I want to become a society lady Rockin' a new rock?!

Stephanie and Andrew’s misty Portland wedding day is filled with lovely details and stunning florals in a perfectly dusty, blush-centric palette. The couple married and celebrated at Bluehour, an urban restaurant that they transformed into the venue of Stephanie’s dreams. They achieved the look with Anna Mara Flowers‘ dreamy blush-hued bouquets and tablescapes accented by greenery and mauve, peach and blush blooms. Bridal party fashion and reception details are from Anthropologie and BHLDN and paper printing is by Anders Printing Company. The couple chose Alixann Loosle Photography to capture their big day and we’re happy to share the lovely images with you today!

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What made the wedding special and unique?

We used a wedding venue that is not typically used for weddings. It is a restaurant that I transformed into the venue of my dreams. Most of the wedding guests were from out of town, so they had no idea what to expect. When it was raining outside, we had the most wonderful time eating dinner with candles and lights to show the beauty of the flowers and hurricanes draped across the tables.

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

My gown was from Ania bridal and I found it on my first time looking for a dress. I knew exactly what type of dress I wanted and when I described it the bridal consultant she went running to the back of the room because she knew she had something that would be perfect. When she brought it back to the dressing room, my eyes lit up because I knew it was perfect. I had not considered wearing a blush dress, but when I tried it on I saw how the blush helped add a little color back to my skin and added a bit of fun to the look overall. I absolutely loved the detailed scalloped work on the lace of the dress. I purchased the dress after a week of thinking and I could not have been happier with how I looked on my wedding day.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

One of my husband’s hobbies is to DJ so he put together all the music for our wedding in advance. At one point in the night, we both went to the DJ booth and played the music for while and had some fun! Music always brings us together and we thought it would be perfect to have it also bring all of our guests together on the dance floor. Another way we added a personal touch was by including our dogs. They were in the hotel room while we were getting ready and they walked down the aisle during the ceremony. Our wedding wouldn’t have felt right without our dogs being there.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The most memorable part of the day was the first look. Taking a moment to see each other one last time before we exchanged vows and got married was a moment full of excitement and love. Our family and friends were watching nearby and holding back tears and I felt so loved and lucky to be loved. After we had spent some time on our own, everyone came running in for a group hug and I felt so lucky to have so much support on my wedding day.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met in Arizona through mutual friends right before we began college. We dated all through college and we then moved to Portland, Oregon where he went on to finish medical school. One day, when he was halfway through medical school, we went to one of our favorite parks that overlooked the entire city and Mt. Hood with our dogs. We sat on a bench enjoying the view and he dropped down on one knee and proposed. When I said yes, my friends from home came running out from behind all the trees and gave us a giant group hug. We all went to a music festival in the gorge to continue the celebration. I was so shocked how he could have planned all that without me finding out. He knew how much it would mean to me to have my friends there for such an important moment in my life.

Photography: Alixann Loosle Photography // Florist: Anna Mara Flowers // Printing (invitations, name cards, welcome sign, seating chart): Anders Printing Company // First Look Venue: American Bank Building (Pioneer Square)  // Ceremony: L’Heure Bleue // Reception & Cake: Bluehour // Wedding Gown: Ania Bridal // Table Numbers, Vases & Hurricanes: Anthropologie/BHLDN // Videographer: Moving Pictures // Bridesmaid Dresses, Bridal Accessories: Anthropologie/BHLDN (veil/bracelet/earrings/halo) // Bridal Heels: Nordstrom // Bridal Slippers: Anthropologie // Bridesmaid Getting Ready Moo Moos: Etsy Shikoco // Bridesmaid Champagne Glasses: Anthropologie // Groom Suit: Duchess Clothier // Groom Watch: MVMT
// Groomsmen Suits: Banana Republic // Groom/Groomsmen Ties & Pocket Squares: BHLDN // MOB & MOG Dresses: BHLDN // Hair/Makeup Artist: Jessica // Cake: Bluehour with flowers by AnnaMara Flowers // DJ: Anthony Nguyen (Friend of Andy. Andy made the set himself)

