We seem to be on a roll this week with delightful Australian weddings . Today we have an intimate wedding from the ever-so-talented Jonas Peterson. This beauty was held at Coorabella, an incredible property near Byron Bay, Australia. It’s complete with hedges of jasmin and gardenias and a giant teepee over 12 feet high.

You are going to love the flower garland strands hanging off the tree at the ceremony site, the unique and stylish family style table and of course the bride’s J’Aton gown. Be sure to visit the full gallery to see more of this intimate Australian wedding.

From The Bride On Her Wedding Fashion:

The table was one big long table that hosted 60 guests like the Last Supper. The flowers in different sized cylindrical vases with berries and white and green flowers – I wanted them in abundance.

The table setting was the menu, with place setting card and a white napkin tied with natural string with a gardenia on each.

What They Ate:

Bangalow sweet pork medallions wrapped in prosciutto stuffed with herbs + pistachios served with caramelized pears + Jerusalem artichoke puree

Main Course: Local Barcoo beef filet mignon, garlic confit potato mash with red wine jus served with Dutch carrots and brocolini Or Pacific Ocean Seafood Plate: Pan seared blue eye trevalla with dill beur blanc, sea scallop on gingered sweet potato, king prawn with daikon + watercress salad

The house had disco balls, Moroccan day beds, Statues of Jesus, original ceilings, Deer heads mounted, every corner had something interesting to look at. Gio cleared out the lounge room to make way for a dance floor. The had a disco ball in the center of room.

Photographer: Jonas Peterson
Event Designer: Maria Birch
Venue: Coorabella
Caterer: Seaweed Cuisine
Coordinator: Maria Birch
Dress Designer: J’Aton
Flowers: Estelle Montlouis
Groom’s Attire: Harrolds
Jewelry: Canturi
Officiant: Michelle Shannon
Shoe Designer: Cosmopolitan Shoes

We can all say that in high school we imagined where our life would be in ten years. Will you be married to your high school sweet heart? Will you have kids? Will you be a fabulous wedding photographer and run a Totally Rad business? In the Boutwell’s case the answer is yes, yes and yes. After ten-years of marriage, two precious babies and a whole lot of love, we are happy to share with Chenin and Doug Boutwell’s ten year anniversary wedding.

Artistically captured by Hugh Forte Photography and stylishly designed by Amanda, In The Now Weddings and Events. To see more you simply must peruse the entire gallery by clicking here.

From Amanda, In The Now Weddings and Events

I was blown away and totally honored when Chenin approached me about designing her event for her and Doug’s 10 year vow renewal. She told me up front how similar she thought our styles were- and she was right! We both tend to lean towards clean, timeless looks with a little twist of modern, but never losing the romantic vibe that should always mingle at events. We started with a semi-masculine color palette [which is always my fave- and Chenin is the same way] of poppy orange, peach, gray, and natural greens.

We also created a “focal point” from the mantle area, creating a custom cover that hung over the existing stone structure; making the site look just-built for the event [my favorite!!]. Every detail was picked by Chenin and Doug by hand- and I truly could not love more how everything came together! This was a group effort, a labor of love, and one of the funnest events I’ve ever been a part of designing. And on the day of the event- magic was in the air! Truly a beautiful, flawless, tear-filled event!

Since 85% of the guest count [maybe more, even] were in the wedding industry, we kept pushing ourselves to find details that would be enjoyable, gorgeous and fun for this crowd to be a part of! Oversized pillows in gold sequin and colored textures, along with custom monogrammed ones, filled our ceremony area [turned-dance-floor, turned-lounge-area] with color and personality.

A bourbon tasting bar was enjoyed by nearly ALL the male guests at the party, a true Doug touch! We custom printed “thank you” notes from Chenin and Doug onto their cocktail napkins so that each guest would remember how thankful the couple is for them.

Since she isn’t into big, formal, fancy arrangements, we knew that the nature-inspired venue would lend itself well to using greens abundantly in her centerpieces. That’s where Megan from Honey and Poppies came in- her textural genius with foliage is something that I feel has no competition in our area. So, she was an easy match for this event! Chenin knew this party would be an intimate event, so we planned for one long seated dining table with strung patio lights above for ambiance. We finished the neutral textured linen with a flashy gold runner for pop!

Assigning the place settings made the party feel even that much more personal- so we took the opportunity to use vinyl stickers of their names that were adhered right to the guests’ plate rim. A gray paper menu wrapped the plate and sat on top of a warm orange napkin to add just enough color to this muted palette. My favorite part was likely the play on ivory and white- something we don’t see nearly enough of [and I looove it when people combine the two at events!!]. Chenin’s event was also one of the FIRST to use these farm chairs [brand new to Signature Rentals for the 2012 season]; a great hint of rustic without giving off a “tired” vibe.

Photographer: Hugh Forte
Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop
Caterer: Iva Lee’s
DJ: Peter Papadopolous, Vive Inc.
Dress Designer: BHLDN
Flowers: Honey and Poppies
Lighting: Jim Izzo, Honored Occasions
Shoe Designer: Vivienne Westwood
Graphics and Vinyl Details: Creative Media Print
Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen
Bartending: Sunseri’s
Rentals- Signature Party Rentals
Flatware: Classic Party Rentals
Old Fashioned Photobooth: Photoworks Interactive
Venue: Maison Des Oliviers | Officiant: Chenin’s Uncle

The surrealistic cloud of being engaged left Diana with the very real task of planning a wedding, the first step was to prioritize. They knew they wanted an event that was comfortable and open in nature, a true celebration of their commitment.

She also was certain that they wanted to make this event “theirs” and decided the best way to do so would be through creating the entire thing from scratch. Crafting many of the projects on her own and leaving the tasks she knew were impossible to the professionals, making the perfect crafty DIY Texas wedding. To see more of this wedding captured by Elissa R Photography be sure to click here.

From Diana:

There were a few things I knew I wanted from the beginning. I wanted my wedding at Mercury Hall, a beautiful venue in central Austin, and I wanted Sam Doores and the Tumbleweeds to play – everything else I built around these two things. I tried to save money in all the areas that were feasible, but also knew where to spend it. For things I could not tackle myself, I found wonderful vendors, my caterer was amazing, my florist created the most beautiful arrangements of succulents and yellow billy balls that tied the wedding together, and of course my photographer was out of this world. 

We are lucky enough to be blessed with a large group of very talented friends, and it was through their help that we were not only able to have the wedding we envisioned, but to stay in budget too. We have a friend who is a great cook make our cake and all the pies, and a mixologist designed our signature cocktails. Not to mention the fact that my husband, being an owner of Austin Beerworks (a local brewery), took care of the beer. In addition, we had an entire team of worker bees get to the venue two hours ahead of time to set up. The day of the event I had decided that I would be happy with however they decorated, since I would have no control over it, but I didn’t need that encouragement; it was absolutely perfect. 

The wedding party wore clothing perfect for spring, sun dresses from Urban Outfitters for the girls and linen suits for the boys. I decided that since I was getting married I might as well have two dresses, so half way through I swapped out my beautiful lace wedding dress for a fun and swirly short dancing dress. Between the outdoor dance party on the lawn and the photobooth inside, our guests had a wonderful time through the night.

I also took on an insane amount of DIY craft projects to make the event personal. I made a pinwheel backdrop for the photobooth by creating pinwheels out of scrapbook paper and adhering them to twine dangling from dowel rods. The table centerpieces were decorated with wine bottles that had been collected over our entire engagement, felt flower garlands on twine, and paper pinwheels. I had my florist make beautiful succulent and billy ball boutonnieres for the wedding party, and I created fabric ones for family. All our signs and table numbers were picture frames and plates painted with chalkboard paint. For our favors, I wanted something that our guests could actually use, so, in their interest, I created an aphrodisiac love tea. An herbalist friend advised me on which herbs would best and I ordered them in bulk online. I then combined them into reusable tea bags and had a rubber stamp made to label each tag. 

