Alex and Kendall’s Napa Valley wedding was thirteen years to the day after they met.  A high school service trip to Costa Rica brought them together, and their initial puppy love blossomed into an enduring friendship that followed them to separate colleges and eventually back to each other in San Francisco.  Together again at last, their love for each other grew deeper still and it was only a matter of time before they decided to take the next step and get married (a decision they had each made many years before).

Kendall and Alex wanted to create a wedding that reflected this growing up together.   They wanted the day to feel playful and relaxed, like they are, without losing the elegant and sophisticated elements that maintained the significance of the long-awaited day.  Naturally, Kendall, a fourth grade teacher who likes little more than crafting, wanted to create this atmosphere with as many do-it-yourself projects as possible.  Fortunately her mom, Paula, lived nearby and likes little more than working on craft projects with Kendall.

When Kendall and Alex saw Beaulieau Gardens in California’s Napa Valley they knew it was the perfect setting for their dream wedding.  The space was beautiful and didn’t require any fussing.

Kendall considers her best decision in dreaming up the wedding day was not complying with a strict color palate.  She started with gray and yellow because she loved how gray was sophisticated but not stuffy and yellow seemed so playful against it.    Still, she never felt forced to select details in only these two colors when so many other colors complemented them so well.  Quickly the palate grew with shades of orange, light blue, greens, and even natural earth tones in some of the linens.

Katherine of Cherries in San Francisco completely understood Kendall’s request for beautiful, loose flowers.  Kendall didn’t want anything too structured or within too strict of a color palate.  She didn’t require Katherine to stick within a list of acceptable flowers, instead just trusted her to pick out what seasonal flowers looked best.  The yellow, orange and pale green blooms were incredible.  Yellow, “Billy Balls” for the groom and groomsmen were the perfect, playful accessory.  Old-fashioned tea tins held flowers over yellow and white striped linens in the cocktail area, and a variety of more rustic stone and metal containers held arrangements over natural linen tablecloths in the dining area.  Kendall and Katherine agreed on a flower palate that wasn’t “matchy matchy”.

Going along with this varied palate, the six bridesmaids more an assortment of dresses, with the maid of honor in a long gray dress from JCrew.  Kendall told the girls to look for a dress they liked in gray, yellow or a complementary orange or pattern.  They accessorized with jewelry and shoes in similar shades or neutrals.  Kendall didn’t see the dresses together until the wedding day, and couldn’t have been more pleased.  The various dresses added incredible color to the ceremony and a depth to the photographs that a monochromatic bridal party wouldn’t have achieved.

At some point early on, Kendall decided that the pinwheel was the perfect playful symbol for the wedding day.  She and her mom made over 250 of them using patterned paper, wooden dowels, and ribbon.  The pinwheels became the escort cards for the wedding–a paper strip attached to the dowel had each guest’s name and table number hand-written (in a few different ways).  After making them, they realized they needed some way to hold the pinwheels, so Kendall’ father, Steve, was enlisted to build two 6ft by 6ft foot garden stands.  Painted gray and adorned with pale yellow window planters, the colorful pinwheels looked fabulous and fun.

Viola, from Chewing the Cud in Oakland, California, worked with Kendall to create other paper goods to suit the concept of the wedding.  She used lined school papers and hand-drawn fonts to satisfy the idea of growing up together.  The pinwheel symbol was repeated in gray and yellow on the invitation and on the ceremony programs that doubled as fold-out fans.  Viola also created table number tents that shared numerical facts about the couple (Kendall and Alex met 13 years ago today at table #13).  The menu was done on natural colored paper with “EAT and love well” (a sentiment close to Alex and Kendall’s hearts) displayed at the top.  Chalkboard signage throughout the wedding was in keeping with the playful school concept.

The fabulous food and assortment of desserts (no wedding cake) were catered by Paula LeDuc. Tim Lilly at Paula LeDuc cleverly had the servers all in yellow ties, unbeknownst to us.

