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This Oklahoma Ranch Music Festival Wedding was a Total Lovefest – Literally!

February 14, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

We’re currently contemplating how we go about making music festival weddings a trend for the rest of eternity…and how we get invited to all of them! Stephanie, EJ, and their entire team of talented vendors created a wedding weekend festival set in the middle of a ranch, complete with Ferris Wheel, glamping tents, hot air balloons, and helicopter rides! Farthing Events created an earthy vibe for their actual wedding day, combining lush florals designed by Eversomething with hand-painted details from the talented bride for a totally natural feel. After the fireworks show and a good night’s rest on the grounds, the group was back up and at it for a day of music, rides, and food trucks. Cody & Allison Photography and Wild Light Films could not have been a more perfect choice to capture this epic wedding weekend and make us feel like we were right in the middle of this Lovefest!

The Couple:

Stephanie and EJ

The Wedding:

Valley Park Ranch, Tulsa, Oklahoma

The most important thing to us both was to make the wedding reflect our unique story. We only wanted traditions that meant something to us and to create new ones that expressed our idea of what it means to become a family. EJ spent months preparing the ranch and making custom cheese boards from scratch since he loves woodworking. I knew people from all over the world would be meeting for the first time so I put an extra effort into seating strangers who I felt would be a great match. Overall, we just wanted everyone to fall in love with the experience.

I always loved the way Jenny from Forrest Gump looked on her wedding day. I knew I wanted sleeves to cover up my tattoos for a more classic but romantic look. I saw my dress online one day but never looked into where it was being sold. I went to a bridal boutique with my girlfriends not expecting to settle on anything. When our advisor brought out the dress, I said: “That’s the one!” I tried on a few others just to see but, when I put this one on, I knew.

Groomsmen’s Processional – “Game of Thrones Main Theme”
Bridesmaids’ Processional – “Beauty and the Beast” 
Bride’s Processional – “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve
Recessional – “Your Song” by Elton John

Our advice: If you don’t want to be stressed out then choose professional vendors with great reviews and photos you connect with most. Give up control after you have fully expressed your vision and let them work their magic — that’s what you’re paying them for! If you loosen the grip on every tiny detail, then you’ll be even more excited to see the outcome. You will be more present on your big day because you won’t be freaking out about little things that don’t matter and no one will remember.

I went to NYU with EJ’s sister and she told me on a trip together that I would really like her brother since we were both into hunting and fishing. We became Instagram friends and for three years EJ tried to get me to come to Oklahoma to meet him. I was working with a company on a potential TV show about hunting, and I asked EJ if we could feature him and his ranch for the show. He agreed and I showed up to meet him with 3 camera guys. They mic-ed us the moment we met and filmed the first 3 days of our meeting. The footage turned out mostly to be us awkwardly flirting with each other and 100% falling in love. My film crew edited a version of the footage to be an 8-minute video of us on the ranch — exactly where the wedding was — running around and falling in love.

When everyone sat down to dinner, we told the guests what they were about to see and showed them the video projected on two screens on each side of the tent. My friends were crying and couldn’t believe we had such a special time captured so beautifully on film. It was funny, quirky, and romantic. EJ ended up having a whole plan to make me fall in love with him and it was all caught on camera — from the necklace, he carved for me months before we met to him lifting me up in the bucket of his tractor with a cooler and some cushions to watch the sunset and kiss me. When EJ proposed, he mowed “STEPHANIE WILL YOU MARRY ME < EJ” in 10 acres of his ranch and took me up in a helicopter to see it. His brother filmed it and we added it to the movie. It was a huge surprise for everyone at the wedding, and an even bigger surprise to know my first date with my husband would get to be shown to all my friends and family at our wedding.

EJ also mowed “LOVEFEST” into the field for the festival for people going up in the helicopter to see. He is incredibly talented with a mower and it was nice to show off his skills!

The morning after our epic wedding that went till dawn, we woke up to the sound of live music already starting at our music festival just outside our RV. As I walked out, I saw friends who fell in love with each other from the wedding night debauchery the night before. They were creeping out of their glamping tents in disbelief we were still in this beautiful countryside together and the party wasn’t over. I saw the helicopter starting its rides, the mini Ferris Wheel moving, all the food trucks smelling delicious, and the entire wait staff smiling ear to ear with all the guests and loving getting them drunk again the next morning. The outfits people brought to a music festival wedding in Oklahoma were incredible! I was so proud of my friends and in love with my new husband and life. 

During the music festival, EJ‘s father played a set in between some of the bigger bands. He plays nostalgic old cowboy songs with so much class and romance. He had the biggest crowd of the day and everyone was completely silent during his set. He sang straight to me and EJ and we cried our way through it. When he finished, the entire tent of over 70 people had a massive group hug and we knew no one would forget this experience – it was #Lovefest!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Cody & Allison Photography
Event Planning – Farthing Events
Venue – Valley Park Ranch
Floral Design – Eversomething
Catering – Palace Cafe
Cake – Laurannae Baking Co.
DJ – DJ Jonny Famous
Live Music – Grazzhopper
Videography – Wild Light Films
Stationery – The Inviting Place
Makeup Artist – Shannon Schroeder
Hair Styling – Julie Shaffer
Wedding Dress – Elizabeth Fillmore
Groom and Groomsmen’s Apparel – Cavender’s
Rentals – Found Rentals
Transportation – Village Tours and Travel
Favors – Nomadic Collector
Tents – Party Pro Rentals
Lighting – Omni Lighting
Linens – La Tavola Fine Linen
Balloons – Tulsa Balloons Express
Glamping Tents – Homma Camp Co.
Fireworks – Pyro Shows
RV Rentals – Southwest RV Rentals

 

Congratulations to Stephanie and EJ, and a big thanks to Junebug member Cody & Allison Photography for sharing this music festival wedding! Want to see more from these talented photographers? We’re obsessed with the use of burgundy and velvet in this emotional Flagstaff wedding!

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7 Striking Emerald Wedding Color Palettes

February 13, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

photo by Karra Leigh Photography

These emerald wedding palettes prove that green is still a showstopping color for weddings! Because emeralds have so many subtle tones, it’s a perfectly versatile color that can add a fresh, earthy feel or a glamorous, sophisticated vibe. Whether you pair it with neutrals, vibrant tones, or pastel hues, emerald green looks great as an accent or a primary color in nearly any palette.

EMERALD, PEACOCK, OLIVE, GINGER, COTTON

photos by Emily Star Poole, venue and event planning by The Living Desert, wedding dress by BHLDN, bridal accessories by Silver & Quill Jewelry, groom’s apparel by Indochino, and rentals by Folklore Rentals; see more from this wedding here!

EMERALD, TEAL, SAGE, PEARL, DUSTY PEACH

photos by Andrew Edwards Photography, venue: The Market at Grelen, floral design by Hedge Fine Blooms, stationery by Karl Neiswender, makeup by Gohar Makeup, hair styling by Brianna B Adams, wedding dress by Morilee, bridal accessories by Rose Avenue FloralBlue by Betsey Johnson, and Badgley Mischka, groom’s apparel by ASOS, and groomsmen’s apparel by StudioSuits; see more from this wedding here!

EMERALD, JUNIPER, PINK SAND, TAWNY, INDIGO

photos by Kristen Soileau Portraits, event planning by SoCal Wedding Consultant, floral design by Flower Allie, wedding dress by Maggie Sottero, bridal accessories by Balanced Bead and Tassel, bridesmaids’ apparel by Unique Vintage, groom’s apparel by Caravelli, and rings by Provenance Rentals; see more from this wedding here!

EMERALD, CERISE, BUMBLEBEE, AEGEAN SEA, CREPE

photo by Vein + Vessel Studios, venue: Camp Wyman, floral design by Anew Market Creations, stationery by Misty Manley, hair and makeup by Danielle Style, wedding dress by Sarah Seven, and groom’s apparel by ASOS; see more from this wedding here!

EMERALD, TURQUOISE, DESERT ROSE, RUST, STONE

photo by Karra Leigh Photography, event planning by Vanity Affair Event, venue: Castaway Portland, floral design by Vanessa Schmidt Co., stationery by Parkside Prints, makeup by Kiss & Makeup Artistry, hair styling by Swept Away PDX, wedding dress by Truvelle Bridal, bridal accessories by Anthropologie, and rentals by Something Borrowed Portland; see more from this wedding here!

EMERALD, BOUGAINVILLEA, PAMPAS GRASS, BRIGHT GOLD, GRASS GREEN

photos by Eden Strader Photography, event planning by Spell Bundle and  Tealight Events, floral design by Pink Pineapple Florals, bridesmaids apparel by For Love and Lemons and The Reformation, rentals by Signature Party Rentals and Spell Bundle; see more from this wedding here!

EMERALD, SANGRIA, MERIGOLD, BLUSH, CLAY

photos by Sanford Creative, event planning by The Foraged Fête, venue: The 1909, floral design by I DEW FLOWERS, stationery by By Invitation Only, makeup by Key Beauty, hair styling by DKW Styling, wedding dress by Rue De Seine, bridal accessories by Forever Soles, bridesmaids’ apparel by Free People and For Love and Lemons, groom’s apparel by Nordstrom, macrame by Everyday Macrame, rentals by Circa Vintage Rentals and Otis + Pearl Vintage Rentals, backdrop by The Creative Shift, and calligraphy by Creatively Spun; see more from this wedding here!

Obsessed with these emerald wedding color palettes and looking for more color ideas? We’ve got 19 reception table decor color palettes you’re going to love!

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Fabulous Floral-Inspired Florence Wedding at Villa Medicea di Lilliano

Over-the-top florals and the elegant Florentine vibes of Villa Medicea di Lilliano were a match made in heaven for Rebecca and Riccardo’s romantic wedding day! This beautiful couple and their planning team at Design Anarchy Studio did an unbelievable job of combining a classic Italian feel with nods to American traditions.

