by riley | Oct 17, 2020 | Wedding
Our hearts are absolutely melting over this vintage-inspired wedding at Rose Garden Estate! With the help of their expert planner Moments 2 Memories, these grown-up middle school classmates Abby and Mitchell created a day that belongs in a fairytale book.
With Abby’s a-line gown covered in intricate lace detailing, the sweeping lush mountain views, and a soft pastel color palette complete with gold accenting every detail was perfectly thought out. From the heartwarming first look to the party that ensued after the “I do’s,” Laura Mihae went above and beyond to make the couple feel comfortable and beautifully captured the love between the couple.
Moments 2 Memories’ Laura Seguin on the Wedding Day
“Abby and Mitchell went to middle school together—although they had some mutual friends and Mitchell had a secret crush on Abby, nothing ever happened between them. About six years later, Abby was in her junior year of college in Florida when Mitchell added her on Snapchat. Abby happily accepted his request and followed him on Instagram, where their beautiful “pen pal” relationship was born.
They reintroduced themselves that May when Abby returned home from college for summer break. They went on their first date at an adorable little coffee shop (where they ended up taking their engagement photos). They chatted for about five hours and ended up getting kicked out because it closed before they were done talking. Needless to say, they officially began dating, and the rest is history!
When Mitchell proposed to Abby, he had a romantic proposal spot set up at the beach in a cliffside cave. Abby and Mitchell are such a sweet couple and enjoy laughing every chance they get!”
The Couple:
Abigail and Mitchell
The Wedding:
Rose Garden Estate, Tehachapi, CA
Why the Rose Garden Estate
I fell in love with the venue when I first walked it’s grounds—with its big sky and mountainous landscape. It showcases what I love most about where I grew up. It had a lovely cottage for the bridal party to get ready, an outdoor ceremony site with lovely full trees framing the landscape, and an indoor reception space-–they call it a barn, but it looks royal with its golden etching and detailed framework. It had already been half-decorated with uplighting and magnificent chandeliers; we just added some flowers, tables, and chairs and voila! A gorgeous reception.
The Wedding Dress
I had looked at a few dresses online before shopping. The A-line style of skirt drew me in because it wasn’t too princess-like but could still hold attention with a royal look. The dress I decided upon felt 100% right the first time I tried it on. I knew that was it. It was only the third dress I tried on. Its color was ivory, and the muted lace detail had a slight shimmer to it. It’s A-line skirt demanded attention, but also had the softness and lightness of a cloud. Its train flowed behind me as I walked, but I still felt unencumbered. Its neckline was the same muted lace, and it came up to my neck in such a lovely fashion accentuating my shoulders. Down my back was a line of small buttons that held it together. My shoes were heels with a cloud-like puff as the main detail, and my tiara, earrings, and bracelet were floral, matching the lace detail perfectly.
The Wedding Colors
My wedding colors were more of a palette. I love to paint and I’ve always hated limiting myself to one set of colors. I wanted my groom and groomsmen to be uniform in ivory and grey so that I could play with my bridesmaid colors. I chose dusty pink, deep indigo, sky blue, champagne, lilac purple, and petal green for my bridesmaids. My bouquet reflected those colors, but I wanted the main focus to be the white rose and the dusty pink rose. I wanted these colors to be offset by the amount of greenery that surrounded my wedding, my favorite hue being the eucalyptus green, which was displayed on our wedding arch and our couples table.
Congratulations to Abby and Mitchell on their vintage-inspired fairytale wedding at Rose Garden Estate! We’re thrilled that Laura Mihae Photography was there to capture the beauty. Special thank you to Junebug member Moments 2 Memories Events for sharing the special day with us. To see more of her work, visit her profile in our directory of best wedding planners in the world!
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by riley | Oct 16, 2020 | Wedding
What happens when it’s a wedding planner’s turn to plan her own special day? Pure magic. Having planned multiple weddings at The Old Schoolhouse, Lenna knew that she wanted to tie the knot with Patrick amongst the orchards. With the help of planner Olive + Rust—yes, even wedding planners need planners too—the couple created an autumnal celebration that featured Oregon’s natural beauty and changing seasons.
Thanks to the deep gem colored hues, large neutral floral arrangements put together by Brier + Ivy, and the large dining table set amid the trees, Lenna and Patrick’s special day was as cozy as it gets. Along with the whimsical touches, the pair also made sure they stayed true to who they were with bolo ties, giant shaved ice from Wailua Shaved Ice, and a wedding logo that acted as a tribute to Patrick’s career in MMA. Let this serve as a reminder to always include small details that are special to you and your partner–it makes your wedding more memorable.
We could go on about this harvest lovefest, but we’ll let the photos that Baylee Dennis Photography captured do all of the talking. Grab your hot cup of coffee and keep scrolling to be transported to a fall wonderland.
