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Quirky And Vintage-Inspired Salvage One Wedding

September 19, 2022 | justine

After an incredibly thoughtful and romantic proposal, Danny and Marco tied the knot in an intimate gathering. Intending to go all out on their follow-up celebration, it would be an understatement to say that their big day was an absolute blast! From the old brick warehouse venue and eclectic vintage decor to the now viral Lizzie Mcguire-inspired vows—their Salvage One wedding was truly what dreams are made of. 

The two grooms were very intentional with what they included in their celebration. Kicking off the ceremony on a high note, their “beverage bearers” passed out jello shots with “It’s Raining Men” playing in the background. The same lively vibe carried over to the reception that followed. It started with an Easter egg hunt and the chicken dance, and ended with an epic drag queen performance.

From the hilarious polaroid place cards to the late-night nachos (a nod to their first date), the pair filled their day with fun and personalized touches that reflected their journey together. And they pulled it off spectacularly. If you love the idea of weaving your love story into meaningful moments and wedding details, keep reading and scrolling. You’re not going to want to miss these photos by Ann & Kam Photography.

The Couple:

Danny and Marco

The Wedding:

Salvage One, Hubbard St, Chicago, Illinois

Ann & Kam Photography’s  Insights On This Salvage One Wedding

Danny and Marco have been on the same wavelength since the start of their relationship. When Marco offered hockey tickets for one of their first dates, Danny replied jokingly, “I’ll go, but only for the nachos.” Naturally, Marco took matters into his own hands and picked his date up with matching shirts that boasted, “I’m just here for the nachos.” That’s when the two knew that they were the perfect pair. Since they had already tied the knot at an intimate gathering, they focused their efforts this time on creating a high-energy and fun celebration for loved ones who weren’t there the first time. Their second wedding celebration meant lots of laughter, fun energy, and all the nachos you could eat. From the vintage decor and polaroid theme to the embarrassing photo place cards and the Passover celebration Easter egg hunt—every aspect was handcrafted and planned for the ultimate pizzazz. Their vows received national attention from media sources like People Magazine, even eventually connecting the pair with celebrity Hilary Duff after she was mentioned in their viral vow video.

Recommended Reading: 9 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony

Personalizing Their Ceremony With Humor And A Now Viral Lizzie Mcguire-Inspired Vows

The ceremony was a non-stop love-and-laugh-fest. Danny’s Aunt Ali officiated and brought so much joy and laughter through comedic timing and heartfelt memories. Each of our vows was special and reflected our relationship. Of course, Marco’s is extra special now that his part went viral with the theme of Hilary Duff! It’s now even more exciting since it helped us connect with Hilary Duff and get a few mentions, including People, Insider, The Knot, and more. 

Recommended Reading: 6 LGBTQ+ Wedding Fashion Tips

Making Their Guests Feel Extra Special By Including Them In Fun Wedding Details

We asked everyone to “BYOB” or “bring your own brooch”—a reference to Marco’s signature fashion statement. Everyone brought heirlooms, made their own brooches, or showed off a new accessory. It helped connect each other, and many talked about wanting to wear them after the wedding. Everyone had a lot of fun laughing at the place cards, which we designed to look like polaroids, and picked the most embarrassing photos of our guests. 

They DIY’d Almost Every Detail Of Their Salvage One Wedding

Almost every detail was DIY’d. For the ceremony, we designed the programs and made the jello shots that were passed around. For the reception, we handpicked the most embarrassing photos of our friends and family and made them into polaroid place cards. We also designed all the signage, including the polaroids of us drinking cocktails, and made the name labels for the fans and egg inserts. Marco sells antiques at Eye Spy Antiques, so we used some merchandise for our tables and some of our own. Lastly, we made a custom golden fan for whoever found the golden matzoh as per Passover tradition.  

Shop Similar Custom Fans: 1. Custom Clacker Fan 2. Custom Text Hand Fan 3. Custom Full Color Fan

Honoring The Memory Of Danny’s Mom Through A Heartfelt Speech And A Glitter Toast

Marco gave a beautiful speech recognizing Danny’s mom–who passed away six years ago–ending in the glitter toast where everyone sprinkled glitter on the table. We had everyone continue her tradition of adding glitter to tables, including packs of custom glitter with all the name tags.

Recommended Reading: How To Plan A Unique Wedding

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Ann & Kam Photography
Event Planning – A Fresh Event
Venue – Salvage One
Floral Design – Elena’s Garden
Catering – Catering by Michaels
Cake – Alliance Bakery
Drag Queens – Alexis Bevels + Darby Lynn Cartwright
Live Music – Chicago Catz
Invitation Design – Steracle Press
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Bianca Sansosti Artistry
Grooms’ Apparel – Adrian Park Custom Suits
Antique Centerpieces – Eye Spy Antiques
Phone Booth – After the Tone
Transportation – Signature Transportation
Valet – VIP Valet

 

Congratulations to Danny and Marco on their quirky and vintage-inspired Salvage One wedding. And big thanks to Ann & Kam Photography for capturing every detail of their personality-filled celebration—the perfect embodiment of their fun and fabulous vibe.

