Seeing this wedding in my inbox made my heart sing. You see, it incorporates the love, wedding, and work of two of my very special vendors: Melania Marta Photography and PNZ Designs. Melania did a beautiful job capturing Nicole and Peter’s rustic handmade wedding day. Nicole, who looked amazing in a simple wedding dress (actually a white bridesmaid dress) decorated with lace from her mother’s veil and sewn on by her mother-in-law, made all of her wedding decor. It was doing so that inspired her to start her very own business of handmade rustic wedding decor. Her Etsy Shop is full of many of the same pieces incorporated into her wedding day and so many more. Nicole and Peter’s son was the life of the party and Melania provided this sweet family with many, many wonderful photographic memories of a day eight years in the making! It’s my honor and pleasure to share this wedding and love story with all of you today!!

Peter grew up in Pennsylvania and Nicole grew up almost 100 miles away in New Jersey. She was asked to be a bridesmaid in her friend’s wedding in 2004. The bridesmaids had their dress fitting the same day the groomsmen had their tux fitting. The whole wedding party met at a local pub for dinner and drinks after the fitting. And that was the first time Nicole saw Peter. They had a lot of fun that night and spent nearly the whole time chatting and getting to know one another.

The next weekend, Nicole drove to Pennsylvania for their first date – lunch, practice on the shooting range, and a movie. Their first kiss was on the shooting range :) and Nicole’s favorite date was the first weekend Peter took her to his family cabin in Northwestern, PA. There’s no TV, no phone, no Internet – just gorgeous scenery, fresh air, and a chance to relax and spend time together.

They started dating in July of 2004. Every weekend, one of them would drive almost 100 miles to see one another. On a crazy (and everyone told them it was crazy) whim in September of 2004, they decided the drive was too long, and so Nicole moved to Pennsylvania. In February of 2006, Peter was 23 and she was 22, and they decided to do another crazy thing and buy their first home. In October of 2008, they welcomed their son, Zachery, into the world. In July of 2010, Peter proposed (and in June 2012, they were married).

The morning of their 6 year anniversary, Nicole was in the kitchen making her morning coffee. Their son was 21 months at the time, and he came walking into the kitchen with a little gift bag saying, “Mama! Mama!” He handed her the bag and she opened it to find a little box. But before she was able to open up, Peter came in and asked her to marry him. She loved that he included their little one (and we do too)!!

Their story isn’t “typical,” but they knew pretty early on that they were in love. Despite everyone telling them they were nuts and it was “too soon,” they knew they could make it work. They knew they were young, they knew they were moving along kind of fast. But, most importantly, they knew they loved one another. And love can make you do some crazy things – but love can also make those crazy things work!

{From the Bride} We knew that we wanted a very small wedding. Our guest list included 32 people, including the photographer. We invited only our closest family and a few of our dearest friends. I have known one of my closest friends since we were 7. We talk on the phone and through email all the time, but we hadn’t seen one another in 10 years. She drove from Virginia to be there for me and that was one of the most special memories of my wedding. Introducing her to Peter and Zachery, and her reconnecting with my family was an unbelievable wedding gift.

We did see one another before the wedding. We did a first look. I was led to Peter by our son. Our first dance song was Then by Brad Paisley. My favorite part of the whole day was the trolley. It allowed me to spend some quality time with family and friends on the way to and from the wedding. Another favorite memory is my dress. My dress was a simple dress. It was actually just a bridesmaid dress in white. I pulled lace off my mother’s veil, and Pete’s mother (a professional seamstress) added my mom’s lace and did some hand-beading on my dress. It was nice to have a piece of both of our mothers on my dress :)

While planning, you try to plan the “perfect” wedding. You hope for perfect weather, perfect hair, perfect flowers. Then the day comes and you realize none of that matters. If at the end of the night, you are married to your best friend, then your day was absolutely perfect no matter what.

{Advice for Couples} Peter and I dated for 6 years before we were engaged and just shy of 8 years before we were married. In that time, we bought a home and had a son together. Some people told us we were doing things “backwards.” We knew we were doing things our way :) It is our love story, and we are writing it for us and our family. My best advice is listen to your heart, follow your own path.

