They say that true love conquers all, and in the case of this adorable duo, it couldn’t be more true. Because a day that started off with a trip to the emergency room and a missed dinner celebration with friends and family ended with some of the sweetest “I do’s” you will ever lay your eyes upon.  Think glowing candlelight and smiles that are never-ending.  Just how a wedding should be.  See it all captured by Two Birds Photography right here.

From The Bride… Jerome and I were married on January 10, 2014 in Chicago, IL. We approached our wedding not just as a chance to celebrate our love for each other, but to celebrate the love we have for our family and friends. We kept it small so that we could individually focus on each guest and the extra effort made the day more intimate. For instance, my younger brother wrote and performed an original poem, and instead of a seating card we hand wrote a letter for each guest sharing what we appreciate about them and how they shaped our lives both individually and as a couple. We also asked each guest to take Polaroid photos of themselves so that we could have photos of our closest friends and family decorating the walls of our new home. We served our favorite foods (like braised short ribs and smoked salmon) with choice of dessert (New York style cheesecake or French Apple Pie with homemade ice cream) thanks to the Boarding House and Julia, their fabulous in-house pastry chef.

We looked to vintage inspiration to create a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy and so many great vendors helped make our day possible. Fragrant Design created delicate succulent and baby’s breath arrangements, and Kel and Co handmade a custom altar out of vintage lace and did an outstanding job coordinating our day-of events. I wore a vintage-inspired gown from BHLDN with a custom-made veil, and much of our décor, such as brass candlesticks and mercury glass planters, was vintage thrifted.

Our wedding was beautiful and perfect in its own way, but that is not to say that everything went as planned. Jerome woke up very sick on the morning of our wedding, and at one point we considered getting married in the Emergency Room. When it came time for the ceremony, we decided to have all our friends and family enjoy dinner and time together without us while Jerome gathered his strength and I helped him to get ready back at The Langham. At the tail end of dinner, we finally arrived at our own wedding! We walked in and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house and everyone was cheering for us! We finally made it! For me (Julie), this was the best part of the day, to see everyone celebrating us and to walk down the aisle with my best friend knowing that he sacrificed so much and loved me to the point that he would not even let physical illness stop him from marrying me. For Jerome, the best moment of his day was after the ceremony. “I was still so nervous that I was going to be sick during the vows that I didn’t relax until they pronounced us as husband and wife. When they did, and we turned around and cheered, I was so excited to be married to my best friend! That moment was unforgettable!”

With all the planning that went in to our special day, it would be devastating to not remember or appreciate it, and this is why we are incredibly grateful to Jake and Jennifer from Two Birds Photography. Two Birds captured our day beautifully, and not in staged photos, but in the details: candid shots, sentimental moments shared and dozens of the small touches that helped to make our wedding so special. That exact moment that Jerome described, when we turned around and were pronounced for the first time, fists in the air, beaming, was captured on film perfectly so we have that moment forever. When I look at the images, I am not just reminded of what our wedding looked like; I am reminded of how I felt and who I was on that day. It takes a remarkably talented photographer to capture a feeling, but that is exactly what they did. With all that transpired on January 10th, we never could have appreciated it all, but thankfully Two Birds captured it for us and can appreciate it for years to come.

Photography: Two Birds Photography | Coordinator: Kel & Co | Flowers: Fragrant Design | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Hair: Ethan James Salon | Groom's Attire: Express | Accommodations: The Langham Chicago | Reception Venue And Catering: The Boarding House | Veil: Etsy

A destination wedding in Morocco sounds like my prettiest of dreams, and thanks to the gorgeous imagery below from Sarah Falugo it’s safe to say it looks like my prettiest of dreams too. Every detail planned by Boutique Souk makes my heart sing, and you can see all the reasons why right here.

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Emily and the girls enjoyed some morning preparations at La Mamounia while Sam and his groomsmen had lunch at the fashionable ‘Grand Café de la Poste’. The ceremony and reception took place at a private villa in the La Palmeraie area of Marrakech, Morocco.

Following the garden ceremony the couple enjoyed a champagne reception under the palm trees before having a poolside meal of under the stars. In the evening the guests were entertained by fire-dancers and DJs.

Photographer Sarah Falugo traveled in from the UK to document the event. She also to joined Sam and Emily the following day for a photo shoot in the High Atlas at Richard Branson’s ‘Kasbah Tamadot’ where the couple honeymooned.

Photography: Sarah Falugo Photography | Flowers: Boutique Souk | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Bridesmaids Dresses: Coast | Groom's Suit: Reiss | Venue: Boutique Souk | Wedding Planning And Co-ordination: Boutique Souk

There are romantic proposals, and then there is this little taste of awesomeness on a gorgeous rooftop in Washington DC.  Captured beautifully by Ashley Relvas Photography, it’s what happens when a crazy cool boyfriend proposes to his stunning girlfriend on a perfect night overlooking the Capital Building.  In other words?  It’s all sorts of amazing.  See every beautiful moment in the full gallery.

From Ashley Relvas Photography… This sweet soon-to-be groom, Tyler, emailed me not long ago to see if I was available for a “special shoot.” I was so excited when he explained that this “special shoot” was him proposing to his girlfriend in just a few days on the private rooftop terrace of Charlie Palmer Steak. Tyler planned out the perfect location for a beautiful Washington DC backdrop. I am so honored to have been there to witness and capture the joy and excitement between these two, during and just moments after he proposed. One of my favorite moments while taking pictures of them was when Heather (his soon-to-be bride) said something like, “gosh, I’m sorry I probably shouldn’t be smiling so much in all these photos but I can’t help it.” Actually, I think that is exactly what she should be doing. 