Photographer: Elissa R Photography
Venue: Mercury Hall
Makeup: Rhea McCarter
Caterer: Pink Avocado
Coordinator: Kristi Treadwell with Joyful Details
Dress Designer: Unbridaled
Flowers: Pollen Floral Art
Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Jewelry: Etsy
Shoe Designer: Seychelles
Veil or Hair Accessories: Unbridaled
Reception dress by Aidan Mattox | Hair: Jenna Harrington | Cake: Alberto Nuche (friend of the bride) | Officiant: Tim Hamilton

There are so many noteworthy weddings to swoon over, but we have to say our next wedding is quite magical. James & Georgina set out to create a wedding that was bright, colorful and super fun. They wanted it to have a handmade feel that was overflowing with personal touches. They didn’t want their wedding just to say Georgina and James, they wanted it to shout it from rooftops. As you can clearly see, they did exactly that.

Captured by one of our favorite Australian wedding photographers Feather + Stone. You simply must see more of this handmade vintage carnival wedding in the full gallery by clicking here.

From Georgina:

When James and I started dreaming up our “Vintage Carnival” wedding, we had no idea just how rewarding all of our efforts would be on the day. Seeing our loved ones, both young and old, having a bash at croquet, my 92 and 99 year old grandparents eating fairy floss off a stick and watching everybody dancing the night away under strings of exposed bulbs and a night sky full of stars was truly the most magical experience of my life.

We set out to create a wedding that was bright and colourful and fun. We wanted it to have a very handmade feel and we made a lot of the little touches ourselves. We didn’t want our wedding just to say George and James, we wanted it to shout it from rooftops!! We had all these crazy ideas and Trudy and Nadia, the legends and creators of dreams, from Lovebird Weddings, brought them to life for us. It was so much more amazing than I ever could have imagined! And lucky for the us, the ridiculously talented Seth and Tenielle from Feather + Stone have captured our day so beautifully that for the rest of our lives we will be able to look at our photos and be transported back to the magical Big Top and the Spectacular that was our wedding!

How much fun is the ceremony site? Haystacks with mismatched blankets and a lace alter cabana. A rustic table was set up next to the cabana with a book and simple can of flowers for signing the wedding documents. There are a ton more photos in the full gallery to check out of the ceremony site by clicking here.

From Feather + Stone:

Working with James & George was an absolute joy. I’ve never seen two people celebrate with as much gusto as these two did. Documenting James’ expression as Georgina walked down the aisle has been one of the most memorable things we’ve ever witnessed. This was a celebration in every sense of the word, from the spontaneous dancing mid ceremony through to the dancing under the stars that continued into the wee hours of the morning. James & Georgina’s wedding really “them” and anyone who witnessed it, from their guests through to the vendors, saw it clearly. There’s something so amazing when two people put every bit of themselves, their personalities, their story into their planning, when it comes to the day it’s one of the most beautiful celebrations you’ll ever witness.

One of our favorite elements was the punch bar. Georgina and James set up a long table filled with mismatched vintage tea cups for the fruity punch. Such a clever and unique idea … don’t you think? The dining area was equally as fabulous. Still keeping with the mismatched theme, they lined the tables with mixed china and loosely arranged florals in a variety of vases. Each table had an old window frame propped up against it with that table’s guests.

The couple seemed to hit the nail on the head with each and every one of their selections, including their wedding stationery. Royal Steamline created their vintage carnival wedding invites. Royal Steamline also happens to be one of our Hand-Picked wedding vendors, you can see more of their work by clicking here.

Photographer: Feather + Stone
Event Designer: Trudy & Nadia of Lovebird Weddings
Venue: Ewingsdale Hall
Makeup: Marcelle
Hair: Julie Carrington
Caterer: Seaweed Cuisine
Cinematography: Panga Productions
Coordinator: Trudy Croad
DJ: Rush Band
Dress Designer: Erin Clare Couture
Flowers: Passion@Flowers
Groom’s Attire: Oscar Hunt
Lighting: Trudy Croad
Officiant: Dave Chapman
Shoe Designer: Shoes of Prey
Veil or Hair Accessories: Julie Carrington
Prop or Furniture Rentals: love bird weddings
Tent/Marquee: Nomadic Tents

Here at The Wedding Chicks we relish in sharing wedding inspiration with you. Whether it’s a  food truck wedding or how to make meringue parfaits for your dessert table. We adore it all. Needless to say we are super excited to share today’s elegant rustic wedding ideas from a few of Seattle’s finest wedding vendors.

With the brick walls and exposed beams of the fabulous Seattle wedding venue Melrose Market Studios as the background, they created a soft and romantic look all inspired by Chrissy Wai-Ching’s stunning ruffled wedding dresses. Impeccably styled by Finch & Thistle Event Design and photographed by Abbey Hepner Photography. So many more ombre dresses and rustic wedding ideas to see in the full gallery by clicking here.

From Finch & Thistle Event Design:

When Abbey contacted me about styling the shoot, I knew I wanted the flowers to be very soft and romantic to contrast with the industrial feel of the space. I created a loose, cascade style hand-tied bouquet in a soft pastel color palette with garden roses, ranunculus, orange blossom, parrot tulips and jasmine. The jasmine trailed beautifully leading the eye to the dramatic skirts of the wedding dresses and the deep pinky-red color of the jasmine’s buds also mimicked the color of the hem.

For the tabletop, I used Vintage Ambiance’s silver teapots and jugs instead of vases for the satellite arrangements and a vintage mercury glass urn for the centerpiece. A vintage lace runner was a romantic touch and didn’t hide the beautiful wood table. The flowers coordinated with the bouquet and I created small boutonnieres tied with twine for each place setting. The birch votive holders brought the outdoors inside and softened the look. The beautiful table, mismatched chairs, sofa, apple crates and silverware came from Vintage Ambiance, a NW vintage rentals service. They have a huge range of vintage furniture, props and tabletop pieces and I use them for many of my weddings.

Abbey’s assistant, Heather Dow, sewed a burlap and lace backdrop and made a rustic mason jar chandelier that completely transformed the space.

Jenny Bowker styled the models and created romantic and dramatic hair and makeup looks to coordinate with the dresses. You can check out Jenny’s video library on YouTube for lots of wonderful makeup tutorials.

As you may have guessed already, Finch & Thistle Event Design is one our Hand-Picked wedding vendors. You must visit their Hand-Picked page to see more of their stunning work.

Photographer Abbey Hepner produced the shoot and created an inspiration board inspired by one of Chrissy’s dresses in particular; a beautiful, edgy ruffled gown with a deep red hem. She then contacted Marie Jenkins, a pastry chef based in Silverdale, WA who baked a beautiful white three tiered ruffled cake that also had a red “hem.”

Photographer: Abbey Hepner Photography
Venue: Melrose Market Studios
Makeup & Hair: Jenny Bowker
Dress Designer: Chrissy Wai-Ching
Flowers: Finch & Thistle Event Design
Jewelry: Le Frock Vintage
Stationery: Bella Figura
Veil or Hair Accessories: Nordstrom Bridal
Prop or Furniture Rentals: Vintage Ambiance
Photographer’s Assistant, Creative Tech: Heather Dow | Models: Alyssa Cave, Aidan O’Sullivan, Stefani Miller | Cake: Marie Jenkins

Jason and Taylor love the impeccable ’60s-inspired style of the hit show Mad Men. They also wanted their wedding to  feel like a place they take clients for drinks and dinner. Seems simple enough … right? Apparently not,  Taylor had a hard time finding anything that looked like, “Mad Men” theme without looking cheap or cheesy. The only thing that seemed to be spot on with her initial planning process was our Mad Men Save The Date.

