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This Paris Elopement Will Have You Booking A Flight to France ASAP

July 9, 2023 | justine

Choosing to embrace intimacy, Valeh and Mehdi decided on a Paris elopement to capture the essence of their relationship. With a vision for something simple and understated, they effortlessly crafted a remarkable and heartfelt celebration that will forever hold a special place in their hearts.

Their choice of destination couldn’t have been more romantic. Just imagine exchanging heartfelt vows with the magnificent Eiffel Tower as their backdrop—it was truly a dream come true! After the ceremony, they took leisurely strolls along charming streets, pausing to capture stunning café portraits. Later, they found solace in a century-old chateau, where they savored a private lunch in their cozy hotel room. They shared stories and laughter and embraced their own unique way of commemorating their love.

From the exquisite florals to the chic fashion choices, we are absolutely captivated by the beautiful understated details that perfectly complemented the vibe of their special day! If you’ve ever dreamt of getting lost in the romance of the city of love with your future spouse, scroll through and be prepared to fall in love with these breathtaking photos by Junebug member Through The Glass.

The Couple:

Valeh and Mehdi

The Wedding:

Paris, France

Shop Similar Vow Books: 1. Personalized Handmade Paper Booklets 2. Wedding Vow Books Set of 2 3. Personalized Vows with Silk Ribbons

How Their Paris Elopement Came to Be

As two graduate students from Iran studying at the University of California, we started as close friends and built our relationship from there. We wanted our wedding to be a cherished moment that celebrated our bond and marked the beautiful beginning of our love story. Our Paris elopement truly represented who we are as a couple, celebrating love, freedom, and simplicity. We created a meaningful experience that allowed us to focus on each other and celebrate the beautiful journey we had embarked upon.

Exchanging Vows Against The Eiffel Tower

Undoubtedly, the ceremony was the most memorable part of our wedding day. The romantic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was the perfect choice for us. We aimed to infuse a Middle Eastern vibe by incorporating pastel flowers into our color palette. These flowers added a subtle pop of color while maintaining a soft and romantic ambiance. It was a truly magical moment in Paris, with the February sun illuminating the Eiffel Tower as we exchanged our vows. The officiant did an incredible job of narrating our love story. As we stood there, tears of joy filled our eyes, and we couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer romance of the moment. It was a truly enchanting experience, and we feel immensely grateful to have had such a special and romantic ceremony in the city of love.

A Simple and Comfortable Wedding Look To Match Their Laidback Wedding

We envisioned a wedding that was simple and minimalist, so I chose a short white dress instead of a traditional gown. We intentionally kept the makeup and hairstyle minimal and simple, emphasizing natural beauty. A delicate veil added a touch of romance to my look. In keeping with the theme of freedom and comfort, my partner wore a cream suit without a tie.We wanted to feel free and comfortable and radiate happiness on our special day. 

Capturing Memories Beyond the Lens by Forgoing A Videographer

We consciously decided to forgo videography to maximize our time together and escape the need for additional posing on our special day. After the ceremony, we retreated to our chosen hotel, Saint James Paris. This charming 100-year-old château nestled in its private garden provided an intimate and peaceful environment for us to celebrate our union. We treasured our moments together, enjoying a private lunch in our hotel room, sharing stories, and celebrating in our own unique way.

Trusting Your Instincts: Crafting an Authentic and Meaningful Wedding Experience

When it comes to wedding planning advice, it is crucial to prioritize your feelings and desires. Remember, every couple is unique, and your wedding should reflect your love and personality. Amidst the excitement, take the time on your special day to find moments for yourselves. Find a quiet spot, sit together, and bask in the joy of your love. Cherish the opportunity to have intimate conversations and create memories that will last a lifetime. Hold each other’s hands and savor the significance of this day as a symbol of your lifelong journey together. By focusing on what truly matters to both of you, you will create an authentic and meaningful wedding experience. This is your special day, so fill it with moments that celebrate your love and the bond you share. Trust your instincts, stay true to yourselves, and let your wedding day be a reflection of the beautiful love story you have created.

How Choosing the Right Vendors Helped Make Their Dream Paris Elopement Come to Life

We take great pride in setting aside others’ expectations and judgments to create a wedding that is truly our own. It was liberating for us to follow our hearts and make decisions based on what truly mattered to us as a couple. We’re particularly proud of our choice to work with an exceptional event planner and photographer, who played a crucial role in capturing the essence of our special day and preserving every moment beautifully. The expertise and talent of the team allowed us to relive the magic of their wedding through stunning photographs and flawless execution. Having the right team by our side made all the difference, and we’re grateful for their dedication and professionalism.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Through The Glass
Event Planning – The Paris Elopement
Ceremony Venue – Trocadéro Paris
Floral Design – Be One Paris
Officiant – The Parisian Celebrant
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Alesia Solo
Wedding Dress – Olivia Bottega
Bridal Accessories – Ofrenda + Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids’ Apparel –
Groom’s Apparel – Indochino
Groom’s Accessories – Allen Edmonds

 

Congratulations to Valeh and Mehdi on their Paris elopement. And a big thank you to Junebug member Through The Glass for capturing all the beautiful moments. To see more spectacular celebrations that make you want to book a flight to France asap, check out their profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.

After looking through these inspiring photos, you might want to elope, and we totally get it. If so, begin your planning journey by exploring our elopement planning guide. It includes the best locations, vendors, and inspiration that show how, sometimes, simplicity is all you need.

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Elevate Your Party With These Wedding Reception Bar Ideas

July 8, 2023 | kailey

Images by Scott Clark. Wedding planning by Neon River. Floral design by Kelsea Olivia. Rentals by Something Vintage Rentals.

Let’s be honest, the reception bar is always one of the most popular wedding details—for you and your guests. It’s a social hub where loved ones can gather, mingle, and sip on custom cocktails. It also serves as a staple decor piece, tying together your overall reception design. That’s why you may want to put a little extra thought into stocking and designing your bar space. 

If you want to pull off an iconic reception bar that’ll undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on your guests, get ready to take notes. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite wedding reception bar ideas with custom signage, eye-catching floral arrangements, and even unique menus you can use as inspiration.

Images by David Abel. Wedding planning by Jayne Heir Weddings & Events. Florals by Sophie Felts Floral Design. Rentals by Something Vintage.

Images by Peony Wedding Photo. Wedding planning by SBS Weddings & Events. Videography by Harrison Films. Floral design by Kaleidoscope Floral. Bar by Trinity Wedding Event Rentals. Signage by Made & True

Image by Reagan Aleea. See more of this real wedding here.

Images by Jenny Quicksall. Designed by Nicole Alexandra Designs. Floral design by Tularosa Flowers. Wedding venue Cielo Farms. Signage by Kelly Patrice. Rentals from Premiere Party Rents and Theoni Collection.

Image by Feel and Focus Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

Images by Scott Clark. Wedding planning by Neon River. Floral design by Kelsea Olivia. Rentals by Something Vintage Rentals.

Images by The Edges Wed. Event planning by Emily Coyne. Floral design by Molly Taylor & Co. Bar rentals by Aiden & Grace. Cocktail hour and reception rentals by Borrow Curated and All Occasions.

Images by Nikki Daskalakis. Wedding planning by Sarah Kazemburg Events & Styling. Floral design by Springvale Floral. Stationary by The Dandelion Patch. Calligraphy by Jessica McSweeney. Rentals by Table Manners and Party Rental LTD.

Image by Memorybox Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

Image by Sunny Golden. See more of this real wedding here.

Images by Scott Clark. Wedding planning by Neon River. Floral design by Kelsea Olivia. Rentals by Something Vintage Rentals.

Image by Jackie Rangel Photo. See more of this styled shoot here.

Image by Jonnie + Garrett.

Image by Maria Campbell Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

From properly stocking your bar shelves to nailing the overall decor, there are endless details you need to sort out when it comes to planning your bar. Overwhelming, we know. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate guide to walk you through all the nitty-gritty details you need to know for executing a memorable wedding reception bar.

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Charming Flower-Filled Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

July 7, 2023 | justine

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Emily and Cullen wanted a small wedding allowing them to spend quality time with their loved ones. They had often thought about getting married in Ireland, and one night, Emily discovered the perfect venue—a stunning Italian restaurant inside 300-year-old bridge mills right on the River Corrib. It was a match made in heaven! With a sultry color palette, gorgeous florals, and a mix of traditional and modern touches—their Il Vicolo destination wedding was a beautiful combo of old-world charm and a timeless romance.

To begin their special day, the couple shared the sweetest first look at Menlo Castle, relishing in the moment’s joy as they explored the grounds together. For their outdoor ceremony, they added a touch of rustic charm with elegant floral pillars perfectly complementing the old stone walls of their venue. The transition from the ceremony to the restaurant reception was seamless, as the cozy ambiance greeted their guests. The tables were filled with luscious blooms and soft candlelight, creating a warm and dreamy atmosphere.

Junebug member Gabi & Nessa expertly planned this couple’s special day, and these images captured by The Martins Photography perfectly showcase the love and beauty that filled their wedding. As you scroll through, you’ll be treated to unique ideas and inspiration for your own intimate celebration.

The Couple:

Emily and Cullen

The Wedding:

Il Vicolo, Galway, Ireland

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Why An Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Our wedding melded beauty and history together in one stunning location with ocean and river views on top of an award-winning food menu and stellar cocktail list. There was so much vintage charm from the building alone that it would have been perfect by itself. All of our vendors were absolutely incredible. However, we would like to give a special shout-out to the staff of Il Vicolo, who treated us like family. Evidently, they loved working together and made the evening so much fun. A team that can serve a delicious meal, mix up wonderful cocktails and still finds time to joke and laugh with everyone is a special group.

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

A Memorable First Look Before The Ceremony

The most memorable part of our day was our time together at Menlo Castle before the ceremony. We had our first look, then explored the grounds and estate ruins with our photographer, who cheered us on the entire time while taking the most incredible photos.

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Weaving Celtic Rituals With Personal Touches At Their Il Vicolo Destination Wedding Ceremony

We worked with Dara Molloy, a Druid Priest from the Aran Islands, to fully customize our ceremony in an authentic way. He incorporated ancient Celtic rituals like handfasting with contemporary readings of our choice, which we both felt exemplified our love for each other and our promise to be partners in life.

An Unforgettable And Stress-Free Guest Experience Was A Top Priority

We wanted to ensure that we spent time with our family and friends who traveled to another country to be there for us on our wedding day. From their flights to Ireland, until they arrived home, we tried our best to ensure our guests’ experiences were as stress-free as possible. We wanted everyone to be able to relax and enjoy our time with each other while basking in the beauty of Ireland. The fact that we successfully planned a wedding in a foreign country, then coordinated a travel experience for 40 people of various ages from different cities all over the United States with no major issues was remarkable.

Junebug Planner Gabi Kmitas Brought Their Dream Wedding To Life With Her Creative Vision

Our planner and floral designer, Gabi & Nessa, took everything to the next level. We wish we could take credit for the style and design of our wedding. But all credit goes to Gabi, who created the color palette, designed place settings, and created breathtaking floral arrangements that flowed seamlessly with the restaurant’s aesthetic. Every idea she sent us during the planning process was perfect, making it easy to trust her vision for our day. Gabi and her team brought out the beauty of Ireland with a balance of light peach and moody red florals, accented by various greens, all cohesively brought together by the vintage furniture and Italian artwork of Il Vicolo paired with the history of the bridge mills.

Advice For Choosing The Right Vendor Team

The best advice we could give is to find vendors that make you excited for the day and make the planning process easy. We kept waiting for the wedding planning to become stressful, but everyone we worked with made the planning process a delight. From our planner and photographer to the Il Vicolo team, who took us on a FaceTime tour of the restaurant—we lucked out with the most amazing vendors who made planning a wedding in a foreign country a breeze. Also, send out email calendar invites to your guests. This tip is from Cullen specifically.

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

Il Vicolo Destination Wedding

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Martins Photography
Event Planning + Floral Design + Invitation Design – Gabi & Nessa
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Il Vicolo
Cake – Elite Cakes Boutique
Officiant – Dara Molloy
Live Music – Nova Quartet
Makeup Artist – Sara Duffy Makeup
Hair Styling – Sinead Lee Hair Design
Wedding Dress – Sarah Seven
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – David’s Bridal
Groom’s Apparel – Balani Custom Clothier
Rings – Jewelers Rowe Diamond’s
Welcome Dinner Cruise – Corrib Princess

 

Congratulations to Emily and Cullen on their charming flower-filled Il Vicolo destination wedding. Many thanks to The Martins Photography for capturing all the beautiful details, memorable moments, and everything in between. And lastly, a special thank you to Junebug members Gabi & Nessa for planning the entire thing. To see more celebrations she expertly brought to life, take a look at her profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding planners.

Destination weddings offer a unique opportunity for intimate gatherings with your loved ones, where you can create meaningful connections. Remember, the key to a successful destination wedding is working with experienced vendors who can make your celebration truly remarkable. Start your own journey by exploring our exclusive directory of the world’s best wedding vendors.

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