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From the bride… Our theme started out being “French Vintage,” although in reality, our wedding really ended up being an amalgamation of a lot of beautiful things we love. We kept everything quite neutral, adding splashes of colour through the garlands, flowers and china. I enjoyed the process of planning our wedding so much that I am now doing something I have thought about for many years and starting up my own event planning business to service Western Australia brides. “flights of fancy by kristy” will be a boutique event planning business with a focus on intimate, personal and unique weddings and private events in Western Australia. We will provide a range of services, from assistance with theme and budget to vendor recommendations and liaison, to day-of coordination and everything in between, tailoring packages to suit clients’ needs and budgets.  There are so many amazing vendors in WA, and I can’t wait to share my knowledge of those vendors with others!  I really enjoyed making our wedding unique and a true reflection of both of our personalities and tastes and I hope that through my business I can encourage and assist other couples to do the same.

I had a really hard time deciding whether or not to wear my glasses. I wear glasses all the time and don’t cope very well with contact lenses, but I did consider wearing them just for the ceremony and photos. I have always hated wearing glasses and just felt that a bride shouldn’t wear glasses! Daniel wanted me to wear them – he said that they were part of me and that it would freak him out if I came down the aisle without them! I spent a lot of time googling images of brides wearing glasses and reading discussion forums on the topic, which only confused me more! In the end, I am glad that I chose to wear them. I was comfortable and looked like me! I did buy some new ones for the occasion from Karen Millen.

The morning of the wedding was beautiful but about an hour before the ceremony was due to start it started pouring with rain. Our ceremony was all set up out in the open and had to be moved at the last minute so wasn’t exactly how it was meant to be, but it was still beautiful. After the ceremony, our guests enjoyed pre-dinner drinks and canapés while the bridal party went for photos. The plan was for us to all go down to the river and have a picnic under this beautiful big tree that I had spotted in some of Samm’s previous photo shoots. Unfortunately the wet weather prevented that from happening so instead we set up our picnic under the front verandah of the hotel! Those things aside, we had an incredible day and I think what was even more special was the week leading up to the wedding when I had my hens weekend away, Daniel had his bucks day, and we had family and friends visiting from interstate and overseas.  It was undoubtedly the best week of our lives, matched only by the week after that when we spent our honeymoon at a beautiful resort in the Maldives!

Wedding Photography: Samm Blake / Photobooth: Push the Button Photobooths / Celebrant: Danicia Dutry / Flowers + Dessert Buffet Styling: Fox & Rabbit / Cakes: Sherbet Bake Shop / Furniture, Typewriter, Photobooth Props, Vintage China + Venue Set-Up: her handpicked harvest / Votives, Menu Holders, Tealight Candle Holders, Keys + Garlands: BHLDN / Hessian/Burlap Bunting: Her Beautiful Life / Heart Garland: Little Retreats / China Teacups, Saucers + Cake Plates: Antiquitea / Menus, Drink Lists, Table Numbers, Various Signs + Place Cards: DIY by the Bride / Place Card Template: Eat Drink Chic / Wedding Invitations: Shayna Norwood of Steel Petal Press / Wedding Dress: Samantha Wynne / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Earrings: Vintage / Pearl Necklace: Borrowed from the Bride’s Aunt / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Museo Salon & Spa / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Hairpieces: Tessa Kim / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alannah Hill, Wheels & Dollbaby, Review + Nicolangela / Clutches: Custom by J. Carter Handmade / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Suits: Politix / Groom’s Shirt: Jack London / Pocket Squares: Myer / Flower Girl Dress + Cardigan: Bardot Junior / Flower Girl Shoes: Angel and Ivory / Ring Bearer Attire: Industrie Kids / Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. / Wedding Bands: Ecali / Ring Dish: Paloma’s Nest / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Trevor Jalla / Dinner Music: The Elle Deslandes Trio /  Vow Books: Lorgie & Me /  Ceremony Backdrop: Designs Kara Melwood

