from the groom, Mark …

Initially, we were not sure if we were going to have a small wedding with family, or if we were going to stay local, in the Chicago area. We both work part-time in the catering business, and had worked enough weddings to know that we wanted something different from the formal and highly-structured events that we were so familiar with. Also, we were somewhat limited in budget and time. We are both returning students, and are juggling our course load with a number of part-time jobs.

Ultimately we decided that this was our event, and that we would be happier if we ran off together and got married on our own terms. We both love our families dearly, but we wanted the focus of our attention to be on each other, and not necessarily on our guests. This decision took a lot of pressure off of us, and gave us the freedom to do something that would be really meaningful to us. So with the blessing of our families, we decided to run off on our own!

As far as the planning was concerned, we really made it up as we went along, following our hearts and taking advice that resonated with us from people we encountered throughout the planning process. We really had no plans that were set in stone, including location, setting, lodging, officiant and yes, even, photographer. We were very open and flexible throughout the process. We settled on Northern California, and ultimately Muir Beach, as a destination based on some past experiences, but really because of the geography. We are both lovers of the outdoors, and ultimately, we were looking for a setting that was “natural”.

We were not committed to a beach wedding, and have no real ties to the area, but that is ultimately where the process led us. Once we settled on the area, we decided to seek out people who could help us. Trisha had some contacts through the modeling agency she works for, where we found Raul Anthony, the make-up artist. We found our officiant, Mimi Calpestri, by speaking with the event manager of the Pelican Inn, where we had arranged to stay. And Jessamyn, came highly recommended from another friend and photographer in the area. In discussing our ideas with the people involved, we were better able to make informed decisions. Collectively, these individuals helped shape our plans, and were able to steer us away from ideas that were unrealistic or short-sighted (like having the ceremony in Muir Woods). Talking to people who are involved with a lot of weddings in the area was very helpful.

Our clothes were from J Crew. Trisha wanted a dress, that was elegant, but not excessively formal, or overdone, and she liked having the freedom to move around in it. I chose a 3-piece Irish linen suit, perfect for the outdoors, that had a traditional, old-timey feel to it. The pink ribbon seen in T’s dress came recommended by her close friend (and hairdresser in Chicago), Sally Noblett. Flowers were from Mill Valley florist, graciously provided by my mother (who really wanted to be there!). And Trisha’s hand-crafted purse was a gift from her Aunt Emily, who does exquisite needlepoint work (Emily Elizabeth Heirlooms).

Our wedding day started off with a traditional breakfast at Pelican Inn, which provided much needed fuel for a seven mile hike into Muir Woods and back. Visiting the grandeur of the redwoods seemed like a nice preamble to our big occasion, and provided a nice respite from the sunny skies unseasonably warm temperatures. After some lunch and a nap, we woke to a heavy fog, which really added a surreal and ethereal presence to our ceremony, and made for some great photographs.

In addition to our stay at Pelican Inn during the week, we spent two nights in San Francisco, at the Huntington Hotel & Spa in Nob Hill (We have to go back to San Francisco!). And we also spent two nights at Hope Cottage at Green Gulch Farm (SF Zen Center) overlooking the very spot where we got married! There were a lot of unknowns getting married this way, but it really did feel like an adventure, and we both feel that it exceeded our expectations. Everyone we worked with was wonderful, and we always have fond memories of our wedding, and look forward to returning to the area again in the future to revisit what was really a lovely occasion.

I implore you … if the stress of the day, or the stress of wedding planning is getting to you, take a few minutes to watch Trisha and Mark’s slideshow on Jessamyn Harris’ blog. It will leave you with a quiet contentment and a wonderful peace of mind.

Thanks, Trisha & Mark and Jessamyn for sharing!

ps … Jessamyn LOVES to travel!

