Real Weddings: Christine + Eugene

Everything about Louise and Derek’s wedding celebration softly proclaims sophisticated city style. With a ceremony at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts Theatre followed by a reception at The City Club, the elegant, artsy theme was set and only further enhanced by Louise’s Fanal by La Sposa strapless wrap gown. Simple, structured black bridesmaids dresses from Ann Taylor were striking against the sunset-colored flowers and bouquets from Flowers by D’aria Rose. A bold orange-and-yellow rose garland cascaded down an understated tiered cake by Jasmine Rae Bakery, making it a focal point of the reception decor. We love that the couple crafted their place card holders from Champagne cages! Enjoy these captivating images from Volatile Photography!

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!

Jeshica is from Texas, Brian is from Alabama, they met in China, were married in Santa Monica and it was perfect – clean, fresh, and with cascading orchids everywhere! After their beach ceremony, they celebrated at the beautiful Shutters on the Beach which was decorated with crisp white linens and vibrant arrangements of different yellow flowers by An Elegant Thorn. Bellisimo Events did an incredible job planning their wedding and in only 2 months and Karey Michelle Photography did a wonderful job capturing all the beautiful details of the day!

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!

This uber-mod, chic wedding held at New York’s Three Sixty in Tribeca, is a study in monochromatic palettes and sleek sophistication! All white flowers with pops of green from Ovando keep the vibe romantic and contemporary, with planning from the always flawless Ang Weddings & Events. For the Buddhist ceremony, the bride chose a romantic beaded gown by Monique Lhuillier with a Pronovias belt, while her single bridesmaid wore a white dress with a similar silhouette from Badgley Mischka. Of course, we adore that the couple’s dog participated in the festivities, dressed in his own tux found on eBay!  These images from Susan Stripling are just stunning!

The always elegant setting of Beaulieu Garden in Rutherford, California, proved to be the perfect location for Danielle and Tomas’s Napa Valley wedding. From the outdoor ceremony to the reception held beneath weaving grapevines and crystal chandeliers, the rule of the day was simplicity. Classic ivory, pink, and blush florals by Cherries were lush while the monochromatic scheme kept them understated. Julie Mikos Photographer captured gorgeous details such as the blush pink ruched Monique Lhuillier bridesmaids dresses and Danielle’s column gown with lace touches by Annasul Y. We love the watercolor details on stationery by Wedding Paper Divas and the blend of rustic and sophisticated decor helmed by Dee Merz. The cake festooned with fresh blooms by Perfect Endings is, indeed, the perfect ending to this amazing affair—see it all in the gallery!

We’re firm believers in elegant simplicity, and that’s precisely what Esther and Jeremy’s LA restaurantwedding delivers! In these sweet and sophisticated images from Alders Photography, what stands out most is the lush cream and green florals by Dandelion Ranch. All other decor is kept minimal for both the ceremony and reception at LA’s mod and earthy Campanile Restaurant. Esther stuns in a column-style Vera Wang gown that features an ecru-colored embellishment on the waist, defining the dress with an extra-special touch we adore! Likewise, the understated boutonniere on Jeremy’s Ermenegildo Zegna suit is a classic but stylish detail. This day was perfect for the bride and groom, who just wanted to celebrate and enjoy the occasion surrounded by family and friends.

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!

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!

Janice and Joe’s sweet wedding is brimming with elegant sophistication, and it’s due in large part to the neutral creams and blush tones found in all the details. The ornate Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills is a beautiful modern backdrop for Janice’s intricate corset-style gown. Bridesmaids in different dresses in cream to blush tones further the monochromatic color scheme—such a romantic look! The always phenomenal Sloan Photographers documented the day from ceremony to the reception at LA’s Skirball Cultural Center, where cascading floral arrangements of white hydrangeas, blush roses, and white orchids by Dana Lee of AtelierFlower dotted the tables. Lovely couple, lovely affair!

Following a storybook Paris engagement, Wycee and Greg began planning their wedding ceremony and reception at the equally dreamy setting of Meadowood in Napa Valley. The couple seamlessly blended modern and classic for a one-of-a-kind affair—we love the juxtaposition of the crisp navy bridesmaids dresses against Wycee’s classic lace-detailed Vera Wang gown, and the clean look of tall branches in the jewel-toned floral arrangements from Wine Country Flowers. Fittingly, an intricate cake complete with gold detailing and rich red flowers on top from Perfect Endings provided just that to this sweet day. Enjoy these stunning photographs from Bound By!

Kelsey and Jonathan’s dreamy beach wedding is so lovely we can hardly take our eyes off these photos! Overlooking the water at Seagrove Park in Del Mar, California, this couple said their “I dos,” then headed to L’Auberge Del Mar’s ballroom for an evening of dinner and dancing to the Tijuana Dogs. Kelsey looked stunning in her Monique Lhullier skirt and top, and we love the flowy taupe bridesmaids dresses from Swoon paired with strappy gold heels! Hello luscious elegance! White, ivory and green orchid variations assembled by Botanica SD brought modern sophistication to the tabletops and served as perfect accents on their banana chocolate truffle wedding cake. Enjoy soaking up these seaside moments captured by Erin Hearts Court!

Gina and John’s Florida wedding brought the Tuscan coast to the Emerald coast. Gina comes from an Italian family so it was important to them to have their big day filled with friends, family, dancing and great food! It was an intimate, al fresco celebration of only about 70 guests with lots of Tuscan-inspired details to transport guests across the globe. I love the warm shades of orange and yellow that Nouveau Flowers used for the florals, the amazing pergola that stood over the head table at the reception, and all the grape leaf vines and lanterns used to decorate the space. Such a warm and marvelous celebration that honored two very beautiful places and two very beautiful people! Thanks to Rae Leytham Photography for these lovely images!

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!

For their wine country wedding at  Solage Calistoga, Natalie and Robert envisioned an intimate celebration with their family and closest friends. The couple crafted that celebration with simple, all-white floral arrangements by Kate Stanley and sweet handmade details, including truffles made by the mother of the bride. Closer To Love Photography beautifully captured every detail of the day—even the rainbow that came out after the couple’s rainy ceremony!

Meghan and Andrew’s wedding is so perfectly beach chic!  With a color palette ranging from pale aqua to sand, and the gorgeous setting of the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort as the backdrop, the couple worked with Jeannie Savage of Details, Details to create a wedding that was clean and modern, and also incorporated sweet personal touches that paid homage to their families and shared history as a couple.  As a nod to Meghan’s Indian heritage, the signature drink was the “Indian Summer” and ladies received pashmina favors, and to celebrate with friends, they brought in their favorite law school band, The Spazmatics, and created an after-party menu inspired by late night eateries in Austin, where they met.  Prepare to fall in love with their stunning wedding, full of lush orchids, hydrangea, tulips, and calla lilies, and all of the gorgeous images from Caroline Tran!

What does a Texas native transplanted to the Bay Area do to honor her home state in her wedding?  Incorporate the “yellow rose of Texas” of course!  Brooke and Christopher’s classic, elegant soiree at San Francisco’s Julia Morgan Ballroom has the most refreshing yellow, white, and gray color palette, such a gorgeous contrast to the rich, deep colors of the ballroom! Nancy Liu Chin Designs did an incredible job with the event creating big soft bouquets and lush arrangements featuring roses, ranunculus, and hydrangea and JBD Events made sure the day ran without a hitch. Such a pretty wedding with pretty details and pretty photos by Mulberry Photography!

Diana and Nick’s Florida wedding is modern elegance meets beach chic. The ceremony and reception were both held outdoors at the Watersound Beach Club, decorated with black and white striped panels as well as other black and white chairs and linens. Nouveau Flowers created several different arrangements in shades of green, ivory, and the softest shade of blush for the event. I’m so ridiculously in love with Diana’s stunning copper Vera Wang gown! It’s absolute perfection with her fabulous red hair. Such an amazing, modern wedding with equally gorgeous photos by Paul Johnson Photography.

Shauna and Mike’s San Francisco wedding is just about everything I adore: a gorgeous color palette, beautiful florals, vintage cars, letterpressed invites, and a pair of fabulous shoes. Their ceremony was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen – greenery decorated the aisles, chairs, and even the drapes used at the entrance of the aisle! They celebrated their nuptials at the Ferry Plaza Building with beautiful aubergine, rose, and lavender florals by Birch. I love the mixture of fern, fresh lavender, and other unique flowers that were used in the bridesmaids’ bouquets! I’m absolutely gaga over this wedding and all the incredible photos by the amazing Lisa Lefkowitz!

When Lexie and Erik were planning their Southern California wedding, they knew they wanted “a big WOW factor.” What they actually got on their big day was not just a wedding with “wow” but a breathtakingly glamorous and intimate celebration that they shared with their closest friends and family. Enchanted Florist created stunning, perfectly over-the-top arrangements cascading with a variety of white flowers for their glamorous reception at Pelican Hill. Lexie absolutely rocked her Ines DiSanto gown (the word “fierce” comes to mind) and white Louboutins. And finally, my laptop would certainly not be covered in drool without the incredible photos by Gavin Wade Photographers!