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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by kailey | Jan 30, 2022 | Wedding
From oceanfront “I do’s” to a reception under the stars, this Olowalu beach wedding is proof micro weddings don’t have to be boring. With the help of wedding planner Bixby and Pine, Katie and Zach were able to bring to life an intimate, unique nuptial that celebrated their love for Hawaii and each other.
With both ocean and mountain views, Olowalu Plantation House was the perfect venue for this Hawaii-loving couple. They wanted Hawaii’s natural beauty to be the main event, with minimal decor and a terracotta color palette—subtle and show-stopping. Tropical florals by Reed and Rye were incorporated into the ceremony backdrop, bouquets, and reception tables to cohesively blend the ceremony and reception areas.
Photographer and Junebug member Emma Quinn captured every moment and decor detail that’ll have you dreaming of hosting a smaller celebration. Get your Pinterest boards ready and keep scrolling for unique weddinginspiration we guarantee you’ll want to revisit. Plus, you won’t want to miss the traditional Hawaiian unity ceremony, neon aloha sign, and laid-back fashion.
Photographer’s Thoughts On This Olowalu Beach Wedding
Katie and Zach took their time planning their Olowalu beach wedding. They’ve lived in Hawaii and decided it was important for their guests to experience this place they love so dearly. It really was an intimate wedding for the books.
The Couple:
Katie and Zach
The Wedding:
Maui, Hawaii
Sharing Their Love For Hawaii And Each Other
We prioritized many things when planning our wedding. First, having lots of time together as a couple. Prioritizing our time together in the day-of itinerary allowed us to really take in what was happening! Secondly, showing off the beauty of Hawaii to all our loved ones. Zach and I have spent the past three winters on the island, so it’s an important place to us. We wanted to be able to show our guests why it holds such a special place in our hearts.
Working With Photographer Emma Quinn
Working with Emma Quinn was easy and effortless. We’ve worked with Emma many times. She’s always had such an eye for capturing moments, taking a step back, and painting the picture of the day. Emma is a true storyteller! She’s also just a really fun and sweet person to have around. My family and friends just loved her. We also spent a night in a tiny cabin in Yosemite for our engagement session, then spent sunrise to sunset together, and never got sick of each other. Love that chick.
A Venue With Ocean And Mountain Views
We’re so proud of how beautiful the venue was. I think all our guests were blown away when they arrived. The Olowalu Plantation House sits right on the water. From one side you have a view of the ocean and from the other side you have a view of the mountains. It had all of the Hawaii vibe we were going for.
Local Beers Only At The Reception
I loved that we served local beers and seltzers from Maui Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Company, and Ola Brewing Company. We had a beer pong table that was so fun during the reception. Honestly, we were proud of most elements of the day. We’re so happy with how it came together.
The Importance Of Hiring A Wedding Planner
Our advice to couples everywhere is to hire a wedding planner! We’re in the wedding industry ourselves and we almost tried to do it on our own. After a few months of planning, we realized that the biggest gift we could give ourselves was hiring someone. Bixby and Pine did everything—I mean everything. It allowed us to solely focus on each other and let us really take in the meaning of the day. Let me say it louder for the people in the back: a wedding planner is a gift to yourselves!
Incorporate Loved Ones In The Wedding
The most memorable part of the day was our ceremony. And trust me, I wasn’t expecting that. But when you really love the person you’re marrying, saying your vows to one another in front of all your favorite people is pretty special. We were laughing, we were crying—it was just perfect. Plus, our officiant is our brother-in-law and he did such a good job centering the message around who we are as a couple. And my mom recited a bible verse about love. Then, we had a unity ceremony honoring Hawaiian culture.
Congratulations to Katie and Zach on their oceanfront Hawaiian nuptial. And big thanks to photographer and Junebug member Emma Quinn for capturing the love and laughter that radiated from this Olowalu beach wedding.
by kailey | Jan 27, 2022 | Wedding
There’s nothing more glamorous than tying the knot in far away places—this glam micro wedding in Crete, Greece is no exception. Yuliya and Pavlo wanted a day that prioritized comfort, fashion, and jaw-dropping views. Which was easy with local event planner Make Happy Memories by their side.
This adventurous couple kicked off their celebration by exchanging romantic private beach “I do’s” at the Church of Ascension at Paleochora. This historic church added sentiment to their big day. It also made for an incredible photo backdrop when paired with pop-of-color florals by Manfler. That’s a double win.
The mid-day ceremony took our breath away but this celebration truly came to life during their mountain top Art Villareception. The dreamy twenty-six person villa was complete with an infinity pool overlooking the bay of Mirabello, draped twinkle lights, and large chandeliers over the neutral reception table.
Whether you’re in search of destination wedding ideas or looking for ways to make your small wedding stand out, this is the inspiration you’ve been looking for. Get your Pinterest boards ready, these photos by Me and Georgia are filled with one-of-a-kind wedding inspo you’ll want to revisit.
Me and Georgia’s Thoughts On This Glam Micro Wedding
This was the first wedding we worked on after the covid restrictions were lifted. We were very happy to see destination micro weddings taking place again. It was a small wedding, but it was full of taste and elegance.
The Couple:
Yuliya and Pavlo
The Wedding:
Crete, Greece
The Struggle Of Planning A Destination Wedding
We had to organize our wedding from far away. We ended up hiring a local wedding planner to help us avoid stress. That’s our biggest tip for couples planning a destination wedding—hire a local wedding planner. It’s really important to work with someone who really understands your desires and knows the area.
Hiring Me and Georgia was one of the best decisions we made while planning our wedding. They were super responsive, flexible, funny, and incredibly easy to work with. We knew that the photos would be the one thing we could cherish forever and we wanted them to be perfect. We cannot recommend them enough for every wedding day.
A Reception With A View
We chose Art Villa because of the unique and amazing landscape. With this venue we were able to rent a large modern villa for 26 people.
Congratulations to Yuliya and Pavlo on their stunningly glam micro wedding in Crete, Greece. And big thanks to photographer Me and Georgia for capturing the special moments and details that make a destination wedding incredibly special.
by riley | Jan 23, 2022 | Wedding
With winter only a couple of months away, we’re soaking up as much winter wedding inspiration as possible. Ali and Joseph’s beautiful backyard wedding may have been small in size, but it had everything they asked for. From fur shawls to a stunning blue color palette perfect for the season to a decadent s’mores station.
Despite planning a wedding during COVID and having no wedding planner, the two transformed their backyard into a romantic backdrop, perfect for a micro wedding. But they did have some help from their friends and family! The team came together and tackled some serious DIY projects–including the flowers, the wedding lighting, and even the bride’s hair and makeup.
Photographer Sopheak Smith did an amazing job of capturing how this ordinary space was converted into the perfect venue for the laid back couple. If you’re searching for creative ways to turn your own backyard into your dream venue, then keep scrolling!
The Couple:
Ali and Joseph
The Wedding:
Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
Simple Vibes At This Beautifully Blue Backyard Winter Wedding
Our backyard wedding was an eclectic boho chic blend of COVID-friendliness, child-proofness, convenience, whimsy, and low-stress beauty. As it was the second wedding for both of us, our main focus was our seven children becoming family with us. We transplanted a flowerbed, installed fence panels we found on Facebook marketplace, hung a lot of lights, ordered flowers online, and incorporated a lot of personal touches.
DIYing The Decor And Flowers
The florist–Joseph’s sister–could not come due to COVID, so my Matron of Honor stepped in to arrange the flowers and blew me away. Also, it became my Herculean task to hang lights around the backyard leading up to the wedding. I had attempted to hang–and ended up bursting many strands–of lights. The morning of the wedding, I asked my neighbor if we could bum some electricity from his outlet, and then realized we would have to rehang all the lights the opposite direction. I had to get ready, so I asked Joseph if he could do it and–amidst everything else he was doing–he didn’t even hesitate. He and a groomsman created the perfect ambiance for our post-sunset celebration.
A Team Effort For The Bride’s Look
I love both a classy and earthy style. I ordered the dress online because I loved the look and shape, and I had a tailor add material under the lace because when it came in, it was see-through! I looked like a mermaid and it turned out perfect. I made the faux-fur wraps for the girls and myself because it was a winter outdoor wedding and we needed something warm. One of Joseph’s sisters is a hair stylist and took my naturally wavy hair to another level. And my Matron of Honor created my hair piece with hot glue and leftover flowers about 20-minutes before the ceremony began. I did my own makeup and had to send my sister-in-law to purchase some waterproof mascara for me since I figured I’d need it.
A Wide Selection Of Tasty Foods
Joseph is a taco enthusiast and his friend and business partner catered our reception with amazing tacos from his local restaurant. I own a business making locally-sourced bone broth, and we served it at the wedding, which was perfect for the cooler temperatures. Along with the wedding cake from Ludger’s, our groom’s cake was a cinnamon roll “cake” prepared by the owner of Missy’s Bakery–my family friend (who incidentally was also Joseph’s first boss)–and assembled by my mom. We also had a s’more station around a fire pit that was the kids’ favorite feature.
Congratulations again to Ali and Joseph on their blue backyard winter wedding. And big thank you to Sopheak Smith for capturing the beauty of the day. To nail your own backyard wedding planning, be sure to check out our ultimate guide!
by riley | Jan 20, 2022 | Wedding
Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, so make it a multi-day party with your loved ones! That’s what Anne and Ahmad did for their glam Egyptian oasis wedding at Adrere Amellal. After preparing for their special day with excursions and a decadent dinner, the couple said “I do” in a small ceremony followed by a dance party under the stars and a firework show.
With the help of planner Dina Iskander, the outdoor reception space was dressed up in an abundance of greenery and pampas grass, giving it a glitzy yet earthy aesthetic. It paired beautifully with the venue’s palm trees and desert facade. But it’s not just the decor we’re drooling over. Anne–an haute custom gown designer–created her own mermaid wedding gown, with beautiful intricate beading. Oh, and she also designed her rehearsal dress and her bridesmaids’ dresses too?
If you’re planning your own over-the-top destination wedding and you’re looking for some inspo, you’re not going to want to miss these gorgeous photos captured by Eslam Saleh.
The Couple:
Anne and Ahmad
The Wedding:
Adrere Amellal, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
A Glimpse Into The Glam Oasis Wedding Weekend Festivities
The wedding took place over two days in the Siwa Oasis, a remote city in the western desert of Egypt. The pre-wedding day included a 4×4 caravan excursion into the Great Sand Sea, natural cold and hot springs, sandboarding, and traditional Siwan tea at sunset. The pre-wedding dinner and the wedding took place at the Adrere Amellal Eco-Lodge.
Sustainable And Elegant Wedding Vibes
Adrere Amellal is a wholly sustainable resort comprising 40 unique, hand-built rooms. All the furniture and crafts in the hotel pay tribute to nature and talented local artisanship. With no electricity, the rooms are softly lit with a dozen beeswax candles and the starry desert sky. All meals were prepared using local ingredients in the traditional Amazigi Berber manner. Anne, an haute couture custom gown designer, created her own wedding gown, her pre-wedding gown, and all her bridesmaids’ dresses.
Congratulations again to Anne and Ahmad on their glam oasis wedding! Big thank you to Eslam Saleh for photographing their special day. If you’re in the beginning stages of wedding planning and these desert “I do’s” left you feeling inspired, check out these unconventional wedding venues for unique couples!