Perhaps the highlight of the whole incredible evening was the rising of the full moon in the warm, Napa sky while guests danced under the stars and twinkly lights.

Photographer: Gertrude & Mabel Photography / Floral Designer: Cherries / Event Design & Planning: Stacy McCain / Invitation Designer: Chewing the Cud / Catering, Desserts & Location: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Wedding Gown Designer: Amy Kuschel, Astaire Nosegay / Groom & Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew / Ties: Handmade by Emy / Location: Beaulieu Gardens

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Post tags: Amy Kuschel, Beaulieu Gardens, Billy Buttons, California, Cherries, Chewing The Cud, DIY Projects, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Etsy, Flower girls, Gertrude & Mabel Photography, Handmade by Emy, J. Crew, Lemonade, Library, Napa Valley, Outdoor Ceremony, Outdoor Wedding, Paula LeDuc, Pinwheels, Stacy McCain, Summer Wedding, Twinkle Lights, Vibrant Color Palette, Vineyard Wedding, Wedding Photography, Wedding Stationery
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog

Robbie and I wanted to be married at a place that was truly unique to Michigan, a place where our families from out of town could enjoy a vacation, and experience a place they have never been before.  The first time Robbie and I went to Mackinac Island we knew it was the perfect place for us.  We fell in love with the relaxed life style, surrounded by water with no cars, it was a place we could enjoy the outdoors and truly escape time.

Robbie and I love to bike ride together, and the Island is full of bike shops and bike paths, so we decided to create a bike theme for our wedding.  We really wanted to have fun on our big day and make the most of our time with friends and family. The day of the wedding we did a morning bike ride with all of our guests. We biked around the 8 mile long Island and enjoyed some fresh air before saying “I do.” It was so much fun!

On the day of the wedding, it was great to see all of the details come together. Robbie and I spent countless hours at Michaels Arts and Crafts.  It took a year of tears and smiles and a living room full of scrap paper. We created all of the invitations, save-the-dates, thank you cards, ect. for the big day. We spent a lot of time on the internet looking for ideas and other weddings for inspiration. Robbie’s mom handmade all of the tote bags for the arriving guests and we filled them with trail mix, taffy, and homemade cookies. We printed cards to welcome and thank our guests for coming, and also included an invite for the morning bike ride.

Robbie and I chose wedding colors that we loved to wear, and that would match our outdoor theme. The guys wore brown suits and the girls were in fun yellow summer dresses- my favorite color! I asked the florist to create bouquets that were soft and romantic, full of big white garden roses with a touch of coral. We really tried to keep the theme for our wedding as fun as possible, and we had a blast!

After the ceremony we jumped on a horse and buggy, and popped open a bottle of champaigne. The bridal party followed us on bikes to the downtown salon where we enjoyed a  drink to celebrate. Robbie and I then took the bikes down to the water and spent some time together laughing and playing around before joining the reception. It truly was the most fun we have ever had together. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

Location: Mission Point Resort / Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography, Second Shooter Paul Retherford / Dress: Paloma Blanca / Flowers: Weber’s Floral / Cake: Bella e Dolce / Invitations & Stationary: DIY by Bride / Event Planning & Design: DIY by Bride

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Post tags: Beach Wedding, Bella e Dolce, Bicycles, Casual Elegance, Color Palette Yellow, DIY Stationery, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Flower girls, Horse Drawn Carriage, horses, Kelly Sweet Photography, Lighthouses, Mackinac Island, Michigan, Mission Point Resort, Outdoor Wedding, Paloma Blanca, Paul Retherford, Queen Anns Lace, Summer Wedding, Weber's Floral, Wedding Photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

When we got engaged, Lee said that he’d found his southern belle, though not exactly true, I’m from Southern California, not the deep South!  I met and married a charming Tennessee boy in the city where we fell in love and now live, San Francisco.  With our nearest and dearest traveling from near and far, we decided to create a wedding that celebrated the City.

Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral is the oldest Catholic cathedral in California and is truly a blessed location, built in 1854, the outer walls and bell tower were just about the only things in downtown SF that withstood the shaking and fires after the great 1906 earthquake.  The priest who married us, Father Bart, was perfect too—he is a Catholic Southerner!  During our engagement, Father Bart took the time to get to know us and his homily was spot on.  He had the congregation laughing with him and our ceremony could not have been more special.  We fell in love with the Ferry Building as a venue—it’s a historic building on the water with beautiful views of the Bay Bridge and the added bonus was that Paula leDuc Fine Catering is the exclusive caterer.

Once we had a date, the venue and the church, it was time to start thinking about the details!  After searching through all kinds of poof and lace at bridal salons throughout San Francisco, I finally found a dress that fit my personality at Priscilla of Boston.  From the minute I tried it on, I knew my search was over.  I then began working with the fabulous husband and wife design team, Samantha and Owen Troy, the brains behind Designs des Troy.  They created every printed piece imaginable from our save the dates and invitations, to the table cards to the welcome bag letters.  All in all, they created 25 unique icons to represent some of our favorite landmarks in San Francisco which we later used on each of our tables in lieu of simple table numbers. Their work was simply stunning!  Classic Cable Cars trotted our guests from the hotels to the church and back to the celebrate at the Ferry Building in style.  Tainted Love was on board to ensure the dance floor was rocking all night long with fabulous 80′s tunes—and they did not disappoint.

Then, we were in over our heads.  We brought on Amy Nichols Special Events to provide creative feedback, make vendor suggestions and orchestrate our wedding weekend with pizzazz!  Amy put me in touch with Emily from Soulflower, thank goodness.  Emily was able to take my lack of floral knowledge and comments like, “I like these, but not this” and create a beautiful ambiance.  Paula Le Duc put together a menu including the finest seasonal and local ingredients.  They even paired local wines to match perfectly with the meal.  Simply perfection.  Gerhard Michler created a delicious cake with multiple flavored tiers for when guests needed a sweet bite between dance moves.  Thanks to Lori Paladino and her talented team, we have lasting memories of a beautiful evening!

It was a night I will never forget!  But, most importantly, none of this would have been possible without my parents.  They truly believe that love is something that should celebrated, and so they threw one hell of a party!

Photography: Lori Paladino Photography / Ceremony Venue: Old St. Mary’s Church / Reception Venue: Ferry Building / Event Planner: Amy Nichols Special Events / Caterer: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Floral Design: Soulflower Floral Design / Band: Tainted Love / Lighting: Got Light? / Cake: Gerhard Michler, Creative International / Stationery: Design des Troy / Transportation: Classic Cable Car / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Shoes: Jimmy Choo

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Post tags: Amy Nichols Special Events, California, City Wedding, Classic Cable Car, Color Palette Navy Green White, Color Palette Navy White, contemporary, Design des Troy, Ferry Building, Flower girls, Gerhard Michler Creative International, Golden Gate Bridge, Got Light, Jimmy Choo, Lori Paladino Photography, Old St. Mary's Church, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Priscilla of Boston, San Francisco, Skyline, Soulflower Floral Design, Summer Wedding, Tainted Love, Trolley, tulips, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog

Tim and I were introduced by mutual friends in New York City where we live.  We wanted the wedding to feel like part of nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Our venue search took us to every corner of Connecticut (where I grew up) before we discovered Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park and fell in love.  When we visited there was a terrible storm.  Even in the torrential downpour it was breathtaking.  Eolia is a magical place that had all the elements we wanted for our special day.  A gorgeous mansion with a show stopping view of the water and the most beautiful gardens you can imagine.  The grounds are lovingly and meticulously cared for.

It was important to us that the wedding reflect Tim and I as a couple.  I wanted to design the ceremony music and readings to reflect our interests, personalities and values.  The wonderful harpist Sharon Rondeau arranged “The Dog Days Are Over” for the bridesmaid’s entrance and learned “Clocks” for our recessional.  I felt that we created a ‘Midsummer’s Night Dream’ romantic atmosphere.  I always wanted mostly white and silver for the colors and once I saw the mansion I thought that purple and white flowers with lots of greenery would add to the ‘secret garden’ feel.  Our florist Ganims Garden Center and Florist was unbelievable.  I gave her photos and pictures of my dreams (from Style Me Pretty) and she managed to exceed my expectations.  I wanted the centerpieces, bouquets and archway to fit in with the lush canopies and vines of the gardens.  We used Lily of the Valley in memory of my father and gardenias in memory of Tim’s grandmother.

All of my bridesmaids have such different and wild personalities, I could not even consider putting them in the same dress.  I loved each of the Amsale dresses they chose in the violet crinkle chiffon.  I used Etsy to find the Original Pear who did a great job on our programs.  They had a drawing of an oak tree similar to the one at the mansion with our initials carved in a heart on the trunk.  Our eco-friendly Oak Tree favors came expertly packaged from the Magnolia Company.  To incorporate Tim’s love of skiing, we used wooden skis from his parents basement for our guest book.  To incorporate my love of yoga (I’m a yoga teacher) I created the escort cards with drawings of yoga poses instead of numbers to help people find their table.  Even though we wanted our guests to feel like part of nature we also wanted them to feel glamorous so I added crystal candelabras and touches of sparkle inside the mansion.  The cake was the best of both worlds.   A lotus flower sitting atop a tier designed to match the shimmering crystals and pearls of my dress.  All of the details were expertly managed by Josh Chalmers, my knight in shining armor.  Because of him, I did not have a worry in the world on the big day.

We had a first look which I would highly recommend.  Tim and I were able to have a special moment together, just the two of us before the ceremony.  Our photographers Rob and Kathleen were amazing at taking our nerves away and putting us in a calm state of mind.  Also, we were both happy not to miss a moment of the party.  Its so rare that you have everyone that you love all in one place.

My favorite memories of the day are all on the dance floor, especially our first dance.  Tim was a good sport and learned to salsa!  Our band, Brick Park, tore the house down.  No words, photos, or video could ever do this band justice.  Thank goodness for our videographer Ian Meltzer of Revery Media who captured my adorable three year old flower girl Abby dancing to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with her dad, because I missed it.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Bridal Gown: Ines Di Santo / Bride’s Shoes:  Miu Miu / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Flowers: Ganim’s Florist / Ceremony Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park / Reception Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park / Event Planner: Josh Chalmers / Band:  Brick Park Entertainment / Hair: Angela Dubreuil from Naomi Martinez Salon / Make-up: Javier Rosa / Cake: Felicia’s Sweetface Pastry Shoppe / Caterer: Grand Gourmet / Table Cards: Yoga Poses, a nod to the bride’s profession as a yoga instructor

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Post tags: Amsale, Bowties, Brick Park Entertainment, Color Palette Purple, Connecticut, Eolia Mansion, Felicia's Sweetface Pastry Shoppe, Flower girls, Ganim's Florist, Grand Gourmet, Harkness Memorial State Park, Ines Di Santo, Javier Rosa, Josh Chalmers, Lanterns, Miu Miu, Naomi Martinez Salon, Outdoor Ceremony, Robert & Kathleen Photographers, Summer Wedding, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photographers, Windsor, Yoga
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

I fell in love with Thacher Winery a couple of years before falling in love with Matt.  I thought to myself, when visiting for some wine tasting, that I wanted to get married there if I ever found the right person.  And when I met Matt, he mentioned that he knew the Thacher’s.  I couldn’t believe it!

