Real Weddings: Tracy + Mike

We have just two more favorite weddings to share from a glorious year of wedding inspiration, and if I am pressed to choose the one that captured the largest piece of my heart, it may just be Jenny and Bevan’s stunning Paris destination wedding from Clary Pfeiffer. Of course, the City of Lights is perhaps the world’s most romantic, but although the backdrop is spectacular, Jenny and Bevan steal the show. Jenny is ethereal in a Vera Wang gown, Angelika Liv lace bolero, and Jimmy Choo heels, and Bevan’s classic Ermenegildo Zegna tuxedo is timeless. In fact, their entire soiree at Hotel Le Meurice is one that will be as elegant and lovely on their 50th anniversary as it is today and we are utterly enchanted. Visit the gallery to see all of the exquisite images—we know that you will be as smitten as we are!

There’s no better way to start off the week than with an absolutely gorgeous wedding! Nicki and Matt’s stunning soiree at Santa Barbara’s Bacara Resort is complete and utter perfection. The clean and classic navy, ivory, and gold color palette complements the natural beauty of the resort perfectly, and we are swooning over every detail from the blue calligraphy to the glittery linens, and the lovely florals by Toast. You & Me Events made sure the day ran smoothly, and guests danced the night away to So Cal DJs. Jordana of Hazelnut Photography captured the day with all of her usual grace and we are head over heels! See it all in the gallery!

We love the mix of Dallas style in Rachael and Cam’s Santa Barbara destination wedding! The entire affair is equal parts California mod and Southern sophisticated, starting with Rachael’s contemporary column-style Amsale gown. But to offset the crisp lines, she chose soft white peonies and hydrangeas for florals by Juniper Designs. We also really like the look of black-and-white striped ribbon around bridesmaids bouquets, paired with their taupe Bari Jay dresses. The outdoor ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, Santa Barbara, before guests entered the hotel’s Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club for an indoor/outdoor reception. Events by Philippe ensured the details were perfect, like gold sequined linens atop cocktail tables, dramatic flower topiary centerpieces, and tailored striped chair cushions on Chiavari chairs to mimic the wedding details. The gold cake prepared by the resort is the perfect send-off for this elegant bash! We adore all of these spectacular images from the amazing Hazelnut Photography!

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!

Pure magic is created when the right people come together in the right place to create a day filled to the brim with pure love and a healthy dose of style!  Montecito’s beautiful San Ysidro Ranch is the backdrop for Julie and Jason’s intimate and elegant wedding.  Julie is a stunning bride! For the ceremony, she chose a fabulous Vera Wang gown, then changed into a flowy and romantic Claire Pettibone sheath (and literally let her hair down!) for the reception, which featured romantic blush and pink arrangements by Florette Designs, and simple-but-lovely calligraphy table numbers.  We are head over heels for all of the gorgeous images from Jose Villa, and for Julie and Jason’s adorable pup too!

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!

Christine and Jeff were married on a picture-perfect Charleston day at the sprawling Lowndes Grove Plantation. Having met at Furman University, the couple knew they wanted to be married in South Carolina, and held their wedding on Christine’s parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, August 5th. Though August is traditionally muggy and hot, a light summer rain left a breezy afternoon and beautiful sunset. A Charleston Bride worked with Christine and Jeff to create an elegant, unfussy, atmosphere with a timeless color palette of white, gold, blush, and touches of ivy. Palmetto Bloom designed arrangements in a mix of heights, making for a spectacular atmosphere in the tent, draped in swaths of white fabric with glimmering hanging chandeliers. The result is breathtaking! Adding a touch of color, bridesmaids donned floaty Amsale dresses, which beautifully complemented Christine’s Vera Wang gown and Jeff’s crisp white tuxedo jacket by Ralph Lauren. Absolutely smitten with each and every moment captured by Virgil Bunao!

Classic details are awash at Emily and Joe’s lovely Lake Tahoe wedding, held at West Shore Cafe and Inn. The waterfront space was transformed with lush Southern-style hydrangea blooms woven with magnolia leaves from Blooms by Martha Andrews. “We knew that we wanted a more traditional looking wedding, rather than Tahoe rustic, and the team at Merrily Wed helped our vision come to life,” Emily says. A mostly white palette mixed with a light dove gray allowed texture to play into the decor, with accents such as pretty white Swiss dot linens from La Tavola Fine Linen Rental. Emily’s stunning gown from Vera Wang includes a beaded belt on a column-style silhouette that fans into a flowy chiffon skirt. We adore her cage heels from Jimmy Choo as well! Bridesmaids wore gray-lavender Amsale dresses that complement the majestic mountains surrounding the water. Dinner and dancing were held on the patio and pier, where chandeliers and bistro lighting hung for a romantic feel. A classic cake from The El Dorado crowned the dessert table, filled with confections from Homage Bakery. We are swooning over these amazing images from Jonathan Young Weddings!

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!

We love the pretty pastels woven throughout Su and Ray’s outdoor wedding at Promontory Point in Chicago’s Burnham Park. Lush bouquets of pink and cream ranunculus and peonies mixed with dusty miller by Vale of Enna are the perfect complement to romantic coral bridesmaids dresses by Jarlo. Su’s Vera Wang gown is hands-down one of our favorites ever, with a big structured bow taking the focal point of the gown’s front. To celebrate their heritage, Su and Ray incorporated a tea ceremony into the celebrations, and the red dress Su wore to cut the cake from Bridgeport Bakery is simply stunning! We are swooning over these beautiful images from Kina Wicks!

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!

Jacquelyn and Ryan’s wedding wasn’t just timeless and elegant. It was filled with personalized details that gave a nod to the couple’s relationship, and Clary Photo was there to capture every precious detail. The bride asked The Rebel Florist to fill bouquets and centerpieces with plush peonies because the park in which Ryan proposed was filled with the blooms. They wed inside the Missouri History Museum, beneath a classic white chuppah. For favors, the couple gave a donation to PAWS in honor of their adopted German Shepherd, Moose—each guest found a picture of the pup and a note from the couple at their place setting!

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!

Elegant in every way with gorgeous silvery white details, Kara and Jason were married outside at the stunning Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Hints of burlap and twine make this wedding just a touch rustic and I love the cool grey silver brunia and dusty miller within all the soft white florals by Camelback Flowershop. Their long wooden centerpieces work perfectly with the long tables for their outdoor reception. I absolutely love this wedding and all the beautiful photos by Gina Meola Photography!

Elegant, classy, and romantic - that’s Karen and John’s wedding in a nutshell. Event planner Ashley Gain created a stunning event within the beautiful halls and walls of the Country Club at DC Ranch and Petal Pusher’s gorgeous blend of peonies, hydrangea, and roses is pure bliss! I love the pale pink and purple blooms against the sleek silvery-grey of the bridesmaids’ gowns and table linens. If these gorgeous photos by Stephanie Fay Photography don’t make you swoon, then I’m not sure what will!

The moment I saw Danielle and Louis’ stunning wedding trailer created by Vanessa McKellar, I just knew I had to share the entire wedding! Lewis and Danielle’s goal was to combine the intimacy of a cozy backyard wedding with the elegance of a chic black tie event. Their timeless and sophisticated wedding at Greenacres Art Center in Ohio was exactly that! They chose a neutral color palette: grey Amsale bridesmaids dresses as well as all white florals with touches of greenery by Del Apgar. I’m in love with the timeless beauty of Danielle’s fabulous Monique Lhuillier gown. Sit back and enjoy their amazing video from Vanessa McKellar and the gorgeous photos by Holger Thoss!

Wedding backdrops don’t get much better than the majestic mountains of British Columbia where Suzanne and John were married. As if breathtaking views weren’t enough for decor, event designer Simon Cooksley and florist Jehna Chrysler created a stunning outdoor and tented event with gorgeous peach and white blooms, hundreds of candles, and elegant chandeliers. It’s natural yet modern and throw in a Vera Wang gown and I’m a very happy girl. I truly cannot get enough of these absolutely incredible photos by The Nichols!

With soft neutral hues and a spectacular beachside setting, Margaret Kyle and Kyle’s Charleston destination wedding is pure coastal elegance. The couple knew they wanted a destination wedding, and Margaret Kyle’s aunt and uncle were married at the Seabrook Island Club, and those fond memories translated into the perfect place to get married! Their vision of an understated but elegant look was brought to life by Lindsay Merhege of Fox Events. Tiger Lily Flowers designed florals that celebrated the neutral palette, with statement accents of greenery and a mixture of snowy white blooms. From the incredible palm tree backdrop to the beautiful cake by Delicious Desserts, every moment is beautifully captured by Jennings King Photography!

Several months ago we shared Maryam and Josh’s Salt Lake City garden wedding, and today we have the huge honor of revealing Maryam’s gorgeous sister Mondi’s wedding to her handsome groom Cory! The sister’s unique personalities shine through in their choice of wedding, and Mondi’s is all about sophisticated glamour. Their destination wedding was set at The St. Regis Deer Valley, surrounded by mountains, and the couple worked with Allison Baddley of La Fete Floral & Events to plan and design an Old-Hollywood meets glamorous-rustic wedding. The ceremony provided the perfect occasion to incorporate Mondi’s Persian heritage. The Sofreh Aghd—a beautiful spread of items meant to symbolize what the couple wished for in their marriage—took center stage, and a Persian rug graced the ceremony aisle. The reception entrance featured a unique seating chart display: a 10 foot moss wall showcasing a wall of mirrors directing guests to their seats. Tables featured a mix of richly-colored arrangements (how gorgeous are those burgundy orchids?) and swaths of greenery echoing the surroundings. We are completely smitten with this entire day, and adore each image from Heather Nan Photography!

Maryam and Josh’s Utah wedding is absolutely breathtaking! Held at Sandy’s stunning La Caille restaurant, the natural elegance of the venue took a central role in the day. The couple’s interfaith ceremony was held at the base of the Wasatch mountains, alongside the vineyard, and featured customs from both her Persian and his Jewish cultures.After a patio cocktail hour, guests were escorted to their tables with champagne flutes adorned with mint, blackberry, and a table number scroll. La Fete accented the draping greenery of the surroundings with lush eucalyptus and ivy, rich floral in shades of green and burgundy, and glowing candlelight from silver candelabras. Burgundy dahlias and chocolate lace flowers add a pop of deep color to the greenery garlands and eucalyptus sprigs at each place setting. The traditional Sofreh Aghd featured items personally selected by Maryam’s grandmother and mother in the bazaars in Iran, and of course, everyone joined in for the Jewish Horah! The entire day is absolute perfection, beautifully captured by Jacque Lynn Photography!