Real Weddings: Birgitt + Stephen

Remember Lindsay and Brock’s too cute Vegetable Farm Engagement shoot? Now we have their wonderful wedding to share with you! Surrounded by magnificent redwood trees, Lindsay and Brock’s day was a rustic, vintage event at the beautiful Castle House and Gardens. I am obsessed with the mix of succulents, fresh mint, and olallieberries throughout the florals by Tessa’s Garden. Olalliberries are a blackberry hybrid that grow along California’s central coast and olallieberry picking is something the couple does every summer and was one of their first dates! As favors, the couple made olallieberry jam to send home with their guests. Thank you to Claire Barrett for these wonderful photos!

We are head over heels for Lauren and Taylor’s chic blue-and-white San Francisco wedding! Lauren, a wedding planner herself, immediately began pulling together ideas after Taylor’s proposal, so that—with the help of Ryder Sloan Events—they could have an outdoor affair to remember. She started with the location, Stable Cafe. The urban garden space was a great backdrop for a collection of blue-and-white ginger jars filled with florals from Mandolin Flowers. Plumosa fern garlands and cafe lights added an air of sophistication, while classic arrangements of hydrangeas, anemones, and roses accented tables covered with Swiss dot linens from La Tavola. Lauren wore her cousin’s couture Carolina Herrera Bridal gown with embellished blue Manolo Blahnik heels, a Christmas gift from Taylor; her bouquet was wrapped with long pieces of vintage lace and blue velvet ribbon. Amy Nichols Special Events ensured the day ran smoothly from start to finish, which included transforming the courtyard after the ceremony into a luxe space for dinner and dancing, along with lounging areas outfitted with seating from One True Love Vintage Rentals. Later in the evening, guests sipped warm spiked cocktails from the DIY coffee bar, the perfect accompaniment to a salted caramel wedding cake from Cake Coquette—the design of the dessert mimicked the ginger jar pattern. We are just in total love with all of these fabulous images from Julie Mikos!

Amy and Michael’s San Francisco wedding, held at The James Leary Flood Mansion in the heart of the city, is simply breathtaking! You don’t get much more romantic than a backdrop of rolling California hills, and add to that Amy’s stunner of a gown, by Vera Wang, and mod, succulent, and white flower arrangements by Birch, and you have quite an affair! We’re smitten with Amy’s wax leaf, moss, and white bud bouquet, too. Tanja Lippert Photography shared these gorgeous images of an understated, romantic ceremony, followed by a reception at which no detail was left untouched by Maxine Andrew! We love the contemporary tablescapes and the pops of gold and hot pink in the seating areas. Pardon us while we swoon over each and every gorgeous image in the gallery!

I simply love California weddings and this warm and colorful winery wedding is no exception! Healdsburg Country Gardens played a stunning backdrop to Austin and Brian’s big day. A sophisticated yet casual wedding, they decorated with gorgeous rose, dahlia, and freesia arrangements by Floral Designs by Heather Hendrickson. I love all the natural details they used such as the wooden apple baskets and the twig-tied napkins! The gorgeous colors and scenery were brought to life in the images from the always amazing Julie Mikos!

Bonnie says she remembers gliding around her wedding day “like a Queen who had just married her perfect King” and similarly, the details of her beautiful Bay Area wedding to Zlatko had a royal touch to them. The fabulous Kohl Mansion was the ideal venue for their big day, with both the interior and grounds regally curated and full of well-manicured gardens. Their florist, very appropriately named Royal Bloom, brought the beauty and feel of English gardens indoors with natural-shaped bouquets overflowing with roses, hydrangea, eucalyptus, and passion flower vine, and they even created a crown of hypericum berries for Bonnie! Danielle Gillett Photography captured the beautiful photos of Bonnie and Zlatko’s big day.

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!

