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Modern Eclectic Madera Kitchen Wedding in the Heart of Hollywood

October 29, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Calling all Vegan-friendly, thrift shop lovers: Michelle and Matthew’s eclectic Madera Kitchen wedding in Los Angeles will set your hearts on fire! The couple knew their wedding would be green and full of texture, which is exactly what planning team Redlight Special Events set out to create. We’re obsessed with all of the eucalyptus and stunning arrangements East Rooted Florals created, as well as sentimental, thrifted finds like a wooden room divider that set the tone for the entire day. Pro tip: Dried florals and thrifted items both make for awesome home decor after the big day. We’re all about re-use of wedding materials! Get ready to fall for every moment Eve Rox Photography brilliantly captured—from vegan donuts via Donut Friend to the couples sweet sparkler exit!

The Couple:

Michelle & Matthew

The Wedding:

Madera Kitchen, Los Angeles, California

Wedding inspiration is crucial! I love some boho feels but also love a classic vibe. Inspiration helps stir up your imagination and gets you on the right track helping you pull your look all together! I absolutely loved my dress and accessorizing it was my favorite part. I wanted to have some statement pieces to make my wedding day look and feel like my everyday looks. I bought my beaded heels secondhand as well as my cream colored wide brim hat! I think the hat was my favorite, especially with the dried flowers!

SHOP THIS LOOK

 

Wedding planning advice from the bride: Try to balance out the duties between each other! Find the things each of you are interested in and have them be in charge. It helped us and we never felt too overwhelmed. Get creative with DIY and thrift decor. Communicate and have patience, it will all come together! The most important thing to us when it came to planning our wedding was to enjoy the process and to keep it as intimate as possible. Matt loved doing spreadsheets and timelines and I loved working on the decor so we found a balance and really enjoyed it!

I cannot say enough good things about our photographer Eve! There were so many amazing photos! I think our favorite is the shot of us outside of the iron gate. We couldn’t believe it was us! Working with her was the easiest part about the wedding. She was always went above and beyond our expectations. She was involved throughout the whole year and made a point to be extremely friendly and helpful. We felt like we really knew her so that when the day came, we felt comfortable and genuine. Her assistant was just as amazing. They captured everything!

Our venue hunt was challenging, neither of us had a dream plan so we considered all options! We were back and forth on eloping but decided to have a small wedding with family. We wanted to find something that was green, urban, and customizable to fit our style! That’s when we discovered Madera Kitchen. It was all of those things and more. It felt homey, green all in the heart of Hollywood.

Our venue hunt was challenging, neither of us had a dream plan so we considered all options! We were back and forth on eloping but decided to have a small wedding with family. We wanted to find something that was green, urban, and customizable to fit our style! That’s when we discovered Madera Kitchen. It was all of those things and more. It felt homey, green all in the heart of Hollywood.

We had a great team of wedding professionals! We are so grateful to have worked with them all. Our florist made it such a beautiful experience, we even saved the dried palms from the ceremony for home decor! I do have to say our photographer Eve was absolutely phenomenal. She truly loves what she does and is extremely professional and goes above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and excited about your big day. Also, our Dj Wes from good mood was so awesome! He was very reliable and gave us free reign to choose our music but also offer his professional advice. He made the dance floor flow seamlessly into a killer dance party!

We are vegan and tried to have a friendly menu to appeal to everyone. We had great veggie appetizers like hummus and pita, flat breads, and veggie burger sliders. For entrees we had vegan veggie lemon pasta, vegetarian ravioli, and to be fair to our more carnivorous family we added a pineapple white fish dish! We had a beautiful desert table with favorite vegan donuts from Donut Friend. We actually bonded over a box of these donuts the first time we met!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Eve Rox Photography
Event Planning – Redlight Special Events
Wedding Venue – Madera Kitchen
Floral Design – East Rooted Florals
Catering – Madera Kitchen
Donuts – Donut Friend
Officiant – Eric Schwartz
DJ – This is Good Mood
Stationary – Paper Culture
Videography – Alexandra Maister
Vow Books – Ivory and Sage Co
Makeup Artist –
Hair Styling – Justine Martin
Wedding Dress – Casablanca Bridal via Marry Me Bridal
Bridal Accessories –
Bridesmaids’ Apparel –
Groom’s Apparel – ASOS
Groomsmen’s Apparel –
Rings – Local Eclectic, LHN Jewelry
Ring Box – Allen Gleur
Rentals – Sweet Salvage Rentals
Table Runners & Signage – Nochta Boutique
Guest Book – Star Board Press

 

Cheers to Michelle and Matthew on their most spectacular day at Madera Kitchen! Into these modern, eclectic vibes? You’ve got to check out this earthy eclectic Whidbey Island wedding at Deception Pass State Park.

