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Real Weddings:

Torrey and James’s wedding at San Diego Museum of Art

photographs by Let’s Frolic Together

Torrey and James met and fell in love in San Diego so it was natural choice for their wedding celebration. With the help of Luxe Events they planned their destination wedding remotely while they both pursued graduate degrees. San Diego Museum of Art provided the beautiful setting which included a garden ceremony “in the round” and a reception in the historic courtyard of the museum. Modern design sensibilities and a black and white palette informed the details including florals by Parker and Posies and stationery by Brightly Designed. Lucky for us, the couple enlisted the skill of San Diego wedding photographers Let’s Frolic Together to capture their day in these light-strewn images.

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Tell us about yourselves!

Torrey is originally from Huntington Beach, California, and currently works as a social worker and therapist at a school in Seattle. James is from Portland, Oregon, and is graduating from medical school this year. We were both in graduate school for the entire time we were planning our wedding! Some of our favorite things to do together include cooking together and exploring new cuisines, hiking, and traveling. Most importantly, we love spending time with our mini goldendoodle named Moose

What made the wedding special and unique?

We chose to get married in San Diego, which is where we met and fell in love. Even though it wasn’t always logistically easy to plan a wedding from far away, every time we came back to San Diego it felt like a mini-vacation! We had people come from truly all four corners of the country to celebrate with us all weekend. Each night leading up to the wedding we had the chance to spend time with a progressively larger group of friends and family, which made it easier to balance seeing all the people who came to celebrate with us and spending some quality time with people who we otherwise don’t get to see very often. Since we have both spent time living in different places throughout the time we were dating, our wedding was a place to bring together all our communities and by the end of the weekend it was so beautiful to see everyone mixing together, we felt so loved! In planning our wedding we wanted everyone to have fun, eat great food, and enjoy the setting.  We worked with the awesome Cara North of Luxe Events, and she helped us execute this vision. We wanted our wedding to have a modern flair and so while our color palate was black, white and gold with an accent of inky blue, we mixed modern patterns into the place setting and paper goods.

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

The dress was a beaded Jenny Packham Gown that I bought at The Dress Theory in Seattle! I loved my experience at the Dress Theory; they made me feel so special throughout the whole process. James and I were engaged for 2 years and so I had plenty of time to gather inspiration for what kind of a gown I wanted before I even started shopping. I had seen some Jenny Packham gowns and was in awe of their shape and the beading. The closest stockist was the dress theory, and I had already heard from friends that they had beautiful, unique gowns. I would describe my personal style as more minimalist, and so I had originally envisioned a simple gown with maybe some lace, but as soon as I put on the dress I knew it was what I wanted for my wedding day. Another important factor was how easy it was to dance in!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We both have close friends and family of different genders. We didn’t let ourselves feel constrained when inviting people to be in our wedding party and it made it more of a community than separate parties. Our grandparents have been major influences in both of our lives, and even though they couldn’t all be at our wedding, two of our grandmas were our flower girls, lining the aisle with flower petals and joy.

Our dog, Moose, was only a few months old when we got married and sadly wasn’t able to make the trip with us to San Diego. We had a silhouette of her on our table numbers and we got a cardboard cutout of her likeness that people took photos with for our guestbook, and she also made appearances at our first look and on the dance floor.

We had our ceremony in the round, which meant we had a chance to look out at all those gathered with us, and they were able to see our faces throughout the ceremony.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

We loved reading our own vows to each other. We hadn’t initially planned on doing this, but it ended up being meaningful to declare our feelings for each other so publicly and using our own words.

One of the reasons we picked our venue was that we could stay there until midnight dancing outside. We’ll never forget dancing all night under a full moon, surrounding by all of the night lights of Balboa Park.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met in college, when we both led a Spring Break immersion trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Despite having an eye out for each other from the beginning, it wasn’t until after the second year of working together that we started to make moves! We dated long distance for a few years before moving to Seattle together when James started medical school. James spent a summer doing research in South Africa, and when Torrey decided to visit last minute James knew it would be the perfect time to propose. After flying almost 28 hours to get there, James proposed the day after Torrey arrived when they visited Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Gardens.  To celebrate their engagement James surprised Torrey with a safari where they got to see numerous elephants–Torrey’s favorite animal!