Ashley and Erik’s low-key but gorgeous wedding at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, California, in the Bay Area, has some fab details we’re loving! To name a few: updated traditional stationery from Papyrus and Paper Source, exquisite pastel bouquets that pop against dusty blue bridesmaids dresses, and a sweet dessert with sugar flowers from Studio Cake atop—are you ready for this?—a gold sequin tablecloth from La Tavola Fine Linen Rental. We die! Ashley’s Victoria Nicole gown is a classic silhouette with just enough bling, and mod blush-colored Miu Miu shoes are the perfect complement. These stylish images from Meg Perotti showcase a great party, courtesy of the Ashley’s Italian family living it up with Erik’s Midwest relatives—see all of the beautiful images in the gallery!

We just adore the springy peach and pink tones and floral theme running throughout Laura and Marcus’s wedding in Horseshoe Bend, Texas! Rustic elements like succulents and wooden crates mixed with peach and pink florals and mercury glass vases, all from Petal Pushers, transformed the Escondido Golf & Lake Club into a garden wonderland for the entire affair. With help from DFW Events Event Planning & Design, the couple got the laid-back, sophisticated vibe they wanted. The shot of sky blue in Jenny Yoo Collection bridesmaids dresses is gorgeous with peach bouquets, and Laura’s lace Monique Lhuillier gown is just to die for! Earthy elements like green moss ground the flowery elements and keep them from being too whimsical, and more peach flowers grace the classic cake from Coco Paloma Desserts. Taylor Lord Photography was there to snap these beautiful images we’re sharing today—see them all in the gallery!

Gabrielle and Chris wanted to get married somewhere that felt enchanted and once they saw the natural beauty and elegance of Meadowood Napa Valley they knew it was the right place! Their outdoor ceremony was held in front of a marvelous birch altar adorned with hanging sweet pea and although they did not have a bridal party, their adorable puppy, Lola, acted as their ring bearer. The flowers by Cherries Flowers are the epitome of natural elegance and included garden roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, jasmine, and astilbe. I’m absolutely in love with their unique escort cards: a sparkling display of natural crystals and gemstones wrapped in copper wire and set upon a bed of moss. Each table had an explanation of the spiritual meaning of its stone, the head table being Amethyst which symbolized “pure and true emotional love.” Enjoy these incredible photos by the amazing Gia Canali!

Fresh, chic, and elegant, Pamela and Paul’s San Francisco wedding is nothing short of perfection.  Captured by the insanely talented Bret Cole, their intimate wedding at the historic Pacific Heights Flood Mansion was a true celebration of family.  Pamela’s veil was her mother’s, her brother-in-law officiated the ceremony, and the delicate pearl earrings and bracelet belonged to her grandmother.  Pamela added many handmade touches to the day, including screenprinted stationery and whimsical butterfly place cards, and Not Just Flowers created lush centerpieces of succulents, dusty miller, and dahlias in deep purple, lavender, and berry.  Pamela was able to root many of the succulents, and they remain thriving today, a beautiful reminder of their most special day.

I’m completely in love with today’s wedding from Emily Takes Photos!  Not only are Nicole and Chudi a stunning couple (the amazing portraits on the streets of San Francisco are some of my favorites ever) but this wedding has a little bit of everything fabulous – a chic, modern reception at Axis Cafe with organic and exotic florals, a cable car (natch), and even traditional Nigerian wedding attire!  Nicole and Chudi are head-over-heels in love, and their radiant smiles and genuine happiness makes this wedding a joy to see!

I’m pretty sure if I was still planning my own nuptials, Walker and Scott’s gorgeous Sonoma winery wedding would be at the top of my inspiration list. Reflecting the couple’s love of wine country, the event was fresh, elegant, and romantic. Stunning roses, hydrangeas, and orchids decorated Mayacama in a palette of soft peaches, creams, and bright greens. Guests dined under olive trees that were dotted with sparkly hanging votives as the sun set. Such an incredible wedding and I’m so excited to share these gorgeous photos by Julie Mikos with you! Enjoy!

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.

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.