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The Best Places to Shop for Plus Size Bridesmaid Dresses

October 28, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

If you’ve been searching for the best places to shop for plus size bridesmaid dresses, look no further! We’ve rounded up our favorite retailers offering plus size bridesmaids dresses—many of them online—in a variety of gorgeous styles from boho to glam and with a range of price points so you can find the perfect dresses for every body and budget.

Plus Size Bridesmaid Dresses

Adrianna Papell

Size Range: Select styles up to 24W

Price Range: $150-$379

Why We Love Them: All that glitters really is gold when it comes to Adrianna Papell! Adrianna Papell bridesmaid’s dresses are known for stunning sequins and beading, making them perfect for glam weddings. Plus, these sparkling gowns are extremely flattering so you’re sure to feel like a million bucks (and look like it too!).

Mock Neck Beaded Column Dress With T-Back

Art Deco Beaded Blouson Gown

Scoop Back Sequin Gown

Handed Beaded Short Sleeve Floral Godet Gown

ASOS

Size Range: Select styles up to 28

Price Range: $35-$280

Why We Love Them: ASOS Curve is one of our favorite spots for plus size fashion and their bridesmaid options are no exception! These romantic plus size dresses are perfect for any wedding with mismatched bridesmaids styles and you’re sure to stand out in one of ASOS’ embroidered, tulle, lace, or sequin looks.

ASOS DESIGN Curve Drape Ruffle Maxi Dress With Lace Insert and Tassel Detail

Lovedrobe Luxe Plus Pleated Satin Midi Dress

TFNC Plus Bridesmaid Flutter Sleeve Ruffle Detail Maxi Dress

Yaura Plus Bridesmaid Drape One-Shoulder Maxi Dress

Azazie

Size Range: Up to 30 with custom sizing available

Price Range: $59-$169

Why We Love Them: With Azazie’s bridesmaid dresses, it’s all about getting exactly what you want down to the precise color and measurement you’re looking for! Azazie offers free custom sizing based on your measurements as well as one of the largest selections of colors for their hundreds (literally!) of styles. As if that weren’t a good enough reason, nearly all of Azazie’s dresses come with pockets (!!!) and a built-in bra, making you as comfortable as possible on your bestie’s big day!

Azazie Cora Dress

Azazie Iman

Azazie Daphne

Azazie Lianne

BHLDN

Size Range: Select styles up to 26

Price Range: $198-$310

Why We Love Them: BHLDN’s extended sizes bridesmaids dresses are exactly what you’ve come to expect from Anthropologie’s popular wedding brand: dazzling romance, feminine flattery, and stunning quality. BHLDN offers many of their most-loved bridesmaid dresses in plus size, meaning the whole bridal party can match without the frustration of a limited size range leaving anyone out.

August Satin Charmeuse Midi Dress

Jenny Yoo Mara Velvet Maxi Dress

BHLDN Leila Satin Charmeuse Dress

Jenny Yoo Ryland Velvet Maxi Dress

Dessy

Size Range: Up to 30W

Price Range: $119-$326

Why We Love Them: Dessy is one of our favorite resources for bridesmaid dress shopping because they really do have it all: popular designers like Alfred Sung, Jenny Packham, and Bella Bridesmaids, a size range from 00-30W, plus beautiful dresses in literally any style you’re looking for.

Cowl-Neck Draped Wrap Maxi Dress with Front Slit

Long Puff Sleeve V-Neck Trumpet Gown

Draped Twist Halter Low-Back Satin Empire Dress

Faux Wrap Split Sleeve Maxi Dress with Cascade Skirt

Nordstrom

Size Range: Select styles up to 24W

Price Range: $119-$598

Why We Love Them: Nordstrom’s plus size dress selection is more vast than most retailers, making them a great place to shop for your bridesmaids dress. When shopping Nordstrom’s dresses, filter your search by formal, party & cocktail, and bridesmaids to see a variety of options in your size for different wedding styles. Convenience is another plus when shopping with Nordstrom, as they provide free shipping, have stores all around the U.S. and Canada as well as international shipping, and offer in-store alterations.

Curve Ruffle Long Sleeve Midi Dress

City Chic Faux Wrap Dress

City Chic Love Affair Tulip Hem Dress

After Six One-Shoulder Crepe Trumpet Gown

Show Me Your Mumu

Size Range: Up to 3X

Price Range: $144-$218

Why We Love Them: Show Me Your Mumu is known for its boho bridesmaid dresses in a large variety of colors and comfy, flattering silhouettes. The free-spirited brand offers your favorite styles in extended sizes, making them perfect for mixed or matching Mumu bride’s babes.

Nicole Maxi Dress

Claire Midi Dress

Jenn Maxi Dress

Caitlin Ruffle Maxi Dress

Loving these plus size bridesmaid dresses and need to figure out how to mix and match them? Don’t fret! We’ve rounded up five tips for nailing the mismatched bridesmaid look!

 

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This Couple Decided on a Northwest France Destination Wedding After Wildfires Destroyed Their CA Venue

October 28, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

After Ariel and Cedric’s wedding venue was tragically destroyed in the California wildfires, the two decided to plan a dreamy France destination wedding that incorporated traditions and culture of the location. Staying true to her Californian roots and style, Ariel looked absolutely breathtaking in a Willow by Watters gown that moved effortlessly from the couple’s stunning portraits by Dani Purington to their rad dance party! We are also loving the simple, yet glamours floral design by Etamines Fleurs, and can’t wait for you to see all of the amazing details from this France destination wedding—including a totally awesome Champagne saber by the groom!

The Couple:

Ariel & Cedric

The Wedding:

Private Residence, Plonéour-Lanvern, France

In November 2018, we learned that our venue had been destroyed by the fires that ravished Malibu. We were heartbroken, both for our future wedding plans and for the owners of the property who we had come to adore. When that happened, all I could think was, I don’t think I can plan another wedding in California. We decided, let’s do something completely different. Cedric’s family has a stone manor from the 12th century in Northwestern France in a region called Brittany. He had traveled there often as a child and I had visited it once with him when we were in college. I remembered just how magical it was and how it would be the perfect place for us to start our next journey together. There is a ruin on the property named La Maison Des Enfants (The Children’s House). It had always been our plan to restore the ruin, and we decided, why not now? We moved from NYC to France in May 2019, quickly pulled together the final wedding details, got married under the archway of La Maison, and have since been living at the property, working to reconstruct the Children’s House.

Our photographer was simply the best. She captured all of the moments we had hoped she would, and even more. While I wanted the traditional “after-ceremony” pictures with Cedric, Dani somehow captured so many amazing unplanned first-looks with my family and friends.

Wedding planning advice from the bride: Consider a wedding planner! Planning a wedding is so exciting, but I think I could have avoided some of the stress if I had hired a wedding planner. Even if the vendors spoke English (and NONE of them did), there are so many aspects that go into that one day that having someone to organize it all and think of things I didn’t would have been a huge help!

We wanted to give our guests something from the region to take home with them. Cedric and I visited a local honeymaker (miellerie). It was a husband and wife who harvested honey in small batches for the local town. When we told them we would need honey for about 100 people they were shocked, but assured us they could swing it. Well, they surely did. They harvested and jarred honey for all of our guests and it was delicious! My mother-in-law and I wrapped each jar with burlap and twine and voilà!

When planning our wedding, it was important to us to incorporate the traditions and culture of where our wedding was held (Brittany, France), while staying true to my Californian roots and style. Our welcoming cocktail was a kir royale (Champagne with Crème de Cassis), typical for our European guests but an even bigger hit with our American friends. To segue into the dancing part of the evening, Cedric sabered the champagne, in true Napoleon style. Instead of a traditional American cake, we opted for a Pièce montée (a tower of cream puffs drizzled in caramel).

The most memorable part of the day was dancing with all of our best friends under the stars. Once the adrenaline began to wear off, we realized just how incredible it was to be surrounded by all of our loved ones in a place that meant so much to Cedric and his family, and now to me. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Dani Purington
Floral Design – Etamines Fleurs
Cake – Boulangerie Pichavant
Live Music – Lady’s Orchestra
Videography – Nicky Whelan
Makeup Artist – Salon Des Quais
Wedding Dress – Willow by Watters
Rings – Bianca Jewelers
Rentals – La Tablerie

 

Many congratulations to Ariel and Cedric, and a huge thank you to Junebug member Dani Purington for sharing their incredible France destination wedding with us! Loving Dani’s work? Check out this romantic rustic San Diego wedding at BRICK Liberty Station.

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