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It Doesn’t Get More Thoughtful Than This Sentimental DIY Sandpoint Wedding

July 4, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Kelsey and Michael’s private home Sandpoint wedding was as romantic and joyful as they come! The couple enlisted the help of family and friends to hand-craft their special day, and the result was truly remarkable. From the florals that were all designed by a close friend to the ceremony arch made by the groom’s father using willow branches from his own backyard, there was so much care and love poured into every detail. The sentimental traditions they and their friends incorporated, including a ring-warming ceremony and a memorable dance at the reception, were just as sweet. We can hardly get enough of the charm in this Sandpoint wedding and the way that Whit McGuire Photography managed to capture the couple’s energy and essence in every image!

The Couple:

Kelsey and Michael

The Wedding:

Private Residence, Sandpoint, Idaho

In planning our wedding, hands down we knew we wanted to party all night. Finding a venue with no curfew to allow us to dance the night away was top on our list. We also wanted to be surrounded by all our closest friends and family; so finding a venue that could do both was our number one priority. Fortunately for us, we had an amazing family friend who offered us their gorgeous property by the mountains to host our entire wedding in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Our most memorable DIY was our wedding circle arch. The arch was made by hand by Michael‘s Dad who took branches from a willow tree in his backyard, stripped them of leaves, then carefully wove them into a wreath to let them dry and cure. For the final touches, a family friend who did all the flowers for our wedding decorated the arch with the most beautiful blooms and greenery. It simply took my breath away as I walked down the aisle.

During our ceremony, we had a ring warming. Our wedding bands, each tied to their own ribbon, were handed to our guests to hold for a moment, warm them with their love, and make a silent wish or blessing for the future we will share. When they were returned, the rings contained in them our guests’ love, hope, and pledge of support for our union.

As you plan your own wedding every detail will feel important. When reflecting on our day, the most important elements to us were moments with our guests and moments with each other one on one. Make time in your day for each other as husband and wife to reflect, even for only just a couple minutes. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, some of the biggest and most meaningful gifts that our friends and family gave us were their time, talents, and resources. Our wedding couldn’t have been what it was without the generosity of our close friends and family that helped us host an unforgettable event.

Being lifted on top of our friends’ shoulders as we all danced to and sang to the song Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show will be a memory we will never forget. This silly tradition started back with Michael and his guy friends in college; whenever they are together and the song Wagon Wheel comes on, they remove their shirts and sing together for the duration of the song, no matter the location. This has molded into an amazing wedding tradition shared with many of our friends.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Whit McGuire Photography
Catering – Mangia Catering
Cake – Pine Street Bakery
Videography – Becca Neblock
Stationery – Minted
Hair and Makeup Artist – Molly June II
Wedding Dress – Alexandra Grecco
Bridal Accessories – Gucci and Lana Jewelry
Groom’s Apparel – Ted Baker
Rings – Shane Co. and Bony Levy
Rentals – All About Weddings

 

Congratulations to Kelsey and Michael, and a special thanks to Whit McGuire Photography for sharing this Sandpoint wedding with Junebug! Looking for more DIY wedding inspiration? This vibrant Texas Wildlife Sanctuary wedding has all the DIY inspiration you need!

 

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Get Your Daily Dose of Girl Power with These Not-So-Average Bridesmaids Photos

July 3, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

photo by Page & Holmes Photography; see more from this wedding here!

If you’re anything like us, you can never get enough incredible bridesmaids photos…so this round-up is about to make your day! These babes are the epitome of empowering and show just how creative you can get with group shots on the wedding day. Get ready for some serious girl power and enjoy these unique bridesmaids moments from some of our favorite weddings!

photo by From the Daisies; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Monique Serra Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Alexandria Monette Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Danielle Determan; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Kartsie Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Dallas & Sabrina Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Kayla Fisher Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Pablo Laguia; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Brandi Allyse Photo; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Patrick Robinson Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Katch Studios; see more from this wedding here!

photo by PaulinaWeddings; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Wide in Wonder; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Alex Mari Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Angela Bloemsaat – Love Story Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Elk & Willow; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Jessie Schultz Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Stacie Carr Photography; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Sharon Litchfield; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Shannon Lee Miller; see more from this wedding here!

photo by Lindsey Noel Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Ready to find the perfect look for your girls? Shop these posts now:

The Best Places to Buy Bridesmaids Dresses Online

13 Mismatched Bridesmaids Dress Color Palettes to Use Throughout Your Wedding

The Best Places to Shop for Plus Size Bridesmaids Dresses

Affordable Bridesmaids Dresses and Separates So Cute Your Girls Will Actually Wear Them Again

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If The Green Building Brooklyn Doesn’t Knock You Off Your Feet, the Bold Bridal Style in This NYC Wedding Will

July 3, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Between their swoon-worthy venue and the sexy, laid-back bar vibes, Lauren and Brian’s NYC wedding at The Green Building gave us serious FOMO! The designers at Siren Floral Co. brought the magic with wildly creative floral arrangements that covered everything from the lounge and cocktail areas to the tables and even to the ground leading to the ceremony space. But the true showstopper was the bride’s Chantel Lauren blue ombre wedding gown, which was simultaneously whimsical and city chic! If you’ve been looking for non-traditional wedding inspiration that’s totally classy, these photos captured by Chellise Michael Photography are everything you need to see today!

The Couple:

Lauren and Brian

The Wedding:

The Green Building, Brooklyn, New York

From the bride: Our first look was the most memorable part of the day. To make it extra special, we exchanged our vows during that private time before the ceremony – just the two of us. 1) it helped get out any jitters and 2) the intimacy, sentiment, and sincerity in those few minutes are something I’ll never forget.

Authenticity was the most important part of planning! We hoped that our guests would say, “this is so Lauren & Brian!” Having time on our side really helped. We were engaged for 1.5 years which made the planning process fun. We celebrated each planning milestone along the way!

Our best advice is to focus on quality people and quality time. We only invited immediate family and close friends. Only friends we had both met were invited. We had a decent amount of out of town guests. Our wedding was on Friday and we planned low key activities Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in hopes of having more quality time with everyone. Additionally, we rented an Airbnb for the two of us Wednesday-Monday. It was our own retreat each day just to be with each other. On our wedding day, we had our bridal party and parents come over – we spent the whole day together!

Imagine sitting at your favorite local bar, your favorite song is on, the food is great, it’s candlelit, and you feel sexy. That’s the vibe we were going for! We threw (most) traditions out the window. We kicked off our evening wedding with a cocktail hour and a beautiful local spread. It helped create a welcoming and fun vibe right off the bat. The design was really inspired by our insanely talented florist. We completely trusted her to create magic, we didn’t over-direct her, and we encouraged her creativity. She crushed it! We also had a custom neon sign that read, “The Varners”. Once we flipped that on after we were introduced, it really brought that “bar” vibe to life!

From the groom: The most memorable part of the day was Lauren walking down the aisle. It was something I had envisioned for such a long time. It completely exceeded my expectations and Lauren managed to surprise me! She arranged to have our friend, T.J., play acoustic guitar while her Dad walked her down the aisle.

Our friend was the best officiant ever, we also wrote our own vows to each other. We staged a few friends to direct our guests to form our aisle and ultimately a semi-circle standing around us while we exchanged vows. The intimacy, love, and support we felt from the room were overwhelming. Another word of advice: ask your guests to keep their phones away so everyone is fully present.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Chellise Michael Photography
Venue – The Green Building
Floral Design – Siren Floral Co.
Catering – New York Food Truck Association
Bartending – Cambra Company
Makeup Artist – Caroline Baribeau
Hair Styling – VOE Studio
Wedding Dress – Chantel Lauren from Schone Bride
Bridal Accessories – Jennifer Behr
Groom’s Apparel – J. Crew
Rings – Suzie Saltzman
Rentals – Gather & Lounge

 

Congratulations to Lauren and Brian, and a big thanks to Junebug member Chellise Michael Photography for sharing this wedding at The Green Building! Love these downtown wedding vibes? Then you have to see this boho luxe downtown Kansas City wedding at The Bride and The Bauer!

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