Wedding Photography

Real Illinois Wedding: Aneesha & Kirk (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- September 8th, 2010 -- 3:30 pm

Peoria is really a beautiful little city. When we saw Aneesha & Kirk’s high style wedding from our friends at Cathy and David Photographers, we were in love. Ballroom glamour, voluminous white and orchid green florals, and the bride’s shoes…a Midwest wedding that is simply to die for! And it’s the meaning behind all the design choices that won us over so completely—we admit, there were tears! Read on for all the sweet stories—love this wedding!

“Our wedding date was Saturday, June 19th. It was a very hot, sunny day in downtown Peoria, Illinois. My bridesmaids, our moms and I started getting ready mid-morning. My bridesmaids were kind enough to get me a wedding day cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee before the preparations—my favorite! So sweet and much needed! Now, while we were busy getting ready, Kirk and his groomsmen didn’t get started until 30 minutes before the wedding. That is, except for Roger, his groomsman, who came down to hang out before the wedding fully dressed in his tux hours before the ceremony. We still laugh about it!”

“Our wedding was held at the historic Hotel Père Marquette in downtown Peoria. We chose the Père Marquette for its lovely ballrooms with their classic arches, grand chandeliers, and old world charm. The spaces are truly beautiful. Our ceremony began at 4 pm and lasted for about an hour. We got on a party bus, (yes, a party bus!) with our entire bridal party and immediate families and took photos around downtown Peoria, and on the Bradley University campus, where we met our junior year of college. The entire bridal party stuck out the heat without one complaint—wonderful friends! We took the majority of our photos outdoors after the ceremony while our guests enjoyed a cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Père Marquette. We returned to start the reception around 7 pm. There was dinner, toasts, and lots of dancing, keeping the party going until well past midnight. We were determined to enjoy our day from start to finish! All in all, due to our fabulous vendors, the day went according to schedule. We couldn’t have asked for better!”

“I absolutely loved my dress by Justin Alexander. It was pure silk, with touches of beading in all the right places. The dress initially didn’t have any embellishment on the bottom, but the bridal salon was able to order more of the embellishment and add some more to the bottom and train of the dress. I had always thought that I would have had a full skirted dress, but absolutely loved the trumpet silhouette once I tried it on.”

“Another special piece was a beautiful ring my mother gave me as my ’something blue’ to wear on the wedding day. It’s my birthstone, surrounded by chocolate diamonds. I often wear my wedding/engagement rings on my left hand, and the ring my mother gave me ring on my right. My wedding ring is for my life with Kirk to come, and the ring on my right is to always remind me of my family, and where I came from.”

“I’m a shoe girl, so I went with these gorgeous shoes from Badgley Mischka that look like they were adorned with rose petals. I was also able to find a lovely clutch with a petal-like feel. Tania from Custom Hair Lounge drove down from Chicago to do my hair and makeup, as well as my bridesmaids’ hair. She’s my regular stylist in Chicago, as well as Kirk’s, so we were so happy that she could come down for the wedding. She did a lovely job on my hair and makeup, I still felt like ‘me,’ just kicked up a notch, and I loved the way she styled my bridesmaids’ hair. Tania also surprised Kirk by giving him a quick haircut before the wedding—she mentioned it’s a tradition of hers, to ensure the groom is looking his best on the big day.”

“My bridesmaids vary in height and skin color, and we wanted to choose a dress that they all felt beautiful in. The jewel-toned hue from Alfred Angelo looked gorgeous on everyone, along with the simple detailing at the bust and floor length skirt. The groom and groomsmen wore Joseph Abboud tuxedos from Formally Modern in the Chicago area. The staff at Formally Modern was wonderful to work with. We were really impressed by their quality, fit, and service.”

“Our officiant was Rhonda Washer, and she was great to work with. She really got to know us as a couple and helped us personalize our ceremony. She made our ceremony very spiritual and inclusive. The River City String Quartet performed at the ceremony. They were kind enough to play classical as well as more modern songs such as ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ when I walked down the aisle and ‘Beautiful Day’ as we walked out after the ceremony. They were even able to perform a Sigur-Ros song called ‘Hoppippolla,’ which isn’t very well known. The quartet added such emotion to the ceremony and the day. I’m really glad we went with them for our ceremony. When I walked down the aisle toward Kirk, the music filling the space and all the family and friends so happy for us, it was overwhelming. It was so meaningful to have both of my parents walk me down the aisle. It was a moment I will never forget.”

“I came across Cathy and David when I was looking for wedding photographers in Chicago, and saw photos on their blog. I fell in love with their candid style. They captured everything, from the smallest details to beautiful, emotional moments. I spoke with them many times leading up to the wedding, and even though I met them for the first time on our wedding day, I wasn’t the least bit nervous around them. They made me feel so comfortable, and, on the day of, they were absolutely fantastic. They really seemed to capture the moments as they occurred in real life. They have a way of seeing the beauty in places most people would think of as ordinary, such as the large dock they photographed our bridal party on, and bring out that beauty in their photos. We are thrilled with the way the photos look, and, on top of it, the two of them are awesome to work with.”

More from Aneesha & Kirk’s gorgeous Peoria day to come! The lovely petal theme continues…sigh! Isn’t this what weddings are all about? Beautiful!

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Real Minnesota Wedding: Jennifer & Adam (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- August 18th, 2010 -- 9:37 pm

Pure sunshine! More from Jennifer & Adam’s delightful Minneapolis wedding…simply in love with the hand-painted photobooth! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“We wanted a vintage feel, so we used a yellow and gray color palette. We took a lot of inspiration from old postcards from the early 1900s. Our theme was celebration and laughter. We didn’t want anything too formal because it just didn’t feel like us. No tuxedos, no formal wedding party, rather, a ‘wedding gang!’ We also surprised our guests by greeting them when they arrived. We didn’t want to be hidden away while our friends were starting the party so we joined them!”

“For dessert, we offered vanilla cupcakes with butter-cream icing from CUPCAKE in Minneapolis. They were SO delicious! Our wooden Bride and Groom cake toppers
were designed by goosegrease on Etsy.”

