WEDDING BLOG

Snowy Fall Festival-Themed Wedding at Mt. Ashland Ski Area

December 7, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

One look at this wedding celebration and you will be running to your nearest snow-capped mountains. There are so many couples nowadays that are forgoing wedding traditions and making their own nuptials much more personalized. For Hannah and Kevin, they truly made this Mt. Ashland wedding their own.

This adventure loving couple exchanged their I do’s on top of a mountain surrounded by incredible shades of greenery that had been kissed by the snow. Whether it was a chic white fur coat, bold blue ornate boots, a dressed-up snowmobile ride, or the matching winter hats, this wedding was anything but ordinary. Keep on scrolling to see how photographer, and Junebug member, Kami Olavarria captured this snowy fall-festival themed wedding.

The Couple:
Hannah and Kevin

The Wedding:
Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Ashland, OR

Making The Mt. Ashland Wedding Ceremony More Personalized

My husband and I wrote letters to each other that we read aloud during our first look. We then recited vows during the ceremony that my brother officiated. It was super special to have my brother there, even after he drove over 14 hours straight from Alaska to make it to the wedding in time.

Wedding Fashion With Faux Fur And Bolo Ties

During the ceremony, I wore a Free People faux fur jacket. The tassels really added a fun flair. I wanted something fun and unique and I loved how timeless it felt. After that, I changed into a gold jumpsuit to dance the night away. The bridal party wore mismatched jewel tones; some patterned, some plain. We wanted our bridal party to wear things they were comfortable in and would wear again in the future. We made all the groomsmen custom bolo ties in our shop. Each one was special to the individual groomsman.

Working with Kami Olavarria

Kami was super detailed and he paid close attention to the timeline and helped me make adjustments so that things would run much smoother—things that I didn’t even think about! Kami gave us such great energy and kept everyone in the mood for family photos and bridal party shots, even in the middle of a snowstorm. She really advocated for Kevin and I and what we wanted during our wedding day and was our biggest fan during the wedding planning process as well.

Wedding Advice From the Bride

Don’t worry too much about traditions, or the finest details. We focused more on creating a vibe than about any one specific detail. Also, invest in the vendors you believe in. Wedding cost adds up fast, but having Kami, our band, and our other solid vendors are truly what made our day as epic as it was! It wouldn’t have been the same, stress-free day without our vendor team.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Kami Olavarria
Ceremony & Reception Venue – Mt. Ashland Ski Area
Catering – CABA Empanadas and Angel Farms
Live Music – The Brothers Reed
Videography – Savage Winds
Invitation Design – Micah Kilimann
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Napili Gaston
Wedding Dress – David’s Bridal
Transportation – Noah’s Whitewater Adventures
Rings – Gold & Gems, Schilling Woodwerx

Huge congratulations to Hannah and Kevin on their gorgeous winter wonderland Mt. Ashland wedding. Major shoutout to Junebug member and photographer Kami Olavarria for both capturing and sharing this gorgeous ceremony with us. Check out more of Kami’s work in her profile in our photographer directory!

Glamorous Wedding Inspiration Featuring An All Black Vendor Team

December 6, 2020 | riley

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Here at Junebug, we’re usually the ones doing all of the gushing about the real weddings we receive. Today we thought we’d do something a little different. This styled shoot, put together by Ma Cherie Bleue, was organized as a symbol of equality. With the reckoning of equality taking place worldwide, the talented team of vendors wanted to come together to prove that love is about just that–love. Regardless of race, religion, or sexuality, love always prevails.

So rather than listen to us, we want to share what Nathale Philips of Ma Cherie Bleue had to say about the shoot. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Nathale Phillips Of Ma Cherie Bleue On Their Why

Why did we decide to have this photoshoot? Because love has no color, ethnicity, or religious belief. Love is the deepest and most passionate sentiment. Humans create boundaries, while love breaks them.

We embraced the “The Love in the City” project to support the Black lives matter movement. We have always felt that the wedding industry needed to be inclusive and demonstrate diversity.

While 2020 has been challenging in many ways, it importantly taught us that racial discrimination of any kind will no longer be tolerated. What better way to showcase this commitment than aligning a team of artists and professionals from the Black community and allowing them to show the beauty and talent?

The gorgeous couple was captured making their way through beautiful Old Montreal. We chose a real-life couple as models, and their love was tangible through our photographer’s lens. We want to thank everyone who contributed to making this project possible. Special thanks to Hayley Paige and the team at Elegant Wedding, who supported us, who believe in inclusivity, and stand with us in saying: “Black lives matter.”

How The Look And Feel Were Decided

The shoot took place in old Montreal to bring together an urban look and rustic feel. The gorgeous William Grey Hotel provided the backdrop. With fall at our doorsteps, we thought we could emphasize the scene by setting up a chic table with modern touches. We used fall colors such as orange and black, with a gorgeous pampas grass tree as the centerpiece.

Recommended Reading: 31+ Stylish Face Masks For Your Wedding

Variety In The Bridal Fashion

Variety is the spice of life, which is why we selected four different Hayley Paige wedding gowns for the beautiful bride. Each dress reflected a style–modern, classic, elegant, and fun/casual with the 2-in-1 gown that transitions from long to short dress for party time. With the change of the times, we even incorporated the face mask.

The Talented Team:

Photography – Lacherie Photography
Event Planning – Ma Chérie Bleue Bridal
Project Coordinator – Marilyn Signature Events + Elegant Wedding Magazine
Reception Venue – Hotel William Grey
Floral Design – Lelili Fleurs
Cake – Vanessa Joseph Creations
Videography – First Class Pictures
Invitation Design – XKIZ
Makeup Artist – Gabbie McGuire
Hair Styling – As God Made Me
Wedding Dress – Hayley Paige
Bridal Accessories – La Gartier Wedding Garters + Bella Belle Shoes + THEIA Couture
Bride’s Mask – Katie May Collection
Groom’s Apparel – Baggie
Groom’s Stylist – Phalky Style
Rentals – Diva Location
Favors – Simplement Créatif

Thank you again to Ma Cherie Bleue for sharing this special shoot with us. We’re so thankful Lacherie Photography was there to capture every well thought out detail. To find more Black-owned vendors, check out our round-up of Black-owned business wedding brands to shop for your day.

This Spain Ranch Wedding Stuns in Terracotta and Mustard

December 4, 2020 | riley

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When you have a wedding planner organizing their own special day, it’s going to be good–Lauren and Josiah’s Spain Ranch wedding is the perfect example. After their venue fell through a month before their “I do’s,” Lauren kicked into planner mode, and the final product turned out totally Insta-worthy.

The couple’s lovefest featured the warm colors of the sunset contrasted against the venue’s white walls, over-the-top floral and pampas grass arrangements—put together by Anthousai—and two truly unique cakes from Laurannae Baking Co. The beauty didn’t stop at the decor, either. In fact, Josiah’s rust-colored suit perfectly matched the terracotta and mustard decor as well as Lauren’s coral denim jacket she threw on for portraits and their sparkler exit.

Every photo captured by Peyton Rainey Photography will have you feeling inspired, so get ready to save these images because this is one you’ll want to remember.

The Couple:

Lauren and Josiah

The Wedding:

Spain Ranch, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Recommended Reading: The Best In Etsy Wedding Invitation Suites

Shop similar robes: Lace Bridal Robe ($19.97); Silky Lace Trim Bridal Robe ($17.99); Lace Robe For Bridesmaids ($28.99)

A Custom-Made Bridesmaid Gift

Aside from being a wedding planner, I hand make clay earrings on the side. I made a unique pair for each of my bridesmaids to wear on the wedding day that coordinated with their dresses. It was such a sweet surprise for them!

A Memorable First Look

Our first look was such a sweet and raw moment. I was so nervous and excited! Josiah immediately cried, and it was so dang sweet. At that moment, there was so much love in the room and it felt like we were the only two people in the world. I am so grateful to have pictures of that moment to remember the feeling forever.

The Venue Mishap Led To A Spain Ranch Wedding

The absolute craziest thing about our wedding was that we were forced to change venues a month before! Our original venue double booked an art exhibit the same weekend and didn’t inform us until we were 30 days out. We were completely crushed, but I’ve never been more grateful that I chose a career in wedding planning. I immediately reached out to every venue I had connections with and—somehow—Spain Ranch was available for our date. I am so grateful for how accommodating their team was and how amazing our vendors were for adjusting to the last minute change. I essentially had to replan my entire wedding in 30 days. It was so wild but everything truly worked out for the best.

Shop similar jackets: Levi’s Pink Original Puff Sleeve Trucker ($79.50); Lucky Brand Tomboy Corduroy Trucker Jacket ($99); Gap Cropped Utility Denim Jacket ($39.99); Topshop Denim Jacket in Blush Pink ($55.50)

Modern Yet Earthy Wedding Day Vibes

I am a wedding planner and have been dreaming about my own wedding for so long! After spending the past three years designing weddings for others, it was so surreal to design my own. I knew I wanted a day that felt intentional and authentic to us. Our style is a mix of modern, whimsical, and earthy. Our main inspiration for the day was hues of terracotta, golden mustard, peach, full and textural florals, intentional details, and warm feels.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Peyton Rainey Photography
Event Planning – Ivory Rose Event Co.
Venue – Spain Ranch
Day Of Coordinator – Ever & Ivy Events
Floral Design – Anthousai
Catering – Dixies Cafe
Cake – Laurannae Baking Co.
DJ – DJ Connection
Videography – French Film Co.
Invitation Design – Laurel and Marie
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Hannah Miller Artistry
Wedding Dress – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – Express
Rings – Point No Point Studio
Rentals – Telluria

Congratulations again to Lauren and Josiah on their Spain Ranch wedding! Thank you to Peyton Rainey Photography for capturing the day and sharing it with Junebug. Feeling inspired to rock a bridal jacket for your big day? Check out these cool jackets that will warm up your wedding look!

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