I’ve got a super sweet country wedding coming your way  next week.  Just to give you a small taste, I’m sneaking you a peek!  This wedding features not only adore mini hay bails, but crystal chandeliers, signature blue cocktails, a shot station (thats right, a shot stations!) and rumbling clouds that make for one amazing sky!

Photograph by LaceHanky Photography

Lauren Bullock & Igor Sao Jose’s intimate wedding was hosted on their friend’s property in Queensland, Australia.  While the property is obviously picturesque, it is perhaps even more magical, as it is actually where the couple first met!  60 of their closest family &  friends traveled near and far, from Cairns to Brazil.  Their gorgeous wedding was filled with even more love as various family members & friends aided in the set up, food, & so much more!  Being that Igor is from Brazil, the couple wanted to bring well placed influences of his culture in both tasty food & hip swaying music!

“It was very private with 60 of our closest friends and family, some of whom travelled from all corners of Australia and Igors family all the way from Brazil. The theme was Australian country mixed with the Brazilian culture. It was the most perfect and subtle balance, combining the out doors, the location, flowers, music and food. I planned for the whole event to be outside but it poured down with rain just after the ceremony, so our live band had to set up in the living room which turned into a great dance floor.”

“Julia and Valerio, who live at the property, let us use the whole space as well as thier kitchen for anything we needed, so accommodating, we are so lucky! All the girls in my family (mum, aunts, nana, sisters) helped set everything up as well as all the flowers (except my bouquet). My husbands family visited from brazil and we all cooked the food the day before from scratch at the property, and one of Igors grooms men manned the brazilian BBQ on the night, it was the most amazing food!”

‘We chose this location because we wanted it to be personal and exclusive to all others. The boys all play football on the mini field (where we had the ceremony) while all the girls watch out door projector movies and we all have a BBQ afterwards! Its also where Igor and I first became a couple!”

To the bride:  What was your favorite moment?

“We loved the brazilian band and everyone having a great time dancing, seeing all of our family and friends together was amazing and when Igor called me his wife for the first time in his speech. The whole event was fantastic!”

“Igor grew up in Brazil and came to australia when he was presented with the opportunity to play and coach football. He loved australia and made a life for himself here. I grew up in Australia and had only just moved back home from living over seas and Igor and I met a few months later.  We met at a party in march 2011 and immediately fell for eachother. We had no doubt that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and build a life together. Every thing fell into place. We plan to go and live in Brazil for a year or so and do a bit of travelling through South America.”

Vendor List

Hair Stylist: Julie’s Mobile Hair Salon
Floral Designer: Florabunda Flowers
Reception Venue: Private Residence
Makeup Artist: Zoya’s Makeup Artistry
Music: Lemanja – Live brazilian band
Officiant: Natasha Lewis
Photography: Kate Ignatowski Photography

Thanks to the wonder that is Pinterest I have come across something completely yummy & super exciting, at least in my eyes… Adult Popsicles!!!  Adult you say?!  How so?  Well its all the wonderful yumminess of homemade popsicles, created with fresh fruit, juices, you name it….. combined with frosty beverages!! Yes thats right, spirit filed frozen fabulousness!

I headed over to Endless Simmer, a drool worthy foodie blog, and discovered a unknown world to me.  They appear to have many various different recipes such as Strawberry Peach Vodka Collins Popsicles (shown right), 4th of July Cocktail Cooler, Lychee Saketini, & Dirty Pirate (yes dirty pirate!) to name a few!!

These could be an AMAZING treat for cocktail hour, can you imagine?!  Yeah yeah they melt, hazard of an awesome idea.  Adults are adults, they can mind after themselves.  Will it be more challenging if your facing a 90+ degree day, sure, but will an awesome adult cocktail frozen within an inch of its life also serve to cool off your guest, totally!  I wish I knew of/thought of this as I would have totally made these puppies for ours.  Rest assured I will making these throughout this next year & will let you know how each goes.  Summer parties, here we come!

There are times when choosing which images make it into a post is an easy task, and there are times when the combination of photographer & couple make it incredibly hard!  This is most definitely one of those times!  When I first received this submission I was with one of my girlfriends & I simply said to her oh I think I have a good one on my hands.  She quickly looked at the preview pic in the email and said to me, I think you have military on your hands!  I snatched my iPhone back & low & behold I did indeed have smart military dress on my hands.  I’m always a sucker for a great looking guy in uniform.

Turns out Billy is indeed in the military & as a result always on the move.  Like wise is his gorgeous & charismatic fiancee Liz Butler, who to no surprise of my own, is a model.  Their chemistry in these photographs is undeniable & perhaps what I love best is that I get a genuine & real sense of who they are as a couple.  Honestly this post is pure engagement pic eye candy and I challenge you to try with all your might to not be smiling to yourself by the end of it!

*All Photography by Visionyard Photography

I have a special Monday morning treat for everyone!  This gorgeous wedding is light, bright & chalk full of stunning colors to wake up your senses!  Larissa Carter & Tony Smith put on one lovely affair out at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Palos Verdes Estates, California.  Larissa & Tony achieved a feat not always easy to meet, creating a down home slightly rustic wedding complete with mason jar escort cards, seed box planters, & an outdoor reception with perfectly styled lanterns all the while keeping it classic & elegant.  While those components are wonderful, its the In & Out Burger & CoolHaus food trucks that take this wedding to a whole new level, never mind the stunning sunset….rainbow!  Oh & just a heads up, the groom & his men have a bit of a surprise for our bride!  I love it!

Vendor List:

Photography: Figlewicz Photography
Hair Stylist: Design Visage
Caterer: Event Professionals
Event Planner: Vala Events
Floral Designer: Sadas Flowers
Reception Venue: South Coast Botanic Gardens
Other: Coolhaus Truck