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This Waterfront Shelter Island Wedding is the Epitome of East Coast Romance

June 1, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Courtney and Michael created a wildly elegant yet totally laid-back festival vibe for their Shelter Island wedding! Their goal was to make the entire event feel as welcoming as possible, and we think they nailed it. For the ceremony, they set up a wood and floral arch under a huge tree facing the water. Then, for the reception, they filled the backyard space with yard games, bar stations, photos, DIY signs, and a huge tent for dining and dancing. Katyas Flowers added the prettiest soft and vibrant pink floral arrangements, as well, which were perfect for a late-summer wedding. Every detail was as charming as could be, and On The Times Photography captured it all brilliantly!

The Couple:

Courtney and Michael

The Wedding:

Private Residence, Shelter Island, New York

As I’m originally from the United Kingdom, our wedding was going to be a seldom moment where both of our families would be together. For us it was a rare moment that we truly wanted to make as magical as possible, not only for us but for everyone involved. We knew that photographs would be one the most treasured takeaways from the big day, therefore finding a photographer was a critical point in our planning.

We got married at Mike’s Uncle’s house, that has been in their family since their great-grandmother purchased it in the 1930s. Mike has been going there annually since he was born and then took me after we started dating. It has been a place close to the heart of many people, and it quickly became a place close to my own!

Our wedding colors were a variety of pinks, whites, and lots of greenery. We chose colors that would be a soft contrast to the blues of the bay behind us. The pops of bright pink in the floral arrangements were an afterthought I had last minute. I think my florist thought I’d gone mad, but we were so happy with the end result!

We did a few DIY projects; the main one was the signpost. We decided to show our guests how much we valued their efforts to make it to the wedding by making a signpost showing all the locations they came from and the miles they traveled! It was a really cool piece that we’ll keep forever.

We wanted the wedding to reflect us and be as true to our characters as possible. Our aim was to foster an environment that everyone felt comfortable. People had traveled for days to get to the little island, so we just wanted to enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings!

Our best advice is to just take a moment. Seriously, I know that’s such an overused sentence but, for me, everyone warned me that I wouldn’t have time to eat. Now if you know me, that’s not an option. (Hanger is real!) So, I made a point of sitting with my food during the reception and taking a moment simply to watch everyone. I saw my grandparents share laughs with Mike’s grandparents, long distance cousins reconnect over tacos, and my little sister help Mike’s baby cousin walk across the dance floor. I think people were very respectful of this moment because I wasn’t interrupted once —  or nobody wanted to get between me and my food!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – On The Times Photography
Floral Design – Katyas Flowers
Catering – Juste Hors D’oeuvres
Cake – Brittani Kelly
Videography – NST Pictures
Hair and Makeup Artist – The House of Makeup
Wedding Dress – Tara Lauren from Lovely Bride NY
Bridal Accessories – ieie Bridal
Groom’s Apparel – Suit Supply and The Tie Bar
Rings – Riverdale Ironworks
Rentals – Big Dawg Party Rentals
Transportation – North Fork Trolley Co.
Favors – Sycamore Studios
Wooden Place Holders – Engrave Celebration
Tent – Sperry Tents Hamptons

 

Congratulations to Courtney and Michael, and a huge thanks to On The Times Photography for sharing this incredible Shelter Island wedding! Want to see more backyard wedding inspiration? This enchanting Wiltshire wedding is unlike any backyard wedding you’ve ever seen!

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This Black and White Riviera Mansion Wedding Showcases the Most Impossibly Stylish Greenery

May 31, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Abby and Tommy made black-tie elegance look unbelievably approachable and contemporary in their Riviera Mansion wedding! This California couple and their talented designer/florist, Layne Kula, used the classic black, white, gold, and green palette to accentuate the gardens where they hosted both the ceremony and reception. The goal was to create a formal look with a fun party vibe, and they nailed it! One of the most memorable details of this special day was Abby’s custom gown, which she helped design with Anomalie, and combined that same formal, contemporary feel. Everything about this California wedding was swoon-worthy and, luckily for us, By Amy Lynn Photography was there to capture it all!

The Couple:

Abby and Tommy

The Wedding:

Riviera Mansion, Santa Barbara, California

While planning our wedding, the most important thing was to create a memorable weekend for all of our guests, not just our immediate family and bridal party. We were so appreciative of everyone traveling to Santa Barbara for the weekend and wanted to make sure it felt like a fun vacation for all from arrival all the way through brunch Sunday morning! We also wanted to honor wedding traditions, but with a few twists that spoke to us as a couple.

We both went to UC Santa Barbara, so Santa Barbara as a location was sort of a no brainer. We are more city than beachy people, so we were looking for a venue that felt like a chic, downtown estate. The Riviera Mansion‘s location was what originally piqued our interest, and their team of true event experts took us over the line.

To personalize our ceremony, both Abby‘s mom and dad walked her down the aisle; it was important to her to include them both. Tommy‘s sister, Meghann was our officiant and she couldn’t have done a more perfect job summarizing us as a couple! We also wrote our own vows, which we felt helped us articulate what marriage meant to us in a more personal way. Abby‘s family is Jewish, so it meant a lot to them that glass was broken during the ceremony. But, to put a feminist twist on the tradition, Abby chose to break the glass as opposed to Tommy!

Abby works in the fashion industry, so the dress was a major decision! She knew she wanted something unique and wanted to avoid traditional wedding materials like delicate lace. She worked with Anomalie, which is a custom dress company based in San Francisco, and they totally nailed her very specific vision. Her hair and makeup team executed the perfect balance of elevated yet glamorous! 

Our photographer, Amy, was incredible! We chose her because her aesthetic is unparalleled and we knew she would capture the best magic. She was creative, funny, and kept us on track. We have photos of the sweet, intimate moments as well as styled shots of a brigade of groomsmen and bridesmaid taking the streets of Santa Barbara by storm.

The seating chart was a huge DIY project. We knew we wanted something interactive and went with a large, self-standing wall that said: “Find your party animal!” The wall had gold animals that held the seating arrangements up, and all of the animals were hand painted. They were just plastic toys from Amazon, and they totally transformed with a little paint!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – By Amy Lynn Photography
Event Design – Layne Kula
Event Coordination – Down Emery Lane
Venue – Riviera Mansion
Floral Design – Layne Kula
Cake – Crushcakes & Cafe
DJ – Scott Topper Productions
Stationery – Minted
Makeup Artist – Shoushana Balian
Hair Styling – Gabriella Salazar
Wedding Dress – Anomalie
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Fame and Partners
Groom’s Apparel – The Black Tux
Rings – SG Diamonds
Rentals – E Rentals Events

 

Congratulations to Abby and Tommy, and a big thanks to By Amy Lynn Photography for sharing this Riviera Mansion wedding with Junebug! Love black-tie weddings? This black-tie Palm Springs elopement took an In-N-Out detour!

 

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Modern Chic British Columbia Vineyard Wedding at Poplar Grove Winery

May 30, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Brooklynn and Benjamin’s Poplar Grove Winery wedding was a breath of fresh air! The couple added modern flair and chic style to the rustic venue, giving it a fresh look without taking away from any of the natural elegance. Society Floral used neutral shades for the floral designs and the rest of the details were delicate and refined, a perfectly curated look created by Dream Big Weddings & Events. But the true stars of this show were the bride, who rocked a super chic Bo and Luca gown and eclectic accessories, and the groom, who looked dapper in a classic Bonobos suit. From the ceremony nestled among the vineyards to the cliffside newlywed portraits, Meghan Hemstra Photography was there to capture every incredible moment!

The Couple:

Brooklynn and Benjamin

The Wedding:

Poplar Grove Winery, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

Ben and I knew we would wed on a winery because it has all the elements that we wanted — beautiful outdoor space, vineyard backdrops, and amazing wine. Our ceremony was on the lower level of the property, on a large open grass field, highlighted by the vineyards with a view of the lake as our backdrop! We married at Poplar Grove Winery in Penticton, British Columbia. My family has been going to Penticton since I was a little girl and, although New York is our home, I knew I had to share Penticton with Ben as it has always held a place in my heart! I have never loved a small town the way that I love Penticton and, when I finally took Ben to visit, he loved it just as much as I did!

Going into it I didn’t have a clear style inspiration; I just knew that I wanted to do a look that was me! On the wedding day, I did a look that is familiar to my style with my hair straight and slicked back with a side part and kept my makeup natural. I wore asymmetrical gold, shell earrings from Ellery and pointed closed toe heels by Stuart Weitzman. My dress was the Tulsa Gown by Bo and Luca, which is a hand-cut silk petal detailed dress made of silk chiffon. My dress was everything I had envisioned, it accented my curves and shape in the best way, keeping it effortless but sexy all at the same time!

Honestly, our biggest advice for planning a wedding is to surround yourself with people who understand what you want, whether that’s a wedding planner, decorator, your mom, or even best friend, make sure whoever is helping you see what you see. For me, I knew exactly what I wanted but needed help bringing that to life, and it took me time and patience to figure out who those people would be! Even in regards to a wedding planner, which I am so grateful to have had, I chatted with multiple planners before I found Steph, my angel, who was a perfect match! Don’t rush the process, take your time, and be clear in what you are looking for. I get that sometimes it’s hard, and not everyone has a clear vision, but find those people who will have you bring your ideas to life.

We just went along with our personal style. We wanted the wedding to be a reflection of us and what we love. We knew we wanted lots of flowers and foliage, beautiful outdoor decor, and lots of wine! We kept the look and feel very natural, having only neutral colors and delicate details.

We did something a little unconventional and had food stations instead of a buffet style or sit down meal. Food was always an important part of the wedding, so we met with Poplar Grove’s incredible chef to create a unique, dynamic, and delicious menu. We had a few different stations — a cheese and bread station, a meat station with beef tenderloin and potatoes, a fresh seafood station with seared octopus and ceviche, and a salad station with a variety of salads and veggies. It was a lot of food, but everybody loved it and went back for seconds, some even thirds! 

The whole day was amazing, but the speeches were probably the most memorable! The speeches were hilarious, beautiful and even lyrical as my husband and his groomsmen surprised the guests and me with a song! We will never forget those moments.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Meghan Hemstra Photography
Event Planning – Dream Big Weddings & Events
Venue – Poplar Grove Winery
Floral Design – Society Floral
Catering – The Vanilla Pod
DJ – Airwaves Music
Videography – Limelight Studios
Stationery – Tess Sereda
Makeup Artist – Brandie Elfstrom
Hair Styling – Sage Hair Company
Wedding Dress – Bo and Luca via Rituals of Love
Veil – Jane Rhyan The Collection
Shoes – Stuart Weitzman
Earrings – Ellery
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Park & Fifth Co.
Bridesmaids’ Jewelry – Above Average Studio
Groom’s Apparel – Bonobos
Rings – Jessica Seaton and Tiffany & Co.
Rentals – All Occasions Party Rentals
Décor – Perspective Event & Design
Kombucha Bar – Royals Kombucha Brew House

 

Congratulations to Brooklynn and Benjamin, and a special thanks to Meghan Hemstra Photography for sharing this beautiful Poplar Grove Winery wedding! Want to see more winery wedding inspiration? This Sonoma fairy tale wedding came to life at Viansa Winery!

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