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Whimsical Yet Edgy Wish Well House Wedding

December 2, 2023 | justine

Megan and CJ stayed true to themselves every step of their wedding planning journey, from picking out flowers to enjoying tacos for dinner. They aimed for a celebration that captured both a whimsical and edgy vibe while maintaining a timeless feel. With the help of their vendors, their vision for a Wish Well House wedding exceeded their expectations. The considerable time and effort invested in creating a memorable experience for their cherished guests proved to be worthwhile. After all, these are their favorite people, and they naturally wanted them to have the best time possible!

The courtyard ceremony was all about simplicity, with just two floral pillars framing the couple as they exchanged their vows. However, the real enchantment unfolded at the reception. Maintaining a sleek atmosphere, they embraced a tablescape adorned with low floral clusters, purple taper candles, and touches of black accents, adding an unexpected edge to the romantic ambiance. To elevate the scene further, an overhead greenery installation tied everything together seamlessly.

The pair put a lot of thought into every little detail, and it paid off. If you dream of a classic wedding with a personal touch and a dash of edge, you should check out this couple’s celebration. Maddison Kennedy did an excellent job capturing every moment, so take a look and enjoy the beauty of their special day!

The Couple:

Megan and CJ

The Wedding:

Wish Well House, Texas, United States

A Journey of Five Wedding Dresses

I tried on five wedding dresses—all vastly different from each other. I had no idea what I wanted until it happened. After I found the dress, it all fell into place from there. I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for when shopping for sleeves, so I reached out to House of Deane, and she brought my vision to life! I wanted something classic with some drama and flair, and my custom sleeves precisely did that.

Celebrating Love with Their Favorite People

From the groom, he says, getting to watch me walk down the aisle takes the cake for him. Overall, this is the first and last time that we will have that many of our favorite people all in one place at one time, and that was something we did not take for granted. It was important to us to soak in this time with our loved ones and try to take intentional pauses to be present with one another and with our guests. It is special to be so well-loved that many people show up to celebrate you.

Focus on You Two: Best Wedding Advice

Our most significant advice is that at the end of the day, your wedding is about the two of you. It is easy to get swept up and overwhelmed by the influence and opinions of those around you. Often, it is hard to set that aside and remember what the two of you want. It was important to us to honor and respect the people that we are and what we wanted. You want to be able to step back and look at your big day and feel like it is you that you see in all of the details.

Creating a Guest-Centric Wish Well House Wedding Day

CJ and I pride ourselves on the experience we can give our guests. A lot of time and effort went into the experience we tried to create. These are our favorite people, and of course, we want them to have the best time> From the live guest painter, the photo booth, and the cocktails we selected, we kept our guests in mind at every turn while still sticking to what we wanted from our big day.

Letting the Venue Speak: Their Wish Well Wedding Story

We wanted a venue that was able to speak for itself. You can tell the amount of time and care put into Wish Well House—from the tile to the textures, the wallpaper, and even the appliances in the getting-ready suites. Having an outdoor wedding in Texas, it was essential to find somewhere that we loved the rain plan just as much as the original one, and for us, Wish Well had it all.

Personalized Ceremony Melodies for This Wish Well House Wedding

For the ceremony, we talked to the DJ about playing instrumental covers of all our early 2000s favorite songs (think lots of Blink 182 and Mayday Parade). The groom said it was so fun watching the guests realize what song was being played and then start nodding along to the song. Additionally, one of my childhood best friends was our flower man and truly stole the show! Another one of our friends was our officiant, and it felt so special to have so many people we knew and loved involved in the ceremony.

Unconventional Tokens of Love: T-Shirt Toss and Dog Treat Favors

For wedding favors, we took a non-traditional route. We ditched the bouquet/garter toss and opted for a t-shirt toss. The t-shirts have a picture of the groom and me on them, and still, to this day, people send us pictures of them wearing them out and about, and we get giddy over it every time. Additionally, we had dog treat bags for people to take home to their pups as a nod to our dog Morgan who was not physically present but present in many of the small details (dog treat favors, a mini figure of her on our wedding cake, her picture at the bar). Our friends and family will love Morgan, and we must incorporate a bit of her into our day.

