While the dress, bouquet and cake are always highlights in wedding photos, there are certain dramatic and unexpected wedding details that will give your photos an edge. From a leather jacket decorated with “Bride” in neon lettering, to a donut wall, these eight items are awesome additions to your wedding photos. And come on, who wouldn’t love a donut wall?

No boho elopement is complete without a macrame backdrop. This backdrop from WallKnot looks beautiful on its own, or decorated with fresh florals.

We love this boho altar decorated with two macrame curtains from KnotSquared. After the wedding, the curtains can be used to decorate your home.

Can you believe this handcrafted birch altar from blueskiesforever is under $100? Decorated with blooms and greenery, it is absolutely gorgeous.

Imagine taking photos in front of this incredible handmade flower wall from MioGallery? You can have one custom made to match your wedding colors.

This lovely sign from is from NARWALL, The hoop and florals are not included, so this cute message can be displayed in your home after the wedding.

Looking for a cheap way to make your photos pop? The giant balloons from ThedreampartyShop are just $12!

No, this is not photoshopped. With this fabulous neon leather jacket from TheNeonMuse, your reception photos are going to “shine”.

You are not dreaming. You can actually buy a donut wall on Etsy, from TheHendersonsCo, and it looks fantastic! Your guests won’t be able to stop talking about it.

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

Morgan and Dereck had a heartfelt ceremony at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, Florida, followed by a gorgeous outdoor reception at the venue with 60 of their nearest and dearest.

Here’s what photographer, Emily Ganey from The Ganeys, had to say about the wedding:

The couple loved Sunken Gardens for the tropical feel it provided – the palm trees, the large leaves, and the oasis type feel. It is such a gem in St. Pete!

Their ceremony was held on the wedding lawn. They had an intimate wedding, with only 60 guests. Dereck wrote the entire wedding ceremony, and it was so touching. The words that were shared were powerful and filled with respect. All of their guests clapped as Morgan and Dereck were proclaimed husband and wife!

The wedding reception was held outside under string lights (be still my heart!). It looked like a dream! Guests found their seats thanks to an acrylic seating chart. The tables were set with beautiful centerpieces that looked so natural.

The Ganeys did a incredible job capturing this intimate wedding. Take a look for yourself!

Morgan 31 &  Dereck, 34

Location: St. Petersburg, FL

Wedding Date: December 1, 2017

Number of Guests: 60

Wedding Cost: ~$20,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, FL

Wedding Reception Location: Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, FL

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We felt that sharing the occasion with only our closest friends and family would make the experience even more genuine, intimate, and special.  We wanted to eliminate the small talk with distant relatives or acquaintances we hadn’t seen in 3 years, and instead enjoy our love with those people with whom we’ve shared the best connections and memories throughout our lives.

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

We had to stand our ground with a few relatives and friends along the way.  For example, my grandparents were upset to learn that aunts and uncles hadn’t been invited.  Instead of caving in order to please them, I had the difficult conversation that while we love aunts and uncles, it was important to us to keep the wedding intimate and affordable.  Also, narrowing down a bridal party was challenging.  In the end we went with just one Best Man and one Matron of Honor. (I think some friends were relieved – bridesmaid dresses, tuxes, timelines, etc. can be intense and expensive! And those friends attended as guests anyway.)

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

No.

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

See above.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We announced that we are expecting our first child next summer!  I was about 12 weeks pregnant at the time, and only a handful of guests knew about that before the wedding.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The atmosphere was magical, in a tropical garden under a 100 year old oak tree with café lights and a chandelier hanging from above.  My husband, Dereck, delivered a speech thanking our guests and explaining what our marriage means to him, which was for me a unique and incredible gesture and the highlight of the night.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding? 

From the planning phases until the last dance, it was mostly stress free. Bonus – we have more money to put toward an adventurous honeymoon!

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

Stay true to your vision and heart.  It’s your occasion.  When creating the guest list and bridal party, we found it more justifiable to eliminate groups of people instead of sending the wrong message to certain individuals – for example, not inviting any cousins at all, instead of inviting some cousins and not others.

Vendors:

Venue: Sunken Gardens

Planning: Planning and Seating Chart: Palm Trees to Peonies

DJ: Breezin’ Entertainment

Dress Designer: Stella York

Makeup artist: The Hair and Makeup Gypsy

Veil: Melinda Rose Design

Florist: Wonderland Floral Art

Catering: Milan Catering

Cake:Mazzaros

Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab

Photography: The Ganeys

Etsy offers incredible one of a kind dresses that you won’t find in your local bridal boutique. Hesitant about ordering a wedding dress online? Don’t fear! Countless brides have reviewed the dress makers we’re featuring, and they can’t say enough about them!

Isn’t this dress from AngellureBridal gorgeous? Here’s what one reviewer has to say about it: “This dress is just exquisite, a dream come true. Nothing in any bridal store near me came close to having my style of dress… The photos do not do the incredible detail justice. Every part of it is hand-crafted and you can tell.”.

This tulle dress from DreamandDress is something out of a fairytale…The sleeves are embroidered with pretty little flowers and the tulle skirt is delicate and airy.

Light, comfortable and easy to move in are not words that can be used to describe most wedding dresses. This gown from Alexveilbridal is an exception. It is all of those things, as well as elegant and sophisticated. To complete the look, pair it with a simple backdrop necklace.

Pictures can’t quite do this gown (from WearYourLoveXO) justice. The train is decorated with intricate embroidered feathers, making it a boho bride’s dream dress!

This dress from ApilatWedding is sleek, modern and flattering. You are going to love wearing it!

You deserve nothing but the best on your wedding day. This “Dalia” wedding dress from BoudoirWedding will make you look and feel positively radiant.

Having a beach wedding? A windy day won’t be a problem if you have this dress from AngellureBridal… The train look stunning when the wind catches it!

Inspired by the styles of the 1930s, this dress from CathyTelle has a vintage vibe that we find irresistible.

The flared sleeves, long train and lace detailing on this dress from WearYourLoveXO make it ideal for the boho bride.

This beautiful dress from AngellureBridal is accented with ivory lace flowers and leaves. You’ll feel like a goddess while wearing it!

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

Looking for a unique, dazzling engagement ring? Pear-shaped engagement rings are trending in 2018, and it’s not hard to see why! From small, delicate stones to large, eye-catching ones, you’ll swoon over these 10 rings!

Morganite offers the same gorgeous shine as a diamond, at a fraction of the cost. This blush and gold ring from StudAndStuff is a stunning option!

If rose gold is your thing, this delicate ring from SzekiStudio is the perfect choice!

Go bling or go home! This elaborate ring from SzekiStudio is practically guaranteed to make you swoon!

This awe-inspiring ring from Evorden features an exquisite piece of aquamarine, and a halo of diamonds.

The simple, sleek design of this ring from artemer helps highlight the beauty of the 0.75 carat diamond.

Moonstone emits beautiful rainbow flashes in the light, making this ring from onegarnetgirl a truly eye-catching piece.

If you like the style featured above, you’ll love this Oregon Sunstone ring from onegarnetgirl. We’re obsessed with the peachy, glittery tones.

Your fiancé won’t be able to stop staring at this incredibly beautiful Chatham alexandrite ring from Oore.

Dark, romantic and bold, this London blue topaz tri-stone ring from Oore begs to be shown off!

No one will ever guess this elegant ring from WestCoastAuctions is under $1000!

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

Today we are featuring a breathtaking vow renewal shot at The Palais Royale in South Bend, Indiana. This styled shoot began as a collaborative effort between Krissy of Simply Be So Events, Arielle of Arielle Peters Photography, and Stephanie of Stephanie Abbitt. With inspiration from Beauty and the Beast and European Balls, the focus of the shoot was creative patterns, elegant florals, and colors that flowed from The Palais Royale. All of the elements that were a part of the shoot, were inspired by the environment and design of the venue along with the venue’s decorations.

Here’s what Arielle of Arielle Peters Photography had to say about the shoot:

“You only get married once.” We hear this quote often in reference to choosing vendors and stretching the budget just a bit more to get exactly what we love. But what about those who have nothing but splotchy memories from one of the most important days of their lives? Vow renewals can be an exciting event to recreate the old memories while creating new memories with the people you love; especially the one you love.

When we met our models, Jay and Joy, we learned a little bit about their story and just had to share. They told us how they were filled with joy to join us for this shoot, but for a unique reason. “Our wedding day was nothing grand, in fact, it was a secret.” Jay and Joy were married at the local courthouse with their two month old daughter as their only witness. Joy continued by sharing: “We don’t even have pictures of the day.” What an honor it was to share in this moment with them and their two children!

“We were all excited to see the pictures! Everyone was grinning from ear-to-ear, and mama (me) may have cried a few happy tears. I know these will be treasured memories for many years to come.”

Vendors:

Photographer:  Arielle Peters Photography

Veils and headpieces: Here Combs the Bride – bride’s hair accessories

Invitation Designer: Lined Goods

Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Louie’s Tux Shop

Equipment Rentals: Burns Rentals

Floral Designer: Marie and Grace Floral

Dress Store: Simply Yours Bridal

Cake Designer: C’est La Vie Cakes

Beauty: Something Blue Stylist

Event Designer: Stephanie Abbitt

Event Planner: Simply Be So Events

Reception Venue: Palais Royale