Real Weddings: Happi + Brian

Maggie and John’s classic Savannah wedding had me at hello. Bridesmaids in coordinating pastel gowns carrying delicate fans? Yes please! It’s so quintessentially southern.

I’m a true Southern girl, so when I see a wedding with peaches at each place setting I’m sold!  Danielle and Jeremy live in New Mexico, but held their wedding in the beautiful town of Savannah.  After a ceremony at the quaint chapel of Bethesda Academy, the wedding party hopped the trolley to Vic’s on the River to dance the night away!  Danielle is positively gorgeous in her gown from Bleu Belle Bridal with her sideswept ‘do and red patent leather heels, and Jeremy and his groomsmen are dapper in their khaki suits.  I just want to jump into all of the beautiful images from Jade + Matthew Take Pictures!

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.

For their Massachusetts wedding day, Alex and Chris wanted nothing but everyone to have a splendid time, good food, good drinks, and good memories being passed around. All captured through the lens of The Light and Color Wedding Photography, the Ipswich couple chose to have a traditional wedding day. Alex chose a classic A-line Hayley Paige beauty and the cherry on top of her trousseau was her mom’s veil that she donned for her day. Their ceremony was held at St. John’s Prep (fun fact: Alex is a dentist and St. John’s Prep was the same school where Alex’s boss and Chris’s dad went. The guys are still good friends!), Chris’s high school alma mater. For their wedding reception, they dressed up The Hellenic Center in shades of soft blues and pinks, and organic-style blooms designed by Chris’s sister-in-law, Teresa. Weddings like these that are centered around family and steeped in tradition always leave such a feel-good warmth to our 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!

Julie and Ross’s love story began like any budding romance in college: Julie walked into a summer party Ross was already enjoying, and she caught his eye immediately. After he scrounged up enough courage to chat with her, they found out they both were attending George Washington University in DC. Realizing you couldn’t get any more serendipitous than that, Ross asked Julie out on a date and the rest was history. With an epic wedding proposal at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur exhibition, the duo followed it up with more amazing architecture and chose to wed at Philadelphia’s Cathedral of Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, and hosted their reception at Union Trust. Julie donned a stunning Berta wedding gown with vine detailing and Ross was the spitting image of a classic Hollywood leading man in his J. Hilburn tux. Kristin Weaver Photography’s captures show us all of the glitz and glam of the day and it instantly transports us to this fun fête.

Debbie and Johnny may have started their relationship on different continents, but that was no match for this couple as they have trotted across the globe together! They ultimately settled in Texas alongside both of their families, and chose to hold an intimate wedding in Grapevine’s The Laurel. Sarah of Keestone Events crafted a romantic and classic wedding with a modern twist. Debbie loves neutral feminine colors and selected a peach and blush palette with pops of gold and sage, and Petals Couture created lovely garden-style arrangements to accentuate the dramatic ballroom. Debbie’s Justin Alexander gown is positively stunning, and her maids selected pink frocks from Azazie. Photography was incredibly important to the couple, and the fine art style of Allen Tsai was a perfect match – we are smitten!

Brynn and Justin chose the spectacular views of downtown Orlando’s Dr Phillips Center to play host to their chic and classic Florida wedding! Their vision of an open, airy wedding was brought to life in the majestic floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city! Justin (whom according to Brynn is the fashionista in the relationship!) donned his Navy uniform for the ceremony, then changed into a sleek royal blue suit for the reception. A wedding party in pink Sorella Vita dresses accented the blue perfectly. Tickled Pink Brides worked with the couple to make sure their wedding day ran flawlessly, and Peddles created tall but simple centerpieces to fill up the room with its high ceilings. These two are so in love and every moment (including the adorable family time with their pups Lyric and Hudson) was beautifully captured by Kristen Weaver Photography!

Elena and Geoff chose a truly stunning location for their California spring wedding: Hummingbird Nest Ranch. The beautiful Spanish villa is nestled in the rolling hills outside Los Angeles, and the stately home set the tone for the day. The couple chose classic details to enhance the location’s beauty. A palette of burgundy and blush, sophisticated attire, and that gorgeous California sunset came together to create the most lovely day! Chabeli of P.S. & Associates Event Planning made sure the day went off without a hitch, from the first moments getting ready at the villa to the cutting of the cake with Elena’s grandfather’s Naval sword, a family tradition carried on at Elena and Geoff’s wedding. We love all of the beautiful images captured by Katie Beverly!

Danielle and Patrick have friends and family all over the country, so they decided to marry in one of their favorite places, Sarasota, Florida, and make it a full weekend celebration for their guests! Sarasota and its beaches have a long history in Danielle’s family and she grew up visiting the Ringling Museum, so it was a dream setting for their celebration! NK Productions took the couple’s vision of a clean, romantic aesthetic with a pastel color palette of blues, pinks, and whites and brought it to life with chic modern touches. Botanica designed a stunning chuppah for their blended ceremony (Danielle is Jewish, Patrick Presbyterian), and worked with the NK Productions team to style a sophisticated reception with modern touches such as acrylics and a sea of candles for the reception. They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, and the best laid plans of a courtyard reception were quickly switched for plan B, a ceremony and reception setup on the dramatic loges overlooking the museum. This made for an intimate event that Danielle says “ultimately made for an even more memorable experience!” This elegant and timeless event is one for the books, beautifully captured by Hunter Ryan Photo!

