Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Theresa of Theresa Scarbrough Photography… I wanted to share with you Beata and Charles’ Chicago urban chic wedding from the fall of 2011. They are such a fun and sweet couple and I hope you enjoy looking over their images! Beata had her dress embellished with jewels on one side of the waist and matched it with the same jewels in her earrings and necklace matching with the glitter heels from Kate Spade. Charles wore his Army uniform. They were married on October 29th, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois, at St. Hyacinth Basilica. Portraits were taken around downtown and the reception was at the quaint Fulton’s on the River.

Wedding Photography: Theresa Scarbrough Photography / Ceremony: St. Hyacinth Basilica in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Fulton’s on the River / Flowers: New Six Corners Flowers in Chicago, Illinois / Officiant: Rev. Francis Róg CR / Wedding Cinematography: Jeff Manimbo / DJ: Corey Sanford of Music Masters Entertainment, Inc. / Cake Topper: Milk Tea / Wedding Cake + Mini Pastries: Rolf’s Patisserie (Now Closed) / Red Velvet Cake Balls: The Bleeding Heart Bakery / Wedding Programs: Shine Invitations / Menus + Seat Assignments: DIY by Bride / Photobooth: Smilebooth / Makeup: Kelly Letto of Bobbi Brown / Getting Ready Location: dana Hotel and Spa / Bridal Party Gifts: Anthropologie / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Dress Applique + Hair Piece: Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various Amsale Dresses in Eggplant / Sketch Pin Design + Save-the-Dates: Kelly Murray / Sketch Pins: Pure Buttons

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Post tags: Amsale, Anthropologie, Belle Vie Bridal Couture, Bobbi Brown, Chicago, Corey Sanford, dana Hotel and Spa, Fulton's on the River, Illinois, Inc., Jeff Manimbo, Kate Spade, Kelly Letto, Kelly Murray, Milk Tea, Music Masters Entertainment, New Six Corners Flowers, Pure Buttons, Purple, Rev. Francis Rog CR, Rolf's Patisserie, Shine Invitations, Smilebooth, St. Hyacinth Basilica, The Bleeding Heart Bakery, Theresa Scarbrough Photography, Vera Wang
Post categories: Chicago Weddings, Illinois Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Nate of Nate Henderson Photography… Allison and Rob were married in Savannah’s first hotel, The Marshall House, which is located in the heart of the historic district. Their intimate ceremony took place in the early spring and was held in the open air atrium. They incorporated succulents along with simple white vases and flowers throughout giving a slight modern feeling among all of the history Savannah offers. We wandered the streets and squares of the city for portraits, and it paid off well! Savannah in springtime is absolutely beautiful, and this is exactly why Allison and Rob chose Savannah for their destination wedding.

From the bride… We were on an $8,000 budget, so our wedding cake was from Walmart. I shopped around all of the grocery stores/big box stores in the area in advance for prices. The morning of the wedding, my maid of honor, Abby, and I went to Walmart, bought a large cake, a small cake and cupcakes. We stacked the small cake on top of the large cake and our florist, A to Zinnias, decorated the top with flowers. My entire cake set up cost $40. We got several compliments on how good the red velvet was.

Wedding Photography: Nate Henderson Photography / Flowers: A to Zinnias / Wedding Venue: The Marshall House / Wedding Gown: Galina for David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Report (in Pewter) / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Programs + Table Cards: Vicki Busby (Bride’s Step-Mother) of Studio 629 / Wedding Cake: Walmart / Maid of Honor’s Dress: Anthropologie / Men’s Custom Linen Suits: Studio Suits / Makeup: Glow Med Spa & Beauty Boutique / Hair: Salon Eden

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Post tags: A to Zinnias, Anthropologie, Blue, Galina for David's Bridal, Georgia, Glow Med Spa & Beauty Boutique, Green, Marshall House, Nate Henderson Photography, Report, Salon Eden, Savannah, Studio 629, Studio Suits, Vicki Busby, Walmart, Wedding Paper Divas, White, Yellow
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Georgia Weddings, Savannah Weddings

On a beautiful August morning in the Old Church of Portland, Oregon, Lindsay Reichardt married her high school sweetheart, James Buckles. With a long-stemmed, gardenia studded, bouquet of pink roses in one hand, Lindsay’s other hand clung tightly to her new hubby for balance all day, as her Vera Wang ball gown of swirled tulle could barely squeeze down the isle.

