WEDDING BLOG

Lavender and Gray Garden Wedding in Sydney, Australia – Erin and Matt

May 15, 2012 | editorial team

There is no question this dreamy garden wedding in Sydney, Australia will make your heart skip a beat! With a garden ceremony venue, beautiful lilac and gray colors and amazing wedding party on the sea, this romantic day was a memorable adventure for Erin and Matt. To top it off, it was beautifully captured by Chris Prestidge of At Dusk Photography, recent recipient of the prestigious award “Emerging Wedding Photographer of the Year” by Capture Magazine.

The Couple: Erin and Matt

The Wedding: 2.10.12 – The Deckhouse Sydney, Australia

What three adjectives best describe your wedding? It was really important to us that our wedding was a celebration and not just a formal event. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed, and have a great time! We decided to run with the romantic and rustic theme, with a few touches of elegance.

What was your wedding color palette? We chose to pair a feminine dusty lilac with a more masculine gun metal. We then mixed splashes of these colours with the classic bridal creams. We also used recycled brown paper for our invitations, working with our rustic theme.

What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? Our wedding style sort of evolved throughout the planning process. We werent the sort of people who knew straight from the get-go how we wanted the day to unfold. What we did know was that we wanted our guests to feel relaxed and to be able to spot a few special touches that reflected our relationship. We started thinking of what we could make ourselves, and discovered the simplest things could have the biggest impact! We decided to have our ceremony at the Botanic Garden. This is where we went on our first date, so it held a very special significance for us. Plus, it was a beautiful background for our photos! During summer, the gardens are bright and colourful,so we let the beauty of the garden provide the ceremony decor. At the reception, we tied in our bridal colours with homemade pom-fleurs and candles hanging from the roof; splashes of color on the tables and rustic lanterns; and candles and flowers as the centre pieces. So many of our guests commented on how our handy work made the night feel so much more personal. Both the groomsmen and bridal party got ready in buildings next to each other. The ladies spent the day getting pampered in a hotel. But, the groomsmen chose to get ready in a friend’s unfinished loft! The convenience of the locations played a big part in the choice, as well as the amazing views of the harbour. But, we also liked the idea of having such contrasting settings for our photos.

Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? Of course the ceremony was a special part of the day and saying our vows in front of our family and friends is something that we will both cherish. We also loved the end of the ceremony, looking into the huddled crowd as they blew bubbles towards us in those first moments as husband and wife. One of our favourite parts of the day was sailing across Sydney Harbour as the sun was setting and enjoying a glass of bubbles with our bridal party after the ceremony. It is something we will always remember and it definitely made for a grand entrance! We hadnt told any of our guests, so it was quite a surprise to see us sail in towards the jetty while they were enjoying canapes on the deck. We loved hearing the cheers and seeing the looks on our guests’ faces as we waved to them from the yacht!! We were really pleased that we chose to have a friend make our cake – it gave the experience a very personal touch. Another special moment for us was leaving the reception. Our guests lined the jetty with sparklers as we ran through and jumped on a boat! It made for a magical end to a perfect day.

What piece of advice would you give to a bride planning her wedding today? Take all the help you can get! While you may feel like you need to be across all the decision making and planning, having other people organize the parts of the day that you arent particular about really takes off some of the stress (and makes for a few nice surprises on the day!)

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Chris Prestidge
Ceremony Venue: The Rose Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens
Reception Venue: The Deckhouse
Officiant: Russell Hansen
Invitation Designer: Rowan Bell
Catering: The Deckhouse
Florist: Summers Floral
Wedding Cake: Xanthe Roberts – Assistant Food Editor: Australian Women’s Weekly
Wedding Dress: Personalised Weddings Couture
Bridal Accessories: Shoes – Cinderella Bella, Bouquets – David Austin Roses
Bridesmaids’ Apparel and Accessories: Dresses – Bridemaids Only and Myer, Shoes – Georgini and Myer
Groom and Groomsmen Apparel and Accessories: Suits – Rhodes and Beckett, Boutonniere – David Austin Roses
Hair and Make-up: Jess Flemming
DJ: Impression DJs
Live Music: Violinists
Transportation: Water taxi
Dance Instruction: Arthur Murray Dance School
Rings: Diamond Emporium

Thank you so much Erin and Matt, for sharing your amazing wedding day!

