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Real Weddings:

Katie and Cameron’s wedding at Olowalu Plantation House

featuring Wendy Laurel Photography

Former bike tour guides, Katie and Cameron, hired Opihi Love Wedding and Events to help them channel their adventurous spirits into their wedding day. Kayaking, hiking, biking, catamaran whale watching and surfing activities with family and friends led up to their big day Olowalu Plantation House which included a seating circle ceremony where those same fiends and family shared in their love. A traditional Hawaiian pig roast, live reggae music during cocktails, fabulous tropical florals by Lois Hiranaga Floral Design, stationery by Evr Paper, calligraphy by Miss B Calligraphy are just some of the details. See it all in these beautiful images from Wendy Laurel Photography —the perfect photographer for capturing the true ‘joie de virve’ of this couple in her signature photo journalistic style.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Everything was a blend of who my husband and I are as a couple and our history. We used to be bike tour guides so we created a week of adventures around our wedding: kayaking, hiking, biking, catamaran whale watching, surfing.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

Wildbride in San Francisco – Samira is amazing and her shop is so beautiful and curated.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

My priority was getting a roasted pig and Nicole Sharer Events delivered! Live reggae music for sunset + cocktails.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The ceremony was so special and personal. It was my favorite part of the day. We did our seating in a circle so it felt so special to be surrounded by everyone we love.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met in Spain while biking with our company that we worked for at the time. We went on to lead bike tours in Hawaii, Vermont, Glacier National Park and all over California together. We got engaged while hiking in Big Sur.

Photography: Wendy Laurel Photography // Wedding Coordination and Design: Opihi Love Wedding and Events // Flowers: Lois Hiranaga Floral Design // Stationery: Evr Paper // Venue: Olowalu Plantation House // Wedding Dress: Wild Bride // Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy // Hair and Makeup: Maui Makeup Artistry // Catering: Nicole Scharer Events // Video: Driftwood Films // Bar: Garnish Craft Cocktail Catering // Table Settings: Set Maui // Entertainment: Alana Yurkanin and Nuff Sedd // DJ: Maui DJ Services // Officiant: Tawny Avonne Barnard // Rentals: Rio Event Design // Linen: Hostess Haven // Fire Knife: Manutea Nui E

 

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Inspiration Shoots and Boards:

Soft + Organic Coral inspiration shoot

featuring Sami Kathryn Photography

Becca of Oh Be Joyful Creative and Sami Kathryn Photography joined forces to explore Pantone’s 2019 ‘Color of the Year.’ It’s a bright, bold, eye-grabbing color (that we LOVE, duh!) and while it’s easy to let this color run the show, the team chose to explored a more organic, wild feel that incorporated Living Coral in subtle, unique ways. The Cliff House in Dallas, Texas set the stage with details ranging from letterpress invitations by Oh Be Joyful Creative, florals by Slow Darling and cake by  The Sweet Canvas Co. We’re totally loving the result—is just. so. PRETTY!!

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Photography: Sami Kathryn Photography // Planning and Styling: Oh Be Joyful Creative & Sami Kathryn Photography // Stationery, Silk Ribbon & Runner: Oh Be Joyful Creative // Letterpress: Elefant Press // Venue: The Cliff House // Florals: Slow Darling // Cake: The Sweet Canvas Co. // Dress: Bridal Boutique of Lewisville // Paintings: Rachel Wadlow Art // HAMU: Brite Bar Beauty // Model: Sarah Robinson // Jewelry: Sarah Gauci // Jewelry: Manly Bands // Ring Box: Voeu Du Coeur // Rentals: Coral Lane Rentals

Real Weddings:

Melissa and Louis’s Wedding at Casa Ybel

featuring For The Moment Photography

Melissa and Louis made it a point to really personalize their wedding day at Casa Ybel in Sanibel, Florida. They enlisted Fabulously Chic Weddings to help them reflect their personalities with a weekend of festivities that included decked-out, custom welcome bags, a, ice cream sunday bar, steel drums, lawn games and more. Birhgt and happy peachy-hued peonies and cabbage rose arrangements were by Floral Symphony , watercolor invitations by Creative Expressions and a cake by Lady Cakes. See all the details in these lovely photos by For The Moment Photography.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Having all of our friends and family with us for the weekend was so amazing. We tried to keep the wedding on the smaller side so we would be able to spend quality time with everyone (we had 140).  The night before the wedding, we kicked off the weekend with a beach barbecue with lawn games, a steel drum player and an ice cream sundae bar. We had the wedding the following night (see below for personalized details) and a brunch the following morning. We tried to include personal touches throughout the weekend that reflected our personalities and made sure our guests knew how much we appreciated them traveling to be with us.

Our main goal was to have fun and make sure everyone else had fun too. I think we accomplished it!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

After trying on what felt like a million dresses at a million different stores, I finally found my gown at Kleinfelds. Although the dress was pretty well-covered, it wasn’t completely lined. Instead of adding a lining, we ordered extra lace from the designer and the seamstress (who was absolutely amazing) hand-sewed each piece of lace in strategic places which created a whole new look. She also put some lace towards the top of the bodice to raise the neckline a little bit. I loved it because it created a romantic, garden-y feel, and it felt like a custom dress that was made just for me.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We wrote our own vows which weren’t the easiest to get through but we’re really glad that we did it and were able to really say to each other what we wanted to.

We put a lot of thought into our welcome bags, which were a canvas tote that people could use as a beach bag. We ordered koozies and sunglasses with our logo that we included, put together bags with our favorite treats, and added some other things that people would want to snack on, like granola bars from This Bar Saves Lives. We also made “emergency kits” for each bag that were filled with Advil, packets of sunscreen, and other essentials that people might need.

We also had a guest book with Polaroid cameras so that people could take pictures and write a note for us. We had a ton of fun reading the notes and looking through the pictures when we got home.

We had a lot of fun appetizers at the cocktail hour such as mini lobster rolls and chicken and waffles and made signature cocktails that reflected our personalities.

I surprised Louis with a chocolate peanut butter Boston sports-themed groom’s cake. As a big NY sports fan (now married) to a big Boston sports fan, we are constantly jokingly giving each other a hard time. I thought the best way to say I love you would be with sugar in the form of a cake with his favorite flavors and teams. His reaction was priceless.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Having all of our friends and family with us for the weekend was so special. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone at brunch the next morning!

We also had an amazing band and did not leave the dance floor all night! The most memorable part of the wedding itself was the last song the band played – we had all of our family and friends on the dance floor with us singing and dancing. It was amazing.

Photographer: For The Moment Photography // Design + Planner: Fabulously Chic Weddings // Florals: Floral Symphony // Invitations: Creative Expressions // Venue: Casa Ybel // Hair + Makeup: Duality Artistry // Cake: Lady Cakes // Bridal Shop: Kleinfelds // Band: Wiley Entertaintment

 

Inspiration Shoots and Boards:

Chelodonian Editorial

photography by Lauren Kinsey

Gazing at photographer Lauren Kinsey‘s ‘Chelodonian’ inspiration shoot is like drifting into a floral dream. Chelodonian is an ancient word referencing the swallows at the first warmth of spring winds and has historical references to “awakenings.” This editorial, with abundant florals by Studio Petali and Toni Maticevski and Jurgita gowns from Nearly Newlywed, proved to be an awakening for Lauren Kinsey, metaphorically and physically speaking, and we can absolutely see why.

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Photography & Conceptualization: Lauren Kinsey // Floral Design: Studio Petali // Wardrobe: Nearly Newlywed // Gowns: Toni Maticevski  / Jurgita // Model: Conner McKay // MUAH: Lanna Curry Artistry // Headpieces And Jewelry: Lia Terni // Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

 

Real Weddings:

Raina and Scott’s Los Cabos wedding

photography by Ana & Jerome

Raina and Scott’s San Jose Del Cabo celebration is what modern destination wedding dreams are made of. Tropical foliage galore, a clean contemporary aesthetic and serious beach party vibes. The couple enlisted the super-skills of Lauren Lemke for Amy Abbott Events and the rest is history. Lauren suggested their stunning venue, Solaz, and complimented it with “a very clean aesthetic that went with the hotel’s beautiful, modern architecture and beach front setting.” Pina Hernandez utilized neutral tropical blooms and plenty of palms and fronds in the florals while black, white and gold accents in the paper and details by Bells & Whistles added graphic impact. Our friends Ana & Jerome were on hand to capture all the beauty and fabulousness in these gorgeous images.

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How did you meet, and how long did you date before getting engaged?

We met through mutual friends at a 21st birthday party while we were at college at the University of Maryland. We dated for 6 years before getting engaged.

Who proposed? When and how?

Scott proposed when we were in Paris having a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was the last stop on our trip through Europe and he had hidden the ring and surprise from me (and our friends and families) the entire time.

How did you choose your wedding venue?

It was recommended to us by our wedding planner Lauren Lemke.

How did you choose your table decor?

We wanted a very clean aesthetic that went with the hotel’s beautiful, modern architecture and beach front setting.

 

 

Please describe 4 favorite moments:

1- The first time we saw each other before the wedding (first look). It was so special to be able to have a little bit of time to ourselves during all of the excitement. There was so much build up to the day, so being able to share a moment in the midst of it all was unforgettable.

2- When Scott’s dad and cousin got on the stage and played with the band. Everyone was so surprised and it meant so much to us that they had planned such a thoughtful and fun addition to the day.

3- Being able to blend our two cultures together and have a combined wedding ceremony performed by one of our closest friends, as well as elements from traditional Hindu weddings that were coordinated with Raina’s Aunt and Uncle.

4- Listening to all of the stories and memories that were shared with us throughout the weekend during the speeches, toasts and just in conversation. Having all of our closest friends and family in the same place for the whole weekend brought back so many memories and allowed us to make even more.

Photographer: Ana & Jerome // Planner: Lauren Lemke for Amy Abbott Events // Flowers: Pina Hernandez // Invitations: Minted // Paper goods/printed items: Bells & Whistles // Hair & Makeup: Blanc Salon // Dress: Alessandra Rinaudo // Groom’s Attire: State and Liberty // Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell // Bridesmaids Dresses: ASOS, Chrissy Teigen for Revolve, Lulus // Rentals: Del Cabo Events  and Let it Be // Band: Pura Vida