My husband John and I found each other when we both moved to the Harrisburg area to pursue our careers. It started with a friendship between two adventure seeking teachers and blossomed into an unexpected romance. The journey of our wedding started 50 feet up in air, climbing on a ropes course element called The Catwalk, balancing on a telephone pole, when he got down on one knee and surprised me by asking me to marry him. The proposal was very much like the life we live, full of surprises and excitement.

I knew I wanted our wedding to represent us and be unique, fun, and entertaining for our guests. I wanted it to be an adventure like our relationship, our life, our engagement. We chose to have our wedding at the rolling acres and pristine views of Lauxmont Farm’s Japanese Gardens, because of my love for horses and our love for nature and the outdoors.

The day of our wedding the sun was shining with a slight breeze, complete with blue skies. It was a perfectly painted summer day. Our ceremony took place overlooking a field with horses running and in the distance the Susquehanna River. It truly was a stunning site. We tried to make our ceremony personal with our dear friend as our officiant and instead of a unity candle, since we both love wine, we did a wine ceremony to remember our relationship will only get better with time. Our ceremony was sincere, light hearted, and memorable, full of love and laughter. Cocktail hour was in the Japanese gardens where wine and cheese tasting took place. Here there were wooden fences from which photographs fluttered in the wind and guests mingled at tables adored with collections of vintage books, antique bottles, and delicate flowers. Signature drinks of lip smacking sangria and puckering pink lemonade were enjoyed along with the appetizers.

The reception tent was filled with personal touches. Through our wedding planning I was the designer with the inspirations and my husband was the builder and project manager. I’d venture to say it was all “do it yourself” because it was such a hands-on event, and I tried to put my heart into everything that was selected. We had a memory tent to celebrate our history together and our family’s history. We also had a kid’s tent, equipped with a lollipop centerpiece, homemade coloring books with our photographs, lots of toys, and things to do to keep our young guests entertained while enjoying themselves. John and I are very much kids at heart, so we knew the adults would enjoy this area too. The guests had a great time in our photo booth filled with silly and vintage props. Since I am from the Pittsburgh area, we had a large cookie table, a tradition in which many friends and family bake tons of delicious cookies for the wedding, and then they are displayed beautifully for everyone to enjoy. It was clear one of our guest’s favorite parts of the wedding was when the ice cream truck drove up to the reception tent to help everyone beat the July heat. Nothing brings out the child in someone like an ice cream truck.

Our wedding truly was a labor of love. My maid of honor designed our gorgeous invitations, our good friend officiated us, my husband’s sister painted signs, one of my bridesmaids, great friend, and an incredible stylist did my hair, and my friends and family helped me create numerous decorations, like hundreds of purple origami flowers that friends and family spent endless hours helping us make.. My husband and I had a blast rummaging through tons of antique stores finding the right pieces for our wedding, such as dishes, books, bird cages, bottles, you name it. Even though I was in the hospital for three days before our wedding, all of the little details fell into place perfectly. All our vendors were so wonderful and helpful with our wedding planning experience.

What I found most important about our big day was to step back, breathe, and take it all in. The kids playing with the toy horses, the laughter spilling out of the photo booth, my husband’s 91 year old grandfather in his dapper purple shirt overlooking the view, the ice cream filled smiles, the energy on the dance floor, the candle light glowing from the lanterns in trees. There were things that got broken, giggling when we forgot and stumbled over our vows’, I mean who needs to be taken as a lawfully wedded wife, when you could be a lover for life, as my husband mistakenly said. There was my torn bustle, and mother-son dance that almost didn’t happen, but thanks to all the love from my friends and family, and my wonderful husband, it was a day that in my eyes was perfect.

Photographer: SANDERSON IMAGES / Videographer: Jewelsheam Films, Jeff Wise / Floral Designer: All Things Beautiful / Event Planning & Design: DIY / Invitation Designer: Jessica Sipe / Cake/Desserts: House of Claredon / Wedding Gown Designer: Anjolique / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: David’s Bridal / DJ: Mad Hatter Productions / Caterer: Festive Board Catering / Photobooth: Katy Trefry Photography / Venue: Lauxmont Farms

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Post tags: All Things Beauitful, Anjolique, Birds, Books, Bouquets, Chalkboards, Chinese Lanterns, Cookies, David's Bridal, DIY Projects, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Dove Release, Festive Board Catering, flags,, Flower girls, House of Claredon, Ice Cream, Ice Cream Truck, Jeff Wise, Jessica Sipe, Jewelscheam Films, Katy Trefry Photography, Lauxmont Farms, Mad Hatter Productions, Outdoor Ceremonies, Outdoor Weddings, Ring Bearers, Sanderson Images, Tented Reception, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography, Whimsical
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog

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 Melissa of Melissa Andre Events… This white and lavender Muskoka wedding was sweeter than sweet showcasing a gorgeous summery view of the beautiful water. Guests were greeted with iced lavender teas served in vintage teacups. The lovely bride, Emily, personally baked each guest an individual heart-shaped pie that sat on each individual place setting. They also identified what table each guest was seated at. Since Emily is fluent in French – we translated the types of pies into Francais — tarte aux pommes, tarte aux cerises, etc. It was divine. The sweets table became “La Patisserie” and guests were pointed in the direction of the white tented reception with a sign that read “Champagne & Bonbons.” Baby’s breath, dried lavender, and peonies floated through the bride’s bouquet, hung in miniature vases from the top of the tent and were found in the beautiful white bird cages that lined the guest tables. When I met Emily and Quinn, I fell completely in love with how absolutely sweet they are. I pulled that sweetness into every beautiful detail and their wedding was completely magical.

Wedding Photography: Rebecca Wood / Wedding Designer + Planner: Melissa Andre Events / Makeup + Hair: Melissa Andre Events / Custom Dress Design + Creation: Ines Di Santo / Wedding Cake: Cake Opera Co. / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Venue: Delta Rocky Crest Resort

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Post tags: Baby's Breath, Cake Opera Co., Canada, Ines DiSanto, Jimmy Choo, Lavender, Melissa Andre Events, Muskoka, Ontario, Outdoor Wedding, Purple, Rebecca Wood, Tented Reception
Post categories: Canada Weddings, Ontario Weddings, Traditional Elegance

From Rendez-vous in Paris … Cristina & Philip are a young, dynamic and up-and-coming couple from New York. Part of Philip’s family is French, so what better place than the countryside of Paris, to celebrate their wedding?

They started the weekend in Paris with a casual dinner for 150 guests, overlooking the Seine River at sunset on Friday night. The tone was lively with a light roasting session and plenty of sweet speeches.

The following day, the couple had rented out a private car in a Parisian train, and all the guests travelled to a quaint town to be dazzled by a gorgeous French Chateau that has been in the family for years. The ambiance was lively on the train, as ‘gouter’ lunch boxes were distributed, containing individual-size wine bottles, baguette sandwiches and fun French desserts.

The guests were greeted by waiters with French Rosé Champagne produced by a private Champagne vineyard. As a clin d’oeil to the Royal Wedding, the couple welcomed the guests from the Chateau balcony and surprised them with a Royal kiss from the window! The unique ceremony with no officiant, was held on the Chateau steps and involved the families and friends of both the Bride and Groom. Once the couple had broken the glass, they immediately announced their marriage on Twitter!

Following the ceremony, the guests enjoyed a cocktail of all local foods, Normandy Pear & Apple wines & cocktails, Fresh lobster & oysters, foie gras made just down the street and served on little sweet toasts…

We then invited the guests to cross the Chateau into the brightly decorated tent, with exquisite florals by a friend of the bride. The table names written on slate and tied with a bow, were very meaningfully named after cities of Nicaragua, the country from which the Bride’s mother comes. With colorful decorations, and dancing between each course, the night was a party never to be forgotten!

As the guests left for home, in the wee hours of the night, they were served crepes and frites accompanied by a very old armaniac offered by the groom’s uncle.

The next day, guests were treated to a copious Brunch on the front lawn, and enjoyed their croissants in the sun before taking off to the airport.

In keeping with their French wedding, the couple honeymooned on the sumptuous French island of Corsica – dramatic cliffs and idyllic mediterranean beaches marked a romantic closing to a perfect wedding weekend.

