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This London Wedding at The Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings is Giving Us Major Greenhouse Vibes

January 15, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

Laura and Andy set out to create a wedding that felt natural and timeless. And, some cheers are in order, because we’ve seen greenhouse vibes before, but never quite as elegant and vintage-esque as their day at The Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in London! There are five words you should know about their reception dinner space: pastel, banana leaf printed chairs. We never knew we could feel such a love for a reception chair! If that’s not enough, just wait until you see the detail on Laura’s Made with Love Bridal gown and how stunning her ‘maids looked dressed in silk, champagne colored slip dresses. Prepare your hearts, babes, because Natalie Pluck captured every moment of this sweet day with total perfection!

The Couple:

Laura & Andy

The Wedding:

The Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, London

SHOP THIS LOOK:

We wanted to try and create a wedding which felt quite timeless, so wanted to try and incorporate that into my look on the day. Because of this, I knew I would want a dress which had slight vintage feel, but at the same time I didn’t want to feel like I was in fancy dress! I loved the scalloped design in the lace of my dress, which had a slight nod to the 1920s but the cut and shape still felt very modern.
For the rest of my look I wanted to keep it feeling quite relaxed. I never wear my hair up day to day, so felt it was important to feel myself on the day, so went with loose, big waves. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to wear a veil, and was debating it pretty much up to the day! In the end I decided to go with wearing a pair of statement, chandelier earrings and not wear anything in my hair.

Natalie Pluck, our photographer, was amazing. Not only did she manage to capture the feeling and emotions on the day with some beautiful shots, she was also just such a pleasure to have there on the day. She was so lovely, helping me with my dress when none of my other bridesmaids could figure out the train, to keeping me calm in the car on the way to the venue. Her calm and warm personality put me and Andy completely at ease throughout the day.

The most memorable part of the day was walking out of the town hall right after our ceremony and having our confetti throw as we walked down the iconic steps of the Old Marylebone Town Hall. Walking out of the ceremony, just married, seeing all the faces of everyone we loved, gave us the most overwhelming sense of happiness and excitement.

With the bridesmaids we decided everyone would wear different dresses, providing they tied into the colour palette of very muted pastels and neutrals. We thought this would be easier than trying to find a dress which would suit everyone’s body type, however trying to find five individual dresses which everyone likes but also works together probably ended up being more difficult! It was also very difficult to co-ordinate as most of the bridesmaids live in different parts of the country, so we hadn’t actually been able to have all the bridesmaids in one location trying the dresses on altogether, so it was a bit of a risk but it totally paid off on the day.

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Wedding planning advice from the couple: Everyone will tell you before the big day how quickly it goes, and it really is so true! We also didn’t appreciate how much of the day you spend apart, trying to greet and mingle with as many guests as possible. We were really lucky our venue provided a private room which we used to just pause and catch up just the two of us, a couple of times throughout the day. Taking just a small amount of time out, just the two of you, makes you take a step back and take everything in. It’s the most special, amazing day, which will pass by in a flash, so try and squeeze in some time to appreciate the moment.

We instantly fell in love with The Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings. We went to view it on a beautiful summers evening, and was blown away by the bright, airy space filled with character. It has a really elegant, understated glamour, filled with chic antique furniture and the most amazing conservatory full of beautiful greenery. It’s all the little details of the venue which also makes it so special, from its stunning vintage ceiling fans, to mis-matched chairs and huge vintage mural, it just encapsulated the kind of timelessness we wanted to try and achieve for the look and feel of the day.

We were lucky our best man co-owns a gin bar and small-batch distillery in London called Jim and Tonic. He very kindly offered to bottle up miniatures of their Parfum Gin, which is made using lavender and bergamot oils to create a really distinctive and aromatic gin, for our favours. We then asked Andy‘s dad to create a watercolour painting of our venue for the label. It was one of my favourite details on the day, as it felt like it was something very personal to us.

