Rachel and David wanted their Seattle wedding to be as heartfelt and personal as possible, so they threw a backyard bash in their family’s garden! With the help of Gather Events, the couple transformed their family home into a lovely summer soiree featuring live jazz, a vintage-inspired cocktail bar, and stunning DIY accents. Photographer Benj Haisch captured every detail of this Seattle garden wedding beautifully, including the gorgeous greenery-forward floral design by July Floral Design.
The Couple:
Rachel and David
The Wedding:
Private Residence, Seattle, Washington
We really aimed to plan a party that we would want to attend. We kept some traditional wedding aspects, but weren’t afraid to do away with the ones that were less important to us.
The majority of our guests were from out-of-town and we felt we couldn’t have chosen a more personal or special venue to welcome our friends and family than my family home in Seattle. Getting married in a space that is not set up as a “venue” did create some challenges, but it was totally worth it for us to be able to celebrate our marriage in such a meaningful place. We utilized every square inch of the house and garden!
The garden inspired our wedding vibe. The garden was in bloom, so we kept the wedding palette neutral allowing the florals to standout. We wanted the reception to feel like a whimsical summer garden soiree, complete with live jazz, vintage cocktails and PNW-inspired small plates.
We DIYed a few things! My mom baked our wedding desserts, designed and put together the table centerpieces, and was a major collaborator in terms of overall event design. I designed our invitations. My uncle crafted our wedding favors – lavender sachets with a personalized stamp. Everyone (sisters, parents, aunts, uncles and friends) cut and constructed a lot of bunting!
Choose a few details to focus on and trust your vendors to do the rest. We focused on décor we could assemble ahead of time and we left most of the day-of items to the pros.
Carissa and Will’s wedding at Kualoa Ranch combines tropical Hawaiian vibes with totally romantic details! The couple are residents of Oahu and, for their wedding, they wanted to showcase their favorite parts of Hawaii’s landscape: the majestic Ko’olau mountains and the natural serenity of their venue’s greenery. Photographer Olivia Strohm Photography masterfully captured every detail of this couple’s wedding, including their eight (yes, eight!) wedding cakes and their beautifully bottled home-brew beer!
When you think of Hawaiʻi, beautiful beaches may be first to mind. Although we love the beaches on Oʻahu (the island where we live), we wanted our friends and family traveling from afar to see our favorite parts of the island. We wanted to choose a venue between Oʻahu’s Windward and North Shores, dominated by the majestic greenery of the Koʻolau mountains and the calm sacredness of Hawaiʻi’s native lands, and Moliʻi Gardens at Kualoa Ranch was an absolutely perfect venue choice. Located on historic Moliʻi Fishpond, one of the islands’ largest native fishponds, with a stunning mountainous backdrop, the space offered so many options to be creative with our ceremony.
From the non-traditional bridal entrance down a tropical greenery-covered staircase to a reception dinner held on the upper lawn beneath a gigantic tree and picturesque mountains, the venue’s natural beauty spoke for itself. Logistically, this also allowed us to keep the decor and details simple, as the land had already provided so much for us.
Documenting our wedding day’s events was also at the top of our priorities. The day went so quickly, and we cannot overemphasize how much we treasure the memories solidified in picture and film. We had an unbelievably talented crew shooting our wedding day—what’s more, they’re now our dear friends. Cheers to them!
On a practical note, don’t let the wedding industry standards pressure you into decisions you don’t want to make. As a bride, I felt so bombarded at first by the pressure of having to choose a dress a certain amount of time in advance, and we felt the same thinking we “had to” book a caterer by a specific date (contracts notwithstanding, of course). Make the decisions you want, and ultimately, when your wedding day arrives, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. Enjoy the surprises, the hiccups, and all the perfect moments, because you don’t want to remember a day full of regrets.
Grooms: just nod your head, even if you’re not sure what they’re talking about. (On a more serious note—partners, don’t be afraid to get involved, even if wedding stuff isn’t your thing. You might contribute in ways you didn’t expect would be helpful, and at the very least, you can definitely help alleviate the often-unfair pressure surrounding weddings.)
From the homebrewed beer to the invitations, every part of our wedding was a team effort. The calligraphy on our wedding invitations, save-the-dates, and signs was created by the bride herself, who enjoys crafting her penmanship in her free-time. The homebrew labels were custom-made by the bride’s brother, using his Photoshop skills and printed by a local printer. The groom even created a custom chai tea blend for guests to take home.
Copper frames holding hand-drawn table numbers were made by the bride’s aunt and uncle; reclaimed redwood runners for long, family-style tables were cut and finished by another brother-of-the-bride; even foliage hand-picked by the mother-of-the-bride from her yard was featured. Everyone—whether bride’s side or groom’s—had a part in making this day more incredible than we could have imagined.
We planned all the little details together, which made the process so much more fun and engaging. That said, there were few details that mattered more to us than the food. Our caterer was absolutely incredible, the bride’s father brewed the best beer on earth, and we had close friends mix cocktails for our guests. We also had eight impossibly delicious cakes: one for each table, which we cut with guests following dinner. One favorite menu item were the beers homebrewed by the father of the bride himself. He worked three to four months prior brewing three varieties (hundreds of bottles total): a liliko‘i (passionfruit) blonde ale, a milk stout, and an American pale ale.
The most memorable part of our day was the cake-cutting. We placed a small cake at each of our guests’ tables as centerpieces (if you look at SIFT Hawai‘i’s cakes, you’ll see why!). After dinner, we walked around to guest tables to welcome our guests and celebrate them, cutting each of their cakes. We heard so often how difficult it is to engage all of the guests at a wedding, but this allowed us to have personal time with each guest and enjoy the delicious cakes at each table! (Yes, we ate eight different types of cake on our wedding day. If you’re currently wedding planning… need we say more?) Our favorite cake? SIFT Hawai‘i’s gingered almond butter frosting!
Erin and Patrick wanted their New Year’s Eve wedding to feel like a cozy party among friends, and The monOrchid couldn’t have been a more perfect venue for the celebration. With a mix of wintry DIY details and an eye-catching pink ombré ceremony backdrop, the industrial warehouse venue transformed into a romantic setting fit for a wedding. Erin’s edgy bridal look is one for the books, including a sleek Rime Arodaky gown with geometric lace cut-outs, a dazzling Ryan Storer ear cuff, and nail art you’re going to want to pin immediately. As if her bridal style weren’t enough, the couple wore matching leather jackets that Erin had custom painted with Notorious B.I.G. lyrics.
I didn’t have any idea what I wanted for my bridal look, but I knew I wanted something “edgy.” I toyed with the idea of a two-piece or a long sleeve dress, but couldn’t find anything that checked the box in Phoenix. So, my mom and I made a trip to LOHO Bride in San Francisco. There, I tried on the Olsen dress by Rime Arodaky, and it was game over. The dress has lace long sleeves and a lace mid-section so I basically got the best of both worlds. Because I have a love for geometric prints, I was naturally drawn to the angles of the cutouts.
After I found the dress, I started to hone in on my look. I started with jewelry because I thought that would be the trickiest part since the dress has a high neck, and the cutouts, and has long sleeves. I figured a necklace wouldn’t work so I turned to Pinterest for ideas. After spending countless hours crawling through the depths of every Pinterest board imaginable, I found a Ryan Storer ear cuff that sang my name. I realized it was sold out on his site, so I bought one off eBay for more than half the cost!
I bought us black leather jackets and had them hand-painted with Notorious B.I.G. lyrics (“It was all a dream”) and our wedding date because we’re hip hop fans. I’m obsessed with how they turned out.
We wanted our night to feel like a party, like a true celebration of our love, and a ‘thank you’ to the people who have supported us throughout our journey. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and we’re a little non-traditional, so it was important for our night to reflect those qualities.
Tremaine Ranch created a custom pink ombré backdrop with gold candles that popped against the stark white walls of the space. They also provided cozy, dark wooden benches.
we skipped the bridal party because the idea of picking best (and bestest) friends to stand next to you seemed weird to us. Instead, we just asked Patrick’s niece, Emelia, to be our flower girl. She sprinkled glitter down the aisle and threw it on some guests at one point — which is hilarious. We also wrote our own vows, which I was incredibly nervous to read because I sound like a dying chipmunk if I talk while crying. And our long-time friend, Toney, absolutely crushed the ceremony. Honestly, it was his first wedding so I know he was nervous, but he could not have done a better job. I have a feeling many people will remember his words for years to come. The whole ceremony ran everyone through the gamut of emotions, from weepy tears to hysterical laughter. It felt very genuine to who we are as a couple, and I don’t think we could have asked for anything more.
We’ll never forget looking out at our friends and family between laughs during the ceremony. It’s humbling to feel the love from so many people rooting for your success with every ounce of their hearts. And then when looking back at each other, we were so filled with undying love, excitement, and pure contentment. We could live in that moment forever.
We knew right off the bat we wanted an industrial feel; a grungy, warehouse that could we dress up and make our own. The monOrchid is a beautiful, versatile art venue with a separate space for the ceremony, high ceilings, mixed textures, a super yummy coffee spot (be Coffee), and a “built-in” dance floor. This place felt like “us” from the minute we toured it.
After we picked the date, everything started to fall into place. We wanted a cozy, casual winter night (think: plaid blankets) that incorporated some of the glitter and glamour of New Year’s Eve. Kris and Tyler Zeman, owners of Konsider It Done, got to know our style really well which was absolutely critical to how the day was flawlessly executed. We were all on the same page from the very beginning and our vision just kept unfolding from there. Kris pulled together the color palette that included burgundy, black, gold, dark green, light beige, and light pink. She paired that palette with a vision board incorporating a winter, New Year’s theme without being too overtly “holiday.”
We didn’t want a plated dinner because we didn’t want to deal with seating charts. Laziness for the win. We opted for heavy appetizers from food stations around the venue. We chose unpretentious foods that sounded and tasted delicious any day of the week: Chicken tacos, fish tacos, baked cauliflower bites, artichoke and spinach flatbreads, corned beef sliders (Patrick is Irish), and Parmesan chicken sliders (I am Italian). Those corned beef sliders were the sleeper. So good. For desserts, we served donuts in flavors/colors that matched our wedding palette (glazed; maple; plum; cranberry hibiscus; lemon matcha), along with chai ice cream and homemade cookies. Oh, and the midnight breakfast burritos, of course.
Weddings tend to bring out some weird behaviors in you, in your betrothed, and in your friends and families. Define what’s important to you as a couple, what you want to include, and more importantly, what you don’t want to include in your wedding. If you constantly remind yourself and stay relentlessly true to that vision, you can navigate the weirdness.
Congrats to Erin and Patrick on their unconventional Phoenix wedding! For more gorgeous wedding photography from Junebug Weddings member Kym Ventola, check out Samantha and Keiran’s summer camp inspired wedding at Camp Geronimo.
Aurora and Tony’s Areias do Seixo wedding balanced fabulously quirky details with the timeless beauty of the Portugal coast! This couple donned bespoke attire inspired by their favorite retro looks, including the bride’s custom blush and burgundy gown by Lorna Gillieron Costume. From a comic book save the date to their cartoon character table numbers, we love how Aurora and Tony reflected their favorite pop culture moments in their totally unique wedding details! The photography team of LOOK Imaginary captured every moment this couple’s wedding, including their incredibly stylish portraits among Areias do Seixo‘s otherworldly backdrops.
The most important part of planning was detail! From the origami paper crane ‘save the dates’ to the venue, cuisine and couture. We painstakingly went through, researched and chose everything. Absolutely everything. We wanted it to represent our personalities, travels, tastes and loved ones.
The groom’s planning advice: Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything early in the process because, even if it’s the easy option then, it will haunt you when the going gets tough! Seriously, though, it was a wonderful journey that challenged our inner resolve and creativity. My pièce de résistance was the wedding invite (image on Look Imaginary website!), which I designed as a Marvel comic with us both riding a paper crane through the night sky above the wedding venue – Aurora’s ruby engagement ring is beaming a ray of light into the cosmos! I did the graphic design for the inside but our amazingly talented friend, Jonny Chaos Illustration, brought our crazy idea to life and absolutely aced it.
The bride’s planning advice: Don’t believe Tony when he agrees with you and says he will do it! As an event manager by trade it was very hard to switch off that side of me throughout the whole planning. I wanted to personally make and create every detail. I even found myself meticulously checking table decorations with the staff on the day of the wedding. In the end I had to just let go and leave them to it (this was quite hard for me!). Alas, this was nothing a soak in the huge concrete jacuzzi (we had in our room) with a glass of champagne couldn’t fix.
To see and be among all of our loved ones was a feeling of pure love that will remain with us for the rest of our lives. Everyone looked amazing. Of course, where we were wedded was incredible, but the day would not have been the same without those that travelled from far and wide – from the U.S, Dubai, Australia, Portugal and the UK – just to name a few!
We had two of our best friends play our favourite Bruce Springsteen song, Racing in the Street, when Aurora walked down the ‘aisle’ (which was actually a wooden pathway that led to the beach). Our friend Tom (a long-time friend of Aurora‘s) and Niklas (one of Tony’s best friends with whom he lived with in Dubai) devised a version of the song to suit the ceremony, which, when we get the wedding video, I am going to send to Springsteen to show him how much his music touches people’s lives!
Our recessional song was Prince’s I Would Die for You. We wanted one of his songs because he was sadly taken away from the world in 2016. We thought that the lyrics were perfect for the occasion. And of course, we are both massive fans of his.
We searched high and low for venues. Aurora is Portuguese so we knew we wanted to get married there. Aurora found the venue, which we went to visit – the first and last venue we visited. We made our minds up immediately. Anyone that has ever been there would say it’s one of the most amazing places, ever (ever). The pictures are a testament to this! We have been lucky enough to visit and stay in some of the most incredible places in this world but this place is truly unique and special. Like the first time we met, it was love at first sight! We will go every year on our anniversary!
I designed my own dress along with my best friend and maid of honour, the very talented Costume Designer Lorna Gillieron. I wanted to have something quite ethereal with an iridescent look, which is why I picked a silk organza top layer. The venue really inspired me on the colour choice as I didn’t want the traditional ivory; I therefore chose a coppery satin silk as the under dress with a structured bodice and irregular beaded appliques to add contrast and detail. My hat was a bespoke design using the same copper silk and organza as well as copper leaves, beading and a birdcage veil made especially for me by the very talented Katherine Elizabeth Millinery.
From the groom: As a lover of colour and out-of-this-worldliness, I chose an ensemble of different items as opposed to the traditional ‘one piece’ approach. The red tartan jacket was from Vivienne Westwood while the shirt, trousers and white cuban heels were a mixture of Gucci and Paul Smith. The western bow tie was from store that specialises in selling vintage american neckwear. Not to forget the origami white rose, which is a symbol of Yorkshire, the county of my birth.
I went off course with the shoes opting for some glittery and snakeskin 70s block heel Marni sandals simply because I just loved them when I saw them and have continued to wear them post wedding. Jewellery was quite minimal – just some long elegant diamond earrings belonging to my Great Grandmother who I’m actually named after. No other piece of jewellery was worthy of going with these earrings as they are so incredible. For my make up a 1950s Audrey Hepburn was my inspiration, as a lover of red lipstick I actually opted against my traditional red for a new darker plum shade for the occasion a shade specifically picked to match the rubies in my engagement ring.
Working with our photographers was absolutely fantastic. We are extremely camera-shy so was actually dreading it! But Orsi and Zé of Look Imaginary were perfection. They seemed to become invisible and didn’t encroach in any way at all. They are a really friendly and a superlatively creative couple. When the photographs were ready they totally blew our minds. Everyone has commented on how incredible the photographs were. We have since shed several tears of happiness looking at these images. ‘Breathtaking’ doesn’t do them justice. The whole composition, mood and warmth of their style is second to none. We made one of our best choices (ever) in choosing these guys. Thanks!!
Our first dance song was Help Stamp out Loneliness by S.W.I.M. This was a song written especially for Tony when he left the UK to go and live in Dubai. Another of his best friends, Bentley (Ben), was the lead songwriter and member of the band. When Aurora came to visit Dubai (when the romance first blossomed), it quickly became ‘our song’, which we used to play over and again when we spoke to each other every night on Skype.
Our wedding vibe was a tapestry of our unique quirks, tastes and loves. It was a cocktail of influences and memories that we collected throughout our pre-married life. These included origami (Tony hand-folded hundreds and hundreds of paper cranes); unique table names and specially-written cards that related to our favourite things (ranging from David Bowie and lasagne to Coca Cola and the film Pan’s Labyrinth); and the page boys, who were all dressed up as ‘mini-Tonys’ with flowery shirts and matching bow ties. Our felt-covered alter egos also featured throughout our wedding (Kermit and Miss Piggy who were both on the event app, thank you cards, and of course, on top of the wedding cake!).
The venue only uses locally sourced produce – most of which is grown on site; the rest being procured from the local farmers and fisherman. Portugal has some of the best produce in the world so we were in an extremely privileged position. And we ate in a converted greenhouse, which the hotel uses to grow vegetables and herbs (and which we ate in some of our courses).
We also painstakingly spray-painted 150 plastic animals to make the name card holders, each of which we individually picked to suit the personalities of our guests. We of course had a gold Kermit and Miss Piggy at our table.
We had a few nice surprises for our guests. For example, we made up gift bags that we placed in each bedroom of the hotel, which out bridal party received when they arrived. These comprised brown-paper Americana ‘lunch bags’ that included a welcome drink (a spirit and our beloved Coca Cola); a taste of Yorkshire (the county where Tony was born) with a bottle of Henderson’s Relish; a taste of Portugal (Aurora’s family origin) with a gourmet tin of sardines; thank-you cards; and bridesmaid/groomsman gifts. We also provided a ‘hangover kit’, which comprised aspirin, vitamins and a voucher for a free Bloody Mary in the hotel bar the morning after the wedding. The wedding favours on the tables were personalised seed packets, which seemed fitting as we were dining in a greenhouse. We had ‘some like it hot’ chilli seeds and ‘you are my sunshine’ sunflower seeds.
Our cake-cutting moment was at an amazing fire-pit, around which everyone gathered with sparklers (quite hard to procure in Portugal!). We also had an incredible Portuguese band called Stout, who absolutely blew the roof off. Everybody loved them. They tailored the set to 80s and 90s music, which was truly incredible.
Chelsea and Seth’s wedding at Saucon Valley Country Club was the perfect combination of sophistication and bohemian charm. Having been together since college, it was important to them to integrate sentimental places and details to make their day truly unique and special. They exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at their college church, where they met, then danced the night away at the country club where Seth asked his future father-in-law for Chelsea’s hand in marriage. The rustic, bohemian-inspired decor beautifully integrated with the venue’s chic vibe to create a romantic and welcoming ambiance. AGPcollective captured every detail beautifully, including both first looks with the bride’s parents and with her groom.
We made gift bags for each of the guests that they received when they arrived at the hotel. Each gift included:
Bag: printed with an outline of Pennsylvania with a heart on Bethlehem, PA
Timeline: custom card outlining the weekend’s activities
Coffee mug & beans: because I just love coffee too much
Tasty Cakes & Hertz Chips: both Philly foods
Custom water bottles with our logo
From the photographer: We photographed Chelsea’s ring – an heirloom stone plucked from a necklace belonging to the groom’s grandmother – atop handmade paper with the lyrics for “Georgia On My Mind,” a nod to the bride’s home state. When the pair was falling in love, Seth used these lyrics as his away message on AIM (talk about modern romance!).
While getting ready with my family and bridesmaids, my husband had a few presents delivered. He created a book outlining the “essential rules for a successful marriage.” For every rule he gave me a small present – for example, for communication, I received walkie talkies. The last rule was “family first,” and my Maid of Honor handed me a computer showing a video that he had filmed. The short film was about growing our future family, and that would start with a puppy! The film was him interviewing several dogs from different kennels asking ridiculous questions. Now, 6 months later, we have our little golden puppy, Franklin!
Saucon Valley Country Club is special for many reasons. One being its proximity to our college, Lehigh University, where our relationship started. It’s also the place where Seth met my family for the first time, and where he asked my dad for permission to marry me (on the 9th hole of the golf course).
My favorite photos came from the first look! It was a last-minute decision to do a first look. Now looking back, those twenty minutes were the most special. We were both so emotional and so happy. Sarah did a great job capturing that exact moment!
We had a Catholic ceremony without the traditional mass. Seth and I selected specific songs and readings that we identified most with. The chapel is old with high ceilings and large stain glass windows. I wanted the church to be pouring out with flowers…and flowers were certainly everywhere!
The most important thing for us was that all the guests felt welcomed, relaxed, and had one heck of a party to remember! The wedding was not only a celebration for Seth and me, but for all our friends and family that have supported us throughout the years. We made sure everyone was included in the rehearsal dinner, transportation was offered at all hotels (to and from the ceremony and reception), and the tasty food and drinks were bottomless!
Processional – “Trumpet Voluntary” by Jeremiah Clarke
Recessional – “Hornpipe” by Handel
First Dance – “Harvest Moon” (because there was a Harvest Moon!) by Neil Young
A huge congrats to the newlyweds, Chelsea and Seth, and a special thanks to AGPcollective for sharing these gorgeous photos with Junebug! Planning a country club wedding of your own? Check out all of the magical romance Kait and Ben created in their sentimental New York wedding at Sleepy Hollow Country Club!
Sarah and Mathieu’s wedding combines beachy outdoor vibes with elegant sophisticated details! The couple tied the knot at Dos Pueblos Ranch, a gorgeous Santa Barbara venue that boasts one of the only private beach ceremony spots in California. Between Sarah’s custom beaded and lace Inbal Dror gown, nude Christian Louboutin pumps, and her cascading DIY orchid bouquet, we can’t get enough of her effortlessly boho glam look. Love Tribe Weddings captured every breathtaking moment of Sarah and Mathieu’s wedding, even through the reception’s surprise rain and high wind weather conditions!
The Couple:
Sarah and Mathieu
The Wedding:
Dos Pueblos Ranch, Santa Barbara, California
I would say having a wedding that represents who we are as a couple and to have the people we love most surround us on our special day was the most important part of planning.
Our venue had everything we wanted. It is one of the only private beaches you can get married on in California. It really was just so special that pictures don’t do it justice.
We had a quote from a book: The Prophet from Khalil Gibran we both felt really spoke to us read during the ceremony and also wrote our own vows, which doesn’t get more personal than that!
Our bridesmaid colors were navy and blush and I decided to let my wedding party choose their own dress. I wanted them to be able to represent who they are and also feel their best. We chose white and blush flowers with gold accents. I just think you can’t go wrong with those floral colors.
My photographer was fantastic. I’m not really sure how he does it. It can be quite hectic and I imagine there is a lot of pressure trying to capture all these really important moments in someone’s life. He communicated great with us and overall I had trust in his eye and his photos. I was correct, and they came out beautiful!
Our advice: Definitely know it can be a stressful time planning this huge life event but try to stay connected with your partner and really enjoy the process as much as possible because it all speeds by!
I did all of the floral arrangements, welcome boxes, signage, favors and then some! I maybe have taken on a tad too much but it all worked out in the end. My wedding dress was my dream! I saw the dress in a photo and couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was custom made to my body by Inbal Dror. What I love about it is it really felt like me. That was usually the first thing everyone said to me as well. It was all lace with long sleeves and beading. There was a high slit that I felt gave the dress more of an edge. I was in love with it! I kept the accessories simple because there was so much detail on my dress. I also wore a nude Christian Louboutin heel that worked perfectly with the dress.
Mathieu and I like simple and elegant so we went with that all around. We had multiple centerpieces with gold accents and each was different. String lights with a chandelier that fully set the mood and the music we loved the most. I am a dancer and the majority of the guests were ready to dance all night long. The music was so important!
We had severe wind and rain during the reception, also our ceremony musicians didn’t show up so we had to hook up a speaker to the trunk of a car! It all worked out though. I’d rather hear “Purple Rain” by the real artist anyway!
When you choose New Orleans for your destination wedding, you know it’s going to be an outrageous party! Jessie and Phill’s wedding at Race & Religious was no exception. They started their day with an intimate ceremony in the Pharmacy Museum then danced their way through the streets in an epic second line led by Kinfolk Brass Band to one of the city’s most famous reception venues. The bride looked gorgeous in a lace dress from When Freddie Met Lilly, and added a whimsical flare with diamond and pearl anklets made by JoannaReedBridal. It’s hard to put into words the pure magic of this NoLa wedding, so enjoy these incredible photos by Carolyn Scott Photography, who managed to capture every moment so beautifully!
We chose the Pharmacy Museum for the ceremony because I’m a huge nerd and thought it would be absolutely the coolest venue to get married in! I don’t think we really need to explain why we chose Race & Religious for the reception. It completely speaks for itself. It’s weird and a bit magical and breathtakingly beautiful. We also loved that we could rent it for a few days and we never had to kick everyone out at the end of the night. A lot of our guests slept over and we danced on till about 4 AM.
Because Phill‘s mum is Spanish and some of his Spanish relatives had come over for the wedding, we decided to read a poem by Pablo Neruda during the ceremony, saying each line in both Spanish and English. It was a poem I had given Phill when we were first dating and it really meant a lot to us. We also wrote our own vows, which was really important to us. Having the ceremony inside the museum because of the rain really made everything incredibly intimate and in retrospect. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
I made our reception and ceremony signs with chalk markers on perspex which was actually really easy. We also made all of our programs on white handkerchiefs so that our guests could wave them during the second line – these were just simple iron-on transfers. I also ended up making our umbrellas for the second line by just getting cheap clear umbrellas and glueing on a whole much of white/black trim!
There is one gorgeous photo of our wedding party walking down a side street after the second line that I am absolutely in love with. That picture is how I’ll probably always remember our wedding day. Just chaos that came together and turned out beautifully. Everyone smiling and our hearts just so full.
We gave out little test tubes filled with different sorts of loose leaf tea. The reasoning was to tie in with the ‘pharmacy museum’ thing, and I mean, who doesn’t love tea?
We picked awesome caterers and just let them guide most of it. The food was DELICIOUS! The only big thing we did was instead of a cake we had wheels of cheese :) Then it was wonderful because the night after the wedding, we had everyone over to our condo and had a huge wine and cheese party with all the leftovers!
Processional – “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles (played on Harp)
First dance – “Your Song” by Ellie Goulding
Congratulations to Jessie and Phill, and a huge thanks to Carolyn Scott Photography for sharing these fabulous wedding photos with Junebug! Want to see a slightly different (but still amazing) side of the New Orleans wedding scene? Check out this Marigny Opera House wedding, which beautifully honors the couple’s New Orleans neighborhood!
Mae and Bryna’s apple orchard wedding was based on a dream Mae once had, so it’s no wonder their wedding’s autumnal vibes feel so inspired! The couple’s wedding fell on the first day of the apple-picking season at Clark’s Cove Farm and Inn, and we love how they transformed the space into the rustic wedding venue of their dreams with DIY wooden signs, florals in warm tones, and tons of festive gourds. Alisha Siegel Photography captured the newlyweds’ day beautifully, including every inch of their sophisticated autumn reception décor!
We wanted to create a big party where everyone we cared about could feel welcome and warm without focusing too much on the theatrics and ceremony of it all. We knew that a lot of people would be traveling from far, far away– so it was important that everyone could roll in and feel comfortable eating, drinking, playing and feeling like they were still at home.
Mae‘s suit was made by Bindle & Keep of Brooklyn, NY and specifically suited by Bryna‘s sister, Sheah. B&K work hard to make incredible suits for female bodies with male cuts– they have luscious fabrics, a fantastic team, and make sure that you feel good about what you’re wearing.
Trying not to cry during the first look and sauntering off into the woods is definitely at the top of both of our lists of most memorable moments.
Mae had a dream that we got married in an apple orchard in Maine. She’d picked apples there but didn’t know it was actually a wedding venue. We got married underneath a bunch of cute apple trees the day that the picking season started. The skies literally parted as our processional began. So.. fate?
We heard stories about the exceptionally pizazz-filled performance of our flower girl (Mae‘s cousin Alma), who was tossing flower petals like it was the last day on earth.
Our wedding planning advice: Re: sanity — Spend time with your partner before the wedding doing stuff NOT ABOUT THE WEDDING. Remember that it is your day, and that you should make it what YOU BOTH want, not what you think people want or expect. Re: wedding planning — Plan to not stick to whatever budget you created. Actually become comfortable with the fact that it might rain. Don’t choose any vendors who you couldn’t spend an hour over coffee (or martinis) with, because they are the people who make you feel comfortable when a thousand variables are in play that you don’t actually control. Document the day carefully, and find somebody who you trust to record it in the spirit you’ve imbued the event with. Hire Alisha Siegel Photography. Tell everyone who helps you, paid or not, that you appreciate them and love them. Oh, and breathe!
I hate to admit it but Pinterest was a HUGE asset for DIY inspiration. I had boards in abundance! My favorite project was our signs. Mae‘s Uncle Steven had collected old palates, boards, and sticks from his property and other parts of town. We sanded them, cut them, oiled them up and made cutesy rustic signs out of them. They lined the aisle down the orchard “This way!” “Keep Going!” “Almost there!” “You made it!” and the classic “Don’t pick a side pick a seat we’re all family here.” I spent a day or two with my best friend Rachel in Mae‘s mom’s garage with paint markers and shellack.
Our photographer Alisha was truly, madly, deeply a dream. She was the person kicking us into gear when time started to speed up and everything really started happening, but she tracked things that were outside her purview too – when to have speeches, when to bring the cake out, when to get the sparklers. I’m honestly not sure if she has a twin sis who was covertly calling the shots and keeping track of things while she shot. She was so positive, lovely, and totally present throughout.
Kristin and Courtney’s wedding at The McKittrick Hotel was everything we love about stylish New York weddings and so much more. The couple had one goal in mind: “Above all, we wanted our wedding to feel like a love letter to New York City and to the incredible humans in our lives.” They chose one of their favorite places in the city, which offered a cozy rooftop ceremony and an intimate dinner-party style reception. The bride, who is an art therapist and self-proclaimed calligraphy enthusiast, and her groom created nearly every detail – from the hand-painted, personalized invitations to the signs and programs to the memory wall that included a photo of every guest. It was quite an artistic feat, and we’re so grateful Alyssa McElheny Photography was there to capture every special detail!
As a southern boy and a west coast girl who met abroad and moved to the Big Apple on a leap of faith, we hold our city close to our hearts not only for its vibrant culture, but as the place we fell in love and began our lives together. As so many of our closest friends and family had yet to visit NYC, we knew that we wanted to give them a glimpse into “our New York” by sharing with them the favorite local hangs and secrets spots that make this concrete jungle so very special to us.
This thought process guided our entire wedding weekend, from the rehearsal dinner at Freemans Restaurant, an old-world tavern hidden at the end of a graffiti-covered alley, to our “Meet and Greet” at the Brooklyn Art Library, home of the traveling Sketchbook Project (a unique crowd-funded sketchbook museum to which I had contributed shortly after meeting Courtney many years ago). There, out-of-town guests received a welcome bag full of NYC staples, including black & white cookies, mini-pretzels, subway-themed tokens, and guides to the city.
The ceremony turned out to be the most memorable part of the day! After spending most of our planning focused on making the experience special for our guests, I hadn’t expected that moment to be quite so meaningful. But standing on that rooftop surrounded by our favorite people, listening to our officiant surprise us with words of love and encouragement from family and friends, hearing Court’s beautiful (and hilarious) vows, sharing a champagne toast before walking back down the aisle, and watching the clouds part as the sun finally hit our faces for the first time that day… turns out, it was pretty darn magical.
While we wanted as many of our loved ones present, it was also important that the day maintain the intimate feel of a smaller wedding. Therefore, as an art therapist and calligraphy aficionado, I immediately gravitated towards DIY projects that would allow our guests to feel more connected to us and to the day. PHEW – This was truly a labor of love. Along with hand-making the signs, ceremony programs, menus and table numbers, we hand-painted EACH and every wedding invitation, to gift all of our loved ones with a little piece of art; we also hand-dyed and lettered the escort cards with brass stamped table numbers and iron skeleton keys as a tie-in to the “hotel” theme.
Our desire to connect our favorite people to our favorite places made the wedding venue an obvious choice. Built in the spirit of an abandoned 1930s hotel, the McKittrick is home to multiple restaurants, bars, and, most famously, to the interactive play Sleep No More. Best described as Macbeth-meets-Hitchcock, this immersive theater was our first truly unique New York experience. Since, we have returned time and again for cocktails at Gallow Green, their lush rooftop, dinner at the Heath, their prohibition-era restaurant, and dancing with the Heathens, their mind-blowing house band. When we discovered that they had begun offering wedding packages, we were ALL in (literally).
The décor was largely dictated by the vintage aesthetic of the venue with some bohemian touches woven through, like the Mission Fiber Art macramé ceremony backdrop created by a close friend. To offset the cost of the space, we organized much of the decorations ourselves by collecting amber bottles, brass candlesticks, cigar boxes, antique glass cases, and vintage postcards at flea markets and yard sales. Luckily, The McKittrick Hotel is hardly a blank canvas, and is abound with eclectic odds and ends of its own!
We included “anti-small talk” question cards written by one of our favorite authors, Chuck Klosterman, in the cigar boxes at each of the tables as quirky conversation starters. These were the same question cards that Court brought to our first date!
We created a “Memory Wall,” which included a Polaroid picture of a moment shared with each of our guests, along with a description of that memory. We asked that our friends and family “trade in a new memory for the old one” and provided Polaroid cameras and props at our DIY photo booth station. Although scouring through social media for photos took some time, it allowed us to truly reflect on the significance of their presence in our lives.
Elle and Sarah are self-proclaimed sentimental gals with a knack for old world charm, so they incorporated their personal styles in their wedding with tons of vintage pieces! The couple’s Vancouver wedding at The Permanent achieved this look with dozens of old books, copper coins, and pink quartz details in addition to the totally gorgeous floral design from Quince Fine Florals. Sara Rogers Photography captured every moment of Elle and Sarah’s wedding beautifully, including their romantic first look in a forest.
The most important thing was creating a feeling of beauty, love and warmth. We wanted every detail to be personal and engaging. To reflect not only the old world romance that we feel – but also to reflect the love and support that we feel for those that showed up for us as a couple. It was imperative that everyone who showed up for us felt welcome and loved!
Our wedding styles were classic, comfortable and beautiful old world vintage! Elements of art deco but no specific era. Elle‘s Maggie Sottero capelet for her wedding dress made the whole look pop with this in mind. Sarah wore a custom made suit made by Blair Shapera – designed by her!
Our bridesmaids in dresses wore J. Crew and our bridesmaids in pants wore pants of their own and the shirts were by a local queer designer called Peau De Loup.
We are both old world romantics and have very quirky, warm and often sentimental personalities. We wanted the energy to reflect those things. A mix of copper pennies, rose quartz and vintage details helped to pull together our vision. Our colors were blush, burgundy, soft grey and gold. It was less about choosing a set of colours but more about choosing details and as they started to take form – the colours chose us!
Our advice: Hire professionals! Haha! Elle is very crafty (she did all the calligraphy herself!) but it was a lot to take on. At the very, very least – hire a day-of planner so that you don’t have to stress about details and can fully be present in your special day.
Elle is a yoga teacher and ceremony is important to both of us. One of her best friends and cohorts officiated (the non-legal portion) which felt so beautiful and personal. Our ceremony included our guests individually touching/blessing our wedding rings beforehand and a cleansing of the space with palo santo prior to our entering. We wrote our individual vows in addition to the crowd standing and accepting our union out loud.
We chose to have a raw rose quartz on each person’s setting. Rose quartz is a symbol of unconditional love. It carries an energy of compassion, healing, and comfort. As a gay couple, these qualities were important to us to share with those who support our union.
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