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Epic Top of The Rock Elopement Overlooking NYC

September 7, 2020 | riley

Sweeping views of New York City are romantic and provide an incredible backdrop.  There’s something particularly magical about rooftop elopements, and Jade and Shaina’s epic Top of the Rock elopement is no exception. 

The couple, who originally planned on getting married in Nashville, had everything organized for their September 2020 wedding. They couldn’t wait to reveal their outfits, venue, and officiant–Jade’s grandfather—to their guests. Unfortunately, Jade’s grandfather unexpectedly passed seven months before the two could tie the knot. Left grieving and missing their officiant, they entered Emily Reno of Epic Elopement’s elopement giveaway. The day after the couple entered they found out they won and were swept away to The Big Apple. 

Everything was planned out including the venue, the florals by Nava Florals, and the photographer–Aesthetic Sabotage Studio. Although it wasn’t what they originally had envisioned, we can’t get enough of this unique elopement. These photos are truly unforgettable.

The Couple:

Jade and Shaina

The Wedding:

Top of the Rock, New York City

Why a Top of the Rock Elopement

So, we initially decided to wed in my fiancée’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. It was such an exciting time. We had our venue booked, my dress was ordered, my fiancée’s suit was ordered, we had all of our vendors lined up, and we had a date set for September 25, 2020. A very personal touch that we agreed on was that my grandfather was going to officiate our ceremony. Unfortunately, we unexpectedly lost my grandpa on February 19, 2020. The week after my grandpa passed, we then received word that Emily Reno was doing an elopement giveaway and knew that we had to apply. We found out that we had won the elopement the day after we applied and canceled our Nashville wedding immediately!

Wedding Day Advice From Mom

I think the most important thing for us was something that my mom told us, “It’s not about the wedding; it’s about the marriage.” At times we were both so overwhelmed and worried about if eloping would upset our family and friends–or if we went ahead with our big wedding, what details would accommodate everyone. Going through that process, we found that through stressing out over little details, we lost sight of what it was all about–our marriage. No matter how you choose to get married, know that the day will eventually end but the love and memories will last forever.

Favorite Photo Captured by Aesthetic Sabotage Studio

My favorite photo was the one of us on the Brooklyn Bridge, and Shaina and I are holding hands as we look off into the distance. That photo is our favorite because of the moment it conveys. We were nearing the end of the photography session, and we kind of had a moment to reflect on our ceremony, our marriage, all that we had overcome as a lesbian couple to make it to this point. We were able to honor and reflect on how blessed we were to share this moment together. Out of loss, we gained something so beautiful that it will forever be the highlight of our lives.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Aesthetic Sabotage Studio
Event Planning – The Epic Elopement
Venue – Top of the Rock
Floral Design – Nava Florals 
Hair Styling – Liza Ray
Wedding Dress – Impression Bridal
Bridal Suit – Mens Warehouse

 

Congratulations again to Jade and Shaina on their Top of the Rock elopement! Thank you to Junebug member Aesthetic Sabotage Studio for sharing these beautiful photos with us. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world.

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This Funky 70s Inspired Wedding is a Modern Blast From the Past

September 6, 2020 | riley

Ah, the 70s–one of our favorite eras for wedding inspo! Brooke and Steven’s funky 70s inspired wedding has us feeling like we’ve been transported back to the good ol’ groovy days with its jewel color palette, vintage cigarette machine, velvet-covered tables, and a vintage wood bar. The couple–who are known amongst friends for their lavish parties–knew that they wanted a celebration that consisted of drinking and dancing but wanted to keep themselves to a strict budget. Lucky for them–and all of us–Brooke’s parents’ backyard offers a pretty stellar backdrop. 

Thanks to Simply Classic Events, the backyard location was transformed into a radically romantic affair. We love how you can feel the energy and laid-back vibes through the photos that Gabriel Conover captured. Get those bell-bottoms on, turn up your favorite ABBA song, and get ready to drool over this seriously lively party!

The Couple:

Brooke and Steven

The Wedding:

San Marcos, California

The BHLDN Dress

I originally wanted a more edgy/fashion-forward bridal look, but after trying on quite a few dresses, I felt the most comfortable in a pretty simple dress from BHLDN. I picked up simple gold jewelry because that’s my usual style. I’m not religious, so I got a North Star pendant necklace to symbolize our marriage as a constant in life—something that I can depend on.

Funky 70s Wedding Day Vibes

We always joked about how we wanted to throw a party that also we happened to get married at. Getting married on our 10th anniversary, so after 9+ years together, meant we have a lot of the same friends, and we’re very close with each other’s families. We wanted a fun, eclectic 70s vibe, but contemporary and not costumey. 

