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This Sacred Mountain Julian Wedding was Filled with Joy and Wild Northern California Vibes

January 30, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Wild. Family. Joy. Those were the 3 words that stuck with Taylor and Joe from the very beginning of planning, and those are the exact words we would use to describe their Sacred Mountain Julian wedding! From the very beginning, Caleb Gaskins Photography was able to capture the most sincere joy radiating from everyone involved, and the love just kept getting stronger and stronger as the day went along. Their mountaintop “I dos” were full of song and community, and their cozy outdoor reception was full of heartfelt details and wildly fun moments. The only thing that could outshine the carefree vibes was the bride’s effortlessly chic style that included a Grace Loves Lace gown and natural beauty!

The Couple:

Taylor and Joe

The Wedding:

Sacred Mountain Julian, California

The most important thing to us was that our wedding felt like home and was full of the presence of Jesus and family. That people could enter into a different world and be able to be so present with one another. That celebration, joy, and adventure would be the heartbeat of the gathering. We just love being with our people!

During our ceremony, the most important thing to us was to have a couple worship songs right in the beginning. The reality of our relationship is that we would not have found one another if we hadn’t found the goodness of Jesus Christ in our lives. Worship is such a huge part of our hearts and we wanted to worship in full abandon over the valley of Julian with all our friends and family. It was a mixture of joy, laughter, overwhelming freedom, and extravagant love. The powerful worship that took place in that time set the tone for the whole wedding.

The people in your life want to help you…ask them for it! It is a beautiful opportunity to make people feel wanted and engaged in your engagement process. See the gifts that your friends and family have and ask them to participate in the things that bring them joy, too. We would never have been able to do this without our friends and family.

Also, we suggest writing down 3 words that describe the feeling of your wedding so that you can continually go back to those words throughout your process when things start to get crazy and remember what you wanted from the start. Stick to what you originally envisioned.

Processional – “Extravagant” by Steffany Gretzinger and Amanda Cook
Recessional – “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole
First Dance – “Take the World” by JohnnySwim

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Caleb Gaskins Photography
Venue – Sacred Mountain Julian
Catering – San Diego Taco Company
Officiant – Parker and Jessi Green
Stationery – Minted
Hair Styling – Kylie Youmans
Wedding Dress – Grace Loves Lace
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Show Me Your Mumu
Groom’s Apparel – J. Crew
Groomsmen’s Apparel – H&M
Rings – Aidah
Rentals – Simply by Whitney

 

Congratulations to Taylor and Joe, and a big thanks to Caleb Gaskins Photography for sharing this Sacred Mountain Julian wedding with Junebug! Want to see more mountaintop wedding magic? This thoughtful North Arm Farm wedding has the most jaw-dropping mountain backdrop!

 

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Rust and Peach Sonoma Wedding at Hamel Family Wines

January 29, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Simplicity was the name of the game for Erica and Michael in their unbelievably gorgeous wedding at Hamel Family Wines in Sonoma Valley! The iconic Northern California landscape was the perfect backdrop for this special day on its own, but then you add the modern, minimalist architecture of the venue and it was a match made in heaven for these design professionals. They tied the knot on a patio overlooking the vineyards, with 9 family members there to bear witness. Then they dined with an indoor reception that needed nothing more than greenery sprigs to make it totally chic. Though the details were minimal, the moments were exceptionally romantic  and the style was timeless. These images from Madeline Shea Photography show off every angle of this California wedding!

The Couple:

Erica and Michael

The Wedding:

Hamel Family Wines, Sonoma, California

Our goal was really to keep our wedding as simple and stress-free as possible. We wanted to be able to enjoy ourselves and spend the day focused on us and our vows, while surrounded by the gorgeous scenery in Sonoma. Our immediate family (9 people) were the only attendees – and it really made the whole day feel so special and intimate.

We always knew that we wanted to have an intimate destination wedding or elopement, and were open to traveling anywhere in the US. We happened to visit Hamel Family Wines on vacation (shortly after we got engaged) and were so impressed by the staff, the winery, and the architecture of the estate house. We called on a whim as soon as we got home from that trip to ask if we could have our wedding there, and luckily they said yes!

Michael and I are minimalists; I’m an architect and he’s a web developer, so we just naturally knew we’d want something simple and beautiful. Luckily the scenery at Hamel Family Wines (both the architecture and the vineyard itself) is so beautiful on its own, that we really didn’t have to do much to achieve the modern aesthetic we were after.

