by riley | Nov 12, 2020 | news
Caitlin and Farley’s Australian-inspired wedding at The Highlands Estate was full of tiki drinks, an oyster bar, a life-size cardboard cut out of Steve Irwin, and a 90-year-old grandpa dancing to Marvin Gaye. Sound fun? We know! The couple proved they know how to throw one serious party.
With the help of planner Brianna Lopez, the two combined their love for the land down under and San Francisco–where the two met. While we could do all of the talking about this colorful DIY affair, we love how their photographer Paige Nelson described the details!
Photographer Paige Nelson On The Couple’s Special Day
The couple currently lives in Australia and planned their destination wedding day at The Highlands Estate–just outside San Francisco, where the couple began their journey. Farley has a Ph.D. in Ornithology, and his research focused on the Australian magpie, so his suit jacket lining had a custom embroidery of the bird. All of his groomsmen had personalized Indochino jacket linings with embroidered inside jokes as well.
Caitlin, Farley, and her mom made the cheesecloth table runners. The mother of the bride made all of the bouquets. Her sister, Megan, made the three cakes that featured handmade toppers of their cat and dog. Her best friend and bridesmaid, Sarah, did her hair and makeup.
The oyster bar–one of Caitlin and Farley’s food obsessions–opened at cocktail hour. Farley is passionate about tiki drinks and Caitlin loves gin, so the couple offered a “his” and “hers” cocktail. For her speech, the groom’s sister brought in a life-size cardboard cutout of Steve Irwin.
The Couple:
Lauren and Erik
The Wedding:
The Highlands Estate, Cloverdale, CA
Combining Australia and San Francisco
Our relationship evolved in San Francisco, and we spent a lot of time exploring the more rural areas of California. We both love the Californian landscape–vineyards mixed into the rolling hills and the surrounding forests. Australia became home for the last four years, so it was important to combine the two lifestyles together. Family and community are incredibly important to us, so we wanted to create a vibe that connected everyone and everything that matters to us. This is how the farm table, family-style meal came to be. Touches like the table names of where our guests traveled from, hints of our obsession with games, and our two favorite cocktails helped us create this personal “us” vibe.
Why The Highlands Estate
We wanted an outdoor venue. We liked the option of having the barn in case the weather was bad. What really sold us were the included farm tables. Those were non-negotiable for me, and including them in the venue cost sealed the deal.
Personalizing The Ceremony
Farley’s father and best friend were our celebrants. Mike told a personal story of us, and Jack (Farley’s Dad) did the official ceremony. We did a handfasting ceremony with rope from his family sailboat. We said our own vows. Then, we toasted with everyone after we said, “I do.”
Wedding Planning Date Nights
Farley established “wine wedding Wednesdays” where every Wednesday for most of the year in the lead-up, we ate dinner and drank wine while we planned. Not every night was productive, some ended in fights, but it meant the wedding was planned together, and it ensured both our voices were heard.
A Non-Stop Dance Party
The dance floor was incredible. We kicked the reception off with a shared first dance–inviting our guests to join us, rather than watch us. This ignited a dance party that had nearly every single guest on the dance floor most of the night. Caitlin’s Irish 90-year-old reserved Grandfather even grabbed her for a dance that shocked everyone.
Congratulations again to Caitlin and Farley on their colorful DIY Aussie-inspired wedding at The Highlands Estate. We’re so glad Paige Nelson Photography was there to capture every detail. If you’re feeling inspired to add some DIY touches to your wedding, check out our DIY wedding guide where we breakdown everything you need to know about planning your own!
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by riley | Oct 30, 2020 | Wedding
Lauren and Erik’s boldly boho La Jolla wedding is proof that backyard weddings can be drop-dead gorgeous! As a wedding planner herself, Lauren took charge of the planning and made sure that their friends and family got to enjoy their wedding day since the couple had already been married for five years.
With bold floral arrangements from Layered Vintage, mismatched bridesmaid dresses, and a fashion-forward Rue de Seine gown, the day was a perfect combo of intimate and whimsical. And we can’t help but swoon over Lauren’s custom flower crown added to her Lack of Color hat, which perfectly matched the floral lace applique on her dress!
Keep scrolling to see a stunning beachside ceremony, adorable portraits with the couple’s son, and an impromptu photoshoot at a coffee shop–all beautifully captured by Gabriel Conover.
The Couple:
Lauren and Erik
The Wedding:
Calumet Park, La Jolla, California
Why A La Jolla Wedding
Originally I had planned to get married at a venue in Temecula, but God had a different plan. We ended up downsizing the wedding. I’m so glad we did because making it intimate was so meaningful. We chose to have the ceremony on a cliff overlooking the ocean which I loved because the scenery was beautiful without being cheesy. Our reception was held at my brother’s house in Bird Rock, which I loved because it was really special to celebrate there, and it’s actually located across the street from where my sister in law grew up. Her parents still live there, so it just added to the whole romantic, nostalgic feel of the day.
The Bride’s Most Memorable Moment
The whole day was so memorable! We had waited five years after already being married to finally do this in front of our friends and family, so I just really appreciated every minute of the day. My girls were so excited for me to have my day finally. They made me an avocado toast bar in the morning, which was pretty epic. But I think the best, most powerful moment was realizing that I was still SO nervous (in the best way) to walk down the aisle! My hands were shaking, and I had the biggest butterflies. My heart just leapt with joy when I turned the corner and saw Erik at the end of the aisle. He’s not the type to cry, but he definitely used all his strength to hold it back, which I totally noticed, and it gave me the biggest cheesiest grin.
Boho West Coast Wedding Vibes
Ultimately, I wanted to create something intimate, nostalgic, and simply romantic. I have a very modern, boho, west coast kind of style because that’s where I grew up, and I wanted that to reflect in my design–from the deep-colored rugs and rattan furniture to the gorgeous organic style floral arrangements to the mixed bridesmaid dresses. I wanted every detail not necessarily to match but flow.
Congratulations again to Lauren and Erik on their romantic boho La Jolla wedding! We’re so glad Gabriel Conover was there to capture every whimsical moment. If you’re feeling inspired to get creative with your bridal party fashion, check out our favorite mismatched bridesmaid dress color palettes!
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by riley | Oct 28, 2020 | Wedding
A wedding complete with a vintage Mercedes, a custom school bus, a stunning greenhouse reception, and music from the couple’s favorite movies? Talk about one-of-a-kind and totally gorgeous. Cassie and Michael’s SoCal wedding at Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm was midcentury mod meets natural glamour. With the help of Ann Johnson, the couple created a day unique to their love story, and while we could rant about it for days, we love what Cassie had to say about the details of their special day!
Cassie’s Take On The Day
We wanted our wedding to reflect our love story. We met and became close friends in Georgia, but really fell for one another in California. With its vast pastures, lush greenhouses, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm in Santa Barbara was exactly our rare blend of Southern and SoCal style. Our décor matched our Los Angeles home–a little bit midcentury and a little bit mod–mixing vintage textures of velvet with eclectic patterns alike. It was vital, of course, to fill the reception greenhouse with emerald and evergreen foliage, mossy vines, and peaked lighting. Deep red and auburn florals sprinkled about gold and brass candelabrums, serving the wooden dining tables well. Pure Joy catering proved equal parts master of umami and art. We paid homage to our shared love of cinema with orchestral notes of famous film themes, including Ghost, Star Wars Empire Strikes Back, and Jurassic Park. Not to mention a first dance tribute to Top Gun’s Take my Breath Away.
When we say you’re going to want to save this one, we mean it. Get those Pinterest boards ready and keep scrolling to see the pin-worthy photos captured by Heirlume Photography!
The Couple:
Cassie and Michael
The Wedding:
Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California
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Shop similar dresses: Socialite Rib Side Slit T-Shirt Dress ($39); French Connection Awiti Whisper Ruth Sheath Dress ($88); Halston Heritage Cape Sleeve Cocktail Dress ($139)
Congratulations again to Cassie and Michael on their SoCal wedding at Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm! We’re so glad that Heirlume Photography was there to capture every unique detail of their special day. If you’re trying to plan your own creative wedding, but you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide to planning a unique wedding!
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by riley | Oct 20, 2020 | Wedding
Is there anything more romantic than an intimate ceremony followed by sunset portraits? We don’t think so! Bianca and Deneen’s minimal and romantic Eaton Hotel wedding in DC was light and whimsical with tropical touches–including floral centerpieces of palm and monstera leaves, created by Rocking Bird Flower Company.
The couple wanted to make sure that their love for whales was a large part of their special day. With the help of planner Jade & Joy Events, the two included a video of whales for guests to enjoy while they waited for the ceremony to begin, had a whale photography book as a guestbook, and even included stuffed whales in the favors for the kids! Now that’s what we mean when we talk about planning a unique wedding! Keep scrolling to see the beautiful photos Casey Crowe Photo captured of this minimalistic lovefest.