“We created the table number cards from vintage Minnesota post cards. We hand cut number stamps and I stamped the back of the post cards. We had to show our out of town guests a good time so Adam designed a map of Minneapolis with all of our favorite haunts, which we included in our welcome bags for our hotel guests. I also wanted to add a personal touch to the wedding so I painted a 5′ x 7′ mural to use as a photo backdrop.”

“We recently moved to Minneapolis from Brooklyn, NY so we really wanted to show off our new city to all of our east coast friends. It was important for us to show them what a great city this is, to help them understand why we made the move. Minneapolis really came through! We now have friends asking us to ship packages of Minnesota snacks (like Nut Goodie Bars and granola from French Meadow Bakery) to them in New York! A few have already made plans to come back to visit (in the summer only!).”

“We knew the night was going well when a friend of my dad’s started a conga line in the middle of dinner—not really the kind of dancing we had in mind but it really got the party going! Adam and I didn’t want to do a ‘first dance’ so we asked the DJ to invite everyone to join us on the dance floor. I expected a few close friends and family to accept the invitation but almost everyone joined in—the dance floor couldn’t hold everyone so people were dancing all over the dinning room. It was a beautiful sight!”

When we asked Jennifer about advice, she told us, “There are so many great ideas to be found in magazines and blogs, that it’s easy to see yourself having many different kinds of weddings! But the best advice we can give is don’t do anything because ‘that’s just what you have to do.’ Relax, have fun planning, and don’t listen to anyone but yourselves! It’s your day and it’s probably the biggest party you’ll ever throw so just have fun!”

Just brilliant! Everything about wedding planning should be a blast, right? Congratulations, Jennifer & Adam—here’s to all the happiness ahead! Many thanks, too, to Kate McGough of Perspective Studio for sharing her lovely photographs with us!

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Real Minnesota Wedding: Jennifer & Adam (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- August 17th, 2010 -- 8:43 pm

Minneapolis is an amazing place to get married—the artisan possibilities are simply endless! Today’s real wedding is truly a Clover & Bee favorite. Combining this classic downtown venue with all of wedding designer Allison Geiger’s perfect vintage details made for a simply picture-perfect party. Wait until you see these shots from Kate McGough of Perspective Studio—it was love at first sight! All the lush yellow and pink florals, bright blue summer skies, every elegant handmade detail…pure delight!

“Adam and I were married on a hot summer day—July 3, 2010 in Minneapolis, MN. Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Gale Mansion, a beautiful South Minneapolis mansion built in 1912. We loved that the space was full of history, elegant, right in the heart of the city and even close to our house.”

“We tried to keep the day’s schedule simple. We really wanted to just relax and enjoy the day—something everyone told us would be difficult to do! We showed up at the Gale Mansion for a quick run-through at noon. We got dressed at the Gale for pictures at 2 p.m. and we were ready to greet our guests as they arrived at 4 p.m. The ceremony took about 15 minutes and the crowd was begging for ‘one more song!’ at 11 p.m. when we wrapped up the evening.”

“Luke Geiger of Right on Canvas designed our invitations and RSVP cards. We wanted the look of the invitation to be inspired by vintage Minneapolis post cards, and Luke nailed it!”

“Adam’s suit was from JCrew. His yellow checkered tie was purchased from designer J. Barton Strawn on Etsy. My wedding dress was purchased from Saja—an amazing boutique in NYC. They were so helpful and Yoo Lee’s designs were just want I wanted—simple and elegant. Local hair stylist, Lacey D’Apice, is amazing, and did an incredible job styling my hair! She created a natural and elegant style that worked beautifully with my dress, and most importantly I ‘looked and felt like myself’ on my wedding day.”

“We love the spirit and sound of bluegrass music so we hired The High 48s, a bluegrass band from Minneapolis, to play during our ceremony and cocktail hour. They really set the tone for the whole day: laid-back fun. And the crowd loved them! They even learned a few special requests for us.”

“Our photographer Kate McGough of Perspective Studio was great! She was exactly what we wanted in a photographer—personable and professional. She was able
to grab great shots of all the important moments, yet at the same time, we hardly knew she was there!”

“There were so many wonderful moments that it’s hard to pick just a few to mention! One of the most memorable moments was when Adam and I walked down the aisle together. The High 48s learned an instrumental version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Buckets of Rain’ for us and played it as our wedding gang and Adam and I entered. As we turned the corner and made our way down the pathway, our guests started cheering and clapping—our hopes of laughter and celebration realized!”

“We couldn’t have done it without Allison Geiger of Alilu Studios in Willmar, MN. We are very fortunate to have a wedding designer/florist/planner in the family—especially one we would have wanted to hire anyway! Allison guided us through the whole process; she made sure we were doing what we needed to do when we needed to do it. Allison had us come to her studio and we LOVED everything she had to show us. She really made the whole event feel like us. Allison used vintage bottles as flower vases, vintage juice glasses for votive candles, and old canning jars filled with yellow candies and sparklers. It was the 4th of July weekend after all so we went with sparklers as our ‘favor.’”

More from Jennifer & Adam’s unbelievably sweet wedding coming up tomorrow…the party is pure joy! Doesn’t all this sunny yellow make you just melt? So in love with all this style!

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Real Minneapolis Wedding: Sneak Peek!

Real Midwest Weddings -- August 16th, 2010 -- 9:36 pm

One gorgeous DIY wedding at Minneapolis’ Gale Mansion with flowers, flowers, flowers everywhere—there is just so much to be inspired by! Can’t wait to share tomorrow—one of our favorite fêtes of all time!

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Real Chicago Wedding: Jessica & Robert (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- July 30th, 2010 -- 9:28 am

More from Jessica & Robert’s Chicago wedding at the spectacular historic Murphy Auditorium Resort…wait til you see these brilliant DIY details! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“Rob and I have both lived in Chicago for several years, and the best part about getting married in this beautiful city was being able to share what we love about our new hometown with our family and friends. We love to walk everywhere in the city, so we purposely planned for all of the weekend’s events to be within close proximity to each other. We provided our guests with homemade pocket schedules of the day’s events and a hand-drawn downtown map of Chicago that featured some of favorite places to see in the city. Chicago has so much history and wonderful architecture, and both of our venues provided the perfect backdrop for our dream wedding in our favorite city.”

