by Jen Hart | Real Weddings
Ellie & Liam’s wedding set in beautiful New Zealand is beyond gorgeous. We love the bohemian meets Spanish vibes thanks to the use of luxe deep reds. The reds seen throughout heightens the feel of romance and love.
The boho bride – Ellie – has shared some really great details about her days, and the important details surrounding her magical day. “It truly was the best day I have ever had and now I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend”.
More from the bride:
HOW THEY MET
Liam and I met when I was about 13 and was friends with his younger sister. I remember going over to their place & he just wanted nothing to do with us – I assume we were just annoying little girls to him! A few years later my friends and I started hanging out with Liam’s group of friends, I started to develop a massive crush on him – then a few years after that when I was 17 & he was 19 I finally built up the courage to start expressing my feelings and luckily he felt the same! 6 years later here we are!
THE PROPOSAL
We had talked about marriage in the past and we both knew we wanted to get married. I remember coming home one night & Liam said he would cook dinner – to anyone who knows him that’s already strange behaviour because I always cook. I knew something was up. There were candles and the lights were off and after we had finished eating he started to talk about us & how far we had come, how much he loved me. By this time I was already holding in tears then he got up walked over to me & got down on one knee and proposed! It was nothing too dramatic or theatrical – but it was perfect, it was just what we are like as a couple. Intimate, chill & down to earth.
THE VENUE
We aren’t religious, so I initially didn’t want to have the ceremony in a church, but we went out into Wellington one day to look at some venues and on the way home drove past Old St Paul’s in Wellington. We decided to go have a look and I just fell in love. It’s is just such a gorgeous building – I couldn’t not have it there! Luckily as it’s just classed as an historic building now, we were able to. It was breath taking. We decided to have the Reception at the Boatshed, we just loved the views on the waterfront and the big windows!
THE DRESS
I knew I didn’t want you typical princess wedding dress. I wanted long sleeves (it was a winter wedding in Wellington after all!) I looked for a long time, then I was on etsy.com and I found a little boutique shop in LA called Dreamers and Lovers, all their dresses were just gorgeous, then I found mine! I send them my measurements and about 6 weeks later received it! Looked even better in person than the photos!
THE DECOR
As it was a winter wedding I was really against any pastel colours, we decided to go for deep colours that would still stand out, so red roses felt perfect to me. I met with our florist Jane, at Bud Florists in Silverstream, Upper Hutt and pretty much just told her what flowers I wanted, what look I was going for and she came up with the most amazing bouquets and head pieces. They were beyond my expectations, just beautiful.
THE BRIDESMAIDS
My bridesmaids and myself stayed at the Museum hotel the night before the wedding so we woke up early, went and got breakfast & then it was time to start getting ready! I was surprisingly calm the whole time, then as soon as we arrived at Old St Pauls & I was waiting in the lobby I started to get really nervous. As soon as I walked out and saw Liam the nerves went away, it was perfect. I loved the ceremony so much I want to do it again!
THE PHOTOS
We went and got our photos done at the Botanical Gardens in Wellington, it was quite funny walking up to the duck pond and everyone staring at us! When we arrived at the Boatshed everyone was waiting and cheered for us, it was just so amazing seeing everyone we love there just to support us. The food was just amazing, we went with Nosh Catering and the just went above and beyond – they were just awesome. I truly had an amazing night.
We decided to go with Lumiere Studios (a very new company) for the photography, not just because they are amazing, but I used to work with one of them, so it felt more personal to me. They did such an amazing job at capturing the right moments, making the colours pop and just bringing the photos to life. They are all gorgeous that I can’t even pick a favourite. I was truly blown away by them.
THE HONEYMOON
We went to Bali for our honeymoon, a week before the wedding they had stopped all planes flying there due to the volcanic ash, so we were starting to worry that we wouldn’t be able to get there – but we must have had luck on our side as we got there & back just fine with no disruptions. I had an amazing time. We did all the touristy things like went to the Bali Safari Park, rode Elephants and went to the Monkey Forest – but we also went and saw the locals in their villages and learnt what they did for a living, we saw wood carvers, ladies making beautiful sarongs & scarfs and people who just sit and paint all day it was just such an experience. It’s an amazing place and I would definitely go back.
by Jen Hart | Bohemian Wedding Dresses, Real Weddings
We love simplicity here at the Dreamers & Lovers studio, and think it is the key to a truly unique yet timeless wedding. I love the simple and laidback feel of Taylor’s wedding. They wanted their wedding to encapsulate their combined love for the outdoors, and judging from the photos they achieved that rustic, perfectly bohemian outdoor vibe. We are also loving the mismatched bridesmaid dresses, and what a stunning bride!
We are thrilled to have been a miniscule part of Taylor’s wedding, as she wore our amazing off-the-shoulder bohemian wedding dress – the Holly lace dress. We were fortunate to have met Taylor in our studio for her initial fitting, and she loved the dress the moment she tried it on. Taylor had already purchased a dress for her wedding, but she changed dress plans not long before the wedding, and we are honored she decided to wear a Dreamers & Lovers piece instead.
Here, Taylor shares her beautiful photos with us, as well as some really great advice for other laid-back / bohemian brides to be. Without further adieu:
How did you guys meet and how he proposed, what makes you guys the perfect match?
Eric and I met while working at a homeless shelter in Laguna Beach. We worked closely every day and were very good friends for a while, until one day we saw each other in a new light and got a drink together after a staff meeting. We both love the beach, camping, and exploring. Instead of registering for gifts, we asked for contributions so that we can buy a camping trailer to explore and adventure together!
What type of bride were you?
I’d like to consider myself a boho bride. I wanted a timeless look for the dress and the wedding. I wanted to look different than the typical strapless white and sparkly bride. The 70s inspired crochet lace was exactly what I wanted. I had another dress, but saw this one at the last minute and HAD to have it. You only get married once!
What inspired your wedding decor? Why did you choose the style you did?
We got married at a historic venue in San Clemente called The Casino. It was once an old dance hall including visitors like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Casino San Clemente
What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding? Any advise for brides still in the planning process?
The best advice we got was to steal a moment or two during the reception where the two of us would just be alone and soak it all in and have a romantic moment to ourselves. It goes by so fast.
My other advice would be to be as excited about your partner, your marriage, and your future together as much, and hopefully more than the party and wedding day itself. It’s so easy to get lost in the hype of it all these days with Pinterest, or Instagram, or trying to achieve a certain look, etc. The most special thing is your comfort and love for each other that will last a lifetime!
Taylor’s own words about her dress:
Thanks again so much for having and making the most perfect dress. No zippers, corsettes, or buttons. I just slipped it on and I was done! So comfortable and I felt like the prettiest version of me!
We wish Taylor and her hubby more happiness than they could have ever imagined. Their venue was breathtaking, with all its exquisite tile work, ironwork, and those perfect murals. The photos paint a picture of their wedding as a stress-free happy time, with a beautiful chilled out bride.
Couple: Taylor & Eric
Ceremony Venue: The Casino San Clemente
Photographer: Natalie Bray Photography
by Jen Hart | Bohemian Chic, Bohemian Wedding Dresses, Real Weddings
My heart must have skipped a beat when Amalia (the beautiful bride) sent us photos of her seemingly small and intimate wedding, which took place in Colombia. Both her, and groom (Jaime) and the entire wedding attendants were bursting with joy. The photos are incredible, and shot by the very talented international wedding photographer Juan Tamayo. More details of his work can be found below. I personally loved how brilliantly Juan captured the candid moments, all the joy, and the laughter.
We are always in love with small and intimate weddings, and when infused with bohemian rustic touches, it really just takes our breath away. Amalia chose the Isis crochet wedding dress in the made-to-measure option. The isis boho wedding dress is available here.
Enjoy photos of Amalia and Jaime’s wedding, as well as this heart wrenchingly beautiful poem that would make for a great wedding ceremony reading titled A New Beginning.
On this earth there is a oneness
A rhythmic flow through everything that lives
The things with roots and stems and leaves
The things with shells and fins and furs
The things with wings with which to fly
The things that crwal and those that walk (more…)
by Jen Hart | Bohemian Chic, Real Weddings
This wedding took place in London this past summer, and the lovely bride Laura wore the very bohemian dream-ers maxi lace dress with bell sleeves in white. Laura is a sweetheart and gave me access to the entire collection of the wedding photos. I chose to feature the ones showing the gorgeous couple. Although I did not include photos of the wedding guests and all the dancing and fun that were so tangible in the photos, it all came across very sweet, personal, fun and an overall relaxed vibe.
I was very intrigued by Laura’s description of her wedding:
“I started the process as reluctant bride, having not decided which category I wanted to fall in; Barbie bride, medieval bride or even American sweetheart bride! Once the date drew nearer I decided upon the 1970s hippy bride look, having fallen in love with Jenny’s dress when she married Forrest Gump many years ago!”
Forrest Gump for me was also a memorable movie, because in addition to crying my heart out, I was also in love with the intimate wedding captured in Forrest’s backyard. This movie did a number on me. I am sure if I watched the movie again, it would still pull at my heartstrings. Jenny, the bride in the movie, was a hippie at heart, and the dress she wore for her wedding was versatile, and one that could be translated today as a modern day dress for a free spirited bohemian/hippie bride.
Everything about Laura’s wedding is just perfect. It is amazing to me that she created exactly the wedding day she dreamt of. I am in love, and did I already say this?….hello gorgeous couple.
Laura, we are delighted you chose a dream-ers dress to channel your inner hippie. The why of everything she does just makes perfect sense. Case in point, one of the why behind the dress:
“Another pro of the loose fitting 1970s style, was it allowed me to scoff and guzzle wedding treats all day without worrying about an expanding waistline!”
And as she mentioned on her blog,
“The service was so fast from placing the order, to its arrival from America. As is the story of my life, it was purchased last minute and the creator of these perfect dresses couldn’t have been nicer to ensure the measurements were exactly right. It was a dream dress and the thrifty price tag made it even sweeter!”
Laura I love everything…. pure perfection, from the flower crown, to your happy bouquet, sandals and of course the dress. You both look so completely in love and I wish you both a happy life together.
Visit here to see Laura’s dress and other amazing hippie wedding dresses.
Laura’s incredible photos were captured by Natasha Cadman (http://www.natashacadman.com/)
by Jen Hart | Bohemian Chic, Bohemian Wedding Dresses, Destination Wedding Gowns
Hey you…our Holly is one of those dresses that just stops you in your tracks. It is nothing like you will see in any bridal shop. It is unmistakably for the laid-back bohemian bride. You know that bride, that marches to the beat of her own drum. She certainly doesn’t watch say yes to the dress. Her ideal bachelorette party is spent in a camp site with her five best girls, and almost certainly no veil involved.
I think bohemian brides are to be celebrated, because it is never easy zigging when all of your family and some of your friends want you to zag. It is impressive when a person is comfortable with being that they truly are, being different. Case in point, the woman on the telephone just now, she had a special request. Her request was that if we could place a rush on her dress, she needs it in three weeks for her wedding.
We will call her Betsey, she has been with her guy for 8 years, and have lived together the last 5 years. They just decided to get married already. She is spontaneous and living in the now and needs this dress now. To me, this is the true anatomy of the modern chilled-out bride. She is not caged by traditions, or learned inclinations, she thinks with her heart. It is only natural; she is choosing the dress that she did – the Holly dress.
A dress designed and brought to life with simplicity and effortless ease as the dominant characteristic, using breathtaking fabric as the backdrop, and to be assembled by hands, that is, hands that care for what they are doing, hands that know that this dress isn’t just a dress, that this is a dress that a bride will ultimately state her wedding vows in, and make a promise for today, tomorrow, and forever.
This is how we view a dress each time we make one; we know the importance and the significance of the dress. So whether you are a carefree boho bride, or a traditional bride who just happen to like the look of crochet dresses, the post was supposed to share with you our love for this dress, and hope that you too will love it.
As with all of our dresses, this is made in our studio in Los Angeles, made with one set of loving and caring hands. Our dresses are of a simpler aesthetic; we focus on the details that can only be captured with using human hands. We are aware that being an online only shop, the process of buying a ‘wedding dress’ can be scary, but we do have a genius home try-on program designed with you in mind.
I am a true free spirit at heart, as bohemian as one could be. The woman on the phone has captivated me, because I see a shadow of myself in the spontaneity she possesses. Cheers to all the bohemian brides who are effortlessly cool and enjoys the simpler things in life. We admire you, and raise our virtual glasses to you.
Click through to see more of our selection of bohemian wedding dresses.
