Utterly Engaged } The 1st Online Wedding & Bridal Magazine. Inspiring Brides with Style.

From Humble Beginnings Come Great Things.

Springtime is a time for new beginnings, a time to celebrate growth and new life. A wedding is the perfect beginning to a new chapter in a couple’s relationship, where two people come together to start their life as husband and wife. In this union comes new happiness to enjoy, new adventures to experience, as well as new challenges to overcome. With this issue, we want to capture the excitement and joy of starting a new beginning, and also remember the simple beauty of the place where it came from.

This issue is graced by so many beautiful imagery of love captured through the lens of renowned photographers, including Elizabeth Messina for “A Lovely Workshop”, where her talented wedding industry friends share tips and inspiration on creating a more lovely day for your wedding, and Jasmine Star in “Leather & Tweed”, where fashion trends for everyday style can be incorporated into your wedding day. Our honeymoon expert, Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons, answered questions from couples who are planning their honeymoon, which is usually the first trip they’ll take as newlyweds. In this issue, we also give you a double dose of He Said / She Said following the love story of two couples with two different beginnings, but both found their true love.

We interviewed two trendsetting women whose humble beginnings are making impacts and changing the industry, if not the world. Wendy Bird, the founder of Pearls with Purpose, shared with us the humble beginning of her pearl jewelry business, that has grown and helped the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged individuals and families in the Philippines and India simply by teaching them how to make jewelry and by responding to their basic needs. We’re also excited to share with you the story behind drop it MODERN, a contemporary backdrop company that started in a garage by Breanne Schaap, who was out to challenge the norm within the photography industry and introduced fresh, modern, printed backdrops for photographers and couples alike.

Putting together this issue, we feel utterly grateful for all the beauty that surrounds us and for our readers and contributors that have supported us all this time. We are nervous and excited as we approach our 4th year and cannot wait to welcome another new chapter in Utterly Engaged and invite you to embark on this adventure with us. And with this new year, we’re also gearing up to welcome another birth in our growing family, as our Co-Founder Henny is expecting her third child this summer. Congratulations to her and her family!

We hope you enjoy this issue and share stories of your own humble beginnings with us.

xoxo,
Lucia & Henny

We’re not going to lie. Watching what’s been happening in Boston is making it hard to go back to “business” as normal. We have been glued to the news and it’s quite frustrating because we feel helpless. We wanted to send our deepest thoughts and prayers to everyone who was impacted by the Boston Marathon bombing and let them know that they’re in our hearts. Let us all take time out this weekend to turn off the television and the news and choose love. Especially love for one another. Because time is so precious.

As the week closes, we wanted to share at least one wedding with you that’s simple, elegant filled with love. Looking at this wedding, a few words from Mother Theresa came to mind…

Thank you D. Park Photography for sharing this beautiful wedding with us. It’s simple, modern and elegant. Celebrating your wedding day doesn’t have to be over the top. Focus on what matters, and it will be the most beautiful day of your life.

Photographer: D. Park Photography /  Hair Stylist: All Made Up Team /  Caterer: Seafood World Restaurant / Event Designer: three petals / Reception Venue: Muzeo / Dress Store: Rosa Clara Group / Cake Designer: Lily’s Bakery / DJ: Copper Mountain Broadcasting / Ceremony Location: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church / Makeup Artist: Makeup By Liz / Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Jewelry: Renee Pawele Bride,Bridal Rings Company / Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Calvin Klein / Veils and headpieces: NQ Jewelry

The bride, Sheva, grew up on a ranch, but didn’t want a full on country barn type wedding. It was too expected especially having the wedding in Colorado. So how do you incorporate something you love without being too forced? She mixed vintage elements, with burlap and lace, and loose flowers and made it rustic and sophisticated. It was so important for the bride that it was eclectic and didn’t have one particular ‘theme’ and she didn’t want any set of ‘colors’. What Elizabeth Ann photographed was a wedding that was effortless, relaxed, beautiful and memorable.

FROM THE BRIDE:

We both really love Fall so we wanted to have our wedding when the leaves were changing. We wanted the focus of the venue to be the landscape and the beauty of Fall. The design elements were kept loose, with a variety of colors and textures. The flowers were burgundy, deep purples, oranges, yellows, greens, whites, creams, etc.  I loved the idea of burlap and lace, sort of a vintage vibe that inspired us to go more rustic and elegant. I had the wedding party wearing different shades of grey.  I was really about things not matching to add visual interest.

We asked a good friend of ours to marry us. We wrote our own vows - they were mostly serious but we had to throw some funny stuff in there, because that’s who we are, always laughing!

I made all of the decorations for the reception. I made several different types of votive holders (my favorite where clear votives wrapped in lace). My mother in law helped me make burlap and lace table runners too. I, of course, wanted the wedding to be beautiful, but most of all we wanted our guests to feel welcome and relaxed. Our number one goal was for our guests to have a good time. We like to think we are a really laid back couple and we wanted our wedding to mirror that. We made our own music playlist and had a simple tri-tip barbecue meal. I love, love, love my sweets, so we had a small wedding cake and a dessert bar giving our guests a variety to choose from! We also had a mini photo booth that our guests could use props and take pictures at. Instead of the usual guestbook we had a wine barrel cut in half that we used to have the guests sign on. Now that we have a home, we have plan to make it into a table.

THE MOST MEMORABLE:

There are quite a few things. First being, all the time I spent on the details. Details were my things and I think it shows. Secondly, I was so happy that my dad and my Iranian family could make it from California. My uncle even flew out from Paris. That really meant a lot to me. My cousin read a poem by Rumi, a Persian poet at the reception and we had a sofreh aghd, which is a traditional Persian wedding ’spread’ where a collection of items, each symbolizing something for the marriage is placed. After the wedding ceremony, my husband and I sat behind the table while my aunt and cousin held a veil over us and sprinkled sugar over our heads, to wish us a sweet life. And lastly, my vendors made it incredibly memorable. I am actually good friends with a few of my vendors even ’til now!

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Ceremony and Reception Site: Spruce Mountain Ranch(Mountain Side), Larkspur, CO  / Photography: Elizabeth Ann / Wedding Gown: Casablanca (1986) purchased from Something New Boutique /  Hair Stylist: Kerri Royer-Murray, Premier Medispa /  Shoes: Charlotte Russe /  Bridesmaids Dresses: Ebayand J.Crew / Grooms & Groomsmen: Kenneth Cole purchased at Men’s Warehouse; All ties/tie clips were Express /  Paper goods, DIY burlap, lace table runners, votive:  The Bride  / Flowers: Twigs and Posies / Rentals (lighting, linens, tableware, tables, chairs, drapery, etc) Event Rents / Catering Buffalo Gals Catering /  Cake, Dessert bar with small cakes, pies, and tarts:Indulge Bakery

There’s something magical about getting eloped. Just you and your fiancé making that commitment to one another to always love and cherish. Like any other big wedding it is just as beautiful. Are you torn between having a lovingly hand-crafted dream wedding, and saving some cash (and sanity!) by eloping with your sweetheart? Now you can have both. Sitting in a Tree, Rad + In Love, Yeah! Rentals, Pitbulls and Posies, Bloem Hill, A MIHO experience, and The Hostess Haven are collaborating on one very awesome & memorial experience for you and your hunny – Runaway: A Pop-Up Wedding. Take a peek at their inspiration board…

Here is how it works: They’re offering a pop up wedding venue in place of running away to vegas or city hall with a hand picked cast of the raddest vendors in the wedding world. (Perfect for couples on a budget who wish they could afford all of these rad vendors at once).

They’ll provide: A hand crafted and styled venue, celebratory cocktails and pre ceremony apps, a mini bouquet, photography coverage of your ceremony & a portrait session, a private wedding ceremony with officiant, live music, and downloadable announcements so you can tell everyone what it is you crazy kids have gone and done.

You bring: Yourself and your fiance, a marriage license (vow renewals and same sex unions welcome!), up to 12 of your favorite witnesses, some killer style, and all the love you got.

The whole shindig lasts about an hour and a half, start to finish and will set you back 1200 bones. Ready to sign up? Reach the crew at hello@runawaypopup.com to ask questions and set up your pretty elopement date! Don’t walk. Run.

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Need a little inspiration of how others have eloped? Here are a few that we love around the blogsphere

Annie + Jon  /  Photo by Lacie Hansen / found here

Stephanie + AJ  / photo by Jessica Burke / found here

Sam + Dave / photo by Studio 213 Films / found here

Sarah + Lou  /  photo by Max Wanger / found here

Styled Shoot / Photo by Our Labor of Love / found here

styled shoot / photo by Ciara Richardson / found here

As we enter the Spring season for weddings, we thought we celebrated a few weddings that embodied the beauty of Winter weddings. We are so in awe of this beautiful wedding that Kimberly Chau photographed. Such a sweet, rustic, elegant wedding in Houston, Texas. The bride and groom wanted a simple wedding, with the warmth of their love. The Olde Dobbin Station was exactly that, with a dash of rustic, bold and chic, and vintage charm. Without taking away from the beauty of the venue, they used design elements such as rusted iron, imperfect and exposed wood, lace, and paper flowers mixed with memories of winter (pine and snowflakes), had everything balanced perfectly against the restored, elegant venue. A beautiful wedding that you do not want to miss.

How did you two meet? Danny and I met senior year in high school though we lived only two blocks from each other our entire lives. We met through friends when he was in auto-shop class and I was a class officer. The auto-shop teacher was the senior class sponsor so I spent a lot of time there. We were friends at first, but it blossomed from there.

What inspired your wedding day look? Those that know Danny and me know that we like to keep things very simple. We don’t like a lot of fluff, just very classic and elegant, with a rustic feel. The dress that I chose wasn’t something I would have picked out originally, but it was so classic and I loved the way it hugged me in all the right places. Though I like things simple, it was still my wedding day so I figured the blinged-out belt and earrings gave the dress a little sparkle it needed to complete the look. For Danny, we originally chose black suits, but we didn’t want it to look too black-tie. Formal really isn’t our style so the gray suits really complemented the look and feel for the day.

What unique details would you like to share from the wedding day? I think the location itself was very unique. It’s such a beautifully restored, elegant venue that there aren’t any additional decorations that are needed. Though, our caterer/decorator (The Bake Shoppe) provided several things that really added value to the venue (i.e. the paper flowers above the arch and head table, rice crispy cake and cookies, the umbrella used to cover me before being seen).

What was your favorite part of your wedding day? Minus the part of finally becoming Mrs. Danny Alford, probably getting a chance to see all our family and friends together. Danny and I have been together for 12 years and during that time, many have contributed to watching us and our relationship grow. It was just amazing and a very rare event to see all those that care about us rooting us on after all this time.

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Photographer:Kimberly Chau Photography /  Hair Stylist: Charmed by Tonya /  Floral Designer: Sicola’s Florist /  Dress Store: Alfred Angelo /  DJ: Daulong’s Mobile Music /  Linens and Coverings: Perfect Touch /  Shoes: Nina Shoes /  Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Al’s Formal Wear,Express Men /  Photo Booth Equipment: ShutterBooth /  Bakery: The Bake Shoppe & Cafe /  Event Venue: Olde Dobbin Station