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Monet Moment: A Floral-Infused Impressionistic Love Affair


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[field title=”The Inspiration”]From event planner and designer, Michlle Layman of Events by Elle:
This editorial shoot was inspired by the Impressionist master himself, Claude Monet, the signature shades of blue in Water Lilies, and the pristine white interiors of the Musée de l’Orangerie. Lovers of Monet’s work since childhood, our team was excited about designing a world where weddings and art intertwined.The vision resonated with Ashely Hotka of Good Earth Floral Design: “The blue hues of the Water Lilies series, the whimsical pastel parasols, the painterly meadows- let’s bring Monet’s works to life!” Reminiscing, photographer Claire Ryser recalls, “My late grandfather was a fine art painter, I remember playing hide and seek among his canvases and drop cloths, surrounded by oil paintings of prairies, lush river scenes, and meadows, all in the Impressionist style. It means the world to me that this team and I had a chance to bring the gardens of Monet’s village to life inside the The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.”

Sareh Nouri’s stunning Something Blue Collection was the cornerstone piece and all elements were centered around this fiercely feminine, avant-garde gown design! The Hydrangea gown truly cast a spell on us and completed our Impressionist and Avant-Garde vision.

A custom hand-painted backdrop was made specifically for this editorial by the incredible Jeremy Ellsworth to incorporate an additional fine art element. From photographer Claire Ryser: “Using a painted backdrop is another way to create a fine-art-inspired feel to your wedding day portraits. It’s also another fantastic way to incorporate your color palette consistently throughout the day’s photography.” Impressionism is having such a moment and couples will be inspired by these enchanting styles, romantic color palettes, and depictions of overflowing garden floral designs. As Monet once said, “I must have flowers, always, and always.” It’s a testament to the enduring influence of art on love and celebration. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Shades of blue and a luscious garden-inspired palette of yellow, cream, violet, rose, blush, and mauve.
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[field title=”The Venue”]After having lingered for hours through the panoramic gleaming white rooms of Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, our photographer, Claire Ryser, knew the venue for this art-inspired editorial had to be white, bright and open. The grand foyer of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts was the perfect choice. It provided a pristine and luxurious canvas with sky-lit, soaring ceilings and an expansive glass tent-like awning, allowing the outdoors and sunlight into our imagery. The clean lines and sleek design of the all-white ballroom allowed the color and texture in the design to stand out in contrast.
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Featuring and centered around the breathtaking Hydrangea gown from Sareh Nouri’s Something Blue Collection was an obsession for our photographer, Claire Ryser. “I couldn’t catch my breath after seeing the collection debut, and quite honestly, I became obsessed. It’s feminine, dramatic, and so avant-garde, flying in the face of the traditional all-white wedding gown. It’s perfect for a couple who wants to add a fashion-forward element to their day and wear a non-traditional yet gorgeous formal gown.” Another gown from this collection we featured is Last First Kiss, with perfectly placed blue bows dotting the back of the gown and on the sleeve. The Something Blue Collection is stunning against the gleaming venue and cascading florals. Couples wanting to add classic and timeless pops of color can also take note of the gorgeous Italian-made silk and floral heels from Something Bleu. The shoes complete the look and are an extension of the theme. Delicate heirloom pearl jewelry was our “something borrowed” here. From Claire Ryser: “I absolutely love Incorporating family heirlooms into the fashion for the day. The timelessness of vintage pieces in addition to the nostalgia is what great fashion moments are made of!”.
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Shades of blue steal the show for this color palette, gleaning inspiration from Sareh Nouri’s “Something Blue” Collection and the breathtaking Hydrangea gown. Additionally, Good Earth Floral and Events by Elle curated everything based on a luscious garden-inspired palette by adding romantic tones of yellow, violet, rose, blush, and mauve. Much of the floral was sourced from our floral designer’s personal flower garden, making this an even more sentimental moment for our team. Our photographer, Clare Ryser says, “When I think of the famous Impressionist works, I picture sunlit meadows, serene gown-adorned women, and colorful gardens. Seeing this meadow-inspired look come to life indoors in the heart of the city brought me so much joy.”

Texture was a key consideration for floral, the dress, and especially the invitation suite.

From Good Earth Floral: “We didn’t want the florals to be tightly structured – the goal was to have the floral flow and grow upwards along the staircase at varying heights with creeping greenery and vines to really pull off an overflowing garden look. Inspired by the lighting gradients and the depth created by his brush strokes, we made intentional choices in our floral installations to play with gradient shades of blues, yellows, lavenders, and mauves. Visually heavy florals like hydrangea were nestled towards the base of the arrangement while soft dancing textures like queen Anne’s length floated up and up towards blue cloudy skies.”

Yellow Brick Graphics incorporated floral-inspired colors into the stationery for such a cohesive yet old-world feel, with monogrammed and embossed velvet invitations, delicate painted brush strokes within the textured envelope liners, silk tassels, and custom wax seals.

We added airy pops of yellow baby’s breath and hand tied satin bows to the sleek blue champagne coups as well, mixing the modern and meadow together. The essence of Impressionism, with its play of light, color, and texture really did influence every decision.
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[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]Would a Monet-inspired work be complete without a parasol? Good Earth Floral added a surprising and whimsical touch of to a traditional white parasol by adorning it with bouncy, airy, and romantic floral. From our photographer, Claire Ryser: “The flowers she selected for this reminded me of the dashed and dotted brush strokes of a painting! I’m loving non-traditional personal flowers and this parasol was probably my favorite piece!”. A basket bouquet was an absolutely darling touch to complete a fresh take on personal flowers.
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[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]The Impressionism-inspired meadowy, garden style floral isn’t solely for the countryside. Don’t be afraid to incorporate elements of cascading, climbing, and airy florals in romantic color palettes – this will soften any venue! From photographer Claire Ryser: “Impressionism is all about light and color play, seasonal floral, and giving off an air of avant-garde, non-traditional whimsy. Your stationery, shoes, gown, and personal flowers are all areas that can be used as your canvas and avenue to incorporate artful stylistic elements. [/field]
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Photography: Claire Ryser | Event Planning: Events By Elle | Floral Design: Good Earth Floral Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Sareh Nouri | Cake: Shannon Bond Cakes | Invitations: Yellow Brick Graphics | Shoes: Something Bleu Shoes | Wedding Venue: Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts | Beauty: Bronzed and Blushed | Bridal Shop and Accessories: Mimi's Couture Bridal | Custom Backdrop: Backdrops by Jeremy Ellsworth | Model Agency: Taylor Akason | Rentals: A Little Bit Vintage

Cheers to the New Year With This Glamorous Wedding Film

What better way to wrap up 2017 and ring in 2018 than with a toast to crazy glamorous weddings like this one here!? Add in gorgeous details (thank you Simple Elegance, LLC) and a couple that have known each other since junior high and it’s almost too good to be true. But Creative Films captured it all so we know this is the real deal – from the beautiful Bride getting ready to the end of the night countdown! Pour that champagne and let’s cheers to celebrations like this and many more to come!

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From Creative Films… Wow – what a way bring in a new year with this beautiful couple and their family and friends. I don’t want their amazing story to get lost in the glamour and stunning details of their day because it is one of the sweetest stories I have heard. They met in junior high and grew up together in the Greek Church. This day was FULL of meaningful moments of family and friends and sharing of history and tradition, from the locket with Marina’s grandparents photos that was brought from Greece to the wonderful dancing that filled the Intercontinental Ballroom all night long! This was the 5th wedding that we have shot for this large family and we are truly honored to be asked back to preserve this day for Marina and Conner.



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Photography: Epaga FOTO | Cinematography: Creative Films | Coordination: Simple Elegance, LLC | Floral Design: Trapp And Company | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Cake: Take The Cake | Stationery: The Left Handed Calligrapher | Ceremony Venue: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church | Reception Venue: InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza | Jewelry: Cartier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Belle Vogue Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Essense of Australia | Makeup: Silvia and Daisy Duckworth | Hair Stylist: Jasmine Galazka, Olivia Lee, Malicia Sanchez and Cindy Biven | Lighting: Landers Visions | DJ: John Grammatis | Band: Hank Lane Music | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Transportation: Overland Limousine Service | Ceremony Musicians: Brookside Strings | Painter: Event Painting by Agnes | Rentals: All Season's Event Rental

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
The All-Inclusive Venue You HAVE to Meet

If you’re worried that choosing an all-inclusive venue will send you down the path to a cookie cutter wedding: don’t be. Trust us – you can have that glam celebration you’ve always wanted with all of the convenience an all-in-one location has to offer. Need proof? Check out The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center – they can handle it all.

Choosing an all-inclusive venue doesn’t have to mean giving up higher-end options like high-quality invitations, gorgeous linens and stunning table settings. With Hallmark Weddings at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, you’ll be working with a team of talented wedding pros that know how to handle everything, right down to setting up room blocks for all of your loved ones. We’re super impressed with their unique wedding packages – which start with a luxe venue of your choosing and touch on everything from customized menus to makeup + salon time to invites from the Halls Department Store.

Wedding planning shouldn’t be stressful. So if you find yourself struggling with finding the right florist or musician, need help with choosing the perfect pre-wedding event outfits or just want to make sure your guests are completely taken care of, contact The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center to talk all things Hallmark Weddings. You’ll even earn perks on every guest room booked.

Your Key To the Perfect Bridal Shower or Bachelorette Party Weekend

Sure, wedding planning is time-consuming, but don’t let all of those other all-too-important events fall to the wayside. Your bridal shower, bachelorette party and honeymoon are meant to be awesome, and that means throwing on your best heels and finding a space that will totally accommodate you and the ones you love. Get inspired (and find the perfect locale) below.

Finding the ultimate spot to host all of those “other” events may seem a little daunting, but The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center makes it sooo easy with oversized rooms that are totally luxurious AND undergoing a fab renovation that will be completed in 2018. Yep, your fave hotel in Crown Center will be even better, with plenty of space for hosting that bridal shower or bachelorette party. We’re obsessed with their convenient locale for any last-minute shopping and their easy access to airport travel. Not to mention their Bridal Suites are perfect for morning-of festivities, so you can relax with your besties before you walk down the aisle. (Champagne optional.)

When it comes to making it simple for you and your guests, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center most definitely delivers. Host your entire wedding weekend at the hotel, or set aside room blocks for your off-site celebration. Trust us, you’ll love the beautiful rooms (we mentioned they were renovated, right?) and easy access to dining, shopping and nightlife. Oh, and don’t forget your honeymoon and check out the romantic suites with stunning views.

Contact The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center today to guarantee that every last part of your celebration is in place.

Looking for a unique space to tie the knot? We found it.

Let’s be honest, no one wants a cookie cutter wedding. But if finding a venue that is the perfect mix of luxe accommodations and totally unique wedding space has left you a little frustrated, we’re here to help. Because today we’re hosting a little meet and greet with The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, a hotel that has everything you’re searching for. Find your dream space below.

Situated in the center of downtown Kansas City, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center is the type of venue that just makes sense. Surrounded by Hallmark’s Crown Center and more than 85 acres of fabulous shopping, yummy restaurants and entertaining theaters, it’s the perfect spot to spend a weekend with your nearest and dearest, celebrating your big moment. But what really stands out about The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center is the amazing venue options. From sophisticated ballrooms, to the gorgeous panoramic views from The American, to the elegant rooftop locale known as the Games Deck, each venue will truly stun your guests. Which means saying goodbye to a generic, cookie-cutter wedding and hello to an awe-inspiring soiree for the ages. Just like you want.

