A hat is a statement piece that can bring your entire wedding day ensemble together.

For the bride who wants that vintage look on her big day, this ivory, pillbox hat with a birdcage veil from AgnesHart is perfect!

A similar look that incorporates a vintage feel, but with a bit more drama, is this wool pillbox hat with feathers and birdcage veil from BeChicAccessories.

Jewels are a great accent that can jazz up a simple accessory. This headpiece with rhinestones and birdcage veil from BeChicAccessories has that extra sparkle, without being too dramatic.

If you’re a bride who wants to carry the vintage theme into her bridesmaid’s outfits, this powder rose, sinamay hat from BeChicAccessories evokes that classic 50’s/60’s look.

A touch of the right color can add romance to a bridal look and this gray, silk and velvet headpiece with rhinestones from BeChicAccessories is the perfect example.

This 1950’s inspired, black, velvet hat with a birdcage veil from AgnesHart is so charming!

This bridal hat featuring an organza flower from BeChicAccessories has the perfect amount of drama.

A bride looking for that high-fashion look will find it with this vintage style, couture, silk taffeta fascinator from HaydenHarlowPR.

Every bride needs at least a little bit of sparkle! This beaded cocktail hat from MaggieMowbrayHats has just the right amount!

The vintage look and feel of lace is given a modern update with this crystal and lace fascinator from BlairNadeauMillinery.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links

Emily and William wanted to be immersed in nature and surrounded by their closest family and friends on their wedding day. They also didn’t want to have to sacrifice wedding decor or location because of a tight budget. Their solution? An intimate wedding in their own backyard!

A big thank you goes out to Lynnsey at LIONLADY Photography for sharing this absolutely beautiful day with us.

Emily, 28 & William, 30

Location: Greater Seattle Area

Wedding Date: August 22, 2015

Number of Guests: 70

Wedding Cost:$10,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Bride and Groom’s home/backyard

Wedding Reception Location: Bride and Broom’s home/backyard

Why did you have an intimate wedding? 

We wanted to celebrate our big day with close family and friends in a warm, inviting, outdoor setting, but on a mindful budget that didn’t skimp on details.

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

During the planning process, we were having trouble finding a venue within our price point where our vision would be possible. We found many to be too expensive, too large or lacked the intimate nature setting we were going for. We also came across the need to shuttle guests to our home, since parking was not possible.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

Extremely.

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

A bit. We would have loved to have been able to include a few more family and friends, but we had to put a cap on our guest list for space and budget reasons. We wanted our wedding guests to be comfortable and well taken care of. If more invitations were extended, we wouldn’t have been able to be the hosts, we were determined to be. We tried to put the word out that we would have wanted to invite many more had our backyard and budget allowed. It was something that probably wasn’t really resolved. It’s difficult to not put emotions into the crossfire when any invitations are involved. I think there was one point when we definitely found the appeal of those who elope!

What were the highlights of the ceremony? 

Aside from being able to unite as husband and wife, it was really the little things that meant the most to us. Josh, Emily’s brother-in-law officiated the ceremony. We planted a tree that coincided with our vows, and people we love were there to witness our union.

What were the highlights of the reception?

It was sunny weather (which is sometimes hit or miss in Washington state) with lots of good food, conversation, laughter and smiling faces.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding? 

We were able to gather loved ones together at our home and put together our wedding by our own hands. We now gaze out of our windows into the backyard and reminisce over the love and memories we shared on that special day .

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

Plan your details early. There are many things, especially with a backyard wedding, that you don’t necessarily think about because they are provided by wedding venues. Think about parking, food vs seating arrangements, sound systems, lighting, tents, etc. You’ll most likely run into a few conflicts, but early planning may help ease the stress.

Vendors:

Photographer: Lionlady Photography

Bride’s Dress: The Wedding Bell

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: David’s Bridal

Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Hair: Ashley Burden, Salon Ish (Puyallup)

Dinner: Picasso Catering (Tacoma) (This was the dinner food only. We made the appetizers & dessert was by another company)

Cake/Cupcakes: Wanna Cupcake? (Puyallup)

Flowers: Designs by Donna (Mother of the Bride)

Table/Chair Rentals: American Party Place

Using the help and many talents of their family and friends, Anneke and Cameron’s destination wedding in Nova Scotia was a truly collaborative affair. Travelling from all across the country, their guests helped transform the Second Paradise Retreat into the wedding venue of the couple’s dreams, and celebrated the couple as they exchanged their vows by the bay. The newlyweds ended their day, the best way possible, with a great party, and dancing the night away with all their loved ones!

Special thanks to Nicole Payzant for capturing all the DIY details and touching moments, and sharing them with us today!

Anneke, 37 & Cameron, 39

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada

Wedding Date: June 27, 2015

Number of Guests: 40

Wedding Cost: $10,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Second Paradise Retreat

Wedding Reception Location: Second Paradise Retreat

Why did you have an intimate wedding?  

We planned an intimate wedding for a couple of reasons. We’ve been dreaming of buying a house together, and have been saving our money for that. We also wanted to have an intimate, fun weekend together, where all of our family and friends could come together, and the wedding party could stay on site with us as well. Our rule from the beginning was to only invite those who know and love us, and have been supportive of our relationship over the past 7 years. We had a destination wedding in Nova Scotia, so more guests were invited (approx.50 -60), but some were unable to come due to travel restrictions, the expense, and/or work commitments.

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

My father has a massive family of 12 brothers and sisters! So I have a LOT of first cousins – a ridiculous amount – and many of them, I’ve never even met, so we decided to just invite my godparents on my father’s side of the family. The venue was perfect, they were only comfortable with a wedding of about 60 or fewer guests, so we went with that.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?  

Not really. We envisioned a day where everyone would get to meet each other, and we’d have time to say hello to all of our guests, or dance with them.

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

Not really, everyone was really supportive and amazing, coming together at the Second Paradise retreat from all across the country. As people arrived, they ran with tasks and we began to transform the property into a wedding venue which was no small task! From my sister and brother-in-law, Kate and Ian, making our arrangements the day of the wedding, visiting a florist and picking wildflowers along the roadside, to my brother David working on our custom playlist for the party, and my sister Rachel and brother-in-law Matt making and bottling wine months before our wedding, it was very much a collaborative affair!

My father is a superstar, and I will never be able to thank him enough for all of the effort and skill that he put into our whimsical wedding projects. He found a canoe on kijiji, fixed it, and custom painted it to serve as our bar for the wedding. He also constructed some amazing planters which flanked the ceremony site, a podium for the officiant, beautiful sandwich boards which had our guest list and menu on, and directional arrows to places throughout the property. He is seriously talented and his time was the greatest gift to us during the wedding!

What were the highlights of the ceremony? 

Firstly, just seeing Cameron standing there, in the bright sunshine, in such an incredible place, it was totally surreal. Then, during the ceremony, just as the musicians  had finished the processional and we were standing there taking it all in, across the bay some teenagers were kayaking and yelled over, “DON’T DO IT!”. Everyone was hushed and silent. Then my maid of honour, Samira, yelled back “OH, WE’RE DOING IT!!!”. It was the perfect icebreaker and everyone was in hysterics. Another very special part of our ceremony was when our niece Ruby and my sister-in-law Kate gave me a gimmel ring, which she had been wearing for months before the ceremony to usher us into our new lives together.

What were the highlights of the reception?  

The toast that my father made was so sweet, and the toasts that our maid of honor and best person made were so heartfelt and amazing. There were lots of happy tears. Later in the evening, I remember looking out at everyone on the dance floor, and the place was bouncing! Only, everyone was getting down to Die Antwords, “Baby’s on Fire”, which was hysterical and amazing. We danced the whole night away!

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding? 

Getting everyone together for an intimate party in an amazing location was worth all of the extra
effort. Because it was a small group, everyone had a chance to meet each other and form some amazing connections. It was really important to us that our guests were comfortable and we tried to throw a great party where everyone would feel welcome and loved – a gift to thank them for their support and encouragement over our seven years together.

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

Go for it!  There’s no need to start your married life together with a massive debt! It also allows you to focus on the things that are the most important to you, like great food, music and drink! I think it’s important to remember that a wedding is also a party. It’s a party that celebrates your union, but still a party; this helped keep us grounded during our planning, and not get too carried away with all of the possibilities from design to food. If you have special skills or talents, use them! If family members offer to help, be sure to say yes! Make what you can, and barter or do trades for things that you do not specialize in. It’s much more meaningful to think back on the day, and all of the love and talent that family and friends put into your day! We can’t thank our family and friends enough for taking the time to join us in paradise!

Vendors:

Photography: Nicole Payzant

Musicians: The Modern Grass

Jewellery: Touch the Dutch

Groom’s Attire: Tiger of Sweden

Bride’s Attire: Lace Bridal, Etsy

Serving Boards: Offcut Studio

Decor: John van Bommel, Bride, and Groom

DJ: David van Bommel (brother of the bride)

Floral Design: Kate Bentley, Ian Bentley (sister of the groom, brother in law)

Boho inspired headpieces are so on trend right now – and we anticipate they’ll be even hotter in 2016! We’ve rounded up 10 of our Etsy faves that are sure to turn heads!

This flower and gold vine comb headpiece from AnnaMarguerite will complete the look for any boho bride.

If you are a bride looking to add just the smallest hint of something to your look, this gold leaf and flower hair comb with Swarovsky crystals from LottieDaDesigns is the perfect accessory to enhance your ensemble.

The very essence of femininity is reflected in this beautiful floral halo hair wire wrap from LottieDaDesigns. The delicate pink flowers are any bohemian bride’s dream.

For the natural bride, this gold halo hair wrap from LottieDaDesigns embodies the spring with its tiny flowers and leaves.

You will look like a glowing goddess with this hand-beaded champagne Swarovsky crystal and pearl leaf bridal headband from Januaryroseboutique.

We think this rhinestone and beads leaf fascinator headpiece from LoBoheme is a beautiful sparkly addition to any loose hairstyle.

For a bride or her bridesmaids, this delicate two strand headband featuring little metal leaves as well as pearls, beads and Swarovsky crystal by LoBoheme, is versatile and would complement a variety of looks.

Autumn is such a beautiful transitional time of the year and this head wreath from thehoneycomb captures its warm fall colors with burnt orange and gold leaves.

For the vintage bride looking to capture that Art Deco look of the 20’s and 30’s would look perfect in this Diamante and pearl headpiece from LaurelLime.

This draped bridal headpiece from RoseRedRoseWhite is all about simple elegance.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links

A warm breeze carries the scent of ocean and margaritas. As you kick off your sandals and head for the beach, you reflect on the fact that today is one of the biggest days of your life. In just a few hours, you will be saying ‘I do’ to the love of your life. You are incredibly excited, but at the same time, you can’t believe how calm you feel.

Unlike so many brides who fret for months over their wedding details, you and your sweetheart decided that a wedding at Palladium Hotels & Resorts was the perfect fit. From having your own wedding planner to having the dream location, Palladium Hotels & Resorts ensures its brides-to-be are well taken care of before, during and after their big day.

With gorgeous beachfront locations in the most desirable destinations in the world, including the Caribbean and Mexico, Palladium Hotels & Resorts are the ideal choice for couples who want to experience a beautiful, stress-free resort wedding.

Exclusive to Weddings by Palladium, wedding design expert and author Karen Bussen’s Simple Stunning Wedding have been carefully designed to highlight Palladium Hotels & Resorts’ unique features and settings such as the Pure Paradise, Island Pearl, Waves of Love, Bliss in Bloom and Tropical Promise packages.

Recently, the resort added the romantic South Asian wedding package, “Shaadi Royal Bliss,” a vibrant, multi-day wedding ceremony that honors the couples’ most valued South Asian traditions within a stunning Caribbean setting. All of the wedding packages at Palladium Hotels & Resorts, including the “Shaadi Royal Bliss”, give couples the opportunity to upgrade and customize to their desire.

New for 2016, the resort is offering Free Weddings at Palladium, which gives couples who purchase the Love Birds package the chance to say “I do” with a complimentary custom bouquet, boutonniere and Justice of the Peace.  The Free Weddings package is based on availability for travel during January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017 at Palladium Hotels & Resorts in Jamaica and Punta Cana.

Palladium Hotels & Resorts also makes sure you have some opportunity for fun in the sun before the big day. For brides-to-be who want some time away with their closest friends, Palladium Hotels & Resorts offers a fabulous ‘girls getaway’ package. From pristine beaches and dancing all night to relaxing and rejuvenating at the SPA, Palladium Hotels & Resorts has all the elements required for the ultimate bachelorette party.

If planning your amazing Palladium Hotels & Resorts destination wedding or girls getaway seems overwhelming, have no fear; Apple Vacations will make it a breeze. A one-stop-shop for all your planning needs, Apple Vacations will take care of your travel arrangements and legal requirements, put you in touch with an experienced wedding planner, and find you great ways to save; they’ll even help you with your wedding registry!

Sponsored Post