We wanted to ensure guests felt relaxed and had fun! Particularly when the party started, we wanted guests to really feel they could let their hair down. We chose our band as we’d seen them at a friend’s wedding last year and loved how much energy they had, we knew our guests would love them. They were really interactive with the crowd, singing and dancing with guests, which I think really helped get the party started!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Natalie Pluck
Ceremony Venue – Marylebone Town Hall
Reception Venue – The Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
Floral Design – Bloominggayles
Cake – The Glorious Bakery
Live Music – Truly Medley Deeply
Makeup Artist – Portraits Bridal
Wedding Dress – Made with Love Bridal
Groom’s Apparel – John Lewis
Rings – Simon Wright Jewellery
Transportation – London Retro Bus Hire
Favors – Jim and Tonic

 

Cheers and congratulations, Andy and Laura! We’re feeling lucky to have Junebug member Natalie Pluck, who shared their timeless day at The Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings with us! Loving Natalie’s work? Be sure to check out her page in our vendor directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.

 

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Intimate and Natural Italian Wedding at Borgo Pignano

January 14, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

Elif and Arnold’s intimate and natural wedding at Borgo Pignano has our hearts fluttering. This couple’s goal was to keep things simple — they didn’t have a specific “style” to stick to, but just went with what felt right. We think they pulled it off brilliantly with the help of planner Sposiamovi! From Elif’s classic and elegant, lace-sleeved Monique Lhuillier gown to Arnold’s Thom Sweeney suit, this couple knows how to do effortless chic. If wildflowers are your thing, we can’t wait for you to see what La Rosa Canina created for the ceremony arch and blossoming table arrangements at Borgo Pignano. Prepare your hearts, because these photos by the talented Stefano Santucci do not disappoint!

The Couple:

Elif + Arnold

The Wedding:

Borgo Pignano, Italy

I did not really have a style inspiration that I was aware of until I realised that the dress I chose was extremely similar to my mothers. She is an extremely elegant but understated woman. She was my inspiration!

I loved that my wedding dress was elegant, and timeless. And extremely comfortable. I loved the full lace, long sleeves and the contrasting open back. The dress was so beautiful that I only wore a pair of simple diamond drop earrings, and was able to get away without a hair and makeup stylist. (I barely used any makeup and kept my natural hair). I looked like myself which was one of my most important criteria. With the added bonus of not having to worry about my hair and makeup spoiling. After the photos I put on my favorite pair of isabel Marant cresi booties which I have worn almost everyday for about 10 years.

Choosing the vendors were key. We had an incredible wedding planner that understood us and introduced us to equally incredible people for each step of the way. We have some direction but wanted each person and each artist to use their own talents. We kept our wedding extremely small and wanted to feel like a beautiful garden party.

Our wedding colours were defined by the fall season. I asked La Rosa Canina to “forage” the flowers and plants from the forest. Whatever was in season at the time was what defined our colour pallet. We wanted lots of greenery to compliment and be in tune with our natural surroundings. We had a lot of dried plants and leaves also. And everything else was neutral to compliment this.

Walking up the isle towards my future husband with both my parents surrounded by love and nature. It was the most emotional day of my life. As a result most of our photos from the ceremony were full of tears of joy. We were told by most of our friends that our wedding was the most emotional wedding they had ever been too.

Wedding planning advice from the bride: Enjoy it! The most important thing (apart from the union, of course) is the wonderful memories you make throughout the process. Even though it is difficult, try not to get focused on the small things. Don’t feel as if you need to fit into a mould. Be yourselves and enjoy and everything will fall into place.

We chose Borgo Pignano because it was low key but elegant and because of the diversity it offered. It had everything from stunning Tuscan hills, to a beautiful forest and a wonderful pool built into rocks. We also were looking for an intimate place that could host all our guests and all our events for the weekend. We did not want to have to leave the property. We wanted it to be like we had gone on a country weekend getaway to someone’s home with all of our loved ones.