The Couple:
Bianca and Deneen
The Wedding:
Eaton DC, Washington D.C
Minimalistic Romantic Wedding Vibes
Our wedding experience concept was love and light, and we aimed for a wedding vibe that inspired romance in a minimalistic way–think soft light and warm whites. When we found our wedding venue, we folded in some of the principals of the interior design. The hotel celebrates authenticity in the non-traditional, and we found that speaking to us as a same-sex couple. Love is love, after all!
Personalizing Their Ceremony With Their Love For Animals
To personalize our wedding, we shared our love for whale watching. Our planners created a video compilation of whales for our guests to watch as they waited for the ceremony to begin. We provided a whale photography book for our guests to sign, accompanied by a list of lessons from a whale. Some of the lessons were always to carry a song in your heart, no blubbering, and don’t forget to come up for air. We included tiny stuffed whales in the kids’ favors. And, as an extra special treat, our baker used wafer paper to craft an extruded whale tail design on our cake. It was unique and beautiful!
Why An Eaton Hotel Wedding
We chose the Eaton Hotel for two reasons. Firstly, it’s beautifully designed. The space has an urban feel with roots in artistic expression and soulful sophistication. Secondly, the Hotel has an incredible mission promoting collective advancement in social activism. Eaton is “a gateway to a more humane, conscious future.”
Congratulations again to Bianca and Dedeen on their romantic Eaton Hotel wedding in DC! We’re so glad Casey Crowe Photo captured and shared their special day with us. If you’re stuck on how to make your wedding personal to who you are the way these two did, check out our guide on how to host a unique wedding!
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by riley | Oct 18, 2020 | Wedding
There’s nothing we love more than a non-traditional showstopping wedding that is personal to a couple. Catherine and Bobby’s Louisiana L’eglise wedding was exactly that and then some. Without the help of a planner, the couple created a rustic yet over-the-top day with a guest list of over 300!
We can’t get enough of Catherine’s custom rose gold sequined gown that she paired with a custom Colby Herbert hat. And the mismatched bridesmaids and groomsmen match their boho theme perfectly. All of the wedding fashion paired beautifully with the greenery put together by Leona Sue’s Florist.
If you love non-traditional nuptials as much as we do, then you are going to love every photo captured by Junebug member Erin and Geoffrey. Keep scrolling and get those Pinterest boards ready. This one is totally pin-worthy.
The Couple:
Catherine and Bobby
The Wedding:
L’eglise, Abbeville, Louisiana
Show-stopping Bridal Fashion
My wedding day look was a dream come true. I wanted to make sure I brought my true inner self out and didn’t play it safe because that’s what people expect you to do. Live your life and be who you are, I say! I knew I wanted to wear a hat, so that’s when my hat maker came into play. It was made from a light color nutria fur with antique white alligator skin wrapped around the base. My hat sat on top of my soft pastel lavender hair, which tied in with my customized metallic rose gold sequined dress. I added a pop of crystal blue with my earrings, which climbed up my ear for a bold show-stopping effect.
Why A L’eglise Wedding
We chose the venue we did because we were able to have free range, which was important for our wedding day vision. It had an indoor and outdoor option for us to choose from with an enchanted whimsical feel that pulled us in immediately. To top it off, it had lights hanging above us during the ceremony and then inside for the reception–who wouldn’t want that!
A Round of Rock, Paper, Scissors
Our ceremony started off with a talented artist singing acoustic the entire ceremony with hand-selected songs that are special to us. My older brother was our officiant, and I had my younger brother walk me halfway down the aisle and pass me off to my dad for the remainder. We wanted to write our own vows but wanted to add something funny to get them started because, again, we wanted our inner selves to be shown. So we decided on a game of rock, paper, scissors! We played three rounds, and my husband won, so he got to start us off.
Non-Traditional Invites
Rather than traditional wedding invites, we did text invites. Using an app that allows you to make hundreds of invites and hold everyone’s personal numbers and emails was AMAZING! We used this approach for all of our wedding events–it was customizable and so easy to do.
Homemade Wedding Favors
I would say our wedding favors were unique, but much needed for the good time that Louisianans like to have. We placed ourselves in the guest’s shoes and thought about what we would want after a long night of drinking and dancing with friends–a tasty snack for the ride home. My husband, Bobby, loves Mexican food, so we wanted to give guests a taste of something he enjoyed. We had homemade chicken, pork, beef, and jalapeno with cream cheese tamales along with homemade churros. Everyone took their to-go bags with smiles on their face.
Congratulations again to Catherine and Bobby on their Louisiana L’eglise wedding! We’re so glad that Junebug member Erin and Geoffrey were there to capture the special day. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world!
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