Close your eyes and imagine the loveliest garden wedding you’ve ever come across. Now open up and be prepared for even more, because these charming California nuptials are just THAT pretty. Designed with a nod to the couple’s love of cooking (read: herb-infused olive oil favors) it’s classic romance with a personal spin and we’ve got the whole gallery from Onelove Photography.

From the Bride… We both love being in the kitchen, so we wanted to incorporate our love of food and cooking into our wedding. After much discussion, we came up with the idea of infused olive oil with different herbs and spices that have special meaning. We had rosemary for faithfulness, love and remembrance; thyme for courage; sage for strength, chili to “spice things up”, and garlic just because we love it!

We also had a lot of help from my little sister. One of the things I was set on was to hand address all of the invites, my handwriting however, is not the prettiest. She ended up doing all the calligraphy and the artwork on the invites, the name cards, the bar menu, the seating chart window, and the welcome window. She did an amazing job!

For us the most important thing was that our family and friends had a good time. We knew it would be a memorable night for us, but we also wanted it to be a memorable night for everyone else. As important as flowers and decor were, we also wanted it to be fun, that’s where the photobooth and the glow sticks came in.

If you’re going to DIY as much of your wedding as you can, START EARLY. The biggest thing was that we didn’t realize how long these projects would take us. The marquee lights that we made took us over a period of 3 weeks, granted we only worked on them during the weekend, it was still 2 weeks longer than we had estimated. Otherwise, have fun and don’t focus on little things that can’t be changed.

For us, the highlight was seeing all of our friends and family out on the dance floor having the time of their lives. Both our parents and his grandparents adorned with glowsticks dancing and taking pictures in the photobooth. Knowing that people still talk about our wedding and how much fun they had means the world to us.

Photography: onelove photography | Videography: Andrew Ahn | Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Cute Cakes | Shoes: Louboutin | Makeup: Voodoo Dolls Cosmetics | DJ: DJ Unsheikable | Calligraphy + Invitation Artwork: Sister Of The Bride | Ceremony And Reception: Twin Oaks Garden Estate | Marquee Lights: DIY

I truly believe that a gorgeous dress and a fancy bow tie are the perfect answer to a sprawling field engagement. Now plop some pretty greenery on your head crafted by Floral And Bloom Designs and grab a talented photog like Vicki Grafton and the result is imagery that so perfectly captures that newly engaged glow. Click here for so much more.

From The Bride… Kelly and I met as teenagers in middle school and were lucky enough to have found each other so young and we have been together ever since. Our engagement session was perfect. It was a few days after our fourteen and a half year anniversary. A lot of people are pretty surprised we’ve been together for that long. Trust me when I say it is a long time, but days like this brings me back to the day I first fall in love with him. I could not have imagined a better way of spending time with each other, being in the moment right there with him, holding my hand and kissing me. Our shared love of the scenic outdoors of Virginia took us to this charming Inn in Middleburg. I wanted our photos to convey the soft romantic look. Vicki perfectly captured us and how in love we are with each other.

Photography: Vicki Grafton Photography | Florals: Floral & Bloom Designs | Dress: Urban Outfitters | Dress: Jarlo | Shoes: Ann Taylor Loft | Makeup & Hair: Hair By Jewels | Suit: Paisley And Grey | Venue: Goodstone Inn | Grooms Shoes: Aldo | Jacket: H&M | Pants: Zara | Stylist: Hair By Jewels

When How He Asked offered to recount five of their sweetest proposal stories, we couldn’t pass up a chance to share. So before you embark on those Friday festivities, flip through the slideshow and be reminded of what true, wildly romantic, let’s-grow-old-together love is all about. Better yet, let us know your proposal story in the comments and keep an eye out below for this week’s special winners.

From How He Asked… First comes love, than comes marriage (than comes the baby….), but in between, there’s the proposal and the adorable website HowHeAsked.com. The site shares hundreds and hundreds of marriage proposal stories, photos, and videos, and we’ve asked them to share a few of their favorite ones. Below, you’ll find amazing proposal moments, plus a quote from each story on “how they met” or “how they asked”. For the full story, follow the link to each story on HowHeAsked. Don’t forget your tissues!

If you’d like to share your story on HowHeAsked.com, go ahead and submit here. Shortly after you submit, you’ll get an email with your very own link to share. It’s the perfect way to share all the details of “how he asked” (because you KNOW that’s the first question any one asks!) and be able to re-live that amazing moment over and over again.

Proposal 1: Kate Price Photography | Proposal 2: Dana Ann Photography | Proposal 3: Gray Wedding Photography | Proposal 4: Chrissy Vensel Photography | Proposal 5: Exquisite Image Photography | Proposal Blog: How He Asked

[dotted]

ONGOING GIVEAWAYS

Macy’s Registry to Reality Giveaway
Alexandra Grecco tulle skirt
Something Blue Prize pack from La Marca Prosecco
Something Blue Nile Pinterest Contest

[dotted]

This week’s DISCOUNTS…

Alexandra Grecco

For our California brides… Mark your calendars for the Hayley Paige Trunk Show at JLM Couture Boutique, August 22-24th.

