WEDDING BLOG

This Romantic Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding Was a Secret Garden Come to Life

January 10, 2024 | justine

Garden weddings are like a love story come to life, especially when they have that magical “secret garden” charm. Picture a beautiful lakeside setting with delicate arrangements and an enchanting atmosphere. Shannon and Brandon’s romantic Bridal Veil Lakes wedding is filled with swoon-worthy details and personal touches—a dreamy celebration you won’t want to miss!

In a picturesque setting by the waterfront, the couple shared heartfelt vows, embraced by their dear ones. The ceremony showcased a stunning floral arch, creating a perfect frame for the moment they said, “I do.” The reception that ensued welcomed guests with beautifully adorned tables featuring an array of garden blooms.

If your ideal wedding involves vibrant greenery and blooming spring flowers, you have to check out these stunning photos captured by Junebug member Jaime Denise. This celebration is brimming with inspiration, making it a must-see for anyone planning their dream garden wedding.

The Couple:

Shannon and Brandon

The Wedding:

Bridal Veil Lakes, Oregon, United States

How Their Romantic Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding Came To Life

When planning our wedding, we knew that we wanted the day to feel as authentically us as possible. We wanted it to feel joyous, relaxed, and magical in every part of the day. The inspiration behind the look and feel of the wedding was to incorporate traits from a backyard wedding and garden party. We wanted the appearance to feel natural to the space we were in, like you stumbled upon a secret garden! Luckily, we had an absolutely incredible vendor team that understood our vision perfectly and helped it come to life in the most spectacular way.

Discovering Their Dream Wedding Venue

We toured a handful of venues before finding Bridal Veil Lakes. We knew that BVL was our venue within the first five minutes of being there. The natural setting, tucked in the trees, was everything we hoped for. Being there just felt right. One of the owners who gave us our tour was extremely kind and understanding. He answered our questions and made us feel like our wedding could be exactly what we wanted. The combination of the setting and the owner’s kindness really sealed the deal for us.

Advice: Embrace Support Throughout the Romantic Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding Planning Process

Take it one step at a time and ask for help. I was lucky enough to have the support of my mom and sister throughout the wedding planning process, and this was hugely important. The other piece of advice that I’d share is to hire a day-of coordinator. Lexi was our day-of coordinator and helped keep me on track during the planning process. She also offered support in the moments when it felt like there were a million little details I needed to focus on. Lastly, remember that this is your day, and whatever happens will be perfect.

Making Sure Every Guest Shared in Their Joyful Celebration

We are genuinely proud of the entire day. It was the wedding of our dreams. We are most proud of the way that we were able to bring every single one of our wedding guests into the celebration. Whether it was the welcome drinks and charcuterie, the walk around the lake after the ceremony, the canoes on the lake, or the dancing, everyone was able to join in the celebration and have a magical night.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jaime Denise
Event Planning – Your Perfect Bridesmaid
Venue – Bridal Veil Lakes
Floral Design – Flowers By Almanac
Catering – Cheryl’s on 12th
Cake – Grace McDaniel
DJ – Michael Blake
Videography – Jesse Brennan
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Blossom and Beauty
Wedding Dress – A&Be Bridal Shop Seattle
Rentals – Great Jones NW

Congratulations to Shannon and Brandon on their romantic Bridal Veil Lakes wedding. And a special shout out to Junebug member Jaime Denise for capturing all the incredible details and special moments that made this celebration one for the books. To see more weddings like this one, be sure to check out his profile in our directory of talented photographers from around the world.

Setting the right vibe is crucial for a fantastic wedding. And picking the perfect venue plays a significant role in that. Whether you choose a special destination or say your vows in your backyard, our guide has tips and ideas to help you find the ideal wedding venue that matches your vision.

This Couple Brought Burning Man to Their Colorado Backyard Wedding

January 8, 2024 | justine

kelly green light blue light pink purple

Julie and Zane turned their log house in the mountain forest into a magical wonderland for their wedding. Embracing their love for Burning Man’s whimsical and enchanting atmosphere, they chose the fitting theme of “Funky Forest” for their special day right in their own backyard. The guests added to the charm with their whimsical attire, while the handmade animal sculptures and surprise llama visitors made the Colorado backyard wedding truly one-of-a-kind.

