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What did you want to portray in your engagement shoot?

As an engaged couple we wanted our photos to portray to others a couple that is in love. We wanted to show a strong, romantic couple that is unbreakable. There is a bond between myself and my fiancé that is easily seen through these photos. These photos really illustrated our relationship for others to see. These photos portray a natural love, being silly, intimate, and happy and just taking it all in that I will be spending the rest of my life with this man. I can look back on these photos and just remember how amazing it was to move a step forward in our relationship.

Why did you choose the location?

My photographer actually chose the location and it was perfect! We were really happy with the way the pictures turned out, there’s nothing better than beautiful coloured fall leaves in the background of the photos.

What inspired your outfits for the engagement session?

The fall weather definitely inspired my outfits… It was perfect for the scenery.

Do the photos give a hint on what will happen on their wedding day? How so?

The only hint I get from the engagement shoot for our wedding day is that I know my wedding pictures are going to beautiful. I mean look at the ones that were taken by Nick, they’re amazing! I think it’s going to be a lot of fun shooting with Nick on our wedding day!

How did you feel at ease with all the posed shooting?

At first we were kind of nervous but I honestly feel like it depends on the photographer and our photographer (Nick Ghattas) was overall amazing and made us feel comfortable. None of the photos were staged and we kind of just did our thing acting like he wasn’t even there!

VENDORS

Photographer: Nick Ghattas Photography

The post A Natural Love appeared first on Inspired Bride.

Looking at the photos, I can’t help but think this was something straight out of a storybook. The mountain setting was the perfect backdrop to all the whimsy this wedding had to offer, especially Lisa in her beautiful purple butterfly wedding dress! The spiritual ceremony added that solemn yet very fairytale-esque vibe. But the cherry on top is definitely how sweetly Matt looks at Lisa — an equally sweet treat awaits below, so keep reading! Congratulations on such a lovely and magical wedding, Matt and Lisa!

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Words From The Blushing Butterfly Bride:

Oh, to describe our fairytale wedding… All of my dreams came true that day, but every day that Matt & I have been together have been simply perfect. We’re just happy people! Two free spirits came together & became even freer & we brought two amazing families together who are now bonded together as one.

Matt’s more eloquent than I am, haha! And he’s in Chicago right now, so how about this… My birthday is coming up on Monday & when I got home yesterday, he left me a pre-birthday present with a card that contained his wedding speech that never happened because we ended up speaking from the heart 🙂 There are good snippets in here & I think we’d agree on our favorite moments, so I’ll share those as well.

“I feel as young as when I met her, 4,097 days ago…”

“I want to thank Mort & Karen for accepting me into their family and for bringing me the other half of my life. There is no Matt Kral without Mom & Dad Kral, but there is no me without Lisa.”

“I love you for being my little spoon and promise to always be your big spoon.”

“I love you for, figuratively & literally, lighting up every room you enter and promise to keep your electricity going.”

“I love you for making me the man I am and promise to be an even better man, husband, lover and best friend every day.”

“You make everything in life special just by being you.”

“Yes, I had cold feet when I asked her out about 4,100 days ago, that’s why I signed my lease first and walked 3 blocks away to ask her out over the phone!”

“And most of all, I love you for loving me. I will love you forever and ever… My dreams came true today, but every day is a dream with you.”

OK, here’s what you asked for…

When we first saw Grand Lake we both stopped in our tracks & knew this was the perfect spot for us to become husband & wife. There are so many things we loved about our wedding day, so this is going to be tough! I think the best moment was the first look. It was like we fell in love all over again and our love for one another went to another level & we never even knew it could get any better! Matt shed tears & it touched my heart (and then my tears began!) There are really no words to describe the look in his eyes when he first saw me as his bride and soon to be wife. Another favorite moment; during our ceremony, it felt like Matt & I were the only ones on the planet, we were in heaven. I literally felt like a butterfly who had been caught by my love! To keep it short (it’s already long!), but we loved being surrounded with the love of our family & friends. I was, quite frankly, overwhelmed by how much love was at our wedding; my heart could’ve burst!

Our wedding, to me, was so unique because of the beautiful mountain surroundings, I pulled off the butterfly dress, the immense love I felt from everyone there, our Native American officiant who made our wedding so unique & spiritual, oh and having Bruce the Grand Lake Moose make an appearance to celebrate my little niece, Ella’s birthday.

Lastly, originally we named our wedding “Matt & Lisa’s You Might See a Moose Wedding” because Matt calls me “Moose” and almost every guest saw real moose, which was awesome! But in retrospect, I call it our “Fairytale Came True Wedding” because it was like heaven on earth.

Probably more than you wanted! I always tell Matt he is my favorite person on the planet because he makes me feel beautiful, special & precious every day and that’s no lie! He is a gift & I treasure his love.

