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Jaw-Dropping Helicopter Elopement in Alaska *

Jaw-Dropping Helicopter Elopement in Alaska *

by | Dec 12, 2021 | Wedding

 

Getting married is sometimes described as taking your love to new heights. For some couples, this means literally new heights. Bianca and David’s helicopter elopement in Alaska was just that. After their wedding was canceled multiple times due to the pandemic, the two opted for an adventurous Seward elopement that can be summed up in one word–epic.

Despite the hiccups during pandemic wedding planning, the day turned out beautifully with the help of their photographer Donna Irene Weddings, who doubled as their wedding planner. From the emotional vows to an elopement picnic complete with a wedding cake baked by the bride, this elopement is the perfect example of how incredible a day can be–big or small–when it revolves around you as a couple and everything that you love.

We know that you may not be convinced to ditch the big wedding for a mountaintop elopement yet. But after one look at these beautiful images you’ll be booking flights to your dream destination. 

Donna Irene’s Experience Shooting Their Special Day

We flew into Anchorage and then drove to Seward, a small town on the coast of Alaska. Bianca and David stayed at Windsong Lodge, got ready in their cabin, and did their first look in the forest on the property. Bianca was on the Great American Baking Show and even brought her own cake on the plane and decorated it on the spot with extra blooms from the florist!

In the evening, we took off on our helicopter tour with Seward Helicopters and were instantly blown away by the rugged mountain peaks all around us. We made our first landing on a snowy mountaintop that no one had ever been to before, and it all felt too beautiful to be real. We explored the peak and just took in the views and shot photos before heading to our second landing. 

Once there, the helicopter crew set up their sunset picnic while they exchanged their vows on a grassy cliff. They exchanged their vows and rings, said I do, and then popped champagne. Then they shared a drink and the cake the bride had made on the picnic setup they brought themselves!

The Couple:

Bianca and David

The Wedding:

Seward, Alaska

Why A Helicopter Elopement In Alaska

Planning a wedding during a pandemic is stressful. We had to cancel our large wedding events on two separate occasions, which caused a lot of friction but ultimately led us to an incredible experience eloping in Alaska.

A Memorable Helicopter Ride

Easily the most memorable part of the day was stepping off of the helicopter and arriving on our remote mountain top. As we left the helicopter we knew that this would be the place that commemorated our love. The spot was remote, peaceful, magical, and majestic all at the same time. The snow was untouched, the sun was shining, and the air was crisp and pure. Everything about the scene was so calming and beautiful. We paused for a moment to take it in. We’re so thankful that Seward Helicopters scoped this location specifically for us!

Recommended Reading: Cute Wedding Boots For Fall And Winter Weddings

 

Including DIY Touches To The Day

Bianca is a designer and baker, so she ended up having lots of fun pulling together different elements for our day. She made her polymer clay textured earrings, our watercolor and hand-bound vow booklets, the picnic set up, and our delicious wedding cake.

Recommended Reading: The Prettiest National Parks For Your Wedding

 

A Wedding Cake That Traveled With The Couple

We only took a bottle of champagne and the mini-wedding cake with us to the mountain. We went with one of our favorites and made a 4.5-inch, three-layer roasted pistachio cake with vanilla bean Swiss meringue buttercream, all covered with luxurious white chocolate ganache and flowers from our florist. As a baker, being able to make my own wedding cake was a dream come true. I whipped it up at home right before we left for Alaska and was able to transport it easily. I like to call it our little adventure elopement cake!

The Wedding Team:

Photography & Event Planning – Donna Irene Weddings
Floral Design – Fireseed Florals
Cake – Bianca Bakes
Videography – Marco Coelho
Wedding Dress – Willowby by Watters
Groom’s Apparel – Indochino
Rings – Valerie Madison & Jewelry Escorial
Transportation – Seward Helicopters

 

Congratulations again to Bianca and David on their helicopter elopement in Alaska. Big thank you to Donna Irene Weddings for planning and capturing the beauty of this adventurous day. To get inspired for your own epic “I do’s,” check out these stunning national parks that make the perfect elopement backdrop!

Romantic Oceanside Elopement With A Moody Color Palette *

Romantic Oceanside Elopement With A Moody Color Palette *

by | Dec 9, 2021 | Wedding

With a love as deep as the ocean, it only felt right for Tuong An and Tuan Anh to exchange “I do’s” with the sea as their witness. This couple dreamed of an oceanside elopement that was bold, show-stopping, and honored the venue’s natural beauty while still incorporating details that authentically represented their love. 

Florals by The Dang Studio filled the asymmetrical ceremony arch that framed the wavy Vĩnh Hy Bay backdrop. A vow rug was also the cherry-on-top addition, making for a special keepsake that’ll last long beyond their wedding day. Both of these simple details sure made a splash. 

