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Cozy and Classy California Backyard Wedding

January 6, 2022 | riley

Cozy, classy, and moody vibes are what this California backyard wedding was made of. Brittney and Jeff made the most of their nuptials in Brittney’s childhood home. Meanwhile, their vendors made the most of the home by transforming it into a beautifully cozy venue. If you didn’t know this was a backyard wedding, you’d think it was a full-time venue! The gorgeous views of the California hills work perfectly with the dark and moody color palette the couple chose for their day. 

Everything about their wedding was intentional and full of love. Starting with the Chinese Tea Ceremony to honor Jeff’s late mother and finishing with an epic scene on the dance floor, the emotions run high through this wedding. But don’t just take our word for it. These images from Brogen Jessup tell their story perfectly. 

The Couple:

Brittney and Jeff

The Wedding:

San Diego, California

How They Chose Their Intimate Venue

My childhood home has always been where our family gathers for holidays, big milestones, and of course casual family dinners. Given the unprecedented times, we knew we were going to have an intimate wedding so thankfully my parents opened their home and we created some magic. I love being able to reflect on the beautiful memories every time I’m home.

Why They’re Proud of Their California Backyard Wedding

Our wedding might have looked different than we had originally thought but in the end, I look back and I don’t feel like we had to sacrifice anything that was truly important to us. I’m proud that we were able to create an atmosphere that felt safe to celebrate with our nearest and dearest while also planning a wedding that felt genuine, personal, and full of laughter and love.

Important Wedding Planning Advice

Our biggest advice for couples everywhere is to invest in a wedding planner. Erica made the planning process stress-free, fun, and enjoyable. She understood our vision and translated it beautifully to the wedding of our dreams. Even from our initial call, I knew I was in great hands.

The Most Memorable Part of the Day

Getting stood up by our Uber driver an hour before our ceremony and having to call our wedding planner for a ride probably takes the cake as the most memorable part of the day! We took all of our bride and groom photos before the ceremony, we had just finished at the canyon and assured our photographer and videographer we were waiting on our scheduled ride so they could go. Then we walked down to meet them and minutes later we realized the Uber black we scheduled canceled on us! After some initial anxiety, laughs, getting congratulations honks and well wishes by passing cars, our wedding planner’s assistant picked us up. I laugh every time we visit my parents and pass by that street corner. 

Some Extra Special DIY Touches

I’m not a crafty person at all, but luckily my cousin (and matron of honor) can DIY basically anything. I came across a photo of these beautiful place-cards that incorporated dried florals arranged on a floral twine circle with delicate script names. Then I couldn’t get them out of my mind so one weekend we all met at my parent’s house and had a crafting party. They turned out great and it was a beautiful keepsake our guests could take home.

Opting Out Of The Traditional Wedding Cake

​​In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, Jeff and I decided to serve pineapple buns from our favorite local bakery in San Francisco. They are our favorite weekend sweet treat and we knew they would be a hit with our guests.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Brogen Jessup
Event Planning – Fawn Events
Floral Design – Joy of Bloom
Catering – Hardware House Kitchen
Videography – Films by Madeleine
Wedding Dress – Sarah Seven via The Dress Theory
Groom’s Apparel – Suit Supply
Signage – Velvet Fox Designs
Tabletop – Hostess Haven
Rentals – Archive Rentals & Abbey Party Rentals
Bar – LA Speakeasy
Lighting – Brilliant Event Lighting

 

Congratulations to Brittney and Jeff on their cozy and classy California backyard wedding! Special thanks to Fawn Events for sharing this wedding with us. To get started planning your own backyard wedding of your dreams, visit our planning guide.

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Moody And Romantic Iceland Seaside Elopement

January 5, 2022 | riley

Since the pandemic hit, more couples are opting to travel the world for a once-in-a-lifetime elopement in a faraway destination. After falling in love with the idea of tying the knot in the land of fire and ice, Ariel and Vic tied the knot in an intimate Iceland seaside elopement. Oh, and did we mention they flew over 18 hours from Hong Kong to get there?!

Their special day was complete with a ceremony with waterfall views–a location that they picked the day of the wedding–zoom calls with family members, and moody portraits taken by Junebug photographer Sunday & White on the foggy coastline. So if you’re considering ditching the idea of a big wedding idea and eloping in your dream city or country, you’re going to want to see this. Just have those passports ready because you’re going to want to book those flights.

The Couple:

Ariel and Vic

The Wedding:

Kvernufoss, Vik, Iceland

A Memorable Drive On The Morning Of The Iceland Seaside Elopement

The most memorable part of the day was driving two hours back and forth from our hotel to the District Commissioners Office to submit the hard copies of our marriage documents. This happened on the morning of our wedding! It was an extremely tight schedule, and my partner and I were rushing a lot during the few hours before our ceremony. Strangely enough, it was also very exciting, and I am so glad that I had her by my side and we managed this together. We also only decided on the location of the ceremony a few hours beforehand. My partner and I drove there in the morning to scope out the location as we had never visited it before. And when we saw it, we just knew this was the place. That was a very special moment for us.

Tying The Knot During A Pandemic

Getting married during COVID is a truly challenging but also very memorable time. We tried to prepare as much as we could but also embraced the idea of the process being quite unpredictable. There was constantly an element of “winging it,” especially during the pandemic, in addition to Iceland being well known for having very unpredictable weather. We only decided on our wedding location on the day of our wedding!

Exploring Iceland After A Long Trip

I am so proud that my partner and I managed to plan our trip and get married during the pandemic. We flew all the way from Hong Kong to Iceland, which is a country neither of us had visited before. We got married in front of a waterfall, then went on our honeymoon touring the rest of Iceland for two weeks. It was short but sweet, and we had some hiccups along the way, but at the end of the day, it’s being able to overcome the little obstacles that make the whole process so memorable.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sunday & White

 

Congratulations Ariel and Vic, on their Iceland seaside elopement! We’re so thankful that Junebug photographer Sunday & White was there to capture the intimate moments of their special day. See more of their work in our collection of wedding professionals from around the world.

If you’re planning your own elopement, be sure to check out this checklist that will ensure that you have everything needed for your intimate “I do’s.”

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Beautiful and Intentional Outdoor Vermont Wedding

January 3, 2022 | riley

If you’ve found yourself planning a wedding in the midst of the pandemic, you know how stressful it can be to bounce back and forth between guest lists and restrictions in your area—all while keeping your guests’ safety and your celebration in mind. With the help of their wedding planner, Katie and Carson managed to pull their outdoor Vermont wedding together with a gorgeous moody style. 

The scenic and naturally beautiful venue is owned by the family so it was an easy solution that provided the perfect foliage to compliment their incredible decor and florals. 

Don’t get us started on the vibes brought into their outdoor reception tent or we’ll never shut up about the perfect balance of elegant boho and stylish industrial chic. Keep scrolling for the images captured by Peach Plum Pear Photo to see what we mean!

The Couple:

Katie and Carson

The Wedding:

Leicester, Vermont, United States

How They Choose Their Outdoor Vermont Wedding Venue

I grew up going up to Vermont in the winters to ski and knew that I loved that area during the chillier months. My family owns a property that was originally a Catholic boy’s camp in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The property is everything you could imagine for a wedding venue—scenic and naturally beautiful, enchanting, and the perfect size for our guest count. We also thought it would be a great place to host guests during the pandemic, and that people would feel safe with the Vermont COVID restrictions and the ample outdoor space. 

Proud of their Wedding

I’m so proud of creating the wedding of my dreams even during these crazy times. Looking back, we wouldn’t change a thing—even if times were different. Carson and I knew that the process would be challenging. We knew that we’d have to make adjustments and sacrifices for the health and safety of all of our guests. Our wedding was spectacular because we were able to focus on making each element a beautiful reflection of us. Ultimately, our lower guest count and intimate setting helped us achieve exactly what we envisioned. 

 

Beautifully Memorable Moments With Katie’s Son

Aside from exchanging our own personal vows, the most memorable and beautiful moment was Katie’s preteen son, Cole, and her brother playing guitar and bass for the guests before and during the wedding ceremony. Carson and I wanted Cole to be involved and to feel like this was a special day for us and him as well. Cole and Ben practiced for weeks leading up to the wedding and learned three songs that we requested for them to play at the ceremony. They did a beautiful job playing “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish, “Everybody” by Mac Miller, and “D’yer Mak’er” by Led Zeppelin. Cole also stood with Carson during the ceremony and presented him with the rings. It was so special to have him be such a big part of our day.

Wedding Planning Advice

The most important piece of advice we can share is to find a wedding planner and event designer that you know and like. Then put your trust in them. Let them lead you in the right direction, sit back, and enjoy the process. You’ll never be able to control it all so accept that and be fluid in terms of what could come up and what could change. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Peach Plum Pear Photo
Event Planning – Sara Rea Design
Floral Design – Devon and Pinkett
Catering + Cake – Cafe Provence
DJ – East Coast Entertainment
Invitation Design – The Papery of Philadelphia
Makeup Artist – Hillary Fay Studios
Hair Styling – Hillary Fay Studios
Wedding Dress – Flora Bridal
Groom’s Apparel – Hockerty Mens Suits
Rentals – Sperry Tents

 

Congratulations to Katie and Carson on their gorgeous and intentional outdoor Vermont wedding! Special thanks to Peach Plum Pear Photo for sharing their day with us. If you’re feeling inspired to curate your own intentional day in your property, get started with our backyard wedding guide that will walk you through everything you need to know—and some tips to set your nuptials apart.

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