Real Weddings: Matt + Jill

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!

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!

We adore the relaxed, casual vibe of Meredith and Graham’s summer backyard wedding! With a ceremony at the intimate Smithfield Church and a reception held at Graham’s family’s New York country home just one street away, these two brought all of the comforts of home into their celebration. Meredith is radiant in a demure Lela Rose gown, and we love that although she wore a chic chignon for the ceremony, she let her hair down (literally and figuratively) for the outdoor reception! Bridesmaids in simple white dresses, simple centerpieces of daisies and greenery topiaries, and pretty runners with pops of blue complement the garden setting under the tent. After a family style dinner by , guests danced the night away to John Ragusa Music. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful images from Charlie Juliet!

Molly and Mike’s lovely Wayzata, Minnesota, wedding was a family affair, starting with the location of their ceremony and reception—Mike’s parents’ backyard! With help from Jennae Elizabeth of Blush & Whim, Molly and Mike planned the summer wedding of their dreams, which included vows beneath a pergola constructed by Mike’s stepdad. Along with Sarah of Four Finches, Molly’s mom, Mary, helped style the colorful flowers for the affair, some of which she grew in her own garden. Molly paired her ivory gown by Blush by Hayley Paige from The White Gown with a lace mantilla veil, also made by her mother. Bridesmaids in navy dresses from J.Crew and groomsmen in gray suits were casual but perfectly in step with the rest of the laid-back elegance of the day. Other fun touches included a heart-shaped pinata handmade by Molly’s sister and a delicious looking unfrosted chocolate wedding cake by Catherine Miller of Camelbear Bakery. Enjoy all of these gorgeous images from Clary Photo!

It is impossible for a wedding at Charleston, South Carolina’s Lowndes Grove Plantation to not be gorgeous Lowcountry perfection. Laura and Thomas chose the gorgeous setting for their entire affair, starting with a ceremony beneath moss-draped trees and ending with an outdoor reception that highlighted the jaw-dropping sunset. We are stunned by these images from Richard Ellis Photographer! Laura’s amazing Jordan gown is a fitted silhouette that gives way to a full ruffled skirt, and we adore the look! One-shoulder silvery blue Siri bridesmaids dresses are shimmery like the sea and paired with simple baby’s breath bouquets by Branch Design Studio. Laura’s bouquet of white orchids is spiked with bright yellow blooms that also grace the elegant reception tables, details that Southern Protocol helped her plan. We also love the textured icing detail on the couple’s cake from renowned Charleston restaurant and catering company Fish. There’s not a single detail Laura and Thomas overlooked—visit the gallery to see them all!

These fun and beautiful images of DJ and Alan’s Sun Valley Idaho wedding from Hillary Maybery Photography make us wish we were kicking up our boots with them, too! Stunning outdoor surroundings frame this affair, with a rustic chapel setting the stage for a ceremony filled with cowboy hats and boots, plaid kilts, and spring florals in yellows and greens from Tara Bella Floral Design. DJ’s elegant lace Anne Barge gown is a gorgeous contrast to the earthy elements and her personalized boots from M.L. Leddy’s. We love the details that the team at Amanda Seaward’s Absolute Weddings wove in—including monogrammed plaid throws, distressed leather chairs, and antlers—to drive home the theme of DJ and Alan’s affair! See all of the elegant, rustic details in the gallery!

From the story told in these images from Blue Rose Photography, Ariel and Collin couldn’t have chosen a more perfect, light-drenched place for their wedding than Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Washington! The mountains in the backdrop are majestic and gorgeous partnered with the mossy orange and gold fall florals from Patti Bosket Au Naturel, especially the wreaths hanging on freestanding doors that “open” up to the ceremony. The rust-orange color repeats on stationery from Carlson Craft. Navy bridesmaids dresses from H&M are a great alternative to black and look fabulous paired with the bold flowers. Ariel was practically floating in an Essense of Australia gown—we love the tiers of ruffles on her skirt! Stop by the gallery to enjoy all of the images from this stunning autumn wedding!

There is something so sophisticated about a color palette of navy and white — but we’ve fallen for more than just the dramatic hues of Emily and Zach’s wedding outside of Boise, Idaho! Take the fashion, for instance. Emily’s Casablanca Bridal has the most stunning sweetheart neckline, and the bridesmaids dresses — a variety of short sheaths in the same navy blue — are the perfect complement to the all-white bouquets by Boise At Its Best that the ladies carried. Emily and Zach exchanged vows in a traditional Jewish ceremony, beneath a gorgeous chuppah built of branches and dripping with white orchids and hydrangea. Beautiful floral design continued at their reception at Shore Lodge, where a mix of high and low white arrangements topped tables covered in crinkled blue linens. These photos by Ampersand Studios show every detail, including the writing on the couple’s wedding cake. Do you recognize the words? They are the lyrics to Etta James’ classic “At Last.” Amazing!

There are so many fresh details to love from Lori and Matt’s Philadelphia wedding, held at Knowlton Mansion. The yellow and white bouquets, including some tied with striped ribbon, are a fun pop against navy bridesmaids dresses by Alfred Sung. A nod to vintage decor with lace elements and a fishnet veil paired with Lori’s private label gown from Katherine’s Bridal Boutique gives a bit of a retro vibe to the rustic location. These two put their own spin on everything, from the Digby & Rose stationery to the playful bride-and-groom giraffes atop the cake from Conroy Catering. We adore this entire affair captured by Maria Mack Photography!

Katie and Erick’s Florida wedding features tons of things we adore: A pretty, natural setting at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, lovely wildflower-style bouquets from FH Weddings & Events, and an adorable bride and groom who couldn’t take their eyes off of each other! Katie chose the gardens because it reminded her of days spent picking flowers with her mom, so it was a sentimental and beautiful backdrop for her Maggie Sottero gown—the rhinestone T-strap back is stunning! Her Tessa Kim hairpiece takes its cue from the surrounding flowers to tie in the outdoor theme—just like the butterfly-accented seating chart and all of the blue and yellow reception accents. We think Justin DeMutiis Photography did a phenomenal job of showing off one of his favorite affairs of 2012!

Love was blowing through the Windy City on Carrie and Mike’s wedding day, and these breathtakingly sweet photos showcase the elegance of it all! The couple wanted guests to have a real taste of the city, and the downtown Chicago Cultural Center was just the right venue for their ceremony and reception. Jesse Deckard of Event Creative made sure Carrie had a classic all-white bouquet to accent her White by Vera Wang gown – Carrie is a drop-dead gorgeous bride and we have to admit to being just a wee bit smitten with her! We love details like the moss reception table numbers wedding planner Lauren Carter of Lola Event Productions found, and the foam fingers that guests used to welcome Carrie and Mike to their reception. Such a fun day captured by Bobbi+Mike!

Nicole and Ryan’s dream was to have a Florida beach wedding that was a mini-vacation for everyone who attended, and it seems they succeeded! The couple used a clean and fresh color palette of blue and yellow, and Blooming Flowers made sure to mix Nicole’s favorite flower, tulips, into the cheery arrangements. The entire day was laid-back, effortlessly elegant and personal. The couple even included their pup in the ceremony — a detail we can’t help but adore! A big thank you to Shipra Panosian for these beautiful images!

Hannah and Eddy’s wedding in Pasadena, California was so soft and romantic, just as the bride envisioned it! As a florist, Hannah wanted flowers to be a central theme of the event, and she created the bouquets and boutonnieres from peonies, lily of the valley, garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, astilbe and berzillia berries, while entrusting a talented friend to create the reception florals. At the reception, guests were invited to wrap up bouquets of lush blooms to take home as favors.  Bridesmaids wore soft blue dresses from BHLDN, and we love the adorable flower girls in tulle skirts handmade by Hannah! The day was captured beautifully by Christine Farah Photography, and we can’t stop staring!

It’s pretty much impossible to look through the photos of Lynn and Stefan’s wedding by Kellie Kano and not immediately feel happier. Lynn knew she had to have yellow flowers because every since she was a little girl the color has always put a smile on her face. Thanks to Hedge Fine Blooms and all the other details in this sweet wedding, we’re now smiling too! Their big day was effortlessly elegant and set to the beautiful backdrop of Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia. Every detail of Lynn and Stefan’s wedding is all about happiness and love so sit back and enjoy!

Lesley and Perry were inspired by their gorgeous wedding location on the coast of North Carolina, so Jennifer of Salt Harbor Designs sprinkled beautiful nautical details throughout their wedding at Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews. The preppy yellow and blue theme starts with the bridesmaids’ cheery yellow Lula Kate dresses and Perry’s seersucker suit and is really brought to life with sweet Southern details like a “Coke vs Pepsi” boat of soda, pretty flag escort cards, and an adorable guest book map!  The gorgeous centerpieces included yellow tulips (Lesley’s favorite!) as well as viburnum, sweet pea, hydrangea, and garden roses. So fresh and happy! These fantastic photos by Millie Holloman Photography are sure to brighten up your day!

The Blue Ridge Mountains are the spectacular setting for this morning’s lovely Virginia wedding.  Rachel and Edwin are true wine lovers (Edwin owns a wine shop in Downtown Frederickburg), so King Family Vineyards was the perfect venue for their wedding.  The mountain views were a perfect backdrop for the outdoor ceremony, made even more gorgeous with the elegant, rustic florals from Anthomanic.  I adore all of the beautiful images from Melissa Arlena Photography!

There’s nothing more lovely than New England in the fall.  Vermont’s Inn at Mountain View Farm was the gorgeous setting for Kristen and Ben’s October wedding, which is chock full of handmade love!  These two designed their dream wedding on their own, but they couldn’t have put it together without the help of their family and friends.  Kristen’s father collected the mason jars, milk glass, and medicine bottles for the centerpieces, and along with Ben, transformed the barn by stringing 1200 feet of twinkle lights! A close family friend sewed the table runners, and Kristen and Ben were involved in each and every detail of the planning process, including working with Danika of Blomma Flicka Flowers to choose the wheat and wildflower decor.  A beautiful wedding full of love, laughter, and joy – and fabulous images from Deborah Zoe Photo!

The folding of paper cranes is said to bring luck but also is said to be representative of the time and patience it takes to sustain a happy marriage. The most prominent design element for Ariel and Eric’s New York wedding was hundreds of paper cranes hung and placed throughout their beautiful venue, Gary’s Loft in Manhattan. It was a modern and hip wedding with lots of natural light and fresh details. I love Ariel’s perfect party shoes – some fabulous, sparkly, Steve Madden oxfords! Such a fabulous party with fabulous photos by Justine Bursoni Photography!