DIY Valentine’s Day Wedding

Morning everyone!  I’m just now getting started on my day after a morning of watching the Royal Wedding!  Did you see it?  What is your verdict on the gown? 

Christina and William’s wedding is chock-full of DIY cuteness!   A true handmade wedding in every sense of the word, Christina created all of the fun decor and letterpressed her wedding invitations, and friends handmade her gown and pulled together all of the floral arrangements.   I love the punchy red and blue color palette, and Sarah K. Chen‘s images are absolute perfection!

Heather and Jonathan’s Leesburg, Virginia wedding is overflowing with lovely details inspired by their love of the outdoors.  The color palette of cream, green, sky blue and brown echoes the beautiful setting of Raspberry Plain, and the couple infused many personal elements into the interfaith celebration, including a chuppah decorated with a crocheted cover created by Jonathan’s mother and handmade by Heather’s father from trees found on their lakeside cabin, smooth river stones as escort cards, and and ribbons streaming from the trees.  Vicki from My Simple Details made sure the day went off without a hitch, the gorgeous florals were created by Holly Heidler Chapple, and all of the lovely images are courtesy of Three Lights Photography.

If you are recently engaged, or new to the wedding blog world, you may not yet have heard of the fabulousness that is Simply Bloom Photography.  Vania and Christine, in addition to being two of the nicest ladies on earth, are incredibly talented photographers and always bring the most magical and wonderful weddings to EAD.  Sarah and Jason’s New Hampshire wedding is no exception – I’m completely in love with Sarah’s floral wreath, the rustic elegance of the wood centerpieces and woodland bouquets, and the gown – don’t even get me started on the flowy, fabulous Amy Michelson gown (that skirt – it kills me!).

Only two days left in 2010 and we’re going to close out the year right!  Today’s favorite wedding, from the fabulous duo of Whitney and Jesse of Our Labor of Love, is that of Max and Margaux.  All you really need to hear to know that their two day backyard celebration is knock-your-socks-off amazing is that the awesome crew of The Flashdance came together to produce it!

When you find out that Christine and Michael’s guest list consisted of family from 19 different states, you’ll wonder like us how they accommodated every single one of them. They happened upon Morristown, New Jersey because of its proximity to major airports and train stations: a huge plus. What they really lucked out on was The Madison Hotel-Conservatory. Cassi Claire Photography captured the breathtaking venue and its high glass walls, stark white interior with a slight industrial vibe, and the abundance of flowers already perched inside. The couple wanted to keep their colors simple, so they opted for a classic color palette so as not to detract from the conservatory itself. Apple Blossom Flower Shop created pieces with white flowers front and center and heaps of greenery strewn throughout, from the bouquets to the centerpieces. Check out local conservatories for their wedding availability; they are usually decked out in impressive flora and fauna already and are such a unique option for wedding venues.

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.

The magical garden setting of Washington DC’s Meridian House was the setting for Alex and Rob’s sophisticated spring wedding. The couple set out to combine elegance with fun, so when selecting their color palette, they decided to spice up the traditional neutrals with dashes of gold sparkle. Alex’s bridesmaids were decked out in ivory and gold gowns of their choosing (heavy on the glamour of course!), and their china, floral vessels, and gold stars hanging from the trees added glittering touches to the lush florals created by Rob’s mother and her team, Laura Francis of Floral Presentations. Rob and Alex love to travel and have lived and explored all over the world, so their reception reflected their shared passion. Design Cuisine created stations of Thai, Italian, French, and American food, and guests “traveled” around from one food option to the next. We’re especially in love with Alex’s stunning Carolina Herrera gown and Rob’s dashing Ralph Lauren tuxedo, and each moment in these images from k. thompson photography is picture-perfect!

Elise and Michael’s wedding showcases the stunning city of Chicago almost as well as it illustrates their love for each other! An interfaith ceremony at Old St. Patrick’s Church brought together both families’ traditions, and their Chicago Cultural Center reception—planned and designed by Beth Bernstein of SQN Events—is the epitome of classic sophistication. The stunning Preston Bradley Hall, with its ornate dome and stately marbled walls, was the perfect backdrop for a reception featuring elegant calligraphy details, centerpieces of greenery, candles, and soft white blooms from Flora, and a rocking party set to the tunes of Matt Lewis and The Union. Each and every image from Olivia Leigh Photographie is perfection!