Lucky for Jason and Taylor, David Tutera from My Fair Wedding  came into the picture and took over. Arranging every detail for their Mad Men inspired wedding. The entire celebration went off without a hitch and was more then they could ever imagine. Read on to hear more from the bride and be sure to see more retro inspired wedding ideas from this real Mad Men wedding by clicking here. All captured by Matt & Molly Snelson of Mathieu Photography.

Filming with the crew was awesome. It sounds so cliche but by the end I didn’t notice the cameras. I felt like these were my friends from way back in the day and we were just catching up. Both Jason and I really gave David full rein of our wedding. We had no strings attached. We knew it was going to be fantastic. I don’t think we knew how amazing. I would have never dreamed that I would be doing a photo shoot on the set of “Mad Men” or to get married there. I mean I joked around with my family when they said, “What do you think David will do?” My response was, “Put us on the set to say I do.” I said it thinking no way on God’s green Earth was that a possibility.

Everything on my wedding day went off without a hitch, or if a hitch happened I didn’t know about it because the crew handled it. I got to be like so many Grooms. I showed up and got dressed and then married. I didn’t stress about the caterer, florist, or rentals. I sat up in the suite with my girls and Mom. That is the way everyone should get married.

Jason and I chose the theme of “Mad Men” because when we first got engaged I asked Jason what he wanted for the wedding. His reply was, “To get married in the Galapagos Islands, to not wear a tux, to have a “Seinfeld” themed wedding cake, a whiskey and cigar bar. I vowed to have him not wear a tux, to have a whiskey and cigar bar. I looked into the rest but they were kinda out there requests. From what I could do I thought I could make the whiskey and cigar bar have a lounge feel like in “Mad Men.” I wanted it to feel like the place they take clients for drink and dinner. Jason and I are big into retro fashion, especially the sixties, so the concept just kinda snowballed from there.

When I saw Jason at the end of the aisle, tears were instantly in my eyes. Jason and I have been together for 8 years. It was long over due, because I have known that he was “The One” since our first date. David and his team made Jason far more handsome than Donald Draper ever could be, which I know was an easy job. My officiant was my Uncle Timmers, it was his first wedding and truly I think he knocked it out of the park. Every tear shed was of pure happiness and love

My photographers were the only thing that I was allowed to keep when David changed everything, although if he had tried to change them I would have fought to the death to keep them. I know that they have been to some crazy weddings, but between the filming schedule and my family they were able to get the most amazing shots of Jason and I that I will cherish for a lifetime and more. Not only were Molly and Matt able to take charge and get the shots they needed to they are such professionals and amazing people that they brought out the true Jason and Taylor moments. Jason and I are not the most photogenic people, I know everyone says that, but truly, and Molly and Matt captured that day in the photos. I loved the way they both took pictures that had the booms and cameras in the shots it capture the true essence of that day.

All in all it was a beautiful wedding. Jason and I are truly blessed. We couldn’t have “Dreamed Bigger” as David says. Thank you to everyone who helped,. some of you I will never know but I want to personally say thank you for making my wedding everything I wanted and more.

Event Designer: David Tutera – My Fair Wedding – WeTV
Venue: Los Angeles Center Studios
Makeup & Hair: Meredith Harper Weddings
Cake: A Wish and a Whisk
Caterer: Above All Catering
DJ: Vox DJs
Dress Designer: Dolly Couture
Flowers: Studio Fiore
Groom’s Attire: Tuxedo Junction
Lighting: Amber Event Production
Stationery: Bella Carta Studio
Prop or Furniture Rentals: Choura.us
Event Rentals:Town and Country Events Rentals
Brdesmaids Fashion: Aria
Linen: Cloth Connection
Wardrobe Stylist: Unique Vintage

Beth and Adam wanted a relaxed wedding day that celebrated who they were and wanted to create a fabulous time for friends and family. They decided to have a rooftop brunch wedding in St. Augustine, Florida at the The White Room Loft & Rooftop. Complete with paper flowers, a favorite local band and mimosas aplenty.

A steal-worthy idea from this relaxed Florida wedding is asking guests to wear hats to your wedding. Especially if it is a sunny affair. Not only will everyone look fabulous, but also makes for a great conversation starter for guests. You can see more pretty pictures like the bridesmaid bouquet with a paper flower in the full gallery captured by Studio222 Photography.

We love that the couple incorporated paper flowers throughout their entire day. They look especially beautiful intermingled with the loose natural flowers. Fits in perfectly with the relaxed theme.

Beth and Adam also utilized our free printables. They took the Bunting Free Printable Save the Date Cards and turned them into wedding programs. Most of our free wedding downloads can be used this way. Since the text can be customized, you really can make anything you want. From free wedding invites to wedding programs and menus – we have got you covered.

Photographer: Studio222 Photography
Venue: The White Room Loft & Rooftop
Cake: Defore’s Cake Design
Caterer: O.C. White’s
Coordinator: Meghan Berman
DJ: Aslyn & The Naysayers
Dress Designer: Sarah Danielle
Flowers: The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design
Stationery: Raintree Graphics
Wedding Programs: Wedding Chicks
Paper Products: St. Augustine Paper Co. | Makeup: Michelle Axtell Hair: Callie Hish (bride’s friend) | Veil or Hair Accessories: homemade |
Favors: Luli’s Cupcakes

The Parker is arguably one of our favorite wedding venues in Palm Springs. They have held a few weddings there and  know how to make your wedding a true phenomenon.

Connie and Ben’s classically beautiful wedding was filled with vintage details, drift wood centerpieces and gorgeous succulent arrangements. Captured by one of our Hand-Picked wedding vendors Chenin Boutwell. You must see more of this classic wedding in the full gallery by clicking here.

We love it when a couple tailors their guest book table to their wedding style. Connie and Ben’s vintage style table matched their decor and design to a tee as it was filled with antique books as props and tiny succulents.  The guest book table also doubled as a place for guests to grab a sparkler, for the sparkler send off. Using one space for two stations … great idea.

We love Chenin and it is clearly evident why she is one of our Hand-Picked Photographers.  These vendors are at the top of their game and provide excellent services! Chosen because of their commitment to excellence, stylish and fresh ideas, and their overall fresh approach to weddings.To learn more about how our Hand-Picked Vendors are chosen please click here. To see more work from Chenin Boutwell be sure to click here.

Venue: The Parker Palm Springs
Makeup & Hair: Kelly Zhang
Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop
Coordinator: Kathy Recchia
DJ: Patrick Belton
Dress Designer: Vera Wang
Flowers: Century City Flower Market
Lighting: Lighten Up, Inc
Shoe Designer: Fendi
Stationery: Paper Wonders
Linens : TE Linens
Officiant: Rabbi Arnie Rachlis

As the weather warms up, a beach wedding sounds ideal. Picture the rolling cliffs and the crystal blue ocean as the backdrop to your ceremony, we can’t think of a prettier setting. Jacquie and Greg could not agree more. They chose a San Clemente cliff side camp spot for their ceremony and headed over to the Historic Cottage San Clemente for their ceremony.

