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Intimate Portland Dinner Party Wedding at Home

March 31, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

We can’t get enough of intimate dinner party weddings, and Allie and Colin’s wedding at Allie’s family home in Portland is as dreamy as they come! The master planners and designers at Bright Night helped create a cozy setting for the couple’s 35 closest family members and friends. Using just one long dinner table, they decorated with organic floral arrangements and pillar candles, then hung a huge garland installation and gold lanterns from the ceiling. The result was truly impressive! Equally impressive was the bride’s beaded lace BHLDN mermaid gown. We’re so grateful that photographers Micah and Hannah of FSCHCO were there to capture every gorgeous detail!

The Couple:

Allie and Colin

The Wedding:

Private Residence, Portland, Oregon

I’ve been in the Wedding Industry for five or so years now, so after seeing all the in’s and out’s of a whole lot of weddings, I had a pretty good idea of what I loved and didn’t love. I’ve always gravitated towards the small, intimate weddings. I love how peaceful and stress free they seem and how the bride and groom get to spend quality time with every guest. We decided to have a small wedding with our immediate family and dearest friends, and are so happy we did it that way! Even our photographers, designers, videographer, and caterer are dear friends of ours. It made for the most peaceful, intimate, special day.

From the first look, to the ceremony, to the reception it was all more beautiful than we could have ever dreamed. But I’d have to say the most memorable parts were when we read our own vows to each other during the ceremony, and when we had a time of sharing during our reception. Both our fathers shared a toast and then opened up the room to whoever wanted to share a story or word of encouragement. We couldn’t have anticipated the beauty of what turned into an hour of our nearest and dearest sharing stories, laughter, encouragement and ALL the tears. It was truly magical!

We had our ceremony and reception at my family’s home. It was so special and sentimental to have it in a place that is an important part of our lives. It is fun to be able to go back to their house and reminisce on what was by far the most amazing day.

Since we only had 35 guests at our wedding, we wanted the dining experience to feel like a romantic dinner party. We had a fantastic local chef cook in our family’s kitchen where all our guests could watch. It added a unique flair to the overall experience. For cocktail hour, the cooking team created the most insane charcuterie with pickled veggies and fish, as well as meats and cheese, perfectly coupled with sparkling Rose. This was followed by a family style feast of lamb and papas bravas for the main course. All of this was paired with wine that Colin and I handpicked at Cooper’s Hall, a local restaurant in Portland. The meal ended with desserts made by one of my best friends. It was a meal we will never forget!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – FSCHCO
Event Planning, Floral Design, and Invitations – Bright Night
Catering – Coopers Hall
Cake – Flour Press
Videography – Micah Bartel
Hair Styling – Briana McDonald
Wedding Dress – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – ASOS
Rings – Rock for Her

 

A heartfelt congratulations to Allie and Colin, and a big thanks to FSCHCO for sharing these incredible wedding photos with us! Love the idea of an intimate dinner party reception? Then you’ve got to see how Blake and Clayton put together their modern romantic dinner party wedding at The Ravington!

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This Alaskan Wedding Inspiration Shoot Turned Into a Stylish Surprise Proposal

March 31, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

Just when you think an Alaskan wedding inspiration shoot couldn’t be more epic, it turns into a surprise proposal that’s as stylish as it is romantic! Relic Photographic helped Steve, the lucky groom-to-be, plan the surprise of a lifetime for his girlfriend Chantel that included a stunning styled shoot in the Alaskan wilderness. They chose a bold color palette of burgundy, light blue, and tan, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wintry landscape. They also enlisted the help of Lynn + Lou Paper Co. to calligraph the love letter that Steve gave to Chantel just moments before he popped the question. Be still our hearts!

From the photographer: Steve contacted us privately and asked that we would facilitate him proposing during a session. We were happy to oblige! Chantel thought that we chose them as models in a nordic-styled wedding session. Little did she know that the love of her life was about to surprise her in the most meaningful ways. We (Relic Photographic) completely styled the session. We asked a calligrapher to create a beautiful love letter from text that Steve had written and passed to us. In the right moment, Steve asked Chantel to read it. She realized quickly that it was a love letter meant for her. Then tears. Then Steve beaming at her from on one knee. Then laughter. And more tears. It was so. stinking. beautiful!

The Talented Team:

Photography – Relic Photographic
Floral Design – Blomma Designs
Invitations – Lynn + Lou Paper Co.

 

Congratulations to Chantel and Steve on your engagement, and an extra special thanks to Relic Photographic for sharing this surprise proposal / inspiration shoot with us! Need another dose of sweetness? Then check out this surprise proposal and engagement session in Savannah, Georgia!

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9 Creative Reception Activities Your Guests Will Love

March 30, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

photos by Let’s Frolic Together

We love a wedding that really lets the couple’s personality shine. From hand-written vows to hand-me-down wedding details, there are so many ways to personalize your day! One aspect of the wedding where you can really turn the volume up is your reception. By 2017, we’ve all been to at least one wedding with a photo booth setup. While there are always new, inventive ways to have a photo booth (in a VW bus! with face-in-hole cutouts of the bride and groom! making use of an stylish lounge area!), we started thinking of reception activities beyond the booth. If you’re looking for ideas to entertain your guests between dinner and dancing, these creative reception activities are for you!

Typewriter Poetry

Much like you would book a DJ or emcee to entertain your reception, there are talented typewriter poets for hire! Give your guests the gift of words with a poem written on the spot, just for them. We guarantee your guests will be raving about this wedding take-away for years to come!

P.S. We highly recommend checking out The Haiku Guys + Gals for amazing on-the-spot typewriter haikus at your wedding!

photo by UNIQUE LAPIN Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Live Painting

You’ve obviously got an incredible photographer to capture each little moment throughout your day, but there is another kind of artist that can capture your wedding in a unique way! Hiring a live artist to paint or draw a scene from your reception is impossibly classy. Not only will your guests be wowed as they sneak peeks at the masterpiece throughout your affair, but you receive a one-of-a-kind canvas to display in your home that was created in full during your wedding.

photo by Dan Stewart Photography, live watercolor artist Lisa Flahive Fine Art; see more from this wedding here!

Synchronized Swimmers

Does your reception venue come with a pool? String lights and colorful floaties are eye-catching, but you’ll really turn heads with a team of synchronized swimmers! Words can’t really express the delight of seeing a group of brightly-suited dancers take on the water in sync, so we’ll let these Palm Springs wedding photos below do the talking!

photos by Let’s Frolic Together

Karaoke

Confession time: we are huge fans of karaoke here at Junebug Weddings. That said, we’re dying for an invite to a wedding reception with karaoke! What better way to get guests involved in the fun than belting out “Don’t Stop Believing” as one massive group?

photo by Sam Hurd Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Tattoo Station (Temporary or Real!)

Whether your guests are a heavily tattooed crowd or don’t mind a little temporary body art, a tattoo station is an activity guests won’t soon forget! Give your guests something they can take home with them to remember your day by. The quickly fading temporary tattoos may not last as long as a permanent one, but your guests are sure to remember either experience as creative and totally YOU!

photos by Alixann Loosle Photography, event planning by Bella and Co.; see more from this wedding here!

photos by Bruno Rezza, tattoo artist Slim Brown; see more from this wedding here!

S’mores

When it comes to DIY dessert, there’s no option more delicious than s’mores! From roasting marshmallows together over an open fire pit to crafting their perfect treat, guests will have way more fun with dessert when they get to play with their food. Step up the s’mores game with Reese’s, cinnamon sugar graham crackers, and flavored marshmallows.

photo by Jamie Jones Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Mixologist Lessons

Having a signature cocktail is always a lovely personal touch to add to your reception. Now, imagine that all of your wedding guests left the party knowing how to recreate it at home? Rather than simply hiring a bartender for your event, consider booking a mixologist to provide craft cocktail lessons on the spot. Who doesn’t love a little learning with their liquor?

photo by Myles Katherine, styling by CK Wedding and Event Design, cocktails by Mint & Mirth; see more from this feature here!

Tarot Reading

Weddings are all about celebrating the next chapter in your life. Having a tarot card reader at your reception fits in perfectly, getting your guests in the mindset of thinking ahead to what their own future holds. Especially if your wedding reception has a bohemian or eclectic aesthetic, a tarot reading could be your perfect reception activity!

photo by Peyton Rainey Photography and Chelsea Denise Photography; see more from this wedding inspiration shoot here!

Cigar Lounge

A cigar lounge during your reception provides a perfectly relaxing getaway for guests from the strobe lights of the dance floor. Many guests may have never experienced a cigar before, making this both a unique wedding activity and a crossed-off bucket list item.

photo by The Schultzes; see more from this wedding here!

Looking for more wedding reception ideas? Check out these wedding planning inspiration posts:

Quiz: Which First Dance Song Should You Choose?

8 Ways to Make Time for Yourselves in Your Wedding Day Timeline

Use This Wedding Decor Checklist to Help You Nail Every Detail

How Not to Get Sucked Into a Pinterest Wedding

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