The couple turned the forest into a magical venue space with rainbow arches, a floating umbrella installation, and a serpentine tablescape adorned with shimmering iridescent confetti. As the sun set, the evening came alive with a spectacular light show illuminating the dance floor, where guests joined the pair, dancing the night away.

Curious to witness the magical transformation of Burning Man vibes into a wedding wonderland? Don’t miss out on how Julie and Zane turned their passion into a celebration. Thanks to From the Daisies, every funky detail has been beautifully captured for all of us to savor. Keep scrolling for a visual feast of whimsy and joy!

The Couple:

Julie and Zane

The Wedding:

Colorado, United States

Festival-Inspired Fashion and Makeup

My good friend from college made my dress and glitter cape. She studied fashion and is also a Burner. She has made countless costumes for me in the past (even matching a couple’s outfits for Zane and me) and really understood the assignment. Beauty-wise, I was decisive about needing glitter and rhinestones. Our wedding planner again found a burner-esque makeup artist who understood the assignment. Everyone had glitter and rhinestones, including all the dads, brothers, etc. It was magical.

How Burning Man Inspired Their Colorado Backyard Wedding

We live in a log house in a beautiful woodsy forest on the mountains. So we went with the theme “Funky Forest” and had the wedding at our home. We are longtime Burners (people who attend Burning Man) and wanted to bring that whimsical and magical feel to our event. From the guests’ whimsical formal attire to our crafted animal sculptures to our llama visitors, the wedding was everything we hoped for and more! We are also makers. I’m a designer, and my husband is a software engineer, and together, we brought the art pieces to life.

A Funky Forest Wedding Extravaganza That Was Interactive For Their Guests

Every guest received a jackalope, bear, or fox badge specially programmed with their name. As they approached the corresponding animal sculpture, a unique and interactive experience awaited them. For example, when Guest 1 approached the giant bear, it playfully blew bubbles and bathed in a radiant purple glow. Guest 2 encountered the fox, setting off the fog machine and casting a warm yellow glow. Guest 3 discovered the jackalope nestled in the disco ball forest, treating them to a delightful serenade amid a soothing blue light. The brilliance of the LED lights on the animal sculptures responded to the colors on the guests’ badges. Amidst these enchanting interactions, the celebration featured a variety of activities, including decorating sparkly crocs in a dazzling dome with handmade charms, engaging in an audio guest book experience within a greenhouse adorned in rainbow reflecting film, trying their hand at ax throwing, participating in a giant moose color-by-numbers station, and exploring a family art gallery. The highlight was witnessing the joy brought by Bubble Bear, a gigantic 3D-printed sculpture of a bear that blew bubbles overhead.

Wedding Advice: Embrace the Uniqueness of Your Day

Do whatever you want. It’s your day. I often wanted to ask other people, “Is this normal?” or “Is this crazy?” to try and tone our ideas into a socially “acceptable'” shape. We aren’t normal. And we are crazy. So I’m glad at some point, we just let the wedding be super funky and creative regardless of worries of outside judgment. Our guests followed us down that path once we were confident, too. My dad walked me down the aisle with rhinestones on his face. It was everything.

The Artistic Afterlife of Their Colorado Backyard Wedding Creations

Our gigantic bubble bear and Foggy Fox sculptures now live in Spectra’s immersive gallery in Denver for everyone to enjoy! Making these more extensive interactive installations lit a spark for us. Now we spend much of our time thinking of new art pieces to build for various events. We had this fantastic fabrication/artist company called Dark Moon Designs (another impeccable find by our planner) build a multi-piece giant rainbow flower portal through the forest to walk to the ceremony spot. It now lives in our backyard forever. We see it out our bedroom window when we wake up, and nothing makes us happier.

Cost-Effective Thrifted Treasures

Since our wedding was at our house, we were able to cut spending on furniture rentals. We bought all these cute vintage chairs and couches on Facebook Marketplace or from thrift stores on the cheap rather than renting. Furniture rentals get super pricey super fast. We have done a lot of remodeling to our home to make it unique, so it’s very special to us. We have a giant circle window, a geodome, and a greenhouse all in the forest. It also allowed us the time and space to set up the sculptures and other activities. You only have 24 hours in most venues, so you can’t decorate to the extent we did.

Glitter Crocs, Furry Geo Dome, and DIY Touches at Their Colorado Backyard Wedding

We gave everyone glitter Crocs. They have become a staple to us here in Colorado. And what’s fun about Crocs is you can decorate them to be your own. We had disco balls, pom poms, laser-cut bananas, happy faces, and various charms for people to have a little craft project while relaxing in the geodome. Did I mention we covered the inside of our geodome walls with fur? The invites, save the dates, thank you cards, and all the signage we designed and made. I’m a graphic designer, so we had a specific look I was trying to achieve.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – From the Daisies
Event Planning – Revel and Bloom
Catering – Catering by Design
Cake – Nummies
DJ – The Get Down
Invitation Design – Whimsy Makers
Makeup Artist – Katie Baker
Hair Styling – Alyssa Thomas
Wedding Dress – Watsonellis
Rings – Hannah Blount
Fabrication Artists – Rainbow flower portal built by Dark Moon Designs

Congratulations to Julie and Zane for pulling off a wildly creative and funky Colorado backyard wedding inspired by Burning Man. And a big thank you to From the Daisies for capturing every detail and moment this couple can relive over and over.

Your wedding is a canvas waiting for your personal touch, just like Julie and Zane did with their creative passions and interests. Unsure where to start on your own journey to a unique celebration? We’ve got you covered! Explore our comprehensive guide to planning a wedding that reflects your individuality, sparks your creativity, and turns your special day into an unforgettable masterpiece.

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Vendor Meals

January 7, 2024 | kailey

Image by Marisa Lyon Photography and catering by Sweet Brie Co.

You’ve hired your wedding vendors, signed contracts, and paid all the necessary deposits. It might seem like you’ve crossed off every vendor-related task on your checklist, doesn’t it? Well, not quite. Here’s some food for thought: taking care of your vendors on your wedding day is just as important as the pre-wedding preparations. This brings us to one of the most overlooked details: wedding vendor meals.

Do I need to feed my vendors? Which vendors am I required to provide a meal for? Do vendors eat the same food as guests? If you find yourself wondering all of these things, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got the answers to your FAQs to help ensure your vendors are happy and well-fed on your wedding day.

Am I Required to Provide Meals for My Vendors?

When working with professional wedding vendors, there’s a certain etiquette you need to follow. And on your wedding day, providing meals for your wedding vendors is often a standard practice. Sure, it’s not a strict requirement. But, providing food for those hard-working pros who are putting in countless hours is a thoughtful gesture and an easy way to express your appreciation.

Image by Northwest Focus Co.

Which Vendors Will Require a Wedding Day Meal?

You aren’t obligated to provide meals for every individual or team that plays a role on your wedding day. A good rule of thumb is to provide meals to those working the majority of your wedding day—vendors who won’t have the chance to leave the venue and hunt down their own food. This typically includes key players such as wedding planners, photographers, videographers, and even DJs.

If you’re still not sure which of your vendors you should have meals prepped for, take a look at your contracts. Some contracts may specify whether or not meals are expected to be included. Not able to find the answer in your contract? There’s no harm in reaching out to your vendors directly.

How Do I Coordinate Vendor Meals?

If you and your partner have decided to provide meals for your wedding vendors, you’ll work with your chosen caterers to coordinate vendor meals. They can answer all of your questions and provide any necessary guidance. Since this is standard practice, your caterers will be familiar with the process and can help guide you in the right direction.

What Is Served for Vendor Meals?

The specific options will vary based on your chosen caterer. However, vendor meals are typically cheaper and more simplified versions of the meals served to your guests.

Remember that some vendors may have dietary restrictions, so it’s considerate to ask about any specific requirements they may have before the big day. After you discuss this with your vendors, your catering team will work to create a meal plan that accommodates any necessary restrictions or preferences.

When and Where are Vendor Meals Served?

There is one portion of your wedding day where everyone will be seated, chatting amongst themselves. This is when vendors (like your photographer, videographer, and planner) will also take a break and get the opportunity to eat.

Vendors are usually given a designated area to enjoy their meals. This separate room is typical within the venue, giving them a comfortable space to eat without disrupting wedding guests.

Clear communication is crucial when working with wedding vendors, especially during the beginning stages. When you’re booking new vendors, you’ll be required to sign a contract. This will ensure both parties have access to the written agreement. A contract typically includes everything from significant details like pricing to smaller ones like vendor meals.

To make sure you’re set up for success, we’re giving you the low down on wedding contracts. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are the things you should look for on your wedding contract.

Image by Skyler & Vhan Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

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