from Simply Bloom Photography. It is just overflowing with romance, elegance and loads of dazzling details. A true Southern charmer with a little French flair mixed in and two breathtaking beauties to boot! Now rub the sleepies out of your eyes and check out the full wedding gallery for more dreamy inspiration!
I have never seen a bride more happy to walk down the aisle. Allie squealed of joy as she saw her Brock under the overflowing green arch where they would become man and wife.
Allie and Brock are originally from Atlanta, GA however currently live in L.A. Their classic wedding took place at one of our favorite southern venues right outside Atlanta: The Barnsley Gardens. The bride looked so graceful and couture in her Priscilla of Boston gown and Stuart Weitzman purple pumps, of which we could not get enough of! Brock looked extra sharp in his Calvin Klein suit. Allie’s smile and laughter are undoubtedly contagious. She is a bundle of bubbly happiness, and as you can imagine, on her wedding day, this sparkling happiness shined through that much more. Their wedding had a dash of French class, as well as a sprinkle of southern charm: The apple pie favors, for example, were topped off with custom made DIY tags which read “Merci“. Their wedding cake was a beautiful little jewel, with such craftsmanship and detail. The hints of wild moss combined with lilac blooms, made up the main elements of their unique decor. Allie and Brock are a modelesque couple and such fun to photograph and laugh with.
This wedding by Smitten Photography is what little girls’ dreams are made of, completely romantic and perfectly pink. Alyse Woodward Events designed a sweet southern soirée with gorgeous pink hues, vintage accents and charming decor. Personal touches met guests at every turn, from the bride’s father performing the ceremony to her mom’s homemade apple butter favors, it’s just want my sappy heart loves most in weddings. Not to mention they had a biscuit bar set up with all the fixin’s for their guests…which I must admit, I secretly hope becomes a trend for any upcoming wedding I attend (hint, hint). For more delicious images be sure to check out the gallery.
“A simple and elegant southern affair with a vintage touch….this is how I envisioned my wedding day. Simple was a key ingredient in this wedding recipe as I refused to let my indecisiveness take over. Jacob and I wanted the entire day to be centered on our endless love for each other, our family that brought us to this point, and our friends that witnessed our relationship grow. It was important for us to include our family in making the day feel personal and intimate. The ceremony was held at the church that I grew up in and the church where my father has been a minister for 26 years. My Dad performed the ceremony and Jacob’s Dad arranged the ceremony music. We were overjoyed that some of our grandparents could be there and I’m not quite sure the ceremony could be more beautifully described by anyone other than Jacob’s grandmother, Nana.“Yes, Beloved, the wedding did happen and Jacob and Emily are wed. It was unspeakably beautiful, hearing her Dad give the ceremony from an overflowing heart of gratitude to God for the blessings of this sacred marriage. The blessed minister-Dad spoke so richly from his heart he had tears flowing down our faces more than once, his own voice breaking more than once.
”The Duke Mansion in Charlotte, NC was the perfect fit for our reception. We wanted a venue with character and charm which the Duke Mansion exudes. Cocktail hour was in the center courtyard where lawn games were set up for entertainment. Stations were used to present the southern style menu we had selected. The famous biscuit bar was a hit which included an assortment of biscuits and toppings of smoked ham, country sausage gravy, creamy cheddar grits, smoked chicken and peach preserves. An antique vase belonging to my aunt served as a center piece for our soft seating in the terrace where the peaches foster station and coffee bar were set up. My mom made jars of homemade apple butter for our guests to take home at the end of the night. It was an unforgettable evening filled with love and laughter, more than we could have ever dreamed or imagined.”
You know a wedding is going to be good when the bride makes her surprise entrance on an airplane. You also know it’s going to be good when it’s planned by Desiree Spinner Events. You know it’s going to be down right blog worthy when the bride is part of the Desiree Spinner Events team. Buckle up, this wedding is full of personality and style so you’ll want to be sure and check out the gallery for all the lovely images by Hike Photography.
Working in the wedding industry while planning my own wedding has been such a fun experience, and I feel so lucky to have had Desiree and Sara alongside me to help with the day! My fiance is a youth pastor, and so we knew we wanted everyone from our church to be able to come to the wedding–the airfield seemed like a great place to put so many people! From there, my father and I came up with the idea of flying into the ceremony as my “entrance”. We took off 45 minutes before the ceremony started, and circled Cape Cod until it was time for us to arrive. The landing was one of the most magical times of my entire life. Hike Photography captured the moment perfectly—the guests were not told about the surprise landing, and so the entire crowd jumped to their feet and began cheering the moment the plane touched the ground. It was such a cool moment to get out of the plane with my father, and immediately begin our walk down the isle. Sara from DSE hand-stamped all of the birdseed packets which we attached the the programs I designed, and after everyone had a chance to enjoy a snack from a signature DSE dessert table, everyone lined up for the big send off.
The wedding was filled with small, eccentric details—which is exactly how I wanted it. When one of our groomsmen’s vests didn’t arrive on time, we replaced it with the most ridiculous vest we could find…mickey mouse! The groomsmen played a bit of a prank on Josh, pretending to throw the ring across the field when it came time for the exchange (the real ring was safe and sound in the best man’s pocket!). All of the bridesmaids (and my “bridesman”, Dave!) were invited to wear whatever shoes they felt most expressed their personality—and I was so thrilled to see everything from gold sparkly pumps to brown chuck taylor’s on my wedding day! The reception took place in an antique auto museum, playing into the “planes, trains and automobiles” theme, which we carried throughout the wedding using stationery that my fiance and I designed.
From Desiree of Desiree Spinner Events: When Kaleigh got engaged last winter I could not have been be happier, not because I knew I would be helping, but because she has become like a little sister to me here at the DSE office. She works so hard for all our clients and I knew I wanted to work that hard for her with her wedding. The airfield was the perfect place for her HUGE guest list,and even more perfect is that her dad is a pilot for the Air Force and said he would fly her in on the wedding day. Kaleigh came up with the planes, trains and automobile theme for the wedding and her save the dates and invitations (all handmade by her) reflected the theme from a train ticket save the date, to an “airmail” invitation. Kelly Hike from Hike Photography was so amazing, she captured Kaleigh and Josh’s love and laughter so perfectly I was so glad she was there. Sara and I designed a little tented area for the guests with dessert and cider to snack on while Kaleigh and Josh greeted every one after the wedding. We covered the poles in satin ribbon and hung paper flowers from the tops of the tent as well. Every one really came together for this amazing day from the florist to both the families, to make this wedding gorgeous for such a sweet couple. Sara and I hope that the day was magical for Josh and Kaleigh and we had a blast helping. xoxo Desiree and Sara”
If you’ve been around Style Me Pretty very long, you KNOW we love San Francisco City Hall Weddings! Such a stunning backdrop for such a special occasion! Today’s newlyweds ~ Sandy & Verl ~ were married in an intimate SF City Hall ceremony, followed by a banquet reception the following day. Sent to us by Alex Kon at IQVideographyand his brother Joseph from IQPhoto ~ you’ll see that high style was most definitely, the order of the day!
