by Jen Hart | Real Weddings, Vintage Wedding Dresses
Cara And John’s Elegant Ohio Bohemian Wedding at The Glidden House
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Their Romance Started with a Facebook Friend Request
It all started for John and Cara with a Facebook friend request. John (who is from Michigan) added Cara (who lives in Ohio) on Facebook, and she accepted. With social media and dating apps, why not start a relationship through Facebook? This bride story goes to show that the results can be lasting and meaningful.
Their conversations began with Facebook messenger, which lead into texting, followed by phone conversations that lasted hours. After a month or so of phone conversations, they planned their first date at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. They journeyed through the gardens, getting to know each other’s past, all the while, unwittingly, creating memories for the future.
The couple grew from strength to strength and grew so close that they moved in together. Having to go to California for work, John knew he’d be gone at least a month. The weekend before he left was the time John decided to get down on one knee. It had been a cold rainy morning, but as soon as they were getting ready to leave for brunch, the sun came out. John wanted to propose outside of their first place together, and took the one chance of the sun shining to do so.
As they were walking outside, John stopped Cara in front of their beautiful apartment building, got down on one knee and, fighting through stutters and stammers, he asked Cara to be his wife. Of course, she said yes!!
A Vision of her Perfect Wedding Dress
Cara had a vision of her perfect wedding dress and knew exactly how she wanted to look. She wanted a long form fitting dress with long lacy sleeves and a flower crown. Cara, her Grandmother and Mom, planned multiple weekends to go wedding dress shopping. People would tell Cara, “once you try on the ‘one’ you will know.” Although, she never had that feeling with any of the dresses she had tried on.
She was getting discouraged and worried she would end up just settling with a dress that her heart was not set on. Just when she began to lose hope, a friend sent her a text containing a link to the Dreamers and Lovers website. The text read, “You are going to love everything about these dresses.” She was right! Cara fell in love with all of the laid back, boho dresses and chose to try on a sample dress through the loan service program.
Once the sample arrived, Cara hurried to her Grandmother’s house to share the moment of trying on, what could be, the “one”. After slipping into the dress, she turned to her grandmother and her mother immediately, knowing, just from the look in their eyes, that this is the “one”. She sent the sample dress back and anxiously awaited the final product.
A couple of months later Cara received her finished, bohemian wedding gown. She immediately tried the dress on and loved everything about it. From the fit, to the sleeves, the beautiful lace, it was all there, everything she had envisioned. Cara and John’s wedding cake was provided by Deena Cakes and decorated with flowers by Lush and Lovely Floristry.
One of Cara’s favorite aspects of the day was her choice of photographer, who smoothed out the process for her and turned their wedding album, their way of remembering their special day forever, into an absolute dream come true.
It’s important to feel comfortable around your photographer and trust that they will do an amazing job capturing every moment of your big day, Rachel Clarke photography did just that.
Cara and John decided to marry at The Glidden house, a French Gothic Eclectic style venue, in Cleveland, Ohio, where they had a small intimate wedding with about 90 close family and friends.
While there were so many details that came together to create the perfect day, a few of Cara’s stand outs were her laid back vintage inspired wedding dress, their flowers, the rental pieces they borrowed from Borrow Rental, as well as their party favors…they were becoming Mr. and Mrs. Jones, so they bought Jones soda and personalized it with an engagement picture with the wedding date.
The Wedding Vendors
The wedding flowers were done by Lush and Lovely Floristry out of Ohio City, Ohio. The bride’s bouquet was put together by an arrangement of eucalyptus, ranunculus, garden roses, queen Anne’s lace and greenery, with a matching flower crown. Cara felt that the Glidden house outdoor area was so beautiful on its own, she simply added big ferns for the ceremony. The reception centerpieces and head table were arranged with garland of greenery and roses.
Judging by the pictures, this couple created a personalized vision of elegance with a true bohemian twist and we wish them a future full of all the grace, style and love with which they’ve begun.
Photographer: Rachel Clarke Photo
Wedding Dress: Alice
To see more brides wearing the vintage-inspired Alice dress see:
Amy’s Dreamy Rustic California Wedding and Jesse’s Outdoor Dreamy Boho Wedding and Kerri’s Industrial Elegant Wedding
and here
by Jen Hart | Bohemian Brides, Real Weddings, Wedding Photographers We Love
Untameable Tessa Tadlock: Boho Wedding Photographer, Grover Beach, CA
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Let’s face it…we’re not all photogenic. Some of us couldn’t look pretty in a pose even if you paid us a million. We’d end up feeling awkward, tense and possibly looking a little ridiculous. So…why is it that every one of Tessa Tadlock’s brides looks like she belongs in a magazine? There’s a secret to Tessa’s success, talent.
Wedding photographers, the good ones, don’t attempt to create something out of nothing.
Wedding photographers, the good ones, don’t attempt to create something out of nothing.
They eavesdrop on real life, capturing moments that are beautiful on their own, real moments of love, family and happiness. When that avenue’s temporarily exhausted, they need to step in and create ‘real’ situations out of the love that’s already there…that’s what Tessa does.
It’s no easy task, a wedding photographer has to know the clients, know the venue, know the timetable and be someone who makes people feel comfortable, feel free and feel at home.
Looking at Tessa Tadlock’s portfolio of blissful boho images that capture not only tender moments of love and laughter but also perfect landscapes and moody vibes…it seems Tessa does all of that and more, catching a shared joke, making the most of the light shining through the trees, anticipating a gust of wind and using it.
Tessa is a Grover Beach, CA, based wedding photographer who shares an office with her inspiration, boyfriend and wedding videographer, Jimmy (jfinnmedia.com). It was Jimmy who started the fire in Tessa when he told her he was thinking of becoming a wedding photographer. Although she’d never thought about it before, she found herself overcome with jealousy at the notion of someone doing it before her and went out to buy herself a camera.
it was Jimmy who’d gotten her past her worries, told her not to care what people think, that everyone starts somewhere
She didn’t use it for 6 months…concerned about what people would think of this sudden decision but when she finally did do her first shoot it was much like love at first sight. Butterflies in the stomach and a feeling that this was going to be forever. And it was Jimmy who’d gotten her past her worries, told her not to care what people think, that everyone starts somewhere. He’d told her not to let anyone get in the way of something that could become her passion. That’s exactly what it did.
Tessa’s a ball of joy who’d be an asset, I think, at any party…her exuberance overflows from the page when she writes, in a fountain of exclamation marks, words like loooovvvveee!!!! Bohoooooo!!!! and sooooo grateful!!! Gratefulness is Tessa’s motto in work and play, which are actually the same thing for her, she’s living her deepest passion.
“Have fun and roll with the punches, no matter what happens-cause something always happens! Remember that this day will end and you’ll be married to your best friend. You’ve put in so much work to make this day come together, now it’s time to enjoy it!”
Tessa is clearly obsessed with boho and it shows in every image. Her work is the epitome of what you’d look for in a boho photographer, unapologetic, natural. And that’s what Tessa asks her clients to be when she photographs them, just themselves. “Have fun and roll with the punches, no matter what happens-cause something always happens! Remember that this day will end and you’ll be married to your best friend. You’ve put in so much work to make this day come together, now it’s time to enjoy it!”
You’d have to describe 24 year old Tessa’s photographic style the same way you’d describe boho, adventurous…free-spirited and romantic. She favors emotion over perfection and she loves to capture her couples’ true personalities in beautiful outdoor locations. Judging by this portfolio, Tessa never falls short of doing what she sets out to do.
When asked about her MO, Tessa says she does a mix of blending in or eavesdropping and creating situations. So it’s kinda like telling someone to pose but keeping the situation dynamic so that they never feel awkward or silly or in the air. She poses people in a way that gets them laughing, interacting with each other and livinnngggg. Also, Tessa shoots everything digital so that she can shoot wherever and as much as she wants, as fast as she wants.
Becoming friends with her clients is one of Tessa’s favorite aspects of the job. One of the most rewarding experiences she’s had on the job happened when the same wedding party booked her for photographs and her man for video without knowing that the two were connected. After shooting the engagement session Tessa and her BF hit it off like a house on fire with the clients and they remain friends to this day, with backpacking adventures, game nights and actual airplane flights to visit each other.
You’ll recognize her by her sarcasm, her infectious smile and the fact that her lipstick is always on regardless of dress code or atmospheric conditions
Tessa has a tendency to emit a high pitched squealing of delight whenever things are going well at a wedding.
You’ll recognize her by her sarcasm, her infectious smile and the fact that her lipstick is always on regardless of dress code or atmospheric conditions. Tessa says lipstick stops folk from thinking she’s 16 and also makes her feel like she’s got her life together. Which she does anyway, blessings Tessa!
Bohemian Wedding Dresses featured here are: Dreamers & Lovers Aurora Dress, Catherine Dress and the Julia Dress
Check out more of Tessa’s work at www.tessatadlock.com
by Jen Hart | Bohemian Brides, Real Weddings
Sadie And Joel Love Story + Chic Bohemian Wedding
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How She Became a Part of the Gang of Guys
The story of how Sadie and Joel got together is really cute, to say the least. They’d met at the age of 11 when they attended the same church and they grew up seeing each other across a room full of students. Conveniently, Joel has his birthday on Valentine’s Day and when that day came in 2015, Joel’s buddy decided to have a little fun…or maybe Joel was behind it all along, we’ll never know.
His friend told Sadie it would be great if she could join them because the whole Gang was going out for his birthday celebration. Little did Sadie know she was the only girl they’d invited (awkward) and it was, she later discovered, completely intentional.
Finally no more silent acknowledgement from across a crowded room, after that they were on speaking terms, plus more. So, one year when Joel was on Spring break and Sadie was set to leave on a trip the following week, they decided to spend a Saturday together. He picked her up after lunch and they spent the rest of the day discovering new coffee shops, picking through old records and scouring the shelves of quaint treasure trove libraries.
The Proposal
It was getting close to sunset when Joel announced that they should find a park to settle down in and read for a bit. They soon found a lovely park to stop at but Joel seemed put off by he abundance of activity, bubble kids and basketball players. They made their way to a second park which, annoyingly, was just as crowded. Joel seemed slightly frantic when he pulled up at a nearby field, pulling out the blanket and announcing: “This will do!”
After reading quietly for a short while he pulled out a scrap book with chronologically highlighted milestones and special moments in their relationship in it for her to look through. When she made it to the second last page, she found an arrow and the words: “The Next Chapter,” scrawled there and on flipping the page she found four Polaroids that Joel had taken of himself holding signs that said: “Will you marry me?” As if that was not enough, when she looked up, he was on one knee, ready to ask her in person.
Finding the Wedding Dress
As for the dress, finding Dreamers & Lovers wasn’t too difficult because back when the couple had been dating, Sadie had happened upon an Instagram picture of one of their laid back gowns and had made a mental note of how beautiful it was…just in case she’s be needing a similar one down the road. A year passed and there she was, looking like a bohemian princess in the exquisite Lisa boho wedding dress.
Planning a Wedding in 2.5 Months
The biggest challenge for Sadie was the fact that she was in her last year of college, had just started a new job and had only 2.5 months to plan. Yet, in spite of the crunch factor, she still recommends a short engagement.
Sadie says that she was concerned with burdening people by asking for help but soon realized that her friends and family actually wanted nothing more than to be a part of the planning process. Sadie was blessed to have friends and family members who ended up making her vendor list and making the day of her dreams possible, hairdresser, florist, coordinator, photographer and baker!
Sadie and Joel invited 40 people to the ceremony, just their immediate family, and 175 to the reception.
The Vows
Some scriptural readings were done during the ceremony and then the couple read their own, self-written vows. Sadie’s favorite line from Joel’s was: “I vow to love you every day for the rest of our lives, unconditionally, no matter how you change or what life brings our way.” Her favorite line from her own vows was: “Here and now, I choose you, forever, until death do us part.”
The Wedding Vendors Who Created Magic
Since Sadie used to work as a florist’s assistant and knew the florist well, all she had to do was tell her the colors and theme and she ran with it. She knocked it out of the park with simple yet stunning white roses, baby’s breath and eucalyptus. Also one of Sadie’s favorite features on the day was the huge floral wreath positioned as an altar. It rounded everything off and made it look so beautiful.
Cake was French Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream and everything was enjoyed on tables that Sadie felt were decorated to absolute perfection.
Next on the cards for this sweet couple, Joel is prepping for grad school and Sadie is now working full time. Little ones are definitely in their future but they’re going to wait to get settled first. We wish them all the best of life and love!
The Lisa has been featured several times on a variety of brides, see a few of them here and another here
Photographer: rayannmarie.com
by Jen Hart | Beach Weddings, Real Weddings
Carolina & Nate’s Dream Destination Bohemian Wedding
Carolina and Nate’s love story and wedding is one for the books. Interestingly enough, first dates were done on Facetime before taking things 3D. As for the wedding, location really was everything for the couple. They chose to hold an intimate bohemian wedding in Tulum, Mexico.
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Carolina and Nate met outside their local hangout in Venice, CA. Interestingly enough, they shared a few dates on Facetime before taking things 3D. Carolina was out of town a lot with her job but they kept in touch via phone and web. Then on her return to Venice, she picked him up (in her car, silly) and they went to one of Venice’s most popular Mexican food spots, Oscar’s Cerveteca to enjoy a dinner on their first actual date.
The Paris Proposal
In the Fall of 2016, Carolina had a work trip scheduled to Paris, which wasn’t uncommon for her. Since Nate had never seen Paris, he announced that he was coming along for the ride…only; he had other, more sly plans. Carolina was completely bogged down with work, meetings and events every night, after full and busy days. The poor guy struggled day after day to find an opening to pop the Q and finally, the moment came.
One night, after dinner, Nate asked Carolina to walk back to the hotel with him (he’d been carrying a ring in his pocket for days BTW) and although she was cold, tired and annoyed she decided to oblige, knowing that it would be an experience for him, since he’d never been to Paris before. At one point they strolled on to a stunning Parisian bridge, to find that they were the only ones there, which, while being ever so slightly creepy, also afforded Nate just the opportunity he needed.
Pulling a lock from his pocket, Nate said he’d brought it from LA for them to lock onto the bridge (as is tradition for lovers visiting Paris). Still cold and annoyed, Carolina just wanted to get it over with and move on. He handed her the lock and asked “Aren’t you going to read what it says?” He’d written the words “Will you marry me?” on the lock…the answer, of course, was yes. After putting the very special lock on the bridge together, they walked back to the hotel to call their families with the good tidings.
The Search for the Bohemian Lace Wedding Dress
Now, although Carolina’s a bit of a minimalist tomboy when it comes to her dress sense, she had a clear image in her mind of a dress that was romantic, long sleeved and made of lace. She visited a string of boutiques in LA but she just didn’t seem to connect with anything. Luckily, after her engagement, she’d picked up the habit of following Instagram Wedding accounts and that’s where she had the pleasure of discovering D&L’s laid back wedding dresses.
She was immediately drawn to the lovely, boho Lisa dress and could hardly wait to come in and try it on for herself. Lucky for her, she’s an LA local so in short turn she visited the Dreamers and Lovers Studio and found that the dress lived up to all her dreams and more. No dress could have been better suited for the exotic destination wedding that Carolina had planned.
The Dream Destination Wedding Location
For this couple, location really was everything. They chose to hold an intimate wedding at Posada Margherita in Tulum, Mexico. The 8 room hotel is the pair’s all time favorite place on earth and they make a habit of vacationing there every year and when they do, the meals are always the highlight of the show. Strangely enough, it’s not a Mexican restaurant they frequent there but the hotel’s Italian Restaurant, which is part of the reason they keep going back.
Even before getting engaged, they’d sat at one of those tables eating home made pasta and dreaming about how wonderful it would be to get married there one day. Well, their dream came true. They invited 55 of their nearest and dearest to celebrate their love with a stay at their favorite spot on earth. Of course, Carolina had a chance to spend time with each of them during their stay, which was absolutely magical.
Carolina didn’t compromise any of her values and wishes during planning and she advises other brides to do the same with make up, style, decor, everything. After all, it’s about you and your man and should reflect who YOU are.
Being a destination wedding, Carolina didn’t get to check on and actually see things herself before the time, she just had to trust that the wedding, which she planned all by herself, would turn out as she dreamed. At least she knew she had the most special location booked and that the food would be awesome as usual. The element of surprise was invigorating but also stressful at times. When the time came to enjoy the results of her planning, she was proud, overjoyed and certainly relieved.
Wedding Details
Carolina’s favorite detail of the wedding was the fact that her groom and his friends built a Jewish Huppah from scratch, with driftwood and leaves they’d found in Mexico. She was admittedly a little nervous when the guys said they wanted to build it themselves because although she isn’t Jewish, the huppah symbolism was very important to her. It turned out beautifully and she was so grateful that not only did no one use it before them. The hands of the people that truly love them built it. Plus her best friend, Cami, sewed the loveliest tropical flowers to the DIY huppah her husband had helped build, on the day of the wedding.
The flowers were all Baby’s Breath, which is Carolina’s favorite and she couldn’t have imagined anything that would have suited the venue better… which has a very old European feel to it. She even brought her own blue mason jars all the way from LA to Mexico, which was rather a big effort, to say the least. Still, it was worth it and in combination with the Baby’s Breath, a sight for sore eyes.
The couple didn’t opt for any readings other than their own, self-written vows, which turned out so similar that it brought a tear to most eyes present. They were married by one of their closest friends, Noah, and it was extra special having someone so close to them share the story of their love with everyone there. Carolina’s favorite part of the vows was “I vow to always speak the truth and seek kindness in each word, moment and day we spend together, with this ring, I am forever yours.”
They ordered a two-layer coconut vanilla cake online, having absolutely no idea what it would taste like but they were pleasantly surprised! They also enjoyed some Tiramisu after the rest of their Italian feast. Jewish, Mexican, Italian…talk about eclectic! That’s what boho is all about.
The guests partied the night away beach style, barefoot in the sand and under a sea of stars, to the beats of Carolina’s brother, who was DJ for the night. It turned into the most mystical night of their lives, there was never a moment when they couldn’t stop and feel the gentle sea breeze on their skin or hear the ocean lapping against the Mexican shore.
With a wedding like that, perhaps an immediate honeymoon didn’t really seem necessary. The couple plans to take a honeymoon sometime in the near future and when they return, they might even look into starting a family to continue the tradition of love!!!
Photographer: Katie Edwards Photo
Dress: Dreamers & Lovers Lisa Dress
See other brides wearing the Lisa on their wedding day here and here
by Jen Hart | Beach Weddings, Real Weddings
A Soulful Love Story + Boho Hawaiian Wedding
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The story Emily and Caleb Grumling is one of those rare romances that you can’t really help but tear up over. The couple met in high school but weren’t even friends until they went to college, so they were definitely not high school sweethearts. Their friendship blossomed at a time when Emily was away at school in Pennsylvania and Caleb was on Maui. Both enjoyed each other’s company during the summers when they’d return to their mutual home island of Oahu.
They bonded over a shared love of the ocean, hiking, racquetball and euchre. After college, destiny saw them both returning to Oahu to live. That was when Emily began to notice Caleb’s finer qualities, such as his hard work ethic, his integrity and his strong relationship with God. As her respect for his character increased, she began to fall for him…only it seemed to her that he viewed her as nothing more than a friend.
She sat in her car in the parking lot and prayed to God, asking that He help her move past this and that her desires fall in line with God’s plan.
Knowing that she couldn’t spend her time pining away, Emily tried to focus her mind elsewhere. She applied for a job as a flight attendant, to be stationed on the mainland. She got the job but as her departure date drew near, she yearned to tell Caleb how she really felt about him. She felt it would save her from forever wondering what might have been. After church one night, she tried to tell him but couldn’t quite square herself. She sat in her car in the parking lot and prayed to God, asking that He help her move past this and that her desires fall in line with God’s plan.
Literally 10 seconds later, Caleb texted her, asking that she come back up to the church to help him with an errand. He asked her to accompany him as he drove to the store but, on the way back, he took a ‘wrong turn.’ He pulled over and poured out his heart, saying that he’d been praying for a while for them to get together. He said that he knew that he’d had to tell her that night. From that point on they were a couple. Although Emily moved, two months later, to Minneapolis and then to Los Angeles for her job, the long distance didn’t stop them from growing closer.
Caleb took a job in Maui for a year and Emily often flew down from California to visit him. On one such visit, Caleb suggested that they take a ferry to the island of Lanai. They spent a beautiful day exploring the island and, towards the end of the day, hiked to a secluded beach called Sweetheart Rock. That’s where Caleb got down on one knee and asked for her hand.
The Search for the Perfect Simple Bohemian Wedding Dress
Having scoured Hawaii dress shops for a dress that suited her laid back style, Emily was up to her temples in poof, sparkle and shine. Luckily for her, a friend in LA had heard about her struggle and clued her in about a brand she’d seen on Instagram, Dreamers and Lovers. The minute Emily saw the exquisite dresses online she was sold; they were the perfect match for her chic bohemian aesthetic.
Emily made a selection of dresses and visited the store the following week in order to try them on. Emily loved that the dresses were made to order, to suit any body type and when she first tried on her dress, she just knew that it was the one. Beautiful, comfortable and not fussy at all, all it needed was a personal twist, so Emily asked to add a small train and Voila!
Emily took it upon herself to do all the wedding planning, which wasn’t easy while living in LA part time. Although her time schedule as a flight attendant was flexible, the constant traveling between Hawaii and California became exhausting.
Wedding Planning for a Bohemian Wedding
One aspect of planning that she did enjoy was working on some of the projects with Caleb, he’d teach her to use certain tools so that she could work alongside him as he built things for the reception. At times when the wedding planning seemed to be taking up all their thoughts they’d take breaks and just enjoy each other’s company without stressing over preparations.
Caleb built special planters for the table centerpieces and the pair went to a succulent nursery to find worthy candidates to plant in the boxes. The nursery babysat the planters for six months until the wedding and by then the boxes were full and luscious. All other floral arrangements included plenty of greens, whites and burgundy, just as Emily had requested.
The decision was made to hold the reception at Emily’s uncle’s ranch in Wahiawa. This was definitely Em’s favorite detail of the wedding. She loved that it was somewhere none of her 224 guests had ever been to before and that driving out there on the dirt road was an adventure all on its own.
While neither Emily or Caleb are the type to do things just because they’re traditional, they still appreciated the meaning behind the traditional wedding vows as used by their parents and grandparents. Neither of them liked the idea of being totally vulnerable with each other in front of the crowd so the letters that they wrote to each other were shared quietly, on their own before the wedding.
The couple’s youth pastor from when they were teenagers performed the ceremony, reading several bible passages, including Ephesians 5:22:23 which, while it does tell wives to submit to their husbands, also tells husbands to love their wives the way Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. The couple believe this to be a passage about mutual love and respect, together with self-sacrifice, all the while glorifying Christ through their marriage.
Because Neither Emily or Caleb are cake lovers, they opted for Acai Bowls at the reception. Each bowl had strawberries, bananas, honey and a scoop of cookie dough, yum!
Why Every Boho Bride Needs a Great Photographer
Even though both the pair is camera shy, their photographer, Tessa Tadlock, did an awesome job of making them feel comfortable and their pictures came out beautifully as a result. Their friend, Ashley DeMello also made a video of the event, which the couple couldn’t be happier with. The couple is forever grateful that the important business of documenting the day was taken care of by such superb artists.
If you’re wondering what the couple is up to these days, they’re both enjoying life in LA, spending tons of time together and also planning on doing some traveling in the near future. As for the long term, once they’ve finished exploring the mainland they’d love to move back to Hawaii to start a family but they are, of course, open to whatever God has planned for them.
Photographer: Tessa Tadlock
Love the Dreamers & Lovers Catherine dress and want to see more?
Be sure to check out Ashley’s San Diego Bohemian Wedding
and Poppy’s beautifully boho chic UK wedding
We also loved how Shannon customized her Catherine dress with long sleeves
