bridal Archives - Page 4 of 18

Tennessee Rustic Barn Wedding

October 3, 2014 Leave a Comment

Today we are heading to the south where the ceremony takes place on the prettiest green with an adorable couple, and where the celebration continues in a charming red barn. This wedding is after our rustic wedding loving hearts. It is all about the lovely details such as the beautiful wooden alter at the ceremony decorated with gorgeous flowers, the cute and fun paper flowers floating above heads at the reception, and a couple who looks so good in such a quaint setting. It is weddings like this one where we really love rustic details more and more. Come on, did you see the dessert table backdrop? Oh my goodness, it is so sweet! It makes for such great photo ops, and that is why we love Elizabeth Nord Photography and her mad skills capturing this Southern wedding. Before you get your weekend started, browse through this Tennessee wedding and see what all the fuss is about. If you love rustic details as much as we do, then you will surely love this wedding.

From Elizabeth Nord Photography…

Jessica and Ryan (from Ireland) met at a young age and their love grew ever since. Their love is evident in every photo. It rained hard until about 2 hours before their quaint outdoor wedding began. It made the green grass greener and created gorgeous clouds that covered the sky which provided the perfect lighting for their ceremony. They were surrounded by their closest family and friends. They ended the night in a friend’s barn decorated with their engagement photos, Irish clover pens, rustic decor, homemade chess pies, and more! This East TN wedding is definitely not one to miss! The emotion and the young love at this wedding makes it one of a kind!

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: barn, bridal, bride, Elizabeth Nord Photography, groom, outdoor wedding, rustic, Tennessee wedding, wedding

Top Five Most Romantic Spots at Universal Studios Hollywood

September 30, 2014 Leave a Comment

We’re total romantics (obviously), and we love it down here in sunny Southern California. One of the best parts about being a romantic in Southern California? The awesome amusement parks out here! Date night is so much easier if out here, there’s always a new ride or special event going on at any of the number of theme parks here. One of our favorite parks is Universal Studios Hollywood. It’s located in Universal City just a little north of Los Angeles and is an actual working production studio. It’s definitely not the biggest theme park out here in the wild west, but it is a fun full day of exploring with someone special. Grab your sweetheart and hit up our top five favorite romantic spots at Universal Studios!

The Universal Studios Tour

The Studio Tour is one of the longest-standing rides at Universal Studios Hollywood, and is a staple for a reason. The tour goes through live production lots and gives the riders an inside look into movies like Jaws, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and War of the Worlds. So many big productions have taken place on this lot, so the whole ride takes about an hour. That’s plenty of time to snuggle up with your sweetheart and sneak a kiss during the King Kong 360 part. Biggest plus? If you want to crack open a cold one, you can! Soda, snacks, and even beer is sold in the line and you are allowed to bring on food and snacks to munch on during the ride!

Minion Mayhem Water Park

Minion Mayhem is a newer installation in the park which replaced The Terminator ride. They gutted the old auditorium, revamped the inside to be an all about Despicable Me, and put in a fun water park where the old soda-sponsored waterpark used to be. The park is meant for kids, but if you want to splash around with your sweetheart, splash away! Just watch out for the little ones. If you forgot your swimsuit, don’t worry! The park is on the edge of the park and overlooks all of the San Fernando Valley, creating one of the most beautiful views of the valley. Share a cotton candy and watch the day turn into night over the edge of Universal Studios.

The Simpsons Ride

Do Homer and Marge not scream romance? It may not seem romantic, but the carnival-themed Simpsons area is sure to make you feel like a teenager again, running around hand in hand with your sweetie. There’s vintage scenes from The Simpsons playing the throughout the whole line and fantastic character art to look at. It’s sure to shoot you both down nostalgia lane, which is always perfect to bond over.

Jurassic Park

Yes, it’s a water ride, but the first part is actually really sweet and slow. The ride begins with a patient ride through peaceful dinosaurs you can ooh and aww at with your sweetheart. There are moments where you can get squirted by water, but that’s really just another reason to snuggle closer isn’t it? You get an excuse to hold hands when the T-Rex finally goes after you, plus there’s a photo at the bottom you can keep as a souvenir! Water rides can be romantic too, just try not to wear white on this ride. You will get park water all over, and see-through clothes on a date are no fun.

Little Europe

There’s this little strip between the Animal Show and Minion Mayhem filled with little shops and bakeries themed to be like England, France, and Italy. We geek out over the Sherlock section (complete with a double-decker bus!), but you’ll be able to grab a pastry and drink over at the French restaurant with your sweetie. Hop on a stationary Vespa in the Italian corner and take some action shots, or head over to little Ireland for a more grown-up refreshment (the only full bar inside the park- all other stands are beer only or pina coladas). It’s a fun place to wander around and take pictures and saves you thousands of dollars in airfare to the EU!

What’s your favorite romantic spot at Universal Studios Hollywood? Leave it in the comment below to be nominated for ‘Best BHL Reader!’

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, romantic, spots, theme park, universal studios hollywood

Top Five Trendy Shadow Shades for Fall Weddings

September 23, 2014 Leave a Comment

Fall is such a beautiful season, and people can get so caught up in staying in the same color palettes. Fall is a time all about beautiful complimentary colors. Don’t be afraid to show some shine on your eyelids at your next wedding- own it and look good doing it! Break out of the matte shades of the last few seasons and add a little dimension to your wedding look with these five color palettes!

Pretty in Pink

If watermelon was your color palette of choice last summer, go for something similar this Fall. A peachy and neutral warm palette with gold flecks brings all out of your remaining summer glow. Light warm colors create a romantic look that’s cute and gentle without being overwhelming. It is lovely as much as it is natural, and is perfect for the sweetheart bride or bridesmaid.

Woodsy Woman

Want to warm up a neutral look? These basic neutrals are beautiful and gold based enough to blend with most skin tones. If you were doing golds all summer, this is the best Fall transition for you. Yellow-based neutrals are complimentary on so many skin tones and help give eyes a certain sparkle that can be hard to obtain. This color palette is so seamless, you could share it with the whole gang of bridesmaids! Just be sure to clean your brushes in between.

Deep Brunette

Brown tones are so fantastic for all skin tones and is optimized for Fall wear. If you want to do something smokier and sexier for a night wedding, play with deeper neutral tones to make your eyes look stronger. Use the deepest toned brown in the crease of your eye to create a more natural smokey look and be ready to catch the bouquet.

Royal Plum

Cranberry and plum tones with pieces of purple make green and brown eyes pop out like crazy and will make you look stunning in wedding photos. If brighter colors were your thing last summer, make this your wedding go-to look. If you keep the tones warm, you’ll still get that golden glow but with a deeper more sultry overall look. Pair with black on black eyeliner and mascara for a full on glamorous look.

Sliver of Silver

If you want to do more edgy looks for the wedding, go for something slate grey and silver. Something deep with flecks of shimmer makes your look pop, and is especially beautiful on darker skin tones. Keep it a little warmer to keep it from being too frosty (save that for Winter!). Since this is more cool-toned, be sure to pair it carefully with your lip and cheek colors. You’ll be the belle (or bride or bridesmaid!) of the ball!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: 2014, beauty, bridal, bride, bridesmaid, eyes, Fall, trendy, wedding

Top Five Trendy Bridal Lip Looks for Fall

September 11, 2014 Leave a Comment

We’re all about luscious lips here at BHL- they’re the most romantic part of your beautiful face! Check out our top five trendy lip colors for this season and your look will be hot, even if the weather’s cooling down.

Pale Coral Pinks

If coral was your summer shade, just start slowly by turning it down a notch. Look for a light coral or pink shade to transition into fall. You can even wear your summer coral by just putting on a dab and painting it out with a lip brush so the color isn’t as intense and pairing it with a lighter gloss. this look is lightweight, cute, and perfect for the sweet bridesmaid.

Warm Nudes

If you like a natural look but want to go even more lightweight than a pale coral, pick up a nude with warm undertones. It will pull whatever summer glow you had going on and keep you looking great all fall long. Neutrals are great for any dress that you’re wearing, and a warm one will give you a taste of that bridal glow.

Red Stains

No- not on your dress, just on your lips! Grab a light lip stain in red and pack it on to your liking. Lip stains are great if your skin is starting to get drier because they can be quite hydrating. Start subtle to pair with any look for any wedding situation and pack it on to match your mood.

Blushing Berries

Tones that are reminiscent of berries are fantastic this fall and sultry for weddings. You have the ability to go much deeper with berry tones to fit more romantic settings. If you’re packing on the pigment, be sure to use a waxy lip liner to keep your lip color from feathering.

Burning Red

If you’ve been liking pictures non-stop of leaves changing colors, an orange-based red is going to be perfect for you. this color can be a little more intense, so be sure to use a good lipliner with this look too. This look is so complimentary to the new season- you’ll look fantastic in any outdoor weddings.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, bridemsaid, Fall, lip, married, trendy, wedding

Arkansas Chapel Wedding

September 8, 2014 Leave a Comment

This my lovelies, is a wedding tradition perfection. I am not normally a tradition type of gal, but this wedding’s breathtaking ceremony location has me falling in love. When you have a stunning bride, a gorgeous bridal party, pretty pastel colors, and all set in the most beautiful rustic space, you’ve got yourself a classic elegant wedding. But I have to go back to the one fantastic wedding detail that has me swooning for days. The incredible and awe-inspiring chapel is beyond amazing with the most perfect wooden details. I can not get enough of it. You feel as if you are in the woods surrounded by nature and all its beauty. Then you have Elmer Escobar Photography to capture all its heavenly details, it is a wedding worth a thousand words. Kick off the week with the lovelies and most beautiful wedding.

From Elmer Escobar Photography…
Melissa and Etienne’s wedding could not have been any more fun to be at. You had a beautiful couple, a gorgeous setting and the friendliest group of French people I’ve ever been around. The day started at Garvan Woodland Gardens which is a location I’ve googled and had wanted to photograph but had never had the opportunity before. I made a point to arrive extra early to scout the grounds and map out where we would shoot and what angles would work best. After I had a pretty clear plan I went to the bridal cottage where Melissa was getting ready. As we had discussed she would finish getting ready while I took her dress/shoes to photograph them on their own. I found Anthony Chapel‘s architecture to be the perfect backdrop for her dress. And because we were in the woods I wanted that feel for her shoes as well. My thought process is that people choose venues, churches, and locations because they put thought into the look they wanted, so it’s always good to showcase that.

After the details were done I went back to the bridal room where Melissa was finishing up. Her girls and her mother helped her get in her dress and do all the finishing touches before we headed to the ceremony site where she would see Etienne for the very first time. One of the most precious moments of the day was when Melissa was walking through the doors, Etienne’s eyes watered up and he started getting that nervous excitement. He was rubbing his hands with the biggest smile on his face and you could see he wanted to run down and grab his bride. It was a beautiful ceremony that followed. After Melissa and Etienne exchanged vows we took them outside where all their guests were waiting for them with bubbles to greet the new Mr. and Mrs. Mirgaine.

We had a few moments to take some photos with their bridal party (who were all awesome, btw), and a few more with Melissa and Etienne before heading over to The Royal Ridge for their cocktail hour and reception. When we got there, everything was set out beautifully just as Melissa had described so while Melissa and Etienne cooled off and refreshed themselves I took a moment to photograph all the carefully displayed details. But of course with such a beautiful scenery, it would had been a shame not to do more photos there. We walked around the property while the sun was going down and on our way back to the reception room we caught the most beautiful sunset. It really was a wonderful way to end their photo session…until their night shot.

As far as the reception, there’s not much I could say but: I was warned. French people know how to party! This has got to be one of the funnest group I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. From impromptu dance numbers to games I had never heard of before, it was just one fun activity after another. The music was great, everyone was having a blast. Before I left I wanted to get a night photo of Melissa and Etienne. I had spotted a pool/deck area where I knew if it was dark enough I’d be able to get some stars in the shot. Only problem was that it was far too bright with all the lamps on. That’s where Darrell stepped in and shut off every lamp outside so Melissa and Etienne could have their night photo. Now that’s teamwork!

Melissa and Etienne: you deserve all the happiness in the world! You came all the way to Little Rock from France to find true love and it was an honor to be there with you guys. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Mirgaine!!

Vendors:

Photographer:

Venue: Garvan Woodland Gardens

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Anthony Chapel, bridal, Chapel wedding, gardens, outdoor wedding, rustic wedding, whimsical wedding

Italian Elopement on the Amalfi Coast

September 3, 2014 Leave a Comment

How can I even begin with the proper introduction to a wedding which is a destination dream? This stunning Australian couple makes their way to the gorgeous Amalfi Coast of Italy to say “I Do”. I am totally head over heels in love with this couple and their Italian Elopement at one of the most romantic and prettiest places. Oh my goodness, and then you have fabulous photographer Oli Sansom on hand to capture all the romance. It took me so long to choose the images to feature. There are way to many amazing photographs. The images are breathtaking! I have to admit, this wedding kind of makes me want to pack my bags to head to Italy for a little getaway.

From the bride…

Fergus and I have been together for nine very happy years so we know each other back to front and inside out. When we first got engaged in July 2012 we started to plan a wedding in Melbourne for 100 people that quite quickly became everything that frightened us about weddings. All those people and all those details, we were flustered whenever we talked about it, being such very private people. In January 2013 we decided to shift gears completely and elope to our favourite place in the world- Italy. We had attended the most beautiful wedding of our very close aunt and uncle three years before in Positano on the Amalfi Coast, and had fallen in love with the country. So the choice of Italy made perfect sense in our hearts. We worked with a wedding planner Marry Me Abroad and it was as easy as choosing the place, sending through pictures of what we wanted, answering queries and booking our flights. All the dreaded ‘wedding drama’ that so many of our friends had warned us about seemed a million miles away. Added to that was the fact that I seemed to be missing the bride gene and didn’t feel stressed about anything to do with the wedding day, only excited to be marrying my best friend. Fergus chose Ravello, reputed as the most beautiful town on the Amalfi Coast, we booked our flights and on June 26 we jumped on a flight and off we went. A few exciting developments leading up to the wedding- Fergus’ mum, dad and brother asked if they could join us and suddenly the thought of Fergus’ very close family not being there seemed unthinkable. My mum, dad and brother were unable to make the flight but in stepped my best friend since I was 13 Lizzie, who screamed out “Yes!!!!!” before I even finished the question. Then, our favourite Melbourne photographer, the unbelievably talented Oli Sansom, suggested that he make the special trip and everything was suddenly perfect. As it turns out, the five people we shared the day with turned out to be the most perfect combination we could have ever dreamed of- everything was meant to be.

The day itself was a dream. Relaxed, easy, us. Ferg, Lizzie and I got ready together at the stunning Villa Cimbrone and walked the 15 minutes down the cobblestone streets to the piazza to meet Mandy, Roger and Lachie. Walking that 15 minutes was the happiest, most beautiful, joyous 15 minutes of my life. It was like a dream. Local Italians and tourists stopped and cheered, “Auguri” they all called, taking photos, watching us walk by like royalty and clapping. I have never smiled so much, felt so beautiful, or felt so much love from strangers and my husband-to-be as I did on that walk. The piazza broke out in applause as we met Ferg’s family and it is a moment I will never forget. Marrying my best friend was the most special, intimate and powerful thing I have ever done. The sun shone brightly as we approached the Ravello Mayor and he married us on the most beautiful cliff top, under a clear blue sky and mountains that seemed to whisper words of love to us also. I cannot imagine a more perfect day or a more perfect wedding. Thank you Ravello.

Vendors:

Photographer: Oli Sansom

Event Planner: Marry Me Abroad

Jewelry: Tejori

Venue: Villa Cimbrone

Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Armani

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Dress Designer: Lisa Gowing

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: AMALFI COAST, Australian couple, bridal, bride, destination wedding, groom, Italian Elopement, Italian wedding, italy, VILLA CIMBRONE

Top Five Alternatives to the All White Wedding Dress

September 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

Happy Day-After-Labor Day! Did you have an awesome three day weekend? We sure did here at BHL. You may have heard of the old fashion rule to “not wear white after Labor Day”, haven’t you? It may seem a little silly, but it got us thinking about wearing white. Most brides wear white dresses to their weddings, but if that’s really not your style that’s totally fine! It’s your wedding, you shouldn’t have to wear anything you’re not 100% comfortable in. If you’re leaning against the white dress and Labor Day has nothing to do with it, don’t sweat it. We have our top five alternatives to the classic white dress right here!

Be the Bold Bride

Go forth and make a statement! You didn’t land your fiance by being boring, right? Look for a dress in a strong color, but keep it a classic color so you’ll look timeless. Aim for red, navy, or black, but keep the cut and fit formal. Look for long and elegant gowns. If you want to really stand out, put your bridesmaids in nude tones or earthy muted tones.

Lacy Lady

If you want to have a romantic dress but put a little white in there anyway, look for pieces that have white lace overlays. You could also find a dress that you love and go to a seamstress to have lace put over it. This creates the look of a romantic white bridal gown, but you get the added color palette to play with!

Down to Earth

If you like a classic tone but just aren’t into white, find a soft earthy tone that suits your skin and work with that. Keep your bridesmaids in a similar tone that is a little softer so your color looks that much more vibrant near them, while still being somewhat neutral. This is probably one of the easier ways to get away with not wearing white and still looking like a classic bride.

Pack a Punch

If you’re outgoing and fun, go for something LOUD. Wear a bold and bright color that looks great on you like a punchy pink or a fun fuchsia. Wear green if you want to- it’s your wedding! But break up that bold color with some white, like a white underlay or a white waist tie. Incorporate some elements of white into the dress as an homage to the classic all white wedding dress. It’s a cute twist on the white dress that’s fun and playful.

Crisp and Chic

Wear whatever dress makes you feel most beautiful and top it off with a crisp white blazer. Your dress can be whatever color or print you want- anything looks polished and put together with a white blazer over it! This may especially work for you if you’re planning on an outdoor wedding this fall or winter. Plus, if you invest in a beautiful fitted white blazer you’ll just have this amazing classic piece in your wardrobe!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, dress, fashion, labor day, trendy, wedding, white

Green, Purple, and Gold Italian Wedding

August 29, 2014 Leave a Comment

We can not believe that Friday is here and that makes us happy, and that means the weekend is here, and its a long one, so even better. To top it all off, we have a fabulous Italian wedding featuring a couple who adds some fun personal touches and some pretty amazing florals. So before you head out to the door to start your weekend activities, take a moment to view images from Jillian Ryan Photography and start off your weekend right. Enjoy!

From Jillian Ryan Photography

This wedding really stole my heart. For so many reasons.

For one, Lauren & Anthony chose CIBO IN PHOENIX as their venue, which is where Kyle and I had one of our very first dates and our wedding rehearsal dinner. It’s the coolest restaurant and they serve the best pizza in Phoenix, hands down. Just writing about it makes me want to drive there right this second, sit outside on their patio, and kick back with a Peroni and a delicious pizza with some prosciutto sprinkled on it…. mmmmmm….

And another reason this wedding was so awesome was because these two also walked down the aisle to theSCORE FROM THE GODFATHER and their first dance song was, “THAT’S AMORE” by Dean Martin. So cool. The fun way they embraced their Italian culture and incorporated that into their wedding day was such a blast to be a part of.

The green, purple, and gold colors of this wedding were a unique color combination and one that fit so well with the Italian theme. The embroidered band on Lauren’s dress was the perfect simple and beautiful detail to add to her gorgeous, bohemian style gown. I also really enjoyed the uniqueness of the outfits that the groom and groomsmen wore. It seems like the women and bridesmaids in weddings always have the opportunity to be colorful and it was refreshing to see the groomsmen be able to do that here as well. Oh, and Lauren’s brother made their bouquets and all of the centerpieces himself. They had a creative and artistic look to them, which were also unlike any other floral arrangements I’ve seen.

Lauren and Anthony are truly a laid back couple if there ever was one. It was wonderful to photograph them because they were up for anything. When I mentioned walking a bit farther to do some photos by an abandoned house, without a second’s hesitation, they agreed. These two and their bridal party were game for all of the ideas I had in mind and that really makes for an overall amazing photography experience.

I feel like I could go on and on about this wedding, how Anthony’s best man and brother was hilarious and awesome, the badass Clockwork Orange tat on one of the groomsmen, how the entire family got down on the dance floor all night long, the yummy italian desserts they served, how sweet and adorable they were with each other the entire day… but I’d probably be writing for way too long and then you’d never get to the actual photos! So here they areI hope you enjoy!

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: Arizona Wedding, bridal, bride, Cibo restaurant, gold colors, green, groom, Italian wedding, Jillian Ryan Photography, purple

Top Five Ways to Pull Off Your ‘Something Old’

August 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

You’ve heard the old saying- “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. It’s a little superstition that a bride should wear one of each (old, new, borrowed, blue) to ensure a successful and happy marriage. The tradition is cute, and if you’re one of the many brides following it we’ve got some ideas for your ‘something old’.

Family Jewels

If you want to pay homage to your family as you embark on starting a new one, this is a great way to do it! Ask your mother, grandmother, sister, or whoever you’re close to if they have any jewelry you could wear for the big day. The older the better! Ask for anything that has been passed down generation to generation. It may not be a trendy or modern piece, but the meaning will make it incredibly meaningful.

Vintage Veils

Check out old antique stores for vintage silk and lace for your veil. Veils in and of themselves are also a superstition, so it’s nice to pair the two up. Using vintage lace or silk makes the whole piece that much more romantic and detailed. The more delicate, the more graceful and poised you will look. You can try asking around to borrow one from someone else for real authenticity.

Love Letters

Remember when Mr. Big wrote Carrie all those love letters to win her back? Yeah, we love that kind of stuff. If you’re writing in your vows, you can opt to saying your ‘something old’ rather than carry it around. Look up old love letters from great writers for guidance in your vows! Or, if you or your partner happen to be romantics, you can use lines from your own old love letters. It adds an extra creative layer to your vows, plus it’ll become that much more intimate.

Classic Spray

Look for the most vintage, beautiful bottle of perfume you can and have at it! Think about scents that you remember from your first date or the first time you kissed. Maybe you have a favorite scent that’s been around forever- that works too! The sense of smell triggers the most memories, might as well make them good ones!

Family Cookbook

Before you lock in everything with the caterers, consider dusting off a few family recipes from both of your families. By paying homage to your family’s recipes, you’re letting everyone take part in traditions and sharing them with your friends and family. If you pass off some favorite recipes to your caterer, they may even be able to do it for you!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, ceremony, fiance, groom, marriage, superstition, wedding

Hôtel & Spa Mont Gabriel Wedding from Caroline Lessard Photographe

August 18, 2014 Leave a Comment

Excuse me while I drool over all the lovely pink details of this gorgeous wedding in Quebec, Canada. Oh my goodness, I normally would not call myself a pink color loving girl, but this wedding has me falling in love with this color. This wedding screams romance! I am seriously in love with this bride and her groom and their romantic filled wedding. All the details are so pretty. The bridal shoes, the flowers, and even the groom and his men’s pink socks, has me falling in love more with this color. Of course, Caroline Lessard Photographe captured the wedding with the most stunning images. Monday is not so bad when there is a wedding as pretty as this one. You may fall head over heels in love with this wedding (and the color pink), once you view the photographs. Go ahead, and get yourself pretty pink!

From Caroline Lessard Photographe…

This fuchsia inspired wedding took place in Mont Saint-Gabriel. The words to perfectly describe this day would have to be perfectly touching. Perfect because everything was perfect to them as they planned, surrounded by everybody they love. And, oh so emotional, seriously I had tears at so many times… I have to say I love them so much, and lucky to say they like me to! An amazing connection from the day we met, I feel so blessed that they chose me to immortalize their special day. We had the chance to do their romantic couple session on the golf course, with the breath taking view on the mountains. The wind was pumping that day, and I loved it! We played around with it and had a blast.

Vendors:

Photographer: Caroline Lessard Photographe

Venue: Hôtel & Spa Mont Gabriel

Bridal Gown: Château de la mariée Nadia

Filed Under: General, Real Weddings Tagged With: bridal, canada wedding, caroline lessard Photographe, mont saint-Gabriel, pink, real wedding, romantic wedding, wedding