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Real Weddings:

Marissa and Chris’s Wedding at William Aiken House

photography by Clay Austin

Marissa and Chris had visited and fell in love with Charleston six months prior to their engagement, so the Lowcountry location was a natural choice for their destination wedding. The couple chose William Aiken House of Patrick Properties, for its classic southern charm—a perfect venue for the couple’s ‘tropical elegance’ theme. With help from our fabulous friends at Ooh! Events, the details of the day turned out exquisite—from the garden ceremony to the courtyard reception, the soiree oozed elegance. White florals by Out of Garden and Marissa’s STUNNING Marchesa gown are total standouts and lucky for us they’re captured, along with all the details, in these images by the always-excellent Clay Austin.

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How and when did you meet?

We’ve actually known each other since we were 11. Always friends through middle school and high school, but never romantic until after college when Chris VERY actively pursued me.

Marissa, tell us some about your dress!

Marchesa. It was one the first dresses the bridal consult pulled for me, and before trying it on, I said, “NO WAY.” I eventually put it on and fell in love immediately. It couldn’t have been more of a “Marissa” dress with the A-line with a fuller skirt, the flower appliqués, a hint of sexy with the illusions down the center and on the sides. It was so easy to wear..I never wanted to take it off! I wish I could wear it again.

Where are you from? If not from Charleston, what made you select The William Aiken House for your nuptials?

We’re both from Warren, New Jersey, but now we’re based in Hoboken. We chose Charleston because we knew we wanted destination, but we got engaged right after hurricane Irma so the Caribbean was definitely off the table! We had been to Charleston about 6 months prior to our engagement, and we fell in love with every aspect of it from the weather, to the people, to the bars, restaurants, and shopping, we knew it would be a great place for a wedding weekend. We chose the William Aiken because of the classic southern charm with bold pops of color which set this venue apart from the other historical homes. I knew I wanted to keep everything outdoors, and the grounds made this so doable!

 

What were some special touches and details that made your wedding unique and totally you as a couple?

Oh my god. We did the ceremony outside in front of the pergola, and obviously, a car had to drive by while blasting the loudest rap music, but in terms of special touches, I think the venue as a whole made our wedding unique. Chris and I try to do the unconventional like choosing a destination wedding, so we definitely did not disappoint. We had the cocktail hour on the balcony, delicious and interesting food, the BEST wedding cake I’ve ever had (lemon cake with passionfruit icing), and the sparkler sendoff was definitely something different from the weddings we’ve been to!

Spill the beans on the proposal.

MYKONOS!! Need I say more? Chris planned an amazing sunset dinner; he got down on one knee at sunset, and I said yes!

 

What was your absolute favorite moment from the reception, the both of you?

Our favorite moment of the day was the first look by far. We couldn’t wait to see each other, but in terms of the reception, we loved being on the dance floor together and with all our loved ones.

 

 

Design, Coordination & Rentals: Ooh! Events // Photographer: Clay Austin // Floral: Out of Garden // Ceremony & Reception Venue, Catering and Bar: William Aiken House, Patrick Properties // Officiant: Rick Burton // Videography: Lowcountry Wedding Film // Hair & Makeup: Slate Bridal Hair & Makeup // Ceremony Music: Palmetto Strings // Reception Entertainment: Right to Party

 

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Real Weddings:

Leah and Geoff’s Scottsdale Wedding

featuring Mason Neufeld Photography

Leah and Geoff ventured from their home in Canada to the desert of Arizona with their closest friends and family spending the days surrounding their wedding exploring with their loved ones. Their day which included a ceremony at Scottsdale Old Adobe Mission Church followed by a reception at Desert Botanical Gardens was truly family-focused and intimate. “As much as all the details were special to us,” says Leah “we really just wanted an intimate day that we could be present in and to not worry about anything. It ended up being a dream, were both felt so loved honored and joyful.” See all the beautiful details including the bride’s pink BHDLN gown, custom Fire & Ice Custom Jewelry engagement ring, florals by Chasing Bliss Designs  and gorgeous desert details in these stunning images by Mason Neufeld Photography.

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Details from the photograpaher: They were wed in the Old Adobe Mission Church in Scottsdale. “The church was a unique small heritage site in old Scottsdale and was built by hand in the early 1900s by the first settling Mexicans. It is the oldest catholic church built in the area. Very quaint and simplistic with concrete floors and exposed beams which appealed to our love for warehouse style.” – Leah (Bride).

During the reception they arranged the tables in a circle. The table markers were designed by the groom, and were named instead of numbered so that they could pick words that had meaning to them; love, cactus, waterfall, spirit, and Jedi (the name of their puppy). He used movie “The Wedding” poster theme as inspiration, cactus, and tie dye patterns. They introduced each table of guests to bring an intimate feeling and so that everyone knew a bit more about one another to feel more connected. Geoff’s mother created the dreamcatchers, and the centre doilies were made by his grandmothers.

The bride comes from a musical family, and each of her sisters performed songs that they wrote for their wedding during the ceremony and reception.