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Post tags: Alannah Hill, Angel and Ivory, Antiquitea, Australia, Bardot Junior, BHLDN, Black, Danicia Dutry, Eat Drink Chic, Ecali, Fox + Rabbit, Guilford, Her Beautiful Life, her handpicked harvest, Industrie Kids, J. Carter Handmade, Jack London, Kara Melwood, Kate Spade, Little Retreats, Lorgie + Me, Museo Salon & Spa, Myer, Nicolangela, Paloma's Nest, Perth, Pink, Politix, Push the Button Photobooths, Review, Samantha Wynne, Samm Blake, Shayna Norwood, Sherbet Bake Shop, Steel Petal Press, Tessa Kim, The Elle Deslandes Trio, Tiffany & Co., Trevor Jalla, Western Australia, Wheels & Dollbaby, White
Post categories: Australia Weddings, Vintage Chic, Western Australia

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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

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From Juli Vaughn of Juli Vaughn Designs… Let me start by telling you that the bride, Ashley, wanted to plan her wedding around her shoes. All of her best girls and one best boy traveled to NYC for a weekend with the specific purpose of locating “the shoes of glory,” as we called them. It was so fun! She tried on so many pairs, but when her toes slid in to these Kate Spades she just knew.

As her wedding planner and best friend, it was then my job to design the wedding around her style and the prized shoes. We knew the wedding would be in Italy, as her future in-laws had family connections with a charming and breathtaking hotel called King’s Residence in Palinuro, a little town on the Amalfi Coast. We decided to go with a “gilded” theme and also to embrace the warmth of Italian romance. I crafted all of the cork board frames which served as place cards and favors for the guests to put a little snapshot of their Italian trip in once they got home. (They were also light enough to not cause problems with packing.) I also arranged all of the flowers (as well as gathering quite a few native plants via a “nature walk” early on the wedding day) and created the menus. Ashley and Juan’s wedding was truly an international affair – Ashley grew up in California, but Juan is from Uruguay. They met in D.C. and their guest list included people from Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay and the USA. Their ceremony was performed by their fathers, grandfathers and friends, all while overlooking the incredible views of the Amalfi Coast.

From the Bride… Our wedding day, July 16, 2011, was spent in the breathtaking little seaside village of Palinuro, in Italy, at the amazing King’s Residence resort — a place situated on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. This is the place you think of while you’re sitting in your office, wishing yourself away to a magical Italian paradise where gelato and capuccino are present at every meal and served by a dashing Italian waiter named Giovanni. This place was the stuff dreams are made of, perfectly fitting for a day in which I was to marry the man I had dreamed about all my life. Juan and I chose King’s Residence, having never been to Italy in our lives, based on a recommendation from Juan’s father. He was sure right about the place — it was absolutely perfect. Our day was shared with approximately 60 of our family and friends, who had come from all over the world to celebrate with us. As Juan and I walked to different tables during our reception, we found that almost every table was conversing in a different language! While some would consider our mini-United-Nations-of-a-wedding a little daunting, to us, it was incredibly special to have such an international flavor to our day. Our wedding ceremony was even conducted in both English and Spanish (saying my vows in Spanish was muy dificil!).

Wedding Photography: Jack & Tina Fussell / Wedding Event Design, Coordination + Flowers: Juli Vaughn Designs / Wedding Venue + Catering: King’s Residence Hotel / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Pearl Hair Pins: Borrowed from a Friend / Gilded Picture Frames: Purchased at Michaels and Spray-Painted Gold

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Post tags: Amalfi Coast, David's Bridal, Gold, Italy, Jack & Tine Fussell, Juli Vaughn Designs, Kate Spade, King's Residence Hotel, Michaels, Palinuro, Purple
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Destination Weddings, Italy Weddings

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From Andrew of Yoonwonx Photography… This rustic/vintage wedding took place at The Smog Shoppe in Culver City, Los Angeles. The ladies prepared themselves in their modern downtown loft before embarking via limo to the venue. The Smog Shoppe, despite the name, is 100% solar powered and was elegantly adorned that day with vintage furniture and beautiful flower arrangements, all tied together in a Pan Am-esque travel theme. The bride wore a custom dress (jacket was imported from Sweden), and the fellas sported clean lines with modern vintage textures. There was a bevy of curios and pleasant surprises all around in the decor, the delicious cupcakes, or in one of the many eclectic corners of The Smog Shoppe, such as the succulent wall or vintage, private bridal readying room. As always, we had a fun and energetic fashion shoot to cap off a beautiful wedding.

