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This Red Barn Farm Wedding is Full of Fresh Spring Goodness

May 27, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

If we had to describe Micah and Mackenzie’s Red Barn Farm wedding in just three words, it would be charming, free-spirited, and joyous! The couple, who wanted to be as close to nature as possible on their big day, decided on an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception inside the recently renovated barn, then brought in the creative forces of their families and friends to create nearly every element of decor — even the wine and dessert bar! The team at Glorious Wedding and Event Planning tied together all the DIY elements and the floral pieces created by The London Plane into one cohesive look that had influences of both earthy and rustic charm. For their attire, Micah set the stage with an airy yet elegant BHLDN gown, and her girls followed suit with mismatched floral print and solid neutral dresses from Nordstrom and Free People, which they all paired with greenery crowns, wild DIY bouquets, and turquoise accessories. From the decor to the style, this wedding felt like the perfect backyard summer party that was filled with pure joy and excitement, which photographer Adam Naples captured with ease and creativity.

The Couple:

Micah and Mackenzie

The Wedding:

The Red Barn Farm, Redmond, Washington

The most important decision was finding the perfect photographer! You’d think the first thing would be finding the dress, but that was actually the very last thing I did. I wanted our photographer to have a unique style, but also a classic approach. I wanted them to be younger, and feel like a friend. Adam was just that. For Mackenzie, his main focus was the guests. He wanted everything to make the guests feel like they were there to party, to feel included, and that each and everyone there was so important to us.

One of Mackenzie‘s groomsmen went to high school with the owners of The Red Barn Farm! We got a friend hook up and Mackenzie was able to work off most of the venue cost by working with them to renovate the space. He even helped build the refashioned chicken coop that is now the bridal suite! He had an idea to use pieces from the original barn to create a giant mirror that can be closed like barn doors and opened to create a large tri-fold mirror. It’s beautiful!

We both love being outside and hanging out with friends, so we wanted our wedding to feel like a big backyard summer party. I wanted summer dresses, short sleeve button ups, and lots of Sangria! The venue fit this vision perfectly. It had trees, grass, and natural wood, so we just needed to add flowers and people, and we were set! We also wanted to make sure we stayed conscious during this celebration, so we used all compostable cups and bamboo plates and utensils.

Processional – “Close Your Eyes” by Silver Trees
Recessional – “Little Lovin’” by Lissie
First Dance – “I’ve Never Felt So Good” by Mura Masa

Aside from my bouquet, flower crown, and garland over the arbor, we did the flowers ourselves. We ordered in bulk from Safeway‘s floral department, saved a ton of money, and got to hand pick our favorite flowers for each bouquet and centerpiece. My aunt and cousins took care of the bouquets and my mom put together succulent arrangements. I also had a friend from college hand paint our welcome sign, and we used our own plates and glasses for the head table. My dad even took a road trip to a winery in Walla Walla, Washington where he picked his own grapes for our wine blend and got to bottle it! Mackenzie‘s Grandma baked our pies, his mom made our cookies, and my dad made his famous Sangria.

My style inspiration actually came from a wedding that you guys featured on your site! The bride was wearing a flowy BHLDN gown and her bridesmaids were wearing Free People and other BHLDN dresses, too. I had already purchased a gown from a boutique in Seattle and regretted it, but they wouldn’t let me return it. At the same time, I was looking at the BHLDN website every day, and I finally just pulled the trigger, bought the Reagan gown, and hoped that I could get money back for the other dress. After multiple failed attempts to do it on my own, I took my mom to the bridal boutique with me and she was able to get our money back. Moms are the best!

Our wedding reception menu was super special! We went down to the Carniceria (Mexican food store/butcher shop) down the street from our house, where we usually buy our tortillas and meat. We asked the man behind the meat case if we could place an order for a wedding. We didn’t speak the same language, but he said something that sounded like he would order the meat and also bring his son to help prepare it the day of. For 250+ people he quoted us $800, but Mackenzie said, “No way! I’m paying you $1,000.” (I love his reverse negotiating.) W didn’t sign any contracts. We just shook hands and hoped it would all work out — and it did! We also had our talented chef friends, Neil and Zarah Duncanson, prepare our Halibut Ceviche appetizer, and they nailed it.

Mackenzie loves the Mura Masa song, “I’ve Never Felt So Good.” But, when I first heard it, I wasn’t overly excited about it. Mackenzie was bummed but said I could pick something else for our first dance. We made a list of other songs but I could tell he was still sad that we weren’t going with Mura Masa. Funny enough, I started to love the song because of how much he loved it! I sent the email of our song choices to the DJ with Mackenzie CC’d on it, then sent a secret email to our DJ and told him that I wanted to surprise Mackenzie with the song that he wanted! It was so great seeing his face when we started our first dance and it was his favorite song! It was a mix of excitement and panic that they were playing the wrong one.

The most memorable part of the day for me, was when our photographer stole us away from the reception and Mackenzie and I got to hold hands, laugh, and run around in the field in front of the barn while Adam snapped photos of us. It was so nice to have time with Mackenzie that was relaxed and, for some reason, so funny. We couldn’t stop laughing — like throw your head back with a double-chin type of laughing! I had grass in my hair, and it was just perfect. 

Our wedding planning advice is simple: Do what feels right for you and your fiancé. Don’t worry too much about pleasing every single person. It can consume you and take you away from the important things, which are: 1.) you’re marrying your best friend, 2.) you have your best ladies and guys standing next to you, and 3.) your friends and family are all together in one place for probably the first and only time. There’s nothing better than that, so enjoy every minute of it!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Adam Naples
Event Planning – Glorious Wedding and Event Planning
Venue – The Red Barn Farm
Floral Design – The London Plane
Catering – Island Farm Table
Cake – Larsen’s Bakery and PNW Cupcakes
Live Music – Leah Harris from Fell From A Star
Videography – Simon Forster
Makeup Artist – Makeup With Me
Wedding Dress – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – Nordstrom
Groomsmen’s Apparel – H&M and Zara
Rings – Warren Jewelers
Favors – The Knot Shop

 

Our biggest congratulations to Micah and Mackenzie, and our warmest thanks to photographer Adam Naples for sharing this festive and free-spirited Red Barn Farm wedding with Junebug!