See more more beautiful wedding photographs on our Photobug blog!

Urban Vintage Chicago Wedding at the Ravenswood Event Center – Sara and Mabby

May 14, 2012 | editorial team

sage green white

Urban meets DIY vintage…this Chicago wedding at the Ravenswood Event Center captured the essence of Mabby and Sara’s relationship perfectly! From the handmade decorations to the logo traced off a tattoo of Sara’s that had originally been drawn by her brother, Matt; the couple’s elegant yet edgy wedding was filled with personalized details that were captured beautifully by Katie Roberston and Eva Lempert.

The Couple: Sara and Mabby

The Wedding: 1.8.11 – Ravenswood Event Center – Chicago, Illinois

What three adjectives best describe your wedding day? Intimate, magical and chilly

Was there a decor theme that ran through your wedding? What was the inspiration for that particular idea and how did it reflect you as a couple? We liked the idea of doing vintage inspired decor with an urban edge. We both grew up in cities, but are very drawn to feminine details. We wanted a relaxed, classic vibe with a hint of funkiness and an urban aesthetic.

What were some of the different ways you used decor elements to create the beautiful, cohesive event you were envisioning? We loved the exposed brick, pipes and massive windows and high ceilings at the Ravenswood Event Center. We were thrilled to have snow covering the rooftops of the buildings outside, which echoed the cotton that we used throughout the wedding on the chuppah, men’s boutineers, and in Sara’s hair. We juxtaposed all of that white with some jewel tone florals and green brides bouquets. We did a lot of DIY decorations to create our vision, such as vintage tins and bottles filled with flowers and over sized clothespins holding vintage-themed table numbers lovingly made by Mabby’s best friend. Rebecca and Christine, from our florist, Dilly Lily, did an incredible job bringing our vision to life. They completely understood our hopes to blend vintage with urban, classic with funky, while still keeping the entire event romantic and soft.

Where did you choose to hold your wedding, and how did the location influence your decor decisions? We cant say enough good things about the Ravenswood Event Center. We could literally go on and on. Andy, the owner, is an incredible gentleman with boundless patience. He also happens to be a miraculous chef. Katie and Eva, who have been to hundreds upon hundreds of weddings, have sworn to us that the food at ours was by far the BEST. We didnt want a plated dinner. Andy helped us create a lavish feast that contained three waves (basically three meals) that came out family style, one after the other. The dishes included an eggplant panko stack, steak with chimichuri and butternut squash ravioli. The staff helped us create not only the most incredible wedding, but also a truly festive, beautiful night. Our wedding wouldnt have been possible without them.

Looking back, do you have a favorite project or successful decor idea from your wedding? Tell us what you loved about it! To create a logo for our wedding, we traced a Chicago skyline tattoo off of Saras arm. We then scanned it and made stamps out of it to brand our wedding with the design. We used it on the notes for gift bags, the party favor candle lids, the menu headers, the homemade ketubah poster, and the “thank you” cards. It solidified that fact that our wedding was about family – our families joining and the new one we were creating beginning that day. Mabbys brother also spoke during the ceremony and was basically the evenings MC.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Katie Roberston and Eva Lempert
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Ravenswood Event Center
Officiant: David Gottlieb – Bride’s uncle
Catering: Ravenswood Event Center
Florist: Dilly Lily
Wedding Dress: J.Crew gown with alterations by Lanya
Bridal Accessories: Shoes – Toms, Gloves – Clover
Hair and Make-up: Kristin Idzikowski
Favors: Boardwalk candles – Etsy.com
Rings: Tiffany & Co.

We have absolutely loved hearing about your urban wedding with a feminine twist! Best wishes, Sara and Mabby!

Enjoy more beautiful photography from wedding professionals and check out our Photobug blog!

Costa Rican Rainforest Destination Wedding From Beautiful Day Photography – Amy and Scott

May 11, 2012 | editorial team

bright red kelly green yellow

We are so excited to share Amy and Scott’s incredible Costa Rican adventure with you today! This spirited couple took their closest family and friends on a week-long jungle safari that was filled with tropical rainstorms, brilliant flora and fauna, waterfalls and natural water slides, rafting and horseback riding activities, and of course, a completely romantic wedding. Enjoy this glimpse into their destination wedding celebration, from Beautiful Day Photography!

The Goals: Amy said, “Scott and I are both very close to our families, and felt that it was important that they have the opportunity to get to know each other during our celebration. Having the wedding in Costa Rica, and at Rafiki in particular due to its remote location, encouraged instantaneous bonding that will last a lifetime. We were over 4,000 miles from distraction, and it was truly a family affair. I think the families thought we were slightly crazy for wanting to have our wedding in the remote tropical jungle, and were admittedly slightly out of their comfort zones when they first got there. But almost a year later, we all talk about the adventure and how incredible it was, all the time! Additionally, Scott and I love nature and adventure, so Rafiki fit the bill!”

The Design: The wedding was romantic, rustic, and entirely unique! Amy bravely booked The Rafiki sight unseen, on the glowing reviews that Scott had given her about this special place as early as their first date. The Rafiki is an adventurous destination; not an all-inclusive luxury resort, but a back-to-nature collection of safari tents in the rainforest. Amy and Scott knew that they’d be surrounded by incredible native flora and fauna, so they let the naturally stunning rainforest be their main decor. The couple hosted a reception a few weeks later for friends back home at the Salish Lodge, so the forest (this time temperate) was once again a starring feature. There they gave guests white potted orchids at the reception as a nod to the beautiful Costa Rican forest they had been married in.

The Look: Amy wanted a bridal look that was simple, elegant, and un-embellished. She turned to one of her favorite dress shops, The Finerie, for a gorgeous Madina Vadache evening dress that was customized with a beautiful low-back and a more traditional ivory silk than the original black color the dress came in. From there, she accessorized with blue earrings made by her aunt to match Scott’s suit, and wore ginger flowers in her hair. As for her hair and make-up, Amy describes her photographer, Laura from Beautiful Day Photography, as a Renaissance woman! Laura was worried about timing, and wanted to get good photos before the expected rainstorm, so she jumped in and did Amy’s hair and make-up to keep things moving. (Amy also revealed that Laura jumped in and sang “Proud Mary” with Fuzzy and the band at the reception…Renaissance woman indeed!)

The Moments: While Amy said she’d be hard pressed to beat the experience of exchanging vows with the love of her life under a fern and orchid covered arch with the misty rainforest and mountains in the background, she did have some hilarious and exciting stories from their wedding-week jungle adventure! Over the course of their stay, they took their group on a class 4 white water rafting trip; had multiple impromptu feasts in the rainforest; slid down natural stone water slides (during the daytime, AND in the pitch black, post-wedding reception!); went horseback riding; and organized a rescue mission to fetch the wine and champagne that was stuck on the other side of the river when a road washed out. Whew!

The Pros: Please visit Amy and Scott’s page in our Real Wedding Library for all of the talented people that made this amazing day happen!

Thanks for sharing your amazing tropical adventure with us, Amy and Scott! The memories are sure to last a lifetime!

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WEDDING BLOG

Lavender and Gray Garden Wedding in Sydney, Australia – Erin and Matt

Urban Vintage Chicago Wedding at the Ravenswood Event Center – Sara and Mabby

Costa Rican Rainforest Destination Wedding From Beautiful Day Photography – Amy and Scott

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