Photography: Ashley Relvas Photography | Restaurant: Charlie Palmer Steak

When life rains on your wedding…you pile into the barn! It might have rained for this Texas Bride’s rustic ranch nuptials, but there’s nothing a pair of Hunter Boots and a good attitude can’t amend. Right? Thankfully, Anne Marie Photography was there to capture the day in all it’s stormy glory. For even more inspiration look here!

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I think the intimate setting, the many, many candles, and family made my day special. Our wedding made everyone feel like family. We had a very big bridal party, the more the merrier, and our pastor was my dad’s best friend. The ceremony had worship songs that were sung by my best friend that lived overseas. There were many laughs, and lots of tears.

The colors at the wedding were what I wanted, very neutral. The barn with the lights, and the field behind it was so beautiful that I didn’t want to mess it up with a bunch of color. I loved the flowers at my wedding. I had seen some pictures on Pinterest that had really neutral colors with lots of succulents. I loved the idea, so that was incorporated in a lot of my flowers. I absolutely love mercury, that was used in a lot of the center pieces and even up at the altar. My sister and I created a lot of homemade signs that went around the barn and even outside. It made it feel really personal and just about us. There was an old truck at the ranch that obviously couldn’t run, but we had some people back it up into the barn and we used it as a cake table. We relocated the tailgate, and it had “Ford” on it, which is my middle name, so it made it really special to me.

My cake was another inspiration I had. I had seen a picture of a “naked” cake idea; my cake lady didn’t want me to do it because she said it would dry out the cake. But I have to say, it tasted like the best cake ever to me. It was something really different, and it was what I wanted because I don’t like icing. My mom was a lifesaver, we didn’t have a wedding planner or anyone and my cousins ran the day of coordinating.

It wasn’t exactly as I planned — it was better. I loved every moment, and would do it over and over exactly the same if I could.

Photography: Anne Marie Photography | Cakes: Cathy Young | Shoes: Hunter Boots | Catering: Sullivan Street Catering | Transportation: Mission Golf Cars | Ranch: Church Of Evangelical Faith | Rentals: Revive Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Aztec Events

What can I say about this wedding other than that it is utterly perfect?  The kind of perfect where a laid-back vibe and all sorts of pretty join forces in a party that is all about celebrating one seriously awesome duo (the bride happens to be a crazy cool officiant) and their amazing friends and family.  It’s heartwarming to the max, lovelies.  See it all captured by Chattman Photography right here.

From the Bride… I’ve worked in the wedding industry for many years and know how monotonous weddings can get, but as an ordained Interfaith minister, helping couples to craft one-of-a-kind wedding ceremonies, I also know the best a wedding can be.

Every single detail of our wedding reflected us, and most of it we did ourselves and with the help of family and friends; from the invitations I designed (licensing the work of a local artist) to the flowers we bought by the bucket from a local farm for my mother-in-law to arrange. We were even lucky enough to be friends with our amazing photographer, Joanna Chattman, and with Carla Caruso Jewelry, who made my pearl and diamond necklace and earring set as well as our wedding bands.

Our ceremony was truly the heart of our wedding and many, many guests told us afterward it was the most beautiful they’d ever witnessed. Whitney Acres, a local farm, let us use one of their fields for our ceremony, haying it just before our wedding so the air smelled fresh and summery. My brothers assembled our wedding arch there, which now stands in our front yard.

Everyone loved the blessing ribbons. It gave our guests something to do before the ceremony began and included them in physically creating the sacred space by hanging their ribbon on lines strung from either side of the wedding arch. We felt surrounded by their love and blessings during the entire ceremony, and we moved them with us to the reception tent, too. (Plus they made a great backdrop!) Now they’re decorating our baby’s room (due mid-April!). 

Both sets of our grandparents have passed away and my father died when I was 10, so honoring family, ancestors and lineage was really important to us. We asked family members to bring photographs of these loved ones, which we then arranged along a stone wall near the entrance to the field. Guests told us they spent a lot of time lingering over the photographs, reminiscing and guessing who was who. My first tears of the day were shed as we paused there on our entrance. 

We also wanted to include a special ritual in the ceremony to honor our lost loved ones. We asked our parents to come up, one at a time, and say the names of their parents, ringing a singing bowl after each name. My stepfather said my father’s parents’ names, and my brother said the name of our own father. I know many couples are worried about feeling too emotional at their wedding, but, aside from our vows, the ancestor ritual was the most powerful part of the ceremony. Many, many guests were moved to tears (as was I), and many spoke to me afterward about how much they loved this ritual in particular.

Alexander and I decided not to have a wedding party, so we felt it was important to include our brothers and sister in the ceremony. We chose readings for each of them that we knew would be meaningful to them, too. (I’m happy to share which poems/readings we chose!) We also asked one of Alexander’s oldest friends, a musician, to play one of our favorite songs just before we took our wedding vows.

Though we got ready separately (by the way, my dress zipper broke and I had to be sewn in at the last minute!), it was really wonderful to make the long walk to the ceremony together. I treasure those moments we had alone, and then our hearts leaping at sight of all our cherished friends and family gathered for us. We had the children following us with bubbles, which was a great activity for them and made for some wonderful pictures, too!

It was also really important that we stood together during the ceremony, not separated between the officiant as is traditional. I loved holding hands and feeling really connected throughout the ceremony. We had our friend/officiant stand aside while we took our vows and exchanged rings so that it really felt like we married each other.