From Alex at IQVideography ~ This wedding really caught my attention—wow! Not only relaxed and sweet but with wonderful touches of their own style that was spot on, and even a little quirky in just the best way. And absolute proof that a city hall wedding (San Francisco) can be glamorous, stylish, and fun. Sandy rocked her “Oh! I-want-that!” short, full skirted white wedding dress and accessorized it to perfection. Red shoes—yes! Red, the traditional Chinese color for good luck. I love it! Those yummy red shoes would have been enough to bring style and glamour to her outfit. The addition of white feathers in her hair, red earrings and bracelet, and her hair curling over one shoulder were brilliant style choices. Her short veil made her whole outfit totally, “I’m getting married,” as well as perky stylish. Her smile was dazzling with a strong, warm red lipstick. Verl, not to be outdone, added some quirky style to his morning coat with a full, long slightly flowing tie in a multi-colored, jumpin’ print. His boutonniere and Sandy’s bouquet were the yellow and red colors of the wedding and mirrored his tie. Two bright colors—simplicity itself and totally brilliant. This wedding was style, and it’s great fun being able to see the style that a couple can bring to their wedding day.
See just how sweet and treasured a city hall wedding can be in this short film from IQVideography …
From the beautiful bride … Before I got engaged, there were only two things that I had tucked away in my wedding dreams. One was to get married at San Francisco City Hall – a building I’d never entered, but as a former resident of the city I’d often driven past, admiring the majesty of the golden filigree shimmering against its black dome. It was one of a handful of landmarks that swelled my heart with pride at finally reaching the city I dreamed of throughout a Los Angeles childhood. I knew a wedding in the temple to the metropolis would be perfect for me and my London expat fiance. The other secret plot was that the Alexander McQueen fuchsia asymmetrical sheath I bought as a 30th birthday present to myself would make an eventual appearance at my then only-imagined future wedding date. We decided to have a small civil ceremony on a Friday afternoon and a larger but still intimate reception on Saturday evening, when more people would have the energy to join us and celebrate in earnest — both events planted in the midst of a banked upon Indian summer as San Francisco is wont to have.
The fountain of inspiration came when we agreed to use imagery from the Rider-Waite Tarot for our invitation. The cards symbolize to me aspects of a life-being-well-lived, whether happy potentials met or reminders of challenges still to be faced. The resulting collage depicts a giant sun beaming over a joyous gathering just outside a city by the sea. Together we painted the composite image onto a shoji screen from which I hung my dress during bridal preparation, as well as used as decor at our reception. We used a vintage 1940s red, yellow and blue paisley silk that I had been drooling over on Ebay for our reply card and I hand-stitched my groom a cravat from it.
Finally, another major inspiration point were the paintings of Todd Hunter, whose abstracts evoke nostalgically lit florals and dusky, stormy seas. Between all these elements, we had our colour scheme laid out – primaries, with matte black and white in the mix. I also tried to reflect the imagery sonically by compiling a reception playlist containing metaphorical references to the sun, sky, seas and cities, as they related to our love story and including dedications to friends.
In my early research I found a very helpful resource in the website for IQ Photography, as it described a bit of what to expect in a City Hall wedding. Besides falling in love with Joseph’s vivid, photojournalistic images and his brother Alex’s touching cinematography, I also felt an instant sense of trust in their expertise, that having them on our side would help us navigate the unknown that awaited us on the big days. On each occasion spent with them, I felt free to be myself, running around with glee, knowing that they would capture the gleam of those moments so magnificently that the memories would surge in my heart upon revisit. It was on Joseph’s suggestion that we hire an officiant rather than use City Hall’s services, which allowed us to have personalization with a selected reading as well as more control over our timing and chosen location within the building – the sunlit fourth floor balcony.
I intended to make my own wedding dress, but a chance stroll with friends past Hannelore’s in Alexandria, VA resulted in an impromptu session with Catherine, who kindly stepped up to help me in spite of no appointment. The first selections contained no 100% winners, but on the second pass, the dress I asked to try on turned out to be it – diamond white, nubby silk shantung with sculptural ruffles (and pockets!), appropriately non-fussy (aka short) for daytime in the city. Accessories started off brand new, sparkle and silver, but by the end, vintage red won out as it was much more me.
An aunt and uncle gifted me my two traditional dresses which were commissioned in Vietnam. The groom was just as involved in his own styling, morning coat in the British tradition for our ceremony and tuxedo for our evening event. I was psyched when my maid of honour proposed a delicious Rachel Comey dress for herself that fulfilled my only request for her – that she look and feel beautiful in it. The best man’s Paul Smith suit was so fabulous, I couldn’t stop admiring the brilliance of the chevron seamed pinstripes in his lapels throughout the reception. Paul Smith had guest appearances in many places, between the ribbon saved from my fiance’s first Christmas gift to me, which I used in the DIY florals, and the classic striped socks and “Love and Luck” cuff links I gifted to my groom.
I knew I wanted retro pin-up hair and makeup, so I delved in to Yelp to find someone who could manage that for me. I tracked down Georgia, who was in the process of opening her new salon. Pretty Pretty Collective turned out to be an insanely cool space, with visual surprises in every corner, a bonus on top of the fact that Georgia’s technical prowess combined with an artistic, organic approach were a perfect match for what I desired. No helmet hair or overdone mask-face here! Another lucky find was Gabrielle of Cake Coquette, who was able to translate the Todd Hunter inspiration into a lush, painterly buttercream confection, shot through with nonpareils for texture. She also made a cake which was the logo for Arsenal, my groom’s favourite football (soccer to the Americans!) team.
I spent the five months of engagement engulfed in total DIY madness, although most of it was crammed in the last two weeks as we shipped things across the country and headed over for final preparations. Although not all of my intended projects made it as the clock ran out, I was very happy with what did come together. Both days were filled with love in many forms, most of all the exceptional amounts of support we received from all quarters. In the end, we got everything we’d hoped for: celebrating our new life with the joining of family and friends in high spirits, lovely weather, hearty enjoyment at the table and on the dance floor.
