Emily & Robby

September 1

Knoxville, Tennessee

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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?

We were married at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, my family’s church. Honestly, I had always dreamed of being married there. My grandmother is a founding member of the church, and the original church services were actually held in her home. There is a lot of family history in that building! Rob and I really felt at home there and that is all that really mattered to us!

Our reception was held at the Reserve at Bluebird Hill. I knew the moment I met Jan Hall, owner of the Reserve, that I wanted my reception at Bluebird Hill. She is a wonderful person and her location is just as beautiful as her! I loved working with her and our reception was beautiful.

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

My Dad surprised me the day of the wedding with a few mementos for me. The one that stands out the most is his father’s, my Opa’s, dog tags. He put them on the inside of my bouquet so all day I could look down and remember my Opa. I also was wearing my Nana’s wedding ring on my right hand. She was very sick leading up to our wedding, and we were all afraid she wouldn’t be there to see it, but we all got an answered prayer and her health is now better than ever!

But, my favorite detail of our wedding was actually at our reception. Both of my grandfathers have passed, so I wanted to remember throughout the day that they were there with us. Rob is a guitarist, so we decided that for the father-daughter dance Rob would play our song on my Papa’s guitar. I remember him best when he was playing his guitar. So, Rob learned to play “Mr. Roboto” by Styx for my Dad. Which was another detail that was equally as hilarious as it was memorable!

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

At our ceremony, at the very end, we had our organist, Reuben Weaver, play and sing “Grow Old With Me” by John Lennon. During that song, Rob and I just got to be together. It was the very first moment that we were married. It was just such an awesome feeling! And the song was just so beautiful. I will never forget that moment.

Jeniece & Jeffry

October 29

Sonoma, California

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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?

I fell in love with the winery when I was in California with my Mom for a girls trip.  When Jeff  and I started to plan our wedding and we went out to California to get ideas and I never thought I would stumble across the same winery considering there are so many out there to visit.  So I knew that when we drove up how much I loved the scenery, the rolling hills in the background, and of course the beautiful vineyard. It was just so peaceful and relaxing when we were there wine tasting and that’s when we just knew this is what we wanted for our special day.  

Which three details from your wedding were your favorite?

1. The table setting that our event designer Jolene Sullivan helped create was absolutely stunning with the long wooden table set for 18 (just family). It was just so intimate with the candles and flowers and the perfect settings
2. The vineyard, I enjoyed just having fun taking pictures with Jeff and I and being creative with our photographer
   
3. When Jeff and I chose our colors and he picked out his tie, I went and purchased ties for all the men (Father and Brothers) that went along the same color scheme as Jeff’s tie.  They were all different but matched when we took photos. I also chose to wear the same color shoes and then men’s ties – eggplant.

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

I loved loved loved that Jeff and I chose to do a “First Look.” Instead of walking down the aisle we chose to see each other before the wedding.  We chose a location at the vineyard that had these wooden doors and I was behind the doors and he opened them and I will never forget that moment.  It was just the two of us, for us to have that special moment that I will never forget.  It was just perfect and we have some of the best photos taken during that time and right after.  

Leli & Tom

August 11

Boston, Massachusetts

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Q & A with the Bride:

Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

The flowers, for sure – especially the tall floral arrangements on the stage. We loved how the decorations at the ceremony came out, especially seeing my florist adding her arrangements and pew flowers that I could only try and picture in my head during the planning process. They complimented the background decorations of the paper flowers so well. It was even better than what I imaged. Seeing all the time spent and decision-making come together for the first time as I was walking down the aisle just made it feel that more special.

Also, the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets – they were so much more than what I expected and were the perfect arrangement and feel of what I wanted.  

Our paper suite designed by our graphic designer, especially the programs.  We had a lot of information to fit and going through a number of revisions to get it to what it became was time well spent.

The hanging purple, lilac, and white paper flowers we got from Luna Bazaar.  They were one of my favorite decorating pieces that were placed on the background of the stage and the wall behind our welcoming table.  They were the unique piece I was looking for and matched my colors to my wedding perfectly!

It’s also a tie with our candy table.  It’s one of the fun things we really wanted to have at our wedding – candy and snacks that my husband and I love and wanted to share with our guests.

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

For me, it’s really hard to pick one.  One of the moments I can’t stop thinking about would have to be the morning when I was getting ready and one of my bridesmaids gave me a card from Tom.  I was so surprised since we agreed we weren’t going to do bride/groom gifts.  What he said to me in that card was so moving it brought me to tears and even though I had already did my make-up, was in my dress, it didn’t matter. I was so moved by it I couldn’t hold back the tears from coming.

The other was the moment the doors opened and I turned to walk down the aisle. Seeing the sanctuary filled with family and friends, all the decorations, seeing “the light” at the end of the aisle of my husband looking down at me, it was hard not to feel the overwhelming emotions that filled me at that sight and the moment I had been waiting for – walking down the aisle on my wedding day to marry the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

I actually asked my husband what his moment was as well.  He had two:

One is when they opened the door and I first saw Leli.  The other is when I went to greet people before the wedding started and I saw how many people were there and them coming up and congratulating me.  That’s when it hit me that everyone there were there for us, to celebrate with us because of the love they had for us.  There were people I haven’t seen in a couple of years due to the fact that they lived so far away and they took the time out of their schedules and money to travel just to witness us getting married.

Sabrina & Franco

September 9

Esparto, California

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From the Photographer:

“Sabrina and Franco’s wedding was one of my favorites, as every detail was carefully planned by the bride herself. With its beautiful ivy-covered barn surrounded by vineyards and lavender, the Taber Ranch Event Center has some amazing settings for outdoor photos. Much of the decor was created by family members – Sabrina herself designed and created the centerpieces and her mother-in-law and sister-in-law made the bouquets, boutonnieres, and favors. A picture of Sabrina’s late grandmother was fastened to her bouquet as a gift and blessing from her mother. The couple wed under a vintage lace canopy made by the bride and her family, and literally ‘tied the knot’ using manilla rope as a symbol of their union. After the ceremony, while guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the veranda, Sabrina and Franco took Taber Ranch’s vintage Cadillac convertible out for a spin. The in-barn reception was delightful, featuring brilliant music and cuisine. The night culminated with sparklers and an exit in the vintage Cadillac.” – Rochelle Wilhems Photography

Jessica & Sean 

April 19

Pasadena, 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?

We were looking for a venue at a hotel and came across The Westin. Once we  toured the hotel and surroundings, we fell in love with the location. It had a beautiful courtyard, it was located  across the street from the beautiful Pasadena City Hall, and it was within walking distance to a restaurant for our rehearsal dinner.

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

1. Photo booth

2. Treat buffet

3. Overall setup of our ballroom. It was gorgeous!

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

 Saying, “I do” and sharing our first kiss as husband and wife!