Real Weddings: Lori + Jonathan

A “destination” wedding in Austin, TX, Erica and Josh invited friends from around the globe. Their wedding was filled with handmade details and heirlooms captured by Bonnie Berry Photography. From the veil and headpiece, the seating cards, menus, and the bridesmaids’ necklaces (made by the bride and her sister from their mother’s bead collection), the wedding was a true group project. The biggest heirloom however was Erica’s mother’s dress that she wore for the ceremony. Erica altered it herself, transforming the sleeves from leg-of-mutton to a 3/4 straight sleeve with satin trim. Their whole wedding is beautiful, unfussy, and truly personal. Congratulations Erica and Josh!

Sweet personal details, gorgeous photography, amazing flowers, and true, wholehearted love are the ingredients guaranteed to cook up a beautiful wedding and Skye and Alex’s Birmingham soiree has them all!  From the chuppah (handmade from a blanket crocheted by Skye’s great grandmother), to the something blue (blue buttons from one of her baby dresses lovingly sewn into Skye’s gown by her mother), to serving a keg of their favorite Michigan brew, Alex and Skye celebrated their love with their nearest and dearest by including many of the details that make their love story special and unique – and that’s the best part of any wedding!  Historic Rucker Place is full of Southern charm, and the images from Spindle Photography beautifully capture Skye and Alex’s love – and all of the amazing details!

Lisa and Jason are so lucky to have incredibly talented friends who all took part in putting together the couple’s big day. Held at Sova Gardens in Sebastopol, California, the entire event was filled with tons of colorful, fun details (pinwheels and fans at the ceremony!) I am gaga over the florals by Lisa’s friend Billy, especially those lush, buttery yellow peonies. Such a beautiful and totally personalized day captured by the always awesome Emily Takes Photos!

I love coffee.  And weddings.  And did I mention coffee?  Bethany and Andrew’s charming Phoenix wedding combines both!  Held at Inside the Bungalow, an adorable coffee shop turned wedding venue, there’s a slightly Alice in Wonderland feel with coffee cups, painted murals and tea tins.  I love the intimate feel of the venue, and Bethany and Andrew created a lovely atmosphere with DIY table runners, wildflowers in pails, and lanterns to light the reception as evening fell.  All of the lovely images were captured by Photography by Verdi.

Chicago’s Salvage One is such a fun space for a wedding – I love the juxtaposition of elegant chandeliers and modern raw space.  Julia and Shaun’s wedding made use of the fabulous interior with a fresh yellow and gray color palette, centerpieces of vintage books and collected vases, and a guest book displaying photos throughout their courtship.   Julia is a pastry chef – she created the gorgeous wedding cake as well as a dessert display of macaroons, pate de fruit, and caramels, and Shaun exercised his creative side by designing their wedding invitations. Thanks to Miller + Miller Wedding Photography for the beautiful images!

Good morning everyone and a big huge welcome to those of you who are recently engaged and just beginning your wedding planning! I have such a fun wedding to share with you today! Tori and Aaron’s whimsical affair is the perfect pick-me-up on this cold January morning – it’s filled with lovely DIY details. Tori (a photographer herself) chose one of my very favorites, Rebekah J Murray, to capture her day.

Kayla and Newton are just one of the cutest couples ever, aren’t they?  Their Athens wedding at The Foundry Park Inn & Spa is full of love and laughter, and fabulous photos from two of my favorite people, Matt and Kate Altmix!  The day started out with the couple having a first look at a spot near the reception venue.

Elise and Patrick’s wedding truly is a “favorite” of 2009.  Jesse and Whitney from Our Labor of Love are amazing people, and on top of that, they are amazing photographers.  Their work is light and airy, colorful and artistic, honest and pure.

Laura and Will infused so much creativity and DIY skills into their Temecula wedding!  Photographed by the wonderful Marlin Munoz, this wedding has a little bit of everything lovely set against the beautiful backdrop of the Callaway Winery.

Welcome to a world where love intertwines with elegance, and time seems to stand still. In the charming enclave of Cape Charles, a bride and groom embarked on a journey of eternal love, exchanging vows on the grounds of her cherished family home. Against the backdrop of serene waters, their ceremony was graced with the vibrant hues of colorful flowers, creating a tableau of beauty and romance.

