This casual dinner party by All & Sundry and Mikaela Ruth celebrates Spring in all the right ways. Soft hues and fresh florals mix together to create an atmosphere that has just the right amount of understated elegance. The chalkboard art is great, too, adding a hipness to the whole look.

Setting/Story: The setting is one of a modern, hip, and casual dinner party where an atmosphere of open conversation and revelry is encouraged. The decor elements do not distract from the primary reason for these people to gather; they provide an understated elegance celebrating the colours, freshness, promise, and new growth of spring.

Interesting Elements: We love the finer details of any wedding, event, or shoot and wanted to feature a number of unique items that not only allowed us to achieve our vision of a beautiful dinner reception with understated elegance, but one that also speaks to the charm and significance behind individually handcrafted pieces from local Vancouver vendors such as: a Polaroid Photo Booth Frame, paper anemones (tutorial) which adorned the Polaroid PB Frame and the cake, repurposed and hand-stamped dessert forks and a cake server, and an illustrated chalkboard seating chart and backdrop. The models in this styled shoot are a real couple (happily together, we might add), and the “groom” is the co-founder of a Vancouver-based bespoke suit company (and, of course, he’s wearing one of his own suits for the shoot).

Shoot Location: Vancouver, Canada / Wedding Photographer: Mikaela Ruth / Wedding Planner / Event Designer: All & Sundry / Wedding Videographer & Polaroid Photo Booth: Tomasz Wagner Mananetwork / Hair & Make-up: Lacey of Bye Napoleon / Florals: Celsia Florist / Wedding Stationery: Design by Dainty / Dessert: Coco Cake / Cake Server & Dessert Forks: The Loving Spoon / Calligraphy & Illustration: Rachael Pope / Models (Bride & Groom): Beki Liang and Mark Kazazian / Bride’s Dress: Ellebay Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: House of Harlow 1960 / Groom’s Suit: Raffinatto / Groom’s Shoes: To Boot New York / Bride’s Jewelry & Groom’s Wedding Band: Oh Kuol Jewelry / Groom’s Bow-Tie: Exhibit B Ties / DIY resource: Elli / Venue: East Van Studio

Honestly, where to begin with this wedding? I could start with the hanging umbrellas over the dance floor, the incredible photography from Our Labor of Love by Heidi, but I really think I need to stick to the showstopper: bride Sarah’s incredible wedding gown with a surprising pop of pink ruffles tucked away. Talk about personality!

From the bride, Sarah: Zach and I met at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, a liberal arts school in a teeny tiny town, with not much to do on the weekends but dress­up for themed parties.To make a lot of long stories short, we had more fun getting ready for a party than actually attending.

Because we are no longer in college, and because we knew we would invite all sorts of friends and family of different ages, we knew we should be a bit conservative with our theme, and settled on a simple dress code. In our invitations, we kindly asked our guests to look fabulous and dress only in black and white.

I am in interior design, and I often like to work in a fairly monochromatic palette, which really allows space to showcase simple pops of color. I sort of took the same approach with our wedding. Zach and I started out with black and white, and gradually (first with my dress) hints of champagne pink started to make appearances. The dress code turned out to be so beautiful! Some guests decided to go all out with black and white costumes (the family lawyer came dressed as Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas) and masks, others wore glamorous hats and gloves. Some dressed way up in white tie and tails, while others dressed comfortably, but the common thread throughout was that everyone in attendance created this gorgeous monochromatic backdrop that was really the basis for our reception’s decor. It was fantastic!

Our biggest, stand­out decor element were the umbrellas and lights we strung across the backyard. Zach wanted one large decor element to really stand out in our guests minds even after they left the wedding. In searching around for ideas, a lot of which came from Pinterest, of course, we saw a photo of umbrellas strung in a piazza in Italy, we knew that white umbrellas were it.

My advice to engaged couples is try to think of a place where you can hold the wedding that you can have access to for multiple days, if not weeks in advance. One of the big reasons we chose to have the wedding in Zach’s parent’s backyard was because we could start decorating months in advance. We didn’t have much money, but as a designer, I felt some pressure to have something people would remember, so we were DIY everything. We started six months in advance planting bushes and flowers that would bloom white in late October. Zach and his father hung the umbrellas and Italian light strands one week before for the wedding. Our list goes on and on, but what was really amazing about having access to the yard was that we could always visit the space when an idea popped into our head. I was able to meet the chef and the band at the house weeks before the wedding so they could tell me where they would prefer to set up the food and the music. It just made the planning a lot less stressful.

Wedding Music:
Processional: A Kiss to Build a Dream On
Recessional: “Georgia,” Louise Armstrong
First Dance: A Kiss to Build a Dream On (by the full band)

Wedding Location: Atlanta, GA / Wedding Photographer: Our Labor of Love by Heidi / Wedding Venue: Private Residence / Invitations: DIY by bride and groom / Florals: DIY / Wedding Dress: Mae Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Marmi Shoes / Hair + Makeup: Sweetgrass Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Kristi Hyde / Band: Blair Crimmins & the Hookers

Appy Couple lets couples easily and stylishly make their own wedding apps and websites to share with their friends and family. Appy Couple has brought design and fashion to the forefront of everything they do, with technology powering the magic at every turn. Below are some of the fantastic features this app can offer you.

Set the stage: With over 300 designs and more coming soon, Appy has a design to fit any wedding style, color palette and theme.

Share photos: Guests can capture every moment with the point-and-shoot feature on the app. Photos get added to the gallery for you to view after the wedding! Also, both you and guests can upload your favorites to the website.

Share with guests: The app is now beautiful on every device (Android, iPhone 5, 4 or any number you choose). The coordinating wedding websites take the Appy style to guests without smartphones—so everyone is included! Keep guests in the loop with messages and emails.

Keep it private: Appy Couple is flexible and easy for couples to show off what they want, when they want, and to whom, revealing content and surprises only when ready.

Collect RSVPs: Manage the unmanageable by allotting +1s, adding family groups and collecting meal choices right from the app and website. Appy Couple keeps you organized so you spend less time counting who wants chicken or fish and more time finding your perfect dress!

Coordinate your stationery: Have the best of both worlds: send traditional paper invitations that match your Appy Couple design! Appy Couple has partnered with the best designers in the business to offer coordinating invitations.

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