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This Overlook Barn Wedding Was Full of Unique Floral Arrangements

January 16, 2024 | justine

When Cassie and Garrett got engaged, they didn’t like the idea of a barn wedding because it didn’t match their style. However, the moment they laid eyes on their venue, they realized that an Overlook Barn wedding was perfect for them. They aimed for a warm and inviting atmosphere on their big day, focusing on planning just that. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, everything came together effortlessly—nothing too formal, lots of bright colors, and, most importantly, quality time with their favorite people in a beautiful location.

They couldn’t have picked a better spot for their wedding. The vast views and boundless sky took center stage in their meadow ceremony. After exchanging sweet “I dos,” they moved to a barn reception adorned with cascading florals above charming tablescapes. String lights overhead tied everything together, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

If you’re searching for a lovely barn wedding inspiration, your quest ends here. We assure you that these beautiful images–skillfully captured by Junebug member Jacqueline Davison–will find a place on your wedding mood board. So take a moment and keep scrolling.

The Couple:

Cassie and Garrett

The Wedding:

Overlook Barn, Beech Mountain, North Carolina, United States

Beyond Maid of Honor: How The Bride’s Sister’s Design Magic on Wedding Stationery Stood Out

My incredibly talented sister and maid of honor designed our wedding invitations for us and all the other stationary for the day. It was so special and came out so beautifully that some of our guests asked her if she’d do theirs, too!

Crafting a Personalized Ceremony for Their Overlook Barn Wedding

A close childhood friend of Garrett’s married us, which was exceptional. He did a fantastic job and made our ceremony feel personal and authentic. We wrote our vows together based on what we each hoped our marriage and relationship would look like over the years to come, and we also included a portion in the ceremony where we shared “words of affection” for each other. It was so special to share all the reasons we love each other in front of our nearest and dearest. We wanted our ceremony to be very personal and romantic and then for the rest of the night to be a huge party. It’s part of why we wrote our own vows to make that moment intimate but then did a swing dance to “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” by Ray Charles instead of a slow song for our first dance to kick off the rest of the night and the dancing.

Prioritizing Love Over Details for a Stress-Free Day

Do as much as you can do, as early as you can do it–you will thank yourself later. Weddings are a lot of moving parts. But ultimately, it’s about you marrying your person and all (or a lot of) your favorite people being there to celebrate. We tried to remind ourselves that as long as we ended the day as husband and wife and had our people there to celebrate with us, the rest of the details were outstanding. Still, they don’t matter all that much. And it helped keep us focused on enjoying the whole process and not making it more stressful than needed. Our advice to future couples: plan ahead, prioritize what truly matters to you, and keep the focus on the love you’re celebrating. The details will fall into place. But the joy of marrying your person and having your loved ones around is what truly makes the day special.

Reflecting on Their Overlook Barn Wedding Highlights

Garrett: For me, the most memorable moment was Cassie walking down the aisle. Seeing how beautiful she was was a perfect moment and just surreal. It felt like my whole life was walking down the aisle.
Cassie: Walking into the reception as husband and wife was an insane moment that took me off guard. I had not expected the wave of emotions that would bring. The high that we were both on coming off of the ceremony. Combined with the realization that every person there was someone we loved so dearly who had taken the time to be there and surround us with love on that day. It was an unbelievable feeling. Between him on my arm and all these people so genuinely happy for us. It was the most loved I’ve ever felt.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jacqueline Davison
Event Planning – Elegant Event Weddings
Venue – Overlook Barn
Floral Design – Ashley Johnson
Catering – Reid’s Catering
Cake – Hallmark Cakes
Officiant – Tucker McGinnis
DJ – Split Second Sound
Videography – M & P Weddings & Films
Invitation Design – Sarah Robb
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Beauty Tribe
Rentals – A & J Rentals
Transportation – High Country Limo

 

Congratulations to Cassie and Garett on their Overlook Barn wedding full of unique florals. A big thank you to Junebug member Jacqueline Davison for capturing all the swoon-worthy details and love-filled moments. To see more stunning weddings like this one, check out Jacqueline’s profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!

Much like the intricate details that defined this wedding, the venue played a pivotal role in setting the tone. For valuable insights on discovering your ideal setting for love, delve into our comprehensive venue guide. Filled with tips and insights, it’s a valuable resource to help you choose the perfect location for your magical day.

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Where to Get Ready the Morning Of Your Wedding + Wedding Ready Tips

January 15, 2024 | Junebug Weddings
bride getting ready

Image by Ana Hinojosa

You’ve got your wedding party picked out, checked off all your major vendors, and now it’s time to think about the timeline and all the little details that come with it. You may be wondering where to spend the morning of your big day. That’s why we’re here to help with a few creative getting wedding-ready location ideas and all the tips you need for a smooth wedding morning!

Getting Ready Location Ideas

If the getting ready experience is important to you, location can play a huge part in how you’re feeling on the day of your wedding. These are also some of the most candid and fun photos of the day, It’s important to think about lighting and room size when considering the space you’ll choose to spend time in leading up to the big “I do!” Involve your vendors who can help you choose the perfect spot to begin one of the most memorable days of your life.

Still on the vendor hunt? Be sure to check out our directory of the world’s best wedding vendors.

Wedding Venue – This seems like an obvious choice for where to get ready the morning of your wedding, right? If you love the decor and design of your venue, you probably want as many photos there as possible. It also makes things extremely easy, since you’ll be on site the entire day. This can be a lifesaver in keeping up with your wedding day timeline. Be sure to check with your venue to see what time they’ll allow you to arrive on the day of. You might need to start to get ready at an alternate location and arrive at the venue just for the “final touches.”

Airbnb or Private Residence – If you need a little extra space or another location in addition to your wedding venue or ceremony location,  an Airbnb or private home is a great option. Renting an Airbnb for your wedding party to stay in the night before the wedding can also be a fun way to add a little extra time with them into your wedding weekend schedule.

Hotel – As an alternative to an Airbnb, booking a hotel can also be a great option, especially if you’re having a destination wedding or a lot of guests in town for the big day. If you are getting ready at a hotel where many of your guests are also staying, just make sure you’ve coordinated a way to sneak out without anyone seeing you (if you care about that tradition, of course).

Salon – Many salons offer a bridal package that allows you and your crew to get all your pampering done right there at the salon. We love this idea because it gets you out of your element and into a fun environment with your friends. Plus, there’s no extra clean-up needed once you leave.

Getting Wedding Ready Tips

groom spraying perfume while he gets ready

Image by MemoryBox

Now that you should be feeling good about where to get ready the morning of your wedding, it’s time to talk about how to make the most of your getting ready experience with some helpful “wedding ready” tips.

1. Plan your outfits – There’s nothing we love more than when soon-to-be newlyweds wear matching outfits or robes with their wedding parties. Whether you opt for comfy robes, matching pajama sets, or just coordinating colors, matching looks super cute in photos.

2. Pack a bag the week before – We know this might seem like an obvious step, but on the week of your wedding you’re likely excited and probably spending lots of time with family and friends. Make sure you remember YOU. Carve out time to put together a wedding essentials kit that you can bring with you on the morning of your big day. This should include everything from your jewelry, invitation suite, and shoes to smaller items like safety pins, a stain remover, and hair spray.

Junebug tip: If “detail” photos are important to you, you can also pack along a few styling items. Make sure your photographer knows where to find these things when they arrive.

3. Choose who you want to be in the room when you get dressed – During the hustle and bustle of wedding day it’s easy to just start going through the motions and rushing around to stick to a timeline. On your wedding day, keep in mind that it’s OK to stop, breathe, and think about your needs. Before your wedding day, make sure your team (photographer, videographer, and planner) knows who you want to help get you dressed. They can kindly ask anyone else to exit the room for this special, private moment. If you’re looking to have a first look with your wedding party, this is an excellent way to keep your full wedding day look a secret until the full reveal, too.

wedding vendor ad

4. Keep the room tidy – With so many people getting ready in one space, clutter happens. However, it can be a huge distraction in photos and videos. Try asking your friends to limit their bags and keep their things in a location off to the side or just outside the room. If you have room in your budget for reusable water bottles or matching cups, this is a great way to keep things clutter-free while also providing your wedding party with a small gift.

5. Take alone time if you need it – Even if you haven’t decided where to get ready the morning of your wedding, making a decision to take some alone time on your special day can be a truly beautiful thing. Think about your intentions for the day, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re feeling overwhelmed and just need a few minutes to center yourself and breathe.

6. Make sure to hydrate (with more than just champagne) – We know this isn’t the most exciting piece of advice, but it’s an important one. While it may be tempting to enjoy all the bubbly with your best friends on the morning of your wedding, you can’t go wrong with hydrating. Plus, champagne is highly carbonated and all that fizz can cause bloating and other gut problems. Enjoy one glass if need a little help loosening up, but stick to water until after the ceremony. Trust us when we say you’ll thank yourself for it.

bride putting on her veil

Image by Diptych Studio

7. Make time for all the reveals – Revealing your bridal look to your friends and family is one of the most exciting parts of the day. Make sure both your planner and photographer are aware of your wishes for these reveals. It’s best if they’re not hurried or rushed so that every emotion can be fully felt.

Now you’re ready to get wedding ready! You can’t get ready in silence though (unless you want to, that is)! That’s why we’ve put together what we think is the perfect wedding getting ready playlist that you’re going to want to dance to allll morning long!

Image by Claudia Robson

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This Desert Harbor Retreat Elopement Was Inspired by the New Mexico Desert

January 15, 2024 | justine

Imagine a beautiful, secluded location with stunning views of desert mountains—the kind of setting that makes love feel even more special. Samantha and McCall experienced just that after a rainy and muddy wild full moon wedding with friends and family in Georgia. They decided to escape for a quiet, romantic, and adventurous time, just the two of them. With the support of their fantastic team of vendors, they successfully pulled off a Desert Harbor Retreat elopement. Inspired by the New Mexico Desert come true, it turned out exactly as they envisioned.

Beneath a geometric arch that beautifully framed the grand mountains in the backdrop, the couple declared their love. Following the ceremony, they ventured into the desert, feeling the soft sands beneath their bare feet. They climbed the rocky terrain in their elopement attire and drove through the enchanting desert landscape in a vintage British Land Rover.

If intimate and dreamy desert vibes are your thing, get ready to be blown away. Their special day was brimming with emotional moments and panoramic desert views, all of which Junebug member Shutterfreek captured beautifully. Take a moment to scroll down to see what we mean.

The Couple:

Samantha and McCall

The Wedding:

Desert Harbor Retreat, Sandia Park, New Mexico, United States

How They Landed on a Desert Harbor Retreat Elopement After a Bigger Wedding Celebration

After a very wet and muddy wild full moon wedding celebration with our friends and family in Georgia, we wanted to sneak away for something quiet, intimate, romantic, and adventurous just for the two of us. Our outfits, florals, venue, and decor were minimalist, with burnt oranges and neutrals. We adventured in the desert barefoot, climbed up the rocky landscape in our elopement outfits, and Sam drove us through the dreamy desert sands in a vintage British Land Rover that Desert Harbor Retreat had on-site.

Simplified and Stress-Free Budgeting With a Focus on Talented Vendors

We took a minimalist approach to our budget, given we gathered friends and family. Most of our budget went to the pre-gathering of our friends and family. Desert Harbor Retreat offers straightforward elopement packages with preferred vendors, making our budgeting easy and stress-free. Our budget was $15,000, including a three-night stay, our food and beverage for the weekend, and all our vendors. We splurged on an incredible serenade from a talented flamenco guitarist and a one-of-a-kind photographer and videographer to capture the magic of our marriage.

How Desert Harbor Nailed Every Detail of Their Elopement

Desert Harbor Retreat fully executed our vision. The full service, privacy, intimacy, and genuine kindness of the family running the venue were all reasons we knew Desert Harbor was meant for us. They handled every aspect of our elopement weekend with a laid-back yet thorough demeanor anyone would want on their wedding day. The ease and simplicity of it all were most memorable—just the two of us, with no true timeline and no stresses or worries. Just us and our love. And the expansive, warm, and welcoming desert to act as the container of our eternal love for that special day. It’s easy to get swept away in a grand celebration. We both wanted to feel deeply connected to nature. Like we were the only two people on the planet that day.

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Shutterfreek
Venue – Desert Harbor Retreat
Floral Design – FloralFetish
Officiant – Raymond Linam
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Genica Lee
Accessories + Rings – Alexis Russell

 

Congratulations to Samantha and McCall on their Desert Harbor Retreat elopement inspired by the New Mexico Desert. And a special thanks to Junebug member Shutterfreek for capturing the magical desert landscape and all the loving moments throughout their special day. To see more enchanting retreats like this one, be sure to check out their profile in our directory of the best wedding photographers from around the world.

While gathering all your loved ones for a grand affair is great, it’s crucial to carve out moments of intimacy, romance, and stress-free bliss for just the two of you. Much like the beautiful event orchestrated by Sam and McCall. Not sure where to start? Explore our elopement and budget guides to craft your own perfect, intimate celebration.

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