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Sweet Valentine’s Day Engagement Shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography – Morgen and Chris

February 12, 2013 | editorial team

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

I think most couples probably feel pretty romantic during their engagement shoot, but Morgen and Chris decided to shout it from the rooftops! Or from the teepee I should say. Morgen loves Valentine’s Day more than your average girl, and Chris was completely on board with celebrating her favorite holiday during their shoot with Jessie Holloway. From that lace teepee to the huge red heart, frilly balloon, and vintage red farm truck, the only thing missing is cupid!

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

From bride, Morgen: Chris and I met and fell in love while we were both students at the University of Tennessee. Very quickly into our relationship, Chris discovered my deep-rooted affection for Valentines Day. My mother and I have always celebrated this day by making valentines for our dearest friends and family, and ever since Chris received his very first valentine from me, he has come to appreciate (and even enjoy) February 14th just as much as I do! We make it a point to celebrate Valentines Day in a big way every year. It was only natural for us to choose a Valentines Day theme for our engagement photos! Jessie did a fantastic job of portraying our true love, romance, and whimsy. We owe special thanks to our friends who lent us their farm for the morning, and to my mother and brother who were in the background helping with props and styling. We could not have asked for a better experience, or a better outcome! My favorite part of our pictures is our giant red heart. Every time I see it, I am reminded of the E.E. Cummings quote, I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear).

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

From photographer Jessie Holloway: I think when childhood friends call me to shoot their engagements and weddings, it just pulls at my heart strings. And this wasn’t just any childhood friend, this was my Girl Scout’s best friend. Seriously. It doesn’t go back farther than that. We were selling cookies and earning pins on what seems like yesterday, and now here we are shooting her with her husband-to-be! My mind gets blown by things like this.

Going into it, I knew Morgen was the creative type- she pins regularly and often finds inspiration in imagery that she would like to use for her own photographs. She’s so creatively proactive that I knew that with our forces combined, her photo shoot would rock. Morgen and Chris approached me with the Valentine’s theme and I was beyond excited. These two lovebirds brought many of the props you see in the photos, and I added in the wings from a previous children’s shoot I had done.

 

As for working with the two of them – it really doesn’t get any better. Even at sunrise, these two were having a blast; laughing and joking with each other as if they hadn’t been up since 3 a.m. getting ready. It tickled me to pieces because their excitement about the session and about their upcoming nuptials was contagious. My face hurt after shooting because I was seriously perma-grinning the whole time. Morgen and Chris are a match made in Valentine’s heaven, and I can’t wait until their October wedding!

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

 

Valentine's theme engagement shoot from Jessie Holloway Photography| junebugweddings.com

Thank you so much for sharing your super romantic Valentine’s theme engagement shoot with us, Morgen and Chris! Your timing is impeccable! And a big thanks to Jessie Holloway for the beautiful images!

Readers, for more gorgeous red inspiration, be sure to check out our Image Gallery (did you know you can search it by color?) and our red Pinterest board!

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We’re in Love! Romantic Boudoir Photography by Elizabeth Messina

February 12, 2013 | editorial team

Since Valentine’s Day is coming up this Thursday, we’ve got love on the brain even more than usual around here! And what better way revel in it than by diving into the intimate and absolutely breathtaking boudoir photography of Elizabeth Messina? Elizabeth’s imagery has a look that’s all her own, and it simply radiates romance from the core. Valentine’s Day is also the birthday of Elizabeth’s beautiful blog Kiss the Groom, so we’ll be celebrating with her this Thursday with two very special surprise projects… I wish I could let the cat out of the bag now, but you’ll just have to stop by on Valentine’s Day to find out what we’re up to!

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

romantic boudoir photos by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom | via junebugweddings.com

Want more? Don’t forget to come back this Thursday on Valentine’s Day for two exciting announcements and lots more from the fabulous Ms. Messina. And if you’re interested in learning more about Elizabeth’s distinctive, romantic and ethereal approach to photography, check out her gorgeous book The Luminous Portrait!

The Luminous Portrait by Elizabeth Messina | via junebugweddings.com

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Napa Valley Wedding at Auberge Du Soleil by Michèle Waite – Allison and Dan

February 11, 2013 | editorial team

Allison and Dan love California almost as much as they love each other, so they held their stunning Napa Valley wedding at Auberge du Soleil – a magical spot with incredible views, romantic spaces, and the perfect blend of rustic elegance. Nancy Liu Chin’s beautiful floral designs thoughtfully complemented the venue in every way, and photographer Michèle M. Waite perfectly captured every moment. One detail I particularly love? Allison’s wedding day seamstress she had on hand to ensure the fashion was flawless. Heidi Johnson of Wedding De-Tailor ensured that every strap was hidden, every rumple was straightened, and not a speck of dust or lint was in sight. Love this brilliant idea!

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

The Couple: Allison & Dan

The Wedding: 10.20.12 – Auberge du Soleil – Napa, CA

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Rustic glamour, intimate, and magical.

What was your wedding color palette? We wanted the gorgeous location in Napa Valley to speak for itself, so I chose colors and accents that lent an elegant, old-Hollywood glamour to the more rustic decor of the Auberge. We had silver linens with lots of mercury votives with tea-lights and used gray as an accent (bridesmaids dresses, groomsmens ties, striped straws). With that as a base, the flowers were a mix of ivory/cream and blush/peach with pops of burgundy to compliment wine country in autumn. The ribbon on the bouquets was burgundy along with Dans pocket square.

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? It was important to us to infuse personal elements into our wedding so that it was a reflection of our style and relationship. We love California and wanted a destination wedding, so choosing Napa was a no-brainer! We wanted an intimate, California wedding with a glamorous and sophisticated edge, so the Auberge was the perfect location – intimate yet open, with a terrace overlooking Napa Valley. We brought in little touches to make it personal, including using wine bottles from Swanson, a local winery, as a guest book (people signed the bottles for our first, third and fifth anniversaries with metallic markers), and we had our logo printed on cocktail napkins for the cocktail hour. My maid of honor is a designer, so it was special for me to work with her to create the signs throughout the wedding, from the programs, to the menus to the Love is Sweet dessert sign.

We also transformed the terrace after the ceremony into a lounge area with café lights strung overhead, hurricanes with candles and sofas! It was a great way to cool off from dancing. Plus, the photo booth was out there!

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? One of the most special moments from the day was when my brother sang You & I by Wilco as a surprise. It is such a fond memory we will cherish forever.

We also are so happy that we wrote our own vows. Our officiant was truly amazing and made our ceremony so personal and meaningful, and then to say our vows to each other – it was more special than we could have imagined. I thought it would be more nerve-wracking than it was – it was just fun! I am glad we opted to do that because I dont know that well have the chance to say those words to each other in front of all our loved ones again!

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

What piece of advice would you give to a bride planning her wedding today? Just have fun with it and dont over analyze every small detail. Trust that your vision will come together, and if you arent sure about what you want, ask a trusted friend or planner for help! Also, Pinterest is an amazing tool for brides. I had a shared Pinterest board with my florist, Nancy Liu Chin, that we used to narrow down the vision for the day.

Another thing I would recommend is hiring a day-of planner/assistant – Heidi, our wedding detailer, was awesome. She was on-site to press all the dresses on the day of and she really went above and beyond – I cant recommend her enough! She fixed buttons on my mother-in-laws dress, sewed bra straps in place, lint rolled and pressed the jackets, helped with my dress during pictures, washed my feet after the photos – I can go on and on! She was such an unexpected blessing but now that I look back, I couldnt have done it without her.

 

Last thing – as a destination bride, I know that you can do almost everything via phone or email, so dont go nuts making a gazillion appointments. It is literally the best day ever – enjoy it!

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

 

Elegant, rustic wedding at Auberge du Soleil, Napa. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Michele Waite | junebugweddings.com

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Michèle M. Waite
Event Planner: Erin Lail and Brittany Payton (from Auberge du Soleil)
Ceremony & Reception Venue, Catering: Auberge du Soleil
Officiant: Reverend Peadar Dalton
Invitation Designer: Jennifer Harrison
Florist: Nancy Liu Chin
Cake: Patisserie Angelica
Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore
Bridal Accessories: Head piece – Jenny Packham; Shoes – Jimmy Choo; Earrings – Badgley Mischka; Bracelets – Links of London
Bridesmaids Apparel & Accessories: Dresses: BCBG
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel & Accessories: Ralph Lauren Black Label & Hugo Boss
Hair & Make-up: Sherrie Long
DJ: David Carvalho
Live Music: Eloquence Stings
Transportation: California Wine Tours
Rentals: Wine Country Rentals
Rings: Hers – Dimend Scaasi; His – Bario Neal
On Site Detailer/Seamstress: Heidi Johnson, Wedding De-Tailor
Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co.

Thank you, Allison and Dan, for sharing your beautiful wedding!

Readers, are you planning your own wedding? Allison’s florist, Nancy Liu Chin, shared some great info with us recently about how to prepare for your first meeting with a florist. It’s a must-read! And for more gorgeous work from Michèle Waite, check out Jamie and Steven’s stunning northwest wedding, and Sarah and Andrew’s northern California celebration!

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