Less is most certainly more in this gorgeous contemporary Arizona wedding from Amy & Jordan Photography! Cactus Flower worked with Allie and Jon to create a modern, chic wedding at DC Ranch. After an outdoor ceremony on the lawn, guests moved into the Regale where they were met by simple but dramatic tables with centerpieces of long-stemmed white roses and black linens and gold chivari chairs. Pale pink J.Crew bridesmaids dresses softened the palette, and we are in love with Alli’s dramatic Allure Bridals gown. Enjoy each and every gorgeous image from Amy & Jordan Photography, and the fabulous trailer from Simply Cinema!

South Carolina’s Pawleys Island is one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast, and we are in love with the romantic Lowcountry atmosphere of The DeBordieu Club, home to Taylor and Pete’s gorgeous and classic wedding. After a ceremony outside along the marsh under the perfect Carolina skies, the reception moved inside, where stunning decor from Blossoms Events awaited. Opulent arrangements of Georgia roses and hydrangeas in the couple’s pink and white color palette set atop tables dressed in crisp white Covers by Nicole linens from Snyder Rentals. Taylor’s bouquet is especially lovely, with fluffy pink peonies and a layer of white feathers, to remind her of her late mother. An “In Memory” chair also graced the ceremony in remembrance. Visit the gallery to enjoy each and every image from Pasha Belman Photography!

Casual elegance was the theme of the day for Lindsay and Charles’ lovely St. Louis wedding. The couple gave nods to tradition and family, as Lindsay’s fluffy bouquet created by Sisters Floral Design Studio was wrapped with lace from her mother’s wedding dress, the champagne flutes for the reception toast were from Charles’ parent’s wedding, and Lindsay’s matron of honor gifted her extra tulle from her own wedding dress to be added to Lindsay’s gown. During their engagement, Charles was deployed to Afghanistan, and their love for the USA was the theme of the day, with pretty bridesmaids dresses in shades of pink and red from LoveLane, flag striped suspenders on the groomsmen, and a traditional Military Saber Ceremony. Charles’ best friend is currently deployed, and he surprised the couple with a recorded speech. “Complete with a human size cardboard cutout his groomsmen had ordered of Tyler, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”, says Lindsay. We love each and every moment of this gorgeous day captured by Clary Pfeiffer!

We just love the fun Old Florida-meets-glitz vibe of Emily and Kyle’s wedding. The gorgeous Bay Preserve at Osprey in Sarasota hosted the fabulous affair, where bright flowers by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio were a bold contrast to black and white stripes and gold accents. Bridesmaids in black dresses from J.Crew continued the color scheme, while Emily’s Lazaro gown and veil were fairy tale perfect! We’re smitten with the elegant stationery with black and white details from Write-On Sarasota, which coordinated with the palette of the day, too. NK Productions ensured all the details came together for the look Emily and Kyle envisioned, right down to the light bulb place cards that reflected Kyle’s pro lighting business. Even the golden sunset and the gold-dusted cake from The Short Giraffe complemented the decor. All of these images from Justin Demutiis Photography are simply fabulous!

Natives of Los Angeles, Michelle and Miguel wanted a spot for their wedding that didn’t feel like typical LA. The Legendary Park Plaza Hotel was the perfect venue for that, with its dramatic staircases, ceilings, and windows. The Dainty Lion helped Michelle and Miguel plan a celebration that was uniquely theirs, which included lush peony bouquets, baby’s breath topiaries, and pretty blooms in glass vases along tables peppered with gold sequin linens. Bridesmaids in taupe dresses were elegant, especially standing next to Michelle in a lace and tulle Pronovias gown from Bellasposa. We love Michelle’s blue Badgley Mischka shoes with sparkling brooches! Romantic touches such as floral stationery from Wedding Paper Divas and feather accents on place settings matches the drama of the location! A dessert table at the reception featured macaroons from Sweet and Saucy Shop, topped off with a cake designed by Hotcakes Bakes. We’re swooning over every detail in these photos from Love, Janet Photography!

