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Dreamy Botanical Garden Wedding

April 6, 2022 | kailey

A pastel color palette, a tranquil botanical garden venue, and neutral floral arrangements—every element of this dreamy celebration is both simple and significant.  When starting their planning process, Paola and Ana made it clear that they wanted their dream wedding venue to be the main event.  And with canopies of orchid-covered oak trees, lush tropical vegetation, and koi ponds—The Living Sculpture Sanctuary proved to be the perfect magical setting for their botanical garden wedding. 

With the help of wedding planner Rafael Alvarado, this couple was able to bring to life a personality packed celebration that complemented the natural beauty of their garden venue. Their outdoor ceremony featured a wooden arbor adorned with white flowers, sage greenery, and feathery pampas by florist Maja Ribeiro. On top of the show-stopping florals,  twinkling fairy lights, tiki torches, and the cozy stone fireplace added to the romantic vibe of their reception. 

From the sweetest first look to the candid in-between moments, Juladie Ibanez beautifully captured all the emotions as they unfolded. If you love the idea of an outdoor wedding, surrounded by lush foliage and florals, this is one enchanting celebration that you don’t want to miss. 

The Couple:

Paola and Ana

The Wedding:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Remembering What’s Important On Their Wedding Day

The most important piece of advice we have is to enjoy the wedding planning process. Things will not always work out the way you want them to but nothing should damage your experience. The most important thing is starting the rest of your life with the person you love—everything else is extra!

The Living Sculpture Sanctuary Was The Perfect Venue For Their Botanical Garden Wedding

Our venue just screamed to us, it was a beautiful botanical garden with a lot of green, exotic flowers and trees. We also had candles and fire pits everywhere. It was exactly the vibe that we were looking for.

A Beautiful Unity Ceremony

Without a doubt our ceremony was the most beautiful part. To make sure our ceremony was unlike any other, we added a symbolic sand ceremony that was just perfect.

There Was An Instant Connection With Their Photographer Juladie Ibanez

Juladie Ibanez understood our personalities to the core, she made us feel so comfortable during the entire process. I find it so important to connect with the person who is gonna be capturing one of the most important days of your life. She understood what was important to us and made sure to capture every single detail.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Juladie Ibanez Photography 
Event Planning – Rafael Alvarado
Ceremony + Reception Venue – The Living Sculpture Sanctuary
Floral Design – Maja Ribeiro
DJ – Marcel Reina
Rings – Eurogems

 

Congratulations to Paola and Ana on their dreamy botanical garden wedding. And big thanks to Juladie Ibanez for capturing every magical moment packed with personality and inspiration you’ll want to share with your talented team of vendors.  

One of the best parts about planning an LGBTQ+ wedding like Paola and Ana’s, is that you can create new traditions that are all your own. Whether it’s choosing an inclusive wedding venue or choosing complementing wedding attire, plan your day on your terms and what feels the most authentic to the both of you.

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Stunning and Chic Boho Mountaintop Wedding

April 6, 2022 | riley

From the sweeping mountain views and rustic farmland to the whimsical decor and laid-back vibe, Ben and Kasey combined all things ethereal and earthy to create this dreamy boho mountaintop wedding. The couple fully embraced the free-spirited style and made a chic statement with their attire. Kasey wore a strappy bold laced fit-and-flare dress paired with white booties and a beige fedora, while the groom rocked a brown suit and floral tie.

Styled with mismatched layered rugs and clusters of pampas grass with dried and fresh florals arranged by Ashley Polverari, they added a touch of boho flair to their outdoor ceremony. Drawing inspiration from mountain peaks and the surrounding scenic landscape of Geer Tree Farm, the DIY wooden triangle arbor was the perfect backdrop to frame their vows. 

A woven fan seating chart, a copper photo wall, and a macrame mandala backdrop—their tented reception featured more stunning DIY details that stood out. From the adorable dog of honor to the mouth-watering dessert table, you need to see every thoughtful detail captured by Junebug Member Par La Mer Photography. 

The Couple:

Kasey and Ben

The Wedding:

Geer Tree Farm, Griswold, Connecticut, United States

Recommended Reading: Adorable Getting Ready Robes For Your Bridesmaids

Creating A Deeply Personal And Heartfelt Ceremony

We wrote our own vows and had our pastor–whom we are close with–officiate our ceremony. Instead of following a normal script, we also had our parents write a blessing for us for our new marriage. It was also on September 11, so we had our close friend from the Navy host a moment of silence.

Advice For Wedding Planners From The Newlyweds

Embrace your own personal style and set priorities to ensure the things that matter most to you get done first, especially the activities with intricate details. Never lose sight of what the whole day is all about.

Recommended Reading: The Dreamy Unconventional Colorful Suit Roundup

Soaking Up Every Moment Together At Their Boho Mountaintop Wedding

There was a moment after the ceremony when we took off on our own with our photographer and videographer. It was a chance for us to be alone and celebrate the amazing ceremony we just had.

Shop similar hats:

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Par La Mer Photography
Ceremony Venue – Geer Tree Farm
Floral Design – Ashley Polverari
Catering – Matthew’s Catering
Cake – Sweet Cupcasions
DJ – Jock in the Box Entertainment

 

Congratulations to Ben and Kasey on their stunning and chic boho mountaintop wedding. Photographer and Junebug Member Par La Mer Photography truly captured the beauty and emotions of their big day. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world. 

