Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

A Timeless Tented Wedding at The Ojai Valley Inn

Beside from the most beautifully organic climbing floral arbor by TOAST Santa Barbara and a knock-out Hayley Paige gown, what stuck out to us the most about today’s wedding were the contagious smiles and sheer happiness we saw in this gorgeous bride. Michelle Beller Photography perfectly captured every emotion of the day, you just can’t help but feel butterflies as you scroll though these stunning pictures. Bello & Blue Events planned every flawless detail, bringing the bride and groom’s aesthetic goals to life! See all the pretty below…

After attending a memorable destination wedding designed by Lindsey of Bello & Blue Events, Claire & Adam knew they wanted to collaborate with the Bello & Blue team for their September wedding at the iconic Ojai Valley Inn to create a memorable destination experience for their guests. On a perfect, sunny, California day, beneath a 200 year old oak trees adorned in blooms, Claire & Adam said I do surrounded by their nearest and dearest, even their sweet puppies (wearing floral collars) were a part of the nuptials! Inspired by Claire’s favorite flower, a Peach Juliet Rose, together with Bello & Blue, they designed a weekend of events for 120 of their closest family and friends.

The details were abundant, and all classic, timeless, beautiful, and chosen very intentionally. With such a stunning property and backdrop, Claire & Adam wanted to highlight the destination so they had a watercolor painting made of the setting and included that as an envelope liner for their letterpress invitation suite. They also opted for acrylic signage to allow guests to take in the floral, and natural elements of the majestic setting, they didn’t want anything to take away from what was already in place, only enhance it. Additionally, with the Spanish style decor and gorgeous tile detail featured all over the Ojai Valley Inn property, the place cards were the perfect pairing, marble tiles with guests’ names calligraphed as a keepsake. Finally, the florals, designed by Toast Santa Barbara, were the perfect combination of creamy whites, with lots of lush greenery accented with pops of peach to add the romance of the day. All of this was tied up with a perfectly coordinated silk bow in the ideal shade of peach – this ribbon bound the invitations, wrapped the welcome boxes, and also the napkins so there was consistency throughout. The end result was the most magical Ojai wedding weekend that was as much fun as it was beautiful!

Favorite part of the wedding day for each of you?

From Claire & Adam… It’s hard to pick just one favorite part looking back on the wedding day- everything was so perfect! Besides saying I do (of course), one of the best moments would have to have been the first look. We came down fully expecting it to be an emotional moment, but it was so much more dramatic and meaningful than we could have ever imagined. The setting chosen by our photographers was an arbor surrounded by massively tall eucalyptus trees and there was a slight breeze blowing – it was perfect. Another moment that felt so special was right after the ceremony when we snuck away into the Artisan Cottage to have a couple moments together before going to our cocktail hour. We loved being able to reset as HUSBAND & WIFE(!) before going to entertain and celebrate with guests. Finally, something that still makes us smile today would have to be the climax of our reception, having everyone on the dance floor screaming and dancing to the song “Shout”, with band members on the dance floor included! We’ve never been so happy!

Favorite part of the planning process?

One of our favorite parts of the planning process was when we saw the first design moodboard of what everything was going to look like – we couldn’t believe how spot on Lindsey was with the aesthetic we were going for! We just felt like she understood us, our vision, and the story we wanted to share with our guests. On top of that, our weekend planning meetings in Ojai were such a blast! We made so many mini vacations out of it and had the best time tasting the food, the wine, the cake(!) and curating the vision and guest experience for our dream weekend.

Favorite wedding detail/moment?

One of our most favorite details was the watercolor image we had painted of the Ojai Valley Inn. We utilized this as an envelope liner for our invitation suite, and it was such a beautiful detail. Seeing it all come together was overwhelming and so exciting. Oddly enough, it didn’t really set in until the first time we saw our wedding cake! I am still not completely sure why, but I burst into tears as soon as I saw it. It just reminded me that this was all happening, we were married and this party we so carefully planned was unfolding in the best, most beautiful way!

What advice would you offer to couples planning their wedding?

Our favorite part of our entire wedding was that we planned it together. We wanted Adam to do it as a team and determine all of the details, everything, (besides my dress of course!) together. It made the day, when it finally came, that much more special. We highly recommend working together! You will be working together and communicating for the rest of your lives, planning a wedding is a great place to start and work out the kinks.

Also, trust that everything will come together. There are so many pieces to consider and so many moving parts when planning a destination wedding. We assembled a vendor dream team, and felt confident about everything, but panic set in about 2 weeks before the wedding day. We struggled to understand how it was all going to work, how could all these little details come to fruition? It just seemed like such an insurmountable task to make everything come together but it did, seamlessly! Trust that your planner and the vendors you have carefully selected are going to take care of you! It all came together perfectly, and our awesome team made our wedding dreams come true!

Intimate 26 Person Destination Wedding in La Jolla at La Valencia Hotel

Back in my early wedding planning days, La Jolla was on the dream list for wedding locations—and for good reason. Cavin Elizabeth‘s captures of today’s intimate 26 person celebration at La Valencia Hotel are exactly why, and maybe all the proof you need if you’ve contemplated La Jolla, too. Always Flawless Productions added their pretty touch for a truly personalized day for Megan and Nick—see it all here.

From Cavin Elizabeth Photography… Megan and Nick, who currently live in Texas, have a shared history in San Diego. In fact, they got engaged right on the cliffs of La Jolla, so it was only fitting they and 24 of their closest friends and family fly back to San Diego to host their wedding at La Valencia.

Megan adds, “Once we decided on San Diego, we knew we had to have our wedding in La Jolla because it has such a special place in our hearts. Although we met in college in Texas, we both moved to California for the summer shortly after our first date. Our second date was on the cliffs in La Jolla, which is where Nick proposed six years later.”

Stunningly pink, La Valencia has a beautiful water view with the most chic landscaping. Letting the pink of the property hold its own, Megan chose a palette of grey and various blues for her stationery, flowers, and reception details. The invitations were printed on soft cotton paper with hand torn edges. Navy blue calligraphy accented the papers of the suite as a nod to the predominant color of the ocean.

For the ceremony, wild and organic arrangements with blue, ivory, and green flowers formed an asymmetrical backdrop on La Valencia’s intimate El Jardin space. Chic bistro chairs provided seating for their 24 guests and were introduced by two beautiful floral arrangements on both sides of the aisle.

Guests were led up to a private patio for the reception where one long table fit perfectly in this intimate space. Pink walls and the black and white stripe curtains framed the romantic and dreamy setting. Lush ivory, blue, and pink flowers fully filled the long table alongside blue and crystal glassware. The dinnerware from Hostess Haven included a dinner and salad plate in a soft grey tone paired with a matching grey napkin. An ivory hand torn menu with navy calligraphy was wrapped in twine with a sprig of rosemary for each guest. To complete the romantic and dreamy atmosphere, navy taper candles set the tone for the laid back evening.

