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Beautiful Outdoor Stone Acres Farm Wedding

December 16, 2021 | riley

When a couple has a clear wedding vision and doesn’t lose sight of the true meaning of their big day, that’s when the magic happens. A beautiful outdoor venue with lush manicured gardens, the perfect weather, thoughtful and personalized details, great food, and a loving atmosphere—Emily and Kim’s Stone Acres Farm wedding was beyond what they had ever hoped it would be.

From the DIY table centerpieces and decor to the touching ceremony to the sweet wedding portraits—the couple added their own spin to make their special day uniquely them. They also chose to let their individual personality shine through their bridal style and they both looked stunning!

If you love romantic portraits and gorgeous garden views, you’re sure to swoon over these images captured by Junebug member Elizabeth Grant from this beautiful outdoor wedding at Stone Acres Farm.

The Couple:

Emily and Kim

The Wedding:

Stone Acres Farm, Stonington, Connecticut

Bringing Their Vision To Life Through Their Stone Acres Farm Wedding

We picked a venue that spoke to us. With its romantic outdoor views and the beautiful florals by Rooted Flowers, many of our guests commented on how they could really feel the love between us. We also loved how awesome our wedding vendors were, how well they worked together, and how they brought our vision to life.

The Most Memorable Part Of The Day

For Emily, the most memorable part of the day was saying my written vows to Kimberly in front of all our family and friends. For Kim, the most memorable part was walking down through the garden towards Emily and then staring into her eyes as we read our vows. The clouds opened up and the sun literally started to shine on us as soon as she said my name. It was absolutely perfect.

A Personalized Ceremony

We actually put together the whole ceremony ourselves. Our Justice of the Peace gave us examples of different ceremony styles. We picked parts from each of them that we liked and pieced them together to make it our own. We also wrote our own vows, which we highly recommend!

DIY Wedding Decor

We made the centerpieces and table numbers for the reception ourselves. For the centerpieces, we used different sized hurricane vases, added a candle, and a small amount of white rocks to each. The table numbers were glass frames where we used clear shellac to add on pressed ferns and greens. The numbers themselves were made with a Cricut. Our seating chart was also DIY, which was two windows hinged together. We added the pressed greens with the shellac and hand-wrote the names of the guests at each table.

Working with Junebug Member Elizabeth Grant Photography

Hiring Elizabeth Grant to capture our special day was one of the best decisions we made. We felt completely at ease knowing she was our photographer. As soon as she showed up, she became Kim’s rock, not only acting as our photographer, but serving in many different roles without skipping a beat. She was fun and made people feel comfortable, in fact, all our guests raved about her and her assistant afterward.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Elizabeth Grant
Venue – Stone Acres Farm
Floral Design – Rooted Flowers
Catering – 85th Day Food Community
DJ – DJ Eddie Ortiz
Live Music – Rosemary Minkler
Makeup Artist – Blush Bridal
Wedding Attire – Love Bird Bridal Shop
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – The Dessy Group
Rings – Michael Szwed Jewelers

 

Congratulations to Emily and Kim on their beautiful outdoor Stone Acres Farm wedding. Big thanks to Elizabeth Grant for capturing all the powerful emotions of the day. The love in the photos is palpable. To see more of Elizabeth’s work, check out her profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!

Just like this wedding, the venue plays a large role in setting the look, feel, and tone of your celebration. Once you have the venue locked down, the process of personalizing your big day becomes a little bit easier. Check out our LGBTQ planning guide to help you create a wedding that authentically reflects your love story.

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Our 11 Favorite Spots in the U.S. for Epic Engagement Photos

December 15, 2021 | kailey

Image by Maya Lora Photo

Deciding to spend forever with your best friend, that’s the easy part. Picking a photo location to kick off your engagement season, that’s where it gets a little more difficult. You want a memorable, intimate, and stunning spot that’ll hold a special place in both of your hearts. And lucky for those in the United States, you don’t have to travel far for engagement photos that go above and beyond. From mountains to beaches, and everything in between—here are our 11 most romantic places for you to nail your engagement photos

11 Spots For Epic Engagement Photos

1. Sedona, Arizona 

The red rock formations, incredible weather, and unique hikes are just a few reasons that Sedona is so special. To kick off your engagement the right way, take full advantage of the natural red rock backdrops for your engagement photos. 

For those that want to avoid hiking, look into Bell Rock or the base of Cathedral Rock. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, take on the Devil’s Bridge or Cathedral Rock hikes. You’ll be met with some of the most stunning views when you reach the top—trust us! 

2. Big Sur, California 

A mountain, beach, or waterfall engagement session—why choose one when you could have all three? Big Sur is one of the most beautiful coastlines located off the famous Pacific Coast Highway. The drive to get there is stunning and you’re guaranteed to be met with incredible cliffside ocean views upon arrival. 

3. Joshua Tree, California 

The rigid, neutral rock landscape of Joshua Tree National Park is not what you typically picture when you think of California. That’s what makes this spot the hidden gem of the west coast. Whether you climb the towering rock formations or snap pictures with the bristled Joshua trees, there are sure to be an endless amount of secluded locations that’ll make your engagement photos stand apart. 

4. Cannon Beach, Oregon 

Named one of the most beautiful places in the world by National Geographic, Cannon Beach was a necessary addition to our list. This small town is located on the rigid Oregon coast and is known for their recognizable landmark, Haystack Rock—a breathtaking backdrop worthy of commemorating a love as special as yours. After completing your engagement session, pop some celebratory champagne and cozy up for a beach bonfire. 

5. Acadia National Park, Maine 

Spring, summer, fall, or winter—there really is no bad time to snap engagement photos in Acadia National Park. The best part about this location is the variety of trail options, allowing you to customize your session to the max. 

Want a lakefront photoshoot? Jordan Pond is your place. If you’re searching for mountain top views without the treacherous hike, try out Bubble Rock trail. This easy-to-moderate pathway leads you to the perfect mountain-top spot for a golden-hour session. 

6. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

From wildflower fields in spring to snow-capped mountains in winter, Rocky Mountain National Park is filled with stunning views all year long. For couples that want to avoid hiking, we recommend Lake Lily Loop or driving the Trail Ridge Road—also called the “highway in the sky”, because it’s the highest paved road in the U.S. 

If you’re wanting a more adventurous feel for your epic engagement photos, Dream Lake is your place. Pose in front of the lake with Hallett Peak towering in the background.

7. Pictured Rocks National Park, Michigan

Pictured Rocks National Park is not quite what you’d imagine when you picture the midwest which makes it Michigan’s top hidden gem. From the rigid coastline filled with trees to the crystal blue water, this national park gives us major Cliff of Moher vibes. 

Plus, we can’t think of a better way to kick off your engagement season than capturing photos with Lovers Leap in the background—sounds like good luck to us! 

8. Central Park, New York 

Central Park is the perfect balance of both city and nature vibes. Not to mention it’s a picture perfect location all year round. So whether you’re dreaming of fall foliage with the New York City skyline in the background or a winter wonderland, you’re sure to get it here. Our favorite spots include the Bow Bridge, The Lake, and Bethesda Terrace. 

9. Bonneville Salt Flats

Located in the northwestern Utah region the Bonneville Salt Flats are a perfect neutral background because it’s a white salt crust stretching as far as the eye can see. This sandy landscape is unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else in the world, making it a prime engagement photo location. 

10. Yosemite National Park, California 

Spring, summer, fall, and winter—the Yosemite National Park is fit for engagement photos all year round. This national park is packed with views that can easily be accessed by couples regardless of hiking experience. For an easily accessible location without sacrificing epic views, Cook’s Meadow is the spot for you. It’s the perfect spot for those incredible Half Dome views. If you’re looking to add a bit of adventure to your session, hike up to the iconic ledge at Taft Point. You’ll be glad you did.

Image by Maya Lora Photo.

11. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado 

When you picture Colorado, odds are you picture a rocky mountain landscape. If that’s true for you, then the Great Sand Dunes National Park will throw you for a curve. Located in southern  Colorado you’ll find sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can go. The soft neutral landscape makes for an ideal engagement photo backdrop—you’re the main focus without sacrificing epic views. 

When you get your epic engagement photos back from your talented photographer, you’ll want to share them with everyone. After pasting them all over your social media platforms it’s time to get your save the dates in the works. To make your decision easy, we’ve rounded up fun and unique save the date options to announce your wedding in style.

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Outdoor Las Vegas Micro Wedding

December 15, 2021 | riley

Having a micro wedding with your absolute closest friends and family will mean you have more time to spend with each one of them. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get a little creative with the wedding portraits. That’s how Morgan and Matthew knew that an outdoor Las Vegas micro wedding was right for them. They didn’t want their day to be a blur—they wanted to savor every moment completely focused on each other and to celebrate it with just a select few guests

Las Vegas is an epic wedding spot and a fantasy getaway city. To set the tone for their big day, the couple chose the Neon Museum.  They knew it was a fun and quirky venue and it had the intimate vibe that they wanted for their wedding day. 

Spectacular views of Red Rock and The Strip, a unique and iconic venue, and a wild romance—this Las Vegas micro wedding may exactly be what you need to spark inspiration for your own big day! Keep scrolling to see all of the playfully romantic images captured by Brittany Loeffelholz.

The Couple:

Morgan and Matthew

The Wedding:

Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada

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The Perfect Las Vegas Micro Wedding

We chose the Neon Museum because it had a Vegas feel with the old neon signs and it was still very intimate. We wanted a space that was unique and outdoor. We didn’t want to feel stuffy inside of a little white chapel and didn’t want all the commotion of the Vegas strip. We had the Gallery all to ourselves and it ended up being the perfect location.

The Most Memorable Part Of The Day

The whole day was magical! Standing up in front of all of our loved ones was by far my favorite part. It was the start of our future together and I’ll forever hold those moments dear to my heart. It felt like we were the only ones in the room just looking into each other’s eyes. Walking up to him just gave me the biggest rush of happiness.

Wedding Planning Advice From The Newlyweds

Our best advice is to be true to who you are. We did a mix of traditional and non-traditional things for our wedding. We took some advice from others but we stuck true to what we wanted. Don’t get too caught up with staying on schedule or worrying about what you have to do next. Make sure to enjoy the day and soak up all the little moments with you and your spouse. The most important thing to remember is at the end of the day all that matters is you get to marry your person!

Working With Brittany Loeffelholz Photography

Our photographer Brittany was an absolute dream to work with. She really took the time to listen to our vision. She helped pick out all of our locations, planned for everything, and helped us stay on time. I never had to worry about getting to our next location. I thought I would feel awkward and not know how to pose, but Brittany made us feel so comfortable. It’s like we’ve known her for years. She helped direct us so we looked like pros out there. She’s honestly the best hype girl I’ve ever met. Brittany made us feel our absolute best.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Brittany Lo
Venue – Neon Museum
Floral Design – Mauloa Floral Design
Officiant – Diana Moran
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Paper Bag Beauty
Wedding Dress – Arc Bridal Omaha
Groom’s Apparel – Emsuds Clothiers
Rings – Sartor Hamann Jewelers
Flower Preservation – Little Lo Floral

 

Congratulations to Morgan and Matthew on their outdoor Las Vegas micro wedding. From playful and fun to dramatic and romantic, Brittany Loeffelholz beautifully captured all the unforgettable moments!

Your wedding should be about celebrating your love story and not worrying about endless logistics. By keeping your guest list small and working with the right wedding pros, you’ll have more time to focus on wedding moments that truly matter to you and your partner. 

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