For Our Midwest brides… Enter to win the WASIO Photography engagement session giveaway and checkout their discount!

For our Tri-State brides… Mark your calendars!  Bridal Reflections is hosting an exclusive Trunk Show + end of summer event for the Lazaro Bridal Collection on Thursday, August 28th. And don’t forget about the special engagement session offer from Twah Dougherty.

[dotted]

And WINNERS…

Congratulations to Katie who won a signed copy of the Soda Fountain Cookbook

And a second hooray for Jessika who snagged a $250 sprinkles gift card!

You’ll want to sit down for this one ladies and gents. Why you ask?  Because with the help of Red Creative this couple took wedding style up a notch. With their boho-gypsy vibe and gorgeous details, every image snapped up by David St George will make you want to stop and stay awhile. See them here.

From Red Creative…From the moment Richard, Jessie and her mum first described their dream for the wedding we were excited. We knew it would be personal, intimate, and loads of fun. Together we planned the wedding to be a progressive event with the guests taken on a journey from the welcome drink until the final dance.

All of the paper goods were designed by the talented bride and included marbled backgrounds and a gilt gemstone monogram. This design was incorporated throughout the wedding on bar fronts and signage.

On arrival, guests were treated to an iced wedding tea cocktail in the bar tent and then mingled on the lawn enjoying music in the relaxed lounge spaces.

The ceremony took place over the pool on a custom built stage. The bride wore a spectacular sequinned gown and carried an organic bouquet of tulips, dahlias, garden roses, berries, snapdragon, asparagus fern, lisianthus and beech foliage.

Guest’s were invited to participate in the ceremony by each adding a flower to an arrangement begun by Jessie, Richard and Richard’s daughter.

Following the ceremony canapés were circulated and guests were ushered across the road to McHugh’s Restaurant which had been transformed with coloured lighting, draping and tablescapes with natural linen cloths, sequinned overlays and centrepieces of floral, potted ferns, antlers, succulents, vegetables and fruit.

For dessert and dancing we transformed the house once again. Bringing it to life with lighting including festoon bulbs, chandeliers and lanterns suspended from the magnificent pohutukawa trees. Dessert was a selection of homemade treats contributed by friends and family members as well as the most impressive cheese board served with whisky.

They danced the night away under the stars by the ocean and the pool.

From The Bride…Our wedding was at my parents home, we wanted it to be comfortable and welcoming for our guests with a gypsy-bohemian vibe. Red Creative jumped on board our magic carpet, took the steering wheel and transported my parents home into another realm! They were so competent that the whole process was not only a breeze but enjoyable too. Being creatives ourselves we know the importance of trust with a client, when you have a clients trust you know you can work at your best and give the best results. This was our attitude with Red Creative, we loved their work and knew they would do an amazing job so trusted them completely. We were included in the fun parts of the process, and didn’t have to deal with the not so fun bits, so it was great!. Nothing was impossible for the Red Creative team.

Photography: David St George | Event Design: Red Creative | Floral Design: Red Creative | Reception Venue: Mchugh's Of Cheltenham | Lighting: la lumiere | Celebrant: Yogamani Marriage Celebrant | Beer: Hopscotch Beer Company | Furniture: Villa Kula | Planning: Red Creative | Tents: Raj Tent Club NZ

Exclusively, My Mint Photography and Pecan Springs Ranch weddings never disappoint. But put the two together and voila! It’s pure wedding heaven. Case in point? This ever-romantic sweet pink and coral affair, complete with all the wedding accoutrements we love. Twinkling lights, adorable signage, fresh blooms, bridal portraits in a field of wildflowers and hello ‘something blue’ Kate Spade kicks! And that’s not all—the gallery is brimming with even more.

From My Mint Photography…Sarah and Chris’ southern summer wedding took place at a gorgeous ranch venue in the Texas hill country. We loved the sweet, lighthearted feel of their wedding. We also loved the pop of colors that Sarah incorporated which made it feel extra summery.

Photography: Mint Photography | Coordinator: Carissa Sepeda | Florist: Bricolage Curated Florals | Shoes: Kate Spade | Ceremony/Reception: Pecan Springs Ranch | Photobooth: Trailer Booth Photography

Sayulita is pure magic. Sunny, tropical, ocean views for days magic. And for a couple who wanted an intimate, zero fuss affair with a side of churros and the best dance party ever, this locale was a winner. So with fancy wedding day attire packed, loved ones in tow and Jillian Mitchell Photography enlisted to capture all the awesome, these love birds said “I Do” in true destination wedding fashion.

From Jillian Mitchell Photography…This wedding is close to my heart. Danielle is a photographer in California and contacted me about a year before her wedding to see if I was available and tell me that she may or may not have been stalking me. I knew immediately that I had to document her day and I am so glad I did. The love that she and David have for each other is infectious and just being around the two of them makes you yearn for the kind of love they have.