A vintage Bentley drove Mr. & Mrs. Buckles away to a private photo shoot while guests made their way to the Heritage ballroom in the Governor Hotel for the reception. Guests were greeted by the passing of savory hors d’ouveres: Jake’s famous crab cakes, cucumber tea sandwiches, salmon lox bruschetta, quiche, brie en croute bites, and caviar deviled eggs as well as a Parisian-inspired Patisserie spread, which displayed sweet treats: a croquembouche of cream puffs, topiary trees of fresh strawberries, triple berry and lemon tarts, panna cotta parfaits, meringues, biscotti, madeline cakes, palmiers, macaroons, brioche, mini-muffins, cheesecake bites, éclairs and napoleons!

Perfectly pruned boxwoods, floating gardenias and lush arrangements of hydrangea, sugared apricots, raspberry vines and cascading jasmine transformed the reception into a French garden. Placecards and menus were lined to mimic the border of Laudree macaroon boxes, sugar cubes rested inside rose petals on china teacups and vintage botanical print reproductions by Pierre-Joseph Redoute (the official court painter of Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution) differentiated each tulle-layered table. The head table was overflowing with salal garlands, rustic candles, mercury glass votives, fresh fruit, cinched tulle and mossy, terrarium-encased arrangements.

When guests made their way to the bar, they had a number of specialty drink choices. There were five champagne cocktails options, all with fun names, for example, the “Blissful Bellini” featured peach puree, vanilla vodka, champagne and fresh mint, while the “Honeymooner” featured ginger syrup, lime juice, champagne and cucumber. Those still waking up also had 5 drink options at an Espresso station, for example, the “Crème Brulee Cappuccino” with cinnamon-infused espresso and raw cinnamon and sugar dusting, or an “Opposites Attract” caramel macchiato given sweet caramel drizzle and a dash of sea salt.

Crepes au citron, dulche de leche French toast and strawberry shortcake waffles were plated during brunch and Jake’s servers then circulated the ballroom offering hot sausage and bacon as well. Finally, as if guests weren’t already stuffed to the brim, Lindsay and James cut their cake: a five-tiered fresh strawberry and cream cheese masterpiece with diamond quilting, silver dragee detail, pink macaroons and a “B” cameo. After such an indulgent day, “favors” were simply notes letting the guests know that a donation had been made to the Portland Rescue Mission in their honor. 

Bridal Gown: Vera Wang / Bridal belt: Monique Lhullier / Bridal shoes: Valentino / Bridal headpiece & bracelet: Jenny Packham / Bridal earrings: J.Crew / Bridesmaids dresses: Monique Lhullier / Bridesmaids earrings: Anthropologie / Makeup & hair: Madeline Roosevelt / Stationery: French Lil Designs / Ceremony site: The Old Church / Reception site: The Governor Hotel, Heritage Ballroom / Reception catering: Jake’s Catering / Cake & Patisserie: Papa Haydn’s / Espresso Bar: Espresso Elegance / Specialty China: West Coast Events / Flowers: Geranium Lake / Transportation: Imperial Limousines / Photography: Altura Studio

