Real Couples // Beautiful Rainy Engagement: Kaylee + Vincent

Real Couples // Beautiful Rainy Engagement: Kaylee + Vincent

Kaylee and Vincent met about a year ago and immediately had a connection. They both knew that dating wasn't something they wanted to do just for fun; they wanted to be serious about the person they spent the rest of their lives with. They knew within a couple of months that they were the ones for each other. They started dating August of 2016 and will be getting married in August of 2017! When you know, you just know. They knew how much they loved each other, and the rest was simple. During their engagement session, it rained the entire time, but it didn't phase them one bit. They danced to Nirvana and played in the rain. They were goofy and sweet and couldn't stop smiling.

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12 Photographers You Need to Follow on Instagram for Nontraditional & Diverse Wedding Inspiration

12 Photographers You Need to Follow on Instagram for Nontraditional & Diverse Wedding Inspiration

While wedding websites and blogs are a great destination for inspiration, wedding photographers are the original sources for beautiful wedding images, most of which are never published on blogs, in magazines, or on websites. If you are looking for original, nontraditional, and diverse wedding inspiration — or just a daily dose of love — then do yourself a favor and follow these talented artists:

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Autostraddle Stories // Digging Up the Truth Through Fiction Writing in Trump's America

Autostraddle Stories // Digging Up the Truth Through Fiction Writing in Trump's America

Fiction is about truth, in a deeper sense. And in the political times we’ve brought ourselves into, in this age of Trump and fake news and alternative facts, we are in dire need of the truth. Now, it could be said that “alternative facts” and fiction are technically synonymous — both are factually inaccurate or completely invented versions of events. But the important distinction is in the intention. The intention of spreading alternative facts is to obscure the truth. The intention of writing fiction is to reveal it. Fiction is about radical honesty.

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Ask A Wedding Planner // How to Handle Plus Ones

Ask A Wedding Planner // How to Handle Plus Ones

Dear Ciera,

So my partner and I are pretty much paying for our wedding ourselves. We have an amazing group of supportive friends that we’ve known for years, and we are the first of the group to tie the knot. While some of the couples are engaged, others are still casually dating, and we’re not too keen on covering the bill for basically strangers, but we don’t want to make our friends feel bad without a date. How do we figure out who to offer plus ones to?

Sincerely,

Over this Guest List

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Woke Wednesday // Meet Atlanta Wedding Photographer Kelley Raye

Woke Wednesday // Meet Atlanta Wedding Photographer Kelley Raye

We sat down with Kelley Raye to learn more about her deep-rooted entrepreneurial spirit, how she taught herself the art of photography, and how she and her wife scrapped their wedding plans after four stressful months to elope and travel.

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Real Couples // Pantsuit Glam at the Courthouse: Chloe + Mike

Real Couples // Pantsuit Glam at the Courthouse: Chloe + Mike

I LOVE SF City Hall! It is hands down one of my favorite venues ever!  So of course I was going to make sure we got to tie the knot there, and since we knew we didn't want to jump through all the hoops needed to legally get married in Mexico, like the blood test, my City Hall Dream worked out perfectly.  

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Meet Chloe Jackman, the Unicorn Photographer of San Francisco

Meet Chloe Jackman, the Unicorn Photographer of San Francisco

“Calling all shapes, sizes, colors, vibes, and unicorns! It’s your story, baby, tell it your way.”

Meet the Unicorn Photographer, Chloe Jackman.

She’s based in the Bay Area, and she is a multifaceted photographer “with freckles, a fro, some glitter and sass.”

“Let’s talk about real love,” she says, getting straight to the point. “I want couples to tell their story their way. However your wedding looks, it’s your chance to express yourselves as a couple, and it’s beautiful.”

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Real Couples // From the Beach to the Mountains: Ty + Jarred

Real Couples // From the Beach to the Mountains: Ty + Jarred

These two decided to elope and have a simple ceremony that included just the two of them. For their official wedding photos they wanted photos to reflect their time spent together in Utah. They met by fate one night outside of a club and have not been apart since. They loved to take drives out to the flats and watch the sun set over the city. We spent the day adventuring together doing just that. 

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Real Couples // Intimate 14-Person Airbnb Wedding: Tazz + Sunny

Real Couples // Intimate 14-Person Airbnb Wedding: Tazz + Sunny

We got all that and more with our small, simple wedding in Woodstock. Both my husband and I wanted the day to be special but not overwhelm us with everything we’d need to do for it. We figured the easiest and most low-key way would be to rent an Airbnb that would sleep 14 people. We limited our guest list to 14 and basically had a weekend getaway-turned-wedding with our closest friends. 

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Wedding Inspiration // Retro Garden Party at Generations in Seattle

Wedding Inspiration // Retro Garden Party at Generations in Seattle

This is a spring inspired wedding shoot celebrating diversity and individuality. I wanted to keep the aesthetic pretty minimal with bright colors and a modern take on a bohemian vibe. Because the space was formerly a DIY venue and vintage shop that has recently shifted gears into a more traditional venue space, we thought it would be appropriate to use some of the vintage pieces from Rent Wander to set the tone.

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Woke Wednesday // Meet Jordan Maney of All the Days Event Co.

Woke Wednesday // Meet Jordan Maney of All the Days Event Co.

I was definitely sipping the Kool-Aid growing up, thinking somehow I was an exception to the rule. That changed a few years ago after a horrible experience with some police officers. It was the October before the Mike Brown shooting. I thought a middle class upbringing, pearls, and dresses were going to save me. But I learned that to some people, all I ever will be is black and a problem. I hated it. I hated the microaggressions I denied were problems. It was really an unlearning of a bunch of different things. It was being honest about how I felt as a black woman in a world that hates black women. It grew into advocating for everyone else who gets sidelined into the margins. I learned to listen and I learned to speak up and out.

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Real Couples // Barcelona Love Story: Jose + Toni

Real Couples // Barcelona Love Story: Jose + Toni

"We met on a night when we went out with friends we had in common. Several nights later, on February 8th, Toni's birthday, my friends made a surprise dinner, and Jose was there, too. It was a crush at first sight, as if Cupido, the God of love, united us with his arrow of love. We are still in love! After 10 years together!"

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The Pros and Cons of Asking a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding // River and Root

The Pros and Cons of Asking a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding // River and Root

The good news is that it is possible to take the pressure off of your friend to prepare a perfect ceremony for you, while still allowing them to lead the celebration and legally marry you and your partner. Life-Cycle Celebrants are trained ceremony and ritual professionals who can work with you and your officiating friend to create a ceremony that feels comfortable and meaningful to all of you. We are skilled and trained in blending and incorporating elements of different faith traditions and backgrounds into secular (but possibly spiritual) ceremonies.  

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Real Couples // Vintage & DIY Wedding: Jackie + Luis

Real Couples // Vintage & DIY Wedding: Jackie + Luis

As we got to know each other more, the more I fell head over heels for this man. In 2015 on Memorial Day weekend, Luis had asked me if I wanted to go to Virginia Beach for the weekend with family. I said yes, and on that Saturday morning he woke me up at a few minutes before sunrise to go to the beach and watch the sunrise. I was livid. I huffed and puffed the ride down the elevator stating, "it's vacation time so we shouldn't be up this early; it's just wrong." He of course thought that it was hilarious. As we walked the beach and watched the sunrise, my eyes drifted toward the beautiful view, but then quickly remembered that sleeping in has its beauty too. Luis didn't risk any minute longer and called my name and got on his knees and proposed to me. I was stunned, and so many emotions were squeezing through my brain that I was mute for a minute or two. And he asked again. This time I had to pay him back for waking me up so early, so I said I would think about it, and oh boy I have never seen a man blush so hard in my life. And I reacted quick and said yes. 

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Black BeauTEA Talk // Silk & Lace Thrift Shop Inspiration for Nontraditional Brides

Black BeauTEA Talk // Silk & Lace Thrift Shop Inspiration for Nontraditional Brides

I never dreamed about my wedding day as a child. I am not that girl! I honestly feel as though I would breakout into hives just like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City if I were to try on a wedding dresses. This is not an anti-wedding dress rant. Wedding dresses are the most beautiful gowns ever! I just cannot do traditional anything, and the cost per wear is just a little too high for me. What is “cost per wear” you ask? Well, this is the total cost of the item/number of days you’ll wear it. For those brides who think similarly, I’ve found a loophole for you!!!!  
 

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The Avowed Podcast // Episode 12: Super Nova

The Avowed Podcast // Episode 12: Super Nova

Jasmine places a long distance call across the Atlantic Ocean to Nova Reid, the powerhouse woman behind award-winning UK wedding blog Nu Bride. Together they discuss creating an inclusive wedding industry, the effects of Brexit, lashing out when you feel overwhelmed with the wedding planning process, and why marriage isn't happily ever after... it's bloody hard work!

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Real Couples // Seattle is for Lovers: Allie + Angie

Real Couples // Seattle is for Lovers: Allie + Angie

Recently I have been getting more involved with my engagement sessions and spending the whole day with my couples. When we are hanging out we really get to know each other and create photos together that reflect real aspects of their lives. So I spent all day with these two, and we had a blast. We started the day chillin' at their home and then eventually adventured out to Rattlesnake Ridge. They met at a bar, so it felt only natural to end the night at a few bars. 

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Ask A Wedding Planner // Is it tacky to ask for money?

Ask A Wedding Planner // Is it tacky to ask for money?

Dear Heather,

My partner and I are set to be married this fall and have invited lots of family and friends to celebrate with us. Already we have been peppered with questions about where we are registered and when the registry will be available on our wedding website. The thing is, we are two people in our 30s who have lived together for several years. Our home is furnished with all of our favorite things and we see no reason to upgrade anything or accumulate more needless things. However, we would like to go on a honeymoon and cash would really help us out with that! Can we ask our friends and family for money? Is that tasteless?!

-Experiences, Not Things

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Woke Wednesday // Meet Richmond Photographer Nadiya Nacorda of Imani Fine Art Photography

Woke Wednesday // Meet Richmond Photographer Nadiya Nacorda of Imani Fine Art Photography

If you find yourself questioning something that feels inappropriate or abusive, then it probably is. Do not "use" an interracial couple in a shoot just to make your portfolio more diverse so you can start seeming more inclusive to the industry. Start first with yourself. Take a step back, and look at the inner circle of people you see every month. Who are they? What do you all talk about? Are you discussing issues related to populations you have no experience with? Do you participate in tokenizing? Overall, if you share these values and want to start out in the industry, double and then triple-check yourself and your own life. Because if you're still participating in social practices that are damaging or harmful toward marginalized groups in this country, whether it be consciously or subconsciously, then frankly you haven't done the work.

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Real Couples // Bridal Overalls & City Hall: Nora + Ben

Real Couples // Bridal Overalls & City Hall: Nora + Ben

Nora and Ben were married at San Francisco City Hall surrounded by their families and a good friend. I loved that they weren't afraid to do things a little differently. Nora wore the white, embroidered overalls her mother was married in paired with a lacy, backless top and gold shoes. For their flowers, which were made by a friend, Handsome Flowers, Nora asked for a bouquet that looked like it could have been foraged in the forest. Ben's only request: mushrooms. Which resulted in one of the coolest boutonnieres I've seen!

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