From The Bride…Entering the crazy realm of wedding planning solicited many conversations between my husband and I in terms of what was truly important to us for our special day versus what we didn’t need to spend much energy on. There were many wedding traditions that didn’t make sense for us, and that we didn’t feel the need to participate in, and it took us awhile to realize how much control we actually had in personalizing our day in a way that made sense for us as well. When it really came down to it, what we wanted more than anything was to have a personal, intimate wedding, with little frills and zero fuss…and…we also really wanted a churro maker and the most intense dance party that would make anyone’s toenails sore the next day.

Choosing to have a destination wedding kind of forced us to think outside the box, and by default, there were so many wedding related details we couldn’t possibly worry about, simply because we knew we wouldn’t have access to them. While we didn’t really have a theme, a consistent color palette, a bridal party, or other traditional elements, we were diehard about providing an environment for our friends and family to truly unplug, where cellphones didn’t really need to be on, and one that would undoubtedly encourage everyone to slow down a bit, with the end goal being that we could all truly “live in the moment” with each other. While traveling is such a part of our identity, the need for adventure makes up an even larger percentage, and we deliberately chose a wedding location that many had to pull up a detailed map of Mexico to find, and a location we had actually never been to as well (although it had come so highly recommended by a plethora of other travel-obsessed friends, we knew wholeheartedly that it was a perfect fit for us). Beyond the wedding day being one of the most emotionally exhilarating days in this kind of out-of-body way that we’ll never be able to articulate, we had invited all of our guests to our villa (that overlooked all of Sayulita and all of its wonder) for a cocktail party the night before. Seeing all of our favorite people meet for the first time and connect with one another was undoubtedly one of the most indescribable feelings that still makes us smile, months later. All of these people that we’ve loved over the course of our lives were so excellent to each other, and we had a mutual sense of proudness to call all these amazing people our biggest supporters. The memories we’ve collected from our “wedding adventure” in Sayulita still flood our daily lives and we still love to reminisce about “that one time we went to Mexico and got married in a place we’ve never been”. We STILL know exactly what those churros tasted like based on collective memory, and we still reference our dance party and the group speeches immediately followed by tequila shots. For lack of a better phrase, we wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding day, it could have been more “us” if we tried.

Photography: Jillian Mitchell | Wedding Dress: Enozoani | Ceremony Venue: Villa Amor | Jewelry: Gemologee | Makeup: Mindy Karuk | Hair: Haley Rae Weinrich | Suit: Hugo Boss

Can we all just take a moment of silence for this al fresco brunch? Because if there ever were an event that deserved our undivided attention this would be it. This incredible, over-the-top beautiful, can’t-even-handle-the-pretty feast. It turns out, Cassandra Eldridge, Natural Beauties Floral and Simply Designed are a match made in heaven. Plus, there’s oh so much more where this came from, and it’s all right here.

I recently just did a styled shoot focusing on the beauty of friendship. The theme was a bohemian brunch centered around celebration of love, freedom and the outdoors. We focused on bright colors, vibrant fabrics, neutral style with soft boho-inspired elements. The main objective of this inspirational shoot was to celebrate the bonds between women as we enter into the month of summer – a time where living is a little more carefree, and our need for friendship is heightened more than ever.

Photography: Cassandra Eldridge Photography | Florals: Natural Beauties Floral, Inc. | Cake: Elysia Root | Dresses: Free People | Featured In: Lindsey Nowak | Hair And Make-up: Adrienne Barker | Linens: Private Label Linens | Menu Cards And Invites: Simply Designed | Tableware: The Festive Frog | TeePee: Natural Beauties Floral, Inc.

There’s something about red anemones that really get my blood flowing. This pretty flower is like a sweet burst of energy in any bunch of blooms. And Urban Poppy knew it would fit right in to this Tybee Island soiree from Artworks Wedding Cinema. A few second into the amazing film and you’ll see why. It’s a day of elegance, yet sooo much fun. Have a look at Harper Noel Photography‘s imagery for more!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/95036489 600 338]

From Artworks Wedding Cinema…Oh wow. What a fantastic day this was! Lauren and Terence are now officially one of my most FAVORITE couples! One of the things that sets them apart is their total devotion and dedication to each other … and their patience! They knew they were to be married years ago, but both wanted to finish school and their masters before taking that glorious walk down the aisle.

When Lauren told me her colors were blush, ivory, red, black, and gold … I was honestly thinking … okay … but oh wow, how fabulous everything looked all put together! The bridesmaids were super chic in their floor length black gowns and the red and gold were made adorably bright with the addition of blush. It was so so pretty! Harper Noel Photography was such a fabulous choice in capturing all that gorgeousness!

The couple was one of the first ones to enjoy their reception in Tybee Island Wedding Chapel’s newly added reception space, and they surely set the stage for couples to follow. We hope the two of them have a fantastic life together and were so happy to have been there to capture it all!

