Real Weddings: Bit + Jay

It took a minute to catch our breaths when we first caught a glimpse of the understated sophistication at Lindsay and Jonathan’s Palm Beach wedding. Classic Old Florida style ruled in the form of an intricate gown by Vera Wang Luxe and traditional ceremony at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea before guests descended on the romantic, tropical paradise reception at a private club, complete with the beautiful parrots who make their home in the venue! Bold, lush arrangements brimming with exotic blooms from floral designer Bill Beers set the tone for a night of lively dancing to music by Simply Irresistible. These images from James Christianson perfectly capture the glamour of the day!

Soon-to-be married couple Sian and Ross received the most fabulous practice for their upcoming waterside nuptials when they were lucky enough to bring their wedding vision to life during photographer Jen Huang’s workshop in Perth, Australia. Wedding planner Cathrin D’Entremont and florist Zinnia Floral Designs worked with Jen to create an elegant and warm setting at the Bunker Bay Beach House. Sian looked stunning in a feathered hair piece by Hushed Commotion and a billowing dress by Samantha Wynne. We love that everything from the invitations to the buffet banner was stamped with a unique, custom logo, which they used in their recent wedding as well. Even the pillows had a personal touch! Thanks to Jen Huang for sharing these gorgeous images!

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!

Tina grew up in Hong Kong and Australia, with half of her family in Scotland, and Zac is from Australia. Their close family and friends live all over the world, so what better way to celebrate their union than with a destination wedding in Barcelona, where they were living when Zac proposed? Their vision of an intimate, personal wedding came to life when they found Casa Felix, a Spanish villa in Barcelona’s wine region, with a relaxed, peaceful ambiance. The couple worked with A Spanish Do to create a poolside reception highlighting the stunning locale. They selected a pastel color palette with pops of berry tones and an abundance of greenery, and Paradiso Barcelona designed rich, organic florals to complement the natural beauty of the villa. The result is positively breathtaking! Prepare to transport yourself to Spain with these lovely images from En Route Photography!

When a Danish and Austrian couple marry in the South of France, you get an intimate and eclectic atmosphere full of joy and romance! Maria and Marcel worked with Et Voila Weddings to plan their destination wedding (in only 4 months!). The couple brought their friends and family from around the world together at Domaine des Grottes for a relaxed and comfortable outdoor soiree. Though Maria’s mother was ill and could not attend, she wrote Maria a message on the bottom of her wedding shoes, and Maria says “somehow I could feel her close to me that day.” Maria selected a Grace Loves Lace gown with a floral crown for a boho-chic bridal look. The outdoor reception features swaths of lush greenery and pink garden roses on soft blue linens from Options. The effortless beauty of the Côte d’Azur and Maria and Marcel’s special day is beautifully captured by Ingrid Lepan!

There may be no more picturesque setting for Elinor and Adam’s romantic destination wedding than Tuscany’s Villa Di Corliano. The faded grandeur, trailing greenery, orange and lemon trees, and beautiful landscape made the most lovely backdrop for the June nuptials. The couple planned their wedding themselves, and enlisted Franci’s Flowers Florence to create elegant arrangements for ceremony and reception. A floral arch with burgundy peonies and pink roses was the altar for their vow exchange, and table centerpieces of coordinating florals were set in ornate gold chalices. We are positively spellbound by Elinor’s Grecian-style Jenny Packham gown from Lilya Grace. The bejeweled neckline is fitting for a princess! Transport yourself to Italy with the magical images from Stefano Santucci!

We are are simply in love with this stunning Italian wedding from Cinzia Bruschini! As if the country alone isn’t romantic enough, the beautiful setting of Fattoria Casamora combined with lush and lovely florals from Jardin Divers takes this gorgeous affair over the top. We can’t get enough of the flower hair wreaths adorning bridesmaids in bold, colorful dresses. The bride’s Celestina Agostino gown is a vision of vintage-style lace and elegance. Dripping candles and olive branches add local Tuscan flavor at the outdoor reception. We’re swooning over each and every one of these jaw-dropping images!

It’s our favorite time of the year, and we don’t just mean the holidays. It’s time for our annual favorites series! During these next two weeks, we’ll be sharing some of the most swoon-worthy wedding inspiration of the year! Kicking things off is one of our most-loved weddings of 2013, Britt and Sam’s Islamorada, Florida soiree from the exquisite KT Merry Photography. There’s not a single thing about this wedding, designed by Parrish Designs and Caidal Events, that we don’t adore. Britt is positively ethereal in a custom Trash Couture gown, and the Amoursans Anguish bridesmaids dresses have us swooning. But of course we know the couple’s favorite wedding memory will be having their adorable chihuahuas as ring bearers! This wedding is overflowing with inspiration—visit the gallery to see it all!