Classic Fall Wedding at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards in Virginia

If a classic Southern wedding is on your agenda, you’ll want to cozy up to today’s soiree at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards. Complete with planning by Donovan-Groves Events, blooms by Nature Composed (how good?!) and a “burying the bourbon” tradition, every details is Southern to a T. See it all unfold in the gorgeous gallery captured by Elisa Bricker!

From Elisa Bricker… This beautiful wedding was one of my favorite fall weddings to date. Carly and David were clearly over-the-moon to be celebrating with their friends and family (and their sweet pup Dixon made an appearance too!)

Some of my favorite details from their day were the textured boutonnieres by Jenn of Nature composed (the men never get enough flowers on the wedding day do they?) and the vintage post cards of Charlottesville that they couple collected and used as a guest book.

This couple didn’t forget the southern tradition of burying the bourbon! Burying bourbon is a southern tradition that is supposed to ward off rain the day of the wedding. The tradition is that the bride and groom-to-be must visit their venue exactly a month before the wedding date and bury a bottle of bourbon upside down. Carly and David had beautiful weather on their wedding day, and had a bourbon and cigar bar (where their bottle was displayed) to celebrate!

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Colorful Nevada Wedding at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch

When it comes to crafting your wedding style, babes, the possibilities are endless. Take today’s fete for instance; with the help of Amorology, this couple achieved their perfect wedding profile — desert racetrack chic. Layers of Lovely graced the day with their stunning florals, while Ana Lui documented every moment for the most beautiful memories in image form. Now tell us, what’s your dream wedding style?

How did you meet?

We met in 2007 at Hooters in Costa Mesa, California. Three years later I finally agreed to go on a date with Jeffrey. The rest is history.

How and when did you get engaged?

An intimate moment approximately one year later at our new home in Newport Coast. We went to look at the progress of the renovations one evening, and Jeffrey popped the question.

What made you choose your wedding location?

Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is our home away from home since one of Jeffrey’s main passions is racing. Spring Mountain is a private motorsports ranch located 45 minutes outside Las Vegas and boasts one of the country’s largest race tracks. It’s set against the backdrop of the beautiful desert and mountains that surround the track.

What do you do for a living?

Jeffrey is in private equity and I’m a stay at home mother to our beautiful daughter Liana.

Why did you choose Ana Lui to capture your photos?

Ana Lui came highly recommended by Amorology. After looking at her social media and website, we were sure that she would be able to capture our special day perfectly. Once we met her, we knew she was the perfect fit. We felt so comfortable with her, and she worked well with our eclectic family dynamic. The end result was more than we could’ve hoped for.

What was the best part of your wedding?

The best part about our wedding was that it FINALLY happened! We absolutely loved that we got to share our home away from home with our close friends and family. Amorology exceeded our expectations and transformed a huge garage into a stunning space for our reception. We loved how intimate it was, and just being able to enjoy everyone’s company.

Is there anything you would change?

We wouldn’t change a thing? We wish we could relive that weekend over and over again.

Did you have any entertainment on the day?

We made a weekend out of it! Our guests enjoyed laps on the race track in corvettes, helicopter rides behind the track, dirt bike and ATV rides and shooting targets in the desert.

Describe the style of your wedding decoration in 3 words:

Desert racetrack chic

Where did you honeymoon?

Since we have a five year old, we wanted to include her. We took most of our family and went to Walt Disney world!

When do you plan to return to your wedding location?

We’ve already been back! Since we have a home there, we visit often.

From Amorology… For Jessica and Jeffrey, things got off to a quick start finding love! Their relationship continued for years and after having a darling daughter together, they decided it was time to make it official and gather their friends to celebrate their love and become Mr. and Mrs. Inspired by there joint love of racing and their his and her’s race cars, we couldn’t help but create a Petal to the Medal concept for their big day together! Mixing modern elements with classic romance and touches of glam, we took too Nevada as their destination wedding spot at the Spring Mountain Motor Resort! At their home away from home, where they are often found playing, the Resort offered the perfect opportunity for their guests to enjoy a day of fun where they could take a helicopter ride, play in the lake, or race around in the desert prior to their nuptials!

With the sun setting down on their ceremony, Jessica and Jeffrey were married on the dock of the lake underneath a custom block base arch by Backup Backdrops adorned with greenery, roses, and pampas to create a modern and romantic feel. Following the ceremony, guests sipped on a Winner’s Cup (Moscow Mule) and a Race Car Róse and gathered in pretty lounges near the water. After cocktail hour, guests were invited to find their names and table numbers on mini calligraphed racing flags paired with a fun roadmap backdrop that read “You Make my Heart Race.” Excited about the challenge of transforming the race car garage into the reception space, we began by softening the walls with draping fabric and hand dyed banners hung from the ceiling to add intimacy and color! We tied in the ceremony block base arch by creating a similar structure to frame the head table and had Layers of Lovely adorn it with lush florals. Velvet linens and chairs continued to soften the space, while black and white racing striped napkins added a fun element to the tabletop! Dusty rose, burgundy, blush and earth tones of caramel, rust, and bone created soft romance throughout the day. Guests then shifted gears following a delicious dinner enjoying cake and then had fun visiting a late night cookie truck! From there, guests danced the night away and ended the evening with sparklers and watched the couple race off in their race car!

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Amorology

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Petit Bouquet

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Wedding Dresses

Casablanca Bridal

Rose Collection - Volume XXXI

Magnolia Fall 2015

Beloved By Casablanca Bridal- Vows in Valencia

A Hillside Fairytale

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Katie May

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La Vie en Rose

Katie May

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Elegant and Modern Wedding at a Private Napa Estate

When it comes to Napa Valley weddings, this one doesn’t fit the typical mold, and we have A Savvy Event to thank! An affair filled with a champagne bar, velvet napkins, and jumpsuits instead of dresses, this day is truly one for the books and The Edges Wedding Photography captured it all! The chic and modern estate served as the perfect venue with rolling vineyards in the background and lush green and white florals by Nancy Liu Chin Designs. With her girl gang by her side (decked in their leather jackets,) this bride sipped champagne and danced the night away with her Mr!

From the Photographer…Lauren & Steven’s destination wedding in Napa Valley was an elegant celebration with lots of modern, edgy twists added to the typical wine country wedding. The venue is a chic, minimalistic and modern estate surrounded by vineyards, but you could easily see it being in the middle of LA or Miami.