We actually found it a little difficult to choose specific vibe. We liked aspects of each different style of wedding. So we just chose what we liked and felt was true to us without worrying about fitting into a certain style. I believe that creating something genuine for such an important day/weekend is extremely important.

Our photographers were incredible! We met them and instantly loved them as people. Which was a huge help as I was particularly worried about the photos. I am not very photogenic and cannot pose. The best photos taken of me have always been “candid”. And I remember thinking our wedding photos will be a disaster because i thought that by definition they ere posed and directed. I have to tell you that apart from the family photos (which is something we asked for), not one of the gorgeous photos were staged. Not one. They asked us to just walk and be natural. Most of the time we barely saw anyone. Everyone was usually concealed behind a bush or tree. Even the closeups were all done with what I am assuming is a strong zoom lens.

We basically took a stroll and circled back to where our guests were having drinks. It was all so painless and happened before we realized that when we were told that it was done, I was quite worried they hadn’t gotten anything. Until I saw the photos and I was stunned. It was incredible. Like magic.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Stefano Santucci
Event Planning – Sposiamovi
Wedding Venue – Borgo Pignano
Floral Design – La Rosa Canina
Videography – Marco Abba
Wedding Dress – Monique Lhuillier
Bridal Earrings – Elkorek
Groom’s Apparel – Thom Sweeney
Rings – Cartier

 

Congratulations to Elif and Arnold! We’re feeling extra grateful that Stefano Santucci shared their Borgo Pignano wedding with us at Junebug! Planning your own intimate affair? Maybe a backyard wedding is the perfect venue for you! Check out our ultimate guide to planning backyard wedding.

 

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Havana Meets Old Hollywood in This Wedding at The Houdini Estate

January 13, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

Talk about a bad-a$$ couple! Adam and Diana’s killer wedding at The Houdini Estate is everything we love about Old Hollywood and Havana vibes. We imagine their guests were already feeling special receiving the most rad, themed invitations, and every other detail Tasteful Tatters planned blew us away! If specialty entertainment is on your wedding checklist, you’ll definitely want to see these incredible photos Joe + Kathrina captured of The Budtenders (when in California, are we right?), Mursuli Cigars, Got Paella food truck, and even more. Bonus tip: Rent a vintage convertible for the most epic bridal party and ceremony getaway photos ever! We can’t wait for you to get inspired by every ounce of creativity Adam and Diana’s wedding at The Houdini Estate has to offer. Get scrolling, babes!

The Couple:

Adam & Diana

The Wedding:

The Houdini Estate, Laurel Canyon, California

SHOP THIS LOOK:

 

I was very fortunate to have an incredible makeup and hair professional. He helped me create a beautiful classic Cuban look. He put waves in my hair and pinned a gorgeous deep red flower on the side. My makeup was a flawless “dewey” look. My dress was custom made at Lace & Liberty. I fell in love with a skirt they had at their boutique. A beautiful vintage inspired, draped, romantic chiffon skirt. I had ideas for the top that they designed for me and combined with the skirt to make a dress. Then I found a killer vintage gold belt with black gems in the center that coordinated with the black diamond engagement ring my husband gave me. 

For the ceremony I wore a little vintage inspired caplet I found at BHLDN and for the shoes… it doesn’t get more personalized than this.. I found sparkly gold Converse! I am 6’2″ and my husband is a little over 6’3″, not only do I love comfortable shoes but I also did not want to add any height. They were perfect.

We had so many family and friends coming from all over the world. We wanted to give them a party they’d never forget that was very “us” but also true to California’s uniqueness. The Houdini Estate is absolutely magical, and a perfect homage to old Hollywood. The second we walked up we knew this was it. 

Adam exited a classic car and walked into the ceremony to “Welcome To The Terrordome” by Public Enemy. Then our friend did an acoustic live version of Madonna’s “Cherish” as the bridal party walked down. I walked down to Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird.”

