Real Weddings: Erin + Jared

Andrew and Whitney were married on a picturesque September day at The Parador. Its large reception room and beautiful garden, though nestled in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, feel miles away from the city. Their simple but sophisticated soiree, coordinated by Behind The Bash, brought the beauty of the historical landmark venue to life. Floral Events created arrangements in shades of ivory, blush, and green, accenting the numerous arched windows and doors of the ballroom. Whitney is radiant in a lace Martina Liana gown from Brickhouse Bridal, while her maids donned chic navy Bill Levkoff frocks. This couple is head over heels in love, and their joyous occasion is beautifully brought to life by Jenna McElroy!

Above all else, there are three words to describe Alyssa and Scott’s wedding: classic New York. Their Saturday night, black-tie wedding at The Waldorf Astoria is quintessentially Manhattan, and their vision of an elegant and sophisticated black and white wedding came to life thanks to a dream team of vendors. Belle Fleur created an incredible rose, hydrangea, and orchid chuppah for the couple’s interfaith ceremony and a mix of dramatic arrangements for the ballroom reception. The Steve Delisi Band played a mix of top 40 hits, Nat King Cole, and wedding classics (hello Journey!). And the spectacular Lindsay Madden Photography captured every moment from a first look on Park Avenue (car free thanks to Alyssa’s befriending of police officers on hand post-UN summit) to the last dance and everything in between. We are smitten with Alyssa’s bridal style: her Badgley Mischka gown from Kleinfeld Bridal and Jimmy Choo Fearne sandals are befitting a princess. Each and every detail is perfection!

Sara and Michael narrowly escaped an impending snowstorm in order to pull off their fabulous NYC fete at the JW Marriott Essex House New York! These breathtaking images from Rebecca Yale Portraits have us swooning—from white tulip bouquets to lush textural white arrangements, fashioned by Lewis Miller Design, this wedding is classic, fresh, and stunning. Helping the couple from start to finish, including designing classic cream stationery, Reed Cohen Papers and Events ensured the details were flawless. We love the light lavender Bill Levkoff bridesmaids dresses, a pop of springtime color in this winter wedding, and Sara’s jewel-encrusted Pnina Tornai gown from Kleinfeld—such sophistication! Blingy details at the reception sparkled and shined among the gold and cream table settings. We are dying over the amazing chandeliers in the ballroom! A chic cake from Ron Ben-Israel Cakes is exactly what Sara and Michael envisioned, and after cutting into the confection, the couple participated in a traditional Jewish wedding dance, the horah, with their guests. Enjoy all of the photos of this gorgeous celebration!

Katie and Dan planned their nuptials in just four months, but these images from Two Birds Photography show flawless touches and attention to detail that belie the couple’s short engagement! Says bride Katie, “There were three main feelings we wanted our celebration to evoke: a classic feel, a cozy environment, and a fun atmosphere.” We think it’s an absolute success, starting with the venue, Chicago’s The Rookery. “It is such an amazing space with an incredible history that is deeply intertwined with the city,” says Katie. “Both grand and cozy.” From there, the couple looked to Exquisite Designs for florals that would accent the existing decor, including white roses, anemones, ranunculu, sweet peas, and hydrangeas.  In keeping with the chic, sophisticated feel of the day, bridesmaids wore black dresses by Amsale. Katie’s lace Rafael Cennamo gown from Dimitra’s bridal salon is stunning, and we love the edginess her black Jimmy Choo heels provide. Vintage decanters from Rent Vintage Chicago add a sparkle to the reception’s cream and gold decor, as does the gold bride and groom topper set on the cake from Sweet Mandy B’s. How we adore this elegant affair!

