If there is one thing I adore about Cali its the ability to dine Al Fresco in a gorgeous setting that samples that of the Spanish mission style ambiance.  Whats more is how perfectly the creamy stucco walls and terracotta like floors lend themselves to a really rich, deep color palette as well!  This styled session highlights so many wonderful ways to dress a table in elegance & refinement all the while paying proper homage to lush organic surroundings.   A deep berry upper layer table cloth sets the tone, while flashes of gold are present in both the under layer table cloth as well as fat bows around the chiavari chairs.  The gold serves as a much need eye pop & shimmer to an otherwise dark affair.  Beautiful gnarled wood brings a real earthy element to the table, while dressed with sliced citrus fruits, artichokes & pomegranates, creating an open cornucopia touch.  Unique blooms transport the table into a more ethereal feel while little details like single blooms & succulents are playfully entrapped in over turned glassware.  The overall effect is a wonderfully organic, rich feeling table set up that steps well away from cookie cutter & transports its guest into a twilight night under the stars!

Vendor Love

Event Venue: Aldea at Tlaquepaque, Phoenix | Event Designer: Trisha Lucy {Petals & Lucy} | Floral Designer: Community Florist | Photographer: Jill Lauren Photography

I always feel an extra desire to applaud couples who realize that a giant wedding to-do is not really their speed.  There is something so powerful in focusing all your energy on  an intimate yet highly sophisticated wedding, much the way that Kristin Redmond & Hans Loven have done at the Sunken Garden at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.  Not feeling the need to bring the masses, our sweet couple instead focused on finer details like stunning location, unique blooms, couture wedding gown & iconic reception space.  Influenced by the desire to use symbology, much the way a wedding is the beginning of a new life, our couple opted to say their ‘I do’s’ with the raise of the sun, starting a new day.  While this wedding might not have a big supporting cast, the beauty & essence of love is in no short supply!

Novella of the Bride…

Hans and I met on Match.com.  For our first date, we unfortunately both went to different Starbucks located within a couple blocks of each other.  I, thinking he had stood me up, called him and asked whether he was planning to come.  He quickly told me that he’d also been waiting.  A bystander having overheard me pointed to the other Starbucks and we quickly realized that we were both at the “wrong” Starbucks. Once we came together, the remaining 9 hours went in a flash.   Nearly immediately we began seeing each other everyday! Now, we having been together for 5 years.

We felt that a morning wedding, in a garden, was much more appropriate and in line with the idea of our new beginning. Thus, we had our wedding at 9:15am in the morning on September 17.  It’s hard to beat the beauty of the como conservatory.  It was particularly wonderful at that time.  We have never seen it look so beautiful before or since. Hans and I often visited the conservatory especially during the cold MN winters.  We also decided to have a small wedding with only our closest friends and family.  While this did mean that some people were unable to attend and a few ruffled feathers to deal with, neither of us would change having 40 people there to celebrate. It was very intimate and we were able to spend time with each one of our guests. We also had an art deco influence with my wedding band, invitations, the reception venue, and a few other details. To add some flair and laughs, we decided to buy funky bow ties as party favors, which led to a number of amusing photos including our group panorama with all our guests.

Hans and I really teamed up on the wedding.  We made all the decisions together except of course…my dress.  My good friend Juliana went on most of the trips with me and my friend Veronica flew in to go shopping as well.  In the end my pursuit for a dress was not successful in person.  I had found a dress online early in my research, but couldn’t locate it in any stores in the surrounding states.  After no success in stores, I took the plunge and ordered my dress based on my measurements.   It was a bit nerve racking but it arrived, I love it, and it only required minor tailoring.

Couple’s Favorite Moments: “This is a difficult question to answer. I counted 5 favorite moments when considering this question. I’ll share one moment; immediately after the ceremony when we had walked out of the sunken garden Hans grabbed my hand, dipped, and kissed me…we were both ecstatic.   Hans shared that his favorite moment  - the feeling the instant the ceremony concluded.”

Vendor Love

Ceremony Venue: Sunken Garden at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory  | Reception Venue: W.A. Frost  | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals – Couture Collection  | Shoes: Bettye Muller | Hair & Makeup Stylist: Julie Swenson at Smart and Chic Bride  | Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss  | Invitation Designer: GoGoSnap | Music: Baroque Trio  | Florist: Pazzobello Flowers  | Caterer: W.A. Frost  | Baker: The Cake Diva  | Photographer: Erin Johnson Photography

Its no  secret how big of a crush I have on bridal headpieces.  Whether its a ‘simple’ fascinator or an eloquently selected bridal headscarf, I am in loooooove, big time!  Today’s gorgeous woodsy romantic session features The Yellow Peony, a gal who makes some really unique bridal hair pieces, as well as custom pieces for brides, and believe me when I say, they are amazing!!  Always inspiring and ever creative, Hayley wanted to bring together some terrific local vendors for an ethereal woodsy bohemian vibed shoot, highlight of course some of The Yellow Peonies spectacular bridal accessories!  The result is pure bridal fashion eye candy with bold vibrant colors, terrific accessories, & gorgeous blooms!  My absolutely favorite in this collection is the very first, the enchanting Vintage-Style Ivory Lace Bridal Cap!  How stunning is this gem?!  Swoon, sigh, swoon and repeat!  There is so much inspiration here from decor to fashion, you’re going to love everything!  After the gallery, be sure to check out each unique piece!