The private estate served as the perfect backdrop for all the elements Lauren & Steven wanted to incorporate. Lauren bought all her bridesmaids leather jackets as gifts. They looked great paired with grey jumpsuits instead of dresses so they could be more comfortable during the day and dance all night!

Lauren also had a beautiful custom leather jacket made with her new last name printed across the back. Such a great contrast to her elegant, lace wedding dress from Anna Maier. The invitations were actually designed from the pattern of the lace on her dress by Ceci New York.

For the reception, they incorporated many clear elements in the chairs, table numbers, and signage to match the all-glass structure of the venue. It was beautifully layered with velvet napkins from La Tavola Fine Linen Rental and lots of neutral flowers and garlands draped over the long tables.

Some of the guest’s favorites included a champagne bar at cocktail hour (with a catchy song lyric as a creative addition) and a whiskey bar and hand cigar roller during dancing.

Minimalist Meets Mid-Century Modern Wedding Inspiration at the Penthouse Riverside Wharf

Everyone’s favorite trend nowadays isn’t just good for your home décor, it’s also perfect for your wedding design! This stunning style shoot from Taralynn Lawton Photography shows you exactly how to bring that chic mid-century modern look to your Big Day. With the help of Roxanne Bellamy and Simple Florals, this gorgeous shoot is filled with inspiration – from contemporary minimalism in the bride’s gown to subtle and organic texture in the floral arrangements. We have a feeling these pics are about to take over Pinterest wedding boards everywhere..

From Taralynn Lawton… When Roxanne of Roxanne Bellamy Events and myself started planning a shoot together, we knew we wanted to create a bridal and wedding inspiration that was effortless and understated, yet bold and fashion forward at the same time. So we thought what better way to express both the bold and the understated than by channeling the Mid-Century Modern style? Combining design elements from the period for the tablescape with contemporary minimalism in the fashion, we created a light and airy wedding inspiration filled with sleek lines, gentle curves, mixed metals, subtle textures, and organic blooms by Simple Florals.

One of the star pieces in Roxanne’s design were the curved lucite chairs sourced from Bubble Miami. Their transparent nature kept the design light and refined while their unique shape added a pop of excitement to the tablescape! With the form of the chairs in mind, we knew we wanted to juxtapose their playful curviness with more angular lines throughout the inspiration while keeping with the airy see-through motif. Crystal of Made Divine brought this to life with her hand crafted stationery suite, featuring a perfectly clear acrylic invitation with modern white lettering.

Crystal also brilliantly tied in the marble design of the place settings in the envelope liners and the velvet texture of the table linens in the gold stamped “His & Hers” vow books. And of course there’s the bridal fashion!! What fun we had here. I knew from the start I wanted something sleek and minimal with an architectural flare, and the girls at Chic Parisian did not disappoint when they pulled this stunning Romona Keveza gown! Continuing our theme of mixing curves and angles, we sourced two different ring inspirations, a minimal oval solitaire in rose gold from Susie Saltzman and platinum princess cut with a more ornate setting and diamond halo from Dadlani Jewels. We styled them with fun geometric jewelry in mixed metals, including statement piece earrings by Jenny Bird. With our focus being on fashion and form, we wanted to keep the setting simple yet chic. The Penthouse at Riverside Wharf in downtown Miami was the perfect space to highlight our styling with it’s floor to ceiling windows, white walls and concrete flooring, providing a contemporary and elegant atmosphere that allowed our design element to really shine.

Blue Greek-Inspired Wedding of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

Meet Rachel and Corey, loveliest duo ever. Not only is their wedding day ridiculously gorgeous, layered with all sorts of something blues… but their meet cute is so darling, mostly because it took them so long to actually officially meet! Anticipation is so alluring, isn’t it? But when they did, they were inseparable. Read their story for yourself below and soak in their soiree planned by HauteFêtes, bloomed by Carla Kayes and captured by Kristina Adams.

As told by HauteFêtes, Fine Weddings & Events… Rachel and Corey are truly every planner’s dream couple. They are kind, considerate, easy going and care deeply about each other, as well as those around them. Their romance began in law school when their eyes met across a crowded lecture hall, like in the movies, except they didn’t share a knowing smile and race into each other’s arms. Instead, Rachel sat down next to Corey’s best friend and proceeded to take notes for the duration of their lecture. Six months later, Rachel was still taking notes and Corey had yet to introduce himself. But, then fate intervened in the way of a small writing class. With two spots left, Rachel raised her hand to register and immediately, Corey saw his opportunity and did so, too. From that moment on they were inseparable and finally, in March 2017 while on a hiking trip to Waimea Canyon on Kauai, Corey popped the question and Rachel agreed to marry him.

As we got to planning their wedding, they knew the venue had to be somewhere that would feel inviting and intimate, but could also inspire an organic and natural theme throughout design details, from their invitations to their favors. Because of their love of the great outdoors, the couple chose to make it official with a garden-inspired ceremony at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. They fell in love with the charm of the historic venue with its sprawling gardens, tree-lined lawns and quiet spaces. Inspired by the beauty of the California landscape, for their color palette, we kept things neutral with shades of green, ivory, the palest blue and a touch of taupe. They wanted their wedding spaces to feel connected and their design to feel timeless and, despite having nearly 200 guests, we achieved that with lush greenery, romantic floral, billowing chiffon, lounge vignettes and lots of twinkling lights from crystal chandeliers, market lights and candles. Since the couple is also big on good food and spending time with friends, we also made sure that their celebration was centered around bringing their closest family and friends together for a weekend of great eats, starting with woodfired pizza and wine at a local winery and ending with brunch on the Inn’s patio.

Despite their passion for the outdoors, Rachel and Corey have a timeless and classic style. For the wedding, Corey a custom Giovanni Bresciani navy blue tux and Jared Lang shoes while Rachel wore a stunning Martina Liana lace dress which we paired with an organic bouquet of tea and garden roses, peonies, ranunculus and delicate lacy hydrangea that looked as if they’d been gathered from the garden. For her ‘maids, Rachel selected Jenny Yoo dresses in a pretty pale blue hue.

Since the couple are both lawyers, their wedding ceremony was conducted like a trial presenting the case to be wed, California rulings on marriage, and ultimately culminating in their guests being asked to rule ‘ye’ or ‘nay’ in favor of the marriage to which everyone unanimously yelled ‘ye!’ After, guests made their way to the upper lawn for an al fresco cocktail hour and delicious tray passed hor d’oeuvres, with a masculine leather sofa that balanced out all the pretty tables for guest lounging. They later found their hand calligraphed seat assignments on a vintage apothecary table that we layered with hops and vines. Finally, guests made their way to a gorgeous reception with cabanas and open air dining, where long tables were topped with soft dusty blue linens, scalloped china, and white hemstitched napkins each with a calligraphed place name tied onto a sprig of olive with white silk ribbon. Vintage silver flatware and marbled candleholders added a vintage touch to the elegant but organic setting.

