Casual Inspirational Real Wedding stories

An Adventurous, Springtime Elopement With Pups and Wildflowers on Colorado's Blue Lakes Trail

When Emmaline moved from Kansas to Colorado into her brother’s spare room, she didn’t know one of his roommates would be her future husband. The roommate in question, Ryan, invited Emmaline on a houseboat trip with some of his friends, and soon, the two wanted to spend all of their adventures tog...

Two Brides Enjoy a Casual and Relaxing Springtime Elopement at New York City Hall

Lourdes knew Veronica was “the one” within a couple of weeks of dating. This fact, Lourdes says, actually caught her off guard. "[I] found the ease with which I fell in love with her to be completely shocking. I didn’t know relationships could be so easy and that I could be so compatible with som...

A Multi-Day Jewish-Indian Fusion Wedding Amongst the Redwoods in San Gregorio, California

Karly and Hriday's mutual friend, who would later play a pivotal role as their wedding officiant, decided to invite the two strangers on an epic, multi-couple date. They met, hit it off and the rest, as they say, is history. After deciding to spend the rest of their lives with one another, they s...

Inside One Bride's "PJ and DJ" Prewedding Party in Dallas, Texas

“There’s nothing better than having a sleepover with your best girls...even if you’re in your early 20s,” says Anne Kathryn (Annie) Trevino (24, works in public relations). Before her May 6, 2023, wedding to Robert (Bobby) DiTullio (24, an outside sales representative) in Houston, Annie hosted a ...

A Laid-Back, Effortlessly Cool Desert Wedding at Ground in South Africa

Some people meet at precisely the wrong time. When Robyn Pamela introduced herself to Nicci Campbell at a restaurant, both were in relationships with other people. "We became good friends," Nicci laughs. Their friendship deepened over time, and as fate would have it, they found themselves single ...

This Funky Las Vegas Vow Renewal Included Taco Bell, Tattoos and Lots of Casino Fun

Doing life with your partner is no easy feat, especially when you navigate major changes together. For Alex (27, a destination wedding planner and designer) and Stefan Moreau (28, a logistics analyst), transitioning from military to civilian life was one such milestone. The military has long play...

We Can't Get Over This Carefree California Wedding With Desert Accents at the Vintage Ojai Rancho Inn

Friendship blossoming into a romance is a rare thing that should be celebrated. When Emma Claffy and Brett Fairless met at an ad agency in Los Angeles, they clicked immediately. "We were friends for a year," Emma explains. At some point, the pair decided to head out on a first date. "We bonded ov...

A Rehearsal Dinner With An Elevated Western Aesthetic at Holden Marlot Museum in Aspen, Colorado

Who said work romances don’t work out? Not Elizabeth Stone and Bloor Redding, that’s for sure. The pair met remotely, working for the same company but out of different offices. “I was in the New York office, and Bloor was based in San Francisco on a different team,” the bride recounts. “We were j...

An Inspiring 50th Wedding Anniversary Vow Renewal With Relaxed Vibes on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

Shuk-Chong and Frederick (Fred) Thomas celebrated a milestone anniversary in November 2022 and decided to mark such a beautiful occasion with a seaside vow renewal. “After 50 years together, and with COVID on the decline, it seemed like the right time to look back and to look forward. The renewal...

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...

A Boho-Chic Beach Destination Wedding at Delek Tulum in Mexico

A boho-chic beach wedding in Tulum, Mexico, was the perfect way for sweethearts Cary Schultz and James Marquez to celebrate their love. Having visited the destination before, the couple fell in love with the town and its laid-back vibe—a perfect setting for their big day. With that in mind, the a...

This Couple Rode Bikes Around Washington, DC, for Their Prewedding Engagement Photo Shoot

To celebrate their engagement, Phil and Kellen took engagement photos all around their beloved city: Washington, DC. The wedding engagement photo shoot included a stroll around the Kennedy Center with the building’s iconic architecture and gold columns creating an elegant backdrop.<br><br>Phil an...

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 ...

This Skiing Wedding at Mt. Ashland Ski Resort in Ashland, Oregon, Included a Parking Lot Tailgate Reception

Matt and Jessica love to ski, so much so that their wedding took place on a ski slope at Mt. Ashland Ski Resort in Ashland, Oregon. "Matt and I had both grown up skiing. We were raised by skiers and learned to ski just after learning to walk. We even competed in the same league through high schoo...

Influencer Casey Walker Brown's Boho Wedding at Paradisus Los Cabos in Mexico

After postponing their wedding twice because of the pandemic, Casey Walker (the blogger behind Streets, Beats and Eats) and Austin Brown (an electrical engineer) were finally able to celebrate with a boho-beach wedding at Paradisus Los Cabos in San José del Cabo, Mexico, along with 20 of their cl...

A Preppy Emerald-and-Pink Wedding in Bloomington, Illinois, Filled With Monogram Accents

When it comes time for a professional wedding planner to tie the knot, you know that, without a doubt, the celebration they plan will be beautifully executed and curated to perfection. That was exactly the case for the private residence Chicago wedding Arin planned in celebration of her relations...

One Couple's Magical Mountain Wedding at Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in California

An intimate sunrise ceremony in Yosemite National Park was only natural for Aubrey and Michael, who first visited—and fell for—the landmark in 2015. “When deciding on a venue for our ceremony, we thought back to the feeling we had when we first went to Yosemite,” Aubrey says. She and Michael land...

A Casual Beach Wedding at Bay Harbor Village Hotel in Petoskey, Michigan

Not only did Leighanne and Samantha chose a June wedding so that the weather would be perfect for their beach wedding at Bay Harbor Village Hotel in Petoskey, Michigan, but they also wanted to tie the knot during Pride Month. "Our wedding revolved around bringing our family and friends to our fav...

This Couple Casually Eloped on the Beach at Bluesiam Villas in Phuket, Thailand

Although the COVID-19 pandemic meant that Chase and Allen were forced to postpone their destination wedding, the duo decided to go ahead and celebrate their marriage with an intimate beach elopement at Bluesiam Villas in Phuket, Thailand. After an oceanview vow exchange, the couple celebrated wit...

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...

Hot Pink and Indigo Blue Wowed at This Wedding at Downtown Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Lauren and Ryan are here for the party. “For our wedding, we knew we wanted a vibrant celebration,” Lauren says. “We were all about a casual, fun atmosphere.” The couple brought the celebration to life with bright colors, lots of gold accents and hand-dyed linens on cocktail tables. Ryan and his ...

The Quote “Don’t Delay Joy” Inspired This Couple's Backyard Wedding in Winnetka, Illinois

To say that Danny and Marco have been on the same wavelength since the start of their relationship would be quite an understatement. To set the scene, when Marco offered hockey tickets for one of their first dates, Danny replied jokingly, “I’ll go, but only for the nachos.” Naturally, Marco took ...

One Couple's Scottish-Persian Fusion Wedding in Dallas, Texas

Emilia, who is Iranian-American, and Calum, who is Scottish, tied the knot in Texas but their day was filled with a mix of Persian and Scottish influences. The couple originally said "I do" in the Scottish Borders in Scotland, but were only able to have five people in attendance because of COVID-...