Adding personal touches are essential to creating a unique and memorable wedding experience. So make your big day all about you and your partner down to the last detail. Whether you want an over-the-top affair or prefer to keep it low-key, check out our guide to help you put a personal stamp on your wedding day.

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Cozy Yarra Valley Estate Wedding

September 18, 2022 | justine

When Hilary and David started planning their big day, they wanted to ensure their guests would have the best time ever. So the pair set out to create a memorable celebration with their loved ones by recreating moments from their relationship that have brought them the most joy. Set in a picturesque countryside venue, with stunning floral arrangements in a vibrant color palette and an elegant yet laid-back vibe—their Yarra Valley Estate wedding was as gorgeous as it was unique.

The two tied the knot in the iconic open-air chapel with magnificent mountain views and thick bushland as a backdrop. And in a playful twist, they played a game of rock-paper-scissors to determine who should say their vows first. But the fun didn’t stop there. After the ceremony, they added a competitive edge to their cocktail hour with lawn games. The party continued throughout the evening at the reception, which featured a pallet wood wall adorned with blooms and a custom neon sign, and fairy lights across the ceiling. It was the perfect cozy setting for a night of speeches, dancing, and ice cream. 

From the music arranged by the groom himself to the surprise magician, the couple injected personality and thought into every aspect of their big day–making it an unforgettable experience that their loved ones will talk about for years to come. Get to know their love story up close by scrolling through these beautiful photographs captured by Niki McCrone. 

The Couple:

Hilary and David

The Wedding:

Yarra Valley Estate, Dixon Street, Victoria, Australia

Their Yarra Valley Estate Wedding Ceremony Incorporated How The Couple Met

We met playing cello in an orchestra, so we had our fellow cellist friends from the orchestra play the music at the ceremony. Walking down to the chapel and hearing the beautiful music that played on the night we met was very special. During the ceremony, our story was told by friends and family who have witnessed our relationship over the years. And in true Hilary and David style, we rock-paper-scissored it for who would go first speaking their vows. The ceremony hit the sweet spot of “just long enough” without being boring and cringe-worthy. There were tears, smiles, and plenty of laughs—so wonderfully us!

Personalizing Their Ceremony With Music Arranged By The Groom Himself

We didn’t tell anyone who was playing the music for the ceremony. David’s aunt is the conductor of the orchestra. We especially wanted to surprise her and his musical family with the orchestra connection. Music for four cellos is not common, so David had to arrange all of the music himself. This secret plan went well until, three days before the wedding, one of the cellists had to bow out with COVID. So during a committee meeting for the orchestra, David rearranged all of the music for three cellos. The surprise came off beautifully and is now another story to add to the orchestra’s history.

Their Yarra Valley Estate Wedding Perfectly Embodied The Couple’s Fun Personalities

Hilary’s mum posted some photos a couple of days later with the caption “A Weekend Party with Some Vows in the Middle.” It perfectly captured how we wanted our wedding to be remembered. We wanted absolute control to have our day the way we wanted. We are so proud that people are still commenting on how much fun they had and how “us” our wedding was. 

 

Surprising Their Guests With A Roving Magician

We had our friends supply lawn games. These were games that we played with our friends during our relationship and have great memories of. It also meant that our friends could get the party going, bringing people together. We also had a roving magician for cocktail hour. It was a wonderful surprise for our guests, who initially thought he was another friend until he started pulling out some incredible magic tricks! It was a great icebreaker and conversation starter for our guests during what can sometimes be a bit of a lull between the ceremony and reception.

A Custom Neon Sign Made By The Bride’s Brother

We had Hilary’s brother design a custom neon sign for the reception space, which was a surprise until we walked in for dinner. He did a great job designing it, taking inspiration from our engagement announcement. It was very personal.

Recommended Reading: How To Honor Passed Loved Ones At A Wedding

Shop Similar Custom Neon Sign: 1. Design Your Own Neon Sign 2.Wedding Neon Sign Custom Wall Decor  3. Custom Made Neon Sign

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Nikki McCrone
Venue – Yarra Valley Estate
Floral Design – Pomp and Splendour
Gelato – Vanilla & Co.
Officiant – Steven Veenstra
Live Music – Baker Boys Band
Magician – Luke Hocking
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Inèz
Wedding Dress – Rebecca Vallance
Bridal Accessories – Carte Blanche Bride
Groom’s Apparel – Menzclub
Groom’s Accessories – Otaa
Rings – Cushla Whiting

 

Congratulations to Hilary and David on their cozy Yarra Valley Estate wedding. And big thanks to Niki McCrone for perfectly capturing the couple’s fun and joyful personalities.

More and more couples choose to customize their big day for an authentic wedding experience. But coming up with unique ideas can be a daunting task. Draw inspiration as you plan your dream day by using our guide on making your wedding look and feel special and one-of-a-kind. 

