Got a pretty little beach engagement taken on Sanibel Island by the amazing Cory and Jackie Phillips from Ada Photography! The engaged couple, Brooke and Pete are simply gorgeous and so in love and the photography by Ada is absolutely phenomenal. The lighting captured at sunset is nuts (in a good way) and the detailed shots in this e-session is perfect in every way.
Thank you, thank you to both Cory and Jackie for sharing this beauty with me! Makes my Monday for sure! =)
From the photographers: Photographing Brooke + Pete was such an awesome experience! Both Pete and Brooke own their own companies in St Petersburg. These two are so inspiring and so much fun! We flew down to Sanibel Island for their engagement shoot this spring and had so much fun!
Woah buddy- wish I could be there right now! And didn’t you just love Brooke’s jewelry? I sooo want those stone and key necklaces and um- her hand bling isn’t too shabby either. ;) To see more of the sweet lovin’ from this couple hop on over to Ada Photography’s website and check it out!
This e-session was submitted via Two Bright Lights!
Hey loves! How was your weekend?? Do anything fun? Cross off anything from the wedding list?
I think it was a pretty productive weekend for me. Things are somewhat coming together. First last week I realized I’m suffering from “Bride Brain”. Haha- great to know there is a diagnosis. The lovely Ariella from L.I. Budget Bride helped me out with that one! ;) Check out her blog for the full diagnosis. I realized it hits all Brides at different times in the planning process so I’m glad I’m not the only one! Mine- is bad now at the 2 month mark. Bleh!
So anyway, I recently finished shopping for flowers with my moms. Here’s our “flower shop”:
Here’s Mama Oceanside with her flower checklist:
Okay so it’s not the traditional flower shop- but it’s our kind of flower shop. =) What are we working on?? Well, my mom is making a small fabric flower that will sit atop a mini doily at each place setting similar to these from Sew 4 Home.
So we’ve selected our fabrics in all different shades of our colors and sewing 50 fabric flowers will be on the agenda while I’m home (aka Atlanta) in a week. We’ll also be tackling fabric corsages and boutonnieres for the moms and groomsmen.
So tell me what was on your agenda this weekend? Hope it was great! =)
xoxo,
Mel
I’m somewhat embarrassed by how long this amazing DIY vintage beach wedding complete with DIY bouquets and centerpieces, a handmade wedding dress (all done by the bride’s mother!), and 500 folded origami birds, has been sitting in my inbox. Simply shameful. I know you’ll agree once you see the gorgeousness I’ve been holding back from you- please forgive me! It really is just so beautiful how this entire beach wedding came together all at the hands of the bride and her loving family and friends. This laid back “hippie” wedding was shot by none other than the fabulously talented Travis & Maike from WeLovePictures and I’m so happy they agreed to let me share it here with you….
A little more from our pretty little Oceanside Bride, Ingrid: Pieter was my uhm… “rebound”! =) Hehe!.. I moved into a commune with 4 of my best friends in our final year of studying art at the University of Pretoria. Pieter was the 6th housemate, the man of the house, the actuarial science guy between all the arty girls, the very tall, very handsome, very blonde dude! When he walked into that house 4 years ago, I thought: “NICE!” I can still remember my best friend’s confused concern, “why are you so smiley and giggly?!” (I had just gone through a nasty break-up, and my sudden mood-change was very suspicious. Crying for two weeks, and then deliriously happy all of a sudden: very very weird). Pieter and I sneaked around, stealing kisses in the midnight hours, holding hands when nobody was looking. It was so much fun! We didn’t want to tell any of our housemates about us, so that if it didn’t work out, no damage and no awkwardness. The plan was to give it at least 3 months. Needless to say, our secret didn’t even last 3 weeks!
The relationship was very unexpected, but the more time we spent together the more we fell in love. Everyday he surprises me. He makes me laugh uncontrollably. And his curiosity will amuse me for ever. On our 3 year anniversary Pieter asked me to marry him. A beautiful memory of candle-light, yellow roses… and Pieter just blurting out: “marry me?”
We just wanted a beach wedding, complete with hippie ‘plakkies’ and Bob Marley music. We did a bit of internet research, and went to the Cape for a friend’s wedding right after we got engaged. There we fell in love with the white beaches of the Western Cape, and our mind was set.
The flowers and centerpieces were also very random. My mother and I just collected bunches of different flowers and fynbos and Proteas all over Cape Town and Stellenbosch. My bridesmaids and I made our bouquets the night before, just choosing a different combination for each from our “flower collection” and tying it with a ribbon. The rest was randomly placed in glass bottles, either hanging from the ceiling or on the tables. I wanted it to look very relaxed and interesting.
I did my own hair and make-up, and my mother made my dress! It was so special!
I am an artist, painting for a living, I was determined to do practically EVERYTHING myself. Wanting the whole thing to be very personal and unique and unforgettable. We made the invitations ourselves, it took months, making a pop-up lily in the centre, cutting up a huge artwork I made and painting a little swallow and fish on the cover of each of the 79 invites.
Most of the décor was also a huge DIY project. Folding more than 500 origami birds (using ACETATE and scrapbooking paper!) was certainly a big team effort, and the family all helped that day to hang the hundreds of strings of origami and bottles. It was amazing! I collected different fabrics for each of the tables, and my grandmother did a neat seam for each of them.
Even the music was DIY! We didn’t hire a DJ, instead we spent days selecting music and compiling playlists for every occasion of the wedding.
What challenges (if any) did you face while planning your wedding?
Trying to do it all myself! =)
Please tell us about your favorite wedding moment!
When I think back , the one moment that pops up first is walking down the aisle. The feeling when Florence and the Machine’s ‘Cosmic Love’ started to play, the butterflies in my stomach, the rush of emotions… The light ocean breeze blowing through the many layers of french silk and net of my wedding dress. I remember the soft sand between my toes when my father and I stepped onto the white beach. And walking between the rows of Proteas towards Pieter, I felt so overwhelmed, so happy, so excited, a feeling of indescribable joy came over me.
Pieter and I didn’t see each other for 2 weeks prior to the wedding, so seeing him for the first time, looking into those huge smiling blue eyes, that moment was perfection. That moment was love.
What is your best advice for other couples planning a wedding right now?
ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY! It is such a special time. Enjoy the preparations, enjoy the daydreaming and finding ideas. You will feel stressed at some point, it is inevitable. But don’t let it ruin the fun. Making lists and delegating to wonderful bridesmaids and mothers help to ease the pressure and get things done in time. Keep the wedding’s style personal to you and your fiancé (don’t forget: it is his wedding as well!) You can do whatever you want!
You are allowed a Diva Moment! Mine came when I decided I wanted more than 500 origami birds! And I wanted to do practically EVERYTHING myself, the flowers, the décor, the music. I became so consumed, I was obsessed. But once the madness passed (I gave the origami folding to my bridesmaids and family to finish) I could move on and actually enjoy the rest. You are a queen and deserve a few slaves!
It is normal to get annoyed with your groom. The pressure of planning a wedding is undeniable. You feel like you’re doing more than your fiancé (and which is the case most of the time!). But don’t talk about the wedding 24/7, dedicate time in the week to do and talk wedding things. We had “Wedding-Wednesdays”! I tended to push for “Wedding-Saturdays” and “Wedding-Sundays” and “wedding-Mondays” as well, but that didn’t work every time!
Last, but not the least, take time to take it all in. You are allowed to take a few minutes just to be with your husband. Ignore the guests for a little while, and just be with the love of your life. It is YOUR day, so have YOUR moment!
This is one of my all time favorites! I love how casual elegance is perfectly paired with the vintage feel and the details- oh my! The “cloud-like” white umbrellas, the hanging flowers, her flower head piece! Okay I love everything!
There are a TON more amazing details from Ingrid and Pieter’s wedding over at WeLovePictures so it’d be a serious shame if you didn’t go check them out!
Bride and Groom: Ingrid & Pieter Uys
Wedding Date: July, 1, 2010
Location (City, State, Country): Western Cape, Republic of South Africa (RSA)
Approximate Guest Size: 90
Ceremony and Reception Venue/Catering: Strandkombuis, Yzerfontein
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