It’s that time of year again where love is in the air and wedding bells are ringing! This summer, Alex and Jon will be tying the knot at the stunning Briarcliff Manor. The scenery alone is worth the RSVP, but knowing Alex and Jon, we can expect nothing short of a great time. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of their special day? It’s sure to be a wedding for the books. So, grab your dancing shoes and practice your best toast because we’re in for a night of romance, laughter, and unforgettable memories at Briarcliff Manor.

If you’re a serious foodie and looking for a venue that will do justice to your love for all things delicious, then look no further than an intimate Frankie’s 457 Spuntino wedding. This Brooklyn-based eatery is an unpretentious haven for those who love nothing more than rustic Italian food that’s big on flavor and personality. It’s no wonder then that Jenissa and Chris decided to keep things intimate and cozy for their special day by choosing Frankie’s as their wedding venue. With its warm, welcoming vibe and mouthwatering cuisine, it was the perfect spot to gather their nearest and dearest for a celebration that was big on romance, laughter, and most importantly, great food.

Bridgerton has taken the world by storm with its stunning aesthetics and enchanting romance, so why not take some inspiration from the show on your big day? Katelyn and Caleb are on board with the idea and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Imagine a modern wedding with all the Bridgerton touches, from elaborate floral arrangements to elegant ballgowns. They could exchange their vows in a grand ballroom, lit up by chandeliers as bright as their love, and dance the night away to classical music and modern jams alike. Who knows, maybe Lady Whistledown herself will make an appearance to report on all the splendid details. Let’s make this Bridgerton-inspired wedding a reality – it’s sure to be the talk of the ton!

Rain on your wedding day is like getting a coupon for free pizza. It’s unexpected, but it’s something you can’t help but love. That’s exactly what happened with Allison and Brendan at their romantic wedding at Giando on the Water. They say it’s good luck to have rain on your wedding day, and we believe it with these two lovebirds. Despite the downpour, the venue’s stunning views and intimate ambiance made for a celebration that was both cozy and romantic. And let’s be honest, who needs good weather when you have good company and plenty of champagne? Congratulations to the happy couple on a wedding day they’ll never forget!

With any outdoor wedding ceremony in Florida you have to have a rain plan, which was the case for Taylor and Jacob’s Alfond Inn wedding. What was meant to be a garden style ceremony on the lawn, was moved into the atrium due to weather. But, that didn’t stop the garden vibes.

Sarah and Scott originally had a large celebration planned, but like many other brides, COVID changed that. In a cautious manner they decided to move forward with their wedding with just their 12 closest family and friends. Despite the small guest count, the design aspect was large. Their outdoor ceremony took place surrounded by banyan trees under the most stunning Chuppah. Reception was followed with the most divine tent with flowing florals and hints of citrus.

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!

Patrice and Nick met in one of the most unique ways we’ve heard of: the pair were production assistants on former TV sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine”. They started out as friends and their relationship bloomed from there, ultimately with an inventive engagement proposal that involved Patrice’s boss (read more below about that fun tale). They wanted a wedding that drew in their love for California, Patrice’s Filipino heritage, and an overwhelming elegance and thoughtfulness. Sabine Scherer Photography captured their wedding, from the stunning ceremony at Patrice’s family church, St. Dominic Catholic Church to their Bently Reserve reception. Their reception venue is hailed for its opulence, so to add balance, Mango Muse Events and Violetta Flowers pulled in live trees, organic asymmetrical elements and garlands, and added meaningful orchids and roses (as an homage to family that had passed on). Of course, fun had to be had, so to kick off their reception, the newlyweds partnered up to do a medley dance that ended with hip hop. We love all of the injections of Patrice and Nick’s fun personalities and fascinating lives all throughout their big day.

Sugar, spice, and everything really nice sums up Jamie and Casey’s South Carolina shindig. The Charlotte couple wanted something more quintessentially southern, so they traveled a bit further south into Charleston and fell in love with The Governor Thomas Bennett House. They were spellbound by its classic look; white exterior with black shutters, and its all-in-one manicured garden perfect for the ceremony and reception. This accommodating setup can go with any style or color palette, but we are totally fawning over the soft pastel wedding aesthetic that Ashley Wenz with Boutique Planning made come to life. Reception tables were kept light and airy with dove gray and blush linens from Snyder Rentals. To add some oomph, weathered farmhouse tables sans linens were the ideal complement to add some texture to the space. Before we go on and on, we’re just going to let Ava Moore Photography do the rest of the storytelling about this beautiful day.

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.