Congratulations, Peter and Nicole! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Melania Marta Photography for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

Today’s rustic fall wedding from Carley Rehberg Photography is a vision in purple and orange. From the bride’s shoes to the bridesmaids dresses and necklaces and the insanely gorgeous bouquets. So much of this wedding was handmade and DIY including the men’s purple pocket squares, the framed burlap table numbers, the escort cards and display, and more! We love the pops of purple and orange against the fall foliage! And the bride and groom? They’re cute as can be! Just wait until you read their elaborate proposal story! :)

Amy and Brad met in the fall of 2003 after Amy’s roommate introduced her to Brad’s fraternity. Their first “date” as friends was to the Ice Cream Crank, a local ice cream shop near Virginia Tech, before Brad had to pick up a pledge on campus. Amy thought Brad was really nice (especially since he paid for her ice cream) but wasn’t initially interested in him. Over the next few weeks, Amy got to know Brad by hanging out with him at his fraternity events and chatting with him online through AOL Instant Messenger. In the beginning of October, Amy realized she hadn’t seen or heard from Brad in a while and that she missed him (which surprised her). A few weeks later, Brad’s fraternity held an event at their off-campus house. Late in the evening, as Amy was leaving the upstairs bathroom, she ran into Brad on the stairwell. He looked up at her, she looked down at him, then he kissed her. The rest is history.

Amy knew there was something special about Brad from the very beginning. He was thoughtful and kind, different from other guys she had dated. When Brad spilled his drink on Amy’s favorite sweater, he took it to the dry cleaners and returned it a few days later. For Amy’s birthday, just a few weeks after they had made their relationship “official”, Brad gave Amy a fish bowl filled with roses and Finding Nemo, a movie Amy had told Brad she really wanted.

Brad initially liked Amy, but didn’t realize how much at first. She was fun, interesting, and way more social than other girls Brad was used to being around. He always enjoyed her company, but didn’t see her that often since she lived on campus and he did not. Being a shy, poor college student didn’t help either, but this actually worked out in Brad’s favor. Amy would always offer to treat Brad using her campus meal plan since she knew he didn’t get to eat out much. Brad used that to his advantage and that’s how their relationship began: over Virginia Tech cafeteria lunches.

After six months together, Amy and Brad’s future was uncertain as Brad was graduating from college and Amy was moving back home for the summer. It was difficult at first, but they soon figured out how to make the long distance work, and continued to do so for two more years until Amy finished school. Upon graduation, Amy headed to grad school, which happened to be in the same city where Brad lived. The transition from college to grad school was difficult for Amy and it put a strain on her and Brad’s relationship until they eventually broke up. A few months later, they realized what they had was truly special, something they had never experienced with anyone else, and decided to give it another shot. Their break up made them both realize they didn’t want to be with anyone else and within two years moved in together. It was only a matter of time before Brad decided to propose.

2011 was Brad’s year to plan their vacation. For a while, she was sure Brad hadn’t even looked at any places, although they’d talked about Maine, Charleston, South Carolina, and Vermont. When he finally picked a destination, Amy asked him to keep it a secret until the day they left. A few weeks later though, Brad told her he had to tell her where they were going (Belize) because they needed shots. Amy hates shots but got the immunizations she needed and started getting really excited about Belize. She started surfing the web for pictures, things to do, and keeping an eye on the weather. She’d relay everything she found out to Brad and tried to get him to tell her more about where they were staying, with no luck.

The morning of their trip, their friends dropped them off at the airport. They got in a ridiculously long line at the ticket counter, which presented Brad with the perfect opportunity to deliver a surprise – they were not going to Belize. Brad reminded her that she had asked him not to tell her where they were going until the day they left. Instead of Belize, they were going to the Dominican Republic (and staying at the number two all-inclusive resort). The best part? Their friends were going with them!!

After two quick flights, the fab four (as they like to call themselves) made it to Punta Cana and the beautiful Iberostar Grand Bavaro resort. They were treated to amazing food, drinks, blue water, sparkling pools, pool bars, massages (for the girls), snorkeling and golf (for the boys).

At the end of an amazing and relaxing week, they packed up their things and headed to the airport. They got stuck in customs, and worried they might miss their connecting flight, which wound up being delayed anyway, so they had time to relax once they reached their gate. After an unexpectedly short flight, they touched down in their home city. Making their way out of the terminal, their friend said she really needed to use the bathroom. Amy thought this was odd since they’d only been on the plane for 30 minutes, but remembered that she and her husband had shared a rather large bottle of water, and didn’t think anything else of it. A few minutes later, they headed for the car.

As they left the secure area, Amy thought it would be really sweet if their friends’ parents were waiting for them with their son, knowing how much they had missed him. Right about that time, Amy happened to look up and over and thought she saw her mom sitting on one of the airport waiting area couches. Another look proved that it was her mom and her dad!! She thought it was so sweet of them to greet them at the airport and went to give them a hug. That’s when she noticed some of her best friends standing around with signs and a bouquet of flowers. That’s when she knew. She started to cry and vaguely remembers Brad saying something about how she’d waited long enough (nine years, to be exact) and asked if she would marry him. She squeaked out a yes and made Brad slip the ring on her finger because her hands were shaking so much!!

{From the Bride} After nine years together, we had been to our share of weddings and knew some of the things we wanted (lots of dancing, amazing food) and some of the things we did not. Even though we were on a budget, we knew we could still have a beautiful wedding that looked expensive but wasn’t. 

Using inspiration from Pinterest, and the season, we incorporated several DIY details including: the groom and groomsmen’s pocket squares, the bridesmaids’ tote bags, the ceremony programs, the escort cards and frame, the monogram tiles on the fireplace mantle in front of the dance floor, the table numbers, the Mr. & Mrs. signs for the back of the bride and groom’s chairs, the LOVE sign on the fireplace mantle behind the bride and groom’s sweetheart table, the photo booth props, the drink menus, and the table signs directing guests to the photo booth.

It was also really important to us to have amazing food. We chose Mosaic in Richmond, Virginia, because their menu is full of season-specific dishes like butternut squash ravioli and pumpkin rolls, both of which we included in our menu. With the help of our Mosaic day-of coordinator, Cristina Diez, we built an incredible menu and displayed our food on two large barn wood tables that complimented our rustic venue.

One of the hardest aspects of wedding planning is trying to envision how everything will look on your big day. We are definitely not flower people, and trying to envision what our flowers would look like by Googling those listed in our proposal didn’t help! On our wedding day, our flowers were probably the one thing that blew us away. We had a feeling they would be beautiful, but we had no idea how much of an impact they would make in our reception space and in pictures.

A big concern of ours on the day of our wedding was the weather. We got married the weekend of Hurricane Sandy and it was very cloudy and a bit cool during our rehearsal on Friday. We woke up to blue sky and sunshine on our wedding day, and though it was a bit cloudy by the time we got married, the lack of full sun made for beautiful pictures.

They say your wedding day goes by too fast, and in a way it does. Getting ready in the morning seemed to take forever, but once we arrived at the venue it felt like we didn’t have enough time to get dressed, take pictures, or relax! We opted not to do a first look, not only to keep with tradition, but also so we could have a few cute photos inspired by a few of my favorite pins on Pinterest.

I can’t choose just one moment of our wedding that was my favorite. I was so excited about finally getting married to Brad, a day I thought at times over the years might never come. I tried my best to take it all in and enjoy everything. One of my favorite surprises was when the father of one of my bridesmaids picked us up from the hotel to bring us to the venue. He was dressed in a tuxedo and had stocked a cooler full of champagne and water in the backseat of his Suburban. He made me and my girls feel so special and it was definitely something I did not expect!

{Advice for Couples} Take a step back, and live in the moment. Those times where you stop, look around, take in everything that’s going on around you, and remember that moment. Those are the memories you’ll cherish most. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in the details of your wedding, which can be really overwhelming. If you’re feeling stressed, take a step back and remember that ultimately, your wedding is one day. Focus on you and your future husband/wife and the things that will make YOU happy on your wedding day.

Congratulations, Amy and Brad! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Carley Rehberg Photography for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

There are four reasons this traditional red and white wedding from Korie Lynn Photography is so sweet. The couple, their love story, their first look, and their pink, red and white ombre wedding cake. Oh my goodness, yes, that last one sure does look delicious!! The bright red bridesmaids dresses by Alfred Sung are completely fabulous. I love them paired with both gray shoes and men’s gray tuxes. The bride provides us with some really great relationship advice, so be sure you stick around for that!!

Morgan and Quinten’s first meeting is kind of a big blur to Morgan, but Quinten remembers it quite well. They were at church, standing around after worship team practice, when he asked Morgan a question. Instead of answering it directly, Morgan thought it’d be funny to respond WITH a question. This banter went back and forth for a while. Neither remember how it ended – just from that day on they began a playful friendship that would grow into something more.

Their relationship was one of those on-again-off-again relationships in the beginning, mainly because Morgan wasn’t sure how she felt. Their friendship blossomed naturally from hanging out in groups playing Spades to more one-on-one time. But when it became apparent that Quinten wanted to take it to the next level, Morgan put up the “STOP” sign. Quinten never wavered though, and tirelessly pursued Morgan despite her many reservations. After a while though (about a year’s time), he pretty much told Morgan that she had to make a choice. She did and they officially began to date.

Quinten knew he was in love with Morgan about seven months after they started talking. He was on a trip to New York and some of his friends asked why he was still pursuing Morgan when she wouldn’t commit to dating him. That’s when he knew he really loved her and that he wouldn’t give up the hope of them being together. For Morgan, it was never a specific point in time – just a gradual change in her perspective of their relationship. One day, she just knew she wanted to only be with Quinten and no one else.

Quinten said it first, or rather, spelled it first. Morgan had been agonizing over the “perfect” day and time to share those special words when one day, Quinten just took her hand and wrote: “I love you” on her palm with an arrow pointing to her. He just came out and “wrote” it – and it was perfect!

Not long after that, they both knew they had found the one. Their life goals and desires aligned, they had so much fun together, and not so much fun apart, and they both genuinely liked each other’s presence and company. Morgan’s dad once told them both on separate occasions, “Marry someone you like. It’s easy to love someone, but if you’re with someone you can’t stand to be around – well, that’s just plain misery. Marry someone you like to be around!”

Quinten first asked Morgan’s dad for permission to marry Morgan. An intense and nerve-wracking moment, until he said yes, Quinten says. On the night of the engagement, he told Morgan they were going to meet his cousin in Dallas for dinner. He asked her to dress up and look nice. When he came to pick her up, he kept talking about how excited he was that Morgan was going to finally meet his cousin, Brittany. Morgan wasn’t at all suspicious until Quinten accidentally called his cousin by the name of Tiffany.

They parked in downtown Dallas and walked to Fountain Place Tower, this beautiful building that has a scenic water garden below. The sun was setting and Quinten decided they should “kill some time” before his cousin arrived at the restaurant. He and Morgan walked around the lit water garden before reaching a bench and sitting down. Quinten started talking about their relationship, but Morgan was only half-listening. She was starving, and interrupted him more than once to ask if they could go up to dinner already. But Quinten kept talking. Finally, he got down on one knee and proposed. Morgan stared and asked, “Are you kidding me?! This better not be a joke!” When Quinten assured her he was serious, she said, “YES!!!” just as their two families and a photographer ran out from behind a nearby bush, clapping and cheering loudly. (They’d actually driven right by them on the way to the location. Luckily she hadn’t noticed ;)

{From the Bride} We both got up early that day so we could spend some cherished time with friends and family. I was at my parents’ home and all my bridesmaids came over for brunch. We reminisced about old times and laughed the entire time we were getting ready.

I remember getting a little nervous as my first look with Quinten approached. I had an amazing dress and I kept thinking, “I hope Quinten will love it!” When we had our first look, I remember wishing that we could relive the moment five more times just so I could remember everything about it. I walked up to him, shaking with nerves. I tapped on his shoulder and he turned around. He had the biggest smile on his face and a little tear in his eyes. We hugged and he kept telling me how gorgeous I looked. We took several shots in the garden, then did the rest of our first look shoot in the sun. I would highly recommend a first look. We got all the nervous jitters out, and we have some priceless, candid photos of just the two of us.

When the wedding party walked down the aisle, they closed the doors so I could have my “big entrance”. I remember hearing laughter inside the church. Apparently, our precious 2-year-old ring bearer accidentally dropped the pillow he was holding as he and our flower girl walked down the aisle. When everyone started to laugh, he thought it’d be funny to pick it up and throw it the rest of the way down the aisle. It definitely made for a cute entrance. When the laughter faded, I knew it was time for my dad and I to go in. Before they opened the church doors, my dad said, “Just remember, I love you, and you’ll always be my little girl.” I walked down the aisle to a piano/violin instrumental version of “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds (one of our songs). After the ceremony, and kiss, we walked back to “Ain’t Love a Kick in the Head” (Quinten and I are lovers of big-band music). 

The reception was at the Marquis on Magnolia Street in downtown Fort Worth. It’s an enchanting historical building with big windows and wood floors. We danced almost the entire time of our reception! In between songs, we went downstairs periodically with different friends to get pictures taken in the photo booth (something else I’d highly recommend). With an Italian dinner and a homemade dessert table, no one complained about being hungry! We did a lot of group dances and just had fun. Quinten loves life and is so uninhibited. I’m the rule-follower, but Quinten has taught me how to laugh more and not take life so seriously. The old Morgan would NEVER have spent a night on the dance floor, but Quinten has really brought that side out in me. I feel our reception was kind of the culmination of the many months of us dating. We were dancing, singing, laughing, and having a great time – not caring at all what we looked or sounded like.

After the reception, we had one last song together with everyone downstairs. We got to take one last look at our beautiful reception area and talk briefly about the night. It was finally time to leave and our day seemed like just a few quick moments to me! Everyone got ready with sparklers while we said our last good-byes to our families. We ran outside, posed quickly for some funny photos, and left in our getaway car.

Someone told me to take mental pictures all throughout the day so I’d have “snapshots” of everything. Some of the best advice I got. I would literally take moments throughout the day to just stop, look at everything, and appreciate every little aspect of our special day. 

My three favorite moments: walking down the aisle towards my best friend, dancing our first dance at our reception, and dancing with my dad. I think Quinten and I both blew a sigh of relief during our first dance. After all the stress and planning, we had each other and it was so worth it.

Our first dance was to “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele. It was the song Quinten played during a card game with friends before we even started dating. I think Quinten already had a little crush on me, and it was his cute way of hinting at it. My dad and I danced to “Somewhere Out There” by Linda Rondstadt. I chose that song because my favorite movie growing up was An American Tail. My dad and I used to dance to that song (a popular song in that movie) in the living room when I was a little girl. It started with him holding me in his arms, and then me stepping on his feet. The song selection was a surprise for my dad. When it started playing he began to cry and held me close – one of my favorite photos of the night was of him and I dancing.

Being an avid planner myself (and having an amazing wedding planner to work with), we pretty much planned for everything. Our wedding day was perfect – the only thing that I remember going wrong was a table falling and a centerpiece breaking. But that was it – and we laughed about that, so again, perfect day! :)

{Advice for Couples} Discuss EVERYTHING (goals, dreams, standards, how you’d handle real-life situations). Make sure you know WHO you’re marrying before you say “I do”. Also talk about your expectations – most arguments in marriage occur when one or both members have had unmet expectations. Try to clearly communicate what it is you want out of the situation and do your best to think from the other’s perspective before getting upset. Remember, you love each other! You are FOR them, not against them – and sometimes, that needs to be communicated. :)

Congratulations, Morgan and Quinten! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Korie Lynn Photography for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

There’s a whole lot of pretty in today’s elegant vintage fall wedding with rustic infusions from A.J. Dunlap Photography. The couple’s first look makes my heart melt. Captured in that gorgeous, golden fall light, it’s simply swoon-worthy. The beautiful long-stem bouquets were handmade by family (all the floral arrangements were), and I just adore the galvanized buckets filled with baby’s breath used as ceremony and aisle decor. The windows used for the ceremony program and introduction of the bridal party came from the bride’s grandfather’s shop, and other vintage decor from her grandmother’s house. How can you not love that homey, handmade, well-loved look? :) Twinkle lights and centerpieces bedecked with sparkly beads, mismatched bridesmaids dresses, and a fabulous fascinator for the bride add glam to this otherwise elegant, vintage look.

Megan and Raf met through common friends. They were both very content being single, but also enjoyed each other’s company. And then, one thing led to another, feelings started to grow (luckily at the same rate), and the two soon became exclusive. Their first date included a movie, dinner, and loads of laughter. It was perfect.

The thing Megan remembers most about dating Raf was how easy it was. They got along SO well, wanted the same things, and as sappy as it sounds, she knew the exact moment she fell in love with him. They were hanging out late one night when Megan got a call from her mom. She knew what the call was and it wasn’t good. Her grandmother had been sick, and this call was to let her know she had passed. Her relationship with Raf was still fairly new, and she was fairly independent, and didn’t want him to see her upset. But he knew something was wrong and stayed with her providing the support she needed. While they can’t remember who said I love you first, they think it was at this point that they knew there was something lasting between them.

They’d been wanting to take a weekend trip for forever, and finally made plans to go to a town just outside of Asheville, NC (Bryson City) for a weekend of hiking, spa visits, and overall relaxation. They packed a picnic, a couple champagne splits, and headed off to view some nearby waterfall.

They weren’t too far into their hike when they saw the first waterfall. The scenery was amazing, so they decided to stop and have lunch. They were sipping the champagne when Raf came closer, dropped to one knee, and told her, “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” She was incredibly surprised, but delighted to say yes!

{From the Bride} I was on the fence about having a big wedding. At first Raf and I just wanted it to be a small ceremony in my dad’s backyard. The more we talked about it, we decided that we wanted all of our friends and family to be a part of our big day. The planning took 2 years, and that I do not regret. It gave us time to be engaged for a few months before we started planning, and also to not have to rush into any decisions.

The first thing we knew we wanted was to be married outside. We were looking for scenic and the mountains were where we got engaged, so it only made sense. We found the Crest Center in Asheville and knew it was THE place. Raf and I both wanted a natural feel to the wedding, but I also wanted to incorporate a vintage elegance. I kept a neutral color palette, focusing on creams, browns, and silvers. 

The biggest asset in planning the wedding was my family. Living in Boston, while planning a wedding in North Carolina would have been impossible had it not been for my mom. I put together a “look-book” with some inspiration, and we worked together to make it happen. I had found some Manzanita trees (or wishing trees) on Etsy, that I loved. They were about $100 each though. However, without hesitation, my mom said that she could make them. And she did. They turned out AMAZING. Another thing that was really important to both Raf and I was to pay tribute to our grandparents. My grandparents had passed, and his live in Brazil and weren’t able to come, but we wanted to have them there in spirit. We felt the best way to do this was through honoring them in our vows, as well has having photos of them on display for guests to look at. I was also very fortunate. My mom found lots of great accents at my grandmother’s house that we were able to incorporate into the decor (such as the vintage suitcases, the windows from my grandfather’s shop that we used as a “program” and to introduce the bridal party). We were also very lucky that Raf’s aunt at one point owned a flower shop and volunteered to prepare the flowers. I had never met her in person, as she was living in Germany, but she was AMAZING. We would talk on Skype about the vision and she even mocked a couple bouquets with flowers from her garden. Our families really came together to make our wedding perfect.

The most memorable moment was the first look. Raf was adamant that he didn’t want to see the dress before the wedding (which was a challenge given that we live in a shoebox of an apartment :) I loved it because it was about us and us only. A private moment before the wedding to both calm nerves and express emotions. Privately, without an audience. It was perfect.

My overall favorite part of the wedding was having all the people we love most in the world together. It did go by in a flash, but even today, months later, Raf and I still talk about how much fun we had. It was honestly the best day of our life together thus far.

{Advice for Couples} My only advice to couples would be to give yourselves some time before planning your wedding, there is no reason to rush into anything – you have the rest of your lives to rush. Take this time to simply be in love. Also, I would advise everyone to take time to get to know your vendors. They can make the day. The people that were involved in our wedding day were truly AMAZING in making our day perfect :)

Congratulations, Megan and Raf! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to A.J. and Kyle Dunlap for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

A.J. Dunlap Photography is a Premier Partner in the Heart Love Weddings Vendor Boutique. If you would like more information on how to become a partner, please complete and submit an application under our Advertising tab.

To me, there is nothing prettier than a bright, beautiful pop of coral! And if you agree with me, then you are in for a real treat today! The bride’s shoes? They’re the prettiest! Ruffle-y and coral and I love the bright spot of color beneath her simple sheath wedding dress. The bridesmaids dresses match the colors of her shoes, offset by pretty, yellow and green, lush bouquets. Ranunculus boutonnieres, navy, and gold owl (the bride’s favorite animal) accents. This wedding, captured by Summer Street Photography, is full of color, fun, and laughter. You’re gonna love it!

Jenn and Keith’s love story is a long and serendipitous tale! For years, Jenn’s mom, Linda, had been telling her she should go out with Keith. But timing is everything…

It started in 2004, when they first met at Keith’s friend – also Jenn’s cousin – Scott’s 30th birthday party. Linda sat in between them at the Hilltop Steakhouse outside of Boston, and after the party turned to Jenn and said, “Keith’s cute, and he seemed to like you. Maybe you should go out with him.” Note that she was completely disregarding the fact that she was already seeing someone at the time.

In 2006, their paths crossed again, this time at a baby shower for Scott’s little girl. Upon leaving the party, Linda turned to Jenn and said, “Isn’t Keith cute? And I think he’s single. Maybe you should go out with him.” Note that she was once again disregarding the fact that she already had a boyfriend. Clearly, she did not approve of her daughters’ love interests, or maybe she just had a feeling…

In 2009, when said boyfriend was out of the picture, Jenn’s mom immediately jumped on the suggestion of her dating Keith. Jenn went as far as emailing a picture of Keith to a couple of close girlfriends (all of whom told her to go for it), but the timing just wasn’t right. She wasn’t ready. And soon after that got back together with her boyfriend.

In May of 2010, her boyfriend planned a trip to his hometown in July., but Jenn had a strange, gut feeling that she wouldn’t end up going. In July, her uncle relapsed with cancer. She went to the hospital to see him on Monday and realized then that she probably wouldn’t be going after all. They still tried to figure out a way for her to go, but made it clear that if he passed away on Wednesday, she wouldn’t be going anywhere. 5am Wednesday morning, Jenn’s mom called to tell her he had passed. Her boyfriend still flew out to see his parents, and Jenn stayed behind for the funeral.

Somewhere deep down, she knew she’d see Keith at the wake, because he’d be there to support her cousin, his friend. Sure enough, standing there, talking with family, Jenn’s mom leaned over and said, “Ohh, there’s Keith, Scott’s buddy, by the door.” She was at it again! And for the first time, Jenn got bone-shaking chills.

He came over to talk to her, and she was hooked. This time the timing was right, the attraction immediate, and, as Jenn’s mom would say, “the stars all aligned.” Jenn ended things with her then boyfriend shortly thereafter, and she and Keith have been together ever since. Her mom hasn’t stopped saying how she always knew it was meant to be.

Jenn and Keith talked about marriage almost from the beginning, and he popped the question about 10 months after they started dating. Truth be told, they had already set their wedding date before she even had the ring on her finger!

It might sound strange, but ever since she was a little girl, Jenn always wanted to get married on October 6th (10.06). It’s not her birthday, it’s not a significant date in her life at all, it was just a feeling she’s had for as long as she can remember. It was everywhere around her. Every time she looked at a clock, even if the clock was wrong, it said 10:06. She saw it so often she was convinced it was haunting her. And then one day it occurred to her that maybe the whole 10:06 thing had some sort of significance, and perhaps it wasn’t a time, but a date. She loves October and autumn in New England, so she decided then that it was a happy thing, and that maybe, someday she should get married on 10.06. Flash forward several years – to the year before she started dating Keith, she and her mom made their annual visit to their favorite psychic, who said the most bizarre thing to her. She told her to pay attention to the clock, that there was a specific time that would play a significant role in her life, and that she should look for it. Jenn immediately thought, “I already do that! It’s 10:06.”

Keith, being the easygoing guy that he is, went along with it without hesitation because he knew it would make her happy. And lucky for them, 10.06 conveniently fell on a Saturday in 2012. Serendipity? Just maybe.

{From the Bride} From the beginning, we wanted our wedding to be personal and intimate, just a great party with our nearest and dearest. We wanted to throw our fall fete in an old estate setting, which was why we chose the historic Endicott Estate in Dedham, Massachusetts. The interior of the estate was stunning, yet it felt so cozy, like we were having a fancy party in someone’s home, instead of a non-descript ballroom. We knew it was perfect for us!

The whole day was amazing – albeit mostly a blur – we lucked out with fluky 80-degree weather on a fall day in New England, the food was fantastic, and everyone was happy, feeling the love, and danced all night long. What more could you ask for?

And even though the day was a big, glowing blur, what stands out most is the “first look” we had before we exchanged vows. Being able to see each other beforehand was so fun and exciting, and set us both at ease the moment we laid eyes on one another. We spent pretty much the entire day laughing, especially during the first look session. Yes, it was absolutely everything I had hoped the day would be!

{Advice for Couples} Advice? Honestly, it’s the cheesiest, most cliché thing ever to say, but I’ll say it anyway because, thanks to Keith, I now know it to be an absolute truth: when you’re with the right person, you know it with every ounce of your being. It’s the most effortless, euphoric, wonderful feeing in the world and you have zero doubts. Zero. Because you just know you’re about to embark on the most wonderful journey of your life, with the one person for whom your heart truly beats. It really is as simple as that. If you feel that way, I don’t think any advice is needed :)

Congratulations, Jenn and Keith! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Summer Street Photography for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

Navy and pink. Have there ever been two colors that go so perfectly together? Not today, anyway. Today it’s all about navy and the sweetest shade of pink. I’m in love with peony and rose bouquets. They’re so, so pretty. So are the table settings with lantern candle centerpieces. The escort card display (little flags on sticks in tiny pots full of moss) are totally unique and adorable. The candy favor table is pretty fabulous and the cow bell sendoff is just plain spectacular. But the first look behind closed doors is my favorite part of all. I’m a big fan of this type of first look. It’s innocent and sweet and still leaves just a little something to the imagination. Goodness, the love between these two, captured beautifully by Robyn Van Dyke Photography, makes my heart so happy!

Mandy and Ryan had several mutual friends in college, but spent very little time together until they were both asked to be in the wedding of two of those friends. Mandy was interested in Ryan every time they met, but their meetings were few and far between until the wedding plans began for their friends.

They hung out together at a cookout in October, and got to know each better at a friend’s Christmas party in December. By that point, Mandy was certain of her feelings for Ryan. And after a New Year’s party (where the two were supposed to hang out again) fell through, Mandy took matters into her own hands. She invited Ryan to a UNC-NC State basketball game. They had a great time, but didn’t see each other again until the rehearsal dinner for the wedding and the wedding day in February. Two days later, Ryan finally called and asked Mandy out on a date.

Their relationship moved fairly quickly after that. After just five weeks of dating, Ryan told Mandy that he loved her. The feeling was definitely mutual!

Mandy realized that Ryan was the one when they traveled to South Carolina to visit their newlywed friends in June. After spending a couple of days with Ryan, she knew she could spend every day with him for the rest of her life. Ryan knew not long after. While helping Mandy move a new piece of furniture into her house, he realized they were doing an everyday thing that they would do if they were married and that it felt right.

Ryan popped the question on December 17, 2011. They had plans to attend a UNC basketball game and Ryan did everything he possibly could to plan the proposal for the court at the game, but it wasn’t allowed. Instead, they had dinner and went to look at Christmas lights.

They found themselves at the Capitol in downtown Raleigh, and in front of the huge and beautifully lit Christmas tree, Ryan got down on one knee. He told Mandy how happy she made him and asked her to make him even happier by marrying him. She said… “You know I will!”

{From the Bride} The wedding day was a huge success! Ryan claims that the day was a blur. I can remember a lot more of the details. The wait for the ceremony to begin seemed almost unbearable. Ryan gifted me a new iPad and a bowl of Hershey’s Kisses to hold me over until the big kiss. I was smiling ear-to-ear and nearly bouncing with excitement through the ceremony. Our favorite moment was right after the ceremony when we got back to a room filled with our closest family and friends and realizing we were really married. It was such a wonderful feeling! The reception was more of a blur as we greeted person after person. Our first dance song was “Brooklyn Bridge” by American Idol winner Lee DeWyze. Overall, the reception was pretty magical with great music, great food, and great friends and family.

{Advice for Couples} Having an event planner is a great idea, but be sure you don’t miss out on planning your big day. You only get one chance! Go over name pronunciation with your MC, especially yours! ;) Don’t let every date you go on before marriage be a big event. Spend a lot of time just hanging out and doing every day things – you’ll get a much better picture of what marriage will be like. That being said, make sure you still go on real dates once you are married.

Congratulations, Mandy and Ryan! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Robyn Van Dyke for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo