Dreaming of a destination wedding? You'll want to pin this epic US real wedding to your Pinterest board, that's for sure. American sweethearts Ella and John tied the knot in a sunshine-soaked outdoor ceremony on Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, part of the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina in September and the styling and the views took our breath away. They opted for a sweet twist on the classic green and white colour palette, softly romantic blooms, their heartwarming first look will truly make you swoon and that's before we get to their phenomenal oceanfront ceremony. Watch their magical day unfold in the fabulous photography by Kasey Powell Weddings.
Ella and John grew up in Outer Banks but their paths didn't cross until they were in college. With an appreciation for sunshine, water, seafood and the fantastic "small-town life" it's no wonder they hit it off instantly when they met through mutual friends when Ella was home for winter break but at his New Year's Eve party disaster struck as her hair caught on fire. "He saved the whole back of my head from being bald. I should've known then he'd always be taking care of me!" When she was home for a weekend during her senior year of college a year later, they decided to catch up. What they thought would be casual drinks (at the restaurant they would end up booking as their wedding caterers) turned into a night of dancing and they've been inseparable since.
John proposed to Ella while they were on their annual trip to his family's beach cottage. They woke to watch the sunrise with their two dogs and when they were talking about life and love, he popped the question. "It was the happiest moment of my life, knowing we would spend the rest of our lives together. Then our family members came over and had champagne on the porch with us. Our best friends from heaven, Mariah and Danuel, showed up as dolphins that were breaching out of the water all day long. We continued to celebrate with friends and family all week long at the beach. Perfection it was."
The village of Manteo, where their wedding venue is based, holds a very special place in their hearts. There was no question they would get married there. "He grew up in a neighborhood that was just one mile away from where we got married and I grew up right across the water. We spent our childhoods running around the downtown streets - we truly have memories around every corner. Being able to come back and tie the knot in our small hometown is something that we’ll cherish forever. "
Ella wore a simple and spectacular matte crepe fit and flare wedding dress with delicate spaghetti straps, a bodice and a plunging open back finished with a chiffon tie and she accessorised with an elegant pearl-dappled veil, pearl heels and statement jewel and pearl drop earrings. Mix and match dresses are one of the hottest bridesmaid dress trends for 2024 and her bridesmaids looked wonderful in champagne, copper, and rose gold satin dresses.
John and his groomsmen looked sharp in black suits which were styled with crisp white shirts and quail feather bowties, black shoes and sunglasses which came in very handy on the sunny day.
Nothing melts our hearts more like a moving first look moment, and Ella and John's is one for the books. Before they headed to the aisle, they shared a special moment on the dock where they took sailing lessons when they were in primary school. "Being back where we both played as children and then realizing how far we had come was such a surreal, full-circle moment. Standing together in our wedding attire looking out at the familiar waters felt like magic."
They wanted their wedding to blend natural elegance and coastal charm. They embraced light and natural colours to allow the beauty of the impressive natural surroundings do all the talking. "A twist on the traditional white and green aesthetic, adding more mauves, tans, and light pinks, created a unique atmosphere." 175 of their loved ones paid witness as they exchanged vows in an incredible open-air wedding ceremony by the ocean.
Their ceremony was awash with white and pastel blooms and they said their "I do's" in front of a wonderful flower arch.
Their favourite ceremony reading was Chapter One of One Thousand by O. J. Preston, we love it too - rarely is the metaphor of the book of love so beautifully explained.
As they walked down the aisle after exchanging vows, John couldn't resist dipping his new bride down for a kiss. What a moment!
The couple's top priority was to be surrounded by their friends and family and they shook up the order of the day to ensure they didn't miss a minute with them. "We opted for a first look to enjoy the majority of cocktail hour and did couple photos during dinner. The mission behind the planning was to celebrate happiness and love. The details and aesthetics were fun, but the main mission was to cherish every moment with our loved ones."
Their reception was held outdoors on the lawns with tables decorated with white tablecloths and delicate bouquets of blush blooms, with dramatic plumes of pampas grass at the entrance and festoon lights overhead. "Our vision of a beautiful, early fall day became a reality, with big French doors opening, people mingling in the yard, and dancing, laughing, and singing until we lost our voices. With beautiful weather and inviting spaces for mingling, the day felt effortlessly beautiful and fun. Surrounded by love, our day effortlessly brought out the joy and warmth of our guests, making it a truly memorable celebration."
When it comes to wedding planning, they advise to unleash the power of social media but to take it with a pinch of salt as well. "Throughout the planning process, I found so many tips and tricks on the various platforms. While social media is great for inspiration, don’t allow unrealistic expectations to prevent you from having the wedding of your dreams. Try to remember that it doesn’t matter how extravagant your wedding is - you can still make it perfect for you and your partner without completely throwing away your budget."
We spy a perfect instax moment!
For their first dance together, the newlyweds chose It’s Growing by The Temptations. Looking at the sunbathed images, don't you agree their wedding oozed coastal Cali charm?
The couple took full advantage of the incredible vistas as they ventured down to the water to get more wedding photos as the sun set.
How blissfully happy do Ella and John look? No doubt they will treasure their wedding photos forever.
White wedding cakes are back in fashion and Ella and John's flower-dappled two-tier cake showed how they can make a simply marvellous statement. They chose super-sweet wedding favours for their guests - custom koozies and cups with illustrations of their yellow Labradors, Rudy and Emmett.
Ella and John celebrated tying the knot by jetting off to Costa Rica for an adventure-packed honeymoon. In La Fortuna they stayed at the Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa and explored the Arenal Volcano and Rainforest enjoying everything from natural hot springs to white water rafting. They then checked into El Mangroove located on the prestigious Gulf of Papagayo where they soaked up the sun, hiked beautiful beachfront cliffs, went fishing and even caught a Rooster Fish which had always been on their bucket list.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to Ella and John for sharing their Outer Banks wedding with One Fab Day and to Kasey Powell Weddings for the simply wonderful images.
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