I am absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of our Unique Weddings Week. We’ve enlisted the help of our Little Black Book members, along with our loyal readers, to help us come up with some of the most innovative, personality-filled affairs. They are budgets large and small (and everything in between), they are quirky and they are sophisticated, they are fun, they are filled with unique touches and they aren’t afraid to cross the boundaries of a traditional wedding.
Thank you so much to everyone who sent us these real weddings to devour!
The first comes from Erin of Erin Beach Photography. It’s her all-time favorite wedding and I am sure that it will quickly become one of yours…
Erin has shared a few of the fun details that this couple infused into their wedding…
* The bride (Melody Drummond) wore a striking orange dress complete with an orange hat topped by a hand-made orange bird.
* The groom’s father hand carved the cake toppers in the likeness of the bride and groom (Nathaniel Hansen).
* Important family members wore gorgeous floral jewelry accents made by Waterlily Pond (a Little Black Book member!)
* The bride made the groom’s boutonniere with feathers.
* The wedding itself took place at the highest private residence in Napa, California, The Tawantan, with 60 guests from all over the country.
This wedding is so beautiful and so different from your mainstream weddings. That orange dress is quirky and yet the bride pulls it off with an elegance and a sense of sophistication that I just love. Thank you so much, Erin, for sharing with us!
Comment by Davids on 14 April 2008:
Great photos! They remind me of my sisters wedding, just after Christmas, in Northern Phoenix. The wedding was small and located at the in-laws home, built on the side of a mountain overlooking the city. The guests, pool deck, home, and sunsetting background made it an event to remember!
Comment by Vanessa on 14 April 2008:
I’ve been toying with the idea of foregoing the traditional white dress and wearing a blue-green tea-length cocktail dress. (I’m having a semi casual outdoor wedding on the river). Seeing how pulled together and beautiful the bride looks in her pictures makes me feel more comfortable that I wouldn’t look strange at my own wedding either. I love it!
Comment by jessamyn harris on 14 April 2008:
go, Erin, go! These are great, loving the details
Comment by camille on 14 April 2008:
My sister is fair-skinned and didn’t feel comfortable in a white or ivory dress. She had a deep, cerulean blue gown made out of dupioni silk, finished with a short train of sheer gold organza. The dress brought out her blue eyes in such a striking way that the guests literally gasped when they saw her. So yes, lovely brides, wear what you feel gorgeous in and don’t be afraid to break the rules! Orange is my favorite color and this bride’s gown is no less grand and beautiful than any white one I’ve seen.
Comment by Heidi @ Zenadia Design on 14 April 2008:
Wow, I love this color combo and brides orange dress. Great wedding.
Comment by Mandy Greenan on 14 April 2008:
I absolutely LOVE that dress!! The whole event looks amazing and definitely unforgettable!
Comment by Charmi on 14 April 2008:
Wow what a beautiful wedding! The dress is so unique and I absolutely *LOVE* the flowers
Comment by Kate on 14 April 2008:
Ooh! More weddings like this please!
Comment by Jessica Claire on 15 April 2008:
Ooh my, I love Erin’s wedding so much,her wedding orange dress i so beautifully colored and yet show a sense of elegant.
The photos were so nice, and all the flowers and decorations too, the wedding is so “out of the box”, and the venue and setting is really beautiful…
Thank you so much for sharing the photos and details Erin, wish you and Nathaniel happily together,forever!!
Jessica,
“Free Theme Wedding Tips!”
http://www.wedding-planner-advices.com
Comment by Sharyn on 15 April 2008:
Beautiful, gorgeous, stunning…and yay for non-white dress brides! I was a platinum dress bride and haven’t looked back since. Orange dress brides are great!
Comment by Catherine @ Urban Botanic on 15 April 2008:
Oh, I LOVE how un-cookie cutter the look of this wedding is!!!
Comment by Lingerie Diva on 15 April 2008:
I love the bright orange color! So beachy and fresh. I’m getting ideas for my own wedding…
Comment by Amanda on 15 April 2008:
That wedding dress is fabulous! I absolutely love the texture of the bouquets and the fabrics!
Comment by Andrea on 15 April 2008:
I LOVE this wedding. Is that a TIVI clutchbag? I must know!
Comment by Melody on 15 April 2008:
Yes–It’s a Tivi. I love their stuff, and they’re from Chicago. The purse was stolen on our honeymoon, and my husband sweetly replaced it as part of my anniversary gift. The Tivi guys sent a very nice note and a necklace with the replacement.
Comment by LeeAnn Holly on 16 April 2008:
Weddings are my life. Are you entering the Cheap Chic Weddings 2008 Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest?
Comment by nicole young on 16 April 2008:
I loved the unique and fabulous look of the wedding. That is an awesome bridal shot!!! I wanted to get more info on the dress. It is inspiring to see someone daring to go with color.
Comment by Heather on 16 April 2008:
This wedding was featured in People Magazine, but in the “wedding nightmares” section. For the honeymoon, the couple went on a road trip and ALL of their stuff was stolen from a motel room. Those hand-carved cake toppers? Gone. The bride said that was the one thing that really upset her, she ended up screaming “Bring back my cake toppers!!” outside of the room! Poor thing.
Comment by Heather on 16 April 2008:
This wedding was featured in People Magazine, but in the “wedding nightmares” section. For the honeymoon, the couple went on a road trip and ALL of their stuff was stolen from a motel room. Those hand-carved cake toppers? Gone. The bride said that was the one thing that really upset her, she ended up screaming “Bring back my cake toppers!!” outside of the room! Poor thing.
Comment by Couture Boudoir Photographer on 27 November 2008:
I love, love, love the orange dress! It is so beautiful and elegant!
I want to see more of their wedding photos. Love the veil as well!