Wedding day details: The bridal party!

Our hearts are aflutter for the beautiful documentary photography by Carey MacArthur. At its heart, photography is about preserving memories, and this is what Carey does so well. Her powerful images are able to transport you into the moment, capturing the story as it unfolds. Carey makes a genuine connection with her couples and brings a wedding to life by documenting the day with the same care and compassion that two people have for one another. From capturing the small, personal details to celebrating the important moments, Carey’s documentary photography style insures that each part of the day is recorded with elegance and simplicity. Carey is based in Brooklyn, NY, but travels the world making images of couples in love. Visit her EAD Vendor Guide portfolio and Instagram to view more of her gorgeous work!

If you are a bride-to-be getting married in 2016 and have been dreaming about finding a fine art film photographer to capture every single moment and detail to perfection, then you are in luck because the ever so lovely and talented Brittany Lauren Photography is giving away free wedding photography to one lucky EAD reader!

South Carolina’s River Oaks Charleston was the perfect backdrop for this gorgeous bridal story captured by Exquisitrie by Kelly Sauer. Though set in the Lowcountry, the shoot evokes the romance and history of Europe, with the Old World textures of River Oaks and magical Ivy gown from Saint Isabel Bridal. Bridal portraits always seem to tell the story of “waiting” – preparing dreams of the wedding day, holding bated breath, settling in to begin the story of married life – and this feeling is perfectly encapsulated in the stunning images directed by Kelly Sauer Ltd. Co. We are positively smitten!

It’s been a year since Christian and Susie wed, and on a rainy Utah afternoon they gathered together with Mariel Hannah for a romantic anniversary shoot, creating beautiful memories to celebrate their first year together. Flower Afternoon created perfectly styled blooms for this magical set of images—we are swooning over the lush marigold, pale coral, crimson, and green bouquet. Kali Chris styled Susie with the most lovely sideswept updo and soft makeup. We’re so in love with the love these two share as captured by Mariel Hannah!

Pardon us while we gush a bit about the exquisite talent that is Jessica of Jessica D’Onofrio Photography. Jessica’s images are full of light and love and the way she captures emotion is pure and natural. Every photographer has a specific style all their own, and we’d describe Jessica’s as feminine and timeless. There’s a sweet simplicity in her fine art photography that captures romance in an authentic way. Jessica is based in Southern California, but travels wherever your wedding takes her! Visit her website, blog, and vendor portfolio to see more of her gorgeous images!

Your wedding day is made up of so many perfectly unscripted moments, each over in an instant. Photography is about capturing these flashes of time, and that is exactly what Rachael Shirano does so well. Her work is so beautifully raw and real, each frame reflecting the emotion of the event inside. Rachael is based in Central Illinois and is able to capture both the modern Chicago wedding, rustic Midwestern soiree, or destination wedding with flair. We simply love Rachael’s images, each filled with light and love, and are thrilled to introduce you to her portfolio!

Ladies and ladies, gents and gents, we are so excited to share with you a fabulous giveaway from Anna Wu Photography! We are all excited about the recent wins for marriage equality (yay, love!!), and Anna is generously giving a maximum of two lucky same-sex couples in San Francisco or NYC free wedding photography and some other fabulous goodies!

This lovely and romantic boudoir shoot from Brittany Lauren Photography is effortlessly dreamy! We love the contrast of delicate vintage lace lingerie with leopard print, and the sweet mint, pink, and turquoise color scheme of the surroundings, styled by Betsy Miller. Cassandra Kennedy Beauty created a makeup look that is soft and subtle with the dramatic lingerie. We’re swooning over the adorable cake from Sweetly Aimee, a light pink confection with white fondant that resembles vintage lace. Swoon!

Ethereal dresses from Adored Vintage, filmy veils, and romantic dried florals from Primal Flower lend a vintage feel to this boudoir bridal shoot by Ashley Dang Photography. Delicate touches like lace and a gold leaf hairpiece up the elegance factor without distracting from the simple lines of these stunning vintage gowns. Understated peach and pink makeup by Kelly Tran Artistry let model Lani Valentine’s dramatic eyes steal the show in this glamorous inspiration shoot. We are mesmerized by each perfect detail!

This amazing week just keeps getting better and better! Today we have the most wonderful of giveaways to share. Are you searching for your perfect wedding photographer? Do you adore the romantic look of film? Well, my dears, you are in luck!