VENDORS:

Photographer:  Elevate Photography
Reception Venue: Grand Lake Lodge
Cake Designer: Indulge Bakery, Inc.
Officiant: Leon Joseph Littlebird
Floral Designer: Oakes Fields Floral
Beauty: Salon Plume
Musicians: Soul School
Event Planner: Stiletto Events

The post Purple Butterflies appeared first on Inspired Bride.

A fun fact about the color teal: Associated with the color family of turquoise, it represents wholeness, creativity, emotional balance, good luck, spiritual grounding, friendship, love, joy, tranquility, patience, intuition, and loyalty. Now with all of that, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want it in your color scheme! I hope this lucky color worked for you, Caroline and Jonathan! Best wishes!

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The Theme:

The main color was teal, with lots of elegant touches. Rhinestones, silver plates, etc.

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Projects:

The bride’s Uncle is a florist, so he provided all of the floral décor and centerpieces with minimal input from the bride. She loved how everything came out!

Favorite Part of the Day:

As the photographer, the First Look was my favorite part of the day. The look on Jonathan’s face when he saw his bride-to-be for the first time… Priceless. Because we finished all of the formal portraits before the ceremony, the bride & groom actually got to enjoy their cocktail hour before the reception!

A Memorable Moment:

During the ceremony, the ringbearer went to hand the officiant his pillow, and realized that he was not in possession of the actual wedding bands. He was quite disappointed, but it made for a great photo!

VENDORS:

Photographer: Crystal Lee Photography
Cake Designer: Buttercream Cakes and Catering
Reception Venue: Pawleys Plantation
DJ: Scott Shaw Productions – DJ Entertainment

The post TEAL Death Do Us Part appeared first on Inspired Bride.

This creative couple had an artistic hand in many elements of the wedding – the table setting, the flowers, the graphic art on the cake… Even the videography! And speaking of the cake, I love how it says so much about the couple themselves. Come to think of it, a personalized wedding cake doesn’t sound like a bad idea. *wink*

Congratulations on such a blue-tiful wedding, Aly and Christian! (I’m sorry for my terrible pun. Please browse the gallery and read the photographer’s story below to take your mind off it. Hahaha)

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The Album Story:

Aly Pickersgill and Christian Holmes were married on August 9, 2014 in Martinez, California. The event marked the day Christian joined a very talented family. Christian, himself a videographer, along with Aly, is the talent in Glitch Films, and somehow they managed to film their own wedding, along with Bryan Gibel. Aly is also an artist and drew the figures for the wedding cake and the decorations.

The bride’s mother, Lisa, spent months designing and landscaping the backyard to turn it into an incredible venue for the wedding. The groom’s godmother, Merry Sturtz, was in attendance from Maui and conducted the ceremony, and the bride’s father, William Pickersgill, who sings in the San Francisco opera, sang before the wedding. The wedding was coordinated by Annie Love, who used to be a stage manager, and was attended by many of the artists who create the Bracebridge Dinner at Yosemite every year.

The bride wore a flowing cream-colored BHLDN gown and jewelry from her family members, some borrowed, some blue. The couple had asked all the attendees to wear various shades of blue, particularly cobalt, turquoise and sky blue, so everyone looked like they were part of the wedding as the entire event looked like a sea of blue.

The Theme:

Various shades of blue.

Wedding Outfit Inspiration:

The bride has incredible blue eyes.

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Projects:

The entire backyard landscaping was done by the bride’s mother. The cartoon designs for the cake, the napkins and the stickers were drawn by the bride. The signs were all done by the couple. The flowers were done by the bride and her maid of honor. The flower girl dresses were handmade. The presentation box for the rings was handmade by the bride. The lighting for the ceremony site was created by the couple. The videography for the wedding was done by the couple, and a friend.

Favorite Part of the Day:

The colors of the wedding.

A Memorable Moment:

The bride’s father sings opera for the San Francisco Opera Company and sang at the wedding.

VENDORS:

Photographer: Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Dress Store: BHLDN
Ring Designer: Brilliant Earth
Floral Designer: Deb’s Flower Market
Caterer: Deborah Erwin Catering
DJ: DJ Old School
Cake Designer: Glass Slipper Gourmet
Cinema and Video: Glitch Films
Make-up Artist: Jonathan Reisfeld
Hair Stylist: Katey McKee
Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Officiant: Merry Sturtz

The post Something Borrowed, Something Blue appeared first on Inspired Bride.

To be honest, I could barely even tell that it was a rainy day from the photos; everything just seemed so bright and smiles were all around. I hope that when a rainy day comes (be it literally or figuratively) in the future, they’ll remember how beautiful things turned out on the day they became husband and wife. Keep making more beautiful memories Danae and Colin!

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The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Projects:

The bride and groom did their own table decorations. All of the tables had a year theme. One for each year of their lives with pictures and mementos for each year.

Favorite Part of the Day:

Running around with the couple to quickly get some shots outside for the 15 minutes it wasn’t raining.

A Memorable Moment:

Watching the groom walk his mother down the aisle.

VENDORS:

Photographer: Crozier Photography
Reception Venue: The Hollywood Schoolhouse

The post The Memory of a Rainy Day appeared first on Inspired Bride.

The Dress

Dresses in the old Hollywood era (between the 20’s and 40’s) were super sleek, feminine, fluid and gorgeous. Most were sheath-style dresses, although some of the more formal styles might have included ball gowns or mermaid-style dresses. Most of the dresses in this area featured fabric that draped lazily (but elegantly) or cascaded into pools of silk, satin and chiffon.

Opt for a sleeveless sheath dress, cinched at the waist, with minimal embroidery or beading.

The Decor

Everything Hollywood in this era was glittering, glamorous and glitzy. If you want to go with this wedding theme, picture a formal Gatsby setting and you’ll know exactly which direction to go in.

Mercury glass or silver candleholders and vases as centerpieces, gleaming charger plates with art-deco style flatware, intricate crystal champagne flutes, chandeliers, layers and layers of hanging chiffon or tulle…these are all wonderful elements to use in this theme.

The Cake

Most brides opt for a modern cake (fondant and tiers) but with an old Hollywood design. Geometric lines are perfect, as are the colors gold, black and silver, and baby blue. Cakes that focus less on the floral embellishments and more on the color palette and patterns are perfect!

Usually, cakes created with this theme feature elaborate piping or fondant work, and at least one shimmering, metallic color.

The Hair & Makeup

When you’re trying to decide on the perfect hairstyle and makeup for the old Hollywood wedding theme, think of Bette Davis with her thick, long eyelashes, finger-waved hair, and rich, red lipstick. This is the perfect look for this wedding theme.

Finger waves look fantastic in long and short hair alike. Add in a beautiful headband if you want a little “wild child” with your elegant and put-together Hollywood look.

This can be an incredibly fun wedding theme and it’s not difficult to pull off. So much of the vintage items of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s is coming back with a vengeance and is more readily available now than it was 10 years ago. Do you love this idea for a wedding theme? Of the looks and ideas in this post, which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Wedding Theme Inspiration: Old Hollywood appeared first on Inspired Bride.

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What was your favorite part of the day?

Details wise, the Super Hero Lego Boutonnieres. But event wise, the first dance. The bride and groom were so obviously in their own world singing their song to each other and it was one of the sweetest first dances I have witnessed and had the honor of capturing.

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects?

If so, can you describe them in detail? Yes! There were hand painted picture frames and mason jars on the tables that showcased both photos of the bride and groom as children and photos of them together. Also, the flowers were all done by one of the bridesmaids, including the beautiful photo charms on the brides bouquet that featured photos of family members who had passed on.

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

The highlights of the ceremony were Allison and Chris’ beautiful venue, The Terrace Club, and Allison’s grand entrance down the stairs. Some highlights from the reception were their XBox cake, the bride’s Wonder Woman garter, and of course all of the awesome dancing! These wedding guests didn’t care that it was a Sunday afternoon, they got down like it was Saturday night!

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

I would describe it as Country Chic.

VENDORS

Photographer: Simone Epiphany Photography
Dress Store: Second Summer Bridal
Bakery: Sweet Treets Bakery
Reception Venue: The Terrace Club

The post Sunflowers and Lego Superheroes appeared first on Inspired Bride.

Laura and Rich are such a fun and quirky couple – their unique wedding can attest to that fact! The romance novel bouquets, the Godzilla meets Jane Austen posters, and the wedding skit they prepared were all unique twists that everybody enjoyed. It wasn’t just a marriage between the two of them, but of Godzilla and Jane Austen, as well.

Congratulations on your fantastic wedding, Laura and Rich!

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What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?

Rich and I were friends for a long time. We met doing 12th Night in Central Park and I thought he was cool and nice, but then we parted ways as actors often do once a show is closed. We met up again several months later doing another Shakespeare show. The second time meeting we really connected. He brought over the DVD’s of ‘Cowboy Bepop’ and we would stay up all night watching them.

On days we didn’t see each other we would text and write each other email messages, just counting the minutes until we could hang out again. We had no idea we were in love. So silly. Finally, I realized I was crazy about him and told him one night after we had gone to see a local concert. He looked at me dumbstruck for a few seconds before breathing out this huge sigh and saying “I am SO in love with you!”. He really is my soul mate. – Laura

What makes the two of you a perfect match?

Good matches are people who have similar strengths, and compliment each other. Great matches are people who accept the deficiencies, and shortcomings of the other, and balance them out. A perfect match are the people who celebrate every aspect of each other.

Laura likes trashy magazines? We have trashy magazines. Rich loves Pro Wrestling? We have the WWE network (for only $9.99). We’re a little nerdy? We proudly and openly play Dungeons and Dragons. We don’t just finish sentences, we know the punchlines to each other’s jokes. She’s my forever girl. And yes, I’m quoting a cartoon. – Rich

How did he (or you) propose?

I came home from work on July 3rd – the day before our favorite party and annual party – and Rich asked me to come out onto our terrace. We have have this sweet terrace in our Brooklyn apartment that has fantastic views of the city and we often hang out there at sunset on warm nights. It had just finished raining and the evening promised to be quite nice. I sat down and Rich began to speak of the things he hoped for in life.

He spoke about family and friends and the love he felt in his heart for me. He spoke about how he was happy every single day and how much he enjoyed life in Brooklyn with us. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I said yes and managed not to cry….that is until ‘Real Love’ started playing and a double rainbow appeared in the sky. Really, a double rainbow. It was kind of magical. – Laura

How long was the planning process? Did you think it was enough time?

Basically, a year and four months. It’s never enough time, and it’s often too much time. The advance planning was great for getting discounts on flights and such. There’s always something else you wish you could have done, like I really wanted to learn guitar to sing Laura a song. Then there was needless fretting over things that were perfectly fine, but we had too much time to dwell on it. So, all in all it was great. – Rich

What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?

To let your groom be a part of the planning process! By letting Rich have Godzilla incorporated into the wedding we ended up having something really unique and special. The wedding reflected both of our personalities. It wasn’t just about me. People kept saying that it was my day and I would correct them and say that it was ‘our day’. Rich was getting married, too! He has great taste in music and made all our playlists, for the wedding. He helped choose food, cake, the venue and photographer. Pretty much everything but the dress was a decision he was a part of. It was so great to have an active partner to help me with the wedding.

More advice? Our photographer told us ‘everything that can go wrong on the wedding day will….don’t worry about it’. Well, everything didn’t go wrong, but when a few hiccups happened we didn’t stress- even when my groom with mushroom allergies was served a dish covered in mushrooms, the wrong entrance music played and my buttons to hold up my train broke. These things happen. We still got married and it all worked out in the end. – Laura

What tips & tricks (can we use “hacks”?) can you share future brides that you yourself have learned during and after your wedding?

Hacks? Ugh that word! But seriously, I would say that if you are good at something then definitely incorporate it into your wedding. Rich and I are performers, so near the end of the ceremony we actually did a bit of a skit with our groomsmen and bridal party and officiant. We gave them each a line. It was really funny and helped to lighten the mood, before that we all were crying so hard that a few laughs to break it up were perfect. – Laura

What were some challenges you faced while planning your wedding & what did you do to address them?

The venue was going through some shifts in staff and communication got spotty at times. I tried to stay calm, but did end up sending a rather sharp email at a point when three weeks before the wedding I was not getting any responses to phone calls and messages. After that email, I had a phone chat with the venue and we got on the same page.

My advice for dealing with issues with vendors is to always stay professional. Never curse. Never scream. Stay calm, but do make sure that you are heard. They kept saying that they were so busy and that they had a lot going on, well, so did I! I told them that I understood, but made clear that my wedding deserved their attention and time as much as any other event. They did make mistakes, but overall the wedding was lovely. – Laura

What inspired your wedding décor? Why did you choose the things that you did?

Our venue, as is, was a huge part of our décor. We loved it the moment we stepped inside, and seeing the passion that the staff had for what they do, only helped it. The borough of Brooklyn is a big part of our story and identity. We individually found ourselves, as people, there, and love it. Deity is such a microcosm of Brooklyn. The art, the “vibe” it’s all wonderful, and helped the wedding feel “us” before we touched it.

The rest of our decor, Laura has written on our save the dates “Jane Austen Meets Godzilla”. It was a bit of a whim, and it made us smile. B.A., our fantastic photographer, was very excited about it, and enthusiastically encouraged us to make that our theme, full bore. After that, we looked for ways to add the theme, and be fun.

Instead of bouquets, the girls had hardcover books, with paper flowers. We had Kaiju on the Chuppah. Our seating charts were half Austen calligraphy, and have Monster evacuation plan. Out table markers were half Austen Novels, with monsters in them, and half Godzilla Movie Posters with Austen characters and quotes. It was a lot of fun. – Rich

What was the wedding budget?

25K

Where did you save the most money?

Flowers! We didn’t buy a single fresh flower, but rather we made them out of comic books and old paperbacks – really bad romance novels actually since I couldn’t bring myself to tear apart an actual Austen book. People loved them! – Laura

What was the biggest expense?

Venue and food.

How many guests were invited in your wedding and what was the final guest count?

136 invited 101 in attendance.

How did you narrow down your list?

Family was first and foremost. As we got closer to the day, and more no’s came in, we invited more friends. – Rich

What songs did you use during the ceremony?

All ones which had personal significance to us. We narrowed them down, over time, up till the ceremony itself. Family of Bride and Groom – “Desafinado” – Charlie Byrd/Stan Getz
Groom and Groomsmen – The Godzilla Theme
Bridesmaids – “The Rainbow Connection” – Kermit The Frog
Bride Entrance – “Real Love” – Regina Spektor
Ceremony Song – “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” – Simon and Garfunkel
Man And Wife Recessional – “You And I” – Ingrid Michaelson
Introducing Groomsmen and Bridesmaids – “Bacon Pancakes“- Jimmy Wong
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Rich and Laura – “Tank!“- The Seatbelts
Father of The Bride and Bride – “Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles
Mother of The Groom and The Groom – “My Reflection” – Mulan
First Dance – “Falling Slowly”- Arthur Darvill/Joanna Christie
Get Out Of The Venue- “Island Song”- Ashley Eriksson

– Rich Wisneski

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Antigua. We went to the Sandals Grande Antigua and had an amazing time. We were afraid Sandals would be cheesy, but it was perfect. After the wedding, a week of relaxation was just what we needed. – Laura

What are you most excited about for the future?

I personally am most looking forward to having children, and a dog. I have wanted to be a dad, for a long time, and finally found the perfect person to ruin a child with. 🙂 also, dogs are great, so Hooray! – Rich

Do you have advice for couples still in the planning process?

Take a deep breath and enjoy! Don’t let the wedding machine get to you! I was surprisingly meltdown free. I didn’t let other peoples expectations affect my decisions- I did what was best for us. We wanted good food, good dancing music and to really have people feel the love we had for them. Guests are happy when you are happy! There is this myth today that weddings have to be so big and expensive and this huge production but it doesn’t have to be at all.Weddings can be as big or as small as you want. Feed the guests. Let them dance. Don’t get all worked up over the details. You’ve already got the best thing for the wedding – love! Congrats! – Laura

What is the overall story for this album?

Love and always be silly.

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

Our color was turquoise. For my dress I originally wanted a tea length dress. Something fun and vintage inspired. On my second wedding dress shopping trip with my Man of Honor I tried on a big, poofy princess dress as a joke. My Man of Honor started crying. It was THE dress. Totally didn’t expect to go for the style I did, but I loved wearing it.
Rich got a custom made suit from Dragon Inside. We went shirt shopping together. He really liked this purple shirt and was afraid I wouldn’t like it and would ask him not to wear it. I just wanted him to feel good. Plus, he looked darn nice in that shirt.

For the bridesmaids I wanted something that they felt good in. I picked a style that looked good on various body types and, as per their request, that had pockets. The groomsmen forgot to put on the boutonnières I made them, so that’s all I’ll say about that :-p – Laura

What was your favorite part of the day?

When we were pronounced legally wed! Despite all my prep and total assurance in Rich’s love, I got extremely nervous before walking down the aisle. I started to hyperventilate and my Dad had to remind me to breathe correctly. I was scared I’d get sick in front of everyone. There was nothing that could have prepared me for that moment. It was just so big. So real. But after the ceremony was done it it felt wonderful. It was such a relief. It felt great. – Laura

There were a bunch of fun and cool moments, but oddly, getting the ring physically placed on my finger was my favorite. When I tell people that I got married, or they ask me about it, I show it like a kid with a macaroni painting. I’m so super proud of having earned this. The symbols, and the ceremony really and truly make a difference. We were totally in love, before the wedding. It is 100% different, after, and I love it. I love this ring. – Rich

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

The flowers were made from comic books and romance novels. The Centerpieces for the tables were made from old Godzilla movie posters and Jane Austen book covers that we photoshopped images onto. The book covers got kaiju inserted into them and the Godzilla movie posters had Jane Austen characters added in. Rich even translated a quote from pride and Prejudice into Japanese and put it on a poster. They looked great and people got a chuckle out of them. Afterwards we gave them out to the wedding party along with their other gifts. I also made the envelope box out of a shoe box that was covered in comics and paperback pages. Finally, for the seating chart we each made a chalkboard poster. I made a list of five tables with images of flowers and Victorian stye designs and Rich made a chart with five tables with Godzilla monsters. They looked great! – Laura

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

Our skit went over very well. According to B.A., the guests thought it was real, for much longer than they should have. Roughly a week before our wedding, we discovered that our officiant couldn’t legally marry us. Rich never thought to ask. Among our multiple plans for what to do, Rich wrote a script, of a funny bit we could do, if we needed someone else to do the actual “marry us” part. Bill wound up becoming official, but we enjoyed the skit so much, that Laura edited it and we did it anyway, having each of our wedding party offer a reason why they couldn’t solve the problem (“how important is legal?”, one rolled dice, one had recently been Juliette, the architect could only pronounce us “stable”, etc.) Eventually Laura’s sister used the power of living in Vegas (represented by a Harry Potter Wand) to “grant” Bill the power to marry us.

The music was a big hit. Along with our live wedding band (Kathleen Wisneski, Chris Kelly, Chris James, Tom Ryan) we had Madeline Kahn sing a lovely song, Laura sang “Someone To Watch Over Me” (which she had been practicing in secret), DJ Trauma was fantastic (and the only thing traumatic about him is how tramautizingly nice he is). We have so many photos of dancing, and everyone is smiling. The food was also delicious. When you have a NYC wedding, people expect to eat like kings, and eat exquisite things. They certainly did. – Rich

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

Godzilla Meets Jane Austen

What part of the ceremonies do you think was the most memorable for you? (& your guests?)

When Laura walked down the aisle, I cried, our guests cried, strangers cried, jaded NY jerks cried. She was absolutely stunning, and it was wonderful. – Rich

Anything else you would like to add?

I said it before, getting married, with a ceremony, rings, vows, the whole shebang, is important. It makes a giant difference, and I am so happy that we did it. – Rich

I originally thought that the whole big ceremony and reception was a waste of money. I kept saying we could buy a car with this money, but after all is said and done it was great. It was a wonderful day and it was so nice to share it with our family and friends. I’m so happy. – Laura

VENDORS

Photographer: The Lilypad Agency
Cake Designer: Butterfly Bakeshop
Bridesmaid Store: David’s Bridal
Ceremony Location: Deity
Event Venue: Deity
DJ: DJ Trauma
Tuxedo and Mens’ Attire: Dragon Inside
Favors and Gifts: The Knot Shop
Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas

The post Godzilla Meets Jane Austen – A Themed Wedding appeared first on Inspired Bride.

This beautiful engagement shoot is merely a glimpse into their forever. Theirs is a love story that began with a mysterious connection — a love story you can read about right here! I urge you all to scroll down and read the words of Justin himself.

Congratulations on your happily ever after, Justin and Mary! Or perhaps I should say, Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn? As of this posting, they have officially been married for a week! Once again, congratulations!

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What is the overall story for this album?

The beginning of the wedding year, leading off with the great engagement session.

What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?

Mary and I met on September 27, 2010 at an Applebee’s restaurant. During this time, a best friend of mine was going through a very difficult time living long distance away from his wife and son, which led to him and I hanging out regularly, playing different sports, and going for beers afterwards. Mary was our waitress one of the first nights we began a tradition of going there for drinks after playing games. She repeatedly expressed that she felt she knew me from somewhere, but I had absolutely no recollection of knowing her and we most likely had not met before – I thought she was just trying to get a better tip! She said she couldn’t figure it out either and at the end of dinner said “maybe it’s a deeper connection.” I remember turning to my friend and saying, “Serious, who says that?!” She was a very sweet and uniquely openly kind person (which is rare). At this time we were both seeing other people and thought nothing of it. My best friend was taken back by her as a great waitress and a great person to have around when we were drinking, so we requested her every time we went.

As weeks and October passed, I separately from my complicated relationship and at no coincidence she broke up with her long term boyfriend. I was sincerely not looking for anyone new, nor was she after immediately leaving a long relationship. However, week after week, as my best friend and I went to Applebee’s I learned more about her and realized night by night after finding little things out about her. I starting recognizing traits and interests that I have narrowed down over my life learning from ended relationships about who I am looking for in a woman. Even still, nothing was pursued by either side.

One night after Thanksgiving when travelling, we ended up speaking on the phone which lasted over 7-8 hours until 5:00 AM when I was leaving at 5:30 AM to go on a boat with my Uncle. From that day a spark led to a wildfire, officially starting our relationship on December 17, 2010 despite wanting to take it slow. Now, almost exactly 4 years ago when she and I had that first phone call, I am still falling in love with her more each and every day and cannot wait to marry the love my life in less than 6 months.

What makes the two of you a perfect match?

We are very similar in some ways and very different in others, which keeps things interesting! She is a very attractive Cuban who came to the US when she was younger. I am slightly older than her and am a stark white red head that is a multi-generational American, with a Scottish, Irish, and Swedish heritage. It does not get any more different than that!

She is very mature where I can be a big kid. She has an uplifting, positive personality that leaves an impression where ever she goes. I have a very playful, broad personality which always keeps her smiling and laughing. We are both intelligent and have our own strengths that complement each other. We both are caring, family oriented, have a desire to succeed, and a lust for knowledge. Separate and together we are a very kind, positive, and loving couple that is excited to experience every day to the fullest and look forward to see what tomorrow brings.

How did he (or you) propose?

Well her favorite number is 5 — loves the number 5. So on Saturday 02/23/2013 (23 = 5), when we already registered to to run a 5K (5 again) that morning, I had planned a full day without any of her knowing. Since this was her first race ever, I bought her 5 roses for the morning to begin the day with a card. We left to race, of which by some bizarre happening, she and my sister passed me when unknowingly when I was getting water and beat me (not the plan!).

After the 5K, which was a great time, the rest of the day was very meticulously planned down almost to the minute. I had told her for her win as well as since we had not had a date night between us in a while that the night was ours. I purposely set up the mentality of “does she want to decide where/what we do or just nonchalantly leave it to me for a normal night since I knew the city better?” I was fully expecting she would just say leave it to me, being tired from race, which she did (luckily!).

What she didn’t know at this time is that I had a hotel reserved looking on the the water, a high end Italian (her favorite) restaurant reserved (just happened to be on top floor of hotel with view of water too), had been organizing with event coordinator at restaurant, and had planned for her full family (from out of town) and mine to surprise us after dinner. After the race, I took her shopping on purpose “for date night” attire. I bought her a new dress, jewelry of her choosing (which was heavily influenced to match design of ring she was going to receive), and even shoes! She has amazing outfits and shoes, but just so happened she found something she liked of everything which was rare in one day of shopping.

As we were getting ready at home, I packed up two suitcases with anything I could imagine she would need and had my family pick them up to take them to the hotel room. I also had my family room go early to room to decorate with flowers, candles, rose petals, chocolates, and champagne (of which they did a breathtaking job). With her still being oblivious, we set out for the night unknowing that pretty much every one in our immediate families excluding her knew something was happening other than her – not a clue.

My plan was to drive to the beach, drink red wine like we had done times before during the sunset (planned exactly 5:55pm), and set up the proposal with a drawing in the sand. While heading over the bridge towards the beaches, I realized it looked like storm clouds covering the ENTIRE coast. The weather channel or weather.com did not show a single cloud in all of central Florida. Unknowing of the beach we were going to (as my plans failed with zero participation from resorts or select spots I wanted), I left it to her to lead our destiny and pray there was no rain, and hopefully at least a sunset of some sort. From the highway all the way down to the beach we ended up landing on was entirely led by her simply selecting directions of right, left, or straight when reaching intersections with both us unsure where we would land.

At the beach we were pleasantly surprised that it was not rain clouds, but an enchanting mist. We found a private spot on the beach, which was surprisingly empty at sundown at a beach in Florida – most likely due to the mist. As usual, we drank our wine cuddled next to each other from the slight chill from the mist. While enjoying each others company, I offered a challenged of who could do the best or most living drawing in the sand. Being competitive, as expected she accepted. After shortly making drawings in sand with our feet, I claimed time was over and I asked to see hers first. She surprisingly wrote “Eternity with you” which took me back thinking she figured me out. Confirmed afterwards, she still had no idea. I told her that’s really good and she cheated, saying it was like mine.

We walked over to mine which was simply a big heart drawn that said “Will You” which made her turn around confused. When she turned around I was already on my knee with the ring box opened. I proposed to her and she filled up with tears and slowly walked towards me hugging me while I was kneeling down. What seemed like an eternity, but probably only 10 seconds she still had not answered! I asked if that meant yes, which she then said yes! There was no sunset which was a bust, but the unusual mist of which we could not see beyond 50 yards in either direction of the beach made it unforgettable and as if it was just for us.

At this point, we had to finish our wine as she stared at her ring saying it was so beautiful. We left fairly soon after so we could meet the reservations of the dinner which was the second phase of the proposal. The plan and what happened to be spot on, was her and I arriving at the hotel which had the restaurant and our hotel room. She still had no clue of her family and that we had a room for the night. Working with the restaurant and their coordinator, we were purposely situated with in a seat that looked onto the water, but where she could not see our families gathering in a private part of the restaurant for the surprise after we finished dinner. After an amazing dinner and wine, I could see the families arriving on time. At the end, the restaurant manager congratulated us on our known engagement and offered us a special dessert for us.

As we reached the section our family was in and once she passed the corner being able to see them, she broke out in tears. At this point almost everyone who is able to cry was crying and everyone was so happy. The table was decorated with rose buds, flowers, and candles courtesy of the restaurant and our families enjoyed wine and desserts for the rest of the evening. The night, though imperfect and unpredictable at points, ended out to be flawless and unforgettable.

The night concluded with going to room, the final surprise, which we were both very happy to have as we were exhausted and full. The room decorated by my family could not have been any better. The entire walkway was filled with rose buds, multiple bouquets, large vanity balloons, large heart on bed made of rose buds, chocolate kisses everywhere, and candles all throughout the room. The perfect day. And, still to this day one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.

How long was the planning process? Did you think it was enough time?

The planning began over six months before I purchased the ring. The actual planning for proposal was officially two months. Though I had always dreamed how I would propose to the love of my life, I had never been able to settle on anything that either I stole from some other idea or was unrealistic. Most of my planning up until the ring was focused on buying the best ring I could find (and afford). Found the exact ring set she wanted (after 10+ jewelry places and online searches). The search then continued for the perfect diamond (again what I could afford, which meant no retail). I was led to what ended up being the best luck I could have had which was a lady who for the past 30 years had run her own private jewelry business, and up-scale, too. Despite several narrowed choices, no diamonds met my liking until one day a diamond came through to her and it was the one! After that, I planned the proposal, which not much avail. Most of my original plan flopped when trying to set up reservations or make special plans with different places – who were mainly uncooperative. Time of planning ended up not mattering, outcome ended up being meant to be (which in the end made it that much more meaningful and unrepeatable).

After that, I planned the proposal, which not much avail. Most of my original plan flopped when trying to set up reservations or make special plans with different places – who were mainly uncooperative. Time of planning ended up not mattering, outcome ended up being meant to be (which in the end made it that much more meaningful and unrepeatable).

What are you most excited about for the future?

Seeing her walk down the aisle and being able to officially call her my wife.

What inspired your outfits for the engagement session?

Personal styles as we mostly setup outfits individually so the looks ended up being natural, not staged.

What was your favorite part of the day?

The moment where we became relaxed and cared less about people walking around. The moment of ease and happiness to be with each other and not care about any one else other than us and of course the photographer.

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

The flower headband and the bouquet was hand made by my (groom) mother.

 VENDORS:

Photographer: Limelight Photography
Other Location: University of South Florida

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What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?

Owen and I met on OKCupid five years ago. After some hilarious messages, we had our first date at the Beat Kitchen, a rock club in Chicago — and our second date a week later at the same place. After that important rock n roll trial test run, we learned how much we really had in common, and couldn’t get enough of one another. Since then we’ve basically been together nonstop.

What makes the two of you a perfect match?

Compatible energy, passionate partnership, killer teamwork, + boundless love.

How did he (or you) propose?

He tricked me into thinking the dog peed the bed and in the midst of my flurry to get the paper towel, surprised me with the ring.

How long was the planning process? Did you think it was enough time?

We had about 11 months. It was probably enough time, but we probably didn’t take enough advantage of it. There’s a lot of hurry up and wait when it comes to planning a wedding.

What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?

Slow down and savor every moment. You won’t remember the dumb stuff that went wrong unless you let it bother you.

What tips & tricks (can we use “hacks”?) can you share future brides that you yourself have learned during and after your wedding?

Don’t buy a dress on your first outing. Seriously. DELEGATE: if your bridesmaids and family offer to help, take them up on it. You don’t need to do everything yourself, seriously.

What were some challenges you faced while planning your wedding & what did you do to address them?

The vendor I got my wedding dress from was a disaster and I almost didn’t have the dress in time to make alterations. The best thing I did was rely on my mom and my bridesmaids to help make phone calls and get through it. And the dress was beautiful anyway.

What inspired your wedding décor? Why did you choose the things that you did?

We wanted it to feel like us – classy but laid back. We were also so inspired by the Palmer House’s color scheme, so we used a lot of dark green + metallics to match the Art Deco look and feel.

Where did you save the most money?

Handmade favors + placecards. Working with an Etsy designer to do my invitations rather than going through one of the big name sites.

What was the biggest expense?

Food and drink is the most expensive thing in the world. It should also be the place you spend the most – it’s what makes guests happiest.

How many guests were invited in your wedding and what was the final guest count?

We invited about 130 and had about 95.

How did you narrow down your list?

Rule of thumb: Only invite people you know. When you start inviting so and so’s cousin, it’s time to stop.

What songs did you use during the ceremony?

Processional: Velvet Underground, “Some Kind of Love”
Brides Entrance: Yo La Tengo, “Our Way to Fall”
Recessional: The Ramones, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”
Cake Cutting: Kelis + Andre 3000, “Dracula’s Wedding”

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Cancun, Mexico. The relaxing, do-nothing honeymoon was essential. We were exhausted!

What are you most excited about for the future?

We’re working on buying a house with a big yard for our dogs. We’re making music together + cooking + just continuing to feel blessed by our love and companionship!

Do you have advice for couples still in the planning process?

Be true to you. Every decision you make should be an expression of both of you – your love, your likes, your world. And if you can, try to shake up some of the traditional + gendered expectations you have about weddings. The groom is going to have some killer ideas you should use. And some of the expectations of brides won’t work for you. Throw out everything that doesn’t resonate in your heart. It’s not for you, and there’s something out there that is.

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

Glam. I was going for kind of a Marilyn Monroe meets Kim Gordon thing – classy but cool.

What was your favorite part of the day?

After the ceremony, the formal photos, and the whirlwind cocktail hour, we were “played in” to the reception area by the DJ. When we sat at our sweetheart table, Owen and I looked at each other and just could not stop laughing. It was perfect – a joyous, real moment I’ll always remember.

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

I did glittered placecards for all of the attendees: basically this – http://www.flaxandtwine.com/2013/10/diy-geo-chalkboard-place-cards/ We also went to the local root beer brewery (Filberts Sodas in Chicago) and bought a bunch of cases of their root beer, which we love. We then had our friend Mike Funk, a fantastic artist do a label for the bottle, which was SO fun.

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

Beautiful toasts from the father of the bride, the best man, and both the maid of honor and a bridesmaid. Dancing, dancing, dancing – I socialized, but mostly if people wanted to see the bride, they had to dance their way to me!

VENDORS

Photographer: Leah Moyers Photography
Cake Designer: Cake Chicago
Reception Venue: Palmer House Hilton
Officiant: Rev it Up!
DJ: Toast & Jam
Floral Designer: Weddings by Westgate

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