Personal Touches from Save the Dates to Signage

I DIY’d the save-the-dates, invitations, wedding programs, and signage for the wedding. They were created mainly in Canva and printed through Zola, except for the envelope liners and programs printed at Office Depot. As for signage, I designed the signage, but my mom helped in bringing it all to life for me. My dad built the frame for our seating chart, and my mom took care of everyone’s names.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – MKPhoto
Event Planning – Amusé Event Co
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Wish Well House
Floral Design – Remi & Gold
Catering – Peached Tortilla
Cake – Morgan Pearl Cakes
DJ – Out West
Videography – Wes Raitt Cinema
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Etoilly Artistry
Wedding Dress – House Of Deane
Transportation – Ninja Buses

 

Congratulations to Megan and CJ on their whimsical yet edgy Wish Well House wedding. A big thank you to Maddison Kennedy for capturing all the beautiful details, joy, and love that filled their big day. And a special shout out to Junebug member Amuse Events Co. for flawlessly planning the entire celebration and making it very special for the couple. To see more amazing affairs they’ve organized, check out their profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding planners.

We’re seeing more and more couples that are breaking the rules. And if you too want to plan an unconventional celebration that stands out, consider a bold color palette. Bold doesn’t always mean super bright. Dark and moody shades like black can be unique too. Check out our guide for cool ways to add black to your wedding, making it subtly or not-so-subtly different from the usual.

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Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Wear Again (and How to Style Them)

December 1, 2023 | kailey

Image by Louise Griffin. See more of this real wedding here.

When your best friend passes you that bridesmaids proposal box and asks you to stand by their side on their wedding day, chances are your first reaction is yes! While being a bridesmaid is such an important and meaningful role to fill, it’s also a pricy one. Between the bachelorette party and your bridesmaid dress, costs can add up quickly. But we’re not about to let the price tag stop you from standing by your bestie on their big day. 

We’re on a mission to make being a bridesmaid possible for everyone. That’s why we’ve gathered some dress ideas that won’t just be a one-time wear. Keep scrolling for our favorite bridesmaid dresses you can wear again, complete with tips on how to style them.

Short Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Wear Again

Short bridesmaid dresses are simple to re-wear over and over again. It’s a perfect date night dress paired with a leather jacket, a simple black clutch, and low black block heels. But, it can also easily be dressed down for a more casual look when worn with tights and boots. The limits are endless when it comes to rocking a short bridesmaid dress long after the wedding day, and it’ll be a staple piece in your closet.

Amanda Uprichard Franny Mock-Neck Mini Dress

Midi Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Wear Again

Midi dresses are in style right now for both weddings and everyday streetwear. The best part about this length dress is its versatility. You can go with a laid-back, edgy vibe or a classy, put-together look. For our casual bridesmaids, throw on an oversized graphic t-shirt or an oversized sweater and some trendy sneakers of your choice. To dress it up, add tights, knee-high boots, and a long wool coat.

By Anthropologie Cowl-Neck Slip Dress

Iris Midi Slip Dress in Yellow

Lisa Midi Dress

The A&F Giselle Pleat Release Midi Dress

Favorite Icon Black Floral Satin Cowl Neck Slip Midi Dress

The A&F Camille Long-Sleeve Midi Dress

Maxi Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Wear Again

Maxi dresses aren’t just for special occasions. Throw on a maxi with a cute cardigan and some sandals, and you can pull off the ultimate casual vibe. It’s the perfect look for a chill lunch date, brunch, or a shopping spree. Feeling a bit fancy? Elevate that maxi dress with some heels and a blazer for an elegant touch.

Greta Dress

Odette Dress in Magenta

Strapless Satin Maxi Dress

Nasha Satin Dress

Bridesmaid dress shopping doesn’t have to be a drawn-out, strenuous process. There are plenty of online shops where you can purchase your re-wearable dress from the comfort of your couch. Whether you’re looking for a bump-friendly maternity dress, a sustainable dress option, or just a vibrant dress that’ll help you stand out, the options on your computer are endless.

Image by Grace Torres. See more of this real wedding here.

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Classically Romantic and Neutral Mason Wedding

November 30, 2023 | justine

As Kira and Joe started planning their special day, they aimed to make it a close and meaningful occasion for their loved ones. They focused on details like seating and food to encourage conversation and connection. The outcome? A deeply personal and romantic Mason wedding that authentically celebrated their love and prioritized what’s important to them.

Transported by the grand old-world and Victorian Maximalist charm, the couple found the perfect backdrop for their “I dos.” The Mason Dallas was an ideal venue option with stunning existing features and natural beauty. To add a pop of personality, they discovered that strategically placing florals and lighting up the space with lots of candles was all it took to add an extra touch of romance.

With a guest list of 67 of their nearest and dearest, they had the freedom to bring their dream wedding to reality. To discover the distinctive and creative ways they brought it all together, just keep scrolling. These captivating images by Junebug member Leitzinger Co. beautifully narrate the entire story.

The Couple:

Kira and Joe

The Wedding:

The Mason, Texas, United States

How They Brought Their Mason WeddingTo Life

We selected The Mason in Dallas, TX, as our venue, a stunning historic building with Victorian maximalist vibes. We wanted the venue to shine and bring in romantic elements to set the tone. We selected soft neutrals for linens and florals and drenched the room in candlelight.

Choosing Inclusive Seating

The people who supported us on this day mean the world to us. We wanted to encourage connection, conversation, and love. We selected inclusive seating done in a U-shape. This helped set the tone for intimacy and gave a beautiful visual queue of our communities coming together to celebrate and support our commitment to each other.

Heartfelt Thanks: Handwritten Notes on Each Plate

A successful relationship requires more than two people putting in the work. It’s created to support those who have raised you, been a shoulder to cry on through prior failed relationships, celebrated you on significant life milestones, and helped shape you into who you are today. We wanted each guest to know how thankful we are for them and how they have supported us in our journey to each other. We opted for handwritten notes on each guest’s plate instead of simple name cards. I am proud of the handwritten notes! They took a lot of time and emotional energy, but watching our guests read them was incredible.

Beyond Catering: Choosing Personal Connection and Meaningful Dining

Food was important to us, and instead of selecting a traditional caterer, we opted to enlist the help of a restaurant that holds a lot of meaning for us, Mot Hai Ba. Mot Hai Ba is our favorite place in our neighborhood. We worked with Chef Peja to select our favorite dishes that we have had over the years and on many of our dates. We chose a family-style serving method to compliment our inclusive seating, driving home that we are one community and family coming together to celebrate love.

Opting for New Orleans Jazz Vibes for Their Mason Wedding

We wanted to opt for more unique music, so we selected the Revelers Hall Band, which plays New Orleans-style jazz. They played anything from originals to covers. They are local to the area where our venue was located, and it brought so much energy.

Reflections on Wedding Planning: Embrace the Journey and Trust Your Instincts

It sounds cliche, but wedding planning can be stressful. Reflecting on the process now that it is complete, the best advice I can give to myself or future brides would be to try to enjoy the process as much as possible and trust your gut instinct. We set an initial budget of $40,000, but all said and done, it came closer to $70,000. A big splurge for us was the food and alcohol, but we have no regrets! My advice to new brides would be to spend the time to get to know your vendors to understand how they view their craft and if your visions align.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Nicholas Leitzinger
Event Planning – Jessica Reaves
Ceremony + Reception Venue – The Mason
Catering – Mot Hai Ba
Hair Styling – Darlene Duran

 

Cheers to Kira and Joe for their lovely Mason wedding! We also want to extend a big thanks to Junebug member Leitzinger Co. for capturing every sweet moment of their love story. To see more of their amazing work, check out their profile in our list of top wedding photographers.

When planning your own big day, don’t be afraid to let your personalities shine. Whether you pick an unexpected venue space or add a creative touch to traditional elements, aim for a celebration as special as your love story. Explore our guide for creative ideas to make your special day truly unique.

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