Most all the details were crafted by Jacquie. Umbrellas & fans for the ceremony, mason jars for the guests’ cocktails, succulent filled window panes, burlap banners, wine barrels as cocktail tables and wooden signs directing guests to each location. She did it all with a little help from event planner Kimberly Conners. You can see all the pretty details up close in the full gallery. Photographed by Matthew Morgan Photography.

From Kimberly Conners:
Jacquie and I first met at the beginning of the year where she told me about her wedding and all the ideas she had. When she told me she was going to get married at a camp site overlooking the ocean, I was thrilled! I loved the idea. This also meant that a lot of work was to be done to transform it into a ceremony site, but I was totally up for the challenge.

There’s nothing I love more than a creative bride. Jacquie worked so hard on this wedding and all of the details that went into it. Some of those details included umbrellas & fans for the ceremony, mason jars for the guests’ cocktails, succulent filled window panes, burlap banners, wine barrels as cocktail tables and wooden signs directing guests to each location.
The weather that day was perfect for an outdoor ceremony and the ocean provided the perfect backdrop for their vows. After the ceremony, guests followed the path to the Historic Cottage where the reception was held. Everything was amazing – down to the last detail!

Jacquie is so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family. One of her best friends, Missy, provided many of the antique jars and succulent arrangements for the wedding. They were stunning! The rest of the beautiful flowers along with the bouquets were provided by my favorite florist, Aly with the Vine’s Leaf. Jacquie also had several friends help out during the reception by making yummy desserts for the sweets table, helping with the set-up and helping to clean up at the end of the night. It was so awesome to see everyone work together to make Jacquie and Greg’s day perfect! It was such a beautiful wedding to be a part of.

All the pretty florals you see at this San Clemente Historic Cottage Wedding are designed by one of our Hand-Picked Vendors. You can see more of The Vine’s Leaf work on her Hand-Page by clicking here.

Venue: Historic Cottage San Clemente
Hair: Heather, Salon Zinnia
Cinematography: Joe Park Weddings
Coordinator: Kimberly Conners
Lighting: Black Tie Events
Prop or Furniture Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Wine Barrel Rentals – King Barrel | DJ: John Muir, Dolce Entertainment | Makeup: Janae Allanson | Caterer: Tacos El Tiburon

Kati and Bryan envisioned a wedding that was tailored, sophisticated and accented with gorgeous flowers.  Little elements referencing their love for their favorite band (Dave Mathews) surrounded them in a tasteful fashion, and made their event very unique and personal. Read on to hear more wedding planning tips from Toledo Event Designers Elite Events and be sure to see more green and blue wedding ideas in the entire gallery captured by Mary Wyar.

If you want your Wedding Party to be in high fashion dresses, but do not want them to shell out a fortune considering renting the dresses form Rent The Runway. They are able to wear a snazzy fashionable gown at a reasonable price. Great idea …. right?

From The Bride:
How to make sure your wedding vision comes to fruition: Being aware of whom you are as individuals and as a couple is the MOST IMPORTANT part of designing your wedding. Piece together what your love story is. Look at photos of the two of you throughout your relationship and write down what you like to do together, how you fell in love and some of the greatest memories you have made. This should tell you what type of a couple you are and give you a starting point to begin gathering images and examples for your wedding designer. Use the images you have gathered to work with your event designer and coordinator to create an inspiration board that reflects not only your style but your budget as well. Take this with you for every wedding related meeting to insure your florist, cake artist and even your bridesmaids all understand exactly what you are going for.

Location:
Bryan and Kati fell in love camping at Dave Matthews Concerts. Keeping in line with how they fell in love outside, they wanted a location with an outdoor natural setting that would subtly transport their guest’s into their love story. They chose the Historic Toledo Country Club built in 1892. The gorgeous building’s large windows, wrap around porches and terrace dance floor provided guest with views of the Maumee River, an award winning golf course, perfectly manicured gardens and a night sky full of stars.

The Design:
Elite Events created a brand for the couple which subtly can be found in every detail. The custom inspiration board titled Tailored Sophistication reflected a color palette that coordinated with the exterior facade of the venue including shades of Greens, Blues, Greys and Whites. Since the couple fell in love camping at Dave Matthews Band concerts, Elite Events took inspiration from an album cover art and transcended the image into the interlocking circles you see on all the details. The circular image represents the couples joining of lives, shared love of a band, and a never ending commitment. The love story continued in other details, using quotes on straw tags and programs, naming tables after meaningful songs, and turning music sheets of the Song “Everyday” into cones that held flower petals in which guests would toss at the conclusion of the ceremony. Paying tribute to the couples favorite past times, the ring bearers dressed like golfers, the flower girls resembled ballerinas and the couple’s dog carried the rings around his collar just as he did during the proposal.

The Reception Décor:
Event Designer Nikki Wolfe incorporated circular details into the table décor utilizing 3D marshmallow white confetti accent linens that complimented the sophisticated Indigo Lamoure linens alternating throughout the reception area.
3 floral designs were created to keep the guests eyes moving throughout the room.
Look 1: A Modern Touch: moss spheres wrapped in white calla lilies and placed in clear square vases
Look 2: A Simple Statement: Dendrobium Orchids playfully emerging from square beds of wheat grass
Look 3: An Understated Elegance: 3 cylinder vases varying in height displayed submerged Cymbidium Orchids, overflowing large Phalaenopsis Orchids, and sprays of newly budded Dendrobium Orchids.

Fun with Food:
Jane’s Cakes created a 3 tier cake inspired by the bride’s ceremony & reception dresses which was topped with a cake topper molded to resemble the couple and their pets. Out of town guests were offered goodie bags filled with Apple butter and Pepper butter made from ingredients grown in the groom’s family garden. The couple invited guests to enjoy their grandmother’s homemade cookies and kept the party going into the late hours of the night with a Nacho station in honor of the grooms favorite late night snack.

Photographer: Mary Wyar
Venue: Toledo Country Club
Cake: Janes Cakes
Coordinator: Elite Events
DJ: Decorative Sound
Dress Designer: Mikaella
Flowers: Bartz Viviano
Groom’s Attire: Ticknor’s Mens Clothier
Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka
Stationery: Elite Events
Veil or Hair Accessories: Davids Bridal
Prop or Furniture Rentals: Rent a Center
Bridesmaids Dresses: Rent The Runway
Makeup: On Site Bridal | Hair: Destry Newell

White lush flowers mixed with winter greens and tons of candles in elegant mercury glasses makes this classic ballroom wedding a show stopper. Not only is the wedding sophisticated and stylish, but the photographs are equally as gorgeous. Captured by one of our Hand-Picked wedding vendors  Emily Steffen Photography. You can see more of this Minnesota Ballroom wedding in the full wedding gallery.

From The Bride:

We were looking for a warm, intimate feeling that would fill the space. I was really inspired by the venue, 317 on Rice Park, by the warm, rich colors, the big windows with natural light, the beautiful, giant fireplace for a winter setting. We were interested in lush, white flowers with some winter greens and natural elements paired with A LOT of candelas in mercury glass. And I mean A LOT of candles. I wanted full, lush tables with warm glowing candle light to greet guests when they walked in. I love the chairs and our flower designer, Melissa, spruced them up just perfectly with the natural twigs and flowers on the backsides. It gave height and interest to the space around the table.

We absolutely LOVED the outcome, plain and simple! I had a general idea that I tried to communicate to Melissa, but am a firm believer that flexibility yields the best results! She really nailed the feeling we were looking for; it surpassed all of our expectations! The room was absolutely stunning and some of the details – such as the blueberries in the candles and flowers on the chairs- were a total surprise! We loved it!

