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Elegant and Woodsy RT Lodge Wedding

October 27, 2024 | justine

Katrina and Nicholas envisioned an unforgettable wedding weekend with their closest family and friends, and they made it happen. They chose the natural beauty of RT Lodge as their setting, combining its rustic charm with elegant details and incredible food as the centerpiece. Their RT Lodge wedding was a perfect blend of woodsy elegance, filled with personal touches,  stunning decor, and florals that created an extraordinary and memorable celebration.

In the middle of a winding road surrounded by tall trees, the couple exchanged their vows, with beautiful flowers framing the special moment. After their woodland ceremony, the pair, being food lovers, chose to have a tented reception. They enjoyed a delicious meal at long tables decorated with low flower arrangements and candles, all set under a canopy of greenery and twinkling fairy lights.

The intimate details, thoughtful touches, and stunning landscape made their big day special. If you and your partner are dreaming of a celebration centered around nature, family, and delicious food, this is the perfect inspiration. Keep scrolling to explore every beautiful detail and unforgettable moment, all beautifully captured by Grace Torres Photo.

The Couple:

Katrina and Nicholas

The Wedding:

RT Lodge, Maryville, Tennessee

Creating Their Dream RT Lodge Wedding Experience

We took a road trip during our search, staying at four different venues and meeting with their wedding planners. RT Lodge was the last stop, and we knew right when we checked into our room that it felt like home. We are foodies, so food was essential to us. After a dinner with their renowned chef, Trevor Stockton, we knew we absolutely needed to have his food at our wedding. The cherry on top was our meeting the next day with our wedding planner. She was incredibly sweet and organized and catered to our every need. She showed us various options for ceremony locations, and I knew I wanted a unique place to hold the ceremony. RT Lodge’s “winding road” was charming and perfect. After our time at RT Lodge, we knew it was the perfect place to have our wedding. 

How Their Venue Influenced Their Wedding Aesthetic

I’m a huge gardener, so I wanted the flowers to reflect what I love to grow. We chose a colorful arrangement of pinks, oranges, yellows, and a small splash of blue. The woods of RT Lodge also inspired the next steps in our wedding planning. The save-the-dates were engraved wooden magnets, and the invitations mirrored the color palette, featuring a personalized map of RT Lodge. We found rental shelves, couches, tables, chairs, gorgeous velvet green tablecloths, and crystal-patterned champagne glasses for our champagne tower. The setting of our cocktail hour was pure elegance, with florals, crystal glasses, charcuterie boards, and falling leaves from the Smoky Mountain trees. The escort cards were a DIY wooden holder and card that embodied the woodsy feel of RT Lodge, displayed on beautiful shelves in front of the koi pond. Allowing the venue to inspire us was the best way to create a cohesive wedding day.

Personal Stories Weaved Into Their Ceremony

We wanted a very intimate ceremony where our guests could truly dive into our love story and really understand who we were together and why we were getting married. Nick’s youth pastor served as our officiant, and we met with him several times before the wedding to discuss the ceremony sequence and content. He also met with us individually to gather personal stories about one another that he could incorporate. He began the ceremony by sharing these stories, reflecting on his experience watching Nick grow up, and finally, our love story. We asked my sister to be part of our ceremony by reading our favorite Bible verse, Romans 12:9-18. She’s always been a huge supporter of our relationship and sounding board as we fell in love. The best and most special part of our ceremony was our vows. We decided a few months before the wedding to write our own meaningful vows to each other. We both read our vows from our leather notebooks and at the end, we put our vows and a five-year note to one another into a custom wooden box. We also included a bottle of wine and our guests’ notes and nailed it shut.

Adding a Fun Twist with a Wedding Newspaper and Scratch-Off Surprises

We created a newspaper for the wedding with a scratch-off ticket attached. In the early days of our long-distance relationship, Nick would surprise me with a scratch-off every time we met, so we thought it would be a fun touch to include them in the celebration. At the end of the night, Nick and I discovered a stack of leftover scratch-offs and decided to scratch them off together. Our friends were surrounding us, so we had an incredible cheering squad. Unfortunately, there were no winners, but it was incredibly memorable as we scratched them off while signing our wedding paperwork.

 

The Importance of a Trustworthy Wedding Team

Hire a team that you trust so you can live your day to the fullest! Surround yourself with vendors and planners who understand your vision and can handle all the details, big and small. When you have confidence in your team, you won’t have to stress about timelines, setups, or last-minute changes. Instead, you can relax and truly immerse yourself in each moment, whether walking down the aisle, dancing with loved ones, or simply enjoying the atmosphere you’ve created. Being fully present without worrying will allow you to soak up all the joy and love of your special day, making it everything you’ve dreamed of and more.

Creating the Perfect Vibe with Reception Music and Serving Up Favorite Late-Night Snacks

One of the biggest compliments we received was about our reception music. We used a recommended DJ from our venue, and had several meetings with him before the event. We were very specific about what music we wanted to be played and provided him with “no” and “need to play” lists. This made sure the vibe of our night was spot on. The dance floor was packed all evening, and people partied the night away. After the reception, we hosted an after-party in the bar of RT Lodge. This was an incredible spot for our late-night guests to gather and continue the celebration. We served pizza rolls and chicken tenders, which are our favorite late-night snacks. They were a huge hit! Tailoring the wedding to what you both enjoy is incredibly important, creating a space you’ll love.

Transforming Their Celebration into a Vacation for Guests

We are most proud of the venue and how seamlessly the weekend flowed. Everything about our weekend conveyed a sense of elegant comfort. It was beautiful and luxurious but still refreshing. The staff at RT Lodge played a huge part in the weekend’s success. Since we had the whole venue for ourselves, each room, meal, and event was catered entirely to our needs. We wanted our wedding to be an incredible experience for our guests. We loved RT Lodge so much that we knew a destination wedding there would be worth it and wanted to show our guests how wonderful the location was. Once we found RT Lodge, we knew we wanted it to be an exclusive, weekend-long event where we could maximize our time with our guests. We hosted events from Friday night to Sunday morning, allowing us to see everyone much more than just the wedding day. Our guests swooned over the venue, the hiking trails, the food, and the cozy setting in the woods. Not only did they attend our wedding, but they truly had a vacation.

Unique and Thoughtful Wedding Favors

We arranged a few special favors for our guests. At the welcome party on Friday, we set out kettle corn for all of our guests. They packaged it beautifully, and our guests devoured it the first night. We handed out personalized newspapers that I designed and printed on authentic newsprint in London for the wedding day. We attached a scratch-off lottery ticket to all newspapers and a story in the paper explaining how, early in our long-distance relationship, Nick would always bring me a scratch-off. This became a fun tradition we shared each time we saw each other.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Grace Torres Photo
Event Planning – Ali Oliver
Venue + Catering – RT Lodge
Floral Design – Wither and Bloom Floral Design
Cake – Caitlyn Cox
DJ – Special Notes Entertainment
Invitation Design – The Happy Envelope
Makeup + Hair Styling – The Effortless Beauty
Wedding Dress – Marie Gabriel Couture
Bridal Accessories – Forever Soles
Groom’s Apparel + Accessories – Dell Brothers
Rentals – McCabe Rentals + All Occasions Party Rentals
Draping – Luma Designs

 

Congratulations to Katrina and Nicholas on their elegant and woodsy RT Lodge wedding. Many thanks to Grace Torres Photo for beautifully capturing every heartfelt moment, stunning detail, and the natural beauty that surrounded their special day.

Your wedding venue sets the vibe for your entire day, making it so important to find the perfect spot that matches your style. Whether it’s a cozy outdoor space or an elegant hall, the right venue brings everything together. Check out our venue guide for all the tips and inspiration you need to find a place that feels right for your celebration.

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This Colorful Casa Aragón Wedding Had a Ceremony That Represented The Four Elements

October 25, 2024 | justine

Lina and Pablo’s Casa Aragón wedding was a vibrant, intimate celebration that broke away from traditional norms. With the help of Junebug vendor Flora Wedding Studio, they crafted a special day that truly reflected their personalities. Surrounded by close family and friends, their ceremony was deeply personal, symbolizing their journey through the four elements—fire, air, water, and earth—each stage marking a special moment of unity and love.

After the ceremony, Lina and Pablo’s guests enjoyed a lively cocktail hour with a Hawaiian band and fun games. Dinner followed, featuring a selection of local dishes and an informal toast from the couple. The dessert table offered unique twists on traditional Colombian treats. The party brought everything together, with a DJ playing ’90s and 2000s hits and neon decor highlighting the groom’s love for electronic music, creating a vibrant and unforgettable celebration.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to infuse your personality and interests into every aspect of your celebration while maintaining a cohesive and elegant theme, this wedding is one to check out. The beautiful photos by Serendipity Storytellers perfectly capture the essence of their love story and the unforgettable day they created.

The Couple:

Lina and Pablo

The Wedding:

Casa Aragón, Colombia

How They Brought Their Casa Aragón Wedding To Life

Our wedding was intimate, with a few guests consisting of close family and friends. We wanted a relaxed style, something more colorful and alternative to a traditional cathedral wedding or boho style. Together with Flora Wedding Studio, we designed the wedding we had dreamed of, and they made it a reality. The decor reflected our personalities and tastes: vibrant colors, flowers, casual food, and party elements with retro games.

A Personalized Casa Aragón Wedding Ceremony Celebrating the Elements

The ceremony was deeply personalized. We designed it with our officiant, who guided us through four stages, each representing one of the four elements to unite us. First was fire, where we let go of anything that no longer served us or worked for us as individuals and as a couple. We wrote down those things and burned them in a small bonfire. Next came air, where we shared heartfelt words with our parents to thank them for everything they had done for us, acknowledging that from now on, the path ahead was entirely ours. Water followed, marked by a toast during which our groomsman and bridesmaid shared words of wisdom and well wishes. Finally, we reached earth, where we planted a small tree together as a symbol of the future we wish to cultivate. As a lighthearted touch, there was even a fifth element—love—which closed the ceremony. Both of us, along with our parents and closest friends, actively participated, making it a truly meaningful and unique experience.

A Vibrant Evening of Music, Games, and Local Cuisine

We then moved on to a cocktail hour with a Hawaiian band and different games for the guests. After that, we had dinner, where we gave an informal toast, and the guests enjoyed a selection of local dishes. The dessert table offered reinterpretations of Colombian desserts. Finally, at the party, everything came together: we enjoyed the music from the DJ, to whom we had specially requested songs from the ’90s and 2000s, along with neon decor in honor of the groom’s love for electronic music.

A Festive Night with Mexican Vibes and Custom Cocktails

We both love tacos, but the groom especially, since he was born in Mexico. Because of this, there were also some nods to Mexican culture, like the DJ’s backing in neon light (Amor & Tacos), some of the food, and a piñata at the party. One of the main attractions was the bar, where cocktails and drinks inspired by our dogs were freely served throughout the night. The Bailey Mule (our twist on the Moscow Mule) glasses were specially made for this day, adding a personal and fun touch to the celebration.

Polaroid Memories and Thoughtful Table Décor

During the cocktail hour, dinner, and party, we used Polaroid cameras to capture our guests’ unique moments and special memories. It was a fun and spontaneous way to document the day and create tangible memories for everyone. One of the things that best captured the vibe and essence of who I am was the table décor: the flowers, the numbers, and the plates. Everything was carefully designed to reflect my style and personality, making that part of the wedding especially meaningful to me.

The Importance of Choosing Your Wedding Planner Early

Choose your wedding planner as soon as possible and, ideally, work together to co-create what you want. Don’t leave it for the last minute like we did! I feel like I chose all the vendors in a random order. Thankfully, Jessica, the founder of Flora Wedding Studio, came into our lives, helped us organize everything we had, and brought our vision to life quickly. We also recommend that you participate in co-creating concepts and making mood boards with your wedding planner if you enjoy the creative process. It will help you visualize your expectations and communicate your dreams clearly.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Serendipity Storytellers
Ceremony + Reception Venue + Catering – Casa Aragón
Floral Design + Invitation Design – Flora Wedding Studio
Cake – A comer pastel
Officiant – Laura Abello
DJ – DJ Staff Colombia
Live Music – La Vitrola Music
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Laura Pantoja

 

Congratulations to Lina and Pablo on their colorful Casa Aragón wedding that represented the four elements. A special thank you to Junebug vendor Flora Wedding Studio for bringing the couple’s dream day to life. Check out their profile in our curated directory of the world’s best wedding planners for more inspiration.

When planning your wedding, let your personality and vision shine. From choosing a special venue to adding personal touches, make your day reflect your unique love story. Check out our guide for creative ideas to make your celebration unforgettable.

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How to Utilize Pinterest at the Beginning of Wedding Planning

October 24, 2024 | justine

Planning a wedding is exciting but can also feel overwhelming with so many details to think about. From choosing a theme to picking out the perfect dress and deciding on decor, there’s a lot to figure out. This is where Pinterest comes in handy. Pinterest is like a digital scrapbook that allows you to collect, organize, and visualize all your wedding ideas in one place. It’s the ultimate tool to help you explore different themes, styles, and trends and helps ensure that your wedding vision is cohesive and as beautiful in real life as it is in your head.

By learning how to use Pinterest effectively from the very start, you can organize your ideas, refine your style, and create a clear idea of what you truly want for your wedding day. With the right approach, it can transform your ideas into reality, so we’re breaking down exactly how to use it to make things a lot less stressful. 

How to Utilize Pinterest at the Beginning of Wedding Planning

Set Up Your Pinterest Wedding Boards

Setting up your Pinterest boards for wedding planning is a fun and creative way to gather inspiration and organize your ideas. Creating dedicated boards and sections helps you quickly find what you need later. Here’s how you can set up your Pinterest wedding boards effectively:

1. Create Your Pinterest Wedding Master Board

  • Establish a main wedding board named “Our Wedding” or something similar.
  • This will serve as a central hub for all your wedding-related inspirations.

2. Organize with Specific Boards

Create separate boards for specific categories (these are just some examples but you can create as many as you want for anything and everything wedding related:

    • Dresses: Pin styles and designs that catch your eye. This can make shopping much easier when you get to that step because you’ll have specific dresses in mind
    • Flowers: Save ideas for floral arrangements that you want to recreate with the help of your florist.
    • Decor: Collect images of decorations, backdrops, centerpieces, and lighting.
    • Cakes: Pin different cake designs and flavors.
    • Venues: Save photos and information about potential venues you may want to tour.

3. Utilize Sections

Within each board, create sections to categorize your pins further. This helps streamline your ideas and provides clarity for vendors.

    • For example, under the “Cakes” board, add sections for Wedding Cakes, Cupcakes, and Dessert Tables.

4. Pin and Explore

Take your time to explore Pinterest. Later, revisit your master board to move pins into their respective boards.

    • Pin any content that inspires you, including articles, color palettes, and real wedding photos.
    • Don’t worry about organization at this stage; focus on gathering ideas.

5. Consider Secret Boards

If privacy is a concern, create secret boards:

    • These boards are only visible to you and anyone you invite.
    • Use them to keep certain choices private, like dress options or surprise elements for your guests.

Image by AK Happenings

Pin Freely and Explore Different Styles

In the early stages, pin everything you love, whether it’s rustic, modern, or Old Hollywood-inspired. Don’t worry about the details yet—just gather ideas that catch your eye. This allows you to explore different styles and find what feels right for your big day. In many cases, you’ll find that you’re attracted to one specific style or theme more than any others, but if you’re torn between a few different styles, don’t worry yet. This stage is all about finding what first captures your attention.

It’s also important to note that you don’t have to rely strictly on Pinterest content during this stage. If there is content on wedding blogs or Instagram that catches your attention, feel free to pin it to your boards to keep it all in one easy-to-access place. Most blogs will have a “pin this” button where you can save content directly from a site to your boards.

Narrow Down Your Style

Once you’ve collected enough pins, go through your boards and see if any patterns emerge. Do you notice a favorite color scheme or a preference for a specific style? Now’s the time to be cutthroat and brutally honest with yourself. Dissect each pin and what you liked about it. If, after you’ve scoured Pinterest for hours, you’re less drawn to a photo, trust your gut and delete it. Only keep the pins that feel right and fit the theme you’re most drawn to, and remove anything that doesn’t match. This helps focus your Pinterest wedding boards on what you truly want.

Check the Details and Make Sure It Works

Before committing to an idea, click on the pin to learn more about it. Make sure the look you love is realistically achievable within your budget and venue. This will keep your boards full of ideas that are both beautiful and practical.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delete Your Pinterest Wedding Pins

Even after you delete all of the photos that don’t fit with the theme that you’ve picked out, you can clean up your boards even further. Chances are you’ve pinned images that are either the same or very similar to one another. These boards are what you’re going to reference throughout your entire wedding planning process, so you want to keep only the photos that truly inspire you.

Share Your Boards With Partner and Vendors

Pinterest is one of the best tools for collaborating with your partner, wedding planner, or vendors. If they have a Pinterest account, you can add them as contributors to a board so they have full access. If they don’t have an account, you can simply share the link to your profile. Either way, share your boards with them so they can understand your style and add suggestions..

Use Pinterest to Test Different Styles

Still not sure about your wedding theme? Create different boards for each idea you like, such as boho, elegant, or garden styles. Comparing these boards side by side will help you decide which style best fits your wedding.

Stay Focused Once You Choose a Style

Pinterest has a lot to offer, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We understand how easy it is to keep scrolling and look at all of the stunning images, but once you’ve chosen your theme, focus on your specific boards and avoid pinning outside that theme. This keeps your planning organized and makes turning your ideas into real plans easier.

Turn Pinterest Wedding Pins into Real Plans

After narrowing down your style, use your Pinterest wedding boards as a guide. Make separate checklists of dress styles, decor ideas, and flowers that you can mark as you go. This is when you’ll start shopping around for vendors, and if you have a clear idea of what you want, choosing professionals that are the right fit for you will be much easier. Taking your boards to meetings will make it clear what you want and help everyone stay on the same page from the very beginning.

Be Flexible with Your Ideas

While Pinterest is an excellent source of inspiration, real life might require some adjustments. Be open to changes based on your venue, budget, and available resources. Your wedding might look different from your boards, but it will still be unique and tailored to you.

Using Pinterest for your wedding planning can be a fun and creative adventure. As you gather ideas and figure out your style, you’ll be on your way to creating a special day that truly reflects you. Don’t forget to visit Junebug Weddings’ Pinterest for loads of great inspiration. With so many ideas to explore, you’ll find everything you need to make your wedding day amazing.

Image by Lucas Weddings

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Eclectic, Disco-Western Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding

October 20, 2024 | justine

Cecilia and Anthony’s Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden wedding was a vibrant celebration that perfectly captured their love for vintage fashion and the spirit of Santa Fe. They embraced a unique disco-Western theme and encouraged their guests to get creative with bold, expressive outfits. As a florist, Cecilia took full advantage of the opportunity to design her own floral arrangements, adding a personal and artistic touch to every detail. With sparkling disco balls, lush flowers, and custom decor, the couple transformed their big day into a truly one-of-a-kind celebration.

Inspired by their dream of living part-time in Santa Fe, Cecilia and Anthony chose their friends’ cactus garden as the perfect setting for their ceremony. With the cacti as their backdrop, they exchanged vows surrounded by loved ones, creating an intimate and enchanting atmosphere. For the reception, they transformed Anthony’s restaurant, Popoca, into a culinary extravaganza. The result was a celebration that felt both personal and unforgettable.

Adding to the charm of their unique setting, the couple’s fashion choices set the tone for their celebration. Cecilia stunned in a modern take on a Vietnamese dress, while Anthony complemented her perfectly with a vintage suit jacket and bolo tie. Every detail, from the outfits to the decor, reflected their personality and style. Take a closer look at all the unforgettable moments and dreamy details captured beautifully by Monique Yvette—these breathtaking photographs are sure to inspire.

The Couple:

Cecilia and Anthony

The Wedding:

Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden, Oakland, California, United States

An Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding That Defies Tradition

It’s your wedding, so make it your own! We didn’t follow many traditions—instead, we put our twist on things. Even our “tea ceremony” was done with rum and was much more playful than usual. The bride didn’t wear white, and there was no walking down the aisle. Instead, we had a catwalk where everyone could show off their outfits, and we even handed out trophies. Our goal was to throw a fun party that everyone would enjoy. We made sure our personalities, style, and passions shone through, and when we look back at the photos, it feels truly unique. Our friends and family helped so much, and it made us feel incredibly loved.

Planning with Precision Through Spreadsheets, Balancing DIY Projects, and Help From Loved Ones

I’m all about spreadsheets, so we made a plan for what we wanted to stick to and kept updating the sheet along the way. We sourced a lot of our decor from friends (special thanks to Marissa for the disco balls and Nisha for lending her wedding parasols). We were also realistic about what we could DIY and what we didn’t want to stress over. We ensured our friends and family didn’t have to run big errands for us, so we invested in things that would keep everything running smoothly.

Prioritizing Food and Photography While Keeping Things Meaningful at Their Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding

We initially planned for a budget of $10,500, but we ended up spending closer to $13,000. Most of it went to food and photography because we wanted amazing photos to remember the day and for the food to be something people would talk about long after. We held the reception at Anthony’s first restaurant, Popoca, which meant a lot to us since so much heart and community support went into it. Plus, it was a bonus that it was free for us! It was also a happy coincidence that the restaurant made Bon Appetit’s list for the best new restaurant of 2024 that same week.

Empowering Their Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding Guests to Express Their Style with a Pinterest Board

There was a whole Pinterest board we shared with our guests. We love fashion, and it was this fun exploration of disco metallics and Southwestern flair. We didn’t want it to be fully gaudy. We liked the mash-up so people could pick and choose what fun clothes to wear.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Monique Yvette
Ceremony Venue – Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden
Reception Venue – Popoca
Floral Design – Village No.7
Catering – Sfizio
Cake – Elle Cowan
Late Night Food – Xingones Oakland
Hair Styling – Jessica Fox
Wedding Dress – Dress Cue + Local Vietnamese Dress Tailor
Bridal Accessories + Rings – Altana Marie
Engagement Ring – Bliss Lau
Groom’s Apparel – Relic Vintage

 

Congratulations to Cecilia and Anthony on their eclectic, disco-western Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden wedding. A huge thank you to Monique Yvette for beautifully capturing all the details that made this celebration truly inspiring. Like this couple, don’t hesitate to add your own twist to traditions or infuse your special day with your own unique style.

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This Sure Thing Chapel Elopement Was Complete With a Haircut, Tattoos, and In-N-Out

October 19, 2024 | justine

Gianna and Mitchell had dreamed of eloping in Las Vegas since their first days together. When the moment finally arrived, they knew they wanted to capture the charm of Old Vegas with a vintage vibe. The couple effortlessly nailed their wardrobe and looks, while the enchanting city and the talented Junebug vendor, The Rose Reflective, helped bring their vision to life. Every detail of their Sure Thing Chapel elopement was filled with personal touches and delightful surprises, making their special day truly one-of-a-kind.

On their big day, filled with surprises, they kicked things off with a trip to Dutch Bro’s, where they were delighted to receive free drinks after sharing their exciting wedding news. Next, they treated themselves to doughnuts at Saint Honoré and stopped at Trader Joe’s to pick out flowers for the bouquet. Once back at the hotel, they assembled the bouquet together before getting ready for the ceremony. In a spontaneous moment, Gianna gave herself a haircut just an hour before saying, “I do”! After tying the knot at the chapel, they took a fun detour to a nearby tattoo shop for surprise tattoos. Staying true to their Vegas vibe, they cruised around for portrait sessions in a convertible with the top down, ending their celebration with delicious In-N-Out burgers and cake.

Choosing Las Vegas for their celebration, complete with vintage fashion and sweet, laid-back vows, was the perfect choice for the newlyweds. We’re thrilled to share their story! Once you see these stunning photos, you might just find yourself longing to break away from tradition and elope in an epic location, just the two of you.

The Couple:

Gianna and Mitchell

The Wedding:

Sure Thing Chapel, Las Vegas, Nevada 

How Their Sure Thing Chapel Elopement Came To Be

I have come across Sure Thing Chapel on TikTok many times. A content creator I follow named Lily got married there, and I was just obsessed. Every time they would come across my for you page, I would grab Mitchell and say, “Look, look! How cute is this venue!” or “Look, here’s that venue again!” And he loved it just as much as I did! It was the perfect vintage vibe that we were looking for.

The Shift from Expectation to Personalization in Wedding Choices

Get the idea of “supposed to” out of your head. We did the whole bit with the venue tours and meeting with vendors because it’s what we thought we were “supposed” to do. None of it felt right, and we couldn’t figure out why until I saw a girl on TikTok that said, “If there’s any part of you that thinks you don’t want a big wedding, don’t do it.” Planning became a breeze once we realized that we weren’t “supposed to” have a big wedding or do things a certain way and that it was just about what we wanted.

Personalizing Every Detail of Their Celebration

We stayed true to ourselves and did exactly what we wanted every step of the way. From what we wore to where we went (thank you, Milly, for building us a flawless itinerary), I feel like our personalities really popped, and we were able to make our day all about us. Which may sound selfish, but if there’s a day where you get a pass on being selfish, it’s your wedding day.

How They Cut Costs Without Sacrificing Memories During Their Sure Thing Chapel Elopement

Having photos to remember our dream wedding was our main priority; we both agreed early on in the planning process that if we were going to splurge on something, it was going to be our photographer. Which we did, and it was absolutely well worth it. On the other hand, since it was just the two of us, we cut out essentially all of our other costs. We didn’t have to purchase food, alcohol, favors, a DJ, a florist, a reception venue, any of it! We had one decoration, a banner we made ourselves; we put my bouquet together from Trader Joe’s flowers, and my dress and his tux were admittedly both from Amazon.

A Day of Surprises: How They Made Bold Choices Just Before Saying “I Do”

Our tattoos were surprises! Our venue was right next to a tattoo shop, and when we were about to head to the slots, Milly was like, “Y’all wanna get tattoos?” UM, yes! Also I chopped off about 6 inches of my hair roughly an hour or so before we got married. As we were getting ready separately, I felt short hair would fit the vibe better, so I grabbed a pair of scissors and started chopping! I’m in no way, shape, or form a hairstylist, so there were a million and ten ways it could’ve gone horribly wrong, and Mitchell had no idea. Luckily, it turned out how I wanted it to, and Mitchell loved it!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Rose Reflective
Ceremony Venue – Sure Thing Chapel
Cake – Freed’s Bakery
Wedding Dress – Amazon

 

Congratulations to Gianna and Mitchell on their Sure Thing Chapel elopement, complete with a haircut, tattoos, and In-N-Out. We’re thrilled that Junebug member The Rose Reflective was there to capture each beautiful moment and help bring their wedding vision to life. To see more of their stunning work, check out their profile in our directory of carefully vetted photographers from around the world.

If this couple has ignited your passion for planning an unconventional wedding, you’re in luck! If you’re considering eloping, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process and make it unforgettable.

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I Went Over My Wedding Budget. Now What?

October 18, 2024 | justine

Keep reading for tips on how you can still have a special day while keeping your wedding budget on track. Image by Ricky Baillie Photography

No matter how carefully you plan your wedding budget or how many spreadsheets you make, unexpected costs and tempting last-minute purchases can pop up. That’s why setting up a little extra fund from the get-go is a good idea. But if you’re already facing money challenges or trying to cut back on expenses, there are plenty of ways to get your budget back on track.

We reached out to Michigan-based photographer and Junebug vendor Catie Eovaldi Photography, who helped us round up some expert advice. While staying focused on your budget is essential, finding ways to make your dream day happen without breaking the bank is just as important. With a few tweaks and some trade-offs, you can still make your wedding day special while keeping your budget in check.

How To Navigate Going Over Your Wedding Budget 

Reassess Your Financial Situation

Start by determining how much you’ve exceeded your budget and what remains to be paid. Costs may have increased since your initial estimates, or you might have underestimated certain expenses. Understanding your budget gap will help you decide whether to trim costs in other areas, save more before the wedding, or consider borrowing the difference.

As Catie advises, “Review where the overage is and what else needs to be done and paid for before the wedding. Make a plan moving forward for your wedding day essentials. Don’t downgrade your already booked packages (like videography, photography, etc.), but look ahead at other expenses you may want to cut.” 

Utilize Your Contingency Fund

Setting aside a portion of your budget for unexpected expenses is always a good idea, but we understand that it’s easier said than done. If you tend to overspend, try to stash a little extra cash away as you continue through the wedding planning process. .

Look for Additional Savings

If you’re still in the early stages of planning, you may have opportunities to cut costs on significant items, such as the rehearsal dinner or reception entertainment. Surprisingly, for every must-have element of your wedding, there are several non-essential items that you can forgo without anyone noticing. Catie suggests reassessing future purchases, saying, “Maybe instead of booking that fancy photo booth, you decide to give everyone a QR code for a shared photo album. Instead of moving forward with that audio guestbook, you could cut the guestbook altogether or find a cheaper, book-style guest book .”

Talk with Your Vendors

While you may have already paid deposits and agreed-upon rates, it’s worth discussing your budget constraints with suppliers early on. They possess valuable expertise and may suggest cost-effective alternatives. For example, suppose you’ve chosen a specific flower that’s costly or hard to find. In that case, your florist might recommend a similar, less expensive option, allowing you to allocate those savings elsewhere. Catie recommends, “Avoid downgrading already booked packages, but look ahead at other expenses you may want to cut.”

Consider Borrowing or Renting

It’s also worth considering what you can borrow or rent. This sustainable approach saves you money and helps you avoid purchasing items you may never use again. Decor, for example, can often be borrowed from recently married friends, and accessories like veils and clutches can follow the “something borrowed” tradition.

Watch Out for Last-Minute Expenses

As your wedding day approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in excitement and add extra details that can add up quickly. Compare these to your regular expenses to prevent those small additions from snowballing and impacting your overall budget.

Evaluate the Necessity of Additional Details

While we love the little touches that make a wedding special, it’s wise to limit yourself to a few key details. Many couples feel pressured to include every charming idea they find on social media, which can lead to extra expenses. Think carefully before purchasing items that seem inexpensive individually; they can accumulate and significantly impact your budget.

Explore the Option of a Small Loan

If you find yourself short on savings as your wedding date approaches, consider the possibility of a wedding loan, provided you can manage the repayments. Many financial institutions offer personal loans that can be adapted for wedding expenses. This can relieve some of the financial strain while allowing you to celebrate your special day.

Reimagine Your Honeymoon Plans

Your honeymoon is special, and even if you’re facing financial challenges, there are creative ways to make it just as memorable. Consider exploring beautiful destinations closer to home to save on travel costs or choosing charming, more budget-friendly accommodations. You can also delay your honeymoon until you’ve had more time to save or plan your trip during off-peak seasons for better deals. With some flexibility, you can still have the dream honeymoon you deserve.

As you plan your wedding, think about what will make the day special and what moments you’ll remember for years. If you need more tips on managing costs, check out our guide on where to spend and save, or take a look at our list of easy ways to keep your wedding budget-friendly. With these ideas, you can create a beautiful day that won’t break the bank!

Image by EFEGE

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This Gorgeous Fall Kima Tulum Wedding Was Planned Sight Unseen

October 17, 2024 | justine

Shali and William’s wedding was truly an adventure. On a whim, they picked a venue in a country they had never visited simply because they fell in love with its photos on Instagram. In hindsight, it seems wild but only made the experience more exciting. Adding to the thrill, the exact location remained a mystery even on their wedding day. Luckily, Cocou Nay Weddings helped plan everything from afar, and their fall Kima Tulum celebration came together beautifully. 

The couple exchanged their vows in a breathtaking tropical paradise surrounded by lush greenery. Beneath a crescent arch adorned with vibrant flowers and foliage, the ceremony was picture-perfect. To honor Chinese tradition and share it with their loved ones, they held a special tea ceremony that stood out against the jungle backdrop. As night fell, the magic continued at their enchanting poolside reception, where tables glowed with flowers and candles, and twinkling string lights along with a crescent floor lamp added a romantic touch. The night ended on a thrilling note when the couple jumped into the pool, making it truly unforgettable!

If you’ve always dreamed of a getaway celebration that blends meaningful traditions, dreamy florals, and impeccable fashion, you’re in for a treat. Don’t miss a single detail of this stunning event, beautifully captured by Conie Suarez Bravo!

The Couple:

Shali and William

The Wedding:

Kima Tulum, Tulum, Mexico 

Blending Cultures and Chinese Traditions in a Mexican Paradise

The wedding day has started to become a blur, but when I look back, two moments stand out: the tea ceremony and the cake cutting. The tea ceremony holds a special place in my heart—it was a nod to my Chinese heritage and something I was determined to include in the Mexican jungle. It’s like a clash of a Chinese tradition and an untamed wilderness. On the other hand, the cake cutting was an intimate and deeply personal experience. It wasn’t just the act itself, but it was such a touching and rewarding moment.

The Game-Changing Decision to Hire a Wedding Planner for Their Fall Kima Tulum Wedding 

Hiring a wedding planner was a game changer, especially for the bold decision of doing a destination wedding. The fact that I chose a venue and a country had never visited on a whim, simply because I liked the pictures on Instagram, seems pretty crazy in hindsight. The venue location was never revealed to us, even on the wedding day, adding another layer of excitement. But everything eventually came together, and knowing that my 40 guests were willing to embark on this adventurous journey with me makes me feel forever proud.

Setting a Realistic Wedding Budget

You must realize that the wedding budget you have in mind is different from what the wedding planner had in mind. You are thinking about the total out-of-pocket expenses while only thinking about the expenses needed on the wedding day. So make sure to align on that before you communicate the budget to the planner. And always leave some room for surprise expenses, such as weather changes and other changes beyond control.

Embracing Tradition and Personal Style Through Wedding Fashion

I had three outfit changes and two different hairstyles on my wedding day. I’ve always known that the Jazz Age style suits me perfectly, especially with my short hair. To prepare for the ceremony, I opted for a bob with finger waves, which suited the vintage vibe beautifully. I wore a traditional red Qipao for the tea ceremony, keeping the same hairstyle to honor its classic elegance. For the first dance, which was a tango, I styled my hair in a sleek updo, creating a clean and edgy look that perfectly matched the moment.

Fall Kima Tulum Wedding

Fall Kima Tulum Wedding

The Significance of the Crescent Moon in the Fall Kima Tulum Wedding

A handmade crescent moon that’s designed and handmade by my amazing venue vendor. I’ve been a devoted fan of Sailor Moon, and my ruling planet is also the moon. So I wanted to have some moon element in the wedding.

Fall Kima Tulum Wedding

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Conie Suarez Bravo
Event Planning – Cocou Nay Weddings
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Kima Tulum
Floral Design – Grisel Serrano
Videography – Jesica Talento

 

Congratulations to Shali and William on their gorgeous fall Kima Tulum wedding, which was planned sight unseen. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Conie Suarez Bravo for capturing the magic and beauty of their big day. And, of course, a special thank you to Cocou Nay Weddings for planning this event perfectly! 

If you’re like this couple, planning from afar, a skilled planner becomes your eyes and ears, handling all the details to ensure everything goes smoothly. From coordinating vendors to navigating local customs and logistics, their expertise makes the entire process stress-free, allowing you to focus on enjoying your special day. With the right planner by your side, your dream wedding—no matter how far from home—can become a beautiful reality.

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Intimate Japanese Creek Wedding Inspired by The Sea

October 15, 2024 | justine

Kelsa and Wolf knew from the start they wanted something small and meaningful for their big day. Kelsa, a fourth-generation Alaskan with saltwater in her veins—her great-grandfather ran the mailboat in the ’50s—has spent her life on boats, deeply connected to the ocean. When they got engaged in the spring of 2023, their shared love for Southeast Alaska made a Japanese Creek wedding the perfect choice. Surrounded by nature and the people they love most, they embraced earthy tones of blue and brown to create an intimate and unforgettable celebration.

Their day began with an exciting ferry ride to the ceremony location. With the stunning coastline and a rustic arch as their backdrop, they exchanged vows in a scene straight out of a dream. Afterward, they took breathtaking portraits surrounded by nature’s beauty. That evening, they celebrated with an intimate reception at a cozy lodge. The bride’s brothers and sister-in-law played live music for the guests, creating a warm and personal atmosphere. To top it all off, a family friend made a beautiful traditional Norwegian wedding cake and shared it with everyone at the end of a truly magical day.

The vibe was off the charts, and the fashion was on point. The bride turned heads in a velvet blue dress, while the groom looked dashing in his earthy-toned suit. And their wedding party perfectly matched their stylish flair. If you’re envisioning a cozy, romantic celebration with salty air and a burst of personality, let the stunning details captured by Junebug vendor The Hitched Hiker inspire you!

The Couple:

Kelsa and Wolf

The Wedding:

Japanese Creek, Alaska, United States

Tying the Knot at a Place Close to Grandpa’s Heart

We got married near a creek that my grandpa used as a reference point for shrimp. He passed away right after we announced our engagement, so it meant a lot to be able to get married at a place he knew so well. My uncle was our officiant, and we both wrote our own personal vows and read them to each other in front of our loved ones.

Mixing Nordic Charm with Alaskan Blues at Their Intimate Japanese Creek Wedding

Living on a small island of 3,500 people in Southeast Alaska, I was limited when it came to vendors. But with the help of friends and family, the whole day came together beautifully and, indeed, it was the fairytale wedding of our dreams. If I had to describe the style for the wedding, I would say it was Nordic/Viking-inspired while incorporating Alaskan blues and textures. My inspiration was mixing a bunch of different things that I loved. I wanted to have the feel of a vintage wedding out in the wild but with a modern twist. I also knew that I wanted a unique dress, so I chose blue. The ocean and mountains near Petersburg are so beautiful I wanted colors that could pair and blend with them. Having Alaskan colors incorporated into my wedding day was very important to me.

A Low-Tide Japanese Creek Wedding Ceremony and Cozy Reception with Live Music

The ceremony was the main highlight, as everything worked out perfectly. The groom and guests left early on a boat to the beach where we were getting married. They set up the benches and arch before my boat arrived. The tide worked perfectly in our favor (we had planned for low tide but hadn’t actually seen this particular beach at low tide, so we crossed our fingers it wasn’t too muddy), and the beach created the perfect natural ‘aisle’ to walk up. The second highlight would have to be the intimate reception later in the evening. My brothers and I, along with my sister-in-law, played live music for the guests and my husband. A family friend made us a beautiful traditional Norwegian wedding cake to share at the end of the evening.

How Colors and Textures Came Together on Their Japanese Creek Wedding Day

I was most proud of how well everything came together. Most of the wedding planning was done while I was working on a commercial fishing boat, so seeing everything together didn’t happen until the wedding day. My wedding dress was a mermaid cut (being that I call myself a mermaid because of how much time I spend on the water, this was a must), and the style/color of the dress and its surroundings were epic. I will always be proud of how well our ceremony’s colors and textures came together. One of my main focuses was choosing colors and locations that would look beautiful when photographed. From the start, I knew I wanted timeless-looking wedding photos on my wall, so I set out to make that happen. Choosing my bridesmaid dresses, men’s turtlenecks (instead of suits), and flowers all played a significant role in the overall look and feel of the day. I also had a dress code for the guests in attendance, which helped everyone blend well together when it came to group and family photos.

Prioritizing a Photographer and Personal Touches on a Small Budget

Our wedding budget was small, but the most important thing to me was hiring a photographer who could capture the true essence of our wedding. Because of this, I knew I wanted Alexa to capture our big day, and we planned everything around her availability. Living in a small rural community, I had to order almost everything online. Etsy was amazing; all the flowers, wedding dresses, and bridesmaids’ dresses came from there. By keeping the wedding small, we could cut back on many costs, which allowed us to invest more in things like a professional photographer, boats to shuttle us to our ceremony location, and a caterer for the reception. Our budget was under $15,000, which included the wedding dress, photographer, shuttle boats, food, and decorations. Finding a custom wedding dress for under $1,000 is difficult but not impossible. After reaching out to many seamstresses via Etsy, I finally found one who was willing and able to make my dream dress come to life. We used all disposable place settings for the reception to cut costs and provide our own protein (Halibut), which my family caught on our family boat, the Saga. Because of that, we only had to pay for the caterer’s time and the side dishes. By doing all our planning and decorating, we were able to cut a decent amount of costs. We also used all dried flowers, which substantially helped lower the cost.

Transforming the Old Cannery into a Dream Wedding Venue

Petersburg is extremely limited in venue locations, but I knew I wanted something for the ceremony that worked with our theme for the day. I wanted a rustic and intimate setting, and the Beachcomber Lodge was perfect for that, as it used to be a cannery years ago. In the past 20 years, it has been used as a restaurant on and off, so a working kitchen was perfect for our caterer. Though the establishment is currently unused, we reached out to Amber Burrell (the owner) and asked if we could rent it for the day. She said yes, so we set up tables and decorated them to emphasize the rustic qualities.

The Importance of a Timeline: Essential Advice for Brides on Their Wedding Day

We recommend having  a timeline (even a rough one) to follow for the day. As a bride and a photographer myself, this would be at the top of my advice list. Referring to a timeline was helpful throughout the day, especially when you have pre-wedding nerves, and your brain has many other things to consider. That being said, being flexible and understanding that life happens is just as vital. Sometimes, you won’t always be able to follow the timeline to a T, which is perfectly okay, too! Being able to be flexible is huge.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Hitched Hiker
Ceremony Venue – Japanese Creek
Reception Venue – The Beachcomber Lodge
Floral Design – Missyougarden Studio
Catering – The Little Shed
Cake – Sally Dwyer
Charcuterie – Salty Pantry
Live Music – Tide Turn
Videography – KelsaMae Photography
Wedding Dress – Ashley Trieu with Iconoclasp
Wedding Party Apparel – ENME Style
Rentals – Bearing Song Music
Transportation – Muddy Water Adventures LLC
Vow Books – Paper Peach Shop

 

Congratulations to Kelsa and Wolf on their intimate Japanese Creek wedding inspired by the sea. A special thank you to Junebug vendor The Hitched Hiker for capturing all the unforgettable moments beautifully. To see more beautiful celebrations like this one, check out their profile in our curated directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.

Whether you envision a stunning waterfront, a peaceful beach, or a charming city view, the perfect and meaningful location can make your celebration unforgettable. If you’re unsure where to start, our wedding planning and budget guides are here to support you as you prepare to say “I do.”

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How to Create the Best Wedding Budget for You and Your Partner

October 10, 2024 | riley

Keep reading for wedding budget tips tailored to fit your unique needs and priorities. Image by Emma Jane Photography

We know money is a sensitive subject. But, when it comes time to set your wedding budget we want you to feel confident, so you can walk away from your budget spreadsheet knowing that you nailed it. That’s why we put so much time into creating wedding budget advice, tips, tricks, and tools for every couple.

Many couples struggle with how to start creating a wedding budget, but we’re here to help. Every couple is unique, which means every budget will be too. With a few simple steps, you can create a wedding budget that perfectly fits your needs and priorities.

How to Create the Best Wedding Budget for You and Your Partner

1. Set Your Wedding Budget Priorities

Before you do anything budget-related, you and your partner have to decide your top priorities for your wedding day. Chances are you won’t be able to throw unlimited amounts of money at everything you both want, so it’s important to decide together what areas will get the most attention. We recommend you each make a list of priorities separately, from highest to lowest, and then share them with one another.

From there, choose the top three areas you both think are most important, and plan to spend a good chunk of your budget on those areas. If you realize that none of your top three priorities match, try and switch to a top-two or top-four list, where each of you gets to choose one or two must-haves.

Then list out the other areas below those top priorities—from highest to lowest again—so you know how to allocate the remaining budget.

2. Talk to Anyone Who Is Contributing

Before you and your partner set your final numbers, talk to anyone who has expressed interest in helping fund your wedding and figure out exactly how much they want to contribute. That way, you can either subtract that number from you and your partner’s contribution–meaning you’ll pay less than you initially thought–or you can allocate the money you’re saving into another area of the wedding.

If your parents or grandparents haven’t brought up money by the time you’re ready to start creating your budget, don’t be afraid to ask in a polite and respectful way. If you approach the subject out of curiosity rather than with the expectation that they pitch in, they will be more likely to understand where you are coming from. Be prepared for the possibility that they might not be able to contribute anything.

3. Crunch The Numbers

Now that you know your priorities and know who is contributing money to the wedding, it’s time to figure out exactly how much you and your partner are willing to spend. This number will vary for every couple, but it should always be realistic. Meaning it needs to fit your personal finances and long-term goals, not the other way around.

Determine how much you can comfortably pull from your everyday budget without taking away from your other expenses. Then look ahead and figure out how much you can realistically put into a wedding savings account. Lastly, determine if you can responsibly take money from other savings accounts and how much that could be.

Keep in mind that ideally you and your partner should have about three months of living wages set aside in case of emergencies and you shouldn’t negotiate that security for the sake of your wedding. You also want to make sure you’re still making payments on existing debts, such as credit cards or student loans. Be sure to take these things into consideration as you crunch the numbers.

Once you have your numbers, combine them with any contributions you’ll be getting from family members, and you’ve got a wedding budget to start working with.

4. Determine Your Guest Count

Unless you’ve decided to elope, the greatest impact on your budget is your guest count. It will determine your venue size and your food and alcohol budget since you’ll likely pay per person. If you’re on a really tight budget, this is where it’s most important to be strategic and follow narrow down your wedding guest list to ensure you can afford your other must-haves.

Even if you’re not on a tight budget, take some time to think about what size wedding you really want. Then think about the financials in terms of how much you and your partner want to allocate to catering and how that breaks down per-person. From there, you should be able to budget out multiple scenarios with varying guest counts and choose the one you like the most.

5. Creating Your Ideal Wedding Budget Through Research

Couples tend to forget when setting a wedding budget that location determines many of the expenses. Weddings vary in cost depending on geographic location, which is why researching the costs in your specific area–or your specific destination–is vital for keeping you and your partner on budget.

While researching, also note the price differences for getting married during the week versus the weekend and the price differences for each month of the year. There are many creative ways to save money on your wedding, so do as much research on your options as you can.

6. Prepare For The Unexpected

When it comes to wedding planning, unexpected things will come up. It a fact and it’s totally okay. Some things you’ll be able to rework, and others you’ll have to let go of. One way to stay ahead of the game is to prepare for wedding expenses that aren’t on most wedding budget lists.

For example, did you know that some hotels will charge you as much as $7 per unit to deliver welcome bags to your guests’ hotel rooms? Yeah, that one catches many couples by surprise, too. These little things add up over time, which is why we’ve created a list of unexpected wedding expenses to keep in mind. It covers everything from postage to taxes, tips, and fees. Trust us, you’ll be so glad you built those little things into your budget from the very beginning.

7. Decide Whether The Honeymoon Is A Separate Wedding Budget

Now, for the best part of wedding planning–the honeymoon. Some couples include the honeymoon and its essentials in their overall wedding budget, while others choose to create a separate budget altogether. Again, everyone is different here. It will depend on what seems most logical to you and your partner.

You may have money in your daily budget set aside for travel, and the honeymoon would come out of that, so it makes sense to keep them separated. Or, perhaps it’s easier to set one budget and include everything wedding and honeymoon related into that. There’s no one right way to do it. Just be realistic and decide what works for your unique situation.

With these tips, you should be well on your way to creating the best wedding budget for you and your partner. We know that wedding planning–budgeting especially–can be stressful, so be sure to check out our ten tips to beat wedding planning stress before you tackle any stressful tasks.

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This WulingYuan Wedding Honored Chinese Heritage Beautifully

October 9, 2024 | justine

Laurel and Mike’s Wulingyuan wedding wasn’t just a celebration—it was a stunning tribute to Chinese heritage and the special memories tied to the location. For Laurel, this place held deep personal meaning, as it was where her grandmother used to take her as a child. Although her grandmother passed away when she was young, Laurel found a beautiful way to honor her memory on their wedding day. The couple masterfully blended heartfelt traditions with their modern love story, creating an unforgettable celebration that perfectly wove together their roots and shared future.

Wulingyuan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, set a breathtaking backdrop for their vows, with its stunning quartz-sandstone spires towering above. Mismatched white garden gates adorned with flowers and lush foliage added a whimsical garden theme to the celebration. Their hotel reception continued this enchanting vibe, featuring tables overflowing with blooms and cascading greenery from above. A highlight of the evening was the rave cave—a unique stalagmite cave that housed the hotel’s restaurant—where they brought in a local DJ from the San Francisco Bay Area to keep the energy alive all night long.

If the vibe was off the charts, the fashion was even more spectacular. The bride stunned in a striking red gown for the ceremony and later changed into a chic white strapless dress for the reception. With the help of their talented vendor team, they brought their vision to life and executed it flawlessly. To see how this couple infused their big day with their unique styles while honoring tradition, scroll through these beautiful images captured by Junebug vendor Katherine Elyse.

The Couple:

Laurel and Mike

The Wedding:

Wulingyuan, Hunan Province, China

 

Embracing Culture Through Fun Challenges for the Groom

The most memorable part of the day was the door games. In Chinese culture, these games are like a playful “hazing ritual” where the groom has to prove himself through various challenges to be accepted by the bride’s community. Traditionally, this happens as a parade to the bride’s family home, but we wanted to share the experience with our friends who traveled worldwide, so we held it on stage. Each bridesmaid presented a challenge to the groom and his groomsmen, ranging from “Can you handle sweet, sour, salty, and spicy foods?” to “Let’s wax your legs!” The games ended with an exciting tug-of-war and arm wrestling match featuring some of my strongest aerial dance friends.

Choosing a Meaningful Location to Honor Family Heritage For Their WulingYuan Wedding

We chose this location because it holds special meaning to me—it’s where my grandmother used to take me when I was a child. Sadly, she passed away when I was young, but I wanted to honor her memory. The overall design was meant to celebrate the unity of Chinese and American cultures. Since Wulingyuan is a UNESCO World Heritage site, we followed certain guidelines to respect the environment. We sourced everything locally, from agricultural towns, and only used food vendors from the area—nothing from big cities. We embraced a “leave no trace” mindset, avoiding items like balloons or plastic plates and only choosing things that could be composted or reused. Even the flowers were picked from nearby, and our chosen colors blended perfectly with the natural scenery. In Chinese culture, we created an idiom for our wedding: 龙蛇金约, which means “from dragon to snake, from San Francisco to New York.” Mike was born in the year of the dragon, and I’m the year of the snake. My family immigrated from Mainland China to San Francisco, and his family is from New York.

 

The Importance of Hiring a Wedding Planner and Day of Coordinator

There were only three things that truly mattered to me at the wedding: the food, photography, and music. My mother, who’s big on events, handled most of the aesthetic details. If there’s one thing worth investing in, it’s a day-of wedding coordinator and planner. I had a wedding planner, but without a day-of coordinator, my family and bridesmaids had to manage what they could. Since the staff didn’t speak English, I ended up handling a lot myself. Despite these small issues, they didn’t take away from the things that really mattered to me. I just wish I could’ve enjoyed the day more instead of focusing on organizing everything.

A Culinary Journey from Grandma’s Kitchen to their WulingYuan Wedding Table

I wanted to share the local food I grew up on, the kind my grandmother used to cook for me as a way of showing love. I didn’t want fancy dishes like lobster or sushi. Instead, I wanted sticky rice shiitake mushroom shaomai, tang you ba ba (sweet gluten balls), all kinds of noodles, and more. The locals thought I was crazy for choosing street food over something extravagant, and I had to fight for it several times because I really wanted to support the street vendors. For me, sharing food is like sharing my culture, and watching our friends try new dishes they’d never experienced in their own countries made it all worthwhile. One of my favorite moments was seeing a good friend from New York City go back for three plates of tang you ba ba—she loved it so much it was all she ate the entire night!

Choosing Authenticity Over Tradition in Wedding Photography

I was familiar with the typical mainland Chinese photography style and knew I didn’t want to look like a made-up princess. Katherine Elyse, my photographer and dear friend, has an unmatched “naturalism” style that I absolutely love. I needed someone who could take away all the stress—whether it was about the location, posing, lighting, editing, or photo selection. These photos would be the ones I’d hang on my walls, share with my child, and look back on for years to come, so it was important to me that everything felt effortless and authentic.

Bringing the Party to Life With a Bay Area DJ in the Rave Cave

After the reception, we moved to a unique party spot we affectionately dubbed the “rave cave,” a stalagmite cave that housed the hotel’s restaurant. No rave cave would be complete without great music, so we flew in a local DJ from the San Francisco Bay Area to spin for us. The vibe was incredible, and the music added an unforgettable energy to the celebration.

Celebrating Community with Thoughtful Guest Gifts

Every guest received two thoughtful items: freshly made ginger candy—one original and one spicy—from a local candy maker and a travel tea set. It’s been my favorite thing to see how everyone is using the tea sets; some take them to work, some use them to infuse their sweet tea, and others even make their overnight oats with them. The candy was delicious, and many friends asked where they could buy more, but unfortunately, they couldn’t because a local street vendor made it.  

Private Rooms for Couples to Connect During the WulingYuan Wedding Celebration

We set up “conceiving private rooms” right outside the rave cave to give our friends who were trying to conceive a private space to escape to on our wedding day. It was a thoughtful touch, and fun fact—two of our friends actually succeeded in conceiving.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Katherine Elyse
Ceremony Venue – WulingYuan
Reception Venue – Harmona Resort & Spa
DJ – Daniel Imani
Rings – Gigi Gruber

 

Congratulations to Laurel and Mike on their WulingYuan wedding.Their special day showcases how a wedding can seamlessly blend traditions while remaining truly unique. A heartfelt thanks to Junebug vendor Katherine Elyse for beautifully capturing all the love, beauty, and magic from every angle. To see more of her talent and photography style, check out her profile in our curated directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.

The most memorable weddings are those filled with genuine details that reflect the couple’s journey and love story. Wondering how to add these personal touches to your big day? Our guide has all the inspiration you need to create a truly unique and unforgettable celebration.

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