Inspirational wedding blog, What Junebug Loves, top wedding and bridal fashion blog : fun ideas, wedding pros

Pretty, Pretty Wedding Photo Shoot from Harwell Photography

christy — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:57:00 GMT

If you're in need of a little (or a lot) of prettiness today, look no further! The ever-so-talented Georgia wedding photographer and Junebug member, Jeremy Harwell of Harwell Photography, teamed up with some of the very best wedding pros in the Southeast to produce this spectacularly lovely photo shoot for Atlanta Weddings magazine, and we're delighted to get to share them with you! Every image is so soft, romantic and inviting; I want to step right in and be that girl, smell those flowers and taste that cake, don't you? Enjoy!

Great job to the whole team who created this beautiful shoot!

Photography - Harwell Photography
Styling - Ginny Branch Stelling for Joy Thigpen
Flowers - Amy Osaba
Cake - Sweet Sensations
Accessories - Corrie Wright
Jewelry - Mucklows Fine Jewelry
Hair and Makeup - MaraZ for MiaBellezza Cosmetics
Venue - Montaluce Winery and Estates
Car - Classy Car Limo
Real couple - Jennifer and Eric (so sweet!)

Personalized Notecard Giveaway from Papeterie!

christy — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Happy Labor Day everyone! To celebrate the holiday weekend and what I hope has been a magical summer for all of you, we've got a fabulous giveaway today from stationery and wedding invitation designer Papeterie! Two of you lucky Junebug readers will win 25 of these beautiful chandelier print note cards in white and charcoal gray, complete with your names personalized on each and every one! These digital print cards are perfect as thank you notes for all of those wedding gifts and sweet gestures that are surely coming your way, and they make amazing gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen as well (Papeterie has a note card line just for guys. Very cool!).

To enter to win, just head over to the Papeterie website and take a look around at all their gorgeous designs. Then come back here and leave us a comment telling us about your favorites; it's as easy as that! We'll take entries all week, and choose a winner next Monday, September 13th. Good luck, good luck, good luck, and thank you Papeterie!

A Summer Salad Recipe from Lisa Dupar Catering

christy — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:00:00 GMT

As an award-winning catering company (and talented Junebug member!) Lisa Dupar Catering is known for their exceptionally delicious and successful events. The team's extensive knowledge and professional expertise allow guests to have a complete dining experience - from the first sip of wine to that last bite of dessert. Lisa's food is truly inspired culinary art, and her own sweet Southern hospitality makes her a joy to work with.

Lisa recently let us take a peek inside her recipe box, and she shared her favorite seasonal recipe for an outdoor summer wedding. Lisa loves the Oregon Pink Shrimp and Shaved Fennel Salad not only because it's tasty, but because the Oregon Pink Shrimp is also one of the only completely sustainable pink shrimp industries in the world - a fact we can definitely get on board with!

Oregon Pink Shrimp and Shaved Fennel Salad

Serves 6-8

6 Cups of Oregon pink shrimp (fresh if you can get it, or defrosted and drained)

1 Cup EACH of finely diced celery, diced fennel, and diced dikon radish (or red radish)

3/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Mayonnaise

6 Tbs. of chopped fennel greens (fronds)

1 Tbs. chopped fresh tarragon

3 Tbs. Dry white Vermouth (optional)

3/4 Tsp. "New" Bay Seasoning from World Spice, or Old Bay Seasoning

To finish the salad:

Make sure the shrimp is completely defrosted and drained of any excess water.

Mix all ingredients and adjust seasoning if needed.

Serve with two leaves of iceberg, one leaf of radicchio, and little spring Easter radishes.

Note: This dish should be made fresh right before serving or the vegetables will lose their crunch if it sits too long!

Lisa also recommends choosing one fun cocktail for your wedding or celebration, that can be served in a champagne flute or beautiful pitcher, and accompanied with lots of fresh fruit garnish. The Purr Razz Sparkler sounds heavenly!

Purr Razz Sparkler

3/4 oz. Pur Geist Raspberry Vodka

1/4 oz. Chambord

Fill the champagne flute with Moscati d'Asti (about 4 oz.)

Garnish with one fresh raspberry float.

Relax and enjoy!

Couture Wedding Cake Creations from Magpie's Cake

christy — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:46:00 GMT

The cakes from Washington, D.C.'s Magpie's Cake are truly pieces of edible art, and if you're anything like me (owner of a giant sweet tooth and lover of all things pretty) we're talking swoon-city!

Magpie's chef and owner Maggie LaBaugh creates haute couture confectionery masterpieces using the freshest ingredients and the finest techniques. This former dancer and graduate of the French Pastry School draws on her training as a classical ballet dancer to create designs that are elegant, sophisticated and graceful. Each cake is tailored exclusively to her client's ideas, making every one unique. Using her amazing creative talents, Maggie will hand-paint, hand-craft and hand sculpt each sugar flower, ruffle or vintage looking rosette, and cakes can be ordered in flavors that range from seasonal to whimsical to deliciously traditional.

Check out the Magpie's Cake website to learn more about their offerings, and to see many, many more stunning cake creations that are almost too pretty to eat! Though I'm sure that wouldn't stop me.

A Summer Party Recipe from Jewel Catering

christy — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The brilliant culinary artists at Jewel Catering are always cooking up something new and delicious to get our tastebuds buzzing and to delight Seattle couples on their wedding days. Using only the freshest and finest Northwest ingredients, the menus from these Junebug members are true masterpieces, filled with flavor, depth and color. Once you try one of their mouth-watering dishes, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jewel Catering truly has a passion for food.

Jewel's Chef Dan Keller has put his creative talents to work for us and come up with an easy recipe for a tasty summer appetizer. So, go ahead and start dreaming about your next sunny cocktail hour or dinner outside, and whip-up this recipe for their Vegetable Yakisoba Noodle Salad!

Vegetable Yakisoba Noodle Salad:

Julienne one red and one yellow bell pepper, two large carrots, one small red onion.

Take four ribs of celery and bok choy, and cut them in half length-wise, and then cut them again at a bias.

Add baby corn, sliced water chesnuts and chopped scallions.

Mix with 16 ounces of fresh yakisoba noodles.

Dressing:

In a food processor, add one tablespoon each of chopped garlic, shallot and ginger.

Add 1/8 cup of soy sauce.

Add 1/4 cup of mirin.

Add 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar.

While blending at high speed, slowly add 1/4 cup of honey, 1 3/4 cups salad oil, and 1/4 cup pure sesame oil.

Mix dressing with vegetables and noodles, and garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

Serve in small Chinese to-go boxes with chop sticks, and enjoy!

Joy and David - An Anniversary Photo Shoot

christy — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Being photographed as a couple isn't just for engagements and wedding days. Having photos taken throughout your marriage is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and document your relationship as the years go by. This wedding anniversary shoot comes courtesy of LA-based photographer Jillian Bisinger, and the gorgeous couple is none other than the supremely talented Joy and David of Joy Marie Photography, both our dear friends and Junebug members.

Shot in Nashville to commemorate their 13th wedding anniversary (hooray!) it's easy to see how deeply in love Joy and David still are to this day. This duo is so cute together, and we love the style and high-fashion feeling they brought to this shoot. Can you believe these two have three growing boys?!

To see more fabulous images from Jillian Bisinger, be sure to check out her blog. And for a peek at some recent work of Joy Marie Photography, head over to Photobug right now to see last week's sexy boudoir shoot, and Cari and Jared's lovely Real Wedding featured today!

Joy and David, we congratulate you on 13 years together. You are a stunningly beautiful and insanely talented couple and we simply adore you!