Photography: Yoonwonx Photography / Venue: The Smog Shoppe / Wedding Planning: Events of Love and Splendor / Floral Design: Soyoung (soyoung.czerwonka@gmail.com) / Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Cupcakes: Big Man Bakes, Sweet and Saucy + Susie Cakes / DJ: Ian of Red Shoe / Groom + Groomsmen’s Suits: Hugo Boss / Groom + Groomsmen’s Shoes: Ben Sherman / Bride’s Dress: Custom Made by A Co-worker / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride + Bridesmaid Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair + Makeup: Rachael Drootin of Charmed Beauty / Catering: Huntington Catering Company / Travel-Themed Table Placards, Signs, Airport Name Cards + Invitations: DIY by Bride

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Post tags: Ben Sherman, Big Man Bakes, Charmed Beauty, Culver City, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Events of Love and Splendor, Found Vintage Rentals, Hugo Boss, Huntington Catering Company, J. Crew, Kate Spade, LA, Los Angeles, Navy Blue, Rachael Drootin, Red Shoe, Soyoung, Susie Cakes, Sweet and Saucy, The Smog Shoppe, Yoonwonx Photography
Post categories: The Blog, Vintage Chic

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From the bride… I have dreamed of my wedding day since I was a little girl; and I can say without hesitation that it was the most beautiful day of my life! September 17, 2011 began with as an unseasonably warm, sunny Chicago day, which kick started the festivities and eased my anxiety for our garden wedding. I was surrounded by my best friends and my mother, laughing and enjoying the primping process and each other! As my mom helped me into my dress and veil, I knew that this moment had become a reality, and I couldn’t wait to see my groom.

I met my fiancé Anthony in high school. I was a timid 14-year-old, and he was an overly-confident and very talkative upperclassman. We would cross paths socially for the next ten-plus years until finally the stars aligned, and we began to date! We were virtually inseparable and once our girls (Violet the basset hound and Whiskey the basenji mix) became friends, we knew that our lives were moving forward … together. Anthony proposed to me at Culver Academies where we first met, and I had no idea! I have never been so surprised in my entire life; it was a magical day that I will remember forever. The wedding planning was such a joy; I loved every minute of it! We wanted to incorporate elements that had personal meaning and represented us as a couple. Our wedding truly came together with the details, details, details! My father is from Turkey, so it was important for us to add in some Turkish trinkets and flair to honor my heritage. We had evil eyes tied to the programs, a lavender good luck toss to bless us as a couple, and of course some lamb skewers!!

We were married under a stunning pergola laden with roses and dahlias. My husband’s aunt acted as our officiant, and we decided to recite our own vows. I forgot about the rows of guests as I stood before Anthony — it was a moment that just became about us. And with a blink of an eye, we were cocktailing and celebrating our marriage with our lovely guests! As we entered the tent, we felt like we were in a dream. The smell of herbs and flowers set the tone, along with the vintage china, cut crystal and mismatched estate silverware. Every detail complemented the others, and the overall picture was pure perfection! Garlands of tissue paper flowers and cafe lights created a whimsical canopy over the dance floor, which was beyond gorgeous. The evening was filled with laughter, jazz and bubbling champagne. It was the most perfect day, surrounded by our family and friends, and I wouldn’t have changed one thing!

Wedding Photography: Jeffrey and Julia Woods / Flowers: Cornelia McNamara / Event Planning: Renny Penderson of Bliss Weddings and Events / Venue: Galleria Marchetti / Cake: Bittersweet / Wedding Dress + Ceremony Veil: Palazzo / Small Pouf Veil: Sara Gabriel / Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Groomsmen Khakis + Navy Sport Coats: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Dresses: Lula Kate / Bridesmaid Shoes: Nina / DJ: Beep Media / Hair + Makeup: Gina and Agata of Beauty on Call

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Post tags: Beauty on Call, Beep Media, Bliss Weddings and Events, Blue, Chicago, Cornelia McNamara, Galleria Marchetti, Illinois, J. Crew, Jeffrey and Julia Woods, Kate Spade, Lula Kate, Nina, Palazzo, Renny Penderson, Sara Gabriel, White
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Chicago Weddings, Illinois Weddings