Our reception was at The Curtis House, a short walk from the ceremony site. Gloria Pacosa, owner of The Curtis House, was also our event coordinator (that’s her sewing me into the dress!). We rented antique mismatched china and silverware from her, as well as vintage water pitchers and salt and pepper shakers. The tables were very homey and eclectic, yet elegant. We hung all the lanterns and string lights and made all the bouquets using vases I’d spent a year collecting from thrift shops. My mother also spent a year collecting antique brass candlesticks for the tables, and also making the homemade jam we gave as wedding favors (boy, were those a huge hit with our guests!).

My husband’s family is Greek so we served Greek white wine and our food was Greek-Mediterranean – simple, fresh and summery. A friend also made a special batch of “A & H Love” hard cider. Our biggest splurge was probably the band, but since we love to dance it seemed well worth the expense. The 5-piece jazz/soul group was assembled by local musician friend Jon Fisher and featured New Orleans vocalist Samirah Evans. They rocked the house, and dancing alone to “At Last” was definitely a highlight of the whole day.

A wedding is one of the greatest opportunities you’ll ever have to publicly express who you are. So celebrate it! Exploit it! Take full advantage of the chance to have one day in your life be about being who you really are with those you really love. What an extraordinary opportunity.

Photography: Chattman Photography | Event Planning: Gloriosa & Co. | Flowers: Sunset Farm | Ceremony: Grace Ceremonies | Ceremony Venue: Whitney Acres Farm | Reception Venue: Gloriosa & Co. | Bride's Shoes: BCBGeneration | Catering: The Electric Cocktail Party | Groom's Attire: Tallia | Invitation Artwork: Kristen DeFontes | Music: Jon Fisher & Samirah Evans | Wedding Bands & Jewelry: Carla Caruso Jewelry | Wedding Dress "Athena": Wtoo By Watters

It’s super satisfying to see your vision come to a reality and, lucky us, this Bride’s vision of a romantic Southern wedding is available for the viewing (thanks to Remedy Wedding Films and Marni Rothschild, of course). And there’s plenty to swoon over with her Modern Trousseau gown and lush bouquets from Ohh Events, all against the seaside backdrop of Patriot’s Point . See it all here!

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As soon as we got engaged, I could close my eyes and envision exactly what I wanted our wedding to look like – a regal church, a reception near the water, stately black tuxedos, gold décor, and a crowd that never leaves the classic black and white dance floor. And that’s exactly the wedding we planned.

Brandon and I wanted to reflect our classic taste with a timeless wedding full of crisp lines and elegant touches. I was inspired by an old-fashioned formal affair, but softened the overall look with soft tones of blush, ivory, and gold.

We were married at St. Mary of the Annunciation, the first Catholic church in the Carolinas and Georgia, by my childhood priest. The ceremony was my favorite part of the planning and its special details are what stick out in my mind most when I think about our wedding day. Our mothers were seated to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” the wedding party processed in to Bach’s “Jesu, Joy Man of Man’s Desiring,” and my father walked me down the aisle to Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary.” One of our dear friends sang “Surely the Presence,” a song that always makes me smile and think of my precious grandmother who passed a few years ago.

Our wedding party took a trolley across the Cooper River to Mount Pleasant, where we celebrated at our reception overlooking the Charleston harbor. Brandon and I danced to one of our favorite songs, “Let’s Stay Together,” by Al Green. We wanted our guests to have a great selection of food. We had various stations set up serving Lowcountry shrimp and grits, sirloin, roasted turkey, mixed greens salad, crab cakes, fried green tomato BLTs, and delicious gouda tortellini pasta. For a late night snack, we served hamburger sliders with mini french fry cones.

My favorite flowers are blush garden roses and white hydrangeas, so we had both of those in various size arrangements throughout the reception tent. Three vintage chandeliers were cascaded above the classic black and white dance floor. Alongside our cake, we displayed wedding photos of our parents and grandparents with the quote “We are but a reflection of those who have come before us.”

The Mighty Kicks kept our guests dancing all night. I don’t know if I’ve ever had more fun! One of my favorite moments was during the classic wedding reception song, “Shout,” which happened to be the last dance of the night. While everyone was shimmying to the ground during the “little bit softer now” part, Brandon asked me to stand up with him and look at how many people were on the dance floor. At that moment, we both had this magical feeling. All of our friends and family were together in one place at the same time with happiness abounding. That’s so special. I hope I never forget that moment.

Photography: Marni Rothschild Pictures | Videography: Remedy Wedding Films | Flowers: Ooh! EventHaus | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Cake: Wildflour | Invitations: Scotti Cline Designs | Reception Venue: Patriots Point On Charleston Harbor | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Relish Distinctive Catering | Makeup: Wedding Hair By Charlotte | Hair: Wedding Hair By Charlotte | Grooms Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: St Marys Of The Annunciation | Accomodations: The Wentworth Mansion | Day Of Planner: Ooh! EventHaus | Music: The Mighty Kicks | Rentals: Group Dynamics | Veil: Modern Trousseau

One of the best treats we get around here from time to time? When two of our LBB members get together for an afternoon of straight up love. Meet the cutest couple ever, Scott and Ashlee. And behind the lens? The lovely Kayla Barker. Put the two together and it makes for one crazy good gallery to peruse!

From Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography… I met up with fellow fine art film photographers, Scott and Ashlee, while they were visiting our great state of Texas! We headed out to Enchanted Rock State National Area near Fredericksburg, Texas and we had a fun time hiking, exploring and taking lots of photo of each other and the beautiful landscape during our session swap. This stunning national area was the perfect backdrop to document their time in Texas and the two of them in love!

