Real Weddings:

Meghan and Austin’s wedding at Bridgestreet Gallery and Lofts

photography by Mandy Busby

Meghan and Austin were set to be married on the bride’s parent’s property with a wildflower backdrop and a reception under the stars. But strong chances of thunderstorms pushed the couple in a different direction and just two days before the wedding, they moved the event to Bridgestreet Gallery and Lofts. The venue lent a clean backdrop to their style—”genuine, warm, laid back and a touch European.” A talented group of vendors lead by planners at Artistry created the simple and beautiful details including florals by Laura McCarty of Marked, invitation design by Kathleen Varner, and treats by Baking Bandits. See all the lovely details in these images captured by the incredibly talented Mandy Busby.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

We wanted our wedding day to feel genuine, warm, laid back and a touch European. Our ceremony and reception were originally planned to take place on my parents’ property. I wanted the setting to hold meaning. The backdrop was going to be a little hill of wildflowers and the reception to be under the stars (like the night Austin proposed to me), but two days before there was a switch over because of a huge chance of thunderstorms. We were able to move everything over to a venue in Birmingham that lent a clean backdrop. We still took all of our portraits on the property and I got dressed that morning in my bedroom at my parents’ house. I went barefoot and chose an anklet over a bouquet. I adore flowers but decided I’d rather not deal with having to carry flowers. So we made the altar florals the focal point. We chose not to have a bridal party. Just my sister and his brother stood beside us during our ceremony. We did both have a handful of our dear friends spend the day with us though.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My gown is an Amy Kuschel gown. I wanted my dress to be simple and comfortable with movement. I actually ended up buying the sample dress that was a size 8 and altering it to a 0. I saved so much doing it that way.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

As a wedding vendor myself it was so so special getting to hire the help of so many dear dear friends…two of my best friends sang at our ceremony, two friends did my hair and makeup, a friend styled the wedding, a friend made pastries, a friend did the florals, and on and on and on. Every detail felt personal and loved on because of it.

We did end up writing our own vows and we’re both so glad we took the time to do it. We now have them framed on our walls as sweet reminders to the weightiness and power of the promises we’ve made to one another.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Our ceremony was hands down our favorite part! We put a lot of thought into the music and layout. Our prayer was that the day would be focused on the Gospel and not on us, and that people would leave knowing how loved and appreciated they were.

I think that first hug we shared after our ceremony is really special to us as well and our photographer captured it so perfectly!!

Tell us how you met and became engaged!

Austin actually heard my voice before he met me. I sang the national anthem at my little brother’s high school football game. He had started working for my dad’s accounting firm a couple of months before and then got brought on to help my dad coach football in the evenings (since he had coached a little bit after playing in college). My brothers were such a fan of him and it kind of just developed from there. After dating for a year, Austin proposed on my parents’ pier under the stars.

Photographer: Mandy Busby // Design and Coordination: Augusta Cole and Keighlee Buchanan of Artistry // Floral Design: Laura McCarty of Marked // Invitation Design: Kathleen Varner // Invitation Handwriting (bride and groom’s names): Laura McCarty of Marked // Calligraphy (envelopes: Bride’s sister) // Ceremony/Reception Venue: Bridgestreet Gallery and Lofts // Pre-wedding Venue: The Bride’s home/family property // Bride’s Dress: Amy Kuschel // Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo // Hair and Make Up: Molly Stilley and Joanna Ballentine of Irrelephant // Catering: Slice Pizza // Treats: Baking Bandits // Wedding Musicians: Act of Congress

The Archive:

Simple Beginnings Inspiration Shoot

featuring Hailey Amber Photography

“The height of sophistication is simplicity.” This quote from art critic Leonard Thiessen provided the inspiration Simple Beginnings, an editorial led by Et Voila Events. The team drew inspiration from the “getting ready” portion of day, the moments before the ceremony when a bride is surrounded by her nearest and dearest friends, sisters, and supporters. The distinguished 19th-Century The Covenant at Murray Mansion set the stage while refined details exuded elegance including white, feminine florals by Daffodil*Parker, calligraphy invitations by Emily Rose Ink and baked goods by Yield Bakehouse. See all the details in these beautiful, airy images captured by Hailey Amber Photography.

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Photography: Hailey Amber Photography // Event Styling: Et Voila Events // Florist: Daffodil*Parker // Calligraphy: Emily Rose Ink // Venue: The Covenant at Murray Mansion // Make-up Artist: Lustrous Beauty Studio // Hair Stylist: Hair by Lexi Lee // Bridal Accessories: Lindsay Marie Design // Bridesmaids Gowns: Bella Bridesmaids // Bridal Gown: Bucci’s Bridal // Rentals: Relics Vintage Rentals // Baked Goods: Yield Bakehouse // Film Lab: The FIND Lab

Real Weddings:

Zanny and Noah’s wedding at Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman

photography by Benj Haisch

Zanny and Noah’s “Glampin” wedding is a vibrant, rainbow-hued celebration of love and life, nature and art. The Washington state celebration planned by Simply by Tamara Nicole took place at the breathtaking Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman. From the waterfront ceremony, to the “hike-to-reception” in the forest, no detail was left unimagined. The art-loving couple hand-made almost all of the decor with textured papers, screen printing and fabrics. Paisley Petals created the glorious cutting-garden summer floral arrangements, arbor, spectacular bridal bouquet and a delightful “DIY bouquet” table for the bridal party while they were getting ready. There’s just so much summer-goodness to love about Zanny and Noah’s big day and Benj Haisch was on hand to capture it all in these beautiful images.