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Post tags: Altura Studio, Anthropologie, Black and White, Bouquets, Breakfast, Brunch, Brunch Weddings, Centerpieces, Champagne, Champagne Bar, Chanel, Chiavari Chairs, Color Palette Black White Pink, Color Palette Pink, Croissants, Croquembouche, Dessert Bar, Espresso, Espresso Bar, French Lil Designs, Geranium Lake Imperial Limousines, Governor Hotel, J. Crew, Jake's Catering, Jenny Packham, Macrons, Madeline Roosevelt, Marie Antoinette, Monique Lhullier, Morning Weddings, Neutral Color Palette, Oregon, Papa Haydns' Espresso Elegance, Patisserie, Pink Champagne, Portland, Roses, Strawberries, Stripes, The Old Church, Traditional Elegance, Valentino, Vera Wang, Vintage Chic, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Photography, West Coast Events
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Our wedding was so much fun! So wonderful! It was definitely a New York “moment” for me, and I think our guests felt that way as well.  I am originally from Oklahoma, so I had friends who had never been to the city, as well as family from Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin and California. We really wanted our guests to experience the city and also one of our favorite things to do — eating — so we decided to have the reception in a restaurant, The Harrison. We had the wedding on a Friday night so that guests could enjoy the remainder of the weekend in NYC. The wedding was held at Grace Church Cathedral. It is a very old church in New York with beautiful details. It was under construction at the time but we really wanted to host the wedding there as it was special to us. Kind of funny side note… After the honeymoon, we attended service there, and the renovations were complete and scaffolding was down. I shed a tear and Dan said, “I know why you are crying — it wasn’t perfect like this for the wedding?” He was right, but we decided scaffolding and all, it was a wonderful ceremony. We had the reception at one of our favorite restaurants, The Harrison. We filled the entire restaurant including their private room downstairs. 

Guests stayed in various hotels in the city. Two days before the wedding, we had a driver that drove my friends and I all around the city to drop off the “welcome” bags. I was set on making sure we had welcome bags although there were 12 different hotels to stop at. It ended up being a really fun day and I think everyone was surprised. The bags included small New York treasures and a note that had ideas for things to do “up and down New York.”  (We used the children’s book Up and Down New York as our guest book and guests signed the pages. It’s now a coffee table book for us!)

One of my favorite moments was when the girls were all ready and stepped out of the Greenwich Hotel where we stayed and people stopped and clapped. And then they wanted to see our shoes. At the ceremony, my dad stepped on my dress as he stepped back to sit down. Everyone laughed. During the planning process, I became nicknamed ‘High Octane’ because I was always doing something, never sitting down. And “Keep Calm and Carry On” became our regular tag line.  I included KCACO band-aids in the bridesmaids’ kits the day of.

Wedding Photography: Jenny Ebert Photography / Event Design: Jillian Clark Designs / Ceremony: Grace Church / Reception: The Harrison / Wedding Reception Flowers: Rountree Flowers / Calligraphy: Love, Jenna / Wedding Invitations: Bird & Banner / Wedding Cake: Duane Park Patisserie / Wedding Gown: Oscar de la Renta / Bride’s Sparkly Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Marc by Marc Jacobs / Junior Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew Wedding / Bridesmaids’ + Junior Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids’ Bracelets: Lee Angel “Henna Silk Ribbon Cuff” via Anthropologie / Hair + Makeup: Face Time / Frank Sinatra Music: Steve Maglio / Wedding After-Party: The Bubble Lounge / Rehearsal Dinner: Gradisca / Rehearsal Dinner Invitations: Patricia Voto / Rehearsal Dinner Place Card Paintings: The Bride’s Father /

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Post tags: Angel Lee, Anthropologie, Bird & Banner, Black, Duane Park Patisserie, Face Time, Grac Church, Gradisca, Gray, J. Crew, Jenny Ebert, Jillian Clark Designs, Jimmy Choo, Lee Angel, Light Green, Love Jenna, Marc by Marc Jacobs, New York, New York City, Nina, Oscar De La Renta, Patricia Voto, Rountree Flowers, Steve Maglio, The Bubble Lounge, The Harrison, White
Post categories: New York City Weddings, New York Weddings

I told Ken he would never be able to surprise me… with anything. I always figure things out! This declaration put his mind to work on a proposal that I will never forget.

As resident physicians at the Medical University of South Carolina, we do not get much time off. And on one average Friday afternoon, I was begrudgingly preparing OR 3 for an add-on emergency case – or so I thought. Ken popped into my room and I grumbled about the day. When I stopped to look at him, I noticed a worried but excited look on his face. His hands were shaking. Both are very unlike my usually calm and serious surgeon!

