WEDDING BLOG

Modern Boho Middle Eastern Wedding in Tulum

September 15, 2020 | riley

There’s nothing we love more than a tropical destination wedding here at Junebug, and Tulum happens to be one of our favorites. Leena and Nima’s modern boho middle eastern wedding at Mia Tulum Restaurant and Beach Club was the perfect combination of killer style, a neutral color palette with pops of coral, stunning ocean views, and a whole lot of fun.

We’re utterly obsessed with the small details put together by Junebug member Mango Weddings and Events. From the glamorous Persian Sofreh Aghd to the raffia hand fans to the personalized branded coconuts, this couple thought of everything.

While we could gush for days, we’ll let these beautiful photos from Junebug member–that’s right two members helped make this day magical–Memory Box Photography do the talking for us!

The Couple:

Leena and Nima

The Wedding:

Mia Tulum Restaurant & Beach Club, Tulum, Mexico

A Megan Markle Inspired Sarah Seven Gown

I wore a Sarah Seven crepe gown. My inspiration was a Megan Markle look–simple with no lace but a bit of detail. I accompanied it with Gucci shoes. The jewelry I ended up wearing on the wedding day was lovely and special. I opted for very simple and delicate Mizuki pearl drop earrings, a tennis bracelet, and stackable thin diamond rings from Iran that Nima’s parents gave to me on the wedding day. I was very happy I could wear some pieces from Iran and felt that that was important to do.

Why a Tulum Destination Wedding

Nima and I got married in Tulum, Mexico. It is not very typical in our cultures to have a destination wedding, but we both agreed from the beginning that we didn’t want to be that typical middle eastern couple. The weddings we’re used to attending are large–with over 300 people–and usually take place in a ballroom. We fell in love with Tulum because of its unique atmosphere, jungle restaurants, ocean views, and bohemian vibes. We especially fell in love with this tiny piece of heaven because of its unexpected middle eastern influence with Persian carpets on the sand and the evil eye decor everywhere you look.

Wedding Day Advice For a Stress-Free Day

We’d say not to sweat the small things that go wrong and to laugh that stuff off. The day Nima and I got married was one of the windiest days we had seen. The guests used the fans we passed out as shields from the sand getting in their eyes, Nima’s eyes were closed in half of the ceremony pictures due to this, and my veil was flying all sorts of ways during the ceremony. This was not in the “perfect wedding plan” that every bride imagines, but if I could pass on any wedding advice to future brides, it would be to laugh that stuff off. Nothing will go exactly as you imagine, but it’s important to remember this day only happens once. Enjoy every moment–even if it is not what you pictured it being.

A Unique Musical Reception

We had a surprise water drum show during our reception. It was so fun to see all of our guests surprised by what was going on, and it was amazing to see my grandparents and our parents get up there and play the water drums. Water drums are not really prevalent in the US, so we were excited to get to incorporate something that none of our guests had experienced before into our wedding day.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Memory Box Photography
Event Planning – Mango Weddings & Events
Venue & Catering – Mia Tulum Restaurant & Beach Club
Floral Design – Vanessa Jaimes
DJ – Plug In Audio Visual
Live Music – Marvioc Live Music
Videography – Button Up
Invitation Design – Sweet Dates Prints
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Zoe Elizabeth
Wedding Dress – Sarah Seven
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Adrianna Papell, Show Me Your Mumu
Groom’s Apparel – Suit Supply
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Jos A Bank
Rentals – Kl Design Events
Favors – Ko’coo Mexico

Congratulations again to Leena and Nima on their modern boho middle eastern wedding in Tulum! Thank you to Junebug member Mango Weddings and Events for submitting this wedding for us to share. Magic happens when multiple Junebug members work together, in this case, Mango Weddings and Events and Memory Box Photography created an unforgettable day for this couple. To see more of Mango Weddings and Events’ work, check out their profile in our directory of best wedding planners in the world!

Romantic Fairytale California Wedding at Laughing Canyon

September 14, 2020 | riley

orange sage green white

Imagine a weekend full of cozy cabins, redwood trees, fire pits, and the slow trickle of a nearby creek as the soundtrack of your weekend. That’s exactly what Alyssa and James experienced at their romantic fairytale wedding at Laughing Canyon. The couple knew they wanted something a bit more unconventional rather than a traditional wedding day. They wanted a 3-day event that their guests’ would never forget. Thanks to planner LJ Oneto, the weekend was just that.

Their special day alone was filled with lush forest views, a wedding dress that the bride designed herself (yes!), a custom rust-colored suit that contrasted perfectly with the trees, craft cocktails, a taco truck, and late-night paella. Those are just five of the epic details that Alyssa and James included. Ready to be transported to a fairytale-esque summer camp? Keep scrolling to see all of these details, beautifully captured by Brandon Scott Photo Co.

The Couple:

Alyssa and James

The Wedding:

Laughing Canyon, Davenport, California

The Bride’s Custom Wedding Dress

I envisioned myself as a flower that bloomed in the woods. I carefully placed the flowers from my lace as though they were the leaves falling and gathering on the forest floor. Scattered Swarovski crystals show the glimpses of light shining through the trees. And my husband truly makes me feel like a queen, so I wanted to represent that in my dress. I came up with a cape dripping in pearls, with crystal and pearl floral embellished neckline.

Why Laughing Canyon

I am known for my loud, boisterous laugh. So when I saw this place, I took it as a sign. We booked a trip to see it and didn’t know where we were going–it was off the grid. As we pulled in surrounded by trees on this narrow road, I started crying. It was the most beautiful special place I had ever been to. And there it was–the feeling that I was missing from the other venues. A place so special that it equally matched how unique our love is.