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Rustic Vintage Georgia Wedding at The Engine Room

April 3, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

Is there anything we love more than a vintage-inspired Georgia wedding? Because they tied the knot in autumn, Katie and Josh based their color palette around burgundy and navy blue, which made for striking wedding party attire complimented by gorgeous bouquets, cascading centerpieces, and overhead floral installations created by Daffodils Floral Design Studio. The bride wore a timeless high-neck, low-back lace dress from The Sentimentalist, which she paired with five ivory roses in a loose, low bun, and her bridesmaids’ mismatched solid and floral burgundy dresses are one of our all-time favorite looks! Every detail was perfectly curated for a rustic and vintage feel, and the heartfelt moments captured by Wild Heart Visuals made this Georgia wedding truly unforgettable.

The Couple:

Katie and Josh

The Wedding:

The Engine Room, Monroe, Georgia

We wanted our guests to feel welcome and included in our day, because it was a group effort of our family and friends that made Josh and I’s relationship what it is. Overall, we wanted our wedding day to be a celebration of our story and everyone who was involved in it.

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The most memorable part of our day was having all of our favorite people in one room. Many of our friends and family traveled from across the country to be there with us, so having everyone together is very rare for both of our families. We’ve never felt so loved and encouraged than we did on our wedding day.

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My family and I have always traveled to Monroe, GA for the antique shopping, but we had never toured the Engine Room. When Josh and I got engaged, that was one of the first places we went and we were SOLD. It’s very large, it’s affordable, and it’s beautiful!

My sister and maid of honor surprised me with a small cross as my “Something Borrowed” that my grandmother gave her when she was little. My dad’s mother died before I was born, so it was very sweet to have a small piece of her with us on my wedding day.

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I have a tiny calligraphy business, so I did all of the calligraphy for our wedding. For example, the table markers, signage, and seating chart. For the seating chart, I bought a very large gold frame from a local thrift shop and replaced the glass with chicken wire. I then used tiny clothespins to hang a card that I designed for each table.

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Processional – “Mississippi” by Dave Barnes
Recessional – “Good Day for Marrying You” by Dave Barnes
First Dance – “Our Love” by Judah and the Lion

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Wild Heart Visuals
Venue – The Engine Room
Floral Design – Daffodils Floral Design Studio
Catering – Mama’s Boy
Stationery – Katie Kelly Calligraphy
Makeup Artist and Hair Styling – Linda Margarita
Wedding Dress – The Sentimentalist
Groom and Groomsmen’s Apparel – Dazi

 

Congratulations to Katie and Josh, and a huge thanks to Junebug member Wild Heart Visuals for sharing this beautiful Georgia wedding! Looking for more warehouse wedding inspiration? We think you’ll love Taylor and Fred’s botanical warehouse wedding at 701 Whaley!

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What to Do for Your Out-of-Town Wedding Guests

March 8, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

photo by Carolyn Scott Photography

Chances are some of your wedding guests don’t live in the city where you’re getting married, and there are some important things to keep in mind especially for them. From logistics to tokens of appreciation, these are all the things you need to make your out-of-town wedding guests feel right at home.

photo by Cody and Allison Photography

Find accommodations near the venue

When it comes to accommodations, the closer you can get to the venue the better. If your venue provides accommodations, obviously you should start there. Contact the venue manager and ask about availability, room rates, and discounts. If your venue doesn’t provide accommodations — or they are too expensive — pick 2-3 hotels closest to the venue and book a block of rooms at 1 or 2 of them. When you’re ready to book, you don’t have to know the final number of out-of-town guests, but you do need a pretty good estimate. A general rule is to cut your out-of-town guest list number in half and book that number of rooms. (So, if you have 20 out-of-town guests, you would block 10 rooms to start and add more rooms later.)

The most important thing to note is that hotels vary in terms of how they block rooms. Some hotels require you to block a set number, pay a deposit, and be financially responsible for all unsold rooms you blocked. That’s not an ideal situation, but it might be necessary if your wedding is in a town with limited accommodations or coincides with a huge event. Some hotels can be more flexible and offer a discounted rate to guests without blocking a certain number of rooms, but you run the risk that the hotel could fill up before all your guests make a reservation. On the bright side, some hotels can block a set number of rooms without a deposit and will guarantee those rooms and rates until a specific date. Because there are so many possibilities, we suggest you start your search early and encourage your out-of-town guests to reserve their rooms as soon as possible.

photo by Rachel Photographs

Brainstorm transportation options in advance

Some hotels provide shuttle service to/from the airport, and some even provide shuttle service to/from certain destinations if they are planned in advance. When you call to reserve your room blocks, ask about any transportations services they can provide, as well. The prices will vary by hotel, so make sure to ask the rate so you can let your guests know in advance. If the hotel(s) don’t have a shuttle, take some time to consider how your guests can get to the hotel and to the venue. What is the best form of public transportation, where are the pick up and drop off points, and what are the rates? Is ride-sharing available in your city? Would it be possible to connect your out-of-town guests with in-town guests to set up carpools? Do you have a rental car company to recommend? Most of your out-of-town guests can probably figure those out on their own, but it is nice to provide guidance so they can plan ahead and don’t have to stress about it on the actual day or weekend.

photo by Jaicee Morgan

Compile a list of meaningful places to eat, drink, and play

While you’re focused on your big day, you’ll want your out-of-town guests to have plenty of things to do once they get into town. So, put together a list of your and your fiancé’s favorite places to eat and drink and activities around the city. You could even do a little research to find out of if there are any festivals, live music, or special events that they might want to check out. Sure, they could use Google to find places to go, but this is a great way to not only introduce your city to your guests but you also get to share little nuggets of your everyday life with them. Anyone can find a Starbucks for their morning coffee, but not everyone will know which coffee shop you and your fiancé love for your lazy Sunday coffee dates. And we bet most of them would love to know that! So, when you’re compiling your list, consider adding a little note about why you recommended those places. It’s that little something extra to connect with your guests and help them feel totally welcome.

photo by Ben and Colleen

Plan a pre-wedding and/or a post-wedding get together

Inviting your out-of-town guests to pre-wedding and/or post-wedding get togethers is another surefire way to make them feel welcome. Do you and your fiancé love the outdoors? Invite your guests to go hiking or kayaking a day or two before the wedding. Are you beer lovers who spend your weekends enjoying local breweries? Ask your guests to join you for a mid-afternoon pint. We’ve even seen couples skip the traditional rehearsal dinner all together and open up dinner to anyone who is in town. And the party doesn’t have to end with your reception send-off. If you’re a night owl or just don’t want to the party to end, ask your guests to head to your favorite bar for an after party. We also love the idea of wrapping up your perfect wedding weekend with a day-after brunch to spend quality time with anyone who is still in town and say your final goodbyes in a more casual setting.

photo by Thanasis Kaiafas

Make a visual timeline of events

One of the best ways to eliminate stress and limit the number of calls to your designated contact is to create a comprehensive timeline of your wedding events. Whether your guests are invited to events over multiple days or just the wedding day itself, organizing everything into a visual timeline is key. For each event, you should include the following: name of event, name and address of the venue, date, time, and dress code. We even recommend including the ceremony and reception information so your guests have every detail they need in one handy place. If your out-of-town guests are invited to pre-wedding or post-wedding events, make sure to let them ahead of time so they can pack appropriate attire. Not sure where to start? There are some great wedding timeline templates on Etsy to help you create beautiful printables in no time!

photo by AGPcollective

Create fun and informative welcome bags

Your out-of-town guests will be making an extra special effort to attend your wedding, so we think welcome bags are a must to show your appreciation. The best part is that you can really flex those creative muscles and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make something truly special. At a minimum, you should include a little something to eat and drink to ease your guests out of their travel day. Bottled water is a must, but you could also include a local beer, a bottle of bubbly, or another local favorite. As for snacks, make sure to give a savory and a sweet option to satisfy every craving. Then add a couple of personal details, such as a cute souvenir, a candle, or even a stamped postcard they can send home. Round out all those goodies with the information essentials: a map, the weekend itinerary, your list of local recommendations, and the information for your designated contact. Finish it all off with a personalized thank you note and wrap it all up in a cute paper bag or reusable tote. A welcome bag is a simple, thoughtful gesture that your guests will love! Just make sure to let the hotel know that they need to give each guest a bag when they check in.

photo by The Lou’s

Prepare a travel playlist

One of our Junebug couples created wedding weekend mix CDs and sent them to each of their guests a week before the big day, and we absolutely fell in love with the idea! You and your fiancé could make it a pre-wedding date night where you go through all your favorite music and create either physical CDs or a Spotify playlist that sets the tone for your weekend. It’s the sweetest, most unexpected finishing touch that will make your out-of-town guests’ travel day so much more enjoyable, whether they are flying or driving.

photo courtesy of Joy

Put every detail on your wedding website

You’ve got your hotel blocks set, your transportation ideas brainstormed, your schedule ironed out, and your list of recommendations ready. What do you do next? Put all of that information your wedding website! Yes, all of it! Even if you created printable itineraries and lists for your welcome bags. Your website should be your one stop shop for all your wedding details — trust us, this will be your out-of-town wedding guests’ most used resource. If you’re not sure something should be included, the answer is probably yes. But we’ve also got this handy checklist that has everything you need to include on your wedding website so you can triple-check yourself.

Looking for more ways to impress all your guests? We’ve got just what you need:

Etsy Wedding Favors Your Guests Will Actually Want to Take Home

8 Tips for a Killer Cocktail Hour

Help Your Guests Find Their Seats in Style With These Unique Escort Cards

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This Checklist Has Everything You Need to Include on Your Wedding Website with Joy

February 13, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

photos by Peyton Rainey Photography and Chelsea Denise Photography

If there’s one part of wedding planning we don’t want you to stress over, it’s building your wedding website. Your wedding website not only gives your guests the information they need about when and where your wedding will be but also helps you keep up with RSVPs and answer every little question your guests may have before the big day. We’ve outlined everything you need to include on your wedding website to help you check every box and leave no question unanswered. To make the process even easier, we’ve teamed up with Joy, who we believe is the best in the wedding website business.

Joy is a free platform the allows you to create beautiful custom wedding websites. You’ll learn more about their extensive list of features as you read on, but a few of our favorites include the guest management tool and digital RSVPs, the photo sharing and live slideshow capabilities, and the app which allows guests to view the schedule, get event information, and even connect with other guests right from their phones.

Ready to make an amazing wedding website?

The Basics

Your Names

Your guests will write you cards and put your names on the gifts. Your side of the family may or may not know the spelling of your partner’s name and vice versa, so definitely make sure names are clear and in very legible fonts!

Your Wedding Date

Your wedding date needs to be prominently displayed. This is the most important information guests are looking for on your site.

Your Wedding Time(s)

Don’t forget to include the time of the wedding! It can be helpful to list a ceremony start time and a reception start time, especially if there is a break in-between. The more information you can provide, the better!

Your Wedding Location(s)

Your venue name and address should be as easy to find as your wedding date! Be sure to list both your ceremony and reception venues if they’re different. It’s also a good idea to highlight the city and state of your wedding for any out-of-town guests who may be looking for that info.

Wedding Countdown

Joy has a handy wedding day counter that you can include on your homepage! This is a great way to let guests know how long they have before the big day and get them excited as your wedding date nears!

Your Story

How You Met

Extended family and coworkers who made the guest list may not have ever heard the story of how you met, so now is a great time to tell it!

When You Knew

Everyone loves a great love story, so share yours with the people you’ve invited to celebrate it! Did you fall in love on a trip somewhere? Was it love at first sight? Who said it first or did you both just know?

The Proposal

How did the proposal go down? Inquiring minds want to know!

A Day in the Life

What do you each do for a living? How do you spend your weekends? Don’t forget to give a shout out to your pets!

Photos

Together Through the Years

It’s time to pull out all those grainy selfies and travel photos from the early days of your relationship! It’s fun to go down memory lane together and probably even more fun for your loved ones to see how your relationship grew as time went on.

Engagement Photos

You know those gorgeous photos you had taken recently? Your wedding website is the perfect place to show them off! Joy makes it simple to include images on every page of your wedding website, so choose your favorites and upload them directly to your site.

Photos of the Venue

It can be helpful to provide a photo of at least the outside, if not also the inside, of your venue so that guests have an idea of the vibe of your event and what to expect when they get there. Your venue likely has photos on their website or social media you can use for this purpose!

RSVP

Having a wedding website makes it easy for your guests to RSVP with just one click! Joy makes it even easier for you to collect the necessary information about each guest including whether or not they plan to attend, their mailing address (so helpful for those thank you notes!), dietary restrictions, and meal choice, as well as fun questions like their favorite song to get down to on the dance floor or their best marriage advice.

Schedule

From the days leading up to your wedding to the official send-off, let your guests know what events are scheduled! Be sure to include the start and end times, who is invited (family-only, all guests, etc.), details about the activities, the addresses, and the appropriate dress codes for each event.

Pre-Wedding

From activities and for out-of-town guests and get-togethers for reuniting friends to your rehearsal dinner, the week before you say “I do” may be filled with events your guests need to know about!

Day-Of

If you have a timeline available, we highly recommend including a schedule on your wedding website. Let guests know how early they need to arrive before the ceremony starts along with the expected times of the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and any other notable events or activities throughout your day. Joy makes it handy for your guests to keep up with all of the upcoming activities by allowing them to add each event to their calendar right there from your wedding site!

Post-Wedding

Will there be an after-party at your favorite bar or morning-after brunch at your new mother-in-law’s house? Let guests know what to expect if your sparkler send-off isn’t your last goodbye of the wedding weekend!

Wedding Party

Joy allows you to list and upload a photo of each member of your wedding party so your guests can get to know the special people who will be standing by your side at the altar. This can be a nice way to help guests put a face with a name before arriving at your wedding!

Travel Info

Airport Information

Especially if the city where you’re getting married has multiple airports, be sure to let your guests know which to fly into! It can be helpful to include information about how far the airport is from your venue as well as any information about shuttles or transportation.

Where to Stay

List any nearby hotels, including where you have booked room blocks, along with the nightly rates and contact information. For Airbnb, let your guests know what neighborhoods or areas to find a place close to your venue. Does your venue have accommodations? Let your guests know there are spots available to stay on site.

How to Get Around

In case your guests aren’t renting a car, provide some tips for getting around! What is the most reliable public transportation, how much does it cost, and when does it start and stop running each day? Does the city have rideshare services? Share links to the apps, your preference, or a promotional code if you have one!

What to Do in Town

Share your favorite local restaurants and must-see spots so that out-of-town guests can explore the city in the days leading up to your wedding.

Wedding Registry

Whether you have registered at one store or four, Joy allows you to link each of your wedding registries directly onto your wedding website!

FAQ

RSVP Deadline

We recommend listing this question first since it’s the most time-sensitive! Also, let your guests know if they can RSVP directly if they’ve forgotten to send or misplaced their physical mail card.

Plus Ones

Plus ones can be a bit sticky if not everyone gets one, so be sure to make clear what your expectations are. If the answer varies, direct your guests to their invitations for information about whether they have been allowed a date.

Children or No Children Welcome?

Are you planning a kids-free wedding or are children welcome? Would you prefer only children over a certain age? If you have specific accommodations for children, like a play area or childcare, here is a good place to mention that as well!

What to Wear

What is the dress code for your event? Be specific, as terms like “creative black tie” aren’t always clear. Are there any colors your guests should avoid (hopefully white!)? If your wedding is outdoors or requires significant walking, be sure to let your guests know what shoes would be suitable.

Parking

Will there be a valet service, a parking lot, or a designated parking area? Should the allotted parking fill up, where can guests park? If there is limited parking available, be sure to recommend carpooling or using a rideshare service! If you have a preference or promotional code for a particular rideshare, include that information as well.

Indoors or Outdoors

Is your wedding indoors, outdoors, or a mix of both?

Accessibility

Is your venue wheelchair accessible? If there is a long or uneven path between the ceremony and reception spaces, will there be some sort of transportation provided?

Photos & Social Media

Do you have a hashtag for your wedding? Are you planning an unplugged ceremony or will guests be allowed to capture the moments on their phones? We recommend encouraging your guests to leave their DSLRs at home, as you’ve hired a professional to document the day and cameras can not only be a distraction but also get in the way of your hired photographer.

Dancing

Will there be dancing? Let your guests know if they need to bring their dancing shoes to your reception!

Maps

Joy makes being a wedding guest as easy as possible by having maps embedded in their site when you enter a location. This is super helpful so that no one has to type in the venue address and they can easily see the surrounding area.

Contact

Be sure to give your guests a contact email in case they have any questions. This doesn’t have to be your own email address! You may want to ask a family member or someone from your wedding party to be in charge of guest questions to reduce stress leading up to your wedding day. Just be sure to make it clear who the contact information is for!

Wedding App

In addition to your wedding website, Joy’s app allows guests to have all your wedding info stored on their phone with one simple download!

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Wedding planning should be a joyful time, not a stressful one. Start building your wedding website with Joy today!

*This post is sponsored by Joy. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Junebug Weddings!

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Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

The Homegrown Details in this Howell Family Farms Wedding will Give You Life

February 8, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

Chelsea and Boston’s wedding at Howell Family Farms was as sweet as can be! These two celebrated with their closest friends and family and made to sure make it an all-day celebration. While Chelsea Welcomed BrittanyBeautyTX to join her and her maids to get dolled up for the occasion, Boston and his boys were joined by Bradley Onyegbule for a fresh haircut before the wedding. Chelsea’s bridesmaids are rocking mismatched dresses from Lulu’s and Show Me Your Mumu that go perfectly with Chelsea’s bold patterned Rue de Seine wedding gown. All of these details were beautifully photographed by In Frames Photography!

The Couple:

Chelsea and Boston

The Wedding:

Howell Family Farms, Arlington, Texas

Getting ready in the morning with my girls was the most memorable! I had a very intimate bridal party of five. Each girl I owe so much of my happiness and joy to. They are not just my friends but my soul family and I could not have made it so far into the wedding planning process without them. Finally, when the time came to come together and get ready for my big day, my heart was full. My mother and soon to be mother-in-love (I call her my mother-in-love, not in-law because I married her son for love not for law) were in the room. My best friend Brittany is a professional hair and makeup artist for weddings and I lucked out to have such a talented woman in my life. To have her there doing all of my girls hair and makeup, including my own was intimate and lovely to say the least. 

In the beginning of the wedding planning process, since I did not have a wedding planner, I was immediately overwhelmed. I narrowed down the top three things that were the most important to me, knowing if I executed those three things I would be happy if nothing else went right. The first was my dress, which I knew from the start had to speak to my soul. The second was a photographer that would capture the energy of our love and our day the way it felt in that moment. Lastly, that our wedding party, the people we hold so dearly to our hearts because each person we owe a part of our identity to, felt comfortable and confident in the decisions we made along the way, that it was nothing short of a magical day for everyone. In executing those three things, everything else that went right was a hooray and hallelujah!

Every venue we looked at either wanted us to choose a morning or evening wedding but I wanted an all day affair, so it was very discouraging. Eventually we found Howell Family Farms hidden a short 10 mile commute from our house! We toured it and I absolutely fell in love with the elegant rustic barn, intimate cottage suite, and beautiful farm land. Once Katherine joyfully told us we could have the venue all day, we were sold. It is one of the wedding details that was 100% right for us!

Everything will not go as you imagined, don’t hold on to the things that did not work out the way you had hoped. All you can take away is the immense amount of love you were given by everyone involved! Hold onto that memory and the way your husband looked at you every step of the way.

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My bridesmaids and I hand made the wedding bouquets and boutonnieres from Autumn Ferns and White dinner plate Dahlia’s that I grew in my garden specifically for my wedding day. The symbolic meaning of the dahlia in the Victorian language of flowers expresses sentiments of dignity and elegance. It is also the symbol of a commitment and bond that lasts forever.

I also have to add that walking down the aisle was out of this world, time slowed down immensely. It was one of the few “Be Here Now” moments you experience in your life where your mind can not be anywhere but in the moment, heart and soul. The only other time in my life when every moment was so accounted for was the day I delivered my son in an all natural water birth. I will remember these two moments for the rest of my life with warmth in my heart.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – In Frames Photography
Event Planning – Chelsea Comins
Venue – Howell Family Farms
Floral Design – BlondeOrchid
Catering – Blue Mesa Grill
Cake – A Bit of Sweet Cakes
Officiant – Richard Spiva
DJ – Ryan Morgan
Invitations – BlondeOrchid
Hair and Makeup Artist – BrittanyBeautyTX, Bradley Onyegbule
Wedding Dress – Rue de Seine
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Lulu’s, Show Me Your Mumu
Groom’s Apparel – ASOS
Groomsmen’s Apparel – ASOS
Rings – Rosados BoxDiamonds & Designs

 

The biggest congratulations to Chelsea and Boston, and a big thank you to In Frames Photography for sharing their farm wedding with Junebug! If you loved Morgan’s photography in this wedding, then you’re in luck! Check out this timeless meets contemporary style in this Ebell Long Beach Wedding that she photographed.

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Colorful Planet Bluegrass Wedding in Lyons, Colorado

January 28, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

Kristen and Matt’s Planet Bluegrass wedding was as colorful as it was joyful! Their bohemian-inspired decor was bursting with red, pink, and orange blooms from Bella Lu Floral and accented with macrame textiles, hand-painted wood signs, and turquoise geodes. Organically You Events did a phenomenal job creating a cohesive look through each space and making the entire day feel like a lively summer outdoor festival! The bride channeled that boho-festival feel with a strappy Katie May gown and an incredible floral crown and bouquet, and her bridesmaids complemented her look perfectly in whimsical champagne, cream, and sage Show Me Your Mumu maxi dresses. Photographer Shannon Lee Miller and Cinepro Studios videography both truly captured the joy and energy of this gorgeous Colorado wedding!

The Couple:

Kristen and Matt

The Wedding:

Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, Colorado

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When deciding on where to get married, we were immediately drawn to Colorado. Matt and I are from Florida, but fell in love with the Colorado when we visited (and he proposed) to me two years prior, so we decided it would be the perfect place to bring all of our family and friends to celebrate our marriage.

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Since most of our guests would be traveling from Florida, it was extremely important to us that everyone felt involved in the celebration. Throughout the weekend, we went on hikes, visited breweries, and had a welcome drinks party for all of our guests. This allowed us the opportunity to spend ample time with everyone that made the trek, while also extending the celebration throughout the entire weekend rather than limiting it to just one night!

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For me (Kristen), the most memorable part of the day was hearing Matt‘s vows. When we decided to write our own, I never expected him to pour his heart out like he did. Hearing those promises were so much more special knowing that they came from his heart, and that he truly meant every word.

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Wedding Party Processional – “Love Will Be Enough For Us” by Joe Moralez
Bride Processional – “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” (instrumental) by Elvis Presley
Recessional – “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles
First Dance – “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Shannon Lee Miller
Event Planning – Organically You Events
Venue – Planet Bluegrass
Floral Design – Bella Lu Floral
Catering – Three Leaf Catering
Cake – Kim and Jake’s Cakes
DJ – Skyline Productions
Videography – Cinepro Studios
Invitations – Alicia Dyskerhouse
Makeup Artist – Nicole Toledo Makeup Artistry
Hair Styling – Hayley Styles
Wedding Dress – Katie May
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Show Me Your Mumu
Groom and Groomsmen Apparel – Men’s Wearhouse
Rentals – Hunt and Gather Rentals
Favors – Bee Raw

 

Our biggest congratulations to Kristen and Matt, and a special thanks to Shannon Lee Miller for sharing this incredible Planet Bluegrass wedding with Junebug! Love the summer festival vibe they created? Then get ready to fall head-over-heels for Tarryn and Bruce’s South African bohemian festival wedding at Mofam River Lodge!

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Bohemian Luxe California Wedding at Casino San Clemente

January 18, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

In true California fashion, Casino San Clemente was the perfect place for Annie and Ralph’s boho glam wedding. The outdoor ceremony space is an absolute dream with the ceremony alter covered in rich greenery and large blooms thanks to Peach Florals. The floral arrangements continue on into the lovely reception space. We are loving the seating assignment sign created by Lindsay Shannon Calligraphy and Design and how it reminds us of our smart phones with our favorite apps and emojis! Sweet Emma Lou turned Annie and Ralph’s cake into a piece of art that’s almost too beautiful to eat…almost. Victoria Gold Photography captured all of these glorious details and more!

The Couple:

Annie and Ralph

The Wedding:

Casino San Clemente, San Clemente, California

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I wanted a classic/vintage look and that’s why I chose the dress that I did with the red lip. The lace was very defined and showed up nicely against the champagne colored under lay of the dress. The back was very low cut and was my absolute favorite part. 

Something that surprised me the day-of was the effectiveness of the “first look”. Ralph and I were initially hesitant about this idea because we did not want to spoil seeing each other beforehand but I could not be more happy that we did it! It was the most intimate part of the entire day and was just so special. We each wrote each other a letter in place of reading our own vows at the ceremony. This moment of sitting on the steps reading these word to one another will forever be embedded in my heart as it was just so intimate and beautiful. It was all very privately captured by our photography team and something that I will cherish forever.

The last couple weeks of planning are jam packed with little things that you don’t really think about prior so make sure to leave time for these things to get done by planning all the big stuff ahead of time. A wedding planner is a HUGE help and stress reliever. I mean, come on.. they do this stuff every day!

Our photographer, Victoria, is absolutely amazing. She is fun, loving and professional. She kept us all calm, in good spirits and on schedule. We have so many beautiful photos from our day, I just cant say enough good things about her.

We made a geometrical wooden backdrop to sit behind our sweetheart table to add some definition and detail to a white wall. It turned our beautifully and was decorated with candles and some small floral detail. My family is in construction and is very crafty so we made it out of scrap wood that we had at our office. We also made our table numbers out of wood, acrylic and a Cricut (life saver!). Our welcome sign also was made of a piece of wood and vinyl cut outs from the Cricut.

DJ Griff kept everyone fully entertained and has a passion for his work in DJ and music. I would highly recommend him to anyone and everyone looking for a DJ as he is affordable, very helpful and enthusiastic about his work. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Victoria Gold Photography
Event Planning – Fawn Events
Venue – Casino San Clemente
Floral Design – Peach Florals
Catering – California Fresh Catering
Cake – Sweet Emma Lou
DJ – DJ Griff
Invitations – Minted
Hair and Makeup Artist – Beauty of the Souls
Wedding Dress – Love & Lace Bridal
Bridal Accessories – QueenMeJewelryLLC
Rings – SundariGems
Rentals – Sundrop Vintage
Calligraphy – Lindsay Shannon Calligraphy and Design
Bridal Party Robes – Desert Primrose

 

The biggest thanks to Victoria Gold Photography for sharing Annie and Ralph’s boho glam wedding with Junebug! If you loved the lush greenery and florals in this wedding, then you have to check out how this wedding inspiration at San Xavier del Bac is the epitome of Southwestern chic.

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Chic Pacific Northwest Wedding at Wellspring Spa and Retreat

January 10, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

There’s nothing more perfect than the outdoorsy Pacific Northwest vibes at Wellspring Spa and Retreat. Laurel and Benton’s boho wedding is a dream for nature lovers with an affinity for fashion. Laurel nailed the boho bridal look with her easy-going style with her lace Rue de Seine dress, Fleurae flower crown, and gold choker. We love that there are so many DIY elements that were done with the help of the bride and groom’s family and friends – like Laurel and her dad, Tom Anderson Studio, designing the invitations; their friend, Holly Owens, baking their wedding cake; and Laurel and Benton’s custom-made rings by Equinox Jewelers. Photographer Hinterland Stills killed it in capturing the sweet in-between moments and the dance party that ensued during the reception.

The Couple:

Laurel and Benton

The Wedding:

Wellspring Spa and Retreat, Ashford, Washington

After a year-long search, found a lace dress by Rue de Seine. As it was a sample dress without accessories, I opted to have a custom belt and arm cuffs made by a local seamstress. I was drawn to the dress for its lightweight and classic, yet hip, intricate French lace detail. I paired the dress with gold jewelry, both old and new, lace-up nude block heels, and a colorful floral crown with embedded quartz crystals given to me by my mother.

I think it’s safe to say that for both of us, the most memorable part was the first look. It was overwhelming in the best way. The weather was absolutely perfect and there was this gorgeous dappled light shooting through the trees. Butterflies were flying, and for the first time, everything felt calm. 

We knew we wanted to get married in nature, surrounded by trees in the Pacific Northwest. Wellspring Spa was the first place we visited and we knew it was the place right away. The cabins and other structures there are the perfect ratio of rustic and cozy, and the sanctuary is absolutely magical. The cedar hot tubs and saunas were a nice bonus, too.

Kyle of Hinterland Stills is truly a master of his craft. He not only managed to capture the best moments of our day completely organically, but on a few occasions unobtrusively whisked us away from the reception to snap some photos while we savored a quiet moment with each other. We even got several comments from our guests about how much they loved Kyle.

If, like us, you’re doing everything yourselves, don’t get too worked up if not every detail goes perfectly to plan. No matter how thorough your planning, the unexpected can and will happen, especially if you’re doing everything in a non-traditional venue. Once the day arrives, treat it like the beautiful occasion that it is, not some stressful final exam that you’ve been cramming for. Try to give yourself more time than you think you’ll need, and finally, don’t sweat the small stuff.

Where to begin! From hand-dying the shibori indigo napkins to putting together all of the floral arrangements to decorating the ceremony and reception sites, we did just about everything ourselves except for the bulk of the catering. We even tapped some of our Nashville friends for wedding band duty, as Benton is a professional musician by trade. We also had to buy, borrow, or rent everything that was needed for the weekend. Amidst the logistical chaos, our family and friends (and especially our moms, who are actual superheroes) really stepped up and helped bring our vision to life. It took a village to pull off, and we are forever grateful.

During the ceremony, there were Monarch butterflies flying in and around the sanctuary, guests, and us. The lighting was perfect. We were later asked if we ordered the butterflies on Amazon (you can do that?). Another wonderful surprise was an animated short film that Benton‘s mom secretly worked on for months with an animator she found online. It was “premiered” at the welcome dinner and there was not a dry eye in the house.

By the time we met, both of us had lived a lot of life in a lot of places, and each place brought with it a new cast of characters. It was important to us that our guest list be representative of those different chapters in each of our lives. We can’t express in words how beautiful it was to see such a diverse group of people, dear to us but strangers to each other, together in the woods, without cell service, completely engaged with each other and forging friendships of their own.

Instead of hiring a band, we put a band together featuring several of our Nashville musician friends and family members (with Benton on bass, of course). Making good on a 15-year promise, Laurel‘s brother Shane got up and sang Billy Idol’s “White Wedding.” It was pretty epic and yes, there is video.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Kyle Wilson of Hinterland Stills
Venue – Wellspring Spa and Retreat
Floral Design – Fleurae
Catering – Ramblin’ Jacks
Cake – Holly Owens
Officiant – John Wingfield
Videography – Shane Anderson of North Fork Studios
Invitations – Tom Anderson Studio
Wedding Dress – Rue de Seine
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Nordstrom
Groom’s Apparel – J. Crew
Groomsmen’s Apparel – J. Crew
Rings – Equinox Jewelers
Rentals – Tents and Events Kent

 

A big congratulations to Laurel and Benton, and thank you to Junebug member Hinterland Stills for sharing their Pacific Northwest wedding with us! To see more of Hinterland Stills’ magic, check out this Mountain Springs Lodge wedding inspired by the African safari where the couple met.

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Boho Inspired Zurich Wedding at Fischers Fritz

January 8, 2018 | Junebug Weddings

Michelle and Jon’s boho wedding at Fischers Fritz has the prettiest pastel palette! The soft pink and blue tones go hand-in-hand with Switzerland’s breathtaking views and terrain. We love that Michelle and Jon kept everything as green as can be to eliminate waste and be intentional with the products they used for their wedding – including a used wedding dress! Walking down the aisle in a gorgeous strapless lace dress, Michelle’s boho look perfectly comes together with her Stil und Stiele bouquet and flower crown. Once Michelle and Jon said “I do,” they carried the celebration to Daizy to eat, drink, and dance the night away. Chris Züger Photografie and Philipp Dubach worked side-by-side to capture this joyous and fun day!

The Couple:

Michelle and Jon

The Wedding:

Fischers Fritz, Zurich, Switzerland

We decided to have a green wedding because that’s how we try to live as well. Whilst planing it, we made sure that we didn’t buy a lot of new stuff and that we could do a lot of it ourselves.

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We wanted to have a summer wedding. Nothing too traditional and something that would reflect us as well. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and the vibe to be happy and excited. So we went for a boho-inspired theme without going too “hippy”.

We wanted to get married outside, if possible by a lake. So we Googled a few venues and really fell in love with the one we got to choose. Luckily someone declined just a few days before, for the date that wanted, so we booked it right away.

We loved having our friends and family with us, they brought such a great atmosphere and made our day so much more memorable. We really loved promising our vows to each other, that brought such a personal note to the ceremony. Also we wrote our own song that we performed during the ceremony, no one knew about it, not even the bridal party, so it was a nice surprise to everyone!

We wrote all of our invitations by hand, made most of the decoration ourselves, and we dried some lavender leaves that we used as confetti during the recessional song.

I wanted to look elegant, effortless and chic. I went for a secondhand Leah da Gloria gown that I topped off with a floral crown and some dainty gold jewelry. Everything was fair-trade and handmade. I loved that the dress was special and not the usual wedding gown. The chunky lace with the light tulle made the gown special and perfectly fit my style. For the reception, I changed into an effortless Lottie gown from Grace Loves Lace for full dancing opportunities.

I didn’t want a formal suit. Once we decided to get married outside, I really wanted something that would fit with the venue. I loved the suit, it was super comfortable and reflected my personal style as well.

We loved working with Chris Züger. He’s a good friend and we had a couple of shoots with him before the wedding. He’s such a fun and encouraging person, everyone really enjoyed being around him, that is well reflected on the pictures.

Once we arrived in the evening location, our bridesmaids and guests welcomed us with a dance they had prepared. That was such a fun and exciting moment. Also we had to perform a non-prepared theatre later at night (like an improv theatre) and the guests loved it and laughed until their bellies hurt!

Our gift was a bottle of fair cold brew coffee for all of our guests that were invited for the evening celebration. We both love coffee so much and were so happy that we found a company that produces it in our city and also that it was a fair trade product. The cold brew helped everyone to stay awake for the dance party and was also a nice souvenir to take home. The glass bottle could be recycled so guests could reuse it.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Chris Züger Photografie
Ceremony Venue – Fischers Fritz
Reception Venue – Daizy
Floral Design – Stil und Stiele
Officiant – Manuel Leiser
Live Music – Luca Aprile
Videography – Philipp Dubach
Invitations – Simon Aprile
Makeup Artist – Rebekka Höin
Hair Styling – Ramona
Wedding Dress – Leah da Gloria and Grace Loves Lace from Still White
Bridal Accessories – Etsy
Groom’s Apparel – Companys
Rings – Oronda
Favors – Direct Coffee

 

Thank you to Junebug member Chris Züger Photografie for sharing this boho inspired wedding with us! For more pastel palette weddings, check out this romantic pastel wedding at The Casino San Clemente.

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Sophisticated Lake Como Destination Wedding at Villa Lario Resort Mandello

December 16, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

Kerri and Armando’s luxurious and intimate Lake Como destination wedding at Villa Lario Resort Madello was an exclusive and romantic three-day event full of gorgeous Italian sunshine and sophisticated details. The magical backdrop of snowcapped mountains, golden shores, and Renaissance architecture was the perfect setting for a romantic outdoor ceremony and reception. The bride’s sexy and elegant strapless Martina Liana wedding gown paired perfectly with her chic ponytail, simple accessories, and groom’s classic tux. Katie Harmsworth photographed this swanky celebration and this sweet couple enjoying their enchanting day with only their closest family and friends while Eric Ronald, drone captain and second shooter, capturing the stunning surroundings and chic reception set up from above.

The Couple:

Kerri and Armando

The Wedding:

Villa Lario Resort Madello, Lake Como, Italy

When planning our wedding we knew we wanted an intimate wedding surrounded by our closest family and friends. We came across Lake Como, Italy and knew right away it embraced every essence of the magical evening we dreamt of.

It was important that we truly enjoyed celebrating with our guests who traveled to be with us and so we planned a 3 day wedding celebration that included a family dinner, a welcome reception followed by the big day. The evening of our wedding felt like a dream dinner party. Watching our guests laugh over stories from the wedding weekend was everything we hoped for.

Be true to who you are and if there’s something you envision or that is important to you that might not seem traditional, don’t let that stop you from planning your dream wedding.

How we chose our venue was really by chance. As soon as we began to consider the option of a destination wedding, we looked at a map of the world and realized we could go anywhere. That was perhaps the most exciting part once we became open to the idea of traveling; and there was nowhere that felt more romantic than Italy. When we came across the villas of Lake Como, we knew this was everything we dreamt of and more. Our venue, Villa Lario Resort in Mandello, offered everything we were looking for, including a beautiful backdrop of the lake and a first class chef to prepare a delicious three course Italian dinner for our family and friends.

Our photographer, Katie Harmsworth, was hands down the most amazing and professional photographer ever. What made the wedding day feel more natural was the pre-wedding couple shoot the day before the wedding. Not only did we get an extra day of photos for our wedding album, but on the day of the wedding when Katie arrived to the villa it felt like we were old friends and we knew right away she was going to capture every special moment

Wedding Party Processional: So Into You by Childish Gambino
Bride Processional: Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Recessional: September by Earth, Wind & Fire
First Dance: The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra sung by the Groom’s Father

It’s truly hard to pinpoint the most memorable part of the day. Reflecting back, there was a special moment just between the two of us when we made sure to pause while everyone was dancing and just take in the moment under the stars. Knowing that 60 of our closest family and friends flew to Italy to witness our wedding was surreal.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Katie HarmsworthEric Ronald
Event Planning – Wedding Box Lake Como
Venue – Villa Lario Resort Madello
Floral Design – Rattiflora
Catering – Luca Mozzanica
Videography – AG Studio Videography
Wedding Dress – Martina Liana
Groom’s Apparel – Art Lewin

 

Congratulations to Kerri and Armando and special thanks to Katie HarmsworthEric Ronald for capturing this jaw-droppingly gorgeous wedding! For more destination inspiration full of romance, check out this romantic dusty rose French Riviera Wedding at Chateau Saint Georges!

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