Real Weddings: McCall + Dane 6.10.2008

For their Massachusetts wedding day, Alex and Chris wanted nothing but everyone to have a splendid time, good food, good drinks, and good memories being passed around. All captured through the lens of The Light and Color Wedding Photography, the Ipswich couple chose to have a traditional wedding day. Alex chose a classic A-line Hayley Paige beauty and the cherry on top of her trousseau was her mom’s veil that she donned for her day. Their ceremony was held at St. John’s Prep (fun fact: Alex is a dentist and St. John’s Prep was the same school where Alex’s boss and Chris’s dad went. The guys are still good friends!), Chris’s high school alma mater. For their wedding reception, they dressed up The Hellenic Center in shades of soft blues and pinks, and organic-style blooms designed by Chris’s sister-in-law, Teresa. Weddings like these that are centered around family and steeped in tradition always leave such a feel-good warmth to our day.

Nothing says fairytale like a castle, and that’s exactly what Daryl and Larry got when they chose Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York, for their wedding celebration! Elegant ombre details like taupe and brown shades on Amsale bridesmaids dresses gave way to gorgeous orange and green fall flowers from Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design, giving the entire affair a crisp, seasonal look. Daryl looked as stunning as a princess in a lacy Monique Lhuillier gown from Wedding Salon of Manhasset, and we’re particularly swooning over her gold glitter J.Crew sandals! We love the way Betsi Ewing Studio and second photography team Alexis June Weddings captured the dreamy details! Touches of gold and more lush florals at the reception inside the castle are taking our breath away—we are absolutely in love with all of the gorgeous details in the gallery!

There’s no place like home, but that didn’t stop Tory and Will from bringing back a little tropical Asian flair to their beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina, wedding at St. Andrews On-the-Sound. Living in Hong Kong while they planned the event, the couple incorporated plenty of Asian-inspired elements—orchids, palm leaves, seagrass fans, and silk fabric from Thailand—to mingle with a traditional Southern menu. Lush flowers from Salt Harbor Designs, including white garden roses, white parrot tulips, and purple callas all tied with twine, brought a casual touch to the standout exotic blooms. The star of the reception decor—yellow tulip chandeliers with hanging lights—”received more compliments than my wedding dress,” says Tory. Will brought down the house at the Cameron Art Museum reception with a rendition of Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” symbolic of the couple’s world travels. Enjoy these gorgeous images from Millie Holloman Photography!

Yelena and Michael were married at Malibou Lake Mountain Club in the rolling hills outside Los Angeles. They dubbed their wedding a “Jewkrainian” wedding – a blend of Jewish and Ukrainian traditions, the prettiest of these traditions in my opinion being their colorful chuppah, hand-painted by Michael’s mother. The beautiful florals by Mr. B’s included lisianthus, yellow spray roses, and lots of mixed greens in a color palette of yellows, greens, and white. A cute spin on the thumbprint guestbook, they let guests choose between leaving a fingerprint or using a tree-inspired stamp, adding variety to the print and sparing guests’ thumbs! Kaysha Weiner’s beautiful photos captured all the details from Yelena and Michael’s big day!

Today’s gorgeous real wedding is brought to you by the ever- fabulous Rebekah Westover.  Rich and Vanessa had a beautiful black and white damask wedding in Salt Lake City.

Sarah & Benjamin wanted guests to feel like they were entering a magical world when they arrived at their wedding and the day was full of awe-inspiring details which made that vision a reality. From getting married at the castle-like Wonderland Cluj Resort, to the horse-drawn carriage fit for royalty, to the show-stopping, jaw-droppingly lush, floor-to-ceiling florals by Elena Bodea – Las Floristas that filled both the ceremony and reception, guests were transported into a fairy tale for the day. Add to that that these two look like they walked out of a magazine themselves, and this may be one of the most dreamy weddings ever! The gallery is full of more incredible photos by Ioana Porav Photography, from the stunning rose petal seals on the stationery by Invogue Art, to Sarah’s romantic Milla Nova wedding gown (a nod to her Hispanic roots), to even more photos of their unbelievable florals, and trust us, you absolutely want to see them all!

We’re dreaming of warmer weather over here, and we have been served some wonderful wedding inspiration on a plate. It’s a unique one for sure, as it features a trés chic wedding gown from Emily Kotarski paired with some muted colors. Cayleigh Hopkins of The Petal Report jazzed up what we typically think of “summer shades” and used deep versions of reds, blues, and purples instead. Enjoy this shoot from Hannah Alyssa Photography to the fullest, especially those florals from Fresh Weddings and Events. That bouquet with the protea front and center is a dream!