Venue: 317 on Rice Park
Makeup: Avada Juut Salon and Spa – Wayzata, MN
Cake: Buttercream
Caterer: Levi Restaurants
Dress Design & Accessories: Melissa Sweet – Priscilla of Boston
Photo Booth: Traveling Photobooth

It’s officially that time of year! The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and it’s the perfect time for a beach wedding. To get everyone a little excited and inspired for the up coming shift in seasons, we have some super cute shabby chic beach ideas from This & That Vintage Rentals.

After a super long engagement, Chris and Shanda had an intimate wedding on the cliffs of California’s Laguna Beach. Of course everything had a shabby chic romantic vibe and the event was filled with vintage rentals. All of this beachy goodness was photographed by Katie Neal Photo. To see more head on over to the full gallery.

From The Bride:

Sweet Emilia Jane was fantastic! She called me out as a burlap and lace girl right away! Vintage/Romantic with Bohemian touches was the perfect vibe for us! I love how all of the details turned out! I loved how personal and thoughtful our decor and ambiance was! One of my favorite things included in the decor was my parents, and Chris’s parent’s wedding photos, along with photos of my grandparents and great grandparents who are no longer with us. It was a nice reminder of family, tradition and marriage.

Many pieces displayed at our wedding for the entrance tables, drink and dessert station and lounge are from my family’s company, This & That Vintage Rentals. My dad did an incredible job picking out unique pieces that made our wedding so special! I loved the special little touches and collaborations of friends and family. It meant so much to us that Chris’s sister made our cake and one of my best friend’s made the ring pillow. And I am a huge Dave Matthews fan, so it was so fitting to have a bottle of Dave’s own wine on every table, which was perfect timing, as it was released just a month before.

It was truly a perfect evening of laughing, dancing and enjoying the ambiance with our close friends and family! The best part is that the Newland Barn is right up the street from where we live, so every time we drive by it, my son Nathan says, “Momma, remember when Dadda, Momma and Nae got married?” I love it every time he says it!

Event Designer & Coordinator : Sweet Emilia Jane
Venue: Newland Barn
Cinematography: Tommy Walden/MarieSam Sanchez
DJ: Pete Goslow
Dress Designer: Oleg Cassini
Flowers: The Floral Lab
Groom’s Attire: Friar Tux Shop
Stationery: Where’s the Party
Veil or Hair Accessories: etsy
Prop or Furniture Rentals: This & That Vintage Rentals
Ceremony Site: Laguna Beach
Assorted Desserts: Sweet & Saucy Shop
Other Rentals (non vintage) Baker Party Rentals
Officiant: Abel Galvan | Cake: Jamie Isaacs (Groom’s Sister) | Caterer: JR’s Deli in Costa Mesa

We couldn’t wait to share today’s wedding with you! This lovely barn wedding was photographed by one of our absolute favorite southern wedding photographers, Austin Gros. It is truly a picture guide on how to throw a barn wedding.

Amanda and Lucas’s Tennessee wedding could not have been more perfect. All the details were impeccably and thoughtfully planned out in only six months. With comfort in mind along with a, “southern-style” you will love this laid-back wedding held at  Southall Eden, a private farm located just 6 miles outside of Franklin, Tennesse. Be sure to see all the images in the full wedding gallery.

From the Bride:

“Once Lucas and I got engaged in February last year, our wedding planning began almost instantaneously. From the very start, it was extremely important to both of us to have a wedding that was “us.” We also both knew we wanted a venue that would take full advantage of the beautiful rolling hills, laid-back charm and rural setting of our hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. With only 7 months to plan, we were very fortunate to stumble upon Southall Eden, a private farm located just 6 miles outside of Franklin, Tennessee. The setting could not have been more perfect! It really set the mood for the day. Our guests were able to kick off their heels, loosen their ties and just enjoy celebrating with us. Comfort was key! We tried to incorporate that theme in everything from the “southern-style” catering to the bridesmaid’s dresses. I’m thrilled beyond words with how everything turned out. Lucas and I had the time of our lives at our wedding. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to kick off the rest of our lives together!”

Photographer: Austin Gros
Event Designer: Southall Eden
Venue: Southall Eden
Event Planning: Bridal Blueprints
Makeup: Stephanie Harrison
Cake: Jo’s Custom Cakes & Catering
Caterer: Puckett’s Grocery
Dress Designer: Anjolique
Flowers: Enchanted Florist
Groom’s Attire: H&M
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Anthropologie

After this next wedding, Hawaii will be on the top of your list for your destination wedding. So many activities, to-die-for weather, sandy beaches and the list goes on and on. The exact reason why Kalin and Matt chose Maui for their Hawaiian destination wedding.

These two California locals aimed for a  carefree, laid back wedding with a vintage feel. Letting the serenity of the island speak for itself. They accomplished that and more. This DIY Wedding In Hawaii was beautifully captured by San Diego wedding photographer Katrina Louise.  See all the pretty images in the full gallery by clicking here.

From The Bride:
My best friend’s parents (second parents to me) moved to Maui several years ago. I have been lucky enough to visit frequently over the last few years, and have always loved the Paia property where they lived. Last November we spent Thanksgiving with them in Maui, and my boyfriend of 10 years popped the question at Twin Falls (one of our favorite hiking spots a few miles down the road, on your way to Hana). It only seemed right to get married at one of our favorite spots, where we have shared some amazing memories.

My bridesmaids and I made all the flower arrangements. We picked native Hawaiian flowers from the property for the mother’s bouquets. We also went to the local farmers market in Kahului for all the tuberose, eucalyptus, wild ginger, and orchids. My best friend and I started, The Vintage Alley right before I got engaged (great timing!) We designed the save-the-dates, wedding invitations and thank you’s.

One thing you must know about us is that we love coffee, so these kona coffee wedding favors are right up our alley. Kalin found  pre-sewn burlap bags on Uline, trimmed them down, hand stenciled Café, filled with local Kona coffee, and tied with twine and a die cut tag. This is a definite steal worthy idea, especially for coffee lovers.

Their guest books were vintage style Hawaiian postcards. Kalin burned the edges to give them a rustic feel. Guests wrote  sweet messages or words of advice, which Kalin and Matt will bind into a book later. The escort cards were a large frame with brass skeleton keys that were collected on ebay. Each tarnished and rusted by hand to give them that extra vintage feel, then tied to die cut tags, and attached to a framed board.

Each of the vases were hand painted in grey and turquoise and filled with Hawaiian flowers. The napkins were handmade by a friend and the table numbers are old wood with antique door knobs and address numbers from home depot. Stay tuned because we will show you exactly how to make these later today.

Wait.. there is more. Stay tuned to find out how Kalin crafted some of these spectacular do-it-yourself projects.

Photographer: Katrina Louise
Makeup: Dwell by Erin
Hair: Angela Lew with Salon HG
Cake: Aloha Events Catering
Caterer: Aloha Events Catering
DJ: Billy Arbour of Soundwave Recording
Dress Designer: Acapulco by Watters
Flowers: DIY by bride & bridesmaids (purchased at Maui Swap Meet)
Groom’s Attire: Volcom Gray Slacks, Alfoni Linen Shirt, Reef Sandals
Jewelry: Kendra Scott ‘Nyla’ Teardrop Earrings
Officiant: Marty Milligan
Shoe Designer: Dolce Vita Queen Wedge in blush suede
Stationery: The Vintage Alley
Custom Wooden Coffee Sign: Shabby Shoe Signs
PhotoBooth: Katrina Louise
Venue: private residence

We are thrilled to showcase one of our Hand-Picked wedding vendors Erich Mcvey Photography. Specializing in capturing timeless classic images in the Pacific Northwest. We were lucky to have meet Erich and his sweet wife at our Portland Happy Hour. They were as kind as could be. It is easy to see from our next feature, why Erich was chosen as one of our Hand-Picked.

Ben and Chelsea were married at the Portland Temple and had an elegant reception at, Zenith Vineyards. We are loving the classic details and of course how pretty is Chelsea’s hair?  Loving the vintage inspired hair accessory. So pretty. See this entire Portland Temple Wedding by clicking here.

From the bride:

Growing up as a little girl, I always knew I wanted a bit of a classic vibe. I chose black and dark brown as my colors and dressed it up with tuxedos to give me that classic look that I wanted. But most of all, I wanted to be fun, where the guests were happy to be there and didn’t want to leave. The photobooth was a great touch of fun to the wedding. I used the pictures of the guests as an addition to my thank you notes and we also compiled a picture book to remember our guests by. I love flowers and I love food! I wanted the desert table to be pretty, but most importantly, delicious! I opted out of fondant and went straight for amazing tasting cakes with buttercream frosting. As for the flowers, it was most important to me to not fight the seasons. Flowers out of season never look their best and always seem out of place. I was going for an earthy, garden feel because I love the look and I thought it went great with a fall wedding. We added some white pumpkins into the floral arrangements with monogram Ps on them for Park. We made those ourselves. We bought all the pumpkins that Michael’s had, painted them white, and stuck the vinyl lettering on them. My father, Calvin Stinger, is a professional artist and supplied all of the amazing bronze sculptures as table pieces. It added a great touch to the feel of the room and colors of the wedding. It really was the perfect wedding. We had an amazingly fun time. I think the most important thing is that we didn’t fight the season, we found great and artistic professionals that understood what we wanted and we rolled with the punches knowing that there would be a hiccup here or there.

It was the most amazing day of my life. I knew that as the bride, I was to expect a certain level of chaos. But I made it a point to take moments in between the hugging and greeting and chatting just to take a look around. I wanted to remember what the day looked like and felt like…and also look at the handsome man I just married!
The sparklers as we left the reception was a highlight for both of us. It was just so much fun!

Erich McVey is one of our exclusive The Hand-Picked Vendors. Hand-Picked Vendors are at the top of their game and provide excellent services! These vendors are chosen because of their commitment to excellence, stylish and fresh ideas, and their overall fresh approach to weddings. To learn more about how our Hand-Picked Vendors are chosen please click here. To see more work from Erich McVey be sure to click here.

Citing inspiration from the season’s latest color trend, our next wedding is surely to inspire all you spring brides. This elegant pastel wedding was held in South Africa, just outside Nelspruit in the low veld, near the Kruger National Park Gate.

We are head over heels for the soft and flowy bridesmaid dresses, the flower sash on the bride and all the pastel wedding florals. What do you love most?  All beautifully captured by South African wedding photographer Rensche Marie Photography. There really are so many more beautiful photographs in the full wedding gallery. Click here to see them all.

From The Bride:

My inspiration – Initially when my fiancé and I discussed our wedding “theme” we decided that we did not want to be boxed in by a specific theme, color style or rhythm. We wanted the wedding to shine timeless charm with a slight edge to it. Our wedding stationery was inspired by the Magnolia venue (floral wallpaper) and the colours we decided to work with were dove grey and turquoise with a touch of pink.

Since we got married in early October it made sense to focus on a spring floral table set-up complimented by a lot of candle light. The venue allowed for an open plan lay-out  with some of our guests seated on the patio overlooking the beautiful view of the Lowveld.  My mother, sister and aunt stumbled on the bridesmaids dresses shopping one morning and after sending me a picture we knew that nothing else would have looked better than these fabulous airy floral dresses from Forever New.  We had the absolute best florist and after meeting with her and advising on the look of the bridesmaids dresses she immediately understood what we were trying to create on our day,  she sourced the absolute best and most beautiful flowers available during season.

To fit into the timeless charm  I wanted my wedding dress to be classic, comfortable but still show people who I am, we had a traditional church wedding and I knew that my back would be towards our guests the  moment I reached the altar and wanted to make use of the opportunity to display the floral detail on the back of my dress. We used the same floral brooches from the dress in my hair, which complimented the “floral” theme beautifully…

Our wedding day was out of this world with the best weather we could ever have wished for, the food and wine was delicious the band kept guests on their feet until the early hours of the morning and my brand new  hubby and I partied until the very last guest left. It was a dream come true. Of course it helped to have such reliable suppliers and close family and friends helping us with all arrangements, allowing for such a stress free wedding day.

Photographer: Rensche Marie Photography
Getting ready venue: Caster Bridge Hollow
Catering & Venue: Magnolia Restuarante
Band: Havanna
Cake of Cheeses: Magnolia
Flowers: Jorika van Huyssteen | Dress: Belinda Viljoen | Hair:  Cecile De Jong | Make-up: Mireille Pieters | Bridesmaid dresses: Forever New | Grooms attire: Woolworths | Cake: Family favour

An ivory Demetrios wedding gown paired with a Twigs & Honey veil, bridesmaids in berry Anthropologie dresses and peach wedding accents. Yep … all the ingredients for the perfect ivory and peach handmade wedding.

Held at one of the prettiest locations in Idaho, Hills Resort at Priest Lake, and captured perfectly by Easy Dreamer Photography. You can see all of the lovely pictures from this lakeside wedding by clicking here. Please read on, the bride goes into detail on how this perfect day came together.

From The Bride:

Having never been one to daydream about my wedding day, I can’t say I was one of those girls who had already picked out a color scheme before I even met my fiance. After getting engaged, Trevor and I took plenty of time to plan our wedding – 18 months, give or take, which provided countless hours to peruse stacks of magazines, absorb the wonders of the wedding-blog world, visit every dress shop in town, and to envision what would make for a celebration which was perfectly “us”.  I began to suffer from inspiration overload (so many pretty things!) so we brought it back to the basics of what really was most important to us: a meaningful location, a relaxed and beautiful atmosphere, and a genuine celebration of our love and the wonderful people in our lives.

We chose Hills Resort at Priest Lake as our venue because it has been a favorite vacation spot for my family for generations (and just so happens to be one of the prettiest places in the whole world). Hills is remote, rustic, and oozes with a certain North Idaho charm….and huckleberries! We were planning from over 400 miles away, and all of our friends and family would be travelling at least a few hours to attend our wedding, but we knew that once everyone arrived it would be well worth the trip (and the logistical challenges).  Once the venue was settled and the date chosen, the other elements naturally fell into place.

The colors and general style of the wedding were derived from things I naturally gravitate towards – peaches and corals, ivories and neutrals, natural fibers and a vintage aesthetic.  We are not “formal” people and wanted our wedding to have a classy but relaxed vibe, and I endeavored to do as many DIY projects as I could manage (and for those that I couldn’t, I relied heavily on Etsy – yay for handmade!)  By incorporating twigs, berries and moss in the florals, along with burlap and jute in the table arrangements, we were able to nail the look I was craving: woodsy and eclectic, with some elegance thrown in for good measure.  With hardly more than a few color suggestions and creative license, Mike at Beau K Florist produced the most gorgeous and unique arrangements I have ever seen! We purchased 100+ glass bottles and hand painted each in various shades of aqua, so rather than formal centerpieces, single stems were placed in the bottles and spread out over simple burlap table runners.