Located in Charleston’s Cigar Factory, The Cedar Room is an open, airy space with rustic brick and floor to ceiling windows, and its open canvas created a stunning backdrop for Melissa and Ian’s reception! The couple worked with Pure Luxe Bride to design a romantic soiree with glimmering metallic touches and pastel garden-style centerpieces created by Branch Design Studio. Ian proposed to Melissa at Disney World, so subtle Disney elements, such as the castle on their table numbers, were sprinkled throughout. The overall effect is magical and we’re head over heels for the images by Catherine Ann 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!

Whitney and Matt were married on a picture perfect summer day at Charleston, SC’s historic Boone Hall Plantation. A classic color palette of blush and gold accented the rustic beauty of the location. The front lawn, with its ancient oak trees and ornate gate played host to the ceremony, and the reception on the Cotton Dock was decked out with greenery and lush blooms by Lindsay Bishop Events, with chandeliers and candles adding a touch of sparkle to the natural surroundings. Ruffled LulaKate bridesmaids dresses in peony pink added a fun pop of color and perfectly accented Whitney’s gown from Bridals by Lori. Head over heels for this beautiful day and the images from Rachel Red Photography!

Marisa and Sean fell in love with the views and airy ballroom of Pleasonton, California’s The Club at Ruby Hill at first sight, and it was a perfect choice for their summer wedding. A ceremony under the gorgeous outdoor trellis gave way to a chic blush and gold reception with pretty centerpieces by Katherine Bergman of roses and hydrangea. Marisa originally envisioned a form-fitting gown, but after trying on a stunning Pronovias ballgown, she knew it was “the one”, and Bo Lee Bridal added a custom sash to complete the look. We’re loving this sweet soiree and The Ganeys captured each moment to perfection!

Charleston, South Carolina’s charming Middleton Place—home to America’s oldest landscaped garden—was the idyllic setting for Jessalyn and Jefferson’s timeless spring wedding. A ceremony in the gardens was followed by a beautiful tented recetpion designed by A Charleston Bride. The Sperry Tent was festooned with greenery chandeliers by Palmetto Bloom, which paired beautifully with organic garden-style centerpieces. Loose, natural bouquets perfectly accented Jessalyn’s Pnina Tornai gown and her maids’ pale pink Hayley Paige Occasions dresses. Hopelessly in love with the fabulous Charleston light and the gorgeous images by Aaron & Jillian Photography!

Boston’s Lenox Hotel is a historic boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, and Elizabeth and Michael’s vintage theme was a perfect complement to the graceful architecture of the venue. A color palette of soft petal pink, peach, and gold was brought to life with gorgeous florals by Table and Tulip. Elizabeth’s bouquet of gorgeous peach amaryllis, ranunculus, hydrangea, roses, and tulips may be one of our favorites in recent memory! Set against a lace Pronovias gown, the look is absolute perfection. Whimsical details filled the day, from the single bud flower curtain to the rose petal lined ceremony aisle, and the Boston summer weather could not have been more lovely. Enjoy the magical images from Arielle Doneson Photography!

Julie and Will were married on a glorious summer day in Lake Forest, Illinois, but the radiant weather was no match for the couple themselves. Julie is a positively glowing bride, and Will’s groom style is on point with a classic tuxedo and suspenders. After their traditional Catholic ceremony, the couple traveled in spectacular fashion (oh, that white vintage Rolls Royce!) to Conway Farms Golf Club, where a gorgeous reception tent beautifully coordinated by Seamless Event awaited. Fleurs De Lisa created romantic arrangements of peonies, hydrangea, and stock in shades of ivory and blush that beautifully complemented the navy and gold table settings. We love every sweet detail captured on film by Kristin La Voie Photography!

To say that Courtney and Kyle’s wedding day is beautiful would be an understatement: in fact, it’s positively glowing. The Carlouel Yacht Club played host to their celebration, held on a spring day full of sunshine, and the palm trees and elegant arbor from Florist Fire made for a spectacular backdrop for their ceremony on the lawn. The couple decided against a first look, instead seeing each other as they walked down the aisle, and Courtney says “Kyle’s reaction as I walked down the aisle was unforgettable. It still gives me butterflies!” Courtney always envisioned herself in lace for her wedding day, and a champagne-hued Anne Barge gown was the perfect selection. She is a radiant bride, and natural makeup from Lindsay Does Makeup only enhanced her picture-perfect bridal glow. Absolutely in love with the images captured on film by The Ganeys!

When a hurricane mucks up your wedding day plans, what is left to do but to mix it up and go on your honeymoon first! Two weeks after Mother Nature cancelled their ceremony, Mark and Morgan were married on a picture-perfect St. Augustine, Florida day! The Big Event had a huge task rescheduling a complete wedding, but it couldn’t have gone more smoothly, and Morgan says “It was the best day ever!” The couple selected the clean and simple The River House for their reception. Its unfussy atmosphere allowed the focus to be on the marriage and celebration! Aime Peterson Flowers & Event Design accented the ballroom with soft florals in white and cream and pretty gray linens for a pop of color. Mark and Morgan wanted their guests to eat, drink, dance, and have a great time, and we love the joyous atmosphere in the beautiful photos from PSJ Photography!