Oh my, we are drooling over the gorgeous wedding of Katie and Brian! The elegant 1920s touches mixed with a bit of rustic glam is just the perfect combination for an outdoor affair in Oregon. The design by A & B Creative is flawless, and flowers in shades of pink, lavender, green, and yellow by Fleur:ology Wedding Floral + Styling are unlike any we’ve ever seen! We like the fresh blooms on the side of the intricately iced Beaverton Bakery cake, too. Of course, we always love the romantic look of a Claire Pettibone gown; Katie added a veil from August Veils to hers, and she’s stunning! We simply adore these beautiful images from Deyla Huss Photography.

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!

If Wes and Jamie’s gorgeous engagement session wasn’t enough, their stunning wedding at Bali’s Amanusa is sure to leave you breathless! Their exotic, elegant affair was perfectly designed by the fabulous Beth Helmstetter Events and featured whimsical watercolor invitations by Quill & Fox and stunning tropical florals created by Gloriosa Flower House. Jamie was positively radiant in her Carolina Herrera gown and Vera Wang veil, always a classic and beautiful choice. Steve Steinhardt captured all the beauty of their beachside nuptials—get ready to swoon over what may be one of the most gorgeous weddings we have ever set our eyes on!

This couple may live in NYC, but Sarah and Allen wanted to sweep away their wedding guests to the breathtaking Grand Velas Riviera Maya for an elegant beachy affair! Catering and cake details were handled beautifully by the resort, and Maya Floral crafted the pale pink and white bouquets that complemented Sarah’s cap-sleeve Kleinfeld gown as well as the soft pink bridesmaids dresses. Laura Ivanova, of Laura Ivanova Photography, calls this one of her favorite weddings of the year for its sweet palette, gorgeous details, and the bride’s gown that was “perfection.” Who are we to argue?

Lauren and Jason discovered their venue while perusing a wedding magazine, and the moment they spotted Altos de Chavon in the Dominican Republic, they knew it would fit perfectly with Lauren’s dream of an old-world wedding. Her vision was brought to life in the form of a vintage lace gown, a traditional cigar roller, and a pink and gold reception with lovely details made only more romantic with the cobblestone streets and lush scenery of their venue. These gorgeous photos by Charlie Juliet will make you want to escape to palm trees and paradise!

Simplicity has never been as beautiful as it is in Ashlee and David’s Florida wedding. Let’s start with Ashlee’s breathtaking Monique Lhuillier gown, shall we? She chose a gown that was comfortable and paired it with flats, not heels, perfect for their beachy wedding at WaterSound Beach Club. I absolutely adore the soft pink bridesmaids dresses by Quillaree too! Centerpieces and bouquets by Bella Flora were fresh and elegant and were the perfect decoration in an unbelievably gorgeous setting. I’m positively swooning over this wedding and all these incredible photos by Whitebox Weddings!

Hillary and Michael’s Florida wedding is an absolute breath of fresh air. Boca Bay Pass Club and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church provided unbelievable backdrops for their stunning pink and ivory wedding. Romantic and ruffled peonies were the focus of beautiful bouquets by Designs By Jody and I’m still swooning over their beautiful tented wedding reception right on the beach. There are so many gorgeous photos by Melissa Schollaert Photography from Hillary and Michael’s big day that it was extremely difficult to narrow it down to just a few, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy these just as much as I did!

Anyone else in need of a tropical escape before the holiday this weekend? Emily and Jeff’s laid-back Hawaiian wedding is the perfect remedy for the over-shopped and over-stressed! It was a small wedding – the couple celebrated with 13 of their closest family members in Maui over a 3-day weekend. Their serene oceanside ceremony at Wailea Golf Course was highlighted by bright pink and orange florals by Teresa Sena Designs. Such an intimate, colorful, and romantic wedding with beautiful photos by Emily’s sister, the amazing Sara of Sara Gray Photography, it’s the perfect medicine for the stresses of the season! Wishing everyone lots of love, joy, and relaxation this weekend! Mele Kalikimaka!

Tania and Chris held their intimate destination wedding at the gorgeous Villa de Suenos on St. Simon’s Island, GA.  After the terrible oil spill on the Gulf Coast, these two were faced with relocating their wedding, and called in the fabulous Terrica Skaggs of Cocktails + Details to plan their destination wedding with three short months to go.  I love the laid-back tropical feel, the gorgeous green cymbidium orchids, and the beautiful images by La Dolce Vita Studio.

If there was one wedding during 2010 that I wish I could transport myself into, it would be Lia and Rob’s elegant Tuscany affair.  Their timeless wedding, photographed by the amazingly talented Vania and Christine of Simply Bloom Photography, is elegant, understated, and full of love and beauty.   And now, I’m going to let the gorgeous images speak for themselves!

Diana and Wes met while attending law school and became fast friends. They were on track to lead completely different lives, but fate had other ideas. While studying for the Florida bar, they both realized that their chemistry was more than a friendship, and they were meant to be together forever. They fell into an easy and natural relationship, and the rest is history.

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.