If you’re not yet convinced an elopement is right for you, you will be after catching one glimpse of these images by Junebug member ​​Thien Tong Photography. From the handwritten vows to the intimate sunset reception, these preserved memories showcase the moments that make an elopement worth it.  

Photographer’s Thoughts On This Oceanside Elopement 

Born in a coastal land, An grew up desiring that one day she could tie the knot with her life partner surrounded by waves, sunlight, and wind. That’s why An and her soon-to-be husband chose Vinh Hy Bay—one of the most beautiful with untouched wilderness beaches in Vietnam. Together with the harmony of waves they read their vows, laughed, and cried.

The Couple:

Tuong An and Tuan Anh

The Wedding:

Vinh Hy bay, Ninh Thuan

The Importance Of Choosing The Right Vendors 

Our biggest piece of advice is to choose the right vendors. Select vendors that listen to what you want and turn all of your ideas into reality—no matter how crazy they are. 

A Dream Made A Reality 

I was born in a coastal city so my dream is to be able to exchange kisses and rings with my groom to mark a memorable milestone in my life near the seaside. 

Working With Photographer ​​Thien Tong Photography 

​​Thien Tong Photography is super friendly and warm. He’s devoted to his work and sharing our story. He made us feel really comfortable in front of the camera. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Thien Tong Photography.
Floral Design – The Dang Studio
Makeup Artist – Tú Tạ
Wedding Dress – Pansy Bridal

 

Congratulations to Tuong An and Tuan Anh on their sunset oceanside elopement. And big thanks to Junebug member Thien Tong Photography for preserving the beauty of this celebration. An intimate wedding that’s sure to convince couples to trade their traditional wedding for an adventurous elopement.

 

Effortlessly Beautiful and Stress Free Backyard Wedding *

Effortlessly Beautiful and Stress Free Backyard Wedding *

by | Dec 5, 2021 | Wedding

As the years have gone on, backyard weddings have grown increasingly popular. From the pandemic to couples looking to save some money on their special day, more newlyweds are tying the knot in the comfort of their own home. When you think of backyard weddings, you may think of DIY decor and a small guest list. But that’s no longer the case–and Nour and Hussein’s stress-free backyard looks like it belongs in a magazine.

With the help of planner ASH Events Sydney, the bride’s backyard was turned into an ethereal ceremony space. It oozed elegance with white drapery, an ancient Greecian inspired backdrop, and over-the-top floral arrangements from Sweet Botanica. 

And, as if the decor wasn’t enough, Nour looked like a true angel in her custom Leah Da Gloria off-the-shoulder floral embroidered a-line gown. There’s something so magical about seeing such a whimsical gown paired with a city skyline–which photographer and Junebug member Salt Atelier captured beautifully. 

From the ceremony that belongs in Vogue to the zaffeh in the streets of Sydney, this one is sure to inspire anyone looking for backyard wedding inspo. 

The Couple:

Nour and Hussein

The Wedding:

Sydney, Australia

Drawing Inspiration For The Bridal Fashion

I spent a lot of time browsing on Instagram and Pinterest. I would pick and choose parts from different sources that I liked and put them together to fit my own style. We live in a time where the world is at our fingertips. I was able to see pictures from stylists and weddings from all around the world and draw inspo. I also really trusted all the people who were involved in putting together my wedding day look. From the dress to makeup and hair, I would tell them a little about what I like and what my vibe was and asked them to come up with something to add their touch to the concept because I knew they were all so great at their craft and really didn’t want to limit their creative abilities.

Personalizing The Ceremony With An Important Officiant

The sheik who married us had also married my sisters and their partners (who I adore). It was a small detail which I felt was special and still hold close to my heart.

A Memorable Post Ceremony Wedding March

In Lebanese culture, after the ceremony we do zaffeh–a wedding march with drummers and dancing–while leaving the bride’s home. This was the highlight of our day! All our neighbours came out and cars stopped to watch which blocked off our street. Family, friends, and strangers all gathered on the road in front of my home dancing to the beat of the drums to celebrate.

Ensuring Wedding Planning Was Stress Free

To be honest I really wanted to keep the stress to a minimum when planning the wedding. I never wanted to look back at the time leading up to our wedding and remember it to be a time full of stress. So I did everything I could to ensure the stress was limited (which admittedly didn’t always happen), hence why I think it so important to have a strong support system, which for me were my sisters and my event stylist.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Salt Atelier
Event Planning – ASH Events Sydney
Floral Design – Sweet Botanica
Catering – Home Catered Catering
Cake – Sydney Dessert Co.
Makeup Artist – Ema Emily
Hair Styling – Peta Winter
Wedding Dress – Leah Da Gloria
Groom’s Attire – Rico Jordan
Marquee – Sydney Marquee Empire
Draping – SS Draping
Coffee Cart – Cart Hire
Lettering – Letters By LouLou
Illustrations – Popcorn Studio
Rings – Diamond Emporium
Rentals – The Treasure Room
Transportation – Unique Wedding Cars

 

Congratulations to Nour and Hussein on their stress-free backyard wedding! 

Elegant Winter Wedding With A Disco Ball Ceiling *

Elegant Winter Wedding With A Disco Ball Ceiling *

by | Dec 2, 2021 | Wedding

Sleek black and white attire, disco balls, and a dramatic reception outfit change—everything about this elegant winter wedding is stunningly epic. With the help of wedding planner Bubbly Events, Cassidy and Keenan we’re able to bring their dream reception to life after an intimate ceremony months before. Talk about the best of both worlds. 

Wrightsville Manor—a historic venue located in North Carolina—created an enchanting atmosphere. It was complete with towering oak trees draped in twinkle lights and a cozy fireplace lined with floral arrangements by Designs by Dillon. To add a pop of color to their black and white fashion, this couple incorporated soft pink and yellow florals in the bouquet, along the fireplace mantle, and on the candle lit reception table. 

This cozy celebration is packed with inspiration that couples will want to use as influence for their own chilly winter weddings. Don’t believe us? We’ll let these images from The Family Films speak for themselves. But make sure to have your Pinterest boards ready. We guarantee you’ll want to revisit these unique ideas. 

The Couple:

Cassidy and Keenan

The Wedding:

Wilmington, North Carolina

Family Involvement Makes For a Personalized Day 

My brother in law officiated our ceremony and he made it incredibly personal. He’s like a brother to me and very close with my husband so it was an honor to have him up there on our wedding day. We also had my dad do our communion which was an intimate moment to share together. Including our family during our ceremony was really important to us and helped make it feel more personal.

 

 

Watching Your Dream Become A Reality 

We’re proud of the way the design came together. From disco balls to table settings, to the hanging tinsel, to my glitter pant suit—it just felt like us. We knew we wanted disco balls hanging in the clear tent for dancing but worked really hard to pull that detail into the ceremony and dinner while still trying to keep a romantic, elevated feeling. Overall the whole day was so aesthetically pleasing and while attention to detail drove us crazy some days, it paid off on the wedding day. We know weddings are about so much more than the design but watching your vision come to life is so special. Our talented wedding vendors really took our ideas and made it happen. They worked so hard for us and it definitely didn’t go unnoticed.

 

A Postponed Reception That Didn’t Disappoint 

We didn’t really know what to expect for this “second” wedding. We didn’t think anything could top our intimate ceremony in March, but boy were we wrong! The most memorable part of the day was how overwhelming it all was—in a good way. We felt so loved by our friends, family, and vendors. It was really intimate still but we had the time of our lives. Everyone knew everyone and the day was full of emotion. 

 

Working With The Family Films 

Our photographer is so special to us. We consider her family. This was our second wedding because of COVID and in March after we had to postpone everything, we decided to still get married at the beach with our immediate families. Our photographer offered to come in March so that we could have those memories on camera, which meant the world to us. By the time December came around Beks and her sister Anna (our videographer) just felt like family to all of us. Keenan and I felt so comfortable in front of them and their presence is truly such a gift to their couples.

Plan A Day That Authentically Celebrates You 

I think my biggest piece of advice would be have a little fun with it! Don’t be afraid to do something you haven’t seen before. I think people thought I was crazy when I told them my idea, but disco balls brought me joy and my mom and I had so much fun envisioning the day together. It just doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks—if your dream day is disco balls and tinsel (like mine was) then just go for it!

A Surprise That Made This Elegant Winter Wedding Special

Since this was a COVID wedding a lot of our family members couldn’t be there. My sisters surprised us with a slideshow of videos from all of our favorite people who couldn’t be there. They wished us well and toasted with us. There wasn’t a dry eye for that portion of the day. 

Dancing Under The Stars And Disco Balls 

We danced for hours under a clear tent, with these beautiful hanging disco balls. It just felt like a dream. Everyone who was there was simply so happy to be together and were genuinely excited to finally get to celebrate Keenan and me so it felt really special. 

 

 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Family Films
Event Planning – Bubbly Events
Reception Venue – Wrightsville Manor
Floral Design – Designs by Dillon
Catering – Middle of the Island Catering
Cake – One Belle Bakery
Cotton Candy – Spinning Cotton
Makeup Artist – Dollface by Melissa
Hair Styling – Set Blow Out Bar
Rentals – Party Suppliers and Rentals
Signage – Wholesomely HanMade
Live Painter – Hannah Faith Creations

 

Congratulations to Cassidy and Keenan on their elegant winter wedding. And big thanks to photographer The Family Films for preserving these intimate wedding day moments that’ll be cherished by this couple forever. 

Cassidy and Keenan’s main piece of advice was to not “be afraid to do something you haven’t seen before” and we couldn’t agree more. If you’re wanting a wedding that’s unlike any other, we’re here to help. Kickstart your wedding planning process by checking out this guide for planning a unique wedding.

 

 

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Adventurous Island And Mona Museum Wedding *

Adventurous Island And Mona Museum Wedding *

by | Nov 30, 2021 | Wedding

Adventurous Island And Mona Museum Wedding

An intimate elopement or a large extravagant celebration—why choose one when you could have both? With help from wedding planner Honeyfig, Frank and Naomi planned a day that incorporated elements from multiple wedding styles. They started with a forest elopement ceremony involving their children and ended with an epic unplugged reception in a museum. 

The Museum of Old and New Art—Australia’s oldest private museum—served as entertainment and a stunning canvas for reception decor. To add a personalized touch, jewel-toned floral arrangements—by The Floral Criteria—dressed the space in a simple, yet show-stopping manner. 

Photographer Jon Gazzignato captured every detail that’ll have nontraditional couples feeling inspired. Maybe you’re looking for ways to decorate your elopement ceremony. Maybe you’re in search of inspiration for ways to twist traditional wedding elements and make them your own. Whatever it may be, you’ve come to the right place. Get your Inspiration boards ready and get scrolling. 

More From Photographer On This Mona Museum Wedding 

The couple eloped in the forest on Bruny Island with their kids before taking the ferry back to Hobart and having an all out stylish wedding at the Mona Museum. I love the mix of intimacy, adventure, style, and party all in one day. The couple loves nature and art so combining those two things made for a truly special wedding. 

The Couple:

Naomi and Frank

The Wedding:

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Creating A Day That Fully Represents You 

We’re extremely proud of what we created. We’re not wedding people. So, we wanted to create a full day of festivities that showcases our interpretation of what a wedding means to us—ditching wedding traditions that didn’t hold true to our beliefs. And incredibly, we achieved this.  

Creating A Day That Fully Represents You 

We’re extremely proud of what we created. We’re not wedding people. So, we wanted to create a full day of festivities that showcases our interpretation of what a wedding means to us—ditching wedding traditions that didn’t hold true to our beliefs. And incredibly, we achieved this.  

Hand Written Vows Add A Personal Touch 

Our ceremony was deeply private. Our vows were written and spoken together with only our children as witnesses. We flew kites at the beach and celebrated with a picnic before catching the ferry to head towards our second unplugged reception, which was a small gathering of our closest friends and family.  

A Special Venue That Doubled An Entertainment 

We cut the cake first, then we took our wedding party through the art museum on a treasure hunt and into interactive art experiences. Finally ending in the most incredible restaurant to indulge in the finest food and wine on offer in Tasmania. Every single part of our day makes me smile and feel like we cherry-picked the best parts of our life and pulled it all together into one incredible fiesta. This is the wedding I would dream of being invited to and—even better—it was all ours.

Little Moments Make For The Most Memorable 

Walking into the ceremony in the forest with my soon-to-be-husband by my side was the most memorable moment for me. Our three children were standing and waiting for us in the most stunning forest location. We had chosen that location as a family the day before, making it even more special. The looks on their beautiful little faces when they saw us walk in will never leave me.

Advice For Couples Planning A Unique Wedding 

My advice to anyone planning their wedding is twofold. Firstly, have complete and utter trust in the talented team of wedding vendors assisting you. They’re all professionals and know what they’re doing. Choose vendors that you have a genuine connection with and give them your trust, they will make sure that your day is seamless and special. My second piece of advice is to relax, take a deep breath, and remember this is a celebration of love. There is no place for stress and angst in the process and certainly not on your wedding day.  

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jon Gazzignato
Event Planning – Honeyfig
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Museum of Old and New Art
Floral Design – The Floral Criteria
Officiant – Nat Weaver
Invitation Design + Signage – Blossie
Makeup Artist – Tamsin Nolan
Hair Styling – Ben OBrien
Rings – Metal Urges

 

Congratulations to Frank and Naomi on their Mona museum wedding. And big thanks to photographer Jon Gazzignato for preserving these precious moments—proving that cookie-cutter weddings are overrated. Bring on the unconventional venues and unique celebrations! 

 

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