WEDDING BLOG

Romantic Fairytale Estate Wedding

January 14, 2022 | riley

When Regan and Seth started planning their wedding they knew that finding a great venue would be important for them. Then they found their perfect match. This romantic fairytale estate wedding is a neutral toned paradise. It showcases how working with an incredible venue can be the perfect way to alleviate wedding planning stress.

From the over-the-top floral arrangements to the bicycle sparkler exit, this is one estate wedding you won’t want to miss. Keep scrolling to see what we mean in the images expertly captured by Junebug photographer, Wonderstruck Media.

The Couple:

Regan + Seth

The Wedding:

Gassaway Mansion, Greenville, South Carolina, United States

Exchanging Thoughtful Wedding Day Gifts

We exchanged gifts to use on our wedding day. Seth gifted Regan Golden Goose tennis shoes that have “love is all we need” written on them. She wore them during the reception. Regan gifted Seth a pair of Taft boots to wear all night long, too!

Finding the Perfect Venue for a Fairytale Estate Wedding

We fell in love the minute we stepped on-site at the venue. It’s so romantic and dreamy and the venue team provided so much support. The catering, florals, the tent, and decorations were all provided by them. This was a huge stress reliever because we didn’t have to worry about tracking any of it down. Their team was very accommodating and brought our visions to life.

A Fairytale to be Proud of

We’re so proud of the color scheme that we created. The decorations that our venue set up were exactly when we envisioned. It was like living one day a fairytale. When we talk with friends and family about our wedding, everyone talks about how much fun they had. Knowing the people we love most had a great night is the best feeling.

Most Memorable Part of the Day

The most memorable moment was when we locked eyes as Regan walked down the aisle. Time stopped. It was when all of our dreams and plans truly came to life. Then we celebrated by dancing the night away and had the time of our lives. Those memories will never fade.

Their Wedding Planning Advice

Get a wedding planning binder, find an amazing photographer and videographer who know the ins and outs of a wedding day because that knowledge is irreplaceable. Then focus on what you love and how much you love each other. Everything else will fall into place.

Thank Yous Instead of Typical Wedding Favors

We didn’t give out wedding favors. Most venues informed us that favors are often left behind and we wanted to spend our money on something that we knew would be meaningful. So instead we spent the funds typically allocated to favors to buy customized thank you notes that we left on every guest’s plate at their dinner table. It was important to us that our guests knew how grateful we were for each and every one of them being there.

Working With Wonderstruck Media Was the Best

Elizabeth from Wonderstruck Media was amazing! Seriously, there aren’t enough words to express how impressed and grateful we are for Elizabeth. We met prior to the wedding day to determine the schedule, define what pictures we knew we wanted, and talk through other details. She was organized, efficient, friendly, and patient with everyone. She captured every photo we could have dreamt of and then some! We fall in love with our photos all over again every time we look at them. If you are getting married, book her. Do it, like right now.

Use as Many Wedding Desserts as You Can

We opted to do a “naked” wedding cake which means it had less icing and we added doughnuts for decoration because Seth loves doughnuts. We had other little treats too including chocolate chip cookie sandwiches stuffed with fudge, mini raspberry cheesecakes, and lemon bars.

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Wonderstruck Media
Ceremony + Reception Venue + Event Planning + Catering + Floral Design + Rentals – Gassaway Mansion
Live Music – Emerald Empire Band
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Flawless Artistry

Congratulations to Regan and Seth on their seriously romantic fairytale estate wedding! Special thanks to Wonderstruck Media for sharing this special day with us. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our carefully curated wedding vendor directory.

Wedding Capes, Veils, and Trains

January 14, 2022 | riley

Image by The Family Films. See more of this real wedding here

More and more couples are looking for unique ways to spice up their wedding attire. From shorter hemlines to bold shoes to dramatic jewelry, we’ve seen a lot of trends surface in the past year. Some of our favorites include capes, removable trains that turn a wedding dress into two completely different looks, and veils that act as the cherry on top of the beautiful wedding sundae. So, if you’re wanting to zhoosh up your wedding day look, you’ve come to the right place. We’re rounding up our favorite accessories that are sure to make you stand out.

Wedding Capes

One of the easiest ways to transform a dress is to pair it with a cape. From floor-length tulle that adds a whimsical touch to a gown to shorter, beaded options that give off a vintage look, there’s something for every style. We recommend pairing capes with dresses that are more on the simple side. Too much detail layered on top of one another can be distracting and may not photograph very well.

