1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Wedding at Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, California

Kristen Horgan (29 and a financial planner) and Brendan Horgan (34 and an assets manager) met in San Francisco through mutual friends and instantly co

Kristen Horgan (29 and a financial planner) and Brendan Horgan (34 and an assets manager) met in San Francisco through mutual friends and instantly connected. They got married at Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, California, in a rustic outdoorsy celebration with tons of wild blooms -- like thistles and lamb's ear -- DIY touches and interesting surprises. A bagpipe player surprised guests at the wedding ceremony, while hints of lavender kept bouquets, centerpieces and even the escort card display smelling sweet. Moscow Mules and cucumber gimlets were served at cocktail hour with passed appetizers in an herb garden terrace -- the perfect place for such a lavender-infused event!

Kristen carried a bouquet of white lisianthus with rustic thistles and needles sprinkled throughout.
Kristen's bridesmaids wore knee-length dark blue bridesmaid dresses and carried bouquets of thistle and lavender.
A chalkboard in the foreground of the ceremony space listed out all of the wedding attendants on the bride and groom's side.
Bridesmaids carried composite bouquets of blue thistles, lavender sprigs and lamb's ear.
"We had a bag piper for the ceremony because my husband is 100 percent Irish," says Kristen.
Escort cards with a lavender motif sat in a bed of lavender buds at the entrance of the reception area.
Centerpieces of tall candles and candle holders topped round tables with printed toille blue tablecloths.
The lavender motif showed up again on place cards at each guest's specific place setting, topped with a thistle bud.
Kristen and Brendan shared their first dance as a married couple with family and friends at their wedding reception in Ojai, California.