The floral installations and table centerpieces created by Floralia are incredible pieces that can only be described as art. From the bride’s pre-ceremony-entrance walk through the Piazza to the candlelit al fresco reception to the giant Tuscan wedding cake that was made before the guests’ eyes, Erin & Gabri Photography managed to capture every incredible moment of this Italian wedding perfectly!

The Couple:

Rebecca and Riccardo

The Wedding:

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and Villa Medicea di Lilliano, Florence, Italy

Walking from our hotel to the church with my best friend, my sister and my father was an exciting and surreal part of the day. Arriving at the ceremony is an emotional and reflective time for anyone, and I felt lucky that I could travel by foot across the piazza, from our hotel to the Church, with 3 of the people that I love most. Piazza Santa Maria Novella is large and beautiful, but, on that day, it was even more festive because there was a parade going on for the annual “Calcio Storico.” The day celebrates a famous medieval sports match, and the parade begins in Piazza Santa Maria Novella with hundreds of performers dressed in different 16th-century costumes. There were drummers, dancers and acrobats swirling around and interacting with us, and as we approached the front of the church, the drummers formed a line to usher us in. It was truly a memorable beginning to the day of our dreams!

The planning of the wedding can be so exhilarating and make the day go by in a blur as you anticipate the next step. On the wedding day, try to steal some moments alone with your partner, to slow down and really enjoy. After the ceremony, my husband and I drove in a vintage Fiat 500 to the reception venue, just us two. It is a really nice memory of a moment during the wedding where we could enjoy the day together, take a breath, and prepare for the rest!

Food is very important to Italians — especially to my husband and his family — so we gave this aspect a lot of attention. Each region of Italy has their specialty cuisine and, for the wedding day, we wanted to showcase Tuscany’s best while letting the guests feel a part of the process. When guests first arrived at the reception venue, they were greeted by an Italian-style Aperitivo with several stations: a station of cured meats, a raw fish and carpaccio bar sourced from the Tuscan seaside, bread, vegetables, and a cheese station where we had an amazing chef show-cooking the mozzarella live. This was something we saw at another wedding in southern Italy and, being huge burrata lovers ourselves, we knew we needed to share this with our guests. 

Riccardo’s parents also surprised us with the wedding favours for our guests. We are building a little home in Puglia Italy in a field of olives, and they managed to organize the oil harvest from these trees into little bottles of oil for every guest to take home. It was a very special gift that holds a piece of the life we are building together.

For us, the most important part of wedding planning was bringing together aspects of Italian and American culture in order to celebrate both of our backgrounds and our families. We had our wedding in Florence, which allowed us to incorporate many aspects of Italian culture. But we also included many American touches, such as the rehearsal dinner, toasts a plenty, bourbon (we are from the south after all), wedding-themed beer koozies, and so on.

Italy is not a place where they hold back on the details (just look at their churches), and I wanted our style to reflect a similar type of decadence and elegance. My dress was handmade by a fabulous designer out of Tel Aviv called Chana Marelus. I was immediately drawn to their designs because of the beading, embellishments, and great detail that they put into every piece. I also knew I wanted something very unique!

For the bridesmaids, I wanted to match the ornate feel of my dress, so I chose a mix of Needle & Thread dresses and plain satin gowns that matched each girl’s personality. Our flower girl was dressed in an amazing brand called Tutu Du Monde from Australia (where she is from) and she matched with the other girls perfectly. If I ever have a daughter, I am definitely buying her one of these dresses!

For the dinner, the guests started with a Primi (first course) of pasta with wild boar and sage ragu. Wild boar is one of the staples in Tuscan cuisine, and we couldn’t have our wedding dinner without a delicious plate of pasta. For the Secondi (main course), we chose the signature dish of Tuscany: Bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine steak). These large pieces of Chianina beef were grilled for guests to view next to the dinner reception, cut into slices, and served with traditional Tuscan vegetables on the side. 

For the cake, my favorite part, we chose a mille-feuille which is the traditional wedding cake of Tuscany. It was also made live by two chefs with layers of pastry, mascarpone cream, and berries. Delicious!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Erin & Gabri Photography
Event Planning – Chic Weddings in Italy
Ceremony Venue – Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
Reception Venue – Villa Medicea di Lilliano
Floral Design – Floralia
Catering and Cake – Galateo Ricevimenti
Live Music – Gatsby Band
Videography – Produzioni Evergreen
Stationery – Lamplighter
Hair and Makeup Artist – Marcela Bantea
Wedding Dress – Chana Marelus
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Needle & Thread
Flower Girl’s Dress – Tutu Du Monde
Groom and Groomsmen’s Apparel – SanterasmoCinque
Rings – Ming Jewellery
Favors – Lights and Audio Setup – Kaleydo

 

Congratulations to Rebecca and Riccardo, and thanks to Junebug member Design Anarchy Studio for sharing this incredible Villa Medicea di Lilliano!

Want to see more from these talented planners? You’ll love this Moroccan-inspired boho chic wedding in Southern Italy.

 

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