WEDDING BLOG

Today’s Real Wedding looks like it was a rockin’ good time and makes us wish we had been there for all the excitement! Spectacularly photographed by  Ben Chrisman and Erin Reed of Ben Chrisman Photography, this destination wedding, in Todos Santos, a dazzling beach locale in Baja, Mexico, was a fun-filled, sentimental getaway for the gorgeous Jean and Michael and their closest family and friends.

The goals: Jean and Michael wanted a wedding that was a true reflection of their personalities and above all, fun for their guests. Not into the idea of a big event, they chose a small destination wedding in Todas Santos, Baja, Mexico. With just fifty guests, they were able to have the intimate and special day that they had dreamed of, and there was ample time and opportunity for forming new friendships, bonding with loved ones and of course, plenty-o-fun!

The look: With such a gorgeous beach view as their backdrop, there wasn’t need for much decoration. Jean chose colors for the wedding that were inspired by Todos Santos – blue for the sky, green for the lush foliage and white for the long sandy beaches. She also included pink and orange in her wedding color palette for their fun and festive feel, and incorporated them into every detail from the flowers and invitations, to the favors for the guests – a pretty package of pomegranate and orange-sherbet jellybeans wrapped in blue boxes with orange bows.

The bride’s wedding dress was a stunning creation by Carolina Herrera, and the bridesmaids were able to choose their own black and white bridesmaids’ dresses. Each one wore a custom-made necklace, designed by the groom’s sister for The Jewelers of Las Vegas, to match the bow on Jean’s gown. The groom and groomsmen were perfectly beach-casual in tan pants and ivory shirts.

The moments: In a sentimental and humorous ceremony, the most romantic moment for the bride and groom was reciting their vows, which they wrote themselves. Another special moment for the couple was their first dance to “Stay With You” by John Legend, chosen for its timeliness. Says Jean, “we began dating around the time the album came out, and every song on it related to our relationship in some way”. The couple agrees that the entire wedding get-away was filled with moments they will always treasure, because they were able to have their families and close friends with them for those full four days.

The details: Jean and Michael filled their wedding day with many funny and touching details that helped them complete their vision of a fun-filled destination wedding. Each groomsman received a flask before the ceremony engraved with the the couple’s names, the date, and the quote “Another One Bites the Dust”. As for Jean, her “something old” was a ring made from a Greek coin with the goddess of hearth and debauchery on it, given to her by her mother. The bottom of Jean’s shoes were appliqued with blue rhinestones saying, “I Do”, and her jewelry and hair comb were new presents from her soon-to-be hubby.

Everyone danced and celebrated long into the night, creating the magical good time, full of love and laughter, that the couple had been hoping for. You can see the energy bursting from the party pictures below, which are like none we’ve ever seen before. Great job to photographers Ben Chrisman and Erin Reed for capturing all the fun!

The pros: To learn about all of the wedding professionals who helped make this wedding a reality please visit our Real Weddings Section.

Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us Jean and Michael! We are totally inspired by your joy!

If you’re planning a Seattle or Southern California wedding, don’t miss our trusted Plan Your Wedding Hotlist featuring the most talented and passionate wedding professionals available!

Despite a prediction in the Farmer’s Almanac that Grace and Micajah‘s October wedding day would be warm and dry, the newspaper headline on the chilly morning their event was to take place read “Wintery Mix Blasts Asheville!”  But the happy couple chose not to let anything dampen their spirits. “The excitement of finally marrying my best friend outshone the chill bumps!” says Grace. Check out the amazing images from Woodward + Rick Photographers below, for a glimpse into Grace and Micajah’s beautiful outdoor fall wedding.

The Goals: Grace and Micajah wanted their wedding to be a relatively small affair held in a breathtaking outdoor setting, so they chose the beautiful Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The ceremony was originally to take place on a bluff that Grace had fallen in love with, but when the weather didn’t cooperate, it was moved to the Tennis Lawn. There guests could sit under a tent with heaters, shielded from the blustery wind. With all the changes, Grace was grateful to have expert guidance throughout the day. “The best decision was to trust the wedding planners’ advice. By trusting their advice, I was able to feel peace that the day would be beautiful, even though things were not going according to plan. Especially with an outdoor wedding, you just have to go with the flow!”

The Design: Grace and Micajah chose shades of green, white and ivory for their color wedding palette, adding in small pops of violet and blue. Light toned hydrangeas were used everywhere and were complimented with silver and crystal decor accents. The tables were adorned with antique ivory lace table runners and a silver tea service that had belonged to Grace’s grandmother and great-grandmother, and as a finishing touch, lanterns were placed on each table for a romantic and glowing effect.

