Real Weddings: Karisa + Arvind

I’m a southern girl through and through, and I am a sucker for a beautiful wedding at a historic Southern estate!  Carla and Seth’s Alabama garden wedding at Madelyn’s in the Grove is so fresh and bright, I love the minty green bridesmaids dresses, the cheerful pink and yellow bouquets, and all of the handmade details!  Carla and her mother designed the wedding themselves, and much of the decor was either made by or belonged to their family, the linens, the signs, the lanterns – even the Spanish moss was brought from Louisiana by Carla’s family.  The Greshams of Simple Color captured gorgeous images that truly bring the wedding to life.

I have mad love for Jessica and Jake’s relaxing, outdoor southern wedding. Held at a private residence in Cartersville, Georgia, the wedding was a complete labor of love for the couple and their families.  Jessica, her mother and her friends (a group dubbed the Wedding Belles!) worked together to create a completely homespun wedding - everything from the food to the flowers.  Beautiful calligraphy from Betsy Dunlap graced the stationery, and Leo Patrone captured the day with his usual wonderful eye. View even more of Leo’s gorgeous images in the gallery!

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.

Melissa and Ben’s wedding is so heartfelt, it’s truly wonderful to see how in love they are and how deeply they love their families and honor their traditions.

Heather from Eclectic Images shared a few images from a recent wedding of one of our readers! Rachel and Patrick married at Casa Blanca in Round Rock a few weeks ago and the wedding was lovely! Remember these centerpieces from earlier in the week? All DIY by Rachel.

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!

Gina and Joe’s story begins like so many others in this generation: via a dating app and an awkward first date. Despite the fact Joe was not a Francophile and “avoided all of the French words” at the French restaurant they ate at, the pair met up again and the rest was history. Before they knew it, they were planning a wedding in Temecula’s wine country with Ashley Bee Photography documenting their day. Purple was common favorite color between the two of them, yet they wanted to break up the hues with various shades. Mauve, gold, and the deep brown wood interior at Wiens Family Cellar created a classic and rustic feel. Gina and Joe are fond of the outdoors, yet due to the weather and the season, they opted to stay warm and cozy inside. Despite this, they wanted to extract those aspects of the outdoors they love and add them into their indoor venue. Long, wooden tables mostly exposed with Sweet Flowers’ wildflower-esque creations gave this nature-loving couple exactly the motif they wanted, and it’s a treat for us all too!

Elena and Jonathan’s wedding vision was “Grace Kelly does New Orleans” and wow, did they deliver! With classic, timeless elements inspired by her grandmother’s wedding and a palette of soft blues and mustard yellow, their New Orleans wedding at Maison Montegut pays homage to their families while creating a chic and sophisticated atmosphere. Emily Sullivan Events made sure the day went off without a hitch, and Poppy and Mint created florals with vibrant pops of yellow to accent the fresh greenery of the courtyard reception. Their day is beautifully captured by Mon Soleil Weddings!

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.

When you fall in love with your wedding venue, you just know, no matter what your plans originally were. Amanda and Vlad planned for a Colorado wedding, but they never knew what hit them as they stepped foot onto Bella Collina’s stunning grounds in Florida. Reminiscent of the Tuscan countryside, it was love at first sight for the duo and it just jived so well with their romantic wedding vision that we get to fawn over thanks to Kristen Weaver Photography‘s epic photos. The white florals and greenery by Lee James Floral looked resplendent against the venue’s landscape, but no matter how glorious the blooms looked, it just couldn’t compare to Amanda and Vlad looking like a million bucks. They stole the show, for sure!

Elizabeth and Alan were married on a picturesque autumn day amidst the rolling hills of Lexington, Kentucky. The Mansion at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa provided the perfect backdrop to Elizabeth’s vision of a majestic and sophisticated wedding with an intimate dinner party atmosphere. Elizabeth and Alan designed many of the day’s elements themselves, staying true to their unique love and commitment. The wedding ceremony, written and designed by the couple, took place in front of the mansion beneath a white trellis assembled and decorated by Elizabeth. In fact, the bride along with friends and family created all of the tablescapes and decor elements using flowers from FiftyFlowers and Blooms by the Box! A color palette of blush and red tones beautifully complemented the antique grays and blues of the mansion décor. Elizabeth selected a spectacular, crystal-encrusted gown from BHLDN and custom-made veil, staying true to her vision of royal wedding elegance and echoing headpieces worn by the noble ladies of centuries past. She is an absolute vision! We adore each moment of their carefully curated day, as beautifully captured by Justine Wright Photography!

Ansley and Cory dreamed of a whimsical garden wedding, and their hopes were realized with the selection of Newnan, Georgia’s spectacular Dunaway Gardens as their venue. The ivy-covered amphitheater provides the most unique ceremony locale—the perfect pairing of a secret garden nestled amongst the trees and a tiered ceremony in the round! The couple worked with Chancey Charm to design their late summer soiree, with a warm color palette of gray, yellow, maroon, and pops of vivid red. Logan Woods created colorful bouquets of protea, chrysanthemum, tulips, and garden roses and decorated the reception tent with whimsical basket chandeliers and loose garden-style arrangements. Ansley is the epitome of the classic bride in a Lian Carlo gown from Kelly’s Closet, while her maids donned the Aiden dress by Jenny Yoo. We’re transported to a whimsical wonderland with these images from Amy Arrington Photography!

After almost eight years in a long-distance relationship, Maddie and Adam were married in their hometown of Virginia Beach surrounded by their closest friends and family. To say that their wedding and marriage was worth the wait would be an understatement! One of their favorite experiences is dining outdoors in the summertime, so they decided on an al fresco feel for their outdoor reception at The Francis Land House. Their families were involved in every aspect of the planning process from contributing antique handkerchiefs to oyster shell place cards and handmade oak wedding wands. Adam is a chemist and an avid home brewer, so the couple even made their own beverages! In lieu of floral centerpieces, tables underneath the tent featured greenery garlands on long family-style tables. The crowning touch? A luscious cake from Jaime’s Bakeshop, who had been creating the cakes for Adam’s family celebrations for as long as he can remember. Every moment of this heirloom day is exquisite and beautifully captured by Nikki Santerre!

There’s so much style and whimsy pouring out of every single moment of Megan and Bobby’s wedding! The couple selected a private estate in Santa Barbara as their venue, which the homeowner has aptly named “Villa della Famiglia”, and the unique, family-oriented charm was carried through in the decor, which was a colorful extension of the Italian villa feel. Megan designed the day to be a reflection of them as a couple: intimate, fun, and full of so much love. Her vision for the flowers was “bright, beautiful, and free-spirited” and Jenn Sanchez Design delivered in spades! From lush coral peonies to purple alliums, the colorful blooms lit up the tables on the estate’s grounds and paired beautifully with the intermixed fresh fruits. Megan hand-painted all of the signage and along with one of her bridesmaids, Rachel, all of the votive holders, as well as creating the honey jar favors. Not a detail was left unfinished, right down to the on-trend naked cake from Frost It Cupcakery! When asked about the day, there was no doubt that sharing their vows and emptying their hearts to each other surrounded by their dearest family and friends was the most unforgettable moment, followed closely by walking down the aisle to “Your Hand in Mind” by Explosions in the Sky, which reminded them of peaceful moments together stargazing. We are absolutely head over heels for every magical image from Brooke Borough Photography!

Charleston’s Old Wide Awake Plantation is a beautiful and serene setting, exactly the environment that Jennifer and Bradley envisioned when planning their Lowcountry soiree. Jennifer’s father and brother built the arbor for their ceremony, which was set amongst the plantation’s oak trees with dripping Spanish moss. The couple let the location take center stage and selected a neutral color palette of khaki, white, and gold. The outdoor reception in the warm summer air featured string lights and flowers that Jennifer arranged herself with blooms from Fifty Flowers. We love the sweet Southern touches, including hand-stamped muslin bags of grits as favors and a sweet potato wedding cake from Kathy and Company. Every image from Amy Arrington Photography is undeniably lovely!

Roaring Fork Club is a perfect backdrop for Colorado’s mix of rustic elegance, and Alix and Fabrizio worked with the dream team of Stephanie of Lalé Floral Design and Virginia of Bluebird Productions to bring their vision to life. A late March date brought warmer weather to the ski slopes, and a perfect opportunity for the couple to introduce their guests to their new hometown. After a simple but meaningful ceremony, guests were ushered into the lodge, where they were greeted with arrangements befitting the changing seasons: deep fuchsia blooms with pops of marigold, luscious greenery, and pomegranates at each place setting. But our favorite detail has to be the incredible, colorful bouquet! We adore each of the beautiful images from Alison Vagnini!