Photography: Let’s Frolic Together // Coordinator/Event Design: Luxe Events // Floral: Parker and Posies // Stationery: Brightly Designed // Venue: San Diego Museum of Art // Dress: Jenny Packham / The Dress Theory Seattle // Caterer: Miho Catering Co. // Cake: Twiggs Bakery // DJ: Still Listening Productions // HMUA: The Hair and Makeup Box // Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Bright Event Rentals / Concepts Event Design / Hostess Haven / Craft in the Park // Tux: Indochino // Rings: Aide-Memoire

 

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Real Weddings:

Cara & Cameron Austin Wedding

featuring Allie Lindsey Photography

Cara and Cameron love traveling, music and trying new food and aptly sought inspiration for their destination wedding day from a William Shakespeare quote that reads “If music be the food of love, play on.” They planned an entire weekend of events in Austin, TX for their friends and family including a Bluegrass BBQ, a stunning ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral and a ballroom reception at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Wedding coordination was by CAKE Event Company, romantic florals were by Color Theory Collective and calligraphy by Jen Krause Calligraphy. Allie Lindsey Photography was on hand to capture all the details in these inspiring film images.

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What made the wedding special and unique? 

What really made our wedding special was that it wasn’t just the celebration on the wedding day, but an entire weekend of special events. We started off with group walk/run around Lady Bird Lake on Friday morning and in the evening, hosted a Bluegrass BBQ equipped with the best local BBQ from Leroy and Lewis and musical entertainment from a local Austin Bluegrass band, Steel Betty. The day after the wedding we hosted a Gospel Brunch at a cool office space where we enjoyed some Sunday gospel tunes and Austin’s famous Breakfast Tacos.

We currently live in Southern California and looked at many venues in our area, however nothing really felt like “us.” While visiting Austin, our home away from home, my brother suggested we visit St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Four Seasons on a whim. We had to laugh because as soon as we stepped foot into the church and the hotel, we knew that Austin was the place for us. Our friends and family are scattered throughout the United States, so it was also the perfect central meeting ground for all of our guests!

What I feel is most unique about our wedding weekend was that although there were over 180 guests, it still felt very intimate and personal. I loved being able to look around and see people who didn’t know each other one day earlier dancing together on the dance floor, laughing with each other and making those lasting memories that stick with you forever.

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

Growing up, I never had a true vision for my wedding dress. I teetered from lace to mermaid gowns to princess and A-line so when it came to actually try on dresses, I felt like I was all over the place! I scheduled appointments at a few different stores in Los Angeles, and when we got to Monique Lhullier, my mom, sister and I picked out a few dresses and headed into the fitting room. And then, there it was! It was like a match made in wedding Heaven…this beautiful dress hanging in the perfect lighting left behind by the previous soon-to-be bride trying on dresses. The instant I tried it on, I cried. I knew it was the dress for me. It was whimsical, romantic and elegant. The floral lace bodice that ran into a silk tulle skirt was stunning. It fit perfectly with my personality and romance of the day.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

We love traveling, music and trying new food, and sought inspiration from a William Shakespeare quote that read “If music be the food of love, play on.” Throughout the weekend, we made sure that music was very much the constant theme and focus of our wedding festivities, whether it was the Bluegrass band at our welcome party, Drywater Band at our wedding, the playlist at our rehearsal dinner or the Gospel band at our brunch. Some other personal touches we added were a traditional Irish bagpiper that guided us from cocktail hour into our reception, our invitation suite I designed with my mom and sister, our sweet niece and nephews walking down the aisle, the “First Look” I got to have with my dad before we headed to the church, His and Her’s cocktails, a handwritten seating chart, handwritten name tiles and romantic floral arrangements of different flower, shapes and sizes.

