I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Bryce Covey is a true gem.  He is one of those photographers who creates art every time he looks behind the lens , and this classic country club affair is no different. Photographed in that stunning Bryce style, it takes Pennsylvania pretty to a whole new level. It’s the best way we could kick off this Wedding Wednesday, and you can see more right here!

 

From the Bride…From the time that Gene and Alyssa decided to get married, they knew that they wanted a big wedding reception. Said Gene, “We just couldn’t imagine celebrating without all of our loved ones.” But when the time came to choose a venue, the couple found they were very restricted by the large size of their guest list. And then they found the Pavilion. “The setting and the views were breathtaking,” said Alyssa. “The Pavilion was a bit rustic, but we could see what potential it had. And we had an amazing decorator. Most important to us was that it could comfortably accommodate all our guests. The couple was wed on a beautiful August afternoon in a traditional Catholic ceremony. Afterward, they celebrated with 340 of their friends and family members. They had pictured an elegant, yet casual affair – one in which all their guests, both young and old, could enjoy themselves. Bathed in exposed Italian lighting and the soft glow of an old restored chandelier, the couple and their guests dined on pulled pork, potato pancakes, and roasted vegetables. Underneath giant swaths of draped white linens, they spent the evening dancing to the bride’s favorite band. After the party, guests were given old- fashioned matchbooks and bottles of Prosecco adorned with the couple’s monogram. “We were absolutely thrilled to be married and were so fortunate to have spent our day with so many of the people we love all gathered in one place!” said Alyssa. “It was wonderful! How often does that happen?”

Photography: Bryce Covey Photography | Reception Venue: The Pavilion at Irem Temple Country Club | Floral Design: Evans King Floral | Band: Picture Perfect and the Raging Hormones | Decor: Collective Event Professionals | Hair + Makeup: Rosetta Walsh | Catering: Acacia Services, LLC | Wedding Cake: Bride + the Best Man |  Invitations: Naturally Yours | Transportation: Nasser Limousine | Matchbooks + Wine Bottle Tags: designed on foryourparty.com | Save-the-Dates + Ceremony Programs: designed on zazzle.com | Ceremony Musician: Michele Conaboy and Mike O’Malley | Photobooth: Scott Stevens Productions | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: LulaKate | Bridesmaids Bracelets: J.Crew |  Tuxedos: Ralph Lauren

Bryce Covey Photography is a member of our Little Black Book, Love what you see? Take a look at their portfolios.

Bryce Covey Photography

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Don’t be fooled by the title, my friends, for this is not your average Santa Barbara wedding. It has that rustic feel that we all adore but is coming through with a healthy dose of modern as well. We call that rustic with a contemporary twist all shot beautifully by Braedon Flynn Photography. The layers of neutrals, the sea of lanterns, the glamorous blooms – those are all the happy aftermath of Lux Events and Design + Paradise Florist and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

 

From Lux Events and Design… This is hands down, one of my favorite weddings I have ever worked on! The venue was amazing! The ceremony and reception both took place at Rancho Dos Pueblos in Santa Barbara, California. This wedding had all the bells and whistles! A cocktail hour on the beach with cabanas and games, a killer gourmet s’more station, a ceremony under a canopy of trees, and a barn reception that will knock your socks off! I got to work with some of my favorite vendors and met some awesome new ones along the way! Braedon Flynn was the man behind the camera and responsible for these amazing images!!! LUX made so many handmade touches for this wedding. Some favorites included the 2 love inspired subway panels that hung in the back of the barn, the driftwood wreath on the front of the barn, the hand-painted s’more and cake backdrop and let’s not forget to mention all the handmade signage!! Adriana Laura Design came up with a super fabulous invitation and monogram. The W & W monogram became an inspiration for a giant galvanized sign that hung in the middle of the back barn wall! One special detail of this wedding was the the 3 large galvanized tables in the center of the barn. So unique and were an inspiration for many elements in the wedding! Check it out-It was awesome! And last but not least, there is no way this wedding would have been as beautiful without the flower master, Joey with Paradise Flowers! WOW! Is all I can say!

Wedding Photography: Braedon Flynn Photography | Wedding Venue: Rancho Dos Pueblos in Santa Barbara, California | Wedding Planning + Design + Ring Bearers Sign: Lux Events and Design | Floral Design: Paradise Florist | Invitations: Adriana Laura Design | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Veil: Sara Gabriel | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bride’s Garter: Art By Kelly (951-704-0328/kelly.fellin@yahoo.com) | Mother’s Dress: Sue Wong via Nordstrom | Ring Bearer’s Suit: Nordstrom | Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein 

Braedon Photography is a member of our Little Black Book, Love what you see? Take a look at their portfolios.

Braedon Photography

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I don’t know about all of you, but I haven’t been able to think of much else since we announced the first-ever Cupcake® Love Deliciously Contest. Sponsored by the always-amazing Cupcake® Vineyards, this giveaway is simply beyond words. In case you’ve forgotten just what’s at stake here, let me take a second to refresh your memories! You could win: wedding coordination by amazing wedding planner Alison Hotchkiss, photography on your big day by celebrity wedding photographer Elizabeth Messina AND $5,000 towards your wedding! This knock-your-socks-off, incredibly amazing contest is open through April 30, 2013, so be sure to get your entries in, my dears! To celebrate and get our lovely readers into the wedding-winning spirit, Alison and Elizabeth have shared some fabulous tips + tricks of the trade with all of us! I’ll be taking notes, that’s for sure!

More tips from photographer extraordinaire Elizabeth Messina:

“I often get asked for my input about hair & makeup for engagement portraits and/or wedding day photographs. I think it is very important to be as natural as possible. Of course most girls love a little blush and lip gloss, but I suggest not doing something wildly different. Think going out to dinner makeup – fresh and natural. The more you feel like yourself, the more natural and flattering you images will be.”

“Trust your photographer. You may have a certain spot in mind for photos, but if the light is not good, your photos will not be either. It is important to let your photographer suggest the best spot for group shots. A professional photographer will be taking many things into consideration when making such a decision. We want to please you, so please allow us the freedom to place you in the most flattering light.”

“One of my favorite parts of any wedding day is capturing affection between a couple in love. Be sure to make some time to be alone with your photographer on your wedding day. Hug and kiss your mate a lot. It is these tender and real moments that you will treasure for a lifetime. Love is beautiful, so show your love.”

Additional inspiration from the amazing Alison Hotchkiss:

“Spring is an amazing time of year no matter the location of your wedding or event. Use fresh, seasonal and local items, such as herbs, fruits and vegetables, as themes throughout your catering menus, as decor and as favors for guests to take home.”

“Keep the palette simple. Most outdoor venues will have whatever plants and flowers surround the area in bloom, so use the landscape around you to enhance the look and feel of your wedding while keeping the table top clean, crisp and simple. This also saves bit of money! You can even see if the venue will allow you to hand-pick blooms, fruits or veggies straight from the property.”

“Spring is the best time to have an outdoor, tented event. The weather in some areas can still get a little chilly in the evening, so having a tent adds a great sense of space, keeps things formal and acts as a “just in case” to keep your mind at ease.”

Well there you have it! Some tips and tricks from two of the industry’s biggest and brightest. And who knows? They just may be two of the vendors at your wedding! For a chance to win, simply follow these instructions: 

1. Follow Cupcake® on Pinterest  2. Create a new board called “Cupcake Dream Wedding.” 3. Pin at least ONE wine and ONE image that inspires you from CupcakeWeddings.com. Also, include 8-10 additional pins showing details that you will have at your wedding, including a photo of you and your honey (don’t forget to include #CupcakeDreamWedding on the board’s pins!) 4. Once your board is set up and ready to show, head over here and enter by filling out the entry form and submitting the URL from your board!

Official rules can be found here. Good luck, lovelies! xo

Photo Credits: Elizabeth Messina

© 2013 Cupcake Vineyards, Livermore, CA