Throughout their day, we also incorporated elements that reflected Rachel’s pride in her Greek heritage. They gifted guests bags of sugared almonds or ‘koufetta’, the traditional Greek wedding favor, hand-stamped with olive branches that mimicked their invitations, while their cake sat on a bed of olive branches. Additionally, the chiffon-swagged cabanas were reminiscent of the sails of Greek boats, with the cut-lace linens in homage of Greek design. Finally, some favorite details were Rachel’s sketches of the façade of The Inn which we incorporated into the wedding stationery, and Corey’s squirrel cookies they served with the desserts in honor of the baby squirrel they’d rescued on a hike which served to capture their spirit and love of history and the great outdoors.

Rachel and Corey put a lot of trust in us to make their wedding day beautiful, down to earth and every bit a reflection of the two of them. While the overall wedding was a joy to design and plan, we were simply thrilled watching all of the most important people in their lives have such a wonderful time together – some of whom had only just met. That was probably the best part of the entire wedding weekend.

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Wedding Dresses

Martina Liana

Fall 2014

Spring 2017

Fall 2017

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The Most Effortlessly Beautiful Spring Wedding Inspiration

Soft, delicate florals arranged beautifully by Keep Floral, captivating textural details and a romantic color scheme suitable for any season – these are a few of our favorite things you can expect to see in this STUNNING style shoot planned by Tied With A Bow Weddings and captured by Sara Corona Photography. Prepare to fall in love with every detail. Just wait ’till you see the tablescape complete with modern lines and dusty blue, mauve and rose gold touches. It’s time to get inspired…

From Sara Corona Photography… Fall in love with weddings that seek romance and appreciate the effortless beauty of florals and complimentary colors. Captured beautifully in film by Sara Corona, this curated “floral abundance” editorial was curated to illustrate a fine art wedding with soft colors and textural details that could be utilized to bring out the beauty in any season.

Colorado based wedding planner Tied with a Bow Weddings designed a refined yet colorful wedding inspiration alongside a talented group of creatives with a color palette of dusty blue, mauves and rose gold touches . The stunning centerpiece was designed with soft textures that juxtaposed the natural textures in the hanging installation by Colorado florist, Keep Floral. The tablescape was designed with modern lines, warm candlelight atop a traditional whitewashed farm table. The table was set with a luxe velvet tablecloth by Soirée Linen and a mix of modern and vintage stemware, blush place settings and rose gold flatware from House of Yonder.

Lush blooms with varying mauve tones complimented the tones of the table design. Katy Pierson Cakes designed a beautiful marble toned cake with stunning handmade sugar flowers. Inspired by the free and whimsical mauve florals, stationer Beautifully Noted dabbles in playful lettering and a dusty rose palette. Featuring a botanical watercolor envelope liner and paired with a luxe velvet ribbon and antique gold wax seals, this suite is just that––sweet! Custom hand-torn place cards adorn the place settings, while the couple’s promises to each other find a forever home in her signature His and Hers vow booklets.

A gorgeous custom ring by The Diamond Reserve added a touch of vintage glam to this organic suite. The bride was dressed in a stunning Mira Zwillinger floral appliqué gown from Little White Dress, and adorned with a stunning veil by Hope Couture Bridal. Whimsical stylings paired with soft colorful details made for a perfect day with countless inspiration items for blushing brides-to-be that are looking for a bit of color in their day!

“Celebrate, charm, decorate, dress, live – colorfully”- Kate Spade

Tying the Knot in Paradise at Maui’s Haiku Mill

If I were to do it all over again, Haiku Mill would be at THE tippy top of my venue list. Lush greenery, old world charm and a Maui zip code are all part of its repertoire. And this gorgeous affair planned by Elements by K.H. & Co, with florals by Teresa Sena Designs and images by Jana Dillon does it so much justice. It’s a celebration that matches tradition with unique details like forgoing a cake cutting for a champagne tower or draping the reception in the most spectacular ceiling of greenery. This is paradise found.

From the Bride…That feeling when you can’t stop looking at something…yup, that was how we felt about this venue. As someone who had poured over Pinterest, wedding sites, and magazines (embarrassingly before I ever had a wedding to actually plan), I thought I had seen it all. I put together a nice tidy list of prospective venues for our wedding, but none of them spoke to us as a couple. It wasn’t until I got to a photo of a greenery-soaked stone mill, that both of our eyes popped out of our heads. “Wow, I like THAT one!”….was Marshall’s reaction, and the one I always hoped my future groom would have.

So off to Maui we went (twist our arms), to take a look at Haiku Mill, praying that it lived up to the expectations the photos left us with. Spoiler alert, it did not disappoint. It encompassed everything that we were looking for; intimate space for a small wedding, old world European charm, natural elements to work with, and all in a location not too inconvenient from our friends and family in California — it was perfect.

We wanted to frame our day with tradition, while also staying true to who we are as couple. While we had a traditional ceremony led by Marshall’s Uncle Bob, and a small bridal party, we veered off the beaten path by foregoing things like the bouquet and garter toss, and opted for a ceremonial champagne tower in lieu of a cake cutting.

Working alongside Tara Lee Murphy and Kimiko Hosaki from Elements by K.H. and Co made planning a wedding 2,300 miles away as stress free as possible. They made our greenery ceiling come to life, and ensured we had the best vendors supporting us day-of. Garnish Craft Cocktails provided the most delicious beverages and coached us through the entire process of menu selection. While Cutting Edge Catering put together the most decedent three-course menu, and even executed on my desire to have coconut bowls filled with homemade ice cream for dessert!

Our attire choice was inspired by old photos of Marshall’s grandparents. Looking at pictures of them from the 1950s donning a tux, and a classic cut gown, it was so timeless, and something we wanted to replicate for a day that will live forever in photos. Marshall and his groomsmen went with a classic black tux, the bridesmaids wore simple black off-the-shoulder gowns, and I….have a backstory on that wedding dress.

I had purchased a custom gown from a local designer in March 2017, and didn’t receive it until April 2018. When I tried it on, it was a disaster. The cut was wrong, the fabric was off, and the overall construction made me feel like they had forgotten to make it until last minute. To keep it short, I was devastated. Six weeks to go until my wedding day, I had no dress. La Soie in Walnut Creek came to the rescue and allowed me to come in appointment-less, and desperate. A brand new, never worn gown, was striped from the mannequin I saw in the window, and I fell so in love with it, I didn’t want to take it off. Some magic of local seamstresses took it in 10 sizes, and it became the vision I never knew I had for a dress; it was perfect.

I couldn’t have dreamed up a more wonderful day to become a wife, and begin our lives together as a couple in paradise!

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Classic & Elegant Texas Wedding at The Grand Ivory

The very first thing on my wedding planning wish list was a gorgeous venue. A gorgeous white venue to be exact. There’s nothing quite as fresh and classic as a clean backdrop and today’s spot, The Grand Ivory, is all that and more and fulfilled the vision of Ann and Quan—with the help of Pop Parties. To document their celebration, they called on Allen Tsai and Brad & Monica Wedding Films and I’m SO glad they did, so we can all be be virtual guests!

From Allen Tsai Photography… Ann and Quan wanted a clean, classic, and elegant wedding and they sure achieved it with the perfect design from Pop Parties! The Grand Ivory was the perfect backdrop for their wedding with the clean walls and beautiful natural lighting. Paired with lush greenery and touches of white and blush floral design by R Love Floral, it truly brought their wedding vision to life!

For the classic and elegant touches, Ann wore a stunning Vera Wang gown and had all of her bridesmaids in gold sequin gowns. Quan went with the classic black tux and bowtie look.

The reception design was the perfect balance of everything. The aisle floral pieces from the ceremony were re-purposed onto the head table creating a lush greenery organic vibe. The tables were a mix of long rectangular wooden tables with low floral arrangements to keep the organic look consistent, but also mixed in with round tables featuring tall centerpieces with blush and ivory linens to create that elegant look. The couple chose to serve Babes Chicken, their favorite restaurant while together and it truly was a wonderful celebration from start to finish!

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Party Idea: A Rosé Party With Your Girl Gang

What better way to kick off spring than with a girls night out! What if that girls night out was also complete with rosé, cotton candy, and tons of goodies? Now that we’ve got your attention, the team behind Paperless Post and Fathom Gallery is sharing all the deets on their recent Roses and Rosé Soirée. Just in time to get those creative party planning juices flowing!

From Elizabeth Carberry Events…We all know roses are typically red… But for our Roses and Rosé Soirée hosted by Paperless Post & Fathom Gallery in collaboration with Heather Lane Events, the only roses in sight matched the flowing bubbly! It was the perfect ladies days out! Guests were greeted by a waterfall of balloons flowing out of Fathom Gallery’s 2nd story window, from All About Balloons, as they entered the party.

Very rarely do the movers and shakers of the event & wedding service industry get a chance to stop moving and embrace a day created just for them. The mission was simple. Host a soiree where industry creatives could connect for a few hours over delicious, over the top, girly pink inspiration designed by Heather Lane Events and Elizabeth Carberry Creative.

Stem and Thistle made our secret garden dreams come true with flowing greens and roses from the ceiling to the floor to wrap around the bottom of our White Glove Rental and BBJ Linen tablescape.

With an Italian inspired buffet from Root & Stem Catering and the yummiest cake complete with cascading sugar roses created by Fleur & Flour, bellies were full.

And the icing on the cake? The flowing Le Grand Courtage‘s Brut Rose topped with champagne and rose flavor cotton candy spun to perfection by Fluffness.

The Most Wow-Worthy Dress Trains from Real Weddings

Picking the perfect bridal gown is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. But with options galore, it can be difficult to know where to start. (We feel ya, girl!) Well, one scroll through the below styles may just help you narrow your search with the trend we can’t get enough of this year — stunning dress trains. From A-line to mermaid to ballgowns, no silhouette, style or fabric is off limits when it comes to flaunting a little extra fabric at the end of your dress… and looking good in the process. So if you’re ready to find your dream dress that turns heads, keep scrolling below for your dose of inspo.

Dress by Nardos | Photography by Amanda K

Hello, gorgeous. This dress is the epitome of classy. Whether you’re having a garden affair or a ballroom gathering, we’d be perfectly okay wearing this chic A-line style in either setting.

Dress by Carol Hannah | Photography by Ellen Ashton

Because who doesn’t love feeling like an all-out goddess on their wedding day, am I right? This stunning gown will have you feeling like Athena in no time.

Dress by Mustat Bridal | Photography by Trynh

I think we can all agree this new misses looks drop-dead gorgeous. The tasteful, blush skirt is giving us some serious bridal envy over here — who’s with us?!

Dress by Mariee | Photography by Rachel Soloman

Ladies who love a classic gown will be ALL over this pretty Liz Martinez style. That train is so full and stunning, we won’t even blame you if you want to forgo the bustle altogether — let it all out, girl!

Dress by Maggie Sottero | Photography by Elizabeth Nwansi

PSA: Long flowing trains don’t have to feel over-the-top. Just take this simple Maggie Sottero style. It’s sweet and sophisticated and everything you, Miss Bride, could want!

Dress by Liz Martinez | Photography by Sally Pinera

This gal sure knows how to match a dress to her decor, bring on the florals!

Dress by Dennis Basso | Photography by Jose Villa

Our hearts skipped a beat when we saw this unreal train — It’s dramatic, dreamy, oh-so-flattering. What more could you ask for?!

Dress by Allure Bridals | Photography by Mychelle Levan

Outdoor wedding gals, take note! Long trains are not off-limits for you — just take this one as proof!

Dress by Haley Paige | Photography by Laura Kelly

We.have.no.words. This style is magical with its light and airy fabric pooling together at the bottom. Talk about a true head-turner.

Dress by Lela Rose | Photography by Peter and Veronika

Traditional and timeless, this chic selection is pretty much begging for its chance to walk down the aisle.

Dress by Hayley Paige | Photography by Rossini Photography

Can you say, trains for daysss? This is the closest thing we’ve seen to that famous Priyanka Chopra veil, only this one doesn’t require an encore of five people to tote around. It’s practical!

Dress by Monique Lhuillier | Photography by Lynette Boyle Photography

Timeless elegance and feminine romance wrapped up into one wow-worthy gown!

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Dusty Blue Garden Wedding at The Rust Manor House

For these ‘university sweethearts,’ a romantic garden wedding at The Rust Manor House was the perfect setting to say I Do and I couldn’t agree more! There is something about those dusty blue details against a lush green backdrop, that kept me scrolling for more. Add in the couple’s adorable french bulldog puppy and a second reception dress and I was completely sucked in! Audra Wrisley Photography was there to photograph the day planned by SRS Events and captured every romantic moment, including their choreographed first dance. Can you even handle it?!