Photographer: Mason Neufeld Photography // Florist: Chasing Bliss Designs // Ceremony Venue: Scottsdale Old Adobe Mission Church // Reception Venue: Desert Botanical Gardens // Dress Boutique & designer: BHDLN // Makeup: Skin Apeel Spa, Fountain Hills AZ // Donuts: The Local Donut // Rings: Custom made by Fire & Ice Custom Jewelry Designed by Bride and Groom // Catering: Atlas Catering // Invitation design & print: Groom // Jewelry: Crocus and Ivy // Film Lab: Photovision Prints // Officiant: Catholic priest Fr. Greg Schlarb

 

Real Weddings:

Raina and Scott’s Los Cabos wedding

photography by Ana & Jerome

Raina and Scott’s San Jose Del Cabo celebration is what modern destination wedding dreams are made of. Tropical foliage galore, a clean contemporary aesthetic and serious beach party vibes. The couple enlisted the super-skills of Lauren Lemke for Amy Abbott Events and the rest is history. Lauren suggested their stunning venue, Solaz, and complimented it with “a very clean aesthetic that went with the hotel’s beautiful, modern architecture and beach front setting.” Pina Hernandez utilized neutral tropical blooms and plenty of palms and fronds in the florals while black, white and gold accents in the paper and details by Bells & Whistles added graphic impact. Our friends Ana & Jerome were on hand to capture all the beauty and fabulousness in these gorgeous images.

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How did you meet, and how long did you date before getting engaged?

We met through mutual friends at a 21st birthday party while we were at college at the University of Maryland. We dated for 6 years before getting engaged.

Who proposed? When and how?

Scott proposed when we were in Paris having a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was the last stop on our trip through Europe and he had hidden the ring and surprise from me (and our friends and families) the entire time.

How did you choose your wedding venue?

It was recommended to us by our wedding planner Lauren Lemke.

How did you choose your table decor?

We wanted a very clean aesthetic that went with the hotel’s beautiful, modern architecture and beach front setting.

 

 

Please describe 4 favorite moments:

1- The first time we saw each other before the wedding (first look). It was so special to be able to have a little bit of time to ourselves during all of the excitement. There was so much build up to the day, so being able to share a moment in the midst of it all was unforgettable.

2- When Scott’s dad and cousin got on the stage and played with the band. Everyone was so surprised and it meant so much to us that they had planned such a thoughtful and fun addition to the day.

3- Being able to blend our two cultures together and have a combined wedding ceremony performed by one of our closest friends, as well as elements from traditional Hindu weddings that were coordinated with Raina’s Aunt and Uncle.

4- Listening to all of the stories and memories that were shared with us throughout the weekend during the speeches, toasts and just in conversation. Having all of our closest friends and family in the same place for the whole weekend brought back so many memories and allowed us to make even more.

Photographer: Ana & Jerome // Planner: Lauren Lemke for Amy Abbott Events // Flowers: Pina Hernandez // Invitations: Minted // Paper goods/printed items: Bells & Whistles // Hair & Makeup: Blanc Salon // Dress: Alessandra Rinaudo // Groom’s Attire: State and Liberty // Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell // Bridesmaids Dresses: ASOS, Chrissy Teigen for Revolve, Lulus // Rentals: Del Cabo Events  and Let it Be // Band: Pura Vida

 

Real Weddings:

Danielle and Sam’s wedding at Biltwell Event Center

featuring

Romantic details like lace, a palette of pink and mauve and voluminous gathered bouquets shine in Danielle and Sam’s hometown Indianapolis wedding. They couple were married at Roberts Park United Methodist Church followed by a reception at Biltwell Event Center—a venue they had stumbled upon years prior and joked “we should get married there.” Well, they did, and it’s lovely. Wedding planning by Emily Ventura Designs  with floral design by Grounded Weddings , invitations by Jen Simpson Design, cake by Cake Bake Shop and beautiful images by Chloe Luka Photography.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Our wedding was so special to us because it brought all of our favorite people together! We are so grateful to all of our friends and family who traveled from near and far to celebrate with us. It was the day that we were able to stand in front of the most important people in our lives and share a lifelong commitment to each other. We had our reception at an event space that we accidentally stumbled upon years before we were engaged, and jokingly mentioned that we should get married there, so it was special that we were able to make that happen! We also had our two golden retrievers come for a few pictures, and that was also really special for us!

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

I had an idea of what I wanted when we went shopping for a gown, but was open to trying other styles. However, when I put this one on, I knew it was the one! It was what I always imagined myself in. It was the first one I tried on and I instantly fell in love. It is a Pronovias gown from Marie Gabriel Couture in Indianapolis.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

All of our guest place cards were in little succulents that they could take home to remember the day! We also did a floral tie for the guys which was fun!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The whole day was a dream and so memorable! The part that sticks out to us most is the first look, because we were finally seeing each other on our big day after all of the anticipation leading up to the wedding. At that point, everything felt so real and hit us that this was finally happening!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met in school at Purdue University, and began dating after graduation after years of friendship. Two years later we were engaged on our first camping trip!

Photography: Chloe Luka Photography // Wedding Planner: Emily Ventura Designs // Floral Design: Grounded Weddings // Invitation Design: Jen Simpson Design // Ceremony Venue: Roberts Park United Methodist Church // Reception Venue: Biltwell Event Center // Videographer: Blushing Films // Wedding Gown: Pronovias from Marie Gabriel Couture // Hair: Salon Honey // Makeup: Kate Shaw // Cake: Cake Bake Shop // Catering: Hoaglin // Bridesmaids Gowns: Azazie // Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box // Entertainment Services: DJ Sound Solution

 

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