Erin and Jake had an intimate outdoor ceremony at River Oaks Garden Club Forum in Houston, Texas with 25 of their nearest and dearest. Instead of celebrating with their guests directly after the ceremony, they opted to have the reception on a separate day.

“… separating the two events, while awkward at times, did a nice job of getting us down to the very real fact that a lot of the people in our lives were more interested in having fun with us than they were invested in the intimate, emotional aspects of the ceremony,” explained the groom, adding that 75 guests attended the reception.

Although whittling down the guest list was tough, the couple said their wedding couldn’t have been more perfect.

“(We were) surrounded by people who understood the impact of this moment on our lives. It made it very pure and intense,” said Jake.

Thanks to the talented Jill Goehring from Half a Rice Studios for sharing this lovely intimate wedding with us!

Erin, 28 & Jake, 26

Location: Houston, Texas

Wedding Date: Nov. 8, 2018

Number of Guests: ~25 for the ceremony, 75 for the reception. We held them on two separate nights.

Wedding Cost: ~$20K

Wedding Ceremony Location: River Oaks Garden Club Forum

Wedding Reception Location: Nouveau Antique Art Bar

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted to make sure we could focus on each other, without as much of the distraction of “playing host.”

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

Figuring out where to draw the line on guests was extremely difficult as we both have relatively large families (see below), but the other difficulty for us was finding venues that were appropriate for something small. So many venues that participate in the wedding industry are meant to handle pretty large groups, so we didn’t want to be swimming in empty space. ROGC was perfect, it just took some looking to find it.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Very. There’s no way around the fact that some people felt left out, but what I would say to future couples considering something like this is that you have to remember the mantra: “It’s OUR day.” At the end of the day, our family and friends understood that.

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

We did, but not too much. When we did, we essentially reminded them that exclusion had nothing to do with us not loving them or wanting them in our lives, but it was about making sure we could control the size (costs) associated with the event. We paid for the vast majority of this ourselves, after all.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The whole thing. Can I say that? The ceremony itself was all built to be a perfect representation of us. We were married by a close friend, my mother played the processional music live on violin, our siblings were our wedding party… it was wonderful.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The open bar was a very worthwhile investment. But, in all seriousness, separating the two events, while awkward at times, did a nice job of getting us down to the very real fact that a lot of the people in our lives were more interested in having fun with us than they were invested in the intimate, emotional aspects of the ceremony.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Having everything exactly the way we wanted it, surrounded by people who understood the impact of this moment on our lives. It made it very pure and intense.

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

Society (and some families) more or less expect a pretty big event out of your wedding. If that’s not you, stay the course, and have the wedding you want. If done right, it will be more intimate, and more meaningful than it could have been otherwise.

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: River Oaks Garden Club Forum

Reception Venue: Nouveau Antique Art Bar

Photography: Half a Rice Studios

Catering: Melange

Alcohol: Spec’s Wine and Spirits

Makeup Artist: Your Beautiful Face

Today’s styled shoot, shot by Suzy Goodrick in the Arizona desert, beautifully captures the dramatic desert landscape in the Phoenix area. The vibe is free-spirited, whimsical and bold.

Here’s what Suzy Goodrick had to say about the shoot:

The anchor for this shoot was Shyn of Pacific Brides, a hair and makeup artist from the Seattle area. She has an amazing, wild imagination and traveled to the Phoenix desert for a one-of-a-kind shoot, different than anything she’s ever done. She reached out to vendors in Phoenix through Instagram and referrals, and our team was set!

It seemed as if Shyn brought her Pacific Northwestern weather with her to Phoenix, because the darkest storm clouds rolled in just moments before set up began. But we persisted and moved forward anyway, hoping the rain would pass over us. As Suzy (the photographer) captured the tablescape and stationery details, the clouds kept rolling and created a beautiful, stormy backdrop against the desert landscape. As soon as our newly married couple arrived (found through Instagram), the clouds parted and the sunshine filled the desert. It was a sight to see and was truly depicted in the photos near the towering saguaro.

The storm clouds, paired with a desert sunset only Phoenician’s can attest to, created a purple and orange sky we’ll never forget. The final images and the colors in the sky aren’t photoshopped, just a rad depiction of what Phoenix has to offer.

Aesthetically, we opted for a bohemian look with a whimsical twist. The bouquet had bright colors to contrast the desert background; the dress had fringe for a lighthearted free spirit vibe; and the moody tablescape brought it all together with it’s muted glassware, matte black plates, and gold accents. It came together more beautifully than we could have dreamed.

 
Vendors:

Hair and Makeup: Pacific Brides

Styling and Decor: Simple Means Events

Dress: Lovely Bride ,RueDesiene Bridal

Stationery: Unika Collections 

Flowers: Mint Green Design

Cake: Suss pastries 

Photography: Suzy Goodrick

Couple:  @blandford18 @chelseakblandford

There’s nothing more chic than a modern city wedding, complete with a sleek, industrial venue, sophisticated minimalist decor and a bold, elegant bridal look to match. 

Of course, each city neighborhood has its own style, so an old Hollywood glamour-style wedding is also totally doable in a big city. Look out for neighborhoods filled with vintage hotels, retro street cars and old world architecture.

Still not convinced? Here are five reasons to get married in a big city:

One-of-a-Kind Experiences:

While strolling down the city streets on your wedding day, be open to unplanned moments such as ponies walking down the street, buskers serenading passerby, maybe even a celebrity encounter. You just never know what you might find in a big city!

Quentin and Huan, who eloped in Chicago, shared details on one of their best wedding day memories: “While we were taking pictures by the river, a construction worker saw Huan and starting singing for her! It was such a sweet and enchanting moment.”

Quentin and Huan’s Chicago City Hall Elopement // Photography: Nicole Jansma Photography

Epic Photo Ops:

When you tie the knot in the big city, turn your wedding portrait time into an adventure. Every big city is filled with epic locations perfect for wedding photos, from vintage carousels to graffiti-filled alleys to whimsical gardens – the list goes on! Chances are, your photographer knows the area well and will advise you on photo op locations. Also, be sure to scope out the area on the web to find interesting, under-the-radar locations (we suggest using Atlas Obscura!).

Greta and Caleb’s San Francisco City Hall Elopement // Photography: Kyle Loves Tori Photography 

Choices, Choices, Choices:

Getting married in a big city means you’ll have loads of options for the wedding venue and vendors. Looking for a quaint loft with an amazing view of the city skyline? Or maybe a historic, restored 19th century factory filled with rustic industrial elements? You’ll find it. Plus, with so many photographers, florists etc. to choose from, you can find vendors who perfectly match your style (and hopefully your budget!).

Pittsburgh Studio Styled Shoot // Photography:  Lindsey Zern Photography

Convenience:

With ample accommodation options, and easy-accessible transit, city weddings tend to be more convenient for guests than their country counterparts, especially for those from out-of-town.

Traveling from the ceremony venue to reception venue is often a breeze in the city. Guests can commute together using public transit, or even walk. One  couple featured on IW tied the knot in a park minutes from their San Diego home, and following the ceremony the guests walked back the the couple’s home for cake and cocktails.   

Katie and Ethan’s California Garden Wedding // Photography: Kaitie Brainerd Photography 

Party It Up:

There’s no party like an after-party- after all, the true celebration doesn’t begin until after the last dance is over with. If your wedding is outside the city, chances are the after-party will have to be held at the reception venue. With a city wedding, the after-party options are endless, from modern rooftop lounges to fun bars filled with retro video games.

Justine and Kyle’s Enchanting Restaurant Wedding in Philadelphia // Photography: Peach Plum Pear Photo 

Chelsea and Josh’s decision to have an intimate wedding was primarily based on cost; smaller guest list = less money.

More importantly, however, opting for an intimate wedding allowed for meaningful interaction between the couple and each and every guest, rather than the rushed “Hi! Goodbye!” greeting at larger weddings.

“We were able to spend time and talk with all of the guests at the wedding!” says Chelsea, adding that they couldn’t be happier with their decision to go small.

Kudos to Carrie Cantrell from Eventide Photography for capturing this li’l rustic wedding so beautifully!

Chelsea, 26 & Josh, 30

Location: Atwood, TN

Wedding Date: October 17, 2018

Number of Guests: 60

Wedding Cost: $8,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: K&M Barn at Lewis Farm in Atwood, TN

Wedding Reception Location: same as the wedding ceremony

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We had an intimate wedding due to the cost and we wanted a smaller wedding! We wanted our close friends and family there. The groom and I paid for our honeymoon so we wanted to be able to go on a fun, long honeymoon since we both had never been out of the country. Our honeymoon was in Cozumel, Mexico.

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

One was that I did not have a wedding coordinator! My mom and I did everything ourselves. Also I wanted to get married this year, so therefore some of the options were limited! There were a few more guests we would have had but they understood the circumstance.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

Somewhat.

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

No, we did not.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The highlights had to be the walk down the aisle with my stepfather as I watched Josh standing at the end of the aisle. Everyone was able to hear all that we said since it was so intimate. The ceremony was short and sweet ?

What were the highlights of the reception?

Josh dancing to Michael Jackson! He has moves and everyone loves watching him.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

We were able to spend time and talk with all of the guests at the wedding! The cost was MUCH less having an intimate wedding! We had more time getting to spend with each other and our guests since we did not have to constantly scramble to talk to people.

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

I would say it is a great idea!! I could not imagine having to plan a bigger wedding than I did. It was the perfect night and day. I had more money to spend on details such as food, decorations, and florals since we did not have to accommodate so many people!

Vendors:

Location: K&M Barn at Lewis Farm in Atwood, TN

Photographer: Carrie Cantrell from Eventide Photography

Caterer: Tammy Legions

Florals: J. Kent Freeman Floral Design

DJ: DJ Larry

Decorations: M&M Event Rentals and Vows Wedding and Events

Rings: Lottie’s Jewelers

Dress and Tuxes: My Best Friend Jenna

Hairstylist: Kelley McCullar

Makeup: Courtney Helton Parker

Today, it’s all about cuteness! We all know that flower girls are one of the most adorable parts of a wedding, so why not take a break from the wedding planning stress and take a look at some sweet fashions for the littlest members of your wedding party.

This grey tulle skirt from princessdoodlebeans will attract many oohs and ahhs! Made with over 100 yards of tulle, this skirt may even make you a little jealous!

Your flower girl will be eagerly counting down the days until she can wear this stunning dress from Bubale1.

These tutus from SixStories are so cute! Your flower girl will love twirling around in one.

The sleeves on this boho dress from bittybambu are such a great detail!

Have some fun with this pretty dress from PinkPeonyByKaterina embellished with rose gold sequins.

If your bridesmaids are wearing solids, then a printed flower girl dress (like this one from Theprincessandthebou) will look amazing!

Getting married in the winter? Opt for a long skirt (like this one from SixStories) with long sleeves for your flower girl.

Lace isn’t only for the bride! If you want your flower girl’s dress to have some of the same details as yours, then this one from KalipsoCo is a great idea.

Is your flower girl going through the “I want all the sparkles” phase? This gold sequin dress from NicolettesCouture will surely make her face light up!

Concerned about the drama that accompanies a scratchy dress? Don’t be! This tulle dress from OliviaKateCouture is fully lined, ensuring that your flower girl stays comfortable.

Shopping for a really little one? We love this infant-sized tulle and lace dress from NicolettesCouture.

Your flower girl will feel like a princess in this voluminous blue dress from CupcakeCoutureDress!

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