The bridesmaids carried Spanish fans instead of bouquets. Fans that I bought when Adam and I went to Spain for our engagement photos. 

My bridesmaids were stunning! I gave them color swatches and let them find their own dresses. I wanted them to find something they loved and was uniquely them. The tallest bridesmaid started with a chocolate brown and the shortest (my 7yr old niece) ended with a light almond color. This was inspired by different shades of coffee, another big thing in Cuban culture. As I mentioned before, they held Spanish fans that I bought in Spain that were gold and copper, they matched perfectly.

Wedding planning advice from the bride: ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT. The stress is not worth it. The major thing I wish I would have done differently is start small and grow as the date gets closer. My problem was that I was so excited I planned all these huge things early on and insisted on sticking to them. We ended up blowing our budget and had way more to deal with than we needed to.

When guests arrived to the ceremony they were greeted with champagne and a choice to grab a Panama hat or Spanish fan giveaway. Really wanted our guests to feel like they were stepping into Old Havana. Then each got a custom luggage tag that told them which table, or I should say country, they were sitting at. We love to travel and really wanted that to show in our wedding.

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I feel like our wedding vibe chose us! My family is Cuban (so I was born into good taste), and Adam is a huge movie buff. I loved combining the feel of Old Havana with Old Hollywood. It was the perfect mix of the two of us.

I feel like every inch of our wedding was personalized! I am a Graphic Designer and Adam is a Creative Director / Illustrator. The tables were named after countries where we have visited, either together or before we met. I designed all the table “numbers” myself explaining why each country was special to us. I also designed all the signage placed throughout the venue. Our welcome sign was a beautiful work of art Adam created of us in an old Houdini inspired poster design. Each place setting also had a mini comic book of our love story that Adam illustrated and designed.

We nailed our dance routine. I have never been so proud of us as a couple! On a serious note, my dad is handicap and very ill. We went through a lot to get him to Los Angeles from Houston so he could be with me on our day. I will never forget our Father/Daughter dance. I tear up every time I think about his happy face looking up at me from his wheelchair.

The Budtenders were so unique and huge hit with our guests. We were their first event and they were fantastic!

Our photographers were absolutely amazing. Honestly, I truly believe they saved the day. We had put so much money and effort into planning this gorgeous wedding and of ALL days, Los Angeles decided to rain on OUR day. It never rains in September! I was mortified. If I could go back and change my attitude I would do it in a second, but when you’re in it you really don’t have much control over your emotions. Or at least I didn’t. Joe and Kathrina, from the second they arrived, calmed me down, made me laugh, got those photos that when I look back make me completely forget about the rain. I had my ups and downs during the day but they stuck it out with me. They even drove us down Sunset after the reception to get some photos in our wedding attire at a local classic diner. We ate burgers and drank champagne, they captured our true selves…relaxed and a little tipsy.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Joe + Kathrina
Event Planning – Tasteful Tatters
Wedding Venue – The Houdini Estate
Floral Design – Petal Floral
Food Truck – Got Paella
Pizza – Basil Pizza Bar
Cake – Hers Bakery
Budtenders – The Budtenders
Cuban Cigar Rollers – Mursuli Cigars
Ice Pops – Nomad Ice Pops
Videography – Water Tree Studios
Bartenders – Shake Em Up Bartending
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – VITTORIO MASECCHIA
Wedding Dress – Lace & Liberty
Bridal Accessories – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – Friar Tux
Rings – Concierge Diamonds
Rentals – Signature Rentals
Specialty Rentals – Archive Rentals

 

Cheers and congrats, Adam and Diana! We’re grateful Junebug member Joe + Katrina shared your stellar wedding at The Houdini Estate with Junebug! For more of the 2020 California cool wedding trend, you’ve got to check out this rock ‘n’ roll glam California wedding at Wolf Feather Honey Farm.

 

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