That’s when Ken grabbed my hands, said the sweetest words, and got down on one knee. As he pulled a blue velvet box from his scrub pocket, my eyes welled with tears. The next thing I knew, I had the most gorgeous ring on my finger. We exited the operating room to hear a hallway full of colleagues cheering and clapping for us. Surprise! There was no add-on case, and so we left the hospital to celebrate the beginning of our beautiful engagement.

Being originally from Alabama, I knew that I needed an expert to navigate the Charleston wedding scene. Katherine Miller Events was just that company. Immediately upon meeting with Katherine I knew that I had found someone super-reliable – with great taste – who I could completely count on to put together the romantic, stylish and Anthropologie-esque wedding celebration that I had in mind. Together, Katherine, Ken and I chose Bethel Methodist Church for the ceremony and the Historic Rice Mill building for our reception venue. Located waterfront on the Ashley River, we knew the spectacular sailboat and sunset views were the perfect backdrop for our Lowcountry wedding.

Having a fabulous photographer was high on my list of priorities, so Katherine introduced me to Charlotte Zacharkiw of Charlotte Elizabeth Photography almost immediately. Her personality jived with my own and her portfolio made me swoon. From our fun and intimate downtown Charleston engagement session to our colorful getaway photos in a classic Charleston Black Cab, Charlotte made every shot unique.

And while Ken and I wanted our unique personalities to show, I also wanted to incorporate one very important tradition: my grandmother’s wedding dress, worn again by my mother and aunt on their wedding days. The team at White on Daniel Island carefully applied the lace from this vintage dress onto my veil, sewing each stitch by hand. It complemented my all-lace gown perfectly! White was the first and only store that I visited as owner Jodi Moylan presented me with “the one” soon after I walked in. To complete my vintage ensemble, Ken purchased a gorgeous antique pearl and rhinestone bracelet from Out of Hand for my wedding gift.

We decided not to see each other before the ceremony, and I’m so glad we did. Instead, I had the pleasure of reading a hand-written note expressing his happiness for the day ahead. Then my bridesmaids surprised me! They coordinated a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride for our transportation to the church. It was such a great touch and special moment to ride through historic downtown Charleston with my favorite girls.

One of my favorite memories of our wedding was the moment I saw my bouquet. Whitney Randall of Branch Design Studio used soft pink and white ranunculus, dusty miller, copper beech leaves, café au lait dahlias, lisianthus, and scabiosa pods to create a masterpiece. Throughout the day, I was absolutely blown away by the beauty and complexity of the arrangements, bouquets, and especially the copper-charmed boutonnieres.

Our flowers were set on ivory, rose and gold colored linens at the Rice Mill. At my request, Katherine incorporated ivory lace in as many places as possible – including the cake table. Our red velvet and cream cheese wedding cake was designed and made by Ken’s close family friend, and needless to say it was devoured promptly after our champagne toast! Pastel-colored French macaroons were also a hit with our guests. I fell in love with The Macaroon Boutique during the engagement and couldn’t wait to set out a variety for my friends and family to try!

I must say that I was most excited to see the whimsical, hand-painted chandeliers Katherine and Whitney made and displayed on the tall oak trees outside the Rice Mill’s entrance. Our multicolored confetti send-off combined with the soft lighting of these chandeliers to create a beautiful final scene. Ken and I were in the clouds over our day, and we still can’t think of one single thing we would have changed! We wanted our guests to leave happy and full of great memories, and I think we achieved just that.

