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Unbelievable Horseshoe Bend Elopement at Sunset

June 9, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

After switching gears from planning a traditional church wedding and reception, Allyson and Andrew decided that an intimate Horseshoe Bend elopement was more their style! So, with only their closest family and friends by their side, they traveled from Texas to Arizona for a day that was purely about their love for each other and the start of their new life together. The day started with a hike through Antelope Canyon, where Lindsey Noel Photography captured gorgeous images of the couple dancing and cuddling amid the red rock formations. Then they made their way to the top of the canyon to exchange vows and have their first dance as husband and wife in front of an unbelievably beautiful backdrop!

The Couple:

Allyson and Andrew

The Wedding:

Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona

We decided to elope after we had already started planning a church wedding because we felt like it was becoming more about other things, like decorations and people. Our main focus was to glorify God while becoming one and we tried to keep every detail of our day about that.

We couldn’t have chosen a better photographer than Lindsey Noel Photography. Our wedding day started out with bride-groom portraits at Antelope Canyon, and Lindsey completely calmed our pre-wedding nerves. She directed us in a way that made us feel like we weren’t even having our pictures taken. Lindsey held a professional demeanor throughout the whole day while also making us feel like we’ve known her our whole lives!

At the end of our wedding ceremony, when the officiant said, “you may kiss your bride,” we pulled into each other and all of the spectators (there to see the sunset) started cheering for us, and Andrew lifted his fist in the air. We both love the way Lindsey captured that special moment and just thinking about that picture makes us smile uncontrollably.

We didn’t want to have a processional or recessional song, but what we really wanted was a first dance song. So about 3 weeks out from the wedding Allyson went to her little brother, Peyton Gilbert, and asked him to play their song on his ukulele, which he had to quickly learn. Immediately following the ceremony, we announced that we were going to go ahead and do our first dance, and Peyton sat down with his Ukulele to play “Married Life” from Disney’s UP as we danced at sunset on the edge of a canyon! It was perfect.

Our wedding advice is not try and plan your friends’ or families’ dream wedding, but to plan yours. You can’t please everyone so you should always do what feels right to you and your significant other. In the end, its your day and your marriage!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Lindsey Noel Photography
Venue – Horseshoe Bend
Wedding Dress – Casablanca Bridal
Bridal Accessories – Kendra Scott and TOMS
Flower Crown – Blue Orchid Creations
Groom’s Apparel – Van Heusen and TOMS
Bride’s Ring – Uneek

 

A heartfelt congratulations to Allyson and Andrew, and an extra special thanks to Lindsey Noel Photography for sharing these incredible elopement photos with Junebug! For more wildly romantic elopement inspiration, take a peak at our top 21 favorite elopements!

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DIY Texas Hill Country Wedding at Memory Lane Event Center

June 8, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

In true Texas Hill Country fashion, Lauren and Chris’s wedding included bourbon shots, cowboy hats, and tons of eclectic details! The couple’s wedding at Memory Lane Event Center began with a super sweet first look, then was followed by a fun ceremony where they took unity bourbon shots under a gorgeous wooden arbor. Lauren and Chris’s reception was full of quirky, rustic details like a guitar case card box, an alternative guest book with retro postcards, and a simply gorgeous dessert table that the bride’s mom baked most of the treats for. We can’t get enough of the portraits that You Are My True captured of the couple in a grassy field after the ceremony!

The Couple:

Lauren and Chris

The Wedding:

Memory Lane Event Center, Dripping Springs, Texas

SHOP THIS LOOK:

 

A pretty common ceremony tradition is to pour sands together or light a candle in unity, but we chose to tailor that idea to fit us and do unity bourbon shots. Everyone seemed to love the uniqueness of it and it definitely helped to ease the nerves!

There was a sliver of time between taking pictures and going into the reception where we were able to just sit, have a drink and breathe together. It was a quiet moment and I think that’s where it finally sank in that we were actually married!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! When we started planning our wedding I literally thought I could do it all by myself, no problem. But that quickly faded and it really helped to have people you can trust in your corner. Plus, it’s just more fun that way!