Music credit: “Golden” by Holley Maher

Photography: Harper Noel Photography | Cinematography: Artworks Wedding Cinema | Florist: Urban Poppy | Wedding Gown: Allure Bridal | Cake: Gigi's Cupcakes | Stationary: Paper Snaps | DJ: All About You Entertainment | Favor's: River Street Sweets | Guest Book: Mad Libs, Danielle Tobin Designed | Island Chapel: Tybee Island Wedding Chapel & Grand Ballroom | Music Licensing: The Music Bed

Sadly, we’ve come to the end of the cocktail road with MR Bartending. But not all is lost, for we have not one, not two, but four delicious bevvy’s to last you from now until fall. Today’s version: a combination of grapefruit and ice tea. Refreshing. Unexpected. All around delicious. And in case you missed our others, you can find them all here, here and here. Cheers!

[dotted]

Photography: Charla Storey | Floral Design: Wedfully Yours | Bartending Company: MR Bartending | Paper Goods: Bee’s Knee’s Custom Designs | Rentals: Shag Carpet Themed Events & Decor | Stylist: Jen Rios Design | Venue: 333 First Ave | Wedding Venue: 333 First Ave

We’re all about light, blush infused festivities but sometimes moody, dark details are wildly gorgeous. Take a cue from Christina Bernales Photography + Erin Ostreicher Designs who were inspired by gothic and baroque art and how those dark details could be infused into a modern day wedding. With a simple color palette, touches of gold and historic details, this inspiration is all at once elegant and modern but with a gorgeous old world feel. 

[iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/bM4zVfyWytI 600 338]

From Christina Bernales Photography…We incorporated shed antlers, magnolias and very subtle shades of black, ivory and grey with hints of gold. Our goal was to use texture to add depth and keep our color palette clean and simple. A color palette reminiscent of Gothic or Baroque art. We also incorporated plum into the decor to add a little pop of color to the shoot. We were super excited to collaborate with the amazingly talented Rebecca Schoneveld who was kind enough to lend us a couple of dresses for the shoot from Brooklyn and worked with so many wonderful vendors in Vermont. While we used these historic elements to make the shoot unique, we still tried to maintain a clean, elegant aesthetic. 

Photography: Christina Bernales | Stationery: Christa Alexandra Designs | Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids Dresses: Fiori Bridal | Groom's Attire: Miller Bros-Newton | Wedding Venue: Riverside Farm | Bride's Gowns: Rebecca Schoneveld | Cake Artist: Caketopia Cakes | Calligraphy & Lettering: Inky Quills Calligraphy | Cutlery, Glasses, Plates: Vintage Inspired Marketplace | Florals & Styling: Erin Ostreicher Designs | Hors D'oeuvres: The Wooden Spoon | Linens: The Linen Shop | Make-Up Artist: Flawless Cosmetic Design

It’s true that this wedding is gorgeous. The flowers, the setting, the couple – it really doesn’t get prettier. But you know what I love the most? The way he looks at her. And the way she looks at him. That, my lovelies, is my favorite detail of all. Thankfully Elizabeth Fogarty Photography captured a plethora of picture perfect moments, and they are all waiting for you right here. 

From Elizabeth Fogarty Photography…This is actually Springfield Manor Winery and Distillery’s first year in business and this venue could not be more perfect for Eric and Esther’s June wedding. The ceremony was held outdoors, with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Being a Maryland June wedding, everyone was expecting a hot and humid day, but boy were they wrong! It was a breezy day and right after the procession, clouds rolled in and kept everyone cool.

With blush and mint tones, the details came together beautifully. The reception room had lots of windows, which allowed for natural light to softly fill the space. The centerpieces were a work of art and just lit up the room with their bright colors.

The best part of the wedding was the way Eric and Esther did not cling to tradition but allowed their wedding to reflect them as a couple. They chose to have a first look and to have that sweet time to themselves. They also chose to not have a first dance, which is totally fine. Couples need to let go of age old traditions and really have their wedding day be about what they truly love and what makes them comfortable.

On a side note, Eric is probably my favorite groom to photograph. I don’t have to ask him to hold her hand or look at her, because is always loving on her. It is the sweetest thing to see!

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Caterer: Carriage House Inn | DJ: Scorpion Rose Entertainment | Manor: Springfield Manor Winery Distillery

This elopement is so up my alley. Gorgeous light, stunning images from This Love Of Yours Photography  and the San Francisco City Hall setting the scene – it really doesn’t get any better. And then I read the Bride’s description and realized I loved it even more, because it just proves that even when your big day doesn’t go exactly as planned, the result is pretty darn fabulous. See even more here. 

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/83471652 600 338]

From The Bride…Igor is from Spain and I am from Oregon. We met in Madrid the year I was living abroad. We were language exchange partners and fell in love! Long story short, we have been living in San Francisco for 4 years and he proposed on a spontaneous trip to Crater Lake, Oregon over Labor Day (on the rim of the crater!).

After much thought, we decided to elope at City Hall on October 31st. We planned our small intimate wedding with my immediate family at City Hall in 2 months and it turned out to be better than ever. My dad got certified to marry us and Igor’s parents and sister were broadcasted in through a live Skype session from their home in Spain.

Oh and the details! You will melt at the sight of my oh so ethereal Badgley Mischka silk chiffon dress against the soft renaissance architecture of San Francisco City Hall. Igor’s grey J.Crew Ludlow suit, the DIY bouquets (we made the day before the wedding with special thanks to our talented friend and fellow designer Michelle Pentz), DIY boutonnieres for each member of my family, my sisters the bridesmaids in J.Crew misty rose dresses and gold shoes, DIY terrarium place markers (from the Hello!Lucky Handmade Weddings book), Grandparent’s china and linens from their wedding and great grandpa’s glassware all beautifully styled by my wonderful Auntie Shelley and talented friend Lisa Feldman of Lisa Feldman Design, DIY gold sparkle monogram (from Paper Source and perfectly crafted by our dear friend and fellow DIY aficionado Lia Lafreniere), and our first look with Igor riding up on the Vespa.

I debated whether or not to throw in this story but it totally made our day have a little twist so I will tell you… And you are probably wondering why one of our wedding photos is taken with a couple of police officers.

We were outside taking photos and doing our thing with the wedding paparazzi, when I turned around to the sound of some people yelling and pointing at us. We looked behind us and my purse was gone! I left it sitting in Igor’s helmet behind us and someone ran by and grabbed it. We didn’t see who it was or anything. I was in shock. My passport, ID, credit card and iPhone were swept away. A group of French tourists came up to us and tried to explain what had happened. I didn’t know what they were saying at all since I don’t speak any French, but Igor was able to decipher a bit since he speaks a little. Igor thought to run across the street to the steps of City Hall where a protest was going on. There were a few police officers there. He quickly ran back to me and took me over to the police officers who then asked me for my apple ID and password. I typed it in and within seconds we saw a little red dot moving along the screen of the GPS. Since my phone was on, they were able to track it! I was able to get everything back, and we got a photo with the police officers. They arrested the woman who had stolen my precious belongings and asked if I wanted to press charges. I told them I did not want to press charges since we got everything back and the lady was notably less fortunate than us. We are so happy that everything got resolved as it renewed our belief in happy endings.

Every member of my family had a role in the planning of our big day and our friends helped with the DIY details. Everything, including Igor’s toast that made me cry tears of joy, the ‘Moves Like Jagger’ dance he did at our reception (as seen in the video), and the feeling of family and togetherness couldn’t have been more perfect.

Photography: This Love of Yours Photography | Videography: Flora + Fauna | Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka | Bride's Shoes: Nina | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Hair & Makeup: Jessica Saltzer | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: San Francisco City Hall | Event Planning, Styling & Design: Shayna Brown (The Bride)

Garden weddings are at the top of our love list. They just have this effortless elegance about them. I think it’s something in the open air festivities that easily lends itself to magic and this Quail Lodge wedding crafted by Carol Pope and Marry Me Flowers is certainly part of that bandwagon. It’s awash in pretty pastels and rustic sensibilities captured by Lisa Dolan. Click here for so much more.

From Lisa Dolan Photography…Rita and Kevin got married outside of St. Louis at the prettiest park, with a reception following at the Rustic Quail Ridge Lodge.

Rita and Kevin are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet. Their wedding was simple and elegant and filled with the most thoughtful details. They brought in tons of natural elements to create a beautiful and rustic wedding.

Rita and Kevin chose hues of purple and lavender to accent the pretty summer scenery at Quail Ridge Park. The flowers were a mix of purple roses, hydrangeas, and succulents with a few pops of fresh lavender created by Merry Me Flowers. The groom wore a boutonniere made of sprigs of fresh lavender. The bridesmaids dresses were a light lavender color which really made the bouquets stand out. One of the most special touches from Rita and Kevin’s wedding were the lockets on Rita’s bouquet and Kevin’s boutonniere. Rita’s locket contained a photo of her father who had passed away, and Kevin’s had a photo of his mother who had passed away. It was such a lovely way to remember their parents, and to celebrate them on their wedding day.

The dessert bar was crafted by SweetArt, and was a mix of cookies and cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake. The cupcakes included chocolate, vanilla, and a special lavender cupcake all made by SweetArt.

The tables were decorated with simple white tablecloths, and a burlap runner. The centerpieces were mercury glass mason jars filled with the same flowers that were in the bridesmaids bouquets, and more fresh lavender.

Following the ceremony the guests blew bubbles as a sweet send off for the couple. It was such a wonderful way to celebrate the day!

