Intimate Inspirational Real Wedding stories

A Bold and Tropical Colombian-Inspired Backyard Wedding in Phoenix, Arizona

“We met the modern way — by swiping right!” The connection between Shalayne Pillar and Andrea Murillo was instant, and for their first date, Andrea planned a perfect surprise. “Andrea knocked it out of the park by taking me to a plant-themed speakeasy for happy hour,” Shalayne recalls. “We ended ...

Did You Know You Can Get Married in a Bookstore? These Brides Celebrated Their Love Story at Housing Works in New York City

Both driven and ambitious, Felicia Kaban, an events executive, and Kara Ryan, a PR and communications professional, found themselves collaborating closely on various projects. What started as a productive partnership quickly grew into a deep friendship. Over time, their connection became undeniab...

One Couple's Earthy and Elegant Vow Renewal at Taft Peak in Yosemite National Park

Sometimes, love is found in the familiar. Priscila and David Nunez grew up together, and "over time, we became really good friends," explains Priscila. Their relationship took root and grew before culminating in a moment that Priscila had always dreamed of. After a romantic dinner, David popped t...

A Moody, Lakeside Fall Wedding at Hotel Walloon in Walloon Lake, Michigan

On a fateful Halloween night, Nicole Jane and John Ronk's paths crossed in the fall ambiance of a Michigan restaurant, igniting a comforting connection. Nicole recalls, "The evening was like talking with an old friend we hadn't seen in years; we connected very easily and quickly." Their shared ex...

Dark Detail Lovers—This Fall Wedding at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum Is for You

There's nothing like pure serendipity on a getaway weekend. Jake Parrick fondly recalls, "We met in Nashville during the 4th of July weekend, and it was attraction (love, if you will) at first sight." The sparks flew between Jake and Ethan Campbell. When Ethan decided he wanted to pop the questio...

Pastels Abound at This Celestial-Inspired Wedding at Newcastle Golf Club in Seattle, Washington

After meeting through a mutual friend during their university days, Haoyan and Yilan struck up a relationship that would end up being lifelong. When it came time to plan their nuptials, the bride and groom offered a shared passion for the wedding aesthetic. "We both majored in Physics, so we pick...

A Multi-Day Celebration Full of Bold, Modern Details in Los Cabos, Mexico

Blind dates seem like a facet of days gone by, so when Samantha Berger and Shane Knowles got the chance to tag along with their friends on a blind double date, they both jumped at the opportunity. Who would have thought it would lead them to their forever partner? When it came time to pop the que...

A Sustainable Wedding Embracing Nature at Pie Ranch in Pescadero, California

"We met while studying sustainable agriculture in Santa Cruz, California, in 2016," Leigh Gaymon-Jones recalls. Her connection with Beth Burzynski steadily grew over time, nurtured by the shared experiences, living and working together for a year and a half, and they began dating. Then, during a ...

This Couple's Elegantly Emerald Wedding at Prospect Park Boathouse in Brooklyn, New York, Is Timeless

Oliver Saikaly and Nicholas Deising's love story began with a chance encounter through mutual friends during college. As their relationship blossomed, Oliver devised a secret plan for a breathtaking proposal that was sure to knock his beloved's socks off. "Originally, I wanted to surprise Nick wi...

The Bride Rocked a Gold Dress at This Uniquely Personal Beach Wedding in Auckland, New Zealand

The sparks flew between Claire and James Tucker on Tinder, and after five years of dating, the groom decided to pop the question. "James asked me to go on a stand-up paddle board near where we were moored on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand," Claire recounts. "When we got to the island, he pop...

Chill Vibes Filled This Sustainable Wedding With Unique Touches in Carpinteria, California

Jacqueline Rabôt and Robby Massar met on what the bride describes as “a very quintessential LA evening: a friend’s movie night.” The atmosphere that evening encapsulated the essence of the city’s charm. On this cinematic night, they discovered a shared passion that intrigued t...

An Inviting Autumn Welcome Dinner in the Berkshires at Seven Hills Inn

Kendall Trautman is a woman who knows what she wants. On a “Sunday Funday” outing with girlfriends, the group found themselves at a local bar known for football and live music. “After a few rounds of dancing, I needed refreshment and knew just how I intended to get one,” she says. “I walked right...

Explore Telluride, Colorado, Through This Intimate Wildflower-Filled Wedding

After a vacation proposal in Cozumel, Mexico, college sweethearts Jessie Roushar and Connor Devine picked out a venue in one of the places that inspire them the most: Telluride, Colorado. "We wanted to incorporate the stunning mountain landscape into our wedding, and our venue did that perfectly ...

Romantic Meets Edgy at One Couple’s Personalized Wedding at Valentine in Downtown LA

“Ryan recognized me from Tinder as a fellow Chapman University alum, but I had ignored him on the app,” laughs Syndey Westra, recounting the day she met her future husband, Ryan, at a bar in Los Angeles. Only minutes into their conversation, Ryan asked Sydney to a concert the very next day. They ...

For a Wedding Planner, Surprise Nuptials in Her Maryland Backyard Were Just the Ticket

Imagine this: Your good friends get engaged and invite you to celebrate at a local bar. Except, upon arrival, you learn that you won’t be raising a glass to an upcoming wedding—it’s happening today. To celebrate their love, Angelica Laws (32 and a wedding planner) and Melisa Matthews (34 and a ph...

One Couple’s Intimate Autumn Wedding at Junipero Serra Museum in San Diego, California

Kelly Nyland and Angelina Bembry-Nyland first locked eyes across the yard at a mutual friend’s pool party. “It was a crazy road to get to the point that we were actually dating,” they reveal. “But we knew in our first week of being girlfriends that we wanted to get married.” Kelly first proposed ...

A Fall-Inspired Wedding With Sweet Details by the Couple’s Kids at South Congress Hotel in Austin, Texas

When planning their wedding day, Angelica Whitwell and Tolly Savile were laser-focused on creating an intimate, warm event for their family and friends to enjoy. The couple wanted their nuptials to convey a sense of autumnal romance—they chose bold earth tones to create an inviting atmosphere. “F...

Celebrate a Bride-to-Be at Her Bold, Jewel-Tone Bridal Shower at the Hilton in Baltimore, Maryland

On February 13, 2021, Terrell Anderson took a big leap as he got on bended knee to propose to his girlfriend, Nita Smith, in the kitchen as she washed dishes. However, things didn’t quite go to plan. “He didn’t say anything—maybe he was nervous,” she recalls. “So I said, 'what are you doing?' and...

Inside Influencer Sean Taylor's Elopement With a Campy, Vintage-Inspired After-Party at The Village Café in Richmond, Virginia

Within the last few years—and with a global pandemic that set every event back a year or two—some sweethearts have been electing to elope or host microweddings before a larger sequel wedding. Sean Taylor (a style influencer and a season-one contestant on Netflix’s "The Circle") and Eric Carlstrom...

One Couple’s Italian-Inspired Rehearsal Dinner Filled With Color—and Lemons—at Liberatore's Timonium in Baltimore, Maryland

Wedding days have turned into wedding weekends for many modern couples. The itinerary for the wedding party could include two to three days of activities—both fun and logistical. It’s tradition—and etiquette—for the marrying couple or a family member to host the wedding party after participating ...

One Couple's Chic Wedding Inspired by "The Princess and the Frog" at 501 Union in Brooklyn, New York

Not only did this couple lean into fairytale inspiration for their wedding, but their love story also started much like a fairytale—with a few obstacles to overcome. “Ty and I met at a birthday party when we were both 21,” Janelle Kelty explains. “I said I didn’t want to go, but my best friend in...

Fly to Italy for One Couple’s Ethereal Destination Micro Wedding at Villa Montanare in Tuscany

Any recent bride or groom will agree that planning a wedding during a global pandemic is, to put it mildly, a challenge. After Sarah Pisano and Alexis Maliksi got engaged, they selected a wedding planner and reviewed their options—which were seemingly limited at the time. “When we first connected...

This Mountaintop Elopement in the Colorado Rockies Is Small-Wedding Goals

A private, personal ceremony with breathtaking vistas sounded like a dream wedding for Kami Batzel and Thomas (Tom) Jarding. So, they made their elopement vision a reality over an unpredictable Colorado summer. Traveling in secret from Pennsylvania, the sweethearts arrived in Boulder and hiked th...