Romantic Florida Bohemian Wedding

This is one of those weddings that is just enchanting. The stunning images - captured by the incredibly talented Black & Hue Photography - have an almost magical feel to them that we can't get enough of. With the help of Heather Horwitz Design, Tessa and Daniel managed to plan a wedding that won't soon be forgotten. 

The auditorium of an old schoolhouse in Fellsmere, Florida made a unique backdrop for their romantic ceremony, suiting their Americana taste perfectly. Their reception is equally beautiful, with rustic, elegant, and vintage elements for an eclectic, natural feel. Tangerines, taper candles, amber bottles, assorted flowers, and antlers are displayed on the dark wood reception tables along with delicately detailed lace table runners. Homemade spreads packaged in adorable glass jars complete with custom tags make one-of-a-kind guest favors, and the assorted cakes look incredible.

These two have impeccable taste and their wedding is more gorgeous than we can possibly describe - so why don't you go ahead and lose yourself in this sea of lovely...

We have seen a lot of well-dressed bridal parties, but this one may take the cake! Tessa wore an ethereal floral crown featuring purple, yellow, and white flowers with greenery throughout. Her dress is a simple, bohemian-style gown that looks remarkable. She is certainly the epitome of a breathtaking bride. Her groom looks like a million bucks in his sharp black, fitted suit.

The bridesmaids each wore different above-the-knee nude colored dresses paired with their choice of nude shoes and black jackets to keep them warm during this February wedding. Even with each of the ladies in this bridal party dressed completely different, they look just like they are meant to be together! The groomsmen are looking dashing as well in their formal attire.

In case you didn't notice, you should check out the bride's tattoo on her right arm. It is a very natural design, with birds, greenery, and tangerines - and two of the three are represented in these free-spirited nuptials. Tangerines are present throughout this wedding reception and serve as a beautiful pop of color at each place setting. A tack holds a small Kraft-colored flag in each orange, acting as a simple yet elegant place card for each guest. 

Photography: Black & Hue Photography / Event Designer: Heather Horwitz Design

New Orleans Destination Real Wedding

We love our destination brides.  When this wedding came across our inboxes, we knew we had to feature it.  So fun and full of energy, Nicole and Shawn's New Orleans wedding was one for the books.  They flew all the way from Arizona to have their very own Mardis Gras style wedding.  Complete even with the Second Line (which happened to be the very reason the couple chose New Orleans as their venue).  Family and friends did not disappoint coming in from all over the country to join in on the celebration.  The bridesmaid's spotlight photos are simply fantastic and really show what crazy awesome fun the wedding party was!  We just wish we could have been alongside to join in on the fun.  Lauren Carroll Photography did such a fantastic job at bringing the whole thing together and truly capturing the energy of the day.

Photography: Lauren Carroll Photography / Restaurant: Galvez Restaurant / Ceremony Location: Irish Cultural Museum / Event Planner:  Weddings by Lulu

Custom DIY Hot Cocoa on a Stick Wedding Favors

Guests love favors that they can take home and enjoy in the days or weeks after your wedding, and we have just the thing! This recipe, adapted from King Arthur Flour, is easy to make – and oh-so-tasty! With only a handful of ingredients, these favors will be easy to make, and still look amazing. Package in clear boxes or cellophane bags tied with colorful twine and watch the child-like joy in your guests’ faces as they enjoy these sweet treats. You may want to leave some out at your coffee bar for guests to enjoy during your reception, because they are not going to want to wait to break into these.

Recipe for Hot Cocoa on a Stick

Yields 36 – 48 blocks (It all depends on how large you cut them)

Ingredients:

½ Cup Heavy Cream

14-Ounce Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (1 1/4 cups)

3 Cups Semisweet Chocolate (chopped chocolate bars or chips)

3/4 Cup Unsweetened Baking Chocolate

Plastic or Wooden Sticks (We used personalized swizzle sticks for a special touch!)

Line an 8" x 8" pan with parchment paper.

Heat the cream and condensed milk in a crock pot, on a low setting, until steaming – about 1-1.5 hours.  

We chose to use a crockpot so that we could work on some pretty packaging while the cream and condensed milk were warming. It also helped to keep the chocolate from burning, and keeps a nice even temperature throughout the entire process.

Once the cream and condensed milk are steaming, add both the semisweet and unsweetened chocolate. 

Stir gently to mix and cover the crockpot. Allow the chocolate to gradually melt with the lid on for about 10 minutes. 

Remove the lid and whisk vigorously until the chocolate has melted completely and the mixture is thick and shiny. 

Pour the chocolate mixture into the pan lined with parchment paper. Shake the pan gently to level. Set aside overnight to slowly set up, and then pop in the fridge for a bit to firm up before cutting. (If you want yours to set up more quickly, place in the refrigerator for a few hours until firm.)

Lift out of the pan using the parchment paper, and then turn out onto a clean cutting surface.

Cut off any rough edges to get make sure all of your cubes are smooth. Slice into ½” cubes. (You will need 2-3 blocks for each mug of milk at this size, but they melt more easily than larger cubes. If you would rather just cut them larger, that works too!) Heat a knife in hot water and wipe dry before each cut for smoothest cuts.

Stick a plastic or wooden stir stick into the center of each block.

Swirl into steaming hot milk – make sure it is steaming!

Add marshmallows if desired. Enjoy!

If you're feeling adventurous, we love these variations:

While the chocolate is melting, add a few drops of flavoring oil if you like; hazelnut, coffee, and vanilla are popular flavors.

Once you pour the mixture into the pan and smooth it out, sprinkle with cocoa powder.

After cut, roll in cocoa or crushed peppermint candy.

Add marshmallows to the top of each block using a dot of melted chocolate under each marshmallow, or add before your chocolate mixture sets up all the way.

Note: Hot cocoa on a stick will keep at room temperature for two weeks in an airtight container. If you are making them for your wedding and you want to keep them longer, put them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge or in the freezer, where they will keep up to 30 days.

Speaking from experience, these are absolutely delicious - so much more smooth and creamy than powdered cocoa! You can also get really creative with your packaging! To order custom printed plastic or wooden swizzle sticks, click here.