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Real Weddings:

Emilie and Steve’s wedding at Parque at Ridley Creek

featuring Emily Wren Photography

Is there anything more delightful than realizing Dahlia season is upon us!? Emilie and Steve’s fall nuptials at Philadelphia’s Parque at Ridley Creek, highlight the much-loved bloom and all of it’s late-summer glory. The couple stated their vows in The-Secret-Garden-esque courtyard on the estate grounds followed by a celebration at the historic mansion. Dahlia-centric florals in a palette of dusty pinks, light peach, deep merlot and barely-there-blush are by Love n Fresh Flowers with coordinating by Peachtree Catering. The couple enlisted Emily Wren Photography to capture their day and you can see it all in these lovely images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Our venue made our wedding so special! Parque at Ridley Creek State Park was our dream venue. The Hunting Hill Mansion is an old stone mansion that once belonged to a family as their foxhunting vacation home. The mansion is surrounded by beautiful gardens and scenery, which made our outdoor ceremony so magical! It is set in the middle of a beautiful state park outside of Philadelphia. Parque was the perfect venue for us not only because of its beauty, but because we are such outdoorsy people. We love hiking all over the world and just being in nature. Starting our future at Parque was just the beginning of a lifetime of adventures.

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

My “dress” is actually a 3-piece from BHLDN. It is a skirt, corset, and lace topper. After looking at dresses at multiple bridal shops, I didn’t find any that I loved until I went to BHLDN. BHLDN had the romantic, less-formal style I was going for. I originally wasn’t looking for a 3-piece, but my mom showed me a photo of what it looked like online and I was in love! The 3-piece was great because you can buy each piece in your size, which is a great feature when you’re petite. I still needed alterations, but not many!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

A special part of our wedding was that we read our own vows. Steve was 100% set on doing this from the start, but I was a little nervous for it especially because I despise public speaking. Writing our own vows definitely took some extra thought, but it made the ceremony so special. Our guests gave us great feedback and really enjoyed that our ceremony had such a personal touch. Another special touch was the gorgeous flowers we had from Love n’ Fresh Flowers. Jennie grows all of her flowers herself on her flower farm in Philadelphia. It is so cool that we were able to support a local farmer! The flowers and decor really brought our venue to another level.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Our first look was such a memorable moment for us! It was a moment we got to spend alone before we tied the knot and before the craziness of the wedding would begin.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Steve and I met in a bar over 5 years ago. I picked him up! It actually took approaching him twice for the sparks to fly. After that night we were inseparable. Steve and I were vacationing in Kauai, Hawaii when he proposed. We were in the middle of a day-long hike on the Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast. It was one of the most jaw-dropping gorgeous hikes of our lives. We hiked to a private beach and then up to a waterfall that we got to swim under. Steve pulled me off the trail for a water break, then proceeded to get on one knee. He couldn’t have picked a better place to propose!

Photography: Emily Wren Photography // Coordinator: Bridget Kelly Peachtree Catering // Florist: Jennie Love Love n Fresh Flowers // Venue: Parque at Ridley Creek // Hair: Taylor McGivney // Makeup: Nicck Townsend // Dress: Catherine Deane / Watters // Caterer: Peachtree Catering // Band/DJ: Nick Diguilo White Label DJs // Transportation: Ace Limousine and Transport

 

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Real Weddings:

Katie and Cameron’s wedding at Olowalu Plantation House

featuring Wendy Laurel Photography

Former bike tour guides, Katie and Cameron, hired Opihi Love Wedding and Events to help them channel their adventurous spirits into their wedding day. Kayaking, hiking, biking, catamaran whale watching and surfing activities with family and friends led up to their big day Olowalu Plantation House which included a seating circle ceremony where those same fiends and family shared in their love. A traditional Hawaiian pig roast, live reggae music during cocktails, fabulous tropical florals by Lois Hiranaga Floral Design, stationery by Evr Paper, calligraphy by Miss B Calligraphy are just some of the details. See it all in these beautiful images from Wendy Laurel Photography —the perfect photographer for capturing the true ‘joie de virve’ of this couple in her signature photo journalistic style.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Everything was a blend of who my husband and I are as a couple and our history. We used to be bike tour guides so we created a week of adventures around our wedding: kayaking, hiking, biking, catamaran whale watching, surfing.

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

Wildbride in San Francisco – Samira is amazing and her shop is so beautiful and curated.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

My priority was getting a roasted pig and Nicole Sharer Events delivered! Live reggae music for sunset + cocktails.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The ceremony was so special and personal. It was my favorite part of the day. We did our seating in a circle so it felt so special to be surrounded by everyone we love.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met in Spain while biking with our company that we worked for at the time. We went on to lead bike tours in Hawaii, Vermont, Glacier National Park and all over California together. We got engaged while hiking in Big Sur.