Event Design & Planning: Katherine Miller events / Photography: Charlotte Elizabeth Photographer / Flowers: Branch Design Studio / Boutonniere Tags: Etsy / Ceremony Location: Bethel Methodist Church / Reception Location: The Historic Rice Mill / Caterer: Good Food Catering / Dress: White / Veil: Family heirloom / Cake: Family friend / Macarons: Macaroon Boutique / Band: New South Players

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Post tags: Anthropologie, Bethel Methodist Church, Branch Design Studio, Charleston, Charlotte Elizabeth Photographer, Confetti, Copper, EastCoast Entertainment, Etsy, Flower Girs, Good Food Catering, Katherine Miller events, Lace Gown, Macaron Boutique, macarons, Neutral Color Palette, New South Players, Pastels, Roses, South Carolina, The Historic Rice Mill, Traditional Elegance, Vintage, Vintage Lace, Wedding Planners & Designers, White
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

Meg & Dan | A Wedding at Elkhart Lake from I Do Films

Dan and I got married on the most perfect summer day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the same location where we had met six years earlier before my freshman year at Cornell.

I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding, so it was easy to settle on the beautifully-trimmed lawn at Victorian Village as the location for our reception. Using the warm, friendly, and vintage aesthetics of this family-run and family-fun resort as the foundation for our inspiration, my mom and I infused a little “Father of the Bride” and a few homemade touches to create a romantic and unforgettable Midwestern bash.

We started the day at my family’s home on Elkhart Lake, where Dan and I had a “first look,” but a very different kind. We were surrounded by my whole family while I came down the stairs and my brothers, dad, and Dan saw me for the first time. It was so special to have my whole family with us for such an important moment. The ceremony took place at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where Dan had grown up and gone to church as a child. Our priest, who flew in from my family’s home parish in Los Angeles, stole the show with an incredibly touching homily that made reference to our “path” around Elkhart Lake. After the ceremony Dan and I took photos at a friend’s barn while our guests sipped homemade vodka lemonades and munched on Wisconsin cheese and meatballs.

Our 242 guests found their seating assignments on frames hung from vintage glass door knobs that Dan helped me power-drill onto a salvaged barn door found at my favorite antique shop, The Red Rooster in Plymouth. Dinner proceeded in a 60’ x 100’ century tent that glowed with warm rosy uplighting, ivory rice paper lanterns, and string lights. The tables were adorned with fresh roses, hydrangeas, and plenty of candles found at a local craft store by our florist Silvana Cassia of Twig Flowers. An oversize slate found at an antique shop and framed chalkboards found on HerMajestysPug’s shop on Etsy served as the menus for dinner and cocktails. To finish the look, we invested in a black-and-white checkered dance floor that exuded a snappy, jazzy feel.

A Beatles cover band called The Cavern Beat played four sets and kept the dance floor packed with guests of all ages. My mom always told me, “Meg, all you need for a great party are the two B’s: booze and a band.” She was so right!

Dessert included chocolate ganache cake from the bakery at the local Piggly Wiggly adorned with hydrangeas, an ice cream bar, and my mom’s molasses, snickerdoodle, and chocolate-chip cookies served on a three-tier cookie tower created with the help of a local carpenter.

We absolutely loved working with Anna and Jonathan Wheeler of Anna Page Photography, as well as Matt Buckman and Élan Villamor of I Do Films. Their ability to go with the flow, their attention to detail, and their cat-like reflexes certainly did not go unnoticed! Dan and I are so grateful to both of them for documenting our memories in such a beautiful and unique way!

Photography:  Anna Page Photography / Cinematography: I Do Films / Tent: Canopies Events / Band: The Cavern Beat / Event Coordination: Laura Cooper, Cooper Consulting / Floral Design: Twig Flowers / Ceremony Location: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church / Caterer & Reception Location: Victorian Village Resort / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Dress: Amsale via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Bride’s Heels: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Flats: Aldo / Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Bracelet: J.Crew / Engagement Ring and Groom’s Ring: Steve Quick Jeweler / Floral Hair Clip: Sara Gabriel / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Bowtie and Groomsmen’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Hair & Makeup: Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort / Guest Transportation: Discovery Coach / Wedding Party Transportation: Stargazer Limousine / DJ: Matt’s DJ Service/ String Quartet: Jubilate String Quartet, kayesara@hotmail.com (Sarah Oftedahl ) / Guest Photo Station: Beyond the Booth Photography / Candle Holders & Flower Bases: Hobby Lobby & Pier 1 Imports / Framed Blackboard Cocktail Signs: HerMajestysPug / Ice Cream Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe / Cake: Natalie’s Pastries, natalieblattner@hotmail.com / Ice Cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

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Post tags: Aldo, Amsale, Anna Page Photography, Anthropologie, Aspira Spa, Bella Figura, Beyond the Booth Photography, Black Tie, Bowties, Brooks Brothers, Canopies Events, Chinese Lanterns, Cooper Consulting, Discover Coach, Elkhart Lake, Etsy, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Inspired, HerMajestysPug, Hobby Lobby, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, I Do Films, Ice Cream, Invitations, J. Crew, Jubilate String Quartet, Matt's DJ Service, Men's Wearhouse, Natalie's Pastries, Neutral Color Palette, Outdoor Weddings, Pier 1 Imports, Piggly Wiggly, Rustic Chic, Sara Gabriel, Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Sheboygen, Stargazer Limousine, Steve Quick Jeweler, Tented Reception, The Back Porch Shoppe, The Beatles, The Cavern Beat, The Osthoff Resort, Traditional Elegance, Twig Flowers, Vera Wang, Victorian Village Resort, Vince Camuto, Vintage, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Stationery, White Color Palette, Wisconsin
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… We wanted to have an intimate wedding full of personal touches. My husband and I are both in the field of architecture, so design is very important to us. Although this often means having expensive taste, we both believe in living within our means, and budgeting is also important to us. Our wedding was no exception — we were driven to use everyday materials in thoughtful and clever ways that would not only save us money, but also showcase our personality. We live in New Orleans, and unfortunately there is no glass recycling. I had been collecting a few jars before our engagement because I didn’t want them ending up in a landfill. The wedding was the perfect opportunity to put them to use. I also enlisted a few friends and family to fill out my collection. We grouped the various sizes and shapes and added candles to make simple, and surprisingly beautiful, centerpieces. No two tables were alike! I also hate seeing flowers thrown away after weddings, so rather than use floral arrangements, we opted for individual plants that guests could take home as favors. Getting married at the Wildflower Center meant that we couldn’t compete with the natural beauty of the flowers already there, so we went with succulent plants. They are unusual and relate to the Southwest, so I thought it added nice, rustic charm. We put the succulents in simple silver buckets so that the candle light from the jars would reflect off of them in interesting ways. We designed our own save-the-date cards and printed them from home. My husband has a huge extended family so I figured putting our faces on the cards might help the recipients recognize us! I also made our cake topper out of wooden balls from a craft store and a peanut can.

My husband’s family is from Louisiana, while I was raised in Texas and am also of Taiwanese heritage. We met during college in Austin, so the city has always had a special place in our hearts. We wanted to express this to our guests and had the opportunity to do so with our appetizers. Called “His, Hers, and Ours,” we featured meat-filled pockets (which seems to be a universal food typology) done in three ways. “His” were crawfish beignets (representing Louisiana); “Hers” were asian dumplings (representing my heritage); and “Ours” were pork empanadas (signifying Austin). I found a lady who made handmade lollipops, and she had a Texas-shaped mold — this made the perfect homage to the place we love.

If I could give any advice to brides, it would be to focus on a couple of areas that you really care about, and let everything else go. There isn’t enough time (or money) to worry about every little item, and in the end, people will only remember the things you spent time and energy to make spectacular. Focus on injecting personal touches — it really makes for a memorable experience.

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Wedding Ceremony: St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas / Wedding Reception: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas / Caterer: Austin Catering / DJ: Greenbelt DJ / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Central Market / Lollipop Favors: Ju-C Suckers / Potted Succulent Favors: IKEA / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Target / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston “Vineyard Collection” / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Shoe-Nami in New Orleans, Louisiana (504-895-1717) / Bridesmaids’ Bracelets: Anthropologie / Groom’s Suit: JoS. A. Bank

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Post tags: Anthropologie, Austin, Austin Catering, Black, Central Market, Green, Greenbelt DJ, Ikea, Jasmine Bridal, Jennifer Lindberg Weddings, Jos A Bank, Ju-C Suckers, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Michelle's Patisserie, Orange, Priscilla of Boston, Shoe-Nami, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Target, Texas, Vineyard Collection, Yellow
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Texas Weddings, Whimsical

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Jake is from Cocoa Beach, Florida. He came out here with a friend for a 3 week vacation almost 4 years ago, got a job as a landscaper and never went back. I was born and raised here in Lahaina. I left for a bit for some school and some traveling, but came back in January 2010. When I got back, my little sister, Bridget, insisted that I meet one of her youth group/Young Life leaders, but I didn’t jump at the chance. I did finally meet him a couple of times in April at church events, and he got my phone number from Bridget. For 2.5 months, he called or texted me a couple times each week asking me out, but I never agreed. Finally, Bridget sort of embarrassingly forced a date upon us, and we’ve been together ever since. By September, after two requests and a camping trip with my family to Lanai, we were “official.” By Christmas, we were deeply in love and knee deep in planning a 4-day hike through the Haleakala Crater. By February everything was wonderful, and while I was getting excited for Valentines Day, Jake was busy. He met with my mom & stepfather to ask them permission to marry me. He got ahold of my father in Thailand, who I rarely speak with, to ask his permission and very secretly designed a ring with a tiny jeweler in Wailuku. Valentines Day came, and Jake came over to my apartment to make me breakfast before we went to work. When I got home, he had purchased 140 potted orchids (one of my favorite flowers) and decorated my 400-square-foot home! It was incredible. He pickled me up later & took me to Merrimans for dinner. Then he asked if I wanted to look at the stars, I of course agreed. We drove down to Slaughterhouse. When we got to the beach, there were tiki torches set up with a blanket, champagne, candles and rose petals. I thought someone had paid to have that set up and that we better move away quickly. Jake gave me a hug, said it was for me and got down on his knee. It was so amazing, romantic & more than anything I had ever dreamed of.    Our favors, the stemless wine glasses, had “Eat, Drink & be Married — Rachael & Jake — September 9th 2011″ printed on them in my own personal handwriting. My “old” was a bracelet and hair pin I got from my favorite vintage shop, Hula Gypsy; my “new” was my dress; “borrowed” was a beautiful necklace with a cross on it from my godmother; and my “blue” was my shoes! Our cake was made by a friend of our, Lindsay Hunt. She offered to help us with that, and it was wonderful! It was a Blue Velvet cake with buttercream icing and a great paisley design. We had jugs of margaritas & mojitos, which I made little medallions for. Along with that, the food and drink reflected our tastes: my favorite red wine, mini pizzas and spinach salad, along with Jake’s favorite beer and sliders. I love hydrangeas, so when I contacted Maui Floral to order flowers in bulk, they were great with helping me figure out an array of flowers to compliment them. (Lisianthus, Matsumoto Asters, Spray Roses, Dendrobium Orchids and Delphinum) Our style is very relaxed, so going with the usual structured, ornate, perfected florals wasn’t an option. We got quite a few quotes from florists on the island but in the end, what Jake and I had in mind was so simple and sleek we realized it made no sense to pay someone to do them. So a couple friends and I put them all together. Our ‘theme’ was sort of vintage chic, and I love the look of variation so I started collecting vases and jars from thrift stores in March. Everyone made fun of me for have dozens of them all over my house, but it worked out perfectly! Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel / Second Shooter: Alisa Greig / Flowers + Program Fans: DIY / Bulk Flower Supplier: Maui Floral / Wedding Venue: Kapalua Resort (The Bride’s Step-Father is the Property Manager) / Earrings: Hale Zen (808-661-4802) / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Shoes: Anthropologie / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Hair: Bride’s Godmother / Makeup: Bride’s Best Friend / Stemless Wine Glass Favors: Kim Williams of Williams & Associates

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Post tags: Alisa Greig, Anthropologie, Blue, David's Bridal, Hale Zen, Hawaii, Kapalua Resort, Lahaina, Maui, Maui Floral, Vera Wang, Wendy Laurel, White, Williams & Associates
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Hawaii Weddings