Real Weddings: Grace + Edward

With a color palette of pale pinks and whites, fluffy hydrangeas and peonies, Jimmy Choos, and fabulous photography, Tully and Dan’s Memphis wedding is, in my opinion, the epitome of classic elegance. Ohmygoodness this wedding is gorgeous. The incredible florals by Garden District to me are the highlight of the decor, a beautiful arch over the door at St. John’s Episcopal Church and a stunning oversized arrangement at Memphis Country Club. How cute are their flower girls too? Kristyn Hogan did an incredible job capturing this beautiful day!

Lee and Alex’s Memphis wedding is full of classic Southern details and we adore every single image from the fabulous Kristyn Hogan! Lush blooms of hydrangea and roses mixed with glossy magnolia leaves all done by Le Fleur give an air of sophistication to the entire affair, from the ceremony at Saint John’s Episcopal Church to the reception at the Memphis Country Club. We are smitten with Lee’s elegant Alyne gown—the very first one she tried on! Because the summer Tennessee weather can be wilting, Lee and Alex, along with direction from Audrey Hurst Weddings, chose mostly cream and green florals and decor, with a pop of color coming from Amsale bridesmaids dresses in crisp navy. Simple, chic, and gorgeous!

Lauren and AJ’s elegant Nashville wedding was an old-school Southern affair that started with a ceremony at the beautiful Cathedral of the Incarnation. Soft taupe bridesmaids dresses played backdrop to hydrangea, lily, and magnolia leaf bouquets by OSHi International Floral Decor Studio. Lauren walked down the aisle in a strapless Justin Alexander gown from Sweet Elegance Bridal. After the traditional Catholic ceremony, guests headed to downtown’s The Hermitage Hotel, where classic green and cream florals and warm wood decor welcomed. Events by Janie helped coordinate the soiree, which featured balsa wood airplane place cards, a nod to AJ’s Air Force career, and an amazing cake from Dessert Designs. The super talented Kristyn Hogan captured every detail of the picture-perfect day! Click through to the gallery for all of the gorgeous images!

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!

Ronda and Jeff’s gorgeous Nashville wedding is the epitome of Southern chic! These two are completely in love—there’s not a single image from Kristyn Hogan where the two aren’t beaming! Sara Fried of Fete Nashville Events & Design helped Ronda and Jeff create the perfect day filled with Southern touches like monograms and lush hydrangeas. The white, purple, and green florals dotted throughout were created by The Enchanted Florist, and they absolutely set the scene for the day. After Ronda and Jeff’s ceremony at Scarritt Bennett, they joined guests for an outdoor cocktail hour and indoor reception at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. We adore the attire of the day, first with the sand-colored bridesmaids dresses by Dessy and classic tuxes for the men, and then Ronda’s breathtaking custom Vera Wang gown. Before a dramatic send-off down the symphony hall steps with sparklers, Ronda and Jeff cut their Dulce Desserts cake, an extra-tall confection accented with more hydrangea blooms. Everything about this affair is simply flawless—see even more in the gallery!

Lauren and Matt’s wedding was classic and elegant with some wonderful Southern details. Gorgeous magnolia leaves were used not only in the floral arrangements but also in the large garland they created which hung over the main doors to the church! I can’t believe that Lauren, her mom, and grandmother created all the florals – a beautiful blend of hydrangea, hypericum berries and roses (I guess it helps that her mother is a florist!). Aren’t the tall magnolia centerpieces incredible? Lauren and Matt had a beautiful wedding, captured just as beautifully by Elizabeth Scott Photography!

Four words to describe Jen and Dan’s North Carolina wedding? Bea-u-ti-ful. Or maybe, oh my goodness beautiful? Sigh. Carolina Wedding Design did a phenomenal job with their reception! I’m gaga over their color palette of gray with the palest of sage and peach, and the draped fabric into the chandelier is absolutely stunning. Quintessential elegance and class with swoon-worthy florals by The Place for Flowers. I need to find myself one of those bridesmaids’ necklaces! Beautiful Charlotte wedding with gorgeous photos by the (always) incredible The Schultzes!

We love a good Southern wedding filled with romantic details, and Justine and Eric’s North Carolina wedding fills the bill perfectly! First stop: St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church for an elegant ceremony, punctuated with divine bold red bridesmaids dresses by Love Lane from Bella Bridesmaids. The pop of color is gorgeous! Justine chose a beaded strapless Pronovias gown and veil, which she accented with jewelry by Sorrelli and metallic heels by Jimmy Choo. To honor her family, Justine also carried her great-grandmother’s rosary and her great-aunt’s handmade purse. Eric carried his grandfather’s ink pen in his Men’s Wearhouse suit, and he also tucked a photo of his great-grandfather in his pocket. We love these sweet details! Classic stationery from Maria Scheel and understated florals in cream and green—including white and ivory hydrangeas, peonies, garden roses, and mini calla lilies—by Kelly Odom marked both the ceremony and reception, with tall trumpet vases spilling fluffy blooms on to tables at Prestonwood Country Club. With direction from A Southern Soiree Wedding & Event Planning, the ballroom was transformed into a gold and cream wonderland for dinner and dancing. Cinda’s Creative Cakes provided the tiered confection, topped simply with white roses. We’re swooning over this beautiful wedding and these images from Nancy Ray!

Perrine and Aaron’s timeless wedding in Columbus, Ohio, is one that’s just brimming with spring details! We love all of the pink and white in florals, especially the peony bouquets, from Flowers on Orchard Lane. The pretty pale colors are lovely with classic black bridesmaids dresses as well as Perrine’s Angel Rivera gown with pleated bodice. After the traditional ceremony at Saint Joseph Cathedral, guests made their way to The Country Club at Muirfield Village where they were wowed by the event design and planning by MMJ Weddings & Events. There, pops of deep blue—reminiscent of the color of Perrine’s Badgley Mischka shoes—joined more pink, white, and silver details to transform the reception hall into a beautiful backdrop for dinner and dancing. One of our favorite details is the bride, groom, and dog topper perched above the cupcakes from Nicely Made Cupcakes. We’re madly in love with these images from Jen & Jonah!

Brooke and Russell’s lovely Nashville wedding is an elegant affair filled with classic touches that we adore! Brooke is flawless in a Monique Lhuillier gown from The Bride Room–we are swooning over the top lace piece that’s romantic and delicate, a perfect complement to Brooke’s filmy Toni Federici veil. Bridesmaids chose varying designs of a light taupe dress by Amsale, which are soft and pretty mixed in with garden details like the lush bouquets, hydrangea and magnolia wreaths, and floral hair wreaths from Branches. After a traditional ceremony at St. George’s Episcopal Church, the party continued at the vintage-style Union Station Hotel, where a lush floral garland ran the length of Brooke and Russell’s table. “The flowers were stunning! My favorite thing at the reception was the flower runner on the head table,” says Brooke. Sequin linens from La Tavola Fine Linen Rental and classic pieces like engraved silver vases and cafe string lights dotted the reception room, where the couple’s Dessert Designs cake was topped with more fresh flowers. One of our favorite details is the monogrammed logo by Allison R. Banks Designs on the couple’s stationery from Rock Paper Scissors. We adore every single detail captured by the fabulous Kristyn Hogan!

Katie and Ryan’s Rochester Hills, Michigan wedding may as well have been set in a faraway European village for all of its breathtaking fairy-tale details. Starting with a ceremony at First Congregational Church of Rochester, where old-world elegance abounds, Katie walked down the aisle in a gown from Le Salon that can only be described as amazing. Her cathedral-length veil featured embroidery that gave the ensemble a vintage feel. A bridal party dressed in black and white added drama to the day. For the reception at Meadow Brook, lush cream and pink flowers from Bellisario Floral and an abundance of white candles set on silver stands created an ethereal atmosphere. One of our favorite details is the classic cake from Sweet and Savory Bake Shop set on an antique gold stand atop gold sequin linens. Simply gorgeous! Visit the gallery to enjoy every single photo from Amy Carroll Photography!

Lauren and Stewart’s candlelit Nashville wedding and reception is so breathtaking! The drama of the flickering light during the ceremony at Scarritt-Bennett Center is softened by Lauren’s vintage-inspired lace dress from Bella Couture and pale pink bridesmaids dresses by The Dessy Group. Classic bouquets accented with cameo pins and pastel flowers, all by A Village of Flowers, add to the antique look of the reception at aVenue—we adore all of the lace, floating candles, and those fabulous chandeliers! Even the Jay Qualls cake gets a dose of old-school with vintage brooches festooned on the layers. Kristyn Hogan shared these gorgeous images with us—they perfectly capture the romance of Lauren and Stewart’s day! See the entire gorgeous event in the gallery!

Louise and Matt’s Nashville wedding was Southern charm all the way, and we love every last gorgeous detail that Ali Harper captured in these images! The lush, neutral florals in the bouquets by Mark O’Bryan of The Tulip Tree meant the Amsale bridesmaids dresses—flowy, strapless taupe ensembles—and Louise’s lace-covered Muna Couture gown stayed in the spotlight. Roses and hydrangeas set a classic vibe for the reception at Belle Meade Country Club. The traditional wedding cake by Leland Riggan of Dessert Designs added classical sophistication to this affair, designed by Nashville event planner Elizabeth James. This wedding is grand and intimate all at once, and we’re completely head over heels!

This shoot, created for V4 of the fabulous Southern Weddings magazine, has just about every fabulously preppy detail you can imagine: Seersucker, monograms, magnolia leaves, a green and white color palette, and it was even all inspired by a polo match! While the impeccably styled tablescape by Calder Clark Designs has us craving a mint julep, it’s the fun, striped bridesmaids’ outfits that make us do a double-take! They are so cute and definitely something your ladies could wear again. We can’t say enough how much we love this amazing styled shoot, but be warned: these images by A Bryan Photo could quite possibly make you to stop whatever you’re doing and search for the nearest polo club!

Randi and Pablo’s New Orleans’ nuptials are equal parts chic and elegant—a beautiful blend of glittering gold bridesmaids gowns by Aidan Mattox, a drop-dead gorgeous Amsale wedding dress and simple-yet-stunning all white floral arrangements by The Nouveau Romantics. Our favorite detail? The second-line band that led this stylish couple from their classic church “I dos” to their ballroom reception at The Roosevelt. Now that is how to get a party started! These photos by the always-incredible Tec Petaja are so gorgeous that it’s no surprise that Randi and Pablo’s wedding was one of our favorites of 2012!

There’s something about military weddings that always seems incredibly feminine to me. Perhaps it’s the juxtaposition of the strict military dress that makes lush florals and a soft color palette even more girly? Whatever it is, Christina and Andrew’s gorgeous Nashville wedding is a perfect example of that romantic and feminine feel. The Enchanted Florist put together the perfect recipe for romantic flowers: peonies, lisianthus, tea roses, hydrangea, and callas in pretty pink and coral shades. Their The Hermitage Hotel reception could not have been more elegant with lots of rich gold and pink details, the ideal location for a picture-perfect sword arch and other gorgeous moments all captured by the wonderful Kristyn Hogan Photography.

Lauren and Brian wanted a timeless and elegant wedding — a wedding, the bride said, that resembled the 1920s as much as it did present day. They set about designing the day by employing Lee Forrest Design to create an array of bouquets and centerpieces in all-white flowers. “There’s just something so classical and elegant about all white,” Lauren said. Photographer Shipra Panosian captured the day and every detail, including a handmade escort card board, perfectly, and we are completely smitten!

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!

Tracy and Mike’s Kauai wedding is absolute perfection! Dressed in a gorgeous Vera Wang gown and carrying a ruffly white bouquet filled with peonies by Martin Roberts Design, Tracy married Mike under floral garlands on a picture-perfect beach at The St. Regis Resort in Princeville, Kauai. Their all-white reception was classy and elegant with mercury votives sparkling under a variety of fresh white blooms, the most impressive of which being the tall, cascading orchid centerpieces. These gorgeous photos by Jen Huang capture this incredible destination wedding – one of our favorites of the year – and all the elegant details of the day!

She’s a University of South Carolina girl, he’s a Citadel boy, and they both love southern history. This shared interest was a huge inspiration to Katie and James as they planned their Charleston wedding, choosing The Citadel Summerall Chapel for their ceremony then moving afterwards to the third most historic building in the country, The Old Exchange, for their reception. The celebration was impeccably designed by Sara Hosch of Southern Protocol, classically elegant, soft, and romantic, with absolutely gorgeous florals by Branch Design Studio. The images by Paige Winn Photography capture Katie and James’ day beautifully!