Real Wedding: Backyard Sweetness

Today's bit of wedding heaven was photographed by one of my very favorite photographers, Nicole Hill Gerulat. If I could have a time machine and my dream wedding photographer, Nicole would be it for me. She is so talented and has such an amazing eye, I especially love the way she captures details - so editorial! I love everything about this sweet wedding - the flowers, the bride's dress (so elegant yet summery!), her veil + stunning hairdo (she wins for best placement of a birdcage veil ever!), and the backyard reception and scooter getaway (loving these scooter getaways lately!).

Jones soda in honor of the couple's last name :)

All photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat

Sources: Ceremony - Oakland California LDS Temple, Reception - private residence, Florist - Sydne's Bouquets, Dress - Justina McCaffrey from Alta Moda Bridal in Salt Lake, Shoes - Nine West

Inspiration Board: Fancy Country Love

I love a country wedding as much as the next girl, but adding touches of elegance can make it even better and fancier. I love these colors together - red, white, green, and a burlap touch with splashes of yellow. BTW - this is my first inspiration board in forever! Some of you may have noticed I used to do several inspiration boards a month, but those have been very light this summer. I'm feeling inspired again and ready to do more boards. Let me know if there's a theme or color scheme you'd like to see! Have a happy weekend everyone :)

Sources: Clockwise from top left - bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, shoe and buffet photos by Aaron Delesie via Style Me Pretty, lemonade dispenser photo from Elizabeth Anne Designs, Queen Anne's lace place settings from Project Wedding, table from Martha Stewart Weddings, invitation by Oscar + Emma on Minted, lace bench decor via The Knot.

Real Wedding: Colorful Canadian Lakeside Wedding

This week's posts have been all about pops of color - and today's wedding is all about color + whimsy. This has to be one of my all time favorite weddings in the most amazing location ever! It was love at first sight when I saw this whimsical wedding with its drop dead gorgeous backdrop, the bride's even more gorge Watters gown, the ghost chair seating, her bouquet, the pops of sherbet color, and all the sweet little details found all over this wedding. It's just too good!

Oooh this bouquet!! Peonies = love

I love how they played off the rustic lake location with the modern clear ghost chairs - they add such elegance and don't take away from the prettiest scenery ever.

Photos by Orange Girl Photographs via Style Me Pretty

Do you not just want to up and have a wedding like this, or at least go on a weekend trip to Emerald Lake Lodge? I know it's on my list of must-visit places thanks to this lovely little wedding.

Vendors: Photography - Kirstie Tweed of Orange Girl Photographs, Flowers - Willow Haven, Event Concept and Design - The bride Jenna, Make-up and hair - Stephanie Roy, Venue - Emerald Lake Lodge in Field British Columbia, Canada, Custom Designed Cake Topper - The Small Object, Cake - Buttercream Bake Shoppe, Calgary, XOXO Banner - Funky Shique, Pinwheels - Rule 42, Dress - Watters, style Torrean, Veil - Lo Boheme, Bow ties - Tux and Tulle

Real Wedding: A Sunny Yellow DIY Wedding in Brooklyn

Apparently I wasn't alone yesterday in my total crush on yellow and grey - so I just had to share another fab take on it today! Alicia and Adam of Bows and Arrows had an amazing DIY yellow and grey bird themed wedding in Brooklyn last May. Alicia is a florist and the couple is super creative and their wedding didn't disappoint, from Alicia's vintage inspired dress to the yellow and white decor, the cocktail hour before the ceremony (with boat rides!), to the drop dead gorgeous flowers (which she arranged), to the Rockabilly reception band.

From the bride Alicia: "We wanted our wedding to be a perfect reflection of us. We chose the Boathouse at the Audubon Center in Prospect Park. It is a gorgeous setting, removed from the city, the building has great character, and it's right on the water! Our main color was yellow with touches of white and grey. Everything fit within our color scheme and was very detailed. We love birds and see them as very symbolic of nature and spring. Since our wedding was at the Audubon Center, we played that up and added birds into our decor through our place cards and favors."

"I redesigned a J.Crew dress to look a bit more precious and vintage! The dress was antique white with a sweetheart neckline and fabric covered beads and ruffles, a wide sash that tied into a big bow in the back, and it was cut just below my knees. I wore a yellow vintage crinoline square dance petticoat under the dress and yellow satin shoes with a bow. To top it off, my main jewelry accessory was a yellow acrylic necklace that announced my new last name...RICO!"

"We had our cocktail hour before our ceremony. It was very relaxed and a great way to start the evening! We had boat rides in the lake for all of the guests and wedding party. Our passed appetizers included grilled cheese sandwiches, deviled eggs, and mini cheese burgers. Everyone had a drink in hand. We had a 3 piece blue grass band playing outside and everyone signed fabric squares that are being made into a quilt by Adam's mom."

"I wore a different dress during the cocktail hour. The dress, by BCBG, was a yellow buttercream color, short with pleated ruffles. I wore yellow patent leather flats with the dress."

"Since I am a florist, I knew exactly what I wanted. This was so much fun for me! I made all of the bouquets and boutonnieres myself. My bouquet was very soft and subtle and consisted of many of my favorite flowers: butter ranunculus, Bartzella peonies, Duchess peony, sweet pea, Toulouse Lautrec yellow garden roses, dusty miller. It was wrapped and tied off with vintage lace, ribbons, trims, pompoms, and streamers."

The couple, both art majors, gave art as favors - screenprinted and framed art by the groom of different birds native to the region. Each was unique!

"We collected over 125 pieces of vintage milk glass for our centerpiece vases to cluster down the length of the table amidst yellow and white pompoms. Each arrangement was unique, depending on the vessel. The look was pretty lush and gardeny but very eclectic. We used all of my favorite yellow and white flowers: ranunculus, hydrangea, lilac, sweet pea, dusty miller, peony, queen anne's lace, spirea, garden roses, agapanthus, billy balls, football mums, baby's breath, and yarrow."

Thanks so much Alicia from Bows and Arrows for sending this over!!

Vendors: Photography - Maureen Davis Photography, Ceremony/Reception Location - The Boathouse at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY, Flowers - Seaport Flowers, Bride's Gown and shoes - J.Crew, Cocktail dress - BCBG, Groom's Attire - Tommy Hilfiger, Bridesmaid's Dresses - BCBG, Catering and rentals - The Moveable Feast, Cake and Petit Fours - Nine Cakes, Macarons - Almondine Bakery