Traditional Inspirational Real Wedding stories

Flamenco Dancers and Twinkle Lights Dazzle at This Wedding at Vizcaya Gardens in Miami

Something about the back of his head—and 6-foot-6 stature—intrigued college freshman Melanie Patrich. "My friends made me go to a party at his fraternity house," she describes. "I wanted to leave, but then I saw his back facing me while he played foosball. Even though I hadn't seen his face yet, ...

Exclusive: Join Influencer Kristina Rodulfo for Her Travel-Themed Wedding on the Beach in Oahu, Hawaii

After matching on a dating app, Kristina Rodulfo proposed that she and Michael Heal meet for the first time at a popular cocktail lounge. “He was a few minutes late, which, now that I know him is so unlike punctual Michael, but he was new to NYC from Australia and still figuring out the public tr...

One Couple's Colorful and Bold Multicultural Wedding in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Isabel Skau and Jeremy (Jez) Swanson first locked eyes across the churchyard in November 2019. Jez was busy organizing an event for the Sunday school program and doesn’t quite remember meeting his beloved’s gaze for the first time. However, he does remember receiving a friend request from Isabel ...

We Can't Stop Dreaming About This Couple's Romantic Wedding at Santa Barbara Historical Museum in California

Three months after a serendipitous introduction to Mudra Patel (34 and a VP of product management), Paul Cressman (35 and an attorney) knew he wanted to marry her. “In fact, I told his little sister that very thing. She was just such an amazing person, with such a kind heart, and everything just ...

The Beauty of New Mexico Was on Display at This Colorful Wedding at La Posada De Santa Fe

Love can take us by surprise, and for Ashley Ford and Charlie Strauss, it was the pandemic that brought them together. “Charlie slid into my DMs asking what I was up to,” Ashley recalls, “and that’s how our love story began.” After moving back to Texas from New York City, Ashley visited Charlie i...

An Equestrian’s Dreamy, Rustic-Chic Wedding at Winvian Farm in Morris, Connecticut

Guy Dunkley spent hours finding the perfect spot to propose to Jennifer (Jen) Dorfman while on a quick Key West vacation. Suddenly, the opportunity presented itself—a local dog beach was within golf-cart-driving distance, and the pair had their one-year-old Cocker Spaniel with them. “Noodle playe...

This Couple Enjoyed a Hot Air Balloon Ride After Their Korean Paebaek Wedding Ceremony at Lovegrove Estate in Summerville, South Carolina

Mere moments before Ashley McCullough reached an adventurer’s milestone, her boyfriend (Daniel Fink) had a sweet surprise. “Ashley and I are adventurous people, so on a dream cruise down to Antarctica, I proposed to Ashley just before she reached a lifetime goal of visiting all seven continents,”...

One Couple’s Khmer and American Wedding Day Infused With Bold Color in Rochester, Minnesota

“I bought the ring a couple of months before proposing, but I knew for quite some time that I wanted to ask her, just didn’t know when,” describes Davan Ngiem. Popping the question to his long-distance-turned-live-in girlfriend, Sadie, was a nerve-wracking experience for the groom. However, the b...

Indian and Jewish Traditions Blend in an Autumnal Wedding at Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina

Blending cultures together is a challenging feat. Nevertheless, sweethearts Binata Ray and Seth Brown were equal to the task. The bride’s Bengali and Jewish background and the groom’s Christian religion were expertly represented at their alfresco October nuptials in Durham, North Carolina. “Our i...

Influencer Hoàng-Kim Cung's Dallas, Texas, Celebration Included Three Wedding Ceremonies

Hoàng-Kim Cung (31 and a content creator) and Jonathan (Johnny) Huang Van (29 and a tech entrepreneur) wanted a wedding that felt both timeless and modern, so they could “look back at it decades from now and still love every detail without it feeling outdated or trendy,” says Hoàng-Kim. One way t...

Fashion Was the Focus at This Extravagant Four-Day Indian Wedding at the W South Beach in Miami, Florida

After cultivating a long-distance relationship, Aditya Patel was able to pull off a spectacular proposal to his girlfriend, Yamini Mada, in February 2020. They flew to Miami under the guise of celebrating a friend’s surprise birthday. “Adi hired an event planner to coordinate the most perfect pro...

Native American Customs Were Beautifully Honored at This Couple’s Traditional Navajo Wedding in Arizona

The roots of tradition, family and culture run deep within Brooke Overturf-Dalgai and Clay Morin. After a chance meeting at an Arizona State University graduation party—the groom attending as the brother of the graduate and Brooke making an appearance as a friend and fellow graduate—the two felt ...

An Elegant-Meets-Boho Wedding at Ricarda's Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario

Pansy and David tied the knot with a modern, sophisticated wedding with bohemian flair at Ricarda's Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario. The couple's wedding aesthetic was rooted in the juxtaposition of and balance between feminine and masculine design. "We wanted the theme to be a reflection of both ...

Guamanian, Nigerian and Military Traditions Filled This Wedding at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia

Vanessa and Joe’s wedding at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia, was inspired by all the things that mean the most to them as a couple. The duo threaded Guamanian and Nigerian cultural elements throughout the wedding to honor their heritage. They also included many military traditions as an h...

This Wedding at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Included a 10-Course Dinner

Chris and Thao planned an elegant-and-timeless wedding with a neutral color palette. While the aesthetic of the day was minimal and subdued, there was nothing plain about the wedding. From a prank first look early in the morning to a bubble grand exit, each and every element of the wedding was cu...

Jewel Tones Filled This Luxurious Beach Wedding in Mayakoba, Mexico

Mili Shah (31 and a VP of corporate strategy) and Jaidav (Jai) Reddy (32 and an investment banker) wanted a destination wedding so they could gather loved ones in a unique location where attendees could make memories of their own. Thanks to five events and ample entertainment, they were able to d...

This Romantic Wedding at Dover Hall Estate in Richmond, Virginia, Included a Bagpipe Player

After shifting their wedding date three times because of the pandemic, Becca and Malcolm finally said "I do" with a formal, classic wedding at Dover Hall Estate in Richmond, Virginia, that included a bagpipe player and cigar roller. Since Dover Hall is already beautiful on its own, the couple set...

The Couple Honored Their Chinese Heritage at This Giracci Vineyards Wedding in Silverado, California

Tony and Susan wanted to host a wedding where "both younger and older guests would be able to enjoy delicious food and have a great time." To do just that, the couple booked Giracci Vineyards in Silverado, California, to serve as a picturesque mountain vineyard backdrop for their fun wedding cele...

An Urban Roman Catholic Minimony at St. Athanasius Church in Brooklyn, New York

When the COVID forced Jacqueline and Joseph to postpone their large wedding celebration, the couple decided to move ahead with tying the knot on their original wedding date with an intimate minimony at St. Athanasius Church in Brooklyn, New York. The church wedding day was filled with vintage gla...

"Star Wars" Inspired This Classic Wedding at Villa Woodbine in Miami, Florida

You could say The Force brought Stephanie and Daniel, who share a deep love of Star Wars, together when they initially matched on a dating app. When it was time to finally tie the knot, Stephanie and Daniel settled on a classic vibe for their Catholic wedding ceremony and the dinner portion of th...

A Romantic Garden Party Wedding With Blush Accents at Texas Discovery Gardens in Dallas, Texas

Melanie  met Auggie through a grand gesture: After Auggie spotted her sitting alone at the movies, he sat down next to her. A few years and many more grand gestures later, the pair sealed the deal at the Texas DiscoveryGardens with a ceremony full of flowers. In keeping with the botanical theme, ...

After Their Coptic Orthodox Ceremony, This Couple Took Pictures at The Parthenon in Nashville

Not only was Marleen and Philo's wedding a beautiful celebration of their relationship, but it also brought to a close their long-distance engagement as they'd been split up in Canada and Nashville for the duration of wedding planning. While border closures resulting from the pandemic left the fa...

One Couple's Casual, Rustic Wedding at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley, California

Eva and Nico's wedding at  Holman Ranch Wedding in Carmel Valley, California, celebrated a blending of cultures against a beautiful backdrop of mountains. "The inspiration behind our day was 'California hacienda,'" says Eva. "We were both born and raised in Northern California and wanted everythi...