Are you ready for a dose of sunshine? This cheery lemon-themed styled shoot will pull you out of your winter funk and have you dreaming about a summer wedding!

Here’s what Tori from Golden Sage Events had to say about this bright and beautiful shoot:

The styled shoot (was) based off of beautiful invitation suites from Huckleberry Paper with yellow flowers and greenery. The second I saw them, I immediately thought of the abundance of fresh bright lemon trees surrounding the yard at Flying Caballos Ranch and had to set up there! I pulled inspiration from the citrus trees and wanted to incorporate a subtle vintage vibe from the old yellow farmhouse. I wanted to keep the model comfortable and somewhat casual to fit the overall mood of the shoot but still elegant and bridal. The ladies with the The Queens Bees  created the perfect retro look for her, and we borrowed a wonderful white jumpsuit from Something Bridal  in San Luis Obispo.

The lemonade bar complemented the picnic area perfectly thanks to Embellish Vintage Rentals , and the rolling hills and fresh pops of color in the floral arrangements from Aurelia Flora  brought the summer vibes to life. SLO Provisions   stocked our dessert cart with bright fruit-filled pastries and lemon bars in addition to the sandwiches and appetizers for our picnic cocktail hour. To add to the semi-vintage vibe, we teamed up with Bear and the Wren  to showcase their 1950’s ford truck outfitted with a wood-fired pizza oven and a beer & wine draft system.

The lemon theme was present in almost every detail from the drinks to the decor and created a fresh take on a casual wedding.

Thanks to Amber Lynn Photography and her talented team of vendors for sharing this beautiful shoot with us! (To watch a video of this shoot go here.)

Vendors:

Event Coordinator: Golden Sage Events 

Venue:  Flying Caballos Ranch  

Photographer: Amber Lynn Photography  

Videographer: Roman Howell Films

Caterer: Bear and the Wren  

Hair & Makeup: The Queens Bees 

Florals: Aurelia Flora 

Dress: Something Bridal 

Jewelry: The Gold Concept 

Rentals: All About Events  

Vintage Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals 

Wine Bottles: Clos Solene Winery  

Sweet Treats & Picnic: SLO Provisions  

Wedding Suite: Huckleberry Paper

Engagement season is fast approaching, so it’s time to pick out your dream rings! The classic, timeless style of oval engagement rings makes them an ideal choice. Here are 10 beautiful options that will make your jaw drop!

This stunning moissanite set from Tipsyweddings has a clean, striking look that you’ll never stop obsessing over!

For a subtler look, choose this lace diamond wedding ring set from MinimalVS.

Is it possible to achieve absolute perfection? This antique style handmade rose gold ring set from JeenMata makes it seem that way!

Why stick with just diamonds when you can have diamonds AND topaz? This enchanting ring is from GemsBox.

Holy glamour! This rose gold ring from OliveAvenueJewelry has certainly won us over!

This little beauty has an extra-special detail: on the back of the ring there is a tiny heart detail! Check it out for yourself at ARPELC.

This ethereal moonstone ring from NOOI is incredibly pretty, not to mention budget-friendly!

Boho brides, this one’s for you! This dazzling ring set from AbhikaJewels is under $500!

This capital-G Gorgeous ombre cluster ring from MinimalVS should be in your cart right now!

This bespoke ring from TheNorthWayStudio is like nothing we’ve ever seen before! We’re smitten!

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

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Curated gift boxes are becoming a white hot trend in the world of weddings, but since many gift box companies are US based and won’t ship to Canada, finding the perfect box as a Canadian bride can be a challenge. That is, until now! Recently, we discovered several Canadian gift box companies that offer beautiful boxes highlighting Canadian made artisan products. Today, we are featuring a few that we think should be on your radar. Let’s start with Toronto based Present Day, Toronto’s first curated and customizable gift box service.

Present Day offers an excellent variety of gift boxes with a strong focus on locally made goods. Present Day delivers within Toronto – and country wide. We sampled the Sweet Bridesmaid Box:

Here’s what’s included:

• BRACELET – An elegant and sparkly glass crystal Countess Cuff bracelet from Toronto’s Cherrypick jewelry shop.
• BATH SALTS – Wildwood ‘Wanderlust’ rose bath salts with Himalayan salt, dead sea salt, Moroccan rose, eucalyptus, rose petals and ylang ylang by Rowan Apothecary.
• CANDLE – Luxury rose scented soy wax candle in a simply beautiful glass cylinder.  Custom made with essential oils for Present Day .
• LIP BALM – Nourishing and refreshing, 100% natural Mint-Clementine lip balm by Artifact Skin Co. Made with Shea Butter, Calendula and pure essential oils.
• CANDIES – Tiny black & white, blackberry flavoured candies with little hearts! Handmade in Toronto at the Papabubble shop.
• TRUFFLES – Luxuriously smooth mint chocolate from Thompson’s Chocolates. A little indulgence.
• FLOWERS – Dried mini-bouquet of blush and pink roses.

Who wouldn’t love to receive this adorable gift?

Pimpernel and Plum, an Ottawa based company, also offers myriad boxes for your wedding party. The majority of their products are made in Canada by local artisans and makers.

We sampled the “Wedding #2 Box“, which includes:

• ORGANIC, FAIR TRADE COFFEE – Roasted for Pimpernel & Plum.
• CANDLE – Warm Tobacco Pipe candle.
• CARRY ON COCKTAIL KIT – To help kickoff the celebration!
• ARTISAN CHOCOLATE – by  Alicja Confections.

All of the products arrive in wooden keepsake box.

Chocolate, coffee and cocktails. A dreamy combo, if you ask us!

Acre 75 is another Ontario based gift box company that places a huge emphasis on locally sourced artisan products; each item in their gift boxes is handmade in a small town in Canada.

We sampled A Fine Man box, which would be perfect for the groomsmen in your wedding!

Here’s what is included in the box:

• RECLAIMED RAILWAY SPIKE BOTTLE OPENER – Metcalfe Iron Works ,Mildmay, Ontario made bottle opener forged from a reclaimed railway spike. Makers mark “MIW” is also stamped on backside of opener.
  
• CRAFT BEER GLASS  – Upcycled beer glass that is dishwasher safe and holds a full beer! Made by Artech Glass Blowing Studios, Tory Hill, Ontario.
  
• SWIG & SWINE SAUCE – Carolinian Inspired Marinating & Mop Sauce infused with Wild Card Brewing Company Beer made by County Fare, Prince Edward County, Ontario.

  
  

We especially LOVED the iron spike bottle opener! The groomsmen will totally dig this box!

If you’ve already got your wedding party covered, why not consider a gift box for your sweetheart, just because?

*Intimate Weddings received complimentary gift boxes for review purposes.

RebeccaAnne Photography has seen Jessica and Aaron’s relationship blossom. It all started with a model call for an elopement shoot that the photographer put together.

“Jessica and Aaron had such a lovely intimate Swiftwater Cellars Elopement with just their closest friends and family present. I have absolutely adored getting to know these two over the past year. I met Jessie and Aaron when they responded to a model call for a styled elopement shoot that I was putting together at Wahclella Falls. I instantly knew via photos and our communication that they would be the perfect fit and such a fun couple. And sure enough, they were amazing and I adored every minute of getting to know them throughout our adventure that day. And so when I got an email from Jessica earlier this year that they were planning their real elopement, I could not be more ecstatic that they wanted to book me! And their day proved to be even more then I could have imagined.”

RebeccaAnne Photography could not have done a more beautiful job of capturing this gorgeous wedding!

Jessica, 32 & Aaron, 30

Location: Cle Elum, WA.

Wedding Date: July 12, 2017

Number of Guests: 15

Wedding Cost: $10,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Swiftwater Cellars

Wedding Reception Location: Swiftwater Cellars

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We really wanted to be focused on each other and the commitment we were making on our wedding day rather than be overwhelmed by hosting a large party and all of the details that go along with a big wedding. It felt important to include our families and a few close friends who have contributed to our lives individually and now as a couple be there to witness, support, and celebrate with us. Not only were we exchanging vows with each other, but we made a commitment and promise to one other’s family and our community that we would take care of each other and asked them for their continued support in upholding our vows throughout our marriage.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We were surprised that although we planned a small celebration, there was still a lot of work that went into executing all the details. All of our guests live out of state so coordinating flights, transportation, and accommodations took some time. The majority of our guests all stayed in one house together and we cooked most of our meals family style. We spent a lot of time ironing out all the food details, but it turned out exactly how we wanted! Everyone came together and pitched in for every meal and it really felt like a joining of our families all week.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

We both have a small immediate family so that was easy, but we are blessed to have lots of lifelong friends we are still close with from back home in Ohio and drawing the line there was a challenge. We had decided it needed to be all or none, so with the exception of my two best girlfriends who are more like sisters, and the couple that married us, we kept it family only.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Everyone was very gracious and understanding of our choice. We felt really supported by everyone in our decision and ended up having a party at a taproom at a great brewery back in Ohio in the fall to celebrate with everyone. We got the best of both worlds, an intimate ceremony and a big party later on with no pressure…just an open bar and good people.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Seeing each other for the first time; walking down the aisle with both my dad and brother by my side; hearing each of our parents speak during the ceremony. We had written our vows together, but we each prepared something to read to each other at the ceremony and that was really fun to surprise each other after all we had planned together along the way.

What were the highlights of the reception?

One of my (bride) favorite moments of the reception was sitting down at the long dinner table and looking down as our families joined together for our first meal together. It might be my old school Italian roots, but I’m a sucker for a big family dinner.

Continuing the party back at the house after the dinner reception, complete with a late night bonfire and s’mores was also a big highlight for me.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

We truly got to focus on each other and soak up every moment together. It felt relaxed and we were able to socialize with the whole group without feeling overwhelmed or pressured to cater to anyone else. It felt exciting, yet manageable. When we pulled back into the house that night we sat in the Jeep for 15 minutes before we went in recapping just how amazing the day was, we couldn’t believe it all actually came together just how we wanted.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Planning a wedding is nothing like what I imagined it to be. It can easily become overwhelming, even when you keep it small and intimate. Looking back I would encourage all couples to stay true to who they are when deciding how they want their day to go. The process can be consuming and it very easily snowballs out of control. I think some of the most helpful things we did were to step away from time to time, re-evaluate and make sure we were still planning what we really wanted. I needed those moments to reel myself back in after drowning in Pinterest and Instagram ideas! We also had date nights where we didn’t talk about the wedding at all. It was a great reminder to just have fun and remember why we were getting married in the first place.

Vendors:

Photographer: RebeccaAnne Photography

Venue: Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, WA (Where we stayed all week in a cabin and the lodge) and Swiftwater Cellars (ceremony and reception on Suncadaia property)

Brides dress: Revolve

Grooms attire: Calvin Klein Suit

Bride/Groom wedding bands: Nanikaii

Dessert: Pie Bar (Ballard, WA) and 509 Bake House (Cle Elum, WA)

Hair and makeup: Bride did her own

Officiants: Josh and Alexis Charles (friends of bride and groom)

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Did you know that something as simple as a beautiful hair accessory can add the perfect finishing touch to your wedding day ensemble?

Here are 10 of our favourite Etsy hair accessories:

Let’s start the list with this Kapelika heart clip. It’s so sweet and versatile!

DavieandChiyo has us swooning with this tiny leafy hair clip!

Want to keep your look simple, but still make a statement? AnnieBukhman has it all figured out with this patterned copper elastic.

For another simple leaf design, this gold clip by luxebuffalo is your best bet!

Who doesn’t like a little bling? DavieandChiyo provide the right amount of shine with this gorgeous diamond branch hair clip.

We are loving this bohemian style of clips by GlamHerBands! Perfect for a messy up-do.

ApseAdorn gives us a modern look at a classy hair clip with this straight-edged design.

ApseAdorn strikes twice! We’re loving this simple round hair clip for the modern bride!

Bold in copper is how this design by SurondStudio is making us feel!

Finally, if a simple clip won’t do, GlamHerBands has an absolutely gorgeous band that will go perfectly with any hairstyle!

This post contains Etsy affiliate links

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