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

The most memorable part of the day was walking down the aisle to my groom. I was so excited to see Cameron for the first time and he looked so handsome (and excited) on the altar and the second we locked eyes, we both started crying. In that moment, I knew we would be together forever and there was no better feeling in the world!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met through mutual friends and started dating shortly after. We would take weekly dates on the Santa Monica bluffs where we would pack a picnic and watch the sunset. Cameron and I have explored the world together and gone to many different countries to taste exotic foods. We love going to concerts and experiencing new things together.

During our Europe trip in 2016, our first stop was Paris, France. We started the day off with sightseeing and then had our first Afternoon Tea! After Tea, we walked over to the Pon de Bir-Hakeim, which has a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower. As the sun was setting, Cameron got down on one knee and proposed. Little did I know, he also reached out to an American photographer living in Paris who captured everything on film! The next day, we flew to Barcelona to meet up with some of our friends from back home who had already known about the engagement! It was so special to be able to celebrate such an exciting time with both Cameron and some of our closest friends.

 

Photography: Allie Lindsey Photography // Coordinator: CAKE Event Company // Florist: Color Theory Collective // Calligraphy: Jen Krause Calligraphy // Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Austin // Videographer: Photohouse Films // Makeup: Makeup by Adrienn // Lighting: PSAV // Linens: La Tavola Linen // Welcome Party & Brunch Rentals: Premiere Event Rentals // Band: The Drywater Band // Welcome Party Band: Steel Betty Band // Photo Booth: Moviewhip // Church: St. Mary’s Cathedral

 

Real Weddings:

Jaimie and Daniel’s wedding at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

featuring Studio This Is

Creative couple, Jaimie and Daniel (she’s a theater producer and he’s a film producer), were married at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Befitting the couple, the celebration planned by Christine Janda provides drama abound. The moody florals and black and metallic reception details were were designed and created by HMR Designs with calligraphy by LBrown Design & Paperie and an artful cake by Alliance Bakery. Studio This Is made great use of all the art and graphic backdropsto create fabulous portraits of the couple and all the details of their day.

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

My grandparents were founding members of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, so I always knew that was where we would get married. I didn’t want a gown that felt bridal in any way, so looked high and low for something easy, effortless, elegant, timeless, and unique. I fell in love with  the entire Valentini line at a trunk show at Dimitra’s Bridal. It was important to me that I feel like myself, so I had my good friend Azeeza design the most incredible jumpsuit for dancing.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

I’m a theatre producer and my husband is a film producer, so it was really important to us that we created a different world for each portion of the wedding with a seamless flow. Daniel walked down the aisle to the Top Gun anthem, and I walked down to Janis Joplin’s Piece of my Heart. We wanted the dinner tent to feel like the coolest pop-up fine dining experience in an unexpected way. The chef did an amazing job with a tasting menu to truly make the dinner an experience, not just a meal. Having lived in several different cities, my friends and family are spread far and wide. Walking down the aisle and seeing all of the people I consider my chosen family in one place, and the man I now call my husband waiting for me under the chuppah, provided me with so much warmth and love. There was a certain ease to the entire day which made it that much more enjoyable for all!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Daniel’s brother was the chair of the board of a nonprofit I used to work for! We’d been friends for years before we started dating. Daniel plays ice hockey, and I was a competitive figure skater as a child, so we were both really excited to see I, TANYA as soon as it came out. As the lights were going down at the movie theatre, Daniel handed me a Chinese takeout box (a nod to my love for Asian food) filled with dark chocolate covered orange peels (my family’s official favorite candy). Under the first few orange peels was a green ring pop, because Daniel knew I had wanted an emerald engagement ring but am too clumsy to ever wear something that soft. Daniel also knew I wanted a hand in designing the ring from my favorite jeweler, so the ring pop was absolutely the right way to go! Daniel suggested we leave the movie to celebrate, and I insisted we stay, as I was so excited to see it. After the movie we walked home debating and discussing different aspects of the film, as two producers would. We were almost back at the apartment when we realized we should probably get some champagne to celebrate! It all felt so natural and so right.

Photography: Nancy Beale Studio This Is // Planner: Christine Janda // Design + Florals: HMR Designs // Stationery: LBrown Design & Paperie // Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art // Bride’s Gown Designer: Valentini // Bridal Boutique: Dimitra’s Bridal // Bride’s Reception Jumpsuit: Azeeza // Hair: Colleen Mortag-Krejczyk // Makeup: Mireille Hamon // Cake: Alliance Bakery // Lighting: Frost Chicago // Entertainment: Michael Lerich Band

 

Real Weddings:

Simone and Jeff’s wedding at Monterey Peninsula Country Club

featuring BrittRenePhoto

Never has black, white and red all over looked as good as on Simone and Jeff’s Pebble Beach wedding day. With it’s stunning backdrop, Monterey Peninsula Country Club set the scene and wedding planner and designer Coastside Couture surely delivered with details perfectly balancing glam and effortless. The work of florist Fionna Floral incorporated a palette of rich reds and autumn fruits and flowed from the bridal party bouquets, to the ceremony arch, to the topiary escort card display to the lush tablescapes. Invitations were by Feel Good Wedding Invites with day-of paper by Heart Paper Soul and a killer cake from Edith Meyer and you can see it all in BrittRenePhoto‘s beautiful images below.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

We were blessed with summer weather in November. The Central Coast is typically chilly and overcast, but our entire wedding week was in the 80’s! It was the one thing we couldn’t plan, and the sunshine made the overall mood feel even more celebratory. We had the most gorgeous autumn sunset on our wedding night, a true cotton candy sky!

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

Right when I got home from Hawaii, my mom and sister came to visit me in LA. My sister surprised me with a few dress appointments she’d made for fun, but I had no intention of actually finding my wedding dress that day! Of course it wound up being at the first place we went to. I’ve always loved Oscar de la Renta because of his Spanish flair and I instantly fell in love with the beading and silk faille train on mine. It was definitely a bit impulsive considering we didn’t have a date set or a venue, but it all worked out perfectly!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Jeff and I have different religious backgrounds, but we still wanted to keep the wedding tradition of doing something together to unite us at the end of the ceremony. We decided to do a “Unity Drive” since our ceremony was on a driving range in Pebble Beach. It was a fun surprise for our guests and something that will always be unique to us. We still can’t believe we both managed to hit our drives wearing a tuxedo and a wedding gown!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Sharing our vows! Jeff’s were so funny and thoughtful, hearing his was my favorite part!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Jeff and I met on a dance floor at a will.i.am concert! There was chemistry the night we met, but we didn’t start dating until 6 years later. He proposed last December at one of our favorite places in Hawaii!

Photographer: BrittRenePhoto // Wedding Planner & Designer: Coastside Couture // Florist: Fionna Floral // Invitations: Feel Good Wedding Invites // Day of Paper Goods: Heart Paper Soul // Venue: Monterey Peninsula Country Club // Dress: Oscar De La Renta // Hair and Makeup: The Hair and Makeup Company // Wedding Cakes: Edith Meyer // Ceremony Musicians: Monterey Strings // Bagpiper: Elise MacGregor Farrell // Band: Chris Clouse // Linen: La Tavola Linen // Transportation: Main Event

 

Real Weddings:

Natacha and Fábio’s Wedding in Portugal

featuring João Almeida Fotografia

Natacha and Fábio were married privately in Cuba the year prior to their stunning wedding celebration in Portugal.  Their venue, Aqueduto Eventos, a one-stop-shop responsible for the stationery, cake, decoration, florals and catering; set the tone with moody lighting, and modern, textural romance. We’re loving the way the live trees look against the graphic, contemporary architecture. Gilded details add hints of glam while Natacha stuns in a Pronovias. Check out all the details of the couple’s big day in these photographs by João Almeida Fotografia.

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Natacha & Fábio | Elegant wedding in Porto from Vanessa & Ivo on Vimeo.

Video: Vanessa & Ivo // Photography: João Almeida Fotografia // Venue, Stationery, Cake, Decoration, Flowers and Catering: Aqueduto Eventos // Dress: Pronovias // Suit: Prassa // DJ: Nuno Rodrigues