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from the planners: Noah and Zanny’s wedding was one full of love, and they had the most close knit tribe I have seen at a wedding. You can tell they are loved, and also love on their people hard! I don’t think you can find a more picturesque place to say I do than where they did, on the beach below the trees at Lake Cushman for their “Glampin” wedding.

They had SO many personal touches for their wedding, which doesn’t surprise me as they love art, and Noah is an artist in CA. They made almost all of the decor for their wedding. From all of the fun signs made with patterned paper and wood, to the table numbers, and pretty much everything. They were married by their close friend, and each had 11 bridespeople and groomspeople standing on each side (half of which were barefoot as well). Noah is known as “No Shoes Noah” so it only made sense that others joined in to the shoes optional wedding! As they were getting ready, Paisley Petals created a “DIY bouquet” station at the cabin where Zanny and her party were getting ready.

For the ceremony, we laid down some blue patterned fabric as the aisle runner, and flanking the aisle were wood benches from Seattle Farm Tables and bamboo chairs, and greenery placed by Paisley Petals. At the front of the aisle stood a birch arch adorned in colorful wild blooms, with the lake behind. They had their friends play a song with guitar and vocals, and of course had their pup there with them as well!

After the ceremony, the guests followed the party through the trails up the hill to an area surrounded in tall trees, with string lights strung above them, and craft cocktails made by Ravishing Radish for cocktail hour. They created their own escort cards and had them all strung like a clothesline from a ladder and it was so colorful!

In addition to their wedding cake by Corina Bakery, they had friends and family bake so many fun goodies to add to the dessert table (on a killer wagon from Vintage Ambiance!). They made the sign for this too, like all of the signs at the wedding. “Treat Yourself” in fun patterned colorful paper. They even made their own signs for the restrooms “Gender Neutral Restroom.” Also, as it was a wedding in the woods (bugs!) we created a cute little corner with bug spray and a fun sign they made “Be Smitten, Not Bitten!” For after the wedding, they had a campground after-party (because most people were camping at the site!) for which their sign read “Let the wild rumpus start! After Party”.

As guests entered the tent, they took their seats at the long farm tables and benches from Seattle Farm Tables, adorned with various bud vases and candles that Zanny and her family collected themselves. SO many candles and vases, and full of fun bright flowers from Paisley Petals :) Each guest had their name hand-stamped on fun patterned and colored paper by the couple themselves!

Instead of going right into dinner, they had a dance set first and EVERYONE was on the dance floor, it was packed! You could just feel the love and closeness as we had like 8 speeches scattered throughout the dinner (amazing food by Ravishing Radish!). Then they danced the night away under the stars, light and RAIN (outside the tent) to the rad music by Side One Band. They even had some friends that are musicians perform their music and it was SO GOOD. At the end of the night, guests stood in the rain with sparklers for the send off, and were sent with adorable smore’s kits made by the couple.

Photography: Benj Haisch // Planning: Simply by Tamara Nicole // Flowers: Paisley Petals // Venue: Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman // Cake: Corina Bakery // Hair and Makeup, Décor, Signs etc. Bride and Groom // Catering/Bar: Ravishing Radish // Rentals: Vintage Ambiance // Rentals: CORT Party Rental // Rentals: Seattle Farm Tables // Band: Side One Band

Real Weddings:

Kenica and Bryon’s wedding at Keswick Vineyards

featuring J&D Photo

Arizona transplants, Kenica and Bryon, recently moved to Virginia and wanted to plan an epic destination wedding for all their west coast friends and family. The couple decided on the gorgeous Keswick Vineyards with blue skies, a fabulous courtyard and vineyard views. The location was the perfect backdrop to the couples vibrant wedding style which included details in every shade of blue and raspberry pinks. Planning and coordination was by Kate Phillips Events with florals by Tourterelle Floral Design and it’s all captured in these lovely images by J&D Photo.

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Photography: J&D Photo // Planning + coordination: Kate Phillips Events // Florals: Tourterelle Floral Design // Venue: Keswick Vineyards // Wedding Dress Boutique: Urban Set Bride // Wedding Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero // Hair: Emerald DC // Makeup: Janasee Estep // Cake + Desserts: Kathy’s Favorite Cakes // Catering: Harvest Moon // Tent: Skyline Tent Company // Ceremony Musicians: Forest Hill Trio via East Coast Entertainment // Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka // DJ: TD Layman // Eclectic Rentals: Paisley & Jade // Additional Rentals: MS Events

Inspiration Shoots and Boards:

Refined Summer Country Wedding

photography by Allen Tsai

Keestone Events’s Refined Summer Country Wedding editorial is casual yet refined and homey, yet elegant—perfect for those summer wedding vibes. It’s set at The Farmhouse Estate, a charming country venue in Pottsboro, Texas with views galore. The stationery suite by Sarah Ann Design was based on soft neutrals with hand drawn details like watercolor bird —a nod to the countryside where this farmhouse sits. Pops of peaches and corals in the summery florals by Anna Rayner are absolute perfection and the french-inspired dinnerware adds the final touch. Allen Tsai was behind the lens and captures all the dreamy, summer-y pretty in these film photographs.