Elegant Inspirational Real Wedding stories

One Couple's Ethiopian-and-Jewish Fusion Wedding at Detroit Institute of Arts in Michigan

Lizzy and Tigist share a passion for equality and justice. “We wanted the words we said and our ceremony to reflect that,” Lizzy says. The couple took part in a traditional Jewish ceremony, signing a ketubah and saying their vows under a chuppah, but switched things up to make sure both of them f...

Polish and Filipino Traditions Filled This Belle Isle Casino Wedding in Detroit, Michigan

Family traditions were the focus of Amanda and Andrew downtown nuptials, which kicked off with a Catholic ceremony at St. Francis D’Assisi. Ring bearers carried blessed arras (wedding coins) as a nod to the groom’s Filipino background, and the ceremonial altar cloths were sewn by his grandmother ...

Cherry Blossoms Filled This Philadelphia Wedding at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Katharine and Ben knew they “wanted to get married somewhere that wasn’t just a wedding venue, but also had some cultural value,” Katharine says of landing on Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The art lovers made use of two galleries: Classical art set the tone for their ceremony, while cont...

This Wedding at the Fruitlands Museum in Massachusetts Overlooked the Nashua River Valley

Nature lovers Christie and Emmanuel envisioned an outdoor wedding in the Boston area, where they met in college. Just outside the city, Fruitlands Museum fit the bill with rolling fields and expansive views. “It was the perfect mix of a rustic feel with amazing catering and impeccable service,” C...

Lush White-and-Green Flowers Filled This Wedding at Eolia Mansion in Waterford, Connecticut

Tram and Johnson chose to host their garden-inspired green-and-white wedding at Eolia Mansion in Waterford, Connecticut, because that's where they "met and fell in love in our home state of Connecticut. There was no more meaningful place for us to get married. On a random chance, we toured Eolia ...

One Couple's Pink-and-Peach Rooftop Wedding at The Faulkner in Jackson, Mississippi

To celebrate their marriage, Kristen and Bill exchanged vows on the rooftop of The Faulkner overlooking downtown Jackson, Mississippi. After tying the knot the couple and their guests celebrated with a vibrant reception filled with a sherbet-inspired peach-and-purple color palette. Kristen is a p...

This Merrimon-Wynne House Wedding in North Carolina Had Nods to the Couple's Multicultural Roots

At first, Diana and Steve were focused on throwing an elegant Southern wedding befitting their venue, an 1876 mansion. “But as we continued to plan, things became more personal,” Diana says. They pair ended up celebrating the union of their two cultures— Diana is Native American and Southern, Ste...

Tuscany Inspired This Green-and-Beige Wedding at Savoia Castle in Prague, Czech Republic

Since the pandemic made a destination wedding in Tuscany an impossibility for Daniela and Milan, the couple decided to bring an Italian vibe home to Prague for their wedding. To celebrate their marriage, the couple hosted a romantic Tuscan-inspired green-and-beige wedding at Savoia Castle in Prag...

This Wedding at the Lodge at the Rock in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Was Filled With Shades of Blue

For their wedding at Lodge at the Rock in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Taylor and Ahbi filled their celebration with a variety of serene blue shades that befit their natural surroundings. "Our wedding was truly a showcase of us," says Taylor. "We just wanted everyone to have a blast and enjoy some of ou...

An Ethereal Elopement at Anderson House in Washington, D.C., Followed by Dinner at Home

Anderson House is a Beaux-Arts architectural gem nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., and it served as the picturesque backdrop for Erinn and Jon's pandemic elopement. However, before the couple exchanged vows at Anderson House they got ready together and had a dance party to Taylor Swift's ...

A Moody-and-Glam Wedding at Beauport Hotel Along the Coast in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Although Corey proposed to Allison with an octagon-halo diamond, the couple thought the hexagon was a better symbol of their six-year relationship. It became a recurring motif of their moody-modern North Shore wedding. “I have just always really loved geometric shapes,” Allison says. Hexagons app...

A Contemporary Mountain Wedding at Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado

A remote cabin and a grove of Aspen trees set the stage for James and Logan's “mountain contemporary” wedding in Beaver Creek. The couple played up their cozy locale by sourcing every single detail from local vendors. Stationery (including RSVP cards which simply read: "You in or what?"), signage...

Lush Greenery Filled Every Corner of This Wedding at The Mansion at Natirar in Peapack, New Jersey

Alana ad Megan designed their wedding with one guiding principle in mind: Simplicity is key. After visiting at least 20 venues, the couple landed on Mansion at Natirar, thanks to its effortless, classic style. “When we arrived at the mansion, we instantly knew it was the one for us,” the pair say...

Dogs Stole the Show at This Romantic Wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California

Delia and Gordon's romantic wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California, was filled with elegant details, a dreamy blush-and-ivory color palette, and an abundance of adorable puppies dressed in wedding-ready attire. For their intimate wedding, the couple kept the guest list small but lovingl...

Baseball, Sustainability and Travel Inspired This Boho Wedding at Franciscan Gardens in California

For wedding planners, there’s often extra pressure when it comes to dreaming up their own day. California-based event pro Alessandra Tacconelli met the task head-on. Not only did she plan a creative boho-meets-sporty event to celebrate her marriage to professional baseball player John Brontsema, ...

A Romantic Castle Wedding at The Hempstead House in Sands Point, New York

Lauren and Darryl were brought together by a mutual friend, so it was fitting that their wedding highlight the people they cherish most. The bride’s mom took the reigns with the wedding favors, baking black cake as an homage to the couple’s Jamaican roots, and one of the groomsmen stepped up to p...

Romantic, Tuscan-Inspired Wedding at Bella Collina in Orlando, Florida

After considering an Italian wedding, Alexis (Angel) Guevara (29 and a psychiatrist) and Jake Altier (26 anda physician) decided to marry closer to home at the Tuscan- inspired Bella Collina. Candlelight, gold damask linens and ruscus garlands brought an old-world elegance to a day filled with pe...

Lush Greenery Filled This Elegant Wedding at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios in Chicago, Illinois

Akello Ragwar (29 and works in data security) and Emeka Linton (38 and works in private equity) knew they wanted to swap vows in the vibrant city of Chicago as a tribute to Emeka’s hometown. Guided by Akello’s vision, the pair created a romantic garden party in the heart of the city. “We wanted s...

This Wedding at The William Aiken House in Charleston, South Carolina, Was the Epitome of Elegant

Although Megan and Chase reside in Chicago, their love story began in Charleston so it was only fitting that the duo returned to the Lowcountry to tie the knot. For their elegant garden wedding, Megan and Chase filled the day with details inspired by both locales. From Chicago hot dogs on the men...

This Couple Celebrated Black Love During Their Wedding at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia

Rayna Lucier (34 and a project manager) and Maurice Rawls (36 and a nonprofit site director) both hail from the Northeast, but have deep roots in the coastal South. Rayna and Maurice swapped vows in front of Forsyth Park’s iconic fountain and paid homage to their families and incorporated ancestr...

An Industrial Wedding Blending Hawaiian and Jewish Traditions at Carondelet House in Los Angeles

Initially, Renahy Young (29 and a writer) and Lon Levy (30 and a portfolio manager) planned to marry at Lon’s childhood home (it was even on their save-the dates), but a visit to Carondelet House changed all that. “It was exactly the vibe we were trying to create, like being in someone’s cool-ass...

Whimsical, Floral-Filled Spring Wedding at Historic Shady Lane in Manchester, Pennsylvania

Christina Varela (27 and a physician) and Ricardo Diaz (34 and the owner of a digital marketing agency) may have said “I do” in Pennsylvania, but the couple wanted their vows to transport guests to a whole other continent. “Our theme was based on romantic European gardens,” Christina says. The in...

Family Was Central to This Simple, European-Inspired Wedding at Summerour Studio in Atlanta, Georgia

To celebrate their marriage, Jillian and Kyla wed in a boho wedding at Summerour Studio, a European-inspired venue tucked in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. "A year into our relationship same-sex marriage was legalized and we knew then that if we got married we would make it a big celebration," ex...