Ready to host the wedding of the century at a hotel that knows everything there is to know about glamorous nuptials that are as unique as you and your love? Contact The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center today to start planning your dream day. With a talented team of wedding specialists, an amazing downtown location and accommodations that are the definition of luxurious, you honestly can’t go wrong. Oh, and don’t forget to ask about their Hallmark Wedding Packages, because, well… they’re awesome. Happy planning, loves!

Photography: Kelsey Diane Photography | Photography: Wirken Films | Event Design: Craig Sole Design | Event Planning: Quintessential Events | Reception Venue: The American Restaurant | Hotel: Westin Kansas City At Crown Center

How to Infuse Your Tablescape with the Prettiest Garden Details

Spring may be months away (tear!) but this all-star team of vendors is giving you all the inspiration you need to infuse your tablescapes with the prettiest of garden details. Tucked inside are endless ideas for floral displays, place setting vignettes and more crafted by Madison Sanders Events along with florals by Victorian Gardens. Get inspired to celebrate Spring a wee bit early with even more photographed by Jordan Brittley right here in the vault.

From the Photographer… I’ve been thinking that maybe place settings need a little loving! You’re about to see place settings that make you just a little weak in the knees. What guest wouldn’t want to sit down and feel pampered with place settings like these? Madison makes everything feel inviting – whether it’s chic and simple or elegant and elaborate! We couldn’t resist the boutonnieres and bouquet from Amy of Victorian Gardens, either. It always adds such a lovely touch to let the floral design inspire the rest of the design – including place settings. Here, you’ll find 2 different table setups that compliment each other and a variety of ways couples can create unique, chic place settings. 

 

From the Wedding Planner… I was so thrilled when approached by Jordan Brittley to collaborate with Victorian Gardens on some Spring Table Top Inspiration! When discussing our favorite elements to include in chic weddings, beautiful floral and soft, romantic accents topped the list. We instantly started scheming fresh ways to set a table top with a variety of paper pieces, flowers and tableware configurations to make it special for guests and fun for the couple! The ideas we created could be utilized at parties both big and small. We might even suggest incorporating some of these set ups to accent the place settings for your guests of honor – just the bride and groom or the entire bridal party. The finest details make the most memorable parties and we are encouraging our clients to think outside the box when designing their tables. Here’s some inspiration for your lovely tables because want to see more of you in the place settings!

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Photography: Jordan Brittley | Planner: Madison Sanders Events | Floral Design: Victorian Gardens | Reception Venue: The Grand Hall KC | Paper: Little Yellow Leaf | Rentals: All Season's Event Rental

Classic Spring Blush Wedding – Overflowing with Cherry Blossoms!

We may be approaching fall but my mind is stuck in spring. And cherry blossoms in particular! Their beauty is just not easily forgotten. Case in point, this classic spring wedding captured by Alea Lovely. From the light blue Jenny Yoo bridesmaids’ dresses to the insanely sweet video clip from Creative Films, cherry blossoms bedeck the background with pink petals – and I can’t get enough! All in our Vault here!

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From Creative Films… Jillian and Brent wanted nothing more than to spoil their guests with comfort food, great music and cocktails as they celebrated their beginning to marriage. Their event design was inspired by the architectural elements found in their ceremony and reception venue, the importance of Southern hospitality and the soft colors of spring. The Brass on Baltimore is a historic Kansas City building that has been renovated and is now a highly sought-after event space. The reading of love letters to one another during their traditional ceremony invited guests into their story. The day was filled with intention and personal touches such as a Groom’s Cake donning the Chicago skyline (the Groom’s hometown) and a special visit by their pup, Sadie during portraits. Even the couple’s wedding date held special meaning as it was the Bride’s parent’s 28th wedding anniversary.

Photography: Alea Lovely | Cinematography: Creative Films | Event Planning: Madison Sanders Events | Floral Design: Beco Flowers | Cake: Classic Cakes | Invitations: Announce This Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Olive Events | Makeup: Mary Shalee - Mary Morrison | Hair: White Carpet Bride | Lighting: Platinum Productions | Band: The Patrick Lentz Band | Favors: Andre's Confiserie Suisse | String Quartet: Juniper String Ensemble | Venue: The Brass on Baltimore | Photo Booth: The Photo Bus KC | Rentals: All Season's Event Rental | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Ultrapom

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
How a Horse Farm Was Transformed Into A Dreamy Elegant Wedding

This is not your average farm wedding. No, this farm wedding from Simple Elegance goes above and beyond with tent construction on the Bride’s family horse farm, a magician, a cigar roller, bourbon tasting, a photo booth, fireworks, and a collection of Ford trucks from the Groom’s family business. Accented with beautiful florals from Sidelines, it was the perfect spring day. See it all from Adrienne Maples and Anecdotally Yours in The Vault!

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From The Bride…How do you meet the love of your life? Fate calls your name and you change a standing happy hour date with a friend at The Gaf from Tuesday to Wednesday night. That’s how Lindsey Patterson, owner of Coffee Girls Café in Waldo, met Matt Smith. He was there for his weekly Wednesday after-work drink with a former work colleague, Bob. As Smith and Bob were leaving, Bob spotted the two pretty girls sitting outside and coaxed Smith into buying them a drink. An official first date between Patterson and Smith came a month later after a few more “get to know you” happy hours at The Gaf.

Exactly one year later, after a first anniversary dinner at Pierpont’s at Union Station, a wedding proposal came on bended knee. The groom arranged for all the beautiful moments of the proposal to be captured covertly by a photographer friend of Smith, disguised with a moustache, so the unsuspecting bride would be surprised. That important picture became the “Save the Date” card, and the planning for the May 2014 wedding began.

Patterson, having traded a corporate life of black pants and a cubicle three-and-a-half years ago for a coffee shop, knew they both wanted a fun, comfortable and stress-free wedding, reception and after party. Their first phone call was to Michael Beers to secure his band for the reception. Kindra Browne of Simple Elegance and Karyn Brooke AIFD from Sidelines Custom Floral Designs were enlisted to coordinate the wedding details, which included tent construction at the Patterson family horse farm, a magician, a cigar roller, bourbon tasting, a photo booth, fireworks and a collection of Ford trucks from the groom’s family business, Dick Smith Ford, for the men in his party to use on the farm the day of the wedding. After a relaxing day at the farm, complete with hair and makeup for the girls and skeet shooting at Saddle & Sirloin Club for the guys, the wedding party arrived by trolley from the farm to St. Thomas More Catholic Church. The well-orchestrated wedding also included a reception, cocktail hour, dinner and after party.

Patterson had one request for her May wedding: trees. Sidelines Custom Floral Designs worked with Rosehill Gardens to fill the inside and outside of the reception tent with blooming dogwood trees in pink and white. In addition, the bride’s grandfather crafted two 10-foot-long wedding party tables out of walnut, and one of them found a final home after the wedding at Coffee Girls Café. The two tables were filled with hedges blooming with blue hyacinths, one of Patterson’s favorite flowers. In another nod to her family, the bride gifted all her guests with her grandmother’s famous “Cowboy Cookies.”

Patterson’s father kept a watchful eye on the skyline and right at sunset, the newlywed couple were captured in its rosy glow, a picture-perfect end to their pastoral wedding. However, that was not the end of the celebrations. The elegant evening concluded with after-party dancing to the music of Michael Beers Band, late-night snacks and festive fireworks illuminating the country night sky.

Photography: Adrienne Maples | Cinematography: Anecdotally Yours | Event Planning: Simple Elegance, LLC | Floral Design: Sidelines Custom Floral Designs, Inc. | Cake: Nancy Stark | Ceremony Venue: St. Thomas More | Reception Venue: Family Farm | Catering: Lon's Lanes Inspired Occasions | Hair + Makeup: Be Chic Bride | Band: Michael Beers Band | Ceremony Music: Diane Shilling+ Susie Adams+ Megan Molle+ Phil Holmes | Transportation: Crossroad Tours | Transportation: Kansas City Transportation Service | Beverage Services: Loch Lloyd | Chandeliers + Lighting: Landers Visions | Fireworks: Wald & Co | Invitations + Stationery: Lilah Paper | Magician: Todd Lamanske | Photo Booth: KC Photobooth | Rentals: All Season's Event Rental | Valet: Park it Valet

Elegant Kansas City Wedding Film

Jamie and Taylor, you don’t know me, but I really, really adore your wedding. With this intimate glimpse into the elegant affair courtesy of Creative Films, I was swept away with emotion and all the laughter and love that surrounded this lucky couple on their special day. With Simple Elegance leading the charge and Paul Versluis snapping pics, it all worked out perfectly – see sneak peeks in our VAULT and get ready to love every second of this film below!

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From Creative Films… Every once in awhile I save a little bit of something special to send back for a special anniversary gift. This couple was super fun because pretty much all their family and friends came to Kansas City from New York and the East Coast to celebrate the most beautiful wedding weekend. Didn’t you know that Kansas City is the HOTTEST destination wedding location? Perhaps it should be! Beautiful museums, fabulous BBQ, friendly people, The Royals, and cows. Well, not too many cows really, but hopefully Jamie and Taylor didn’t mind that. The team at Simple Elegance did an amazing job keeping things calm and collected and of course the Nelson-Atkins was stunning with Trapp Floral Design making magic as usual. I shot a little bit of super8 film from my vintage super8 camera on this day and have been SAVING it all year to share with these two on their first wedding anniversary. Authentic super8 is tricky stuff and adds such a unique point of view on a wedding day. It is perfect for these two. Happy Anniversary!

Peruse more wedding films here!

Photography: Versluis Photography | Cinematography: Creative Films | Coordination: Simple Elegance, LLC | Floral Design: Trapp And Company | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Cake: Cake Whimzy | Ceremony Venue: Country Club United Methodist | Reception Venue: The Nelson-Atkins Museum Of Art | Makeup: Be Chic Bride | Band: In10City

Traditional Jewish Wedding With Touches of Modern Glamour

This wedding is crazy beautiful, and it’s not just the gorgeous floral combination of peonies, orchids and hydrangeas. Or, the modern all-white ceremony’s chuppah built from tree branches from the Bride’s childhood home. It’s all that and the gorgeous couple, whose love for each other radiates off the screen and brings a smile to your face. Watch the video  from Creative Films below to experience it all.

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From Creative FilmsThere are families that come into our lives that somehow seem to leave a mark. I loved getting to know Katja and Ari and their story. We were able to attend their rehearsal dinner and capture some beautiful toasts as well and so much of their story will have to wait for their feature film, but you can get a glimpse of their amazing day and the love they have for each other and their family and friends here in this highlight. I LOVE the traditions in a Jewish wedding day and they had the most wonderful Tish and Bedeken while surrounded by so many special people. Kelley Flora Ruf did an amazing job designing this wedding with the team from Trapp and Company and I don’t think the Kauffman Center or The Westin have ever looked better! Take special note of the huppah in this wedding ceremony, the support branches were harvested from the tree that was planted at the families home when Katja was born. So many sweet details in this amazing day.

From the Bride… We wanted to make sure our traditions didn’t get lost in all the wedding craze. We tried to build everything around the traditional parts of a Jewish ceremony. In order not to overshadow those important aspects of our wedding we tried to do everything in a classic, elegant yet simple fashion. We didn’t want to lose sight of what was truly important. 

I chose navy for my bridesmaid dresses because I felt it was a beautiful color for summer while still being elegant and dressy. Navy sort of became ‘our color’ from there. Still, I really never had a color. We had an amazing florist who I trusted completely. I told him that I liked ivories and whites for the wedding but was open to any colors that he felt complimented the navy and the spaces we were using for the ceremony and reception. 

This sort of falls into the ‘crafted’ category… My parents planted a tree in our backyard when I was born (another Jewish tradition). They took branches from that tree to build our huppah (wedding canopy) which is really the center of a Jewish ceremony. Our florist did an incredible job incorporating those branches into a building a beautiful huppah!

It’s probably unfair to give this advice because I know many girls think about their wedding long before they start planing (or even get engaged)! I do not really fall into this category and so I came in with a very open mind. I had an incredible planner who had a lot of experience and tons of ideas and I felt I could take those ideas and still create a unique wedding day for us. We also had complete trust in all our amazing vendors. Our florist, photographer, planner, videographer etc. This allowed us to focus on what was really important. We tried to be completely present the day of our wedding and enjoy every moment.

Photography: Blixt Photography | Cinematography: Creative Films | Event Coordination: Kelley Flora Ruf | Floral Design: Trapp And Company | Wedding Dress: Victoria Nicole | Cake: Sherrie's Cake Magic | Ceremony Venue: Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Gina Ciaccio Holmberg | Lighting: Harvest Productions | Band: Emerald City | Ceremony Musicians: Brookside Strings | Reception Venue: Westin Kansas City At Crown Center | Rentals: All Season's Event Rental

Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties
Rustic + Romantic Kansas City Fresh Air Farm Wedding

Despite less-than-perfect weather and the long-distance wedding planning from New York, this farm fête takes “rustic chic” to a new, beautiful level. Full of lovely details—from the bride’s beautiful lace dress to the angelic flower girls and shabby-chic picture frame seating chart—this wedding is one seriously gorgeous affair. See all the pretty, captured to perfection by Britta Hundertmark, here.

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From The Bride…As U of A alums, we had seen each other out and about many times. We would always say hello, and that was that. After college, Jason moved to Santa Monica, and I moved to NYC. It wouldn’t be until Jason moved to NYC three years later that our paths would cross again. One of our mutual friends, Ben was in a band named Princeton that would come through the city and play shows. Ben is one of Jason’s best friends and frat brothers, and I studied abroad with him in London. Every time Ben was in town, I would meet up with him and often times, Jason was there too. Not only do we share a love for Ben and Princeton, we both are avid Arizona basketball fans. We started seeing each other at the U of A watch parties in the city. It was during one of the March Madness games at Side Bar, that our paths crossed again and Jason finally asked me for my phone number. After that, we began to talk more and more and text each other on a more regular basis. It wouldn’t be until one Sunday, when I was at brunch with girlfriends, that I got a text from Jason. The text was the picture above, “B + J = Seeing a Movie Today? Check One: Yes or No” I checked yes, and we spent the entire day together, and we have been together ever since that day!!

From The Groom…Our first date was at Chelsea theaters off 23rd and 8th where we caught Woody Allen’s new film, Midnight In Paris. I saw this as a great/casual first date. Halfway through the movie I turned to Brooke to gauge her thoughts on my brilliant movie choice and noticed she had fallen asleep…..Thankfully she got her second wind after the movie and we had a fantastic time at dinner/drinks. It was this location that had sparked my proposal idea. Since Chelsea theaters was the start of our relationship it made sense to me that it should be where we take the next step together (hopefully both awake). Brooke’s cousin Danny and his husband Jay were my allies in helping me pull off my idea. Their goal was to get Brooke and myself to the movie “Her” on Friday night, while I worked behind the scenes with Chelsea theaters. I had blocked off 30 mins between films in one of the auditoriums , had the theater print fake tickets, and changed the poster in front of the theater. Our plan was on! Danny, Jay, and Brooke get to the atrium and sit down in an empty theater (I was “stuck” at work). After sending a quick text to Danny, he and Jay get up to leave Brooke in the theatre by herself. I was up in the camera booth with about 5 other employees who had helped me out and we light up the screen with a movie I had made with all the video clips and pictures we had together over the years. I’m high-fiving everyone upstairs and as we look down at Brooke we notice she is 100% focused on her phone and hasn’t seen anything playing on the screen. I look up at the guys and say “just start it all over again.” Thankfully, she looked up the second time and halfway through I headed down to propose and happy to say I got the answer I was hoping for!

From Britta HundertmarkAlthough the weather was not what Brooke and Jason had expected for a late May wedding, the day went by quickly and without a hitch.

The first look was filled with the sweetest emotion (tears all around!), and officiant gave a wonderful sermon on love, dedication, selflessness and commitment as these to promised their lives to each other in front of all of their family and friends.

As a photographer you live for venue’s like Fresh Air Farm. Around every corner there were details that sparked creativity, and you could tell that the owners and planners took this couple’s vision and turned it into a reality (something that is so important, since Brooke and Jason were planning this Kansas City wedding from the comfort of their East Village apartment).

The bride and groom and their guests dined on a meal fit to welcome all of the out-of-towners to what a real home-made Kansas City dinner is like. Fried chicken, brisket, green bean casserole, home made mac and cheese potatoes, s’mores, rice krispie treats, and craft beer – it’s safe to say no one went home hungry.

After dinner the couple stepped outside, joined by their guests, for dancing under the stars. Truly the most perfect way to end the best day of their lives.

Photography: Britta Hundertmark | Floral Design: Hitched Events | Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Dye | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Rent The Runway | Catering: Fresh Air Farm | Hair And Makeup: CaraSue Hall | DJ: All Ears DJ | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Gabe Combs | Ceremony Music: Innocenti Strings | Venue: Fresh Air Farm | Desserts: Latte Land | Film Processing: Goodman Film Lab

Elegant Kansas City Wedding

There is a reason that elegance has long reigned popular in the wedding world; it never, ever fails. And this beautiful celebration overlooking Kansas City just reinforces that once more. Something Gold Photography captured every stunning detail of this soiree, from the blushing bride to the cutting of one chic cake. If you ever need a reminder that classic elegance is queen, this gallery is where it’s at.

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From The Bride…. Bryan and I met at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. While Oklahoma is very special to us, Kansas City is where we fell in love and began our journey together. Bryan surprised me and popped the question on October 20th, 2013 by decorating my apartment with dozens of candles, roses, and pictures of us together. When I walked in after dinner with friends, he was standing in the candle light waiting for me. He asked, and I said yes!

Once we got engaged, we could not wait to plan our wedding. As the planning began, we knew that we wanted a classy, elegant wedding, but with an urban twist. The Terrace on Grand was perfect. It had everything we wanted…exposed brick, hardwoods, beautiful lighting, and a rooftop view of the city where we fell in love. As soon as we walked in I could envision us celebrating with our family and friends.

After we found our venue, everything else slowly fell into place. We knew navy and gray would be our colors from the very beginning. The colors combined with the luscious floral arrangements and bouquets were absolutely gorgeous. The atmosphere of the venue, along with the fun music and dance party absolutely reflected Bryan and I as a couple. We wanted our night to be classic and elegant, but with a laid back feel. We had the time of our lives with all of our favorite people surrounding us.

Photography: Something Gold Photography, LLC | Florist: Good Earth Floral Design Studio | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff | DJ: Chris Taylor From DJ Kirby | Cake Designer: Icing On The Cake | Ceremony And Reception: Terrace On Grand | Dress Designer: Allure Bridal | Hair And Make Up Artist: Tiffany Franklin | Ring Designer: Meierottos Jewelers | Shoe Designer: Nina

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Modern DIY Kansas City Wedding

There’s something about a modern wedding that pulls me in EVERY time. The clean lines, the crisp design and the effortless infusion of style everywhere you look. It pretty much sums up all the reasons I adore this Kansas City affair with DIYed details handcrafted by the bride and groom. Meagan (and) Nate + Village Video Productions captured the day and you can click right here for so much more.

Colors
Styles
Modern

From the Bride… When Shane and I met four years ago, we both knew we had found our perfect match in the other person. We were both family-oriented, creative, passionate and out-of-the-box thinkers. So when it came time to plan our wedding, it’s no surprise that all of those attributes poured into design of each aspect of our wedding day.

For our style, we always referenced the words ‘modern romance.’ We wanted to maintain the beautiful, classic elements of a traditional Jewish wedding, but also to keep things clean and simple where we could. Our venue truly spoke to that dichotomy. The ceremony location was a 1920s style cocktail lounge, with black walls, gold trimming and leather tufted couches. When guests stepped out to the cocktail hour and reception area, they entered a fresh, clean white space that let the décor speak for itself. No extras, no fluff. To us, throwing a great party is an essential part of any wedding, so we made sure to find a great band to help everyone dance through the night. Our caterer also did a great job in selecting foods that matched our eclectic taste and picky presentation style. (And – as a bonus – it was all kosher, to meet the needs of some of our guests!).

To cut down on costs without sacrificing quality, Shane and I chose to do a lot right out of our Chicago apartment. We designed all our invitations and stationery together, and the money saved allowed us to splurge a bit more on other aspects of the wedding. The design flexibility also allowed us to be extra picky, and incorporate design elements like a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired pattern, as an homage to Shane’s architecture background and our life together in Chicago (after being long distance for 3 years!). Our escort cards were tied to a pack of four different postcards that I designed, some of which had cute notes about Kansas – where we are both from. We wrote our table names on gold mirrors from IKEA, and each table represented a special place from our lives. Shane also made the guestbook by hand, which was a hardwood book in which guests could insert notes for us to read later. His parents devoted hours to making a gorgeous chuppah that embodied our modern romantic style, and a large black & gold sign for our J|S logo. For the reception, we had the chuppah moved to be above our table – which looked beautiful and saved on extra flowers for the sweetheart table!

In the end, Shane and I had a perfect wedding day that we truly designed from the ground-up.

Photography: Meagan (and) Nate | Videography: Village Video Productions | Floral Design: Craig Sole Design | Wedding Dress: April Bridal | Ceremony Venue: Kill Devil Club | Reception Venue: The Gallery Event Space | Brides Shoes: Ivanka Trump | Bridesmaids Dresses: April Bridal | Caterer: Church Of Evangelical Faith | Ceremony Pianist: Isabel Keleti | Day-of-coordination: Organized Chaos KC | Getting Ready Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown | Groom/Groomsmen Shirts: ASOS | Groom/Groomsmen Suits: H&M | Groom/Groomsmen Ties: The Tie Bar | Invitation Calligraphy: For The Love Of Letters | Invitation Letterpress Printing: Steracle Press | Reception Band: Galaxy | Wedding Website: Wix

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Christmas Themed Engagement

I’m one of those people who’s borderline obsessed with all things Christmas. It’s the time of year with magic in the air and romance all around. So a engagement shoot that embraces all the beauty of the season? Well, that’s just my cup of tea. Jordan Brittley captured these two lovies in full festive spirit, and there’s detail after detail waiting to be shared and swooned in the gallery right here. 

From the Bride… We originally wanted a winter wedding, but after realizing that our dream wedding simply could not come together in time, we decided a Christmas themed engagement session was the next best option. We both LOVE everything about this time of year and truly wanted to express that!

We shot our engagement session on Ethan’s grandparent’s land, a place very special to him, and knew we wanted to keep our details festive, yet simple. The Wassail, or, “Christmas Tea,” is my sweet grandmother’s recipe, and one of my very favorite Christmas traditions. We selected the mugs specifically to showcase our different personalities and topped the Christmas Tea off with homemade whipped cream dollops!

We are SO very excited to finally be “Mr” and “Mrs”, thus, the pillows came to life! The tree was decorated with hand-painted pinecones, berries, and ribbon. The bench was handmade by my very talented dad, Mark, and our sweet photographer, Jordan Brittley, surprised me with the gorgeous bouquet; I am absolutely positive it tied each detail together perfectly!

We have had a long-distance relationship for all but the first six weeks, so we are looking forward to the most simple of things: eating dinner together on week nights, enjoying our hobbies together, making new traditions together. We just cannot wait to be together, learning how to love Christ, one another, and others better.

Advice for Brides: Decide on your vision for your engagement session and wedding, and then choose the best photographer to capture this vision for you. Look high and low, and find a photographer who’s work excites you and whom you can trust with this precious time! I have had the most wonderful opportunity to know Jordan for the past five years, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would capture these memories for us perfectly. I was able to relax (a very uncommon thing for me) and just have fun with my love during the shoot!

If things go awry during the shoot, just laugh about it! Our Christmas tree kept blowing over, it was 16 degrees with a wind chill around 0, and our candles wouldn’t stay lit for more than a second or two – and I’m fairly certain some of our sweetest pictures and memories from the shoot were captured in these moments.

Whatever you do, wherever you are, focus on representing your love together, the rest will fall into place wonderfully.

Photography: Jordan Brittley | Bouquet: Blue Bouquet | Pillows: Acorn Street Boutique

Kansas City Wedding from Emily Steffen

Pink + gold make my heart happy. Period. It’s the one color palette that can’t be beat, and when paired up for a feminine fête like this Kansas City stunner – it’s magic. The utterly fabulous Emily Steffen captured the whole shebang behind the camera, and if you ask me, the resulting gallery is a little slice of girly heaven.

From the Bride… We planned a southern inspired, formal, summer evening; focusing on family and friends, and set in a white and gold hued space in the Hawthorne House. We fell in love with the Hawthorne house because of it’s southern charm and gorgeous white palette inside; which married well with the rest of our wedding ideas! The ceremony was held at my childhood church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church in historic Weston, MO. The color palette included strawberry reds, blushes, corals, and peaches and gold with accents of creams and whites. I wanted the wedding to be formal with a touch of glamour! My favorite accent was the sparkly gold table linens at the reception!

We are midwesterners at heart! But we both have been influenced by our life on the east coast, which was subtly included in our decor, food and attire. I worked with a designer and had my wedding dress custom made as well at Matt’s suit custom made as well to fit our personalities!

Our food at the reception started off with a cheese bar for our guests and ended with a dessert bar full of our favorite sweet treats! My mom also made homemade buttermilk biscuits with local peach butter and strawberry preserves!

We had a live band, which was awesome, for our evening of dancing and fun! The best part was the my uncles decided to sing a few songs in honor of my late Grandfather during the reception!

Photography: Emily Steffen Photography | Videographer: One Tree Studios | Coordinator: Weddings By Hannah | Florist: Blue Bouquet | Cake: Cyndies Cakes | Invitations: Smitten on Paper | Ceremony: Kam Fook Restaurant | Reception: Hawthorne House | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Ivy And Aster | Hair and Makeup: Mink Artistry | Band: Lost Wax | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Macaroons: Milk and Honey | Mini Pies: Sorelle Pie Bakery | Veil: Paula Varsalona | Wedding dress - custom made: Paula Varsalona | other paper goods: Kam Fook Restaurant

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Kansas City Wedding from Alea Lovely

Alea Lovely is just that, lovely to the millionth power. Her images capture beauty in each and every detail from an ivy covered wall in Kansas City to a breathtaking bouquet by Blue Bouquet and a Bride and Groom fresh off the glow of “I Do”. These are the kind of images that we could stare at all live long day and sometimes we definitely do! See this beauty in its entirety right here in the full gallery.

From Alea LovelyThe bride and groom are two Kansas City locals who met at work, where they both are cancer researchers. The wedding consisted of their close family and friends in the historic Pilgrim Chapel in Kansas City, Missouri. Afterwards they had a very decorated, upbeat party at a popular restaurant, Californos, in the heart of Westport, a neighborhood in Kansas City. A very neat part of the day was that the groom proposed to the bride without an initial ring (with plans to pick one), out but the bride hadn’t found one she liked so she wore a band instead until they found the perfect ring.Once they found it later, she had decided that she would not wear the diamond ring until the wedding day and was adamant about not letting anyone see it until the unveiling at the ceremony. It was a wonderful twist on a tradition.

Wedding Photography: Alea Lovely (Soon-to-Be Based in California) / Ceremony: Pilgrim Chapel in Kansas City, Missouri / Reception: Californos in Westport, Kansas City, Missouri / Floral Design: Blue Bouquet / Wedding Cake: Sugar & Spice Catering / Groom’s Cake: Covenant Cakes / Wedding Stationery: Maggie of Salutations by Mairead Design (maggie@salutationsbymd.com) / DJ: John Grooves of Elite Sounds Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Marisa / Hair: Dana Burton (dhairloving41@yahoo.com) / Makeup: CaraSue Hall

Kansas City Wedding Film from Creative Video/Creative Films

It’s a Style Me Pretty Saturday, and you know what that means for us LBBers – a viewing of a phenomenal wedding film. This one comes to us from Creative Video/Creative Films straight from Kansas City and we are loving the highlights from both the Chinese Tea Ceremony and the super gorgeous Western wedding as well. We know you will love it!

Photography courtesy of David Tsai, Wirken Photography.

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Growing up I never would have envisioned my wedding to be this beautiful and this meaningful… I pictured just a small Chinese Tea Ceremony with a gathering of my close friends and families. However, that wasn’t so. So many of our friends and families traveled from so far just to share this special moment with us.

Family and tradition was the inspiration for our wedding day. My father-in-law gave me family gold heirloom, we served tea during our tea ceremony out of respect for all our elders in our family, and they shared words of wisdom and encouragement in return. We gave red envelopes with money to the children for luck and the red blanket on our bed symbolized the start of our new family. The colors red and yellow, during our tea ceremony represent happiness and luck.

A lot of our decor for our tea ceremony was brought from Mylasia by my father-in-law. Jeremy and I spent many weeks and months creating our own table numbers, programs, and invitations. My florist made my bouquet very special for me. It had a picture of my dad and I when I was little. Although my father is no longer with us, I knew his spirit was with us at all times. When I saw my flowers I was in tears. They were so beautiful, and had so much meaning to me. A special poem that I found for my father was read at our western ceremony.

I am excited and emotional every time I watch my video. I can’t thank Creative Video/Creative Films enough for giving me this opportunity to share this piece with my future daughter when she grows up. A picture can speak a thousand words but a video…it’s PRICELESS.

Cinematography: Maura Coleman-Murray, Creative Video/Creative Films / PhotographyL David Tsai, Wirken Photography / Venue: Loch Lloyd / Florist: Sheryl Heathcock /DJ: Danny, Elite Entertainment / Officiant: Gabe Combs, Simple To Elegant Weddings / Transportation: Pech Limousines

Kansas City Wedding by Hawes Photography

Happy Wedding Wednesday, SMPers!  We’re kicking off a brand new month of inspiration with eight stunning weddings today… and, really, what better way to celebrate the official start of February than with a bundle of L.O.V.E.?  Yep, we’ll be here morning, noon and night to fill your day with pretty, so stay tuned for a whole lot of fabulous and be sure to check out each and every gallery, where even more lovely awaits!

Up first in our pretty parade is a stunning Kansas City wedding that will, quite simply, take your breath away.  The sweet, sophisticated stylings and soft muted tones are straight from a romantic fairytale… and I could stare at these glorious images captured by Hawes Photography for days.  Plus, with the uber-fabulous bride behind all of the dreamy details, every.single.moment is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  And that, my friends, is what I call a lovely start to our Wednesday. Click here for more.

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From Heather of Hawes PhotographyAs an event planner for the Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City’s Major League Soccer team, Ashley spent her days picking out just the right details for each event. She brought the same attention to detail to her wedding day, opting for a classic, understated color palette and details that spoke to her fiance’s love of all things flying (like their save-the-date paper airplanes!).

Wedding Photography: Hawes Photography / Wedding Ceremony: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Catholic Church / Wedding Reception + Catering: The National Golf Club / Flowers + Wedding Day-of Coordinator: Hitched Events / Wedding Dress: La Sposa

Kansas City Wedding Redo by Alea Lovely Photo + Video

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times. What I wouldn’t give for a wedding re-do. Don’t get me wrong. My wedding was handsdown the most spectacularly wonderful day of my life. It was total perfection. But it was also 6 years and two babies ago. And the thought of donning a pretty dress and styling a fancy fete is almost too much to resist. As it was for this next gorgeous couple. Who designed a wedding re-do that blew me away and that suited them to utter perfection. Photographed by Alea Lovely with design by Victorian Gardens, THIS is serious wedding eye candy. Click here to see even more.















Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Hunter and I are already married, but we wanted to do a wedding all our own this time. We just wanted things to be simple and our own. The wedding “redo” was held in a old building loft with lots of great character in downtown Kansas City. Small, intimate and modern. I’m an art teacher and very creative, but I let the professionals take reins on their ideas, and I love how it came together. The the invitations were great because their reply cards were open for drawings. I wore a dress designed and made by my friend that was inspired by Vera Wang. The floral designer was amazing because they painted a branch black and hung it above the ceremony space with white blooms hanging from the smaller branches. They styled the reception pieces perfectly to give us a classic look with a modern twist. Our stylist made the setting with old furniture and pieces from home to give it an intimate feeling. The cake was amazing because the black flower was the perfect accent to tie in my dress. There was a picture that I had drawn of Hunter and I that hung above the cake table that really brought in a personal touch of us. It was such a fun, intimate wedding.

Photography + Styling: Alea Lovely Photo + Video / Florals + Event Design: Amy Cason of Victorian Gardens / Cake: Classic Cakes / Makeup: Cara Porter / Hair: Katie Welch of Love Your Bobby Pins / Dress Designer: Alea Bebenek of The Bridal Tree (Dress available for purchase on Etsy) / Venue: The Bauer in Kansas City, Missouri (816-842-1820) / Invitations: Allie Statler of Announce This Design / Photo Lab: Richard Photo Lab

Kansas City Wedding from Coordinately Yours + RPM Photgraphy

A wedding at home. That is exactly what this beautiful bride and groom wanted – and just what they got. Coordinately Yours helped the couple transform the groom’s parents house – which the groom designed and built for them – into a romantic and elegant wedding. How great is it that every time they visit his parents house, they’re also visiting the place where they said “I do?” Love it. RPM Photography was on hand to capture every loving look and they’ve filled our gallery full with beautiful images from the day!

From Coordinately Yours … Bryce Gahagan, contestant on The Apprentice Season 5, wed Katie in June at the picturesque home he designed and built for his parents.  Pre-ceremony refreshments, including the bride’s favorite, Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade, were served as guests entered the ceremony.  The bride and groom exchanged “I do’s” at the lower level of the property lined with freshly planted impatiens and candlelit trees.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, the groom’s daughter, and flower girl, ran and jumped on the groom in excitement.

During the first dance, the groom surprised his bride (and all of the guests) by adorning the bride’s finger with yet another ring. As the marriage certificate was being signed, the quartet along with the band played “The Devil Went Down in Georgia.” Candlelit vases and glass bulbs hung in trees lined the paths and the reception space.  The pool was filled with hand blown glass bubbles, creating a beautiful reflection.  A large chandelier hung over the dance floor providing romantic lighting that is now displayed in the dining room of the bride and groom’s home.  A truly memorable piece!

A direction card to accompany the invitations was printed on bookcloth and adhered to card stock for texture and a hint of luxury.  The bride and groom offered their custom blend of local Roasterie Coffee along with personalized donut pouches as favors.

Photography: RPM Photography / Flowers: Fresh Fleur / Event Design: Coordinately Yours / Event Planning: Coordinately Yours / Invitations: Lilah Paper, Coordinately Yours / Dress: Jim Hjelm / Flower Girl’s Dress: J.Crew / Ties: Burberry

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