Intimate Palm Desert Wedding

An elegant, intimate, natural, and absolutely perfect event, Erica and Brian travelled from Kansas to Napa for their wedding with only eight guests. I’m blown away by the effortless style and sophistication of their entire event at Meadowood from the gorgeous scenery to Erica’s J. Crew gown to the natural dogwood and hydrangea centerpieces by Kate Stanley. Members of the intimate guest list dined together at one table, sharing delicious wine and food from the venue. Every single detail of this wedding is absolute perfection and I’m in love with these photos by Megan Holly Clouse!

There’s something about California weddings that are so laid-back yet beautifully sophisticated! Becca and Solomon’s fete in San Luis Obispo is so pretty, thanks to lush bouquets and dozens and dozens of white hydrangeas from Flowers by Fluidbloom. Taupe bridesmaids dresses are natural and pretty against the landscape. And we can’t get past the fabulous flower on Becca’s Melissa Sweet gown—it’s fabulous! We hope you love these photos from Korie Lynn Photography as much as we do—see them all in the gallery!

We love the simplicity of this affair, held at a family residence in Indiana. Meghan and Josh’s inspiration gave way to natural details such as pretty baby’s breath and pink David Austin rose bouquets by Marcia’s Flower Cart. The sweeter elements got a shot of rustic flair with barn wood tables built by Meghan’s stepdad and planted succulent favors and centerpieces. The backyard venue provided soft surroundings for the bride’s Watters gown and pale pink D’Zage bridesmaids dresses. Meghan, who is a wedding photographer, wanted to make sure the whole affair showed plenty of both her and Josh’s personalities, and we see them shining through in these images from Clary Photo!

For their Lake Tahoe nuptials, Kristi and Don really wanted one last snowfall to hit the ground, so they spent the wedding day eve wishing and hoping for nature to cooperate. “It snowed heavily the night before and cleared up the afternoon of the wedding, which made it perfect for an outside celebration under the trees!” says Kristi.  Chic gray bridesmaids dresses from Priscilla of Boston were an elegant complement to Kristi’s Rivini gown. Art in Bloom Floral Wedding Designs created white, peach, and green bouquets and reception arrangements that reflected the rustic setting of the The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe while still maintaining a sophisticated vibe. We’re in awe of the beautiful photos from Sloan Photographers—the gorgeous light reflects the glow in this happy couple’s eyes!

Guests at Tiffany and Jonathan’s Montecito Country Club wedding were first treated to a dramatic floral installation by Modern Day Design—inspired by an art exhibit the bride saw at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York—and champagne before taking their seats. Tiffany stunned in a beaded Elie Saab gown as she walked down the aisle, carrying a white peony bouquet, hand-in-hand with Jonathan. After a “somber, ceremonial, romantic” vow exchange, says the bride, everyone switched to party mode, enjoying dancing, cocktails, and cake from Montecito Confections Bakery. From beginning to (late-night) end, Lacie Hansen Photography did a beautiful job of capturing every detail!

Just an hour north of San Francisco, Manka’s Inverness Lodge was exactly the kind of no-frills but pretty site Vicky and Rodger envisioned for their wedding—and it’s just the kind of fete that becomes a 2012 favorite. A self-described laid-back couple, the details of the day reflect that personality: Vicky carried a small calla lily bouquet to complement her sheath-style Nicole Miller gown, and navy bridesmaids dresses from The Dessy Group were understated and classic. One thing the couple knew they wanted was Bret Cole Photography to document the ceremony and reception, held beside the waters of Tomales Bay. Later in the evening, family members and the bridal party enjoyed a traditional Chinese wedding banquet and a two-tiered confection with quilted details from Have Your Cake. “Our wedding style was simple elegance,” says Vicky. That’s our favorite kind!

