Real Weddings: Alison + Michael

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!

Ellie and Drew traveled from Texas to the beautiful Capen House on Lake Osceola for an intimate wedding with their closest friends and family. Pixies and Petals ran with Ellie’s vision of a Lilly Pulitzer-inspired English garden with florals in vibrant shades of peach, raspberry, coral, and fuchsia and created a lush pink garden wonderland in the ceremony and reception space. Along with stunning florals, their day featured 3 different musicians, an epic grazing table, and even a few fun pranks! These photos by Kristen Weaver Photography are guaranteed to brighten your day so be sure to check them all out and read more about the amazing details of their wedding in Ellie’s own words below!

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.

Valerie and Ken’s Tower Hill Botanical Garden wedding was like walking into another time. Every corner was filled with gorgeous flowers and art, every detail simple in its elegance. The greenhouses and gardens at Tower Hill inspired the color and style for their wedding. Julie Lapham Designs created arrangements with succulents and airplants, roses, eucalyptus, and anemone, and many of the succulents are now growing in the couple’s home! Seeded paper escort cards doubled as favors, a Jenga game served as the guest book, and colorful tabletops graced the Orangerie. We’re simply in love with every moment captured by Arielle Doneson Photography!

Lauren and Jack’s Westmoreland Country Club wedding is so beautiful, it’s like a dream! The club, with its immaculate landscaping and tent with twinkling lights was the perfect choice for the couple’s late summer event. Filled with the most beautiful blooms and greenery, the overall feel is romantic and sophisticated with just a touch of whimsy and the reception tent feels like a hidden secret garden! Lauren is a vision in a flowing Mikaella gown, beautifully accented with a colorful, lush bouquet designed by Four Finches. There’s not a single detail we aren’t completely smitten by, and it’s all captured beautifully by Bonphotage!

Christine and Daniel’s wedding is equal parts romantic, dreamy, and classic. With the beautiful villa and gardens of Villa Montalvo as the setting and perfect Northern California weather provided by the month of May, the couple’s graceful ivory and blush color palette came to life within the lush green foliage. Charmed Events Group brought the elegant setting to life with lace linens from La Tavola, a dramatic draped arch decked with greenery and florals by Tango & Foxtrot, and fresh, clean centerpieces of peonies, garden roses, and ranunculus. A gorgeous lace-embellished cake from Studio Cake completed the scene. Christine is radiant in a sophisticated Allure gown to match Daniel’s chic black tux, and to honor their heritage, both donned traditional Korean wedding attire from LeeHwa Wedding for an incredible sunset portrait session. We are completely in love with every moment captured by Danielle Poff Photography!

Dana and Donte may just be the most picture-perfect couple, and their intimate, backyard wedding under the warm Texas sky has us spellbound! The couple searched high and low for their perfect venue and luckily found a Spanish Mission as a rental home, and the rest, as they say, is history! Though bringing in each and every item for a wedding is a daunting task, Wedfully Yours (where the bride is a lead coordinator) worked tirelessly to make this Big Day perfect. Donte and Dana met in high school and became inseparable after reconnecting two years ago. Dana shares “My mom said I always thought she didn’t like him, but really, she didn’t like that I was so crazy about him. I’d completely lose my mind from the excitement!” Their story—along with Dana’s new not-for-profit business dedicated to hiring people who have fallen into homelessness— touched the heart of Brittany Lauren Photography when we held a wedding photography contest here on EAD earlier this year, and it’s easy to see why. We can’t help but fall in love with this couple, whose love and affection for each other shine through in absolutely every moment. We know you will feel the same!

It doesn’t get more perfect than an Italian villa in the middle of the Arizona desert! Scottsdale’s Sassi restaurant was the setting for Danielle and Richard’s classic wedding, which combined the elegance of the venue with the desert setting for a unique and beautiful event. The couple wanted their intimate wedding to reflect their personalities and taste, and put their skills to work handcrafting items for their soiree. Danielle designed the wedding invitations and calligraphed the envelopes and favors, while Richard made the box for their wine box ceremony. Each guest received a succulent or cactus plant as a favor, perfect for their out of town guests, who were able to bring home a touch of Arizona. Flowers By Jodi created chic white and cream centerpieces of garden roses and hydrangea, adding sprigs of greenery to echo the venue’s ivied walls. We’re smitten with each thoughtful detail, captured by the wonderful Andrew Jade Photography!

You know when two wedding photographers are getting married, it’s bound to be spectacular! And such is Sarah and Matt‘s magical affair at Salvage One. The industrial, whimsical locale was perfect for pastel florals from Fleur, romantic candlelight, and vintage decor from BHLDN. We adore their invites, elegant but fun with silhouettes, from Love vs. Design. Sarah said no to traditional bridesmaids and matching dresses, and instead focused on a gorgeous classic gown from J.Crew for herself paired with glittery Kate Spade shoes. Special touches at the event, coordinated by Liven It Up Events, included desserts from Molly’s Cupcakes, mini burgers from The Slide Ride food truck, and custom cloth napkins by Dot & Army. We’re swooning over the amazing images by Pen / Carlson and we know you’ll agree that it’s one of our favorites of 2013!

Marie and Tim’s wedding at The Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida, combines the beauty of the beach with the understated elegance only a venue like the The Ritz-Carlton can provide! Dressed in a sweetheart gown with crystal brooch detail, Marie married Tim with views of the ocean as their ceremony backdrop — that, and a gorgeous floral arbor popping with pink and white blooms! We adore the cowl-neck mauve dresses that bridesmaids donned, as well as the round rose and ranunculus bouquets they carried. Photographer Brooke Images has dazzled us with the gorgeous images she captured of the reception, including a classic white cake trimmed in pink lace! See all of the beach-chic details in the gallery!

Sarah and Bill were married at the majestic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It was a classically elegant event filled with unbelievable florals by The Bloom Room in shades of peach, blush, and orange. Their gorgeous ceremony aisle was lined with lanterns, flowers, and moss and they were married under a dozen twinkling natural globes. I love their color palette and the photos by Two Ring Studios are just perfection!

Catherine and Payton’s wedding, although set in Northern California, has an amazing and authentic Southern feel.  Their wedding truly captivated me - the photography (the stellar A Bryan Photo)… the way that the couple incorporated family traditions… and the classic elegance of Catherine herself.

I have such a soft spot for Greenville, SC – it’s where I met my best friend and co-EAD creator, A (and not to mention my hubby!).  So when Genya from Vue Photography posted this wedding I knew we had to feature it on EAD!

This gorgeous shoot has the perfect blend of coral and blue hues to really make it POP. From the elegant updo, to the grandeur of the cascading florals, this wedding inspiration really knows how to incorporate color and elegance to create a perfect image. We love these colors because they remind us of the softness of spring, and the pop of summer. 

After having their day postponed from Covid, Rhea’Lynn and Christian were finally able to celebrate their wedding day at One Eleven East. With a mid-century meets organic design it was absolutely breathtaking.