Chris designed all of the signage for our reception along with our whole invitation suite. My mother and I also sourced all kinds of vintage glassware that she later turned into a million candles for the reception. On top of that she also made most of the cakes/treats on the dessert bar! The lady was a total rockstar.

Processional – I Wouldn’t Be Me Without You by Rodney Crowell
Recessional – Disappear by Parker Millsap
First Dance – Above & Beyond by Rodney Crowell

The Wedding Team:

Photography – You Are My True
Venue & DJ – Memory Lane Event Center
Floral Design – Wild Bunches Floral
Catering – PoK-e-Jo’s
Makeup & Hair Artist – Lucie Marie
Wedding Dress – Daughters of Simone via Second Summer Bride
Groom’s Apparel – Dillard’s
Rentals – Whim Hospitality
Favors – Picture Perfect Papier

 

Congratulations to Lauren and Chris, and a big thanks to You Are My True for sharing their gorgeous day with us. Want more Texas Hill Country wedding inspiration? Take a look at this charming Texas Hill Country wedding at Gruene Estates!

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This SmogShoppe Wedding Totally Nails Eclectic Elegance

June 7, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

Lovers of eclectic florals and gorgeous venues: this one’s for you! Nicolette and Chase’s dreamy SmogShoppe wedding combined lounge-y cocktail vibes with elegant décor, and we love every second of it. The couple’s day started with the sweetest “not-so-first look” where they held hands around a corner, shared gifts, and even took a shot to calm their pre-ceremony nerves – all without laying eyes on each other! Nicolette and Chase’s ceremony showcased SmogShoppe‘s totally dreamy garden space, then was followed by a cocktail-style reception with mixed seating, tons of modern textures, and a breathtaking floral design by Salted Blooms. We are so in love with the couple and wedding party portraits that The Montoya Collective captured, including the fun shot of the groomsmen throwing Nicolette into the air!

The Couple:

Nicolette and Chase

The Wedding:

SmogShoppe, Los Angeles, California

I loved my bridesmaids dresses. I’ve been in enough weddings of strapless chiffon dresses and when are you really going to wear those again. The girls dresses were super comfortable, and not chiffon (plus plus plus).

From the groom: The most memorable moment was probably the not-so-first-look. When we were on opposite sides of the wall and read cards, exchanged gifts, and even took a shot together, to calm my nerves before the ceremony. It was such a cool/emotional experience. I recommend it to everyone who wants to save the first look for the aisle.

From the bride: It is probably the same for me. We got a moment to ourselves before the wedding to really connect, the wedding goes by so fast that sometimes you don’t get a moment to yourselves. I also enjoyed that our officiant gave us a chance while we were at the aisle to take a selfie with our wedding guest behind us. Helped with the nerves and also made it not so formal.

Our advice: You have to remember it’s only one day, make it your own, and don’t take it so seriously. It’s a celebration of the beginning of your life together, you want to enjoy every piece of the planning, choices you make, and eventually the day.

We wanted the evening to feel like a party rather than a formal wedding. So we chose to skip some formal traditions (like a sit down dinner, and cake cutting) to make it feel less like cocktail ‘hour’ and more like a cocktail evening by having tons of lounge seating. We wanted everyone to have fun and make it a memorable event.

Processional: Vitamin String Quartet cover of Bon Iver – For Emma
Recessional: Crozet – We’ll Be Gone By Then
First dance: Local Natives – Colombia

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Montoya Collective
Event Planning – Kendra Galic
Venue – SmogShoppe
Floral Design – Salted Blooms
Catering – MIHO Catering
Officiant – Joel Pigott
DJ – Joey Farese
Invitations – Pearl & Pen
Hair Styling – Brooke Giles
Wedding Dress – Custom Sarah Seven via The Dress Theory
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Show Me Your Mumu
Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Apparel – J. Crew

 

Congratulations to Nicolette and Chase, and a special thanks to The Montoya Collective for sharing their day with us. Love this venue’s fabulous styling? Then you’ve got to see this crazy glam LA wedding, also at SmogShoppe!

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