Sara and Chris’s romantic garden wedding at Hartley Botanica simply has us swooning! For starters, Sara’s White by Vera Wang gown–in a soft and sweet shade of pink–is nothing short of amazing! And with a backdrop like that, pastel roses in more shades of pink and lavender are a must; we adore the lush bouquet by Belle of the Ball Designs that Sara carried! Whimsical floral stationery from Minted further grounded the theme of this affair, where Sara and Chris took their vows beneath a canopy of curly branches, twinkling lights, and a jaw-dropping chandelier covered in lush blooms. Don’t miss a single detail in these stunning images by Valentina Glidden Fine Art Photography–we can’t stop staring!

What a picture-perfect Los Angeles wedding Lynn and Steve had! We’d never guess this pretty pink and white affair is set in the heart of LA, with soft blooms from Stems Florist festooning the setting at Maguire Gardens, where the ceremony was held, and Cafe Pinot, site of the reception! Our friends at Minted contributed elegant stationery, and Caroline of Serenity Events helped Lynn and Steve coordinate the day of the wedding. Bridesmaids wore short light pink dresses from J.Crew, the perfect complement to Lynn’s stunning Monique Lhuillier gown. And we can’t leave out Steve, handsome in a Black by Vera Wang suit! We love the mod look of Lynn’s silver snakeskin Jimmy Choo heels, too. The outdoor soiree offered plenty of great natural light for Esther Sun to photograph it perfectly. We hear at the end of the night, Lynn and Steve surprised guests with a visit from the In-N-Out Burger Cookout Trailer—a delicious finish to the flawless event! See it all in the gallery!

The first word that comes to mind when scrolling through the images from Kelly Sauer, Photographer of Rebecca and Joseph’s Charleston wedding is “lush.” Everything, from pink and white florals by Gayla Harvey of Tiger Lily to gold glitter and sequin details and filmy bows on ceremony chairs, is so sophisticated and perfectly done. Rebecca and Joseph held the entire affair, indoors and out, at the beautiful historic William Aiken House. To complement the pink and gold touches, bridesmaids wore elegant blush-colored gowns from Nordstrom. We can’t even talk about Rebecca’s Allure Bridals gown without our jaws dropping open; it’s that fabulous! We love that she paired such a dramatic gown with simple glitter ballet flats from J.Crew! We’re just enamored with every single part of this soiree that Lindsey Shanks of A Charleston Bride helped plan and style. Rebecca wanted to incorporate the color scheme into every element, including the cake from Fish, which is accented with gold leaf and fresh blooms. This is simply a delicious day filled with romance and sophistication!

Could Chelsea and David’s pink and white wedding be any prettier? Take a minute to gush over these images from Jade + Matthew Take Pictures and we think you’ll agree the answer is no! Chelsea and David tied the knot at The Olde Pink House in Savannah, Georgia, an elegant restaurant inside an 18th century mansion. Chelsea looked stunning in her lace Jenny Packham gown, which she accessorized with Badgley Mischka peep-toe pumps. But we think the soft pink invitation suite by La Paperie really set the tone for the day—elegant and understated, the stationery matched the decor, including the white centerpieces in mercury glass, which the bride and her family put together themselves! Swoon over the entire gorgeous day in the gallery!

Warm and elegant, Euri and John’s wedding at Pasadena’s The Athenaeum is pure romance!  Euri chose one of our favorite color palettes – soft ivory and peach, dusty pink, and pale gray -  and mixed in beautiful mercury glass containers and luxe gold linens on the gorgeous tabletops created by Lindy at Commerce Flowers.  Euri is a positively stunning bride in her custom lace gown from Monaco Bridal (that floaty skirt, I die!), and we are head-over-heels in love with the fabulous images from one of our favorites, Erin Hearts Court!

If Diana and Danny’s everyday lives are even half as chic as their Southern California wedding, they’re definitely some of the most stylish people ever! This beautiful couple was married at the Cravens Estate in Pasadena surrounded by friends and family from all over. There are many details about their wedding that I love (like Diana’s amazing shoes and accessories) but once I saw their colorful florals I was smitten! Rooted Harmony blended rich textures and colors to create bright and elegant arrangements that include peonies, roses, wax flower, astilbe, eucalyptus, and even succulents! What a gorgeous wedding with gorgeous photos by Connie Lyu Photography!