Nevada Weddings

As a girl who grew up skiing in Park City, Utah, my heart holds a special place for the picturesque locale. I truly couldn’t imagine a more incredible spot to say “I do” than a luxe private home in this breathtaking mountain town! That being said, let me introduce you to Park City Rental Properties.

Whether you’re leaning toward a venue overlooking the sandy beaches or hoping to say your vows high atop the spectacular mountain range, you can choose a totally unique locale that comes with some seriously amazing benefits. Renting out a private home with Park City Rental Properties makes it easy and seriously stress-free to hold your ceremony and reception all in one place, and makes day of coordination simple! Managed by professional companies who can help with details from florals to finding the best photographer, it’s like having a wedding planner at your fingertips!

Boasting multiple bedrooms and tons of space, many of the luxury rental homes in Park City allow guests to stay close and enjoy the entire wedding weekend! Sounds pretty fabulous, am I right?! For more information and to book your dream Park City venue, head over here!

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Photo Credits: Lindsey Shaun

I am speechless. Jaw to my desk speechless. Because this shoot from Lexia Frank Photography is far too pretty for words. With the stunning styling and photography by the lovely Lexia and a breathtaking film from Naz Films, this beauty just took the top spot as one of my all time favorite shoots. See why here.

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From Lexia Frank Photography…I’d been wanting to do a very minimalistic, earth-inspired shoot for a long time. When I found the 100 year-old hoop skirt at an antique store in florida, i knew it must be included. I created the belt out of leather and hundreds of feathers. the origami menus mix the guest’s name card, and upon opening, they see the menu listed for the evening. They were designed by Eva Black Designs, and she is a genius with folded paper designs! The wood elements were found on-site at the desert and the antlers were painted white for a simple, all-white table-scape. and, the ever talented Naz Films made an absolutely beautiful Super 8mm film to go along with our shoot in the desert. We worked with our wonderful models, Susan Mirembe and curt Kingston, and Katherine Risling did an incredible job with Susan’s makeup.

Photography: Lexia Frank Photography | Videography: Naz Films | Event Planning: Lexia Frank Photography | Menues: Eva Black Designs | Models: Jeff Bruins

There’s one thing I know to be true every single time; when a bride and groom take the time to create amazing relationships with their vendors, the results are always beyond pretty. And that’s exactly what these sweet lovebirds did with Andrea Eppolito Events. It’s a day bursting with happiness and thanks to Meg Ruth Photography, we’re lucky enough to get a peek.

From Andrea Eppolito Events… When Katherine met Jared during her freshman year at West Washington University, their chemistry extended far beyond the their shared pre-med major! Their old world courtship was highlighted by a first date where Jared brought flowers to both Katherine AND her mom! Talk about a charmer!

Over the course of the next six years Katherine & Jared traveled the world, seeing everything from the States to Canada, Saipan, London, Paris and Rome! During one such trip to Las Vegas, Jared asked Katherine’s mother for permission to marry her. An engagement followed shortly thereafter, and the two decided to return to Las Vegas for their fall 2013 wedding.

Over the months of planning, I got to spend time with Katherine & Jared while we searched for the perfect venue, met with creative partners, and even squeezed in a just-for-fun lunch at one of my all time foodie favorite hot-spots, Milos! The thing which strikes me the most about these two is their absolute adoration and respect for one another. Katherine calls Jared “Dear” and he responds in kind. They look to each other in each and every decision, putting their heads together and never-failing to come to a place of perfect balance. I have no doubt that they will have a marriage just as beautiful as the wedding we planned.

Towards the end of our planning strategy seemed to strike as Katherine’s father had a medical emergency while visiting family in the Philippines. Days later, an earthquake struck, causing us to wonder if guests would indeed make it to The States in time for the wedding. On the day of the wedding, love and good fortune prevailed, and all of the guests were able to be in attendance.

Katherine married Jared at the stunning and lush Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. The weather was perfect as Katherine gathered with her bridesmaids to get ready for her first look with Jared, who was the image of cool while playing a private hand with his groomsmen in his suite. Jared asked that their first look be as private as possible – He didn’t want cameras and other people impacting the intimacy of their moment. Still, photographer Meg Ruth managed to steal a few shots from far away with her awesome lens!

This fashion forward couple was ahead of the trend, selecting Pantone’s 2014 color of the year as the inspiration for their fall 2013 wedding. The ceremony took place in front of the famed Fountain Terrace, featuring a sculpted dragon and iguanas. To echo the pyramid shape we set chairs on three sides, with the middle aisle featuring manzanita trees, crystals and pomander balls in shades of lavender and deep purples. And while Katherine’s mother walked her down the aisle, her father was on hand and stood up to tie his daughter away properly.

The Acacia Ballroom was lit with soft shades of pinks, and a geometric light box surrounded by crystals hung over the white dance floor. The head table was dripping with orchids and topped with candles, while guest tables featured alternating high and low centerpieces featuring roses and orchids in various shades of purples.

After a 4 course dinner and a four tiered cake dressed in hand made sugar flowers and fondant, DJ Mike Fox’s team provided music, Shutter Booth offered guests a chance to take photos with a multitude of props, and as a late night gesture guests were treated to fresh-made doughnuts.

Photography: Meg Ruth Photography | Event Design & Planning: Andrea Eppolito Events | Floral Design: Naakiti Floral Design | Wedding Dress: La Sposa | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Ceremony Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Ceremony Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Reception Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Shoes: Macy's | DJ: Mike Fox | Tux: Vera Wang Black For Men's Warehouse | Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Hair & Make Up: Makeup In The 702 | Photo Booth: ShutterBooth | Rentals: Sit On This

When traditional meets pretty in Las Vegas, it’s a magical thing.  Especially when that pretty is created by a talented team of vendors that includes By Invitation Only, Chocolate & Spice and Layers Of Lovely.  Add in a bride and groom who are seriously (seriously) stunning and one glorious image after another from J. Anne Photography and happy, happy Monday, lovelies. See it all here.

And a beautiful film from Caterpillar Weddings?  Yes, please.

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From J. Anne Photography… Francesca and David were married on a beautiful, sun-filled January day in Las Vegas, NV. They opted for a muted color palette of grays and blush pinks accented by olive tree branch bouquets, black and white stripes, and gold accents. Francesca, being an assistant for a local wedding design/consult team, didn’t leave any of the details undone. They tied the knot in a beautiful Catholic church before heading off to their reception at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Being that Las Vegas is a desert, and our January nights get pretty chilly, they decided to bring the outside in. Bistro lights hung above their intimate indoor setting creating the feel of a summer wedding under the stars. Their guests were served dinner family-style, and they all danced the night away.

