Without a doubt, my current color scheme crush is gold and black. Something about the pairing screams elegant, fresh, and luxe — and photographer Kat Harris would seem to agree! She formed this shoot after getting inspired by runway collections from Ralph Lauren and Kate Spade, and we’re tickled to see how well her ideas translated into wedding design.

From the photographer, Kat Harris: Ever since I saw Ralph Lauren’s fall 2012 black + gold collection along with Kate Spade’s Spring 2013 collection, I have been dying to do a black and gold themed wedding! Black and gold are timeless, and never go out of style yet you rarely see them incorporated into weddings. What excited me about this theme is that timeless, tailored, class is back ladies! I’m a Southern Prep at heart so I’ve been giddy to see tailored suits for men come back as well as classically polished silhouettes for ladies to be back on the horizon. And of course I had to include bows and chevron prints into the shoot!

What is refreshing to me about this theme is that although timeless it offers a fresh, polished, tailored, yet spunky way to incorporate classic All-American details into your wedding. This is why we incorporated a lemon whiskey bar, chevron print on the invites, and bows upon bows upon bows! And don’t even get me started on how cute Jessie and Johan are together. They’re the perfect couple to embody this shoot! We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it!

Shoot Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA / Photographer: Kat Harris / Shoot Venue: Serra Plaza / Tablescape, Food, Desserts, and Whiskey Bar: Mary of Jay’s Catering / Wedding Flowers: Sussanna Davidson of French Buckets / Dresses: Julia Lovan Designs and Kate Spade / Groom’s Suits: All Saints and J. Crew / Hair and Makeup: Amy Clarke / Models: Jessie and Johan / Linens: Veronica Specialty Linens / Paper Goods: Typologie & Co.

If you love DIY and if you love jewelry, this project created and shot by June Lion is just for you. An easy DIY that you can wear it on your wedding day, honeymoon and will quickly become the darling go-to in your closet. You can make them as gifts for your ladies, and customize each design for them. Sounds like an all around winner, yes? Let’s get to it:

For this project, you will need:
- scissors
- heavy lace (can be found at fabric store, usually at a bridal counter)
- thin necklace chain
- thin jump rings (needs to just fit through your chain)
- wire cutters
- pliers
- needle and thread
- jewelry clasp

Instructions:
1. Cut fun shapes out of the lace and spread them out.

2. Play! Make different combinations to see what looks good. You can just lay it on the chain to help visualize.

3. Sew pieces together if you want to make new shapes.

4. With your pliers, open the jump ring, put one end through your chain, the other end through your lace. Attach one side, put the chain around your neck holding up the necklace to see how long you’d like it. Cut the chain to desired length using the wire cutters. Once both sides are attached you can just find your center, and cut the chain.

5. Attach your jewelry clasp and you’re done!

I have the utmost respect for today’s bride and her dedication to celebrating all things vintage and Old World-inspired. Not only was her wedding gown a true 1950s dress, but she also sourced each of her bridesmaids’ dresses to fit with the 1950s fashion look she envisioned. Joyeuse Photography was the perfect complement to realize her aesthetic of a vintage holiday wedding!

From the bride, Jaimie: I had always envisioned my wedding feeling like a Christmas Eve service. I wanted it to be a night wedding with lots of candles, creating an environment that was warm, intimate, ethereal, and holy.

I love the intricate and high quality craftsmanship of vintage clothing, furniture, and decorations so we started searching antique malls to find details that would create that old-world, romantic feel. We also decorated with antique pieces that belonged to both sides of our grandparents’. It was so special to use pieces connected to their daily lives and legacies of life-long marriages. We wanted to use light blushes for the bridesmaids to give some color but mostly we were decorating with antique lace and muted browns, golds, and cremes. To create more light in the space and to aid the whimsical feel, we found dead tree branches at our local recycling center, connected them with wire, and put them in tree stands. Then we spray painted them golds and browns and strung Christmas lights and other decorative pieces from crafts shops like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

We found the archways at antique shops and decorated them with lace that was my grandmother’s, as well as decorative pieces and lights from craft shops. We used lace pieces dipped in modge podge on our candle holders so they would cast intricate patterns when they glowed and found glass medicine bottles in antique shops and decorated them with muslin, ribbons, and buttons for the flower vases on the reception tables. After the ceremony, the bridal party led a candle-lit processional to the reception site. The house party passed out branches with tiny brass bells that we had attached with wire and lace so everyone could make noise celebrating!

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? I think it is very important for Brides to find ways to make their wedding extremely personal and meaningful to them. In the years to come, what will be most important is that memories of your wedding remind you of the warmth in your relationship and that you can look back and say you made choices that were consistent with what is important to who you are as a couple. I would also suggest that couples allot time to nurture and grow the relationship outside of wedding planning.

Wedding Music:
Bridal Processional: “More Love to Thee,” Fernando Ortega
Communion: “The Lord’s Prayer,” Selah
Father/Daughter Dance: “You’ll Be in my Heart,” Phil Collins
Mother/Son Dance: “Sweet Pea,” Amos Lee
First Dance: “Thinking About Me,” The Light Parade

Wedding Location: Abilene, TX / Wedding Photographer: Joyeuse Photography / Wedding Planner: Bride and bride’s mother / Wedding Dress: Vintage Alfred Angelo designed by Edythe Vincent / Wedding Veil: Mia “068″ via Violet Bells / Bride’s Headpiece: Jannie Baltzer “Jasmine” / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Vintage / Groom’s Suit: J Ferrar / Wedding Caterer: Tru-Blue Catering (trublucatering @ me.com) / Wedding Cake: McKay’s Bakery / Reception Music: The Light Parade / Wedding Invitation: Bride and bride’s mother