As part of our Valentine’s Day week of inspiration, we thought this peach and gray rooftop styled shoot would spark some romance. Elegant yet modern, it’s filled with pops of color, details such as “tears of joy” tissue packets and not to mention, a lounge complete with cigars and martinis.  The venue not only offers beautiful backdrops for photographs but a feel of intimacy midst the bustling city landscape. Fall in love with one look:

Cailin & Ryan

October 19

Thurmont, Maryland

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Q & A with the Bride:

1. What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

Even on a weekday morning when no events were set up, Thorpewood’s lodge was warm and inviting from the minute we walked in the door. Everything about the place was gorgeous in a very natural and laid-back way, and we knew that all of our friends and family would feel at home celebrating with us there.

2. Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

Our favorite details were the things that made the day “ours,” and it’s difficult to narrow them down. Ryan’s mom spent hours baking desserts for the reception, including his favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. My aunt and uncle built a sign post showing the distance to all of the towns we had lived, which our guests passed on the way to the ceremony site. Since I grew up in Florida and Ryan is from California, we had a sand ceremony using sand from beaches where we had spent lots of time growing up. We also chose readings and music that had meaning for us, even though most would not be considered traditional wedding picks. I loved walking down the aisle to Peter Gabriel and watching our guests laugh during the readings.

3. Give us the one moment from your wedding that you can’t stop thinking about.

My husband is a known procrastinator, who was up until 4 a.m. the night before the wedding writing his vows. Knowing that, I was completely blown away when he spoke, and I’m not sure that I even noticed the 100 or so people, who were watching us.

Dana & Peyton

July 14

Dobbin, Texas

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Q & A with the Bride:

What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

When we first toured, they were still renovating the property. We loved the vision shared of what Olde Dobbin Station would eventually look like and felt that it was a perfect fit for the vintage/homemade wedding we wanted. I especially loved the brick columns, chandeliers, windows, and the door. 

Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

This is hard to answer. I feel that everything was my favorite. I loved my dress and would wear it every day if that was an option. I loved the string quartet. It was fun picking out classical and contemporary songs for the playlist. I also loved our food, both the beautiful cakes and the breakfast dinner. We often made breakfast for dinner while dating, and felt it was a meaningful and fun dinner choice. 

Give us the one moment in your wedding day you can’t stop thinking about.

I loved our First Look. Our photographer Kimberly did a wonderful job capturing our time together before the ceremony. It allowed us to connect, to pray together, and to calm our excited/anxious hearts before the wedding started.

Ineca & Bobbie

July 7

Sebastopol, California 

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Q & A with the Bride:

1.What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

The vineyard view. The moment we stepped onto the property and caught a glimpse of the breathtaking view of the surrounding vineyards, we fell in love with it. We automatically pictured our guests during dinner – laughing and enjoying themselves, while overlooking the sun setting in the vineyards, sipping a glass of wine and chowing down on some comfort food in wine country.

2.Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

1. Our guestbook: We asked guests to write down their advice, notes and wishes on a hanging tag. The tags were then hung in a rustic keepsake box that we now have displayed in our home.
2. Our DIY favors:We filled small kraft paper bags with caramel popcorn and stamped the front with a personalized ink stamp that read “Thanks for sharing in our sweet beginning.” What we loved most about this detail was the fun we had making them – an assembly line of three family generations, including Grandma!
3. Our cakes: We wanted something simple that looked like a real cake you wanted to take a bite out of (and they were delicious!). We displayed three small buttercream frosting cakes with a few fresh dahlias on various cake stands we found at a vintage shop.

3. Give us the one moment from your wedding that you can’t stop thinking about.

Our first dance to Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing.” It was a really fun and relaxed moment in the day. Every time I hear the song, it brings me right back.

Jesse & Ben

September 22

Chicago, Illinois

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Q & A with the Bride:

1. What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

The overall aesthetic just felt right. It was the first of 10 venues we visited. I remember we were walking out to the car, looking at each other and both said, “Yeah, that’s it.” We just knew. At our wedding, our friends and family kept telling us, “This place is so you guys.” The exposed brick, the timber beams and the natural light. It was like love at first sight.

2. Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

1. The votives surrounding our venue: we purchased 500 votives and holders which took up a lot of space in our apartment for the months leading up to the wedding, but it was worth it. They gave the space a beautiful, warm glow.

2. The Jack Straw Band: we like to see them play at bars and festivals in Chicago, and they also played at our parents’ 25th anniversary party. One of the most memorable moments was when they started playing my favorite song, Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers Band as Ben and I walked into the cocktail hour.

3. The Lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton: it’s a children’s story about two dinosaurs, who come to love each other despite their differences. I was a preschool teacher when I first came to Chicago (our flower girl was actually one of my students!) so the children’s story had even more meaning.

3. Give us the one moment from your wedding that you cannot stop thinking about.

The most memorable for me will always be when I watched Ben read his vows. All of my bridesmaids were crying because Ben was crying, and I was just so filled with love. It was beautiful. The most hilarious moment though had to be the end of the night. We had just found out that we needed $500 cash if we wanted the DJ to play for an extra half hour. It was about three minutes before she was scheduled to stop playing when our family and friends started chipping in money. That extra half hour on the dance floor was totally worth it.