 

Incorporating Friends and Family

There are so many talented people in our lives and wanted to include them in our day. The best man shot our engagement photos that we used as Save the Dates. We had a friend draw a portrait of us that we turned into custom drink napkins and an enamel pin that we attached to our escort cards. We served wine from a friend’s family winery. Our Maid of Honor is also an event planner who helped with a lot of decisions. A friend from high school did hair for the bridal party. We had a friend’s mom’s antique collection help furnish the wedding. Brooke designed the invites and signage and had them printed at a local printer that we’ve worked with for years.

DIY Touches

We went to the fashion district in Los Angeles and bought a bolt of orange velvet fabric that we turned into long table runners at our banquet tables. We also DIY’d our photobooth. By using our own digital camera and an iPad with a photobooth app, our guests were able to email or text the photos to themselves. Brooke’s dad built us a simple backdrop, and we hung a disco ball in it, set a vintage stool in it, and our planner thought it would be cool to put Brooke’s Mom’s vintage cigarette machine in it as well. None of us smoke, but it was a cool piece and really pulled it together. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Gabriel Conover
Event Planning – Simply Classic Events
Floral Design – Lazaro Floral
Catering & Cake – Mihos Catering
DJ – The New Ivy League
Videography – Kaylee Duke Films
Invitation Design – Thomas Printers
Makeup Artist – Makeup By Vanny
Hair Styling – Jessica Cerna
Wedding Dress – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – ASOS
Rentals – Adore Folklore, Hostess Haven

 

Congratulations again to Brooke and Steven on their funky 70s inspired wedding! Special thank you to Gabriel Conover Photography for sharing—and capturing—their day. To see more retro inspo, check out this Backyard Hollywood Wedding with Modern Retro Vibes styled shoot!

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Autumnal Beauty Inspiration for Fall Brides

September 5, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

Image by Dylan M Howell Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

From pumpkin spice cocktails to the chill in the air, fall weddings are always some of our favorites! Whether you’re getting married during the fall season or you’re having a fall-themed wedding, you’ll want everything to go together seamlessly—including your beauty look. 

If you’re looking to get that perfect autumn look—dark lips, sultry eyes, and fall accessories— you’ll want to share this post with your makeup and hair team. They’ll be able to find the perfect shades that will match your skin tone, your outfit, and your wedding colors. And if you’re planning to elope and not bring a glam team, you can shop the eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, and more below to recreate these looks. 

It’s All About The Eyes for Fall Brides

When putting together your makeup look, the first place you should start with is your eyes. Keep in mind, there are no rules that you have to follow, especially if you don’t want the same look as everyone else. Whether you want a dark smokey eye, a bold winged eyeliner, or a more natural look, it can all look perfect for a fall wedding. To get some inspiration, check out these fall brides’ makeup looks. 

Shop eyeshadow palettes:

Try A Dark Lip

If a smokey eye isn’t really your style, another great way to make your wedding look and feel like fall is to add a dark, sultry lip color. Paired with a simple wing eyeliner, or nude eyeshadow, a bold lip can be a great addition to your wedding look. See how many fall brides pulled off this look for their wedding below. Be sure to save your favorites to share with your makeup artist. 

Shop lipsticks here: 

Add a Hat

Hats are a unique accessory to add to your fall wedding look. Whether it’s a wide brim fedora or a Panama hat, hats are an easy accessory for fall brides. And if you love the idea, share this with your hairstylist to help determine whether your hair will be straight, curled, or put in a low bun.

Shop hats here: 

Play With Additional Hair Accessories

Maybe a hat isn’t what you were looking for, but you still want to add a fall accessory. That’s just fine! Many fall brides go for a floral headpiece, a bold crown, or tiny flowers added into their hair. If you’re not sure what to add to your hair, check out how these fall brides’ worked with additional hair accessories below.  

image by Grant Daniels Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

Image by Maggie Grace Photography. See more of this wedding inspiration here.

Image by Ariana Tennyson. See more of this real wedding here.

Shop hair accessories: 

 

We hope this guide helped inspire you to pick the perfect bridal look for your fall wedding. We know that you’ll be absolutely radiant no matter which options you choose as long as you have enough time to get ready.  If you find yourself stressed and anxious about your beauty schedule, we’ve got a few tips to help you look and feel your best on your big day. 

For more fall bridal inspirations, check out these cozy fall wedding ideas, fall bridesmaid dresses, and these wedding boots to crunch fall leaves in. 

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