“I had so much fun adding our own personal touches throughout the wedding, from all of the paper products to the lavender bundles on top of each menu, to the homemade jam that my mother lovingly made for us. Our wedding really felt like us. Some of my favorite details included the table letters (yes, not numbers!) which were vintage French alphabet flash cards—fitting, since I am a kindergarten teacher. For our chair swag I decoupaged our initials using sheet music from my grandfather, and I added some fabric flowers to dress them up. Instead of using escort cards, we decided to use votives that I wrapped in paper with each guest’s name on a label. All of these DIY projects turned out to be so much fun and added a really personal touch to our wedding.”

“Our cake was created by Amy Beck Cake Design. Amy was enthusiastic about putting our personal monogram on the cake and even using one of our birdcages as a cake topper! With alternating layers of carrot cake and almond cake, it was just as delicious as it was pretty.”

“We loved our DJ, Max from Style Matters. He was able to read the dance floor and please all of our guests, as well as incorporating many of our favorite songs into the mix. One of our favorite musical moments from the night was Max’s willingness and artistic ability to blend ‘Bookends’ by Simon & Garfunkel with our first dance song, ‘First Day of My Life’ by Bright Eyes. It was a special moment that made our first dance even more personal!”

“Our videographer was Louis from I Do Films—a boutique studio that specializes in creating modern wedding films with a distinct vintage flair. We are anxious to see the results because these folks are so incredibly talented!”

“We were so lucky to work with Jennifer Vahle from Food For Thought, who helped us put together a menu that wowed our guests. Jennifer worked with me for months on the practical aspects of putting the wedding together. Many of our guests told us that our spinach stuffed chicken and filet duo were the best wedding food they had ever tasted! We especially enjoyed the cheesecake lollipops that were passed around as a late-night treat.”

“Although many brides describe their wedding days as a blur, I remember many little details from the wedding as only a DIY bride can! On the day of our wedding I was able to step back and appreciate how all of our months of planning came together—thanks to our supportive families and friends, and our incredible vendors. As a teacher, I was able to devote the previous summer to scouring the internet and wedding magazine to find vendors who fit our style, ideas and budget, and, most importantly, who we connected with. In such a big city, it was a time consuming process, but we ended up being able to work with some of the most artistic, enthusiastic people we have ever met.”

Oh, yes! I love this thought from Jessica: handcrafting aspects of your wedding and working with local artisan vendors makes your day all the more memorable. This is the design philosophy we just adore here at C&B. Warmest congratulations, Jessica & Robert, on your beautiful, beautiful day! We wish you all the very best. Thanks, too, to Lizz Sisson of Orange 2 Photography—wonderful work as always!

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Real Chicago Wedding: Jessica & Robert (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- July 28th, 2010 -- 11:19 am

Today’s wedding is just stunning—I’m so delighted to finally get to share! We’ve been having some technical difficulties behind the scenes here and I’ve been on the edge of my seat, ready to show you this amazing wedding! Once you see for yourself, you’ll know why we jumped at the chance to feature Jessica & Robert’s gorgeous downtown Chicago wedding: the venues, the dress, the flowers, the bowties and all the amazing heirloom and handcrafted details—there’s beauty in every moment of the day! Jessica’s planning is impeccable—so thoughtful and with such a light and lovely touch! Many thanks, as always, to Lizz Sisson of Orange 2 Photography for sharing with us!

“Robert and I were married on June 26, 2010, in the heart of downtown Chicago. We knew that the city would be the perfect backdrop for the romantic wedding we envisioned. Incidentally, Chicago is a nice halfway point for our families, who are from Michigan (to our east) and Missouri (to our west).”

“After months of searching, I found my dream dress at Weddings 826—a great boutique that sells “off-the-rack” wedding gowns. I knew that I wanted my dress to have a vintage feel, and I immediately loved the bow details on the front and back. The dress was strapless initially, but the talented seamstresses at Weddings 826 created the perfect halter for me. I had a hard time choosing my veil, but I felt instantly at ease at The Left Bank—a Parisian-inspired wedding accessories boutique—where I was able to design my custom birdcage veil.”

“The bridesmaids wore two different colors of J.Crew’s Juliette dress—deep rose and light shell. These beautiful blush tones reflected our color palette and looked perfect for our summer wedding. The girls also carried adorable clutches in two different fabrics that I ordered from Gracey Bags on etsy.com.”

“Our flowers were done by Mark Weber at Kloeckner Preferred Flowers, who was able to turn my strong ideas into an amazing reality! Mark embraced my ideas and color palette and was really able to bring our “French country” vibe alive in the flowers.”

“The girls and I had our hair and make-up done at Charles Ifergan Salon on Oak Street. The salon went out of their way to make us comfortable and even set up a room where we could have breakfast and relax! It was such a great way to spend time with the girls before the ceremony, and on such a warm day, we all appreciated their wonderful airbrushed make-up!”

“Our invitations were made by Sarah Parrott of Parrott Design Studio. She designed and letter-pressed a unique invitation suite for us that matched our aesthetics to a tee. We carried this lovebird/birdcage theme throughout our wedding!”

“Our ceremony took place at The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, which is located on the city’s main entertainment artery, Michigan Avenue. Our reception was just blocks away at the breathtaking Murphy Auditorium. My husband and I have always admired the architecture of these two incredible buildings, and it was exciting to see the reactions on the faces of our family and friends as they marveled at these beautiful venues.”

“Rob purchased his Tommy Hilfiger tuxedo at Macy’s and finished his look with a custom estate shirt from Ralph Lauren and a matching mini-gingham bowtie and pocket square from Carrot and Gibbs. The groomsmen wore Joseph Abboud tuxes with traditional black solid bow ties provided by Formally Modern Tuxedo. For a twist (and added distinction) the groomsmen wore bright orange argyle socks from Brooks Brothers, a color which complemented the dresses of the bridesmaids.”