Jenny by Jenny Yoo Tory Cape

BHLDN Adria Cape

Simple Tulle Wedding Cape

Terani Couture Amber Cape

Terani Couture Elodie Cape

Audrey Pearl Topper

BHLDN Kelby Topper

Wedding Veils

Although veils started out as one of the most traditional wedding accessories, they’ve come a long way since then. Even if you consider yourself to be unconventional, there is likely a veil out there that is going to pair with your wedding attire perfectly. From stars to pearls to floral appliques, veils are far from boring these days.

Astile Veil

Rosyn Fingertip Veil

Fela Veil

Amsale Noni Cathedral Veil

A.B. Ellie Roesia Pearl Fingertip Veil

Britt Veil

Carelle Chapel Veil

Silona Birdcage Veil

Wedding Trains

2022 is going to be the year for shorter wedding gowns, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience both long and short! Removable wedding trains are ideal for anyone who wants to wear both a long and short dress on their special day without having to buy two different dresses. They’re also great for anyone who can’t decide between a fitted gown and a ballgown. Wear the train for your ceremony and then remove it for the party for one epic wedding day change.

Detachable Glitter Tulle Overskirt

Lace Detachable Tulle Overskirt

Removable Ruffle Overskirt

Removable Train With Puffy Sleeves

Now that you’ve got your cape, veil, and train picked out, it’s time to move on to jewelry! Check out this minimalist wedding jewelry that matches every wedding style.

Image by Fox and Film Photography. See more of this real wedding here

Picture Perfect $10K Backyard Wedding

January 13, 2022 | riley

ivory light pink sage green

There’s a preconceived notion that says a small wedding budget means that you’re stuck with a boring, simple wedding. Yet that’s far from the case–and Brielle and Max’s $10k backyard wedding is proof of that! With lush greenery serving as their ceremony backdrop and a tented reception, you’d have no idea that their special day cost less than $10,000.

Opting out of a planner, the two relied on Florida’s natural landscaping, and boy did it work. The two exchanged vows in front of a small group of their family and friends before enjoying a seated dinner, an Argentinian BBQ second dinner, a Nothing Bundt Cake cake, and dancing the night away to a Spotify playlist they made together.

Still not convinced that you can have the wedding of your dreams while on a tight budget? Then keep scrolling to see these photos captured beautifully by Junebug Member Light Sky Photography.

The Couple:

Brielle and Max

The Wedding:

Sunrise, Florida

How did you create your wedding budget?

We didn’t have a firm number in mind for the budget, but we knew we didn’t want to break the bank either. Neither one of us like being the center of attention, so we wanted a small, intimate wedding that was beautiful and classic, without a lot of fanfare. We have a ton of friends and family, but COVID protocols meant we got to keep things small–an unexpected silver lining when getting married in pandemic times.

What was your number one priority for your budget?

We weren’t super strict with our budget, but we did have a couple of guidelines we followed. We didn’t want to do something just because “it’s what people do” when it comes to weddings–which is why we opted for our backyard as the venue and why we went with a store-bought Nothing Bundt Cakes instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake. We also didn’t spend money on things if we thought it was wasteful or if we’d regret it later –which is why we went with a faux flower installation for the ceremony site instead of a crazy expensive real floral arrangement that we’d have to throw out the next day.

How did you personalize your ceremony?

We asked Brielle’s brother to be the officiant for the day. It was really nice to have someone who knows us so well stand up for us on our wedding day, and it made the ceremony so much more intimate and personal.

What aspects are you most proud of?

We were most proud of sticking to our guns and hosting the day in our backyard. Some of our friends and family were really encouraging us to secure a venue since they have experience with hosting weddings and take a lot of the planning pressure off of the bride and groom, but we were glad we went the sentimental route. We’ve experienced so many firsts as a couple here, and we liked the idea of bringing everything in so that it was our taste. Plus, nothing beat saying goodbye to guests and climbing into our own bed at the end of the night!

How did you cut costs?

Early on in the planning process, we decided we weren’t really looking to host a wedding dance party, so we decided to skip the DJ. Instead, we got a live pianist for the ceremony portion of our day and relied on a Spotify playlist that we created together to set the vibe through the cocktail hour and dinner. The funny part? Our friends took over Spotify later in the night, and we danced our butts off anyway!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Light Sky Photography
Floral Design – Nery’s Flowers
Catering – The Dancing Palate
Cake – Nothing Bundt Cake
Invitation Design – Minted
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Valunthinee Phuong
Wedding Dress – Essence of Australia via Boca Raton Bridal
Bridal Accessories – Jenny Yoo
Groom’s Apparel – Men’s Warehouse
Rings – VRAI

Congratulations again to Brielle and Max on their $10k backyard wedding! We’re so thankful that Junebug member Light Sky Photography was there to capture the beauty of the day. To see more of their beautiful work, check out their profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the globe. If you’re considering your own backyard “I do’s,” be sure to check out our planning a backyard wedding guide!

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