We love this absolutely classic féte hailing from an illustrious museum in our nation’s capital today. This Washington DC wedding was photographed by one of our favorites, Lisa Blume, and it is elegant and so special and timeless. According to Kelly, she couldn’t take her mind off of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’s design and sweetly, how she could picture traipsing down the staircase to meet her dear dad at the bottom to walk her down the aisle to her beau Jamie (tears!). Speaking of tears, we had to mention this touching detail. Kelly needed to have her grandmothers there in some way, so to commemorate these wonderful women in her life, she shipped in two paintings from North Carolina of them and had her grandmother’s tea cup in her bridal suite. Endearingly, the teacup was a gift her grandmother gave to her sister for her wedding.

Let’s all take a moment (or two) out of our day to check out this bliss-inducing Janita Mestre wedding. It’s delightfully in the desert, so of course you’re going to spot a few cacti at Galway Downs, but you’re going to see such a dreamy color palette too. Being so close to Valentine’s Day, Stephanie and Alex wanted to evoke love all throughout, so they picked pink as their go-to hue. Big and bright blush and ivory florals by Events by Floral Sensations complemented the eye-catching David’s Bridal mauve bridesmaids’ dresses, and we loved this idea, too. Instead of continuing the soft tones everywhere, shake up the colors like Stephanie and Alex and throw a deep hue in the same color family somewhere that will be seen. Adding it to the bridesmaids’ dresses was a clever touch without overwhelming the couple’s desire to have an airy feel to their wedding day.

On the day of Katie and Alan’s wedding, Dallas decided to unleash a massive storm, so the couple and their wedding planner, Sarah of Keestone Events, moved their planned outdoor ceremony inside the gorgeous ballroom of Arlington Hall. And while we wouldn’t call a monsoon on your wedding day ideal, we have to say that the stunning indoor celebration may just have been a blessing in disguise! The golden ballroom made a beautiful ceremony and reception setting, and the elegant floral arch by Moss Floral Design did double duty as ceremony altar and a lovely backdrop for the reception! For the reception, white and gold centerpieces enhanced the golden beauty of the ballroom, while a pop of purple echoed the bridesmaids flowing dresses. The result is timeless perfection, beautifully captured by Dyan Kethley Photography!

Allie and Bryce love their Virginia heritage, and their wedding vision was centered first and foremost around Allie’s dream of being married at Tuckahoe Plantation. Their classic Southern soiree feels traditional and timeless but not at all stuffy! A fresh color palette of shades of purple and green echo the lush surrounding gardens, while touches such as black and white striped grosgrain ribbons add a modern twist. Whitehouse Flowers incorporated peonies into the arrangements as the couple’s own garden is filled with peonies replanted from each of their grandparents’ gardens. In keeping with the Southern theme, they opted for a classic buttercream cake with a cascade of lilac hydrangea. Special touches abound, from oyster shell escort cards to a fabulous custom monogram crest – each moment captured by Sarah Jane Winter Photography is so special and joyous and we’re in love!

Dominique and Blake’s vision for their Scottsdale wedding was pure romance, and working alongside Jennifer Ellis of White House Design Studio, their ideas transformed into reality. The couple, dating since their sophomore year of college, were joined at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia by family and friends who had watched their love blossom over the years. A vivid color palette of berry, wine, and ivory was selected to enhance the beauty of their desert setting, and White House Design Studio created arrangements overflowing with orchid, hydrangea, and magnolia leaves to festoon the ceremony arch and adorn the luxurious reception tables. In lieu of traditional place cards, guests received hand-calligraphed notes in ivory ribbon-wrapped boxes, the notes serving as a warm thank you from the couple for joining them to celebrate their special day. As always, Melissa Jill Photography captured each moment perfectly!

Laura and McLean were married on a gorgeous April day in South Carolina, at Pawley’s Island’s picturesque Litchfield Plantation. The historical home and its avenue of live oaks made a magical day even more beautiful. The couple enlisted the help of their two adorable pups to become a part of the bridal party! We can never resist a wedding with pets! Cricket Newman selected lavender and ivory blooms to accent the natural greenery of the surroundings, and the soft tone paired beautifully with deep purple Joanna August bridesmaids dresses and Laura’s Christos gown from Bridals by Lori. We love the classic, timeless feel in each of the images from Amy Arrington Photography!

Emily and Kraig were married in Emily’s hometown of Lake Forest, Illinois on a gorgeous September day at the elegant Armour House. Their sophisticated soiree celebrated not only their enduring love, but also their families. During the ceremony on the lawn, the couple’s siblings shared words from their parents about marriage as the readings, and both the bride’s and groom’s grandmothers were able to share in the festivities, including a 5-generation photo with Kraig’s family. The theme of the day was “elegant, classic, soft, simple, and beautiful”, and Artquest certainly delivered, with sophisticated arrangements in shades of purple and ivory. We adore the cutout back of Emily’s Pronovias gown, which along with her Kate Spade Charm heels, added a dash of modernity to their timeless day. Each image from Annie Parish Photography is perfection!

