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An open letter 🖤 I started writing so many times yesterday, each attempt at a post feeling weak, unworthy, and inadequate. I wanted to speak of heartbreak and injustice, and found myself falling ever more short. I tried to find the words - I spent all day reading and listening to the truths that violence had stirred. The early hours of the morning came and still I read - every sharp word, a mirror. My silence, my inaction, my shallow experiences of harmony. I'll never understand, and I'll never find those words raw enough to hold a suffering so deep and so old, but I promise I won't stop trying and I won't stop learning, and unlearning. I will always support equality, peace, and love. Black voices, futures, happiness, and lives matter. I will try to be a braver ally - I want to do better. I see you, I hear you, I stand with you, I respect you, I act with you, this week and beyond.
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Are you looking for your dream team of wedding vendors, and wondering how to find them? 🌟 I had the joy of partnering with @ashridgehouse for a live wedding planning Q&A session last Friday (head to their IGTV channel if you'd like to watch!), and this topic was one of the ones we were asked about - in the context of so many couples having had to postpone their weddings. If you have to replace a supplier from your OG team because of a change of date, the first thing I would say is – don’t panic! There are still LOTS of vendors out there with availability for next year, and you will definitely find someone. The first place I would start are the directories of your favourite wedding blogs – did you know they each have a hand-picked community of vendor members for you to browse through? You can also use hashtags to find suppliers on social media - you can use wedding blog tags (like#junebugweddings), descriptive ones (like #londonweddingplanner), geographic ones (like #italywedding), or more generic ones that embody the style of your wedding (like, say, #intimatewedding or #heywildweddings). We all try to tag one another when working together, so have a look at events and photoshoots that have been held at your venue, or your favourite photographers' and stylists' portfolios, and follow the links back to the suppliers who got involved. Asking your other suppliers for recommendations on people they've loved working with can also be really helpful - most wedding suppliers are part of FB communities where they can put call outs for availability. Searching on Google can be a bit overwhelming, but of course, it’s always worth a try too! Try to be as specific as you can with your search terms. And finally, you could always reach out to a wedding planner – they'll have a trusted network of vendors to recommend and years of experience searching, shortlisting, and matching suppliers to couples. If partnering with a planner isn't right for you, I would still recommend reaching out: many of us offer a standalone supplier search service, which can save you so much time and heartache. We're here for you, and we want you to have ALL the coolest people at your celebration 🖤
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The future of weddings 🌟 The feedback I’ve heard from many engaged couples over the last few months, whether or not their celebrations have been postponed, is that they are finding it hard to force themselves in a positive wedding planning headspace – which is a completely normal and valid emotion. However, it’s also very important to say that there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, and if you do feel ready and excited to move forward with your plans, then that’s absolutely wonderful too. Looking forward to life’s celebrations resuming is very important to many of us right now, and weddings in 2021 will play a huge role in helping society grow and heal after all this. Today on the blog I'm talking a little bit about ways in which I believe wedding celebrations may change, the challenges we'll face, as well as the ways in which we'll come out stronger and closer 🖤 Head over the link in my bio to read more - and if you're looking for a partner to help you plan and style a heartfelt celebration, I would LOVE to hear from you 🌙 #junebugvendor #adventurouslovestories #anotherwildstory #carefreecouples #crazyloveandwildkisses #seeksimplicity #elopementcollective #elopementplanner #elopementwedding #firstsandlasts #forthewildlyinlove #heywildweddings #intimatewedding #isaidyes #mindfulliving #loveandwildhearts #wildelopements #wanderingweddings #adventurebrides #rawmoments #weddingdesigner #newyorkwedding #spainwedding #elopementweddingplanner #destinationweddingplanner #tulumwedding #marrakechwedding #desertwedding #2021bride #thelane
