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Real Weddings:

Leigh and Adam’s destination wedding at Acre Baja

featuring Vienna Glenn Photography

Leigh and Adam tied the knot in a destination celebration in Mexico. Their stunning venue, Acre Baja, is tucked in the foothills of San Jose del Cabo and its 25 acres of lush greenery set the tone for the couples’ vibrant celebration. Martha Lomeli of Amy Abbott Events created a day filled with a bright, joyous and elegant details—pink and king-protea-centric bouquet and graphic palm ceremony arch by Flowers and Events, custom watercolor invitations by Tying the Knots Studio, calligraphy signage and event stationery by Bells & Whistles and a romantic courtyard reception filled with rich blue accents. The couple enlisted Vienna Glenn Photography to capture their day and the images are pure magic.

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If you could sum up your wedding day in one sentence, how would you describe it?  “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

Who designed your dress? My dress is the Fox gown from Rue de Seine Bridal. I was attracted to the romantic, but nontraditional application of lace to the gown.

Did your wedding have a theme? I don’t think that our wedding really had a theme, but I drew a lot of inspiration from the beautiful tile at Acre and my favorite flower the King Protea. Martha and her team of vendors created a beautiful setting that combined my romantic bohemian tendencies in a way that balanced perfectly with the modern backdrop of Acre using the colors of the tiles and flower as inspiration.

Outside of a theme, what Adam and I really wanted was a weekend where our loved ones could get to know each other while experiencing amazing food and cocktails highlighting the best of Cabo. Martha helped us create this with two nights of festivities with a welcome party at La Lupita Taco & Mezcal during the Art Walk and then the wedding and reception at Acre. With both nights featuring outstanding food and drinks, live music and amazing venues that reflect what Adam and I love about Cabo, we got to spend quality time with all our guests and hopefully provided them with an unforgettable experience of the best of Cabo.

What were your wedding favors? We had several favors throughout the weekend. The main wedding favor was the handmade burro at each place setting that I mentioned above. In addition, guests received handmade loteria style matchboxes with our photo on them at the welcome party that my mother-in-law made. We also loved stocking jute tote bags with locally made chips, salsa and Mexican wedding cookies that Martha provided for us and fun items like custom can coolers and “Cabo is always a good idea” survival kits as guests were welcomed at the resort.

Who was in the wedding party? I wanted our friends and family to enjoy the wedding weekend without the pressure of added duties so we had a crazy wedding party made up only of kids! Our 4 nieces served as our flower girls and my nephew who is just a toddler was the ring bearer…although he carried his pacifier instead of the ring.

 

What was your biggest splurge of the day? Our biggest splurge was the variety of music at our events. We both love music and wanted to deliver a reflection of ourselves with it. We love that our guests were treated to live bands both nights on top of a beautiful Spanish guitar during the ceremony and an amazing DJ who played songs Adam and I had both selected during the cocktail and dinner portions of our wedding. Many of our guests commented that they could tell how much thought we had put into the music and how much it represented us.

Please describe personal touches:

  1. I loved tying the fisherman’s knot with my husband during our ceremony because it incorporated something that he loves into our wedding and it incorporated what first brought us to Cabo
    I also love all the handmade and personalized items for the wedding, the flower girl dresses made by a family friend, the pottery burros made by my mom, the loteria style matchbooks from my mother-in-law, our guestbook filled with our engagement photos, the custom water color invitations and the vintage stamps that I spent hours looking for and attached to each invitation myself!
  2. I love burros and was very excited to give our guests a fun photo op with a cute burro at cocktail hour!
  3. Our guests loved La Lupita and their food so much, especially the way the tacos were presented one style at a time they all started using the hashtag #notacoleftbehind

Please describe favorite moments:

  1. When our mischievous toddler ring bearer ran down the aisle with his suspenders down, shirt untucked and a pacifier in his mouth. We were just so happy to have him there! So many people focus on perfection for a wedding, but that was a very “real” moment and he was adorable.
  2. When Adam and I were alone in the treehouse as our guests were arriving and we could secretly hear their reactions and excitement to seeing the amazing venue for the first time! We were so happy to have found such a magical place to share with them.
  3. When my normally quiet and calm father-in-law led a very spirited conga line at the reception!!! At first we were all stunned but then everyone just joined in…it was captured on video and we still get a kick out of watching it!

What did you learn from the experience? When our guests started leaving to fly back home, Adam and I were both moved by the realization that this group of family and friends had taken time out of their lives to fly all the way to Mexico to support us. It meant the world to us to have them there and we learned that it is the people who make a life event so special…even when you have the most gorgeous venue, without the people it doesn’t matter. We feel very lucky to have had so many friends and family joining us in celebrating our love.