Photography: Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | National Park: Enchanted Rock State National Area

Now that your kitchen tools and dish collection have expanded since your wedding, it’s time to get real about organization and storage. We’ve recently teamed up with Macy’s to bring together a handful of awesome Registry to Reality ideas. And today we’re chit-chatting all about tackling those cupboards of yours! Plus? We’ve got the cutest DIY message board that ever existed.

– First and foremost, you need to take stock! Chances are, there’s a handful of things you’re missing. Try to dedicate one afternoon to pulling everything out of your cupboards and really going through it all. Make a list of what you already have, and then work out your wants and your needs. It’ll help you build a really amazing registry!

– To eliminate clutter, try to keep only the every-day essentials out on your counter. We use our Cuisinart DCC-1200 Coffee Maker multiple times daily so it just makes sense to keep it front and centre. But that toaster or panini press you only use every few days? Unplug it and tuck it into a drawer!

– There’s no need to keep every spice under the sun at arms length away. Determine your top 10-12 that you use time and time again and keep them in a rotating spice rack. The rest can be tucked away in the pantry for special occasions or specific recipes.

– If you’ve been lucky enough to get your hands on gorgeous everyday cookware the likes of All-Clad Copper Core 10 Piece Cookware Set, you’ll want to treat each piece with tender loving care. Keep everything on a rubberized shelf liner to protect from nicks and scratches. In addition, we love those pot lid holders you can install on the cupboard door to help wrangle all those loose bits!

– It’s always a great idea to reach for matched sets of dishes (or at the very least, a single color or color family). This helps reduce visual clutter, making your cupboards feel significantly more streamlined with little to no work at all! We are ridiculously obsessed with Mikasa Antique White Dinnerware as each piece is of crazy high quality, and totally timeless to boot.

– When it comes to your Tupperware, here at SMP we strongly suggest picking up a set where every lid is the same size. They totally exist, and it makes your life so. much. easier. – I’m a big fan of hanging anything that clutters up your drawers: think stick on hooks on the inside of your cupboard to hang measuring cups and spoons, KitchenAid mixer attachments and oddly shaped utensils!

– Though this may seem like a no-brainer, I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen people do the exact opposite. Store your pots and pans as close to your stove as possible for quick and easy access.

– Consider the function of your space and organize accordingly. We love to store our colanders with our pasta pot, and our mixing bowls with our bakeware so that everything is set up in stations, so to speak. – You know that upper shelf that you can barely-reach? Save it for specialty-use items like your Vera Wang Wedgwood Orient Candlesticks, Marchesa by Lenox Stemware, Paisley Bloom Flute or your Lenox Simply Fine Chirp Round Place Setting.

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And our best tool to stay organized? An awesome message board, a family command centre, if you will, that contains a calendar, grocery list and anything else you need to keep your family on track at all times!

½ yard printed fabric of your choice (we got ours at Jo-Ann’s)

Thin cork sheet
Hot glue gun & glue sticks
Tacks
Calendar
Grocery list

Iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles. Cut the fabric to be 2” wider than the cork sheet on all sides. Lay the fabric printed side down. Spray one side of the cork with a light coat of spray adhesive then center the fabric over the cork and press down, starting in the center and working outwards to smooth out any air bubbles. Step 3: Pull the edges of the fabric tight against the backside of the cork and hot glue in place. Cut a diagonal line in the fabric at each corner and layer the fabric as smooth as possible so the fabric doesn’t bulk up at the corners, and hot glue in place. Step 4: Hang the corkboard inside your cabinet door. Depending on how permanent you want it to be, you could screw it in with very shallow screws, or use 3M sticky tape. Step 5: Hang tacks and cute organizing tools like grocery lists and calendars for the whole family to use. *Note: We used a single 12” x 24” cork panel, but if your shelves are in the way, you could buy smaller cork squares or cut a cork panel to fit the dimensions inside your cabinet.

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Ready for even more inspiration? Check out our Macy’s Registry to Reality Pinterest board!

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Photography: Keith Morrison

MACY’S PRODUCTS USED IN GLASSES CABINET: Counter: Coffeemaker: Cuisinart DCC-1200 Coffee Maker, Brew Central 12-Cup | Vase: kate spade new york Bud Vase, Castle Peak | Bottom Shelf left to right: Wine Glasses: Waterford Stemware, Lismore Nouveau Wine Glass Waterford Stemware | Wine Glasses: Marchesa by Lenox Wine Glass, Paisley Bloom | Champagne Flutes: Marchesa by Lenox Stemware, Paisley Bloom Flute | Middle Shelf left to right: Coffee Mugs: Mikasa Dinnerware, Antique White Collection | Coffee Mugs: Hotel Collection Dinnerware, Bone China Collection | Coffee Mugs: Mikasa Dinnerware, Antique White Collection | Top Shelf: left to right: Candlesticks: Vera Wang Wedgwood Orient Candlesticks | Printed Plate & Teacup: Lenox Simply Fine Chirp Round 4-Piece Place Setting | Ramekins: Corningware French White 10 Piece Bakeware Set

MACY’S PRODUCTS USED IN DISHES CABINET: Bottom Shelf: Fancy Bowls: Noritake Dinnerware, Austin Platinum Collection | Fancy Plate Set: Noritake Dinnerware, Austin Platinum Collection | Middle Shelf: White Bowls: Hotel Collection Dinnerware, Bone China Collection | White Plate Set: Mikasa Dinnerware, Antique White Collection | Top Shelf: White Bowls: Mikasa Dinnerware, Antique White Collection | Bread Plates: Noritake Dinnerware, Austin Platinum Collection

MACY’S PRODUCTS USED IN THE POT CABINET: Bottom Shelf: Steel & Copper Pot: All-Clad Copper Core 10 Piece Cookware Set | Middle Shelf: Saucepot: All-Clad Stainless Steel 10 Piece Cookware Set | Bronze Stock Pot: Anolon Advanced Stock Nonstick 11 Piece Cookware Set | Top Shelf: Frying Pans: All-Clad Stainless Steel 10 Piece Cookware Set

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Every day is a pretty-fest on this corner of the blogosphere, but when our friends at Christian Oth Studio stop by for an all day recap of their loveliest weddings of the season? Well, that’s something worth celebrating. With not two, not three, but four weddings on the agenda, we’re in for a serious treat and it all starts with this Montauk stunner brought to life by Sofia Crokos Events and Sag Harbor Florist. First up, the rehearsal dinner and keep scrolling for the gorgeous big day.

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Without further adieu, Katie and John’s gorgeous wedding…

Makeup by Dani Levi Beauty

From Christian Oth Studios… Katie and John were married September 28th at Crow’s Nest in Montauk, NY. The rehearsal dinner and after party were at Surf Lodge which is also where the groom and groomsmen got ready. Katie’s dress was from Stone Fox Bride and the silk slip dress that she changed into at the end of the night is actually her senior prom dress.

Photography: Christian Oth Studio | Videography: Hart Pictures | Cake: One Girl Cookies | Makeup: Dani Levi Beauty | Hair: Regina Carter | Lighting: Matt Murphy Event Lighting | Wedding Venue: The Crow's Nest | Event Planner & Designer: Sofia Crokos Events,LLC | Paper Design: Bliss & Bone | Rehearsal Catering: La Brisa | Rehearsal Floral Design: Sag Harbor Florist | Rehearsal Venue: Surf Lodge | Rentals: Party Rentals Ltd | Wedding Catering: Nick And Tonis | Wedding Floral Design: Raquel Corvino | Wedding Tent: The New York Tent Company

When it comes to details, there’s no doubt the wedding dress is front and center. And as much as I love watching the Bride walk down the aisle, watching her walk back after the ceremony with her Groom is even better, because I’m a sucker for gorgeous dress back details. This little round-up? It’s sure to satisfy your wedding fashion cravings, at least for the time being.

Wedding Dress Back Styles We Love

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Wedding Dress Back Styles We Love

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This is one of those weddings where every last moment is so very, very awesome, you’re not even sure how to explain just how amazing it is.  You know the one – it’s the perfect mix of seriously stylish + elegant with a bride and groom who really know how to throw a fabulous party.  Add to that a gallery full of jaw-droppingly gorgeous images from Aparat photography and, well… happy Tuesday, indeed.

From Aparat Photography… Bec and David’s wedding at a rooftop bar in Melbourne’s CBD, was an intimate affair of around 60 guests. Under a high ceiling with sweeping views of the city seen through the tall glass walls, a single long table was adorned with flowers and candles running down the middle.

An emotional ceremony was held, before everyone sat down to a cozy dinner and later danced the night away as the sun set behind the city’s skyscrapers. There was no cake or bridal waltz and Bec was walked down the aisle by her best friend. This was not about following any strict traditions, but more about being surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

Bec and Dave are a couple with so much soul and energy and we were caught up in their day and found ourselves so overjoyed to see them marry. Two very kind-hearted and welcoming people who instantly put anyone they meet at ease (Bec embraced us so warmly when we first met). This was as genuine a marriage as you could get and this is what makes our job so wonderful, documenting these stories.

Photography: Aparat Photography | Videography: Zephyr Productions | Floral Design: Des Willis - Flowers Vasette | Wedding Gown: Rachel Gilbert | Rings: Pilkington Jewellers | Make Up And Hair: Miss Fox Melbourne | Groom's Attire: Pierucci | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Alto Event Space | Groom's Shoes: Kurt Geiger | Groom's Tie: Declic

Clear your afternoon agenda lovelies. We’ve got a dose of rustic-romance that will have your ticker racing a million beats a second. And no matter what it is that draws you in first… the insanely beautiful blooms from Colonial House Of Flowers, the adorable invites done up by the Bride herself or those sweet cow girl boots (a gift from the Groom!), all-together it makes for one lovely gallery from Haley Sheffield.

From the beautiful Bride… You know those major life experiences that you hope you’ll have in the future, the ones you dream about throughout your life? You imagine how they’ll happen, how you’ll feel, how your life will change. For me, those experiences include(d) things like kissing a guy for the first time, getting my driver’s license, going off to college, getting married and having a child. And while I have hoped for years that certain things would happen for me, like meeting that one person with whom I want to spend the rest of my life (and who can tolerate me for the rest of theirs), I wasn’t sure it would all pan out like I had imagined. I have seen that very thing happen for countless friends, and while I’ve been happy for each of them, there was always a gnawing in my gut that reminded me of my deep desire to find what they found. I wanted to experience that kind of love. And now, by God’s sweet grace, I have. Friday evening, one of those major life experiences played out in living color for me when my boyfriend proposed. He asked me to marry him. He didn’t ask me on national television or in a hot air balloon or up on stage at some rock band’s concert — thank goodness. Instead, he stayed true to exactly who we are as a couple. He waited until I got home from work, and when the two of us were alone and I was in my pajamas — he asked. He told me how much he loves me, just as he always does, and he simply asked if I would be his wife. And that life experience was better than anything I ever could’ve imagined.

I began my search for the perfect dress with three things in mind: 1) I wanted it to have sleeves and lace; 2) It had to look fabulous with my cowgirl boots, a birthday gift from Matthew the year before that I planned to wear for the wedding; and 3) It had to work within my very strict budget. Unfortunately, the first—and only—long-sleeved dress I tried felt more like a straightjacket than a gown and looked ridiculous with my boots. Luckily, my consultant was amazing, and after a few tries, I decided on the perfect compromise: A strapless lace gown with a scalloped sweetheart neckline and chapel-length train. It went perfectly with my boots, and instead of sleeves, it featured a matching high-collar sheer scalloped lace bolero that created a Queen Anne neckline. I was comfortable with the extra coverage up top, and I had the tailor add snaps inside the dress so I could tuck the bolero in, creating the illusion that it was all one piece.

I had my heart set on a barn wedding, and Matthew and I were sure we wanted to get married in the fall. I had no idea where to find the perfect barn, but we live in southeast Georgia — surely it was around here somewhere! A coworker suggested we visit Old Freeman Family Farm, and as soon as we began to drive down the driveway lined with pecan trees leading up to the barn built by the Freeman family’s own hands, we knew it was exactly what we had been searching for. (Weddings at Old Freeman Family Farm are a relatively new venture, so we were honored to be among the first couples to tie the knot there!)

Honestly, Matthew and I never completely decided on any one or two specific colors to incorporate into our day, and without attendants to dress, we didn’t have to. I found most of my inspiration in the vintage dishes and napkins I collected to use at the reception. Our flowers were phenomenal, as was our floral designer, who is also one of my dearest friends. Christy Hulsey at Colonial House of Flowers understood my vision, and even better, she understood me. The humble barnyard was transformed into a South Georgia garden in bloom, more beautiful than I ever could have dreamed. Surrounded by personal touches — the lush, green draping passion vine hand-picked right down the road from where I grew up and the golden rain tree blooms and nandina berries hand-collected by Christy’s grandmother from her very own garden — I felt completely at home. The rich, garden-inspired color palette of peach, coral, pink, orange and white featured a dreamy lineup of stars: peonies, astilbe, ranunculus, garden roses, O’hara roses, campanella roses, tulips, delphinium, Lisianthus and Queen Anne’s lace. Hanging pepper berries and privet berries added splashes of blue and red, and the result was nothing less than breathtaking. (Matthew and I loved them so much, we took a few arrangements along with us on our honeymoon!)

I chose to design and print our invitation suite, a decision that allowed me to create exactly what I envisioned at a much lower cost. Although I caught myself questioning my sanity a few times throughout the process, I think the final product was worth the effort, and many of our guests told me how much they enjoyed them.

Something old: Matthew had a jeweler take the marquis diamond from a ring given to me by my aunt and fashion my engagement ring around the stone. He has fantastic taste! Something new: I wore a fabulous pair of crocheted boot cuffs tucked into my cowgirl boots. Something borrowed: The night before the wedding, we realized we didn’t have a knife to cut the cake. Thankfully, Matthew’s sister-in-law graciously brought hers along the next day for us to borrow. Something blue: My guipure lace garter included a classic navy blue cameo charm (and some fabulous velvet ribbon).

Planning a wedding is expensive. Although I did relatively well staying within my budget, it required hours and hours of DIY projects, many lunch breaks spent scouring thrift and antique stores, tireless evenings searching the Internet and countless favors from the best friends and family a girl could ask for. Sticking to a budget forced me to make some tough decisions. It wasn’t always easy, but I was so proud of what I was able to accomplish. (Plus, it’s so nice to begin our marriage with no wedding debt!) I have two vendors specifically that were such a special part of our day: our florist, Colonial House of Flowers, and our photographer, Haley Sheffield. Together, they formed a dream team of talent. Haley was by my side for most of the day, and she went over and beyond her “typical” duties to make sure our day went as smoothly as possible. Add to that her sweet spirit, her sense of humor, her remarkable ability to set people at ease — I could not have been blessed with a more perfect photographer. I truly believe our children will find our photos just as stunning 30 years from now as we do today! One of my favorite moments was as I was getting ready, Beatrice, our floral designer’s adorable daughter, came walking into the room holding my bouquet. She was donning the most beautiful flower halo, and the bouquet she was carrying took my breath away. That moment was beyond perfect.

My advice for brides: Don’t sweat the small stuff, and try not to focus on the negative. There were plenty of little things that didn’t go as planned on the day of our wedding — like how my dress was still bustled when I walked down the aisle or how someone set out a roll of paper towels with the “Hankies for your tears of joy” sign because no one could find the vintage hankies I had collected for guests to use during the ceremony — but rather than allow those few things to drive me crazy, it’s so much more fun to laugh about them and celebrate the countless things that came together to make our day so perfect. Also, if you’re like me and go to the trouble of creating an extensive playlist for the reception, be sure your list finds its way to the DJ! Otherwise, he may end up blaring “What Does the Fox Say?” toward the end of the night. (I’m still not quite over that one.) Currently, Matthew is working hard toward a degree in computer science, and we’re looking forward to seeing where life leads us after he graduates. Wherever that may be, I’m so excited we get to take the journey together!