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Colorful Surprise Backyard Wedding

September 17, 2022 | justine

Meg and Vinee love to do things differently. And when it came to planning their wedding, ditching tradition and putting their own spin on things came naturally. To kick off their wedding day in a creative way, the pair invited their closest loved ones to a “surprise proposal party.” Only when their guests showed up, they found themselves at a surprise backyard wedding instead. It was an exciting and beautiful affair, and the couple pulled it off fabulously! Besides the surprise element, their big day featured a boho-chic aesthetic—from the stunning florals and decor in dreamy tones to the laid-back and ethereal wedding fashion. 

The lovebirds kicked off their day with private emotional vows, sitting on their front porch and crying their eyes out. They then shared the same heartfelt promises at their poolside sunset ceremony that followed. Their talented vendors transformed their beloved friends’ backyard with elegant wood furnishings, Moroccan-style rugs, and spectacular arrangements of fresh blooms and dried foliage. Balloon installations were a fun touch, while the string lights and star lanterns amped up the romance. 

On top of everything else, the couple kept the vibe carefree and chic with their wedding attire. The barefoot bride stunned in her bandeau top and skirt duo with statement sleeves.  Meanwhile, the groom was stylishly cool in his tan-colored suit. And true to form, they ended the day in an epic way by literally taking the plunge in their wedding garb. If Meg and Vinee’s surprise soiree sounds thrilling, scroll through these beautiful photographs captured by Junebug member J. Olson Weddings. This backyard wedding is packed with inspiration to pull off a memorable surprise celebration.

The Couple:

Meg + Vinee

The Wedding:

Bentonville, Arkansas

A Gifted Maple Tree To Grow With Their Marriage

I have an extreme propensity for trees, and spending time outdoors is a big way we connect. Vinee bought us a marriage maple tree to plant in our yard to grow and change in our continued seasons with us. I cried when he showed it to me. It felt so meaningful and perfect. We have big plans to plant a tree for each of our children, too. I had also gifted Vinee a travel journal to track our road trips in our first year of dating. I forgot about it, but Vinee kept it and continued to log every trip. He gave me this written history of our time together on our wedding day. I cried at that, too.

Getting Ready Together And Sharing Private Vows Were The Most Memorable Moments

We both make sense of things through words, and as I was writing my vows, it felt so inauthentic to read these to Vinee in front of everyone. So, we opted first to share our vows privately, sitting on our porch. This was my favorite part of the day. In true form, Vinee wrote the most beautiful and precise vows in a paragraph or two, and I went on for several pages. We both cried our eyes out. It’s exactly what we needed it to be, to first share those words with each other and then again later in the ceremony with the love and support of our people. 

Personalizing Their Wedding With A Unique Unity Ceremony And Meaningful Wedding Favors

I love creating and giving gifts, so this was a fun one for me. We called these the “Bird by Bird” boxes, pointing to our favorite phrase by Anne Lamott and our unity ceremony that included the threading together of origami birds. At each place setting, our guests had a box with their own disposable camera to document the night, a bottle of our favorite hot sauce, a cocktail kit to create a “Hummingbird,” and a Spotify playlist Vinee created of songs significant to our relationship.

Proud Of Having Pulled Off A Surprise Backyard Wedding

We knew that it would be fun and meaningful no matter what, but pulling off the surprise itself was pretty incredible. We’re proud of ourselves for keeping each other centered and doing things our way. We picked up every piece of a traditional wedding, examined it, and asked ourselves if it was what we needed. We kept what served us and omitted what didn’t, creating a truly authentic day meant for us and no one else

Advice From The Newlyweds: Remember It’s Your Special Day

If you’re planning a wedding, remember that it’s your day and no one else’s. Figure out what’s important to you, start there, and make all decisions accordingly. For us, the priorities were the ceremony, the photos, the songs, the poems, and the small guest list. Lastly, time flies by so fast, so savor each moment. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Josh Olson Weddings
Floral Design – Samantha’s Garden
Catering – Yeyo’s
Dessert – Burton’s Creamery + Arsagas
Bar + Signature Cocktail – Puritan Coffee and Beer
DJ – Uniq Productions
Videography – Pragma Production
Makeup Artist – Ashley Gregory Beauty
Wedding Dress – Bride KC
Bridal Accessories – Joon Bridal
Dried Flower Bouquet + Hat Crown – Remi and Gold
Groom’s Apparel – Sandro Paris
Groom’s Shoes – Sabah Shoes
Rings – Digby and Iona
Rentals – SB Events
Transportation – Pinnacle Transportation

 

Congratulations to Meg and Vinee on their colorful surprise backyard wedding. And big thanks to Junebug member J. Olson Weddings for capturing all the great moments and raw emotions that made their day special and unforgettable. To see more of his incredible work, check out his profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!

Forget strict timelines and stuffy traditions! For couples who want something unique and unconventional, a surprise wedding can be an exciting alternative to a traditional bash. It may be nerve-racking to keep things under wraps, but you can successfully pull off the big reveal by having a great team of vendors by your side. 

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings
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