Brooke and Bobby’s big day was a total family affair in Valley Center, California. Held at the mother of the bride’s home—bordering a vineyard—Brooke describes the atmosphere as “like a Tuscan countryside at sunset with twinkling lights and candles set in the trees.” It certainly sounds breathtaking, and the images from Color Me Rad are just that, too. Brooke’s stepfather built a bridge for her to walk across—glowing in a dress designed by her stepmother and jewelry from ArtHappens—in lieu of an aisle. The Third Coast Jazz Band played as twilight settled over this perfect day. “You could just feel the love that went into this special occasion,” says Brooke.

Carrie and Will’s wedding is all about easy elegance and natural beauty.  Sharing a love of the outdoors, the couple chose to hold their reception at Will’s family home in North Carolina, and their elegant reception tent full of ivory and green details echoed their gorgeous surroundings.  I just love all of the personal elements in their wedding – everything from bridesmaids in cowboy boots to Randy McManus‘ suggestion to use annuals in their centerpieces (Carrie and Will planted them after their wedding and now they will always have a reminder of their big day!). Such a beautiful, classic Southern wedding with gorgeous images from Kellie Kano!

Lily and Bobby were married at the gorgeous Santaluz Club in San Diego. The venue provided lots of inspiration for them and their wedding planner, Thomas Bui, created a beautiful and romantic event with just a pinch of rustic thrown in. Any event that incorporates big fluffy peonies and succulents is for sure to be something I love and the florals by Adorations Botanical Artistry certainly did not disappoint. These photos by Vallentyne Photography are gorgeous and yet again make me long for my own California wedding!

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.

We love destination weddings, and what better place to celebrate with your nearest and dearest than the gorgeous island of Maui? The elegant Haiku Mill was home to Jenn and Chris’ dream wedding. The couple enjoyed a week on the island with family and friends, touring their favorite places and enjoying their favorite activities (including a secret hike through a bamboo forest!). Jenn is positively radiant in her Jim Hjelm ballgown—oh how we love her beachy-chic wavy locks! Haiku Mill is a stunning venue, and florals from Dellables accented the natural beauty of the surroundings. Enjoy all of these fabulous images from Tamiz Photography!

We are simply dazzled by Devin and Ryan’s gorgeous Napa Valley wedding, held at a lush private estate in the heart of wine country! Lush spring blooms, olive branches, and details in lovely peach and green hues make this affair classic and pretty, all thanks to the expertise of Napa Valley Custom Events by Sharon Burns. Even the invitations from Foglio Press incorporate the olive leaf theme. Devin’s romantic strapless gown and filmy peach bridesmaids dresses are lovely at the outdoor ceremony, which was also punctuated with peonies and other exotic blooms from Julie Stevens Design. These images from Julie Kay Kelly Photography are just brimming with beautiful details, and we love them all!

You know when two wedding photographers are getting married, it’s bound to be spectacular! And such is Sarah and Matt‘s magical affair at Salvage One. The industrial, whimsical locale was perfect for pastel florals from Fleur, romantic candlelight, and vintage decor from BHLDN. We adore their invites, elegant but fun with silhouettes, from Love vs. Design. Sarah said no to traditional bridesmaids and matching dresses, and instead focused on a gorgeous classic gown from J.Crew for herself paired with glittery Kate Spade shoes. Special touches at the event, coordinated by Liven It Up Events, included desserts from Molly’s Cupcakes, mini burgers from The Slide Ride food truck, and custom cloth napkins by Dot & Army. We’re swooning over the amazing images by Pen / Carlson and we know you’ll agree that it’s one of our favorites of 2013!

Jill and David’s elegant San Diego wedding is intimate and family-oriented, and that makes for some gorgeous, laid-back smiles in these photos from Samuel Lippke Studios. Jill, naturally, takes center stage in a lace gown from Claire Pettibone—always a stunning choice! The outdoor ceremony is punctuated by classic all white bouquets by LaVonne Crawford of Adorations Botanical Artistry. At the reception at The Grand Del Mar, styled by Thomas Bui Lifestyle, shimmering beaded garland hanging in trees, silvery-gray linens, and plenty of lush white blooms and candlelight create a romantic atmosphere. We are absolutely swooning over this entire affair—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!

