There’s nothing quite like a romantic photo shoot to honor your anniversary, and this couple’s dark and stormy Mount Crandell shoot is no exception! After Nicole and Nadim hiked up the Alberta mountainside with Riana Lisbeth Photography for their anniversary session, storm clouds began to brew. The adventurous couple embraced the impending rain and let their sparks fly against the naturally moody backdrop! We love how Nicole wore her Maggie Sottero wedding gown and even crafted a gorgeous pink bouquet as a throwback to her wedding day style.
Once Kristin and Grayson decided on having an organic and relaxed wedding, it made total sense for them to also incorporate their dog Lucy in the festivities! Kristin and Grayson’s dog accompanied them down the aisle, stood loyally next to them during the ceremony, and was incredibly photogenic during the couple’s portraits by the lake. This couple’s Asheville wedding at Claxton Farm featured tons of delicate florals, naturally romantic décor with a hint of rustic flair, and even a s’mores fire pit and outdoor games to lighten the mood. We love how Hartman Outdoor Photography captured every detail of Kristin and Grayson’s wedding!
Creating a fun and relaxed natural environment was most important for us during our wedding planning. We wanted our guests to enjoy the outdoors and we didn’t want any decorations getting in the way.
We knew we wanted an outdoor wedding in a location that is special to us. We love the atmosphere and vibe of Asheville, we love hiking and the outdoors, and it happens to be where we got engaged. We chose Claxton Farms because it showcases the natural beauty of the mountains while still providing a comfortable and accessible environment for all of our guests.
We had our dog Lucy as part of our ceremony. Lucy walked down the aisle with me and my father and she stayed with us during most of the ceremony. We also included her in most of our pictures–of course this meant that nothing was scripted, but that’s how we liked it!
Within the ceremony, we decided to take a few seconds to look out at our guests, our surroundings, and each other to simply take it all in and better process that momentous occasion in our lives. So many people told us that our wedding day would pass in an instant and we didn’t want to forget to be appreciative for the love and support we have been so fortunate to experience in our lives, and everything that came together that day. Seeing everyone we care about together with the beautiful surroundings created what will undoubtedly be a life-long memory.
Our wedding photographers were amazing in both talent, creativity, and demeanor. Josh and Shelley Hartman were calm and collected on our wedding day, making sure that we got all of the photos we wanted while also having fun!
If you get overwhelmed with details, think about the things that really matter to you: what you want to get out of your wedding day (i.e. the “big picture”), how you want your guests to feel, and prioritize those things. It may help to think back to characteristics you remember from the weddings that you may have previously attended for inspiration–both for things you like and those you don’t. Chances are, you won’t be able to recall the color of the napkins or even the flowers. Always take time to step back and look at the big picture before devoting time and money to the little details.
We wanted our wedding to be relaxed and fun. A few ways that we incorporated this feeling were that we did not assign tables (i.e. promoting mixed groups), the food was served family-style and we had plenty of outdoor games to play to create a sense of togetherness on our special day.
Mia and Paolo, both half-Italian, used their Villa Catureglio wedding as an opportunity to show friends and family the magic of Tuscany. The venue, a stunning villa surrounded by lush gardens and courtyards, was the epitome of Tuscan elegance. The couple enlisted the help of Kate & Rose Hobbs to style the ceremony and reception with subtle accents that emphasized the location’s natural beauty. After saying “I do” in the dreamy villa garden, photographer Stefano Santucci was able to capture some of the most romantic portraits we’ve ever seen by allowing the newlyweds to simply embrace in the quiet excitement of their love.
After many appointments trying dresses in London and Australia I decided on a couture Suzanne Harward dress and custom designed veil. I loved that the brand has so much history (a pioneer in the Australian bridal industry for 40 years) and the fact that every gown is entirely handmade in Melbourne with the finest construction and the most exquisite fabrics. The dress was tailor made to suit my figure and fit me perfectly. The silhoutte was very important to me and also the texture and detailing. I went for a full matt sequin embellished silk gorgette gown with a low drape back. The epitome of old school Hollywood glamour it felt effortless and easy to wear – being able to dance in it was a must.
Given the significant distance that many guests travelled to be there, we wanted to ensure that everyone experienced the magic of Tuscany as we both know it. For us, that meant focusing on the little things and getting them right.
Walking from the main villa to the gardens and seeing all of our friends and family who had travelled so far to help us celebrate was incredibly moving. The fact that the backdrop was the hills of Tuscany, with fairy lights strewn throughout the olive trees made it even more magical than we could have wished for.
We are so pleased that we chose Stefano Santucci Studio to capture our special day. Stefano and Lucrezia’s philosophy aligns perfectly with everything that we believe in, authentic, natural and beautiful moments. We really wanted someone who would capture the true ‘us,’ not staged and posed but the real emotions and moments of the day. We cannot recommend them highly enough.
We are both half Italian and feel a very strong cultural connection to Italy. Mia studied jewellery in Florence and Paolo’s half-sister also lives there so Tuscany holds a very special place in our hearts. We heard about Villa Catureglio through friends of friends, which is in a little town called Borgo a Mozzano about 25 minutes from Lucca. We booked a weekend trip to go and stay there and instantly fell in love with the estate. Although we had been searching for a while online it was the only property we looked at and the search stopped there. It was everything we were hoping for and more, built in the 12th century up on a hill with the most spectacular views over the Garfagnana Valley. It was private and intimate yet slept 42 people onsite. It’s rustic understated elegance and Tuscan charm meant it needed little decoration or styling.
Due to the natural beauty of the property, we didn’t over complicate styling. Our wedding reflected us as a couple and our personal style. It was elegant and refined but still rustic. We drew inspiration from the property and the landscape around us which we wanted to be the main focus and added a touch of old Italian vintage glamour.
Be organised! Mia was still writing place setting cards on the morning whilst getting ready and wrote her speech ten minutes before walking out to the reception. We really should have been enjoying every moment with our bridal party. Also don’t stress over the little things that go wrong, no-one else will notice except for you. The day passes so quickly so be sure to both step back and have a few minutes of alone time with each other to really appreciate the day and take it all in.
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