Elizabeth and Colby

Since January and February can be some of winter's darkest months, I thought that I'd share a summer wedding as a way to ward off winter blues. What could chase away the doldrums better than this stunning celebration, photographed by the talented Tanja Lippert?

Elizabeth and Colby were married at her grandparent's lake house where she grew up. While the bride, groom and their attendants got ready, guests played bocce ball, croquet, horseshoes and badminton on the lawn. The bride wore a stunning Melissa Sweet gown, while her bridesmaids got gussied up in dresses from David's Bridal, and the boys counted on Jos. A. Bank for their suits.

The couple was married under a driftwood arbor the bride and her father built together; Dad was also instrumental in the restoration of the property, which had fallen into disrepair. The bride had a favorite wedding book as a child, "A Frog Went A-Courting", and had begged her grandfather to plant a willow tree so she could be married beneath it. While he told her it would block their pristine view of the lake, 6 years before his passing he planted not just one but four willow trees around the property. The bride and her family also planted lavender on the property and around the arbor, providing the perfect natural ceremony décor.

The bride also found inspiration for their stationery suite in "A Frog Went A-Courting"; illustrations from the book were used as backing for their program fans. The bride spent over 50 hours at the helm of a platen press crafting their four-color save the dates, invitations and signage, as well, and said she made a lifelong friend in her letterpress mentor, Robert Johnson. Not only did the bride make her own stationery suite, she and her maid of honor arranged bouquets, centerpieces and aisle flowers. This crafty bride also collected vintage jars, beverage dispensers, cafe lights and apothecary jars for table settings and décor, handmade eyelet lace candle holders and birch wood centerpieces, calligraphied drink name tags and crafted eyelet candy favor boxes! She so enjoyed the work that she has since started an event planning and design business, Clementine & Clover, based in Southern California!

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed summer cocktails and a selection of Spanish tapas chosen by the groom, who is a Spanish professor. Chic le Chef catered the party while McKee Somerville baked a buttercream-frosted chocolate-raspberry and carrot cake. A string quartet, friends from the bride's grandmother's days in the local symphony, played a mix of classic, swing and motown hits, and a backwater blues band, Quinn DeVeaux and the Blue Beat Review, kept guests dancing until well after midnight. And of course, the incredible Tanja Lippert captured each beautifully crafted moment in stunning detail.

So did that chase away your winter blues? I know this magical wedding cured me of mine!