Loving The Yellow Peony as much as we are?  Want to know a bit more about these gorgeous styles & where to purchase?  We thought so!

 

 

Vintage-Style Ivory Lace Bridal Cap

 

 

 

 

 

Long Tulle Cathedral Veil

 

 

 

 

 

Floral Circlet head wreath in Nude & Blush

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floral Statement Head Wreath in Red & Lime

 

 

 

 

Ivory & Tulle Flower Clip with Crystal Beading

 

 

 

 

 

Floral Statement Crown in Blue & Purple

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal Dew drop Tulle Birdcage Veil

 

 

 

 

 

Whimsical Bridal Halo

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Style Ivory Flower Headband with Crystal Beading

 

 

 

 

 

Greta Headpiece – Organza Flower & Rhinestone Wedding Headband

 

 

 

 

 

French Style Cathedral Veil

 

 

 

 

 

White Swiss dot Tulle Bridal Cap

 

 

 

 

 

Rhinestone Leaf Wedding headband on Silver Satin Ribbon

 

 

 

 

 

Ivory Peony Hair Clip of Silk Taffeta

 

 

Vendor Love

Dress Store: Altar Bridal | Bridal Hair Pieces: The Yellow Peony | Hair: Bella Hair Company at EnVogue Salon | Make-up: Kristen George Makeup Artistry | Floral Design: Good Earth Floral Design Studio | Cake Designer: Iced Art | Baked Goods: Cakes a Go-Go | Photographer: Pond Photography

 

The more intimate and the more personal the better!  That was the motto Hayley Burney & Seth Butler kept in mind when creating their gorgeous wedding day all on  their own {along with help from family and friends of course!}  Hand selected unique furniture served in lieu of boring tables, personally drawn Save The Dates were used as well as a special note to greet guests upon their arrival,  even the wedding bouquets were even hand wrapped!  Each element had their stamp of personal touch to it making everything that much more special!  Hayley’s mother tirelessly altered, again by hand, a dress from J.Crew to tailor make the gown to her dreams.{Way to go mom!!}  Guests were treated to homemade banana nut and red velvet cakes, along with hot cocoa cups with marshmallows of course, each topped off with striped straws and message.  The entire affair is a wonderfully gorgeous refined fete with such a wonderful level of detail & style!

Novella of the Bride…

Since we both like attending weddings that have a lot of details that reflect the couples’ personalities and style, we wanted our wedding to be like that. We didn’t want it to look “store bought”, so we did a lot of things ourselves like designing and making our save the dates, our programs, and painting some of our furniture to use for the guestbook and program tables.  My grandmother’s milk glass collection was used in all the flower arrangements and centerpieces. My amazing mother worked tirelessly up until a few hours before the wedding (!) modifying a dress I had bought on sale from J. Crew to my design.

I have two favorite moments. The first was the moment, in the middle of the ceremony, that my sister/maid of honor realized she had forgotten Seth’s ring upstairs! She instead handed me her wedding band, which wouldn’t fit past Seth’s knuckle. The second was at the end of the night when everyone was singing “Purple Rain” at the top of their lungs. As we were dancing, our family and friends unexpectedly made a circle around us and bum-rushed us at the end of the song. It was a really fun and unforgettable moment.

All of our vendors including the staff at the Caldwell House, Don’s Custom Catering, Aaron Lane Entertainment, and of course Mark Eric Photography were absolutely incredible!

Vendor Love

Venue: Caldwell House | Dress: J.Crew | Caterer: Don’s Custom Catering | Music: Aaron Lane Entertainment | Photographer: Mark Eric Weddings

There’s a certain real wedding that we featured recently on SBW which garnered all sorts of lovely response for not only its wonderfully stylish couple, but the tremendous design done in decor & flora.  A focal point to the wedding was the bride’s bouquet which was utterly D.IV.I.N.E!!  I knew this gorgeous arrangement of blooms would make for the perfect, Why It Works Wednesday!

Firstly some house keeping, to view the full post {trust me if you have not seen it, you simply must!!} Click Here.  The vibe for the wedding as a whole was wonderfully rustic industrial with the Georgia peach as the inspiration both in textures & color palette.  The result are expertly mix matched tables with varying centerpieces ranging from vintage wood planter boxes along with hand colored milk bottles to suspended floral plank centerpieces.  Wedding decor maven  Juli Vaughn Designs crafted not only the design of the decor but the handled the blooms as well.  While the suspended centerpieces are most certainly a WIWW feature all their own, I wanted to focus on our bride’s bouquet which has stuck with me ever since putting the feature together!  It might seem like a surprise, but you would be shocked to know how many bouquets are nothing too special, if not even poorly constructed… therefore when you find a good one, you best hold onto it like a firefly at night!

 *Photograph by Jason Hales Photography

Know your blooms: Cafe Au Laut Dahlias | Coral Charm Peonies | Campanella and Juliet Garden Roses | Amsterdam Roses |Gloriosa Lilies | Billy Balls | Salmon and Orange Ranunculus | Sage

Elements at play: Tonal range {the colors}, bloom size/placing & finishing elements

“Lauren wanted a bouquet that was rustic, romantic, and sophisticated. We kept it romantic by using fluffier, soft blooms, sophisticated because of the shape, and rustic with the feathers and herbs.”

Tonal Range

The inspiration for the wedding as a whole was the good ol’Georgia peach.  Peaches bring to mind soft soft yellows, pale pinks, deeper oranges infused with a pink glow, pure orange and of course the greenery of the leaves when it grows.   Juli Vaughn expertly hand picked each bloom for its specific hue, insuring each would reflect some aspect of the naturally ombréd peaches coloring.  Blossoms were placed together to create a synergy & harmony that would echo the unique skin of our fuzzy tasty friend.  The overall effect is a not just a well designed piece but an arrangement that has a peaceful yet highly sophisticated look.

Blooms Size & Placement 

Did you know that romantic is an adjective that has action behind it?  When carving out the overall feel for the day, romantic was one of the buzzwords the team used to pull from for inspiration.  In effort to inject a romantic vibe into the bouquet, the team opted for fluffier more cloud like soft blooms.  These pillowy petals give off an incredible lusciousness, a feeling of a flush face, breath of life, even a touch of catching your breath as you view them.  All feelings a person feels when they spy the one they love for the first time, the emotions of romance blooming right before your eyes!  Ok ok, I am getting carried away with poetic license here but you get my point.  Big, soft, luscious blooms are the perfect conductor for a romantic vibe, they emote a genuine sense of love!  Just as important as the size of the blooms, each was skillful placed next to one another highlighting its neighbor in special ways.  Whether it was to build upon the color harmony, big up its friend {small blooms next to oversized}, even portray a textural fuzziness, know that each bloom had its place and with good reason.  The result is a tightly {thought not too tightly} constructed bouquet that is sizable in the choice of blooms used, not in an over use of simply too many flowers.  Each is strategic and important!

Finishing Elements

How a bouquet is wrapped is often gawked after, sometimes more so then the blooms, when done with a creative hand.  Keeping with the rustic romantic feel, along with sophisticated design, the team leaned on burlap to be the perfect underlay to the handle.  Choosing a thick finished {worth noting as often burlap is not finished, thus immediately upping the sophistication level!} burlap ribbon, the underlying layer easily gives off that rustic flavor.  Building upon the burlap, a layer of silk ribbons was added in a deeper more inspired hue then the bouquet, insuring it would stand out for all the right reasons.  Silk by nature is a delicate & highly revered fabric often associated with designer threads, therefore the choice of silk is equally working to bring the savoir faire to the design.  The handle is finished with the crème de la crème in refinement, a pheasant feather ribbon accent.  I looooove that Juli brought in the pheasant feather here with its rich browny-gray tone & spotted pattern.  Feathers are the ultimate in class and when wielded for good, triumphs everything!  The choice of burlap, silk ribbon & pheasant feathers beautifully echos the wedding buzzwords of rustic, romantic, and sophisticated.  Knowing how to wrap your bouquet is equally as important as the blooms used to make it!

This gorgeous bouquet has everything going right for it!   Wonderfully hand selected colors & full soft blooms as well as the details used to wrap the handle hearken attention to the full picture.  Flowers are such a powerful tool on your wedding day, something that can easily transport an entire room, or bride, to a whole new world, if just for a day.  Are you as equally enamored by this peach inspired bouquet as I am?  What are some of your favorite elements, the blooms, the colors, maybe the pheasant feathers?!  I’d love to know!  As always, if there is ever something that you would love to know Why It Works, please send it my way, you never know, I just may feature it!

To view the original post: Georgia Peach Inspired Hues In This Rustic Industrial Wedding With Farmhouse Chic Sophistication, CLICK HERE

 

Vendor Love

Ceremony Venue: St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church  | Reception Venue: Summerour Studio | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay  | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik &Prada  | Hair Stylist: The Hair Artist  | Makeup Artist: Kristen Phelps  | Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss | Invitation Designer: Love vs Design  | Music: AMP’D Atlanta  | Rentals: Four Inch Fold &Bold American  | Florist: Juli Vaughn Designs | Caterer: Bold American  | Baker: Lush Cakery | Wedding/Event Planner: Juli Vaughn Designs | Photographer: Jason Hales Photography