From the Bride… I woke up calm on the morning of our wedding, definitely excited, but still calm. I sat up in bed, just one day shy of our 9th anniversary and I couldn’t believe the day was finally here. Our hairstylist (yes, she’s David’s, too), and dear friend, Amy, walked into our suite bright and early with her team. The groomsmen had delivered our breakfast soon after and the bridesmaids and I hopped out of bed to greet them. I had to squeeze in towards our best man to ask how David was doing. He answered, “Sleeping, it’s 5am.”  I couldn’t help but giggle and be thankful that he was here to share our big day.

When the boys left we started hair and makeup and we laughed and joked, for being 5am, we were all wide-awake and their excitement gave me butterflies. There were so many thankful moments throughout the day, this being one of them. I looked around the room and couldn’t believe these girls were all here for us, to help celebrate our love. We finished with hair and makeup sooner than we had planned and had time to play “dress up” with my cathedral length veil.

Jodi, our incredible photographer, walked in right on time, just like it said on our production schedule. I thought to myself, “Showtime!” The girls went into their rooms to slip on their dresses and my mom and maid of honor came into my suite to help me into my dress – my drop A-line, full tulle skirt dress, my dream dress. The room started to blur but I remembered to pause and look at everything. I noticed my mom tear up as she the slipped on my grandmother’s bracelet and I saw my sister flash a quick smile at me as she closed every button down my back. Before I knew it, it was time to meet my groom for our First Look. I had known this man for nine years but suddenly the butterflies got stronger and I just wanted to run to him, forget sneaking up and tapping his shoulder, I wanted to run and I wanted to squeeze him and jump for joy yelling, “We’re getting married today!” We were 16 when we met, so it only felt natural to jump up and down celebrating as young kids do. When I tapped his shoulder I prayed that he wouldn’t tear up, but he did. He was as handsome as ever and the moment our eyes met we knew just how extremely lucky we were to have each other and have everyone we love surrounding us. We soon joined our bridal party to take pictures and it was a riot, we weren’t just lucky to have each other, but also lucky to have friends we could call family.

The time came to get on the bus and head to the church. When we arrived I gave a quick kiss to our parents and grandparents so I could sneak off into a room and hide as guests arrived. Father Marc walked in and asked me, “Are you ready?”, and I replied, “Been ready, Father!” Each time that we met with him throughout the planning process he became more of a friend. He left my mom and I to have a moment before walking down the aisle and I had to pray, once again, for this person not to tear up. This time, she didn’t, and I was thankful. She lightened the mood by pulling out her phone saying she needed to post a picture on Facebook of my last single gal moment before giving me away to David, we laughed. I watched everyone head towards the altar ahead of me, then it was our turn. I looked up to see David’s face and watched him try not to cry. When she placed my hand into his, it already felt official. The ceremony was so beautiful with our bridal party taking a role in all the events that took place, it couldn’t have happened more perfectly. Even the sun shined its brightest on this January day. We were officially “Mr. & Mrs. Torrella”, time to party.

We headed to Springs Preserve for intimate pictures in the desert as a newlywed couple, in between we caught a glimpse of our guests enjoying themselves during cocktail hour on the patio. We heard screams of congratulations, happiness and love and were dying to be up there celebrating with them. Our planners lined us up for our grand entrance and as the music played an overwhelming feeling of thanks took over and I wanted to cry. I held back when my new husband squeezed my hand and everything felt right. We had made it to this day, together, hand in hand. We head out to the dance floor for our first dance to the song “Dancing in the Moonlight”. It was perfect under the string of bistro lights and the faces of the most special people in our lives looking on.

We sat down to have our dinner, the meal we had all joked about on the ride to the church that was so far from now. We were starving and we made sure we tasted everything! David and I are big on family so having round tables at our reception was out of the question. Instead we setup our long tables to seat 18 and served dinner family style. We wanted to bring the cherished Sunday dinners from our childhood to our wedding and the caterers were so great in making this happen. We watched dishes being passed across the table to one another and it felt just like home. One of the most special moments of our reception was seeing our guests dance to the songs they had requested on their RSVP’s. I asked the DJ to play the slower songs during dinner and one by one, the songs played and the couples that requested it took to the dance floor, like an open book they danced and we watched them celebrate their love. We strive to make our friends and family a part of our days and our wedding was no exception. David had even flown in our best friends to New York to witness his proposal. We knew our loved ones wanted to celebrate us but we wanted to make this a celebration for them as well, after all, we wouldn’t be where we are today without them, their love and support. Our day was so full of love, so casual, so beautiful and so fulfilling. From the advice given to me months leading up to our wedding, I got up from our sweetheart table and walked around the café to soak in the details of the party we had been planning for the past year – the cake table, the olive tree guestbook we plan to plant in the backyard of the home we had purchased just 4 months prior, the escort cards, the hot cocoa favors that my mom and aunts helped me assemble, the 21 foot table runners that my sister/maid of honor had worked tirelessly on to sew, the hand cut gold glitter table numbers, the Juniors Cheesecake we had flown in from Brooklyn where we celebrated our engagement… everything. It was gorgeous! We danced till we could dance no more and just like that, the night was over.

We got back on the bus with our family and bridal party to head back to the hotel room. As much as I loved my dress, I was so happy to slip out of it. We shared moments throughout the day with our bridal party who joined us in our suite to continue the party with a few pies from our favorite pizza place. When we all grew too tired to keep our eyes open, everyone head back into their own rooms. I took my new husband into our room and we shared our first good night’s sleep in a long time, as a married couple.

Photography: J Anne Photography | Videography: Caterpillar Weddings | Coordination: Scheme Events | Cake: Chocolate & Spice | Invitations: By Invitation Only | Church: St. Joseph Husband Of Mary | Reception: Springs Preserve | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Hair & Makeup: Square Salon | Lighting: Led Unplugged | Transportation: Bell Trans | Hotel: The Aspen Institute At Wye River | Bride's Dress: Enzoani | Floral: Layers of Lovely ~ An Inspired Floral Art Studio | Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Bowties Bridal And Tuxedos | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Linens & Rentals: Rsvp Party Rentals

If you are lucky enough to live in Las Vegas like I do, you know it’s the perfect place to throw a wedding. A place where the sun is eternally shining, the landscapes are forever beautiful and the fun is being had for every last member of your friends and family.  It’s a destination wedding paradise, if you ask me.  And when you add in one of my favorite locales (Green Valley Ranch), succulent-filled blooms by Flora Couture by Floral 2000 and a whole host of pretty images captured by Kelsey Anderson Photography, it makes for one amazing way to spend a Thursday.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

And don’t miss this amazing film from Something New Video for even more lovely…

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From the Bride… My husband’s friends and family live in Ontario, Canada and mine are all in Alberta, Canada. We decided that instead of just having his friends and family travel for the wedding, it would only be fair to have everybody travel. And what could be more fair than having 40 of your closest friends and family to travel to Las Vegas for four days to celebrate with you!

The theme for the wedding was very organic and rustic with lots of succulents, greenery and burlap accented with grey and yellow. Even though it was a destination wedding, I wanted it to have as much of a personal and ‘DIY’ feel as possible, and purchased many of the decor items on Etsy and brought them with me. It was tricky finding a venue that would fit with this look, but thankfully our planner, Brit Bertino, was able to steer us towards the stunning Green Valley Ranch. It was absolutely perfect . The grounds are beautiful, the staff were incredible and the food and drinks were delicious!

We wanted to spend as much time as possible with our guests so in addition to the wedding, we planned a Meet & Greet at Stripburger on Friday night, which was a hit. Weddings are hectic and crazy, so the meet and greet gave that bit of extra time to spend with everyone.

As well, for the ‘afterparty’ after the wedding reception, we arranged for a double decker bus to pick up the whole group and take everybody for a Strip tour, ending at Fremont Street. We wanted everybody to remember our Vegas wedding forever and have the time of their lives. Everybody had a blast and we had so many people say it was the best wedding they had ever been to.

We were lucky to have Jimi and Sandi from Something New Video follow us around all day. And when I say all day, I mean ALL day… from getting ready first thing in the morning to the afterparty on the double decker bus. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Unless you have amazing videographers there to capture everything…

Not only was our wedding day perfect, but the entire time spent in Las Vegas with our friends and family was perfect. Destination weddings are a great way to spend that extra little time with the most important people in your lives, and we are so grateful we were able to get married that way!

Photography: Kelsey Anderson Photography | Cinematography: Something New Video | Event Design: Brit Bertino | Event Planning: Brit Bertino | Flowers: Flora Couture By Floral 2000 | Dress: Sottero And Midgley | Invitations: PGH Papercraft | Hair + Makeup: Amelia C & Co | Wedding Venue: Green Valley Ranch | Bride's Necklace: Anthropologie | Bridesmaid Necklaces: All Things Tinsel | Burlap Banners: Funky Shique | Chair Garlands: The Path Less Traveled | Ring Bearer Pillow + Sign: Morgann Hill Designs | Ring Bearer's Suspenders + Bowties: Bebecha | Veil: Tessa Kim

I must admit, when it comes right down to it, I’m a cold weather kind-of- girl. (I know, totally in the minority here!) But, it took less than five seconds with this e-sesh to have me convinced a life in the Las Vegas desert just might be my perfect cup of tea. Why? Because these images from Gaby J are filled with all the quiet romance and sheer beauty a girl could ever hope for. And that succulent bouquet from I Do Wedding Flowers? Don’t even get me started! Sit back and get lost with this desert love affair right here.

From Gaby J Photography…The vast desert landscape brimming with joshua trees and the sun setting slightly over the mountains were an inspiration for this engagement shoot. I wanted to bring a completely natural & organic look that is rarely thought of when you think about getting engaged in Las Vegas. For the session, I brought along vintage trinkets, indian props found in downtown las vegas, to achieve that mountain side, young love, boho look that went perfectly with Brianne and Francis’s personality.

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Photography + Creative Design: Gaby J Photography | Floral Design: I Do Wedding Flowers | Location: Red Rock, Nevada | Makeup: Celina Rodriguez | Hair: Rosa Dunn | Cake: Retro Bakery | Stationery: Paper and Home | Flower Crown: Honey Pie Headbands | Dress: Staysi Lee Bridal Boutique

Take everything you thought about your typical Tahoe wedding and be prepared to turn it inside out and upside down. Why? Because this lakeside beauty is an unexpected take on an outdoorsy affair with formality and tradition woven throughout. Merrily Wed designed a day around the prettiest pink, gold and champagne color scheme, and I kind of want to spend all afternoon tucked away in the gallery of Jonathan Young’s stunning photos. Join me right here.

From Merrily Wed…Karen and Cyrus were no strangers to frequent flier miles as they lived apart, she in Los Angeles and he in San Francisco.  Upon their engagement in fall 2011, plans were made for her move north to San Francisco. Karen’s family has a second home in Tahoe and she grew up visiting during the summers and winters.  As busy working professionals, it was naturally a special place that Cyrus and her could retreat and feel peaceful and complete.  They wanted a formal black tie wedding and wondered if they could pull it off outside on the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe.  We think they did!

This past September 8th, 2012 they wed at a private lakefront estate on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.  Cyrus and his groomsmen arrived for the ceremony aboard an Italian water taxi to the delight of their unsuspecting guests. Peony pink, ivory, gold and touches of champagne comprised the color palette of this classically elegant wedding.  Heavy draping reminiscent of Karen’s stunning gown’s details graced the main arch that guests walked through as well as the wedding processional.  Karen wore her mother’s cathedral veil that both of her sisters also wore at their own weddings.

Gold detailed embellishments could be found through-out the reception including the vintage lounge.  Crystal chandeliers and clear tents allowed the towering pines overhead to not be forgotten and blended the classic indoors with the Tahoe outdoors.  Gold logs anchored the ticket style escort cards.  Karen and Cyrus selected table names after their favorite worldwide locations. Vintage etched champagne glasses welcomed guests pre ceremony filled with bubbly.  Gold rimmed plates, gold votives and a gold runner added the rich feel to the tablescape.  Beautiful blush, deeper pink and ivory floral centerpieces brought a romantic feeling to the tables.

From  the ceremony opening with a tenor and string quartet to the 8 piece band from Los Angeles for the reception, guests’ ears were treated to notes from Frank Sinatra and the rat pack days.  The checkerboard dance floor was the perfect touch to the stylish feel complete with the overhead simple string lighting. After sunset, the lighting on the pier, from string lighting to lanterns, beckoned guests to come closer to the best vantage point for soaking up the Jewel of the Sierras.  Just to ensure no one left hungry, warm chocolate chip cookies and sliders were passed as the dancing winded down.

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Photography: Jonathan Young Photography  | Wedding Design + Planning: Merrily Wed | Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Lake Tahoe Estate via Merrily Wed | Floral Design: Art In Bloom | Ceremony Music: The String Beings | Band: Jay Sterling Band | Rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals + Archive Vintage Rentals | Linens: La Tavola | Invitations + Paper Goods: Gigi Press | Wedding Gown + Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique L’huillier

 

 

This elopement in Vegas has not a singing Elvis impersonator in sight. In place of the glitz and flash of the strip is Red Rock State Park and the natural, crazy beautiful desert surroundings where this couple exchanged vows. With their fanciest wedding day attire on, a gorgeous bouquet by  Layers of Lovely in hand and Gaby J Photography in tow, this elopement turned into one of the prettiest wedding days we’ve come across. See so much more right here.

From the Bride…We wanted a very simple ceremony and what best way to do it than go to Las Vegas and elope? The only downside of eloping in Las Vegas are the cheesy and tacky Elvis inspired chapels in which my fiance and I didn’t want to do. We knew we wanted to get married in Las Vegas and we also knew we wanted to get married outside and away from the strip. After doing much needed research, we 100% decided on having our ceremony at Red Rock state park with desert landscapes, red mountains, golden shrubbery and Joshua trees as far as your eyes can see. It was a dream and our photographer, Gaby J Photography, captured us and the surroundings beautifully. 

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Photography: Gaby J Photography | Floral Design: Layers of Lovely | Cake: Caked Las Vegas  | Ceremony + Reception Location: Calico Basin | Dress + Veil: Vera Wang | Shoes: Christian Louboutin

This film from Velare Imaginarium has left me nothing short of breathless. Adding cinematography to a wedding allows you to hang onto every syllable during the vows, and to pause at your favorite parts that you never ever want to end. And oh, Lake Tahoe, with it’s effortless blend of sandy beaches and snowy mountain peaks, it truly is heaven on earth. This gorgeous affair is the perfect addition to this day of wedding bliss, and don’t mind me…I will be over in the gallery getting lost in all that is pretty.

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From Summit Soiree… This couple was from Colorado who wanted a destination wedding in Lake Tahoe for their guests to enjoy a weekend of fun and frolic on the beaches of Incline Village, Nv.  They had their wedding on a Monday so all their travelling guests could enjoy a summer weekend in Lake Tahoe ending with their wedding celebration! 

Their theme and style was a mix between vintage and retro-modern accents. They wanted an organic outdoor wedding celebration among the towering pine trees and Lake Tahoe sandy beaches.  They embraced all their senses with lemons, eucalyptus, succulents and other California classics. Lots of bright lemon/citrus yellow and whites, along with touches of grey/aluminum.  Large classic daisies with white and yellow spider mums were incorporated throughout the wedding.  Vintage umbrellas in lemon yellow, white and grey hung above the dance floor and dining area with a candy table with every kind of yellow and white candy imaginable.

Wedding Photography: Steve Stanton Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Velare Imaginarium / Wedding Venue: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nevada / Wedding Planning: Heather Spear of Summit Soiree / Floral Design: Sweetpeas of Tahoe / Ceremony Pianist: Tim Callicrate / Reception Band: The Cheeseballs / Wedding Stationery: Cards of Wood / Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Tammi / Lighting: Celebrations / Sound: PSAV / Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen Rental / Lawn Games: Crux Events / Wood Signs: Raymond Kent / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via Blue Bridal Boutique / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Kori Walker of Kolor by Kori / Makeup: Jennifer Ergut Makeup / Suits: Kenneth Cole + Macy’s

Destination weddings in Las Vegas can often times conjure up thoughts of Elvis Clad officients and drive-through “I Do’s” but not this wedding. Nope, not in the least. It is elegant vows set against the prettiness of the Four Seasons Hotel-Mandalay Bay and there is not an Elvis in sight. Instead, we have a Bride and Groom celebrating lots of love amongst a sea of sunny neutrals with Glass Jar Photography snapping away. Pore through it all right here.

From Glass Jar Photography… Courtney and Steve wanted to do something fun and different for their wedding, and what better way than to go from their home town outside Toronto, Canada and head to Las Vegas! They choose the Four Season at Mandalay Bay with a soft, clean vintage touch theme designed by Brit Bertino the wedding planner and the bride. We met the couple at the Neon Boneyard the day before for some photos and their “engagement” session, then the next day was the official wedding.

Courtney and Steve choose the massive staircase to the Four Seasons as their “Moment” and right after was the sweet traditional Jewish ceremony with all the fun stuff down to breaking the glass.  After the ceremony they had a cocktail hour in the courtyard to meet and greet all the guest that flew in from Canada, followed by the reception by the Fountain outside the Four Seasons. The Reception was a 4 course surf and turf meal followed by an amazing fun funfetti and sprinkles cake. 

During the reception, they had a photobooth set up next to the open bar so people would be “loose enough” to try it out and have fun. Next to that was a real Cuban cigar station were an actual Cuban hand-rolled your choice of smoke!! All surrounded by a candy bar that lead to a gorgeous view of the Las Vegas sky. The night ended with loads of dancing and everyone jumping in the fountain to celebrate.

Wedding Photography: Glass Jar Photography / Venue + Catering : Four Seasons Hotel-Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada / Wedding Planning + Coordination: Simply Weddings by Brit Bertino / Floral Design: Naakiti Floral / Stationery: Paper & Poste / Music: Mahi / DJ: DJ Harry “O” / Wedding Dress: Alita Graham

Pink and romantic, with a setting sun reflected in the gorgeous Flamingo Hotel, this soiree has changed my mind forever about Las Vegas weddings. Sure, it was a destination affair, small and intimate, but it was beyond gorgeous and uber classy – the kind of day I kind of want to hang on my wall. And with Buffy Dekmar Photography working her camera, the images are pretty enough that I totally could. As one final treat before you hit up the gallery, we have a fabulous Super 8mm film from Dekmar Films to enjoy!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

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From Dekmar Films … Summer and Aidan got married with a small and intimate ceremony in the garden at the Flamingo.  The wedding day was simple, relaxed and fun.  The emphasis was obviously on celebrating the couple and being together with friends and family.  The Flamingo fit perfectly into Summer and Aidan’s vision for a Las Vegas destination wedding.

Photography: Buffy Dekmar Photography / Photography Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab / Cinematography: Dekmar Films / Cinematography Film Lab: Pro8mm / Venue: Flamingo Hotel

As someone who looks at weddings day in and day out by the hundreds, I love when a wedding surprises me. When a bride or a groom is so giddy, so inspired, so ready to make the journey of planning a wedding all about the fun, well I always smile a little bit bigger. As is the case with this next beauty. A day inspired by the movie 500 Days of Summer with DIY for days and a bride that just can’t stop grinning. I love that. Oh and I can’t forget to mention the stunning photographs by our sweet friend Chelsea Nicole of which there are tons more right here!

From the Bride… It was hard for me to explain the ideas that have been swirling around in my head for a year. I couldn’t even describe my wedding in words. I was holding on to a feeling that I wanted to be openly felt by all our wedding guests. As I was walking down the aisle to the Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition,” everything just clicked. The wedding was largely based on the 500 Days of Summer movie (I mean, duh, I did base our song selection on the movie soundtrack). After being pronounced husband and wife, we were showered with bubbles by our guests. It’s like we were doing a touch-down dance to Florence and the Machine’s “Dog Days are Over.” This was my favorite memory of the day.

I’m a bit of a control freak and as a graphic designer, I set out to set the tone for the day, from invitations to escort cards. So when my mom brought back 200 photo clips and collapsible toys from the Philippines, I flipped out. We never discussed this, and I was already working on my s’mores kit (complete with heart-shaped marshmallows)! I have a soft spot for my mommy though, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I didn’t want to use these cute little favors. She spent so much time personalizing each favor with our names, wedding date and drawings. Everyone was so excited about them! Not to be outdone, I did force one of my bridesmaids who flew in all the way from Japan (thanks, Ai!) to help me stuff, label and staple each of my s’mores kits. Some things are just better together…

My advice for other brides would be to start an “inspiration” folder. Whenever I came across something that touched me (wedding-related or not), I filed it away. Who knows? You might use it for something unexpected one day.

Wedding Photography: Chelsea Nicole Photography / Wedding Venue: Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada / Floral Design: Enchanted Florist / Catering: Wolfgang Puck Springs Preserve / Heart-Shaped Marshmallows: Madyson’s Marshmallows / Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride / DJ/MC: DJ Harry O / Photo Booth: Shutterbooth / Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven via Little White Dress / Bride’s Hairpiece: Lo Boheme / Hair + Makeup: Francesca Lombardo of Bobbie Pin Beauty / Suits: J.Crew / Bow Ties: Me and Matilda + The Belle and The Beau

This adorable couple proves that life just keeps getting better long after your jaunt down the aisle. Even with two daughters and a business, they still seem to find time for one another and when their five year anniversary was coming up, they knew they wanted to do something special. So they threw themselves a mini wedding with loads of pretty, personal touches. Cardin Creative, aka, the bride, designed and planned everything while Paper and Home made all the pretty paper. Ron Miller Photography snapped up all the goodness and there’s even more right here.

From Cardin Creative (The Bride)… Casey and I are both so busy with work, our two beautiful kids and renovating our new house, but I always find time for us. The five-year wedding vow renewal was something that I really wanted to do as a romantic gesture for us, and that’s exactly what it ended up being. Casey and I picked a beautiful location at Springs Preserve, wrote our vows, and had a “mini-wedding” in every sense. It was great to work with a great team of wedding vendors, and they were all on board to help make our vision into a reality. We incorporated a ton of personalized details into the day. It was important to us that everything had meaning and really fit our style. The gray, white and yellow color palette fit our “modern with a hint of traditional” style. Springs Preserve offered the lush green background that I wanted and gave us a perfect backdrop for the romantic natural light, and Trump Hotel offered a more luxurious setting with sexy, dramatic lighting. Together, it was exactly the style that we envisioned. All of the details and props that we used had meaning to us. The vases with our names engraved on them are the original vases we used during our sand ceremony at our wedding five years ago. The “Cardin Family” sign hangs outside our front door to our home, and Casey surprised me with an engraved necklace that says “1+1=4” on one side and “Cardin Family Est. 07-08-07” on the other as a way of symbolizing our kids. I also had the idea of having our vows nicely designed as the “Story of Us” so we can frame them and proudly display them in our home.

A couple of weeks before the vow renewal, I had the idea of doing a pillow fight at the end of the night. I wanted to do something different to show our fun, playful side … plus I wanted to do something that I have never seen done before. A pillow fight – with real feather pillows – was exactly what I had in mind! We only had one shot to get it right, and after a full day, we were ready to unwind and have a bit of fun. With the first swing of the pillow, feathers went everywhere and Casey and I were laughing hysterically. (Dear Trump Hotel: we picked every last feather up, I promise!) This five-minute pillow fight was the perfect way to end a perfect day, and I’m so glad that Casey and Ron were on board with my crazy idea. We wanted the day of our vow renewal to be a mix of romantic, sexy, and playful, and we accomplished exactly that thanks to the “dream team” of wedding vendors. You are all amazing. and Casey and I are forever grateful!

From the Groom… There are so many things that I love about Chelsy: her beauty, her smile, her laugh, her passion for what she does; I could go on and on. I feel so lucky to have my best friend be my wife, as it makes life so much more enjoyable. Our lives since the wedding (7-8-07) have gone by so quickly and have lead up to such a well-thought-out vow renewal. Our oldest daughter, Kylei, who is now 7, has blossomed into a smart, fun, not-so-little girl. When we found out we were having another baby in 2010, we were so excited to have a little one join our family. Kynlee has definitely been such a joy to have — she is now almost 2 and is growing up so fast.

The vow renewal that we planned was definitely full of surprises. We knew we were going to Springs Preserve, but we didn’t realize what we got ourselves into. As we drove to the back area, we pulled off the road and Ron pointed out where we were going. When Chelsy and I got out and looked, we gave each other that look of, “We are going where again?!” We trekked through the shrubs, down a few steep rocky “cliffs” (think tall steep hill) and ended up in a secluded area beneath some beautiful trees. Chelsy said she had wanted grassy fields and to feel like we weren’t in Vegas, and that’s definitely what she got. Afterwards we got to have some fun with feathers and had a pillow fight. I could not believe so many feathers could come out of two pillows! That is something that I will never forget. The day was amazing, and I was very impressed with how everything turned out.

Photography: Ron Miller Photography / Vow Renewal Venues: Springs Preserve + Trump Hotel Las Vegas, Both in Las Vegas, Nevada / Event Coordination + Design: Cardin Creative (The Bride) / Floral Design: Layers of Lovely / Stationery: Paper and Home / Cake: Gimme Some Sugar / Dress: Adrianna Papell via Nordstrom / Hair + Makeup: Amelia C & Co.

This wedding is home to some of the most amazing vintage details I have ever seen – all from the bride’s (and her MOH sister’s) rental shop. The super amazing turquoise dessert hutch was actually her grandmothers – which she painted and made fabulous. I mean really, how cool is that? The wedding itself was a gorgeous soiree that has me begging for more from Chelsea Nicole Photography… Lucky for you there is a whole gallery of more!

Is it incredibly cliche of me to say that our wedding was the absolute best day of my life? Oh well, I don’t care because its true! Brian and I met the same way so many others have… through a mutual friend (who everyone made sure to thank at the wedding). This friend had been telling me about Brian for awhile, saying we were perfect for each other. One day he told me I should go see Brian’s band play that night. After much persuasion from another friend, I decided to go, but just sneak in real fast to check “this guy” out. Well I wasn’t sneaky enough because Brian spotted me (from behind his drum set) as soon as I walked in….  two years later we were engaged and on April 28th 2012 we tied the knot… woohoo!!

When I first started trying to visualize our wedding, the first thing I imagined was trees… lots and lots of trees. Since we live in the desert, I thought this meant I needed to plan a destination wedding until I was fortunate enough to stumble onto Legends Ranch. When walking the property for the first time, I didn’t even feel like we were in Las Vegas anymore… I was sold. Wooden family style tables, bistro lights, paper lanterns and lots of mismatchy antique decor/ furniture, were just a few details I couldn’t live without. I started collecting pieces I thought were fun and would add some character to our special day (it helps owning a small vintage rental business with my sister/MOH). The pie hutch was actually my grandmother’s that I found just stored away. A few people thought I was crazy when I had my dad haul it to my house so I could use it in the wedding, but once I painted and antiqued it, then added chicken wire and cute knobs… they came around. Most the furniture and decor that we used, my sister and I rehabbed ourselves. One of my favorites was the chalkboard door that we used to put the menu on (good way to save paper)!

In the interest of staying true to ourselves, instead of a fancy catered meal, we opted for some seriously delicious, freshly grilled barbecue. To help really tie it in, we fashioned each guest a “BBQ surviver kit.” We took napkins, eating utensils, ‘I heart Ribs’ bibs, toothpicks, wet naps, mints and straws and placed them in mason jars that the guest then used to serve themselves lemonade or sweet tea (which we titled ‘Sweet Momma Tea’ because Brian has always called me his sweet momma). This was the best decision ever because it was a huge hit! People are still talking about how good the food was and how funny the cook was (he was added entertainment). We seriously had the best vendors, my makeup artist is always perfect, our florist helped any way she could (on top of supplying the best floral arrangements ever!) and our photographer stayed until the very end (our guest LOVED her), rolling in the dirt and grass… whatever just to get the best shot! I can’t say enough great things about these wonderful and incredibly talented people!

The night was truly, truly amazing and filled with so much love everywhere you looked (lots of happy tears!). Our family and bridal party went above and beyond to help make our day exceptionally great, working on projects and helping us set everything up the day before…. We are seriously so lucky!! Of-course having our dogs there with us all day was awesome because they are such a big part of Brian and I (we are kind of obsessed). Walking down the aisle to Brian was the best moment of my life, I can’t even describe it. My father/daughter dance was so special, but makes me laugh because my dad spent all this money on dance lessons (it was supposed to be choreographed), but we started crying right away and just got a few twirls in… I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Brian surprised me with an acoustic performance of one our songs (and a few others), which everyone, especially me, enjoyed. Line dancing with my bridesmaids was so much fun and put the finishing touch on our country-ish wedding. Dancing all night with everyone was the most fun I have ever had in my life, there was some serious magic on the dance floor that night (which includes a few backspins by my husband). But all and all, just having the people we love most in the world there to support us and celebrate all night was the best feeling in the world. We are both just so thankful and excited to spend the rest of our lives together!

Photography: Chelsea Nicole Photography / Flowers: Layers of Lovely / Event Design and Vintage Decor: The Wooden Trunk / Ceremony and Reception Location: Legends Ranch / Dress: Wtoo Brides / Hair: Jonathon Kristen at The Exclusive Salon

If I said this wedding is filled with the kind of romance you can float on all afternoon, would you know what I meant? It’s the kind of romance that pours out of Chelsea Nicole Photography‘s images. Romance that smells like roses, that tastes like chocolate, and feels like the softest of cashmeres. Romance that is ever present in smiles, always dancing in the eyes of those who are in love. The romance that can fill a gallery with images worthy of an entire afternoon of perusing!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Andy and I met 15 years ago at work where we eventually became friends, then best friends and finally we fell in love. In the beginning of becoming best friends we wrote 1000 emails to each other in 6 months. We discussed everything from mundane daily check-ins, recipes, to our dreams and hopes for the future. We also both love poetry and knowing the story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning who wrote each other prolifically we found the inspiration for our wedding. Elizabeth and Robert courted through many letters but finally through much turmoil were married and had a wonderful loving life. Years later, she died in his arms and her final word spoken was to his question “How do you feel” – she responded “Beautiful” and then took her last breath. I think no one can ask for a greater love than that. Sonnets from the Portuguese is considered Elizabeth’s finest work and she wrote those poems during their courting period. Robert Browning who was the lesser poet wrote his best work after falling in love with her. They brought out the best in each other and Andy and I feel that way about our relationship.

We wanted our wedding day to reflect the romance, the emotion and intimacy that existed in their work and the way we felt about each other. We wanted our special day to have an intimate feel, a touch of vintage elegance and still be fun! We thought we would never find what we needed until we wandered into the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Intimate, personal, classy without being stuffy and did not feel at all like you were in Vegas while still being convenient for our guests traveling in. Also, the Four Seasons is known for their fabulous afternoon High Tea – my favorite meal.

For the décor, we wanted something to reflect the easy afternoon feel we wanted. We had our fabulous florist incorporate our collection of mercury glass and silver serving ware with her beautiful creations. She understood our vision and was able to include all of my favorite flowers for a look that was from the garden but not rustic. She also had the fun idea of swaging the pearls on the back of the chairs to keep it whimsical.

I also knew I wanted to include lots of personal touches. From vintage handkerchiefs that we collected for the ceremony, handmade organza flower pins for the favors, the escort cards and board, assembling the lace drink parasols, and the 42 paper hydrangea pomanders (these were very time consuming) we worked on each project together. We kept the Browning theme going with quotes in our signage, each of the 60 menus having a different quote from their collected works and we picked our favorites from Sonnets from the Portuguese as our table numbers so that our guests could read them too. One of our guests’ favorite touches were the signs that we did for our photobooth. We sat down and came up with over 30 phrases, some sweet, some fun and some just plain stupid for our guests to play with.

On the Monday after our wedding we had an amazing honeymoon planned starting in Paris and then the Loire Valley. In one of the early emails years ago, we both expressed a strong desire to go to there someday. It seemed to bring it full circle to visit there for our honeymoon. We had some touches in our wedding with a nod to the trip to come, from the Madame and Monsieur signs (also a family joke since Catherine calls him Monsieur Andy), the le photomaton sign for our photobooth and the vintage reproduction postcards for our guests to write us notes on and finally the yummy French pastilles that are meant to be dissolved in tea but always end up as candy for me.

We had so much fun putting our hearts into every aspect of our wedding, and in the end, it was the perfect day. I always thought it was wrong to say that your wedding day was the best day of your life. Does it mean that it goes downhill from there? The answer is no! Our wedding day was truly a magical day – and yes, it seemed like the best day of our life. Until the day after our wedding day which was just a smidge better, and each day has added to that. I am so glad we took the time to make the day very meaningful and keep it special, intimate and full of love.

Photography: Chelsea Nicole Photography / Flowers: Las Vegas Event Flowers & Decor / Ceremony & Reception Location: Melanie Anderson, Four Seasons Las Vegas / Hair and Makeup: Makeup in the 702 / Shoes: Christian LaCroix + Menbur / Dress: Enzoani / Officiant: Dr. Kenneth Harper / Photobooth: Shutterbooth / Harpist: Kim Delibero

Have you ever wondered what SMP would look like in the wedding capital of the world? We like to think it’s something like this. Sexy, glam, and chic, with dark glittery linens, a gorgeous ombre cake, clean white flowers, and luxe paper goods from Paper and Home. Melissa Schollaert Photography‘s camera got quite the workout capturing all the fabulous deets we are totally loving from this inspiration shoot. There are so many amazing details, I couldn’t decide where to draw the line, so I made sure to load the gallery with ALL of them!

Click here to see the rest in the gallery!

From Scheme Events … Las Vegas is known as the Wedding Capital of the World and we wanted to showcase why this is true outside of our infamous chapels.  We gathered the best vendors in the Las Vegas Wedding industry and created a wedding vision with a mix of modern elegance and old school glamour.  Midnight blue sequin linen accented with gold tableware and a pop of fresh white floral complemented the coloring of The Barrymore restaurant.  The gold cake incorporated the hot ombre wedding trend and contemporary stationery made the pieces cohesive.  Our bride and groom are a stylish young couple who enjoy the juxtaposition of old and new.  For example, everyone is familiar with a sommelier and great wine at a wedding.  So for a modern twist, a beer station with an in-house cicerone (a beer expert) was highlighted.  The overall feel is glamorous, trendsetting and sexy.

Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography / Coordination and Design: Scheme Events / Hair + Makeup: Your Beauty Call / Stationery and Signage: Paper and Home / Cake: Gimme Some Sugar / Venue: The Barrymore / Desserts & Cocktails: The Barrymore / Film: Naz Films Inc. / Bride’s Attire: Bella Bridesmaid / Groom’s Attire: Tuxedo Junction / Floral: Divine Events / Linen: La Tavola / Chameleon Chairs: Classic Party Rentals / Flatware: RSVP Party Rentals / Female Model: Jessica Gamez / Male Model: Shane Kawamura

Seersucker and navy. Stripes and boats. Driftwood hearts and polka dot cakes. Sounds like the makings of a fabulous nautical affair. But what really struck my fancy with this Lake Tahoe wedding was the romantic element added by Merrily Wed. Alongside the boat shoes and the color blocked maids’ were parasols and bright blooms from Bellissima Floral. Both the bride and the groom were ever present in the deets from the day, perfectly captured by both Jay Reilley Photography + Courtney Aaron Photography, and that is something we love to get on board with. Click here for more!

Click here to see the full wedding in the gallery!

From Merrily Wed … We had a lot of fun incorporating their personalities into the wedding! Abby is a teacher so we used chalkboards for the table numbers and she also had a ton of wine corks. I gave her the idea to glue the wine corks around the table number frames and create the bar menu frame backings which we simply pinned the bar menu to as well. We also stacked tons of corks in vases (along with white dendrobiums and limes) at the bar.

Abby also loves mason jars so we used these to serve her signature drink, to showcase family photos at the guest book table and to also suspend orange pillars from shepherd hooks around the property. She found some stemmed mason jars that we brought to them for their quick spin on the Lake after the ceremony.  She had some old shutters which we used to present the guests’ escort cards on and embellished them with a few floral blooms. They love riding their beach cruisers so this was stamped on their escort cards and dining menus too.

Abby has a very fun, playful personality and this is seen everywhere with the vibrant orange touches from the parasols to the sashes on her bridesmaid dresses to the flowers in the bridesmaids’ hair to punches of color throughout the reception. We played up Nic and his groomsmen seersucker suits by using navy pinstripe napkins at dinner and using navy pinstripe ribbon for subtle details throughout the reception.

We were striving for an overall casually elegant with a natural, warm inviting feel. Abby wanted to use their initials somewhere so Bellissima Floral created giant initials that we hung around the necks of giant seagrass urns at the aisle entrance and reused these at the entrance to the reception tent later on. We used burlap runners on the dining tables over Tuscany eggshell knobby linen – both very appropriate for Lake Tahoe. The walnut wood dining chairs complimented the walnut wood charger. The centerpieces were a mix of clear pedestal vases and ceramic white pitchers with single stems in white and clear glass bottles – a Tahoe rustic garden elegance feel. Key tables (guest book, lemonade and cake tables) were graced with Tuscany spice knobby linen for bursts of color.

Photography: Jay Reilly Photography + Courtney Aaron Photography / Wedding Planning + Design: Merrily Wed / Ceremony + Reception Venue: Private Estate, Sunnyside Estate / Florals: Bellissima Floral / Catering: As You Wish Catering / Cake: Sugar Pine Cakery / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaids Dresses: LulaKate / String Music: Accent Music / DJ: We Ain’t Saints / Rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals

And now lets delve into some of the projects behind this fab shoot. Get ready to take some notes because we have a whole lot of steal-worthy ideas coming your way in 3, 2, 1…

Materials:
spray adhesive
paper box
colored sand
paint and paint brush
paper with your table number
scissors
bowls for mixing sand

1. Prep the sand by mixing different amounts of the colors you want to fade into each other. A lot of yellow with a little orange in the first bowl, an equal amount of both in another bowl, and a lot of orange and a little yellow in the last bowl

2. Paint box to create a lighter surface so your color stands out more, let dry

3. Spray the glue all over one surface of box, spoon lines of sand across the glued area in a gradient pattern, tip off excess sand, let dry

4. Cut out the number from the paper, place the template over the sanded gradient, spray glue directly over the template, spoon purple sand over the template, remove template and tip off excess sand, let dry. Repeat steps 1-3 for better color and sand coverage

5. Repeat on all sides

Materials:
Rit dye
100% cotton napkins
bucket or deep container
boiling water
salt
embroidery floss
embroidery hoop
pencil

Before you Start:
Prep napkins by running them through the wash without softener

1. Follow directions on dye box for mixing dye, boiling water, and salt. The salt helps hold the dye in the cotton fabric

2. Slowly lower napkin into dye, trying to keep it level with the water to maintain an even line of dye. Lower 3/4 into water, hold 10 seconds and lift out 1/4, hold another 60 seconds and lift out another 1/4 (only 1/4 of the napkin should still be in the water), hold for another 60 seconds (or longer) and remove completely from water

3. Carefully place wet napkin on drying rack. As you complete more napkins be sure not to overlap a dyed portion with an un-dyed portion so as not to get drips on the white part of the napkin. Let dry completely

4. Sketch out a design for your monogram

5. Place napkin in embroidery hoop and pull tight. Chain stitch your monogram, remove from hoop and iron flat

Materials:
a canvas the size of your liking
embroidery floss
needle
ultra fine tip sharpie
glue gun
a yard of linen fabric (or faux linen like I used!)
graphic map of the US enlarged to fill the canvas
tags

Before you Start:
Prep fabric by cutting it about 3 inches larger on all sides than your canvas (keep this in mind when you buy the fabric), cut out the map

1. Hot glue top center, then bottom center, then the centers on of the other sides, then glue around the corners, pulling fabric taught on each side.
2. Turn the canvas over and place the map in the place you want on the canvas, making sure you leave room for Alaska and Hawaii, outline the entire US with sharpie with dotted line (cause it’s cute!)
3. Begin cutting out a few states at a time and tracing around them with a dotted line on the map. I did this with only a couple at a time to be sure I put them all in the right places.
4. Write on the tag a message to your fiance and make a stitch in the place you met. Then each guest can tie on a stitch and mark where they met with a tagged message to the newlyweds!

A big, huge thank you to MegRuth and her fab team for sharing this collaboration of awesome!  xoxo

Photography: MegRuth Photography / Venue + Catering: Bar + Bistro @ The Arts Factory in Las Vegas, Nevada / Floral Design: Layers of Lovely / Wedding Cake: Gimme Some Sugar / Invitation Suite, Menus, + Place Cards: SHE Paperie / Custom Hanger: Handcrafted Affairs / Table Rental: RSVP Party Rentals / Table Linen: La Tavola / Chairs: Collected + Spray-Painted / Runner + Napkins: DIY / Guest Sign-in Board: DIY / Table Number: DIY / Wedding Dress: Saja Weddings via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid / Birdcage Veil and Hair Piece: Pomp & Plumage / Hair + Makeup: Your Beauty Call / Lash Extensions: Ciao Bella Studio / Models: Ali, Kavin + Lindsey

Inspiration shoots are great for pulling ideas and pretty details for your upcoming wedding. But when a shoot is also jam-packed with THREE awesome DIY projects; that’s like hitting the blogging lotto. MegRuth Photography teamed up with a bevy of fabulous creatives including Layers of Lovely who whipped up some insane florals and SHE Paperie with her perfect paper goods for a desert shoot infused with modern color. It’s succulents and feathers like you’ve never seen. Catch it all right here.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Meg of MegRuth Photography… This is not your typical Las Vegas affair. We chose to keep it light and fresh with lots of color, succulents, feathers and braided details. The color palette was tangerine tango, purple and a gradient of teals with yellow accents. Every vendor that worked on this shoot was completely inspired. We incorporated a small amount ombre to tell the story. I dip dyed the napkins and embroidered them with a monogram that the couple could keep for their home after their wedding day. There were a few DIY projects that I did for the shoot that any bride could do leading up to her big day: a colored sand table number, DIY dyed and embroidered napkins and a map guest book. The ombre effect on the cake was created with sanding sugar to mimic the ombre sand table number, and succulents were added to tie in with the table setting. Our florist wasn’t shy about spray painting the succulents to add pops of color throughout the centerpiece and for the cake. We also used one succulent nub sprayed teal and tied to the bridesmaid’s wrist with twine in lieu of a bouquet. Hair and makeup continued the color scheme and braided accents on the invitations and menus and really tied everything together. Those subtle details are what really makes a wedding stand out against the rest. The invitation suite was custom designed for the shoot and can now be ordered through SHE Paperie! Everything was set against the backdrop of The Bar + Bistro at The Arts Factory in the arts district of downtown Las Vegas. Such an eclectic and unique setting for any wedding affair and amazing food to boot! 

Photography: MegRuth Photography / Venue + Catering: Bar + Bistro @ The Arts Factory in Las Vegas, Nevada / Floral Design: Layers of Lovely / Wedding Cake: Gimme Some Sugar / Invitation Suite, Menus, + Place Cards: SHE Paperie / Custom Hanger: Handcrafted Affairs / Table Rental: RSVP Party Rentals / Table Linen: La Tavola / Chairs: Collected + Spray-Painted / Runner + Napkins: DIY / Guest Sign-in Board: DIY / Table Number: DIY / Wedding Dress: Saja Weddings via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid / Birdcage Veil and Hair Piece: Pomp & Plumage / Hair + Makeup: Your Beauty Call / Lash Extensions: Ciao Bella Studio / Models: Ali, Kavin + Lindsey

I have had many a girl crush throughout my days as editor of SMP. Probably a hundred or so too many if I’m being honest. But today, it’s a whole new level of crazy. Aside from being ridiculously beautiful, this next bride also has a killer sense of style, an adorable groom and one of the most effortlessly lovely celebrations we’ve seen on SMP. Oh and the most INSANE Lake Tahoe backdrop ever. With perfect photography by Cooper Carras to boot. This one, my friends, is enough to turn even the sourest of sour brides sweet. Click here for so much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Justin and I knew Lake Tahoe would be the perfect place to bring our friends and family to celebrate our wedding. Being from Northern California, we both have fond memories of winters and summers spent in Tahoe, and as a couple we have spent some of our best times there. September is a usually a great time for a outdoor wedding — although we were VERY lucky the day of our wedding, as it rained everywhere on the lake except over us! The Dollar House at Chinquapin was built in the 1920’s and definitely has a rustic vintage feel to it. We wanted to add to that and bring in some modern touches as well. I collected old skeleton keys and found vintage shutters to nail the keys to for our escort cards, vintage mason jars for flowers and candles and antique windows for photos. When I was in London the year before I went to the Mayfair antique market and found cameos for my bridesmaids’ bouquets, and I used my Mom’s cameo for mine. We had originally planned to tent the patio, but our guest list grew too quickly and it wasn’t possible, so to add lighting and ambiance, we hung chandeliers. The beautiful backdrop of Lake Tahoe, farm tables, mason jars, lanterns and gorgeous flowers and lighting created an amazing setting for an amazing day and night with our family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Cooper Carras / Ceremony: Chinquapin Dock at North Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City, California / Reception: Dollar House at Chinquapin / Flowers: NLC Productions / Event Design: Crux Events / Event Planning: Joy de Vivre / Wedding Invitations: Lazaro Press / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang “Ethel” / Bride’s Belt: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Birdcage Veil: Haute Bride (Borrowed from the Bride’s Sister) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Azadeh Couture, Alice + Olivia, J.Crew, Bella Bridesmaid / Cake Topper Figures: Legacy Antiques and Interiors / Linens: La Tavola