WEDDING BLOG

This Wild and Free New Zealand Elopement was Both Epic and Emotional

May 7, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

Lauren and Melissa’s New Zealand elopement was a wild and free celebration in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world! Even before exchanging vows, Dawn Photo captured the dreamiest photos of the couple seeing each other for the first time, backed by an epic view of the sea, and then cuddling in the forest, backed by an even more epic waterfall. The couple officially tied the knot at the courthouse but then immediately headed for the black sands of Piha Beach to exchange vows and take the most stunning sunset photos! In case there was any doubt fairytales can come true, this elopement is proof that they most certainly do!

The Couple:

Lauren and Melissa

The Wedding:

Auckland Courthouse and Piha Beach, New Zealand

We always knew that a traditional wedding was not for us — small and intimate was much more our style. After spending a few weeks contemplating a “destination wedding,” in which a small number of friends and family would attend, we totally scrapped the idea when the search for a location alone riddled us both with anxiety. We decided an elopement was exactly what we wanted. An epic, private, carefree adventure!

We wanted our wedding to reflect our love and the incredible country we chose. We wanted wild, unexpected, and unique, and we got just that. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that couldn’t have been more genuine and magical!

The beauty of our elopement was there was no theme. No time constraints, no schedule. Just us, our love, and all things spontaneous. Because of that, as opposed to the usual “it went by in a flash” feeling, we remember every single moment. The ease of it all allowed us to savor each second.

There are two moments that stick out most in our minds. The first was immediately after officially getting hitched at the Auckland County Courthouse, we walked the downtown streets in our wedding attire and stumbled upon an American-style pub. We immediately stopped. We shared gourmet hotdogs, IPAs, and the best french fries we’d ever had with two of our new lifelong friends, Dawn and her fantastic hubby Dustin!

We had always planned to do the official stuff at the courthouse but make it out to the coast for vows and photos. My heart has always belonged to the sea. It felt so right to give it to my wife, forever there. The only thing that didn’t go as planned happened next.

The entire drive from Auckland to the coast it poured down rain. I’m talking, black skies, high-speed wipers, downpour. I kept saying over and over, “There’s no way we will get photos in this,” to which Dawn always replied, “It’s going to be fine!” In true photography expert form, she was right. Just as we pulled up to Karekare Beach, the sun came out over the water, and we had the entire beach to ourselves.

The sand was like black glass and the sun burned brilliant orange behind us as we read vows to each other from the pages of my beloved novels, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Rain sprinkled lightly on us as we popped a bottle of champagne and celebrated our first moments as wives. It was truly something from a fairytale, an adventurous little gay fairytale!

Our love of all things hiking and the outdoors played a huge role in the decision to cross the seas to New Zealand. Neither Melissa or I had ever visited, though I have been fantasizing of the lands of Rivendale, The Shire, and Mordor since I was in middle school! It was an easy choice when we asked ourselves what our ultimate vacation would be. To save on costs, we went to the officiant at the courthouse and then said our vows on a beautiful beach. Piha Beach was an easy choice with its black volcanic sand and rugged coastline. It honestly looks like something from another world!

We honestly feel like the stars aligned when we booked Dawn Photo, and man it just continued to get better and better! We became immediate friends and it made the day of not only a breeze but oh so fun. She made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera. And, I mean, do we even need to mention the photo quality?

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Dawn Photo
Hair and Makeup Artist – Lexia Dyer
Wedding Dress – Madison James
Custom Headpiece – Hair Floaters
Wedding Suit – J. Crew
Custom Tie – Lonesome Traveler
Rings – Kubes Jewelers

Our biggest congratulations and thanks to Lauren and Melissa for sharing this incredible New Zealand elopement with Junebug! Want to see more dreamy elopement inspiration? This simple Snoqualmie Pass elopement will give you plenty to smile about!

The Bride’s Galia Lahav Gown Provided the Victorian Inspiration Behind This James Burden Mansion Wedding

May 6, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

bright red dark blue gold orange purple yellow

Xiaoran and Hua gave us all the classic Victorian vibes in their New York wedding at James Burden Mansion! The bride had always dreamed of wearing an incredible gown on her wedding day so, when she fell in love with an organza, off-the-shoulder stunner from Galia Lahav, a regal vibe was the only natural fit for the rest of the day. BLB Events brought ornate vintage decor, luxurious textiles, and eye-catching florals designed by Devon & Pinkett into perfect harmony with the grand venue, and Nine Cakes created a show-stopping hand-painted wedding cake to match the sophisticated feel. No detail was left unattended, and Nicole Ashley Photography captured it with such creativity and artistry!

The Couple:

Xiaoran and Hua

The Wedding:

James Burden Mansion, Manhattan, New York

I believe a lot of girls dream of wearing the most beautiful wedding gown when they marry their man. So the very first thing I did was purchase my wedding dress! The gown was a Victorian style, so I made sure the rest of the wedding had a similar style.

When I was getting ready on the wedding day, I got a bouquet from my soon-to-be husband. I asked him later why he brought me a bouquet, knowing how many flowers we had throughout the decor. He told me all the flowers at the wedding were for our family and friends, but that bouquet was just for me!

The venue was very classic and perfectly matched my gown. There was a huge door facing an arch-shaped wall art, where my husband stood, waiting for me to walk down the aisle. Before I stepped into the room, the huge door was shut, which made the ceremony feel more formal.

Our ceremony was decorated with clouds of baby’s breath, which enhanced the venue perfectly without taking away from the ornate details of the mansion. I got the design idea from a Rodarte runway show!

I told our caterer that I wanted the food displayed to look like pieces of art, and they delivered! At the end of the evening, they had a server come out with a big candy cart, full of colorful candies for all of our guests.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Nicole Ashley Photography
Event Planning – BLB Events
Venue – James Burden Mansion
Floral Design – Devon & Pinkett
Catering – Marcia Selden
Cake – Nine Cakes
Live Music – Eden Lane
Videography – Shutter & Sound
Stationery – House of Catherine
Hair and Makeup Artist – Sokphalla Ban
Wedding Dress – Galia Lahav
Bridal Accessories – Gianvito Rossi and Dolce & Gabbana
Groom’s Apparel – Vivienne Westwood, Craig Green, and Santoni
Rings – Foundrae Fine Jewellery
Rentals – Nüage Designs, Props N Spoon, Borrowed BLU, and Smith Party Rentals
Favors – Loria’s Cookies

Congratulations to Xiaoran and Hua, and a special thanks to Nicole Ashley Photography for sharing this incredible wedding at James Burden Mansion with Junebug! Love the look of a Victorian-inspired wedding? This Victorian-inspired Twin Oaks House & Garden Estate wedding will make you want to go antique!

The Vintage Vibes in This Mill at Yellow River Wedding Managed to Be Effortlessly Modern

May 5, 2019 | Junebug Weddings

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When it comes to vintage charm, Brynn and Andrew’s Mill at Yellow River wedding takes the cake! Blush & Bashful Events helped give the couple’s love of vintage a modern twist that looked absolutely gorgeous inside the rustic-chic venue. JL Designs created floral arrangments in a mix of vibrant and warm oranges that added a touch of autumnal elegance to the entire look. We’re whole-heartedly obsessed with every detail of this wedding, especially the bride’s off-the-shoulder Theia Couture gown and handmade veil! From first look to the sparkler exit, photographer Katelyn Ortego truly captured the magic of this Georgia wedding!

The Couple:

Brynn and Andrew

The Wedding:

Mill at Yellow River, Porterdale, Georgia

Staying true to ourselves was the most important during planning! We didn’t want to do something just because it’s a thing people do! we wanted everything to be authentic, meaningful, and a celebration.

The most memorable part of our day was our first look before the ceremony! Spending time together alone was so special and magical we can’t imagine it any other way.

Our advice is to start planning early because the details can really start to pile up quickly. We only had 6 months to plan our wedding, and we really didn’t start until 2 months in…oops! Also, remind yourself that the little things like silverware don’t really matter. You will forget about it the next day when you’re on your honeymoon!

On the big day, let go of all planning stress, go with the natural flow, and enjoy every moment! (By that point, it’s out of your control anyway.) I dreamed of an outside ceremony and on the morning of I found out we had to have the ceremony inside because of the mud. I just went with it and it was still the most special day of our lives!

Lastly, do not be afraid to cut your guest list if you’re thinking about it. Small weddings are intimate and fun! We only had 115 guests and there were still a lot of people we didn’t get to say hi to.

I DIY-ed my veil! It was so much fun and it cost me $2 at JOANN! With Wendy has a great veil tutorial on youtube. I sewed it to a hair comb with tiny pleats and rounded the bottom half of the veil so that it was flowy when I walked and didn’t bunch together. I also DIY-ed a huge menu sign and welcome sign with wood from Home Depot. It was an easy way to make big statements!