From the Photographer…Synnie & James’s beautiful and intimate Rust Manor House wedding was held in the historic property’s garden and tented areas and filled with ivory blooms and greenery at every corner! The couple met and fell in love in college at Virginia Tech, and their relationship slowly blossomed since their university years.

James proposed in Paris on a European trip the couple took last year, and they subsequently started dreaming up their magical wedding celebration. Synnie’s eye for detail brought so many delightful touches to their wedding day, and the color palette of dusty blue paired with the garden greens and ivory florals was absolutely gorgeous on film.

They even had their adorable French Bulldog puppy Mochi in on the fun, and he was such a sweet addition to the day! Synnie and James celebrated their vows with a beautiful bubble exit and welcomed guests into the tented reception area for dinner and dancing.

The couple’s favorite part of the wedding was their incredible first dance, inspired by the film La La Land. Spending their weekly date nights working on choreography to a beautiful song from Amelie, the couple wowed their guests with their lovely wedding dance.

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Industrial Romantic NYC Wedding Inspiration shoot at Boro Hotel in Long Island City

When it comes to NYC weddings, a chic industrial vibe is where it’s at. But what if you want to soften that industrial edge a bit? This editorial from Williamsburg Photo Studios, Wonderlust Events and DESIGNS BY AHN is exactly how. Layered with florals, blooming patterned plates and a delicate palette, a feeling of warmth and Hygge pours from every image. See it all here.

From Williamsburg Photo Studios and Wonderlust Events… We based ourselves at the ‘Boro Hotel’ where we got the chance to turn the industrial wedding space into a romantic and elegant space with feminine touches for our same-sex couple. The views from this room in the hotel located in Long Island City provides an amazing panorama of the New York skyline however for us it didn’t last too long because instead we got to experience the first snow day of the year.

We wanted to bring a feeling of warmth & Hygge into this room through the use of stunning florals and decoration. We focused our colour palette on soft pinks, purples and greys. We decorated the table with a grey linen tablecloth, black cutlery, taper candles, floral patterned chargers and the show-stopper flower cloud above the top table. This really added an element of understated luxury.

This beautiful buttercream flowers cake is almost too pretty to eat! We focussed on minimalistic stylish stationery and added a simple embossed design to add some texture. A seating plan was made using biscuits – ‘seating for eating’ which included the guest name and table number, while also doubling up as guest favours. Our beautiful ladies wore stunning gowns by the talented Marina Semone.

The Whimsical Wedding Inspiration Every Spring Bride Need to See

Spring is finallyyy here! To celebrate the start of this blooming season, we’re sharing a style shoot from Masha Golub Photography that embodies everything that makes the Spring season so special. It’s complete with flourishing floral arrangements from Svitlana Oliinyk Mashtaler in pink, peach and white hues, endless strings of bustling greenery and the most romantic Karina Galstyan gown featuring delicate silk flowers and soft feminine tulle. Prepare to be completely consumed by the beauty and tenderness of these images. We’re so in love…

From Masha Golub Photography… Morning rhapsody. The first ray of the sun did not touch her. It crept along the sheets and hid in the shade of the bed. Then a second and third ray appeared. In turn, they knocked on the white frame of the closed window and, without waiting for it to open, they slipped into the room. Others, coming behind them, are no longer cautious, but push brazenly ahead, flooding everything they touch with a new light. Now they reach out to her closed eyes, tender cheeks, pink swollen lips. “She is still quite young. She will play with us. ” Feeling the slight heat, the girl’s eyelashes fluttered lightly and then closed again. It would be better to stay where she was, in a world where sunshine did not enter; where tones and half-sounds dominated.

The warmth of his hands and the fierce beating of his heart, pressed closer to her. Flowers, music, a kind smile and a sharp secret breath of joy. Were those memories of last evening, or just a fantasy? She opened her eyes and watched for a long time, watching the sun’s rays playing on the wall. They ran, jumping over each other, like waking thoughts. Then they slowed, but did not stop. The room was filled with laughter and joy. A wonderful thing is about to happen. The beginning of a new day – a new life! A wedding day dawns for the new bride. The special day she has been dreaming of is here. The sun beams down, the flowers breathe fresh scents into the air and call her to arise and be ready for the happiness that lies ahead.

Wedding day. Remember as a whimsical child, the excitement of waiting for something that you had longed for, for a long time. You have to restrain yourself from behaving in an uncontrollable way! You want to scream with happiness and laugh out loud. Your wedding day has arrived and you want to share the happiness with the world, but at the same time inside you feel you should not reveal your joy in case fate is tempted to destroy this, your magical day. You tiptoe to the window. Does anyone see the elusive smile on your face and the radiant brightness in your eyes? Then, you gracefully glide along the parquet floor towards that imaginary chest of treasures that hovers before you. You mentally open the furthest casket. There, is stored the incredible power of your cherished desires, like unopened petals that hide fascinating aromas. If you release this power, everything around you, touched with your eyes will come to life.

White marble will sprout wild grapes, herbs and lush flowers. For youth there are no barriers. Everything new, fresh, pristine is before you. Grasp it, breath deeply, sing in your fullest voice, discard all doubts and relish the taste of young life in all its beauty, promise and sincerity. Is it possible? What holds you back – a slight touch of fear of the unknown? And what if the illusion is broken, breaks, because youth is so fragile and tender? At the same time – there is nothing stronger and more alive on earth than youth. The bride always embodies the wonder of being and dreams of youth. Everything she touches is enhanced by her vitality and comes alive, in tune with Nature. Her sparkling, clear eyes shine out like diamonds in a perfect setting, lighting up the room, and compete for beauty with the enchanted flowers that surround her. She stands apart, the magic in her glowing skin and cheeks burn like an amber flame lighting up her lovely face. Life exudes powerfully from her young heart as it pours forth abundant waves of love. Her body hovers on the edge of childhood like a bird about to flap its wings and soar delicately to the realm of womanhood. Her youth enfolds her like dew in the early morning that embraces a flower, suddenly about to bust into bloom.

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Colorful Australia Spring Wedding at Point Piper & The Mint in Sydney

Red, hot pink, peach, burgundy, mauve… the collection of colors in today’s Australian fete is like that of a crimson sunset. Photography team, We Are Origami made sure to do those pretty hues justice, and to capture the love of Joanna and Joey in the sweetest light. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give Trille Floral a round of applause for the blooms stunningly scattered throughout—they are dreamy to say the very least. Join me here in the full collection of images, for what I know will be a pinning party for sure!

From the Bride & Groom…Our choice of ceremony venue was arguably a risky one – we had attended a friend’s wedding there the year before and it had been rained out. However, the old sandstone buildings were so beautiful and romantic that we forged ahead nonetheless – lightning doesn’t strike twice, right? Our reception venue was equally striking – on the waterfront with a beautiful marina that lit up so our guests could enjoy the water views all through the night.

We wanted our wedding to be light, fun and candid, and that’s exactly what we saw in Dave’s photos so we soon crossed our first vendor off the list. From there the team snowballed: we went with Dave’s recommendation of florist (Cara from Trille Floral) and trusted our celebrant Robyn’s pick of make up (Martha Mok) and videographer (Le Motion, a couple whom she actually married as well!). Many of our vendors were picked out by hours of Instagram comparisons or Google search, narrowed down in one case by simply choosing the one with the least spelling errors. Looking back, we were so fortunate that all our vendors were absolutely top notch.

At times, we were particular – our stationery went through several revisions, and after seeing the movie Crazy Rich Asians (set in our new home of Singapore) we ruthlessly demanded a female rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” which the Baker Boys Band did with aplomb! Most of the time though, we were happy to trust the experience and expertise of our vendors. Notably, we gave Cara a certain colour palette but otherwise free creative rein over the day (she basically became our unpaid stylist) and the results were simply gorgeous.

Our favourite memory? It’d have to be pulling off our wedding dance. A few weeks out our instructor was still being left frustrated by our two left feet. We considered scrapping it altogether, but instead doubled down on lessons and on the night we scraped through with our dignity just intact. Of course, we won’t be able to listen to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” ever again!

Cliché though it may be to say, our wedding day was honestly the most fun and most memorable day of our lives. Months and months of email chains and excruciatingly close decisions, both big and small, melted away into a day that – actually – didn’t whizz by in a blur, but which replays in our heads, minute by minute, as clear as if it were yesterday – it was that special.

From We Are Origami… Joanna and Joey decided to get married at The Mint in Sydney which is a heritage site with historic structures and archaelogical elements that was originally financed with 45,000 gallons of rum! The reception was held at ZEST Point Piper, located at the prestigious Royal Motor Yacht club, which has an amazing waterfront view of Sydney’s spectaculor Rose Bay.

Joey describes their relationship as: “I think we complement each other well; I’m messy, Joanna’s spotlessly clean. I like to plan holidays, weekends, what we’ll order at dinner; she likes to go with the flow. Otherwise, we think alike and enjoy the same things.”

Joanna describes their relationship as: “Best friends, supportive of each other, partners in life, travel & food buddies.”

When asked to tell us a little bit about their experience working with their Photographer — We Are Origami, the Bride and Groom (Joey and Joanna) said…

Dave was the first and most important vendor we chose – even before the ceremony and reception venues! We knew that once everything was said and done, we’d only have our memories and hopefully some kick-ass photos to remember our wedding day by. We scanned a few Instagram accounts and were immediately drawn to WeAreOrigamiPhoto – their photos are natural, light and have a beautiful pastel quality. From our very first correspondence, we could tell Dave and his team were highly experienced and organised yet warm and approachable – exactly what you want on your wedding day!

On the day, Dave and Khoa made a great team and created a fun and relaxed atmosphere throughout – photos never became a chore. They certainly had their professional hats on as well and made sure key family and friend photos were taken. They also perfected the small details, telling us how to angle our bodies or where to place our hands, little things that can make all the difference to the final shot. Khoa even retook one photo an hour later when the light became slightly better, and that retake became one of our favourite photos and is hanging on our wall!

Most importantly though, Dave and Khoa managed to capture those special moments when no one’s looking at the camera: moments of quiet reflection as well spontaneous bouts of laughter. Those are the photos that really capture the essence and feeling of the day, and the ones you treasure most.

In the end, the photos we received were beyond our expectations – they were gorgeous, timeless and will provide the perfect lasting memory of our wedding day.

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Old World-Inspired Greenville Wedding at Hotel Domestique in South Carolina

If this wedding were packaged up on a shelf and ready to pop in my shopping cart, I’d be running to the checkout. The beauty of its’ color palette is unmatched, the Bride’s Liancarlo dress is to die, and those florals from Kate Asire Flowers seem too good to be true. If you’re feeling like you’d toss this one in your cart too, you’ll have to look to Upstate I Do for the pristine planning and design and Kati Rosato for every single image you see right this way. Plus, the entire vendor team listed below!

From the planner, Allie of Upstate I Do… Kate and Paul were so intentional about wanting to create an event that honored their friends, who came from across the globe to celebrate this amazing milestone in their lives. Kate had spent part of her youth in Indonesia, where her father was involved in business. Not only did she make many lifelong friendships there, but she was greatly influenced by the culture and sought to include elements of Bali design into her wedding—marrying an old world European vibe with Balinese style.

Paul is from Upstate SC, and though the couple currently resides in NYC, they looked for an area that was closer to home for his family. Landing on the picturesque Hotel Domestique which is nestled at the base of the Foothills mountains, the venue marries old world style with modern luxury in one boutique hotel experience.

We integrated a balinese wood carving into the seating chart display, and used the same design as a lasercut enclosure for the invitation suite. Paired with a Monogram crest which was featured on much of their custom paper goods (invite, welcome box, menu), thoughtful and intentional details abounded everywhere you looked. Thoughtful welcome boxes greeted guests in their rooms, complete with a weekend itinerary, list of fond favorite places to explore in and around town, a local, custom poured candle, sleek wooden power block charger, along with Kate’s favorite Perrier and classic black & white cookies (as a nod to their NYC home), along with a wooden fan from Bali and coffee-flavored Indonesian candy specialties.

Keeping with a light, airy neutral palette in the decor and floral design, Kate and Paul really enabled the locale to remain a focus—but their darling french bulldog puppy, Louis, was the biggest scene stealer. With a custom sewn mini tuxedo and tiny boutonniere of his own, Louis escorted the MOB down the aisle in nothing short of statement making style. Kate’s mother hand embroidered the stunning ring bearer pillow, carried by Kate’s nephew, and the mother of the bride also brought a fine linen aisle runner from Bali for the ceremony. The couple were focused on providing an amazing experience for their guests, from the music, to the views surrounding this destination getaway weekend, to the delicious plated menu offered to guests. Sophisticated furniture silhouettes paired with subtly intricate linens and luxurious ivory velvet tablecloths completed the elegant, yet straightforward reception scene that welcomed guests. Swathed in the warm glow of candle light on every table and romantic strung bulb lighting throughout the tent, guests kept the dance floor and stylish adjacent lounge packed all evening long! The couple wrapped up the evening by releasing a paper lantern luminary, which is customary for Balinese weddings, the bride whispering an Indonesian blessing just for the two of them to hear as they let go and watched it fly high into the sky.