Photography: Lisa Dolan Photography | Coordination: Carol Pope | Flowers: Marry Me Flowers | DJ: Matt At Full House Productions | Venue: Quail Ridge Lodge | Cupcake And Dessert Bar: SweetArt

When you’re this in love with your fiancé – and when you’re in a place with as much natural splendor as Niagra-On-The-Lake – its a whole lot easier to ignore the cold. Especially when you structure in frequent hot chocolate and reading breaks. Thanks to Andrew Mark Photography’s able eye, our hearts = warmed. So feel free to ramble through a labyrinth of grapevines with them in the full gallery.

From The Bride…Our photos were taken by Andrew Mark Photography in stunning Niagara on the Lake, Ontario–in our early dating days Ray took me here because he thought I would love it and he was right–I haven’t had enough since! It was one of those gorgeous end-of-fall days full of soft neutrals and the anticipation of Christmas. It was cold, windy and so clearly almost winter (it snowed the very next day)! We had to make a hot chocolate stop half way through the shoot to warm up! It was such an amazing day full of adventure and laughter.

Our vision was to add a pop of color to this already beautiful day– we wanted rustic romance, elegant, soft, pretty, and natural. Ray and I both love to read –So we brought a picnic blanket, some gorgeous vintage books and ourselves and we adventured through Niagara–exploring vineyards, forests, barns, and big beautiful open fields. Andrew and Emma are such wonderful photographers!

Photography: Andrew Mark Photography | Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake

Ok, I honestly don’t even know where to start with this wedding. I mean where can you possibly begin when there are the cutest llamas ever in attendance and an amazing Tory Burch gown involved? Every moment is quirky and personal in the best possible way. It’s all too good to be true, but yet you know it is, making this couple and their amazing wedding totally rad. See it all here. 

From Brooke Stapleton Photography…Hannah and Cameron met while she was working at a hot dog stand and have been deeply in love ever since. They felt like their love story is a bit out of the ordinary and wanted their wedding to celebrate the abnormal and the quirky, giggly lovefest that is so, unmistakably theirs. Set in the backyard of a charming pink Salt Lake City home, their day included street tacos, badminton, croquet, and llamas. The bride wore a Tory Burch gown and held a bouquet with florals native to Columbia, where her brother currently lives. The reception was a laid-back party with loud music, loved ones, and lots of hugging and squeezing. Every detail of the wedding was so well-thought out and charming + so very THEM.

Photography: Brooke Stapleton Photography | Wedding Gown: Tory Burch | Reception Venue: This Is The Place Heritage Park | Catering: 180 Tacos | Groom's Attire: H & M | Animals: Radha Krishna Temple | Location: Radha Krishna Temple

Venice is easily one of the most romantic places in the world, so having your engagement session set there only makes sense. With Oksana Bernold behind the lens these two world travelers took to the streets (and gondolas!) of the city for a photo session that’ll leave you speechless. Happy Friday, pretties!

From the Bride… We are an international couple, I am from the Crimea and my beloved Marco is an Italian living in Switzerland. We have very much in common – we are both very sociable and energetic, emotional and creative, share the same humor. We are passionate travelers, adore to discover foreign countries and people, their habits and certainly their cuisine!

The photo session with our talented photographer Oksana Bernold in one of the most unique, beautiful and extraordinary places in the world was just a gift from heaven. It was rainy in the evening of our photo session, but we didn’t notice the rain, we just enjoyed ourselves and being photographed.

I have always been in love with Venice, it’s the magical city of pure romance. It might happen that our grandchildren won’t see Venice like it is now, but they will have our photographs and they will be able to see us, so happy and in love.

Photography: Oksana Bernold | Photo Lab: Richard Photo Lab

Fridays are good for many reasons, but this Friday just got a lot sweeter thanks to these gorgeous images from Artstar By Laura Stone. A plethora of pretty waits for you below, and once you get to scrolling you’ll see why we are oh-so-obsessed with every picture sitting pretty in this gallery.

And because we simply can’t get enough of these two, here are a few snaps from their super sweet engagement session…

From The Bride…Amit and I met in Charleston, South Carolina at the hospital where Amit worked. The second that we saw each other, there was an instantaneous attraction/connection. We started out as very close friends. We would meet at local pubs and play Connect Four competitively. We would laugh for hours! I went to his band’s shows and was his #1 fan. Given our many mutual interests, senses of humor, and our love of French bulldogs, it was clear that our relationship was fated. We truly do complete each other’s thoughts and sentences!

After many months of dating, Amit and I were both offered positions in Atlanta. We were both excited to move back to our native state of Georgia and to a city that was dear to both of our hearts. I was born and raised in the city and Amit lived in Atlanta during college.

The evening before we were engaged, we enjoyed a concert with friends at the beautiful Piedmont Park. The next morning, we grabbed brunch and came back to pick up our car. We decided to take a Sunday morning stroll through the park because it was a beautiful day, and strangely, it marked exactly two years from the day we met! The scene was reminiscent of one of our first dates at a friend’s wedding in Piedmont Park. After taking in a beautiful view of the Atlanta skyline, Amit got down on one knee and popped the question-It was a perfect surprise!