Wedding Planner: Rendez-vous in Paris / Photography: TimCo. Photography & Julie Brewer Photography / Floral design: Ashley Greer, The Enchanted Florist / Catering: Auberge du Vieux Donjon / Chateau: Private residence, contact Rendez-vous in Paris for possible rental

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Post tags: Auberge du Vieux Donjon, Chinese Lanterns, Color Palette Green White, Destination Wedding, Eiffel Tower, France, French Chateau, Glamourous, Jewish Wedding, Julie Brewer Photography, Outdoor Ceremony, Rendez-vous in Paris, Tented Reception, The Enchanted Florist, TimCo. Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Destination, Little Black Book Blog

Photography by Blue Sky Photography.

The day I got engaged was the day I started planning our wedding! Okay not really… I had been planning since the day we met! But I started REALLY planning the day we got engaged. We both knew that we wanted to get married on the beach and have a destination wedding where we could enjoy a few days with our friends and family. Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina seemed like the perfect spot and Knots Landing was the perfect fit for what we wanted on our big day. I booked Knots Landing two months after we got engaged and then the countdown began.

I loved everything about our wedding because it was planned with such love and every small detail was handcrafted. My mom spent almost two years making all of our shell centerpieces, shell champagne flute favors – pretty much anything that you see with shells she made with shells she found on North Carolina beaches! The wooden signs (for the cocktail and reception) were made by Eric & I a few days before the wedding, which we still have and love!

Our family’s love and support is what made this special day even possible. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to pull off such an incredible wedding…and without Life Stage Films we wouldn’t be able to look back at all of these things that made our day so incredible!

Cinematography: Life Stage Films / Photography: John Urban, Blue Sky Photography / Caterer: Terry Bland, Art Catering / Florist: Buds and Blooms / Event Coordinator: Brittany Adams-O’Neil, Knots Landing / Ceremony Officiant: Margo Sears, Beach People Weddings

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Post tags: Art Catering, Beach, Beach People Weddings, Beach Weddings, Blue Sky Photography, Buds and Blooms, Casual Elegance, Coldplay, Highlight Films, Knots Landing, Life Stage Films, North Carolina, Ocean Isle, Outdoor Ceremony, Outdoor Wedding, Tented Reception, Water, Water Weddings, Wedding Cinematography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

Andrew and I met thanks to Craigslist Los Angeles. I was working as a personal organizer and cleaning out an architect’s garage and put her old drafting table up for sale on Craigslist. Andrew, new to Los Angeles from Canada, was needing a drafting table for his Production Design Graduate Studies, and he answered the ad. As soon as he got out of his car, a very calm voice in my head told me, “Oh, that’s your husband.” We started talking and found out we had both worked on the same Television show ten years prior, in Vancouver. He was a set decorator and I was an actor on this awful TV show called, fittingly, STRANGE WORLD. We talked in that hot, dirty garage for almost an hour- once he left I immediately called three girlfriends and said, “I just met my husband.” I emailed him that night on a pretext and he asked me out to lunch. We haven’t been apart since.

He proposed on my birthday last August 23rd. He waited calmly for all the people celebrating my birthday to leave our house- he waited for me to get into my pajamas, then called me into our kitchen to give me my birthday gifts. The last gift was a ring box with our wedding rings from our first weddings – Andrew’s idea was to melt down our wedding rings from our first marriages, which failed, ultimately, but led us to each other… and taught us to find the gift in each other. We are beyond happy. Our rings are stunning, and so meaningful to us both- and when my mother found out we were ‘repurposing’ our old wedding rings to make new ones, she offered us all the rings from her first marriage, to my father. So, three bad marriages made two stunning rings.

Our wedding and reception was at the Westover Inn in St. Marys, outside of Stratford, Ontario. We chose it basically because I wanted my father to walk me down the aisle. Since my father was performing at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival basically all of 2011, the only way he was going to walk me down the aisle was if we brought the circus to him! So we did, also hoping that a “destination wedding” in Canada on a Monday (the theater’s only day off) would limit our attendees. Since I am 48 and we are in the process of adopting a child, we didn’t need to spend a great deal of money showing off our love.

We were married by a dear friend (my old writing partner) in a field we decorated ourselves… the colors were cream, off white- I just wanted simple. Simple and natural and all about family. My stepmother did the flowers, my nieces were my bridesmaids and flower girl, my nephews were the ring bearers and we had 77 people attend.

We were so lucky because we basically did everything on the internet- my dress was a Vera Wang Lavender Label Gown from MyHabit.com, the Westover Inn was recommended by a woman at the Festival– and they were great. Andrew and I stayed there for a week, it was great.

My father was charged with finding the band and a photographer since he was in Stratford and had lots of contacts at the Festival. He booked a fabulous trio called Strings & Traps and Erin Samuell- and we were thrilled with both.

We danced all night long- one of the highlights was my niece Olivia singing Adele’s Rolling in The Deep, accompanied by my brother Cormac on drums, my nephew William on bass, my nephew Jack on keyboards and it was extraordinary. Brought the house down! Then everyone else started jamming, singing, and the band even stayed an extra hour because they were having fun too!

Our wedding favors were a Brooklyn artist (name escaping me) that I found on Pinterest, and who has a shop on Etsy- he made these really adorable/witty prints called “Pick Your Battles”- we framed them in IKEA white frames- and people LOVED them.

Photography: Erin Samuell, A Simple Photograph / Venue: The Westover Inn / Bride’s Dress: Vera Wang Lavender Label, via My Habit / Floral Design: DIY by bride’s stepmother / Band: Strings & Traps

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Post tags: A Simple Photograph, Canada, Canadian Weddings, Casual Elegance, DIY Florals, Flower girls, Gold Gown, My Habit, Ontario, Outdoor Ceremony, Outdoor Wedding, Simple, Stratford, Strings & Traps, Tented Reception, The Westover Inn, Vera Wang, Vera Wang Lavender
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

Craig and I are both travel buffs and had literally been around the world together in the past year before deciding to take a last-minute trip to Paris after Christmas. We spent our days exploring the Louvre, discovering yet another fantastic French bistro for lunch, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, and finding cobblestone streets filled with all sorts of intriguing shops. Our nights were spent walking down the twinkling Champs Elysees after dinner, taking a romantic candlelight dinner cruise down the Seine river, and enjoying the glittering Eiffel tower from Paris rooftops. It was amazing! On the last night (which was also New Year’s Eve), we managed to get tickets to a ballet held in Paris’s famous opera house, the Palais Garnier. It was on these steps after the performance that Craig bent down on one knee and asked for my hand in marriage. It was so sweet, so romantic, and I wish I could do it all over again!

We chose to get married in Aspen during the summer because it is just so beautiful and it’s one of our favorite places to ski in the winter. We wanted a small, intimate wedding weekend with activities for everyone leading up to our special day, and that’s exactly what we got! Our wedding coordinator and event planner, Kara Delay, was absolutely amazing and I knew the first time we spoke several months previously, that she and I shared the same vision of a rustic and romantic mountain wedding. When I arrived at the site on our wedding day, I was absolutely blown away at what Kara had been able to create. It was my vision but times 10! Throughout the entire process, I felt so at ease planning a destination wedding knowing Kara was there to help me manage the details. She went above and beyond anything I could’ve imaged and I’m so grateful that she was able to help us create such a special day for us.

While the whole thing was spectacular but if I had to single out one favorite moment, it would be the ceremony. It was a very powerful moment spiritually, and everyone felt God’s presence right there in the meadow. It was as if His hand were on us, sealing the commitment we made to one another to have and to hold, through better or worse, from this day forward. We read letters that we had written to each other, which made it that much more personal. I still tear up thinking about it!

Floral & Event Design: Kara Delay, Love This Day Events / Wedding Planning & Coordination: Love This Day Events / Venue: T Lazy 7 Ranch / Photographer: Jared Wilson Photography / Dress: Pronovias / Belt: Romona Keveza / Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Ring: Romance Diamond

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Post tags: Alfred Angelo, Aspen, Bouquets, Casual Elegance, Centerpieces, Color Palette Pink, Colorado, Colorado Rockies, Flower girls, Globes, Jared Wilson Photography, Love This Day Events, Mountain Weddings, mountains, Outdoor Ceremony, Outdoor Wedding, pies, Pronovias, Ranch Weddings, Ring Bearers, Rocky Mountains, Romance Diamond, Romona Keveza, T Lazy 7, Tented Reception, travel, Travel Themed, Vintage Cake Stands, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

After dating Miss Katie Woodard for about two years I was thinking it is time to ask her to marry me. We started dating near the end of college and neither of us had any expectations for our relationship. We quickly realized though, that we were falling in love. After I graduated college I started a job in Oklahoma City, while Katie was working in St. Louis. She was trying to find a job in OKC about the time that I decided I was going to propose. I kept leading her on that I only wanted to get married when I was 30 or older so she thought that it was going to take forever. So when I planned a trip to Europe she had no clue about what I had planned for her.

We first flew into Liverpool from Oklahoma City. Our second day we went to the beloved Paris. She wanted to go for quite some time now, so I thought it was the perfect romantic time to take her. We strolled along the Eiffel tower at night, the Louvre during the day and had an amazing time exploring the city together. The next day we were going to Switzerland and this is when I started to get nervous.

After arriving in Geneva, Switzerland we took a scenic and very beautiful train ride to Vevey, Switzerland. The train ride curved throughout the mountains surrounding Lake Geneva. We stayed in the small quaint town of Vevey and strolled along the lake and had a great dinner overlooking the lake and the mountains. Now, since I had been leading Katie on for quite some time about not getting married until we were 30, I decided I should drop some hints before I asked her (the next day). So I brought it up somehow and then said well it might be sooner than you expect, which I thought was a huge hint but I guess she never got it.

The next morning we took a train to a small town of Chateau d’eau and tried to find the little hot air balloon house. We arrived and got all set up for a ride at 2 o’ clock. The whole trip was very beautiful, blue skies, and about 65 degrees throughout England, Paris, and Switzerland. This day was no exception. We ate a meal outside right before the balloon ride. While Katie was inside looking at the place I took the ring out of the bag I had been carrying as quickly as I could and put it in my pocket.

So we drove to the take off site and started to fill the balloon up to take off. We both jumped in the balloon and it started to ascend above the ground. This is when I started to not think about the proposal so much but I was thinking about how high I was and how I could die if I happened to fall out (scared of heights syndrome). Now my mind was going crazy. I was nervous about the heights and extra nervous about what I should say. We had a private reservation in the balloon so it was just me and Katie, plus our balloon expert who didn’t speak much english. I figured that we should enjoy the ride before I decided to ask her to marry me.

The Alps were truly stunning. I will never forget being 3000 meters in the sky and looking across to the Alps, Lake Geneva, and the beautiful green Switzerland. We were pointing out the sites and mostly in awe of what we were seeing. It was quite an adventure. So while we were at the top of our flight I decided it was time to ask her. I was ghostly pale and Katie kept looking at me and laughing. She was making fun of me because she thought I was scared of the ride and being that far up in the sky. While part of that was very true, I was more nervous about whipping the ring out and falling on one knee. So that is exactly what I did.

I wasn’t sure what to say, all I could think of was I love you and I want to spend my whole life with you. So I said that while going down on one knee. After doing all this I could very well see that she was in complete shock. All she could say was “ohhhh my gossshhhhh, are you kidding, NOOOO, are you serious?” This happened for about five minutes while I on the other hand was sweating up a storm and wasn’t sure if that was a yes or a maybe or a I don’t know. After the complete shock reaction I received I was thinking to myself that maybe I should have done this different. Maybe an easy going talk three months before the proposal about getting married should have taken place, and maybe we should have gone ring shopping together, and maybe I should have planned it better. The shock reaction was not convincing. Katie spend the rest of the ride convincing me that she would have married me a year ago!

This whole time we started our decent to a field below the mountains. So we finally landed and then had champagne while sitting in this beautiful scenery. Afterwards we talked for hours about everything that had happened while spending two more days in Switzerland. Looking back on it, it is sufficient to say that the surprise was everything I wanted it to be in the end. The balloon ride symbolizes our marriage to come; romantic, fun, and adventurous.

Photographer: Hawes Photography / Floral Designer: Sisters Flowers / Event Designer & Planner: Erin Schulte, Exclusive Events / Invitation Designer: Ellie Snow / Cake: Jilly’s Cupcake Bar / Wedding Gown Designer: Enzoani / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: J.Crew / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Gardens of Malmaison / Shoes: Cole Haan / Menswear: Express Men

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Post tags: Cole Haan, Ellie Snow, Enzoani, Exclusive Events, Express Men, Hawes Photography, J. Crew, Jilly's Cupcake Bar, Lanterns, Missouri, Outdoor Wedding, Ring Bearers, Sisters Flowers, St. Louis, Tented Ceremony, Tented Reception, The Gardens of Malmasion, Wedding Photography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography