by riley | Apr 17, 2022 | Wedding
The pandemic pushed many couples to pivot and adjust their wedding plans–making room for smaller curated guest lists, creative and elegantly served meals, extravagant florals, and more. Couples are now also prioritizing their own outdoor spaces for the big day because it allows more intimate celebrations with fewer restrictions. For Steevie and Nabil, this gave them the freedom to rethink some traditions and focus on crafting an experience that’s reflective of who they are. This is what led to the two-day lavish backyard wedding they’ve always wanted.
The couple’s ceremony on the first day had many beautiful traditional details. Steevie looked radiant in her red and gold Lehenga which she paired with a gold jewelry set that her mother wore 35 years ago for her own wedding. Nabil donned an equally elegant blush Sherwani that complemented his bride’s traditional look. Bespoke Decor created a gorgeous mandap, beautiful bouquets, and aisle decor. The surrounding trees on the property served as the perfect backdrop for these glamorous outfits.
For their American reception, the couple looked timeless and chic–with Steevie in a gorgeous beaded gown and Nabil in a classic suit. The stylish boho glam aesthetic during the smaller, more relaxed party felt true to the couple’s style and personalities. The glistening canopy of lights over the head table completed the ultimate romantic and dreamy feel. Keep on scrolling to get inspired for your big day with these beautiful images by Shari and Mike.
The Couple:
Steevie and Nabil
The Wedding:
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Planning A Lavish Backyard Wedding
I’ve always loved the intimacy of an outdoor wedding. We wanted to ensure our guests felt safe and had enough space to maintain distance from others, so the outdoor space made perfect sense for us. Usually, Indian weddings are quite extravagant and it’s easy to get lost in all the chaos during the week of events. The pandemic really made us see what and who was important for us, and we learned that less is more. I’m so happy we got to enjoy our special day without the mayhem as it really put things in perspective for us.
Embracing Culture And Tradition
I’ll never forget when I looked out the window and saw my husband arrive for the ceremony. We’re from different cultures and seeing him embrace mine with our traditional outfits was the best moment. He looked so adorable!
Pandemic Wedding Planning Tips
Don’t plan anything too far in advance. Your ideas of style and decor might change as you get closer to the day. Just keep an open mind and always have a backup plan if things change quickly.
Working With Shari and Mike
Working with Shari and Mike was amazing! It was a long two days for our wedding and they were so much fun to hang out with. Photography was the most important for us because forty years later great photos will be all we have when we can’t remember anything else.
Congratulations to Steevie and Nabil on their lavish backyard wedding! Shari and Mike exquisitely captured all the swoon-worthy details and memorable moments of their lavish two-day celebration.
Intimate backyard weddings like this one are here to stay. The pandemic has redefined weddings forever and changed our overall perspective on what’s really important. At the end of the day, what couples truly want remains the same—to celebrate with the people nearest and dearest to them.
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by morgan | Apr 10, 2022 | Wedding
When Victoria and Michael thought about their wedding and what they wanted it to look like, they knew that astrology would play a big part. With that in mind, they set their sights on all of the details that would make up the astrology-inspired wedding of their dreams.
With the help of Junebug planner Brehant Creations, that’s exactly what they had. From the crystal seating chart and the moon ukulele guestbook to the perfectly terracotta color palette for it all, these are gorgeously boho nuptials you won’t want to miss. And thanks to the gorgeous photos captured by Abigail Renee Photography, you won’t. So keep scrolling and get your Pinterest boards ready for lots of star sign inspiration.
The Couple:
Victoria and Michael
The Wedding:
The Lace Factory, Deep River, Connecticut, United States
Recommended Reading: Denim Jackets For Any Wedding Style
Astrology Inspired Wedding Vision
We spent a lot of time thinking about the smallest details to make our day special and really curate an entire vibe. We were so lucky that our vendors were so on board with this vision and just as excited about it as we were. My vision from day one was to have a seating chart using crystals for each guest. This was brought to life by our planner and calligrapher, who made the signs. I sourced all the crystals from Etsy and local shops. I specifically chose crystals within our color scheme. This display came out so cool, and the crystals were a really unique favor for guests.
Special Zodiac Sign Details
With the help of Chrissy Marie Designs, we were also able to get zodiac sign necklaces and boutonniere charms for the whole bridal party. This was probably one of my favorite details. I also DIY’d the place cards, which included guest names and zodiac signs. This was such a fun detail for our guests, and it was fun for us to learn everyone’s signs.
Choosing The Lace Factory As Their Venue
We pretty much settled on The Lace Factory before we were even engaged. We went there one day for brunch and then rode the Essex Steam Train. It was a blast. The Lace Factory had the vibe we wanted and it was so cool that our guests could take the steam train to our wedding. We didn’t get to ride the train with our guests. But the train did come back after our ceremony to take some photos on it with our wedding party. Those ended up being some of our favorite photos so we’re so glad they were able to come back.
The Most Memorable Parts of the Day
There were so many memorable moments, but two definitely stick out for us. The first was the actual wedding ceremony. It was incredible to finally be there with all the people we love together in the same place. Our ceremony was officiated by a close family friend who took so much time to write a beautiful and personal ceremony. We had live music from our friends Rad and Kell, which also made the ceremony incredibly special. I walked down the aisle to “Crystal” by Fleetwood Mac, and our recessional song was “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac. The other most memorable moment was seeing our reception space. After months of working on all the decor and design, it was awesome to see it all come to life. It was so breathtakingly beautiful and even more magical than we ever could have imagined.
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by riley | Apr 3, 2022 | Wedding
Perfectly Vintage Picnic Brunch Wedding
Brooke and Brandon had a clear vision of how they wanted their wedding to look, but more importantly, how they wanted it to feel. With that in mind–and lots of help from loved ones–their beautiful family-owned farm in Dayton, Ohio was turned into the idyllic setting for their perfectly vintage picnic brunch wedding.
Every detail like the vibrantly colored wildflowers, visually stunning charcuterie boards, warm cinnamon rolls, and a fun coffee cart was thoughtfully chosen by the couple to add to the relaxed vibe they wanted.
The Couple:
Brooke and Brandon
The Wedding:
Dayton, Ohio, U.S
Including Loved Ones In The Wedding Planning
Our wedding was a labor of love since we didn’t host it at a traditional venue. My loved ones came together to help in preparation for the day, which I was so grateful for. My advice for any couple planning their wedding is definitely do not try to do it all yourself. That being said, I made detailed calendar-type spreadsheets for each person that I had given a task so that any information they may need regarding times or plans were all at their fingertips. This helped me delegate, not to have to answer lots of last-minute questions, and my mind was at ease knowing what I had delegated was well-organized.
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by riley | Mar 20, 2022 | Wedding
Moody And Romantic Iceland Seaside Elopement
Since the pandemic hit, more couples are opting to travel the world for a once-in-a-lifetime elopement in a faraway destination. After falling in love with the idea of tying the knot in the land of fire and ice, Ariel and Vic tied the knot in an intimate Iceland seaside elopement. Oh, and did we mention they flew over 18 hours from Hong Kong to get there?!
Their special day was complete with a ceremony with waterfall views–a location that they picked the day of the wedding–zoom calls with family members, and moody portraits taken by Junebug photographer Sunday & White on the foggy coastline. So if you’re considering ditching the idea of a big wedding idea and eloping in your dream city or country, you’re going to want to see this. Just have those passports ready because you’re going to want to book those flights.
The Couple:
Ariel and Vic
The Wedding:
Kvernufoss, Vik, Iceland
A Memorable Drive On The Morning Of The Iceland Seaside Elopement
The most memorable part of the day was driving two hours back and forth from our hotel to the District Commissioners Office to submit the hard copies of our marriage documents. This happened on the morning of our wedding! It was an extremely tight schedule, and my partner and I were rushing a lot during the few hours before our ceremony. Strangely enough, it was also very exciting, and I am so glad that I had her by my side and we managed this together. We also only decided on the location of the ceremony a few hours beforehand. My partner and I drove there in the morning to scope out the location as we had never visited it before. And when we saw it, we just knew this was the place. That was a very special moment for us.
Tying The Knot During A Pandemic
Getting married during COVID is a truly challenging but also very memorable time. We tried to prepare as much as we could but also embraced the idea of the process being quite unpredictable. There was constantly an element of “winging it,” especially during the pandemic, in addition to Iceland being well known for having very unpredictable weather. We only decided on our wedding location on the day of our wedding!
Exploring Iceland After A Long Trip
I am so proud that my partner and I managed to plan our trip and get married during the pandemic. We flew all the way from Hong Kong to Iceland, which is a country neither of us had visited before. We got married in front of a waterfall, then went on our honeymoon touring the rest of Iceland for two weeks. It was short but sweet, and we had some hiccups along the way, but at the end of the day, it’s being able to overcome the little obstacles that make the whole process so memorable.
Congratulations Ariel and Vic, on their Iceland seaside elopement! We’re so thankful that Junebug photographer Sunday & White was there to capture the intimate moments of their special day. See more of their work in our collection of wedding professionals from around the world.
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by morgan | Mar 6, 2022 | Wedding
The world may have stopped in 2020 and separated us from each other, but it’s also pushed people to rediscover what truly matters in this life. Love in the time of Covid-19 is really tough but Farah and Malcolm’s lovely and unique Peace Arch Park micro wedding proves that true love conquers all, even a pandemic.
The couple didn’t let the uncertainty keep them from moving forward with their wedding plans and life together, so they decided to get creative instead. It wasn’t an easy feat and was nothing short of miraculous but with the help of their wedding planner City Fête Events, they managed to successfully bring together their families from two sides of a border to celebrate their big day with them.
If you and your partner are experiencing pandemic-related wedding challenges, keep scrolling until the end—this is definitely the inspo you need to see. So get your tissues ready, their touching story and the beautifully captured moments by Felipe Callado might just move you to tears.
The Couple:
Farah + Malcolm
The Wedding:
Peace Arch Park, United States and Canada border
Peace Arch Park Micro Wedding—Together At The Border
The venue that held our ceremony is what we are most proud of. It sits on the border of the United States and Canada, and it has been a beacon of hope for families separated by the border closure during the pandemic. We’re both very family-oriented, so it was important that our family could attend the ceremony. The Canadian-American border has been closed since the start of the pandemic. We didn’t know how long it would take for the world to go back to normal and we didn’t want to put our life together on hold until then. So we decided to get creative instead. Prior to choosing Peace Arch Park, we scouted several options along the border and even considered the middle of the road, where a ditch separated the two countries. Luckily, we found out that there was a unique treaty allowing Canadians to enter the U.S. side of the Peace Arch Park by foot, despite the border being closed. This wedding was a true labor of love for everyone involved. Getting married at the border will always remind us that, together, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.
The Groom’s Favorite Memory Of Their Peace Arch Park Micro Wedding
My most memorable part of the day was seeing Farah walk down the aisle, surrounded by our family and friends. She looked beautiful. I couldn’t stop smiling as I thought about our time together and what our future might hold. For me, it felt like the entire wedding came together at that moment.
Moving Forward Beyond The Pandemic
We chose to get married at the border because we didn’t want to live through the uncertainty of waiting for the world to change in order to move our life forward. We decided that no matter what, we would get married on June 20 at the park. We applied for a special permit from the park to host the ceremony, but the Park was not issuing permits at the time. If we didn’t have a permit in time, we would have proceeded with the ceremony with only our immediate families and our officiant. Luckily, the restrictions began to lift and we were issued a permit, which allowed us to include more of our family and friends on our special day from both countries.
Overcoming Challenges With Creative Solutions
Be open-minded about what a wedding could be for you, and use it as an opportunity to liberate your creativity. We encountered many hurdles planning this international ceremony while the border was closed. We had to be very creative about our options and always had a Plan B—and C and D and E, in case things changed. As our ceremony neared, some COVID restrictions eased up. This allowed us to do more, but it also meant we had to quickly shift details that had already been planned. As capacity restrictions were lifted, we were allowed to double our guest count! We were so happy we could have more loved ones attend, and our planner was crucial in helping us make these updates.
The Bride’s Favorite Memory Of The Day
Due to the pandemic, we did not have a traditional reception or first dance. However, our photographer Felipe Callado suggested a private first dance in a nearby gazebo. This was a wonderful time for us to just be together and enjoy each others’ company. We also took photographs at the border and under the Peace Arch. Spending time at the official border marker made us appreciate the creativity and perseverance that went into making this day possible.
Celebrating Cultural Diversity
We wanted to find a way to infuse our cultures into the wedding weekend, so our families hosted a small casual picnic at the park the day before the wedding, where we performed pre-wedding rituals. We had a close family friend, Hunaid, officiate our wedding, and he was able to personalize the ceremony by interweaving stories about us and our families.
With the help of our planner, City Fête, we DIY’d all our decorations, except for the flowers on the arbor. To bring the whimsical theme to life, we found lanterns to line the aisle with and had to get special permission from the park to use shepherd hooks to give them height. We filled the lanterns with florals for some pops of color. We also decorated two large lanterns to place underneath the arbor for pictures and added a bubble machine to run as the guests arrived and for the recessional. Since there wasn’t a formal reception, we had a light lunch to serve our guests and decorated the park benches with chargers and mason jar centerpieces. We made the dessert table and wedding cake cutting a central focus for lunch and decorated it with lanterns, flowers, cake, cupcakes and desserts from both of our cultures as well.
Working With Photographer And Filmmaker Felipe Callado
Felipe Callado and his team were awesome. They made the best use of all the time that we had with them. Moreover, they used their experience to help us navigate situations we didn’t think to discuss—like deciding how much cake to smear on each other’s faces during the cake cutting. They were easy to work with and we loved how they captured our big day!
Congratulations to Farah and Malcolm for successfully pulling off their inspiring Peace Arch Park micro wedding. We’re so grateful that Felipe Callado and his team were there to capture the couple’s deep love and commitment for each other and their families. They proved that even in these uncertain times, it’s always great to have something to look forward to.
Just like Farah and Malcolm, getting married during the pandemic might be challenging and may end up looking different than originally planned, but it’s not impossible. Whether it happens on a smaller scale or it’s a huge celebration, working with a wedding planner is a good way to stay ahead of surprises.
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