In many ways, the little details were the most fun for us, such as the ways we incorporated squirrels in memory of my mom who passed away three years ago.  Squirrels frolicked on our stationary, perched in our hand-drawn fingerprint tree, and nuzzled at the top of our cake. Chandeliers hanging from the trees lent a touch of whimsy and sparkle. Cocktails named after our pets honored our furry “kids”, as did the poem “Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog” which was read during our ceremony.  Huckleberry jam favors allowed our guests to take a little bit of North Idaho goodness home with them. Trevor reached out to our favorite band, who were happy to provide an instrumental version of one of their prettiest songs for me to walk down the aisle to – so amazing!

Photography: Easy Dreamer Photography
Hair : Shannon @ Midtown Salon, Coeur d’Alene
Makeup: iffany @ Midtown Salon, Coeur d’Alene
Invitation Suite artwork from Printable Press + bride’s own, DIY printing and design
Wedding Dress:  Demetrios
Veil: Twigs & Honey
Shoes:  Seven for All Mankind
Earrings and bracelet:  Nadri
Garter: rosebudlips on Etsy
Flowers: Mike @ BeauK Florist
Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie
Groomsmen Suits: Tasso Elba / Hand sewn + shoes by Vans
Event Coordination, DJ and Bartender: Ruby Frog Entertainment | Top Hat Event Planning
Cake Toppers: custom design by FeltShmelt on Etsy
Fingerprint Guestbook Tree – custom design by Bleu de Toi on Etsy
Shoe Clips: Brydferth on Etsy
‘Yay’ Flag: joyfuljoyful on Etsy

It is really hard to not to fall in love with the idea of jet setting to the Florida Keys, and having an Elegant Islamorada Beach Wedding. We think it will be hard for you as well after you see Maggie and Ryan’s intimate beach wedding.

Maggie and Ryan were high school sweethearts and on a surprise romantic trip to the Florida Keys, Ryan got down on one knee and finally asked Maggie to marry him. Captured beautifully by one of our Hand-Picked wedding vendors KT Merry. You must see more of this stunning wedding in the full gallery.

From the bride:
Ryan and I started dating when we were 17 years old. Whenever I pictured my wedding day, he was the only person I could ever imagine waiting for me at the end of the aisle. On a surprise romantic trip to the Florida Keys, Ryan got down on one knee and finally asked me to marry him. I have been going down to Islamorada with Ryan ever since we started dating as teenagers. We have so many memories there and through the years it has become a very special place for us.
It was not easy for us to decide to have our wedding in Islamorada. Both of our families are from Chicago and it would have made a lot of sense to have the wedding there. However, Islamorada was where we pictured saying our vows to one another and spending time with our closest family and friends. Once we made the decision to get married in Islamorada, we never looked back. Ryan and I spent a lot of time planning even the smallest details of the wedding. It wasn’t always easy; but in the end, it was all worth it. We could not have pictured a more perfect day. We felt like we were in a dream.

Venue: Cheeca
Makeup: Kiki’s Spa
Cinematography: Belvedere Stories
DJ: Mike Sipe Entertainment
Dress Designer: Vera Wang
Flowers: Floral Fantasy Weddings
Groom’s Attire: J Crew
Shoe Designer: Tory Burch
Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas
Hair: Alma Bosco
Cake: Islamorada Restaurant & Bakery Bob’s Bunz

Since we first layed on eyes on this Northern California wedding venue we have fantasized about having a Nestldown Wedding. A magical and whimsical forest nestled in the Redwoods on acres of lushly landscaped property, this exceptional retreat is located just minutes away from the heart of the Silicon Valley. Enjoy Nancy and Anthony’s intimate Nestldown Wedding captured by Tinywater Photography. You can see more of this magical wedding venue by clicking here.

Nancy wished for a wedding that was the opposite of a hotel ballroom wedding, opting for a mix of elegant, romantic, and vintage meets nature inspired wedding. She had an idea of a whimsical dream in a magical forest, and I think the Nestldown setting matched her vision perfectly! The reception dinner took place at one long family style table, where lush green centerpieces matched the beauty of the towering redwood trees, ferns, secret waterfalls, open fields, and crisp lakes on the property.

Nancy and Anthony opted for a dessert table full of sugary sweets for their guests in addition to their smaller wedding cake. How much do you love the three-tiered glass stands with the assortment of tarts atop the rich damask linen?

Event Designer: Thomas John Events
Venue: Nestldown
Cake: Cake Expressions
Coordinator: Nestldown & Thomas John Events
DJ: Bolero Soul
Flowers: Flower Divas

If you are investigating Southern California wedding venues, you should for sure take a tour of Casa Romantica. A bluff-top estate with spectacular views of the beautiful Pacific ocean along with stunning architecture making it the perfect backdrop for a beach wedding without the sand.

If you are investigating Southern California wedding photographers, we also suggest taking a serious look at Lane Dittoe Photography. Obviously you can see from our next wedding he knows how to make a girl look incredibly pretty. How gorgeous does Marissa look? Be sure to see more of this Casa Romantica Wedding in the full wedding gallery by clicking here.

Lane Dittoe and Paper and Thread  are both The Hand-Picked Vendors. Hand-Picked Vendors are at the top of their game and provide excellent services! These vendors are chosen because of their commitment to excellence, stylish and fresh ideas, and their overall fresh approach to weddings. To learn more about how our Hand-Picked Vendors are chosen please click here.

Photographer: Lane Dittoe
Cinematography: Stereo Waltz Films
Stationery: Paper and Thread
Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop

Event Designer: Pamela Lowe Floral Designs
Venue: Casa Romantica
Makeup: Lisa Leming
Hair: Lauren Hodges from Salon Sauvage
Caterer: Iva Lee’s Catering
DJ: Cerritos All Stars
Dress Designer: Paloma Blanca
Flowers: Pamela Lowe Floral Designs
Groom’s Attire: Tommy Hilfiger from Macy’s
Shoe Designer: Jeffery Campbell

This is our last wedding before Christmas and we thought we would leave you with a really beautiful wedding from Braedon Flynn Photography.  A black and white stylish affair held at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

The entire event is positively chic without even trying. The bride goes into more detail about the venue, special moments and how she create a vintage look for less that you must read. Be sure to see all of the beautiful images in the full gallery by clicking here.

From the bride, Megan

The morning of the wedding, as I was getting ready with all the girls in the hotel room, we got a knock on the door. It was Dave’s brothers and they had a gift for me that they brought that was from Dave & Dave’s family. Dave’s mom, Lucy, had a cross necklace made for me as a wedding gift; it was a replica of a cross necklace, that she has had in her family for years. It was so special to her to be able to pass this on to the her “new daughter” as a way to welcome me to their family. It was a gold cross with pearls and a green precious stone in the middle. It was so special to me to be given something so beautiful and something that has such meaning. Unbeknownst to Lucy, I had borrowed a vintage family bracelet and earrings from my grandmother to wear for the wedding. Pearl earrings and a vintage green emerald bracelet. When I paired all three together and put them all on with my dress, the combo of all three was perfect. It meant the world to me to be wearing such beautiful pieces that came from both my family and my new family.

Walking down the aisle with my dad was another one of my favorite moments. My parent’s toast to us was also incredible. Having been married for 35 years, they gave us words of wisdom, advice and told such great stories. Every guest came up to my parents to thank them that night and that meant so much to us.

Once we met with our florist Kim, from Toast Santa Barbara and we chose all of our white flowers (hydrangeas, garden & polo roses, anemones, white veronica, etc. , we realized that we could save a lot of money by providing our own flower containers. We began collecting all of our flower containers… vintage mason jars, vintage milk bottles, small glass jam jars (peeled labels off), french lemonade bottles from Trader Joes, Starbucks Frappuccino bottles (labels off)… literally anything in a glass jar that I found in my kitchen, I examined to see if I could use it as a flower jar…When it all came together on our long banquet tables, I really loved the look of all the different shapes and sizes of the glass bottles as our floral centerpieces. Such an easy way to save some money & create a vintage look for less.

