WEDDING BLOG

June, 2014 Throwback – Majestic Icelandic Elopement

December 28, 2014 | Junebug Weddings

Photographer Gabe McClintock got a once in a lifetime opportunity to cross something off of his bucket list when he shot this truly epic Icelandic elopement – you can see his passion for this couple as well as this place in every breathtaking photo. He has definitely made it impossible for us to see this couple’s connection session and their wedding day and not want to add this to our bucket lists as well! This tremendously beautiful place is only enhanced by this tremendously beautiful couple and it really is one of those occasions that are too perfect for words.

The Couple: Sarah and Josh

The Wedding: 6.6.14 – Reykjavík, Iceland

The Goals: Our main priority was our marriage. We wanted something beautiful, timeless, relaxing, and a reflection of us and our relationship.

The Planning: Originally we were planning a wedding on a friend’s property near our home. It was to be small and simple, yet artistic and beautiful all the same. We had our bridal party planned, I had purchased my dress, we had booked our photographer Gabe McClintock to come down to Ohio to be with us, we had a date and a time and a place. But as time went on, it just never felt quite right. Things started falling out of place and becoming much more stressful than we wanted. And so, after much deliberation, we decided to elope. Our marriage was for us, and no one else. Yes, our friends are incredible and have played important parts in our lives…but ultimately the wedding was ours to have and hold in our hearts. We decided that if we were going to be spending money on a wedding, we wanted to spend it on a memory for us. Our families were amazing in the way they reacted to our sudden decision. I’m sure they were disappointed, but they never showed it, and this alone made everything so much easier! The planning was a bit intimidating at first because there wasn’t much information on the subject of eloping, much less in Iceland. The photos were the most important thing to us, and so everything – both budget and location – became centered around that. We chose Iceland because of its remote, majestic, and unfettered beauty, and after that, everything fell into place. There was never stressful for a moment, which is exactly what we needed.

The Vision: Our vision was raw beauty, timeless class, and the quiet expression of our love and commitment to each other. No show, no frills. We wanted a time that we would never look back on and regret for any reason, whether it be what we wore, where we were married, or who our photographer was. We brought it to life by doing everything the way we wanted the first time, by making our decisions carefully together, and by never spending more money than we had in our pockets.

The Moments: Oh goodness, I don’t think I could choose a favorite moment. Getting ready for my own wedding day. Seeing my husband for the first time. Walking towards him across the lava field. Reading the vows I had written that morning, and hearing him read his to me. Laughing together in the car after the ceremony. Walking around Iceland in a suit and a wedding dress with everyone staring, congratulating, and honking at us. The happy tear-filled drive back to our apartment with the most surreal feeling surrounding us. Our entire day was the definition of perfection.

The Advice: 1. Hire your dream photographer first, before anything else. I know that bit of advice is everywhere at the moment, but that’s only because it is so incredibly important. By booking the photographer first, the priorities stay in line.

2. Pay for everything using the money you have, never ever ever pull out a loan. Saving your money carefully can pay for much more than you’d ever believe. Neither of us had full time jobs, both of us were in school, and yet we still managed to pay for everything using the money we saved for ourselves.

3. Seriously…if you want to elope, do it. Out of all the regrets you will have in life, your wedding day should not be one of them. I know it’s hard to think about family and friends not being there, and that they will probably be disappointed in your decision, but your wedding day is YOUR wedding day, not their’s. It’s your memory to hold, not theirs. It’s your marriage, not theirs. I would absolutely recommend an elopement to anyone who is contemplating it even a little bit. You can always have a big casual reception afterwards and celebrate with everyone!

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Gabe McClintock Photography
Wedding Dress: Lillian’s Bridal Boutique
Bridal Accessories: Carol Hannah (jacket), LoBoheme (headpiece), BridesBoutik and Anthropologie (gold belts), White House Black Market (earrings)
Groom’s Apparel & Accessories: J. Hilburn via Sara Priest (suit & shirt), The Tie Bar (bow tie), Aldo (shoes)
Rings: Engagement: Custom from Benchworks Jewelers, Her wedding band: Catbird, His wedding band: Doronmerav

Thank you Sarah and Josh for sharing your incredible adventure with us!

Looking for another excuse to run away together? Check out this picturesque Tuscany elopement with photography by Roberto Panciatici!

May, 2014 Throwback – Boho Chic Wedding Inspiration Photo Shoot

December 27, 2014 | Junebug Weddings

dark blue dark red gold light pink purple

Tones of bronze, berry and blush combine to create the perfect palette of sophisticated romance. Brought to us by Kimberly Chau Photography and Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed, this boho chic photo shoot is totally spot on!

Here are a few words from Kimberly Chau Photography on the inspiration for the shoot…

Our original inspiration was deep dramatic tones combined with soft romantic elements. We were drawn to different purple and berry tones, but wanted something with a fresh perspective. Bringing in the coral, blush, and metallic tones to contrast with the darker plum and rose tones worked perfectly. Our idea was to create a marriage between feminine and masculine styles, a combination of soft and hard details and thus the more industrial side of our bohemian theme was born. As copper was named a top trend for 2014, we knew it would be the ideal element to bridge these two styles.

The shoot location, Hearsay Gastro Lounge, provided the industrial setting – exposed brick, ironwork, mixed metals and an enormous crystal chandelier. We softened the setting and mixed the two styles within our dreamy tablescape – a soft blush organza linen was the foundation to our handmade copper candelabras, our aluminum metal table runner, and floral arrangement using Amer ican and locally grown Texas flowers and foliage. Within the floral pieces the play between feminine and masculine can be seen as well in the contrast between the delicate textures of the ferns, garden roses, and ranunculus and the more solid textures of the artichokes, tillindsia, and branches of maple seedpods. We incorporated copper and mixed metals throughout the design – stationary, vases, copper cocktail mugs, aluminum dessert labels, copper wired escort cards and chair ties, and a bronzed wedding cake. We topped everything off with specially crafted lattes and cocktails. BHLDN provided the “Rena” gown and headpiece to complete our bride’s bohemian look.

The Photo Shoot Team:

Photographer: Kimberly Chau Photography
Event Planner: Ashley Joseph of Two Be Wed
Location: Hearsay Gastro Lounge
Invitation Designer: Gold Fox Paper
Escort Cards & Signage: The Weekend Type
Coffee Bar: Pearland Coffee
Florist: The Moss & Rose
Cake: Buttercup Bakery
Wedding Dress & Bridal Accessories: BHLDN
Hair & Makeup: Hey Lovely Makeup
Linens: Over the Top Linen
Rentals: A Finer Event

Thank you Kimberly Chau Photography for sharing this lovely boho chic wedding inspiration shoot!

Looking for more boho wedding inspiration? Check out this boho bridal style feature from photographer Erik Clausen!

May, 2014 Throwback – Adventurous Desert Elopement

December 27, 2014 | Junebug Weddings

dark blue ivory light pink tan

Not many weddings inspire us to run away in search of thrilling escapades but Megan and Ryan’s desert elopement had us wanting a little escape from the more traditional of affairs. Masterfully captured by Blue Window Creative, this intimate elopement simply exudes fun and excitement. Not to mention, the photography is just downright perfect for the occasion and the setting!

The Couple: Megan and Ryan

The Wedding: 10.4.2013 – Palm Springs, California

The Goals: We decided on an elopement for a number of reasons. The first being the fact that it is unconventional and we’re all for that. The second is that we’re originally from southern Missouri and trying to navigate where we should actually have our ceremony to make it work for our families proved to be overwhelming. After a few near nervous breakdowns we took a step back at the whole idea of a wedding and stripped away what was causing the anxiety. What really mattered to us was being together in an intimate setting with a killer view and some fantastic photographs to look back on…..and if you ask Ryan, a suit that fit like a glove.

The Planning: Ryan is the researcher and planner of this pair. He found the wonderful mid-century house we stayed at in Palm Springs, booked our tickets, found our photographers, Mary and the Joel of Blue Window Creative, and planned most of the wedding reception. My tasks included finding a dress that I ended up ordering offline, sourcing a florist for the two bouquets and two boutonnieres used on the day of the wedding and hiring a hair and makeup stylist. Ryan really knocked it out of the park.

Eloping is not a small task, but it does allow you the freedom to do you on your wedding day and to us, that’s what mattered most. Overall, we nailed down the important parts and left a lot of the other details up to chance and how the day flowed. For example, we scouted the exact location of our ceremony that morning on a couple of scooters.

The Design: We wanted an intimate ceremony in a beautiful setting, amazing photos, and a day that allowed us to be spontaneous. For the design details, we wanted to keep it organic and light. I knew from the start that I wanted to get married in the desert after Ryan proposed in Sedona, Arizona. Our hearts are in the desert and we figured that Palm Springs would be a great fit. Desert, check. Mid-century architecture and design history, check. Stellar views, check.

My dress was vintage inspired and the bouquet was filled with texture. Ryan had a tailored suit made reminiscent of the mid-century era and the home we stayed in was an updated 1964 classic. To top things off, our dear friends Will and Kristen joined us in Palm Springs and Will became ordained to perform our ceremony. Kristen was our best man/maid of honor/usher/ring bearer, you name it.

The Moments: Where to start? Kristen and I kicked the day off with massages at the Ace Hotel and followed it up with hair and makeup. Ryan, Will, and the Joel rented scooters and scouted out the perfect place for the big show. Mary chronicled the outing from the car. They hit up GayMart for “something small and loud” per Ryan’s request. The day continued with cannonballs at the backyard pool, eating crazy big sandwiches, me writing my vows a hundred times and then piling into a Jeep to make our way to the vacant lot just before sundown (which is a tricky feat in Palm Springs due to the mountains).

A few more favorite moments: the view, Ryan getting nervous and forgetting his vows, the laughs, the tears, he champagne toast, the impromptu scooter rides that followed. It was more than perfect. We also ended up at a casino and topped the night off with signing our wedding license after hanging in the hot tub.

The Advice: Elopement might not be for everyone but it was exactly the right decision for us. The most important thing to remember is to do what makes you happy. Weddings shouldn’t be too overwhelming. Enjoy your special day and relish in the fact that you’re getting ready to embark on the most amazing journey of your life.

Oh, and book a good live band or DJ for your reception. This is important.