The Couple:
Kayla and Patrick
The Wedding:
The Old Schoolhouse, Newburg, Oregon
Seasonal Wedding Vibes
I wanted my wedding to be kind of a “farewell to summer/hello to fall” celebration—a nod to the change of seasons in the Pacific Northwest. For the tablescape and wedding color palette, I took cues from the natural surroundings of the Oregon wine country. We chose neutral decor with pops of marigold, forest green, and maroons–colors typical to a Pacific Northwest fall.
Why The Old Schoolhouse
I had coordinated weddings in the past at the Old Schoolhouse, and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the space myself. In my years as a wedding planner, I hadn’t seen anything like it. There are so many layers to the venue, yet everything is in such close proximity. It was almost like being in three different spaces at once. I saw us committing our vows to one another inside the schoolhouse and then opening the side door to enjoy a cocktail on the vast garden lawn. Or we could walk out of the schoolhouse foyer to see a cozy farm table dinner in the orchards. The venue is both dynamic and simple.
An Emotional Moment
There is a photo of Pat and me in the Schoolhouse foyer right after the recessional, at the end of our ceremony. I didn’t think anyone was around when my emotions got the best of me, and I melted right into him and started bawling right then and there. Of course, I should have known, our brilliant photographer, Baylee, caught it right before the guests flooded into the space. And I’m so happy she did!
Wedding Day Advice From The Bride
Hire a team that resonates with you both as a couple and trust them! Whether that is just one photographer and an officiant or a 20+ vendor crew—I cannot express this enough. Of course, do your research and ensure that the vendors are legitimate and recommended by former brides, but I firmly believe having a solid vendor team was the primary reason I not only had the wedding of my dreams, but I had 0 stress or concerns leading up to the big day
Adding Personal Touches
As a wedding and event planner myself, it was only natural to draw inspiration from events I planned in the past. But when it came time to plan my own wedding, I found it incredibly important to keep Pat and I as a couple at the forefront of everything. I focused on what tugs at our heartstrings and represented us best as a couple. We fell in love in Hawaii, so I found it only fitting to have a shave ice bar, complete with a massive shave ice “wedding cake” instead of actual cake. A lot of our family is from Arizona, so Pat’s father worked with a Navajo Native American to create bolo ties out of gorgeous dark turquoise stone for Pat and his groomsmen. Our “wedding logo” used on our invites and favor tags had a bar-wire octagon caging that encircled our initials, which was a nod to Pat’s UFC fighting career in MMA.
Congratulations again to Lenna and Patrick on their purely Pacific Northwest wedding at The Old Schoolhouse! We’re so glad that Baylee Dennis Photography was there to capture the beauty of the day. If you’re planning your own autumnal wedding, check out our favorite fall wedding dresses that are cool and cozy!
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by riley | Oct 7, 2020 | Wedding
Aloha! Raeanne and Jesse’s rustic chic Maui wedding at Montage Kapalua Bay has us wishing we were on the shores of the Pacific with a mai tai in hands right now! The couple always knew they wanted a destination wedding and they quickly fell in love with the Montage in Lahaina. That is until they saw the price tag anyways. After picking a budget-friendly venue, they were met with unforeseen issues and had to switch venues a month before the wedding. With the help of their expert planner, Platinum Weddings & Events, they ended up back at the Montage Kapalua Bay—the original venue of their dreams. Funny how life works out sometimes.
Though it’s untraditional, Raeanne wanted autumnal colors for her beach wedding and it turns out the deep jewel colors contrasted against the light blues and greens of the surrounding nature brilliantly. We hope to see more of this daring spirit in coming weddings. We haven’t even mentioned their black volcanic-inspired cake by Sugar Beach Events! The photos captured by SASs Photography are easily some of our favorites so grab a beachy drink and get ready to melt.
Maui Social Media’s Nicole Sanchez on the Day
“Raeann and Jesse were married on a grass cape outstretched over the beautiful Pacific Ocean with gorgeous decor in rich hues of red, orange, and crimson to mimic the amazing shades of the sunset in Maui. Guest seating was set in a circular fashion with the bride and groom at the center, surrounded by their family and friends. They said “I Do” under a half-circle arch dripping in luxurious floral decor that was absolutely stunning!
Personal details that were incorporated into their day included the bride’s late grandmother’s wedding ring, the bride’s diamond earrings which were gifted to her by her father when she was a little girl, the groom’s firefighter badge attached to the bride’s bouquet, and the groom’s grandmother singing and playing the ukulele during the reception.“
The Couple:
Raeanna and Jesse
The Wedding:
Montage Kapalua Bay, Maui, Hawaii
Shop similar shoes: Sam Edelman Yaro Ankle Strap Sandal ($119.95); Steve Madden Irenee Strap Sandal ($69.95); Steve Madden Dillon Strap Sandal ($89.95)
Wedding Day Vibes
When Jesse and I got engaged, we decided that we wanted to host a destination wedding in the fall. Although it may be non-traditional, due to Maui being gorgeously sunny year-round, I still wanted to incorporate autumnal vibes into our wedding vision. That’s when Taryn (our amazing wedding planner) stepped in and took the reins! I gave her small snippets of my lifestyle vibes and she transformed them into stunning wedding vibes!
