Real Couple // A Tented Garden Wedding in Louisville, KY: Elle + Suzy

Real Couple // A Tented Garden Wedding in Louisville, KY: Elle + Suzy

We met six years ago through mutual friends while I (Elle) was visiting my sister in L.A.. Between Suzy battling food poisoning and my already being half asleep with my PJ's on, it's safe to say that neither of us expected to meet our future life partners that night when Suzy walked into the room. It took no time at all before we were able to find everything and anything to talk about.

Our whimsical crushes on one another could have easily fizzled once I returned home to Kentucky; however, after numerous visits to see one another back and forth across the country, it was pretty clear that our “crushes” were much more than what we had thought. Our mutual adoration, curiosity, and yearning for one another only grew stronger with distance and time. 

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Black BeauTEA Talk // 4 Picks for Summer Bridal Trends

Black BeauTEA Talk // 4 Picks for Summer Bridal Trends

It’s summer trends, but giving people a little cold shoulder action at your wedding is definitely a "Hell Yes," if you ask me. I have seen so many off-the-shoulder gowns lately and loved all of them. Everything from a fitted dress to a more beachy vibe, loose fitting off-the-shoulder is extremely beautiful and effortlessly sexy to me. Not to mention, Rihanna just released a new body glow product for Fenty Beauty, Body Lava, so just imagine having that glowing neckline exposed, yes girl!

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Real Couple // A Natural Setting Engagement Session in Mount Airy, NC: Ashley + Ruthie

Real Couple // A Natural Setting Engagement Session in Mount Airy, NC: Ashley + Ruthie

I'll never forget the moment my whole life changed. As I came down the escalator to the baggage claim, the woman of my dreams was waiting. She had my favorite flowers, hydrangeas, and the most heartfelt card in hand. Her legs were shaking as I approached her, kissing her before exchanging words. I've never lived a more romantic moment than that one. We really haven't been apart much since.

Two girls means two proposals! I asked first, on Elon day, right in front of her college dorm where she had a brick made with her name on it. She graduated there, under the oaks, and so did my dad when he went to Elon in 1972 (another thing that drew me to her). Elon is a special part of our story because it's part of what brought us to NC and allowed our paths to cross. I had flowers, a note, and a necklace with Ashley's married initials monogrammed waiting for her to find at the brick with her name.

The same words in my note she had engraved on the ring box she used to propose to me two days later at the airport where we first met (she's definitely the more romantic one). "Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat, I'll keep choosing you."

Being in our thirties, we both feel like we've waited a long time for the right one. We're thrilled to start our lives together, make our own traditions, get through school these next two years, and work on growing our family. We look forward to the depth of companionship that time will bring to our relationship, knowing that things won't always be perfect or easy, but that we are a team and we will love each other through any storm we may weather.

We chose to have our pictures done in a natural setting because we wanted the focus to be on us and our connection. We are often told that "we look so in love" and wanted that to come across in our pictures without distraction from a busy background.

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Real Couple // A Tattooed Feminist Elopement in NYC: Frank + Inger

Real Couple // A Tattooed Feminist Elopement in NYC: Frank + Inger

Our fairy tale wedding was the perfect prelude to our fairy tale life. I can say this with certainty, not because we will have any particular experiences, any particular successes, or any particular things, but because whatever happens to us will be met with a spirit of gratitude, partnership, learning, and wonder.

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Why Do We Keep Having Traditional Weddings? The Answer Might Shock You

Why Do We Keep Having Traditional Weddings? The Answer Might Shock You

Weddings have not fundamentally changed for hundreds of years. Truth is, you can do whatever you want! Here are some ideas to remove that monotone sexism from your own wedding and still keep with an upbeat tone celebrating your relationship and partner.

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Real Couples // A Winter Snowfall Wedding in the Poconos: Mamta + Hirsha

Real Couples // A Winter Snowfall Wedding in the Poconos: Mamta + Hirsha

Mamta and Hirsha's wedding at the Camelback Lodge in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania was this past December and all of us had our fingers crossed for snow! We had a backup plan, of course — wander into the snow machines for the slopes. But the weather was on our side and we didn’t just get snow — we got a snow STORM! Though the weather said “just a dusting,” while Mamta was still getting ready, it started snowing heavily! It stayed that way through their first look! They were so excited for snow photos that they stayed out for more than 45 minutes for portraits. (Mamta in those open toed shoes!) Hirsha’s family had a blast arriving in style — and in the snow! With the mountains as our backdrop, they had a beautiful and emotional ceremony filled with family.

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How to Succeed at Weddings by Admitting Their Sexist Failures: Musings from The Feminist Bride

How to Succeed at Weddings by Admitting Their Sexist Failures: Musings from The Feminist Bride

Yearning for a successful wedding or to at least not get kicked out of more than one wedding party, I started studying how to be a bride and the history of Western wedding traditions. That’s when I uncovered how wedding traditions were originally designed to pressure women into becoming mothers, to erase their individuality for the sake of family, to give men power over them, and to discriminate against anyone who wasn’t a white, cis heterosexual.

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Why Not Have Wedding Rings as Unique as Your Marriage? // With These Rings

Why Not Have Wedding Rings as Unique as Your Marriage? // With These Rings

Stephanie Selle, owner of With These Rings, firmly believes that “you can’t buy love, but you can make it.” In fact, it’s her tagline! Her studio in Port Townsend, Washington gives couples the unique experience of making their own handcrafted rings!  

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Real Couple // A Diablo Lake Engagement Session in Washington: Iyanna and Michael

Real Couple // A Diablo Lake Engagement Session in Washington: Iyanna and Michael

We got engaged on our four-year anniversary. Ever year we try to outdo each other with gifts on our anniversary. I was sure that I would win this year as I planned on gifting Michael, not one, but two Seattle Sounders jerseys because they are his favorite MLS soccer team. I had planned to record his reaction live for all of our family and friends to witness his priceless reaction. However, I did not realize that Michael had planted all of these ideas into my head through various family members. 

Michael played along with the surprise and had a small gift to give me so that I felt I had won that year’s gift exchange, and at the very end of it all Michael got down on one knee and proposed to me while all of our family and friends watched from all over the country. It was a magical moment that we’ll have forever and can relive whenever we want because he made sure that I had recorded it.

Diablo Lake was chosen as our photoshoot location by suggestion of our photographer, Meghann. It had been on our list of places to visit and therefore it was the perfect opportunity.

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Why Every Couple Should Consider Premarital Counseling

Why Every Couple Should Consider Premarital Counseling

It’s not a relationship death sentence, and yet so many react as if I’ve given them one when I suggest it. Premarital counseling. Somehow we’ve associated that with being sent to the principal’s office or having our parents say they’re “disappointed" in us. We treat it like it means there's a problem, but premarital counseling isn’t a sign of problems, it’s the solution to them.

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Introducing The Hive Wedding Collective! Our Friends at Wood Grain & Lace Just Got a New Look

Introducing The Hive Wedding Collective! Our Friends at Wood Grain & Lace Just Got a New Look

The badass team of Wood Grain & Lace has taken on a rebrand in the last few months, and we are in love with the new look and vibe! Rebranding can have its ups and downs, but we know that for The Hive Wedding Collective, there will be nothing stopping this amazing team! 

We got some time with founder, Christine, to hear more about the rebranding process, what their new brand means to them, and what she wishes they knew when they started the process.

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Real Couples // A Joyful, Intimate Wedding in Baltimore: Hope + Meg

Real Couples // A Joyful, Intimate Wedding in Baltimore: Hope + Meg

Our wedding venue is the most beautiful, timeless space that combined historical significance with updated charm. It was also conveniently located not too far from where we lived. We drove by it several times a week and felt comfortable there. Since we aren't native to Baltimore, we decided that we would marry here and bring all of our loved ones to the city we call home.

Our ceremony was short and simple, officiated by our sister-in-law, Colleen. Everyone in our immediate family walked down the aisle in pairs with flowers. Meg walked down with her mom and dad. Lovey ran down the aisle and joined our bridesmaids up front in one of her favorite camping chairs. We had small wedding parties with a few friends and involved other close friends and family in our ceremony with our readings. We also worked with a great caterer, Copper Kitchen, that we knew would make our wedding food something to always be remembered.

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6 Creative Wedding Invitation Suites to Get You Inspired

6 Creative Wedding Invitation Suites to Get You Inspired

Invitations and save the dates are an important part of your wedding. Without them, no one would know when your wedding is! If you want to make a good first impression with your future guests, show off some lovely paper goods.Find inspiration from 6 of our favorite wedding invitation suites.

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Real Couples // Intimate, Spectacular Elopement in NYC | Teddy & Vanessa

Real Couples // Intimate, Spectacular Elopement in NYC | Teddy & Vanessa

After prepping at the hotel, we made our way down to the pier. It had been overcast and threatening to pour all day, but we'd yet to have any rain and we crossed our fingers and prayed to Mother Nature to hold out until after the ceremony. Lo and behold, those grumpy grey clouds were the best thing to happen to our wedding because when we arrived at the site around 4 p.m. it was absolutely deserted! With the exception of a group of teenagers and a lone, very chilled out pot-smoking cloud gazer who was occupying the only skyline facing corner of the entire pier (and who kindly conceded it when approached by our ever efficient, polite and diplomatic officiant), we had the whole pier to ourselves! It was incredible. We felt as though we were in New York City's most exclusive spot, set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic skylines in the world. The breeze was blowing, the water was lapping and the city was just starting to light up—we were on Cloud 9! 

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You, Not Pinterest, Are the Secret Criteria for Having Awesome Wedding Photos // Rachelle Rawlings Photography

You, Not Pinterest, Are the Secret Criteria for Having Awesome Wedding Photos // Rachelle Rawlings Photography

Rachelle Rawlings is a Bay Area photographer that understands the importance of LISTENING to her couples — getting to know who they are, what's important to them, and what they really want out of their wedding day. While she loves details, and can clearly capture a gorgeous detail photo, she's here to serve her clients and capture their celebration of love, and that includes all the moments of the day, not just the Pinterest-worthy ones.Because of this, and her commitment to inclusivity, we are so thrilled to have Rachelle in our vendor community!

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Real Couples // Joshua Tree Engagement Photos: Eda + Matt

Real Couples // Joshua Tree Engagement Photos: Eda + Matt

Matt had been carrying a ring around for over 4 months and proposed on the last day we were in Copenhagen. We were at a dessert bar and he asked the waitress to hide the ring in my pastry, but they almost brought my dessert to the wrong couple! He told me that this place specifically puts gold in their desserts and when I found the ring, I thought it was part of the tart until he got down on one knee. Good thing I didn't eat it! I was surprised to hear that all our family members already knew except me. He nailed it!

We planned this trip just for leisure and our lovely photographer just so happened to have time to meet us in Joshua Tree for a quick engagement session. It was so nice to have such a different landscape in these shots.

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Styled Shoot // Love & Light Filled Wedding Inspiration

Styled Shoot // Love & Light Filled Wedding Inspiration

This past fall, I purchased a deck of Tarot Cards by Starchild Tarot that were so beautiful and inspiring, and ultimately ended up being the catalyst for the whole vision of this shoot. I knew I wanted to incorporate some "woo-woo" elements but wanted to stay away from the typical, trendy ways of incorporating these various elements. I envisioned the guest names being lettered on some type of crystal, using the tarot cards as table "numbers" and, most of all, having two brides be our models. I knew right away who would make the perfect brides, and luckily they were available and very open to being a couple, even though they had never met before. Their "reception" was spent getting to know each other!

The motivation for this shoot was to express creativity, get something atypical in my and the other vendors' portfolios, and connect all of my favorite woman-owned wedding vendors together in one room! It was truly an inspiring, uplifting experience to be with so many amazing women for the day as they supported my vision and made it a reality.

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It's Time for a Wedding Language Re-Dux: Say This Not That

It's Time for a Wedding Language Re-Dux: Say This Not That

If you have spent even a limited amount of time in the wedding industry, you have likely picked up on the heteronormative language that is deeply ingrained in the day-to-day. This language is outdated, and hurtful to those in non-hetero relationships. It's time for the wedding industry to be inclusive of all couples in love. It's time for a wedding language re-dux.

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There Is Such a Thing As an Inclusive Wedding Photographer in the South! // Alex Bee Photo

There Is Such a Thing As an Inclusive Wedding Photographer in the South! // Alex Bee Photo

In case you couldn't tell, we have a community of wedding photographers in our vendor directory that are simply amazing. Alex Blackwelder of Alex Bee Photo has been a long-time member of our community, and it's about time we formally introduced her to all of you! She is that magical unicorn in the Appalachian region that will capture the hilarious moments of your wedding day, the quiet moments between you and your partner, and the unexpected moments with your family and friends that will lift your heart for years to come.If you are looking an inclusive, body-positive, couple-centric wedding photographer, submit an inquiry with Alex Bee Photo today!

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