Photography: Haley Sheffield | Floral Design: Colonial House of Flowers, Est. 1968 | Wedding Dress: Elegant Bridals | Hair & Makeup: Bejais | Confections: Frosted Fantasies | Family Farm: Old Freeman Family Farm | Inspiration: Slow Flowers | Music: Big Time Events | Rentals: Fairy Tale Tents | Sparklers: I Love Sparklers | Straws: Pink Lemonade Party

When the words ‘coral’, ‘beach’ and ‘Maui’ are all in the title, I instantly know it’s going to be a wedding after my own heart. And when it’s Wendy Laurel behind the lens? It’s all over. Thanks to White Orchid Wedding, it’s a tropical soiree filled to the brim with color (hello, gorg linens from La Tavola!). Find every pretty bit in the gallery.

From Wendy Laurel… These two met each other in college and have been friends for seven years. But they only started being a couple two years ago. Nothing better than best friends who find their way into love. Both Emelie and Alex come from famiies in Canada with restaurant backgrounds. They chose a destination wedding in Maui but wanted a beautiful dinner party. The table as well as the delicious food was centerpiece of their wedding. And relaxing under the stars, enjoying their meal and cocktails surrounded by their family and best of friends, was the perfect wedding plan for them in Hawaii.

Photography: Wendy Laurel | Event Planning: A White Orchid Wedding Inc. | Florist: Teresa Sena Designs | Bakery: Cravings | Caterer: Maui Executive Catering Company | Bar Services: Garnish Craft Cocktail Catering | Beach House: A White Orchid Wedding Inc. | Entertinment: Manutea Nui E | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Minister: Keli'i Brown | Photography Assistance: Jeffrey Oltman | Rentals: Pacific Isle Rentals

I’m all about the sunshine and beach time but you must admit, there’s nothing quite like a crisp Fall day. And this wedding encompasses all the amazing bits and pieces of Fall – the rich colors, the cozy surroundings, al fresco dining by candlelight. It’s bohemian perfection crafted by Bash Please, with florals by Sweet Marie Designs and photography by Christian Cruz For Max & Friends. Click here for the full gorgeous affair.

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From The Bride…As soon as James and I got engaged, we agreed on the one major detail of our wedding – that it would be a mini-vacation for all who attended. With this in mind, we set forth to find the perfect church as we felt that our marriage would be the cornerstone for our intimate wedding. We drove up the Pacific Coast, stopping in Malibu and Santa Barbara before having our breath taken away by the majestic beauty and tradition of the Carmel Mission and the city of Carmel. From that point on, we knew that we wanted Bash, Please to help us make our dream weekend a reality after having attended and being captivated by their creative mindset at their wildly popular Cream Event. Upon meeting Melissa and later Sydney, we imparted our desire to make every detail of our wedding weekend, bespoke.

We knew that a Fall wedding would lend itself well to all that Carmel had to offer as well as our love of hearty food, deep, rich colors, and the crispness or air that only a perfect Fall day could bring. We wanted a celebration that was unique yet approachable, where our guests felt comfortable and happy and were able to experience elements they maybe hadn’t experienced before. We knew upon meeting each of the creative, talented vendors that it was a match from the start. Alise made sure that our flowers were rich, vibrant and unique (and surprised me with out of season peonies in my bouquet!). Pharmacie made sure that guests were able to partake in uniquely curated cocktails. Our photographers – Christian and Reinna, were such a dream to work with, they captured our day beautifully and made it a seamless effort. A Chef by trade, James oversaw all of the culinary details for the weekend. From the salmon tartarecones with cilantro caviar to the mini candy crab apples that circulated during the dance, it was one unforgettable meal. Steve and his team exemplified the term “a restaurant without walls.” We wanted each dining experience to truly stand out with unexpected little touches like the vintage Absinthe Cart making rounds at the rehearsal dinner to the “roomforty campfire” deconstructed s’mores and mini candied crab apples passed during our first dance. The private residence we selected for our celebration overlooked the Ocean. We knew that our guests would drive up the long and windy Point Lobos Ridge road not knowing what to expect when they got to the top.

The big reveal on our big day, was one of the best surprises of the weekend! Clouds hung low above the patio, and every guest expressed at some point “We are dining above the clouds!” Indeed we were floating in the clouds, not only then but during the entire weekend. An unforgettable marriage and wedding – indeed.

Photography: Max Wanger | Floral Design: Olive Willow Designs | Cake: SusieCakes | Invitations: Amber Moon | Ceremony Venue: Carmel Mission Basilica | Reception Venue: Point Lobos Ridge Estate | Catering: Private Estate | Cocktails/Bar Services: Pharmacie | Coordination & Event Design: Bash Please | Day-of Paper Design: Bash Please | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Save The Date Design: Lauren Spencer King | Special Tabletop Decor: Casa de Perrin

Oh, Karen Willis Holmes, you and your stunning dresses can do no wrong. And that is totally evident in this photo campaign for their incredible, new collection! The soft + romantic, yet fashion forward designs focus on simplicity and construction; let me tell you dears — these gowns are truly breathtaking. Striking in their simplicity, yet impeccably detailed, Karen Willis Holmes has created a gorgeous line using silky tulles and delicate laces, embroidery and silk georgette draped overlays. Ranging from bright ivory to soft nude tones, there is something in this collection for every bride! Known for their incredible attention to detail, the Australian-based designer offers both a Bespoke collection and her KWH by KAREN WILLIS HOLMES collection, which is her off the rack range of wedding dresses.  Available in the Karen Willis Holmes flagship stores in Australia, New York City and also through stockists worldwide, you won’t want to miss this stunning line of dresses! For more information and to make an appointment at the New York store (7 Centre Market Place, New York, New York 10013, between Broome & Grand streets), call 646.912.929, email newyork{at}karenwillisholmes.com or head over here. [dotted]

I’m telling you right now that this recipe is everything. And though it doesn’t always work out this way, I can assure you that these mini blueberry tarts are as tasty as they are adorable. One part sweet, one part tart, and one part pure deliciousness all wrapped up in a tiny pie shell. Big hugs to Tasteful Temptations for sending this yummy treat our way!

Jacquelyn ClarkMini Blueberry Tarts

prep time 15 Minute/s

cook time 40 Minute/s

total time 55 Minute/s

Serves 0Ingredients

• CRUST:
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter cold diced or sliced
• ¼ cup ice water
• FILLING:
• 4 cups fresh blueberries, washed, drained well
• 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 tbsp. corn starch
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• TOPPING:
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup flour
• 3/4 cup quick cooking rolled oats
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 stick softened butter (4 tbsp.)

Instructions

1. CRUST:
2. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
3. Roll dough out cut out to fit tart pans. Butter and flour tart pans and place pie dough in making sure to press out any air pockets and trim to fit top of tart pan.
4. FOR THE FILLING:
5. In a bowl combine the blueberries, granulated sugar, corn starch, and lemon juice, and mix to combine evenly. Place into pie crust lined tart pans about ¼ inch above top of pan it will shrink after baking
6. FOR THE TOPPING:
7. In the same bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter. Stir with a fork until the mixture is crumbly and evenly blended. Spread the mixture over the berries and bake at 375 degrees F. for 40 minutes. Let cool to warm before serving. To serve, remove tart from pan after cooling and top with Fresh whipped Cream and lemon zest, Garnish with fresh sprig of Mint.

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Recipe: Tasteful Temptations | Photography: Threaded Together Photography | Styling And Vintage Rentals: Threaded Together Vintage Rentals

A day at the zoo with Jordan Brittley behind the lens makes for the most darling engagement you’ll ever come across. Complete with animal watching, cotton candy eating and carousel riding, these two sweeties took “day date” to a new level, and lucky for us it’s all sitting pretty right here! 

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From the Bride… For our engagement session we went to the St. Louis Zoo. We took pictures on the train, in the bamboo and on the carousel! Jordan is extremely creative, had great ideas about photo opportunities, and the whole experience was so fun!

Photography: Jordan Brittley | Venue: St Louis Zoo

We fully subscribe to the notion that if you can’t find it, make it (one peek at our DIY archive and you’ll see just what I mean)! Which is why we adore Threaded Together. Because when they set out to put together their rustic dinner party, they had a vision and they didn’t want to part with it. And when they couldn’t find table runners to fit said vision? Well, they made them!

Fabric
Yard Stick or Tape Measure
Scissors
Fray Check
Dye if desired

Pre-measure the table you will be using these on so you know how much yardage to buy of the fabric. The runners should hang over the sides of the table by a foot if laying width-wise under place settings so that they don’t pool in guests laps. If using just one as a runner down the center of the table length-wise then they should hang over the sides at least a couple feet.

Select a woven fabric with a nice texture like a linen or this cotton blended with metallic thread.

Hand dye fabric piece according to instructions on the dye packet (I used Rit dye since it was a cotton fabric but you can use Jacquard iDye Poly if you are using a synthetic fabric.)

Cut to desired length and width. They should be a little wider than your place setting if using width-wise or at lest a third the size of your table width if laying length-wise.

 Pull out the long threads to create a fray of about a half inch or your desired width.
Turn over and run Fray Check along the sides just inside of the frayed edge to keep from fraying further.

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Photography: Threaded Together Photography | Florals: Barbie’s Blooms | Styling And Vintage Rentals: Threaded Together Vintage Rentals

This wedding is everything to me right now — the beach, sprawling woods, the bride’s perfect Boho-Chic dress, and not to mention how adorable the little girl is! Every detail seems so effortless and meaningful, and I can feel the love radiating from my monitor. So keep scrolling, and make sure to take a glimpse at the full gallery for more perfect moments captured by Terra Rothman Photography.

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Photography: Terra Rothman Photography | Wedding Venue: Short Sands Beach

Ok, I just need to say it. This Bride’s Marchesa gown is absolutely incredible. I would go as far as to say it’s my all time favorite. Combine that gorgeous gown with a stunning Bride, her handsome groom, and their super chic Chicago wedding? And well, I’m in love. See all the gorgeous images from KingenSmith here.

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My parents first learned of Josh during my stepfather’s birthday dinner in 2011… just weeks after Josh and I met! Josh knew they were in town for a weekend visit and knew that I was taking them out for a birthday dinner so he called the restaurant and had a bottle of champagne sent to our table as we sat down. Little did I know I’d be forced into disclosing this “relationship” to my parents so soon after it had begun…at this point Josh and I had only been out a handful of times! Needless to say, my parents were totally on board… so long as Josh promised to continue sending bottles of champagne!

Our choice for venue was primarily driven by the warm and intimate setting provided by the Waldorf’s banquet room where the ceremony and reception were to be held. Both of us immediately knew this was the place and we booked on the spot. Although the hotel is not small, per se, it is able to maintain the boutique-ish feel which we both desired. Each and every employee truly made us feel as if the hotel was ours right from the start of the planning process.

Without a doubt, I think the most poignant description of the night was summed up by one of our guests who told us “the room was filled with love and that’s something you cannot buy.”

Photography: Kingensmith | Cinematography: VDO Video | Florist: Bukiety | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Wedding Cake: Chef Andrew Johnson | Stationery: Stephanie LLC | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Hotel: Waldorf Astoria | Groom's Shoes: Crockett & Jones | Groom's Tux: Z by Zegna | Orchestra: Bradley Young Orchestra