Candice and Jonathan’s Santa Ynez, California, wedding is such a breath of fresh air! The Gainey Vineyard is a gorgeous yet laid-back locale for an outdoor affair, and nothing about this day disappoints! Abany Bauer Styling + Flowers crafted the blooms and other details of the day, including the lush green garland draped around wooden ceremony chairs and arrangements placed on long reception tables. Candice stuns in her Claire Pettibone gown with vintage lace cap sleeves, while her bridesmaids chose individual dresses in the same color palette. Rylee Hitchner shared these amazing images from the day, and we can’t stop poring over the chic, elegant ideas—including the understated but beautiful cake topped with fresh berries from Enjoy Cupcakes. See all of the gorgeous details in the gallery!

Some weddings are just lovely in every way, and that describes Meagan and Oscar’s North Carolina nuptials perfectly. Held in the gardens of The VanLandingham Estate in Charlotte, the pretty outdoor scenery is further enhanced by loose, wildflower-inspired bouquets by Lily Greenthumb’s Wedding & Event Design. Short taupe bridesmaids dresses from J.Crew are understated but get a pop of color from coral shoes, such a nice contrast with the surrounding greenery! Meagan’s Paloma Blanca gown is one of our favorites—simple and gorgeous! For the reception, succulent place cards are the cutest, and our sweet tooth is dying over the combed-icing cake from Happy Endings. Melissa Tuck Photography documented this laid-back but elegant affair—click through to the gallery for even more loveliness!

Kelly and Jim’s wedding was a day that their guests will no doubt never forget! Although their Laguna Beach wedding at Montage was breathtakingly gorgeous with the most perfect details imaginable, what truly makes this wedding beautiful is how much thought they put into creating a day that was special for their family and friends. The event was filled with family traditions and special touches like an “I love you” chant at the ceremony and men’s and women’s poppers at each place setting! It’s sentiments like these that make a wedding special and truly memorable! But we’d be remiss if we didn’t also discuss the gorgeous floral arrangements by Tic Tock Couture Florals. We can’t get enough of those draping orchids flowing from both the the ceremony and reception arrangements and all of the stunning photos from Leigh Miller Photography!

There are so many gorgeous elements in Jennifer and David’s wedding, held at The Blue Dress Barn in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The site itself is rustic, but touches like feathers and lush blooms in bouquets and arrangements from Posh Petals and Jennifer’s absolutely amazing Paloma Blanca gown—complete with an unbelievable rhinestone-and-lace capelet—upped the glam factor in a major way! French Country details and a chocolate wedding cake festooned with more feathers from Dee’s Specialty Cakes just furthered the sophisticated feel at this woodsy location. The images from Amy Carroll Photography captured the magical, charming sentiment of this wedding. And we totally adore the bride’s lottery ticket wedding favors, tied in festive bags with a penny! We’re somewhat teary just looking at the emotion on Jennifer and David’s faces—what an absolutely breathtaking affair!

When she pictured her wedding with Eric, Jodi envisioned rustic elegance—a blend of wood, lace and a touch of sparkle that would make a lasting impression on their guests. With Southern California’s elegant Walnut Grove ranch as their backdrop, the couple took on a multitude of do-it-yourself endeavors, as well as spent hours scouring Etsy for the perfect invitations, programs and favors. “I poured my heart into every little detail, and it ended up just how I had imagined it.,” the bride says. We’re head-over-heels for every detail ourselves, from the wooden centerpiece boxes etched with the couple’s initials to the pastel blooms that florist Regina Robertson arranged in each box. And those cakes! This couple had not one but three incredible, delectable whipped creations from Cindy Harber. We can only imagine they were as delicious as they look!