For the ceremony aisle (and along the entire length of the grape pergola) we envisioned hanging mason jars hung with twine filled with white flowers, succulents and greenery next to hanging jars with lit candles. We rented 2 wine barrels to be the focal point at the end of the aisle and covered them with a lush spread of hydrangeas, succulents and candles.

DANCING! Our band and our DJ were INSANE. They played back and forth all night long. The best thing you could ever wish for when throwing a great party, is that the dance floor never be empty. The dance floor was never NOT FULL.

Photographer: Braedon Flynn Photography
Event Designer: Soigne Productions
Venue: Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Makeup: Makeup by Jenny at TEAM Hair & Makeup
Hair: Kristina Feher
Cake: Enjoy Cupcakes
Caterer: Baby Blues BBQ
Coordinator: Soigne Productions
Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier
Flowers: Toast Santa Barbara
Groom’s Attire: Burberry
Shoe Designer: Jimmy Choo
DJ: friend of the couple

Blair and Rie got married for the third and final time at St. Valentino Pier in Red Hook Brooklyn. No – its not what it sounds like … they actually were legally wed at City Hall in NYC last year, followed by a traditional Japanese ceremony in Japan earlier this year – this was the party for the American crew. This Simple Brooklyn wedding was captured by Oh, Darling. You can see more of this New York wedding in the full gallery by clicking here.

Here are some words from the bride:
“We were very lucky to have some talented friends help us out. Our wedding invitations were designed and printed by our friend Michael. The wedding cake was created by my friend Yoshie, who is a professional pastry chef. I especially want to thank to Kyoko, who is my best friend from high school. She made the bouquet, boutonnieres, and all the flowers at the tables.

She and her boyfriend Ben run a small business producing the sugar boxes that we chose as our wedding favors (www.etsy.com/shop/MadebyaManandaWoman). I can not imagine our wedding without her! Kyoko and I went to flower district in the city two days before the wedding, and bought a bunch of flowers. We saved a lot of money doing that by ourselves. I found a beautiful vintage lace ribbon at Brooklyn Flea, and wrapped it around the bouquet.

The animal puppets were bought on Etsy and used in place of table numbers. We created the seating chart by scanning in the drawings of the animals included on their packaging. Then printed them out on shipping tags we got from Staples. We soaked them in coffee to add a bit of an aged feel to them. We were preparing our wedding right through the night before our wedding day. It’s now a good memory, but we actually went to Kinko’s late the night before the wedding to finish things up!”

Photographer: Oh, Darling!
Venue: St. Valentino Pier
Makeup: YUI Salon
Hair: YUI Salon
Caterer: Alma – reception site in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Dress Designer: Saja
Groom’s Attire: JCrew
Shoe Designer: Urban Outfitters
Veil or Hair Accessories: ban.do
groom’s bow-tie: Brooklyn Circus
groom shoes: Unis
wedding favor: sugar cubes from Made by a Man and a Woman
ceremony music: Ana Maria Rosado
Cake: Yoshie, friend
Officiant: Jesse Costello, friend
Flowers: Kyoko Masutani, friend

We have a San Francisco City treat from one of our Hand-Picked wedding vendors, Christina Diane Weddings. Held at the Beautiful Hotel Monaco wedding with glimmers of golds and fuschia throughout.

Since your maid of honor is your number one gal pal, it always nice to make her feel extra special. We love that this bride honored her maid of honor with a matching brooch bouquet. What do you think…should your Maid Of Honor have a little something extra or should your entire wedding party be treated equally. We would love to know what you think? See more of this San Francisco City Wedding by clicking here.

Christina Diane is one of our exclusive The Hand-Picked Vendors. Hand-Picked Vendors are at the top of their game and provide excellent services! These vendors are chosen because of their commitment to excellence, stylish and fresh ideas, and their overall fresh approach to weddings. To learn more about how our Hand-Picked Vendors are chosen please click here.

Photographer: Christina Diane Weddings
Event Designer: Anais Events
Venue: Hotel Monaco
Makeup: Le’Burget Salon
Hair: Le’Burget Salon
Cake: Cake Work
Caterer: Grand Cafe at Hotel Monaco
DJ: DJ Jeremy Productions
Dress Designer: Priscilla of Boston
Flowers: Fantasy Floral Designs
Groom’s Attire: Jos A Bank
Officiant: Ian Knight
Stationery: Anais Events
Reception dress: vintage
Bridesmaid dresses: Priscilla of Boston
Bridesmaid shoes: Steve Madden
Bride’s shoes:  Badgley Mischka
Bride’s headpiece & bracelet: Lucia Bella
Bride’s necklace: The Crystal Rose
Lace bolero: Alex Bridal on Etsy
Bridesmaid jewelry: HSN
Bridesmaid Flower Hair Piece: Miss Nancy
Favor Jars: Navy and Lavender
Favor tag Jars: Amaretto
Thank you signs: Little Retreats
Groom’s cake: Debbie does cake
Harpist: Michelle Sell

How dreamy would it be to have a destination wedding in Italy? Especially in a romantic castle hidden among the breathtaking hills of Fiesole, overlooking Florence. Sounds like a dream come true to us, luckily it was the real deal for Ireny & Andrew.

You may think personalizing a destination wedding would be a difficult feat. It probably is, but these guys pulled it off. And then some. Another thing may be convincing your guests to come all that way. Though I don’t think these guests needed much convincing … All of this from London Wedding Photographer Ed Peers. To see more of this destination wedding click here.

Ireny spent many months crafting and stuffing personalized fabric hearts that were used to decorate the venue and then were given away as favors to the guests. The color scheme focused on different shades of pink with peonies being the main blossom. Watermelon Martini was offered at the aperitif and then jars of the same cocktail were placed on tables for guests to sip before and during dinner. Hearts of different shapes and materials hanged from trees, the castle gates, lamp-posts, creating a very romantic and fairytale ambiance.

Event Designer: Chic Weddings

Photographer: Ed Peers
Venue: Castello di Vincigliata
Cake: Galateo Ricevimenti Catering
Caterer: Galateo Ricevimenti Catering
DJ: Tre Lowe
Dress Designer: Ritva Westenius
Flowers: Mario Selicato
Officiant: Greek Orthodox Church of Scandicci
Shoe Designer: Cesare Paciotti
Stationery: Designed by the bride
Veil or Hair Accessories: Louis Mariette

Take a look a this Rustic Santa Barbara Wedding, it excudes classic elegance with a rustic twist. Bre & Jeff were married at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum and had some really lovely details put together by Brown Paper Design.

The wedding alter is definitely a must see. Loosly scattered succulents and peonies lined the wedding pathway. Super gorgeous. Be sure to check out the wedding film by Joel Serrato. You can see more of this wedding in the full gallery captured by Josh Elliott.

Joel Serrato is one of our exclusive The Hand-Picked Vendors. Hand-Picked Vendors are at the top of their game and provide excellent services! Vendors are chosen because of their commitment to excellence, stylish and fresh ideas, and their overall fresh approach to weddings. To learn more about how our Hand-Picked Vendors are chosen please click here.

This video is no longer available to view. Please visit Joel Serrato Films on their website or blog.

Photographer: Josh Elliott
Event Designer: Brown Paper Design
Venue: Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Makeup: Cheek Couture
Hair: Cheek Couture
Caterer: SBB Gourmet Catering
Cinematography: Joel Serrato
Event Rentals: Ventura Rental Center