A Chic Modern Farmhouse

FRONT PORCH

We decided to use vertical wood paneling and white brick for a more unique but still modern farmhouse exterior. But it’s all about that swing!

LIVING ROOM

White walls instantly became the color palette for this room to keep it light and bright. We grounded the space with a heavy textured run and darker furniture. Since the fireplace is in the corner, we were limited on layout options but opted for a cozy L-shape configuration with stools near the fireplace for more seating. Layered art and a fiddle leaf fig added dimension to the space and balanced the fireplace.

THE KITCHEN

I wanted to create a space that felt bright and modern while mixing in a few classic details. The shaker cabinets were the perfect mix of transitional style, while adding the open shelves and paneling on the custom hood and island gave it those textural details. I love marble so we did a 3×12 Calcutta Marble on the backsplash with quartz on the counter tops for durability. We opted to keep the island visually open without the traditional use of pendants and instead did sconces over the open shelves to add the perfect decorative lighting. The leather barstools really welcome people to grab a seat and hang out in the most popular entertaining space of our home.

GUEST BATHROOM

This room couples as our guest bathroom and our kid’s bathroom so we wanted to make it feel both sophisticated and playful. The check Cle Tile was the perfect tile to accomplish both of those feelings. Adding in the pop of blue in the vanity brought in that playful touch and the brass fixtures really popped!

MASTER BEDROOM

I always love to give the bed wall a feature moment and shiplap seemed like the perfect touch. It adds texture and depth without being overwhelming in the room. To add a little drama, we created this custom tufted bed and added some balance on the sides with abstract art. We got creative on the closet wall by adding barn doors to give the closet more of a statement and interest than traditional doors since it’s connected to the main bedroom space.

MASTER BATH

Being that this is a slightly smaller space, we wanted to ensure that we kept it bright and open with all things white. We mimicked the same cabinet style as the kitchen and brought in little brass and black touches to round out a more mature look!

Photography: Chad Mellon | Interior Design: Lindye Galloway

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Whimsical Avantgarde Wakandan Wedding at Chateau de Varennes in France

This fete in France brought all of my senses to life at first glance of the imagery captured by Christina Bernales. I can hear the laughter, smell the dahlias and roses courtesy of Fleurs de Fee, feel the sunshine on my shoulders and almost taste the beauty of this dinner scene. NKT Events made sure every one of those details (and beyond) were carefully curated for this duo to soak in their best. day. ever.

From the bride… As we had family and friends from coming all over the world, we decided to explore European destinations as a middle option for family coming from the US and Africa. When we found the Chateau de Varennes in France, we knew that we had found our venue. A 400 year old family estate that was all inclusive and had experience hosting international weddings, we fell in love! As we were also planning a destination wedding, it was important for us to have a wedding planner that had experience working internationally so when we were introduced to Nyachia from NKT Events, we knew we were in good hands. We worked together to bring my theme to life as an “Avantgarde Wakandan Affair: Chic whimisical elegance with a fusion of tradition.”

With roots from Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, our wedding weekend was kicked off with a Zimbabwean song and dance performed by the grooms family while inviting guests to the celebration wearing traditional dress in beautiful red and golden tones. I love jewel tones and I wanted my ladies dressed in burgundy as an ode to the region so we went with a bold color palette of burgundy, dark blue grey and dusty rose with gold accents. I also had to pick a color that worked across a diverse set of women so from there we were able to match the rest of the colors with the mood we were going for. We definitely wanted color as part of our wedding as neither of us are plain folks.

The most special part of our wedding was the fact that we had people from all over the world meet in the countryside of France. These were people who have known us for a majority of our lives and have been a part of many milestones and we were grateful that they could be there as part of our big day. We had over 13 countries represented, Tobago, Australia, Djibouti, Dubai, Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa, just to name a few. As a special thank you to our guests and also as a suprise to the groom, we had a special fireworks display that was the perfect ending to our unforgettable wedding weekend.

Intimate Cliff-Side Wedding at Canaves Oia in Santorini

Can you imagine not only saying ‘I Do’ on the side of a cliff, but also on a Greek island? We couldn’t either! But, this couple did and Les Anagnou Photographers was there to capture every magical moment from their intimate ceremony to their jaw-dropping first look. Betty Flowers Santorini incorporated subtle touches of blush and burgundy into the floral arrangements which paired perfectly with a sea of blue as the backdrop. With Canaves Oia showing off everything Santorini has to offer, our only wish was that we could have been there! Keep scrolling to see a truly unforgettable wedding…

From the bride…Before I even knew Wally, he knew he wanted to marry me. He had seen me years before we had connected, at my best friends’ wedding; leading to our first date. After dating for a little over a year, to my surprise, Wally proposed during my family’s annual portrait.

When it came to planning a wedding, we knew we wanted something different. Wally and I love the memorable experiences that come with traveling, so eloping in Greece seemed like a dream. The iconic blue domes and beautiful views attracted us to Oía and we instantly knew that is where we wanted to profess our love for each other. Upon telling our family, the plans to elope quickly became an intimate party of 10; we were thrilled they were so excited to be a part of our special day.

We wanted a simplistic and romantic vibe with Greek influences. We didn’t want to detract from the natural beauty of the island, which was the inspiration for the entire wedding. We chose the color palette of romantic white and blushes with pops of burgundy. The dinner table was decorated with an olive leaf tablecloth and floral arrangements similar to my bouquet; which was tied with a gold silk ribbon. We loved the idea of having the Caldera as our backdrop, so we chose two floral arrangements on each side to frame the breathtaking view. Our brother in law was the officiant, adding a personal touch and to my surprise, my husband hired a lovely guitarist who played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as I walked down the aisle.

Our memory of running through the streets of Oia to get married on the side of a cliff was undeniably unforgettable. My favorite memory was my husband surprising me by singing “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur during our reception; there wasn’t a dry seat in the house. They say when you’re in love you want to scream it from a mountain top; that is exactly what we did. It was important for us to have a unique memory to tell our grandchildren and for us to truly enjoy every single moment of the day.

Our advice to future brides and grooms would be to make this memory yours, a couples wedding day should be what they both dreamed of. When planning a wedding, it is easy to settle for things you may not want to in order to please others; focus on what will make you happy.

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Dress by Nardos | Photography by Amanda K

Dress by Carol Hannah | Photography by Ellen Ashton

Dress by Mustat Bridal | Photography by Trynh

Dress by Mariee | Photography by Rachel Soloman

Dress by Maggie Sottero | Photography by Elizabeth Nwansi

Dress by Liz Martinez | Photography by Sally Pinera

Dress by Dennis Basso | Photography by Jose Villa

Dress by Allure Bridals | Photography by Mychelle Levan

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