By using International Wedding Association and Services you agree to our cookies use. We and our partners operate globally and use cookies, including for analytics, personalization, and ads. To learn more please see our privacy policy
4 Ways To Incorporate Your Personal Style Into Your Wedding
There are many ways you can incorporate your personal style into the wedding gown, regardless of what type of dress you choose. Your hairstyle, makeup, accessories, and attire should all be unique to . Here’s how to achieve this look:
You can take your everyday activities up a notch
If you’re a minimalist bride, then go for the nude makeup. Look for a stylist who will listen to you and take your suggestions into consideration. You can also incorporate your favorite products into the makeup, such as winged eyeliner, orange lips, or the smokey eyes.
Try a classic style for your hair
Take care when choosing your hair stylist for your wedding. Your hairstyle can make or break your look. You can’t go wrong with classics like updos, half-up, wavy hairstyles, and ballerina buns.
Unusual accessories are available
One area where you should not hesitate going all out is the accessories-Everything from your bridal shoes, to your hair accessories to your nose ring, or the mang tikka ; you can use these accouterments to show off your personal flair. This does not mean you should abandon your comfort zone. Flat pumps are better for you than heels. Comfort is the most important thing. Statement jewellery can complete your look.
You can choose a non-traditional wedding dress
This is a great way for you to express your individual style at your wedding. For the reception, you can choose an crop-top lehenga or unique and saris or pre-pleated saris. As long as the officiant permits it, the same applies to the main ceremony colours. Look beyond the box to find wedding dresses that highlight your best features. Wear them confidently.
Your bridesmaids should also be wearing the same look
You don’t have to limit yourself to your own attire when you can incorporate it into the dresses of your bridesmaids. This makes for stunning wedding palettes, as more Indian brides choose unique colours and attire for their daughters.
Summer is the season for some of my favorite weddings – there’s not a cloud in the sky and guests seem to let loose just a little bit more, taking that extra vacation time to celebrate at weddings full of color and cool summertime ideas.
How do you beat the heat at a summer wedding?
I’ve got some easy tips to staying cool while celebrating!
1. Accessorize Your Look:
Parasols are picture-perfect. Capes, boleros and wraps make great accessories for colder nights so you can dress for the heat by day. And royal wedding-style hats can keep you cool in an outdoor ceremony while looking more fashionable than functional.
2. Serve Up Refreshments at a Pre-Ceremony Station:
A water station positioned near the entrance of your ceremony is a great way to welcome guests and keep them cool and comfortable. Regardless, it’s a great idea in general to hydrate your loved ones before the long night ahead and the cocktails to come.
3. Décor Designed to Stop the Sun:
Swaging, tenting and other overhead décor can certainly upgrade your event design while helping you and your guests beat the heat too.
4. Consider the Sun for the Ceremony:
If the men in your wedding party plan to wear suits or tuxedos and you prefer they be more comfortable, consider designing your ceremony site in the shade. Chart the sun’s location at the time of your ceremony and consider alternate sites at your venue or even just slightly re-positioning the setup to stop the sun from beating directly down.
5. Plan the Menu Accordingly:
Cocktails adorned with popsicles, summertime favorites like snow cones and other chilly treats embrace the summer season while keeping everyone cool at the same time.
6. Ceremony Programs with Dual Purpose:
You can never go wrong with a fan to cool down with. Give your guests gifts for the outdoors in the form of programs shaped like fans, parasols, or even favors designed to keep them cool throughout the day and night.
As you plan for your big day, don’t forget to beat the heat at a summer wedding and everyone in attendance will thank you for it!
Free-spirited, colorful, fun, and bursting with personality—Jess and Libby’s Bread Bar wedding was the perfect combination of classy and funky. The couple along–with their planner Kendra Kimball–made sure to tie in their love for family, travel, music, and food into their big day to create an experience where everyone felt special.
The ceremony was held at the quaint little white church in the historic mountain town of Silver Plume. Libby looked effortlessly cool in her short wedding dress paired with white Converse while Jess rocked a navy blue suit. The couple exchanged their vows as their adorable rescue dog Millie looked on. And in a touching tribute to their grandmothers, flowers and books were placed on their vacant seats to honor their memory.
The reception followed at the iconic Bread Bar, an 1800s-era bakery built at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Using colorful florals and hanging greenery created by floral designer Emma Van Vranken, they blended the concept of a hidden, overgrown courtyard with the vintage charm of the bar. Window decals, mismatched lounge seating, neon signs, a canopy of string lights, and lampshades added an eclectic touch to the entire setting.
From the cocktails named after late loved ones and the picture wall with a photo of every single guest to the Shih Tzu wedding cake and the tapas-style wedding menu inspired by their travels to Spain, no important detail was forgotten. Scroll through these amazing images captured by Bridget Burnett to see the many beautiful ways this couple chose to showcase their love for each other and their family on their big day.
We are so proud of how the day was authentically us. We stayed true to ourselves when planning—bright colors, unique food, aura reader, and banging music are our vibe. And doing our thing no matter how it was perceived made it more special for our guests and us.
Wedding Planning Advice From The Newlyweds
Our advice is don’t take it too seriously and be yourselves. A few months before our wedding, I was in a bike accident and tore several ligaments in my knee and broke my femur. Bridgett Burnett, our photographer, did an amazing job making it look like I was much more agile than I was. I had this idea of doing this crazy exercise and diet to get in mad shape for the wedding and wear Manolo Blahniks that day. That clearly didn’t happen, but I had a hell of a lot more fun planning and experiencing the day by not having that pressure of looking “perfect” for the day. Also, get a wedding planner and trust them. It saves money long-term, lowers stress, and makes your ideas a reality. Kendra Kimball was amazing and helped us find Bridget and all our other vendors.
The Most Memorable Moments
My closest friends sang our favorite songs at the ceremony. It was overwhelming to share my friend’s talents with our community. For Jess, it was an intimate dinner with our friends and community. After isolating with COVID, it was so meaningful.
Personal Touches Throughout Their Bread Bar Wedding
We served cocktails named after late family members with their caricatures on the menu. Our favorite songs were sung by best friends. We wrote a letter to our guests thanking them. We created a picture wall that highlighted a picture of us with every guest from a special moment in our life. Our wedding cake was a replica of our Shih Tzu, Millie.
A Very Special DIY Picture Wall With Their Loved Ones
We blew up pictures of different sizes of guests with us over our lifetime. We used vintage frames and created a picture wall that was the backdrop for our reception. My grandmother had a similar wall in her home and was the inspiration.
The Couple Had a Special Spanish Themed Wedding Menu
Spain is our favorite place in the world, and we went on a road trip through Spain a few years ago. Those travels inspired our menu. We had 4-5 small tapas plates and then a larger plate. We also had churros and a dessert bar. Late night snacks included tacos in a bag, our favorite meal when camping.
Congratulations to Jess and Libby on their classy and funky Bread Bar wedding. And big thanks to Bridget Burnett for capturing every special moment of the happiest day of their lives.
You and your partner are wildly original, and your wedding should be no less. And just like Jess and Libby’s wedding, there are so many meaningful ways you can incorporate your love story into your big day. Check out our guide on how to create a unique wedding and bring your own personal version of a dream wedding to life with these unique wedding ideas.
After such a long time apart due to the pandemic, what Beth and Patrick really wanted was to have a relaxed and intimate celebration at their favorite restaurant—treating their family and friends to a delicious feast and an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by their loved ones and the perfect San Francisco weather, the couple’s Stable Cafe wedding was a day truly meant for them and their loved ones.
Built in the 1800s as a carriage house that appears unassuming from the street—the Stable Cafe’s gorgeously manicured garden patio provided the perfect lush backdrop of greenery that framed the couple as they exchanged their vows. The plum trees, vines, and potted plants along with the understated floral arrangements by Ash and Oak, votive candles, and bistro lights set the romantic mood for their charming courtyard reception.
If you’re a foodie thinking about having a small wedding at your favorite restaurant, you’ll love this Stable Cafewedding. The romance and beauty of Beth and Patrick’s big day comes across so beautifully in these images captured by Erin Prado for Vivian Chen Photography. Scroll through for amazing ideas and inspiration for your own intimate celebration.
The Couple:
Beth and Patrick
The Wedding:
The Stable Cafe, San Francisco, California, United States
Inspiration for Changing Up Timelines
Rather than spend all of Saturday getting ready, we had our wedding on Friday night. Then we enjoyed Saturday afternoon sailing with our guests on the Bay. It was so special to share our favorite parts of the city with our loved ones and maximize our time together after such a long time apart during COVID.
Weather Changes Made Their Stable Cafe Wedding Perfect
The weather was unbelievable! It was a pretty cold and windy summer in San Francisco so we rented a bunch of extra heaters for our guests and warned them to bring extra layers. Turns out the weekend was beautiful—sunny, a light breeze, and warm. I’d bought a white Patagonia jacket as my bridal jacket but didn’t end up needing it at all.
Using Tight Transportation for Cute Photo Ops
We’ll never forget squeezing into my sister’s car with Patrick, our photographer Erin, and my nephew’s empty car seat. It was a bit tight but Erin snapped a couple of adorable photos of Patrick and I crammed in the backseat as we enjoyed some great views of San Francisco on the way down to Stable Cafe.
Mixing Up The Wedding Menu
Stable Cafe was beautiful—the food and desserts were amazing. We also had passed appetizers and a taco bar catered by Nopalito. Their carnitas are out of this world and our guests raved about the food for weeks. For dessert, instead of a wedding cake, we went with a cookie bar baked by GoodChildrenSF. We loved the cookies and we enjoyed them with our guests throughout the rest of the weekend. In retrospect, six cookies per guest was a lot. But hey, nobody minds extra cookies!
Working With Erin Prado And Vivian Chen Photography
Erin was great. She had a knack for catching the sweetest candid photos and captured the city chic vibe we were going for so well. Vivian Chen was super fast in editing the photos and we love how they came out. Our families all commented on how great the photographs turned out from our big day.
Identify what matters to you and what doesn’t at the beginning of planning. Based on those priorities, focus on the things that will bring you joy and just let the small stuff go. Also, pick the right vendors. I am an organized person by nature, but we were really proud of how little stress we had leading up to the event and how seamlessly it all came together in the end. Once we booked our team, everything came together easily because each vendor was great at their job.
Congratulations to Beth and Patrick on their charming and intimate Stable Cafe wedding. And big thanks to Erin Prado for capturing every sweet and memorable moment of their big day.
From mountain retreats to a unique Lake Champlain venue, here are 13 favorites.
Basin Harbor
The state of Vermont may be on the smaller side, but that hardly means the Green Mountain State doesn’t pack a big ‘wow’ factor, especially when it comes to the best Vermont wedding venues. With gorgeous mountain ranges stretching the length of the state, Vermont offers picturesque views at nearly every angle—making it an ideal spot for an outdoor wedding, or a wedding with a mountain or lodge vibe.
Of course, the New England winters can be a bit blustery, but if you and your fiancé are avid skiers or just love the snow, you won’t mind; in fact, you may just find winter in Vermont to be the perfect fairytale-esque backdrop for your big day. Whatever the season you’re considering for hosting a Vermont wedding, you can find a spectacular and impressive wedding or reception venue on The Knot Marketplace. Here are 13 of our favorites.
The Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe, Vermont
The Lodge at Spruce Peak
Just minutes away from charming downtown Stowe, The Lodge at Spruce Peakimpresses no matter the season. Outdoor weddings are a possibility regardless of sunshine or snow, but whatever the weather, your event will be set against the lovely Vermont mountains, including the state’s tallest peak, Mount Mansfield. The lodge offers a variety of unique wedding venues to choose from, all located on-property (including one that’s also an ice rink!), and there’s something for weddings of every size, from intimate destination weddings to big bashes hosting up to 300 of your favorite people. And their in-house caterers will make planning a breeze.
Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont
Sugarbush Resort
If you want that Vermont mountain backdrop, but you don’t necessarily want the alpine lodge feel, you should consider Sugarbush Resort, a beautifully rustic hideaway near Lincoln Peak. Rather than feeling like an all-out ski destination, this venue channels Vermont’s agricultural history, with its striking red barn exterior and quintessential round barn. For couples seeking a combination of mountain views and the barn wedding vibe, Sugarbush is one of the only venues to give you the best of both worlds. There are several ceremony and reception locations to choose from, with options suitable for weddings of 50 to 300 guests.
The Inn at the Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield, Vermont
The Inn at the Round Barn Farm
Sure, Vermont has mountains, but it also boasts rolling hills of wildflowers, tranquil ponds flanked by weeping willows, and lush farmland—all of which you can find at The Inn at the Round Barn Farm. For a country-inspired wedding, this venue ticks all of the boxes. Just imagine those perfect wedding portraits featuring you and your honey drifting across the tree-lined pond in a rowboat (and if that’s not straight off the page of a romance novel, we’re not sure what is). Follow up the ceremony with a reception in the rustic round barn, all decked out in fairy lights, and you have a dreamy special day your guests won’t soon forget.
Castle Hill Resort & Spa in Proctorsville, Vermont
Castle Hill Resort & Spa
Looking for a Vermont wedding venue with historic appeal? Castle Hill Resort & Spa, a National Register of Historic Places-listed venue, is waiting. The English Cotswold-style mansion, with its elegantly landscaped gardens, is ideal for an upscale wedding. With a library and two formal dining rooms inside and the gardens outside all at your disposal, you’re sure to find the perfect backdrop for your wedding. Invite your guests to stay at the resort (or at least book a room for you and your spouse-to-be) to enjoy the equally gorgeous guest rooms, outfitted with period furnishings and the utmost in historic luxury.
The Spirit of Ethan Allen in Burlington, Vermont
The Spirit of Ethan Allen
Why settle for a waterside wedding venue, when you can exchange your vows literally right on the water? The Spirit of Ethan Allen is the only cruise ship on Lake Champlain, harbored conveniently in Burlington. Rent the entire ship for a wedding for up to 300 guests and then set sail for your big day. An extra bonus to taking to the lake for your ceremony and reception? You get not only the amazing views of Vermont’s Green Mountains, but also the views of the Adirondacks across the water in New York.
Basin Harbor in Vergennes, Vermont
Basin Harbor
For a waterfront wedding venue without putting your entire guest list on the water, however (after all, if someone, say the flower girl, gets seasick that’s a wedding disaster you definitely don’t want), look to Basin Harbor in Vergennes. This lovely lakeside venue boasts a handful of spectacular ceremony spots, including a dock that juts out into Lake Champlain and features a backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains. As a perfect finishing touch to your big day, trade out your getaway car for a getaway speed boat. The photos alone are worth it.
The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont
Channel one of the most well-known musicals of all time as you plan your wedding at The Trapp Family Lodge, just a few miles from downtown Stowe. This venue was founded by the real family that inspired The Sound of Music and, as such, you’ll find Austrian influences at every turn. With 2,500 acres, the venue offers plenty of space for you to choose from—including a croquet lawn and two separate meadows, and various indoor spaces—and if you and your fiancé are beer fans, you’ll love the on-site beirhall.
The Trailside Inn in Killington, Vermont
The Trailside Inn
If you and your partner are avid hikers, you’ll definitely want to check out The Trailside Inn, near Killington. From the most casual to the most elegant weddings, this large venue can do it all. The real draw, though, is all the wooded outdoor space, perfect for more intimate ceremonies, receptions, and wedding portraits, all surrounded by the great outdoors. One of the best parts of booking your dream wedding here, though? When you do, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to the entire property, for a level of privacy you’ll be hard-pressed to find at other, similar venues.
River Road Farm in Manchester, Vermont
River Road Farm
This is a far cry from your average barn wedding. River Road Farm does offer a barn for your event space, but this is certainly unlike any other barn venue you’ve likely spotted during your wedding planning. The deep-stained flooring, rich leather and wood accents, stone walls, and chandeliers all make the space as dramatic as they come. You would never guess that the venue was actually a 110-year-old horse barn. The venue is suitable for up to 200 guests and you’ll find other ceremony spots beyond the barn across the farm, including the gardens, lawn, and trout pond bridge.
The Henry House in Bennington, Vermont
The Henry House
For the most bang for your buck (because, let’s face it, weddings can get pricey), look to The Henry House. The 250-year-old, Revolutionary War-era home offers an array of features that all add a little extra something special to your wedding. There’s a 14-foot stone fireplace for fireside ceremonies; an expansive slate patio for wedding party portraits; and a converted barn-turned-bar for reception drinks. The home itself sleeps 13 guests and features period furnishings among the Georgian-style architecture. You and your wedding party can take up residence for the entire wedding weekend and enjoy it all, all on a budget.
Turning Stone Farm in Greensboro, Vermont
Turning Stone Farm
This 1880s rustic barn venue is lovely any time of year, but it really shines in the fall. Surrounded by woods, the trees come alive in vibrant hues of red and orange come autumn, perfectly complementing the expansive red barn. Just add a few pumpkins and maybe a bonfire or two and you have the fall-time wedding you’ve been dreaming of. Turning Stone Farm is suitable for weddings of up to 300 guests and you can host your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the one spot, moving between the barn, orchard, gardens, and other plentiful spaces.
Stratton Mountain Resort in Stratton Mountain, Vermont
Stratton Mountain Resort
A lot of Vermont resorts and other wedding venues offer outdoor ceremony and reception spaces with fantastic views of the Green Mountains, but if you truly want to take your wedding to another level, don’t settle for mere mountain views—say ‘I do’ on the mountain summit itself. That’s exactly what you can do at Stratton Mountain Resort, which offers its summit deck for intimate weddings, accessible only via the ski gondola. From the top, you and your guests will be able to view up to four states and mountain ranges.
Park-McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion in North Bennington, Vermont
Park-McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion
Your inner romantic may just let out a squee when you see this stunner of a historic wedding venue. Park-McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion is just the gingerbread-style mansion that you’d want for a truly romance-themed wedding, with its Romantic Revival and Second Empire architecture, surrounded by 200 acres of parkland and gardens. From the terraces to the gardens to the carriage barn, take your pick of multiple wedding ceremony and reception spots (suitable for guest lists up to 200 people) to plan a wedding day steeped in sweetness.