 

 

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Heather and Michael’s wedding at Triunfo Creek Vineyards is a vision of rustic elegance in a soft muted color palette of lavender, aqua and white. The couple enlisted the genius of Little Grey Events to bring their ideas to life with voluminous, romantic florals and personalized details that played on their last name, Wolff. The custom wolf cake topper on Susie Cakes‘s beauty is adorable! Michael even hand-built his bride the arch of her dreams to accommodate the venue’s larger-than-average farmhouse doors. The couple enjoyed one final dance under the stars to close out the night soaking up every last moment of their beautiful day that’s captured to perfection by Honey Gem Creative.

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From the planner: Heather and Michael met in college and 10 years later, on a rainy night in Paris, Michael proposed! After tons of research and many venue visits, they fell in love with Triunfo Creek Vineyards, a beautiful white farmhouse nestled in the hills north of LA. The couple put so much thought and hard work into every aspect of the wedding day and their excitement was incredibly infectious. Heather and I had so much fun dreaming up the florals for her wedding. I loved her muted color palette of lavender (Pantone color of 2018), aqua, gold and white and the Dessy bridesmaids gowns were the perfect shade to match the eucalyptus and soft greenery in her florals. We also used ranunculus, garden roses, lisianthus, blue muscari, blue lace, lavender sweet peas and lavender  delphinium for a soft and romantic feel.

Heather loved the idea of her wedding arch also being used for their grand entrance out of the french doors of the farmhouse. However, the doors were a bit bigger than any arch available to rent so Michael built his bride an arch that fit the farmhouse door dimensions perfectly and also looked stunning for their ceremony! There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd during their beautiful ceremony.

Guests then made their way to cocktail hour where they sipped on signature cocktails including the “Whiskey Wolff” (Moscow mule with whiskey).  For the cake table, we repurposed florals from the ceremony to sit behind the cake and Heather searched far and wide to find the perfect ceramic wolf cake toppers (a nod to the groom’s last name). At the end of the night, my team gathered guests at the front of the farmhouse for a grand rose petal exit while Heather and Michael had one final dance. They soaked up the last moments of their wedding in the most beautiful way, dancing alone under the stars.

From the Bride: Is there a better way to round out a decade together than with I do?? Michael and I met 10 years ago on the first day of our sophomore year in college and have been inseparable ever since. When Michael and I began planning our trip to Europe little did I know it would change my life forever! While visiting Paris Michael got down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him, it was the best moment of my life! It was so great to get engaged while traveling as we were able to have that time together and just enjoyed being in the moment.

Shortly after we returned home we started touring up and down the coast of California looking at venues. We fell in love with Triunfo Creek Vineyards, it has an effortless charm to it that was simply undeniable and we couldn`t imagine a better setting for our special day.

Having dreamed of this day for so long I had a distinct view of what I wanted but I knew I was going to need some help to make it a reality. Sarah of Little Grey Events truly turned our special day into a fairy-tale. Sarah was not only our amazing planner but she was also the creator of our perfect bouquets and floral arrangements. She was so amazing to work with throughout the entire process and the day would not have been the same without her!

Everyone always tells you how fast the day will fly by and all you want when it’s done is to be able to relive it over and over again. Our photographer Brooke, from HoneyGem Creative, took the time to get to know us and our style, she became an extension of us, capturing all of the special moments of our day just the way we imagined them.

What was your wedding day theme?

Our theme was rustic elegance with a soft muted color pallet of lavender, aqua and white. We had fun with our last name, Wolff, and incorporated it into many aspects of our day from the invitations to the cake toppers.

Looking back, what are some of your favorite wedding day moments?

There were so many incredible parts to the day… among my favorites were our first look, hearing Michael say the vows he wrote (and when he closed the vow book and just spoke straight from the heart), and the drive after our exit where we reminisced on the most perfect night!

 

Photographer: Honey Gem Creative // Planner/Floral design: Little Grey Events // Invitation Designer: Darla Marie Designs // Venue: Triunfo Creek Vineyards // Wedding dress: Stephen Yearick // Hair & Make-up: Kacee Geoffroy Hair and Makeup // Wedding Cake: Susie Cakes // Bridesmaid dresses: The Dessy Group // Grooms Suite: Bspoke Style // Rentals: A Rental Connection // Catering: Command Performance Catering // Groomsman attire: The Created Gentleman // DJ: Invisible Touch Events // Vow Books: Seniman Calligraphy  // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

Michelle and Nick chose Palm Spring’s Korakia Pensione as their wedding venue because “…nestled in the mountains—it felt like a Moroccan/Mediterranean dream in the middle of the desert.” Orange Blossom Special Events embellished that Moroccan dream and led the design team in creating a stunning day filled with bohemian touches and rich red, pink and white roses in arrangements by The Bloom of Time. Our friends at Jenny Smith & Co. captured all the details, the gorgeous venue and all the joy of the couple so perfectly in these images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Palm Springs has always been a special place for us; we have a lot of great memories in the desert and it’s where Nick’s father used to live. When we looked at different venue options in the area, we visited Korakia first and we completely fell in love with it. Korakia charmed us with the lush bougainvillea and palm trees. We loved that it was nestled against the mountains – it felt like a Moroccan/Mediterranean dream in the middle of the desert. Each room is unique and we rented the entire hotel to ourselves – what made it special was that everyone at the hotel was a guest at our wedding. It felt like a weekend retreat! We did yoga in the morning before the wedding and ate breakfast together; it was truly a special weekend to have all of our family and friends in one place. We thought it was unique that Korakia makes guests feel like everyone is on vacation, not just the couple getting married!

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

I started looking online to get an idea of what I would want my dress to look like. I stumbled across the Nicole Miller website and on a whim decided to book an appointment to try on the gowns. I didn’t think I’d find my dress when I went – but after trying on my 4thdress I knew it was the one. I knew I wanted a form fitting mermaid style gown and I’ve always loved lace; so this dress felt like the perfect fit for me. I didn’t hesitate – I bought it then and there.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

I should have had 6 bridesmaids. A month before we were engaged one of my best friends passed away from cancer. Her absolute favorite stone was emerald, so on my wedding day I decided to wear emerald earrings in her honor. For the catering, Nick and I are both vegetarian. We wanted to have a wedding that felt like us, so we decided to make our entire catering menu vegetarian! They did an excellent job. I also ordered personalized napkins to be used during  the cocktail hour; which had a special message to our guests thanking them for being a part of our wedding. During our ceremony, we had Nick’s sister Mira read a passage from my favorite book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It magically turned out to be the perfect passage to be read; and it was years ago that I had fallen in love with it – so it was not a coincidence that it was read at our wedding day:

“When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke—the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen—the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert.”

“It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning.”—Paulo Coelho

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Nobody ever tells you about the rush of feelings you get as a bride (and groom too) when you’re waiting for the ceremony to begin. There’s nothing you can do to prepare for it and it’s a powerful moment you have with yourself. Hiding in the car (before my entrance) and watching the ceremony begin was a wild experience; I was filled with so much love and excitement and nervousness at the same time. I’ll never forget that feeling of seeing Nick for the first time as I was walking down the aisle. We also didn’t know if my dad would be able to walk me down the aisle due to his Alzheimer’s. We didn’t know if he would even be aware of what was happening that day. One of the best feelings was seeing the smile on his face when I came out of the car as he prepared to walk with me during the ceremony. It was evident he knew exactly what was going on; and it was the greatest gift I could ever ask for to have him present and by my side that day.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

I’ve known Nick’s best friends longer than he has. We kept missing each other at social gatherings but one summer we finally met at a BBQ during Memorial Day weekend. It was the summer I decided I was bored with LA and was moving to NY. So we met and 6 weeks later I moved across the country. He told me he didn’t want to do long distance and my response was “so when are you going to visit me?” A year later I moved back to LA and Nick and I went on several backpacking and hiking adventures together. When he proposed, he took me on his favorite hike in LA. He completely surprised me, I thought that he would be proposing during a Paris trip we had planned that summer!!

 

Michelle & Nick Highlight Film – Korakia Hotel – Palm Springs Wedding from Rebecca Blue on Vimeo.

Photography: Jenny Smith & Co. // Planner: Orange Blossom Special Events // Florals: The Bloom of Time // Paper Goods: Wedding Paper Divas // Venue: Korakia Pensione // Dress: Nicole Miller // Makeup: Susie Moldavon // Hair: Done personally by the bride // Videography: Rebecca Blue Media // Catering: F10 Creative // Bartending: Mint Bartending // Officiant: LA Wedding Woman // Photo Booth: Classic Photo Booths // Rentals & Lighting: Signature Party Rentals // Rentals: Planks & Patina // Dessert: Top Tier Treats // DJ: Dart Collective

 

Bride Kelly drew inspiration from favorite movies and television shows—like Little Women and Downton Abbey—for the styling of her wedding her wedding to groom Matthew. So, the couple enlisted Cibi Events to turn Legare Warring House into an English garden and with the help of floral genius The Purple Magnolia, the result was spectacular. Every last detail is filled to the brim with roses and we’re loving it. Kelly’s minimalist gown is by Theia, letterpress invitations are by Aerialist Press and beautiful photographs are by Caroline Ro.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

It was important to Matthew and me that our wedding reflect our individual personalities and our interests as a couple. I drew a lot of inspiration from my childhood and favorite movies and television shows (including Little Women and Downton Abbey.) I wanted the wedding to feel as if our guests were strolling through an English garden, and I felt as if our ceremony and reception space perfectly reflected that! (All thanks to the fabulous CiBi Events and Purple Magnolia)

Another aspect of the wedding that was important to us was our dinner. Both Matthew and I enjoy sharing meals with our families and friends. Our family style dinner allowed us to recreate the feeling of a huge family dinner made even more special among candlelight, flowers, and drapery. It was so special to look out from the head table and watch our families laugh, chat, and mingle.

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

I was so excited to go shopping for my dress, and I had in mind a bohemian/loose fitting style dress. Everyone tells you that your wedding dress will never be what you initially have in mind, and it’s very true! I shopped at two stores in Charleston, SC, and I found my dress at the second store we visited.

After trying on multiple dresses, my sister picked a classic style dress with a sweetheart neckline. I was shocked at how much I liked the clean silhouette. The bridal consultant then pulled the unassuming Theia gown I chose. As soon as I slipped on the dress, I loved how elegant and sophisticated I felt. I felt like myself but older and more mature – in a good way. The very next day, I returned to the shop to ensure my first reaction held true, and it did! I would suggest to other brides that they have an open mind when trying on dresses. Also – don’t forget the ability to customize! I love that I wore a lace topper for the ceremony which made the dress feel even more bridal to me.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Matthew and I are lucky that so many women in our families are creative and artistically talented! My mom embroidered pillows with forget-me-nots to recognize my grandmother who battled Alzheimer’s disease. Matthew’s sister custom made two signs that were both showcase pieces for our ceremony and reception. Matthew’s mother painted and hand-drew many smaller signs for our wedding and rehearsal dinner. We also included family photos inside Legare Waring House which allowed us to remember our entire families. Now we are able to showcase these signs and photos in our home, and they will always remind us of our wedding day.

Additionally, Matthew and I love music, and it was important that our music choices reflected our personal interests. The song I walked down the aisle to (“For the Beauty of the Earth”) was one of my favorite church hymns and was also featured in Little Women. We also used the same DJ that our friends had used in their weddings, so it was great to relive those memories!

Another feature that became personal was the first layer of our wedding cake! Matthew’s parents also had Italian Creme Cake as their wedding cake.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

There were so many memorable parts! However, one sticks out in my mind. As soon as we finished family photos, Matthew and I sneaked back inside the house and went into the library which overlooked the courtyard. It was very special to peek out through the window and watch as our family and friends visited with each other and enjoyed cocktail hour. We loved having a quiet moment to ourselves prior to joining everyone. Our caterer spoiled us with some of our passed hors d’oeuvres which made the moment even better.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Matthew and I met through Matthew’s sister SaraBeth. Matthew attended Clemson University, but he had an internship in Columbia, South Carolina my freshman year at the University of South Carolina. One night a few of my friends headed over to Matthew’s apartment to celebrate the end of the year, and the rest is history! We dated for seven years (many of those long distance) prior to becoming engaged.

Our engagement seemed like a dream to me! Matthew planned a date night in August during the middle of the week. He suggested we walk along Sullivan’s Island, SC (a place we frequented while we dated), and then afterwards we would get a drink at one of our favorite restaurants. The day he planned to ask me, my cat became seriously ill (he’s now recovered), and Matthew almost backed off his plan, but I’m glad he didn’t!

As we walked down the beach, I noticed a photographer taking photos of three young girls dancing. I mentioned to Matthew that my sister and I had our photographs taken on the beach as a Father’s Day gift when we were young. As we walked closer to the girls, I noticed a huge heart drawn in the sand with white flowers and three signs that said “Kelly, will you?” Just moments before Matthew proposed, his mom and dad set up everything for the surprise.

Everything around me disappeared, and I had a hard time paying attention to what he was saying! The photographer was actually for us, and the young girls dancing were visiting from France. I’ll never forget that moment.

kelly and matty from Gabrielle Powell on Vimeo.

Planning & Design: Cibi Events // Photographer: Caroline Ro // Flowers: The Purple Magnolia // Invitations: Aerialist Press // Venue: Legare Warring House // Dress Designer: Theia // Dress: Gown Collective (Formerly Fabulous Frocks) // Hair & Makeup: Ash & Co // Escort Cards: Candlefish // Cake: Cakes by Kasarda // Catering & Bar: Cru Catering // DJ: Dragon Entertainment // Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals // Rentals: Ooh Events // Ceremony Musicians: Charleston Virtuosi

 

Aimee wanted her wedding to Ted be a “love letter to our relationship.” The couple, both Filipino with a love of food and travel, personalized every last detail of the menu and experience for their guests at Early Mountain Vineyards. Hosting a fall wedding was a priority for the couple and they selected a venue overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains playing up the lush foliage and color palette it offered. Florals were by The Posey Detail and floral invitations by Citrus Co. and the beauty of the day is beautifully captured in these images by Elizabeth Fogarty.

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What made the wedding special and unique? 

I wanted our wedding to be a “love letter to our relationship”. At our core, Ted and I are consummate hosts, foodies and world travelers. We saw our wedding as the opportunity to share our personality and the experiences that shaped us as a couple with our guests. Every decision was purposefully made to craft a thoughtfully curated experience. Hosting a fall wedding was at the top of our list. It is our favorite season and I knew the lush, saturated tones of the fall foliage would be the perfect backdrop for our wedding. I was also remarkably picky about our venue because it would set the tone for our day. It was important to me that our guests experienced different moments of our day in different spaces. We selected Early Mountain Vineyards for that exact reason. We hosted cocktail hour in the beautifully decorated Tasting Room and the reception and ceremony in the Event Hall. Our wedding was held in the evening so the venue took on a lovely romantic glow that made our fall wedding dreams come true.

The food was also a top priority for us. Ted and I are both Filipino and food is a defining aspect of our culture. We also plan our trips around food! We worked with a local caterer to create a completely custom menu and curated cocktail selection. I worked for months and months researching recipes to pinpoint exactly what we wanted. We selected a menu that was elevated, yet comfortable. One of my favorite moments was seeing our guests take to our cocktail selection and enjoy the Aperol Spritz. We love turning people on to new foods and experiences.

With delicious food and the haze of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background, our wedding was the most perfectly, imperfect day.

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

I wore the Watters Alice gown in ivory. It was actually one of the first dresses I tried on. I tried it first at a boutique in Georgetown, DC and then again at Love Couture Bridal in Potomac, MD. I am notoriously a more conservative dresser so I was surprised when I fell in love with the form fitting silhouette of the Alice gown. It made me feel beautiful, elegant and just a little bit sexy. The modern, graphic lace detail was my favorite feature.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

Our wedding was all about the special touches. My favorites were:

Our wedding cake topper was handmade by my mother. Baking and fondant work have been become a great hobby of hers. She recreated the magnolia flowers from our invitation suite.

Matchbox favor: As a designer, I’m a huge proponent of function over form. I wanted to give something to our guests that would be both useful and remind them of our special day. Ted and I love to collect matchboxes from restaurants. We designed two matchboxes to give a nod to the wedding and our love of Washington, DC.

Playing New Orleans jazz during cocktail hour: New Orleans is a city the holds a special place in both of our hearts. We visit every year. During cocktail hour, we played New Orleans jazz to pay homage to our favorite foodie paradise.

Bridesmaid dresses: I am a huge fan of the mismatched bridesmaid dress trend. I think it elevates the concept of matching dresses to look more purposeful and gives each bridesmaid the opportunity to share their personality. At the time, it was really difficult to find what I wanted in bridal salons. I had selected a dusty, slate blue color and no one had that color let alone varieties of that blue. In addition to wanting shades of this hard-to-find blue, I wanted each girl to wear different textures. A lot of conditions, I know! But I had a vision. I scoured the sale section of Nordstrom.com and purchased a variety of dusty, slate blue dresses that fit the bill. I set up a bridal salon in my own apartment and treated my bridesmaid to a homemade brunch. They selected their exact dresses for our wedding and my vision came to life. Each girl is wearing a different fabric/texture and I love the look of them together.

My veil: My veil was a nod to my favorite design era: Art Deco. I selected a custom-made Juliet Cap style veil to blend together the modern look of my dress and soft, romantic design of our wedding.

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

The outpouring of love and support we felt throughout the entire day. Given that our wedding was a destination for all of our guests, we were so grateful for those who traveled near and far to celebrate with us. It truly was the best day of our lives.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Ted and I met right after college in April 2011 but our stories differ. I will say we met through a mutual friend while Ted says we met at a local bar.

One of the first things Ted learned about me was my love for food and design. The Kennedy Center is my favorite building in DC and they host a Sunday brunch in their Roof Terrace restaurant. I took Ted years ago to share one of my favorite DC experiences. Fast forward to 2017, Ted had slyly suggested that we go again in May. The day he proposed was a miserable, rainy day. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go anymore but Ted was adamant. We arrived at the top of the Kennedy Center and Ted asked me to go out on the roof terrace (in the rain) which I found so odd. (He had hired a college friend turned photographer to capture our proposal.) To my surprise, he got down on one knee and popped the question! It was a beautiful, special moment between the two of us that I’ll remember forever. Afterwards, we had brunch with our families who met for the first time.

Aimee & Ted // November 4th, 2017 from Altamira Film Co. on Vimeo.

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty // Month of Coordinator: Dream Defined Events // Flowers: The Posey Detail // Invitations: Citrus Co // Venue: Early Mountain Vineyards // Dress: Love Couture Bridal (Watters- Alice gown) // Makeup and hair: First Look Artistry // Tux: The Black Tux // Catering: C&O catering // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box