Amit and I decided that Atlanta was the most fitting place to celebrate our new beginning. We both instantly thought of the Georgian Terrace because it’s absolutely beautiful, and its very “Atlanta”. It is a perfect combination of historic and modern, which is a blend of the two cities that we lived in together. The Georgian Terrace is one of the few historically preserved sites in the Atlanta area. Ever since I was a little girl, I always remember driving by it when my mom and I would go to the Nutcracker at the Fox. I also had pictures taken of myself in the beautiful stairwell when I was in my teens. The Grand Ballroom hosted the Gone With the Wind premiere ball, so I loved the sense of history in the room (it’s also one of my favorite movies J).

Our theme was classic and traditional. We wanted something that was timeless and it was fitting for our personalities. The color scheme was lavender and white with hints of peach. Lavender is my favorite color and I incorporated the white and peach accents since I’m an avid Clemson fan (the school colors are orange, white, purple).

On our wedding day, I wore my grandmother’s ruby ring on my right hand as my something “old” and wore her hanky from her wedding day as my “something borrowed” from my aunt. We were very close, and she’s no longer with us. So, I was able to feel her presence on our wedding day. I also wore a “sixpence in my shoe” that was given to me from one of my closest friends.

There were so many wonderful memories from the day, but we both agreed that the ceremony was amazing. I will never forget the moment that our eyes met as I was walking down the aisle. Everyone else literally melted away. I vividly recall the flood of emotion I felt when my dad met me down the aisle to give me away. During the ceremony, our officiant, Perry Rintye, broke the tension with surprise Yoda voice, which was something that we joked with him about in our initial conversations. It definitely made us laugh. We each shared our reasons for marrying one another and favorite traits with him before the wedding without knowing what the other had said. Our answers were read during our ceremony and were so touching. It made our ceremony even more intimate and personal.

We also enjoyed our time on the rooftop of the Georgian Terrace after our pictures with our families and bridal party. The sunset provided the perfect backdrop for our moment to just “be married” and take in the beautiful skyline that mirrored the one on the day that we were engaged.

We were announced as husband and wife from the picturesque balcony overlooking the Grand Ballroom. It was such an overwhelming feeling to have a bird’s eye view of all of your loved ones and friends in one room. We will never forget that moment. I recall instantly feeling the mood of the lavender lights. The Grand Ballroom is gorgeous without any decorations, so we wanted to keep it simple. I remember being even more blown away by our centerpieces. David at Chelsea Floral Designs went above and beyond. All of the flowers were gorgeous!!

We wanted a big party for our reception, so a rocking band, delicious food from the Livingston Restaurant, and plenty of libations were top on our list. Atlanta Beat rocked the house! They were amazing and even let Amit stand in on guitar with them. He played Billy Idol’s, White Wedding and Guns N’ Roses’, Sweet Child of Mine. It was so much fun!! The evening could not have run smoothly without the help of Dana Kicklighter from the Georgian Terrace. She was incredibly professional and attentive, and really made the night happen!

We exited our reception with a police escorted horse and carriage ride down Peachtree Street. It’s not every day that you see a horse and carriage stopping traffic on one of the busiest streets in Atlanta! It was relaxing to take a stroll and enjoy the last few moments of our wedding day. Laura did such an amazing job of capturing our moments on that day. Her pictures were absolutely breathtaking. You only have your pictures and your memories after your wedding day. Thank goodness our story was captured so beautifully by Laura, so we will always be able to reminisce the happiest day of our lives.

Photography: Artstar by Laura Stone | Videography: Wes Haley Films | Floral Design: Chelsea Floral Designs | Cake: Frosted Pumpkin Gourmet, Inc. | Catering: Livingston Restaurant | Makeup: Stacey Gonzalez | Hair: Velvet Salon | Lighting: Amp'd Atlanta | Band: Atlanta Beat | Officiant: Perry Rintye | Venue: Georgian Terrace | Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Horse & Carriage: Nottingham Shire And Carriage For Hire | Invitation And Program Designer: Hi Note | Linens: Cover Ups | Veil: Ansonia | Wedding Dress Designer: Brides by Demetrios

This Carolina Inn wedding from Events by La Fete is classic right down to it’s very core. The stunning Bride donning a fluffy sweetheart dress from Alexia’s Bridal Boutique, heavenly bouquets of white blooms and one crazy cute flower girl… every inch is traditional beauty done so right. Have a look at the gallery from Walters and Walters for so much more!

