In honor of the Junebug crew's week here in Sin City, we whipped up a little Las Vegas wedding fashion inspiration board. It's the ultimate glitzy, glam, over-the-top, rock-star style wedding look! Viva Las Vegas!

Top row:
Wedding dress by Jenny Packham

Second row:
Maison Michel Uffie miniature top hat with veil from Net-A-Porter.com
Jil Sander bengal striped tie from Barneys.com
Spade cufflnks from Cuff-Daddy.com

Third row:
Black Diamond Two Leaf Ring by Cathy Waterman from Twist.com
Nadri Frings Chandelier Earrings from Nordstrom.com

Fourth row:
Christian Louboutin Lady Claude 120 Pumps from Net-A-Porter.com
Madison Clutch by Felix Rey from FelixRey.com
Catherine Black Feather Hair Fascinator from VieModerne on Etsy.com

Fifth Row:
Red and Black Table Decor Image by Daniel Farmer via Sarah Kaye Represents
Red Cocktail Image by Deirdre Rooney via Sarah Kaye Represents

Final Row:
Red Rose Bouquet Image by Michelle Rago Ltd.
Dance Floor Image by Michelle Rago Ltd.

Ready readers? Here we go!

We're thrilled, we're ecstatic, we're over the moon! At Junebug Weddings we're following our bliss to launch an all new expansion to our website focusing exclusively on wedding photography!

Because Blair, Kim and I all started our wedding careers as photographers, we have a deep love and admiration for the art form of wedding photography and truly can't get enough of it. After many years of dreaming and brainstorming about this project, this spring we're taking the plunge and launching three brand new areas of our website so you too can learn about, love, and lust after the work of the best wedding photographers in the world!

• Our World's Best Photographers Hotlist, just like our Plan Your Wedding Hotlist, will feature the top-ten wedding photographers in cities across the country and around the world. These are no ordinary artists, these are the trendsetters, the icons and the most wildly talented and passionate photographers working today. We hope to help you find the one who's perfect for you!
  

• Our new photo blog, Photobug, will showcase every kind of wedding photography eye-candy you can think of, including a photo of the day, photographer interviews, special creative features, and the upcoming seminars and workshops offered by all of our members. This blog will be a beautiful common ground for anyone and everyone who loves wedding photography. From brides and grooms, to fellow photographers, to lovers of great imagery everywhere, Photobug will be your one-stop shop for serious gorgeousness.

• Our extensive and highly edited image gallery will bring the most spectacular wedding images right to your finger tips for wedding planning ideas galore. It will be easy to use, easy to search, and above all else, extraordinarily inspirational!

Stay tuned for more information as we move along in our website build-out, and be sure to pass along this information to the wedding photographers you believe in! We've already welcomed many of the industry's top wedding photographers to our network, like Australia's Yervant, Vancouver's Bebb Studios, Napa's Meg Smith, Chicago's Bob and Dawn Davis and San Francisco's Gene Higa, as well as the Junebug member photographers from Seattle and Southern California who we're already honored to recommend.

We're now accepting applications at www.JunebugWeddings.com/thebest, and we can't wait to show you all the fun to come!

(Beautiful image above by Bob and Dawn Davis)

Happy Monday everyone! The Junebug crew and I are off in Vegas this week for the annual WPPI convention (All photography, all the time. A conference after our own hearts!) We're learning new things, meeting incredible photographers, catching up with friends and Junebug members, speaking on how to get published online, and yes, partying ourselves silly. In honor of all that, today I'll leave you with these fun past blog posts all about parties, and tomorrow we'll be back with some exciting news about what's coming next at Junebug, plus some Vegas wedding themed blogging fun! Enjoy!

• Get the recipe for Trophy Cupcakes' famous chocolate graham cracker cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting as seen on The Martha Stewart Show!


• Find fun ideas for bridal shower themes complete with an image gallery, DIY instructions and recipes from The Hostess with the Mostess.


• See the ultimate wedding dessert buffets from the guru of sweets, Amy Atlas, and get our tips on how to create a fantastic candy or dessert buffet at your own event.

Today's Real Wedding is a pure delight to see. Nicola and Wynand planned the wedding of their dreams in the bride's hometown of Wellington, South Africa, and the results, photographed by Christine Meintjes, were both whimsical and nostalgic - not to mention, exquisite down to the last detail. Enjoy!

The goals: Nicola and Wynand were focused on having a festive and intimate wedding that was at its heart, a true celebration with an abundance of good food, good wine and good friends and family. The food was especially important to the couple, so they made sure to focus attention on the catering - putting together a feast of rich cheeses, freshly baked breads, fresh summer fruits, preserves and savory tarte tatins.

The look: Visually, Nicola wanted a look that was timeless and classic with a subtle French flair. Her wedding color palette of white and shades of gray was found in the flowers, in antique books bound in ribbon on the tables, and in accents of pewter lamps, vases and candelabras decorating the reception hall. The timeless feel of the day was even incorporated into the venue for the ceremony - a small, historic theatre, Goodnow Hall, that created an intimate air for the couple to say their vows. 

The bride's gown, an elegant off-the-shoulder dress by Elbeth Gillis, and the groom's dapper suit by Trenery, were a perfect complement to the decor, and Nicola accessorized with an "old" vintage brooch, and a "borrowed" flower from her mother, attached to her chic birdcage veil.

The moments: Aside from seeing her husband-to-be at the end of the aisle as she entered the ceremony, Nicola says the most romantic moment of the day was their first dance. Guests lit sparklers around the couple as they swayed to "Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra.

The details: This enchanting wedding, held on what the bride says was "a perfect wind-still hot summer day", was stylish down to the last detail, and friends and family were a large part of making it all come together. The bouquets for the bride and her bridesmaids, as well as the boutonnieres, were hand-crafted by the bride's mother, and the cake, as well as special raspberry marshmallows, were made by a close friend. Even the bride got involved making wedding cake-shaped biscuits with fondant icing for the reception.

Nicola and Wynand greeted guests as they entered the reception, leaving themselves free to relax and enjoy the rest of their evening, celebrating this festive and joyful occasion. 

The pros: All of the wedding professionals who helped to bring this wedding to life are listed in our Real Weddings Section. Check it out for more!

Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us Nicola and Wynand! It was incredible from beginning to end!

Are you planning a Seattle or Southern California wedding of your own? Don't miss our trusted Plan Your Wedding Hotlist featuring the most talented and passionate wedding professionals available!

Oohhh, cozy! This "winter warmth" wedding table scape designed by Amanda and her team at In The Now Weddings is the perfect combination of down-home warmth and funky industrial style! How cool are the knitted silverware holders, the rustic brick place settings and menus, the wood grain and vibrant blue details, and the classic white vases filled with winter greenery? And that clear flaming centerpiece panel? Genius!

I was recently introduced to this collection of alternative wedding dresses from Saja Weddings by the owner of Seattle's new Bella Bridesmaid boutique, and I simply adore their take on wedding day fashion! Saja's dress designs are sweet, simple and ethereal, with beautiful draping and decorative details that draw you in and make you take a second look. Perfect for a beach wedding, a semi-formal affair or for any bride who isn't a ball gown kind of gal, their wedding and bridesmaids' dress collections are available at many of the Bella Bridesmaid boutiques across the country as well as at the Saja Weddings flagship boutique on Elizabeth Street in New York City. Visit the Saja Weddings site for more information and to find Saja near you!