The inspiration for this moody, romantic shoot by Erica Brenci of Les Amis Photo comes from the beautiful venue, Villa Ida Lampugnani, near Milan—and we absolutely see why! In keeping with the Art Nouveau period, referred to as Liberty Style in Italy, stationery by Cristiano Guerra of Princess Event Design + Wedding Planning takes its cues from the home’s intricate furnishings. To complement the white anemones and lisianthus in florals by Sofia and Cosetta of Il Profumo dei Fiori, the team at Princess Event Design + Wedding Planning incorporated blush pink, cream, and gold into the décor. Elegant table settings are like an extension of model Viviana’s ethereal Jenny Packham gown and glittery platform heels, and we’re swooning over the romantic hairpieces she incorporated! For a sweet ending, a simple cake embellished with pomegranates from Sweet Pastry Lab marks the final flourish. There are so many gorgeous images to swoon over—visit the gallery to lose yourself in them all!

There may be no more appropriate setting for engagement photos than Rome, “the Eternal City”. Zora and Fely wanted to capture the beauty of one of their city at a place that has always fascinated Zora, the Pantheon. Together with Teresa of In Love In Italy Photography, they spent an afternoon strolling from Ara Pacis Augustae across the river Tevere to sit for a cappuccino at Splendor Parthenopes. They then headed to the Pantheon, crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo and watching the sun set behind the castle. Although they arrived at the Pantheon at the most crowded hour of the day, Teresa captured a stunning image of them standing still with people milling all around—Zora says: “It is my absolute favorite, it captures us and our love profoundly.” We love the enchanting city of Rome and these stunning photos from In Love In Italy Photography!

Wes and Olivia’s engagement session is so terribly chic, it’s almost too much to handle! In my next life, I hope to be as stunning as Olivia, who effortlessly rocks a baby blue knit frock, a gold headband, and plum tights. And let’s not forget Wes, whose worn-in ankle boots and skinny striped tie are the perfect laid-back look. Add in absolutely dreamy photos from This Modern Romance at San Juan Capistrano’s Serra Plaza and you have an engagement session that’s pure autumn perfection!

Lisa and Ryan’s date night engagement session is all about their favorite things—first a picnic with their pup and then a dinner date in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, wandering along the town’s charming cobbstone streets and then visiting one of their favorite patios, the  Back When Cafe!

Your wedding day is likely the most photographed day of your life, and it’s oh-so-important to find a photographer that you connect with—one who takes the time to learn about you and gives attention to the process of being in front of the camera starting with the engagement session. Colin Lyons is just that person! Colin brings a photojournalist’s eye to your wedding, but what I believe makes him so unique is his ability to capture a couple’s personality in his photos. From the bridal party to the reception, his images evoke true joy, and that’s exactly what you want to remember from your wedding day!

The moment we set our eyes upon Tiffany’s Charleston bridal portraits, we were smitten! With the classic Southern setting of the verandah of Edmondston-Alston House on Rainbow Row as a backdrop, Kelly Sauer captured Tiffany at her most radiant, in her gorgeous gown and veil from Jean’s Bridal, which was inspired by Princess Kate’s. The stately home does not normally allow photography, but with Tiffany having grown up loving the home—and even working there giving tours in full period costume!—she was given the special privilege of shooting her bridals there. Our favorite part of this shoot? Tiffany’s little bare feet peeking out from her taffeta gown!

We are drooling over these heart-stoppingly beautiful Brooklyn Bridge engagement photos from Carmen Santorelli! Chris and Natalie chose a classic NYC theme for their upcoming Central Park wedding and decided that the iconic Brooklyn Bridge would be the perfect backdrop for their engagement session! They strolled the bridge and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on a gorgeous late-summer day, hand in hand. I just adore how head-over-heels these two are for each other!

We love a casual, fun-loving engagement shoot, and Chris and Cassi’s Coney Island engagement photos by Jen Huang Photography are fabulous! The cute couple spent a day at the Brooklyn boardwalk playing games, trying out carnival rides, and just generally being in love. The result is adorable photos that show off Cassi and Chris’s personalities. We are completely smitten!

The heart of Ellen and Tom’s engagement session with Jordan Brittley—and their dog, Rocky—is a sweet and romantic picnic set in Forest Park in St. Louis. We love the pretty, low-key arrangement of tulips and hydrangeas, purchased at Trader Joe’s and hand-tied by Ellen’s mom. The gold leaf monogram topper by Crosswire Design adds an elegant touch to the Derby Day Pie Ellen made; the first taste of this dessert is what won Tom over in the beginning! We’re big fans of the vintage feel of these photos, aided in part by floral Ralph Lauren china—real plates on a picnic, swoon!—and linens from Cake Vintage Table & Home. Enjoy these lovely images!

We are completely in love with Debbie and Kevin’s fun Huntington Beach engagement session! The California light is simply lovely, and the love that Debbie and Kevin have for each other shines through in every image. We love Debbie’s beautiful cobalt dress paired with Kevin’s dapper navy suit, and their quick change into more relaxed beachy-toned wear, too! Sit back and enjoy all of the beautiful images from Christine Choi Photography!