It’s just a fact that everything is bigger in Texas, and Katy and Cort’s wedding is definitely big—on style, sophistication, and elegance. A beautiful ceremony at Saint Mary Cathedral gave way to one heck of a reception at The Driskill in Austin. We love all of the cream, taupe, and gold details in the decor, which complement the pale Amsale bridesmaids dresses from Bella Bridesmaid and the soft bouquets and arrangements by Last Petal. Katy’s gown, Emmaline by Vera Wang, is a jaw-dropper, with swaths of sheer fabric wrapped around the bodice and skirt. Soft details in paper goods by Letterpress Finesse lend a little color, while the lovely cake by The Driskill gets its interest from textures of white. We always love images from The Nichols, but this time the photography duo outdid themselves, capturing every detail of this fab day, which Lauren Carillo of Something to Celebrate Wedding & Event Coordination helped pull off. We want it all!

Brecklyn and Cameron’s wedding in Austin, Texas, is the epitome of elegance. With a classic color palette of white, black and gold, the couple and planner Caplan Miller Events orchestrated a beautiful ballroom fete inside the Four Seasons hotel, preceded by a simple and traditional ceremony at Central Christian Church. Breckyln’s lace gown is stunning, with a crystal and silk detail that cinches her waist. We love the white bouquets bridesmaids carried, as well as the towering candelabra arrangements inside the reception! We’re so glad Jennifer Lindberg Weddings shared this stunning wedding with us!

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!

Glamorous and classic, Lauren and Ryan’s Houston wedding had us at hello! After a traditional ceremony at their family church, the couple held an elegant reception at the stunning Crystal Ballroom, where guests enjoyed food from iconic Houston restaurant Sambuca and dessert from Who Made the Cake! Pale pink and ivory rose centerpieces from Special Arrangements complimented the beautiful venue, and Lauren’s bouquet was the perfect accessory for her Cinderella-style gown! Sit back and fall in love with the gorgeous images from the talented Reg Campbell!

How lovely is this New York City wedding? So lovely that it’s a 2012 favorite! The Carlyle is the perfect iconic, sophisticated spot for Jamie and Kevin’s soiree. But that’s where the big-city modern touches end! Instead, soft floral arrangements and bouquets by Amy Merrick Flowers & Styling complement the altar swag of lush greenery and white blooms. Jamie chose a classic Katie Ermilio gown with lace sleeves and a cathedral-length veil to walk down the aisle, surrounded by fewer than 15 family members and friends. We’re dying over the bright floral china used at the reception and the cascading sugar flowers on the cake. It felt like our lucky day when we opened these pretty photos from Kate Murphy Photography!

The joyful smiles on Rachel and Greg’s faces melt our hearts!  Everything about this couple and their Austin, Texas wedding is beautiful, and we think these pictures from Christina Carroll Photography say it all. Rachel and Greg tied the knot at St. David’s Episcopal Church (the same church where Greg’s parents were married!) and followed the ceremony with a celebration at the elegant Driskill Hotel. We love the classic arrangements of white orchids and gardenias with pops of sunshine yellow created by Visual Lyrics. Romantic votive candles radiated Southern elegance amidst antique silver trays and mercury glass, and the five-tiered cake was sweet perfection! “It was an unforgettable start to the rest of our lives together,” reflects Rachel, and we couldn’t agree more after falling in love with these gorgeous images!

Gorgeous Santa Monica California is the setting for Taryn and John’s sophisticated soirée. Their modern, glam ceremony and reception was held at the Casa Del Mar, just steps from the Santa Monica Pier. Taryn’s beautiful custom-designed gown and peep toe Christian Louboutins? Swoon! We are completely in love with all the black and white details including the stunning florals by La Fleur by Tracy and the perfectly chic cake from Vanilla Bake Shop. Sit back and enjoy these gorgeous images from the fabulous Erin Hearts Court!

Monique and Josh’s Scottsdale wedding was filled to the brim with soft, romantic, and elegant details. I can’t get over the breathtaking scenery, old-world charm, and incredible oversized doors of their venue, Montelucia. Monique’s Lazaro gown is swoon-worthy and the beautiful florals by Camelback Flower Shop are the perfect mix of elegance and romance in beautiful pinks and whites. Such beautiful photographs by Keith Pitts to get rid of those Daylight-Savings-Monday blues!

I’m in love with Colette and Luke’s gorgeous rustic and romantic Austin wedding. Classic black bridesmaids dresses and sleek, modern tuxes plus gorgeous florals by Petal Pushers? Adore!  The couple incorporated natural, rustic elements into their wedding without compromising the elegance of the event. My favorite detail is the aspen logs that Colette’s dad hollowed out to be used as vessels for the flowers and programs. You’re going to absolutely swoon over these gorgeous photos by La Dolce Vita Photography!

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.

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.

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!

April and Michael’s intimate wedding at Denver’s Halcyon Hotel is full of classic and modern touches! The Halcyon is a cozy boutique hotel, and their 68 guests were a perfect fit, ensuring that the couple could celebrate and chat with each of their closest family and friends throughout the evening. April selected a timeless, slim-fitting Nicole Miller gown from BHLDN, accentuating with a veil handmade by A Busy Mother and pretty pink Badgley Mischka shoes. Her bouquet by The Flower House Denver featuring snowy white blooms accentuated with anemones for a pop of black. Centerpieces of textured flowers, succulents, metallic elements, and lots of dreamy candles accentuated the reception ballroom at the Halcyon, with its dramatic dark details. Each detail is pure sophistication, captured beautifully by Tamara Gruner Photography!

Rana and Andy’s Chicago wedding is classic and beautiful! The festivities began at the grand Holy Name Cathedral where the couple exchanged vows during a traditional Catholic ceremony. As guests made their way to Congress Plaza for the reception, the bridal party traveled to many of Chicago’s stunning vistas for portraits, including Olive Park, with its sweeping views of the skyline. The Gold Room at the Congress Plaza lives up to its name, and Anthony Gowder Designs created elegant decor befitting the gilded ballroom. Hydrangea and rose centerpieces paired with crisp white china and gold chiavari chairs for a crisp, sophisticated feel. After enjoying the decadent tiered confection from The Baking Institute, everyone danced the night away to tunes from Okyne Medialab. We’re head over heels for the stunning images from Artistrie Co.!

Lovely is the only word that comes close to adequately describing Laura and Kevin’s St. Louis wedding at Coronado Ballroom. Soft pastel blooms such as roses and hydrangeas by Tina Barerra of The Special Event Florist created a romantic atmosphere at the ceremony and reception. Simply and Forever helped Laura and Kevin plan the day, which the couple wanted to be “classy, elegant, and full of personality.” The gorgeous coral color of Laura’s single bridesmaid dress from Amsale is statement-making simplicity at its finest. Along with her column-style Monique Lhuillier gown, Laura carried a hand-tied bouquet of garden roses, mini calla lilies, spray roses, and ranunculus. We love the unique touches woven into the reception, too, like circular dinner menus from Two Blue Doors and a simple cake with a classic monogram, provided by the Coronado. Enjoy all of these gorgeous images from the ever-fabulous Clary Pfeiffer Fine Art Photographer.

The romance and softness of Emily and David’s Long Island City wedding belies the chaos of Manhattan just across the river, and we love the juxtaposition of both worlds in these images from Lindsay Madden! Appropriately held at Water’s Edge, with a breathtaking view of the city beyond, Emily and David began their married life together beneath a custom chuppah from Olam Wedding Canopies. She wore a Nicole Miller veil and gown, first spotted by her mother in the window of a Philadelphia bridal salon. Pastel flowers punctuated the venue and bridal party, including Emily’s bouquet—a mix of ranunculus, patience garden roses, parrot tulips, and Juliette garden roses in cream, white, and soft green and peach wrapped in antique white lace and ribbon—all by Sweet & Flower. Amidst the pale color palette, olive bridesmaids dresses from Amsale are rich touch that reference the fall season. Elegant decor and sparkly mercury glass continue the beautiful setting at the reception. We cannot choose a favorite from these stunning details!