It doesn’t get more beautiful than a spring wedding in Arizona, and Scottdale’s stunning Sassi restaurant brings together the beauty of the desert with an Old World European feel. Anne and Keith’s intimate soiree is the epitome of sophistication. An outdoor wedding ceremony beneath the trees (with the most adorable of flower girls) led into a gorgeous reception with floral by Your Event Florist. A succulent theme echoed the beauty of the Southwest and was incorporated from bouquet to centerpieces, on the stationery from Celebrations in Paper, and even atop the lovely cake from Let Them Eat Cake. Every image from Melissa Jill Photography is perfection!

Every square inch of Laura and Reeve’s Manhattan wedding is spectacular, right down to a surprise fireworks show along the Hudson. It was a gorgeous, sunny Saturday when they said their vows at the Shrine Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, a few blocks from their apartment in SoHo. Laura is a classic bride, selecting a lace Ines Di Santo gown, which she paired with Jimmy Choos and a veil handmade by her mother. We love her sophisticated topknot by Erol Karadag. Pretty violet Amsale bridesmaids dresses provided a pop of color, which carried through to their reception at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, where Diana Gould Ltd created gorgeous centerpieces in shades of violet, plum, and spring green for the tabletops. We adore the easy glamour in these beautiful images from  brklyn view photography!

Romantic and classic, with a bit of vintage flair (oh how we love the BHLDN booties and Allure Bridal gown), Karen and Corey’s wedding at Colorado’s historic Stanley Hotel is the perfect early-autumn soiree! Elegant compote-style arrangements by The European Flower Shop set the stage, beautiful hand-tied bouquets and centerpieces with seasonal berries and pale yellow blooms. The couple set out to create an intimate and personal event (their siblings were the honor attendants), and wove a polaroid theme throughout the day. They selected favorite photos to make into polaroids for innovative escort cards and table numbers. We simply adore the beautiful images from Rachel Havel Photography!

We have the most lovely and whimsical spring wedding today, that of Susan and David, two self-professed “hopeless romantics”! After discussing an elopement somewhere exotic, such as an African safari or scuba diving with turtles, they instead realized that they couldn’t imagine celebrating without their family and friends, and settled on one of their favorite vacation destinations, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen’s intimate, small-town feel was the perfect setting for their nuptials. Susan and David worked with Virginia and Kate of Bluebird Productions to bring their vision to life. A few non-negotiable elements—the color yellow, lily of the valley, and animals (don’t you just adore all of the gold animal figurines?)—came together with gorgeous spring flowers by Carolyn’s Flowers, the most beautiful seafoam green bridesmaids dresses from Shoshanna, and the gorgeous, natural setting of the Roaring Fork Club to create one of our favorite weddings! We love all of the unique and personal details and, of course, all of the beautiful images from Kate Holstein!

Molly and Mike’s lovely Wayzata, Minnesota, wedding was a family affair, starting with the location of their ceremony and reception—Mike’s parents’ backyard! With help from Jennae Elizabeth of Blush & Whim, Molly and Mike planned the summer wedding of their dreams, which included vows beneath a pergola constructed by Mike’s stepdad. Along with Sarah of Four Finches, Molly’s mom, Mary, helped style the colorful flowers for the affair, some of which she grew in her own garden. Molly paired her ivory gown by Blush by Hayley Paige from The White Gown with a lace mantilla veil, also made by her mother. Bridesmaids in navy dresses from J.Crew and groomsmen in gray suits were casual but perfectly in step with the rest of the laid-back elegance of the day. Other fun touches included a heart-shaped pinata handmade by Molly’s sister and a delicious looking unfrosted chocolate wedding cake by Catherine Miller of Camelbear Bakery. Enjoy all of these gorgeous images from Clary Photo!

We are smitten with Karen and Michael’s classic wine country wedding! With the help of Covenant Coordinating, their vision of an intimate gathering at Mayacama fell into place. A seasonal color palette of burgundy, eggplant, taupe, and olive echoed the gorgeous surroundings, and lovely florals by Maria Philbin Floral Design dressed gorgeous tabletops set amongst the votive-lit trees. Karen is radiant in her Amy Kuschel gown and Kate Spade heels, which are perfectly complemented by her ladies’ J. Crew dresses. We love each and every image from Julie Mikos | Photographer!