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Every December at APW we like to wrap up the year by rounding up some of the most epic, heartfelt, and delightful weddings we and our vendors had seen all year, in all the shapes and sizes they come in. en, wel, it goes without saying that lately, weddings are coming in more shapes and sizes than ever before.
And we are so here for that. We’ve spent a decade preaching that staying true to yourself and celebrating your love with your community (in whatever form that takes) is what matters most. And if there’s one thing the last two years have shown us it’s that when a pandemic blows through and strips everything else away—or mixes it up real good—those two things really are what you are left with.
And that isn’t to say that you can’t have them AND a stunning wedding—quite the opposite. Looking through these photos and hearing the stories behind them, I was blown away by the sheer gorgeousness and epicness that folks pulled off while simultaneously jumping through all the pandemic hoops the planning process threw at them.
And then really should come as no surprise, because that’s what APW couples have long been known for. As longtime APW sponsor Jessica Goldblatt of Dreams on a Dime Events & troues says: “Anytime we have a couple come to us through APW, we know from the start what kind of couple they are. They approach their event as a celebration, an opportunity to share a special moment with those closest to them. Dit is 'n kans om bymekaar te kom om mekaar se geselskap te geniet, om die vreugde wat die egpaar self voel te deel. Hulle maak dit 'n punt om die dag werklik hul persoonlikhede te laat weerspieël, al beteken dit om 'n paar trou-tradisies by die venster uit te gooi.”
So sonder meer, kom ons gaan daarin. Hier is 'n paar van die wonderlikste troues van 2021 aan jou gebring deur sommige van ons gunsteling APW trou verkopers:
WHO: Linzy & Jeffrey | WAAR: DIE ENGELE, DAARDIE | BEPLANNER: Enige iets behalwe grys gebeure [INSTAGRAM] | FOTOGRAFIE: White Rabbit Photo Boutique
Linzy en Jeff, beide onderwysers, is seker die vriendelikste paartjie saam met wie ek nog gewerk het. Hul oorspronklike troue sou in Junie by Disney se Grand Californian Hotel wees 2021. Dit sou 'n voorstel word wat verrassingstroue geword het met 'n veel groter gastetal. Dan kom COVID-19 en planne het dramaties verander.
Sodra hulle geweet het dat die troue nie op hul datum en plek kon plaasvind nie (because Disney was so longer able to host events at that time), they scrambled to find a way to still have our wedding within our desired month. They hired me and together, along with a rockstar vendor team, managed to plan their wedding in 3 months taking their original, reconfiguring it, but still incorporating Disney magic in all aspects of their special day! There were touches of hidden DL magic, sayings, and references to the famous mouse throughout the entire design. O, and did I mention, during the time they actually got engaged during a trip at Disneyland, kept it a secret from their families and duped them into thinking this was an engagement dinner for 30 family members when it really became their surprise wedding day?! Sjoe, that happened! I have to admit, during their ceremony after the BIG surprise, listening to their vows, I stood in the back of the garden at Redbird, in the middle of DTLA, and cried. I cried so many happy tears because, after such a long year of heartache, en verander, and stressors for these two wonderful humans (and the world), they were finally able to have their special moment with the handful of people that meant the most to them in the world. It wasn’t the way they planned it originally, but what in life really it? They embraced the moment and their love and that is what it is all about! It was my first event back as a wedding planner since the pandemic began and it was exactly what I needed to remind me that magic really can happen as long as you believe and a dream is really a wish your heart makes!
WHO: Tara + Cameron | WAAR: YUCCA VALLEY, DAARDIE | PHOTOGRAPHy/planning/HAIR + MUA/ONTWERP + Kies: BAAI-AREA GEBASEERD LIEFDE + WOLVES CO. [INSTAGRAM]
Hierdie twee het plan na plan gemaak wat aanhoudend deur die heelal verwerp is, daarom het hulle uiteindelik besluit om reg in eie hande te neem en met net familie in die hoë woestyn te vlug (en 'n vintage Mercedes vir die oorwinning!)
Dit was so 'n liefdesarbeid vir ons by LOVE + WOLVES CO, wat gehelp het om die venue te kies asook om die motor te kry, foto, hare + grimering, stilering + ontwerp EN koördinasie.
WHO: CINDY + JEFF | WAAR: Atlanta, GA | FOTOGRAFIE: RAVEN SHUTLEY STUDIOS [INSTAGRAM]
Cindy & Jeff se liefdesverhaal het my dadelik betower. Dit was die meeste 2020 storie wat ek nog ooit gehoor het, of sal waarskynlik ooit hoor, en ek het REGTIG iemand nodig om 'n fliek daarvan te maak! Cindy was op soek na 'n kamermaat om in te trek, Jeff wou iewers intrek. Hulle het ontmoet om te sien of hulle goed sou pas en dit was kitsvuurwerke. Jeff het ná die aanvanklike ontmoeting ingetrek waar hulle besef het dat hulle goeie kamermaats sou maak, en slegs 'n paar kort maande later het hulle hulself saam by die huis in kwarantyn bevind. Hul gevoelens het sterker en sterker geword totdat hulle uiteindelik daardie gevoelens erken het en die twee 'n paartjie geword het. Een jaar later, voor 'n gehoor van 'n paar van hul naaste vriende en familie by 'n huis langs die meer, hulle het getrou!
Toe Cindy en Jeff elkeen gereed was, Ek het hulle weggesteel vir 'n eerste kykie onder die huis se stoep, en toe het ons gaan verken. Hierdie huis het soveel wonderlike plekke gehad, soos die bootdok met die asemrowende uitsig oor die lug, meer, en berge en die ongelooflike oulike en knus klein a-raam kamertjie op die boonste verdieping.
Hul seremonie is deur 'n vriend van die egpaar waargeneem, en hulle drie het aan die onderkant van die stoep gestaan terwyl die gaste bo gestaan het. Dit was soort van 'n ommekeer van wat jy gereeld by troues sien en dit het perfek gewerk! Almal het 'n fantastiese uitsig vanaf die boonste stoep gehad, maar die egpaar het steeds 'n gevoel gehad dat hulle in 'n wêreld was wat hulle eie saam was. {Plus Max!}
Daarna het 'n baie koue tyd gekom terwyl almal die paartjie omhels en geluk gewens het, en toe uiteindelik kom die lae kook op die agterstoep. Ek hou van 'n lae kookpunt, dis so 'n fantastiese en eenvoudige ete vir 'n troue! Nadat almal gerooster en versadig geëet het, ons het die nag afgesluit deur gedenklanterns van die bootdok af te los. Dit was 'n pragtige en aangrypende seremonie, die perfekte manier om diegene te eer wat nie meer met ons is nie.
I’ve been a gleeful member of this community for almost as long as I’ve been a photographer, and my love for it grows stronger every year! Some of my absolute favorite couples have found me via APW and I ALWAYS know we’re going to have a rad time when a couple says they found me here.
WHO: KELLY + WAYNE | WAAR: DIE ENGELE, DAARDIE | FOTOGRAFIE: THE HENDRYS [INSTAGRAM]
Where do we even start with Kelly and Wayne? Om mee te begin, they were just downright FUN, chill, hilarious, stunning, lively, interesting, witty, cool AF, and all the other nice adjectives. Like so many other couples, these two had to reschedule their wedding…get this…three times! And we could tell every time they emailed us letting us know these plans that their spirits were completely dampened. This is why when it came to finally having their wedding, they made it the best day they possibly could ever imagine in their very wildest dreams. You could just feel the excitement dripping off of them, and these vibes immediately transferred over to us and we were totally hooked on the day. Capturing folks hanging together who hadn’t been in each other’s presence for so long; excitedly chatting away, laggend, boogying, boozing, hugging, was electric. We didn’t want to leave!!! so, in all, a very magical day that we will never forget <3 (Kelly and Wayne: please hit us up if you wanna do these shenanigans again – you know where to find us!)
WHO: Deurdagte trougeskenk-idees wat tot die hart spreek & Jeremiah | WAAR: SEATTLE, WA | FOTOGRAFIE: JONAS SEAMAN [INSTAGRAM]
Elizabeth and Jeremiah have an infectious energy that you can’t help but fall in love with. They are both a bit nerdy, a bit gorgeous, and a whole lot of soulful. Toe hul troudag uiteindelik aangebreek het, nadat dit gekanselleer is 2020 weens die pandemie, hulle laat los ... veilig ... maar ekstaties. 'n Bord is opgesit wat die dag se leuse verklaar het, “Ons het 'n ekstra jaar hiervoor gewag. Party daarvolgens.”
WHO: Mediaaliseer + Fred | WAAR: RHODE EILAND | FOTOGRAFIE: BOSTON GEBASEERD LENSY MICHELLE [INSTAGRAM]
Fred en Medelise se kleinkinders noem hulle "Fredelise". – en ek dink dit is dalk die kosbaarste ding wat ek nog ooit gehoor het. "Fredelise" het ontmoet by 'n singles surf meetup. Dit was dus net gepas op die oggend van hul troue, M+F het die strand getref vir 'n paartjiesessie met branderplankry-tema. (Jy kan 'n tydlyn van my topfoto's van hul dag vind op my IG-verhaalhoogtepunte onder "M+F.") – I’m a huge fan of wedding photos that happen outside of the timeline of the actual wedding, because then there’s no need to step away from your party!
But this totally rad day didn’t stop here. Not even close! For their intimate backyard wedding ceremony at their home in the surf town of Matunuk, Rhode eiland, (weer, SO FITTING!) the couple’s grandkids were the flower girls and ring bearers and Medelise’s son walked her down the aisle. M+F even turned their live-in camper van into a photo booth!
This wedding was truly a manifestation of M+F through and through and I think that’s one of the truest marks of a APW couple: when the couple does what they want and what feels right to them above what anyone else thinks a wedding day might look like.
In the words of both me, and the bride – “Keep it quirky!”
WHO: ERIN + PETER | WAAR: Benton Harbor, MI | VENUE: Stonegate Manor & Tuine | FOTOGRAFIE: Nicole Bates Photography
Erin and Peter actually had their wedding ceremony during last year’s pandemic. This year they had their party! The couple opted to entertain their guests outdoors under a new tent. They wanted their family and friends to still feel safe without compromising on comfort. The entire day was exactly what Erin and Peter had originally hoped for. Surrounded by their extended family and friends who could party with them late into the evening. We couldn’t have been happier to share in their joy and feel so elated to finally celebrate! We love hearing our couples feel safe and stress-free at our venue! It’s the APW vibe we stand by!
WHO: SAM + DANIELA | WAAR: NEW YORK, NY | FOTOGRAFIE: DE NUEVA PHOTOGRAPHY [INSTAGRAM]
Sam and Daniela got married at sunset at Brooklyn Bridge Park overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and the downtown Manhattan skyline. They have been together 10 years and knew it was time to make it official with their friends and family. Their wedding was full of joy and community and their faces were lit up with smiles the entire evening. After exchanging vows on the waterfront they headed to a cozy local restaurant for toasts and dinner with a Spanish guitarist providing entertainment for everyone.
WHO: MICHELLE + ENZO | WAAR: ASHEVILLE, NC | DRESS: SEATTLE, WA-BASED WAI-CHING STUDIO [INSTAGRAM] | FOTOGRAFIE: MAY ISOSOTALUNO
Michelle and Enzo’s wedding was supposed to take place in 2020, but like so many others, got pushed into 2021. The bride and all her bridesmaids were nurses, and were going through so much with the pandemic, but stayed really positive and had a great energy… real heroes! They got married in Asheville NC, which was the perfect location for Michelle’s awesome custom gown!
WHO: KATIE + GLENN | WAAR: HOBOKEN, NJ | FOTOGRAFIE: STUDIO A IMAGES [INSTAGRAM]
My first wedding of 2021 and it was a beautiful intimate Hoboken wedding. A winter wedding with snow still on the ground and it was cold with a chilling wind. Yet Katie + Glenn braved the elements for outdoor portraits along the Hoboken waterfront. Glenn’s parents and brother live in Australia and while they couldn’t be there in person, were still able to watch and participate thanks to the wonders of technology. With a chance meeting at a hotel bar thanks to a delayed flight and a wedding during a pandemic, Katie + Glenn have quite the story to tell about their romance and I’m so happy I was able to capture a part of it.
WHO: REBECCA + DENNIS | WAAR: SAN FRANCISCO, DAARDIE | BEPLANNER: DREAMS ON A DIME [INSTAGRAM] | FOTOGRAFIE: Olivia Smartt Photography [INSTAGRAM]
Maneuvering your wedding during a pandemic. I’m sure that’s not anything Rebecca and Dennis had on their radar when they first starting planning their wedding in January 2020. Maar, maneuvering a pandemic was exactly what they had to do. While it sometimes seemed daunting, the couple handled the ever-changing pandemic guidelines with grace and a cool head. They were one of the lucky couples who only had to change their wedding date once but, with so many guests traveling from all over the country, trying to get a handle on how many people were coming, how things like masks and vaccines were going to be addressed, and having to adjust some of their original plans to roll with the pandemic punches made this couple a dream to work with. Fortunately, the couple was able to keep with their original venues and had a thoroughly entertaining ceremony at San Francisco City Hall followed by authentic Mexican fare at a new outdoor space in Oakland. Guests were thrilled to finally be able to get together, socialize, eat good food, and dance until late in the night. What made this couple special for us was their understanding that a pandemic wedding wasn’t like your normal pre-pandemic event. Maar, they didn’t let any of that damper the event and had smiles on their faces the entire day.
We’re so grateful to have been part of wedding planning for so many of you IN YET ANOTHER STRANGE AND STRESSFUL year. We’re also SO grateful that we’re able to keep connecting amazing vendors with amazing humans getting married. Doing that keeps so many small wedding businesses up and running—even IN the MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. Uitteken our Vendor Directory for more vendors like THESE. In gratitude for all of you.