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

We met through mutual friends at a Super Bowl party Adam hosted. I lived in San Diego, California at the time and Adam lived in Tucson. We dated long distance for 5 years until we were married! I love the desert, so during that time we bought and renovated a historic home in Tucson and moved into it right before our wedding.

Adam took me for a hike in Sedona, Arizona on one of our first dates. We hiked to a beautiful natural rock bridge where the scenery is just breathtaking. When Adam proposed, he took me on the same hike. I had no idea what was happening. He proposed with his grandmother’s ring and told me we would find the perfect ring for me which we later had designed by Harry Tutunjian of Gold Bench in Scottsdale, AZ.

 

Planning: Martha Lomeli of Amy Abbott Events // Photography: Lea Peterson owner of Vienna Glenn Photography Phoenix // Flowers: Flowers and Events // Invitations: Custom water color designed by Meagan Harrington Diaz owner of Tying the Knots Studio // Stationery/ Seating Chart: Bells & Whistles // Location: Acre Baja // Dress: Rue de Seine Bridal purchased from The Dress Theory Nashville // Veil: Veil by Sara Gabriel // Tennessee Hair: Gwendolyn Sneed owner of Blank Slate Studio San Diego // California Makeup: Sara Stewart owner of Sara Mascara San Diego, California // Rings: Harry Tutunjian of Gold Bench, Scottsdale, Arizona // Shoes: Stuart Weitzman // Dj: Dj Alex Cabo // Rentals: Baja Boutique Rental Company & Let It Be

 

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Real Weddings:

Adriana and Brian’s wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch

photography by Stewart Uy

Adriana and Brian celebrated their nuptials at the breathtaking Hummingbird Nest Ranch in a vision of modern pink and purple details designed and planned by CCL Weddings and Events. For the education and career-focused couple, it was especially meaningful to be in one place with so many friends and family simultaneously. An adorable—and rad—escort card installation highlights the couple’s long, love journey while floral structures and arrangements by Art with Nature are absolutely show-stopping and custom cocktails by Bear and Stone are a continuation of the gorgeous palette. Lucky for us, the couple enlisted the major skills of Stewart and Connie Uy to capture all the special moments and details and we’re thrilled to share it all with you in these beautiful images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

The two things that made the wedding special was having such a long history together and having all of our closest friends and family together in one place. Brian and I had been so focused on our education and careers, that it had been years since we had been with so many friends and family in one place. Our guests flew in from around the world (Hong Kong, London, and Paris to name a few) to celebrate with us, and this was so special to both of us.

I can confidently say that giving our vendors creative freedom made the wedding unique. I didn’t really know what I wanted out of the wedding, so I trusted Cat (CCL) to work with our vendors to create something truly special. From our amazing photographers, Stewart and Connie Uy, who literally did midair splits to draw smiles from our ringboy and flowergirls, to our videography team at Kapsule Co whose artistic vision is second to none, we were blown away by everyone’s efforts to make our wedding day an unforgettable one. To top it all off, the florals for the arch and king’s table really solidified the magic of that evening, as did the amazing meal by Hungry Bear Catering (please open a restaurant).

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

I didn’t really have a specific style in mind when I started dress shopping, but I knew I wanted something romantic and effortless. When I came across Estee couture’s “Dita” dress at Panache Bridal, I was immediately drawn to the drop sleeves and tulle skirt/train. I was fortunate to have both my mom and my sister with me, and they both agreed that it was everything I was looking for and “very me.” Judging by my husband’s first look reaction, I knew I made the right choice!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Our escort installation was a unique and creative timeline display of the most special moments in Brian’s and my 8 year relationship. It even highlighted a time in undergrad when I used to bike and pull Brian on his skateboard so that he wouldn’t crease his shoes!

Another personal touch was added during pre-marriage counseling sessions with our pastor. He had us each secretly write down 10 things we loved most about each other, so when he read the lists during our ceremony, it was a surprise to each of us. This was a sweet moment not only because we were both surprised to hear each other’s lists, but also because we were able to share our love with our friends and family. One of my favorites was how Brian loves my healthy fear of the law. (You will never find me parked or idled in a handicap or fire hydrant spot!)

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Although it the whole day was memorable, I will never forget when Brian and his groomsmen performed a surprise choreographed dance before the garter toss. Both Brian’s brother and my brother were on urban choreography dance teams in college, and together, they came up with a pretty scandalous dance routine. At one point, they all whipped off their belts right in front of me and started spanking the dance floor! Trust me, I was shocked and have the pictures to prove it.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met on move in day at USC through a mutual friend. However, we didn’t start hanging out regularly until our sophomore year when Brian lived down the hall from me. To this day, Brian tells me he didn’t notice me, but I know that he did because a friend of ours secretly told me that Brian had pointed me out as one of the cuter girls at school.

Fast forward through 2 years of friendship, 4 years of dating in LA, and a subsequent 3 years of long distance as we attended medical and business school on opposite coasts to Nov 19, 2016. Under the guise of my birthday, Brian set up a surprise celebration for our closest friends and me at an escape room in LA. I even called him thinking that he was still in Philly to thank him for the surprise. Little did I know, he was right down the hall! When my friends and I finally escaped the room, I found Brian down on one knee at the end of it all! Afterwards, we all went home where Brian and my parents had set up a surprise engagement party complete with decorations and a catering dinner. It was everything I could ever ask for.

Adriana + Brian from Kapsule Co on Vimeo.

Planning: CCL Weddings Events // Photography: Stewart and Connie Uy // Florist: Art with Nature // Invitations/Stationery: Etsy Shop by Tiffany Grace // Venue: Hummingbird Nest Ranch (Sitting Bull)// Dress Designer: Estee couture called “Dita” // Dress Salon: Panache Bridal (Pasadena) // Cake: M Cakes Sweets // Videography: Kapsule Co. // Hair & Makeup: Studio MM&B // Desserts: Wanderlust Ice Cream // Rentals: A Rental Connection // Linens: La Tavola // Catering: Hungry Bear // Craft Cocktails: Bear and Stone // DJ: Vox DJ’s

 

Real Weddings:

Darcy and Brad’s Backyard Wedding

photography by Kelsey and Michael Cowley

Darcy and Brad’s adorable backyard wedding took place at the bride’s family home. The couple enlisted Moody Blooms to design and transform the home into a venue filled with big, vibrant blooms and lots of love. Florist Cargo-Creative made all of Darcy’s floral dreams come including the photo backdrop wall of blooms and greenery dripping from an industrial light installation. Other personalized details include the couple’s favorite foods and a series of darling cakes by Society Sweets. You can check it all out in these happy images of the day captured by Kelsey and Michael Cowley.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

What made our wedding special and unique is that it was in my own family’s home. I had this idea and I was nervous about how it would turn out. I didn’t want it to look like a house with some decor, I wanted it to look like a venue. It was so fun to design every detail and pick every item of food for the whole event because we didn’t have any venue restrictions. It also just made it so special to have such an important day in my own family’s home.

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

I got my gown from The Perfect Dress in Holladay, UT. I always imagined wearing a really tight dress. When I finally went to pick my dress I didn’t feel very “bridal” in any of the tight dresses! I tried on this dress, with its massive tulle skirt, and I knew it was THE one. It looked completely different on top at the bridal store and I wanted to change it to add a fluttery-lace-sleeve. The process of adding the sleeves took about 4 months, but my seamstress, Lydia, was incredible. She made it exactly how I’d envisioned it.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Most of the personal touches were in the design and things I hand-picked. The X and O on the barn doors were something I really wanted and my amazing florist made it HAPPEN. So amazing. The wood wall with flowers was something I had dreamed up for a photo booth backdrop and it turned out even better than I imagined. My absolute favorite touch was the dessert room. I have been obsessed with the hanging light bulb fixture with greenery dripping from it forEVER. This was my one dream, to have the hanging light and my three amazing custom wedding cakes made by my own mom through her company, Society Sweets. It turned out even better than I hoped.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

I think the most memorable part of the day for me was the dinner. It was our favorite foods, our closest friends and family, Brad’s and my song choices, and exactly what we’d envisioned. It was so cool to all be at the one huge table together and celebrating such a big day. My favorite part of the dinner was the toasts. I love the pictures from the dinner and all of the memories they hold for us. It was so intimate and stunning.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Brad and I met in 2014 when we were both freshman at BYU in Provo, UT. We had a class together and became friends. Brad asked me on a “date”, but didn’t call it a date, so I brought a couple of my girlfriends, ha! From then on we were pretty established as “just friends”. We both went on service missions for our church after our freshman year of school. Brad went to Brazil for two years, and I went to Alabama for 18 months. We stayed in touch here and there, and reconnected the Halloween after we both got home at a party. We talked for a long time and I just felt a spark with him. More time passed and after NYE, Brad asked last minute if I could pick him up from the airport. We talked the whole way home, and the next night we kissed!! The rest was history and we got married 6 months later.

Brad + Darcy from Ben and Bluebird on Vimeo.

// Photography: Kelsey and Michael Cowley // Wedding Coordinator: Moody Blooms // Florist: Cargo-Creative // Stationery and Desserts: Society Sweets // Venue: Bride’s family home // HMUA: Swell Beauty // Videography: Ben Thompson // DJ: Hayden Davis // Rentals: Archive Rentals // Catering: Tender Greens

 

Real Weddings:

Ali and Drew’s wedding at Pawleys Pelican Inn

featuring 3E8 Photography

Ali married Drew and his beautiful son Jack in an intimate ceremony at a vintage South Carolina inn, along the ocean. According to 3E8 Photography there wasn’t a dry eye at Pawleys Pelican Inn when the couple professed their vows. Ali, a design graduate, had a specific vision for the couple’s day and enlisted the help of planner Smells Like Peonies Events to execute her vision. The details include dusty-hued florals by Willow Event Designs that are a total embodiment of the wedding aesthetic—relaxed romance with subtle vintage boho vibes. Illustration and stationery design were by the bride and a show-piece cake was by Incredible Edible Cakes. The rainy day was punctuated by a break in the clouds for a spectacular sunset and 3E8 Photography captured it along with all the moments of the day in these images.

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What made the wedding special and unique? 

From the photographer-  All of the details were designed and styled by Ali, executed by a WONDERFUL wedding coordinator, and came together like a fine art masterpiece. She married Drew and his beautiful son Jack in an intimate ceremony at a vintage South Carolina Inn, along the ocean. They wrote their own vows and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. It rained for most of the day, but the sun broke in the evening to reveal one of the most intense sunsets I have ever seen! The venue was a personal favorite of mine. It was a vintage inn on Pawley’s Island South Carolina. The venue featured original, beautifully worn-in wooden floors and a wrap around porch that was so quintessentially southern. Everything about the wedding exuded charm and intimacy, providing the perfect platform for the showcasing of love and celebrating with the closest of friends and family.

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

From the bride- The dress I got from Tie The Knot Bridal Couture Collections in Naples, FL. As a designer I was very hesitant to go into a bridal store and have to work with someone who pulls gowns for you. However, I was also nervous to purchase anything online for fear of return policies, etc. Time was ticking and I made an appointment last minute when visiting my mom in Naples. She wasn’t able to be with my sister when she picked her wedding dress so I knew it would make her happy to have an appointment she could be at. The girl that ran the shop understood my style from the few pictures I showed her and I ended up falling in love with the 3rd dress I tried on. I actually picked it more for my fiance than I did for me. It showed more curves than I am used to showing but I knew it was flattering and he would like it on me. I loved the back of the dress and felt very romantic in it. My mom loved it as well which sealed the deal.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

From the bride – Every detail was crucial in helping us achieve the aesthetic and vibe that we were striving for. Brian was on board from the start and super supportive of our vision. He understood that we not only wanted him to come and take photos of us and our family, we wanted him to capture the entire feeling of ‘our day’. Brian not only delivered what we had wanted, he went above and beyond my highest expectations. I was up the night before the wedding working on the set-up details, things that I thought of last minute that I didn’t get a chance to tell Brian about beforehand. However, when we received our pictures after the wedding I saw that Brian could see it all without me having to point anything out. His eye for detail is excellent. Brian captured the mood, the details, the emotion, our friends, and our family perfectly.

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

From the photographer – The most memorable parts of the day, for me, occurred at the very beginning and very end of the wedding. I walked into a venue that I had never before photographed, with a bride that I had only had the chance to speak to on the phone. What I was greeted with was something so beautiful, so quaint, and so vintage charming that I can only hope to return to that venue again and work with more brides whose lives are entrenched in the arts. Being trusted to capture something that was so personal to someone was a wonderful privilege for me. Well, I lied. I have another favorite part of the day – the vows. The vows were handwritten and just beautiful to witness. I teared up behind camera and was overcome with the emotion, practically spilling from the tiny room in which the ceremony took place. It was beautiful. Lastly, the sunset. It was cloudy and rainy all day, but the sun peaked through the clouds right toward the end of toasts, basking the venue in this intense, golden glow. I quickly stole the couple out for some sunset portraits and they became my favorite shots of the day.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

From the Bride – I met Drew when my sister, Katie, began dating his brother, Anthony (they are now married). Katie and I lived together in NYC and Anthony was living abroad in London at the time. Whenever Anthony made it to NYC, Drew would take the opportunity to see his brother and visit as well. We got to spend some time together and quickly our relationship turned romantic. After two years of long distance, I moved to Pittsburgh to be with Drew and his son Jack. Drew proposed a little less than a year later. He got down on one knee at the same time as The Bachelor in the final episode. I thought he was mocking the show, as he often does, and didn’t take him seriously until I saw the ring!

Photography: 3E8 Photography // Event Planning: Smells Like Peonies Events // Florals: Willow Event Designs // Invitations: Bride // Venue: Pawleys Pelican Inn // Dress Boutique: Tie the Knot Bridal // Dress: Willowby by Watters // Cake: Incredible Edible Cakes // DJ: Bunn DJ Company // Catering: Care Free Catering // Rentals: Event Haus Rentals

 

Real Weddings:

Emily and Pierre’s Melbourne Wedding

photography by Ateia

Grandeur in Melbourne is what today’s real wedding is all about. Bride Emily Simms (yep—of The Bachelor fame!) enlisted the help of some fabulous vendors to pour all the drama into the details of her glam wedding to groom Pierre. Graphic, rose-centric floral arrangements by Foxy Evergreen flanked the ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall followed by all the antique glitz of their reception at The George Ballroom. Laser-cut invitations by Bwedding Invitations introduced the glam that flowed through all the details including the bridal party in all white and a show-stopping Nikos Cakes creation. Lucky for us, Ateia was on hand to capture all the details and the special moments of the day in these lovely images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

As we only got engaged in February, and our wedding was August, we decided on things very quickly. The style I went with, was glamorous and a sort of antique feel. Our ceremony was on the balcony of the Melbourne Town Hall. I loved the columns, and I found it in keeping with the style of The George Ballroom. I really wanted everything to flow nicely.

I suppose the only thing considered unusual was that our wedding was very bittersweet for us. My beautiful older brother had taken his own life only 3 weeks prior to our wedding, so it was incredibly difficult, and when it first happened, I couldn’t even comprehend the thought of a wedding. But I like to think he was there, shining down on us. It was also the only day that week of really beautiful weather (for the middle of August!), and I like to think that was Michael’s doing.

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

My gown was designed and made by Tanya Didenko Bridal Couture. I have dealt with Tanya for 3 years now. She has made me some stunning dresses to wear to various events over the past few years, so it was a no-brainer that I would go to her for my wedding dress. I never tried on any wedding dress at all. I went to her with photos of different designs that I liked, and took inspiration from each of them. She knows me quite well now, knows my body shape and knows my style, so it all worked really well.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We chose the 3-tier cake, mostly because Nikos suggested that because both Pierre and I are quite tall. I wasn’t sure what difference it made, but it did look great! We had a white rendered cake, with gold foil on the bottom and top tier.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The highlight of the day was definitely when we first saw each other down the aisle, and walking down the aisle with my dear old dad. It was a beautiful moment, and one I will never forget.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Pierre and I first met at Pontoon, a trendy bar on St Kilda beach (the old Riva). I went there with my friend Anna (one of my bridesmaids), and as soon as we walked in, she said, “oh there’s my friend Pierre at the bar!” Turns out she used to be very good friends with a girl that dated Pierre for 2 years, about 9 years ago.

Pierre’s birthday is the 14th of February, Valentine’s Day, and I had arranged to take him out for dinner at The George on Collins. He suggested we get a nice photo out the front before we go in. So, we asked a nice passerby if they could please take a photo for us. He then turned to me and proposed. The lady taking our photo switched it to video mode, so we have both photos and videos of the gorgeous moment.

Photography: Ateia // Styling: Giant Invitations // Wedding Invitations: Bwedding Invitations // Florist: Foxy Evergreen // Wedding Ceremony: Melbourne Town Hall // Reception: The George Ballroom // Emily’s Dress and Veil: Tanya Didenko // Videography: C2 Films // Welcome Sign/Event Printing: Inktank Printing // Cake: Nikos Cakes // Graphic Design: Catsy Creative // On the Day Stationery: Adorn Invitations // Emily’s Robe: Home Bodii // Hair: Rachel Vitullo // Makeup: Bec and Anna Amelia Webb // Emily Makeup: Emily // Lashes: (Emily) Melb Lashes // Skin Prep: (Emily) Clinicalase // Tan: (Emily) Le Tan // Bridesmaid Dresses: Love Honor // Shoes & Headpiece: Jeanette Maree // Earrings: Shannakian Fine Jewellery // Cutlery: Gold Cutlery Hire // Napkins: Di Simmons // Suits: Remy // Bride: Emily Simms // Singer/Entertainment: Main Entertainment // Cars: Triple R