Photography: Wendy Laurel Photography // Wedding Coordination and Design: Opihi Love Wedding and Events // Flowers: Lois Hiranaga Floral Design // Stationery: Evr Paper // Venue: Olowalu Plantation House // Wedding Dress: Wild Bride // Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy // Hair and Makeup: Maui Makeup Artistry // Catering: Nicole Scharer Events // Video: Driftwood Films // Bar: Garnish Craft Cocktail Catering // Table Settings: Set Maui // Entertainment: Alana Yurkanin and Nuff Sedd // DJ: Maui DJ Services // Officiant: Tawny Avonne Barnard // Rentals: Rio Event Design // Linen: Hostess Haven // Fire Knife: Manutea Nui E

 

Real Weddings:

Melissa and Louis’s Wedding at Casa Ybel

featuring For The Moment Photography

Melissa and Louis made it a point to really personalize their wedding day at Casa Ybel in Sanibel, Florida. They enlisted Fabulously Chic Weddings to help them reflect their personalities with a weekend of festivities that included decked-out, custom welcome bags, a, ice cream sunday bar, steel drums, lawn games and more. Birhgt and happy peachy-hued peonies and cabbage rose arrangements were by Floral Symphony , watercolor invitations by Creative Expressions and a cake by Lady Cakes. See all the details in these lovely photos by For The Moment Photography.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Having all of our friends and family with us for the weekend was so amazing. We tried to keep the wedding on the smaller side so we would be able to spend quality time with everyone (we had 140).  The night before the wedding, we kicked off the weekend with a beach barbecue with lawn games, a steel drum player and an ice cream sundae bar. We had the wedding the following night (see below for personalized details) and a brunch the following morning. We tried to include personal touches throughout the weekend that reflected our personalities and made sure our guests knew how much we appreciated them traveling to be with us.

Our main goal was to have fun and make sure everyone else had fun too. I think we accomplished it!

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

After trying on what felt like a million dresses at a million different stores, I finally found my gown at Kleinfelds. Although the dress was pretty well-covered, it wasn’t completely lined. Instead of adding a lining, we ordered extra lace from the designer and the seamstress (who was absolutely amazing) hand-sewed each piece of lace in strategic places which created a whole new look. She also put some lace towards the top of the bodice to raise the neckline a little bit. I loved it because it created a romantic, garden-y feel, and it felt like a custom dress that was made just for me.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We wrote our own vows which weren’t the easiest to get through but we’re really glad that we did it and were able to really say to each other what we wanted to.

We put a lot of thought into our welcome bags, which were a canvas tote that people could use as a beach bag. We ordered koozies and sunglasses with our logo that we included, put together bags with our favorite treats, and added some other things that people would want to snack on, like granola bars from This Bar Saves Lives. We also made “emergency kits” for each bag that were filled with Advil, packets of sunscreen, and other essentials that people might need.

We also had a guest book with Polaroid cameras so that people could take pictures and write a note for us. We had a ton of fun reading the notes and looking through the pictures when we got home.

We had a lot of fun appetizers at the cocktail hour such as mini lobster rolls and chicken and waffles and made signature cocktails that reflected our personalities.

I surprised Louis with a chocolate peanut butter Boston sports-themed groom’s cake. As a big NY sports fan (now married) to a big Boston sports fan, we are constantly jokingly giving each other a hard time. I thought the best way to say I love you would be with sugar in the form of a cake with his favorite flavors and teams. His reaction was priceless.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Having all of our friends and family with us for the weekend was so special. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone at brunch the next morning!

We also had an amazing band and did not leave the dance floor all night! The most memorable part of the wedding itself was the last song the band played – we had all of our family and friends on the dance floor with us singing and dancing. It was amazing.

Photographer: For The Moment Photography // Design + Planner: Fabulously Chic Weddings // Florals: Floral Symphony // Invitations: Creative Expressions // Venue: Casa Ybel // Hair + Makeup: Duality Artistry // Cake: Lady Cakes // Bridal Shop: Kleinfelds // Band: Wiley Entertaintment

 

Real Weddings:

Gena and Jake’s Colorado Wedding

featuring Michele with one L Photography

Gena and Jake’s family and friends travelled across the country to celebrate in Colorado—the state in which the couple met and call home. Planet Bluegrass offered a beautiful backdrop of mature Cottonwoods and redstone cliffs and the couple enlisted the skills of florist Living Arts Floral to produce fall-inspired creating like a cascading bouquet, ceremony arbor and gathered arrangements. During their vows, Gena produced a list she had written at church camp in seventh grade, where she names the qualities she hoped to find in her future husband. Not surprisingly, Jake fit the bill. Read on for Michele with one L Photography‘s take on the lovely day and enjoy the details in her photos.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

from the photographer: Gena and Jake had no bridal party, so the focus of the ceremony was completely on the two of them and their relationship. They were both in awe that Steve, their officiant and long-time friend, told the story of their relationship exactly as it happened. They were awed to realize someone else knew them and their love story as well as they did, and to be able to share it so flawlessly with their friends and family, many of whom were meeting Gena or Jake for the first time.

