Real Weddings: Danielle + Trace

Sarah and Dale married in a gorgeous Autumn ceremony at Nashville’s Travellers Rest Plantation. This wedding is so thought out. Each detail is personally created by the bride and chosen for a reason. From the Cafe du Monde tin centerpieces (they met in Louisiana) to the petals tossed during their exit (saved from flowers the groom had given the bride), you can tell how much love was put into the wedding.

In Tennessee, you can usually count on a storm blowing in and moving out within a 30 minute time period.  Unfortunately, this was not the case for April 24th, just a week before the historic flooding in Nashville.  All day long, Jessica and Corey endured torrential downpours, thunder, lightning, and the occasional tornado siren.  Not exactly the ideal day for a wedding ceremony in the gardens of Carnton Plantation!

Sara and Conner met while were both were on vacation in Nashville. There was an instant connection, and after spending as much time together as possible during that trip, they began dating long distance and were married at Nashville’s Cedarwood just over a year later. Their festive, intimate dinner party was a nod to Sara’s Southern roots. Magnolia leaf place cards were set atop each place setting on long wooden tables where each flower was handpicked by the bride. The couple’s monogram was sprinkled throughout, even on the wreath above the historic home’s door. From their ceremony on the rolling hills of the estate to the reception glimmering with candlelight, we are smitten with this entire day, beautifully photographed by Erin Lee Allender!

The picturesque shore of Lake Leelanau in Traverse City, Michigan, was a lovely gathering ground for the wedding of Ilana and Matt, who had family flying in from both coasts as well as overseas. The couple wanted a laid-back party for their “favorite people in the world,” and this one was full of style, too—from the custom sash made of feathers, moss and bark around the waist of Ilana’s J.Crew wedding gown to the casually elegant wildflower and herb arrangements from Bloom. An outdoor ceremony at Crooked Creek Ranch took advantage of the water views, while the property’s rustic barn was a gorgeous woodland scene for the reception, including a delicious four-tier cake from Aunt B’s embellished with a cascading fondant branch and leaves. These images from Harrison Studio make it clear this was one fun event—from the spirited dancing to Lady Sunshine and the X Band to the groom grabbing the mic to serenade his bride with “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”

There’s just something about fall weddings that I adore, especially those when the leaves are changing and the color palette takes advantage of the beautiful scenery.  Rachel and Todd’s Nashville wedding is full of delightful, rustic details, and with the gorgeous backdrop of Front Porch Farms and the talented Kristyn Hogan behind the lens, you know it’s going to be wonderful!

Jenny and Jason’s vineyard wedding incorporated a little vintage, a little rustic, a little vineyard and a lot of color. Her color choices of orange and purple popped out against all the green and brown of the vineyard setting. All photography is by Deyla Huss.

Zac and Stacy’s sweet Nashville wedding is special not only because of the bond between the couple, but because they honored the loving relationship that Stacy and her grandfather shared.  Reminders of her grandfather were incorporated throughout the wedding, making the event especially precious to Stacy.

I am head-over-heels for today’s wedding, brought to us by the amazing Angela Anderson Photography.  Jessica and Dustin had an absolutely beautiful wedding in Nashville, TN at historic Cedarwood.

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!

Fall evokes the dreamiest of color palettes and also some of the most innovative pairings, we think. Brittany and Adam married near the tail-end of the fall season where society’s color palette has started gravitating away from oranges and bright reds into deeper tones. Darker reds and moodier colors like their choice of burgundy and navy blue are spot on for this time of year. We love how Elle and Jaye Events transformed JW Marriott Las Vegas into a romantic, fall wonderland with burgundy, gold, and navy blue woven together. With Susie and Will and all of the vendors strutting their best stuff for Brittany and Adam’s wedding, the result was exceptionally beautiful.

Almost instantly, a wedding in Washington, DC has visions of ultimate grandeur. Jen and Nick wed in the early spring at the Four Seasons and they left no stone unturned when it came to the ins and outs of their wedding design. Jen’s favorite blooms are the ever-stunning and lush magnolias and with that color inspiration as their jumping point, they coveted a white/ivory and green wedding with gold accents. Florist Amy from Amy Lauren Floral Designs expressed and continued the color palette by using sumptuous white peonies and white roses along with the glossy magnolia leaves. This wedding has too many impeccable elements to it, both in design and in personality. We’re just glad that Kristen Gardner captured all the splendor in full!

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.

On the day of Katie and Alan’s wedding, Dallas decided to unleash a massive storm, so the couple and their wedding planner, Sarah of Keestone Events, moved their planned outdoor ceremony inside the gorgeous ballroom of Arlington Hall. And while we wouldn’t call a monsoon on your wedding day ideal, we have to say that the stunning indoor celebration may just have been a blessing in disguise! The golden ballroom made a beautiful ceremony and reception setting, and the elegant floral arch by Moss Floral Design did double duty as ceremony altar and a lovely backdrop for the reception! For the reception, white and gold centerpieces enhanced the golden beauty of the ballroom, while a pop of purple echoed the bridesmaids flowing dresses. The result is timeless perfection, beautifully captured by Dyan Kethley Photography!

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!

The leaves are turning, temps are getting a smidge cooler, and autumn is set to make its grand entrance soon, so what better way to celebrate than with a stunning early fall wedding from one of our favorites, Amy Arrington Photography! Vinewood Plantation, a historical plantation home just outside of Atlanta, played host to Melissa and Zach’s whimsical celebration. J. Elliot Style designed an event that’s a mix of rustic and sophisticated, with elegant lanterns and greenery adorning the tree serving as the backdrop for the outdoor ceremony, and swaths of greenery and vivid blooms from Virtu Floral and Event Design gracing the wooden tables for the barn reception. We’re crushing hard on Melissa’s eclectic bouquet – a mix of anemones, ranunculus, dahlia, rose, and even kumquats in early autumn shades make for a stunning addition to her lace gown. Head over heels for this beautiful event and all of Amy’s images captured on film!

Alexis and Wade’s intimate mountain wedding has us completely spellbound! Designed by the incredible Virginia of Bluebird Productions, their natural and organic wedding featured abundant foliage to echo the gorgeous setting. The rustic surroundings of The Smith Cabin seem a world away from Aspen, and Bluebird Productions and Prema found the perfect cliffside location to hold the couple’s ceremony. It’s a view (and a moment) that we’re sure no one in attendance will ever forget! We simply adore how Alexis’s bridal style mixes rustic and elegant, with a fantastic Reem Acra gown and floral crown by Prema. Every moment is sophisticated simplicity, right down to the petite cake from Megan Joy Cakes. Mountain brides and grooms, you won’t want to miss these incredible images from Emily Sacco Photography!

Madeline describes her wedding to Garrett as “the best day of my life, full of people I love and incredible memories.” After an intimate ceremony at the Salt Lake City LDS Temple, the couple gathered with their closest friends and family for a fabulous party at This is the Place Heritage Park. Their reception was classic and glamorous, filled with rustic details. Tinge Floral created lush, natural arrangements in shades of blush, pink, and green, with a mix of floral centerpieces and arrangements of tall olive branches. For a personal touch, Madeline hand-lettered the menus, place cards, and invitations, creating wonderful keepsakes of their special day! Guests were treated to a cozy dinner with gourmet fare from Le Croissant Catering, and danced the night away to tunes from The Gatsbys. The warm and wonderful feelings of the day were captured beautifully by Green Apple Photography!

Today’s gorgeous styled shoot from Cedarwood Weddings is all about simplicity and clean lines. The setting of Nashville’s Historic Cedarwood set the stage for this sophisticated take on rustic design, featuring loads of greenery, weathered wood table runners, and elegant stationery from Designs in Paper. Fresh herbs add to the natural styling, and we adore the simple but sweet bottles of infused water that double as table numbers. Each image from Kristyn Hogan is pure perfection!

Jess and Bassey combined neutral tones with a botanical feel for their St. Louis wedding. Kristin Ashley Events curated the event, pulling together bohemian details, such as a feather at each place setting, with organic elements like the unique baby’s breath reception chandelier. Bloomin’ Buckets created centerpieces in accents of pink and green to bring color to the earthy palette of the Forest Park Visitors Center. Each place setting was dressed with a calligraphy quote from the couple’s favorite band, Mumford and Sons. Sadly, Bassey lost his brother, who was to be his best man, three weeks before their wedding. To honor Imoh, the couple had tie bands engraved in his memory for their groomsmen. These two are so radiant with joy and love, even in the face of their recent loss, as shown in their gorgeous trailer from Sweet Tea Media and in the beautiful images from Heather Roth Fine Art Photography.