Lauren & Patrick: Autumn Bliss at New York Botanical Garden

Lauren and Patrick Wedding – Bride and Groom Portrait – New York Botanical Garden – Theory Photographie

Lauren and Patrick met for their first date in October 2017. They met the classic way you meet anyone in NYC…on Bumble. “We were both nervous, so things got off to a rocky start,” Lauren says. “But after I mentioned that I grew up listening to Billy Joel – who Patrick also listened to with his best friends growing up in Cold Spring Harbor – we instantly clicked. The night continued with margaritas and many laughs, exchanging stories about growing up in New York, and a failed attempt to go to karaoke – it was Tuesday and they closed at 10 pm.” On their second date, Patrick told Lauren that he was likely moving to Malaysia in six months for work. “I initially shrugged it off. But that following week, Patrick got a call that he was to transfer in four weeks,” she says. After making the most of the time they had left together, the couple decided to commit to a long-distance relationship. “The next two years were filled with so much travel and adventure…so lots of time in an airport!” Lauren remembers.
Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Meaningful Ways To Remember Loved Ones At Your Wedding

by Kate Murphy

Petula and Sheldon Wedding – Heaven Sign – Dyker Beach Golf Course – Bashful Captures

The day you get married will be filled with moments that you’ll cherish forever. Naturally, you’ll want to share these moments with the people you care about most. But with life’s happiest events comes the realization that special people have passed on and will be absent from the celebrations. Though they are no longer with us in the physical sense, their spirit lives on in our hearts. Having a symbolic representation of them such as a photo or keepsake close by helps fill the empty space they’ve left while offering comfort and bittersweet joy. From your bouquet to decor, here are meaningful ways to honor the memories of loved ones at your wedding.
Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Pretty Ideas For Styling Bud Vase Wedding Centerpieces

by Kate Murphy

Natasha & Robert Wedding – Reception Low Centerpiece – Burden Kahn Mansion – Andrey Nastasenko

When it comes to dreaming up show-stopping wedding table decor, we tend to think of sky-high, blooming displays or bountiful florals that cascade onto the floor. While bud vase centerpieces may not be the first thing that comes to mind, the impact that these small arrangements have on creating a captivating tablescape should not be underestimated. It’s all about styling – these petite beauties can be presented alone or in clusters, with taper candles or votives, and with luxurious fabrics or natural accents. Whether your aesthetic is classic elegance, natural romanticism, or modern chic, we’ve rounded up pretty ideas for using bud vases in your wedding centerpieces.
Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Beautiful & Thoughtful Ideas To Highlight Reserved Seats At Your Wedding Ceremony

by Kate Murphy

Sara and Zach Wedding – Wedding Aisle Arrangement Reserved Seat Sign – New York Botanical Garden – Katherine Marchand Wedding

Your parents, grandparents, and immediate family make up the VIP guests who deserve front row seats at your wedding. For this reason, designating the first and second rows (and third if needed) at your ceremony is important to avoid any confusion – no one wants to play an awkward game of musical chairs because they unknowingly sat where they shouldn’t have. Often groomsmen double as ushers and are on hand at large weddings, directing guests where to go as they arrive. But for weddings of any size, ‘reserved’ seating signs can be used to ensure your big day starts out flawlessly with everyone comfortably sitting down to the celebrations that are about to begin. From welcoming floral arrangements to personalized name tags, we rounded up beautiful ideas for assigning special seating at your wedding ceremony.
Read More

Stefanie and Mike Wedding - Low Centerpiece - Gotham Hall - Emma Cleary Photography

Planning & Inspiration

A Guide To Wedding Candles: Gorgeous Ideas For Lighting Up Your Big Day

by Kate Murphy

Stefanie and Mike Wedding – Low Centerpiece – Gotham Hall – Emma Cleary Photography

Congratulations, you’ve finally settled on your wedding flowers. Now onto the next question: How to show off these beautiful blooms in their brightest light? This is when your florist and planner (if you are using one) will go over candle options to see which type best complements your wedding scheme. Candles are essential to creating the ambiance for your big day whether you dream of a candlelit aisle, want to dine in an intimate, glowing tablescape, or need to warm up a cavernous room. Because these decor staples come in an array of styles, shapes, and sizes, we put together this guide highlighting inspiring floral designs with candles from the Real BB Weddings archives.
Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Creative Escort Card Ideas Guaranteed to Surprise Your Wedding Guests

by Kate Murphy

Kelsey and Matt Wedding – Succulent Escort Cards – New York Botanical Garden – Hitches and Unions

The traditional paper escort card certainly has its place in the history of wedding planning and design. After finding their assigned seats, guests typically toss these rectangular pieces of paper to the side without giving them a second thought. Rather than being purely functional and let’s be honest, run-of-the-mill, what if this essential wedding component was a conversation starter and something your guests actually want to keep?

The great thing about escort cards is that they allow couples to play up their wedding aesthetic and personality while offering the chance to veer off brand a little – there’s no rule saying you can’t incorporate gilded miniature dinosaurs into an elegant all white wedding! You can have the most extravagant florals in the most luxurious venue, but it’s the unique and personal details of your wedding that everyone remembers most. From artistic to fun to thoughtful, we rounded up creative escort card ideas guaranteed to surprise your guests.
Read More

Weddings