One of the things I appreciated most about Gena and Jake’s wedding was they wanted to have 15 minutes alone after the ceremony to just be together, and they even built it into their timeline. It is so easy to get caught up in the business of the wedding day, and this was one way they were able to stop and savor the meaning of the day, and each other.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Gena and Jake both live in Colorado, but their guests traveled from different places, so they wanted to feature some really amazing things about Colorado for their guests. They chose October because fall is their favorite season in Colorado, and Planet Bluegrass featured a river and that dramatic rock backdrop for their ceremony.

Their caterer created uniquely Colorado, true-to-season dishes featuring Colorado peaches and Colorado lamb. For their wedding “cake,” they treated guests to Voodoo Doughnuts.

The music they chose for their day was also unique: Because Judah & the Lion is their favorite band, Gina walked down to aisle to the orchestra version of “Take It All Back,” and they walked back down the aisle, married, to the pop version. Their first and last dances were also Judah & the Lion songs.

 

 

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Gena told me that walking down the aisle and seeing Jake waiting for her was a moment she’ll never forget. She loved how she could actually feel the enthusiasm and excitement he had to marry her. Jake also loved seeing Gena walk down the aisle on the arm of her dad, her number one fan, getting ready to pass that torch along to Jake.

They both loved holding hands in the middle of their gorgeous ceremony site with the river and the dramatic rock wall in the background as they read their hand-written vows.

During their vows, Gena produced a list she had written at church camp in seventh grade, where she names the qualities she hoped to find in her future husband. Not surprisingly, Jake fit the bill. Gena told Jake she knew he might be the one before they even started dating, because “I was never more myself than when I was with you.”

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Gena and Jake had both recently moved to Colorado and ended up meeting one night at Punch Bowl Social. It wasn’t long before they were watching hockey together, going to brunch, playing on the same kickball team, and seeing each other on a regular basis. After just a short time, Jake was pretty sure they were going to be together for a long time. Three and a half years later, they got engaged in Moab, and the rest is history.

Gena + Jake | Wedding Hightlight Film from Christian DaCosta on Vimeo.

Photographer: Michele with one L Photography // Wedding planner: Kathy Miller // Florals: Living Arts Floral // Venue: Planet Bluegrass Lyons, Colorado // Video: Christian Dacosta // Hair and makeup: Jordan Brittany // Bridal shop: Luv Bridal Denver // Bridal gown: Madi Lane Bridal // Groom’s attire: Tom James // Music: DJ Connection // Catering: Under the Sun // Bakery: Voodoo Doughnut // Invitation: Vista Print // Rentals: All Events Rentals

 

Real Weddings:

Chloe and Phillip’s Lake Geneva Wedding

photography by Studio This Is

Does anything scream summer quite like huge, blooming hydrangeas? Chloe and Phillip’s wedding day at the grooms’ parents home on Lake Geneva is filled with the fluffy blooms, along with bright citrus accents and large pink peonies. The bride envisioned the day and enlisted the skills of Birch Design Studio  to make her vision a reality. A watercolor crest, hand-painted by the bride, established the bright color palette and the details followed suite. Florals are by Rishi Patel of HMR Designs, quirky floral cake is by Alliance Bakery, the bride’s detachable-sleeve lace gown is Caroline Herrera from Ultimate Bride. Nancy Beale of Studio This Is was behind the lens capturing all the beauty in these joyful images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

We got married at my husband’s grandfather’s home on Lake Geneva. He grew up going here which made it very special for both of us.

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

I found the dress at Ultimate Bride. It was designed by Carolina Herrera. The intricate lace was beautiful and both my mom and my husband’s mom loved it as soon as I put it on. The removable sleeve was a nice bonus!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

We did our best to make the wedding personal to us. I came up with the color story and I painted the water color crest we used on our stationery. We worked with Kirstin at Smitten Boutique. She was amazing at helping bring my ideas to fruition and fine tuning all the details. My husband’s family dog (Owsley) was the ring bearer. He walked down the aisle with my sister. He had a custom pillow made out of my wedding dress material with our bands tied to it. My best friend from high school sang during the ceremony.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

It was so wonderful to share such a special part of our lives with all our closest family and friends in a very special place. Everyone had the best time and we could feel everyone’s love surround us.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met through our best friends who are now engaged! After 3 years of dating Phil asked me to marry him while we were hiking in Palm Springs, CA.

Photographer: Nancy Beale: Studio This Is // Planning + Design: Marina Birch: Birch Design Studio  // Florals & Decor: Rishi Patel, HMR Designs // Paper Suite: Hand painted by the bride, collaborated with Kirstin at Smitten Boutique   // Venue: Private Residence // Video: Wholehearted Wedding Films  // Wedding Gown: Caroline Herrera at Ultimate Bride  // Cake: Alliance Bakery // Makeup: Jo Levy Makeup // Hair: Gia Leone // Caterer: Food for Thought // Band: Gold Coast All Stars // Linens: BBJ Linens