Erin Cooper was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Her dream was to be able to walk down the aisle to her love  Matt Rinaldi while she still could.  Together they entered The Bridal Idol contest put on by Inspired Occasions and 104.9 The Cat, a local radio station of Albany, NY.  The contest gave a full wedding to a deserving couple.  This amazing couple won The Bridal Idol contest & were able to have a lakeside wedding of their dreams.  So many amazing vendors came together to create this lovely affair and allow for Eric & Matt’s wishes to come true.  Judging by the gorgeous sunset lighting, Mother Nature was on their side too!

Vendor List

Hair Stylist: Lipstick N Lashes
Event Planner: Inspired Occasions
Floral Designer: Ambiance Florals
Dress Store: Angela’s Bridal
Cake Designer: Coccadotts Cake Shop
DJ: Conway Entertainment
Equipment Rentals: Total Events
Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Choppa & Sons
Event Venue: Old Daley Inn on Crooked Lake
Photographer: Scott Kretschmann Photography

This sweet mid-fall wedding features nature’s favorite color palette strong with oranges, reds & touches of deep purples.  The couple, Melissa Thomason & Phillip Chambless, actually found the charming Clifton Inn the very weekend that they got engaged!  For the feel of the wedding, the couple hoped for a classic wedding with outdoor touches, featuring a tree side coffee station, lawn games & even a Bourbon Bar!  As a final touch, the couple invited guests to help them celebrate in their big moment by joining in on a late night sparkler send off!

“Phillip and I both went to UVA, both majored in Systems Engineering, but only met once briefly when I was a 4th year and he had just graduated and was back visiting Charlottesville.  After I graduated in 2006, I moved to Atlanta to work for a consulting firm where he happened to already work.  In September 2006 I got staffed on the same project as him at The Home Depot, and we immediately hit it off.  We became great friends, then dated on and off for the next 8 months before I FINALLY convinced him it was okay to date your co-worker.  We officially became a couple in April 2007  but never told anyone that we worked with until I left the company a year and a half later.”

“We hoped to have a bourbon bar!  We both love bourbon and my family is from Kentucky!”

Vendor List 

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Clifton Inn
Catering: Clifton Inn
Florist & Decor: Beehive Events
Music: Diana Gibbs, Marissa La Bant, Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun, John Winntet
Tent Rental: Skyline Tent Company
Hair & Make-Up: Daphne Latham
Photography: Lauren D. Rogers Photography

I dont know why but this DIY is totally bringing out my farm girl roots… I am in love with this idea ya’ll!  This is one of the few things I have seen post my own wedding, that makes me go oh sh*t!  I wish I had seen this for my wedding!  This would have gone soooo perfectly with our decor.  Ugh Grrr, but I digress.  Hopefully however this will inspire some brides to be & give them the opportunity for their own weddings.

I have a total sweet spot as it is for using old books, book pages, you name it.  I looove succulents.  I couldnt even exactly tell you why, I just do.  Combine them you say?!  Unimaginable!  As it turns out, the ladies at Green Wedding Shoes featured a wedding (Ps-A totally gorgeous wedding, a click through must see! ) that actually used these as part of their floral decor, reached out to the designers, Wendnesday & got the details, passing them onto their readers!  The overall DIY is super easy & fairly low cost, a book, moss,  a few succulents & there you have it.  For extra credit you can toss in some lovely fabric flowers (link to tutorial for flowers is in the DIY post) or even make some super cute heart adornments.  I think I might make some of these for the apartment just because.  What do you guys think?  Is it love?!

*Photos by ee photography

I dont know why but this DIY is totally bringing out my farm girl roots… I am in love with this idea ya’ll!  This is one of the few things I have seen post my own wedding, that makes me go oh sh*t!  I wish I had seen this for my own wedding!  This would have gone soooo perfectly with our decor.  Ugh Grrr, but I digress.  Hopefully however this will inspire some brides to be & give them the opportunity for their own weddings.

I have a total sweet spot as it is for using old books, old book pages, you name it.  I looove succulents.  I couldnt even exactly tell you why, I just do.  Combine them you say?!  Unimaginable!  As it turns out, the ladies at Green Wedding Shoes featured a wedding (Ps-A totally gorgeous wedding, a click through must see! ) that actually used these as part of their floral decor, reached out to the designers, Wendnesday & got the details, passing them onto their readers!  The overall DIY is super easy & fairly low cost, a book, moss,  a few succulents & there you have it.  For extra credit you can toss in some lovely fabric flowers (link to tutorial for flowers is in the DIY post) or even make some super cute heart adornments.  I think I might make some of these for the apartment just because.  What do you guys think?  Is it love?!

*Photos by ee photography

Kim Powell was actually married this past January, but the weather proved a bit too chill at the time of Kim’s wedding to really get the bridal portraits that she wanted.  Armed with her photographer Cassie, of Cassie’s Camera, some warmer weather, they headed to Edworthy Park in Calgary, Alberta.  Kim had a vision of a vintage vibe shoot among the gorgeous trees & together they brought it to life!  Perhaps one of the more interesting details all together is that fact that Kim herself had a big hand in the creation of her wedding dress & as if that alone were not a big enough task, she also whipped together her beautiful broche bouquet!

*Photography by Cassie’s Camera