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Real Weddings:

Lindsay and Chris’s wedding at Legare Waring House

featuring Mike Cassimatis Photography

Lindsay and Chris’s breathtaking Charleston destination wedding is filled with all that Southern romance we love. Mac & B Events planned the event at Legare Waring House where the like oak trees flanked a ceremony filled with vibrant florals by Out of the Garden. The tented reception on the plantation was fresh and elegant with pink florals and blue and gold accents. Everything was stunning—but the bride and groom’s favorite part was the music. They sourced multiple bands and a string trio to customize each and every special moment. Lucky for us, the incredible Mike Cassimatis Photography was on hand to capture in all in these beautiful images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

The fact that 133 guests from all over the U.S. (none from South Carolina) all made the trip to Charleston for our special day. Charleston is literally breathtaking and being able to share our love for Charleston with the people who mean the most to us was truly an indescribable feeling. Also, definitely the MUSIC. We had a string trio from Charleston Virtuosi playing during the ceremony, but a surprise for our guests was the Plantation Singers who sneaked in behind the guests once the ceremony had already started. The Plantation Singers, an a cappella and percussion Southern gospel singing group, immediately started singing This Little Light of Mine right after Christopher and I were first introduced and walking down the aisle. Many of the guests were actually startled because their backs had been turned to the Plantation Singers and they had no idea that the group had sneaked in. The energy of the Plantation Singers was surreal and definitely started the celebratory momentum that lasted throughout the night. Once at cocktail hour, Peter Kiral of Charleston Virtuosi, played the electric violin and was one of the most talented musicians that I have ever seen. The real party then started (and ended) with the Voltage Brothers who performed top hits from literally every genre. Their repertoire consists of nine Super Bowls, guest artists at the President’s Dinner in Washington, D.C., several Presidential Inaugurations and also appearing with renowned artists including Frank Sinatra, The Temptations, The Commodores, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Earth, Wind, & Fire. The dance floor was literally full the entire night, with their short intermission consisting of a play list compiled with old-school Nelly hits, as requested, to make sure that we had a little bit of St. Louis in Charleston.

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

Funny (sadly) enough, I was actually all by myself.  I had previously tried on several dresses with my mom (who is from a town two hours away) and didn’t fall in love with any of the dresses that I tried on when I was with her. However, the designer that I seemed to really keep liking, Martina Liana, was having a trunk show the next weekend. I had described the exact type of dress that I was looking for and the stylist at the bridal boutique actually requested that a certain Martina Liana dress be brought down (which was not included in the trunk show). That next weekend, I went to the trunk show by myself with no intention of actually finding THE dress. The very first dress that I tried on (the one that the stylist had requested be brought down to St. Louis) was literally everything that I had imagined. I toasted myself with champagne and then Face-Timed my mom to get her approval. My mother-in-law (who lives in St. Louis) also raced to the boutique once I had told her that I had found the dress so that she could also see me in it. The designer was so accommodating that they even agreed for the dress to remain at the boutique until the following weekend so that my mother could see me try it on in person. The bodice is lace with illusion tulle which continues into the straps giving the illusion of a strapless neckline. The back is completely illusion tulle adorned with fabric-covered buttons which extend all the way down the skirt to the court train which leads to a scalloped-lace pattern. Overall, I would describe it as a statement dress with a touch of Southern charm.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

My neighbor from Sikeston, Missouri, who has known me since I was a baby (and is also a Circuit Court Judge in Missouri) officiated our wedding.  It was really special to have  him be a part of our special day since he has literally known me since day one. We also used the wedding cake topper that my parents had used at their wedding. A picture of my parents cutting their wedding cake was on the table next to our wedding cake.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Reading aloud our vows that we had written to each other. It was something that I was at first hesitant about doing in front of all of our guests, but am so glad that we did.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

During law school, I became best friends with the girl who ended up being my Maid of Honor. She had actually grown up with Christopher and had introduced me to him at her birthday party during my first year of law school. It seemed that we were at the exact right place at the exact right time as it was perfect timing in both of our lives to have met. We ended up dating over the next 7.5 years and together, endured the rigors of law school, passing the Bar exam and starting our careers. Regarding our engagement, trying different restaurants for dinner each weekend in St. Louis (and simply eating in general) is one of our favorite things. So, it made perfect sense that a restaurant is where Christopher proposed to me. While we usually like to take our time at dinner, Christopher seemed to be in a hurry for me to figure out what I wanted to order and kept telling me to take a look at the menu (we had not even ordered cocktails yet). I obliged and before I could even completely open the menu, he was down on one knee. He had handwritten “Will you marry me?” and placed it inside the menu. It was the first time that I had ever instantly started crying happy tears in my life and also the first (and last time) that I have seen Christopher’s attempt at cursive handwriting! He had originally planned on proposing the next night (when my parents were supposed to be in town to celebrate with us) but he had just picked up my engagement ring from the jewelers hours before and literally could not wait for the next night to give it to me. The ring was absolutely perfect so I can’t really blame him for not being able to wait!

Chris & Lindsay from Paragon Filmworks on Vimeo.

Photography: Mike Cassimatis Photography // Planning: Mac & B Events // Florist: Out of the Garden // Venue: Legare Waring House, Charleston, SC // Cake: Ashley Bakery // MUAH: Ash & Co // Rentals: Snyder, Eventhaus, Ooh Events // Video: Paragon Films // Cigar Bar: Cigar Row // Entertainment: Plantation Singers, Charleston Virtuosi, Voltage Brothers // Catering: Mosaic // Film Lab: Indie Film Lab // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

 

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Real Weddings:

Amy and Josh’s Dairy Farm Wedding

featuring Melissa Jill Photography

Amy and Josh both work at the local dairy co-op, so as the mother-of-the-bride says “milk brought them together!” The couple wed on the bride’s family farm in an event planned by Wild One Events filled with meaningful nods to family heritage and the dairy business. Dutch blue accents paid homage to the father of the bride’s upbringing in Holland, antique painted cow bells acted as table numbers and milk + cookie take-aways were totally adorable. The white tent reception too place under perfectly blue skies and of course we’re completely smitten with the super-colorful and amazing florals by Posies Floral and lucky for us Melissa Jill Photography was on hand to capture every last detail and we’re happy to be sharing all the joyful images with you today.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

From the mother of the bride, Jody, “Amy and Josh both work out of our dairy co-op so you could say that milk brought them together! That’s one of the reasons it was so meaningful that the wedding was held on the dairy farm where Amy was born and raised. There were special nods to the dairy business in the decor, including painted antique cow bells as table numbers, and linen bags of chocolate chip cookies with a message to “add milk” as favors.

“The bride’s father, Pieter, grew up in Holland on a dairy farm and we were blessed that so many of our Dutch family members were able to travel to Arizona to attend the wedding. Everyday touches of the bride’s Dutch heritage, like the wooden shoes at the door of the home, were joined by wedding details, like Dutch blue accents and a Delftware cake topper.

“Another special touch was the horse-drawn carriage that brought the bride to and from the ceremony. And at cocktail hour, a baby grand piano was installed in the field where the guests had gathered. A talented cousin of bride played the piano as the guests enjoyed cocktails and lawn games.”

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

Mother of the bride Jody says, “Before dress shopping, Amy wasn’t sure what her wedding gown would look like, but she knew it WOULDN’T be strapless or have a train. When she fell in love with Enzoani’s strapless, lace “Khloe” gown (with the longest train in the boutique), she proved herself wrong. Amy found her dream dress at Uptown Bridal boutique, where we were blessed with a private session with the most personal and loving service. The consultants (who are now our friends) went above and beyond for Amy and we are so grateful.”

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Wedding planner Jackie with Wild One Events says, “There were little details and nods throughout the day to the couple’s relationship and background. Simple elements such as vintage cow bells used as numbers, chocolate chip cookies for the favors, and cow hide rugs in each of the lounges were all simple ways to recognize the dairy farming background without taking the farming concept too far. Other details that touched upon the bride’s Dutch heritage and family were incorporating various shades of blue in the design and bringing in a piano so that her cousin could play during cocktail hour.”

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The most memorable part of the day was the private time with future husband and wife during the intimate ” first look” moments. Josh & Amy felt so connected to one another in that time together, and it reaffirmed their love and commitment.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Amy & Josh both work for the United Dairymen of Arizona, and they both come from dairy families. For a long time, Amy only really knew Josh as the cute guy she sometimes saw at work. Eventually they were introduced by mutual friends, and they became friends themselves before falling in love.

On their first date, Josh & Amy learned how truly compatible they were. They went to Blue Wasabi, but it wouldn’t be truthful to say they went out for sushi. You see, they got SO caught up in talking that they forgot to eat … all the way until the restaurant closed for the night. They had to be asked to leave; hungry but happy, and still talking.

Their joy in spending time together never faded, and Josh knew that he wanted to spend his life with Amy. When their families gathered together for a birthday dinner, Josh saw the perfect opportunity. Surrounded by their closest family, he got to one knee just before dessert was served and asked Amy to marry him. Her “Yes!” was sweeter than the cake!

Photographer: Melissa Jill Photography // Wedding Planner: Wild One Events // Florist/Decor: Posies Floral // Stationery: Roots and Rain Creative // Venue: Van Rijn Family Dairy // Dress: Enzoani // Bride/Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Uptown Bridal // Hair & Makeup: Amanda Victoria Beauty // Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse // Bridal Bouquet Ribbon: Silk & Willow // DJ: Welter Entertainment // Officiant: Shane Sanchez // Rentals & Tenting: Event Rents // Specialty Rentals: Glamour & Woods // Specialty Rentals: Prim Rentals // Piano Rental: Safe & Sound Piano // Linens: La Tavola // Catering: Robert’s Catering // Videographer: Simply Cinema // Photo Booth: Rendezbooth // Ceremony Detail Ribbon: Tono + Co. // Carriage: Walking M Farms

 

Real Weddings:

British History Meets French ELegance Editorial

photography by Tatyana Chaiko

WHITE EDEN WEDDINGS capitalized on the history of the stunning Chateau Saint Georges venue and it’s location in Grasse, the world capital of perfume, to create this romantic wedding inspiration. A plum-centric palette of purples, dusty pink and grey accentuates the details of the venue and stuns in the textured and gorgeous florals by Julie Guittard. The style (and fabulous arrangements)  translate beautifully to a classic tablescape with touch of ballroom glam. The team enlisted Tatyana Chaiko to capture all the details in these lovely images we’re thrilled to share with you all today!

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From the planners: Our inspiration for this styled shoot came out of a surprising but meaningful trio.

The historic side of the venue, linked to the Queen Victoria of England (who we should thank for making the white wedding dress a thing by the way!) the strong and unique plum color; and finally the desire of romanticism expressed by the roses as the shoot took place in Grasse, the world capital of perfume.

The color palette -plum, dusty pink & grey- we worked on was a delicate match which highlights the soft interiors of the Chateau, and accentuates the substance and energy we wanted to infuse to the session through the numerous details, each one more meaningful than the other ones. The plum color provides depth to the dusty pink and feels like a perfect match with the two shades of grey revealed by the main room.

Consistency is to us the main idea of an inspiration shoot. In order to maintain the quintessential British charm, we used with sensitivity vintage accessories along our session. The delicate and refined florals created by the talented Julie Guittard were the key link with our romantic theme infused by the perfume history in Grasse.

Planning & styling: WHITE EDEN WEDDINGS // Photography: Tatyana Chaiko // Flowers: Julie Guittard // Venue: Chateau Saint Georges // Dress: Cathy Telle // Hair & Make up: Amandine Baron // Hair Extensions: Dream Extension // Jewels: Alice Magnin // Ring box: Amonie // Macarons: Ladurée // Rentals: Maison Options // Linen: Mademoiselle Coton // Vintage accessories: Les Dépareillées

 

Real Weddings:

Molli and Justin’s wedding at Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art

featuring Eliza Morrill

Molli and Justin’s wedding at Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art on the Auburn University campus was full of sentimental details and unique touches. There’s no doubt, though, that the stand out feature of the day was the way Molli’s primary color, bordeaux, was brought to life by florist Thorne and Thistle. The florals are abundant and stunning, transitioning beautifully from the romantic courtyard ceremony to the modern interior of the gallery reception. With planning and coordination by Invision Events, stationery from By Invitation, and a Cakeitecture cake decked out in MORE flowers, this one is sure to inspire and we’re thrilled to share all the beautiful moments captured by Eliza Morrill.

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What made the wedding special and unique? 

From the bride:  I choose to have our wedding at Auburn because I was an art major at Auburn University and had classes and attended events at the museum and always thought it was the most beautiful venue. I’m a third generation Auburn alumna so naturally it’s one of my favorite places!

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

I wanted to keep a family tradition and have sleeves on my gown so I started looking while I was living in Nashville. I found the perfect dress at a boutique in Nashville.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

From the bride: I wore my late grandfathers Allstate “good hands” pin he was given after 40  years of service. I also wore it on my graduation from Auburn. The first dance was the same song as my parents used and they just celebrated 25 years of marriage. I added tulle from my grandmothers dress to add my “something old”.

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

From the bride: I would have to say Justin’s reaction on our first look and when I walked down the aisle. The raw emotion we felt at that moment was better than we ever anticipated.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

From the bride: I met Justin on July 17, 2016 in Birmingham, AL at the World Deer Expo. I was traveling through Birmingham with my friend, Taylor Bassham, on the way home to Columbus, GA for the weekend. She had a friend, Matthew Howell, who was in Birmingham for the World Deer Expo running a booth for his company, Freak Outdoors. She reached out to Matthew and he asked us to stop by the booth on our way back to Nashville that Sunday. When we went to the Freak Outdoors booth, I immediately noticed Justin – it was hard not to with how big of a guy he is! I secretly pointed at him and whispered to Taylor, “I want him!” I was immediately interested in him when we began talking about his travels and his hobbies. I will admit that I was flirting with him really hard! I was disappointed that he didn’t ask for my number because I really thought we had hit it off. So, right before I left the booth, I took it upon myself to hand him my business card with my cell phone number circled on it and told him to call me sometime! Taylor and I left the booth and went to dinner and about 5 minutes later, I had a text message from Justin asking me where we went to dinner and if he could meet us before his flight! He almost missed his flight because we could not stop talking. Two weeks after that he flew to Nashville to see me, and the rest is history!

Justin and I had a whirlwind romance from the beginning and we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together very early on. I mean he told some of his closest friends at work the day after he met me, “I’m going to marry that girl.” We even said “I love you” only weeks after meeting each other for the first time. People thought we were crazy but when we met each other’s families it was clear to them and us that something was very special about what we have. So, on December 9th we traveled to Bryson City, NC for a mountain weekend get-a-way. Justin had rented us the most incredible cabin I had ever seen and he planned this whole trip for us to celebrate Christmas early together. The next day, Saturday, December 10th, he told me to get ready we were going out to hike and adventure around the city! I of course spent way too long doing my hair and makeup (like I always do) and he was getting very impatient with me and I had no clue why he was getting so flustered! So we set out later that afternoon to go hike part of the Appalachian Trail and we made it about 3.5 miles up the trail when we stopped at New Found Gap. It was sunset and the view was breathtaking. Justin and I were standing on the edge of this lookout when he came up behind me, put his arms around my shoulders, and whispered to me, “I need to ask you something, I heard something and I want to make sure its 100% true.” My initial instinct was worry and panic so I whipped around and found him down on one knee. He asked me “Will you spend the rest of your life with me? Will you start a family with me? Will you marry me?” I was in shock and I could not say yes fast enough!! We were both so emotional in that moment, it was perfect, it was everything I had ever dreamed it would be and more. It still gives me goosebumps just writing about it!

Photography: Eliza Morrill // Planning + Coordination: Invision Events // Floral Design: Thorne and Thistle // Invitations: By Invitation // Venue: Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art // Dress: Morilee by Madeline Gardner // Bridesmaid Dresses: Kennedy Blue // Hair: Stephanie Lee of Swank Salon // Makeup: Carrie Reap // Second shooter: Jennifer Corcoran // Men’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse // Floral Ribbon: Silk and Willow // Cake: Cakeitecture // Rentals: The Event Group // Draping: Unique Element Events

 

Real Weddings:

Deborah and Ben’s wedding at Long Meadow Ranch

featuring Ditto Dianto

Deborah and Ben’s wedding at Long Meadow Ranch is a lovely blend of modern vineyard vibes and nods to cultural heritage and tradition. The bride is French Korean, immigrating to America from Paris when she was young, and acknowledged her mom’s culture with a modern take on a hanbok—the traditional Korean wedding dress. The ceremony chuppah had a white tablecloth over the top—a family heirloom belonging to the groom’s grandmother. DGN Events and Designs assisted in the planning, letting the colors and scenery of the vineyard take center stage with stationery by Shine Wedding Invitations and relaxed florals were DIY by the brides mother. The couple enlisted Ditto Dianto to capture all the moments of the day.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Our wedding took place at Long Meadow Ranch Winery in St. Helena California. Deborah is French Korean, she immigrated to America from Paris when she was young but still wanted to acknowledge her mom’s culture with a modern take on a hanbok. Both Ben and Deborah share a Jewish heritage so the wedding took place under a chuppah, with wine and of course a great hora. Deborah works in television news, Ben in financial tech, the two met in New York City and moved across the country together to San Francisco which they now call home.

Both Ben and I have been members of the winery for a long time and love the food at Farmstead, the winery’s restaurant which is arguably more well known than the winery itself as it is consistently rewarded with Bib Gourmands every year. The food was all seasonal since they are sustainable and everything is organic. 80% of everything served to our guests was grown or raised by the winery, including the beef for the beef ragu. About a week prior to our wedding, we woke up to a smoke filled apartment in San Francisco and from there on every single day was a bit of a mad dash, we lost our transportation, guests cancelled, accommodations had to be moved around with almost everyone at our wedding booked to stay in Calistoga initially. We switched our rehearsal lunch to Gott’s Roadside at the Ferry building instead of the original Gott’s in St. Helena. The things we remember most are all the people who helped us, our community up in St. Helena who we’ve now known for years and made the day and week bearable even though everyone in the area was already facing so much. The Charlie Palmer Harvest Inn saw all their rooms being cancelled within a few days and gave our guests discounted rooms, they took care of all our friends and family that made the trip as well as local first responders. We honestly can’t decide who we were most thankful to by the end of the week. As the week started I kept calling it a disaster wedding but by the end we were calling it a miracle wedding.

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

I knew I wanted to wear a hanbok which is a traditional Korean dress. With Korea being so far away, we decided to go to Los Angeles instead because there are so many great dress shops in Korea town. My parents met Ben and I in L.A. for the weekend and my mom and I dress shopped while they went to an extensive amount of coffee shops in order to keep the dress a surprise. Even though we looked at several shops, Kim Mehee’s was the first place we tried and we ended up going right back there within two hours and purchasing the first dress I tried on. Her shop is a bit of a modern take on hanboks and all of them are unique and beautiful. I went in there expecting to find one dress and walked out with two we loved them so much.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

There were a few things that made the wedding personal and special to us. Our chuppah had a white tablecloth over the top, it’s a family heirloom and belonged to Ben’s grandmother. Both Ben’s family and my dad’s side of the family are Jewish so it was a really nice way to incorporate something that meant something to us in the ceremony. I customized my shoes through Shoes of Prey which let me pick the fabrics and colors; something that threw Ben off because he didn’t know what colors my dresses would be. My Korean aunt’s gift to us for the wedding were my wedding dresses. She and my uncle and cousins weren’t able to make it but I’m very close to them so it was really special having her there in spirit. The last special touch was the silver head piece I wore in my hair. My parents picked it up for me in Kuala Lumpur on recent travels and though it was a last minute addition, it ended up being one of my favorite day-of changes.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

There were so many great memories from that day. Our guests will say the vows, everyone was very emotional but for us it was the mishaps that made the day both hilarious and memorable. About five minutes before walking down the aisle, I realized that I was missing the petticoat (a hoop skirt like insert for the bottom of my dress) which made my dress entirely see through from the waist down. My mom cut the white garment bag the dress came in in half and jumped into action with the help of my maid of honor, Kait. They used clothespins and medical tape (my sister is a nurse) to adhere it to my body. When I finally made it up to say my vows, Ben kept looking at me quizzically because I would only give him one of my hands (the other hand was holding up the dress). A close second was Ben’s best man’s very long (very, very long) speech. The highlight was a book that Mike wrote about Ben when they were 7 and the book, illustrated and all was about how Ben was his best friend. Mike saved the book for our wedding day and at the end of the speech gifted it to me.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Ben and I met in real life at our friend’s MBA graduation party at his house in Long Island. Ben was in the same fraternity as Paul who happened to be one of my co-workers. We didn’t quite start dating then. After that chance meeting we were both recruited for a corn hole league in NYC a few months later. We played through the season and about a week or two after it ended, we finally went out on a date.

The rest from there was history. We dated for a few years, first in NYC, then in San Francisco where we moved together. Ben’s parents had gotten us a gift certificate one year for the Tickle Pink Inn in Carmel, CA. The inn is a beautiful bed and breakfast with cliffside ocean views. A few years later Ben had planned a trip back up for the weekend where we were supposed to meet up with our friends Paul (yes the same Paul) and his girlfriend Monica. When we arrived we were greeted by the front desk receptionist who informed us that there was a fire blazing about two miles south, the Sobreanes fire and she wasn’t sure if we should stay at all.

Ben, nervous (and grumpy) asked if we could just put our things down in the room while we waited for our friends. The room was beautiful, floor to ceiling windows of just an ocean view with a wrap around balcony. I saw some photos taped on the windows but since they were backlit I assumed they were promotional material and beelined instead for a hot tub in the middle of our room (not in the bathroom).

“Take a picture of me!” I said, fully clothed, sitting in the tub. “Can we have a drink first on the balcony?” Ben responded nervously. “Right now?” I quipped back, my last words before we got engaged. As I got closer to the window I realized Ben had shipped the hotels photos of us that we’d taken all over the world and by the time I turned around he was already on one knee.

Photographer: Ditto Dianto // Wedding Coordinators: DGN Events and Designs // Florals: DIY, Bride’s mother. Flower Market, San Francisco // Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations  // Venue: Long Meadow Ranch // Makeup Artist: Meagan Major, Major Makeup // Dress Designer: Kim Mehee Hanbok // Band: Pure Ecstasy