This wedding is pure sweetness. Photographed by the lovely Shannon Renee, it’s one of those weddings that is so lovely, so completely charming, that you can’t help but fall in love. And the bride has taken the time to give us THE most amazing details about the wedding, from the stationery that they DIY-ed to the incredibly thoughtful advice that she has after all is said and done.
My husband and I both love vintage, classic and whimsical things. We’re both actors with some background in design; his in graphics and mine in costume. We’re both creative and wanted our wedding to reflect us and not be too traditional. Our venue was the perfect place to bring all the elements together. It was a hidden gem, a historical landmark built in the early 1900’s.
We were very conscious of our budget. We knew we didn’t want anything extravagant but its amazing how everything can add up. We really thought about what was important and if something wasn’t as important, we let it go. Some things we saved on was the dress. I really thought it was ridiculous to spend so much on something you wear once. I wanted something that looked vintage/old hollywood glam. I looked to used options as well as renting but I found it hanging at a Nordstroms! It didn’t need major alterations and I got them done in the store.
We didn’t have a traditional wedding cake. We opted to have mini dessert platters from one of my favorite bakeries. They were reasonably priced, probably less than half of a beautiful cake that probably wouldn’t have tasted as good. All the DIY elements helped our budget but I think it wasn’t so much about saving money as it was about making the wedding as personal as we could. We also couldn’t have stayed within our budget without our incredibly talented friends who lent their talents for little to nothing. Betty Lang not only put together the gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces and flowers in the ceremony, but also was the day-of coordinator and decorated the venue so beautifully. Richard Glaser of the band is a childhood friend of my husband’s. He played the keyboard during the ceremony and he joined the band for the reception as well as before the ceremony. We also kept our bar pretty minimal. Our bartender was a friend of ours and he mixed lemon drops as our main cocktail. We offered white and red wine, a dark and light beer, vodka tonics/juices and jack and cokes and served cava instead of champagne. We didn’t have a DJ and our ‘MC’ was a friend. Our officiant was also a good friend. It not only saved money, but it made it so much more meaningful and personal.
Stationery made by bride and groom / Flowers by Betty Lang of Vanda Events / Chairs by Arcadia Party Rentals / Tables provided by Party Divine / Personalized Silk Fans by TheKnot.com / Music by The Richard Glaser Band / Gown by Sean Collection / Shoes by RSVP on Zappos / Earrings by Nadri / Tuxes by Calvin Klein / Bridesmaids Gowns their own, chosen in different shades of blue / Korean Buffet catered by Palace Catering / Desserts by Portos Bakery / Phootography by Shannon Renee Photography