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Post tags: California, Elopement, J. Crew, Jessamyn Harris Photography, Pelican Inn
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography

From the bride, Melissa …

My friends and I cut out over three hundred napkins from fabric that I had picked out and my mom made the ring pillow out of felt wool and antique lace. My ring is a vintage 1918 miner’s cut from Patina- an estate jewelry boutique in St. Helena. The blue ring was a Christmas present from Brett – Art Deco 1920’s from Virginia City. Brett’s ring is a stainless steel Swiss design from Artisana in Sebastopol.

So many special little touches. That’s what we’re talking about !!

Thanks again for all the fun weddings you send our way, Jessamyn!

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Post tags: Chairs, Napkins, Ring Pillow, Rings, Shoes
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings

My friends and I cut out over three hundred fabric napkins and my mom made our ring pillow out of felt wool and antique lace. Brett cut all the stumps for the children’s table, cake stand and boutonniere holder. My MOH and I made all of the boutonnieres from found objects from many places. Most of the decorative items were found at estate sales and salvage yards ~ wheelbarrow, buttons for boutonnieres, old window frames … I even found produce boxes in a neighbor’s barn! The mason jars were from The Summer Cottage Antique Store in Petaluma. My dad and grandfather’s antique bottle collection served as vases and we adorned the vintage cake topper with pretties from Castle In The Sky and Tale of the Yak.  Most of the old pictures were of family and family wedding photos.

Whew! And that’s just the beginning …

Melissa and Brett were married at Healdsburg Country Gardens surrounded by friends, family and what looks like ~ a ton of fun …

Jessamyn Harris is the LBB photographer behind this happy day … and she’s shared lots more images, coming up in a few …

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Post tags: California, Healdsburg Country Gardens, Jessamyn Harris, The Summer Cottage Antique Store
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography, Whimsical

Photographed by Katie Anderson, the day is all about sweet, picture perfect style.

The wedding was held at the Settlemier House in Woodburn, Oregon and was filled to the brim with charm and style. From the adorable bridesmaids dresses made by J. Crew  to the poms decorating the trees, every element was completely delicious.

We have SO much more to come from this wedding in just a bit! Stay tuned!

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Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance

I hope that everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend! Here are a few more pictures from today’s affair to see you into the weekend…

photography by Jessica Hill

From Allie…

More than anything, though, I was overwhelmed by the joy of spending so much time with our family and friends. We are blessed with very close families, and we were able to plan some events for the week of the wedding to spend more time with them. Most of Josh’s family lives in California and we were so thankful that they came up to Oregon to celebrate with us. We are simply unbelievably lucky to have these people in our lives. And they’re ridiculously fun too, as is evident from the photos from the dance floor…

photography by Jessica Hill

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Post tags: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Jessica Hill, Oregon
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

Oh and I have to say, there are a lot of good things about having a wedding in Oregon. But hands down the best reason ever is Cupcake Mama. See for yourself!

photography by Jessica Hill

From the lovely bride, Allie…

We incorporated a lot of vintage and antique pieces into our wedidng. Josh and I had many adventures in antiquing during the months before the wedding to procure the 70 or so glass bottles and dozen cake stands that we used for the reception. Along the way, I found some unexpected little bits — like a blue creamer and lovely green tin trays — that were begging to be incorporated into the decor.

photography by Jessica Hill

I’m fortunate enough to come from a crafty family, so my mom was a huge help with the multitude of DIY projects I tackled — cake topper birds, escort card board and easel, coat check tags, music CDs with hand-sewn fabric sleeves, welcome bags, designer shoe semi-recreations, flower petal cones, wedding website, etc. I also worked with a number of super-talented artisans (from Etsy and elsewhere) who rocked my clutch, hair flower and jewelry; a letterpress printer who printed our invitations; and the always-amazing Jenna Hein, who did our calligraphy. A few other things were deeply personal gifts from family — like the antique sewing scissors that we used to separate photo booth pictures; my Melissa Sweet wedding gown, a gift from my grandmother; and the card trunk that my grandfather made for me when I was a little girl.

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Post tags: Cupcake Mama, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Jessica Hill, Oregon
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

photography by Jessica Hill

There were sweet, little vintage touches gracing every corner of this wedding…from the antique sewing scissors to a card trunk that the bride’s grandfather made for her when she was a little girl (shown in the last set of pictures). The bride brought her history into the day and it couldn’t have been prettier.

photography by Jessica Hill

The flowers were all crafted by Geranium Lake and had this perfect, fresh from the garden feel while still being elegant and refined. We’ll be back in just a sec with even more prettiness!

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Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

Allie and Josh’s wedding was all about the DIY. And it was beyond perfect…

photography by Jessica Hill

The wedding took place at Zenith Vineyard in Salem, Oregon. The ceremony itself was GORGEOUS, with the fabric draped along the ceiling and twinkle lights tucked inside. The girls all wore Jenny Yoo dresses in various hues. So, so cute.

But, if you can believe it, the reception was even cuter! We have tons of details coming up, plus…Allie is stopping by to share a little behind the scenes sneek peak!

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Post tags: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Handmade, Jessica Hill, Oregon
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

First up, the insanely gorgeous bride, Allie…

photography by Jessica Hill

Allie’s gown was designed by Melissa Sweet and her adorable hairpiece by Twigs + Honey. Her gorgeous jewelry was by Tigerlilly.

We have a TON of details coming up from this beautiful affair and even though it’s Friday right before a long weekend, I hope you’ll come back for more!

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Post tags: Charming, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Melissa Sweet, Tigerlilly, twigs and honey
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

Here are a few more of the vendors that helped to make this day so special…

Photographer: Jenny Smith of Alders Photography / Florist: Manzanita Event Flowers & Décor / Cake: Assorted Cakes from Madonna Inn / Caterer: Trumpet Vine Catering / DJ: AMS Entertainment / Hair/Make-Up: Salon Lux

OK. And one last picture to leave you with…that just might make you cry, it’s so good!

YUM. To say the least.

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Post tags: Alders Photography, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Handmade
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

From Jennifer…

The bride did all the details herself, meticulously sewing flags and flowers, getting wood samples for the escort cards, burning names in flat pieces of wood for the place cards. She bought her dress on Ebay and had silk straps attached, she designed and hand stamped their logo all over napkins, their save-the-date and invitations and she added personal touches like owl salt and pepper shakers at their sweetheart table.  A white chandelier was hung above the table as well.

She printed the menus, photo booth signs, signs for the wishes table, origins table, and birdcage card holder.  She even made beaded initials for the vases that the bride’s maids bouquets to go in at the reception.  I could go on and on.  But there was no planner, the bride executed everything flawlessly, and without stress.  It just all came together on the wedding day.

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Post tags: Alders Photography, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Handmade
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

The wedding was held at Tiber Canyon Ranch in San Luis Obispo and had this perfect balance of rustic ambiance with pretty, girly touches. Elegantly mismatched hankies for the bridesmaids, a perfect vintage truck, a pair of the CUTEST hot pink shoes. It’s everything a girl could want!

I love, love, love this wedding. All of the perfectly adorable handmade details are so charming! Plus, there are SO many steal-worthy ideas from the “wishes” sign to the mason jar cocktails, the homemade cakes to the details yet to come! Stay tuned!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 30 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alders Photography, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Handmade
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

It’s pretty obvious that lots of love went into planning the wedding details of Christine & Zack’s big day.  It’s also equally obvious that the overall picture they wanted to achieve was a huge success!

from Christine … When planning our wedding we were both on the same page about one thing. We wanted to get married on the beach! Our toes in the sand and ocean waves rolling. This was our goal when looking at venues because anyone who knows me well, knows that I am beachy….and it just so happens that I found a guy that loves the beach as much as I do. Just as important to us was creating a wedding ambiance that was not too formal.  We wanted a gathering of our closest friends and family to feel the relaxed atmosphere of the beach that brings us there to enjoy summer after summer.

