Elegant Inspirational Real Wedding stories

An Elegant, Anemone-Filled Wedding at New Riff Distillery in Newport, Kentucky

Emily and Andy wanted their friends and family to feel like a part of their wedding day. To promote that closeness, the couple hung their wedding rings outside the ceremony for guests to hold and warm with good wishes, and left everyone personalized handwritten notes at their tables. They also ho...

Candelabras and Roses Filled This Hindu Wedding at The Astorian in Houston, Texas

Rhuju and Vijay both have Indian roots, but their similarities end there. “Our families are from two different parts of India—Gujarat and Telangana—with different languages, food and traditions,” Rhuju says. “We tried our best to make everyone happy.” At their shortened Hindu ceremony, they playe...

One Couple's Elegant Summer Wedding at Zingerman's Cornman Farms in Dexter, Michigan

Mansi and Alex got creative when infusing their two cultures into one wedding day. “We honored our families with both a Western-style ceremony and an Indian ceremony,” Alex says. The couple switched things up by asking Mansi’s aunts to walk her down the aisle and offering guests American and Indi...

A Flower-Filled Blush Wedding at Carmel Mountain Ranch Estate in Rancho Bernardo, California

Dyana and Elan's Jewish wedding celebration at Carmel Mountain Ranch Estate in Rancho Bernardo, California, was all about romance—from the color palette to the lush florals and the picturesque estate backdrop, the entire day exuded pure elegance. "Our wedding was such a dream and my inspiration c...

This Couple Chose an Ethereal Pale-Blue-and-White Palette for Their Anaheim Hills, California, Wedding

Romance was the name of the game at Justine and Stephen's intimate pale-blue-and-white wedding with epic canyon views in Anaheim Hills, California. Although the ongoing pandemic forced Justine and Stephen to scale back their wedding plans, they didn't let the changes derail their vision of an ele...

This Romantic Garden Wedding at Wave Hill in the Bronx, New York, Had an Epic Cake

Samantha and Ian's wedding at Wave Hill in the Bronx, New York, was a romantic affair complete with portraits in a greenhouse, a flower-filled wedding ceremony and an elegant ballroom reception with an oversize wedding cake. "We wanted the entire day to feel like you were at a garden party with a...

This Classic Wedding at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, Had a Gray-and-Navy Palette

Amy and Jeff are both from Shanghai, but since they met and live in the United States, the couple wanted an American-style celebration with touches of Chinese culture. “I think assimilation, while at the same time keeping your heritage, is very important,” Amy says. In that spirit, they held a si...

A Sky-Blue Palette Complemented the Mountain Backdrop at This Crested Butte, Colorado, Wedding

The decision to wed in nature was an easy one for Marissa as she'd always dreamed of emulating her parent's Yosemite wedding when it came time for her own nuptials to James. "My parents got married in Yosemite National Park at a small chapel in 1990 and I have always dreamed of a wedding like tha...

A Waterfront Wedding at Celebrations at the Bay in Pasadena, Maryland, With an All-White Palette

To complement the light-and-airy vibe of their seaside wedding venue, Jesslyn and Gary decided to plan a wedding with an all-white color palette and even asked wedding guests to stick to a white dress code. Jesslyn explains that she'd always dreamt of an all-white wedding and the elegance of the ...

A Green-and-White Palette This Wedding at Lindley-Scott House in Azusa, California, a Timeless Vibe

When it came to planning their wedding at Lindley-Scott House in Azusa, California, Linda and Jen prioritized making the day "an infusion of who Jen and I are as people," explains Linda. "We both love vintage music, outfits and an overall vintage feel so that was our primary mindset when setting ...

Ladybug Details Filled This Mauve-Hued Private Estate Wedding in Dallas, Texas

Magazine clippings inspired the backyard wedding Daniela Acosta (30 and a business owner) and Megan Lane (34 and an administrator) planned to celebrate their nine-year relationship. “We found a floral centerpiece we loved in a magazine and went from there,” says the couple. With that specific aes...

A French Chapel Set the Scene for This Modern Wedding at The Club at Houston Oaks in Texas

Bridget Awosika (a womenswear designer) and Dapo Olagundoye’s (an agro-commodity trader) wedding planning journey was a globe- trotting affair. The couple met (thanks to a chance run-in at an ATM) and reside in Lagos, Nigeria, but flew stateside for their nuptials. In late 2019, they wed with a t...

A Relaxed Industrial Wedding at Loft 301 in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Maegan and Dustin weren’t going to leave Michigan’s unpredictable weather to chance on the day of their “I dos.” “We opted for an indoor wedding to eliminate any weather-related surprises,” Maegan says of bringing the outdoors in for their garden-inspired celebration. For the recessional, onlooke...

It's Hard to Believe This Wedding Took Place at Villa de la Vina in Angora Hills, California, Not Italy

Although Tiffany and Antonio tied the knot in Angora Hills, California, they drew inspiration heavily from Italy, a destination they fell in love with during a trip early on in their relationship. "A few years ago during a trip to Italy, Antonio and I got to spend a few days in Positano and explo...

This Whimsical Wedding at Spruce Mountain Ranch in Larkspur, Colorado, Had a Geode Cake

Claire and Ian had a few parameters for their venue. “We knew that we wanted somewhere without noise ordinances and where we could put our own stamp on the place,” Claire says. Spruce Mountain Ranch checked off all boxes. What Claire calls a “whimsical woodland” theme took shape, made possible wi...

A Boho Wedding at Greengate Ranch in San Luis Obispo, California, With a Toffee Color Palette

Alexis and Mike's romance began with a spirited greeting: “ALOHAAAA.” “As soon as Mike said that, I knew I was in trouble,” Alexis says. “His gregarious energy captured my attention.” At their wedding, the couple combined their fun, silly spirit with boho pieces, including an “aloha” sign over th...

Vibrant Fall Foliage Created a Picturesque Backdrop for This Wedding at Blue Sky in Wanship, Utah

Lane and John tied the knot at Blue Sky Ranch in Wanship, Utah, with just 30 loved ones (and their pup!) in attendance at the intimate fall wedding. Vibrant foliage blanketing the surrounding mountain peaks created an eye-catching backdrop to their outdoor celebration, which Lane and John filled ...

A Rockleigh Country Club Wedding in Rockleigh, New Jersey, Filled With Vibrant Pink Orchids

After Yolanda and Enrique’s seaside Positano engagement, the pair decided to bring the Amalfi Coast to New Jersey for their wedding. “We fell in love with the coastline and vineyards of Ravello,” Yolanda says, “but the main objective of our day was to spend time with our families at home.” A symb...

The Sunny Atlantic Beach Club in New York Gave This Couple Dreamy Ocean Views for Their Wedding

Karen and Jason got engaged on a secluded beach in Maui—and for their wedding, the pair decided to bring a slice of Hawaii back to their families in New York. After the couple tied the knot on the sands of Atlantic Beach, they welcomed loved ones to a tropical party at the Sunny Atlantic Beach Cl...

Fly Fishing Inspired This Elegant Green-and-White Wedding at Martis Camp in Truckee, California

Anne and Charlie's shared love of fly fishing has always been central to their relationship so when it came time to plan their wedding at Martis Camp in Truckee, California, selecting a fly fishing theme was an easy decision. "Of many shared interests and experiences, however, none was more impor...

Lawn Games Filled This Couple's Relaxed Backyard Wedding Reception in Ann Arbor, Michigan

To celebrate their union, Yvette and John exchanged vows with a backyard wedding ceremony at a private residence in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Following their vow exchange, the couple celebrated alongside loved ones with a relaxed reception that included plenty of festive lawn games. "On July 12th, we ...

This Couple Tied the Knot With a Romantic Rooftop Wedding at The Madison in Detroit, Michigan

Alice and Matt's romance began in an unexpected place: Twitter. After Matt shouted Alice out on an account dedicated to Michigan State crushes, the couple eventually bonded over Chipotle. Years later, the two decided to tie the knot in Detroit, another fave spot. As has become their style, the pa...

An Emily Brontë-Inspired Wedding at The Junior League of Houston in Houston, Texas

Mary and Sahra's wedding transported guests into the pages of Emily Brontë’s England. “I’m a big literature nerd, so I wanted you to feel as though you stepped into a ball from a classic novel,” Sahra says. Rich satin wallpaper, gold foil touches and an arch topped with spray roses channeled the ...