“We also carried/wore many special mementos on our wedding day. It was very important to me to “carry” both of my grandmothers with me so I wore a ring from my maternal grandmother and a bracelet from my paternal grandmother. My pearl drop earrings were a birthday gift from Rob from Tiffany’s. On the day of the wedding I gave Rob cufflinks made from coins from 1944 and an embroidered handkerchief with our initials and wedding date. I highly recommend utilizing all of the wonderful sellers on etsy.com for your special wedding mementos! From my garter, to our ceramic ring dish, and many other items, etsy was a wonderful resource for our wedding purchases.”

“There were so many special and touching moments throughout the day. Rob and I both agree that one moment that we will never forget occurred at the end of the ceremony when our pastor had us turn around to face our friends and family, and our bagpiper, George Sims, started his procession down the aisle. He then led us out of the church as husband and wife. It was such a dramatic, beautiful and emotion filled moment that we will never forget! If your church or venue offers a bagpiper option, we highly recommend it!”

“After months of searching for the ‘right’ photographer, we were lucky to meet Lizz Sisson from Orange 2 Photography. We felt instantly at ease with Lizz, and we had a blast shooting in some unique and memorable locations, including our engagement shoot in a field in Chinatown and literally in Lake Michigan on our wedding day! We have been amazed at the way that she manages to capture the tiniest details in the most artful ways. We will cherish her photographs of our special day for the rest of our lives!”

“The most important piece of advice I have for future brides is to take time to decide what your sense of style is and stick to it! It’s so easy to get bogged down by reading blogs and seeing all of the wonderful ideas that other brides have had but remember that your wedding should represent you and your fiancé. When we started planning, Rob and I both wanted a wedding that had a vintage vibe with touches of French accents thrown in. I really didn’t have one or two ‘colors’—instead I chose many different blush tones, as well as plenty of ivory and gold. Even though our wedding took place in the heart of Chicago, we wanted our wedding to have a cozy, yet elegant feel. Luckily, our venues both matched our ideas perfectly, and all of the vendors we worked with made sure that this aesthetic shone through.”

Such a beautiful aesthetic! The reception party is coming up and you won’t want to miss all that’s in store—the cake, the to-die-for venue, the perfect end to an unbelievable wedding day. Definitely one of our favorite weddings all time!

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Real Chicago Wedding: Sneak Peek!

Real Midwest Weddings -- July 26th, 2010 -- 10:25 am

The shore of Lake Michigan in the summertime—what’s not to love! We’ve got one wonderful heirloom wedding coming up—stay tuned for all the details!

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A Vision for the Event: Midwest Eco Chic Wedding

A Vision for the Event -- July 15th, 2010 -- 12:00 pm

So excited about today’s feature! We’ve yet to talk much on Clover & Bee about the far north region—which made waiting to share this shoot with you nearly impossible! To say we were thrilled is an understatement. Laura of Fargo’s Frozen Music Studios put together this fabulous eco-minded affair with a handful of super-talented local wedding vendors. For farm weddings, the North Dakota/Minnesota border is one of the most lush and gorgeous areas we know. The wildflowers alone! And the rustic venue is just to-die-for—but we’ll let Laura tell you all the details!

Beautiful bridal hair flowers from Bethany Lorelle, one of our Minnesota faves.

This winter, I had the idea to put together a photo shoot to illustrate to local eco-conscious brides that they have the option to have a gorgeous green (and also budget friendly) wedding. I got the chance to tour the brand new venue, Rustic Oaks Inn & Barn in Moorhead, MN, on the outskirts of town, and knew that it was a perfect location for the shoot. Rustic Oaks features a two-level heated barn, a completely renovated farmhouse-turned-inn, and an expansive riverfront property strewn with shade trees, native grasses and wildflowers perfect for photographs. In a word, it’s gorgeous.

The lovely fondant cake is from Fantasies in Frosting. The florals are—I just love this—straight from the wildflower fields at Rustic Oaks.

Alicia Weigel of Bliss Events in Fargo and I styled the shoot and our local vendors offer a whole host of earth-friendly options. Vintage weddings are just starting to become popular in our area, and they lend themselves perfectly to a green theme and the feel of this sweet farm venue.

Wedding bands and raw diamond rings from North Dakota’s Bead Unique.

Menu and invites from Ty & Lindsay Hagerott of Song 3:4.

Catering—yum!—by Eric & Sara Watson at Mosaic Catering.

Really, it’s not difficult to have an elegant and green wedding. It just takes a little thinking ‘outside the box’ and a passion for the environment in which we live. Here are some of the green ideas we incorporated into this shoot:

* Found objects/antiques for decor
* Reusable plates and glasses and real silverware for place settings
* Beverages in recyclable containers (glass bottles/cans) instead of plastic cups (and recycling bins available)
* Heirloom pearls were restrung to create modern pieces at a local jeweler
* Wedding band made from recycled gold at local jeweler
* Bridal gowns found at local consignment shop
* Accessories handmade from local artisans
* Hair and makeup from local eco-conscious salon and using Aveda products
* Bridal bouquet and vases filled with native wildflowers and grasses from the grounds of the venue
* Soy candles
* Locally grown/organic foods served
* Invitations and menus printed with soy-based ink on paper with recycled content
* Ceremony/reception all at one location…cuts down on travel
* Beautiful venue that needs little decoration
* Enjoying the outdoors…cuts down on the need for artificial lighting

Hair and makeup by Stacey Matejcek & Sara Smith of Wildflower Salon. Gown from Formal Consignment.

You can find more green wedding tips on my blog, and, if you’re interested, I include information about how to have an earth-friendly wedding in my welcome packet to couples thinking about using Frozen Music Studios for your photography. Of course, you can always drop me a line—I love talking about all things wedding and green!

Special thanks to the models for the shoot, Melissa Leslie & Jared Shields!

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Real Indiana Wedding: Amanda & Roger (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 29th, 2010 -- 10:15 pm

More from Amanda & Roger’s Indiana wedding at the stunning French Lick Resort…! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“We chose black bridesmaid dresses and tuxedos for their simplicity and pure elegance. Our color palette was very soft and full of cream, and medium to light pinks. The overall look that we wanted to capture on our wedding day can be described as ’shabby chic,’ soft and pretty. Our hope was that our sense of style would create a very inviting and comfortable atmosphere for our family and friends.”

“As a couple, our favorite memory from the day was when Roger took my hand during dinner and said, ‘How can we make this moment last forever?’ On our wedding day you could truly feel the Lord’s presence and the abundance of love, compassion and energy from all of our family and friends.”

“The best thing about getting married in Indiana is the true beauty of the state, especially the area we chose to be married. We found that nothing compared to the shear beauty of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church combined with a reception at French Lick Resort. We feel they may be among the state’s best kept secrets due to the distance from major cities, airports and interstates.” Too true!

Amanda’s advice for all you ladies planning out there: “Where do I start? The two most important pieces of advice that we give all of our family and friends planning a wedding are: One, once you make a decision stick with it. Go with your gut feeling and don’t look back. Two, be sure to take time on your wedding day to slow down, breathe and take it all in. It is overwhelming to see how many people are there just for the two of you, but it is absolutely the best feeling in the entire world.”

Oh, that last piece of advice is so sweet, just priceless, love it! Really, what greater joy is there than being surrounded by everyone you love? Congrats, Amanda & Roger! We wish you all the very best for your new life together! Many thanks to Cathy & David Photographers, too, for sharing the gorgeous shots with us!

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Real Indiana Wedding: Amanda & Roger (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 28th, 2010 -- 4:19 pm

Pretty in pink! Amanda & Roger’s wedding is the kind we just love—a light touch and beautiful space make for incredible sophistication. We feel so lucky to have the chance to share the pictures from Cathy & David Photographers with you!

“We were married on Saturday, May 22. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny spring day. The day began with a leisurely cup of coffee and many smiles and hugs from some of my best girlfriends. The comfortable and relaxed atmosphere continued through out the day.”

“Our ceremony took place at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana (built in 1837) and the reception at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana. Our family, friends and vendors put their heart and soul into every detail making each one very special. Our flowers were breathtaking. Marcia Lindauer of Jasper, Indiana really put her heart into every arrangement. The results were stunning. The rosary on my bouquet was my great-grandmother’s, my namesake. It stood for all of our family and friends who are no longer with us but were still present on the most important day in our lives.”

“We chose our photographers, Cathy and David, of Bloomington, Indiana because we were drawn to their style of candid photography and their talent to capture the true love and emotion of your wedding day. Our style as a couple is simple yet comfortable and elegant. We limited the number of flower arrangements and decorations because we really wanted the true beauty of our church and reception venue to shine. Cathy & David captured every detail.”

“My dress was from the Crystal Bride in Geneva, Illinois. You know you love your dress when every morning you wake up wishing you could put it on again. All of the girls had their hair and makeup done by Stacey Mayo of Indianapolis, Indiana. Stacey and her team worked their magic and really made everyone feel like a princess. Their work is flawless.”

One of Amanda’s favorite moments from the day: “Our bridal party was making their entrance into the church as I was standing outside waiting for my dad. The sun was shining bright and very warm on my face. I had anticipated this moment for most of my life. Seeing my dad walk through the large church doors filled me with so many wonderful emotions I could hardly breathe. In his face I saw so much love and pride. It was the beginning to the most beautiful afternoon of our lives.”

Stay tuned for more from Amanda & Roger’s Indiana wedding coming up soon…just gorgeous!

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Real Indiana Wedding: Sneak Peek!

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 28th, 2010 -- 3:37 pm

Now, if you know Indiana, you know that French Lick is one incredible place for weddings. Have we got a gorgeous fête to share with you—stay tuned for Amanda & Roger’s day!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Erin & Steve (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 19th, 2010 -- 3:21 pm

More from Erin & Steve’s beautiful Wisconsin barn wedding…! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“The Enchanted Barn was the perfect venue for a wedding. I couldn’t recommend it more. Every little detail was pulled together…from horses roaming in the background to the hanging candles being lit all night long. The owner, Lorin, and the staff worked hard the whole day to change the upper level from ceremony to dinner reception to dance, all while guests mingled, had cocktails, appetizers, and cake.”

“Jan’s Custom Cakes out of Turtle Lake was recommended through the Enchanted Barn. We went in for a taste testing and Jan made some of the most amazing cake we had ever tried. She made a simple and beautiful cake that was exactly what we imagined. With all of the varieties of flavors (we chose chocolate with Bavarian crème, pink champagne with raspberry filling, and Bailey’s Irish Cream with chocolate filling), it was hard to leave one out they were so good! We only had about 10 pieces of cake left over…it was a hit!”

“I fretted the most and longest about what our favors would be…it would keep me up at night! I racked my brain thinking of favors I had received from weddings I had attended and searched and searched Google for hours looking for unique ideas. I wanted something for my guests to remember the day, something they would want to keep, something that was personal to them, and (of course!) something I made myself. My emphasis in school was ceramics and I really started to think I wanted to make something out of clay but couldn’t figure out exactly what. One night, probably at about 3:30 AM as I lie awake thinking about everything that still needed to be done, the idea of personalized magnets hit me and that was it! I used vintage pendants to press into clay to make impressions and patterns and also used initial stamps so everyone would get a magnet with their last initial on it. It was one of the projects that took the most time, but one of the things I was most proud of.”

“We decided to have a wishing tree instead of a traditional wedding book for guests to sign. This way, they could send us a personal note to remember from the day and hang it on the tree! It was really fun to read all of the notes on the plane to our honeymoon! Some notes were sweet, some funny, and some so genuine and sincere. Plus, the tree was a fun decoration in the barn!!”

“Our DJ, Ben from Blooms and Tunes, exceeded every expectation I ever had of a DJ. Since he was also a referral from the barn, he had worked there many times and knew what the flow of a wedding there consisted of. If we would have picked anyone else, a lot of little details and consistency of the wedding would have been left out. He helped lead and direct guests to and from the buffet, made sure missed candles were lit, made sure parents and the head table were served, and made small announcements about personal things like wedding favors and our wishing tree. He was wonderful to work with and a genuinely nice person to be around. Anyone who would choose the barn for their wedding would be missing out if they didn’t hire Ben as their DJ.”

When we asked Erin the best thing about getting married in Wisconsin, she said, “The barn was literally in the middle of nowhere surrounded by cornfields and cows! Where else could you do this!? Also, I feel like the barn gave our day a feeling of nostalgia and comfort. Most people have some sort of memory or connection…we are the state known for our cows and cheese!”

Erin’s advice for all the brides-to-be, “Be true to your style and don’t be afraid to look around to find what you want at the price you want. I spent a lot of extra time and stress trying to find that combination with every vendor or detail decided on. It may have created a lot of stress before the wedding, but on the actual wedding day, I had complete confidence and trust in everyone involved and it made my day so relaxing and stress free. It was a great feeling to have. Everyone else around me was more nervous than I was! As much as I wanted other people’s opinions, I really always knew exactly what I wanted and what was true to my style and vision for the day. Though its nice to involve friends and family, make sure your decisions are truly yours.”

So thrilled for you, Erin & Steve! Here’s to all the happiness and joy ahead of you! To find out more about Dani Stephenson Photography, drop by her blog and say hello. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Erin & Steve (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 18th, 2010 -- 2:44 pm

Yellow, white and grey—beautiful! Is there a more perfect color palette for a spring farm wedding? A couple weeks ago Dani Stephenson dropped us a note telling us about this lovely Wisconsin wedding she had just shot. When we heard the story from Erin we learned just how special—she’s such a gorgeous bride, inside and out. This day is just so sweet and meaningful—read on for the picture perfect details!

“We got married on May 15th, 2010. We were originally thinking a winter wedding, but after finding The Enchanted Barn in Hillside, WI, we grabbed one of the last open dates available! With it being such a warm spring, the barn was beautiful and in bloom and I couldn’t imagine having the wedding any other season.

“The days schedule was low key! I woke up and we had the hairdressers come to our hotel, so we spend the morning eating, drinking coffee, talking, and relaxing…all while getting pretty! Once we got to the barn, it was still pretty laid back. I felt I did a lot of sitting around and waiting, enjoying company of everyone around me. The barn set everything up for us the whole night so all we had to do was show up and the day moved on around us! Having everything in the same venue created a nice flow and atmosphere. It was also nice to have everything back to back so guests were never sitting around for long periods of time. The day went by so fast, but it was never hectic!”

“When I first arrived at the barn with my bridesmaids, it was overwhelming (in a very, very good way). The weather was sunny and warm, horses were roaming in the field behind the barn, lights lit up the downstairs and upstairs of the barn, music was being played by the DJ through the walls opened up on the side of the barn, and the flowers and cake were set up…it was the first moment I got to see everything come together and it was a moment of pure happiness. I had so much trust in everyone on my wedding day that I felt completely stress free and had no worries.”

“Our photographer, Dani Stephenson, was amazing. I had followed her blog for a long time and knew I’d want her for my wedding someday. Since we had such a short time for planning, we almost missed out on her, but after a little persuasion with the Enchanted Barn website, we luckily snagged her and it was the decision we could have ever made!”

“Planning for the day, the first decision we made was the color palette, because I felt like I couldn’t make any decisions without that nailed down. I knew I wanted something a little different then black tuxes and Steve came up with the brilliant idea of grey and I loved it! From there it was trying to decide what color would compliment grey…yellow or pink? With our short timeline, only certain dresses could be ordered in time and certain colors and yellow, or canary, was the final decision. Though at first I wasn’t sure I could imagine having all yellow bridesmaids, the dresses were subtle, elegant, and flattering on all of my beautiful bridesmaids.”

“Allure Premiere Event Florists through Lakeview Floral in Menomonie, WI arranged our incredible flowers. After two personal meetings with the owner, Lacy, I walked out feeling I knew exactly what I was going to have on my wedding day and at a reasonable price. The day of the wedding the flowers were more beautiful than I could have imagined and fit the feel of the day perfectly. It was amazing to see all of the separate decisions we made come together to form the day we had envisioned.”

“We both knew we wanted something different then a traditional church wedding in a reception hall, so our search for something different started. My parents were married in their front yard and had the reception in their barn, and I loved the airy, low-key and laid-back feel the pictures gave off. I had heard of a barn in the area that was renovated only for weddings, we found it, snagged one of the last dates available, and never looked back. It was something different, unique, elegant, rustic, and somehow modern…perfect.”

“I really wanted to create a wedding dress from my mother’s. With time running out and a huge list on the do it myself planner, I decided to look around at dresses. I ended up finding the perfect dress, but still wanted to find a way to incorporate the fabric from my mom’s dress in the wedding somehow. I ended up wrapping my flowers in a strip of lace from her dress and we also accented the throwing garter with the same lace. My parents’ wedding was more of an inspiration in my planning than I really realized at first, but ours was really just a modern recreation of theirs!”

I just love this twist on tradition! There are so many possibilities—not just wearing a dress across the generations but places, heirlooms, all the meaningful, poetic details. More soon from Erin & Steve’s day!

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City in a Garden: Chicago Botanic Garden

City in a Garden -- June 16th, 2010 -- 9:35 pm

So delighted to share today’s guest post! Jessie of Simply Jessie Photography gives her expert take on one of Chicago’s most amazing wedding venues: Chicago Botanic Garden. A perfect place to get married and give back. Flowers, flowers everywhere!

When it comes to favorite places to shoot, Chicago Botanic Garden is at the top of my list. It’s more to me than a beautiful garden; it is another home, familiar and friendly. I have spent hours and hours wandering through its gardens, me and my camera. It is complete with long windy trails to walk hand and hand in, green grass to soak up the sun with nature as your only audience. Beauty is in full display of color and shapes everywhere you look.

For those brides looking for a unique wedding venue surrounded with the natural world, Chicago Botanic Garden is a must to consider. It has 26 amazing gardens on 385 acres with greenhouses, woods, waterways and natural prairie. As we speak, the gardens are fully awake with spring sprouting its almost ready blooms, brand new bright green leaves and the anticipation of summer. Peonies, ranunculus, and allium blooms are about to take over in pinks, purples and white. To keep up to date on what is in bloom you can always check in here.

A few of Jessie’s favorite spots for great wedding shots:

* The whole place is ridiculously beautiful, especially for photographs. If I had to pick, I would take the bride and groom to Dixon Prairie for sure. All native plants to Illinois and wide open space—perfect for pictures! Depending what season, there are these big beautiful yellow prairie plants out there…and hills…it’s lovely.

* I’d also recommend the Lakeside Gardens. It winds along the lagoon, and has a more woodland feel to it. Dirt path, winds a bit, feels more the woods.

* The English Walled Garden is also very lovely, with trellised blooming vines and a romantic intimate feel. Feels a bit Euro.

* The greenhouses, of course, would be fun, funky and super tropical. They have a desert house, moderate house and then the tropical house.

All that green, all that beauty! Doesn’t it make you just want to spend the afternoon under that blue sky? To see more of Jessie’s fine art botanic prints, click here. I’m coveting this magnolia piece myself—gorgeous!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Christine & Eric

Real Midwest Weddings -- June 11th, 2010 -- 11:25 am

There are just some weddings that get right to the heart of what the day’s about: being together in love. When Katy Gray, a Best of Midwest Weddings favorite, sent us images of Christine & Eric’s wedding we fell right away for the simple elegance, the lovely light touch in the day’s design. Perfect dress, perfect lakeside venue, perfectly beautiful heirloom portraits—we think you’ll agree!

“Our ceremony was at a traditional Catholic cathedral, Holy Name Catholic Church, and our reception was held at Pine Hills Country Club, a private golf course. The day was pretty laid-back in terms of scheduling and was a modest size at around 100 guests. Our goal in planning the wedding was to have a simple, classic and celebratory day while being reasonable with costs and not stressing out excessively about details. We didn’t have a set schedule. The ceremony started mid-afternoon and cocktails at 5, with pictures in between.”

“After the traditional wedding party pictures at the church, just Eric and I went with our photographer to the lakefront in Sheboygan, for pictures of just the two of us at the Blue Harbor Resort. We chose our photographer, Katy Gray Photography, because we had seen her work and really liked all of her candid pictures she captured. We didn’t want a ton of formal pictures, and she was great at capturing all the emotions of the day through candid shots.”

“I think the best part of the day for us was the simple act of being able to share one of the most important days of our lives with our close friends and family, and not worry about anything else. We wanted to have a day that we would always remember.”

“For me, my favorite thing about getting married in Wisconsin is that it is home. I am from there. Wisconsin evokes feelings of familiarity, simplicity and family. Eric enjoyed the scenery offered at the country club and, of course, Lake Michigan. Sheboygan was an ideal location for our wedding.”

What a gorgeous venue! I never get over the beauty of those sandy Lake Michigan beaches. Congrats, Christine & Eric, on your upcoming anniversary! Wishing you lots of luck in love!

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Real Wisconsin Engagement: Sarah & Josh

Real Midwest Engagements -- June 2nd, 2010 -- 10:25 pm

When Kelly Vanderploeg sent along these lovely engagement shots of Sarah & Josh we were head-over-heels! Literally, Sarah’s turquoise shoes are amazing—definitely keep scrolling! The couple is getting married in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and, from the sound of things, the wedding designs will have the perfect vintage-gone-modern feel. Wait until you see the gorgeous invites—you can almost feel the wind off the lake!

“Josh and I met in 6th grade and throughout the years we hung out with the same group of friends. I liked Josh right from the start. I still have notes to this day, from middle school, that have ‘I love Josh’ written all over them. He liked me too but claims he was too shy. We went to a few dances together but never were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. After high school, we went our separate ways (Josh went to school in California and I stayed in Illinois). We later met up at a mutual friend’s graduation party and spent the whole night talking. Like the story goes, we have been inseparable ever since. I still look at him some days and can’t believe that he is mine—the one I wanted from the start!”

“We shot some of our session with Kelly in Josh’s backyard, which truly meant a lot to him. Check out the vintage elevator! His parents purchased it from Salvage One in Chicago—if you love antiques it is definitely the place to visit.”

“The Riviera Ballroom in Lake Geneva, where we are getting married, was built in the 1930’s during the Swing Era. After seeing the building and learning about its history, we thought it would be fun to incorporate a bit of vintage flare into our e-session and wedding. In the end, we didn’t want it to consume our style so we decided to go with a vintage theme that had a modern vibe.”

“Josh’s mom collects vintage postcards of Geneva, IL and Lake Geneva, WI. She has hundreds of them so we knew we had to include them in our wedding somehow. With the help of a wonderful graphic designer, we’re actually using a postcard of the Riviera to create our wedding invites. You can find a sneak peek from Allison Lehman Design on her blog—I just love how they turned out! We’re also using our favorite postcards as escort cards and table numbers. These are still works in progress but we are loving how they extend the vintage theme.”

“Although we liked each other for a long time it wasn’t until we spent time up at the lake that we truly fell in love with each other. We both knew that when we got married it would be in Lake Geneva. I think the best part about planning our wedding in the Midwest is the seasons. We have seen and spent time in Lake Geneva during every season. The sunsets that seem to last for days in the summer, the color of the trees surrounding the lake in the fall, the peacefulness in the winter (being able to walk on the frozen lake and feel like you are the only two around for miles) and the shades of green in the spring. We’ll never get over the beauty of the place.”

Oh, the love story—so sweet! Isn’t Sarah going to make one fabulously stylish bride? Best wishes to you both and many thanks to Kelly for sharing the fine photographs!

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Wedding Weekend: I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot

Wedding Weekend -- May 28th, 2010 -- 11:01 am

A few months back we received an email from the Chicago History Museum about this sweet and chic real wedding from Olivia Leigh Photographie—and the great news: Olivia’s shots will be a part of the museum’s wonderful new wedding exhibition, I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot. Featuring over 150 years of Chicago wedding fashion, you’ll no doubt find some amazing dress and design inspiration—a perfect field trip for this weekend! Congrats, Olivia!

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Paper Goods Gallery: Ardour Bookbinding

Paper Goods Gallery -- May 6th, 2010 -- 12:32 pm

Working out your wedding budget? One of our favorite suggestions to give: dedicate a portion of your funds to preserving the memories of your celebration. Certainly, one of the best ways is to create beautiful paper goods. From fine invites to handmade books and boxes, we love the work of Chicago’s Bari Zaki of Ardour Bookbinding. Not to mention, the lovely everyday stationery that Bari stocks in her shop—complete with vintage stamps—mail sent in style!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Krista & Ray (Part 2)

Real Midwest Weddings -- April 20th, 2010 -- 10:00 pm

More from Krista & Ray’s Wisconsin home wedding…tell me, how gorgeous are these flowers? The profusion of Queen Anne’s lace, hydrangea, roses—garden elegance! (In case you missed it, find Part 1 here!)

“We were inspired by the colors we used in the interior design of our home—burgundy, tan, cream and black. Our theme really started with our invitations which contained a swirl pattern that looked like vines or branches. This theme and the colors were then used throughout the entire wedding. The mood we hoped to have was elegant outdoors. While the wedding wasn’t formal, it also wasn’t a backyard barbecue. I wanted the formality of a traditional ceremony and ornate reception but outdoors.”

“We spent most of our time designing the smaller details of the day and people really commented about how personal the day was. For example, our wedding program and dinner menus explained why a certain song was played or why a certain entree was chosen so guests could understand the personal nature of our selections. For favors, we ended up making chocolate turtles and putting them in pint paint cans and included an explanation behind the favors with each one. I worked at a candy store for many years and had learned how to make handmade turtles and Ray works for a national paint company so the design elements worked well together and making 400 homemade turtles was worth it at the end of the day. Usually, not many people take the favors but when we cleaned up the day after there was not a single turtle left!”

“We created a guestbook table that the wedding pictures of our relatives with a little card stating how they were related to us. Some of the pictures went back 200+ years. People spent a lot of time looking at these pictures and talking about them. To us it signified all of the family that had made the same commitment we did on our wedding day and we wanted to recognize that without their commitment we wouldn’t be here.”

When we asked Krista the best thing about getting married in Wisconsin, she said, “Having an outdoor ceremony in August with perfect weather and no bugs. Plus, polka dancing at the reception, of course!”

Such a beautiful day—timeless, really. Congrats, Krista & Ray! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness! Warmest of thank-yous to Molly Michel of m three studio, too, for sharing these lovely photographs with us!

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Real Wisconsin Wedding: Krista & Ray (Part 1)

Real Midwest Weddings -- April 20th, 2010 -- 4:22 pm

Oh, Wisconsin, we love a lush and woodsy wedding! Krista & Ray’s day has all the special touches we adore: elegant linens, poetic florals, a touch of glamour in the bride’s fashion and—most importantly—a special venue (in this case, very special!). Many thanks to Molly Michel for sharing the incredible photographs!

“Our wedding date was August 8, 2009. We got engaged in December of 2007 and wanted to have a full year and a half to plan our wedding. We originally thought about getting married in April of 2009, but decided we wanted a highly personalized wedding that shared a lot of the details about who we are, how we met, and why we were getting married with our guests. I had managed a wedding banquet facility during college and had seen many receptions. I knew that I wanted a continuous flow to my day—I didn’t want long periods of downtime for our guests waiting between the ceremony and reception. After much discussion, we realized there was only one venue that would allow us to accomplish these two goals for the wedding…our house!”

“Since we live in Wisconsin we knew we needed to schedule the wedding when it would be warm so we decided on our August date. Our home is surrounded by woods so we had this amazing green background to work against and the weather on the day itself didn’t disappoint either. It actually rained very hard the morning of the wedding but by the time everything was getting started we had clear blue skies, so the rain actually made everything even greener and brighter.”

How lovely are the hanging ribbons & flowers to frame the ceremony space? Pure poetry!

“The great thing about the schedule was that I woke up that morning and never had to go anywhere and so I didn’t have to worry about getting here or there on time. The women of the bridal party arrived at the house in the morning and we had our hair done and make-up done. While there was a flurry of activity going on outside, everything was calm inside. Once the wedding started, it was so nice to go immediately from the ceremony into the cocktail hour around our pool and then have guests simply walk to the reception tent in the front yard.”

“We could not have pulled off an outdoor wedding at our home without the help of our wedding coordinator, Monica Rae Gill. She was amazing and took every detail that we had developed and made sure it was executed. Additionally, Molly Michel at m three studio did a great job of capturing all of the detail and the special moments of the day. The production team from Acme Corporation did a great job of pulling all of the lighting and AV details together as well. Having a tented wedding at your home is not for the faint of heart and you need to make sure you have experienced vendors that have done outside weddings in the past. Knowing our vendors had lots of experience was a must for us and it really paid off. They didn’t forget a thing and the wedding went off beautifully!”

Aren’t these burgundy orchids to die for? When we asked Krista about style, she told us, “We are pretty detail-oriented and pretty well organized as a couple. We knew what we wanted the day to look and feel like so we spent a lot of time working on the details. We really wanted to expose people to different aspects of our lives as a couple together that they might not typically know from work or otherwise. With a little thinking ahead, we were able to plan all those finer details. We wanted the day to be memorable to both us and our guests. We wanted our guests to walk away having really enjoyed themselves.”

Krista gave this advice for planning, “Trust your intuition and usually your first choice in things is the best choice. Also, you don’t have to compromise on what you want ‘your day’ to be. You may have to do the work yourself or keep looking until you can find what you can afford but look back on that day with no regrets.”

More from Krista & Ray’s beautiful backyard wedding coming up!

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