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wedding blog + planning guide for creative weddings | inspiration for DIY Brides

Brenda's Wedding Blog is your online resource for planning your dream elegant wedding. Helping you find the "wow" in weddings.

Posts in Real Weddings
French Quarter of New Orleans Wedding with bride in turquoise bolero

Today's wedding of Seth and Jen is absolutely gorgeous. It took place in the heart of the french quarter in New Orleans and was beautifully photographed by Brett of Siegel Thurston Photography. Now living in San Diego, Seth and Jen had met in New Orleans in their college days. So, there was no question that they would be having their wedding in the city that's full of history. They even did their own florals by picking them up from a flower shop. And, wait until you see the bride in her turquoise bolero - she looks absolutely stunning. I love it!!!!!! {PS: I think I found the etsy shop where it's from, will check on that and post an update}

Update: the designer of the turquoise bolero has been found :) It's designed by Mary and Angelika in Tel-Aviv, Israel on etsy.

And, as Brett Siegel writes . . . "In true New Orleans style they also hired the coolbone Jazz band to play the wedding, Second line, and reception."

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Siegel Thurston Photography
Musicians: Coolbone Jazz Band
Museum: Beauregard-Keyes House

Classic, Vintage Wine Country Wedding with Handmade Touches

I always get excited when a photographer emails me directly to introduce themselves and share with me a lovely wedding that I then get to share with you. Jasmine Lee Photography submitted this super sweet handmade wedding of Laurel and Stephen and the bride is here to share her perspective on the wedding.

The brides writes . . . "The theme I had envisioned for our wedding was classic, yet vintage; elegant, yet rustic; and infused with tradition. I fell in love with the town of Clarksburg (where our venues were located) upon my first visit. Stephen’s family of Dutch dairy farmers helped found the town after arriving here in the 1800s. Grapes turned out to be a better option for the location, so they switched to the wine industry."

The Mass was filled with the love of family and friends . . .
• a dear friend was their officiant
• the bride's brothers served the Mass
• a group of the bride's friends from her college choir came to sing
• the bride's mother created all the floral arrangements for the church

With Laurel being a food blogger for Chewy Morsels and both herself and Stephen loving good food and drink, they served their guests a delicious Italian dinner with a great wine selection. Laurel's friend flew all the way from Texas to bake and create their wedding cake which was carrot cake with chocolate strawberry toppers.

Handmade wedding touches included . . .
• the drying out of 15 dozen roses to make the table decorations with wine bottle vases
• with the bride and groom both having a great love for literature, book "pedestals" were used to display the floral arrangements
• in the center of each napkin was the favors for the guests - lavender sprigs with a tasting square of dark chocolate from Scharffen-Berger to accompany their toast of port

And, lastly, here are some memorable moments from the bride and groom:
Laurel: The most memorable moments of the day were twofold for me: saying our vows to each other — it was such a heartfelt and intense moment — I couldn’t have been happier to make those promises to Stephen, and when we were dancing to our first song together. It felt like we were the only ones in the room, spinning and twirling together, looking each other deeply in the eyes, for the first time as a married couple.

Stephen: When Laurel came down the aisle of the old mission style church along the Sacramento Delta, she looked like an angel, and the only one in the room. The local priest afforded us the opportunity of being married there, when typically it’s only parishioners, was truly an honor.

Wedding Vendors:

Reception Venue: Old Sugar Mill
Wedding Coordinator: Laurel Muff (day-of: Kayleigh Lembke)
Florist: Laurel Muff, bridesmaids, and Greta Munsill
Cake Artist: a friend, Emma Kenney
Makeup Artist: a friend, Diana Freeman
Hair Stylist: a friend, Maria Kalberg
Wedding dress designer: Alfred Angelo
Bridesmaids dress designer: Alfred Angelo
Tuxedo designer: Jos. A. Banks
DJ: a friend, Anthony Smitha

Purple Wedding Ideas from Calgary, Canada {with Russian traditions}

Today's beautiful wedding with Russian traditions incorporated throughout comes to us from Nancy of Hanafoto in Calgary, Canada. One of the traditions involved seeing if Cyla or Mikhail tore apart the bigger piece of a special wedding cake. Whoever gets the bigger half is the one who will be the head of the house. In this wedding, Cyla {the bride} won :) When I saw the gown Cyla wore I believe I let out a mini gasp - the beaded detailing is absolutely stunning. And, aren't the photos of the bride with her parents just the sweetest? I love this idea for a must-take photo.

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Nancy of Hanafoto
Event Planner: Calgary Wedding Planning Company
Floral Designer: Peaseblossoms Flowers
Reception Venue: Lake Sundance Community

Vibrant Purple and Green Beach Wedding in Florida

Today's gorgeous beach wedding of Heather and Bert took place in Destin, Florida with the bride choosing white Bali flags as a focal point of her decor. White chairs, fresh rose petals and white flower globes adorned with Swarovski Crystals were used to compliment the beach wedding ceremony. I'm in love with the color palette of the fresh and vibrant greens with purples and whites. Princess Wedding was the coordinator behind this magnificent affair.

Wedding Coordination and decorations: Janet Burdash, Princess Wedding Co
Wedding Photographer: Edina Kiss Photography, Destin Florida
Wedding Bouquets: Princess Wedding Co, Destin Florida

Purple Weddings Ideas : a real wedding from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Today's wedding is just beautiful and it features my favorite color . . . purple. Christine and Rob's wedding was captured with gorgeous photos by Hetler Photography. Wait until you see the stairs the bride walked down to meet her man for their first look. Simply stunning.

Sweet details that mean something to the bride and/or groom are always the best. Here the bride is holding her grandmother's handkerchief.

One of the bride's sisters made these beautiful hangers.

Wedding Vendors:
Photographers: Hetler Photography
Ceremony & Reception Location: Thousand Oaks Golf Course, Grand Rapids, MI
Caterer & Cake: Thousand Oaks Golf Course
Florals: Shelly's Designs  
Music & Entertainment: Music Host Productions
Hair & Make-up: Design One
Bridal Preparations: JW Marriott Hotel
Bride's Dress: Alfred Angelo