The coast of Northern Ireland is the ideal spot for an ethereal wedding by the sea. This inspiration shoot by Paula McManus Photography and a team of Ireland’s talented professionals is full of captivating and romantic design. The two brides wore positively stunning gowns, one reminiscent of a mermaid and the other a graceful and delicate lace gown that moves effortlessly in the cool waterfront breeze. Pale blue, gold, and beige details brilliantly reflected the colors of the natural landscape for a dreamy and authentic look. If you’re planning seaside nuptials, allow this coastal inspiration shoot to be your guide.
A sentimental gown was the source of inspiration for Maggie and Joseph’s retro wedding. The bride wore her grandmother’s gown from the 1950s, which was perfectly complemented by a set of custom printed fit-and-flare bridesmaid dresses. Keeping in line with the sentimental elements of their day, couple decided to hold their wedding the family farm in Missouri, which made for positively gorgeous portraits thanks to the talent of Aaron & Whitney Photography.
The Couple:
Maggie and Joseph
The Wedding:
Private Farm, Missouri
The Inspiration:
My inspiration was my wedding dress, which was my grandmother’s gown from the 1950s. The vintage look and the gold sash around the waist served as the perfect twist between vintage and glitz. There was gold glitter everywhere at the reception, and everything seemed to sparkle. The bridesmaids dresses were custom-made from vintage floral cotton fabric. I designed the stationary and invitations and embellished each one with gold glitter.
The Moments:
My favorite moment from the wedding was our entrance to the reception. There was a candle-lit pathway through the hay pasture for our limo to drive down, and all of the guests were waiting for us with gold sparklers. When we got out of the car everyone was cheering for us and I realized we had all our loved ones in one place. It was an awesome feeling.
Twinkling lights and glittering garlands spruced up the farm for a romantic night of celebrating. Congrats to Maggie and Joseph on their big day, and a special thanks to Aaron & Whitney Photography for sharing! For more retro wedding inspiration, check out Carrie and Lorna’s charming 1940s wedding at Horetown House.
Ashley and Douglas wished for a perfect mix of industrial architecture and soft, natural elements. Because of their love of art and the venue’s incredible space, the couple chose the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, Massachusetts for their big day! Dressed in dusty yellow roses and woven branches, the brick building quickly became the natural, whimsical space the couple dreamed of. Capturing the sweetest moments, like when a bridesmaid sang to the newly married couple, Paul Robert Berman Photography expertly photographed this romantic wedding.
We wanted to have softness and a retro-modern feel within a raw, industrial, historical context. The interior design and cuisine is designed to be raw, simple, and natural, akin to the industrial brick building context of the Charles River Museum. As such the floral design tended towards woven branches and earth tones rather than colorful flowers. We also strove for a loose unity rather than stringent uniformity, allowing variety in everything from the bridesmaids dresses to the bar selections while maintaining a consistent overall vision. Our color scheme was neutral earth tones with gold accents.
The Moments:
Our favorite aspect of the wedding – albeit more than a single moment – was spending meaningful time celebrating and reflecting with our loved ones. Family members and friends offered very touching, thoughtful performances during the ceremony and speeches during the reception, then we all danced the night away together in merriment. As we danced to the final slow song of the night we couldn’t help but feel a little bittersweet that this magnificent, one time gathering of close family and friends would splinter soon, and we felt incredibly grateful to have had them all there if only for one evening.
The Couple Recommends:
All vendors that we worked with were truly fantastic in the degree of skill, creativity, and commitment that they brought to the table to make our wedding possible. Chive and Foret especially were there from the beginning and worked with us ever-so-patiently to refine the vision then comb through all of the itty bitty details. Our photographer Paul Robert Berman captured the day and all of its nuances with true artistry, vision, and finesse. Our jeweler – Sophie Hughes – was remarkably easy to work with and creatively gifted.