19 Cooper strapless culotte jumpsuit | Topshop Unique Aster silk midi dress
Although you never need a reason to celebrate, you were just given the best one: your friend is getting married! Once the squeals, hugs, tears and proposal story conclude, the bridal shower planning begins. To help steer it in the happiest direction, we’ve collected cheery recipes, fun favors and pretty place settings to make your newly affianced pal’s party a success.
No matter the occasion, we love it when our pals show up looking their best. And that certainly includes a special occasion like a wedding.
Topshop’s new collection of bride and bridesmaid dresses makes coordinating and complementing each other for the big day a spring breeze. Every elegant dress has its own romantic interpretation of the nuptial theme–from traditional white to something navy blue to a bouquet of pastel floral prints to vintage-inspired lace and retro embroidery. It’s enough to make a bride blush with pride.
So don’t worry about who’s outshining whom–there’s enough loveliness to go around.
At a Mediterranean-style winery, Caitlyn and Alex toasted to their future during a late-summer wedding that radiated with warmth and good times.
Tell us about the location.
We wanted an outdoor ceremony and reception, my husband is from the area, and we both love wine, so it only made sense to have the wedding at a winery! Tagaris is a special place for us. We would go there every time we were in town visiting family. They have a beautiful outdoor patio with a stage, bistro lights, fire pits, fountain…all the feels. Not to mention their wine and food are to die for! So Tagaris was a no-brainer; when we got engaged, we knew that it would be the perfect wedding venue for us.
Jenifer and Morgan held a rustic and spirited celebration at Robinswood House in Bellevue, Washington, where the gorgeous surroundings and weather still couldn’t outshine the bride and groom.
Tell us about the location.
We both wanted an outdoor venue since we were planning on getting married in August and wanted to take advantage of the warm weather! Morgan proposed in November of 2015, so when we decided on a summer wedding in 2016, the race was on to find something that had availability! What we loved about it was that it is this little enclosed oasis in the vastness that is Robinswood Park. I wanted a more rustic outdoor feel for the wedding, and this checked off all of the boxes. From the old 1895 homestead to the English garden for the ceremony, it just felt perfect for what I had envisioned.
An intimate, nautical-themed ceremony and reception in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, provided a romantic coastal setting for Olivia and Ryan’s southern celebration.
The location:
We love the South! We visit South Carolina every year and decided this is where we wanted to tie the knot. We did not want the typical wedding. We wanted something totally unique. Having fewer than 50 guests gave us plenty of unique options!
We were debating back and forth on whether we should have a beach wedding or a more inland wedding. Then we found the house and it took our breath away. It’s about a 5-minute drive from the beach and absolutely stunning. It is right on the inlet, so we had our own private dock. We had our own suite on the third floor, while the bridal party and our families had the first two floors—it was a blast being able to celebrate with everyone we love under the same roof for a few days. We had the ceremony in the front yard, overlooking the waterway, and the reception in the back, around the pool and in the first level of the house.
Jenn and Adrian returned to the Pacific Northwest, where they met, for a back-to-nature wedding on Whidbey Island set among forests, flowers and friends.
The location:
I grew up in Seattle, where we met, and while Adrian had been around the world, no place felt like home quite like Seattle. We wanted to get married in a place that captured the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Fireseed was enveloped in tall evergreen trees, had gorgeous colorful gardens, and even a dock that led out to a peaceful body of water surrounded by tall grass and reeds. The reception hall was a gorgeous renovated barn with rustic elegance. It was the perfect backdrop for the ceremony reception and a fun place for people to explore.
Adrian and I fell in love with Fireseed the moment we toured it with [owner] David Noble. It was in the middle of winter, so the gardens were not yet in bloom, but we could see the potential. At the time, I was visiting from Atlanta, where I was working, so we were in a long-distance engagement. Fireseed was everything we wanted and needed. It not only served as a venue, but it also handled the catering and cake, rentals, and even helped coordinate the wedding day. David and Dawn answered every one of our questions and helped make our wedding day go off without a hitch. It made long-distance planning so much easier for me!
Mary shares the fun details of her and Matthew’s wedding day in the revived downtown sector of Cleveland, which provided plenty of stunning photo ops to capture their celebration’s rustic glamour.
The location:
We really wanted our wedding details to complement our style and the city we love! We chose to host our rehearsal dinner and reception in downtown Cleveland because we wanted our guests to experience the city’s revitalization and share in the great food and fun.
Our rehearsal dinner was held at the Music Box Supper Club on the West Bank of the Flats. In choosing our reception venue, the view was a key part of our decision. We toured the Club at Key Center and it was exactly what we imagined. It boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings and an amazing view of downtown Cleveland and its lakefront.
Like Aphrodite rising from Cyprian sea foam or a woodland nymph appearing in the brush, the models in Marchesa’s Spring 2017 bridal collection emerged with natural elements woven into their hair and earrings. Flowers, pearls and clustered crystals framed their faces and crowned their hair. These accessories complemented the airy dresses, themselves decorated in floral appliqués often encrusted with beads and jewels to simulate fresh dew.
To achieve the divinely subtle beauty presented with this collection, Marchesa kept the makeup glowing but minimal, with shimmery liner on the inner eye. Cascading hair was given a light wave then braided into wreaths. Inspired by Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn, Kevin Hughes for MOROCCANOIL created an ethereally romantic but modern hairstyle.
Ashley shares her and Joey’s chic and classic wedding in Washington wine country, where a little uninvited rain turned out to be a welcome guest.
Our location: DeLille Cellars in Woodinville, WA. We really wanted to get married in the Pacific Northwest, our home. We knew we had a large guest list and were limited on venues, but once we saw DeLille, we fell in love. It was outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, gardenesque and romantic—everything we wanted. Plus, Joey and I love our wine, and the first glass we had together was the D2 from DeLille. It was all just a perfect fit.
Kelly shares the story of her and David’s classically beautiful wedding in Ohio–plus, the surprise engagement video that couldn’t be more adorable.
Our location: Cleveland City Hall Rotunda, Ohio. I visited City Hall when my sister was looking at wedding venues a few years ago, and I completely fell in love with it. The high ceilings and open layout are so grand and elegant, and all the intricate gold details give the room a beautiful look that is perfect for a wedding.