This Vermont wedding is full of good ol’ New England charm with a bit of DIY yumminess tucked in! There are so many steal-worthy ideas from the handmade bird mobiles to a hula hooping reception! Dreamlove Photography totally nailed it with their crisp and colorful images. Wrap up in a blanket, grab a hot cider and check out the full gallery for more inspiration!
The reception, upon first glance looked rustic, but elegant. They used basic white tablecloths and simple flatware, but they filled almost every empty space with the most gorgeous and colorful flowers, laced with feathers and dried grasses. Ball jars filled with flowers even hung from the ceiling! They folded little wild flowers into the napkins on the plates, and used muted colored paper instead of table runners. They used plant hangers (the pole kind that you push into the ground) and hung jars of flowers at the ends of each aisle for their super quaint outdoor ceremony. Chayah also hand-made sparrow mobiles to hang from the ceiling of the reception. She used old scraps of fabric, and grapevine branches harvested from a local grower to mount the birds to!
Tiny christmas lights decorated the ceiling of their reception, and they were smart enough to bring in overhead heaters that were actually quite classy and kept everyone toasty. To save on funds, Chayah and Mike hand picked antique dinner plates from various thrift shops and antique stores in New England. Combined with using Ball jars for drinks, it really gave the tables a unique and old-farm feel. Chayah and Mike had Primate Fiasco, a “psychadelic dixieland” band play long into the night! Chayah even got up and sang her bluesy version of “Do the Hokey Pokey”, which threw the crowd into beautiful hysterics.
Chayah’s puppy, Athena, was the speedy ring-bearer, and quite the star of the show when ring time came around. When the time came, she dashed down the aisle, with the rings dangling from a ribbon around her neck.
The moment I laid eyes on this bride’s beautiful flower halo I fell head over heels in love. The whole wedding by Erica M Photography looks like a modern-day fairy tale. I half expected to see a fairy godmother waving a magic wand around! This creative couple had a super cool vision and managed to pull it perfectly from 3,000 miles away! We love twists on tradition over here like the Polaroid escort cards and flea market finds in lieu of table numbers. So cute! See more imaginative, DIY inspiration in the full gallery!
The planning of the wedding itself we had a year to do, but we were literally 3,000 miles away. So there was a lot of traveling involved, as well as a lot of help needed from our parents, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. But I didn’t mind flying back to Connecticut every couple of months, it was a great excuse to see everyone!
I knew that we had to have some special details mixed in with everything that would make this wedding stand out as our own. Neither my husband or I are number people, we are both artists and very visual. After a fun few hours of brainstorming on the phone with my Mom, we came up with the idea of seating people with objects rather than numbers. Better yet, green objects! It was the main color of our wedding, as well as my favorite color. Rich and I had a great time choosing many of the items from the Alameda Flea market here in California.
Another special detail added in were personalized necklaces for each bridesmaid, Mom, and flower girl. I co-own Gold & Citrus (a jewelry business) with my now husband, and so I knew that our jewelry had to play a big role in the wedding. I wrote out descriptions of each of my bridesmaids, my Mom, Rich’s Mom, and our flower girls, and then designed a necklace for each of them based on their personalities.
Although so much happened that day, and we were on a pretty tight schedule, I have many vivid memories. The most vivid being walking down the aisle. My Dad and I were standing on the stairs waiting for our cue to come out from hiding, and trying to come up with funny things to think about so we wouldn’t lose it in front of everyone. We tried thinking of the time my Dad had to do an imitation of Lucille Ball from I love Lucy (which was hilarious), but the current moment took over and we set down the isle both teary eyed, and holding back more tears. Seeing every person that has made a great impact in my life, and everyone that I love surrounding me all at once was overwhelming. I can’t think of any other moment where all my best friends and family were surrounding me. I had my Dad on my arm, and my best friend, and future husband waiting for me at the end of the aisle. It was one of those rare brief moments where you feel absolutely satisfied and complete.
The whole experience was amazing. (Aside from my husband accidentally biting my thumb while I fed him a cupcake. He still cringes when he sees the photos of me in pain.) But when all is said and done, it absolutely was one of the best days of my life, and I will keep reliving it through the photos taken by Erica M Photography!
We were all a bit dazzled by yesterday’s Navy Blue and Pink Bahamian affair that Kristin Vining sent our way…and we should all be prepared to be equally as enamored with this next little Kristin Vining number. It’s contemporary, it’s chic, it’s everything a modern bride could ever want…and so much more. Plus you know the bride had the same killer style because she chose the exact same fabulous pink heels! Planned and designed by Tiffany at Weddings and the City, we are loving this in a big way. Click here to see even more details!
Planning my wedding was a little hard for me. I had an idea of what I wanted, but I felt like no one else could get the same visual picture I was going for. So I hooked up with Tiffany Ratliff from Weddings and the City. I told her I wanted a sleek, modern, contemporary wedding and I gave her a million pictures of different styles that represented me and my dream wedding! When I walked in the room the day of my wedding I was speechless and would only stand there in AWE as she gave me what I wanted and so much more!
Next up on this day of loveliness is a Kentucky affair that brings together natural beauty, wide open fields, yummy cakes and a punch of orange and let me tell you…they’re like peas in a pretty pod on this family owned farm. Juan Maclean was there to photograph all the action and he did so to complete and total perfection. See more from this pretty wedding in the gallery.
All the details, weather, location, and people came together to make this one of the most perfect and unique weddings I’ve seen. The sky was blue, the air was crisp, the bride was stunning, and the atmosphere was full of joy. Ryan and Holly wanted a wedding that was simple, personal, and fun. They succeeded and even surpassed these expectations! The ceremony was held on the beautiful front lawn of the groom’s childhood home, and everything was personally planned to the detail by the bride. She worked for many hours to produce the decorations, centerpieces, and even a signing book station using a professionally produced engagement album from their recent session. The bride’s father used his skill in woodcarving to create the perfect announcement sign for the wedding, as well as many other additions to the decorations. It was a family event from beginning to end.
The reception took place in an emaculate and decorated barn on the groom’s land. The themes of personal and fun continued, in addition to using all local fare – from the barbecue to the local options of cakes. There was plenty of eating, talking, dancing, and celebration to last for hours. Though Holly put so much of herself into the ceremony and reception details, she was the part of the day that stood out the most. A happy and loving couple, and a group of celebrating friends and family, are the centerpieces of any beautiful wedding.
It’s Wednesday, so that obviously means we here at Style Me Pretty have a day full of gorgeousness coming your way! And I can’t think of a better way to kick off such a fine day than this piece of preppy perfection by Jessica Hill Photography. There is just something so right about an All American preppy wedding, particularly when said wedding involves a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choos, and handful of delicious details that just might make you jump for joy. For more of this gorgeous garden party be sure to check out the gallery.
