From the lush, green setting to the delicious barbecue served at the reception, Kelly and Topher’s casual, yet elegant day is definitely representative of everything sweet and beautiful in a Kentucky wedding. The pair even incorporated their french bulldog into the ceremony, which made for some seriously cute photos. The hard work and planning Kelly and Topher put into their wedding paid off in folds; we are loving all of the DIY elements and personal touches seen throughout. Skillfully documented by Jonathan Gibson Studios, Kelly and Topher’s love for each other and for their friends and family could not be anymore apparent. Enjoy!
The Couple: Kelly and Topher
The Wedding: Florence, Kentucky
The Inspiration:“Topher and I are very simple; we wanted a relaxed, outdoor wedding that had a slight rustic feel. We had a lot of DIY projects that we enjoyed creating to get the look we were going for. Even though our wedding was outdoor casual, we didn’t hold back on the special occasion aspect so we went with a formal tux and Kelly’s dream dress!”
The Moments:“Our favorite moment from the wedding was our first look right before the ceremony. We enjoyed having a moment alone together before the ceremony began, and also seeing the setup of the ceremony and reception where all of our planning and ideas finally came together.”
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Jonathan Gibson Studios
Ceremony and Reception Venue – Private Residence in Florence, Kentucky
Floral Designer – The Secret Garden
Officiant – Kevin Aldridge
Catering – Montgomery Inn Barbecue
Makeup Artist – Synthea Crist
Hair Stylist – Jill Salyers
DJ – Ryan Lehmkuhl
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Jim Hjelm Occasions
Grooms’ and Groomsmen’s Apparel – BLACK by Vera Wang
Rings – Herzog Jewelers
Wickedly talented professionals brought together the bright colors, tribal accents, and all around cool vibes for today’s styled shoot. Inspired by the idea of becoming one with nature and the beauty of natural elements, Kristen Juntunen of Four Winds Weddings masterfully designed the gorgeous setting for the shoot. On top of flawless design, Costa Vida Photography captured it all like a breath of fresh air.
Words from the Designer (Kristen Juntunen):“Every now and then we get a little down time from our busy schedules. This year, instead of taking the opportunity to relax like normal people, we decided to do something fun, creative and inspired to keep our own creative juices going. We contacted our favorite vendors and asked if they wanted to contribute with their own ideas. Thankfully, everyone was on board and this shoot came together seamlessly.
Now for the inspiration for this shoot: This shoot was inspired by my endlessly creative parents and their love for indigenous cultures. My father, specifically has always been curious about the tribes that live one with nature. When he was younger, he used to spend his summers in the Northwest Territory of Canada canoeing the Mackenzie river. With this shoot, we wanted to incapsulate some of the simple, yet beautiful rustic elements. Our goal was to create an environment that played on the natural curiosity of the observer, but was fun and inviting.”
Thank you so much to Costa Vida Photography and the rest of this shoot’s creative team for sharing! For more boho inspiration, head on over to Joseph West’s Urban Boho Shoot.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Winter weddings are all about highlighting the beauty of the changing season, but they also come with unique wedding planning needs to keep guests comfortable and to make sure that your I Dos are as magical and festive as you’ve always dreamed. Hailing from Seattle, wedding planners and designers Aleah and Nick Valley of Valley & Co. know a thing or two about planning a winter wedding, from what to wear to the best venues for your cold weather celebration. We’re so lucky to have their expert advice on planning your winter wedding! Take it away, Aleah and Nick!
Winter weddings can be so special as you are inviting guests to celebrate with you during a magical and intimate time of year. With the weather being chilly and the holiday festivities gone, guests will love a reason to celebrate, especially if involves two favorite people tying the knot.
If you are considering saying We Do in the winter, think carefully about where to get married at. This will set the tone for your weekend and whether your wedding is a weekend-long festivity or getaway or a single-day soiree. Do you love the slopes or prefer a city ballroom? Do you envision an outdoor ceremony in the elements? Consider what your guests will be experiencing during the wedding {will they be indoors in the warmth with beautiful views of the ocean or will you be asking them to trek through a field in the snow?} to be sure your vision matches up with reality.
A winter wedding venue should have ample power {for back-up generators}, sufficient parking, a warm ambiance, and ideally a central location to make travel easy for guests. If you envision a destination getaway nestled in the snowy mountains, be sure that you venue can accommodate all of your guests for lodging. If your venue is out of town, check first to ensure they will be amply staffed in the off-season {unless it is considered peak season for the venue, like a ski lodge}.
Keep in mind that the sun will set around five o’clock in the evening. Think about what this means for your ceremony time and whether you have a backdrop that requires the natural light or has a sweeping view. Add extra travel time to get to your location{s} and in between in case of traffic delays or inclement weather. Work with your photographer and planning team to map out a timeline that works around the sunset and late afternoon winter light.
Tulle can be fun and fresh for bridesmaids, especially when paired with cashmere cardigans and pearl cluster necklaces or big brooches. A bride can really have fun with patterns: why not don a plaid flannel stoll or scarf or even fun galoshes for photos? Consider the tone of your skin during the winter months and accentuate that accordingly – some bright hues can make one look washed out in photos, whereas others can be quite complementary.
Crisp and clean winter color stories with tones of silvers, pale icy blues and shades of cream and white, are some of our favorites as they feel so fresh after the holidays. But we also love to see deep romantic palettes that draw in dramatic hues like cranberry and deep enchanting pinks. For an unexpected color pairing, we can’t get enough of mustard, cream, silver, and evergreen. Totally fresh and a classic pairing.
Guest comfort is really key in creating a warm and memorable winter wedding. If you’re anticipating a crisp outdoor ceremony, set up a crackling fire for guests to cozy up around pre- and post-ceremony. Stock the ceremony seating with plaid blankets, wool hats and cashmere gloves, and welcome guests to nestle in together on vintage pews or velvet couches. Add authentic s’mores fixings and you have instant winter fun!
A tea and espresso cart, manned by a pro, would warm up guests when they arrive. Pair the beverages with freshly baked cookies or biscotti. Warm cocktails like hot toddies, spike cocoa, egg nog, and mulled ciders served in copper mugs would be a big hit!
Thank you so much to Aleah and Nick for all of this extremely helpful advice! If you’re planning a winter wedding, check out Bridget and Tom’s Cozy Winter Wedding for more inspiration for your big day.
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