I was never one to dream of my wedding day but I found myself thinking about it and decided to pull out some pictures from magazines of things that inspired me hoping it too would help focus my energy on making it happen one day. When that “one day” eventually happened, I went back to the folder of ideas and pulled out  a picture from Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.  I realized that the bride in the picture had the exact same wedding dress on that I had just purchased and the wedding was in a barn!  Crazy how dreams come true.

We wanted it to be an amazing celebration: good music, good food, good beer and good wine with our most favorite people!   No fuss, just a great party.  We were so fortunate to work with some of the best vendors you can get, most of whom were or have become great friends.

Venue: Thacher Winery / Wedding Coordination: Touch of Style Events / Photography: Mike Larson / Florist: The Green Vase / Catering: Cass / Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Bremen Town / Reception Music: Mark Adams & The Westsiders / Lighting: Bill Gaines Audio / Limo Transportation: Lush Limousines / Hair and Makeup: The Queens Bees / Shoes: Bagdley Mischka & Frye Boots / Dress Designer: Pricilla of Boston

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Post tags: Bagdley Mischka, Barn, Beer, Bill Gaines Audio, Bremen Town, Cass, Casual Elegance, Cowboy Boots, Cupcakes in a Jar, farm, farm wedding, Frye Boots, haybales, Homebrewed Beer, Lush Limousines, Mark Adams & The Westsiders, Mike Larson Inc, Outdoor Ceremony, Outdoor Wedding, pies, Pricilla of Boston, Ranch, Rustic Chic, Summer Wedding, Thatcher Winery, The Green Vase, The Queens Bees, Touch of Style Events, Wedding Planners & Designers, wildflowers, Winery
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

I warned you once, but here it is again, grab a tissue!

Dave + Kristen Engagement from AQUA VIVUS on Vimeo.

And for more of your viewing pleasure, we have a fabulous Same Day Edit, shot by Aqua Vivus, and edited by Amari Productions. Definitely enjoy!

Dave & Kristen from Amari Productions & Aqua Vivus on Vimeo.

When Dave and I met, we just knew. The week after we met, though, Dave flew to Kentucky to work for the summer, and I flew to Europe to study abroad. Our relationship started out with European post cards and letters back and forth, until I flew out to Kentucky at the end of the summer. We spent one weekend together, and I knew that Dave was the one for me. We went on a road trip back to California, met each other’s families, and went skydiving together. Great first week together, right?

A short eight months later, Dave was down on one knee proposing to me. Aqua Vivus Productions captured the beautiful moment, and it’s still a video we watch now. Of course I said yes, and the planning began. My mom drove to San Diego for a week for wedding dress shopping and planning. My mom had always envisioned something very traditional and formal for her daughter’s wedding, so that’s what we excitedly started planning. I am so thankful for that trip she made because six months before our big day, she very suddenly passed away. Without my mom to help with planning, it just wasn’t as much fun. I found myself unmotivated to plan such a formal, grandiose affair. Three months before the wedding, I decided to change the entire theme to our wedding to something more whimsical, fun, and laid back. This is what I came up with!

I decided that little details would be my focus. Our photographer, Scot Woodman, did a phenomenal job capturing everything, from the big moments, down to all the small details. There was a white dove release in honor of my mom during the ceremony, and an empty birdcage hanging from the trees at the reception. Lace from my mom’s wedding gown was sewn onto mine, and I put a locket with her picture in my flowers. We had a small cake to cut, made by my talented sister, and many small cupcakes (with cupcake flags) for our guests. Mason jars with cute, colorful flowers, vintage books scattered on the tables, skeleton keys hanging from the trees, a vintage luggage piece for cards on the gift table, wash buckets for the glass coke bottles, banners and clotheslines hanging throughout the garden…it was just so much more mine and Dave’s style. Everything came together to make a beautiful setting for where Dave and I would celebrate our never-ending love for each other!

Photography: Scot Woodman Photography / Cinematography: shot by Aqua Vivus, edited by Amari Productions / Flowers: DIY from Modesto’s Farmer’s Market / Ceremony Location: McHenry Mansion / Reception Location: McHnery Mansion / Shoes: Electra, by Nina / Dress: Moonlight Bridal / Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal / Tuxedos: Vito’s Tuxes / Birdcage Veil: Etsy / Catering: Tahoe Joe’s Steakhouse / Cupcakes: Swirls Cupcakes by Kym Wolf / Cake: Bride’s sister, Nicole Chacon / Wedding Stationary: Jenifer Hunsinger / Menu Board: DIY / Ceremony and Reception Signs: made by Kevin Chacon (father of the bride)

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Post tags: Amari Productions, Aqua Vivus, Birdcages, California, Casual Elegance, Color Palette Purple Beige, David's Bridal, DIY Cake, DIY Flowers, DIY Projects, Etsy, Jenifer Hunsinger, Mason Jars, McHenry Mansion, modesto, Moonlight Bridal, Neutral Color Palette, Nina, Outdoor Wedding, Proposal Story, Same Day Edit, Scot Woodman Photography, Summer Wedding, Swirls Cupcakes by Kym Wolf, Tahoe Joe's Steakhouse, Vito's Tuxes, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Film, wedding proposal
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

That delish cake comes from Ashley Bakery.

While living in San Diego, Eric and I were introduced through mutual friends.  From the moment we met, our lives together where filled with love and laughter.  Our love grew from having a deep appreciation for one another, making the small moments matter, and filling our lives with wonderful family and friends.

After dating for a little over a year and half, Eric asked me to be his wife in front of our families on Thanksgiving Day 2009. This also happened to be the 73rd wedding anniversary of my Grandparents.

Eric and I wanted an intimate setting in a unique location that was still reasonably accessible for our family and friends, whom were disbursed throughout the country.   We both loved the Southern hospitality, architecture, cuisine and splendor of the historic town of Charleston, SC.  We set out to find the perfect venue and after visiting numerous locations we discovered Boone Hall Plantation.

Boone Hall immediately drew us in with its breathtaking setting and it’s versatile landscape.  The plantation house would serve as a remarkably romantic site for our ceremony, and the cotton dock was a blank canvas that allowed us to create our ideal reception setting.  Eric and I loved the huge fireplace and the dock that was nestled in the marsh that captured the beautiful southern sunset.  Boone Hall’s world famous Avenue of Oaks became our inspiration for the day.  The symbol of the strong oaks growing together to create a beautiful canopy resonated with us as we were now merging our lives together as husband and wife.

On a beautiful October evening, Eric and I were married in the presence of 100 family and friends.  We wrote our entire ceremony including our vows.  We were both nervous we would forget or lose them if written down so we had our officiant read our vows, and we repeated after him, which helped settle our nerves a bit.  The words we spoke to one another that day will serve as my favorite memory of our whole wedding weekend. Following the ceremony, our guests were invited to tour the plantation home and join the cocktail hour that was hosted in the back gardens of the property.

I wore an ivory, open back Jim Hjelm lace gown that I loved from the second I laid eyes on it.  I will never forget walking from behind the estate gates down the pathway, which was created from packed sand, to the front of the plantation home with my father.  I recall telling him that he may have to carry me when we got to the midway point, as I was attempting not to fall as my heels sunk into the sand.  Of course my Dad just held me tighter and helped to support me as he always has.   My bridesmaids, also in Jim Hjelm, wore navy blue dresses in various styles.  Eric wore a Hugo Boss tux and a custom made shirt with his initials from J. Hilburn.

I really wanted a clean color palette of mostly white flowers with touches of green.  I believe simplicity yields elegance. Lisa Thomas, from Out of Hand, helped create our vision by designing amazing bouquets, boutonnières, and centerpieces featuring white garden roses, succulents, white and antique green hydrangea, ivory ranunculus, lambs ear, green hypericum berries, curly willow and fern curls.  The bridesmaids’ bouquets were re-used at the reception. and displayed them in cylinders on a bookcase set behind the bar that was created from an old country store counter.  I wrapped my Mom’s handkerchief from her Godfather adorned with my Grandmother’s antique cameo broach around the base of my bouquet.  I also placed initialed pins on the back of my bouquet in remembrance of both of my Grandfathers.

Maureen Anders of Anders Ruff provided one of my favorite elements of the wedding.  Maureen created and designed the save the dates, invites, programs, escort cards, table numbers, menus, and welcome bag materials.  These items featured the picturesque oak tree with our monogram.  She was truly a joy to work with.  At the cocktail hour, the escort cards were hung from mini trees made from Manzanita branches and displayed on an antique table.  Mason jars with orange (Eric’s favorite color) ranunculus were displayed on high top tables throughout the back lawn.  Guests were served passed appetizers of bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with chipotle cheese, assorted brushetta, stuffed mushrooms, and garlic seared tenderloin on crostini.

Following cocktail hour, guests were escorted to the cotton dock for the reception.  Designing the décor for the cotton dock was one of my number one priorities when planning our big day.  Enter Jerri Heater from Ohh Events.  Jerri was our Wedding Planner who aided in transforming the cotton dock into a romantic setting brimming with Southern elegance and rustic details.  Large wrought iron lanterns glowing with candlelight, hung over the tables.  The tables were set up family style allowing for an intimate meal of southern fare from Cru Catering.  The meal consisted of crab cakes, shrimp n’ grits, mac and cheese and pulled pork sliders which were prepared with a gourmet twist.  The other main elements of the décor included vintage crystal chandeliers that ran down the center of the dance floor. An additional chandelier shimmered in the center of the outside dock.  Wooden lanterns, suspended around the perimeter of the dock, created the mood for a comfy lounge area of leather couches.  The couches were flanked with custom pillows made by my Mom and embroidered with our monogram.  This area provided a relaxing environment for our guests to kick back and enjoy a hand rolled cigar while taking in the magnificent view.

Our wedding cake was designed by Ashley Bakery and featured a large oak that mimicked those of the historic entrance to Boone Hall.  The cake was created with alternating red velvet and marble flavored tiers.  Surrounding the cake were bourbon pecan pies that were placed on cut tree logs in lieu of a grooms’ cake.  Guests were served late night passed grilled cheese sandwiches to fuel their energy as they danced the night away to live music performed by Super Deluxe.

Photography for us, like most couples, was one of the most important elements of the day.  Jerri introduced us to the work of Virgil Bruno from CVI Photography. Eric and I agreed to bring him on board to capture our day.  I am not a very emotional person.  When I started to tear-up when viewing his work and I didn’t even know the couples, I knew he was special.  Virgil truly documented the wedding as it was happening and captured the raw emotion, while straying from the overdone posed shots.  Virgil was always one step ahead and guided us throughout the day.  Our pictures are a continual reminder of the wonderful and genuine moments that Virgil warmly captured through his lens.

On our most momentous and incredibly special day, Eric and I feel blessed to have been surrounded by family and friends.

Venue: Boone Hall Plantation / Wedding Planning, Décor and Lighting: Jerri Heater, Ohh Events / Photography: Virgil Bunao CVI Photography / Floral: Lisa Thomas, Out of Hand / Catering: Cru Catering / Band: Super Deluxe / Paper Products: Maureen Anders, Anders Ruff / Cinematography: Silva’s Photo and Video / Cake: Ashley Bakery / Officiant: Rev. Dr. Holt Clarke / Ceremony and Cocktail Entertainment:  The Carolina Trio / Makeup and Hair: Beauty Mastery by Design / Transportation: A Charleston Wedding / Bride’s Attire:  Jim Hjelm / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss and  J. Hilburn / Bridesmaids Attire: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Ring: Custom, J. Lewis Jewelry / Groom’s Ring: David Yurman / Cigar Roller: Coastal Cigars / Film Work: Richard Photo

