Really NOW: Maddy and Steve!

I thought I’d give you guys a bit of a tasty treat for the day [and don’t I love blogging on Wednesdays, because it’s the MIDDLE of the week? YES I do!].

Madeleine and Steve were married this past August and their nuptials were nothing short of stylishly fabulous! Being an interior designer, Maddy knew how to take her event to the next level and I was THRILLED to be along for the ride!! Let’s start with her fabulous outfit:

silver strappy sandalspink wedding gown

Heck YES it’s pink and YES it’s entirely made of wavy ruffles. I couldn’t get enough of this dress! You may recognize it because one of the two Wedding Chicks, Amy Squires was her photographer and has raved and raved about this wedding [as I am]!!

pink wedding dress

Madeleine’s traditional veil was truly the perfect touch to complete her look. I love that she chose a bold color for the dress, but it was perfect against her fair skin. It’s all about making the choice that’s right for YOU on the big day! And sometimes that means disregarding tradition.

pink clutch bouquet

Floral Creations By Enzo was in charge of the delicious floral work and that “two-hand-er” bouquet was dreamy in person, packed with lush pink garden roses!

cathedral length veil

At their family’s church where the ceremony took place, an incredible band that included a harpist, two soloists, piano, violin, trumpet… [the list goes on] accompanied Maddy down the aisle.

letterpress programs

Their gorgeous letterpress programs followed suit with their funky fun color scheme [kelly green and eggplant- adding in the blush pink for details] and also with their invitations. The custom crest design- which was so perfectly them- was brought to life by Rori herself at Paper Monkey Press! They were breath-taking, to say the least. You’d have to FEEL them to know!!

first kiss

Of course my favorite moment!! And off for more portraits before heading over to the reception at the jaw-dropping, oh-so-grand Segerstrom Hall at the Performing Arts Center in Orange County.

orange county vintage car rental

pink wedding gown and bouquet

Some of my all-time favorite portraits don’t have faces…

pink wedding in summer

But then again, most do… that’s why they’re a favorite!

orange county wedding

Some decadent details of the reception kind:

pink floral wedding cake

M&S chose a stunning 3-tiered cake that was the handiwork of The Confectionist. Truly incredible in detail!!

favor donation

In lieu of big flashy favors, Maddy and Steve chose to donate to cancer research. They added a small touch of the “traditional” classic favor- jordan almonds- to satiate any sweet tooth the cake left behind.

family photos wedding

I absolutely adore the pictures of their parents and grandparents on their wedding days that the couple added into their reception. The expressions on their faces, the photo quality, the garb… all of it is priceless in so many ways! Back to portraits real quick:

orange county weddingorange county wedding

And onto the first dance! Their grand grand grand entrance took place down the staircase in the center of the room. What a statement! And from there, they went straight into dancing the night away in one another’s arms.

first dance

A bit of the party before we go:

orange county wedding

cutting the cake

first toast

And we’re off! If I can offer any words about this amazing wedding, it’s this: fabulousness comes from within. Maddy and Steve’s pictures are amazing- and yes, the decor, the setting, the flowers… they all helped. But what MAKES these pictures is the connection. Remember to connect yourself on your big day. Take the moments to shoot googley-eyes over to your man. Feel free to wrinkle your nose after kissing. Soak in the important stuff and leave out the rest. You will never regret it- because those will be the moments immortalized in your photos, and someday they could be displayed at your own child’s wedding- so in love, so vibrant, so present!

xoxo!!

A. Auer