If there is one thing that gets my wedding lovin’ heart a pumpin’ like no other, it’s a sweet, sweet anemone.  Those pretty blooms get me every.single.time… and when I saw them bursting from this glorious Seabrook Island soiree by Valeria Duque Photography, I was INSTANTLY smitten.  Yep, Out of Hand has made every one of my floral dreams come true with those beyond gorgeous bouquets… and combined with the lovely seaside setting and uber-darling duo, it looks like I have a lot of swooning to do!  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Valeria of Valeria Duque Photography… The bride is Meghan Conbeer and the groom is Adam Dean, they both live in Chicago but decided to get married in South Carolina, in the gorgeous setting of Seabrook Island club, where Meg’s parents live. It is a beautiful place filled with old oak trees covered in Spanish moss, and just by the beach. They got married at 4:00 o clock in the afternoon and afterwards we took a van around the island shooting their bridal party and couple photos. It was a lot of fun, and the sunset was amazing so we had the perfect light for the pictures. Meghan says she knew that she wanted all white flowers, to keep things very clean and modern, but also romantic. The natural setting was so beautiful, that she wanted to pull in some of the colors of the beach/island, so she chose succulents and sea grasses as well.  The black-eyed anemones are actually NAVY which worked perfectly with the scheme as well. The headpiece the bride was wearing was her “something borrowed.” It was worn by her best friend Rachel at her wedding which I also shot in DC last year. The little people next to the cupcakes were the ones actually used by Meg’s grandparents at their wedding, and they just had their 60th wedding anniversary!

Wedding Photography: Valeria Duque Photography / Wedding Venue: Seabrook Island Club / Wedding Gown: Amsale / Bridesmaid Dresses: Thread via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaid Gifts: Kate Spade / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: JoS. A. Bank / Flowers: Out of Hand / Place Cards, Programs + Welcome Bags: Sweet Sanity, Owned by the Bride’s Cousin, Kerry Kobe / Catering, Desserts + Cupcakes: Seabrook Island Club / Music: DJ Josh of Other Brother Entertainment

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Post tags: Amsale, Bella Bridesmaid, Blue, Cream, Gray, Jos A Bank, Kate Spade, OOH! (Out of Hand), Other Brother Entertainment, Seabrook Island, Seabrook Island Club, South Carolina, Sweet Sanity, Thread, Valeria Duque Photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

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From Katherine of Katherine O’Brien Photography… This colorful fall wedding at the San Antonio Botanical Garden was styled perfectly with the bride’s family’s dishware and the florist’s colorful flowers. Each table had a mix of succulents and bright-colored flowers, along with chevron-patterned runners on each table. The bride’s dress also had a gorgeous floral design, which she paired with Kendra Scott jewelry. The groom and groomsmen all wore cool seersucker suits. The bride incorporated more color by choosing colorful fabric letters from Anthroplogie for the bride and groom chairs and wearing rainbow-striped wooden heels from Kate Spade. Her friend friend Emily Leach of Bird Dog Weddings helped design the colors and paper floral balls that decorated the ceremony chairs and sign-in table, and her other great friend Lauren Cunningham of The Creative Parasol designed the paper fan programs and framed table numbers.

Since there’s been a drought in Texas, all the outdoor fountains have been turned off to conserve water, so the Botanical Garden filled theirs with gorgeous blue colored glass! Pink and green handmade ribbon streamers made for a colorful exit!

Photographer: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Event Designer: Bird Dog Wedding / Floral Designer: Eden’s Echo Floral Design / Invitation Designer: The Creative Parasol / Venue: San Antonio Botanical Garden / Dress: Modern Trousseau via Unbridaled / Hair: Versi Salon / Makeup: Nisa Nicole Makeup Artistry / Floral Containers: From family / Catering: Black Tie Affairs / Officiant: Dean Ruch / Band: Strings Attached / Suit: JoS. A. Bank / Cakes: Ayon’s Bakery / Jewelry: Kendra Scott / Shoes: Kate Spade

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Post tags: Ayon's Bakery, Bird Dog Wedding, Black Tie Affairs, Dean Ruch, Eden's Echo Floral Design, Jos A Bank, Kate Spade, Katherine O'Brien Photography, Kendra Scott, Modern Trousseau, Nisa Nicole Makeup Artistry, San Antonio, San Antonio Botanical Garden, Strings Attached, Texas, The Creative Parasol, Unbridaled, Versi Salon
Post categories: San Antonio Weddings, Texas Weddings

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From the Bride… The theme of our wedding day became “True Love is a Big Deal”. I can’t take credit for the creation of it, instead I found it and saw ourselves in its truth. It was from then on that I decided, the only thing we needed was love. Unfortunately, love doesn’t host and cater for 150 people.  After searching through the usual choices of golf courses, country clubs, and halls, and being unimpressed, Chris and I knew that a more none traditional setting would make our day truly ours. We found a secret little gem, River Birch Lodge, about an hour away from us. After scouting out the property, I fell in love. From the large antler chandelier, the grandiose fireplaces, and rustic decor there was a warmth that seemed like home. The private estate would be ours for the entire weekend, making it the perfect backdrop to spend time with our family and friends.

On the day of the wedding, the weather took on a windy chill, that forced us inside. Instead, the ceremony was held in the lodge, in front of a large fireplace and under a very large moose. Everybody got really, really cozy while we said our vows. Rev. Bell pronounced us husband and wife, and Chris was told to “salute your bride”. This was followed by a brief pause, an awkward look and then Chris responded “Can I just kiss her instead?”

The weekend was an absolute dream and could not have been done without our amazing vendors, family and friends. Originally, I wasn’t going to hire a day-of coordinator in hopes of making room in the budget. That would have been the biggest mistake! Finding Jen House from A Moment In Time was like finding a new friend (one of the real genuine, honest ones!) Whether it was putting out all the fires on the wedding day, helping with some different family dynamics, or setting up all of our thought out plans, she was there every step of the way (well, more like 3 steps ahead). On top of that, she handcrafted the most amazing floral combinations which guest are still raving about. Not hiring a coordinator would have been a mistake, but NOT hiring Jen House would have been the BIGGEST mistake. We also must mention the talented Toole Art Photography. Crystal and Mike are some of the sweetest people whose work speaks for itself. We love re-living our magical day over and over through their beautiful pictures, while always reminding ourselves, “True love is a BIG deal”.

Wedding Photography: Toole Art Photography / Venue: River Birch Lodge (810-599-6587) / Coordination + Floral Design: Jen House of A Moment In Time / Catering: Crystal Gardens / Linens: Affordable Elegance Chair Covers + Linens / Wedding Cake: Aunt of the Bride, Karen’s Cookies and Cakes / Cookie Bar: Milford Baking Company / Cookie Bar Sign: Blue Pearls / Wedding Dress: Pronovias  via Birmingham Bridal Couture / Veil: Mother of the Groom / Jewelry: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden + Kate Spade / Jacket: Kohl’s / Hair + Makeup: Posh Studio / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: President Tuxedo / Ceremony Music: Rondo String Quartet / Entertainment: Dante of Music Box Productions / Celebrant: Rev. Bill Bell / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jessica Simpson via Macy’s / Guestbook Tree: Bleu de Toi / Bride and Groom Stamp: lilimandrill / Invitations: Senor & Senora / Wedding Signs, Paper Goods, Flags: DIY / True Love is a Big Deal: DIY by Bride’s Uncle

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Post tags: A Moment in Time, Affordable Elegance Chair Covers + Linens, Birmingham Bridal Couture, Blue Pearls, Crystal Gardens, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Hartland, J. Crew, Jen House, Jessica Simpson, Karen's Cookies and Cakes, Kate Spade, Kohl's, lilimandrill, Macy's Bleu de Toi, Michigan, Milford Baking Company, Music Box Productions, Posh Studio, President Tuxedo, Pronovias, Rev. Bill Bell, River Birch Lodge, Rondo String Quartet, Senor & Senora, Steve Madden, Toole Art Photography
Post categories: The Blog, Traditional Elegance