Whether you skip traditional formalities or find creative ways to make them your own, your wedding should be all about embracing your and your partner’s personal style. Find inspiration for your own wedding with these unique wedding ideas you’ve probably never heard of before.

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7 Cool And Casual Wedding Ideas

April 5, 2022 | riley

In case no one has told you—you don’t need to have an over-the-top wedding to create a magical, memorable event. If you and your partner aren’t “the formal kind,” then a cool, casual wedding might be your style.  There’s no template for a true-to-you wedding day, after all. You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Let these casual wedding ideas inspire you to create a laid-back wedding with a cool, unique flair.

Tips + Casual Wedding Ideas

1. Find a Comfortable and Unconventional Venue

Start with your wedding location. If comfortable and relaxed vibes are your goal, think about the places you feel most at home. It might even be your home—or your parent’s backyard, or the lakehouse you’ve spent summer nights for the past 20 years. As a bonus, a memorable location means less decor is needed to create a space that feels like you. 

If your house isn’t quite fit to entertain a group of people, you can rent an Airbnb for an intimate wedding weekend experience that still feels like home. If you’re looking to go a more traditional route, Engine makes reserving hotel room blocks simple, even helping you secure up to 22% off rates you find online.

Questions to Help Determine Your Wedding Location:

  • Where do you enjoy spending time on the weekend? 
  • What’s your favorite restaurant? Is it large enough to accommodate the number of guests you’ll invite?
  • Do you enjoy going to museums or art galleries?
  • If you could move anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • Do you prefer the outdoors, such as a national park, or somewhere indoors?

Recommended Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Wedding Venue

2. Offer Pre-Ceremony Refreshments and Snacks

Welcome cocktails and snacks set the stage for a fun, laid-back time. If you’d prefer to leave the party until after you say “I do,” you can opt for a coffee, lemonade, aqua fresca, or mocktail bar. If you want to support a small local business you love, consider hiring them to organize this for you. 

Blanking on what type of snacks would be best to hold your guests over until the meal?

Here are Some of Our Favorite Wedding Snack Ideas:

  • Charcuterie table – To avoid spreading germs, create individual charcuterie cones 
  • Food truck – Everyone loves a food truck, no matter what kind of food the truck serves. It also makes a great photo-op to entertain guests while they wait
  • Sentimental foods – If you have family or friends who have passed, honor them by creating a table of their favorite foods

3. Utilize Mix and Match Seating

The Danish have created and coined a lifestyle known as “hygge,” which essentially means for something to be cozy and comfortable—to create a welcoming feeling. If that’s exactly the aesthetic that you’re looking for on your special day, consider a mix of chairs, textures, and colors that will provide the perfect element of unexpectedness and coziness. You can do everything from poufs and oversized floor pillows to mismatched vintage chairs, picnic set-ups, and boho lounge areas. 

Shop Our Favorite Floor Pillows:

4. Choose Greenery Over Florals

Lush weddings are popular among couples who enjoy minimalist vibes. Skip floral arrangements and create a fresh, natural feel with greenery. Many couples skip traditional floral arrangements altogether and use a few different textures of greenery or dried flowers for bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony backdrops. Eucalyptus, olive branches, rosemary garlands, and tropical leaves are perennial favorites, but we recommend working with a florist who can recommend seasonal greens and arrange them in a beautiful way.

Junebug Tip: If you want to save money and still want florals or plants for your big day, use BloomsyBox, a flower subscription company. They have colorful dried flowers, plants, bouquets, and more. You choose what you want and get them hand-delivered to your door. They even offer dozens of pre-made bouquets. Junebug readers get 10% off with the code JUNEBUG

5. Serve Comfort Foods

If there’s a common theme that unites casual couples, it’s food. Specifically, comfort food. We’re talking about the kind of meal you get once a week because it’s your thing. Maybe it’s pizza, tacos and margaritas, ramen, or burgers. Whatever it may be, don’t be afraid to treat your guests to it. Not only does it make your wedding more laid back and personalized to you as a couple, but your guests will also get a kick out of the delicious food. And if the idea of a seated dinner or buffet isn’t your style, bring in a food truck or go potluck-style and ask guests to bring a dish of choice. 

6. Host A Brunch Wedding

Speaking of food, if you’re much more breakfast people and you envision your day including cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and mimosas, why not host a brunch wedding? They’re a great way to save money, and they also give you the chance to tie the knot in the venue of your dreams if it’s booked up on the date that you always wanted. Plus who doesn’t love breakfast food? And saying “I do” earlier means that you can jet off to your honeymoon that same day.

Recommended Reading: Brunch Wedding Ideas for the Early Birds & Breakfast Lovers

7. Play Games During Your Reception

If you’re hosting your wedding outdoors, add some lawn games to keep guests entertained and allow them to mingle if they don’t know one another very well. From corn hole to giant Jenga to ring toss, there’s a wide variety of nostalgic games that you can play. The best part is that there are so many customized options out there that you can keep long after the wedding that will remind you of one of the most important days of your life every time you play.

Your wedding day should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. We hope these casual wedding ideas have inspired you to stay true to yourselves and ditch the formal wedding if it doesn’t feel true to who you are. But, don’t forget, even laid-back couples can benefit from expert planning and coordination. In need of a wedding planner who will help your day run seamlessly? Let our hand-picked professional wedding planners guide you through the process so you can enjoy every minute of your special day. 

Sponsors
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