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Real Weddings:

Kate and Grant’s Wedding at WestPoint

photography by Rodeo and Co

Kate and Grant dated long distance in college and when Kate visited WestPoint, she would stay at the Thayer Hotel, so it it was a natural choice for the location of their reception following their traditional ceremony at the breathtaking Cadet Chapel. The couple enlisted the help of planners Table 6 Productions to create their stunning day filled with sentimental details in blue and bold, brilliant florals by Faye and Renee, vibrant watercolors by Bohemian Mint and a Momofuku Milk Bar cake that was shipped directly to the reception!! Loving all the joie de vivre in Kate and Grant’s day and it’s all captured here by Rodeo and Co.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

From the photographer: So many aspects! First of all, the cloche jar display wall for the escort cards is one of our favorites. But also the location was so unique! Getting married in the WestPoint Chapel is a super memorable setting because it’s a breathtaking chapel. The entire WestPoint grounds are gorgeous, and I think every guest appreciated just walking around and seeing the amazing views!

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

Kate found her dress at Kleinfeld’s! She wanted something unique but that still had an elegance to it – just like her! I remember her sending us the picture of it, and we were BLOWN away. It is stunning and honestly no picture could do it justice! The beauty is in the details.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Definitely the WestPoint Military traditions added such a personal touch. They sabered champagne for their toast, did a saber arch after exiting the ceremony, had an ice sculpture of the academy’s logo, had a table for their fallen soldiers, and so many other small things! It definitely made it feel super personal for both of them. Also, the Momofuku cake was a must for Kate – we literally used Fed Ex to ship the cake to the Thayer Hotel!!! It HAD to be the original Momofuku, and if you taste it you’ll realize why it’s totally worth it.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The band! They were AMAZING. We have used Hank Lane Music multiple times before, and we are continually impressed with the quality of their bands. Everyone was dancing ALL night and kept raving about them.

 

 

Photographer: Rodeo and Co // Planner: Table 6 Productions // Stationery: Bohemian Mint // Floral: Faye and Renee // Venue: WestPoint Military Academy and the Thayer Hotel // Videographer: Blue Moon Video // Dress: Isabelle Armstrong New York // Dress Store: Kleinfeld’s // Music: Hank Lane // Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar // Beauty: Beautini // Transportation: Peekskill Trolley Company // Live Painter: Peter Pluchino // Rentals: Durant Rentals // Velvet Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

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Real Weddings:

Alison and Jonathan’s wedding at Ebell Long Beach

photography by Maritha Mae

Alison and Jonathan not only wanted to display their love for one another, but also wanted their wedding day to “be a time to honor our friends and family who have supported us through our entire journey.” The couple enlisted Ah Love Events to help them create a day filled with personalized touches and STUNNING details including florals by Emblem Flowers and calligraphy by Taingled Lettering while Maritha Mae was on hand to capture all the gorgeous moments in these images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

For our wedding, Jonathan and I didn’t want to only display our love towards one another, but also wanted it to be a time to honor our friends and family who have supported us through our entire journey. One part that was really important for us was to appreciate our parents during the ceremony. We knew that no gift would be great enough to show how we truly feel, so we wanted to verbally thank them for their great love and influence on our lives. The entire room was in tears when Jonathan started off his appreciation by calling his mom, “Mommy…”. It was such a tender and real moment that showed the closeness of their relationship. Because my mom’s native tongue is Mandarin, I decided to muster up the courage to publicly speak to her in her native tongue, and as I looked into her eyes in that moment, I was just overwhelmed by the love and sacrifices she has shown me.

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

Growing up, I knew my bridal style wasn’t the “strapless, sweetheart, tulle” type. I saw beauty in sleek lines and modern details, and that is why I completely fell in love with BHLDN’s “Estelle” gown by Jenny Yoo. I wanted to feel as completely myself as I could, well, besides the eyelash extensions, and wearing the Estelle gown made me feel bright and effortless. I loved how elegantly the thin straps crossed in the back, the bell shaped skirt that allowed my body to move, and how gracefully my cape/veil draped as I walked down the aisle. The most special part of this dress is that my sister gifted this to me on my birthday! Reading her birthday card for me brought tears to my eyes, knowing that she wanted to dress me on such a special moment!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

I love how weddings blend two people’s universes together. It was important for Jonathan and I to both feel that we were attending our own weddings, not one side more present than the other. I loved how during the planning process, Jonathan knew exactly which song he wanted to walk down the aisle to, and that was the theme song to one of his favorite video games, Legend of Zelda. The instrumental version was actually quite beautiful, and as Jonathan walked down with the biggest smile of his face, many of our guests smiled and rooted along because they knew exactly what was going on. Along with our music selection, I had the best time creating DIY elements to make our day feel more personal. One thing that I will forever treasure is my cape/veil that I made with tulle and some crystals. I love how it’s a unique take on the traditional veil and it totally made me feel like a goddess walking down the aisle.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The ceremony was such a sweet moment for us. It was a time for us to express our love towards one another, our families, and to God. While planning, it felt like each part of the ceremony was just a check off list, but on the day of, the entire atmosphere was filled with so much joy and love, and that was so magical to experience. For our unity symbol, we decided to have communion together to start off our marriage with a clean beginning. It was such a powerful moment because as we stepped away from the guests and through the beautiful arch, we finally had a moment to ourselves to pray and hold each other. That was so special to experience because that marked the beginning to our new lives together!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Jonathan and I are blessed to have many mutual friends who helped form the start of our relationship. Most of our early times together were around our different church communities coming together to play sports or hangout at a friend’s house. After many laughs and some snapchat exchanges later, we decided to take the next steps to build a relationship together! During those times together, we would either find ourselves having picnics at parks, or Jonathan re-watching all the Marvel movies with me just because I didn’t grow up watching them. It was only natural that Jonathan chose a park that we would often visit after a trip to the theaters to propose at. Jonathan sang and played “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” on his ukulele, (which is something he does during every anniversary), got down on one knee, and made history for the both of us! We were able to celebrate with friends and family afterwards, and we are so thankful for that!

Jon + Alison from Memo Collective on Vimeo.

Photographer: Maritha Mae // Wedding Coordinator: Ah Love Events // Floral Design: Emblem Flowers // Videography: Memo Collective Films // Calligraphy: Taingled Lettering // Venue: Ebell Long Beach // Dress Designer: BHLDN // HMUA: Sharon Y. Park // Catering: Tres LA // Rentals: Stephanies Linens // Photobooth: Pixarity // DJ: Will Tseng

Real Weddings:

Emily and Brian’s winter wedding in Phoenix

featuring Marisa Belle Photography

Emily and Brian met in Chemistry class during their freshman year of high school. Emily asked Brian to the movies and ten years later, Brian asked for Emily’s hand in marriage. The adorable couple celebrated their nuptials atThe Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix. Imoni Events and florist The Wildflower AZ  helped establish the gorgeous color palette of wine, blushes, and ivory—perfect for a December wedding!  Stationery is by Celebrations In Paper with a cake by Piece of Cake AZ and it’s all captured in these gorgeous images byMarisa Belle Photography.

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How did you meet?

Brian and I met freshman year of high school in Honors Chemistry and Physics class when we were 14.

Tell us about your first date!

I actually asked him!! Remember, we were only 14 so it is kind of funny how it happened. I asked him to go to the movies with me, and he said okay! We planned to go to the Game Plan with Dwayne THE ROCK Johnson at AMC theaters in Ahwatukee. So that day I got all ready with my friend. I was so excited. I decided to call him before the date to make sure everything was good. He was on his way home from soccer practice. I said, “Are you ready for our date?” He replied, “Oh, I still need to ask my dad first.” At first I got so mad because he wasn’t making our first date a priority!! Well, his dad said yes. We met each other at the movie theaters. Our parents drove each of us separately and dropped us off at the theaters. I think that’s funny. We watched the movie, held hands, and then went home. It was a great first date!

Share with us the moment you both knew you’d found THE ONE!

Every day freshman year Brian would walk me home from high school in the Arizona heat. My house was halfway between his house and school, so he could have easily taken the bus, but he continued to walk me home every single day. I thought that was pretty great. One day (October 25th, 2007 to be exact), Brian was waiting to be picked up from my house after school by his mom. We were sitting there in the front yard on my fake grass, and he said, “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” I replied, “Sure!” It was now official. We would text all the time and we really got to know one another. Brian would always stick up for me, and he was always on my side. I could trust him with anything. His loyalty is what really got me. One day over text I said, “I think I’m falling in love with you.” He replied, “I am feeling the same way.” From then on, our relationship grew stronger and stronger, and we would always talk about the day we would get married. This is when the song “Wouldn’t it be Nice” by The Beach Boys came into play. We wanted to get married so badly and we were only 15! We even talked about getting married right when we turned 18 and graduated high school. We decided to put school first and go to the University of Arizona for college. We made it through the 4 years of college, but still we weren’t engaged. It was the purchase of the ring that was holding us back. He always told me he didn’t want to get me a “temporary ring”, because he wanted the first ring to be THE ring. He wanted it to be special. Well I followed him to Florida so he could pursue his dream of becoming a pharmacist. Our second year living in Florida, he took me to our favorite pumpkin patch, got down on one knee, professed his love for me, I cried, and said YES!

What inspired the design for your wedding?

Brian and I dated for 10 years before he proposed, so you would think I would have what I wanted in mind, but I made myself wait until he proposed to start thinking about what we wanted for our wedding. This made the engagement so much more special, and allowed us to choose things that we were feeling in the moment. I really wanted a moody rustic theme, but still with traditional elements. This led to colors of wine, blushes, and ivory with lots of eucalyptus in the floral arrangements. As for the venue, we were looking for a residential feeling, so we chose the Wrigley Mansion. It is a fun and cozy feeling when you’re all getting ready in the same house. In order to elevate that party atmosphere and marry it with rustic traditional theme, we sprung for a neon sign with our last name and EST. date to hang on a hedge wall behind the head table. To me it just said “Let’s have fun!!” while still being a moment to we can hang in our house for years to come.

What was the most important thing you wanted your guest to feel/enjoy from your wedding?

We wanted them to feel the unconditional love Brian and I have for each other and a rustic romantic feeling. During the reception we wanted them to enjoy a great party with good music and drinks.

Photography: Marisa Belle Photography // Planner: Imoni Events // Florist: The Wildflower AZ // Stationery: Celebrations In Paper // Venue: The Wrigley Mansion // Brides Gown: Maggie Sottero // Hair and Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Natalie // Cake: Piece of Cake AZ // Rentals: The Event Co // Groom’s Tux: Express // Videography: White Locket Films

 

Real Weddings:

Derek and Meredith’s wedding at Middleton Plantation

photography by Stephen Atohi

Meredith always dreamt of a small intimate wedding—one close to the water with homemade flowers and food. However, coming from a very large family, the couple quickly realized that would be impossible. With the help of Ooh! Events, they were able to create an intimate feel, but included all the important people they love. The celebration in dusty burgundy with abundant greenery took place at Middleton Plantation with florals by Ooh! Events and Out of the Garden and Stephen Atohi was on hand to capture it all.

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What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

I always wanted a small intimate wedding. A wedding close to the water with homemade flowers and food. However, coming from a very large family, I quickly realized that would be impossible. With the help of Erin Altman we were able to create an intimate feel, but included all the people that were important Derek and me.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

Our color palette consisted burgundy and navy with hints of mauve and light gray.

Derek and I wanted to get married at Middleton Plantation because that is where he proposed. We envisioned utilizing the farmhouse/industrial look of Middleton Plantation while incorporating elegant details.

What was your favorite moment? Favorite crafted detail?

Meredith: My favorite moment of the night was dancing! Our first dance, the father daughter dance, dancing with my grandparents, and dancing with my new in-laws was so incredibly special to me. I will never forget those moments. I had so many favorite details it is hard to choose. My top three were my mothers DIY lanterns that adorned the entrance to the pavilion. My mother- in- law’s beautifully decorated cake for the bride and groom. And Holly Stiles’ simple but elegant industrial chandelier and string lights.

Derek: My favorite moment was when I took a step back during the reception and saw how much fun all of our guests were having. It was such an enjoyable moment for my bride and I, but made even better to see the joy being shared with those closest to us!

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

Flowers: The three things I wanted in my bouquet were burgundy Calla Lillies, mauve Roses, and Succulents. Hints of greenery included Bay Laurel and Eucalyptus. Holly did a great job of composing cohesive flower arrangements throughout the venue.

The bird bath was special because it was a memorial for passed loved ones who we wished were able to be present with us. It consisted of Italian Rustus, mauve and ivory garden Roses, Dahlias, and Vermeer Calla Lillies, Bay Laurel and Eucalyptus.

My gown: My gown ended up being completely opposite of what I had originally envisioned. I strongly encourage brides to go try on a variety of stiles and fabrics, you may be pleasantly surprised with what you like! When trying on dresses, I had a hard time choosing between modern/edgy and classic styles. At Southern Protocol, I found the perfect mixture of the two. A classic style and fabric with modern neckline and waistline detailing.

Favors: Alison Bland of Boldfish Cookie Company made the cutest (and delicious!) bulldog cookies that resembled our two Bulldogs (Poe and Tater).

Cake: The cake was made by Carmella’s. Our cake was decorated, in part, by Derek’s mother Judi Morningstar (she is an amazing baker and cake decorator in Pennsylvania, but was unable to bake our cake due to traveling logistics).

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

My first piece of advice would be to remember why you are there. Do not worry about small details that are not going as planned; no one is going to notice that a table is in the wrong place, or that flowers are missing on a table. It is a rare moment to have all of your loved ones (especially parents and grandparents) in one place, and it may be the last time. Cherish this special opportunity, enjoy your day with your new husband, and make memories that will last you a lifetime.

Secondly, do not let fear preclude your dream wedding. I originally wanted a small wedding because I am intimidated by being in front of crowds and being the center of attention. However, it is a truly special moment when you get to commit yourself to the person you love, and have the support and attention of everyone who is important to you.

A little about the couple:

Derek and I met at Sullivans Island beach playing volleyball. Luckily we were both on the same team, because we are both fierce competitors and may not have gotten along if playing against each other. Ever since, our love has grown. I now love him more than Uber Eats and Ice cream, and he loves me more than Fantasy Football. I’d say we are doing pretty well!

Photography: Stephen Atohi // Planner: Ooh! Events // Flowers: Ooh! Events / Out of the Garden // Venue: Middleton Plantation // Dress & Bracelet: Southern Protocol/Maddison Row South
// Makeup: WeddinghairbyCharlotte // Bride’s Makeup and Hair: Stefanie Simpson // Entertainment: Other Brothers Entertainment // Ceremony Strings: Carolina Trio // Officiant: Pastor Mike Gaskins// Transportation: Uber // Rentals: Ooh! Events // Rings: Diamond Direct (wedding rings) / Blue Nile (engagement ring) // Bride’s Earrings: Etsy // Bride’s Necklace: Modern Bride // Shoes: Brides: Badgley Mischka // Groom: Johnston and Murphy // Suits: Joseph A Banks // Tent: Skyline Tents // Bar Service & Catering: Middleton Place // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

Real Weddings:

Megan and Lewis’s North Carolina Wedding

photography by Kasey Smith Creative

Megan and Lewis’s North Carolina nuptials were a customized celebration of love, family and fun at the beautiful the Barn of Chapel Hill. The day, planned by Kast Events, fell on the Kentucky Derby with a timeline that hinged on the race happening half way through the cocktail hour. Mint juleps were served, festive attire encouraged and Wild Flora Farm graced every turn with stunning pink florals. Photographer Kasey Smith Creative was on hand to capture all the joy and details of the day in these lovely images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

From the groom: The goal is was to make the wedding special/memorable for us and our guests. From the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the reception. We thought “How do we make each part special?”

Ceremony – We both bring kids to this marriage and had them be part of the wedding. I came down the aisle first with the thought of as everyone else came down the aisle I would greet them at the front with a hug. Everyone had their own music to walk into. From the mom’s walking into Dancing Queen….Best Man and Matron of Honor coming into Lean on Me….the kids coming into ABC by the Jackson 5. We chose our own vows and had a pastor and good friend that brought a lot of energy to the ceremony.

Cocktail hour – We got married on May 4th. It was Kentucky Derby day and the whole timeline hinged on the race happening halfway through the Cocktail Hour. We had TVs brought in for everyone to watch. We encouraged people to wear hats and derbylike attire. I pre-made mint juleps for the bartenders to serve during the cocktail hour. A friend of mine grows mint in his back yard, so I used that for the juleps. The bride and groom were the first to arrive at the cocktail hour. Pictures happened before so we could enjoy the party.

Reception – instead of the traditional father/daughter and mother/son, we did a family dance with all the grandparents/parents/kids on the dance floor dancing to “We are Family” by Sister Sledge. My best man was a friend I served in Iraq with. When we got back from Iraq we got together and he brought a bottle of Hennessy Paradis that sells for $1,000. It had only been opened for his college graduation, and birth of his two kids. We toasted upon our return. I told Megan this story and she surprised me with my own bottle of Paradis. So, for the best man speech we opened my bottle and toasted.

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

Simply Blush was the boutique store where the dress was found. Megan’s friend recommended it. Megan asked me what I wanted the gown to look like. I told she needed to love it first. Megan is fit and I told her to make sure and show it off, but not be risque. Ha!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

The mint, the Hennessy, the walk up songs for the people in the wedding, the vows we chose. Megan and I kicked off the reception with a dual speech. We gave a two minute speech that touched on all the people in the room and how much they meant to us.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The whole day was great but it might have been the 10 seconds after we walked back down the aisle to the cocktail hour where we were alone and then seeing all our friends and family join us.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met at the Crossfit gym we go to. She was new to the gym and we were in the same class for a couple weeks. Chatted a little after a class which turned into a “coffee date” that ended up being 4 hours long. The engagement happened at Forest Theatre on the campus of the University of North Carolina. The Forest Theatre is an outdoor theater surrounded by trees. After dark I had luminaries line the steps down to the stage with a circle in the middle of the stage. She walked down the steps to find me waiting with a ring.

Photography: Kasey Smith Creative // Event Planning: Kast Events // Floral Design: Wild Flora Farm // Invitations: Minted // Wedding Venue: the Barn of Chapel Hill // Wedding Gown: Simply Blush // Hair Stylist: Lillian Self // Makeup Artist: Ashley Bromirski // Film Processing: Indie Film Lab // Tent Rental: Capital Events // Catering: Old Sadie Smoke Shack