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The podcast launch countdown is on! 🌟 The first few episodes are ready, accounts are all set up, and I'm well into the groove of my new routine... in fact, the regular interviews are fast becoming my favourite parts of each week - virtual time spent with people I admire and respect, brought closer by our shared love for the magic of weddings. For me, the aim of @thestarsinside_thepodcast is to mindfully bridge the gap between engaged couples and wedding vendors. In each episode I'll share real stories, honest conversations, and lots of heartfelt advice. I hope to give a holistic, positive, and open-minded perspective on this wonderful industry, and the wedding planning journey as a whole - educating and inspiring couples and vendors alike. I think a podcast will be an awesome place to bring people together, and - now more than ever - that's what I'm all about 💘 A little flavour of what's to come! The first ten episodes will feature wisdom (and bloopers 🤣) from @rebeccacarpenterphotography @russellkentnicholls @avantgardecakestudio @loulabelflorals @jackdaweditorial @bychenai @stormemakeupartist - a wonderful engaged couple, Hannah & Ben - and a few solo shows with lil'ol'me. Thank you to all the VERY kind humans who have supported me and offered me their precious time, it really means the world! If you're an engaged couple or wedding vendor interested in getting involved, do comment below or slide into my DMs! I'd love to hear from you and add you to my list of VIPs 💌 #junebugweddings #adventurouslovestories #anotherwildstory #crazyloveandwildkisses #destinationwedding #elopement #elopementcollective #elopementplanner #elopementwedding #heywildweddings #isaidyes #loveandwildhearts #modernbride #mountainwedding #togetherjournal #heyheyhellomay #ukweddingplanner #weddinggoals #dailydoseofpaper #weddingstationery #couplesthattravel #alittlebeautyeveryday #capturequiet #intentionalliving #littlethingstheory #momentsovermountains #pursuepretty #thatsdarling #scotlandwedding #podcastersofinstagram
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The beautiful would-have-beens 🌟 Mixed feelings as I sit down to start the day - thinking of my two wonderful couples whose weddings had originally been scheduled for this week, and have been shifted to later in the year. I'm truly in awe of the grace, strength, and thoughtfulness they've shown through all this, towards both guests and suppliers - and I'm counting the days until we can finally bring their celebrations to life, even more awesomely (and safely) than ever. Those hugs are going to be SO good 🖤 For those of you looking ahead at your wedding dates, postponed or original, I just want to say that your wedding vendors are here to support you, and that you are loved and understood by all your family and friends. Your celebration is exactly what is going to make the post-pandemic world so awesome. Your marriage is what's going to bring so many people together. Your love is something beautiful, and we're all going to need a lot of that on the other side 🥰 #adventurouslovestories #anotherwildstory #bridetobe #crazyloveandwildkisses #elopement #elopementcollective #elopementplanner #elopementwedding #huffpostido #fineartweddings #intimatewedding #heyheyhellomay #isaidyes #londonweddingplanner #loveandwildhearts #thelane #twosecretvows #ukweddingplanner #voguebride #simpleandstill #thatsdarling #californiabride #italywedding #londonbride #melbournebride #vogueliving #greenweddingshoes #theknot #junebugweddings #junebugvendor
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You deserve a celebration you're OBSESSED with - where every little thing is your favourite, every corner lights you up, and every moment makes you want to stop time. Every vendor you choose should make you want to shout from the rooftops - and every ounce of time and money invested should be into what feels right for you. You deserve a wedding as awesome as your marriage - unique, and full of love 🌟 This masterpiece of a cake was created for us by @edibleessence, framed by floral magic by @loulabelflorals, calligraphy by @sophie_jackson_studios, and the art-laden walls of @aynhoepark - all captured by the fabulous @ejlewis, and styled by me 🖤 #junebugvendor #junebugweddings #adventurouslovestories #bridetobe2020 #bridetobe2021 #destinationwedding #elopement #elopementlove #elopementplanner #elopementwedding #forthewildlyinlove #intimatewedding #isaidyes #londonweddingplanner #loveandwildhearts #luxurywedding #stylishbride #ukweddingplanner #voguebride #weddingdesigner #weddinggoals #weddingcake #pursuepretty #californiabride #labride #londonbride #newyorkbride #melbournebride #interiordesign #vogueliving
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Have you ever actually imagined your elopement day? Picture this: you wake up in a gently sunlit suite of a small, boutique hotel in a country you’ve always dreamed of visiting. The bed is the softest you've ever slept in. You spend a slow morning having breakfast in bed together, maybe a massage, or a swim. You get ready in different rooms, and finish preparing your vows - treasuring those timid, happy tears on your cheeks as you write. Once your makeup and hair are done, you fasten your dress and feel that tingle of anticipation. You head out to the ceremony spot you've lovingly chosen. Maybe it's the ruins of a church, a hideaway on a mountain or beach, or the terrace of a building with views of your favourite city. When your partner turns around you feel every emotion - you're both completely present and connected in that moment. You see each other, as if for the first time, and your breath catches. You commit yourself to the love of your life, grateful to say such important words to each other in a truly intimate, meaningful, and real way. With tears in your eyes, you hold each other for as long as you want. The rest of the day is spent hiking, exploring, having fun in front of the camera, chilling in an infinity pool, napping, and watching the sunset sipping cocktails. You're face hurts from smiling and laughing so much, and it feels like you don't have a care in the world. You change into an evening outfit that is exactly as playful and fabulous as you wanted it to be. A private dinner awaits you, with your favourite food, local wine, and scenery you've only ever dreamed of. The stars come out and you're still talking, for hours, blissfully wrapped in nothing but each other's love. You relive every moment of that incredible experience for the rest of your lives, forever thankful that your wedding was as perfect for you as your marriage is. You're proud of having done it your way, and not let expectations bring you down. You did what felt right for you, for all the right reasons, and every adventure you have reminds you of the joy you felt that day. Most importantly, you're more in love than ever, and, somehow, the best is yet to come 🌟
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ALL THE FEELS 🌟 In the first week of freshman year, he stuck his tongue out at me from across a room, and I smiled. A few weeks later, he asked me if I was going to the math tutorial - I was like, "nope". "Oh, me neither", he said. And that was that. We became best friends, sat next to each other in every class, and had a permanent MSN messenger chat open when we weren't together. We were inseparable. And while he'd been saying it from the very beginning, it took me 4 years before I gave in to the fact that we should be a couple - terrified that it would ruin the friendship we had. Eleven years later, he's STILL riding the wave of that "I told you so". We make an amazing team: we love and support each other, we nap and play videogames together, we ask each other funny "would you rather" questions in the middle of the night when we can't sleep. Life has thrown some really tough times our way, and we've always come through together, hand in hand. We've grown and we've changed, but we're always each other's reason to hold on to the things that matter. We make fun of one another and ourselves, and laugh together every single day. I know I don't always show you how thankful I am, and I'm not always the perfect partner. When things are heavy inside and out, I don't always have the strength to show up for you like I'd want to - but there is literally no one else I'd rather be stuck with than you, @thepursuitofsnappiness 🥰 Photo of us by @edpeers 🖤 #junebugvendor #junebugweddings #adventurouslovestories #anotherwildstory #crazyloveandwildkisses #destinationwedding #dirtybootsandmessyhair #elopement #elopementcollective #elopementlove #elopementplanner #elopementwedding #firstsandlasts #forthewildlyinlove #heywildweddings #isaidyes #justalittleloveinspo #loveandwildhearts #muchlove_ig #radlovestories #togetherjournal #twosecretvows #carefreecouples #theweddinglegends #rawmoments #italywedding #weddinggoals #exploremore #littlestoriesofmylife #myeverydaymagic
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Change is a great teacher 🌟 Had 2020 continued on its course, this week I would have been in Cappadocia, in Turkey - somewhere I've never been, and was so excited and humbled to have the opportunity to work in, with some awesome people. I hold tightly to the happy knowledge that this beautiful adventure is postponed, not cancelled, as so many are right now. While at home, many of us are finding ourselves reassessing not only our calendars but also our lives and identities. This period of forced introspection is making us question where we belong and with whom, and what will be left of all that on the other side. We wonder if the role we had carved for ourselves will still have value, and whether the distance and disconnect between us and others will ever go away. We question what we'll have to show for ourselves when the doors swing open once again, and whether we'll be able to step out with our heads held high. This is a morning reminder that it's all ok. What matters right now is the love you give and the love you receive - not the items on your to do list. It's ok if this is a time for quiet grace, not achievements and productivity. It's ok if your courage gives way to fear sometimes, and it's ok if your strength wavers. It's ok to be unsure, and it's also ok to feel hope. You are worthy of love and adventure today like every other day. Your identity is safe inside you, just as valuable in this moment as it always has been and always will be. You needn't chase change unless you want to - and if you do, nobody has the right to make you feel judged or inadequate. This is my morning reminder to me, and anyone who may be feeling like me, that you are enough - and more than that, you are LOVED and you are whole - even when your inner dialogue doesn't match 🌟 Thank you so much to this fabulous team who has so kindly and patiently rescheduled making magic in Turkey - the best is yet to come, and I can't wait to create with you guys 🖤 @rebeccacarpenterphotography @natalyjphotography @dreamcaptureworkshops @stormemakeupartist @thecollectco_ @minouxflowers @freyaroselondon @millie_stone_uk @sugarplumbakeskingston @zoeandmorgan @twgboutique
