WEDDING BLOG

Charming New Jersey Garden Wedding at Meadowburn Farm

November 17, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

Picture this: a garden surrounded by topiaries and brimming with white flowers, two French bulldogs walking down the aisle, and a canvas tent in the middle of a meadow filled with farm tables, copper chairs, and vintage furniture. Kristina and Amir’s wedding at Meadowburn Farm could not have been more quaint and charming! The planning and floral team of Dramatic Innovation brought rustic comfort and natural elegance to life in this one-of-a-kind wedding day that had us smiling from beginning to end. Jacy Hermes Photography managed to capture the surreal emotion both Kristina and Amir felt during the first look — and the captivating emotion just kept flowing throughout the entire day! Kristina’s classic Lian Carlo lace gown and Amir’s modern custom blue suit from Suitsupply brought modern and timeless styles together in perfect harmony that fit beautifully with the elegant garden venue and the community-focused, carefree vibe of their special day.

The Couple:

Kristina and Amir

The Wedding:

Meadowburn Farm, Vernon, New Jersey

The most important thing to me when planning the wedding was finding a venue that would give our guests a really unique experience. I wanted to have my close friends and family all staying on the venue property and I wanted a venue that I could move the different events of the day seamlessly. I had this vision of a sailcloth tent in the middle of meadow and lots of candlelight, and I needed to make it happen.

The most memorable part of the day for us was the first look. We were both so cool and calm throughout the entire planning process but, the night before the wedding, we said our goodbyes to each other and made sure not to see each other until our first look the next day. After the wedding — when we had time to process everything — we talked about the moment of the first look and had the same response. As I was walking up to Amir and he was waiting to hear me coming, we both experienced an indescribable feeling that completely washed over us in a way neither of us had ever experienced! We will cherish that moment we had individually and together for the rest of our lives.

I knew I wanted to have an outdoor wedding in a garden setting with a sailcloth tent reception in the middle of a meadow. When I saw Meadowburn Farm, I just knew this was the place. (Side note I saw it in the middle of winter on one of the coldest days of the year, but I just had the vision and Meadowburn Farm ticked all the boxes.) It’s just such a magical place! From the moment you enter the grounds through the iron gate that leads to the pergola that wisteria grows from the farmhouses on the property are dripping with charm and character and the gardens, fountains, and grounds themselves are just so beautiful.

For me, it was important to work with people who I felt a connection with. Every single vendor or person involved in the wedding was a gut decision and it really worked out for me. We planned the wedding from California so a lot of the people I hadn’t met in person until very late in the planning process but we were able to build these relationships and rapport with each other that made the whole process so fun for me. I felt like I could trust every single person to understand the vision and make it all happen for us and they did that and more. I just felt so happy and really lucky at the end of all it.

We didn’t give out favors but at the end of the night we did have a pizza truck come and my mom surprised me with an ice cream truck with homemade ice-cream and cookies but they also made shaved ice which is my favorite dessert!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jacy Hermes Photography
Event Planning and Floral Design – Dramatic Innovation
Venue – Meadowburn Farm
Catering – Krave Café + Caterer
Cake – Desserts of Distinction
Live Music – Richard Bascomb and Phase One
Stationery – Esther Clark
Makeup Artist – Sally Duvall
Hair Styling – Gina Ribando
Wedding Dress – Lian Carlo
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Watters
Groom’s Apparel – Suitsupply
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Indochino
Rentals – Forget-Me-Not Rentals
Tent – Boston Rustic Wedding Rentals

Congratulations to Kristina and Amir, and a special thanks to Jacy Hermes Photography for sharing this charming Meadowburn Farm wedding with Junebug! Planning a garden wedding? You have to see this unbelievably romantic botanical garden wedding at Eolia Mansion!

This Mission San Luis Rey Wedding Felt Like a Mexican Destination Wedding Right in Oceanside, CA

November 16, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

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When Ariana and Jose couldn’t make a destination wedding in Mexico work, they brought Mexico to California in their captivating and colorful wedding at Mission San Luis Rey and Rancho Buena Vista Adobe! The mission-style church set the tone for the entire day and influenced every decision from the decor to Ariana’s dual bridal looks from Pronovias and Lovers Society. For a hint of sophistication, the couple chose luxurious and vibrant florals designed by AHR Florals that added vibrant pops of color for every part of their day. They even made special trips to Mexico to buy tiles, vases, Papel Picado, and furniture that gave their wedding a truly authentic, Mexican-inspired feel. Ariana and Jose proved you don’t need to leave the country to create a destination wedding vibe, and The Times We Have captured it all brilliantly!

The Couple:

Ariana and Jose

The Wedding:

Mission San Luis Rey and Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, Oceanside, California

When planning the wedding, we were most concerned with staying within our budget while also staying true to our vision and theme. We both wanted to be able to look back at the day and know that we had the wedding we envisioned and dreamed of without going bankrupt!

As soon as we booked the church, I had a vision of what my bridal look would be like. I had a vision of a traditional look with a high fashion flair and some Spanish drama. I wanted a super dramatic lace mantilla style veil, very large and bold gold statement earrings, and my signature red lip. I am all about the accessories and the fact that my Pronovias ceremony dress had a clean silhouette really allowed me to play and go bold with my accessories.

We have two pieces of advice. First, stay true to your vision and style, even if you go against be grain. There will always be the opinions of others questioning your decisions…don’t listen! Go with what makes you happy, with what makes you smile the most and with that makes you feel the most beautiful. Second, when searching and booking vendors, don’t settle until you find vendors that feel right to you and that understand and are equally excited about your day and your vision. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask about ways you can make a vendor work regardless of budget. If the connection and vision are shared, you might be able to find a way to work together.

Both my husband and I love our Mexican culture — it truly is a huge part of who we are individually and as a couple. So, initially, we considered having our wedding in Mexico. After realizing it would be extremely difficult to transport 200+ guests to Mexico, we decided to bring Mexico to us! We found our ceremony venue, Mission San Luis Rey, by chance and it was as if we were transported to a Mexican Hacienda or church. It just felt right. We became obsessed with the beauty and architecture of the mission and from there everything else just fell into place and set the tone for the rest of the planning.

I had a vision of a wedding filled with colorful Mexican touches, elegant Spanish flair, and a relaxed LA vibe — and I truly feel we achieved that. We strived for the wedding day to be an accurate representation of us with the Mariachi, Papel Picado (Mexican wedding banners), tacos served for dinner, Mexican Aguas Frescas, and Modelo beer. These are all things we love, so it just felt natural to incorporate them into our big day!

We were on a budget, so we bought most of the decorations ourselves. We bought all of the Papel Picado, Talavera vases, Spanish tiles, tin stars, and even the Mexican Equipale chairs and table through a series of trips to Mexico. We figured it was cheaper to buy these things in bulk and from Mexico. Our guests got to take home the flower vases to use in their own homes, and we now have the Mexican leather dining set as part of our furniture at home. I collected the rest of the decorations from discount stores, flea markets, and Etsy.

We are not big dancers, but having the mariachi perform our songs and being surrounded by all of our loved ones really made us forget our nerves. We just had so much fun and really felt and enjoyed the moment.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Times We Have
Event Planning – La Catrina Style (bride)
Event Coordinator – Knots and Belles
Ceremony Venue – Mission San Luis Rey
Reception Venue – Rancho Buena Vista Adobe
Floral Design – AHR Florals
Bar Service – Los Angeles Speakeasy
DJ – Heart Sound Entertainment
Live Music – Mariachi Los Reyes
Videography – Alfredo Garcia
Hair and Makeup Artist – BeLoved Hair & Makeup
Wedding Dress – Pronovias and Lovers Society via Lovely Bride
Custom Veil – Dream Dresses by PMN
Bride’s Earrings – Mercedes Salazar
Bride’s Headpiece – Mignonne Handmade
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Lulus
Groom’s Apparel – Nordstrom
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Friar Tux
Lighting – Stecklair Event Co.

Congratulations to Ariana and Jose, and a big thanks to them for sharing their Mission San Luis Rey wedding with Junebug! To see more gorgeous images captured by Junebug member The Times We Have, check out this nontraditional Tulum wedding with uniquely vibrant details!

This Hazy Meadow Ranch Wedding is a Boho and Kid-Friendly Wonderland

November 15, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

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We found backyard boho bliss in Jacelle and Casey’s low-key San Diego wedding at Hazy Meadow Ranch. The couple’s goal was to infuse their eclectic style with free-spirited decor and a kid-friendly atmosphere, and we wholeheartedly think they nailed it! Rachel Wakefield Photography worked her magic to capture the sweetest first look moments, the most intimate newlywed photos, and every angle of every detail that Tatiana of Bekker’s Catering helped bring together. From the wild and free floral arrangements created by Native Poppy to the rustic signage and cozy seating, this ranch wedding is the ideal inspiration for low-key couples who want to create a backyard feel with an elevated look.

The Couple:

Jacelle and Casey

The Wedding:

Hazy Meadow Ranch, San Diego, California