Sneak Peek + Beagle Bailey

Next week includes two major celebrations: my birthday & Fourth of July!!  Cue the sparkly fireworks!!!  & yes, I pretend the fireworks are just for me & my birthday.  Anywho, there will be only one post next week & it will be my monthly Still Standing post .  No worries, we'll be right back into the swing of wedding loveliness the following week!

& here is a sneak peek of that wedding loveliness coming your way for Wedding Wednesday on July 11:

I couldn't let this week pass without mentioning our darling Beagle Bailey's adoption celebration.  Tuesday, June 26, marked exactly two years since we adopted him from the rescue group, All About Labs.  He got lots of love & extra treats to celebrate his time with us.  Bailey has the biggest personality & the sweetest heart & we couldn't love him more!!!  He adds so much love & joy to every day.  We count ourselves very lucky that he is ours (or are we his?)  This is for you, Beagle Bailey:

On Bailey's behalf, I would like to remind you to adopt cats & dogs from your local shelter or from a rescue group.  Our Bailey was found wandering a country road in Arkansas & he was dirty, cut & infected.  Despite this, he was still so sweet & trusting when a kind-hearted couple stopped to help him.  God knows where he would be without them.  Sadly, some animals don't get saved.  Those animals deserve a second chance just like Bailey!  

Happy Weekend!

Photo 1 Kunio Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights
Photo Collage Koru Kate

My Matching Maids

I have been talking about my matching bridesmaid dresses lately.  First, I mentioned the one thing I would change about our wedding is the matching bridesmaid dresses.  I wish I had let my ladies choose any dress in any shade of purple for an original look.  Just days later, I changed my mind & said I wish I had let my ladies choose any black dress & any purple shoe.  Did any of this leave you wondering what my matching bridesmaids looked like on our wedding day?!

I chose photos from our bridal party photo session at the Hoboken Train Station because the views of the bridesmaid dress are the best.  Plus you can admire the gorgeous train station architecture!  They just don't make buildings like they used to with the ornate, beautiful detailing but that is another story.

Without further ado, here is our gorgeous bridal party of our nearest & dearest, featuring our bridesmaids wearing a tea-length Cynthia Rowley dress in Smashing:

My handsome groom & my lovely ladies:

Last but not least, one of my favorites: me & my fabulous ladies plus the stunning stained glass ceiling:

I look back at the photos & I definitely see traditional bridesmaids in matching dresses.  I have seen similar looks before & I will probably see similar looks many times to come.  But honestly, my bridesmaids are my friends & my family.  They look happy & beautiful, as always. I am touched & honored they were a part of our wedding.  They could be wearing trash bags & I wouldn't care!

The reality is I can't change anything about our wedding.  It is said & done, a loving memory near & dear to my heart.  I'm perfectly okay with our wedding just as it was.  Our wedding was a dream come true!

Photography by Timothy Glenn Photographers

{Real Homestead Wedding} Micah & Hardy

Today's lovely wedding brings us to the western slope of Colorado, a budget-friendly location with million dollar views!  With a beautiful Bride, a reluctant ring pup, plenty of cowboys & cowgirls, this wedding is truly country-western.   Vendla Stockdale shares the beauty with us through her photos:  

Micah & Hardy's summer wedding took place on a homestead in western Colorado.  With a rustic log cabin & gorgeous grounds, they let the nature's beauty shine bright on their wedding day.

Micah wore a white, strapless wedding gown embroidered with red flowers & a matching veil.  She carried a bouquet of red roses accented with pearls & green leaves.  With a big smile that never left her face, she was a pretty Bride!

The bridal party matched with the bridesmaids in red dresses & the Groom & his Groomsmen in red vests & ties.  Cowboys hats were a must for the men!  Micah's cute pup served as the ring pup with red & white roses decorating her collar. 

Micah & Hardy said their marriage vows in an open meadow.  The ring pup wasn't thrilled about walking down the aisle but her Mom was more than happy to walk down the aisle & marry her handsome cowboy!

The celebration continued on the wide front porch of the log cabin with its sweeping meadow views.  The cowboys & cowgirls danced to country music until the sun dipped below the horizon!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Vendla Stockdale Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Rainbow Connection

Mere days ago, I mentioned if I was forced to name one thing I would change about our wedding, I would change the matching bridesmaid dresses (you can catch a glimpse of them HERE) to mismatched bridesmaid dresses.  I was thinking something along the lines of this or this, only in purple.  Guess what?

I spied this rainbow delight & I've already changed my mind:

Mismatched black dresses with matching shoes in rainbow hues!  Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.  Your bridesmaids could choose any black dress, chances are they already own one, & you could choose a cute shoe available in a rainbow of colors.  So simple, so stylish, so budget-friendly.

If this were my wedding, I would have let my bridesmaids choose any black dress & any purple shoe.  I bet the shades of purple & styles of shoes chosen would have made for a fun, original bridal party!

Clearly, if I have already changed my mind about this in the span of a few days, it's probably best that I went with a traditional, matching bridal party.  

Let's discuss!  Do you like matching or mismatched bridesmaids?  & what about this clever shoe idea?

Photo Picotte Weddings via

{Sneak Peek} Micah & Hardy

Here is a sneak peek at the Colorado countryside wedding being featured next Wedding Wednesday:

You can expect pure country-western goodness of cowboy hats and log cabin front porches, plus a really cute ring puppy.  You know I have a soft spot for Brides & Grooms including their pets in their big day!  Be sure to check back next Wednesday for this weddings in all its glory.

Till then, Happy Weekend!

Photo by Vendla Stockdale Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights

{Guest Posting} 5 Quick Wedding Planning Tips

I have two exciting things to share with you!

Today, you can find me on the Amy Nichols Special Events blog as I share my 5 Quick Wedding Planning Tips & talk a bit about our wedding.  Let me tell you, as a wedding planner, it was hard to narrow my wedding planning advice down to five tidbits.  I did my best!  A big thank you to Amy for inviting me to share my wedding planning thoughts with her readers.  Check them out HERE!!!

And, truth be told, you can find me on the Amy Nichols Special Events blog three times a week as I am the new writer!  I've been working behind-the-scenes for about one month now & today's post is my official introduction :-)  I met Amy forever ago when we worked together as wedding planning assistants in Manhattan.  Since then, I have grown to admire Amy & her special events business more & more.  It's a huge honor to be working with her again!!  I love posting her latest events, features, finds & more on her fantastic blog.  Be sure to visit Amy's blog for inspiration & advice!  

Photography by Timothy Glenn Photographers

{Real Tuscany Wedding} Didi & Jordi

Tuscany, Italy is on the top of my travel wish list.  Until that dream comes true, I will have to settle for featuring a destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy.  WARNING: Playful Bride & Groom & amazing scenery ahead!!!  With stunning photography by Julian Kanz, it's almost like I'm there with the happy couple among the rolling hills & blue skies:

Didi & Jordi's love story is set against the romantic backdrop of Italy.  They met on a journey to Rome while in high school.  Years later, Jordi proposed to Didi in Rome.  For their destination wedding, they wisely chose the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy.
  
Didi looked every bit the princess Bride.  Her simply beautiful wedding gown featured a fitted satin bodice & a full tulle skirt, accented with white satin gloves & voluminous veil.  She carried a classic red rose bouquet.  Jordi matched her bouquet with his bright red socks!


Didi & Jordi said "I Do" in an outdoor ceremony with picturesque Tuscany views.  Then the new Mr. & Mrs. playfully romped through the countryside, allowing their photographer to catch precious moments of jumping for joy & tossing the bouquet.  In the end, they returned to their guests in the lovingly restored villa where the Italian wine, laughter & conversation were free flowing.


VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Julian Kanz  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights  /  Ceremony & Reception Venue: Villa Il Leccio

Wedding Wheels, Boat Edition

Can you believe May passed with a Wedding Wheels post??!!  This may or may not call for two Wedding Wheels posts in June :-)  Just in case you've forgotten or you're new here (welcome!), Wedding Wheels is a monthly post where I celebrate the cool, unusual modes of transportation Bride & Grooms choose for their grand departure.

Today's post doesn't involve wheels at all, yet is every bit as unusual as previous Wedding Wheels.  There are awesome Brides & Grooms who chose to hit the water & float away from their wedding on a boat!!!  Let's take a peek:

Three cheers for the lovely Brides who not only picked a canoe for their getaway but decorated it beautifully:

Obviously, a green rowboat works just as well for an outdoorsy Bride & Groom:

It doesn't look like the jubilant Bride & Groom actually used the colorful beach boat but the photo was too cute not to share:

Lakeside double wedding?  Double the canoes!!

If you're hitting the water on your wedding day, a canoe seems to be the most popular, fun choice:

I've got to hand it to these incredible Bride & Grooms, they are just so cool & so brave for choosing a boat getaway.  Me, I would be too nervous about tipping the boat & falling in the water as that would be my luck.  Would you give a rowboat or canoe a shot for a waterside wedding?  Or would you play it safe & pose by a boat like Couple #3?


Photo 1 LeahandMark.com via; Photo 2 Ryan Ray Photography via; Photo 3 Chloe Jackman Photography via; Photo 4 Bryan Rupp Photography via; Photo 5 Matt Miller of Our Labor of Love via

{Sneak Peek} Didi & Jordi

What do I have up my sleeve for next Wedding Wednesday?  A gorgeous destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy!!  Here is a sneak peek just for you:

Check back next Wednesday for this stunning wedding amid the Tuscany countryside!

If you missed last Wedding Wednesday, you must enjoy a Bride & Groom getting married on their horses in a country-western extravaganza!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Photo by Julian Katz Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights

{Real Country-Western Wedding} Anna & Steven

Oh, my dear Koru family & friends, you are in for a real treat!  It's not every day that a Bride & Groom gets married mounted on their gorgeous horses.  Yes, on their horses!  Let's admire the fantastic photos from bycherry photography:

Boulder City Horseman's Association in Nevada may not be an obvious wedding venue for many but for horse fanatics Anna & Steven, it was the perfect place to say "I Do!" & incorporate their beloved horses.

Anna & Steven's late morning wedding was full of blue skies & bright sunshine.  The country Bride was ready in her white lace dress, cream cowboy boots & something blue cowboy boots.  She carried a white wildflower bouquet tied with burlap, while her bridesmaids carried colorful wildflower bouquets also tied with burlap.  Not to be forgotten, the Bride's chestnut horse wore white flowers, while the Groom's raven horse sported red flowers.  

Sleek, beautiful horses carried the entire bridal party down the aisle, including the Bride & Groom.  The entire ceremony was conducted with the Bride, Groom & bridal party sitting on their horses.  The officiant conducted the ceremony from a bale of hay.  Once their marriage was sealed with a kiss, the Bride & Groom rode their horses off into happily ever after!

But they couldn't ride too far because there was a party to enjoy!  The Bride & Groom infused their reception with country-western details.  The doiley-covered tables were decorated with mason jars of wildflowers & succulents.  Some mason jars were left plain & others were wrapped in burlap.  Burlap bunting spelled proudly proclaimed "You Had Me At Hello."

This unique country-western wedding indeed had me at hello!!  Anna & Steven, we tip our cowboy hats to you!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: bycherry photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights  /  Ceremony & Reception Venue: Boulder City Horseman's Association  /  Florist: Layers of Lovely