An Unconventional Wedding Day Vibe

We didn’t follow the rules. We wanted to create an experience–one big party the whole weekend long. We’re talking glamping tents on site for our bridal party, handcrafted cocktails upon arrival, no seating chart, paella cooked onsite, and a gourmet taco truck. We wanted to bring the people we love together in an unfamiliar but gorgeous place and have them experience things we love–nature, massive trees, adventure, craft cocktails and food, laughing, and—most importantly—each other.

Wedding Day Advice From the Couple

We recommend giving yourself enough time to plan. Obviously it’s not for everyone, but make the whole thing your own. It’s easy to book the package, have the coordinator choose, or have your parents make the decisions, but this should be a once in a lifetime experience of your own. It’s a lot of work, but we treated it like we were creating this beautiful project together. It helped us grow closer, learn about each other, and see what we could do when we put our minds together as a couple.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Brandon Scott Photo Co.
Event Planning – LJ Oneto
Ceremony Venue – Laughing Canyon
Floral Design – Bonny Doon Garden Company
Catering – Bruxo
Cake – Buttercup Cakes and Farmhouse Frosting
DJ – All Ears DJ
Videography – White Oak Studio
Hair Styling – Hara Dahl
Wedding Dress & Bridesmaid’ Apparel – Alyssa Dahl Designs
Groom’s Apparel – FitWel
Rings – McClave Jewelers

Congratulations again to Alyssa and James on their unconventional fairytale wedding at Laughing Canyon! Thank you to Brandon Scott Photo Co. for capturing the essence of this romantic day and sharing it with us. To see more storybook worthy wedding inspo, check out Indiana and Chad’s Magical Nestldown Wedding in California’s Redwoods!

Wedding Trends for Fall Grooms

September 13, 2020 | kailey

Image by Mountainaire Gatherings.

If you’re a lover of cooler weather, epic wedding attire, and moody color palettes, a fall nuptial is right up your alley. While fall color palettes are typically darker, it doesn’t mean your wedding day attire has to be boring. By incorporating patterns, different textured materials, and fun accessories there are endless ways to add your personality.

We’ve compiled everything from fresh suit trends to subtle fall accessories that are sure to spice up wedding fashion for fall grooms. Incorporating one or more of these unique touches into your wedding day is sure to take your fall wedding celebration to the next level.

Wedding Suit Trends For Fall Grooms

Grooms are no longer bound to strict and boring wedding day guidelines. By playing around with fall color suits, patterns, and materials grooms can make a show-stopping entrance.

Use Moody Color Suits

Emerald greens, deep reds, and burnt oranges—oh my! Incorporating moody colors like these into your wedding day fashion is a great way to add subtle fall touches to your big day. For nontraditional couples looking to break tradition and infuse their fall nuptials with more personality, a pop of color suit is the way to go.

Image by Cody & Allison Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

Play With Different Materials

With temperatures getting cooler you’ll be looking for ways to stay warm on your wedding day. Playing around with different suit materials—like wool, tweed, and velvet—is both functional and stylish. It serves as a great reminder that it’s possible to be warm and well-dressed.

Image by The Bold Americana.

Shop our favorite fall suit looks

Mix and Match Patterns

Mixing and matching patterns is the perfect way for stylish grooms to make a fashion statement and incorporate their own flair. Whether you’re looking to play around with a subtle or eye-catching pattern, fall grooms can’t go wrong with a houndstooth patterned, plaid, or dark floral suit.

Image by Corey Lynn Tucker Photography. See more of this styled shoot here.

Accessorize With Subtle Fall Touches Accessories

Suits aren’t the only way to add fall touches to your wedding day wardrobe. There are also endless accessories that can be incorporated to add a warm, casual, autumn vibe— everything from hats to footwear.

Don The Perfect Fall Hat

Whether you select a cowboy hat, wide-brim felt hat, or a fedora, there’s no better way to top off your epic suit—literally. Depending on the groom’s hat of choice, this subtle accessory can be used to add a vintage, elegant, or rustic vibe to any look.

Image by Lilly Red. See more of this real wedding here.

Shop our favorite hats

Ditch Your Traditional Tie

If you’re in search of unique fall wedding trends, odds are you’re not a traditional groom. There are many ways to spice up your look making it truly unlike any other. One way is to ditch the traditional tie for a fun alternative like a bowtie or bolo tie.

Image by Oshen Davidson Photo. See more of this real wedding here.

Shop beautifully untraditional ties

Add A Boutonniere

Just like a bouquet, the groom’s boutonniere is a great way to tie together the wedding theme—especially for fall weddings. By using warm florals that match the color palette, dried fall materials, and feathers, something as simple as the boutonniere takes your wardrobe to the next level.

Image by Sarah Everything Photography. See more of this styled shoot here.

Spice Up Your Footwear with Boots And Socks

An often underutilized wedding day accessory is the groom’s footwear. The color, style, and brand of shoe all pay homage to the groom’s attire. For fall weddings, try ditching the classic Oxford shoe for a pair of boots! This is the perfect way to add an adventurous and warm touch to your wedding day outfit.

Add Earrings and Ear Cuffs

Jewelry is a subtle addition that can dress up any outfit. For stylish grooms, we’re all for incorporating your personality into your look by adding earrings or ear cuffs.

Image by Heather Purdy. See more of this real wedding here.

Whether you’re dreaming of a spring, summer, fall, or winter wedding there are endless ways for grooms to spice up their wedding day attire. If you’re looking to wow your guests with epic fashion no matter the season, check out these unique groom style ideas for well-dressed guys.