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Post tags: A Charleston Wedding, Anders Ruff, Ashley Bakery, Barn Wedding, Beauty Mastery by Design, Boone Hall Plantation, Chandeliers, Coastal Cigars, Color Palette Green White Brown, Cru Catering, David Yurman, Flower girls, Hugo Boss, J. Helburn, J. Lewis Jewelry, Jim Hjelm, Lounge, Ooh Events, Out of Hand, Outdoor Ceremony, Plantation Wedding, Rev. Dr. Hold Clarke, Silva's Photo, South Carolina, Summer Wedding, Super Deluxe, The Carolina Trio, Traditional Elegance, Virgil Bunao, Wedding Cakes, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

For adventurous people, our families were happily surprised when we decided to get married in Nisswa, Minnesota. When we originally started thinking about where to host a wedding for family and friends that would be flying in from across the world, the only thing I knew was that I just really wanted it to be somewhere green.  After telling Trent this, he instantly knew the perfect place. Grandview Lodge, in Nisswa Minnesota, is a place Trent and his family spent summers during his childhood. Seeing it, it’s hard to argue that there is any place greener.

The site, along with the weekend we planned to have our wedding, 4th of July weekend, were our true inspiration. We wanted the whole weekend to feel like our memories of 4th of July: sun, bright blue skies, green grass and trees, lakes, beaches, fireworks, s’mores, family and friends. We wanted to make this weekend a fun and relaxing vacation for all of our guests, where they could really enjoy the site to the fullest.

As for our wedding day itself, we chose subtle colors that reflected the nature  and beauty of the sight: burlap and blue. We decided to have a ceremony and dinner in a green open field, and then dancing and dessert (with a bonfire for s’mores) by the beach. While we came up with a loose vision, our family and friends’ talents made the wedding details come to life. Trent’s sister, Kelly, designed all of our stationary: the invitations, menu cards, programs, and thank you cards. Trent’s mom and twin sister assembled the stationary, and did so much for us in finding the perfect details and putting them together in a beautiful way. Trent’s dad helped with the assembly line of invites as well, and is the man responsible for making Grandview Lodge as green as it is, because his company works with Grandview on their landscaping.  My mom and her best friend designed and assembled all of our flower arrangements and bouquets along with the help of many aunts and cousins. My mom and I made the name cards together. My dad made our chocolate boxed gifts for the guests–he shipped the chocolate from Egypt and assembled more than 150 boxes. He also made our wedding arch, decorating it with flowers and vines. My cousins were in charge of site decorating on the day of the wedding. Trent’s uncle used logs from near his cabin to create our table numbers, Trent’s aunt donated her collection of vintage canning jars. My friend Paul and his dad, artists that specialize in book binding, made our guestbook. My brother created a piece of art that sat on our guestbook table, and also was the officiant of our ceremony. All of the moving pieces were brought together by Trent’s incredibly talented and organized cousin, Niki, who we could not have survived without.

Our wedding surpassed our every expectation. It was one of those perfect midwest summer days, sunny, but not humid, with a clear blue sky. We were surrounded by sunkissed family and friends who’s genuine happiness and energy radiated throughout the night of dancing and celebration. Our family and friends were embedded in every little detail of the wedding, and the day was a true reflection of who we are and the people we love.

Photography: Amy Majors Photography / Dessert: Grand View Lodge and Cocoa & Fig / Tent & Rentals: Partytime Rental / Site: Grandview Lodge / Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo Collection / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Tuxedo: The Foursome / Rings: Kristin Hanson / Hair: Courtney Martins, Aveda / Makeup: Grandview Lodge Glacial Waters Spa / Groomsmen Cufflinks: Sherry Truitt Studios / Bridesmaids Clutches: (23rd/1st) / Pianist: Mark Mraz

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Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog