{Inspiration} A Pillow Fight & Props - Spicing Up A Wedding Photo Session

Using props is becoming more and more popular in wedding shoots these days. I love the idea of gathering items that mean something to you as a couple and showing them off as a window into your personality.  Big, small, lavish, or simple, props can make a huge visual impact in your pictures -- and as with this styled engagement session sent over by Tiffany Amber Photography, they can be a whole lot of fun, as well. So let go of the traditional, embrace the different, introduce color, texture, light, and laughter....use props to enhance your photo session experience with your sweetie and your photographer. 

Here are some of my favorites of Cherissa and Chad a super sweet couple from San Juan, CA. Photographer Tiffany Henson shared: This couple is full of love and laughs! Chad is a goofyball who makes Cerissa smile every second of the day! They are truly meant for each other. There are couples who love each other and then there are couples who are so in love its contagious. That is Chad and Cerissa. They are best friends who fell in love, and are living their Happily Ever After! 

Cerissa and Chad are just way too cute for their own good -- I absolutely adore all the special touches they used in this shoot --from the location all the way down to the ceramic owl. A Pillow Fight? Genius -- for fun, frivolity, and as Tiffany Amber Photography shows us, way cool finished product!

Congratulations to Cerissa and Chad, and many thanks to Tiffany for sharing this awesome shoot with us through Two Bight Lights.  

Are you using props for your engagement shoot? What item is the best representation of your personality? Leave us a comment below so we can share with all our followers on Twitter!

Make it fun, make it happy,

{Real Global Wedding} Bohemian Celebration in Madrid

Happy Monday de Lovelies! I know, I know, it has been a while since I last posted but I have a REALLY good reason. My husband and I were moving all the way across the country, from Boston to Los Angeles. We drove 4,358 miles and boy, are we tired. Needless to say posting from the road was a little difficult. But what I DID do was score this awesome bohemian wedding from photographer Gonzalo Manera and I am so peed in my pants excited to bring it to you today! I hope this Real Wedding Monday Eye Candy starts your week off on the right foot!

Welcome to bohemian Madrid, a stunning city perfectly suited for the destination wedding of Gonzalo and Bianca, a fun loving, world traveling couple who were less interested in the fancy and more inclined toward the memorable. Designed by Marta Machin at Marlett, a boutique wedding design company in Madrid, I can only say this wedding celebrates everything that makes this couple unique and perfect, right down to the framed family pictures and eclectic travel theme! I am SO loving the lounge feel she pulled off right in the garden! 

Marta shared her thoughts with Ruffled blog, which is where I first saw this wedding: Bianca and Gonzalo are a very special couple, when I met them I immediately fell in love with their easy going, worldly traveled vibe. They wanted a wedding that was a garden party, to be surrounded with close family and friends, celebrate their love and dance ’til dawn. Their wedding was also a goodbye party, after the celebration they would start their two year honeymoon around the world. (Right now they are in China after having traveled to Africa, Australia, Borneo, the Philippines and Bali.)

Marta: They wanted a relaxed celebration, with just a cocktails and no formal dinner. Since helm oaks are very typical in this part of Spain we chose to use them as the anchor points for the different stages of the wedding, from the ceremony to the dance floor.

Marta: The wedding was not a big wedding in Spain, but still 120 relatives and friends gathered together under helm oaks at dusk to see the couple get married in a heirloom bench, surrounded by old family portraits, and in front of a XVIII century desk (loaned by the groom’s mother) filled with flowers. The location of the ceremony was chosen because of its ideal surroundings, but also because the light at the time of the ceremony would be ideal.

Marta: The ceremony was very emotional, the groom gave a speech that spoke of traveling, his love of Bianca and their goodbyes to their family. It was sweet, personal and touching. I cried like when watching a good romantic movie, the air was filled with dense emotions and happiness.

The bride wore a dress designed by her sister (a fashion stylist) and a friend, with fabrics brought from Philippines (their mother is Filipino) The dress was beautiful beyond words, and suited her like a glove. (The fall, the movement of the gown was amazing, it was the perfect dress, vintage inspired but timeless) The groom wore a custom made suit with a bow tie and his best man, his brother, was also another example of sartorial excellence. She walked the aisle to “Heartbeats” from José González.

Marta: The rest of the wedding would not disappoint. The decor graduated from a more romantic approach (the ceremony) to the more exotic and wild bedroom under the tree. Guests could pick up food and drinks and sit in these areas to chat and relax, later on, late at night, when everything was lit by candles and string lights, they would also enjoy sitting down after dancing and talking with their friends.

Marta: The couple asked me to create chill out spots inspired by their love of traveling, but also kind of nostalgic of their childhood. I chose to recreate a fabric fort and an exotic bedroom with elements from all over the world.

My all time favorite element! Don't you just want to snuggle inside and giggle with your sweetie?

Wedding Vendors (Madrid, Spain): Wedding Venue: Groom’s Parents’ Home / Photographer and Videographer: Gonzalo Manera / Wedding Design: Marta Machin at Marlett / Wedding Dress: bespoke / Wedding Flowers: Vinca per Vinca / Wedding Caterer: Pipiripao

I am head over heels in love with this wedding; it makes my heart sing because it is exactly what a wedding should be: full of personality and sentimental statements, made up of momentos honoring the past and moments to hold onto for the future. Congratulations Bianca and Gonzalo and many safe journeys!  What a thrilling way to spend the first year of marriage!

Thank you  to Gonzalo Manera for letting us share his amazing work with you de Lovely Affair readers and to Marta Machin at Marlett for designing an absolutely stunning event.

What is you favorite design component of this wedding? Leave us a comment below and we will share it on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. Even better why don't you join us over there! 

Happy rest of the week,

{Real Wedding} Renata & Fabio - Brazilian Beach Wedding

Real Wedding - Renata and Fabio at Itamambuca Eco Resort, Ubatuba, Sao Paulo - Brazil

My favorite day of Beach Wedding Week! I seriously love this gorgeous Real Wedding we found over at Para Ti Novia because first, it takes place in Brazil, my second home, and second, it is exactly what a beach wedding should be. Sun, surf, friends and family, and gorgeous surroundings. Be prepared to be smitten!! All images from Brazilian photographer Ale Borges. Obrigada!

Renata and Fabio met through mutual friends initially but were only friends for the first year, even though they both knew they had feelings for the other.  I love that they started officially dating the day before Brazilian Valentine's Day. So sweet!

As Renata says about the proposal: We are not very formal. We didn't even get engaged. In January 2009, friends of ours came to visit. They talked about how they had gotten married and how important the celebration was to them. All the positive vibration on it. So we decided to get married. Simple as that!

In Renata's own words: Everything was very spontaneous. We are surfers and wanted something very clean, beach style, hippie chic and natural. We choose the local typical flowers. Good for the budget and matched perfectly with the place.

 

The beach is already pretty and special for us so we didn't need much to make it beautiful. In Brazil, at New Year´s eve we wear all white. We believe it brings positive vibrations, purifications and peace. 

We didnt want anything too big , we believe “ less is more”. Clean and simple but at the same time sophisticated. Less means less money too. We focused on the importants things, location, food and fun.

I love all the personal touches Renata and Fabio added to their wedding. Here are a few from Renata: The bride came in a boat, the mothers brought water from the ocean to bless the rings, my father read a poem and my father in law the “corintos 13”.  A friend read a letter written by her and made every one cry. The priest told me to give a petal of my flower to everyone, so we did small pieces and give to the crowd.

 My favorite picture of the whole bunch!                                              

This wedding is exactly what we think weddings ought to be; full of family, friends, fun with lots of pieces of personality. Renate and Fabio chose to infuse their celebration with all their favorite things, the beach, the water, the sand, and Brazil. From their all white attire to their water ring blessings, they followed their hearts and passion, stayed on budget and focused on the important things.

Thank you to photographer Ale Borges for the photos. You can check out all the pictures of Renta and Fabio's gorgeous wedding HERE.

What personal or cultural touches will you add to your wedding celebration? We'd love to hear your ideas, so leave a comment below.

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Have a super de Lovely weekend!