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Colorful Al Fresco Wedding in California

June 23, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

Ashley and Daniel’s al fresco wedding in Northern California was like a modern fairytale come to life. Set in the father-of-the-bride’s backyard overlooking the San Francisco bay, the couple created a bohemian wonderland full of bright colors, organic textures, and vibrant florals from TRADE design + events. They also incorporated whimsical elements, such as a crystal ball, Game of Thrones inspired fur chair covers, and antique books, to infuse their unique personalities into the decor. To match the bohemian vibe, the bride wore a custom Sarah Seven off-the-shoulder gown and a bright floral crown of jasmine and poppy. Every detail of this wedding was bursting with life and color, and Sun + Life Photography captured it all beautifully!

The Couple:

Ashley and Daniel

The Wedding:

Private Residence, Tiburon, California

My original vision for my wedding dress was “ethereal bride running along the Moors” and my custom Sarah Seven gown with drop sleeves was exactly that to go with the bohemian look of the wedding, I modernized the dress with a gold belt and cuff bracelets, and had a gorgeous flower crown with jasmine and a beautiful orange poppy to match the groom’s lapel flower (and socks). In the end, I inadvertently looked like a boho Greek goddess, and I was totally cool with that!

My dad basically turned his property into WalleyWorld Jungle Adventure just to have a party, and who am I to deny him that? He has also been saying for years that nothing would make him happier than to see his daughter married there. With the amazing views of San Francisco, the gorgeous landscaping, the beautiful architecture, and the family history, there’s no way I would have had the wedding anywhere else!

SHOP THIS LOOK

 

My best friend from childhood was our officiant since neither of us are religious and we wanted to be married by someone very special to us (she’s also a friend of the groom at this point). She was fantastic and snuck in one of my favorite lines from my absolute favorite movie, “The Princess Bride” (“twooo wove”) — and she threw glitter in the air the moment we kissed!

I’ve always adored the Van Morrison song, “Into the Mystic,” and I was really inspired by the idea of a mystical bohemian vibe. Then I visited our photographers’ studio and fell in love with their midcentury modern aesthetic punctuated with super bright accents. So I ended up combining both into a modern bohemian feel. Basically I wanted my dad’s yard to feel like a modern fairytale forest, and our planner Melia helped make that a reality!

Most of the wedding décor is now part of our apartment – the cocktail linens (Aztec-pattern scarves purchased from an SF street vendor) became pillowcases, the faux Bertoia chair is in our living room, the lanterns that hung above us at the ceremony and the feather mobile decorate our bedroom. Every day I look around and am reminded of that magical day.

Processional – “The Girl” by City and Colour
Recessional – “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
First Dance – “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison
Father/Daughter Dance – “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sun + Life Photography
Event Planning and Floral Design – TRADE design + events
Catering – Nora Spanish Catering
DJ – Will Magid
Live Music – American Social Club
Invitations – Letterpress Made
Makeup Artist and Hair Styling – Sasee Boutique and Salon
Wedding Dress – Sarah Seven
Groom’s Apparel – Beckett & Robb
Rentals – Bright Event Rentals

 

Congratulations to Ashley and Daniel, and thanks to Junebug member Sun + Life Photography for sharing this beautiful wedding with us! If you’re looking for more backyard wedding inspiration, check out the amazing woodwork in this crafty backyard wedding!

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Absolutely Glamorous Palm Springs Wedding at The Frank Sinatra Estate

June 23, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

We’re pretty confident that Katarina and Ryan’s wedding at The Frank Sinatra Estate upheld and honored the sophisticated, classy, and fun-loving legacy of Ol’ Blue Eyes! With the expert help of Nicole Osibodu of Pink Pineapple Event Design, they created a glamorous yet laid-back event that featured an outdoor cocktail lounge with leather couches and cafe lights alongside yard games and a scrumptious donut bar to complete their breakfast for dinner theme. They also used vibrant botanical florals and palm leaves to add fun pops of color and infuse a classic Palm Springs feel. The overall vibe was fun, inviting, and energetic, as was evident by the flash mob that ended with a groomsman thrown in the pool! Sebastien Bicard Photography did an amazing job capturing the unforgettable moments of this glamorous wedding weekend, especially Katarina and Ryan’s day-after sunset portraits in Joshua Tree.

The Couple:

Katarina and Ryan

The Wedding:

The Frank Sinatra Estate, Palm Springs, California

After touring multiple beautiful country clubs and hotels, nothing jumped out at us and there were too many restrictions. Either we could only hire from their vendors, cater in-house, and/or couldn’t bring in anything from outside — it just wasn’t us. After looking at a couple of estates in Greater Palm Springs, The Frank Sinatra Estate was our immediate choice. I mean, come on, it’s Frank’s house!

We wanted the vibe to be formally informal. The estate is very reminiscent of the “Rat Pack” days — a perfect blend of sophistication, class, and fun. Our guests dressed in formal attire. We decorated with gold sequined linens, high boys, white leather chase lounges, and sparkling market lights to create an outdoor cocktail lounge setting. The splashes of pink cocktails, green palm leaves, lawn games, food stations, and a mini donut bar added the perfect contrast. Our goal was for everyone to have a blast!

One of the highlights was when the wedding party’s flash mob broke out into our choreographed routine. It took everyone by surprise! To top it off, one of the groomsmen and the best man were tossed into Frank Sinatra’s pool during the dance, which no one was expecting except for the guys.

Sebastien Bicard Photography was a dream to work with! He seemed to do the work of four people at one time. He caught moments that seemed impossible from the location with all that was going on and time constraints. He was the most professional photographer and gave us exactly the style and shots we were looking for, plus some. We really don’t think he had any time to eat or breathe for the entire time with the amount of photos he captured!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sebastien Bicard Photography
Event Planning and Floral Design – Pink Pineapple Event Design
Venue – The Frank Sinatra Estate
Catering – Ashley Catering
Cake – Over the Rainbow Desserts
Officiant – Mayor Robert Moon
Invitations – Zazzle
Makeup Artist and Hair Styling – Dishwater Blonde
Wedding Dress – Pronovias via Bohimi Coutour
Groom and Groomsmen’s Apparel – Men’s Wearhouse
Rentals – Simply Heavenly

 

Congratulations to Katarina and Ryan, and a huge thanks to Junebug member Sebastien Bicard Photography for sharing this gorgeous wedding with us! If you’re drawn to the relaxed elegance of a Palm Springs wedding, you’re going to love the bohemian vibes in this Palm Springs wedding!

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7 Reasons Why a Brunch Wedding Might be Right for You

June 22, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

photo by Carrie J. Photography

When asking about wedding trends, most people are looking for flowers, fashion, and decor elements to incorporate in their day. However, one of the biggest trends of late actually has to do with when the wedding takes place. Brunch weddings have taken the industry by storm this year. Rather than planning an evening affair, couples are saying “I do” just after breakfast time and celebrating with their guests while the sun is still shining. Haven’t considered a brunch wedding? Here are a few reasons why a brunch wedding might be perfect for you!

photo by Jessica Heron

If You’re On a Tight Budget

Traditional weddings can get expensive for a lot of reasons, but one of the big ones is time! Brunch weddings tend to run for fewer hours, meaning you’re paying your vendors for two to four hours instead of six to eight. Additionally, because your wedding is taking place in the morning, your vendors might be able to book a second wedding or session later in the day, which may allow them to offer you a discounted rate on their services.

photo by Jenna Bechtolt Photography

If Your Dream Date or Vendor is Already Booked

You found the venue or vendor of your dreams, but it turns out they’re booked for that date. It’s definitely worth asking if they would be available for a wedding in the morning of the same day, especially if you’re planning on a short ceremony and reception of only a couple hours.

photo by The Allens Photography

If You Want to Keep It Casual

Typically, brunch weddings call for a more casual dress code than weddings in the evening. If your friends and family aren’t really the fancy type, don’t make them bother with cocktail dresses and suits when everyone would be more comfortable in their nicest pair of jeans and a cute sundress. Bridesmaids can keep it casual in a skirt and blouse combo rather than dropping a couple hundred bucks on a gown they’ll likely only wear once. Plus, how perfect would these little white dresses be for a brunch wedding!

 

photo by Swak Photography

If You’re a Morning Person

If you don’t mind waking up before the sun is out, I’ve got three beautiful words for you: sunrise first look. The light couldn’t be prettier first thing in the morning, and most couples miss out on this opportunity by having their wedding later in the day. Start your wedding off by actually being together, rather than waiting until the afternoon or evening to finally see each other!

photo by Kelley Deal Photography

If You Have a Small Guest List

One of the highlights of a brunch wedding is a more intimate feel. A brunch wedding is perfect if you have a small number of people you want to invite (or want to use this as an excuse to not invite your future mother-in-law’s entire book club!). Think of it as throwing a brunch party for your closest friends, during which you happen to say “I do!”

photo by Karina & Maks

If You Love Breakfast Food + Drink

Of course, the number one reason to throw a brunch wedding is the food! Picture this: a coffee or Bloody May bar, a tower of donuts or waffles in lieu of a cake, a make-your-own breakfast tacos station, and toasting with glasses of mimosas (because the only thing better than champagne is champagne with orange juice). Breakfast food is also a solid idea if you’ve got picky family members or friends with different tastes in food because there’s something everyone will enjoy in a sweet and salty selection of breakfast items.

photo by Jonnie & Garrett

If Your Want to Get On With Your Honeymoon

Depending on how far your honeymoon destination is from your wedding location, you may be able to sit on the beach and toast to being newlyweds the same day you got hitched! You can tie the knot, eat a plate full of waffles, and hop on a plane all before noon on your wedding day, giving you ample time to enjoy your honeymoon getaway.

Looking for more wedding planning inspiration? Check out these helpful posts to get started!

5 Wedding Traditions You Might Want to Rethink + What to Do Instead

Why You Don’t Need to Feel Guilty About Your Wedding Guest List

How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Weekend

6 Stress-Reducing Wedding Planning Tips

Pro Tips for Creating Your Wedding Reception Seating Chart

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