From the beautiful Bride… When envisioning the look and feel of our wedding, both Ray and I knew from the beginning that we wanted our day to be romantic, timeless and elegant. On such a special day, we really wanted to appeal to everyone’s senses: from the textured linens and overall decor, to the aroma of our florals and tasty foods, to the sounds of our favorite songs being spun by the DJ, a complete all around-experience was a must. The first and most important decision in creating our vision was choosing the perfect venue. The Carolina Inn absolutely captivated us with its beautiful courtyards and historic feel, and truly met all of the criterion we desired for our special day: beauty, elegance, romance, and it was certainly a plus that both Ray and I met and graduated from UNC. We absolutely fell in love with The Old Well room and its signature black and white tiled floors, and it was the perfect reception space to compliment our decor. Our color scheme consisted of victorian lilac, blush, ivory and golds that were very soft and romantic, which we incorporated in our wedding party’s look as well as floral arrangements. Speaking of flowers, I knew this would be the one detail that would truly take our vision to the next level. Our ceremony included a beautifully patterned aisle runner designed for me to make my grand entrance upon, and we declared our vows to one another in front of two glamorous columns with stunning floral arrangements sitting atop of both. Our reception tables consisted of high and low floral centerpieces that stunned guests with their sweet aromas, and candles that provided soft lighting to create a truly romantic atmosphere. All while the sounds of Sinatra serenaded our guests as they fellowshipped over lunch. Finally, and I’m sure every girl would agree, was the ever so important decision of choosing my wedding dress. Believe it or not, I bought the first dress I saw and tried on! The Kenneth Pool design was flowy, romantic, and was the perfect fit to accentuate my petite frame. It had just enough flare on its own that it didn’t require much accessorizing, so I chose to keep it simple with earrings and a very dainty bracelet. My goal was to be the most beautiful bride Ray had ever seen, and this was absolutely brought to fruition in large part due to this most beautiful dress.

With the ever-changing fads of today’s weddings, it was important that we made choices that would create a vision we could share with our children and loved ones years from now and still be as equally pleased with the decisions made. We wouldn’t change one thing about our day (not even the rain) and would absolutely re-live this most perfect day over and over again!

Photography: Photography by Walters & Walters | Event Planning: Events by La Fete | Floral Design: Fresh Affairs | Wedding Dress: Alexia's Bridal | Cake: Simply Cakes | Invitations: Hello Tenfold | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Catering: The Carolina Inn | Make Up: Ashley Mooney | Lighting: Total Production Services | DJ: Bunn DJ Company | Venue: The Carolina Inn | Rentals: CE Rentals

I’m a huge believer in the beauty of simplicity, and these California nuptials encompass that idea in perfect form. Surrounded by sweeping views and sandy shores, Erin and Ben let the setting speak for itself and focused on what’s most important – the love. With Natalie Bray behind the camera every light-filled moment is beautifully documented all waiting right here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/99200247 600 338]

From Natalie Bray Photography… Meet Erin and Ben! They are the most heartfelt and sincere couple I have ever met. Incredibly kind, generous, and soooo in love! You can see it in all the details surrounding their spring wedding at the Levyland Estate in Carlsbad.

Erin wanted a spring wedding with stunning wildflowers and the light and airy feeling of the ocean encapsulating their day. And the Levyland was the perfect location to capture her vision. Erin and Ben wanted the wedding day to be laid back with romantic touches to juxtapose the modern lines of the venue. She did that with lots of vintage details, such as an antique library desk seating chart…where guests names were hand typed and placed like an old library system. A great way to start guests on the journey through their wonderful celebration. She had a vintage type writer and sweet notes to complete the look. Also, a beautiful banner over head by rifle paper company to welcome guests. Such a lovely detail!

Erin’s dress was stunning chiffon full length gown from a small shop in London … she loved the back and the silhouette. Chiffon and lace truly complimented Erin’s petite frame. Also, Nancy Lui did a beautiful job with a natural look to highlight our stunning bride. She looked like a dream!

The maid-of-honor hand painted each bridesmaids name on the hangers as a gift. Such a sweet detail. Her bridesmaids chose complimentary colored dresses, but not matching, with light blush and cream, which made for a stunning addition to her wedding party. From lace to chiffon their dresses added a nice detail. Plus, the ladies can use the dresses again. Erin bought each of her bridesmaids a Kate Spade rose gold rope ring. Gorgeous!

Florals by L& S truly completed the look romance with pops of color and whimsy. Erin wanted the reception to be romantic as well. With market lighting overhead and handmade paper garland lining the dance floor made for a perfect atmosphere for family and friends to dance the night away. For a different look L&S made a beautiful floral crown for the reception as well. The day was full of stunning light and wonderful moments between family and friends. So happy we got to celebrate and share in this joyous occasion.

Photography: Natalie Bray Studios | Videography: Natalie Bray Studios | Coordination: Stecklair Events | Florist: L & S Design Co. | Catering: Four Seasons Catering | Make-up: Ryan Seacrest Distinction | Wedding Venue: Levyland Estate | Banner: Rifle Paper Co. | PHOTOBOOTH: Mobile Photo Booth | Rentals: Platinum Party Rentals | Rope Ring: Kate Spade

While it isn’t exactly a rule that you need to come bearing gifts when you’re invited to an event, it is a nice gesture. And though a thank you note post-party does wonders, a bottle of wine is always appreciated. Better yet? Flex those crafting muscles, warm that oven, and let’s get our hostess gifting on! Here are 10 of our very favorites that will more or less guarantee you a repeat invite.