First on our list was getting married in Rhode Island. We vacation there a lot together and love to have our friends and family come visit us while there. After many searches and phone calls to different places, to the delight of everyone we finally found our little beach spot for the ceremony as well as a great reception location! After a year of careful and crafty planning ~ with the help of many ~ the day finally arrived. It turned out to be a beautiful and dramatic setting for our celebration. The waves were bigger than we had ever seen on a Rhode Island beach due to the grey skies and windy weather that blew in ten minutes before the ceremony began. The water was a stunning turquoise blue that mimicked Caribbean waters. This amazing backdrop created really great photos and memories!

The day we got married was everything that we could have hoped for. Our relaxed beach wedding was just as we had imagined. Looking back we agreed that we wouldn’t change a thing – even the little things that didn’t turn out as planned were no big deal. It was our friends and family that helped us to make our vision happen- from the first day of planning to 10 o’clock the morning after the wedding.

We were working on a small budget and did our best to create a day that was unique to us. We were so happy that we worked so hard to get married on the beach, and our determination really set the tone for our lives together. Our wedding day was a time for our guests to celebrate this moment with us in a setting that spoke to us as a couple and combined all of the things that we truly love and enjoy.

All of the special little details that Christine incorporated into her wedding are simply lovely!

LOVE the bridesmaid’s necklaces!

And then, the celebration began!

Jose Costa Steel Drums REALLY livened up the night!! Amazing photography!!!

And BECAUSE they were guests at the wedding, Krystal and Paul stepped out in front of the camera for a change …

photos (above) courtesy of Lauren and Tracy Cooksey

Congratulations Christine and Zack! Your beach-side wedding with all of your friends and family around you, was simply delightful! Sheer joy!

For LOTS more images and all the vendor info from their wedding, take a look at Studio Foto’s blog!

* * *

Krystal & Paul … see you at Audrey’s 1st birthday party!

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Post tags: Beach Wedding, Jose Costa Steel Drums, Lauren Cooksey, Rhode Island, Studio Foto, Weekapaug Beach, Westerly
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography

McKenzie and Todd wanted a small intimate wedding and they had a budget of $20,000. {We’re not saying they had a low budget wedding. We’re saying they had a budget of $20,000.) They approached First Coast Weddings and Events to help them orchestrate their plans and made it clear that they didn’t want to exceed this figure.  Additionally, they are a very environmentally conscious couple and wanted their wedding to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Now … the point of the story is that sometimes it’s very difficult to stay within your set wedding budget … no matter what that number is (!) … and most couples planning their wedding can attest to that!  There are so many extras that become so tempting, but it CAN be done.

McKenzie and Todd were married in March 2008 at the Oldest House in America! Seriously … according to the St. Augustine Historical Society …

“The González-Alvarez House has been occupied since the 1600s with the present house dating to the early 1700s.”

from Danielle …

McKenzie and Todd met while attending Saint Johns College, a unique college that bases its curriculum on the works of the most influential minds throughout history. Here, they cultivated their love for history, anthropology, and one another. Their leisure time was spent biking and playing trivia. With college behind them and opportunities and new careers awaiting in Seattle, they wanted to plan this one last hoorah – full of their closest friends and family to bid them farewell.

When I first met with McKenzie and Todd, they were at the very beginning stages of their planning and had several guidelines set in stone.

1. The wedding would cost no more than $20,000. (note: this is where the staying within your set budget comes in!)

2. They wanted the wedding to be reflective of their personalities

3. The wedding needed to be intimate- 50 guests to be exact

4. They wanted it to be as low-key and green as possible, with respect to environmental and socially aware planning.

We chose the location of the ceremony for its strong history which was quite important to the couple. They wanted a space that felt warm and rich while still being able to not overwhelm their intimate ceremony. In keeping with their eco-consciousness, the guests and couple walked the three blocks to the ceremony at The Oldest House. They chose to have no attendants, rather they selected only their immediate family and closest friends to witness their vows. They each walked in solo as a string trio played the works of Bach and Mozart. In all my years of planning, I have never felt so engaged- just the two of them opening up their hearts to one another.

They wrote their own ceremony, with borrowed traditions from several cultures throughout time. Their very talented friends offered up their services to assist with the bread and honey ceremony, with one having a 250 year old starter for sourdough and another who owns a bee farm! We kept the decor simple, with a chuppah wrapped in a garland adorned with fresh locally-grown citrus fruits and a bouquet of hydrangeas. Adorning the entrance to the Oldest House were two topiaries adorned with mini citrus fruits.

Who says that no bridal party means no bridal party fashion? I loved that McKenzie’s mother and sisters all chose to wear dresses from a bridesmaid’s line. They were sophisticated selections that reflected each personality but definitely distinguished them as guests of honor!

In order to maximize the budget, we chose to hold the reception at the gorgeous Casa Monica Hotel’s Sultan’s Pool Deck. The space was discounted because it was a chilly off-season, but included space heaters. What I love most about this space is the stationary cabanas and amazing styling! It means that there is no worrying about tent, table, and lighting rentals. They also have an iPod dock that goes into their PA system, which we used for cocktail hour and background dinner music. Because the space is already highly-styled, there was little need to add more than a few hydrangeas and citrus fruits.

Guests were treated to a polaroid guest book and an extension of the bread and honey ceremony. Their friends made the cutest orange blossom honey escort cards. I thought that the most clever part about them was that the shade of green on the leaves denoted the guest’s dinner selection (fish/meat) which was a subtle way to help Casa Monica’s staff.

McKenzie and Todd announced early on that they were not the tiny dancers… not even close. Thus, they opted to skip dancing all together. Instead, they allocated those funds to a great menu and wine list. And, they employed the help of a friend that they had made over the last few years of trivia night. That’s right, they had a full-on trivia challenge! Designed to match their Dauphine letterpress invitations, these trivia menus were by far the most chic that I had ever seen! I loved that the guests were able to interact and have wonderful food and conversation.

At the end of the evening, we cut the cake. And oh what a cake it was! McKenzie and Todd worked with Sweet Weddings to create a lovely cake which had their college crest on top. Afterward, there was the crowning of the Trivia winners, a sparkler exit (followed by an impromptu dance off by their guests) and the couple was off to their honeymoon (biking all the way up the East Coast!)

In the end, we were able to stay within their budget by determining what was most important to the couple … the food, photography, and ambiance. And then, we found cost-conscious alternatives for the rest … the flowers and entertainment. Last, but certainly not least … they accepted help from their friends. We were able to achieve an intimate affair that was environmentally and socially aware, and completely reflective of the couple’s personality.

It would not have been possible without this amazing team: Coordinated by Danielle Bamba of First Coast Weddings and Events, Flowers by Riverside Event Design, Ceremony Venue – The Oldest House, Reception Venue and Catering – The Casa Monica Hotel, Photography by Leah Powell Photography, Cake – Sweet Weddings, Ceremony Music by Wehners Weddings Entertainment, Details by The Couple’s Talented Friends!

Thanks so much to Danielle for helping McKenzie and Todd achieve their dream wedding! Our congratulations to McKenzie and Todd!!

ps … the original post has been updated in response to our readers comments!

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Post tags: Budget Conscious, Casa Monica Hotel, Eco Friendly, First Coast Weddings & Events, Florida, Honey, Leah Powell Photography, Oranges, Riverside Event, St. Augustine, Sweet Weddings, The Oldest House, Wedding Favors, Wedding Trivia, Wehners Weddings Entertainment
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers

Love it all. The pretty, pretty flowers tucked in mason jars. The family style dinner, where guests can simple reach across the table and toast the beautiful day. The rustic elegance paired with the undeniably gorgeous style. Every little bit of this wedding is simply lovely!

I usually try to feature all of the really pretty, really steal-able details from a wedding. But this one had so many, I didn’t get to share them all. If you want to see even more wedding goodness (including some more fabulous shots from second-shooters  Mike Romano and Katie Slater), head on over to Carla’s blog. Beware, it’s addicting!

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Post tags: Carla Teneyck, Connecticut, Katie Slater, Mike Romano, Rustic, Vintage Chic, Webb Barn
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography