Loading...

This Desert Harbor Retreat Elopement Was Inspired by the New Mexico Desert

January 15, 2024 | justine

Imagine a beautiful, secluded location with stunning views of desert mountains—the kind of setting that makes love feel even more special. Samantha and McCall experienced just that after a rainy and muddy wild full moon wedding with friends and family in Georgia. They decided to escape for a quiet, romantic, and adventurous time, just the two of them. With the support of their fantastic team of vendors, they successfully pulled off a Desert Harbor Retreat elopement. Inspired by the New Mexico Desert come true, it turned out exactly as they envisioned.

Beneath a geometric arch that beautifully framed the grand mountains in the backdrop, the couple declared their love. Following the ceremony, they ventured into the desert, feeling the soft sands beneath their bare feet. They climbed the rocky terrain in their elopement attire and drove through the enchanting desert landscape in a vintage British Land Rover.

If intimate and dreamy desert vibes are your thing, get ready to be blown away. Their special day was brimming with emotional moments and panoramic desert views, all of which Junebug member Shutterfreek captured beautifully. Take a moment to scroll down to see what we mean.

The Couple:

Samantha and McCall

The Wedding:

Desert Harbor Retreat, Sandia Park, New Mexico, United States

How They Landed on a Desert Harbor Retreat Elopement After a Bigger Wedding Celebration

After a very wet and muddy wild full moon wedding celebration with our friends and family in Georgia, we wanted to sneak away for something quiet, intimate, romantic, and adventurous just for the two of us. Our outfits, florals, venue, and decor were minimalist, with burnt oranges and neutrals. We adventured in the desert barefoot, climbed up the rocky landscape in our elopement outfits, and Sam drove us through the dreamy desert sands in a vintage British Land Rover that Desert Harbor Retreat had on-site.

Simplified and Stress-Free Budgeting With a Focus on Talented Vendors

We took a minimalist approach to our budget, given we gathered friends and family. Most of our budget went to the pre-gathering of our friends and family. Desert Harbor Retreat offers straightforward elopement packages with preferred vendors, making our budgeting easy and stress-free. Our budget was $15,000, including a three-night stay, our food and beverage for the weekend, and all our vendors. We splurged on an incredible serenade from a talented flamenco guitarist and a one-of-a-kind photographer and videographer to capture the magic of our marriage.

How Desert Harbor Nailed Every Detail of Their Elopement

Desert Harbor Retreat fully executed our vision. The full service, privacy, intimacy, and genuine kindness of the family running the venue were all reasons we knew Desert Harbor was meant for us. They handled every aspect of our elopement weekend with a laid-back yet thorough demeanor anyone would want on their wedding day. The ease and simplicity of it all were most memorable—just the two of us, with no true timeline and no stresses or worries. Just us and our love. And the expansive, warm, and welcoming desert to act as the container of our eternal love for that special day. It’s easy to get swept away in a grand celebration. We both wanted to feel deeply connected to nature. Like we were the only two people on the planet that day.

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Shutterfreek
Venue – Desert Harbor Retreat
Floral Design – FloralFetish
Officiant – Raymond Linam
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Genica Lee
Accessories + Rings – Alexis Russell

 

Congratulations to Samantha and McCall on their Desert Harbor Retreat elopement inspired by the New Mexico Desert. And a special thanks to Junebug member Shutterfreek for capturing the magical desert landscape and all the loving moments throughout their special day. To see more enchanting retreats like this one, be sure to check out their profile in our directory of the best wedding photographers from around the world.

While gathering all your loved ones for a grand affair is great, it’s crucial to carve out moments of intimacy, romance, and stress-free bliss for just the two of you. Much like the beautiful event orchestrated by Sam and McCall. Not sure where to start? Explore our elopement and budget guides to craft your own perfect, intimate celebration.

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

This Euridge Manor Wedding is A Color Lover’s Dream Come True

January 13, 2024 | justine

Bhuwan, from India, and Yutong, from China, first crossed paths while in the UK. Dreaming of a European-style wedding, they knew this special place had to be their “I do” location. Their wedding planner, Valentina from The Stars Inside, worked magic, helping them shape the perfect wedding vision. With a fantastic team in tow, they meticulously planned every detail, and voila! Their Euridge Manor wedding was a burst of colors, blooms, and personality. What’s more, they pulled off this impressive feat in less than two months!

Picture a stunning boathouse ceremony with an altar decked out in floral pillars, offering a breathtaking view of the water. After the couple exchanged heartfelt vows, the magic continued with a garden reception that was equally as enchanting. Imagine tables adorned with vibrant blooms, delicate linens, and elegant settings, creating a feast for the eyes. To add a touch of sophistication, an outdoor chandelier hung overhead, completing the picture-perfect scene.

As much as we’d love to keep gushing about this extraordinary event, we’ll let the incredible photos captured by Rebecca Carpenter do the talking. From the sweet first look to the charming boat portraits and all the beautiful moments in between, this celebration is truly a must-see.

The Couple:

Yutong and Bhuwan

The Wedding:

Euridge Manor, United Kingdom

Discovering the Dream Dress a Week Before the Wedding

I found my wedding dress in China just a week before the big day! I wanted something with some Chinese elements but not so much that it would look out of place in the British countryside. The feather cape was the perfect touch. It looked unique and elegant. I was very happy when I found it after trying on many other dresses.

Surreal Moments: Walking Down the Aisle and Bhuwan’s Emotional Reaction

The ceremony was definitely the highlight of the day. When the music started and it was my turn to walk down the aisle, it felt so surreal. I especially loved the few minutes when I walked down those stairs and saw Bhuwan and our family members all standing in the boathouse, looking so beautiful. Bhuwan’s special moment was right after the ceremony when we walked out of the boathouse, and our musicians started playing “Married Life” from “Up.” Our fantastic photographer captured the moment he teared up and wiped his eyes.

Pulling Off Their Dream Euridge Manor Wedding In Less Than Two Months

We planned our wedding in less than two months! I got my dress one week before the wedding and our wedding ring just two days before the big day. We were lucky that our top-pick venue and many top-pick vendors were available. Our wedding planner did the magic for us to bring everything together in a very short period. When we first saw her website, we were instantly smitten with her style. She clearly cared about her couples, so we knew we were in good hands. She helped us find all the best vendors, put thought into every little detail, and delivered a wedding that was even better than we imagined. Since colorful flowers were something I wanted, she helped us find florists who could provide them. Picking the florist set the tone for the wedding. Our venue was dry hire, so Valentina helped us pick unique furniture, plates, and utensils to complete the look. She also helped us pick live music performances that took the feel to another level.

Navigating Expenses Without A Concrete Budget

We only had a vague idea of how much we wanted to spend on our wedding, and we didn’t create a clear budget initially. We ended up spending way more than we thought we would. We absolutely loved our wedding in the end, but if we had to do it again, we would start with a clearer budget. Flowers were our most significant expense. Having lots of colorful flowers was one of the few things I wanted from the start. We didn’t realize how much they would cost. But was it worth it? Absolutely! The flowers our florist put together were stunning and a defining element of our wedding.

Making Their Loved Ones Feel at Home was Top Priority

It was essential to us that our family members have a great day. We only had our parents and my sister at the wedding, and both sides of the family traveled from Asia to be there. We wanted to ensure they felt comfortable and at ease the whole time. We put “dad,” “mom,” and “little sister” in Chinese for my family and Hindi for Bhuwan’s family on the name cards instead of their names. It was a nice gesture to make our families feel more at home.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Rebecca Carpenter
Event Planning – The Stars Inside
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Euridge Manor
Floral Design – Jenni Bloom
Catering – Reeka Events
Live Music – Mav Duo through LMI Live
Videography – Abigail & Luke
Invitation Design – Paige & Co
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Melissa Wood
Groom’s Apparel – Suitsupply
Rentals – Virginias Vintage Hire
Tableware – Wren Ark
Lighting – NOMADLIVE

 

Congratulations to Yutong and Bhuwan on their Euridge Manor wedding. It was truly a  color lover’s dream come true. Plus, we want to give a big shout-out to Rebecca Carpenter for capturing all the stunning details and swoon-worthy moments couples can use as inspiration.

Choosing a stunning venue, adding unique touches, and creating a magical atmosphere can make your event unforgettable for you and your guests. But, the key to pulling off a truly stunning celebration is hiring trusted vendors. These experts will collaborate seamlessly to bring all the elements together and make your vision a reality. Not sure where to start? Check out our vendor directory to assemble your dream team.

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

Timeless Black and White Battersea Arts Center Destination Wedding

January 11, 2024 | justine

Adam hails from the United States, and Ashley is all the way from England. As you can imagine, this made choosing an “I do” location a difficult task. They spent a good chunk of their wedding planning journey deciding on the continent fit for their big day. After checking out a variety of venues between  New York and London, they stumbled upon Battersea Arts Center. They had around 100 American pals fly over for their White Battersea Arts Center destination wedding. Their goal? To give it a London vibe without going too formal. They aimed to show off the building’s grand history with the lightness of their own personalities, and they totally pulled it off!

Their wedding was a timeless classic from start to finish. The ceremony dazzled with white florals and a chuppah, while the reception showcased an all-white tablescape seamlessly fitting the venue’s historic charm. Sticking to the elegant theme, both grooms sported matching white tuxedo jackets. But here’s the fun part—amid all the sophistication, they infused their big day with their own unique style. Flags, feather boas, and sunglasses made their way into the decor, adding a personal touch to the elegant affair.

If you’re looking for a way to add a dash of personality to your classic celebration, look no further than this England destination wedding. It’s the perfect source of inspiration for you. Keep scrolling to soak in all the gorgeous details expertly captured by Sam Sparks.

The Couple:

Adam and Ashley

The Wedding:

Battersea Arts Centre, London, United Kingdom

How They Added Their Flair to Their White Battersea Arts Center Destination Wedding

Weddings can be so serious and “by the book, ” which is not how we wanted our day. Meeting our planner was fate. Together, we created a design aesthetic that didn’t try to overshadow the venue’s beauty. We opted for classic, “simpler” flowers and a black-and-white color scheme to bring out the natural tones of the weathered walls of the Grand Hall. However, we also added some silly elements to contrast that “simplicity.” For example, there were two gorgeous marble statues in the Octagonal Hall where our guests entered, and we affixed the American Flag and Union Jack to each one to make it look like they were waving the flags. As the night progressed, we also added feather boas and sunglasses to the statues. We could go on and on, but our whole vibe wanted to feel classy but light.

From Virtual Dates to Real-Life Magic: The Significance of Our First Dance”

We recap the day constantly and have a different answer to this question every time. But for today, let’s say our first dance. We met during the pandemic and FaceTime dates to cheer each other up; we would virtually dance to Frank Sinatra’s “Nice and Easy.” Three years later, dancing to that same song in a fully choreographed dance (to Adam’s chagrin) in front of all our family and friends was beyond full circle. After that, the dance floor was packed and didn’t stop for the rest of the evening.

Tossing “Shoulds” and Embracing “Coulds” On Their Big Day

Make it personal! Who cares “what’s done” or “what’s expected.” It’s your day, so don’t go off of what you think you should do. Money can buy many things, but it can’t buy fun. And it was that belief that drove our planning process.

How They Pulled Off a Million-Dollar Look on a Budget

Our guests left our wedding saying it was the most fun wedding they’ve ever been to and that we genuinely thought of “everything.” Can’t beat that review! We also had a lot of friends, or friends of friends who saw our pictures, say that our wedding looked like it cost $1 million. It most certainly did not! Our budget was tight for both the size of the wedding (and our ambitions), so we’re proud of how much we creatively squeezed out of it.

Beyond Boring Ceremonies: How They Infused Personality into Every Moment

We had already been officially married in a very small ceremony in the States, and even though this one had many more attendants, we wanted it to feel just as personal and intimate. Ceremonies can be so dull and sterile, so we worked hard to design a ceremony where everyone felt like they played a part. Adam’s dad officiated and had each row of guests stand up so we could take in and connect to everyone who made the effort to be there. Since we’re two men, we couldn’t decide who would walk down the aisle last. So instead, we opted for our planner to send Ralphy, our dog, down last for a solo moment. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after that! We had a group singalong to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” to get everybody feeling the love. Adam’s eight and 10-year-old cousins read a poem of advice “from” our pup Ralphy. Ashley’s theater teacher read “Something Wonderful” lyrics from The King and I while her daughter accompanied her on the cello. Ashley surprised Adam with a Love Actually (his favorite movie) style flash song where, gradually, more and more of our friends stood up and sang. We both laughed and cried our eyes out the whole ceremony. It was perfect.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sam Sparks
Event Planning – Events By Josephine
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Battersea Arts Centre
Floral Design – Sarah Vo Loves
Catering – Frozen Honey Events
Bar – Broken Shaker
Live Music – LDN Entertainment
Videography – Ben Tamir
Invitation Design – Maple & Rae
Groom’s Apparel – Todd Snyder
Rentals – The Happy Cuppah People

 

Hats off to Ashley and Adam for pulling off their timeless black and white Battersea Arts Center destination wedding! Big thanks to Sam Sparks for skillfully capturing every moment and detail that turned their celebration into a memorable affair.

Your wedding venue choice has the power to shape the overall atmosphere of your big day, as proven by this wedding. So, if you’re searching for the ideal venue, check out our thoughtfully curated options. Once you’ve found the spot, spice things up by adding your own creative touch by drawing inspiration from these unique ideas. 

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings
← Older Entries
Newer Entries →