There simply isn’t one single thing we don’t adore about Jen and Jesse’s modern Brooklyn wedding. Rather than a formal dinner, the couple chose to enjoy a progressive cocktail party with their guests, a perfect mix of formality and casualness. Liberty Warehouse set the perfect scene with its industrial aesthetic. The organic greenery from Violet and Verde highlighted the brick, wood, and metal throughout the venue. As if their locale couldn’t get more breathtaking, Jen’s father created a wooden altar from scratch that, paired with Violet and Verde‘s floral, made an exquisite and personal ceremony backdrop. Jen is a vision in her Blush by Hayley Paige dress from The White Gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses add just the right pop of color. Even their choice of wedding date is perfection—they were married on Loving Day, the anniversary of the overturning of the criminalization of interracial marriage in the US. We know that you’ll join with us in falling head over heels for every sweet moment as captured by Kat Harris Photography!

We’re crushing pretty hard on Jennifer and Matt’s breathtaking San Francisco wedding in all its sleek black and white glory! The ceremony, held at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, was a vision of structured elegance–starting with Jennifer’s mod Romona Keveza Collection gown (that back sash!) from Bridal Galleria and floor-length black Bill Levkoff dresses on bridesmaids. The black, ivory, and gold reception at The Olympic Club featured all white florals from Asiel Design, including centerpieces of cascading white orchids that are simply stunning. We love the personal touch of hand-carved shorebirds on the tables, done by Jennifer’s decoy carver father. A dessert table with confections from SusieCakes lent an air of fun to this sophisticated affair. These images from Milou + Olin Photography are just flawless. Don’t miss a single detail!

Cheyenne and John’s lovely wedding at The Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley, California, is an earthy but elegant interpretation of the local scenery, with garden florals by Studio Choo and a ceremony beneath a canopy of lush green trees. Continuing with the bohemian spirit of the day, Cheyenne’s matron of honor and solo bridesmaid chose their own dresses from J.Crew and Free People, while Cheyenne stunned in a column-style lace gown from Atelier des Modistes. We love the green garland details on Cheyenne and John’s stationery from Painted Tongue Studios and menu cards from Fairmount Creates, which ties in with the rustic look of the venue. Events by Satra helped the couple coordinate the day, ensuring that every detail was perfect. Organic touches like seed packet favors and loose arrangements in gold and green reinforced the laid-back elegance of the affair, creating a cozy ambience. We are loving every single image from Matthias Photography!

Alyssa and Grant’s Wine Country wedding is oh-so-sweet! They envisioned a romantic, effortless, and intimate celebration—a true celebration of who they are as a couple, and oh, did they ever succeed! Oak Farm Vineyards provided the perfect laid-back, rustic backdrop for an outdoor ceremony and alfresco-style dinner, both featuring lovely handmade details. Guests entered underneath a floral pennant garland, and were greeted with signs created by Alyssa’s father out of wood from their backyard and a vintage truck filled with quilts Alyssa cuddled with as a child. An escort card gate salvaged from her parents’ yard, heart-shaped wreaths at each place setting made from rosemary clipped from their garden, and a vintage secretary desk showcasing family photos are just a few of the sentimental and heartfelt details they brought to their day. We adore the pastel blooms from Embellish Floral Design, Alyssa’s sophisticated Jenny Packham gown, and all of the gorgeous images from Elisabeth Millay Photography!

We are smitten with Karen and Michael’s classic wine country wedding! With the help of Covenant Coordinating, their vision of an intimate gathering at Mayacama fell into place. A seasonal color palette of burgundy, eggplant, taupe, and olive echoed the gorgeous surroundings, and lovely florals by Maria Philbin Floral Design dressed gorgeous tabletops set amongst the votive-lit trees. Karen is radiant in her Amy Kuschel gown and Kate Spade heels, which are perfectly complemented by her ladies’ J. Crew dresses. We love each and every image from Julie Mikos | Photographer!

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!