Grace has always loved letterpress and calligraphy, so for their invitations and paper accessories she chose to have handwritten calligraphy by Eric Self letterpressed onto one hundred percent cotton ivory paper by Nashville printing house Joyner and Hogan. In a personal touch, the invitations for the rehearsal dinner contained a card along with the RSVP, where guests could write down advice for the couple. Grace’s mother-in-law compiled all of the returned cards and put them in Grace and Micajah’s bags for the honeymoon. “We loved sitting by the pool and reading through the advice that people had written.”

The Look: Grace wore a gorgeous lace and tulle dress and caplet from Monique Lhuillier (hiding a pair of long-johns and riding boots under the dress to protect her from the freezing cold weather!) and her bridesmaids were clad in indigo blue chiffon dresses from Jim Hjelm, with custom designed silk shawls by Sheryl Putnam Designs. The groom and his groomsmen were each handsomely attired in classic black tuxedos.

The Moments: Grace shared many sentimental moments with Micajah throughout the day, but one special moment with her father really stands out as well. “As my father walked me through the winding garden trail to the aisle, he looked at me with tears in his eyes (and my father does not typically get emotional) and said, “Best Buddies.” We had been saying that to each other since I was a little girl, and at that moment it was the most sentimental, touching expression a daughter could hear from her father. The emotion of that moment was beautifully captured on camera by Woodward + Rick, and I will cherish that photo forever.”

After plenty of dancing and celebration, the couple exited their reception in a white antique Rolls Royce, and perfect ending to a perfect day!

The Pros: To learn about all of the incredible wedding professionals who helped to make this wedding a reality, please visit our Real Weddings section.  

Thank you so much for sharing your wedding with us Grace and Micajah! What a gorgeous celebration!

If you’re planning a wedding in Southern California or Seattle, don’t miss our trusted Plan Your Wedding Hotlist, and to find your dream wedding photographer for weddings anywhere in the world, be sure to visit our World’s Best Wedding Photographers Hotlist!

It’s almost 2011, can you believe it? And what a past year it’s been! To honor all that’s happened in 2010, this week we’ll be bringing you some of our most popular Real Weddings from throughout the year. We hope you enjoy them just as much the second time around (I know I do)! Then we’ll see you back here on Monday, January 3rd when we’ll be starting the new year off right with our all new Fashion Report featuring the Best Wedding Photos of 2010. Can’t wait!

Today’s Real Wedding is truly a feast for the eyes with its rich colors, stylish details and dramatic photographs by Joy Marie Photography, not to mention, the beautiful couple themselves. Kate and Gil, a vibrant couple with super fun personalities, were married last October in an outdoor ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center, a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles. The bride, an interior designer, infused the entire event with striking jewel tones and stunning flower choices that truly made the evening pop.

The bridesmaids all wore eggplant-hued dresses byJim Hjelm and carried bouquets of green Cymbidium orchids and dark purple calla lilies. Kate herself wore a Simone Carvalli dress, and carried a traditional glass evil-eye for luck and protection. Her “something old” was a sentimental accessory, her grandmother’s wedding band. Standing between two 12-foot Manzaneta trees, dripping with crystals, green orchids and draping moss, the couple recited their vows in a ceremony that incorporated both their Jewish and Catholic faiths, with passages that would truly speak to everyone in attendance. This wedding had no shortage of sentimental moments. When the father-of-the-bride first saw his little girl in all her wedding-day splendor, he burst into tears, and while reciting their vows, Gil let a single tear run down his cheek.

The couple and their guests moved inside for the reception where Kate was able to really play up her dream of combining bright, dramatic wedding colors with the sleek and contemporary feel of the museum and its gray stone architecture. Under pink and white lights, the couple had their first dance to Sade’s By Your Side, which they chose for the truth in symbolism in the words – reminding each other that even at the lowest of lows, they would always stay together. Kate and Gil enjoyed their first dance as though no one else was even in the room, talking about how they excited they were for the rest of their lives!

Thank you so much for sharing your wedding with us Kate and Gil! Gorgeous! For more information about all the professionals who contributed to this wedding, be sure to visit our Real Weddings library. 

Don’t forget, for help planning your own Southern California or Seattle wedding, check out the trusted recommendations in our Plan Your Wedding hot list!