From the talented photographer, Jessica Hill... Kaley and Brent got married at the Waverly Country Club in Portland, Oregon. They are such a classy, sweet couple. Their preppy, all-American wedding was the ultimate garden party – complete with lunch on the green! Waverly Country Club was a dream location, their expansive, lush grounds and gorgeous architecture made for some really memorable, beautiful portraits of the couple, including some in a golf cart! Kaley and Brent kept their attire simple – classic black and white for the groom, white for the bride, with grey bridesmaids dresses and beautiful pink accents in the flowers and table accents. In lieu of favors, the couple donated to the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute, in memory of the groom’s mother.
Their reception featured an awesome scotch bar, as well as fat cigars for the guys, and some serious dance moves. Brent even surprised Kaley with fireworks at the end! TALK about a sweet moment. The couple were whisked away to their honeymoon in a sleek vintage Bentley. Their wedding was such a blast to document!
This lovely afternoon ~ we’re heading over to Australia and the forever fabulous team of filmmakers at D’nM Wedding Films! As always, they’ve expertly captured the terrific spirit of the day and the great love surrounding today’s newlyweds.
From Dave at D’nM Wedding Films … While many video companies are choosing names that can be adapted for the ‘corporate’ side of their business, we actually changed our name to include ‘wedding films’. We love filming weddings and are very proud to be wedding filmmakers. Our approach is to find the stories within a wedding day that are unique to the couple and reflect who they are. We aim to find the perfect balance between beautiful visual artistry and comprehensive coverage of the event. We are based in Sydney, Australia – but available to film wherever you are !
Tammie and Adam’s wedding was unique for us as we shared the filming of the day with a television crew. Tammie and Adam had been cast in the Australian version of the television show “Four Weddings”, in which four brides attend each others’ weddings and compete for the prize of a 2nd honeymoon. They didn’t win the honeymoon, but I think Tammie and Adam’s wedding was definitely the nicest! Tammie describes the Australiana theme to the wedding below. It was important for us to capture the theme, but most important for us to capture who they are as a couple. Together, they are a perfect pair; both very easy-going people with a love for the fun things in life. The wedding day was very stress-free and it was great to work with a couple who were very happy to go with the flow and enjoy every moment. I think that we have reflected that in the film.
From Tammie … Adam proposed to me while we were on holiday in Fiji – and from that moment, it was time to start the planning! Our day was truly unique and paid homage to Australia, with Australian produce, native gum nut bouquets, kangaroos and a bush setting to die for. It brought together both our families who now seem like long lost friends. I wanted every aspect to reflect our personality. A lot was DIY I made things like our invites, decorations, menus, name cards and table numbers. And to quote one of our guests; “Can you feel the love in this room, I have never felt so much love.”
Hooray for color! This Napa wedding from Lisa Lefkowitz is just aglow with vibrant hues from the adorable bride’s rosy pink cheeks to the kaleidoscope of coral, peach and fuchsia flowers. Simple, elegant and oh-so pretty is the name of the game here, folks. Can you imagine a more idyllic setting for a wedding? Surrounded by the Mayacamas mountains and acres of lush vineyards, Joanna and Chris created an intimate celebration that not only honored their love for each other but their love for the important people that have touched their lives. Don’t miss the full gallery for even more sweet, sweet elegance!
Although we live in New York City and love it, I just couldn’t see us getting married here. We decided to have an intimate, destination wedding in the Napa Valley, which was close to my husband’s family and many of our friends. I had absolutely fallen in love with its natural beauty and wide-open spaces on our engagement trip.
We didn’t have a planner or a limitless budget, so we really had to figure out what was most important to us. I think that the key was finding amazing vendors who were able to accomplish wonders with our budget and capture the feeling we were going for. My ideal wedding was a simple, elegant dinner party with our family and friends — great food, great wine, great company (and an excuse to bring many people we love together in one place). At the same time, tradition is very important to Chris, so we also wanted to incorporate some traditional elements. Both our ceremony and reception were held at the Carneros Inn. The property and its surroundings (vineyards, mountains, open fields with horses) are already beyond gorgeous, so we were able to keep everything simple. Carneros also met all of our other requirements — it has a fantastic chef, a great wine list and wonderful staff, including an onsite wedding consultant, Brooke Baglietto, who made sure everything ran smoothly. Instead of a traditional rehearsal party, my wonderful in-laws hosted an open-invitation dinner for all of guests at one of the Homes at Carneros, which allowed us to spend more time with everyone.
I fell in love with letterpress invitations and we loved the simple elegance of hand calligraphy, which we then carried through from our invitations and envelopes to our menus, and escort and place cards (all created by the fabulous Debi Zeinert and Bella Figura). Rather than choosing a particular color, we went with a fall-inspired color palate of green, ivory, and shades of orange, apricot and pink/red and relied on the creativity of Jennifer French at Lush Floral to bring our vision to life. We incorporated the green of the cymbidium orchids into our envelope liners and linens. A few months before the wedding, the wedding photographer we had hired canceled on us. This turned out to be an incredible blessing, because a friend then recommended Lisa. Lisa captured our day so beautifully and was such a joy to spend time with. In truth, I hate being photographed and always end up looking uncomfortable, but Lisa made it easy. The only photographs of me that I have ever liked are Lisa’s.
Some of the more unusual aspects of our wedding were the most meaningful to us. It’s not exactly in keeping with tradition, but my husband and mother-in-law cast the deciding votes on my dress and cathedral-length mantilla. My fabulous sister-in-law, Kate, made our wedding rings for us and brought the most exquisite, diamond jewelry for my “something borrowed.” My 10-year-old daughter, Madeleine, participated in our ceremony (and later exhausted our friends on the dance floor). I loved seeing how happy and included she felt. Chris lost his first wife to breast cancer, and we wanted her family to know that they will always be a part of ours. I know it was very difficult for them, but we are so grateful that they came to celebrate with us. We also made a donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation in her memory in lieu of favors. While I am not sure it was what either of us would have planned on our own, I am happy to report that we wouldn’t have changed a thing. For the two of us, it was perfect. We can’t thank our family and friends enough for sharing it with us.
We know that photography is at the tippy top of most bride and grooms essentials list. After the big day has come and gone, it is the the pictures that you have to pore through time and again and we are here to remind you of an awesome opportunity to make sure your photographs are picture perfect. We have been working with the team at PurePhoto to bring you an all encompassing Photography Workshop set to go live November 17. Hosted by Ryan Phillips and Robert Evans, two of the absolute BEST photographers out there, this webinar will be filled with much needed info to insure your photographs go off without a hitch. Seriously, they are covering EVERYTHING from how to look your best in each and every image, to budgets and the importance of a photography timeline. They will even fill you in on the details of getting your wedding published. Fabulous, right? Click here to SIGN up.
So, here are the specifics. Ryan and Robert will be hosting this LIVE online workshop on Wednesday, November 17 with available slots at 7pm and 10pm EST. And the cost is only $29. That is small potatoes in comparison to the wealth of information you will receive to make your wedding day pictures rock. They are going to tackle a plethora of questions and concerns regarding wedding photography, including these key topics…
• How to look your best in all your shots!
• How to determine your wedding photography budget.
• Discuss typical packages and show you what you should be getting for your money.
• What photographers are really showing you in their portfolio and whether your photographer has the experience to shoot at the level you want.
• The importance of having a photography timeline and how to sync it with your wedding planner’s general timeline.
• The importance of seeing your photographer before the wedding.
• How to avoid the headache of wrangling family for pictures.
• Details are what get your wedding published! We’ll show you how to get the most out of your detail shots – and yes, it means planning time to shoot them.
Plus, they are going to hold a live Q & A after the lesson so you can jot down all of your need to know questions now and have them answered by some of the best photographers in the business. Click here to get signed up!
PurePhoto is a community for people who love great photography. You can learn, be inspired, connect with others, buy art prints and even sell you own. Check out PurePhoto for more info.
Robert has been shooting for more than 20 years and boasts a clientele of some of the most famous entertainers in Hollywood. He has photographed the weddings of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes as well Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Other clients include Jim Carrey, Christina Aguilera, Trent Reznor and Anastacia. His work has been featured in USA Today, People Magazine, US Weekly, Hello, OK, In Touch, InStyle, Grace Ormonde, and Martha Stewart Weddings. His work has also been featured on Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, Extra, MTV, CNN and more. Robert has photographed more than 800 weddings over the course of his illustrious career.
Ryan has been a Professional Photographer for 22 years and is recognized as one of the leading portrait and wedding photographers in the industry. He is continually on the cutting edge of image making in terms of both style and technology. Ryan’s work is often featured in publications nationwide and he has a long list of celebrity clients that include the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Monique Lhuillier and The William Morris Agency. His has been featured in leading publications such as Forbes, Fortune, Sunset, Via, Angelino, Ocean Drive and Travel + Leisure as well as top wedding publications such as InStyle, Modern Bride, and Los Angeles Weddings.
I told you. This wedding is pure bliss…and in the most steal-worthy way possible. Photographed by the ridiculously talented Kristin Vining and designed by the fab Lindsey Regan Thorne at Weddings and the City, it’s one of those weddings that you can stare at for literally hours and still be just as enamored as the moment you first laid eyes on it. And you know what? There is SO much we didn’t include in the spreads tucked neatly inside our gallery and over on the WATC blog. Click here to see even more gorgeousness.
From Dustee, the beautiful bride…Planning a destination wedding requires a great deal of organization and clear direction but first you have to know where you are going. My mind went into overdrive with all the wedding eye candy! Each time I logged on to Style Me Pretty or flipped through a wedding magazine, I found something new I couldn’t live without. For that reason, it is important to have someone (friends, fiancée, mom or your wedding planner…or for me all of the above) to keep you focused. At precisely that hair pulling moment, Kristin Vining entered our life.
We actually found Kristin on Style Me Pretty (thanks Abby!!) and instantly felt a connection to her work. Pictures are important and we wanted to bring our own photographer to the Bahamas for the big day. We met Kristin for the first time in New Orleans to do our engagement photo shoot and it was love in an instant. I shared my frustration and she offered me the perfect solution — Weddings And The City.
Through a few web chats and a few phone calls, Weddings And The City took all my ideas and tied them together in an inspiration book that gave me a step by step guide to the design and décor for our big day. We said we wanted it to be whimsical but timeless, playful but romantic and intimate yet a little over the top. I don’t know how they did it but all of the ahh-ma-zing details made our day so unforgettable and captured all of those feelings. Having a design book also made it much easier to communicate exactly what we wanted to our vendors thousands of miles away; it’s like having a play book for your big day.
Our guests were greeted with welcome boxes upon arrival chalked full of fun snacks and personalized momentos. This was a huge DIY effort and I must warn you, not necessarily an easy one if you are getting married outside of the US. However, my mom took on the challenge with gusto and the end result was so much fun.
Peacock feathers were woven into the various elements of our wedding. From the cake topper to my bouquet, we found ways to use them as a playful accent. I also found the fantastic peacock feather boutonnieres on Etsy. Though, I would have to say that of all the incredible décor, the escort table was my most favorite. It was the playful part of our evening and by far the most talked about. The guests loved the feather masks and the mismatched frames. Who knew that finding your seat could be so much fun?!? Another great Weddings And The City idea.
We wanted our guests to really experience the Bahamas and we tried to incorporate the unique elements of the island into our weekend. From conch fritters to steel drum bands and hand rolled cigars, it was an authentic Bahamian event. Our big surprise for the evening was a rush by a local Junkanoo band immediately after our first dance. The guests were so excited and it was one more taste of the Bahamas.
All of our vendors were fantastic. We had an amazing Bahamian wedding coordinator, Anne Marie Williams of Weddings In the Bahamas, who helped us navigate through the complexities of getting married outside of the US. She also identified all the right local vendors and coordinated all of our day of details. We worked with Natalie of Wildflowers who used lots of peonies and roses and gorgeous hydrangeas to create beautiful arrangements everywhere you looked. Our invitations and programs were also gorgeous thanks to Alyssa Reeves of Paradise Design Company.
On our wedding day my husband and I felt so many different emotions but above all else, we felt love. Love for each other, love for those who took the journey with us, and lots of la-la- love for all those little moments that played out under the most perfect backdrop imaginable.
We’re taking a little break from real weddings today so we can tempt you and get you motivated to start your wedding jewelry shopping! Plus, we wanted to share some of these stunning pics from a photo shoot that Noaki Schwartz sent us. Noaki is the delightful designer of all of the jewelry and other fashion accessories used in the shoot. Her gorgeous work can be seen on her website as well as on her Etsy Store.
From Noaki … The shoot took place at Petaluma’s Gypsy Acres, a charming estate in Sonoma County, California’s lush wine country. Our theme was vintage country and Spring birth . We used lots of fresh new-growth greens and lemon yellows along with touches of vintage robin’s egg blue and pale pinks. Here and there we incorporated bits of vintage recycled materials and re-purposed items to carry the overall romantic mood, such as vintage table cloths, mix-and-match china and chairs and — even a vintage bathtub!
Good morning SMP-ers! Today’s first wedding is quite possibly going to sky rocket to the most beloved SMP wedding of all time and we couldn’t be more excited to get things started. It’s a 2-parter so you might want to grab a cup of coffee and get nice and comfy for a morning of total Bahamian gorgeousness. So. We always love the work that Kristin Vining sends our way. Her photography generally leaves us totally inspired, totally in love, totally wedding crazy. But with this particular affair, held at the One & Only Club in the Bahamas, we have definitely hit the Kristin Vining motherload. Add to that a design that won’t quit by Weddings and the City, and well…beyond. Click here if you simply can’t wait to see part II!
I think the true testament of an incredible wedding is the feeling you get when you look back on the little moments throughout the day – the smiles that greeted you, the shared wishes, the joy of taking that first step down the aisle and that last second at the end of the night when you say goodbye to those you love and you realize that you wouldn’t change a thing. I still get butterflies remembering those moments and every time I think about it, I want to jump back in each memory. To me, it will always be perfect because it was truly a reflection of who we are.
Our first and easiest decision was our location — it is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with the gardens of the One & Only Ocean Club. Layer after layer, it feels like escaping into a whole new world. And once you reach the top of the gardens, the beautiful ruins of the Cloisters literally take your breath away. I had a chance to visit this enchanting place several times over the years and always tucked it away as my dream destination for a wedding. I shared this dream with my husband, Justin, and even though my parents weren’t thrilled about the idea of a destination wedding, my entire family fell for the charms of this incredible resort.
My dress was by Monique Lhuillier and I still get giddy thinking about it. Regardless of what kind of dress you wear, you want to feel incredible on your special day and I will never forget the moment of slipping on that dress, it felt timeless and classic. It is a moment I wish I could bottle. I wore Christian Louboutin shoes in midnight as my “something blue.” My something borrowed was a Judith Leiber clutch that belongs to my good friend Emmy Rossum and my something new was a pair of beautiful earrings from my new husband. I also carried my great grandmother’s handkerchief to represent something old. There were a few teary moments in the wedding and every time I looked down, I felt her there.
Our colors were midnight blue and fuchsia and we used gold as an accent color. Tied together it was the romance and whimsy that we aimed to capture. The bridesmaids wore midnight blue Lela Rose dresses in various styles and the groomsmen wore navy suits and ties by Brooks Brothers. I gave the bridesmaids their shoes as a gift (irresistible!) and the beautiful gold ball bracelets by J Crew. Henri Bendel is also one of my favorite retail escapes (second to Target!) and we had beach bags, luggage tags and travel accessories in HB.
Along with the rest of the world, one of my very favorite blogs is The Pioneer Woman. I heart Ree big time and am a little jealous of just how chic she makes Western look. Well, the moment I laid eyes on this next little wedding…I thought that this just might be the exact wedding that Ree would plan if she was doing it all over again. Photographed by the absolutely wonderful Carrie Patterson, it’s is the definition of effortless elegance with a twist of Western style. Click here to see even more.
We wanted our wedding to be incredible, but relaxed and fun. We chose not to have your “traditional” ceremony and instead, had our close friend married us and to our surprise actually got ordained so the ceremony was totally legal. Our wedding party was our dogs. Our goal was to show the things we loved, outdoors, nature, symbols of the things we like to do together. These included making the placemats for us and the center pieces for the tables out of pheasant feathers. Adding the little touch of aspen trees in the tent. Having our vendors use their own ideas and inspiration, instead of us mandating what should be done. We also knew we would have several children so we had bubbles and hula hoops.
We went with a bit of a western theme, which included cowboy boots for both of us and traditional old time western attire for the groom. As for my gown, I was not excited at first about finding a wedding dress. As a matter of fact I dreaded it. Every one had told me that I would have that ah ha moment when I found it. That I would hear angels sing and the like. It was not that way for me. My friend, Mary Ann Stein, took me by the hand and said “we are going.” The first few places we went to I felt as though I were the bride in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” When I asked for simple and no “bling,” I got everything but. Then Mary Ann took me to a wonderful boutique, The White Dress By the Shore. The boutique was helpful and I felt comfortable and as if I were among friends. My experience was wonderful there and after trying on several of them the right one, “My Dress,” appeared.
For flowers, we wanted fragrant, soft shades of crème and green with our pheasant feathers incorporated through out. My bouquet was wrapped in birch bark and the dragonfly pendant adorned on the front was the first gift Victor gave me. Our Wedding Cake was chocolate with crème frosting. It was very simple and moist. We wanted it to reflect our love of the mountains which was reflected in the base layer of a fondant mountain scape and our love of riding together which was illustrated by the cake topper which had “Two Trails Become One Road” on its base. We also used a stump that we branded with our initials for the wedding cake to sit on.
Our goal was to have a fun and relaxed atmosphere where everyone felt at ease. It worked.
Today’s beautiful bride, Lindsey, has two invaluable pieces of advice that you will read below. Number one~ spring for a stellar photographer and videographer. Their contribution to the day IS invaluable. And second ~ at the very least, hire a day of- or month of- coordinator. You will count your lucky stars that you did!
Lindsey and Cade, along with his daughter Annaliese, became a family in Houston last March. They will forever be grateful to the talents and expertise of the 31 Films team for capturing their moments of utter joy! Watch just a bit ~ their highlight film …
From the Bride, Lindsey… Everyone’s moment of “yes, this is the one… This is the person I am going to marry and spend my life with,” is well, varietal. Some know immediately, some know with time. Some don’t really know for sure until they are asked! What I knew for sure was that in the 9 months of dating Cade, he and the relationship in general were different. It was honest, loving, and felt grown-up. I, being only 5’ tall and continually mistaken for a 16-year-old at the age of 26, feeling grown-up sometimes seems silly. Thus when I met Cade, and began this adult relationship, I proceeded with caution. Perhaps I was waiting for things to fall apart or the games to start; but instead only love and respect grew. I feel a lot if it had to do with Cade’s 2-year-old daughter Annaliese. Children give you no other option but to be an adult really. My relationship with Cade began to run parallel with the relationship I was developing with Annie. I remember thinking that I loved Cade, very much, but I didn’t start to get nervous until it hit me that I loved Annie too. So when Cade asked me to be his wife I knew it was what I wanted more than anything and that it wasn’t necessarily about knowing that HE was the one, but that THEY were.
In preparation for the wedding day, the minister who married us asked that we write her a letter as to why we wanted to marry the other person with the intent that she would take an excerpt from each of our letters to share during the ceremony to make it special and more personal. I wanted to include a snippet that she included in our ceremony from my letter as to why I wanted to marry Cade.
“With Cade it is as if I have finally met someone that I can stand shoulder to shoulder with, though not literally, and look at the same things: goals, beliefs, life, similarly. My mother says Cade is the calm in the hurricane that can be me. Cade is an honorable, hard working, wonderful man. I always felt as though my father set the standard for me as to what a good man was, and Cade was the first to meet that standard. Cade is one of the kindest human beings I know, he loves his daughter and you can see it when he looks at her. I came around when Annie was 2 yrs old, and feel lucky to have come in to her life at the point where she would start to collect memories, and that I would be a part of some of her earliest ones. I knew I was in trouble not when I fell for Cade, but when I fell for Annie. I love them both so much. In short, I can see Cade and I grow old together. I see us laughing together, supporting each other, making plans together, gaining and losing together, and experiencing the span of human emotions, the good and bad; but together always… arm in arm and hand in hand.”
So it was that Cade and I were married March 20, 2010 on an unseasonably chilly day in Houston, TX. It was to date the best day of my life. To be surrounded by close family and friends as you commit yourself and your life to another that you love above all else, and they you, is an honor to experience and cherish. That said, I am indebted to 31films (cinematographers) and Clint Shuttlesworth (photographer), for because of them Cade and I may experience our wedding day again and again at our leisure.
OTHER DETAILS
Now for some other fun stuff!!! I wanted to go through some of my favorite moments from the highlight film and why… 1) The guys getting ready – I love this because, aside from having not been there, it is so much fun to see the boys get dressed! The little things like seeing that one of the groomsmen (Michael) was wearing stripped socks, or seeing the Best Man (Mike who flew in from China) with Cade, and how another groomsman (Whitney) brought wine… likely leading to my dear husband forgetting the rings and making a mad dash before the wedding. Ha! Boys…
2) Little flower girl, Annaliese – My flower girl was my now 5-year-old step-daughter Annaliese. She had so much fun getting ready with the girls, and was so excited the whole day that she could barely stop hopping, skipping, and running in circles. I was so proud of her!!! She did beautifully!!! I really love the shot after we recessed from the ceremony and you see her join Cade and I as we walk out… that’s my family, and I love them so.
3) The Wedding Chapel – Cade and I decided to see each other before the ceremony. After such a long engagement (18 months) “we made it.” I remember being so nervous and concerned that everyone was okay, and had everything they needed; but once I saw Cade I didn’t see anything else. Also, my parents renewed their wedding vows in that chapel 5 years ago, which was performed by the same Minister that married Cade and me. Love that!
4) The Cake!!!! – Cade is a chef and he made our cake. Yes, I know, seemed like a stress death-wish, but he did it and it was delicious!!! After having my first bite I couldn’t help squealing, “it’s SO good!!!”
5) Bride & Groom – I adore the shots of Cade and me together. Dancing, laughing, being silly squashing ourselves against windows… and getting in trouble for it. It so perfectly sums us up as a couple. We are silly and sentimental, love to dance, love Annaliese, love each other, and are best friends. I love how you are able to see that about us in the video.
A LITTLE ADVICE -Shell out for a stellar photographer and videographer. What they produce lasts a lifetime. -Add personal touches to your wedding!!! I work with the youth choir at the church and had them sing for the ceremony. It meant so much to us and to them. -If your budget allows, have wedding favors that relate to you as a couple. Cade is a chef, so we decided to have little peat pots with savory herb seeds in them for people to grow at home. -Don’t be afraid to be demanding about certain things. I knew exactly what I wanted and expected of the DJ i.e.: under no circumstances will the chicken dance be played!!! -A day-of or week-of coordinator is a must for your sanity. I didn’t do this, but really really really wish I had. -Have fun, and remember that the day is about you and the one you love above all else.
This Rhode Island wedding by Steve DePino is just so put together and so full of class and sophistication that it is hard to believe it was all designed and planned by the equally as gorgeous couple. I was half convinced that I was looking at a J Crew spread instead of a real wedding! A clean and classic theme with chic black and white decor does not have to equal a completely formal or stuffy affair. Guests enjoyed comfort food like grilled cheese and fried chicken with beer while dancing the night away to Katy Perry and 80’s pop tunes. SO fun. Click here to see even more from this grand fete!
John and I met at Providence College as freshmen in the winter of 2003; he from New Jersey, I from Massachusetts. After getting over our Boston-New York sports rivalry (luckily he’s a Mets fan), we became inseparable and fell in love. We graduated, lived states apart, and couldn’t stand to be without each other, so in 2008 I moved to New York so we could be together. We got engaged in March of 2009 and our wedding location was a no-brainer. Working in NYC is great and we love our hectic city life, but we sometimes find ourselves wanting to climb to the top of the Chrysler building just for a view of the ocean. Rather than risking our safety, we escape to Watch Hill, RI every chance we get for a much-needed dose of family, friends, and serene coastal living and that’s exactly where we would tie the knot.
It was important to us to be married in a church, so our ceremony was held at the Watch Hill Chapel: a quaint, white chapel built in the 1870s on a bluff overlooking the sea and now the reincarnated Ocean House (a “rebirth of the last iconic New England seaside resort”…their words, not ours!) where we had our rehearsal dinner. We wanted the focus of the reception to stay on why everyone was there in the first place: our marriage! So we kept the chapel décor minimal with white flower arrangements on the first pews to designate family seats and two large cylindrical vases of white flowers on the altar.
We had a vision for our reception from the start that ultimately began with our classic black, white and gold save the dates and invitations that the unbelievably talented crew at Cheree Berry Paper created for us with calligraphy from Love Jenna. Cheree, Kristen and their team are paper geniuses, and made my stationery dreams come true by working black and white stripes and a monogram that Jenna created into everything down to our menu. I stuck to the same classic but neutral theme when it came to my bridesmaids. I didn’t want them to wear the same dresses, because really, when do you ever wear the same dress to an event as someone else? Luckily they agreed and together, we chose dress options in the same color family from J.Crew, Lela Rose, and Thread.
I wanted our tent to feel welcoming, but chic and sophisticated at the same time, so we chose a mix of white fabrics, string lighting and candles to complement and create warmth with our beige, natural weave tablecloths. We chose Tuscan and square tables as opposed to round for a cleaner look and incorporated Jenna’s calligraphy into the place setting with our menus and place cards. My vision of our flowers changed halfway through our wedding planning and luckily, I was in the best hands possible. Yumiko from Hana Floral design understood every single vision I had, suggested incredible (and better) options I didn’t know existed, and made us the most gorgeous white centerpieces and lavender bouquet I’ve ever seen.
Our dinner menu was comforting as well: beer and cheddar soup, gourmet burgers on brioche buns, buttermilk fried chicken, butternut squash and wild mushroom strudel, family-style sides, and homemade ice cream sandwiches for dessert. We had a small, red-velvet cake to cut with a custom topper made by Garden4Arts on Etsy and each guest received a bite-sized cupcake from one of our favorite NYC spots, Baked by Melissa.
The rest of the night consisted of a packed and crazy dance floor, thanks to an appearance by our college mascot and Boston-based band Magnus, who rocked out to the Killers, Journey, Katy Perry, and our favorite 80’s tunes. Dancing the night away with 150 of our closest family and friends nearly eight years after we met was a moment in time that we’ll never forget. It was the best day of our lives and we feel so lucky to share it with all of you!
Ok, this wedding had me the minute I read that the bride’s mother made her wedding dress. Yes…Made. Her. Wedding. Dress. And it’s not hard to see why I was immediately in awe. But the DIY doesn’t stop there, no sir. The bride created the bouquet, boutonniere, bridesmaids bouquets, handmade paper flowers and paper birds for the table arrangements, and floral around the cake. She is my hero today, as is Duston of Duston Todd Photography for capturing their day in such a gorgeous way. For more awe-inspiring images, be sure to check out the gallery.
Rings – I knew I was going to have a hard time finding a ring that I would want to wear the rest of my life! We started going to the local antique stores and tried on some AMAZING rings, one was a 5 kt Russian royalty ring from the 1890’s- a little out of our price range though haha. I was on my computer one day and looking online at some antique stores on the east coast- and found my ring! It was dated around 1920 and I instantly fell in love with the geometric design and the qualities that only hand-made jewelry has. We called the store and had it sent out. I had three days to decide whether I wanted to keep it or not….after staring at it for a few hours I knew it was the ring I had been searching for! Antique shopping for rings is just amazing- every one is so different and completely unique.
Groom’s suit – This was something I left almost completely up to my fiance Rock. We had decided on a color (tan suits were a lot harder to hunt down then I thought they would be!) and Rock finally found one that matched his new Urban Outfitter shoes…he was stoked on his new shoes.
Bridesmaid dresses – I am not a fan of the weddings that have one or two colors and everything has to stick to those colors, I wanted to bring a little more into the mix. So finding the bridesmaids dresses ended up being one of the easiest parts of the preparations! I was just strolling through Nordstroms and came across this lovely color purple. I thought it would match the victorian/natural look I was hoping to achieve- and they were an easy fit for all my bridesmaids.
Jewelry – “Something Old” Days leading up to my bridals with Duston Todd, the dress was still not finished and the last thing I was thinking about was what jewelry I was going to wear. I had initially wanted a cameo somewhere on the dress, but hadn’t got around to finding one. My cute Grandma had heard in passing that I still needed jewelry, and came over with a few tattered jewelry boxes for me to look through. Many of the pieces had been passed down from her mother and were from the early 1900’s. There was a beautiful coral Cameo in the box and I knew it was the perfect size and color- it was a perfect finishing touch to my dress. Rock also had a little piece of the past with him that day- he was wearing his Grandpas tie pin! It all tied in with the classic, antique feeling of the whole day.
Dress – “Something New” If only I could show everyone the drawing that was my “design” for my wedding dress…its pretty special. My husband may be a sketch artist but I am certainly not. My mom had agreed to sew the dress for me, but we had very different ideas of how to go about things. She is used to patterns, measuring, planning, etc…and all she had to go off of was a terrible drawing that I had made of my vision. She was a great sport though- even through the late nights of yelling and scribbling pens across the sketch of my dress, we somehow made it through. “Something Borrowed” Some of the lace on the dress (the neck, sleeves, and mid section) was found from an old victorian dress. I was lucky enough to come across it and bought it before I even knew my mom was going to make the dress or not! I just couldn’t pass it up- it’s one of my favorite parts of the whole dress! My mom would kill me if she knew I was telling people this, but on the day of shooting my bridals we were still not completely done with the dress! We woke up early that morning and finished the sleeves (I even styled my hair on the side of the dress that was less likely to be done in time haha). We got it mostly all put together, but the hem was still in pins and there were more then a few pins on the bodice. O well! You couldn’t tell in the photos at all : ) “Something Blue” Sticking with the fact that nothing really matched, I decided on a pair of lovely blue shoes. I fell in love with the steel blue color and the fact that they weren’t 4″ stilettos!
Venue specifics – Millcreek Canyon is a place that I have grown up around, only being about 5 minutes away from my house. During the summers I bike and climb up that canyon- and I just love mountains. It was the perfect venue for an outdoor reception. We didn’t have to decorate too much which was nice. I had experimented with paper birds and flowers before and wanted to try and make something for the wedding with them. It ended up being our main decoration! About a week before the wedding we had a good ol’ fashion arts and crafts night with some of my family members, I showed them how to make the different things and they all caught on pretty quick. I put all the centerpieces together a few days before the wedding and didn’t have to worry about it again! I had experience with doing wedding flowers from all my sisters weddings, so the thought of doing my own didn’t seem like that big of a deal. I had my amazing sisters to help me pick up the flowers and we had a fun time just sitting around and putting everything together. I chose flowers that looked like I could have picked them on a nature walk or something- it just felt more me then roses and other more manicured flowers.
The day was absolutely perfect- crazy, but perfect. I unfortunately wasn’t one of those nervous brides that wakes up an hour before their alarm goes off…I actually slept through my alarm! So I didn’t have as much time to get ready as I would have hoped, but in the grand scheme of things it didn’t really matter. We had the most amazing time listening to all the toasts being presented, and I had been waiting to hear this song that I knew Rock had written for me- it was awesome. We danced the night away and had so much fun, we couldn’t have asked for nicer weather up the canyon. We changed into our send off clothes and hurried down a line of friends and family throwing lavender (which took me a long time to get it all out of my hair!). Rock was nervous that we were going to crash the bike going down the canyon- but I think I was on such an adrenaline rush I barely remember thinking twice about something like that! I was just happy that everything went so well and that we were finally married. I am so glad that I had Duston there to document it all, thanks again Duston!
Photography: Duston Todd Photography / Venue: Millcreek Inn / Floral: all flowers, bouquet(s), boutonniere, table arrangements (paper flowers and paper birds), were made by the bride/ Dress: made by the mother of the bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom
