1. Real Weddings

A Simple, Elegant Wedding at a Private Residence in Owings Mills, Maryland

Even though they live in Chicago, Mandy Medura (34 and an autotransfusionist) and Jesse Medura (32 and a software developer) knew they wanted to have

Even though they live in Chicago, Mandy Medura (34 and an autotransfusionist) and Jesse Medura (32 and a software developer) knew they wanted to have their wedding in Maryland, close to all their family and friends. When their friends offered their house in Owings Mills, Maryland, Mandy and Jesse knew it was the perfect place for their simple, elegant wedding. Lisa Robin Photography captured the intimate day filled with muted colors and DIY projects. "I wanted to say a lot by remaining understated," Mandy says. "The focus was meant to be on the bride and groom and the love and support of the guests." Keeping with the elegant style, Mandy designed her one-of-a-kind, Kenneth Winston wedding dress with a lace fitted bodice and a ball-gown style. The wedding's color palette -- white, gray, gold, silver and peach blush -- followed the simple wedding decor and were displayed throughout the day. Mandy spent a lot of time creating elements of the decor and shipped them from Chicago to Maryland throughout the year leading up to the wedding. She made the escort cards and hung them from a wooden framed twine display, and also created a black-and-white photo display with distressed frames. The wedding-day florist, Flowers, Petals and Gifts, incorporated white hydrangeas for all the wedding's arrangements, except for Mandy's bouquet and Jesse's boutonniere, which featured peach roses. "Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers because they are simple yet classy," Mandy says. Mandy and Jesse's entire wedding day, from the intimate setting and guest list to the DIY decor elements, was a direct reflection of them as a couple. "It was simple yet elegant, and highlighted our love for each other, our family and friends and our dogs," Mandy says. "I think every guest felt special because if they were there, they were key players in our lives."

It took Mandy nearly a year to design her custom Kenneth Winston wedding dress. The dress featured a fitted lace bodice, cap sleeves and a ball-gown style.
The wedding-day florist, Flowers, Petals and Gifts, created all the flower arrangements, using mostly white hydrangeas and some peach roses. Mandy carried a bouquet of peach roses, white hydrangeas and baby's breath while her maid of honor carried a bouquet of white hydrangeas and baby's breath.
Potted Trees Ceremony Accessories
Sparkling Silver Peep-Toe Heels
Mandy's maid of honor wore a strapless, blush dress from LuLus.com, while carrying a white hydrangea bouquet matching the other flower arrangements displayed throughout the wedding.
Light Rose Petals Aisle Decor
Peach Rose Boutonniere With Gray Suit
Wedding Dress With Full Tulle Chapel Train
While living in Chicago, Illinois, Mandy created a lot of the wedding day's decor, including the escort cards that hung from strings of twine displayed on a wooden frame.
Mandy created a black-and-white photo display using wooden frames she painted and distressed and twine for hanging the photos.
Mandy designed all the reception dining tables' decor using elegant and rustic elements. She chose white hydrangeas, surrounding candlelight and burlap table runners.
Keeping with the DIY and rustic elements of the day, Mandy and Jesse gave their guests glass mason jars with gold and silver straws and black thank-you tags as wedding favors.
DIY Circle Chalkboard Table Number
Mandy and Jesse wanted to keep their wedding decor simple, but elegant using a muted color palette of white, gray, gold and silver with blush. "I just wanted a lot of white, simple decor and muted colors," Mandy says. "I wanted to say a lot by remaining understated."
As a surprise to their guests, Mandy and Jesse took ballroom lessons before their wedding day and performed a choreographed first dance. "We wanted to surprise our families, and boy were they surprised," Mandy says.
Snickerdoodles Bakery of Hampstead, Maryland, designed Mandy and Jesse's wedding cake, which had a white ombre design and cannoli flavor. "The most beautiful, straight-off-a-wedding-magazine-cover, decadent and delicious cake ever," Mandy says.