We did a “warming of the rings” ceremony. Our rings were passed to each family member during the ceremony. When one of our family members received the rings in the palm of their hand, they would clasp their hands over the rings, rub their hands together, and send “well wishes”, “prayers”, “good vibes” for us.  We also did a wine box ceremony. We bought a bottle of wine from Hamel and sealed it in a box (along with love letters to each other), which we’ll open on our 5 year anniversary!

I think my favorite photo is one Michael and I “cheersing” with our wine glasses. The photo actually doesn’t show our faces, but I think I love it because it feels spontaneous and natural. It also captures the relaxed, joyful vibe of the wedding day.

I knew that I wanted a simple, architectural dress, but didn’t have a specific style inspiration beyond that. I bought my dress at a sample sale and had my seamstress reconstruct it into something totally new…I think that’s my favorite part about the dress; it’s completely unique to me! I also absolutely loved my belt sash from Sara Gabriel. It truly made the dress. And lastly, I wore some flowers in my hair that were part of my grandma’s belt that she wore on her wedding day. It was so special to have something sentimental included in my accessories!

Our photographer was a dream! Because our wedding was so small, we didn’t hire a coordinator. Madeline somewhat stepped into that role on our wedding day, bouncing between locations where Michael and I were getting ready to make sure she truly captured every detail of the day. She also curated and kept us on schedule for every other event of the day – first look, ceremony, cocktail hour, family photos, and dinner!! Madeline has such a fun and relaxed demeanor, which really helped me to stay calm during the day. She is the caring, peaceful friend that every bride needs on the big day!! She also is super smart and thinks quickly on her feet, which is evident in the variety of styles, backdrops, and stances in our photos from the day.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Madeline Shea Photography
Venue – Hamel Family Wines
Floral Design – Beijaflor Botanicals
Officiant – Stevi Hanson
Live Music – Matt Bolton
Stationery – THiKit
Hair and Makeup Artist – Leticia Ontiveros
Wedding Dress – Houghton NYC via a & bé Bridal Shop
Bridal Accessories – Sara Gabriel
Groom’s Apparel – Alton Lane

 

Congratulations to Erica and Michael, and a special thanks to Madeline Shea Photography for sharing this beautiful Hamel Family Wines wedding with Junebug! Getting married at a winery? Check out this romantic eucalyptus-inspired Santorini wedding at Venetsanos Winery!

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Forest Fairy Tale Wedding at Koerner’s Pub in Vancouver

January 28, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Floriana and Conor brought all the fairytale wedding vibes to Koerner’s Pub for a truly unforgettable day! Five years after meeting on a beach, the couple tied the knot in a very similar, sandy setting, with nothing by blue skies and ocean views as far as the eye could see. Then it was off to their reception dinner at a local pub, which is actually where they had their first dates! Floresamor did an incredible job transforming the space into a woodsy fairytale complete with rust colored roses and sprawling greenery that complemented the vintage-inspired decor beautifully. From the bride’s stunning Rue De Seine gown and bare feet to the raw, candid moments that Nomad by NK captured in every part of the day, this Vancouver wedding was both beachy-boho and woodsy-whimsical goals!

The Couple:

Floriana and Conor

The Wedding:

Spanish Banks Beach and Koerner’s Pub, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Our two goals throughout the planning process were to remain authentic and to put on an awesome party for our guests. We prioritized having great food, an open bar, and a live band, over investing too much in decor and small details. We met on a beach, so it only made sense that we would declare our love by the ocean five years later. One of our very first dates took place at the pub that turned out to be our reception venue. Our wedding was truly a glimpse of who we are as a couple.

Right after the ceremony ended, we quickly hugged some of our guests and then ran and hid for about 15 minutes. We just needed a few moments to grasp what had just happened. We probably repeated, “Can you believe we are married??” to each other about ten times and said the unedited version of our vows to each other, which will always remain our secret.

Don’t let people tell you it’s not worth spending money on things like professional photography, videography, live music, or the decor you really want. It’s all worth it because it is a very special day, and it should feel like that to both you and your guests. The only thing I regret spending too much on was the lipstick that I never ended up using that day because I was too busy kissing my new husband!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Nomad by NK
Ceremony Venue – Spanish Banks Beach
Reception Venue – Koerner’s Pub
Floral Design – Floresamor
Live Music – Trilojay Band
Videography – Lee Wedding Films
Makeup Artist – Save the Date Beauty
Wedding Dress – Rue De Seine via Union Bridal

 

Congratulations to Floriana and Conor, and a special thanks to Junebug member Nomad by NK for sharing this fairytale Koerner’s Pub wedding! Love these whimsical forest vibes? Then you have to see how this couple surprised their guests with a gorgeous Boranup Forest wedding among the trees!

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