The Couple’s Most Memorable Part of Their Wedding Day
For us, it was our first moments together as a newly married couple taking pictures. After the ceremony, we made way to the Cliff House at the Montage. It is a quaint and secluded building that offers panoramic views of the ocean while below, a rock peninsula outstretching over the beautiful ocean with rich hues of red, orange, and crimson created by the sun and all its glory filled in the background. Jesse and I were accompanied by Taryn, SASs photography, and Sunlit films. However, in that moment, it felt like we were alone—like we had a moment to just be, to love each other, and to enjoy the first moments married. The logical part of me knows we were in the company of others but it is a testament to how comfortable our vendors made us feel, and how they allowed us to just “be married” in that moment.
Wedding Day Fashion
I tend to gravitate toward flowy, bohemian styles but also wanted a look that would stand the test of time. My dress, Carmen—as she was named—with all of her timeless ornate lace and her delicate long sleeves and stunning open back came to life the first time I put her on. Family heirlooms like my late grandmother’s wedding ring, my diamond earrings gifted to me by my father when I was young, and my diamond necklace given to me by Jesse after he surprised me during our long-distance times added further personal touches.
Wedding Day Surprise
Jesse’s grandmother, a Maui native, sang and played the ukulele for us during our reception. We were anticipating that she would sing and she is a renowned established ukulele player, but her voice and talent are just something you have to see and hear to believe. Her performance served as a tribute to his Hawaiian culture and is a memory that will serve us a lifetime.
Congratulations again to Raeanne and Jesse on their extremely romantic and rustic-chic wedding at Montage Kapalua Bay! Thank you to SASs Photography for capturing the magic of the day. If you’re anything like us and you want to drool over Hawaii destination weddings all day, check out Kerina and Ivan’s Elegant Hawaiian Wedding at Four Seasons Resort Oahu!
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by riley | Oct 3, 2020 | Wedding
Is there anything more beautiful than a sunset wedding? We don’t think so! Jenna and Mike’s golden hour rooftop elopement at the LINE Hotel in DC looks like it came straight out of a magazine. The couple went into planning with no idea of what they were looking for until they fell upon Shelly Pate Photography who helped them organize their modern and sleek elopement.
With Mike himself acting as their officiant, the venue being in the state where they met and live together, and takeout from their favorite wine bar—which they fell in love with after a trip to Barcelona—these two made sure that their ceremony was completely unique and personalized. This sunset elopement is the epitome of making sure your special day is all about the love you and your partner share. Bonus points in this case that it also happens to be absolutely stunning.
Shelly Pate’s Take on the Day
“Jenna and Mike have known all along that New Years Day would be the day they chose to become man and wife. Besides all of the significance of the start of a new year, it was also the day that they found their way back to each other a few years ago and rekindled the love that was always there.
When I met them, they were just in the beginning planning of their day; they had not even chosen where they were going to get married. I immediately sprang into action because I love helping plan these intimate elopements to perfectly reflect a couples’ values and personality.
They two met and live in DC so they really wanted to exchange vows in a spot that celebrated that. They wanted to keep their ceremony private, so it was just the three of us on the balcony at sunset overlooking the city as they became husband and wife. DC is a self-solemnizing state so they married themselves! Their closest friends were waiting with champagne to celebrate the night away with the new Mr + Mrs!”
The Couple:
Jenna and Mike
The Wedding:
The Line Hotel, Washington D.C
Wedding Day Advice
My advice would be to do what feels true and right for yourselves as a couple – I think in planning a wedding it is very easy to have a lot of opinions thrown at you and ideas of what is traditional or trendy at the moment and that can sweep you up and make it harder to objectively think about what would make you and your partner the happiest.
The Couple’s Most Memorable Part
I think the most memorable part of the day was our vows and Mike marrying us. I had a loose layout of the day in my head and I thought that we would get ready and then do a first look and then take pictures around the hotel so that after we returned to the suite balcony to do our vows we could immediately start celebrating afterward. As any good plan goes, however, we got a little behind schedule and by the time we did the first look it was close to sunset and we would lose the daylight to do our vows on the balcony if we took pictures first. We decided to spur of the moment just do it right then, which made the vows feel really spontaneous and special (even on a planned elopement day).
Why the LINE Hotel DC
Besides loving the look of the Line Hotel in D.C., we were also excited to get married in Adams Morgan because it is the first place Mike and I lived together in D.C. We also didn’t want to pay a venue fee or deal with jumping through a lot of hoops with a venue since we were having a small planned elopement. We were able to privately say our vows outdoors looking at the DC skyline (with a reliable backup in case of bad January weather), have beautiful decor and backdrops for photos, eat, play music, and dance with a couple of our friends, and have somewhere to stay over rather than just going back to our apartment on our wedding night. It was pretty one of a kind to get all of those things in one venue!
Congratulations again to Jenna and Mike on their special day. And big thank you to Junebug member Shelly Pate Photography for sharing this rooftop elopement with us! To see more of Shelly’s work, check out her profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world!
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by riley | Sep 25, 2020 | Wedding
Deya and Ishan’s peacock-themed wedding at Mountain Mermaid in Topanga Canyon is everything we didn’t know we needed. Not only did the couple dress to match the theme, with Deya in a fit-n-flare Rosa Clara gown—perfect for a mermaid—and Ishan in a blue Franc Milton suit, complete with a peacock patterned bowtie. They also used peacock feathers at every place setting and on an incredible peacock cake baked by Ishan’s aunt. We’re totally obsessed and oh so glad Lovers of Love Photography was there to capture the free-spirited, brightly colored festivities!
COJ Events’ Cathy O’Connell’s Take on the Day
“The Mountain Mermaid, a historic Topanga Canyon event venue, was selected by Deya & Ishan for its quirky style (and because the groom Ishan grew up next door). Ishan, a filmmaker, and Deya, a transformational tech director, brought to their wedding an elegance and style grounded in their unique creative aesthetic. Working with the aging style of the former country club and ‘20s speakeasy turned gorgeous wedding venue, they incorporated a modern nod to Freida Kahlo to blend them perfectly. Touches of the peacocks (prolific in the area) were highlighted in both the personal styling of the groom and in elegant floral and tabletop displays by Maggie Jensen Floral Design.
Deya was glamorous in a dress by Rosa Clara with a vintage French Ivory Comb from Cannonball & Tilly. Ishan wore a bespoke suit made for him by Jason at Franc Milton in Beverly Hills with a peacock bow tie from Brackish.
Flower crowns made for guests by The Crown Collective added a touch of fun and whimsy to the party!”
The Couple:
Deya and Ishan
The Wedding:
The Mountain Mermaid, Topanga Canyon, California
Shop similar shoes: Something Bleu Emmie Heels ($395); Blue by Betsey Johnson Iris Pumps ($103.20); Jewel Badgley Mischka Umay Sandals ($87.20); Badgley Mischka Rouge Embellished Pumps ($255)
Shop similar bow ties: Peacock Feathers Bow Tie ($20); Men’s Teal Genuine Feathered Bow Tie ($55.21); Peacock Inspired Bow Tie ($19.99)
Wedding Day Vibes
Stylistically, we took cues from our animals (of sorts). Deya’s definitely a mermaid, and Ishan has always been fond of peacocks, so we ran with it. Our venue is called the Mountain Mermaid, and peacocks roam the grounds free, so we riffed off these as key design elements. Deya’s dress has a mermaid silhouette and Ishan went full into the peacock inspiration for his bespoke suit. It enabled us to be playful stylistically (both peacocks and mermaids are showoffs, in a sense) and it helped inform a lot of small details.
Shop similar socks: Happy Socks Toucan Socks ($14); Happy Socks Flamingo Socks ($14); Socks Bros Parrot Socks ($6.46)
Why The Mermaid Mountain
Topanga Canyon is where we met and so we wanted to give our friends and family an experience of a place that we had a personal connection to. Our venue was the Mountain Mermaid, a rustic 1930s Spanish mansion in Topanga Canyon surrounded by a botanical garden that evokes the mystical and magical. It’s also in the neighborhood Ishan grew up, so pretty convenient in that way. It was important for us to have time for friends and family to be able to gather and learn about each other. For friends and family coming out of town, there were several AirBnB’s within walking distance, so we basically took over the neighborhood for the weekend
A Vow Interruption
As we started to say our vows, which were responses to five statements, the peacocks answered with us and suddenly started cawing loudly in what felt like agreement and celebration of our vows….unforgettable.
Wedding Advice
Having a wedding planner you can trust with plenty of experience is a must. Get both an engagement and wedding photoshoot, these last forever. And don’t save the seating chart to the last minute. Ultimately things happen that are unplanned, out of anyone’s control, as with any part of life, but these are the ingredients for good character, good storytelling, and one irreplaceable beginning.
Congratulations to Deya and Ishan on their peacock themed celebration at Mermaid Mountain! We can’t get enough of these photos from Lovers of Love Photography. And huge thank you to Junebug Member, COJ Events, for sharing the special day with us. To see more of COJ Events, check out their page on our directory of best wedding planners in the world!
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